Morning Bulletin: Tesco in pricing spat with Unilever, BBC dodges pay rules and eSports bonanza
This morning’s bulletin delves into the world of eSports which look set to benefit from a new partnership with Vivendi to broadcast matches around the globe. We also look at how the BBC may have evaded a government push to reveal star pay and a public pricing spat between Tesco and Unilever.
A dispute between Tesco and Unilever over wholesale pricing has seen a host of famous brands such as Marmite, PG Tips and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream taken off the retailer’s website after the manufacturer reportedly demanded a 10 per cent price increase due to the depreciating value of the pound.
Digital ad spending is forecast to reach parity with linear TV in the US by 2017 according to the latest forecast to be compiled by Magna, with both sectors reckoned to be worth $68bn by that date.
The Guardian reveals that the government has beaten a retreat over plans to force the BBC to reveal the pay of its highest paid stars as the newly independent BBC Studios will fall outwith the ‘full named disclosure’ rule.
Business Insider meanwhile picks up on plans by Vivendi to make e-sports a ‘global force’ through the broadcast of esports leagues by Canal Plus, one of Europe’s largest broadcasters with 14m subscribers in France, Africa, Poland and Vietnam.
Videogame outlet Game has suffered a collapse in pre-tax profits of 84 per cent according to Retail Week, a disappointing result which group head Martyn Gibbs attributes to an ‘undoubtedly tough’ year.
Comedian Mark Gatiss has teased a League of Gentlemen return to the small screen by setting the dark comedy in a post-Brexit Britain, polishing up fondly remembered staples such as the ‘local shop, for local people’ and Michael Gove lookalike Edward.
Twitter is reportedly making moves toward replacing Moments with an ‘explore’ tab on its mobile software according to The Verge, a bid to aid content and news discovery by placing greater emphasis on breaking news and big events.
AdWeek draws its attention to a new Intel spot starring Big Bang Theories Jim Parsons and retired Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps, the latter of whom reprises his ‘Phelps face’ trademark scowl under the direction of mcgarrybowen to discount laptops stuck in the slow lane.
Matt Pearson, Sports Direct’s chief financial officer, is to leave his job – less than a month after chief executive Dave Forsey headed out the door amidst a management shakeout at the retailer.
Dating apps have begun courting older users aged 30 plus in a bid to maximise revenues in the knowledge that this demographic is more likely to pay for services, states the Wall Street Journal. Tinder, Happn SAS and The League App are amongst those to embrace the shift.