Sunday Round Up: Facebook, Disney, Charlie Sheen, BBC, Dennis the Menace,
An eclectic mixture of news this Sunday morning in the media and marketing world, covering the media's involvement in the break down of Charlie Sheen, new marketing plans for Mickey Mouse, and Heineken to lower the alcohol content of one of its famous brands.
Peter Thiel, co-creator of PayPal and investor has told The Sunday Telegraph that Facebook is worth $150bn. Thiel, who is also an investor in the social networking site, invested around $500,000 into Facebook when it had only 1m users.
The Sunday Telegraph also carries a story featuring Disney and its search for new marketing partners as it looks to take popular character Mickey Mouse into new markets. The UK arm of Disney is expected to announce the search for new marketing partners at the end of the month.
According to The Sunday Times, the BBC has ‘plugged’ its pension black hole with £750m. The corporation reported a deficit of £1,5bn in its pension scheme last year, and saw NUJ strikes called after it announced controversial plans for future pension funds.
A piece carried in today’s The Observer questions whether the American media is fuelling the very public breakdown of Charlie Sheen. Written by Mark Borkowski and Oliver James, the piece questions just how much control the media has over the continued outbursts by the star, who is operating with professional PR advice.
Heineken has agreed to cut the alcohol content of one of its most famous brands having signed up to a Government initiative to improve public heath. According to The Sunday Express, the company has yet to announce which of its brands, which includes Fosters, John Smith’s, Heineken and Kronenbourg, will see the reduction however.
DC Thomson is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of comic book character, Dennis the Menace this week, by allowing the Beano character to meet the American President. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, new Beano editor Mike Stirling revealed that Dennis will cross paths with Barack Obama in an upcoming issue.