Kathryn Mitchell will take on the role of UKTV head of programming. She
was formerly head of programming for UK Gold and senior editor,
UKTV.
Sophie Turner Laing has been promoted to BBC controller of programme
acquisitions. Alan Howden, the current controller, is retiring. Turner
Laing joined the BBC in May 1998 from Flextech Television, where she was
vice-president, broadcasting, responsible for four wholly-owned Flextech
channels.
The Tempus Group has unveiled an increase in profits of 13% to pounds
5.8m on turnover which increased by 18% to pounds 706m for the six
months to June 30 1999. The figures for the same period last year were,
pounds 5.1m and pounds 597m, respectively.
GWR has accepted the terms for the renewal of its licence offered by the
Radio Authority which will see the amount it pays increase by around
pounds 2.4m a year. GWR currently pays pounds 770,000 a year and 4% of
its advertising revenue. This will increase to pounds 1m a year and 14%
of its revenues.
The National Magazine Company has launched a spin off from its Good
Housekeeping title. Buy the Best is a buyers’ guide on consumer durables
and contains information on 159 products, ranging from washing machines
to dishwashers and cookers. The one-off title will be on sale at pounds
2.95 and is published tomorrow (Thursday).
Yorkshire Post Newspapers has launched a new glossy magazine called
Absolute Leeds targeted at 20- to 35-year-old professionals. The 64-page
magazine features editorial on what’s going on in the city as well as
bar and restaurant reviews. Absolute Leeds will appear monthly and cost
pounds 1. The print run will be 15,000.
Target Group Index, the UK’s leading single source media and marketing
survey, is rolling out across Europe this autumn. This is a departure
for TGI, which until now has been available as a country-specific survey
in markets such as the US, China and Russia. TGI Europa is a
five-country survey comprising a sample of 64,500 adults in the UK,
France, Germany, Spain and Italy. It will be published later this
month.
BSkyB has avoided legal action from the organisers of the Ryder Cup, by
agreeing to show some of the golf tournament on Sky Sports 2. It had
previously decided to show all coverage on the Sky Box Office channel,
as a protest against rival ONdigital’s decision to deny Sky access to
its UEFA Cup coverage. However, the Ryder Cup organisers, the European
Tour, said such a move would cause confusion for viewers. Sky Sports 2
is not yet available to ONdigital viewers.
VNU, the publishing company, has disposed of its 9.5% stake in
Scoot.com, the telephone and internet directory company, for about
pounds 20m.
John O’Loan has taken over as acting managing director of National
Geographic Channel Europe, responsible for managing operations in
Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Israel. Previously
O’Loan was director of network services at Star TV.
Regional Independent Media Group titles, the Yorkshire Evening Post and
The Gazette, Blackpool, moved from broadsheet to tabloid formats from
September 20. The Gazette also launched a new Monday sports supplement
and upgraded its entertainment and business coverage. A move into
interactive services is also expected.
Capital Radio has formed a partnership with the Millennium Experience
Company, operator of the Dome and the Millennium Festival. The deal
offers branding and promotional opportunities, beginning with a new
promotion on Capital Radio in support of the start of ticket sales to
the Dome from September 20.
The Radio Times has been redesigned to reflect a changing broadcast
environment and make the title easier to use. The new look will be
supported by an ad campaign next month, using radio and posters through
Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy.
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