BBC delays licence fee changes for over-75s due to virus fears March 16, 2020 The BBC today said it will push back plans to end the blanket free licence fee scheme for over-75s amid concerns about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Pensioners were due to face changes to the licence fee from 1 June, but this will now be delayed until 1 August. Millions of over-75s will have [...]
O2 pairs up with Disney Plus to be its UK mobile network distributor March 16, 2020 O2 has agreed a deal with Disney to be the exclusive mobile network distributor for Disney Plus, a week ahead of its launch. New and upgrading pay monthly customers will be able to get six months of Disney Plus, on O2. Mark Evans, CEO of O2, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Disney to bring [...]
CMA says Future’s acquisition of TI Media does not raise competition concerns March 16, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Future’s acquisition of TI Media, saying it “does not raise competition concerns”. In October 2019, the publisher said it planned to acquire magazine printer TI Media, which owns popular titles Country Life and Marie Claire, for £140m in cash. After completing its initial investigation, the CMA found that [...]
Ofcom draws up new rules to protect reality TV stars March 15, 2020 Ofcom has laid out a revised set of rules aimed at protecting participants in TV and radio programmes. The regulator’s intervention comes after the deaths of two former Love Island contestants and host Caroline Flack, as well as a former guest on the now-cancelled Jeremy Kyle Show. Ofcom said it had also seen a “steady [...]
Putting Six Nations behind a paywall would be ‘dreadful’, says BBC boss March 12, 2020 Any deal to put the Six Nations behind a paywall would be “dreadful” for both audiences and the sport, the BBC director general has said. The tender process for the rugby tournament’s next broadcasting contract is set to wrap up this weekend, but current holders BBC and ITV have been shut out of the bidding. [...]
Competition watchdog clears Bauer’s regional radio takeover March 12, 2020 The competition watchdog today cleared Bauer Media’s acquisition of dozens of regional radio stations after the media giant agreed to match advertising terms. Bauer last year snapped up almost 50 stations from Celador, Lincs FM, Wireless and UKRD. This included a 50 per cent stake in First Radio Sales Limited, which runs more than 100 [...]
BBC could take pensioners to court over licence fee evasion March 12, 2020 Pensioners could be hauled in front of a judge amid an ongoing row over payment of the BBC licence fee, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Lord Tony Hall today admitted that some people in their 80s and 90s could be taken to court if they fail to pay the £157.50 charge. Speaking during a [...]
By restricting free speech, we risk sleepwalking towards a tyranny worthy of Orwell March 12, 2020 In an unpublished preface to Animal Farm, discovered amongst the author’s papers in 1972, George Orwell argued that: “If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” In the last two weeks, we have twice been given reason to question what our liberty is [...]
Disney shareholders approve executive pay despite backlash March 11, 2020 Disney has fended off a shareholder revolt over executive pay after a slim majority of investors approved the company’s controversial remuneration plan. A vote on executive compensation, which included outgoing boss Bob Iger’s $47.5m (£37m) pay packet for 2019, passed with 53 per cent of votes at the media giant’s annual general meeting today. Disney [...]
Kantar snaps up digital consultancy Mavens of London March 11, 2020 Market research firm Kantar today said it has acquired digital consultancy Mavens of London as new owner Bain Capital continues to overhaul the business. Mavens, which was founded in 2009, provides research services for marketers, using data to help marketers optimise their digital search and content strategies. Kantar said the takeover would bolster its existing [...]