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Our Latest Issues
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Scroll down page or click below for news - latest first
Tuesday
Friday 14th December
Ofcom unveils digital dividend auction
iPlayer for Mac
Discovery, Advance merge for new public co.
Sirius, XM struggle in anti-trust
Portugal’s RTP starts mobile HD
Connected demand in Europe
Healthy profits for ITV's digital channels
Nielsen ratings for HBO On Demand
$10bn mobile video messaging by 2012
Tiscali targets 200,000 subscribers
China grants for mobile phone TV
Omneon acquires Castify Networks
Streaming21, SAMPO and Microsoft Digital Home Alliance
Endemol UK syndicates through Digital Hive
GlobeCast for HD launch of LUXE.TV
Ofcom unveils digital dividend auctionUK regulator Ofcom has outlined plans for an auction of the broadcast transmission spectrum that will be freed up by switching off the analogue TV signal in 2012.
The freed-up spectrum will be suitable for ultra-fast wireless broadband, mobile television, more digital terrestrial TV channels, local TV, wireless microphones and low-power applications developed from wi-fi. Ofcom has identified "one compelling case" where spectrum will be reserved to avoid the risk of "market failure" in an auction. In the programme-making and special events sector, which will use the spectrum primarily for wireless microphones, there will be a "beauty contest" over who will be awarded bandwidth.
The digital dividend auction, set for 2009, is expected to bring in only a tenth of the income of the 3G auction, which occurred during the height of the dotcom boom and left the mobile phone operators with expensive licences that they have struggled to make money from.
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iPlayer for MacThe BBC has launched a new version of iPlayer which can be used on Macs for the first time. Eric Huggers, the BBC group controller of future media and technology, also revealed it is adding social media tools and better integration of features on the new look bbc.co.uk website, which will relaunch by the end of this week.
The overhaul of the iPlayer means it is now accessible for users on Macs and Linux-powered computers as well as PCs and will offer both streaming and downloading of content. From Christmas Day, the BBC's revamped iPlayer will be promoted in a marketing campaign.
Huggers said "We're actively pursuing relationships with more suppliers to make sure the iPlayer becomes available on more services as well as Virgin Media, so that users have direct access to content on a TV through the iPlayer. 2008 will be the year when we start to find out how [TV over the internet] gets into the living room and how users can access these services from their couch. It doesn't make sense to make all these services available on each platform, but we need to figure out how these platforms can complement each other."
He confirmed Project Kangaroo, a joint web TV service being developed by the BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, is separate to the iPlayer, and that there is room for multiple offerings.
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Discovery, Advance merge for new public co.Discovery Holding Company and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership announced that they have signed a non-binding letter of intent pursuant to which DHC and Advance/Newhouse will combine their stakes in Discovery Communications. This will mean DHC will spin-off to its shareholders a wholly-owned subsidiary holding the networks and creative services businesses of Ascent Media Group.
Immediately following the spin-off of AMG, DHC will combine with a new holding company and existing DHC stockholders will receive shares of common stock of the new publicly-traded holding company.
As part of the same plan, Advance/Newhouse will combine its interests in Discovery Communications and Animal Planet with the new holding company in exchange for preferred stock that, immediately after the closing of the transactions, will be convertible into shares representing one-third of the outstanding shares of common stock of the new holding company. "The agreement between DHC and Advance/Newhouse signals an exciting new chapter in the Discovery story. As a fully public company, Discovery will be in a stronger position to grow organically and through acquisition," commented David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications.
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Sirius, XM struggle in anti-trustSirius and XM, are reported to be facing growing doubts over their ability to secure antitrust clearance for a $13 billion merger announ-ced in February.
Although a tough regulatory approval process was ex-pected for the deal, which unites the top two satellite radio providers, the companies and many investors were optimistic that antitrust enforcers at the US department of justice would clear it before the year-end.Sirius and XM said: "As the companies have said from the outset, we expected to complete the processes at DoJ and the FCC so that the regulators could make their decisions and the merger could close by year-end. We have fully complied with the requests from both agencies. The ball is now in their court and we look forward to their determinations."
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Portugal’s RTP starts mobile HD
From Branislav Pekic in RomePortuguese public broadcaster RTP has started transmitting its first TV channel in high definition for mobile phones. According to the head of the project, Carlos Vargas, this is the first HD mobile project in Portugal and is being conducted in partnership with mobile operator Optimus and Nokia, with the technological support from Alcatel-Lucent.
RTP’s mobile channel reported one million views in October, guaranteeing it market leadership. This result corresponds to more than 66,000 hours of the effective audience of RTP Mobile since the channel started broadcasting in July 2006.
Figures from Portugal’s Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications at the end of 2007 suggest that an estimated 2.7 million 3G mobile phones were capable of receiving mobile TV. The European Commission supported DVB-H standard is ready to be adopted in Portugal, only the necessary legislation is lacking, linked to the outcome of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) tender.
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Connected demand in Europe
According to research from Cisco, broadband users in Western Europe may be even more interested in living ‘The Connected Life’ than US consumers, and many are willing to pay for the value a service like this can provide.Ninety-per cent of European broadband users expressed an interest in a connected life service – anytime, anywhere access to all household digital media content - compared to only 77 per cent in the US. Furthermore, 42 per cent are willing to spend E3.5 per month to enable easy management of and access to their household digital content, yet they struggle to find the right innovative solution which is simple, quick to install and highly secure.
This view was part of the findings from the Cisco Connected Consumer study for Western Europe. Researchers selected a hypothetical service as part of a broader connected life service offering, and then canvassed the views of 1,500 broadband users across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. The connected life service would enable the storage, management and use of all of a household’s digital media and content via any device, and at anytime or place. The suggested household content includes TV, films, the household calendar and address book, digital photos, video clips and music.
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Healthy profits for ITV's digital channels
ITV's digital channels are on course to make more than £200 million (E289m) this year, the commercial broadcaster has revealed
Network advertising revenues at the channels - ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, children's channel CITV and Men & Motors - is expected to be up 32 per cent year-on-year to £209 million. Growth at ITV's digital services has offset continuing decline in audience and revenues at flagship channel ITV1.
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Nielsen ratings for HBO On Demand
HBO is to become the first broadcaster to receive ratings for its on-demand offerings, in a deal with The Nielsen Company for measurement of the usage of its SVOD services.
Nielsen will measure usage of HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand via its National People Meter VOD Audience Measurement service, providing data on the number of households viewing the titles as well as the demographics of the audiences viewing each specific programme.
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$10bn mobile video messaging by 2012Mobile video messaging services are at the centre of the technology convergence that is helping mobile customers realise greater levels of self-expression and online community participation. According to principal analyst Dan Shey of ABI Research, "Mobile video messaging is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the convergence of increased mobile device capabilities and consumers’ desire for broader communication options beyond voice. In fact, we expect the opportunity for mobile video services to produce a compound annual growth rate of nearly 60 per cent, amounting to $10 billion in 2012."
Tiscali targets 200,000 subscribers
Internet service provider Tiscali will launch an advertising campaign in January in a major push to reach 200,000 customers using its broadband-based television service in Britain by the end of 2008.
Mary Turner, chief executive of Tiscali's UK division told Reuters that the group was signing 250 new registrations for the TV offering a day and it hopes to have 50,000 by the end of 2007. Tiscali now covers 55 per cent of the country.
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China grants for mobile phone TVA RMB400 million (E44m) government fund has been granted to boost the domestic mobile phone TV standards in China over the next three years. The fund aims to accelerate the development of the domestic mobile TV, including the system research, end-equipment design and test process. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television will take charge of this project.
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Omneon acquires Castify Networks
Omneon, provider of media server and active storage systems for the broadcast and digital content storage markets, has acquired Castify Networks, a provider of software-based solutions for managing the distribution of digital content over the Internet and private Intranets.Castify's end-to-end software solutions enable enterprises and service providers to build scalable, easy-to-manage, and cost-efficient service delivery platforms for content distribution over public and private networks. "As our customers move to file-based workflows, our strategy is to provide the digital content infrastructure they need to efficiently and cost-effectively manage their assets," said Joe Kennedy, president and CEO of Omneon.."Our two companies have already demonstrated the ability to work closely together with great results," said Jörg Nonnenmacher, CEO of Castify Networks.
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Streaming21, SAMPO and Microsoft Digital Home Alliance
Streaming21, player in broadcast-quality streaming solutions, Sampo, 3C brand for electrical home appliances, and Microsoft Taiwan have announced the formation of the Digital Home Alliance and publicly debut co-developed digital home innovations. The companies are bringing to market end-to-end digital home solutions aimed at connecting the digital home with the networked world via "killer" applications developed by Streaming21, based on recently released Microsoft Home Server and fully integrated with Sampo consumer electronics.
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Endemol UK syndicates through Digital HiveRed Bee Media has won the contract to re-purpose Endemol UK’s content for new platforms through Digital Hive. Content will be ingested once into Digital Hive and then can be easily re-purposed for any platform whether it be mobile, web, or tomorrow’s latest gadget. Initially Red Bee Media will digitise around 500 hours of Endemol UK’s archive. Metadata will be created for each show and stored digitally with the programmes. It will then all be stored in Broadcast Centre in West London ready to be transcoded for any platform.
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GlobeCast for HD launch of LUXE.TVLUXE.TV, the first channel entirely dedicated to the world of luxury, called on GlobeCast for its launch on Sky in the United Kingdom. Produced and distributed in HD, LUXE.TV’s signal will be uplinked to Sky’s bouquet on Eurobird.
Thursday 13th December
Competition rule on Sky soon
Tiscali launches IPTV service in Italy
Weak Q3 STB sales
US lacks plan for digital TV switch
AT&T likes DISH
UK pay-TV best value
CSA consults on digital switch-over
Consumer will seek networked devices in 2008
YouTube expands ad programme
NBC cash-back
Development of Swisscom DVB-H to continue
Vivid enters copyright fight
ACMA calls for comments on digital TV development
MGM VOD agreement with Orange 24/24 Video
Media Prima launches 3G service
Turner use Mistral
Irdeto China deal for 2m smart cards
Hungama partners with iO global
ADB and Osmosys achieve DLNA certification
Digital TV on the move
Competition rule on Sky soonThe UK Competition Commission is expected to file its report on Sky with the government shortly and reports say it will recommend Sky’s stake in ITV is cut to below 10 per cent. According to the FT Sky will be asked to reduce its stake to about 7 per cent, to bring it more into line with the holding of the next largest investor in ITV. A final decision on the conclusions of the report will be made by February.
Given the current ITV share price, Sky stand to lose as much as £190 million (E275m) from a forced sell-down.
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Tiscali launches IPTV service in Italy
From Branislav Pekic in RomeTiscali has launched its IPTV service in Rome, Milan and Cagliari, which will be progressively extended to another five cities (Turin, Florence, Naples, Catania and Bologna) by March 2008. According to Tiscali Italia CEO, Mario Mariani, the goal is to attain an 11 per cent penetration rate among total ADSL clients by 2009. The IPTV service is currently available only to direct access clients, where Tiscali’s unbundling network is present, estimated at around 300,000. Mariani says that the user base should be doubled to 600,000 in 2008.
As well as with RAI, Tiscali has now signed a distribution agreement with DTH operator Sky Italia, whose pay-TV offer will be available on IPTV from the first half of 2008. Negotiations are currently underway with leading commercial broadcaster Mediaset and Tiscali hopes to reach an agreement soon.
Currently, the IPTV platform carries 50 TV channels, divided into five thematic areas: children, cinema, music, User Generated Content and 10 TV (short content lasting between 2 and 10 minutes). The subscription for Tiscali TV’s basic package will be E17, but the service will be free of charge until March 31.
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Weak Q3 STB salesAccording to researcher Dell’Oro Group, the worldwide set-top box market contracted 2 per cent on a sequential basis in the third quarter of this year. Despite strong growth in the IPTV and satellite set-top box market that was not enough to offset the decline in the cable market.
"Cable operators slowed their acquisition of set-top boxes in the third quarter after having accelerated purchases of mostly standard definition set-tops in the first half of 2007 when they were striving to convert analogue subscribers to digital services before the FCC’s July 1st deadline that required that set-top boxes contain separate security modules," commented Greg Collins, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. "Because cable operators increased their purchases of set-tops ahead of demand, thereby building inventory, they had much less of a need to purchase new set-tops in Q307," added Collins.
The report indicates that satellite set-top box market revenues grew faster
than unit shipments in the third quarter as consumers continued to focus on high definition and DVR products and services. The IPTV set-top market grew in the mid-teens on a sequential basis on both a revenue and unit shipment perspective during the third quarter as well.
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US lacks plan for digital TV switch
US regulators have "no comprehensive plan" for preparing TV viewers for the approaching switch-over to digital television, according to a congressional study.
The study by the Government Accountability Office took issue with the Federal Communications Commission for lacking an overall strategy for the February 17, 2009 switch, which will require broadcasters to change to digital signals. "Despite efforts by the public and private sectors and ongoing coordination, we found that no comprehensive plan for the transition exists," the GAO said.
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It appears AT&T will utilise DISH Network as its sole satellite TV platform. AT&T confirmed it would market and sell EchoStar's DISH Network as its exclusive satellite TV service until the deal between the companies expires in late 2008. The telco will stop selling DirecTV in the first quarter.
While DISH will remain an AT&T exclusive through 2008, some suggest DiresTV could be back in contention for the telco's business when the EchoStar deal expires. The satellite TV giant said it's interested in partnering again with the telco company.
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UK families enjoy some of the lowest prices for telephone, broadband and television in Europe, and more households are buying bundles of these services, according to Ofcom. Britain had the best value "triple play" deal in 2006 when compared with similar packages in France, Germany, Italy and the US, the survey found.
The survey also highlighted how the UK was leading the world in the take-up of digital TV, and that Britain was second only to the US in the proportion of women surfing the internet. About 40 per cent of UK households had bundles by March this year, compared with 29 per cent at the same time last year, according to Ofcom's 2007 international communications market report. British Sky Broadcasting, Carphone Warehouse and Virgin Media launched bundles last year.
Ofcom made comparisons between countries by looking at the needs of five different households, ranging from a retired couple to a family with two children. The UK had the lowest prices in 2006 for a basket of services based around a triple play deal of fixed-line phone, broadband and basic rather than premium pay-TV.
These services, which also included mobile phones, together cost £104 (E150) per month. That compared with £105 for equivalent services in France, £113 in Italy, £115 in Germany and £191 in the US. The UK was not always the best value. For example, it had the most expensive fixed-line phone deal for a retired couple compared with France, Germany, Italy and the US.
By the end of last year, 76 per cent of UK households had digital TV, compared with 67 per cent in Japan and 61 per cent in the US. France, Germany and Italy were also lower compared with the UK, which has seen take-up of digital TV driven by sales of the Freeview set-top box.
Most people thought the Internet had not changed their consumption of traditional media, such as television. In the UK, 63 per cent of Internet users said their TV viewing habits were unchanged, but 30 per cent watched less television off-line since they started using the web.
The UK does not have a leading position in broadband take-up, although some countries have worse records. Ofcom found 52 per cent of UK households had high speed internet access in 2006, compared with 74 per cent in the Netherlands.
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CSA consults on digital switch-overFrance’s TV watchdog, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) is launching a public consultation in preparation for the changeover of broadcast television to digital on November 30, 2011. The consultation is meant to formulate the national scheme for analogue switch-off to be approved by the Prime Minister.
The consultation addresses both the mechanisms to be used in achieving the switchover as well as ensuring that the public, whose involvement is seen as crucial to the success of the project, are kept fully informed.
Consumer will seek networked devices in 2008
The manner by which consumers create and share content, enjoy a variety of programming and entertainment applications, communicate, and enhance productivity at home and on-the-go is evolving as digital technologies become more mainstream, according to a new Parks Associates white paper titled, Consumer Technology: Key Trends and Outlook for 2008. According to the new paper, sales of networked CE devices will grow from 9.8 million units in 2007 to 71 million in 2011.
Parks predicts home networking will make its most-significant strides into the consumer electronics space in 2008 and connectivity in new products and services-driven applications will be the most sought-after gadget features next year. In addition, revenues for online video are expected to climb to $9.7 billion by 2011 (up from $1.4 billion in 2007) and nearly 92 million households will subscribe to a digital video service in 2011, up from 70 million in 2007.
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YouTube expands ad programmeYouTube is to expand its pilot advertising programme to a select number of amateurs, giving more users a shot to make money from their homemade videos. The site will accept applications from amateurs to become part of its programme that splices ads into online videos. The video makers will share in the resulting revenue. Until now, YouTube hand-picked a group of major media companies and independent video creators for its pilot advertising program.
NBC Universal is taking the unusual step of giving advertisers cash back for primetime ratings shortfalls from last season. The move is a departure for NBC, which like other broadcast networks typically gives advertisers additional TV spots, called make goods, when ratings fall short of expectations.
The fourth-place network is in a steeper ratings depression than its peers, with no standout new shows in the fall season, say media buyers. That makes it harder for NBC to make up ratings shortfalls by giving away additional commercial air time. The reimbursements were reported by Mediaweek this week.
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Development of Swisscom DVB-H to continueAt the end of September this year, ComCom awarded Swisscom what is at present the only nationwide licence for mobile TV (DVB-H). Swisscom, Sunrise and Orange tested the new technologies in a pilot project at the end of 2006, with a cooperation project subsequently being initiated for the commercial launch of mobile TV. The two partners withdrew from the joint project at short notice.
Swisscom still believes, however, that there is growing customer demand for digital quality mobile TV and is continuing with its plan to provide customers with attractive offerings in time for the European Football Championships. Swisscom Broadcast is currently working flat out on the development of the new transmission network and is planning to invest tens of millions of Swiss francs.
The target remains to give at least 44 per cent of the Swiss population access to mobile TV by the time of the European Football Championships next June.
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The adult entertainment industry has joined the battle over copyright issues on the Internet. Vivid Video, one of the largest adult entertainment companies, has filed suit against the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, accusing the company of allowing users to post Vivid’s copyrighted materials on its website.
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ACMA calls for comments on digital TV developmentThe Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is seeking the views of interested parties on how ACMA and the industry should approach the development of codes and standards for digital television. ‘We encourage industry participants to share their views with ACMA, particularly about how it should approach the making of mandatory requirements in the digital television area,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.
Amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 have introduced new provisions allowing ACMA to determine technical standards for the transmission and reception of digital television to assist in minimising the impact on consumers of the transition to new types of services and equipment. ACMA may also register industry codes and develop industry standards if no code is developed or a registered code proves deficient.
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MGM VOD agreement with Orange 24/24 VideoMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) has signed a multiyear agreement with France Telecom's Orange and its ‘24/24 Vide’" service, providing the studio's latest feature film releases and classic movies from the MGM library to Orange's customers via Video-on-Demand.
According to the terms of the agreement, MGM's films will be offered to Orange customers in France, Spain, Poland and soon in the UK, who subscribe to either the broadband digital television package or high speed Internet package.
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Media Prima launches 3G serviceMedia Prima Bhd has launched Malaysia’s first third generation (3G) mobile television service. The new video service includes the radio portal service, which allows users to access a real-time view of the HotFM radio studio with the DJ in action and interviews with celebrities.
Turner Broadcasting has signed to use Chello Interactive’s Mistral solution for enhanced TV (eTV) services in Europe. Turner Broadcasting will use the solution to design, publish and manage eTV services for its kids’ channels Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Too and Boomerang on BSkyB in the UK, and Cartoon Network and Boomerang on UPC in Holland. These services currently include an Interactive Screen Mosaic for Cartoon Network viewers, offering a range of games and enhanced content.
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Irdeto China deal for 2m smart cardsIrdeto has signed an agreement for two million smart cards from China's Jilin Provincial Network. The agreement, which will support the cable TV operator's digital migration project, is the largest for Irdeto to date.
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Hungama partners with iO globaliO global, provider of integrated digital retail solutions, has announced that Hungama Mobile, aggregator, distributor and publisher of digital content in India, has signed a strategic partnership contract to distribute its Bollywood movies, images, videos and music tracks to European, African and Asian network operators, via the iO global Mobile Entertainment platform.
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ADB and Osmosys achieve DLNA certificationAdvanced Digital Broadcast has revealed that its latest home-networking enabled digital video recorder (DVR), the ADB-5000 series, powered by Osmosys HomeNet software, has gained certification from the Digital Living Network Alliance. The combined home networking solution will ensure, simple, fast and effective networking of compatible devices. The DLNA comprises a number of leading, world-wide consumer electronics, computing industry and mobile device companies who share the same goal – to enable an environment for the seamless sharing of new digital media and content services based on open standards.
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Digital TV on the moveKenwood USA Corporation has become the first major manufacturer of automotive electronics to develop a mobile DTV receiver for over-the-air broadcasts in North America. Kenwood has created prototype terrestrial DTV receivers based on the MPH in-band mobile DTV system, developed by Harris, LG Electronics and LG's U.S. R&D subsidiary, Zenith. The Kenwood MPH receivers are designed to bring terrestrial broadcast digital TV to consumers on the go, particularly those in fast-moving vehicles.
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Wednesday 12th December
Mobile WiMAX to reach 80m by 2013
HDTV intenders to decide HD-DVD battle
Interactive TV channel on Imagenio
LG Dacom to join free IPTV market
Narrowstep and TSS Cross Media partnership
Siano, Huaqi and CMBSat join for mobile TV
Intellistream single box interactive mobile video platform
Nolan appointed Director General at DTG
CNN expands in UAE
Mobile WiMAX to reach 80m by 2013Juniper Research forecasts that Mobile WiMAX 802.16e will begin to take off over the 2010 to 2013 period, exceeding 80 million mobile subscribers globally by 2013.
Report author Howard Wilcox said: "We are seeing more and more Mobile WiMAX 802.16e trials and network contracts - over 50 have been announced so far in 2007 alone: the market is very active in all regions of the world. We anticipate that mobile usage will develop after initial demand for fixed and portable services. WiMAX 802.16e is a flexible platform that can operate in all three modes of usage. Mobile WiMAX will represent a single digit proportion of the global mobile broadband base by 2013. This will be a tremendous achievement for this new technology platform which has recently been boosted by the ITU´s endorsement of it as an IMT2000 specification."
Juniper reports that the value of Mobile WiMAX service revenues globally will grow to over $23 billionn per annum by 2013 and the top Mobile WiMAX markets will be the USA, Japan and S. Korea.
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HDTV intenders to decide HD-DVD battleAccording to research from The Diffusion Group, close to one-third of non-HDTV households are interested in purchasing a new HDTV in the next six months - a very encouraging sign for HDTV manufacturers and HD DVD manufacturers.
The same research found that the characteristics of these ‘HDTV Intenders’ vary widely from that of current HDTV owners. HDTV Intenders tend to be younger, single, more ethnically diverse, and have lower annual household incomes than current HDTV owners ˆ in many respects more characteristic of mainstream consumers than the early adopters who today own an HDTV.
While this trend could in theory benefit either Blu-ray or HD DVD, the data suggests otherwise. Among HDTV Intenders who are likely to purchase a new HD DVD player in the next six months, 43 per cent prefer HD DVD, 27 per cent prefer Blu-ray, and 30 per cent are undecided.
"The strength of this preference and its correlation to mainstream attributes are notable," states Michael Greeson, president and principal analyst with The Diffusion Group. "Today’s HD-DVD owner is likely an early adopter with a knack for power gaming; most certainly tech-sophisticates not at all mainstream in temperament. The next wave of buyers is comprised of early mass-market consumers, a much larger segment with a focus on practical considerations such as price. It is TDG’s opinion that the format which can best address the needs of mainstream consumers will emerge as the winner of this format war."
Interactive TV channel on Imagenio
From David Del Valle in Madrid
The Spanish telco Telefonica and the Virtual Mobile Operator and leader in premium services World Premium Rates (WPR) have launched on Telefonica's IPTV service Imagenio, Adivina TV (Guess TV), a new TV channel with interactive services such as quiz shows, astrology, tarot, horoscope, chat services, among others.
The new channel initially broadcasts 13 hours a day and is available to all 470,000 Imagenio's subscribers who are seeing Imagenio's TV offer increase from 120 to 160 TV by year end.
Adivina TV will allow subscribers to take part in the programmes in an interactive environment. WPR claims to lead the Spanish market in terms of interactive TV solutions with 20 million of telephone calls and tele voting in 2006 providing Call TV services for the main Spanish TV networks, Tele 5, Cuatro, La Sexta and Antena 3.
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LG Dacom to join free IPTV market
LG Dacom has unveiled ‘myLGtv’, its free IPTV service to join the competition in the Triple Play Service market.LG Dacom will launch ‘myLGtv’ to offer the TPS service which provides three services including high-speed Internet (Xpeed) and Internet telephone (myLG707) in one line. LG Dacom said they will offer 10 per cent and 20 per cent discounts for Xpeed and my LGtv respectively when a consumer uses TPS service.
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Narrowstep and TSS Cross Media partnershipNarrowstep and TSS Cross Media Group of Benelux have announced a strategic partnership to offer advanced Internet TV solutions for telecoms, broadcasters and advertisers to effectively monetise video content over the Internet.
Narrowstep provides solution for managing, distributing and commercialising video on the Internet securely in TV-like quality. Narrowstep’s platform supports over 180 channels, with clients including some of the largest broadcasters and telecoms in the world including ITV Local, Virgin Media, the Sci-Fi Channel and Telefonica. The partnership is part of Narrowstep’s overall strategy to extend its presence globally through a network of international resellers.
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Siano, Huaqi and CMBSat join for mobile TVSiano Mobile Silicon, supplier of semiconductor solutions for Mobile Digital TV (MDTV), has signed a collaboration agreement with CMB Satellite, the Hong Kong based affiliate of EchoStar Communications Corporation, and Huaqi, manufacturer of consumer multimedia products to provide advanced solutions for China's up-coming mobile TV service known as CMMB, or S-TIMI, starting at the 2008 Olympics.
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Intellistream single box interactive mobile video platformIntellistream, pioneer of streaming interactive 3G video services, has launched a standalone version of its Unistream 3G video content and interactive media platform. This makes it possible for Intellistream customers, whether a mobile content provider or security firm, to install an all-in-one box on their premises to offer interactive 3G video services independent of Intellistream’s regular hosted service.
Intellistream’s services operate on any 3G video-enabled handset without the need to install software. From a consumer perspective, this means it’s possible to access interactive video services direct to a handset. For operators and content providers, Intellistream is a way to generate revenues from under utilised 3G video calling infrastructure and offer real time, interactive video services.
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Nolan appointed Director General at DTGThe Digital TV Group (DTG), the industry association for digital television in the UK, has confirmed the appointment of Dermot Nolan as their new Director General. Nolan brings twenty-five years' experience in broadcasting and telecoms strategy to the role having previously worked as a Director at a variety of consultancy firms specialising in the digital television and telecommunications industries.
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CNN expands in UAECNN Worldwide has begun expansion in its operations in the United Arab Emirates, which includes the appointment of a new international correspondent, a new bureau chief and the opening of an office with full broadcast and production capabilities in the capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Tuesday 11th December
BBC aims to buy out UKTV
ESPN in for Premier League?
TV heads Internet viewing
Netgem merges with Glowria
HDNet, DirecTV Settle in Court
CNN on YouTube
Channel 4 goes HD
MySpace Earwig TV
EuroNews to broadcast in Arabic
Technetix and Arris together
Viasat and CDON expand VOD service
BBC aims to buy out UKTVBBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, is reportedly trying to buy cable group Virgin Media's share of UKTV, the TV channel business that the two organisations jointly own.
Virgin Media's investment in the 50/50 joint venture is valued on the company's books at £370 million, (E536m) including a £150 million loan.
The joint venture includes eight UKTV-branded channels and the recent re-brand ‘Dave’. UKTV stations take advertising and charge a subscription fee. BBC Worldwide is hoping to extend its commercial activities in the UK, and on the Freeview platform specifically, and wants to increase investment in the channels.
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ESPN in for Premier League?ESPN, the US cable sports network, is planning an international expansion, saying it is "absolutely interested" in acquiring UK rights to the English Premier League when they are next auctioned in 2009.
A bid would pit the Disney owned sports network against Sky which last year agreed a three-year deal worth £1.3 billion (E1.88bn) for the largest package of games. George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN, which broadcasts the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball in the US, told the FT that the Premier League was a "fabulous property, we are absolutely interested in it".
ESPN is to rebrand its presence in Europe renaming the current North American Sports Network, which is in 10m European homes, to ESPN. In the UK, NASN is packaged with Setanta’s channels and is available in 1m homes.ESPN has increased its coverage of non-US sports and recently bought Cricinfo, the world’s largest cricket website, which attracts millions of fans from India and Pakistan. It also acquired Scrum.com, the largest rugby site on the web.
ESPN owns the rights to show the Premier League in the US and also broadcasts coverage of Major League Soccer, the domestic US league.
Meantime, ESPN Star sports has launched STAR Sports Mobile, its new mobile sports content service highlighted by exclusive Arsenal and Liverpool Football Club content along with many more innovative features.
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TV heads Internet viewingA majority of US adult Internet users watch video online during a typical week, with TV programming ranking as the most popular content, according to a survey by Choicestream.
The survey found that 55 per cent of those surveyed watch online video each week, with 65 per cent of that group reporting that they regularly watch traditional TV programming. Overall, 39 per cent of 824 respondents said they watch TV on an alternate device, with the computer by far the most popular non-traditional method. 20 per cent of consumers said they would watch more online TV during the next six months, with 55 per cent of that group saying that would come at the expense of traditional TV viewing.
Online video viewing is higher among younger respondents, with 66 per cent of those between ages 18-24 saying they watch online video and about 70 per cent of respondents ages 18-34 saying they watch TV on the Web.
Among those who watch TV on their mobile phones, 47 per cent said they watch at least four hours per week. And 37 per cent of consumers who watch TV on digital-media players like iPods watch at least four hours.
User-generated content was a distant second to TV in terms of what respondents watch online, with fewer than 40 per cent saying that they regularly watch that type of material. Consumers ages 18-24 watch the most, with about 45 per cent responding that they regularly watch online user-generated content.
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Netgem has acquired the shares of institutional investors in Glowria, the leading French Internet DVD rental and a video on demand services operator.
Glowria has up to now been financed by those investors; Seventure (Natixis Group), Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Mousse Partners. Through this acquisition, Netgem and Glowria will offer their customers and partners global solutions for the currently most attractive developments of the digital television i.e : VoD, high definition and DTT.
Joseph Haddad, CEO of Netgem, stated: "It is clear that video on demand is taking off in France and that users (80 per cent) are every day more inclined to purchase movies from their television set. By combining our set-top box with Glowria’s video service platform, we will be able to offer innovations to consumers in terms of ergonomics and uses. This operation will allow us to reduce integration costs, improve our reactivity and offer subscribers greater security for their content."
Eric Caen, CEO of Glowria, explained: "Both companies have the same current customers and prospective partners. Furthermore, the presence of Netgem in the Uk From now on, our customers can access to a global service with a single expertise base for the launch of their cross-platform VOD offer."
The deal values Glowria at around E18m, and will be financed by the issue of new Netgem shares. Glowria shareholders will own about 14 per cent of Netgem.
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HDNet, DirecTV Settle in CourtAfter weeks of wrangling over DirecTV 's carriage of HDNet, the two sides have worked out a deal. Last week, HDNet settled its lawsuit with DirecTV, which was filed after the DBS service was preparing to put the high def channel into a tier of "HD-only" channels. The deal keeps HDNet on DirecTV 's main HDTV platform.
The move also puts to an end HDNet's complaints about the dispute and its efforts to tie conditions to Liberty Media's pending takeover of DirecTV, something the high def programmer operated by Mark Cuban was pursuing at the Federal Communications Commission.
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The CNN branded channel on YouTube, which features newly extracted content from the channel, is now available to users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This move complements a suite of new products and services that CNN and other Turner brands have been rolling out across mobile, web and IPTV platforms this year.
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Channel 4 goes HDChannel 4 has launched a high-definition version of its primary channel on Sky HD. Channel 4 HD will carry the same programmes as Channel 4, but will show the high-definition versions wherever they are available.
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MySpace Earwig TVSocial netwoking site MySpace is set to launch a music video channel branded Earwig TV. The channel will offer videos and tracks from new and emerging bands to help them find larger audiences and attract attention from record companies. Earwig TV will combine live gig footage with interviews and profiles of the bands.
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EuroNews to broadcast in ArabicEuroNews is to extend its offering to include in Arabic in 2008. This new addition will be the eighth language version broadcast by EuroNews, which currently reaches 200 million homes across 130 countries.
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Technetix Group has entered into an engineering and co-marketing agreement with the Arris TeleWire Supply division of Arris Group. Arris entered the exclusive agreement with Technetix to expand its Regal brand portfolio of drop materials. The newly branded Regal by Technetix series of splitters, taps, in-home active and in-home networking products will include the patent pending, Technetix Ingress Safe technology, which effectively reduces subscriber return channel ingress noise in broadband cable networks.
"This is an exciting new product suite being introduced into the American cable industry," said Bob Puccini, Arris TeleWire Supply President. "This alliance has created the new Regal by Technetix product line that will change the way our customers battle ingress noise in the future. This is the only product of its kind in the industry and we look forward to showing our customers its clear advantages."
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to combine our Technetix Ingress Safe technology with the Regal brand while leveraging Arris’ broad reach in sales, marketing and logistical support in our target markets," said Paul Broadhurst, Technetix Group CEO.
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Viasat and CDON expand VOD service
Viasat Broadcasting and CDON have expanded their VOD content further by entering a three year licensing deal with Nordisk Film for feature films and TV-series to be made available on ViasatOnDemand.se, dk, no and CDON.com on their demand services in Scandinavia.
The three year agreement with Nordisk Film secures a launch volume of 250 titles and current line-up including US independent titles and the best Nordic productions. The agreement will enable users of Viasat's and CDON.com's on demand services to order and view content on a video on demand basis.
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Monday 10th December
Murdoch-go-round at Sky
Pay TV: give us access to Sky or break it up
Macrovision buys TV Guide
Ofcom plans spectrum auction
Disney makes kids portal for UK
Neotion gets E6m boost
Wind launches IPTV service with Alcatel-Lucent
YooMedia in for Fresh
BiBC signs digital download deal with EMI
BBC revives show online
Network Electronics acquires Video Products Group
Murdoch-go-round at SkyRupert Murdoch has effectively confirmed son James Murdoch is his choice to take over News Corp. For now, James moves up at Sky to become non-exec chairman, while becoming CEO for News Corp outside the US. Meantime, Rupert Murdoch leaves the board of Sky – where News Corp owns 39 per cent - after 18 years.
The moves have been triggered by the News takeover of Dow Jones; Les Hinton head of News International (the UK newspaper operation) is moving to be CEO of Dow Jones. Murdoch Jnr will head News International, Sky Italia and Star, the 34 year old will also join the main News Corp board. Jeremy Darroch, the FD, moves up to CEO at Sky.
Rupert Murdoch said: "This is the right time to align our operations in Europe and Asia under new, structured group leadership."
"The team at Sky has demonstrated the success that can be achieved with an appetite for change and a single-minded focus on customers," James Murdoch said.
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Pay TV: give us access to Sky or break it up
BSkyB’s rivals have made a joint submission to Ofcom saying it should give them "economically viable" access to its premium programming or face the separation of its channels and satellite distribution business. The submission is from BT Vision, Setanta Sports, Top Up TV and Virgin Media.
BSkyB’s submission to the communications regulator’s investigation into the pay-TV market dismissed its rivals’ arguments as "misconceived, exaggerated and cynically self-serving".Their complaint ignored competition from free-to-air broadcasters, the fast-changing competitive environment and previous regulatory interventions such as the European Commission’s break-up of its former monopoly over Premiership rights, BSkyB said. "The complaint contains a number of serious factual inaccuracies and the arguments within it are flawed," BSkyB said.
Neil Berkett, acting chief executive of Virgin Media, said: "In the broadband and phone markets in recent years we’ve seen falling prices, more innovation and increased choice. In pay-TV, by contrast, consumers are still getting a raw deal."
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Macrovision buys TV GuideMacrovision is buying television listings provider Gemstar-TV Guide International for $2.8 billion in cash and stock. They say the combined company will allow consumers to pull up a guide on their TV and receive personalised content and information regarding favourite TV shows, read movie reviews before purchasing or renting a film, view personal photos, or tap into personal music libraries.
Plans for Gemstar-TV Guide's print operations weren't disclosed. News Corp which owns about 41 per cent of Gemstar-TV Guide, has agreed to vote in favour of the deal.
Macrovision's Fred Amoroso will continue as president and chief executive of the new company while Gemstar-TV Guide CEO Rich Battista will leave the organisation upon closing of the acquisition.
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UK comms regulator Ofcom has published details of its plans to auction radio spectrum suitable for a range of services including mobile television and satellite radio. A number of possible uses of the 1452 - 1492 MHz band, the so-called L-Band’, have been identified including: mobile multimedia services including mobile TV which could be deployed using a variety of technologies; satellite digital radio; and broadband wireless access or high speed Internet on the move. Ofcom expects the auction process, which will be held online, to start in spring 2008.
The spectrum will be released on a technology and service neutral basis, allowing users the flexibility to decide what technology to use, what services to offer and to change their use of the spectrum over time. All licences will be tradable.
The release of the spectrum in the 1452 - 1492 MHz band is part of a wider programme to release around 400 MHz of spectrum at prime frequencies below 3 GHz. Other awards in this programme include the digital dividend – the highly-valued spectrum that will be freed-up through the switch to digital television plus Channel 36 which is within the television bands - and the 2.6 GHz bands.
Ofcom’s objective is to promote the most efficient use of the UK’s valuable spectrum resource, benefiting consumers by providing access to new services, greater choice and competition. Ofcom’s research has shown that the use of the radio spectrum contributes £37bn or 3 per cent to UK GDP.
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Disney makes kids portal for UKWalt Disney's Internet arm is launching a UK portal aimed at young adults showcasing its games, films, music and social networking assets in one British Web site. The Web site follows the launch of the concept in the United States earlier this year. Similar Web portal offerings will be launched in Europe.
"We are looking to the continent not surprisingly so we will be looking to France, Italy, Germany and Spain for our next rollouts," said Cindy Rose, who heads Disney's Internet arm in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Disney site, like its U.S. predecessor, has at its heart a feature called Disney Extreme Digital, aimed at children that allows them to customise multi-media content simultaneously while watching and sharing videos, messages, music and games.
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MPEG-4 technology specialist Neotion has received a capital injection of E6 million. The prime investor is General Satellite Corporation (GSC), a fast-growing digital television receiver manufacturer. GSC has a strong presence in what Neotion describes as Strategic Emerging Markets where MPEG-4 is set to spread rapidly, including Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia, where the positioning of GSC is seen as a crucial asset.
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Wind launches IPTV service with Alcatel-LucentAlcatel-Lucent and Italian telecommunications company Wind have launched a nationwide commercial IPTV offering based on Alcatel-Lucent’s solutions and the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform. Wind’s IPTV service is available to more than two million households in its first phase and offers an enhanced triple play user experience by enabling user-friendly features like instant channel change, multiple picture-in-picture, personal video recorder (PVR) functionality and video on demand.
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YooMedia in for FreshDigital entertainment group YooMedia has conditionally agreed to acquire 95.2 per cent of the issued share capital of Fresh Interactive Technologies, a Spanish interactive television company, and has conditionally raised the sum of approximately £12.9 million (E18m) following a share consolidation and restructuring.
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BiBC signs digital download deal with EMIThe British Internet Broadcasting Company (BiBC) has signed an audio and video content deal with EMI Music UK. BiBC’s digital store – the largest downloadable video content store in the UK – will add thousands content, including the latest music videos, from EMI’s library.
The deal will allow BiBC to make available for sale audio and video content direct to consumers on a download-to-own basis via its website. The content will be completely and genuinely ‘on demand’ meaning that consumers will be able to view content while it is downloading.
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BBC revives show onlineNineties BBC comedy show Stella Street is to return in an online format. The cult favourite will be distributed at the IPTV website Log.tv. The new material is expected to appear early in 2008.
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Network Electronics acquires Video Products GroupNetwork Electronics has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Video Products Group, a provider of professional video/audio transport systems for local and wide area networks. Major carriers around the world rely on VPG for video transport and broadcast services. The new combined product offering will be unique in its functionality, features and breadth, enabling telcos and broadcasters to build complete video transport systems from a single source.
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