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Latest News [2009] archive from December 2009
| Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from ERT
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all ERT readers and users of ERTonline.co.uk. 23 December 2009 | |
| Firms should get in shape for New Year run of export success, says Minister
With latest figures showing the longest uninterrupted rise in exports in goods since 1995, Lord Davies, Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, is urging UK firms to make a New Year’s resolution to get in shape for a run of export success. | |
| Sky lays into BBC Trust's approval of Project Canvas
Sky has spoken out against the BBC Trust’s provisional approval for the BBC to remain involved in IPTV joint venture Project Canvas. | |
| Samsung buys Amica factories for $76 million
Samsung has bought some of the appliance manufacturing facilities of Polish white goods company Amica for $76 million. 22 December 2009 | |
| DTG welcomes the BBC Trust's consultation on Project Canvas
The Digital TV Group (DTG) has welcomed the publication of the BBC Trust’s latest consultation on Project Canvas, which aims to develop a technical standard for IPTV. | |
| Landlords not delivering on rent reform
Despite the recession, only a small minority of landlords are allowing retailers to switch to paying rents monthly rather than insisting on the archaic practice of quarterly payment upfront. | |
| Project Canvas to get the go ahead from BBC Trust
The BBC Trust will this week give its approval for IPTV joint venture Project Canvas, it has been widely reported today. | |
| NME Radio launches on National DAB
Cutting edge music station NME Radio today announced its launch on National DAB, increasing its availability across the UK. | |
| Drop in the number of failing businesses
The latest Insolvency Index from Experian, the global information services company, has revealed a positive picture in November, as the number of failing businesses continued to fall and the financial strength of businesses improved. | |
| Retail sales figures bode well for Christmas
Reacting to the official retail sales figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released this week, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said retailers are quietly confident of a better Christmas than last year though the official figures confirm total sales values grew more slowly in November than October. | |
| Blu-Ray Disc Association announces final spec for 3D
The Blu-Ray Disc Association has announced the final specification for Blu-ray 3D. | |
| Records broken as John Lewis sales reach £110m
John Lewis enjoyed a phenomenal week, setting a new sales record by outperforming last week's figures by 7 per cent, with total sales of £110m. | |
| Consumers still hungry for flat screen TVs, despite recession
Despite the gloomy economic conditions in Europe, consumers still want the latest flat TVs, according to the latest data from market research company Meko. | |
| Sky to jump on Avatar 3D bandwagon
Sky has announced plans to use the expected upsurge of interest in 3D viewing around James Cameron's Avatar to promote its forthcoming 3D TV channel. | |
| UK at the forefront of digital communications
The UK is one of the world's most advanced countries in terms of digital communications, according to an Ofcom report. | |
| BBC HD service draws complaints
The quality of pictures broadcast on the BBC High Definition (HD) channel have been criticised by viewers who complain of fuzzy and grainy images. | |
| Channel 4 and TalkTalk join Project Canvas
Channel 4 and TalkTalk have joined IPTV venture Project Canvas, with more new partners expected to follow in the near future. | |
| Comet reports smaller half-year loss
Comet has reported continued losses for the past six months, despite a rise in sales. | |
| LG announces ambitious plans for 3D TV market
LG has set an aggressive target of selling 400,000 3D-ready TV sets around the world in 2010 and 3.4 million in 2011, it announced today (Dec 15). | |
| Miele to open new interactive Experience Centre in Manchester
Miele is planning to open a new UK showroom in Cheadle, Manchester that’s similar to its existing Miele Experience Centre in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, where consumers can interact with appliances in ‘live’ kitchens. | |
| New electrical superstore opens in Ilford
A dedicated Sony zone inside RGB’s new 35,000 sq ft electrical superstore in Ilford, Essex was officially opened by Sony UK’s managing director, Steve Dowdle (pictured) last week (December 9), accompanied by RGB’s directors Jason and Dennis Digwa, as well as CEO, Peter Digwa and senior staff members at Sony. | |
| UKTI CES winners attend special briefing day
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the government body supporting British small businesses in international markets, held a special event last week for the ten UK companies who have won the chance to exhibit at CES Unveiled, the annual media showcase which takes place before the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas (Jan 7-10). | |
| Best London retail sales growth for three years
London retail sales in November were the best since October 2006, which bodes well for a good Christmas. | |
| Neff takes to the road
From the beginning of 2010, BSH customer service will be enhancing its fleet with a number of newly designed vehicles dedicated purely to the Neff brand. | |
| Consumers 'ready to reset and start fresh for 2010', claims Mintel
Following this year’s global economic recession, consumers are ready to reset and start fresh for 2010, according to research carried out by Mintel. | |
| HMV announces smaller half-year loss than last year
HMV has reported a smaller half-year loss than last year and has said it is “well prepared” for Christmas. | |
| John Lewis delivers the biggest week in its history
John Lewis achieved the biggest week in its sales history last week, storming across the £100m mark a full two weeks ahead of two years ago, simultaneously smashing budget and the one-and-two year comparables. | |
| Humax reveals results and plans for 2010
Set-top box manufacturer Humax achieved over 70 per cent growth year-on-year in the UK, it announced at a special media preview event yesterday (December 9). 10 December 2009 | |
| Bank keeps rates and QE on hold
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep interest rates at 0.5 per cent. 10 December 2009 | |
| Dyson opens first pop-up shop
Dyson is to open its first pop-up shop today at Kent’s Bluewater shopping centre. 10 December 2009 | |
| Retailers get extra time to change VAT labels
Retailers are to be given four weeks instead of two to update price labels in stores when VAT is raised to 17.5 per cent on January 1. | |
| Pre-Budget Report disappoints
“Madness” is how British Retail Consortium (BRC) director-general Stephen Robertson described the Chancellor’s decision to increase employer and employee National Insurance by another 0.5 per cent from April 2011. 09 December 2009 | |
| Miele opens hands-on showroom
German white-goods maker Miele yesterday opened a showroom with a difference in central London. 09 December 2009 | |
| Non-food prices still lower than a year ago
Although shop prices over all rose marginally in November to 0.2 per cent, those for non-food products were 1.2 per cent down on a year ago. 09 December 2009 | |
| Tesco reports strong growth in electricals
Particularly strong growth in electricals, entertainment and toys was revealed by supermarket giant Tesco. 08 December 2009 | |
| Bristol show nearly sold out
The Bristol Sound & Vision Show, which is due to run from February 26-28 next year, has nearly sold out of exhibition space. 08 December 2009 | |
| Growth in retail sales slows
Like-for-like sales grew by just 1.8 per cent in value last month, disappointing retail chiefs because the comparison was with particularly poor figures in 2008. 08 December 2009 | |
| Shoppers will rush to beat VAT rise
Shoppers will be looking to pick up big-ticket items before the VAT rate goes up again and household and electrical retailers should be among the major beneficiaries. 07 December 2009 | |
| Hitachi to raise £2.4bn in IPO
Hitachi is to raise up to Yen 349.3 billion (around £2.4bn) through a public share offering and a convertible bond issue. | |
| Darling warned on tax rises
A business leader has warned Chancellor Alistair Darling to avoid piling on new business taxes in his Pre-Budget Report. 07 December 2009 | |
| RBS unveils small business charter
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is to establish a small business charter as it attempts to fend off accusations that it’s not doing enough to lend to small and medium-sized businesses. | |
| Project Canvas unveils new website
Joint venture Project Canvas, which aims to create a new open standard for IP-enabled TV devices, has launched an official website to improve lines of communication. | |
| Jessops offers shoppers interest-free credit option
Jessops has launched its new online consumer finance programme, which enables online customers wishing to spend over £250 the ability to apply for between six to 12 months interest-free credit. | |
| Ten British tech companies win CES showcase prize, courtesy of UKTI
When UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the government body supporting British businesses in international markets, announced its competition - in conjunction with media partner ERT - to take ten impressive British businesses to CES 2010 in Las Vegas, it received a host of diverse entries from across the technology industry. | |
| Euronics promotes new web tool on TV
Euronics is back on TV with an advertising campaign that promotes its very first ‘Click and Reserve’ website. | |
| Indie wins Liebherr ERTonline competition
Steve Herbert, sales manager of Walthamstow-based independent Van Haaren, has won the Liebherr BioFresh competition that has been running on ERTonline. | |
| Freeview starts HD transmissions
Freeview has started technical transmissions of high definition broadcasts in readiness for a full commercial launch next spring. 03 December 2009 | |
| SMEs are growing but still need support, says FSB
More than half of businesses have resisted the worst of the recession by innovating, creating new products and services, according to a new survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and ICM. | |
| Freeview passes 10m milestone
Free-to-air digital TV service Freeview has passed a milestone – it is now the main-set TV service in 10 million homes. 02 December 2009 | |
| Government unveils plans for Post Office bank
Plans to turn the Post Office into a leading player in financial services have been outlined by the Government. 02 December 2009 | |
| Loewe takes controlling stake in software company
German TV maker Loewe is to acquire a majority stake of at least 75 per cent in MacroSystem Digital Video based in Wetter in the Ruhr. 01 December 2009 | |
| Sony to air first 'make.believe' commercial
The first commercial to feature Sony’s new global “make.believe” strapline is to air in the UK on Thursday (December 3). 01 December 2009 | |
| Nokia to sue display makers
Mobile phone maker Nokia is reported to have filed lawsuits in Britain and the United States against several major consumer electronics companies that it claims operate cartels for displays designed for mobile phones and monitors. 01 December 2009 | |
