ITV begins ‘cautiously optimistic’ recovery from production hit during pandemic May 5, 2021 British broadcaster ITV has begun to recover from stalled production during the pandemic, with advertising revenue rebounding 68 per cent this month. In a trading update this morning, ITV said it expected total ad revenue for the first half of the year to rise around 26 per cent compared to 2020, despite pandemic restrictions being [...]
GB News: What is the new TV channel and when will it launch? April 22, 2021 There’s been a flurry of announcements in recent weeks ahead of the launch of GB News, a new opinion-led channel promising the biggest shakeup of British broadcast media for 30 years. The venture has caused a stir, with no shortage of controversy over its promise to take a “boldly different” approach. Plans are still being [...]
ITN warns of UK ‘news desert’ without broadcasting revamp March 26, 2021 The UK could be at risk of a digital “new desert” where audiences are unable to access high-quality news online unless effective regulation is brought in by Ofcom, ITN has warned. The production giant, which produces news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, warned against a situation where “significant numbers of people can [...]
Ikea and ITV invest in location tech startup what3words March 25, 2021 Ikea and ITV have both thrown their weight behind a startup that has divided the world into three-metre squares each with a unique three-word name to help pinpoint addresses. Ingka Group, the holding company behind the Swedish flat-pack giant, has pumped £12m into what3words, while ITV has taken a minority stake valued at £2m. What3words, [...]
ITV chief Carolyn McCall takes 20 per cent pandemic pay cut March 24, 2021 The chief executive of ITV took a 20 per cent pay cut to her basic salary for seven months during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to documents. Dame Carolyn McCall’s voluntary decision emerged as the broadcaster revealed the gender pay gap at the organisation grew during 2020 although its ethnic diversity pay gap shrank. The boss [...]
Screenshot: Does the UK media have a racism problem? March 12, 2021 This week: **Media Moment of the Week: GMB gets a new frontman **Does the UK media have a racism problem? **Deliveroo’s IPO giveaway; BT gets in a bind Media Moment of the Week: GMB gets a new frontman What a week it’s been for ITV. In the space of 24 hours it racked up bumper [...]
ITV shares fall after Piers Morgan quits broadcaster March 10, 2021 Investors switched off ITV today after Piers Morgan resigned from breakfast show Good Morning Britain. Shares are down nearly six per cent this afternoon. The controversial broadcaster stepped down from the programme last night amid a furore over his comments about Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Shares in ITV are currently [...]
Money talks: ITV attracts 11.1m viewers for Oprah’s Meghan and Harry interview March 9, 2021 ITV last night racked up a bumper 11.1m viewers for the eagerly-awaited Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The tell-all interview, which aired at 9pm last night, peaked at 12.4m viewers as Brits flocked to watch the couple make explosive claims about the royal family. The figures make Oprah with Meghan and [...]
ITV warns on ‘challenging’ ad market as pandemic hits profit March 9, 2021 ITV today warned that the advertising market remained “challenging” as it reported sharp falls in revenue and profit due to the impact of the pandemic. The London-listed firm, which last night aired Oprah Winfrey’s eagerly-awaited interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, posted a 16 per cent drop in total revenue to £2.8bn in 2020. [...]
ITV hoping to replicate CBS’s ratings success with Harry and Meghan interview March 8, 2021 ITV hoping to replicate CBS’s ratings success with Harry and Meghan interview