Local WhatsApp group started by two mothers concerned about online safety attracts more than 4,000 members More than 4,000 parents have joined a group committed to barring young children from having smartphones, as concerns grow about online safety and the impact of social media on mental health. The WhatsApp group Smartphone Free Childhood was created…

RedBird IMI has agreed to acquire All3Media, the independent television production and distribution company, from its joint owners – Warner Bros Discovery and Liberty Global – for £1.15 billion (€1.35bn). RedBird IMI is a joint venture between RedBird Capital Partners and International Media Investments focused on building companies in media, entertainment and sports. All3Media, based…

SkyShowtime has announced the introduction of a new ad-supported plan – Standard with Ads – which will be offered alongside its existing plan, now renamed Standard Plus. Standard with Ads will include advertising at a cheaper subscription price, while Standard Plus remains ad-free. Standard with Ads will be available from April 23rd across all of…

Virgin Media O2 together with its shareholders, Liberty Global and Telefónica, have initiated plans to create a national fixed network company (NetCo) that that they say will “underpin full fibre take up and roll out; provide new financing optionality and a platform for potential altnet consolidation opportunities; and establish the biggest dedicated fixed network challenger…

Roku has reported more than 80 million active accounts and counting as consumers continue to move to TV streaming. Viewer engagement on Roku is also at a record high; for the first time, more than 100 billion hours were streamed on the platform in 2023, averaging a record of 4.1 hours per day per account…

Virgin Media O2 has reported that 2023 transaction adjusted revenue increased 5.2 per cent year-on-year to £10.9 billion (€10.1bn) excluding the year-on-year impact of nexfibre construction. Total mobile revenue increased by 0.6 per cent to £5.9 billion as consistent service revenue growth was partially offset by low-margin handset revenue performance which weakened through the year.…

Eutelsat, helped by initial revenues from its OneWeb constellation, is returning to top-line growth, says CEO Eva Berneke. However, its Video division is still under pressure and suffered a 9.5 per cent decline for the half-year to December 31st 2023. But revenues for its Mobile division showed further impressive growth (up 27.2 per cent). Total…

Azhar Ali’s parroting of anti-Israel conspiracy theories is not a warning just for Labour – there’s a lesson in it for everyone What kind of idiot falls for a conspiracy theory? Somebody gullible, you might imagine: at best someone vulnerable or mentally unwell, and at worst someone actively malicious. But mostly, to be blunt, not…

Azhar Ali’s parroting of anti-Israel conspiracy theories is not a warning just for Labour – there’s a lesson in it for everyone What kind of idiot falls for a conspiracy theory? Somebody gullible, you might imagine: at best someone vulnerable or mentally unwell, and at worst someone actively malicious. But mostly, to be blunt, not…

Azhar Ali’s parroting of anti-Israel conspiracy theories is not a warning just for Labour – there’s a lesson in it for everyone What kind of idiot falls for a conspiracy theory? Somebody gullible, you might imagine: at best someone vulnerable or mentally unwell, and at worst someone actively malicious. But mostly, to be blunt, not…