Ofcom should have final say on media takeovers, say peers

Committee says final decision on plurality issues should rest with regulator rather than secretary of stateA Lords committee has called for politicians to be stripped of the power to have the final say on large media deals, following the heavily criticised process surrounding News Corporation's £8bn bid to take full control of BSkyB.The House of Lords communications committee report on media plurality, published on Tuesday, also says the BBC should be included in any assessment for the first time, as should the impact of newspaper websites and digital outlets such as the Huffington Post, Google News, Facebook and Twitter.Lord Inglewood, the committee's chair, said the industry regulator Ofcom should have the final say on plurality and competition issues surrounding any major media deal."Issues surrounding media plurality have come under the policy spotlight during the present parliament, after concerns were raised about the proposed (and subsequently abandoned) purchase of BSkyB by News Corporation," Inglewood said. "Responsibility for reconciling plurality and competition assessments of transactions and for reaching a final decision should rest with the Ofcom board, not the secretary of state."The government's handling of an investigation into Rupert Murdoch's attempt to increase his stake in BSkyB from 39.1% to full control in 2010/2011 attracted widespread criticism.Vince Cable, the business secretary, was stripped of responsibility for weighing the ramifications of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hoffman Media to Cease Publishing Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Magazine

Semi-Homemade, the magazine of Food Network celebrity chef Sandra Lee, will no longer be published by Birmingham, Alabama-based Hoffman Media following its January/February 2012 issue. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder Blog: Many Online Book Buyers First Shop Around in Stores

According to a survey, 24 percent of people who said they had bought books from an online retailer in the last month also said they had seen the book in a brick-and-mortar bookstore first. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder Blog: Time Warner Picks New Head for Time Inc. Magazine Unit

The selection of Laura Lang, the head of the digital ad agency Digitas, would add online expertise to the country’s largest magazine publisher. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ad Network Offers Rich Media To Niche Publishers

Martini Media, which serves a network of 1,000 publisher sites in lifestyle and business, is launching a series of multimedia advertising programs including bringing rich media to niche sites. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google+ Pages to Test Third-Party Social Media Tools

A week after unveiling Google+ pages for brands and businesses, Google has invited a handful of social media management companies to test integration of Google+ in their tools. The six companies—HooteSuite, Buddy Media, Involver, Hearsay Social, Context Optional, and Vitrue—will be able to offer... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dwell First Media Company to Partner with E-Commerce Platform OpenSky

“We believe contextualized commerce is the future,” says Michela O’Connor Abrams, president and publisher of Dwell. “We believe everybody, no matter from which point they’re starting, now is going in that direction.” Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attic Brand Media falls into administration after 22 years

Attic Brand Media, the customer and consumer magazine publisher behind Kick and National Geographic Kids, has fallen into administration after 22 years, according to sources. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TBD needs "freedom" post Amazon takeover - IPG

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 13:55 The Independent Publishers Guild has accepted the OFT’s decision to clear the merger of Amazon and The Book Depository, but called on Amazon to “work hard” with its members to allay their concerns. Following a survey, IPG... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Australian competition body backs TBD takeover

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 08:25 The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has joined the UK's Office of Fair Trading in giving the go-ahead to Amazon's acquisition of the Book Depository. In its ruling, it said "the proposed acquisition was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WTWH Media Launches Solar Power World Magazine

Business-to-business media company WTWH Media, LLC isn’t afraid of the uncertainty surrounding the magazine market place—the company is launching a new title this month called Solar Power World magazine in an effort to expand its portfolio. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Another Editorial Shift Change For SPIN Media

SPIN Media announced three new changes to its editorial staff: Caryn Ganz as online editor-in-chief, Christopher R. Weingarten as senior editor and David Bevan as associate editor. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: Media M&A Flat Through Third Quarter

A media M&A report for the first three quarters is out from M&A advisory firm the Jordan, Edmiston Group and transaction volume is about equal to the same period 2010, with value up by 10 percent to about $35 billion. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Super Thursday fans media coverage

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Thu, 29/09/2011 - 09:37 Super Thursday has begun with a welter of press coverage about one of the busiest days in the publishing calendar. Today, 225 hardbacks hit shops including titles by Jamie Oliver, Alan Partridge, James Corden and Robert Harris.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Study Shows Only 38.4 Percent of Digital Media Users Engage with Mag Content

As publishers prep for the next big tablet hope (Amazon is set to release its much-awaited tablet device on Wednesday), a new survey released from global business advisory firm FTI Consulting, Inc. details how digital media users (including tablet users and non-tablet users) are engaging with... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Summit Business Media Sells Off Highline Data

Summit Business Media has sold Highline Data--its insurance information services unit--to SNL Financial LC. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Glam Media Buys Ning for Social Push

Glam Media has just acquired Ning, the build-your-own-social-network startup co-founded by Netscape creator Marc Andreessen. Glam is best known for building Web properties and an ad network targeting women, and it says it now reaches more than 200 million monthly users. Last month, it announced... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Glam Media Acquires Ning

Glam Media, a lifestyle and fashion blog network, has acquired Ning, a platform for building social media communities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports are putting the price in the $150 million to $200 million range and mostly in stock. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are You a Media Company or a Technology Company?

Let’s start with two truths. First, publishers need cutting-edge technology to hook an audience through today’s digital media channels of the Web, mobile, social, and search. And, second, the breakthrough technology can’t just be about product design -- it’s got to go beyond to create... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penton Acquires IT Publisher Nine Lives Media

In a move to grow its Technology Group, Penton Media has acquired Nine Lives Media. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Magazines Betting Big on Social Media

As their readers are spending more time online, publishers are trying to make social networking work for their advertisers. With a program launching Sept. 1, Marie Claire is betting that if readers are fans of the magazine, they will like its advertisers, too. Timed to coincide with the key... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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