Netflix signs Pinewood Studios deal as it ramps up investment in British shows May 19, 2019 Netflix has reportedly signed a deal to lease a third of the space at Pinewood Studios as it looks to ramp up its investment in British TV shows. The US streaming giant is set to take roughly 150,000 square feet of space at the famous film studios in Buckinghamshire, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing sources. [...]
Even ITV’s big dividend can’t win over investors May 17, 2019 | City Talk After falling again sharply on these first-quarter results, interactive investor's head of markets explains why ITV is finding life so hard. Strategically, the song remains the same at ITV (LSE:ITV) as it continues to respond to changing viewer habits, while also lessening its reliance on traditional advertising. Indeed, there are signs of progress on both [...]
MPs launch probe into reality TV following Jeremy Kyle Show death May 15, 2019 MPs have launched an inquiry into reality TV shows just hours after ITV axed The Jeremy Kyle Show following the death of a guest. The DCMS Committee said it will probe production companies’ duty of care to participants and ask whether enough support is offered both during and after filming. Read more: ITV revenues slip [...]
Brexit talks: Still no progress in discussions between the Conservatives and Labour May 13, 2019 Brexit talks between the Conservative and Labour frontbenches ended in stalemate yet again on Monday despite frantic speculation a crunch vote was set for later this week. Tory MPs were told a three-line whip was in operation for Thursday – meaning an important vote was scheduled – before it was downgraded to a one-line whip. [...]
Esther McVey reveals she will stand in the next Tory leadership contest May 9, 2019 Another Conservative MP has joined the race to become the next Prime Minister, with former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey announcing she will stand in the race to succeed Theresa May. McVey, who lost her Wirral West seat in 2015 before being elected as MP for Tatton two years later, revealed this morning that [...]
ITV revenues slip ahead of Britbox launch as strain on advertising continues May 8, 2019 Shares in ITV fell more than five per cent after it posted a slip in revenues for the first quarter, as economic uncertainty and lower demand for advertising continue to take their toll. Read more: ITV and BBC announce online streaming service to rival Netflix The figures Total external revenue fell four per cent to [...]
Protecting the UK’s creative treasures by bringing the digital pirates down a peg leg or two April 26, 2019 The gathering storm of state-backed piracy is high on the agenda, as leaders from creative industries gather for World Intellectual Property Day today. As you read this, a pirate media empire is illegally broadcasting 10 channels of live sport – including one of Britain’s most valuable exports, the English Premier League – to a region [...]
Tesco and Dunelm defy retail gloom April 16, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Impressive updates from Tesco and Dunelm show opportunities still exist in the embattled retail sector. A big hike in the Tesco (LSE:TSCO) dividend and an “incredible” trading update from Dunelm Group (LSE:DNLM) today combined to remind Brexit-weary investors there is life in the retail sector after all. The near-doubling [...]
May called business chiefs to reassure over latest change in Brexit negotiation plan April 3, 2019 Theresa May last night tried to reassure bosses at some of Britain’s biggest firms, including Rolls-Royce, BT and GlaxoSmithKline, about her latest change in direction on Brexit negotiations. The PM hosted a call with the co-chairs of her business councils last night, shortly after announcing she would look for another extension to Article 50 so [...]
The European Union is on the backfoot, but few seem to notice April 2, 2019 There is a very bad habit that many of our broadcasters have of focusing on what might befall us. It reminds me of Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii bemoaning “woe is me, woe is me” – as if he might warn his master against leaving the Empire without a deal. It would be refreshing were there [...]