Sunday Round Up: The X Factor, Co-Op, BSkyB, News Corporation, Specsavers
This week's Sunday Round up includes the fortune of the founder of Specsavers, speculation surrounding the impending News Corporation takeover of BSkyB and the host of The X Factor in the US.
BSkyB investors expect to receive a dividend of £2.5bn should the takeover bid by News Corporation fail. According to The Sunday Telegraph, the special dividend is expected to be paid within the next 18 months should the takeover not proceed.
The Independent on Sunday also carries a story covering the takeover bid by News Corporation, which is expected to be given the go ahead by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt this week, although apparently the share price for the Satellite broadcaster had highlighted doubts about the deal taking place.
According to The Sunday Times Rich List, Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins has become the UK’s first self made billionaire. Perkins, according to the list, is apparently worth £1.1 billion, joining the list of 73 billionaires in Britain.
Apparently digital art is in danger of becoming extinct as scientists have been unable to preserve their work due to the fast pace of its evolution. The Observer reports that scientists from the School of Creative Technologies at Portsmouth University are attempting to preserve the more complex works of digital art from ‘oblivion’.
The Co-Operative Group could be set to wage war against British Gas as it begins experimenting with supplying to customers in the Midlands. The Observer claims that the company has begun to trial domestic energy supply following an agreement made with regulator Ofgem.
Former T4 presenter Steve Jones looks set to be unveiled as the presenter of The X Factor in the US according to a tweet by DJ Edith Bowman. The Mail on Sunday says that Bowman congratulated Jones on bagging the role, thought to be earmarked for UK host Dermoy O’Leary, and hinted that he would be presenting alongside Pussy Cat doll Nicole Scherzinger.