Google removes 2.7bn bad ads as it launches Covid-19 taskforce April 30, 2020 Google removed roughly 2.7bn so-called bad ads last year as the tech giant ramps up its efforts to block misleading and malicious campaigns actors on its platform. The search engine’s crackdown, which equates to 5,000 ads per minute, is an increase on the 2.3bn adverts removed in 2018. In addition, Google suspended nearly 1m advertiser [...]
Facebook earnings: Shares leap despite lowest growth since 2012 April 30, 2020 Facebook’s shares jumped almost 10 per cent in after hours trading following a surprisingly upbeat set of first quarter results from the tech giant. Following Alphabet’s figures earlier this week, all eyes were on Facebook to see how the Covid-19 crisis has hit social media. Here are three key takeaways from the numbers: 1. The [...]
Facebook poaches top social media regulator from Ofcom April 29, 2020 Facebook has ramped up its defence against upcoming social media regulation by poaching a top executive from media watchdog Ofcom. Tony Close, Ofcom’s director of content standards, has been closely involved in drawing up rules to regulate tech giants such as Google and Facebook amid rising concern about online harms. The government is set to [...]
Spotify grows user numbers as Covid-19 hits advertising revenue April 29, 2020 Spotify today reported a sharp rise in user numbers for the first quarter as coronavirus lockdown measures sparked a huge shift in listening habits around the globe. The streaming service posted a 31 per cent year on year growth in monthly active users to 286m. The figures, which were in line with expectations, marked the [...]
Disney sparks backlash over #MayThe4th hashtag rights claim April 28, 2020 Disney has sparked a backlash on social media after the entertainment giant appeared to claim ownership of the rights to tweets containing the #MayThe4th hashtag. In a tweet posted yesterday by Disney Plus, the streaming service encouraged fans to share their favourite Star Wars memory using the hashtag. But in a follow-up tweet full of [...]
Gambling firms pull TV and radio advertising during Covid-19 lockdown April 27, 2020 The UK’s major gambling and betting firms today said they will remove all TV and radio advertising for the remainder of the Covid-19 lockdown. Existing ad slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast for at least six weeks. The decision is aimed at protecting customers during the [...]
Times Radio taps BBC and Channel 4 stars ahead of summer launch April 27, 2020 Times Radio today unveiled its latest high-profile signings as Rupert Murdoch’s media empire pushes ahead with the talk radio station launch despite the coronavirus crisis. Radio 4 presenter Aasmah Mir, Channel 4 News anchor Cathy Newman and Times Literary Supplement editor Stig Abell are among the top-flight journalists to join the new venture. News UK, [...]
Pearson holds dividend as school closures hit revenue April 24, 2020 Education publisher Pearson today said it will pay out a dividend for 2019 even as the closure of schools and test centres pushed down revenue in the first quarter. The FTSE 100-listed firm reported a five per cent decline in year-on-year revenue in the first three months of the year, which it said was a [...]
Independent furloughs staff and cuts pay as Covid-19 hits ad revenue April 23, 2020 The Independent today said it will furlough some of its staff and cut pay for others as the Covid-19 crisis decimates advertising revenues for news organisations. The digital-only newspaper said all employees earning more than £37,500 would have their pay slashed 20 per cent, while some would be placed on paid leave under the government’s [...]
Green light for £250m Netflix and Amazon film studio complex in Kent April 23, 2020 Developers have been given the green light to build a £250m film complex in Kent to provide much-needed studio space for streaming giants such as Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN). Local councillors last night approved plans for Ashford International Film Studios, which will boast 240,000 square feet of production space. Derelict railway works The complex, [...]