Mac the mogul
Article Abstract:
Gus Macdonald, aged 56, has been chairman of Scottish Television (STV) since 1996, following a six-year period as managing director. Observers suggest that the key to Scottish TV's success is the 1995 deal involving programme supplier Flextech, owned by TCI. Macdonald swapped a 20% stake in Scottish TV for a 20% stake in HTV, plus a cash payment of 28 million pounds sterling. In 1996, Scottish TV sold its HTV stake to United news and media for 73.7 million pounds sterling. Macdonald has called for a radical restructuring of the ITV system to give STV greater commercial freedom.
Publication Name: Broadcast
Subject: Mass communications
ISSN: 0040-2788
Year: 1996
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Testing times for Worldwide
Article Abstract:
BBC Director General John Birt is keen to increase the commercial revenues earned through BBC Worldwide as a key element in his plan to maintain the existing range of BBC public services, along with launching a range of new digital free-to-air services. He has set BBC Worldwide the target of tripling by 2006 the 73.5 million pounds sterling paid back to the BBC's public services in 1996 to 1997. Extensive reorganization has been taking place at BBC Worldwide in an effort to produce an increasing revenue stream through more integrated, cross-media sales and marketing work.
Publication Name: Broadcast
Subject: Mass communications
ISSN: 0040-2788
Year: 1998
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Make or break
Article Abstract:
Nick Pollard, aged 46, became head of British Sky Broadcasting's Sky News channel in 1996 and has almost completed his first year in the job. The channel is about to face its toughest battle, with the UK government's approval for BBC News 24, the British Broadcasting Corp.'s UK rolling news channel, to be launched in November 1997. Sky News, with an operating budget of around 27 million pounds sterling a year, made a healthy profit in 1996, but may have to increase its investment to compete with its new rival.
Publication Name: Broadcast
Subject: Mass communications
ISSN: 0040-2788
Year: 1997
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