9m including an exceptional gain of £18 It has since emerged that Fowler and his team-mate Steve McManaman tried to "gag" the tabloid at the High Court in Manchester to stop it revealing that the pair had allegedly "coaxed" a girl into "a sick roasting session" later that night.Whatever the truth of the matter, there is little doubt that football could do with better PR. Many in football say coverage of players' private lives has become a bloodsport. After seeing his (married) star striker Robbie Fowler pictured in the News of the World this month, partying in a club and cavorting with a mystery blonde, the Manchester City manager, Kevin Keegan, accused the press of "conducting a vendetta" against footballers. I know from my own experience as the players' spokesman that quotes are often fabricated." In a thinly veiled reference to the Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand's mobile-phone bills being published by a Sunday tabloid, he adds pointedly: "When players have their private and confidential things splattered on the front page, then no wonder they clam up."He has a point The front pages have been cruel recently And each side blames the other. journalists feel they can hire them and fire them when top players are paid that kind of money." Puffing on a cigarette, Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, is talking about the battering his sport has taken from the media. "It really is have-a-go-at-football time at the moment," he says. Why does he think that is? "I'll get shot down for saying this, but there's a jealousy of young men who are doing well, earning those reported big wages... Puffing on a cigarette, Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, is talking about the battering his sport has taken from the media. They've gone in there, made some changes and are in the process of turning it around, and it will come in on budget - and that's been a concern." He thought, however, that the books division would eventually be sold.. Chrysalis estimates radio industry growth in the period was about 3 per cent.City analysts described the numbers yesterday as in line with forecasts, but were particularly impressed by the performance of Chrysalis' books division, even though revenues at the loss-making unit fell 9.3 per cent in the period to £30.7m.Patrick Yau, an analyst at Bridgewell Securities, said: "The positive thing for me was the books business.
Pre-tax profits jumped to £23.9m - including an exceptional gain of £18.6m, mainly to cover the sale of the TV arm - from £5.8m a year before.Group sales rose 4.5 per cent in the year to £246m, including a 14.1 per cent jump in radio revenues to £56.1m. Heart 106.2 overtook its rival Capital Radio last month to become London's most listened-to commercial station, a position held by Capital for 30 years.One analyst said yesterday: "The advertisers will now look at the radio sector in London and realise they are paying 20 per cent more to be on Capital but can get the same audience on Chrysalis."There was also good news on the balance sheet as the company benefited from the sale of its TV arm in the year to 31 August. Chrysalis, the owner of the London radio station Heart 106.2, said its profits had more than quadrupled yesterday as it predicted its radio arm would continue to outstrip industry growth. The Independent has been voted one of Europe's leading innovators for its new compact edition in the 2003 European Newspaper Awards, the continent's top design awards. The judges recognised the newspaper's bold and distinctive look with Awards for Excellence for four of its news section front pages - more than any other newspaper in Europe - as well as the Review, Traveller and features sections.The Independent on Sunday's Life Etc section was also a winner in the supplement category.. But bidders such as The Washington Post and The New York Times will also be eyeing theTelegraph, as well as private equity buyers, who may prove more acceptable to the Labour Government.. A combination of the Mail and The Daily Telegraph would enjoy huge commercial benefits, and pose a massive threat to Mr Murdoch's News International, which also owns The Sunday Times, The Sun and the News of the World.The Mail and Telegraph together would still have a smaller share of the UK newspaper market than News International, so that could be allowed. So Mr Desmond is likely to profit, whatever happens.Far more palatable to Telegraph readers and journalists is Lord Rothermere's Daily Mail. If the Telegraph ownership changes, Mr Desmond has the automatic right to buy the 50 per cent he does not own. Any new owner of the Telegraph would have to negotiate a new printing contract with Mr Desmond That is likely to prove highly expensive. Building a new plant for the Telegraph, would be too expensive for any potential bidder. |
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