The Link a new chain focusing on mobile phones and other communications equipment also grew fast

The Link, a new chain focusing on mobile phones and other communications equipment, also grew fast.Next confirmed that sales in its high street stores between July and the end of December were 13 per cent higher than the same period last year. Dixons accompanied news of a 41 per cent increase in profits for the six months to October with news that sales in the eight weeks since the end of the first half in October were up 23 per cent overall and 10 per cent on a like-for-like basis.The figures were driven by the strength of the personal computer market, which Dixons entered three years ago with the launch of PCWorld, which the company believes has a 40 per cent share of the fast-growing domestic PC market. Highlights, as well as some live action, will also be available on terrestrial “free” television.. TOM STEVENSON

and NIGEL COPE
The increasing polarisation of the high street was confirmed yesterday with bullish trading statements from Dixons and Next contradicting the gloomy picture painted earlier in the week by House of Fraser.Despite good rises in sales at Dixons and Next in the lead-up to Christmas, the share prices of both companies were hit yesterday as profit-takers cashed in on their dramatic rises last year Dixons fell 14.5p at 409.5p while Next slipped 16p to 437p.

But it is believed that the team has sharply criticised the union’s past efforts to broadcast the Games, and that it is convinced that public service broadcasters will be unable to fund an adequate bid for the rights by the end of the decade.The changing nature of television in Europe, particularly the fragmentation of distribution channels, has made it increasingly difficult for public broadcasters to compete for programming. In the UK, the BBC has already been shut out of some sport and film rights because of spiralling costs.The News Corp consortium is expected to share the rights with terrestrial and subscription television services throughout Europe, and is prepared to give precise undertakings to encourage as wide a viewership as possible.If the bid is successful, viewers of pay-TV channels in the UK such as Sky Sports, part of Mr Murdoch’s 40 per cent-owned BSkyB satellite broadcaster, will get wall-to-wall coverage of big Olympic events. He spent the early part of his Sainsbury’s career in accounting functions before becoming an area director of the company’s supermarket business between 1986 and 1989.For the last six years he has been running Homebase and is currently overseeing the integration of the Texas Homecare chain, which was acquired last year.. MATHEW HORSMAN

Media Editor
The European Broadcasting Union’s stranglehold on rights to screen the Olympic Games has been challenged for the first time, as confirmation came yesterday that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and several partners have bid $2bn for the rights to all five Olympic Games between 2000 and 2008.The audacious bid, delivered to the International Olympic Committee on Monday, could force the union – made up of European public service broadcasters including the BBC – to raise its bid for future Games.Senior executives at News Corporation’s television arm, headed by Sam Chisholm, declined to comment yesterday.

We need a very clear structure.”He added that the new structure, together with the recent appointment of a new marketing director, addressed two of the group’s weaknesses.Mr Adriano said he was looking forward to the task of battling against Tesco, Asda and Safeway. “It’s a challenge but I think I’m ready for it.”Commenting on his management style, he said: “I like to take a thoughtful, resolute approach and prefer immediate action. I hate indifference and don’t like office politics.”Mr Adriano trained as an accountant before joining Sainsbury’s in 1964. He will then hand over to Dino Adriano, who has performed well at Homebase but is thought to lack experience in the UK supermarket sector.A new chief executive will be sought to run both the US business and Homebase when Mr Adriano moves on. An external candidate is likely.Mr Sainsbury said he was not disappointed to move away from the day- to-day running of the supermarkets: “Given the scale of the business, it is simply no longer possible to have someone who is both chairman and chief executive.