After 71 years, Ebony magazine is changing hands. Johnson Publishing, the Chicago-based family company that launched Ebony and digest-sized sister magazine Jet in 1945 and 1951, respectively, has sold both titles to Austin-based private equity firm Clear View Group
After more than two decades selling advertising on behalf of the nation’s (USA) biggest newspaper publishers, the Newspaper National Network is closing up shop at the end of this month, the organization announced Tuesday
At the start of 2016, UK television broadcasters were on a roll. Spending on TV advertising had surged more than 7 per cent to £5.3bn in 2015. ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, was looking forward to another strong year — thanks in part to sporting events including the European football championships. But, so far, the TV ad market in 2016 is flat, or just marginally stronger than at the same point last year, according to media agencies. Some industry analysts even believe TV ad spending could fall this year — for the first time since the global financial crisis in 2009.
Time Out tourism city magazine IPO float shares tanked Oakley CapitalTime Out’s stockmarket debut fails to dazzle: One star – needs improvement. That’s likely what the army of writers at Time Out (TMO) would be thinking if they had to review the media group’s stockmarket flotation Tuesday. Shares in the culture and entertainment mag fell 10% on their first day trading on AIM, and questions must surely be asked about the timing, coming as it does amid a major sell-off ahead of the European Union referendum next week
People are increasingly heading to social media such as Facebook for news, making it more difficult for publishers to attract and make money from readers, according to an influential new report
Microsoft is buying the professional social network LinkedIn for $26.2 billion (£18.5bn) in one of the biggest technology deals in history. The news, announced on Monday afternoon, instantly sent LinkedIn’s share price soaring by 50 percent in pre-market trading. The deal will be the biggest in Microsoft’s history. Microsoft’s shares fell 3.5 percent on the news. Microsoft said LinkedIn boss Jeff Weiner would stay in charge and report to Satya Nadella.
It’s been another ‘bad news’ month for UK newspapers. Just a few weeks after Vice founder Shane Smith predicted a media industry “bloodbath”, Britain’s most successful newspaper group DMGT reported a 16% drop in advertising revenue at the Daily Mail in the six months to the end of March. Even the 20% growth at its Mail Online was scant consolation because annual revenue will not reach the £100m targeted for more than two years. Consequently, the world’s largest English language newspaper site remains far from profitable. Daily sales of the UK’s national newspapers have more than halved to 6.5m in the past 15 years and are still falling. But it is the continuing drain of advertising that panics investors.
The German publisher continues to focus on building its digital subscription business with $250m purchase of research company
Ten Alps, trading as Zinc Media, the TV and multimedia content producer, today announces the disposal of the trade of Grove House Publishing Limited (“Grove”), one of its publishing subsidiaries, for a cash consideration of £50,000. Ten Alps will also retain certain assets, including the debtor book and cash in Grove, subject to various completion adjustments.
Time Out, the publisher that recommends things to do in cities from New York to Beijing, has conditionally raised £90m ahead of listing on London’s junior stock market, as it embarks on an ambitious growth plan
Briefing Media today announces the acquisition of Global Data Systems (“GDS”). GDS is the publisher of two market leading intelligence platforms: FeedInfo – the world’s leading source of news and premium intelligence for the meat, biotechnology and animal feed sectors; and FlexNews – a vital news service for senior executives working at multinationals in the global food industry
Capita plc has today announced the acquisition of Health Analytics Ltd, the award-winning Cambridge-based company whose specialist software uses clinical and financial information to support health and social care organisations to make more informed decisions about the care they deliver
Revenue increased by 10 per cent to £281.6m in the 2016 financial year, up from £255.9m in 2015. Operating profit increased by 27 per cent to £169.6m, from £133.1m, and earnings per share grew to 12.67p per share, up from 0.85p per share.This is the first set of full-year results the company has reported since listing on the London Stock Exchange in March last year. The company got off to a good start when it floated, with shares up 13 per cent on the first day of trading – and the stock has continued to perform well since, hitting an all time high in November when the group announced its first dividend.
Always Marketing Services, which is majority-owned by WPP operating company J. Walter Thompson, has acquired Malaysian brand activation agency ePromode Sdn Bhd for an undisclosed sum
The media company moves from one PE firm—the Wicks Group—to another. Northstar’s management team stays in place
The company’s media business continues to wind down as events take over, but a spokesperson tells Folio: that UBM remains committed to its existing media assets
In one of the largest B2B media transactions this year, Northstar Travel Group, which provides a broad array of products in the retail and corporate events markets, was sold from one private-equity firm—the Wicks Group—to another, Wasserstein Partners, Northstar CEO Thomas Kemp said today.
Global PR firm Allison+Partners has joined other global networks increasing their German presence in recent months, with the acquisition of tech-focused Berlin and Munich agency Higher Ground Communications
The bosses of free London newspaper City AM have boasted that they are tearing down the boundaries between editorial and commercial by letting brands post articles directly into their website content management system. I can see why they want to play this up. But actually, I don’t think it is nearly as revolutionary (or as ethically dubious) and some of the things big existing publishers already get up to. Former Independent media editor Ian Burrell has the story for The Drum
Dennis Publishing has announced plans to launch Cyclist magazine in France, home to the largest road cycling market in Europe
