MAM
TV most preferred medium in the UK: BSkyB survey
LONDON: Most of the UK consumers would be unwilling to give up television – the most preferred news and entertainment medium in the country. These are the findings of the independent research done for the News Corp owned British Sky Broadcasting.
The survey of UK’s consumers completed by ICM found that 56 per cent use television as their main source of news, and 77 per cent feel the TV is more entertaining than national newspapers or radio.
When asked which medium they “could not do without,” more than twice as many people said TV than the national press or radio, the survey found.
The research also suggested that the popularity of television programming is matched by viewers’ preference of TV commercials over other types of advertising. Consumers are 13 times more likely to identify TV advertisements as the most “entertaining, interesting or enjoyable” in preference to ads in newspapers or on the radio.
TV ads, says the ICM research, also deliver a stronger call to action than those in other media: 56 per cent of consumers say they are most likely to respond to TV ads compared with the national press (24 per cent) or radio (four per cent).
Brands
Buffett bets on The New York Times, cuts Amazon stake
Berkshire invests $352 million in NYT, trims tech, and backs insurance, energy and consumer stocks.
OMAHA: Warren Buffett is famously a creature of habit, but his latest portfolio shake-up suggests even the world’s most patient investor knows when to change the channel. In a move that has sent the media world into a frenzy, Berkshire Hathaway has officially checked into The New York Times while largely checking out of Amazon.
Buffett’s firm snapped up roughly 5.1 million shares in The New York Times Company, a stake valued at a cool $352 million. The Buffett effect was immediate: shares in the publishing giant jumped more than 10 per cent as investors scrambled to follow the leader.
While Buffett offloaded his traditional local newspapers back in 2020, this isn’t a nostalgic trip to the printing press. The New York Times is now a digital powerhouse, fueled by a buffet of subscriptions covering everything from breaking news to Wordle and recipes. It seems the sage of Omaha still has an appetite for businesses with pricing power and a loyal following.
Berkshire slashed its holdings in Amazon by nearly 75 per cent during the final quarter of the year. Once a rare foray into the world of big tech for Buffett, the firm now holds a relatively modest 2.3 million shares. The pruning did not stop there, as other household names also saw a haircut. Apple was reduced to a 1.5 per cent position, while Bank of America was trimmed to 7.1 per cent, signalling a broader pullback from some of its large financial and technology bets.
So, where is the money going? It appears Buffett is heading back to basics, favoring sectors that can weather a storm. Berkshire boosted its positions in Chubb, doubling down on the steady world of insurance; Chevron, fueling up on energy; and Domino’s Pizza, a classic consumer bet that delivers even when the economy doesn’t.
By pivoting toward resilient industries and subscription-heavy media, Berkshire is returning to its roots: finding companies that people simply cannot live without, whether they are hungry for a slice of pepperoni or the morning headlines.
