The Rugby World Cup and dating show Love Island helped bolster viewing figures and advertising revenue at ITV (ITV) over the past three months. The chief executive, Carolyn McCall, whose strategy is to build ITV into a digitally led media and entertainment company said on-screen and online viewing had performed well. Highlights included four of the five highest-rating new dramas this year and the Rugby World Cup, when the audience for the South Africa v England final peaked at 12.8 million. The broadcaster said it had also reached its target of 30 million registered users of its ITV Hub before its target date.
Royal Mail (RMG) has lost an appeal against a £50m fine from media regulator Ofcom for anti-competitive behaviour against its largest competitor, the parcels business Whistl. Confirmation of the fine came on the day that Royal Mail went to the high court in a legal bid to prevent strikes by postal workers in the run-up to Christmas. A verdict is expected on Wednesday. Ofcom handed Royal Mail a £50m penalty in August last year after it said the delivery firm “abused its position” by “discriminating” against Whistl. It said the firm had abused its dominant position by penalising wholesale customers that sought to deliver bulk mail such as bank statements and council tax demands door to door.
