UTV MEDIA
For our task of the day, I have decided to work with Jake Barrett and research UTV, owners of The Wolf Radio Station, Talk Sport, Signal 1 and Tower FM.
UTV Media (Plc) is one of the most successful media companies in the UK and Ireland incorporating Radio, Television, New Media and Publishing. The chief executive is John MCcain who joined in 1983 as a financial controller. He became Managing Director on 1 October 1999.
UTV Radio is now the Group’s fastest growing division with 21 radio stations. UK radio assets include our national radio station talkSPORT, 13 local radio stations as well as interests in eight of the UK’s digital radio multiplexes. UTV is also the largest radio player in Ireland with stations broadcasting from Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Drogheda.
UTV TVs part of the ITV network. A strong network schedule coupled with ever-popular regional programming, makes UTV one of the most powerful mediums in the country.
It has the highest penetration of all media in Northern Ireland, with more than 90% of the population reached over a 4 week period and UTV is also available in 76% of homes in the Republic of Ireland. This makes UTV unbeatable for those companies with a total Ireland perspective.
Domestic programmes are at the heart of this competitive strength and for this reason most are scheduled in peak viewing times. During the year they consistently attract large audiences and further extend the already substantial lead on the main competition.
Regulated by Ofcom, UTV programming adheres to the highest standards in broadcasting.
UTV operates in the most competitive television market in the UK and remains the first choice for viewers in Northern Ireland with an impressive 28.1% share of peaktime viewing in 2010.
HISTORY
UTV was formed in November 1958 after the appointment by the Independent Television Authority as Programme Contractor for Northern Ireland. The Company was incorporated as Ulster Television on 17th February 1959 and on 31st October 1959, UTV went “on the air” when Sir Lawrence Olivier delivered its first official broadcast. UTV has held the Independent Television Licence for Northern Ireland ever since.
UTV was the first indigenous broadcaster in Ireland and is now available throughout Northern Ireland and in 70% of homes in the Republic.
The continued success of its broadcasting over the years has been the result of strong programming. UTV is an integral part of everyday life in Ireland, North and South. Many household names made their first appearances on UTV including Eamonn Holmes, Gloria Hunniford and Paddy Kielty.
New Media
UTV’s first diversification was into the provision of internet services when it acquired Direct Net Access (later re-launched as UTV Internet) on 2 March 2000. This business has maintained strong growth facilitated by the continual introduction of innovative products to customers in Ireland.
In August 2004 UTV Internet introduced UTV Talk, the first and most competitive telephone service of its kind in Ireland, offering free evening and weekend calls from anywhere in Ireland to anywhere in Ireland or the UK.
In February 2008 UTV acquired Tibus, a leading all Ireland web development company. The team at Tibus specialises in providing online services for clients across a broad range of business sectors and central and local government. Tibus was founded in 1996 and employs 30 people at its offices in Belfast.
In recent years UTV New Media has established a strong digital presence across three core content portals for jobs, cars and property in Northern Ireland. In February 2009 UTV acquired Recruit NI and in September 2009 UTV set up UTV Drive. September 2010 saw UTV acquire 50% of PropertyPal.com. This technology led company had already established itself as one of the leading online property portals in Northern Ireland.
Radio
The acquisition of County Media Limited in Cork in April 2001 was an important first step into the Irish radio market. This company holds two licences which broadcast as Cork’s 96fm and C103 and also owns the radio adverting sales house, UTV Radio Solutions.
UTV acquired Limerick’s Live95fm on 24 June and Dublin’s Q102 on 20 December 2002.
In February 2005, UTV completed the acquisition of Louth/Meath’s LMFM and the following month the company was awarded the new FM radio licence for Belfast and the surrounding area from Ofcom. U105 went on air on 14 November 2005.
On 10 April 2008, UTV acquired FM104 the leading commercial radio station in Dublin.
UTV is a major player in radio in Ireland with a strong local focus and a commitment to the development of the Irish broadcasting market as a whole.
UTV Radio
UTV acquired The Wireless Group (TWG) in June 2005, comprising of talkSPORT, the UK’s number one commercial speech radio station, a number of independent radio stations, as well as stakes in 9 of the UK’s digital radio multiplexes.
UTV also acquired the remaining shares of Juice FM in September 2005.
UTV acquired 50% of First Radio Sales in September 2005.
In June 2008 talkSPORT became the first UK radio station to create a weekly digital online magazine, talkSPORT.net.
June 2009 saw UTV Media (GB) acquire Sport magazine, a high quality weekly free sporting magazine distributed at London’s tube and mainline rail stations and at gyms and offices throughout the country which was re-launched by UTV.
Following the acquisition of Sport magazine, UTV launched UTV Pitch in June 2009 bringing together the sales teams for talkSPORT, Sport and talkSPORT.net under one umbrella to manage its expanding interests in sports related media.
2011 Interim accounts
Financial highlights on continuing operations
- Pre-tax profits up by 15% to £10.9m (2010: £9.5m)
- Group operating profit up by 4% to £12.8m (2010: £12.3m)
- £14.2 m (18%) reduction in net debt over 12 months to £63.1m (2010: £77.3m)
- Group revenue maintained at £59.1m (2010: £58.8m) post World Cup
- Net finance costs down 32% to £1.8m (2010: £2.7m)
- Diluted adjusted earnings per share up by 16% to 8.64p (2010: 7.44p)
- Proposed interim dividend of 1.5p (2010: 1.00p)
Operational highlights and prospects
- Strong market outperformance across both Radio and Television
- Revenues maintained in GB Radio despite the tough comparatives of the 2010 World Cup
- Irish Radio Revenues down by 4% in difficult market conditions with an associated profit decline of £0.2m in the first six months
- Television advertising revenue up by 4% compared to the ITV Network which was flat
- Total operating costs largely unchanged from last year with increased GB Radio content costs offset by reduced World Cup and overhead costs
- Continued significant debt reduction created by strong cash management, with 2.0 times Net Debt:EBITDA anticipated by year end
- Third quarter advertising revenue compared to the same period last year is anticipated to increase by 3%
The BBC
THE BBC
“Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation”
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a country owned service viewed all over the world by millions of people everyday.BBC was the first national station in the world, founded in October 1922. All £4.3 Billion of the BBC’s funding comes from the tax payer and this covers television, radio, iPlayer and the website.
The BBC finished broadcasting as the war started and was off air for 7 years until Winston Churchill made his famous first speech to launch the bbc and Britain back to normal life. After this shows started to appear like Zoo Quest, Blue Peter and Daily news bulletins.
In 1969 the first ever purpose built TV center was opened. BBC Television Center was state of the art and a revolution in the history of TV broadcast. With iconic features that have lasted until this year as it has been decided all of the legendary memories will be forgotten as the BBC moves from TV center for Manchester.
This was a quick overview of the BBC and as the service is moving and creating a new chapter im sure there will be many new stars born in the walls of the new TV Center.
Richard Branson
Me and Jake worked on this research together and this is what we found:
AKA: Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson
Born: 11-Jul 1950
Birthplace: London, England
Gender: Male
Religion: Unavailable
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Business
Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Founder and CEO of Virgin
Richard Charle Nicholas Branson was born in 1950 and is best known for his global empire of over 400 companies including the well known Virgin brand. He started as an entrepreneur with the record business when he was just 16 years old and started up a school magazine ‘Student’ which included adverts for the best records at the time. He ran this from his local church crypt.
Branson began the series of changes that led to large-scale discounting of recorded music as he was selling records for a considerable amount cheaper than ‘High Street’ retailers. In 1971, Branson was hit by a bombshell as he was questioned as to if Virgin records were using declared export stock. However, Branson was quick to act therefore the matter was never taken to court as he paid any unpaid tax as well as a fine and his mother re-mortgaged the family home to help with the money.
Branson and Nik Powell launched Virgin records and he was able to buy himself an estate. In the estate he installed a recording studio of which he rented out to artists to record their albums. Artists included Mike Oldfield with his chart topping best-seller ‘Tubular Bells’. In 1992, to keep his airline company afloat, Branson sold the Virgin label to EMI for £500 million!
Richard Branson global diversification business includes companies such as well known
Virgin Records (1973) – Went over to the US in 1987
Virgin Vision (1983) – later to become Virgin Communications, is formed to distribute films and videos in the television and broadcasting sector.
Virgin Games (1983)
Virgin Atlantic Airways (1984)
Virgin Holidays (1985)
Virgin sets up 525 (1987)- a post production facility in LA to work on high-end commercials and pop videos.
Virgin Airship & Balloon Company (1987)
Virgin Megastores (1988)
Virgin Broadcasting (1988)
Virgin Trains (1993)
Virgin Radio (1993)
Virgin Vodka and Virgin Cola (1994)
Virgin Express (1996)
Formed from European short-haul airline Euro Belgian Airlines
Virgin Cosmetics (1997)
Virgin Mobile (1998)
Virgin Australia (2000) – Began as Virgin Blue
Virgin Cars (2000)
Virgin Merged with SN Brussels Airlines forming Brussels Airlines (2006)
Virgin Nigeria (2006)
Virgin Fuel (2006)
Virgin Media (2007)
Virgin America (2007)
Virgin Healthcare (2008)
The list just goes on!
As we can clearly see, Mr Branson certainly has his head screwed on and has probably never had a minute to rest. He claims that everything you do must be for the people and that you should start off with a blank canvas, filling in every single bit of detail step by step to create a masterpiece. When the canvas is complete, you know you are successful when you step back and it shines at you. (I learnt this information from watching an interview with him posted in June 2011)
Sir Richard Branson is a huge inspiration to me especially when referring back to the quote right at the beginning of this article.
“My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them…from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it”.
This shows how he believes nothing is impossible and as long as you work to your full potential and challenge yourself, anything is achievable. A great message that I believe we should all learn from.
Rupert Murdoch
AKA Keith Rupert Murdoch
Born: 11-Mar-1931
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Gender: Male
Religion: Christian
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Business
Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Founder and CEO of News Corp
Companies
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Scandals:
My Infomation:
Rupert Murdock the most powerful man in media and the 24th most powerful man in the world. This man controls most of the worlds newspapers, broadcasting companies, and social networks.
Dan Guest Music 