May’s team in row over press freedom after Cabinet leak threat July 14, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May and her top officials have been dragged into a bitter row over the freedom of the press after the Metropolitan Police warned journalists could be prosecuted for publishing diplomatic leaks. The Cabinet Office last week called in Met Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu, who issued a warning to the media that [...]
WPP sells 60 per cent stake in Kantar to value it at $4bn July 12, 2019 Advertising giant WPP is set to sell 60 per cent of its stake in analytics division Kantar to a private equity house as it raises cash for a turnaround strategy. Read more: WPP loses big name clients, sending sales on a steep decline Bain Capital has agreed to snap up the stake in a deal [...]
Centaur Media to keep hold of leading title The Lawyer July 11, 2019 Magazine publisher Centaur Media has pulled its sale of the Lawyer after deciding it was a “more attractive option” to keep hold of the title. Centaur made the announcement on completing a divestment programme which began last October. Read more: Centaur Media continues digital push It has now sold off four businesses, with the sale [...]
BBC appoints new Radio 4 controller as it doubles down on Sounds July 9, 2019 The BBC has appointed Mohit Bakaya as the new controller of Radio 4, as the current boss of 5 Live takes over the broadcaster’s troubled on-demand service BBC Sounds. Bakaya, who currently serves as commissioning editor for factual at Radio 4, will take over from Gwyneth Williams, who has led the corporation’s flagship station since [...]
JPI Media in talks to sell i newspaper and regional titles July 8, 2019 The hedge fund owners of the i newspaper and hundreds of regional titles are reportedly in talks to break up the publishing group and sell its assets. JPI Media, the company formed last year to buy out Johnston Press, has set a deadline of Monday for preliminary offers for papers including The Scotsman and The [...]
Campaigner Heather Mills wins payout over phone hacking claims July 8, 2019 Former model Heather Mills has said she feels “joy and vindication” after reaching a settlement against the now-defunct News of the World over long-standing phone hacking claims. Mills, the former wife of Beatles star Paul McCartney, claimed she had won the “highest media libel settlement in British history” and a “complete and unmitigated apology for [...]
Pop Master: Longevity in broadcasting July 4, 2019 As some of you will know, I host a podcast called Media Masters. It really does what it says on the tin, speaking to people who’ve conquered the media world about how they got where they are and what drives them. I feel guilty sometimes, as it never actually feels like work. I’ve had the [...]
Ofcom calls for new laws to protect public service broadcasters July 4, 2019 Ofcom has urged the government to introduce new laws to support public service broadcasters amid rising competition from streaming giants. The media regulator has called for new legislation to ensure channels operated by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are displayed prominently on online platforms. Read more: Revamp media regulation to help broadcasters [...]
Advertisers set to ramp up investment in audio amid podcast boom July 4, 2019 UK advertisers are set to ramp up their spend on audio formats in the coming years amid a surge in popularity of podcasts and digital radio. Roughly 85 per cent of advertisers will increase their investment in digital audio over the next 12 months, according to figures from media group Global. Read more: Podcast listeners [...]
Netflix to open huge UK production hub at Shepperton Studios July 3, 2019 Netflix has signed a deal to set up a production hub in the iconic Shepperton Studios, marking a major expansion of the streaming giant’s UK presence. Netflix will take over 435,000 square feet of space in the Surrey studio complex, which boasts a rich history of productions including A Clockwork Orange, Gladiator and Gravity. Read [...]