The latest from Nieman, DigiDay, Poynter, Mumbrella, Recode, and more
Main Content
Events
- Colin Morrison - 22 February 2019
‘Easyfairs for sale’
After two years of intensifying M&A, another of the world’s leading exhibitions groups, the Brussels-based Easyfairs, is believed to be up for sale. The private company owns 218 events in 18 countries across Europe, the UK, China, Russia, UAE, and the US. It is estimated to have revenues of some €180m and EBITDA of €35m….
News brands
- Colin Morrison - 15 February 2019
Will FT buy The Information?
The Nikkei-owned, UK-based Financial Times is believed to be negotiating to acquire or invest in The Information, the subscription-based digital media company founded by Jessica Lessin in 2013. The Information derives some 90% of its revenue from subscriptions (the rest from events) and more than 10,000 subscribers pay $399 for a service which now employs…
B2B
- Colin Morrison - 13 February 2019
B2B back to the future?
It is over 70 years since Norman Cahners, the legendary US creator of B2B magazines and trade shows, introduced the world to ‘controlled circulation’. The concept of qualifying free circulation and ads-supported publishing came to account for so much of the growth in the 20th century heyday of B2B magazines, especially in the US and…
Latest MediaDeals
‘Easyfairs for sale’
Exhibitions. After two years of intensifying M&A, another of the world’s leading exhibitions groups, the Brussels-based Easyfairs, is believed to be up for sale. The private company owns 218 events in 18 countries across Europe, the UK, China, Russia, UAE, and the US. It is estimated to have revenues of some €180m and EBITDA of…
Hearst looks for life after magazines
Magazines. Hearst Magazines, of the US, has acquired the Clevver YouTube news channels aimed at millennial women, which self-describes as “the intersection of pop culture and internet culture”. The channels were owned by the now-defunct Defy Media which once boasted almost $50m revenue. The deal brings together Clevver’s claimed audience of over 15m subscribers (or…
Comexposium buys Indonesia Motorcycle Show
Exhibitions. France-owned Comexposium, the world’s sixth largest exhibitions group, has acquired IMOS, claimed to be the largest motorcycle show in Indonesia, which has been held every two years since 2014. It will be managed in a joint venture with Amara Pameran. Transaction terms were not disclosed. Amara Group manages over 20 trade exhibitions, seminars and consumer events,…
“I always open Flashes & Flames in eager anticipation of the excellent insight that Colin Morrison brings to any of his topics.”
Denzil Rankine, Executive Chairman, AMR International
“Thank goodness for Flashes & Flames which has a wealth of detail and anecdote that I just don’t find elsewhere. There are hundreds of blogs giving opinions about what the media should be doing to survive. Flashes & Flames is one of the rare ones that actually tells you the story about what the media is doing.”
David Sillito, Media Correspondent, BBC News
“Flashes & Flames is an invaluable resource – providing unparalleled insight into what’s going on behind the scenes in media as well as what might be around the corner. Colin Morrison’s unique knowledge of the media landscape makes this site a must-read.”
Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO, Future Plc
“Colin Morrison really knows his way round the media landscape. Both what happened and what might happen. His ideas and insights are fascinating.”
Roger Parry, Chairman, YouGov, and MSQ Partners
“Flashes & Flames is without a doubt the best media blog I read. It has a combination of great insight and great writing that are unbeatable and could only be accomplished by a former senior media executive and former journalist (all rolled into one to get the blogger, Colin Morrison)”
Reed Phillips, Managing Partner, Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips
“Flashes & Flames is one of the most insightful media blogs anywhere, offering insights that go far deeper than the usual analysis. I always make sure I read Colin Morrison’s pieces”
Ian Whittaker, Head of European Media Research, Liberum Capital
“Recommended reading for anyone in the media business.”
James Hewes, President, FIPP global media network
“Flashes & Flames is required reading for everyone who’s interested in the business of media. Well-researched and packed with useful facts and clever observations, it’s an invaluable source of insight in a dynamic and changing media environment.”
Mike Soutar, Chairman and co-founder, Shortlist Media Ltd
“As a growing media business, Flashes & Flames is my number one, go-to source for analysis and insight into what is happening in this crazy and exciting media landscape. It’s reliable, current and inspirational – a real service to the media industry.”
Ian McAuliffe, CEO, Think Publishing Ltd
“Flashes & Flames is the most inspiring media blog I ever read. It’s a mix of inspiring insights and deep analysis provided by one of the most brilliant experts. It’s a must-read in our fast moving media industry.”
Arnaud de Puyfontaine, President/CEO, Vivendi SA
“A welcome read in a world all too often awash with snippets and soundbites.”
Daryl Rayner, Managing Director, Exact Editions
“There are commentators who understand media, and commentators who understand business. Colin Morrison gets both, and that’s why he’s my ‘go to’ blogger. In uncertain times, we need people with level heads and clear vision.”
Richard Desmond, Chairman, Northern & Shell Plc
“Flashes & Flames is packed with deep analysis and is one of my very few must-reads about our industry.”
Neil Thackray, Co-founder AgriBriefing Ltd
“Colin Morrison uses his authoritative and entertaining voice to critique the media industry. He is an insightful and entertaining mind in a wobbly industry, and Flashes & Flames serves as a forceful watchdog.”
Tony Silber, Vice President of Content, Folio
Explore Flashes & Flames
MediaDeals
Our guide to upcoming and done deals - and what they mean - every Friday
Our favourite sites
Our biased selection of fact-filled websites we find useful - and you might too
Highlights from Flashes & Flames
Who said print media was dead?
Let’s get it straight: newspapers and magazines will not be killed off by online media. But there will certainly be some deaths. Many titles will eventually close, many more will have to accept much lower levels of profitability, but some traditional publishers will be able to create substantial digital businesses, quite different from their existing…
Gina Rinehart may soon be world’s richest person – and is into media
Australians frequently refer to their nation’s “two speed” economy, which emphasises the commodities boom that has kept recession away for 20 years and counting. It also helps to explain the rising importance of the mining economies of Western Australia and Queensland in a country long dominated by the ‘old’ south eastern cities of Sydney and Melbourne,…
