I am a trader as well as an investor and hopefully this thread will reflect both aspects ....

We should start by saying this is a highly speculative share and the market takes no prisoners.

Over the last 18 months I made lots twice in the early days - then lost it back - bought a million at 2.6p average - founded the TAG - bought another half a million or so at sub 1p - sold most at average 4.25 - bought back at 2.2p and less - sold most at 3.5p and now buying back - overall a good net profit at this time.

I think the d4e will happen (say 90% chance) and the 3% currently talked about will give or should give a price equating to say 3/5p. Longer term on succcess of d4e and progress in the sales market the shares should move to around 10p - assumming markets are not in freefall.

I am looking to buy at any time and hoping for a war generated dip - when I do I will let you know.

The TAG site is a great place for catching up on the TWT news and I will post here as well.

Currently trading on TWT is light (1.7 million traded) and the price is down a littlw with a wide spread (2.01/2.35p). This is a sets share and you must expect a crtain amount of manipulation in these troubled times - FTSE down over 4% intraday

I have a core holding of at least half a million shares and intend to be a long term investor at this time.


ainsoph


http://www.investoraction.co.uk - currently we have 804 registered members holding around 100 million shares in total

Fri 21 February 2003 12:28PM GMT

Telewest scoops Slough Council voice comms deal
Where next? Reading, Aldershot, Bracknell... Didcot, Yateley...



Slough Borough Council has stripped out its heterogeneous voice communications infrastructure and replaced it with a single system from Telewest Business in a bid to cut costs and ease the management overhead.


The council is replacing its old telephone system with Telewest's Centrex Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, which will provide it with advanced telephony services, hosted and managed by Telewest's digital exchange.


Sue Harling, head of IS and IT director for Slough Borough Council, said that some of the savings will come from lower circuit rental and call costs - the organisation will not be billed for internal calls, even if they are made between different council buildings in the borough.


The council has nearly 1,600 extensions, and new ones can be put in place during the contract period without any additional capital cost.


Harling added: "The new service provides comprehensive management and accounting information analysis and data including the reporting on performance indicators."


Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Graham Hayday

Radio rises above ad slump

Julia Day
Friday February 21, 2003

Radio has again bucked the trend, recording a 2.5% growth in advertising in the past year and a 14.8% growth in sponsorship and promotions.
Advertisers ploughed 563m into promoting their products on the radio last year, increasing the amount of money they spend on radio ads by 2.5% at a time when investment in TV ads is expected to remain flat.

But the area of radio sponsorship and promotions had a particularly successful 2002, with revenues in the sector growing by a massive 14.8%.

Radio advertising saw consecutive year-on-year increases for every quarter of last year, with revenue in the fourth quarter up by 4.2% year on year to 147.6m.

The government was by far the country's biggest spender on radio ads, committing 19.9m to the medium.

Meanwhile BT, Sainsbury's and News International all spent between 8m and 9m on radio ads, according to the latest figures published by the Radio Advertising Bureau.

Sainsbury's and News International upped the the amount of money they spent on radio.

The supermarket increased its spend from 2.6m in 2001 to 8.6m in 2002, saying radio was a cost effective means of advertising, and the publisher of the Sun and the Times more than doubled its spend from 4.1m to 8.4m.

Telewest, Toyota and Ford also significantly increased the amount of money they spent on radio ads.

"Given the continued economic uncertainties, we are very pleased to report 2.5% growth in radio revenues during 2002," said Michael O'Brien, the director of marketing operations at the RAB.

"With TV revenues expected to be flat during the same period we are confident that commercial radio will yet again have increased its share of total advertising spend," he added.

The advertising association is expected to report its fourth quarter and full 2002 year revenue figures for the whole of the industry, including TV and radio advertising, next month.

Ains - any idea when TWT, reporting its finals?
thanks

last year it was the 1st march ..... but not announced yet



ains

I thought it was supply and demand, that's makes this prices
demand has always succeeded supply
then why aren’t..... the mm, running out of stock yet!

Hi jeetha ...... nearly added a few late yesterday but held off until Monday or so. Very much manipulated at this time - by traders on and off sets.

This is interesting and although benefits a competitor of a kind - cannot se any reason why TWT shouldn't follow suit.


ains


Bassett is to receive broadband
BROADBAND is now avail-able for internet surfers in Wootton Bassett after a cable company has extended its network to the town.


The town's telephone exchanges have not been upgraded to enable the delivery of broadband services to residents with a BT line, but residents can get the service through cable provider NTL.


So far 158 people have registered their interest on the BT website but the company needs 350 people to subscribe before it is economically viable for the company to upgrade the service.


However NTL has no such obstacles to residents who want to take advantage of high speed internet access and a permanent on-line connection.


Neil Ryder, 50, runs his business from home in White-thorn Close and believes NTL contacted him after an article in the Evening Advertiser which highlighted the problem of getting broadband to those living in a non-urban area.


He said: "Twenty-four hours after the article appeared I had a phone call from NTL saying they would be installing broadband next week.


"They say they can't guarantee connecting everyone in Bassett but it just shows that the power of the Press can get things done.


"I do malign NTL quite a lot and I have to change my tune somewhat.


"If people want Broadband they should ring NTL and see what they can do."


Now Mr Ryder is looking forward to sending and receiving information, including large files, at a much faster rate.


Matt Light, field sales manager for Swindon at NTL, said: "I have a team going into Wootton Bassett for the next couple of weeks to go out and about and let people know they can get broadband if they want.


"We have got a network in most of the town so most people in Wootton Bassett should live close to where there is a fibre optic cable. If people want broadband then they have to check they live in a serviceable area.


"Broadband services have been available in Wootton Bassett for 18 months. When I read the article in the Adver I gave Mr Ryder a ring and said he could have broadband by next week."


Mr Light added that people do not have to be NTL customers to subscribe to broadband services.


NTL offers three services at different speeds, the slowest is 128K broadband for 14.99 a month plus a 25 installation charge, 24.99 for 600k and 34.99 for 1 megabyte but there is currently no installation charge for the faster speeds.

Hi ainsoph and others, an opinion..........

I am not an experianced Chartist yet but I do follow simple movements up and down together with resistance/support and moving averages.

If you pull up a 6 month chart of twt and draw in a 50 and 100 day moving average the chart tells me its possibly what is called "a golden cross". This is when both the 100 day and 50 day moving average is rising and the 50 day moving average has crossed the 100 day moving average.

I am not posting the chart up because I do not wish to confuse this issue but could somebody take a look at this

Paul

Not sure my charts show a golden cross Paul but I tend to use different indicators .... will have another look later

Internet Central has announced the UK's first 1Mbit and 2Mbit broadband services available through BT's 1100+ ADSL-enabled exchanges.

The Midlands-based ISP is offering the wires-only ADSL connections in four flavours, starting at 29.99 per month for 1Mbit and 39.99 per month for 2Mbit. Both speeds have a contention ratio of 50:1, making the services suitable for both home and SOHO (small office, home office) users. A fixed IP address is included.

The service will launch on 3 March and should be available to anyone capable of receiving broadband through a BT exchange. There will be a minimum 12 month contract. More information on the range of services and pricing available will be available from Internet Central after launch, though pre-orders are being taken. Existing ADSL users will have to wait until mid-April before a migration service is available.

Previously broadband services at these faster speeds have only been available through Cable operators NTL and Telewest or through localised, non-BT network providers such as Bulldog. However Internet Central holds a Regional Telecommunications Officer licence that allows it to circumvent some restrictions placed on mere ISPs and provide faster ADSL connections with an acceptable contention ratio.

Ainsoph have noticed tag website down yesterday, have we been hacked or is it a server fault

Yes - it has been down for a couple of days - cannot get in to the admin page - have mailed Ace but not had a reply yet - will try and again in a while



ains

Volumes are exraordinary low - 642K - tight intraday trading range.

received new consumer mailer today on their Telephone offers - free connection and 26 a month for free calls all month excepting premium numbers .....



ains

fyi


NEW YORK (AFX) - News Corp and Liberty Media Corp, after planning a joint offer to take control of General Motors Corp's Hughes Electronics Corp, are no longer working together, the Wall Street Journal quoted people familiar with the situation as saying.
News Corp is now going it alone while Liberty is also considering an independent bid, the sources said.

Liberty sent in its own team this week to look at Hughes's books as part of the due diligence process. News Corp sent a team in earlier in the month.

"Liberty has made it clear it's considering proceeding, on its own, and definitely isn't working with News Corp.," one person familiar with the issue was quoted as saying.

Regulatory and tax considerations have persuaded News Corp to decide it no longer needs a partner in any takeover of Hughes, the Journal added.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

3.4GHz auction: All systems go
17:45 Thursday 27th February 2003
Graeme Wearden


Details about the new wireless broadband auction have hit the Web ahead of a government announcement on Friday. All the auction needs now is some bidders
The forthcoming 3.4GHz wireless broadband auction has been given a provisional starting date of 26 May.

The government is expected to announce full details on Friday, but the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) published the information memorandum on its Web site on Thursday. A deadline to register interest for the 3.4GHz auction has been set at 14 April -- although this could change. The early date for this deadline is designed to help the government weed out unsuitable candidates.

The RA has revealed that the auction will run for two weeks, and that any licences that are left over after 6 June will still be available for at least another year.

Fifteen 3.4GHz licences are on offer -- seven covering metropolitan areas, seven covering rural areas, and one for Northern Ireland. This distribution has caused some controversy, especially in Wales where politicians and industry figures fought in vain for two Wales-only licences.

The government hopes that companies will use 3.4GHz to offer wireless broadband services in rural areas. However, there are concerns that the auction may flounder because large telcos decline to take part in it. BT, NTL and Telewest are all expected not to take part.

This has left the government hoping that smaller players will take part, and the DTI explained on Thursday that this could include Regional Development Agencies. "A Regional Development Agency would be able to take part in the auction, as long as they did so in partnership with a company," a DTI spokesman told ZDNet, explaining that a public-private partnership between an RDA and a commercial operator would be acceptable.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ainsoph,

So THIS is where you've been hanging these days!

Will keep an eye here.... although 'the other site' is still home for me!

Robodo :)

Hi Robodo ..... a little quiet here at the moment but getting busier and less spam :-))


ains





Do blue movies make blue chips? S. Telegraph
(Filed: 02/03/2003)

Even in recessions, there's one thing that always sells - sex. The public's insatiable appetite for vice never seems to diminish. And thanks to commercial sex becoming mainstream, the porn industry worldwide is bigger than ever.

Estimates of the scale of the world's X-rated market are hard to come by, but it is probably worth at least $15bn. The US represents two-thirds of that - and it is also by far the largest producer of pornographic material.

The industry now includes not just top-shelf magazines but also porn videos and DVDs, television channels, sex shops, lap-dancing clubs and internet sites.

The sex business is populated with larger-than-life entrepreneurs and a number of surprisingly innovative companies. Even today 10 per cent of all economic activity of the web is derived from "adult" sites, and many new net features are pioneered by such companies.

Margins in the business can be substantial because few large media competitors are willing to participate overtly in such a controversial business. Moreover, the content is usually cheap to produce compared with Hollywood blockbusters.

Mainstream companies such as BSkyB, NTL and TeleWest all profit considerably from the adult channels carried on their systems. Even international hotel groups make attractive margins from porn pay-TV in their guest rooms. The high street is steadily getting into the vice trade.

For the investor there are a handful of public companies heavily involved in adult entertainment. The best known is Playboy Enterprises, quoted on the New York Stock Exchange and still controlled by the founding Hefner family.

It calls itself a multimedia business, with magazine publishing, pay-TV channels, websites and licensing income. Revenues last year were $277m. It expects operating income to double in 2003. Its shares are about $9 and trade on a fairly modest multiple but earnings have been erratic. Hugh and Christie Heffner control the votes.

A newer rival is Private Media Group. This is based in Barcelona but quoted on Nasdaq and valued at about $50m. The chairman, Milton Berth, owns a majority of the stock.

The group produces hard core internet sites, subscription and pay-TV channels and DVD and video films. It has sales of about $40m. The shares have fared badly and have fallen from $7 to below $2, as profits have declined sharply in the past two years. It is not most investors' idea of a blue chip.

Probably Europe's largest porn business was started by a female entrepreneur called Beate Uhse, whose eponymous company is quoted in Frankfurt. She died last year aged 81.

She was a pioneer of the trade, opening the world's first sex shop and expanding her empire to a market value of almost Eu450m (300m). Its major activities are retailing - it has more than 200 stores - and mail order of sex items. Last year the company opened its first outlet in Britain.

The shares seem highly rated, but the business does appear more professionally run than many in the sector. It is dominant in its German home market.

Another quoted American company is New Frontier Media. It expanded rapidly on the back of adult material on the net and the shares took off. However, the company recently suffered the departure of its chief executive and various write-offs. Its shares have sunk to $0.77, giving it a market value of $15m. It has sales of about $40m and appears to break even.

There are no quoted "adult" companies in the UK. The business here is dominated by families such as the Golds, who are reputedly worth 400m. They own the Ann Summers and Knickerbox chains among other assets.

Paul Raymond is a successful porn publisher, but most of his considerable wealth has derived from property in Soho. Some say he is a billionaire.

Other major players include David Sullivan, who publishes the Sport newspapers and has an involvement in Birmingham City football club. He used to own sex shops and premium rate phone lines, and now has websites.

Richard Desmond, the owner of a profitable soft porn TV business, appears to be gaining respectability since his Northern & Shell group bought Express Newspapers.

Perhaps the best safe play in the naughty sector is the eminently well-run Limited Brands, the owner of the very sexy Victoria's Secret chain of "intimate apparel" shops.

This is a huge US business with 4,000 stores under various identities, including chains such as Bath & Body Works. It enjoys revenues of over $9bn. The business is run and controlled by the admired retailer Leslie Wexner, and the stock sells for about 11 times earnings, with a yield of 3.5 per cent.

So you can buy these shares and cash in on the boom in raunchy lingerie without feeling too guilty.

Luke Johnson is chairman of Signature Restaurants

Government U-turn on BBC digital channels
By Damian Reece (Filed: 02/03/2003) S Telegraph


The government is preparing to make a dramatic U-turn in broadcasting policy by allowing the BBC's controversial new digital channels to be shown on analogue television.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is considering rule changes that will allow digital broadcasters such as NTL and Telewest, the cable companies, to carry BBC3, BBC4 and News 24 on their analogue services. At the moment they can only be shown on digital platforms.

Critics argue the move will deter people from taking up digital television and delay the Government's own plans to switch off the analogue signal by 2010.

The BBC's Board of Governors, which is keen for as many people as possible to see the new digital channels, has already approved the plan.

The BBC is spending 200m a year on its digital services, but has been criticised for broadcasting programmes drawing tiny audiences.

The DCMS was approached with the proposal by NTL, which has 1m analogue customers. Government officials are now working on proposals that would allow the channels to be shown by all digital broadcasters with analogue customers.

A spokeswoman for NTL said: "Obviously we are encouraging people to take up digital TV services. However, these analogue customers are licence fee payers . . . and we think they should have access to the BBC's digital channels."

The DCMS is also concerned that certain parts of the country cannot yet receive digital services.

The change of rules would require digital broadcasters to agree not to offer analogue customers any of the extra services that come with BBC3 and BBC4. These include interactive, text and audio services.

The DCMS is also proposing that digital broadcasters would take all the BBC's new channels without imposing extra charges on viewers.

The BBC confirmed it was happy for its digital channels to be shown on analogue services. "The more viewers that can receive the channels the better," said a spokeswoman.

However, other broadcasters, such as BSkyB, which has invested more than 1bn on its digital satellite platform, are expected to question the plan.

Note this part

'However, it is important to stay on good terms with the media mogul, as he is a large investor, and shareholders must approve the restructuring plans before they can go through'



Mogul battle hampers Telewest rescue
Bankers' attempts to wrest power from a US tycoon are delaying debt restructuring at the cable group
By Heather Tomlinson and Clayton Hirst Indy
02 March 2003


UK cable company Telewest is locked in negotiations with US cable tycoon John Malone to try to reduce his control over the company. The talks are contributing to a delay in restructuring plans that will see 3bn of debt cancelled in return for diluting shareholders' interests.

The company had hoped to have completed the restructuring by the end of March, but it could now be as late as the end of June, say company sources.

Mr Malone has "relationship agreements" with Telewest that give him certain vetoes over the company's actions, such as the appointment of the chief executive, the extension of the board, acquisitions and the level of borrowing.

Mr Malone owns 20 per cent of the company's shares through Liberty Media. He also owns bonds, and after the restructuring his stake will be diluted to 11 per cent. It is understood that the banks and bondholders are arguing that he should cede his veto rights, as it will give him unfair control over the company.

However, it is important to stay on good terms with the media mogul, as he is a large investor, and shareholders must approve the restructuring plans before they can go through. Mr Malone owns investments in broadband and cable around the world, including the Discovery Channel and QVC.

A spokesperson for Telewest confirmed the presence of the vetoes but declined to comment on negotiations. However, it is believed that there is hope for a breakthrough. The vetoes only apply if Mr Malone's stake rises above 15 per cent, and therefore he would have to invest more to be able to use the vetoes.

Other issues delaying completion are a compromise with Deutsche Telekom, which has a 293m convertible bond due this November and had hoped for preferential treatment. Four banks, including Crit Agricole, are also in dispute over 33m they are owed over foreign exchange deals. However, the company has secured a 2bn lifeline from the banks, which will give it room for manoeuvre when it finishes the talks. The debt restructuring of fellow UK cable company NTL also took longer than expected, and with a large group of diverse interests, the talks are understood to be particularly complex.

Tomorrow, Telewest reports full-year results and is expected to follow the route of NTL by announcing that it will be concentrating on getting revenue from existing customers rather than gaining new ones. Both companies hope the demand for high-speed internet access will fund their renaissance. In November, Telewest said it hoped to be cashflow positive by the fourth quarter.

There are hopes on both sides that the two companies will one day merge, to produce a force that can effectively take on BSkyB, the satellite TV company. But it is now expected that this will not happen this year.

Both Telewest and NTL were burdened with debt to fund a mass road dig for cable throughout the UK. However, demand for the services has been lower than expected.

Telewest's shares now trade at 2.6p, a far cry from the heyday of the technology boom when they were valued at 563p.
2 March 2003 19:20

Ainsoph;.......... I note that you do not post on ADVFN any more - is there a reason ?
TWT results tomorrow ? I thought they would have announced a date first ?
So....... what does TAG think of this latest twist to the this ever ongoing saga ?
Regards Boobly.

hi boobly

I assume results are tomorrow but as you say they are not preannounced .... should get more details on any delays maybe.

I don't think the comments on Malone are necc. bad - although none of us are likely to be keen on the delays. In many ways his interests are also ours - at this time.


ains


fyi

by Neil Wilkes
The Extreme Sports Channel will launch for Telewest's digital customers next month, it has been announced.

The deal means that the channel -- a 24-hour station dedicated to "extreme sports and lifestyle" -- now has distribution on all three major pay TV operators in the UK, following previous launches on Sky Digital and NTL Home.

"The Extreme Sports channel is an exciting and innovative channel with an established brand," said Gavin Patterson, MD of Telewest's consumer division. "We always aim to offer the best choice to our viewers at the best value and are delighted to welcome the channel aboard the Telewest Broadband platform."

Extreme Sports will be part of the Essential package on channel 527 from March 21.

Liberty Media bails on QVC

Firm says it will exit joint ownership of shopping channel, giving Comcast option to buy 42% stake.
March 3, 2003: 7:51 AM EST



ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Reuters) - Liberty Media Corp., a media holding company controlled by cable mogul John Malone, said Monday it will exit its joint ownership of the television shopping network QVC it shares with Comcast Corp.

Under terms of the joint ownership agreement, the two companies must determine a fair market value of QVC within 30 days. Comcast will then have 30 days to elect to purchase Liberty's 42 percent stake in the network; if Comcast opts not to buy the stake, Liberty then has 30 days to buy Comcast's stake.

If Liberty passes on the buy-out, both companies are required to try to sell QVC. Bidders would be required to offer cash, a promissory note with a maturity of not more than three years, publicly traded equity securities, or some combination of those options.

Shares of Liberty Media (L: Research, Estimates) gained 17 cents Friday to close at $9.19 and Comcast (CMCSK: Research, Estimates) shares rose 72 cents to $28.09.