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Scroll down page or click below for news - latest first
Tuesday
Friday 23rd December 2005
Premiere loses German soccer
EC will fine Microsoft E2m a day
Senate Passes DTV Measure
Siemens: IPTV worth $1bn by 09
Kudelski not worried by French pay-TV merger
Bewkes moves up at TW
Astra will use ILS
Premiere loses German soccerPremiere shares shed over 45 per cent as news broke that German football would be going to Unity Media, the cable group. Through bidding vehicle Arena, the cabler paid E1.26 billion for all Bundesliga games 2006-09. Premiere had bid more but only on condition a popular highlights show on ARD was moved to a later slot. But, aware of the importance of free to air for their sponsors, the clubs went for the lower bid from cable. Last time around Premiere paid E180 million a year for the games.
Georg Kofler, Premiere Chief Executive, dismissed speculation that the 27-channel company, which currently screens Bundesliga matches, could lose large numbers of its 3.4 million German subscribers.
Unity is in negotiations with Kabel Deutschland (the only other significant cabler) to share the rights. Unity paid about 75 per cent of the rights bill with the rest made up by ARD for highlights. About 10 per cent was paid by Deutsche Telekom for the internet rights, setting the scene for competition from IPTV.
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EC will fine Microsoft E2m a day
The European Commission has threatened to fine Microsoft E2 million a day until it gives rivals more access to its operating systems. Brussels said it had failed to supply adequate information about its server programmes and Microsoft now has five weeks to provide improved documentation before the daily penalties are imposed.
Following two reports from a monitoring trust that has been checking information supplied by Microsoft, the European Commission says the software giant has failed to provide all the necessary detail.
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The US Senate has approved legislation that provides for the nation's eventual switch to digital TV, including the establishment of February 17, 2009, as the "hard-date" for the transition.
The measure was part of the larger Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, and needed a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Dick Cheney for final passage. The bill requires the spectrum auctions, and a release from the Senate Commerce Committee suggested that that effort could raise close to $10 billion (E8.4 billion) for deficit reduction. When broadcasters vacate analogue spectrum in 2009, public safety personnel will have access to 24 MHz of spectrum recovered in the transition. Also, the legislation requires the auction of recovered spectrum by January 2008.
The legislation also allocates up to $1.5 billion in assistance for consumers who rely on over-the-air broadcasting and need a converter box in order to continue receiving TV signals once the digital switch is complete.
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Siemens: IPTV worth $1bn by 09
Siemens has said the global market for IPTV technology could hit $1 billion by 2009, with China expected to account for up to a quarter of spending as operators develop new services.
Siemens is helping China's two fixed-line carriers, China Telecom Corp. and China Netcom Group upgrade their networks for IPTV, with commercial service now rolling out in several markets.
The German company has big hopes for China, as well as IPTV in general, said Andreas Mueller-Schubert, president of fixed network solutions.
"The global IPTV market should hit the $1 billion mark in three to four years, and we expect China to account for up to a quarter of that figure", Mueller-Schubert said. Siemens expected users of IPTV in China to reach 13-16 million by 2009, compared with about 150,000 now.
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Kudelski not worried by French pay-TV merger
Kudelski SA Chief Executive Officer Andre Kudelski dismissed concerns about any loss of business resulting from merger of Canal Plus, owned by Vivendi Universal, and TPS, owned by TF1 and M6.
News of the merger sent Kudelski shares to a new year-low on fears that the merged company would stop using the Swiss company's Nagravision conditional access system.
Speaking in an interview with a German business magazine, Kudelski said: "For us the merger ... is good news. We have wanted it for a long time." He believes the new company will not switch to Viaccess, developed by France Telecom and already used by TPS, because France Telecom's internet TV offering would be the main competitor to the new company.
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Jeff Bewkes has been promoted to the number two slot at Time Warner. Don Logan, who shared the Chief Operating Officer position with Mr Bewkes, is to retire this year.
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ASTRA will launch its new satellite ASTRA 1KR on an Atlas V rocket from International Launch Services (ILS), a Lockheed Martin joint venture. The launch is scheduled for April 2006 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and is the first Atlas mission for SES ASTRA, which is a longtime customer of ILS. ILS markets launch services on Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket and the Khrunichev-built Proton vehicle to satellite operators worldwide.
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Thursday 22nd December 2005
AOL, Google deal done
DoCoMo to invest in Fuji TV
BSkyB, Sony HD JV
Sky slams Freeview
1 in 4 for HD in 06
Weather could hit switch
News Corp poison pill in court
Motorola cautious on 3G
Baker to head Sky Interactive
AOL, Google deal doneGoogle has confirmed it will invest $1bn to take a five per cent stake in Time Warner's AOL as part of a major strategic alliance.
The deal values AOL at $20bn as the advertising partnership makes more of AOL's content available to Google users. Google beat Microsoft to the deal after intense negotiations. "We're very pleased to build significantly on our special relationship with Google," said Time Warner chief executive Dick Parsons.
The tie-up demonstrates Google was prepared to pay heavily to prevent Microsoft from becoming a bigger player in the lucrative internet search sector. AOL is currently Google's biggest customer. During the first nine months of the year, it accounted for about $429m, or 10 per cent, of Google's revenue.
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DoCoMo to invest in Fuji TVNTT DoCoMo has agreed with Fuji Television Network, Inc. (Fuji Television) to acquire 77,000 shares of Fuji Television's treasury stock (approximately 2.6 per cent of total issued shares) for 20,713,000,000 yen (E149 million) on January 11, 2006.
DoCoMo and Fuji Television have been discussing how to link mobile communications and broadcasting. The agreement precedes the launch of ‘One-segment digital terrestrial broadcasting on April 1, 2006, which will present new opportunities for linkages with mobile services.
The partners will co-operate closely with each other by sharing their respective resources and expertise to create a new market and develop innovative services in the field of mobile communications and broadcasting.
The MNO’s interest in broadcasting comes ahead of the introduction of digital broadcasting for mobile phones in April next year. DoCoMo and Matsushita are developing a handset to receive broadcasts. By tying up with TV networks, DoCoMo hopes it can develop a new business model involving TV broadcasts that will encourage users to increase use of their mobile phones.
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BSkyB, Sony HD JVBSkyB and Sony unveiled a joint initiative to sell high definition flat screen TV sets alongside digital satellite boxes. The agreement is designed to help kick-start the UK market for HDTV.
Under the deal consumers will be offered savings when they buy Sony's Bravia flat screen HDTV sets as a package with BSkyB's new HDTV-enabled Sky+ set-top box. The Sony tie-up comes as BSkyB is planning to launch four HDTV versions of four channels - Sky One, Artsworld, Sky Sports and Sky Movies - early next year.
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Sky slams FreeviewBSkyB has told Parliament Freeview is not fit to lead Britain into the digital TV future, describing it as "an analogue platform with not very convincing go faster stripes". It accused the BBC of promoting Freeview at the expense of its digital rivals, including Sky, and said the corporation was guilty of "structural non-neutrality".
Mike Darcey, the BSkyB group director of strategy, said Freeview was "simply not up to the job" to convert every home to digital before the analogue TV signal is switched off in 2012. "Freeview will be the platform for the elderly and economically inactive," he told the culture, media and sport committee.Darcey said its basic technology, without the on-demand and interactive services offered by broadband, cable or satellite - would not meet consumer demands by the time of digital switch-off. He said it would also not be able to fulfil all the demands of high definition television, or HDTV.
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1 in 4 for HD in 06A new survey from Panasonic reveals that one in four (26 per cent) of U.S. households either owns or plans to own a high-definition television by the end of 2006. This is up from 15 per cent one year ago, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
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Weather could hit switchThe two companies responsible for converting the country's 1,000-plus analogue transmitters to digital have scheduled an extra 12 months into their timetable but two bad summers in a row could cause chaos to the digital switchover. "The one thing that keeps me awake is that I can't control the weather," said Steven Holebrook, the managing director of one of the two companies, Arqiva, told the Parliamentary culture committee.
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News Corp poison pill in courtNews Corporation will face trial over allegations that it broke promises to shareholders about its "poison pill" takeover defences, after a US judge rejected the media company’s request that the case be dismissed.
The ruling follows a lawsuit against the company from a group of 12 global pension and investment funds alleging that News Corp failed to honour a pledge to allow a shareholder vote on changes to its poison pill policy. Delaware Chancery Court dismissed three of the five charges filed by the investors, relating to fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty but he ruled that a trial must be held on two other charges alleging breach of contract and breach of promise. News Corp had maintained that the lawsuit was "frivolous and without merit".
The result could see News Corp being forced to hold a special meeting that allows shareholders to vote on the extension of its takeover defence policy.
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Motorola cautious on 3GMotorola Inc. predicts increasing sales of 3G phones in 2006, but does not expect it to be a breakthrough year for the 3G mobile market.
"3G services are not yet at the level that they necessarily would require high-speed data transfers," Ron Garriques, Motorola's president of mobile devices, told Finnish business daily Taloussanomat. "Sales of 3G handsets will certainly grow next year, but it will not be a breakthrough." He said 3G handsets still had some way to go in improving their technology. "Chips are not yet small enough and they don't guarantee a small enough consumption of electricity. In addition, the cost structure in 3G phones is not as efficient as in GSM and EDGE handsets".
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Baker to head Sky Interactive
Sky One controller James Baker, is to head up Sky's interactive division. Baker replaces Ian Shepherd, who is leaving Sky at the end of this month to become director of commercial operations at Vodafone. An announcement about his successor at Sky One is expected shortly.
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Wednesday 21st December 2005
US House compromises on digital TV plan
Canal+ and TPS merger moves closer
HDTV market set for double-digit growth
DSL subs up by 40m
Vestel to deploy OpenTV core middleware
TVB and ATV bet on HDTV
Springer deal decision delayed
China awaits digital TV policies
J:COM plans to manage Sakura Cable TV
Growing awareness of digital switchover
US House compromises on digital TV planThe US House of Representatives has approved legislation paving the way for the full adoption digital television by February 17, 2009, and which would help consumers pay for the equipment needed to ensure they continued to receive broadcasts.
Under a deal negotiated by Republicans in the House and Senate, up to $1.5 billion (E1.26 billion) would be available to help some people buy converter boxes to keep their old, analogue-signal televisions working when the transition is finished.
The compromise date agreed avoids some major televised sporting events such as the annual football Super Bowl in January. The compromise is part of a larger bill aimed at cutting government spending over the next five years, which was narrowly approved by the House and still must be passed by the Senate.
"The DTV legislation brings needed certainty to allow consumers, broadcasters, cable and satellite operators, manufacturers, retailers, and government to prepare for the end of the transition," said Republican representative Joe Barton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Senate previously had approved a $3 billion converter box fund and set the date as April 7, 2009 for when television stations must end analogue broadcasts and only air digital.
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Canal+ and TPS merger moves closer
Following the revelation that Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 were in talks aimed at combing the pay-TV businesses of Group Canal+ and TPS in France, the parties have announced a draft commercial agreement. The new group would be controlled by Vivendi Universal, and when completed, it would be owned 85 per cent by Vivendi Universal, 9.9 per cent by TF1, and 5.1 per cent by M6. Vivendi’s investment may change depending on the outcome of discussions with Lagardère, but it would retain control of the new group in any event.
By merging the pay-TV business, the parties aim to develop "a rich and competitive pay-TV product with strong brand names, for the benefit of consumers," and also plan to strengthen the diversity and attractiveness of pay-TV by offering the best programmes to current and future subscribers, to support French film and broadcasting creativity, and to give wider coverage to sports.
They suggest that four major influences have upset the overall balance of the television market in France and, in particular, the market in pay-TV, including the rapid development of digital distribution technologies and their very rapid adoption by consumers, resulting in a multiplication of distribution channels for audiovisual content; the increasing number of free offers, particularly via DTT and ADSL, offering programme packages free of charge; the influx of new and powerful players such as telcos and ISPs and the cable business offering triple- or even quad-play. Finally they suggest that the regulatory framework does not apply in the same way to all parties.
The parties envisage that the new group would have the critical mass necessary to handle the new competition by capitalising on its know-how and improving the creativity, quality and diversity of its products. They accept that the presence of two satellite packages - exceptional in
Europe - now appears to be inappropriate, resulting in a fragmented and incomplete range of products to the detriment of consumers.According to a joint announcement from the companies, "the new group would be a major player on the French broadcasting market. It would reinvigorate and broaden the French pay-TV market, offering its subscribers and future subscribers a significantly richer and improved product."
The proposed merger is subject to consultations with relevant unions and the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (the French Broadcasting Authority), and the approval of competition authorities.
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HDTV market set for double-digit growth
According to recent research, about 20.6 million HDTV displays will be shipped worldwide during 2005. The double-digit growth expected in this market over the next five years will result in a forecast of nearly 60 million HDTV displays shipped in 2010.
According to IMS Research, HDTV sets that are able to receive and decode HD programmes without a set-top box will begin to account for the majority share of the global market in 2007. HD monitors that require a set-top box are likely to account for significant shipments through 2010.
"Based on the existing digital TV landscape in Europe, demand for HD monitors will flourish," predicted Anna Hunt, author of ‘The Future of HDTV’ and research director at IMS Research. "Suppliers in this region currently have little incentive to integrate a digital tuner into HD monitors since no HD DTT programming is available, and HD programmes via FTA satellite are limited. Over the next five years, HD via DTT will continue to be limited in many countries until analogue switch-offs begin to free up spectrum."
IMS suggests that other drivers affecting the HDTV set market in Europe and worldwide include government initiatives, such as the FCC’s Digital Tuner mandate in the US and the HDTV broadcasting quotas in Australia and South Korea, which are often key drivers for the growth in HDTV sets that have integrated tuning capability; growth in HD monitors will continue in markets where pay-TV operators sell or rent the HD set-top box or HD DVR as part of the HDTV service package. "Often, HDTV sets would not be enabled for pay-TV platforms, but are capable of receiving only free-to-air programmes’" notes the study, pointing out that exceptions will exist such as for US and South Korean cable platforms that are standardising on CableLabs‚ Digital Cable Ready standard.
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Almost 40 million people worldwide signed up for digital subscriber line (DSL) technology for their broadband access in the 12 months to 30 September 2005, according to the latest data produced for industry body the DSL Forum by Point Topic. The increase indicates that more than 125 million homes and businesses now enjoy the benefits of broadband DSL.
European Union countries accounted for close to 40 per cent of the total growth in new broadband DSL subscribers in the period, confirming the EU's position as the number one most active DSL region worldwide. The UK and France led the way, each adding more than three million subscribers.
The Middle East and Africa region was the fastest growing, with a 140 per cent increase in DSL subscribers - led by Turkey, which added more than 850,000, becoming the first country in the region to pass the one million mark. Latin America has established a DSL subscriber base of more than five million.
China alone added almost 10 million DSL subscribers and is rapidly approaching 25 million in total. The USA extended its lead over Japan as the second largest DSL population in the world, and nine countries increased their DSL population by more than one million new subscribers. Of the established nations, the fastest growth rates were in Australia, at 97 per cent, and the UK, at 91 per cent.
"As broadband DSL reaches mass market levels, supporting multiple services and delivering voice, data and video take on greater importance", noted Michael Brusca, chairman of the DSL Forum. "In Belgium and France, for example, IPTV is an increasingly mainstream market driver."
"IPTV is a relatively new service offering but had already won almost 1.5 million subscribers around the world in the first half of 2005, 30 per cent of them in Hong Kong alone and a further 18 per cent in France", said Tim Johnson of Point Topic. "All major telcos are now committed to providing IPTV services and while it is not yet a ‘killer application’, take up is accelerating. Millions more people are accessing free video and television resources available over the Internet - there are more than 1.3 million in the UK alone, spending an average of five hours each week using them. IPTV has the potential to develop into an entirely new medium because of its ability to integrate many different media and provide user-friendly interactivity."
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Vestel to deploy OpenTV core middleware
Digital television services technology specialist OpenTV has secured a multi-year agreement with Vestel Group, one of Europe's largest consumer electronics and white goods manufacturers, for the deployment of OpenTV Core Middleware 1.1 to Vestel's next generation set-top boxes.
Separately, DigiTurk ,Turkey’s sole digital DTH satellite operator in, has selected Vestel's OpenTV middleware enabled set-top boxes for deployment to its pay-TV subscriber base.
"Vestel is highly committed to being a first-mover in Turkey in delivering the most advanced digital and interactive services to our pay-TV subscribers," said Murat Sarpel, general manager of Vestel Communications. "We believe that interactive applications will deliver a more compelling experience for our consumers."
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TVB and ATV bet on HDTV
From Shveta Malik in New Delhi
Hong Kong’s terrestrial TV operators are to invest HK$400 million (E43 million) each to roll out high-definition television (HDTV) services in the city by the end of 2007.Television Broadcasts (TVB) and Asia Television (ATV) are required under their broadcasting licences to begin HDTV services by 2007. The Broadcasting Authority has approved the companies’ plans for HDTV, in which each has committed to spend a further HK$400 million by 2009.
The additional HK$400 million will bring TVB’s total spending on HDTV and digital television to more than HK$1 billion since 2003, the company said. The company has offered to launch at least one HDTV channel with a minimum 14 hours of programming per day by the end of 2007.
ATV plans to launch four new HDTV channels with a minimum 14 hours of programming per day by 2007.
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Springer deal decision delayed
German competition watchdogs have delay a ruling on publisher Axel Springer’s planned purchase of broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media. The Federal Cartel Office had been scheduled to rule on December 27.The publisher had asked for the delay after the KEK commission on media concentration proposed Springer creates a panel that decides on the content of a channel, a plan the cartel office wouldn't have been able to consider in the shorter time frame, according to s spokesperson.
The German Cartel Office had previously raised objections against the purchase as the combination would threaten competition in the advertising market.
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China awaits digital TV policies
China will issue industrial policies for the digital TV industry, Guo Ke, chairman of the China Digital TV Industrial Alliance has revealed.
He claimed that although the digital TV industry has made remarkable progress in the processing, design and brand building of the digital TV sets, it lacks core technologies.
He suggested that digital TV producers adopt advanced technologies both from home and foreign TV producers and that they set up company alliances to overcome the technological challenges.
A timetable proposed by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television indicates that from 2006, China will promote digital DTH satellite programmes by to the two thirds of the Chinese families are unable to receive cable TV. Digital terrestrial television is likely to be operational in the 11th five-year Programme period (2006-2010). Analogue switch-off is scheduled for 2015.
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J:COM plans to manage Sakura Cable TV
Japanese cable MSO Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) has agreed a share transfer with the largest shareholder of Sakura Cable TV Co. According to a memorandum of understanding entered into among J:COM, Sumida Ward and Sakura Cable TV, the majority of the shares of Sakura Cable TV owned by the Sumida Ward will be transferred to J:COM, making it the operator’s largest shareholder.
J:COM is also considering the purchase of certain shares held by other shareholders in order to acquire the majority of the voting rights and to participate in the management of Sakura Cable TV.
Sakura Cable TV currently provides services in the Sumida Ward, in the eastern part of the city of Tokyo, and its service areas currently pass approximately 105,000 households.
"As one of the core components of our growth strategy, J:COM has been actively pursuing additional investment in strategic assets, including in other cable television operators," said Tomoyuki Moriizumi, President and CEO of J:COM, adding that the investment in Sakura Cable TV was advantageous for J:COM because of the area's high population density and the availability of the fully-upgraded cable network. "With a relatively small additional investment, we expect to expand our reach and to grow subscriber totals in the area." J:COM also plans to introduce new services and options not currently offered by Sakura Cable, such as primary telephony service, Video On Demand (VOD) and the previously announced mobile phone services.
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Growing awareness of digital switchover
More than half the population is aware of the government's plan to turn off the analogue signal in 2012, reports Media Guardian. Research commissioned by Digital UK, the organisation in charge of overseeing digital TV switchover, suggests that 43 per cent of the British public have not heard of the government's plans to switch off the analogue signal.
Digital UK has already launched an awareness raising marketing campaign in the Border region, covering Cumbria and southern Scotland, which will be the first area of the country to lose its analogue signal, in 2008.
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Tuesday 20th December 2005
NTL faces private equity approach
Sky celebrates one over the eight
Macquarie Bank in Taiwan cable investment
Visiware goes Universal with King Kong
Verizon chief warns of IPTV delays
Ericsson sees sunrise for Swiss mobile TV
Orange opts for Musiwave and Viaccess OMA DRM
PCCW IPTV service passes half-million mark
Liberty Global in Norwegian cable disposal
ONO losses increase nine-fold
S-A delivers video capabilities for C&W
Unity Media goes Triple Play with Nortel
NTL faces private equity approachAccording to UK newspaper The Independent, NTL Inc is set to resist overtures from a consortium of private equity firms planning an £8 billion (E11.8 billion) takeover approach to the company.
Reports suggest that NTL remains confident that fund manager Bill Huff and other key investors will support its planned £3.4 billion merger with fellow UK cabler Telewest.
Private equity firms, including Apax Partners, Cinven, Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts are understood to have been in contact with banks regarding additional debt provision.
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Sky celebrates one over the eight
BSkyB has passed its target of eight million direct-to-home (DTH) subscribers.
Commenting on the milestone, James Murdoch, Sky’s Chief Executive, said: "Sky is achieving strong growth. Nearly one in three homes and counting have chosen Sky and we are especially well placed to broaden Sky’s appeal as entertainment and communications come together. We thank our current and future Sky customers for joining in and for helping to make Britain one of the world’s leading digital TV marketplaces."
Sky’s key operational targets for the medium term are to reach 10 million DTH subscribers in 2010, with 25 per cent penetration of Sky+ and 30 per cent Multiroom penetration.
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Macquarie Bank in Taiwan cable investment
Australian investment bank Macquarie Bank Ltd has acquired the Carlyle Group's interest in cable television operation Taiwan Broadband Communications (TBC) for A$1.189 billion (E0.736 billion)
Macquarie is to take a 40 per cent equity stake in TBC for around A$274 million with its recently listed Macquarie Media Group taking a 60 per cent equity stake. The balance will be funded by debt.
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Visiware goes Universal with King Kong
Interactive TV game company Visiware, and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group have signed an agreement to bring Universal Pictures’ properties to interactive television games.
The first projects developed under the relationship will be based on Universal Pictures, King Kong. Visiware will develop two games based on the property: ‘Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World Quiz’, and· ‘Kong: The 8th Wonder of the World " arcade game.
In addition to King Kong, Visiware will also develop a catalogue of interactive television games based on other Universal properties, with such games planned for release within the next six months. All of the games developed under the deal will be broadcast on Visiware’s Playin’TV Channel, available in 77 countries on 33 networks.
"Our strategy has been to deliver Universal-branded games on all viable platforms and to new player segments," said Bill Kispert, Vice President, Interactive for Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "Interactive Television is a key part of NBC Universal’s Digital Media strategy," added Jon Dakss, director, iTV Technology Product Development, NBC Universal. "We see the interactive television games space as an emerging market with an abundance of opportunity."
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Verizon chief warns of IPTV delays
Stuart Elby, vice president of network architecture and enterprise technology, at Verizon Communications, has suggested that technology is not yet ready for deployment on a mass scale and likely won't be until late 2006 or 2007.
Elby told delegates at The Light Reading Telecom Investment Conference that the "IP paradigm shift" continues apace, and that Verizon will continue to move all new services to IP technology because "having a small number of networks is better than a large number of networks." According to Elby, the goal is to separate the applications from the network so that Verizon can roll out any type of new service over a single IP-based network.
Verizon is deploying its FiOS TV services using existing RF (radio frequency) technology because "IPTV isn't ready yet, and we didn't want to wait... even if we could do it in stages. We can start getting revenue today," claimed Elby
Elby said that Verizon has taken this approach because IP multicast technology is not ready to scale to the size needed to deliver broadcast services. Elby pointed out that Verizon's video-on-demand services are actually based on IP technology, because on-demand video can be delivered to a user via a single unicast stream. According to Elby, multicast IP is a whole different story.
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Ericsson sees sunrise for Swiss mobile TV
Ericsson and Swiss operator sunrise are partnering in a managed services contract to launch mobile TV services including Video on Demand in Switzerland. sunrise, part of the TDC group, is also launching the Ericsson Mobile TV Channel Selector which is designed to make watching mobile TV and channel-surfing much more convenient.
The partnership includes an integrated, hosted and managed music service based on Ericsson's Service Delivery Platform, offering consumers full-length tracks, ringtones, and wall papers from major record labels.
Johan Bergendahl, Vice President of Marketing at Ericsson, noted that mobile media was a growing area for both sunrise and Ericsson.
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Orange opts for Musiwave and Viaccess OMA DRM
Multimedia music specialist Musiwave, and content protection provider Viaccess are powering the first-ever music service using the industry approved OMA 2.0 (Open Mobile Alliance) DRM for Orange Switzerland.
The enhanced version of OMA is designed to protect high value content and enable new business models through a broader feature set; The new OMA DRM v2.0 adds protection features, as well as improved support for device capabilities, audio and video rendering, streaming content, and access to protected content using multiple devices.
The offering will be deployed progressively across the countries that Viaccess and orange parent company France Télécom serves.
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PCCW IPTV service passes half-million mark
From Shveta Malik in New Delhi
Hong Kong-based telecom services provider PCCW Limited's broadband IPTV service, Now TV, has topped the half a million subscriber mark, "the first IPTV platform in the world to have achieved this scale - and this quickly," according to the company.
PCCW is also introducing new offerings - CNN International in January 2006, the HBO Family and HBO Hits, two new HBO channels premiering only on Now TV in February 2006, and in addition to the existing 24-hour movie channel, Star Chinese Movies will be enhanced with a Video on Demand (VOD) service in January 2006.
PCCW intends to enhance Hong Kong's role as a regional centre of technological excellence through innovative services in new generation fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband, information technology, wireless communications, and IPTV, through its successful now Broadband TV network operated by PCCW subsidiary PCCW Media Limited.
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Liberty Global in Norwegian cable disposal
Liberty Global is to sell 100 per cent of its Norwegian cable business, UPC Norge AS (UPC Norway) to Candover Partners in a E450 million deal. The operator Norway had 375,300 customers. During the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2005 , UPC
Norway generated E43.1 million of operating cash flow. The sale price represents a multiple of 10.4 times UPC Norway’s OCF for the twelve month period ending September 30, 2005. The transaction is subject to Norwegian regulatory approval and is expected to close during first quarter of 2006.
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ONO losses increase nine-fold
From David del Valle in MadridSpain's largest cable company, ONO, has seen its net debt multiply nine-fold to E10.5 million, in the third quarter of 2005, compared with a loss of E1.16 the same period the previous year. The figures exclude the acquisition of rival Auna in November 2005.
Despite the loss, revenues grew by 17.9 per cent, up to E147 million, with an EBITDA of E 64.7 million, an increase of 36.4 per cent. Subscriber numbers rose14.5 per cent to 881.089, of which 856.105 are residential. 460,589 are TV subscribers, 750,022 telephony users and 396,901 broadband Internet users, which recorded a growth of more than 40 per cent. Average Revenue Per User was recorded at ARPU E51.9.
AUNA saw its revenues fall by 3 per cent up to E270.1 million and with an EBITDA of E 55 million, 28 up per cent. As of September, Auna had 833,138 clients (382,135 TV subscribers) with an ARPU of E49.7. Combined, the pair claim 1,634,040 subscribers, of which 842,724 are TV clients.Following the Auna acquisition, ONO is preparing a restructuring of the company, with plans to dismiss around 25 per cent of its 1,100-strong staff.
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S-A delivers video capabilities for C&W
International communications service provider Cable & Wireless has selected a new Scientific-Atlanta backbone solution that can manage and deliver standard-definition (SD), high-definition (HD) and analogue video, audio and high speed data. Video services on the high-capacity Cable & Wireless network will be delivered by the Scientific-Atlanta iLYNX optical platform, with management and control provided by the ROSA Intelligent Network Monitoring System as part of a specific implementation for one of Cable & Wireless’ major customers.
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Unity Media goes Triple Play with Nortel
German cable MSO Unity Media is deploying a Nortel Optical Ethernet network to support ‘triple play cable services The operator owns established cable network operators ish and iesy, which serve more than five million customers in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia and Hessen regions.
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Monday 19th December 2005
BT plans major iTV push
Content Directive will be damaging, say industry groups
HBO on Cingular
MPAA targets China
Eutelsat to offer HDTV Winter Olympics demos
Swedish government denies DAB expansion
TW premieres 'family friendly'
Entriq provides FIFA video security
MobiTV extends portfolio
BT plans major iTV pushBT is planning to put iTV advertising at the heart of its IPTV proposition with the launch of advanced red-button services. It is planning to let advertisers promote their products via highly targeted commercials around the on-demand film, music and TV content that BT plans to deliver to viewers in addition to the 32 Freeview channels.
"I'd be disappointed if our TV-over-broadband service didn't significantly push forward the iTV ad market in the next 18 months," Andrew Burke, CEO of BT Entertainment told NMA. He says the service will provide brand owners with a range of functions not currently available on Sky. New formats include a click-to-call function that allows viewers to press red to be directly connected to an advertiser via the phone.
"We're actively looking to exploit the functionality offered by iTV advertising," Burke said. "The capability to seamlessly mix broadcast ads with broadband-delivered interactivity shouldn't be underestimated."
BT has announced a string of partnerships with BBC Worldwide, Paramount and Warner Music Group to provide on-demand content for the service.BT's IPTV service is due to launch in autumn next year, providing viewers with a personal video recorder, video telephony, messaging and VoIP.
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Content Directive will be damaging, say industry groupsUK's Intellect and the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) have expressed their disappointment at the EU Commission's likely approval of the proposed Audio Visual Content Directive. The two organisations believe the Commission has failed to apply its own Better Regulation principles to the development of the Directive, and that in its current form the legislation will result in increased regulatory burden for the content and new media industry with little benefit to business or consumers.
Intellect said; "The UK content and new media industry is extremely disappointed that the Commission has chosen to table these proposals. In our view, contrary to the Commission's claims, the Directive fails to follow EU principles of Better Regulation and will hamper opportunities for growth and high-value job creation within the EU content and new media industry."
"The linear/non-linear split may be a useful conceptual framework for policy makers but it doesn't reflect the nature of the new interactive, on-demand, IP-based services, such as IPTV, Video on Demand, and mobile TV under development. The reality is that new services are likely to seamlessly blend push and pull characteristics. Working out which rules apply is going to be a real headache for the industry going forward."
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HBO on CingularCingular Wireless will bring clips of popular HBO shows, including the Sopranos, to its mobile phones following an exclusive three-year pact with HBO parent Time Warner.
Cingular, a JV of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth says "Now you can turn a boring everyday moment into an opportunity to escape," Cingular's Chief Operating Officer Ralph de la Vega said.
Both companies' revenue from the deal will increase as the number of subscribers increase, de la Vega said. The pair plan to kick off a subscription service in a few weeks with clips of hit shows for both adults and children from HBO, the most widely watched U.S. premium cable TV networks.
HBO is also developing cellphone dedicated content.
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MPAA targets ChinaMotion Picture Association of America Chairman and Chief Executive Dan Glickman launched a new initiative in Beijing to target film piracy in 14 Asian countries in December and January, peak movie-going months in nations such as China.
During 'Operation Big Broom', the MPAA's own enforcement staff and local authorities will try to curtail the availability of pirated movies in retail shops and from street vendors in so-called urban piracy 'black spots'. The MPAA estimates that its Hollywood studio members lose $896 million in potential revenue annually in Asia.
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Eutelsat to offer HDTV Winter Olympics demos
From Colin Mann in TurinSatellite operator Eutelsat, which has already agreed a deal with Japanese public broadcaster NHK to carry HDTV coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in Turin in February 2006, is to offer selected broadcasters the opportunity to trial HD services by providing an MPEG-4 H.264 feed.
Cristiano Benzi, Eutelsat Project Manager for Torino 2006, revealed Italian state broadcaster RAI would be providing a trial HD service. In addition to the MPEG-4 availability, Benzi suggested that "greater visibility" would be achieved with an MPEG-2 feed, accepting that the timing of the Turin games was slightly too early for MPEG-4 STBs to be sufficiently widespread. "It would have been a risk to have bet on volume supplies of MPEG-4 STBs being available," he conceded. "Those betting on commercial HD are focusing on (football World Cup) Germany 2006."
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Swedish government denies DAB expansionThe Swedish radio industry is disappointed by a government decision
to temporarily freeze expansion of DAB digital radio in Sweden. The government is expected to announce it will not authorise a further rollout of DAB transmitters, nor will it issue new DAB licences to the private sector.Swedish broadcasters had hoped to see coverage expand from the current 35 per cent to full national coverage. And, although Swedish Radio, the public broadcaster, is available on DAB, it was hoped that commercial licences would be made available to the private sector in new legislation next year.
Mikael Nilson, Director of Communication at Swedish Radio SR says: "The entire radio industry regrets this government's decision not to expand DAB digital radio in Sweden. We are in favour of digital broadcasting on a variety of platforms including the Internet, Podcasting (MP3), radio and digital TV. But DAB is terrestrial, free to air, and has the advantage that consumers don't have to pay to receive the content."
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TW premieres 'family friendly'Time Warner cable division became the first to launch a new package of channels for viewers who want to avoid sexual and violent content but its low channel line up raises doubts over how many households would actually subscribe to it.
Along with the standard broadcast networks, the tier will include 15 cable networks such as the Disney Channel, Discovery Kids and Food Network. The only news channel included would be Time Warner's CNN Headline News. Many of the most popular cable networks, including ESPN, Nickelodeon and Fox News Channel, will not be included.
Time Warner Cable, said it excluded from the family tier any channel that carried programming at any time that children of any age might find objectionable. On ESPN's exclusion he noted that some people might find fan behaviour offensive.
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Entriq provides FIFA video securityEntriq announced that it is providing an online secure media platform for Fife's Club World Championship Toyota Cup, which is currently taking place in Japan.
Football fans worldwide are able to watch the best moments of each match
online at FIFA.com, via a worldwide Video Highlights service for the
Tournament. Video summaries of each game are made available free of charge
to any user one hour after the final whistle of each game.
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MobiTV extends portfolioMobiTV, Inc. announced an expanded portfolio of mobile television content partners. The new line-up will be available through 3 and Orange UK, supplementing the existing MobiTV channel package already available to their network customers. The new additions span content genres and programming formats, ranging from GMTV to Smash Hits and Living TV.
MobiTV will now provide two channel packages to 3 and Orange UK customers; a basic version and the enhanced service option.
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