|
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
Our Latest Issues
Visit our archive to access more than 200 features! |
Scroll down page or click below for news - latest first
Tuesday
Friday 1st August
BSkyB: subs up, sales down, ITV drags
MTG acquires Nova TV
Mediaset sues YouTube
Jetix, NBC Universal best placed on Italian DTT tender
DTG re-appoints Lindsay-Davies as Director General
Spain invests in DTT
Nokia ups venture fund
Disney up slightly
DISH Network HD upgrade
BT profit slump
87% coverage for French DTT
499m broadband connections by 2012
Moto keeps 3rd place
Clay Whitehead dead
BSkyB: subs up, sales down, ITV dragsBSkyB recorded its highest level of new customers for five years, confirming that 92,000 new customers had signed up for its products in the fourth quarter, bringing its customer base to 8.98 million. Levels of churn were also at their lowest level for three years at 9.8 per cent.
But the group took a further charge of £142 million (E173m) related to its investment in ITV. The cumulative hit related to its stake was £616 million for the year. This dented annual pre-tax profits which were sharply down at £60 million compared with £724 million last time.
Wholesale revenues decreased 13 per cent to £181 million, - a reflection of Virgin Media dropping the channel - while advertising revenues decreased 7 per cent to £328 million, also a reflection of reduced audiences on Virgin for Sky One.
Operating profits were £724 million compared with £815 million last time. Excluding exceptional costs of £28 million which compared with a £49 million gain last year, adjusted operating profit was £14 million lower than the prior year at £752 million, just shy of expectations of £753 million.
Modern Times Group (MTG), the international entertainment broadcasting group, has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Nova Televisia Bulgaria for E620 million in cash from Antenna Bulgaria, a member of the Kyriakou-owned Antenna Group.
Nova Televisia Bulgaria was established in 1994 and owns 100 per cent of Nova, the second most watched TV channel in Bulgaria.
Back to top
Mediaset sues YouTubeMediaset, the Italian media group, is suing Google for E500 million over alleged "illegal commercial use" of copyrighted video clips on YouTube. The move follows similar lawsuits from Viacom in the US and Telecinco, the Spanish broadcaster of which Mediaset is the largest shareholder. The cases are ongoing.
Back to top
Jetix, NBC Universal best placed on Italian DTT tender
From Branislav Pekicin RomeItaly’s Communications Authority (AgCom) has approved the final classifications for the tender that will award 40 per cent of the transmission capacity on five DTT multiplexes.
A total of 25 bids were presented by 18 organisations with points awarded for the "editorial plan", "company plan" and the "project for the use of transmission capacity", among other criteria.
Digital TV Channels, controlled by Jetix, received the most points (69) for its planned FTA channel aimed at kids aged 2-14. NBC Universal Global Networks Italia (66) came second with movie channel project. Joint third were NBC Universal Global Networks Italia with a "Factual" project and the Alphabet Consortium for a FTA/pay-TV education and training channel (both obtained 60 points).
Fifth was Rete Blu (57) with a channel dedicated to social, cultural and religious issues. Joint sixth ware Class Editori, for an FTA news channel; and Turner Entertainment Networks with Cartoon Network and Boomerang (all three with 55 points). Two companies placed ninth (52 points) - Walt Disney Company Italia with its three TV channels "Disney Family", "Disney Pre-School" and "Disney Animation", as well as AirPlus TV with six video streams which will carry nine pay-TV channels with family entertainment.
The broadcasters that will have to give up 40 per cent of the transmission capacity on their multiplexes are RAI (1 mux) Elettronica Industriale/Mediaset (2 mux) and Telecom Italia Media Broadcasting (2 mux). The capacity available is equal to around 9.5 Mbt/s for each mux, which means that only the nine best placed will get access. Only Telecom’s MBone mux is configured on a regional basis, so it will be available exclusively to local broadcasters.
Back to top
DTG re-appoints Lindsay-Davies as Director GeneralThe DTG has confirmed that Richard Lindsay-Davies has been re-appointed as Director General of the Group. Lindsay-Davies left in December 2007 to join Freesat as Commercial Development Director and is returning to the Group after the sudden departure of his successor Dermot Nolan. He will take up the role again in October.
Back to top
Spain invests in DTT
From David Del Valle in Madrid
The Spanish Administration has allocated E8.72 million to complete the digital migration of 32 transition projects from now until June 30, 2009 following the first analogue switch-off in the country, in the city of Soria, was successfully made in July.
The DTT Technical Plan lays down 90 transition projects as a whole that cover all the territory which are divided into three different groups: the first, with a population under 500,000 inhabitants; the second, with a population between 500,000 and 700,000 inhabitants; and a third group with a population of over 700,000 inhabitants.
Meanwhile, Mediapro main shareholder in the commercial TV channel La Sexta, is finalising the launch of a pay TV DTT platform over the next weeks that would offer several channels, including a football TV channel.
Initially, the platform would be available to cable operators until the Administration gives the go-ahead to pay TV over DTT by changing the current legislation that prohibits any pay TV content on DTT.
Jaume Roures, the president of Mediapro, has urged the Government to change the law to authorise pay DTT content. "This new model should be included in the new Audiovisual Law and that should be implemented before next Christmas because the broadcasters can’t waste two Christmas campaigns," he commented. Mediapro's football TV channel would broadcast at least 16 monthly soccer matches at a price of E1 per match.
Nokia will invest a further $150 million into its venture investment arm, hoping to find emerging Internet services from China and India. The investment raises funds under management of Nokia Growth Partners to $250 million, increasing Nokia's total venture investments to more than $900 million.
"The investment allows us to act on a global basis," said John Gardner, partner at Nokia Growth Partners, adding the firm aims to invest into 8 to 10 new firms each year. The venture arm plans to establish direct operations in India and China with the funds.
Meanwhile, Google is also considering establishing an investment fund for acquisitions.
Basic-cable networks powered modestly improved earnings reported Wednesday for its third quarter ended June 28th.
ESPN carriage fees and ad gains were the company’s single largest profit driver, but they were accompanied by higher ESPN program and overhead costs. "ESPN led the way, once again," Disney chief financial officer Tom Staggs told an investors' telephone conference. Income from continuing operations advanced 7 per cent to $1.28 billion. Revenue advanced 2 per cent to $9.24 billion.
Back to top
DISH Network HD upgradeDISH Network Corporation has set the bar for the next-generation HD standard by becoming the first in the industry to offer high definition programming in 1080p, the highest HD resolution available.
This new functionality is part of DISH Network's expansion in high definition services, which includes the rollout of TurboHD, the industry's first 100 per cent, all-HD suite of programming packages. DISH Network has also launched 17 new national HD channels, surpassing its goal of reaching 100 national HD channels five months ahead of schedule. DISH Network now offers up to 114 national HD channels and plans to expand that line-up to 150 channels by the end of 2008, made possible by the recent launch of Echo XI, the most powerful satellite in the company's fleet.
Back to top
BT profit slumpShares in BT Group slumped 11 per cent after the telco posted a 35 per cent fall in net profit and provided a worrying update over important parts of the business. BT said that net profit for the three months to June 30 dropped to £397 million pounds, (E484m) compared with £607 million in the corresponding quarter a year ago. A share buyback and restructuring costs contributed to the loss.
Revenue rose 3 per cent to £5.18 billion, from £5.03 billion with growth driven by major corporate customers.
Ian Livingston, chief executive of BT attempted to reassure the market, saying that the company's full year guidance remains unchanged.
Back to top
87% coverage for French DTTFrance's communications regulator the CSA, has revealed that four new digital terrestrial television transmitters are to come on stream on August 1st. These join 50 sites already brought into service since March 2008.
The CSA will continue to work with DTT sector players to ensure the opening of some 150 new sites before the end of the year, in accordance with the requirement for coverage of 89 per cent of the population in 2008.
Back to top
499m broadband connections by 2012
Worldwide consumer broadband connections will grow from 323 million connections in 2007 to 499 million in 2012. According to Gartner Worldwide, consumer broadband connections penetrated 18 per cent of households in 2007, and by 2012 households with a broadband connection will reach 25 per cent.Five countries exceeded 60 per cent broadband penetration into the home in 2007 and this is expected to grow to 17 countries by 2012. The five countries are Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Back to top
Motorola posted a small quarterly profit as it sold more mobile phones than expected and narrowly kept its No. 3 global ranking in the mobile phone market ahead of LG Electronics. Shares jumped 13 percent after Motorola also said it expects to report a profit for the full year of 6 cents to 8 cents per share on continuing operations.
Thursday 31st July
Migration from TV to web ups pace
Comcast up, subs down
Sirius discounts shares to pay for XM
ZON HD up
Viacom profits up, ad sales weak
Record quarters for CME
HDTV to reach 255m households in 2013
T-Mobile VOD
blinkx Remote service
Network-attached storage devices sale rise
MoMedia signs multiple deals
More catch up for ITV
SPH gets niche licence for web TV
Liverpool FC streams live games with ViewCast
Micronas DTV demodulator
Migration from TV to web ups paceAccording to a report by Integrated Media Measurement Inc. (IMMI), more people are switching to the web, even for primetime programming. According to IMMI data, more than 20 per cent of people watch some amount of primetime television programming online.
The IMMI data also tracked participants’ behaviour, showing that within the group of online viewers, 50 per cent are watching programming as it becomes available and appear to be beginning to use the computer as a substitute for the television set. The other 50 per cent are using the Web as a tool to catch up, or to re-watch segments of episodes they have already seen. The data also showed that, in several instances, online viewing of a particular programme was higher than DVR viewing of that same programme, suggesting that the fairly large segment of non-DVR owners are adopting the computer for time-shifting rather than buying a DVR.
"This is the first study to show there are a significant amount of people watching primetime shows online who are not watching some portion of those shows on television," said Amanda Welsh, head of research for IMMI. "Everyone’s been talking about the Internet becoming a substitute for television; however this is the first single-source passive data to show that the migration from one platform to another is actually occurring – and it’s happening fast."
Back to top
Comcast reported an 8 per cent rise in second-quarter earnings and its subs count slid 0.6 per cent, or 138,000 households, to 24.6 million. Comcast earnings were up, consolidated revenue advancing 11 per cent to $8.553 billion in the quarter ended June 30th. Earnings were $632 million, compared with $588 million in the year-ago period.
Comcast added 320,000 digital-cable subscribers that now account for 67 per cent of its total, meaning 16.3 million video subscribers take its digital service. Seven million, or 43 per cent of its base, have advanced services, such as digital-video recorders.
Looking forward, Comcast reaffirmed its guidance that 2008 will end with consolidated revenue and operating cash flow growth of 8 per cent-10 per cent and consolidated free cash flow up at least 20 per cent from $2.3 billion in 2007. Capital expenditure expenses will decline about 18 per cent.
Back to top
Sirius discounts shares to pay for XMSirius Satellite Radio to issue shares at a 20 per cent discount as part of the financing of its acquisition of XM Satellite Radio. The deal, which closed on Tuesday, ends 17 months of regulatory scrutiny and creates a broadcasting company that competes with traditional radio as well as digital audio players like iPods. Shares fell as much as 21 per cent in Tuesday's Nasdaq trading.
Sirius plans to issue about 262 million shares, with about 184 million offered at a fixed price of $1.50 per share, compared with Monday's closing price of $1.88 a share. The remaining 78 million are expected to be offered later. The company is paying $2.76 billion for XM. Sirius also said XM had earlier made a private offering of $550 million in notes, which will be exchangeable into Sirius shares.
The new company will be named Sirius XM Radio and will have more than 18.5 million subscribers, making it the second-largest radio business in the US after Clear Channel Communications. Sirius reiterated that as a result of the deal it expects to save about $400 million in 2009, and earn $300 million EBITDA.
Back to top
ZON Multimedia shipped more than 20,000 of its new ZON Box HD and PVR receiver launched in May. Nonetheless, premium subscribers have fallen back to 820,900 from 832,600 in the first quarter, in the ultra competitive Portuguese market. Basic subscribers were 1,557,000, down slightly on the first quarter. Operating revenues increased to E377.3 million in the first half, with EBITDA up 7.1 per cent to E122.2 million.
Back to top
Viacom profits up, ad sales weakViacom has posted lower-than-expected advertising sales at its cable television networks and said the short-term economic outlook was "difficult to predict." While Viacom posted a higher-than-expected second quarter profit on Tuesday, boosted by box office hits, US ad sales at its cable networks rose just 1 per cent, below its forecast of 3 per cent to 4 per cent growth.
"Advertisers in a few categories, such as retail, automotive, and certain consumer goods, pulled back their on-air spending as they adjusted their own operating plans and product launches," Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said. "Low ratings at a few of our networks also contributed," he said, citing BET. The company did not issue a third quarter US ad sales projection.
Viacom net earnings from continuing operations climbed 3 per cent in the second quarter, revenue advanced 21 per cent to $3.86 billion for the quarter ended June 30th.
Back to top
Record quarters for CMECentral European Media Enterprises (CME) has released financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30th, 2008. Net revenues for the second quarter of 2008 increased 41 per cent to $305.4 million, compared to the second quarter of 2007. Operating income for the quarter increased $31.4 million to $98 million. Net income increased $33 million to $67.6 million.
Net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 increased 45 per cent to $528.9 million, compared to the first half of 2007. Operating income for the first half increased $62.8 million to $142.7 million. Net income increased $48.2 million to $82.5 million.
Michael Garin, CME’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The outstanding second quarter performance demonstrates both the strength of our networks and the continuing growth of the advertising markets across all of our markets."
Back to top
HDTV to reach 255m households in 2013An estimated 45 million households worldwide received HDTV service via DTH, cable, IPTV and DTT at the end of 2007 with approximately the same number of HDTV sets shipping during the year.
In The Worldwide Market for High-Definition TV Equipment & Services 2008 IMS Research forecasts that 255 million TV households worldwide will be watching HDTV by the end of 2013, including video households viewing only pre-recorded non-broadcast programmes. It also expects the Blu-ray Disc market to experience strong growth during the next five years, particularly as Blu-ray Disc drives in new PCs become more common, reaching a forecast $46 billion in revenues in 2013.
Shane Walker, research analyst and author of the study, states, "DTH continues to be the leading platform for HDTV service uptake due to its rapid transition from analogue to digital households and increased HD content availability. HD DTH households are forecast to grow on average at 27.5 per cent annually, reaching 97 million households at the end of 2013. The most significant service uptake is expected prior to 2010, after which time the HDTV household growth rate is expected to fall below 30 per cent annually."
Back to top
T-Mobile is planning to launch a video-on-demand service for films and TV shows that can be watched on either a mobile or PC. The operator is in negotiations to "extend existing deals" with a number of its short-form content partners including Ministry of Sound, EMI, ITV, Universal and Warner.
Video On Demand Plus, as the new service is called, will allow customers to rent the long form content for seven days. Viewers will also be able to watch the content across both their mobile and PCs, and will, for example, be able to pause the video on their mobile, and resume where they left off on their PC, as well as the other way around. T-Mobile interactive and video manager Sylvia Radacovska said the mobile VoD service accounts for over half of all video consumed on the network’s Web ‘n’ Walk platform.
Back to top
blinkx Remote serviceblinkx, the video search engine, has launched its latest blinkx Remote service, a tool for finding and watching TV episodes on the Web. blinkx Remote provides users with a way to find TV shows from any channel with online content.
Leveraging blinkx’s patented video search technology, blinkx Remote filters out video spam, illegal clips, and inappropriate material that has been falsely tagged and will find only full length, legally available, episodes of TV programmes.
blinkx does not have partnership deals with broadcasters to operate the service, but uses publicly available programme data in the same way Google News indexes information from news sites. The service indexes around 1,000 UK shows and between 300 and 400 from the US.
Back to top
Network-attached storage devices sale rise
The rapid growth in digital content libraries will push worldwide sales of network-attached storage devices to nearly 13 million units by 2012, according to Parks Associates.
"Current file storage solutions are not equipped to handle consumers’ ever-growing libraries of digital photos, music, and video," said Jane Shields, research analyst, Parks Associates. "Soon the average broadband household will need close to a terabyte of storage for their media collections on PCs, portable devices, and DVRs. However, the industry will need to pay attention to additional features beyond storage capacity as these devices approach the mass market."
Back to top
MoMedia signs multiple dealsMoMedia International, producer and distributor of digital entertainment, has signed a raft of content deals with a range of international IPTV companies including Fastweb (Italy), Invitel (Hungary), ESDC Claxson (South America) and Deutsche Telekom (Germany).
Fastweb, a broadband telecommunications company providing voice, Internet and cable and IPTV, has acquired 20 hours of music programming. MoMedia has also sold 20 hours of music programming to Invitel, which offers voice, data and Internet services in Hungary.
Deutsche Telekom, the biggest ISP in Germany, has picked up a slate of music programming which includes 65 music concerts. The content will be part of Deutsche Telekom’s services ‘Entertain’ and videoload.de.
Meanwhile, ESDC Claxson, a media company that provides and distributes branded entertainment content to Spanish and Portuguese speakers around the world, has agreed to renew its IPTV broadband licence for Stupidvideos and CanalMicro’s See & Enjoy series.
Back to top
More catch up for ITVA raft of classic ITV shows will be available on ITV.com following a new deal with producers. The shows, including favourites like Upstairs, Downstairs, Poirot and On the Buses can now be seen up to 30 days after they've aired on ITV3. The move is part of wider efforts to showcase more classic ITV content on the broadcaster’s website.
Back to top
SPH gets niche licence for web TVMedia group Singapore Press Holdings has been issued a licence from the Media Development Authority (MDA) for its upcoming interactive Web TV service, Razor TV. The regulator has awarded a five-year 'niche' Internet TV licence to the media group, which is looking to launch the service next month.
A niche licence carries less onerous obligations than a 'nationwide' one. But it restricts the licence holder to no more than 100,000 viewers in Singapore. Razor TV will focus on local content offering both live and video-on-demand programmes.
Back to top
Liverpool FC streams live games with ViewCast
When Liverpool Football Club (LFC) squared off against FC Lucerne in a pre-season match on July 16, the game was streamed live to the LFC's Web site via a ViewCast Niagara Pro streaming video encoder. A product of ViewCast Corporation, a leading global provider of audio and video encoding communication products, the Niagara Pro offers easy-to-use, professional-grade performance for the LFC to make its pre-season games available to all fans globally.
A longtime user of ViewCast's Osprey video capture cards for streaming applications, Liverpoolfc.tv is testing the Niagara Pro as part of a strategy to upgrade and broaden its broadcasting capabilities, as exemplified by the recent opening of a new broadcasting centre in its home city.
Back to top
Micronas has announced the DRX 398yZ family of digital terrestrial demodulators targeted at the rapidly growing digital television market in China. The DRX 398yZ demodulates high-definition and standard-definition television signals according to China's GB20600-2006 standard which is also known as DTMB (Digital Television Multimedia Broadcast). The chip is highly integrated and is optimal for applications including set-top boxes, PVRs, IDTVs, Network Interface Modules (NIMs), USB-TV sticks and PC-TV cards.
Back to top
Wednesday 30th July
Government aims to cut pirate P2P 80%
Sky social media sites
Sony profit sinks
CME enters Bulgaria
Alcatel-Lucent founders step down
Telmex gears up for IPTV
Ad community aligns for US DTV preparation
LG and Funai sign Tru2way MOU
Opera joins Open IPTV Forum
BT acquires Ribbit
Telegent and ZTE free-to-air mobile TV
CET purchases Stratos
VidShadow selects Limelight
Government aims to cut pirate P2P 80%The UK government thinks it can reduce illegal file sharing of music and films by up to 80 per cent over the next three years. The goal was outlined by Baroness Vadera, the business minister, following the agreement the government struck with ISPs and the film and music industries to curb illegal file sharing.
Industry estimates put the number of illegal file sharers in the UK at between 6 and 7 million people. The agreement requires the UK's six biggest ISPs - BSkyB, Tiscali, BT, Orange, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse - to send out 1,000 letters a week to subscribers identified as having engaged in illegal uploading or downloading of music.
In a week when the US Federal Courts ruled Comcast mustn’t ‘shape’ file sharers broadband service, Ofcom says it will use measures, including slowing internet speeds or blocking content, to deal with repeat offenders. Rights holders will consider prosecuting "particularly serious infringers".
Back to top
Sky social media sitesSky is to launch social media applications across its portfolio of websites after striking a partnership with technology firm Pluck. Under the banner, Sky Community, it will introduce a set of social media tools that will allow the creation of user profiles, blogs, forums, polls, the uploading of video content and deeper levels of participation with users across the Sky.com portal.
New features include discussion forums, blogs and SkyCast, a citizen journalist section where users can upload their own footage of breaking news events. By registering once on Sky Community, users will be able to interact with all the sites within Sky.com. By the autumn, a range of other Sky properties - including Sky.com, Sky Entertainment and Sky Motoring - will also deploy social media functionality.It is understood that as Sky develops its profiling technology, it will be able to start to offer advertising packages around the new platform.
Back to top
Quarterly profits at Sony have almost halved, hurt by a loss at its mobile JV with Sweden's Ericsson. It said that net profit totalled 35 billion yen (E209m) in the April to June period, down from 66.5 billion yen a year ago. Sony said its net profit in the year to March 31, 2009 would total 240 billion yen, down from an earlier forecast made in May of 290 billion yen.
Central European Media Enterprises (CME) has entered into agreements to acquire from Top Tone Media Holdings an 80 per cent interest in two Bulgarian television channels: the TV2 channel, a national terrestrial network launched in November 2007, and Ring TV, a sports cable channel. Total consideration for the 80 per cent interest, which is payable in cash, is expected to be approximately US$172 million.
In connection with this acquisition, CME will also enter into a consulting agreement with Krassimir Guergov, a well know media entrepreneur in Bulgaria who will continue to provide his expertise and advice for the development of TV2, Ring TV and the other broadcasting properties of CME in Bulgaria.Michael Garin, CME’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: "This acquisition is an important next step in the continuing expansion of our free-to-air broadcasting operations in Central and Eastern Europe. Our entrance into the Bulgarian market represents the first new CME territory in three years and demonstrates our ability to continue our growth strategy within the region."
Back to top
Alcatel-Lucent founders step downThe execs that made the Alcatel-Lucent merger, Chief Executive Patricia Russo and Chairman Serge Tchuruk, will step down after the company reported its sixth consecutive quarterly net loss.
The Paris-based company said its net loss for the quarter ended June 30 was E1.1 billion, compared with E586 million a year earlier.
Back to top
Telmex gears up for IPTVMexico's top fixed-line phone operator, Telmex, has stated it is ready to launch IPTV and is just waiting for the government's green light to launch the new service. Telmex, controlled by Carlos Slim – allegedly the richest man in the world - has seen profits and revenue growth slow-down in recent quarters, hurt by rising competition from cell phone and cable providers. The company posted a 13 per cent decline in second-quarter net profit as its revenue fell 6.3 per cent.
Back to top
Ad community aligns for US DTV preparationBroadcasters and advertisers in the US have joined forces to prepare the advertising community for the February 17th, 2009 transition to digital television (DTV), forming a coalition and unveiling a new initiative: "The DTV Transition: Keeping the Ad Community in the Loop."
The newly formed coalition, which includes the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Television Bureau of Advertising, will work to ensure advertisers, as well as viewers, enjoy a smooth transition to DTV.
Back to top
LG and Funai sign Tru2way MOUCableLabs has confirmed that LG Electronics and Funai Electric have signed the multi-industry tru2way Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The MOU signatories now include major consumer electronics manufactures - Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, LG Electronics, Funai (which trades products in the United States under the brand names Philips, Magnavox, Sylvania, and Emerson), Digeo and ADB; chip maker Intel; and the nation's top six cable providers - Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision, Charter and Bright House Networks.
Tru2way technology allows consumers to receive interactive cable services, including video-on-demand, voting and polling, games, and e-commerce in integrated retail DTVs without the need for a separate set-top box.
Back to top
Opera joins Open IPTV ForumOpera Software announced that it has joined the Open IPTV Forum. This global organization is comprised of key IPTV and TV stakeholders working to produce end-to-end specifications to take the next generation of IPTV services into the mass market.
As a part of the Forum, Opera will team up with other members, such as Samsung, Ericsson, Sony and Philips, to help create an end-user mass market for IPTV by developing specifications. These specifications will ease the creation, integration and deployment of compelling solutions and services.
"It is extremely important to Opera to be a part of the Open IPTV Forum, as we share common strategic goals: lower the integration cost, speed up time to market for IPTV services and enable choice for consumers," says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "Together, we will create a solution based on open standards."
Back to top
BT acquires RibbitBT has acquired Ribbit Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based "Telco 2.0" platform company, for $105 million. The acquisition will accelerate BT’s strategy to transform itself into a next- generation, platform-based, software-driven services company. Based in MCalifornia, Ribbit – "Silicon Valley’s First Phone Company" – provides an open platform which enables developers to create voice applications and services by combining telephony and Internet technologies in new ways.
Back to top
Telegent and ZTE free-to-air mobile TVTelegent Systems, provider of single-chip mobile TV solutions, has been selected by Shenzhen ZTE Mobile Telecom, a global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, to provide its free-to-air mobile TV solution for selected ZTE mobile handsets sold worldwide. Under the agreement, Telegent will be the exclusive supplier for the free-to-air mobile TV feature for a period of two years.
Back to top
CET purchases StratosCET Teleport has acquired from Stratos GmbH its interest in the former Deutsche Telecom teleport located near Hameln in Germany. Under the terms of the deal, CET Teleport will continue to service the Stratos customer networks with the same commitments presently in place. The Teleport, one of the largest in Germany, was built by Deutsche Telekom in 1987 for satellite broadcast and VSAT services.
Back to top
VidShadow selects LimelightVidshadow, an online video platform that partners with content providers, third party websites and advertisers, has selected Limelight Networks to provide content delivery services for VidShadow’s next-generation broadband TV experience. Under the terms of the agreement, VidShadow will utilise the LimelightDELIVER service to distribute targeted, licensed Internet TV programming to Vidshadow’s niche market audience.
Back to top
Tuesday 29th July
FCC: Comcast mustn’t manage web video
Pace jump on interims
ITV to shed PSB commitments?
DTT for Hungary
Verizon adds 176,000 video subs
Sirius takes over XM
Boxer roll-out delayed
Moto reorganises
MPAA movie search engine
Two thirds of EU TV made in Europe
India: Cable cos get 5 years to switch to digital
MGM digital TV
GTV booms in Africa
NTIA certifies 150+ converters
KidsCo on Imagenio
Philippines: Cable-TV piracy loss may hit P7bn in ’08
Cuil takes on Google
FCC: Comcast mustn’t manage web video
The FCC is set to announce that Comcast wrongly ‘shaped’ some of its customers’ Internet traffic. The Federal Communications Commission will rule that the cable operator violated federal policy by deliberately preventing some customers from sharing videos online via file-sharing services like BitTorrent. The company has acknowledged it slowed some traffic, but said it was necessary to prevent a few heavy users from overburdening its network.
The decision would set an important precedent in the continuing fight about how far phone and cable companies can go to make more money from their Internet networks. Cable and phone companies are experimenting with new ways to deal with people who use a lot of bandwidth, including "Internet metering" - charging customers for the amount they use.
The FCC decision is likely to be challenged in court; if upheld, it would affirm the agency's right to play online cop and make sure Internet providers don't interfere with online traffic. FCC officials have grown more concerned about the issue as consumers watch more online videos, taking up more and more bandwidth. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he believes it's important that all consumers have "unfettered access to the Internet."
The FCC will require Comcast to stop blocking or slowing traffic and better disclose its practices to customers. Comcast has already done most of what the agency is asking, and won't face a fine. But the FCC's investigation has had a chilling effect on other providers' efforts to find ways to make more money from their networks, such as providing faster service to commercial partners.
Comcast said it has to do something about the small percentage of subscribers who swap large files on peer-to-peer networks because they use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. Comcast said it didn't violate federal rules and argued that the FCC doesn't have the authority to enforce a set of "net neutrality" principles it passed in 2005.
Back to top
Pace the STB makers has announced strong interims with volume shipments up 55 per cent to 2.8 million units. During the period it launched 10 new HD PVR products and complete the acquisition of Philips STB unit.
Revenues were up 22 per cent to £231.1 million (E282m), against £190 million last year. Pace France revenues of £75.4 million with profit before tax of £2.1 million on volumes of 1.4 million set-top boxes (for the period 21 April to 30 June 08). Group profit before tax and exceptional items up to £11.2 million (against £10.6 million last time). Commenting on the results, Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Pace made strong progress in the first half, building on the performance momentum it has created over the last three years, with early beneficial results from our successful Philips acquisition. We launched ten new high definition products with customers around the world and improved the overall performance across the Group."
"The 10 HD products are bespoke designs for specific customers. I'm not aware of any other manufacturer offering such a range.We're now more strongly diversified. No single customer accounts for more than 10 per cent of our volumes."
Back to top
ITV to shed PSB commitments?ITV seems likely to win its battle to reduce its public service commitments while the BBC may have to give part of its licence fee to Channel 4, according to a leak from media regulator Ofcom. Under the proposals, ITV will be allowed to cut back on regional news, reduce its current affairs output and reduce programmes produced outside London, saving almost £40 million (E49m) a year.
The document, drawn up by Ofcom as the basis for the second stage of its wide-ranging review of public service broadcasting is likely to please ITV - and pitch the BBC into conflict with the regulator. The decision, follows Ofcom research that suggests the costs of ITV's public service status will outweigh the benefits by £60 million by 2012.
Ofcom is likely to suggest that the BBC's "excess" licence fee money be diverted to other broadcasters for public service television from 2012, rejecting the corporation's argument that its "unique link" with the public needs to be maintained.
Back to top
DTT for HungaryAntenna Hungária has won the licence to operate for Hungary’s DTT platform, which should launch by the end of the year. The National Telecommunications Authority has awarded the TDF-backed national transmission company 12-year licences for what will be five TV and one radio multiplexes. According to the regulator, Antenna Hungária secured 89 points in the digital TV tender, with the Slovak-backed company Digital Broadcasting, gaining 84 points.
Back to top
Verizon adds 176,000 video subsVerizon Communications said quarterly profit rose on strong wireless sales, shrugging off the impact of a weaker economy and offsetting a fall in landline users. The number 2 US phone service provider said its second-quarter earnings rose to $1.88 billion from $1.68 billion a year earlier. Quarterly revenue rose to $24.12 billion from $23.27 billion.
Verizon said it added 176,000 new FiOS TV customers, bringing the total to nearly 1.4 million. It added 187,000 FiOS Internet customers, bringing the total to 2 million.
Back to top
Sirius takes over XMSirius Satellite Radio Inc's $3.3 billion purchase of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc was approved with conditions by US communications regulators as expected.
"I think this merger is in the public interest and will ultimately benefit consumers," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said.
Martin said the conditions the FCC imposed on the merger would ensure that satellite radio customers would be able to access the best programming from both XM and Sirius and choose smaller, lower-priced packages of programming if they want.
With the approval, XM and Sirius cleared the final hurdle in a regulatory marathon that began after the merger was first announced in February 2007. Antitrust authorities at the US Justice Department gave their approval in March.
Back to top
The roll-out of commercial DTT services in Ireland is likely to be delayed in order to encourage a more coordinated approach.
Boxer DTT, which has provisionally won the licence to provide commercial DTT services, has said it will be ready to launch services on a phased basis from January 2009. However, RTE, which is running the public service DTT service, will not be ready to begin its offering until the end of the third quarter of 2009 - up to nine months after Boxer.Boxer is dependent on RTE’s transmission network operator, RTE NL, to support its transmission of a DTT signal.
Back to top
Moto reorganisesMotorola will create three businesses within its home and networks mobility business to focus on the sectors' growth potential, the company said. The home and networks mobility business, led by Dan Moloney, will now comprise three businesses: broadband home solutions, broadband access solutions and cellular networks, the company said.
The unit, which had revenue of $2.4 billion in the first quarter, supplies equipment to telephone companies and cable television companies for voice, data and video services.
The unit previously had been organised as a mixture of businesses, making cable set-top boxes, modems, cable infrastructure and network gear to carry voice and data signals.
Motorola said it was "evolving the structure of its home and networks mobility business to capitalise on the opportunities created by changes in the global marketplace."In March, Motorola said it would split into two publicly traded entities in 2009, separating its mobile phone unit from the rest of the business, which makes television set-top boxes and network equipment.
Back to top
MPAA movie search engineThe Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is working on a website and search feature that would direct users looking for movies online to legal outlets, including theatre ticketing services, online DVD rental and retail services, and legal download services.
The site is expected to link to all legitimate partners, to possibly include companies like ticketseller Fandango, online DVD rental service Netflix, and Apple's iTunes Store.
Back to top
Two thirds of EU TV made in EuropeMore than 63 per cent of Europe's television broadcasters' programming time is devoted to European works and over 36 per cent to works by independent European producers. These new figures come from the European Commission's eighth report on effectiveness of EU rules on the promotion of European works.
"(These) figures demonstrate the vitality of the EU audiovisual industry and the equal commitment of all EU Member States (old and new) to cultural diversity. With the application of the 'Television without Frontiers' Directive, the EU and the Member States are proving their commitment to cultural diversity, which continues to benefit from the major presence of European programming on European TV," said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding.
Back to top
India: Cable cos get 5 years to switch to digitalThe Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked the government to set a five-year timeframe for all cable TV operators to upgrade their analogue network to digital mode to compete with new distribution platforms, such as IPTV, HITS, besides improving their revenue earning prospects.
The regulator pointed out that the present mode of Cable TV transmission has various limitations. "It (analogue systems) lacks scope for technological upgrade, appropriate addressability and efficient resource utilisation," TRAI said. While existing operators will be given a five-year window, TRAI has said that new cable TV players must be mandated to have digital networks in place within a three-year timeframe.
Back to top
MGM digital TVUS stations are getting another option for the post-digital switchover world as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is rolling out "This TV," a new ad-supported around-the-clock linear digital channel designed for broadcast stations’ digital spectrum. The new network, a partnership with Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting, will launch this fall. It gets immediate carriage with Weigel stations in Chicago, Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind. The idea is for MGM is to leverage its library of more than 4,100 films and 10,000 hours of television programming, but also to give stations the chance to localise the look.
This TV will offer stations programming all day every day, but stations signing on have the right to a certain number of pre-emptions so that they can localise the channel with sports, news and weather if they want.
Back to top
GTV booms in AfricaOver the last 9 months, 5 out of every 7 new subscribers to African satellite TV have chosen GTV, according to a report by Balancing Act, the leading African research company.
GTV, the pan-African pay-TV platform, currently offers its service in 20 markets across the continent and intends to expand to over 30 countries by year-end. GTV has activated over 100,000 subscribers and estimates that they have over 1.25 million regular viewers on a monthly basis. With its rapid growth path, GTV estimates that it will connect millions of subscribers over the next few years.
Back to top
NTIA certifies 150+ convertersThe Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has revealed that the TV Converter Box Coupon Programme has certified more than 150 converter boxes in the US, including 63 that enable viewers to watch both analogue broadcasts from low-power television stations and digital programs from full-power television stations. To date, more than 6.3 million converters have been purchased using a $40 coupon from the Programme.
Back to top
KidsCo on ImagenioKidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by NBC Universal, Cookie Jar and Corus Entertainment, is to become part of the Spanish pay TV platform, Imagenio, following an agreement with local content provider, Teuve. The agreement will see KidsCo’s premier children’s and family programming available via the pay TV channel with immediate effect.
Back to top
Philippines: Cable-TV piracy loss may hit P7bn in ’08
The Philippines’ cable-television industry is going to see a mere 2 per cent growth this year in terms of paying subscribers, as losses due to signal piracy are expected to remain at P6 billion (E80m).
The Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA), a group representing the country’s more than 400 cable-TV operators, said the number of paying cable-TV subscribers in the country stood at 1.5 million in end-2007 as against 3 million illegal subscribers.
Back to top
Cuil takes on GoogleFormer workers at the web giant Google have launched a rival search engine. Branded ‘Cuil’ (prnounced ‘cool’), its founders claim it does a better and more comprehensive job of indexing information online.
The technology it uses to index the web can understand the context surrounding each page and the concepts driving search requests, say the founders. But analysts believe the new search engine, like many others, will struggle to match and defeat Google.
Cuil says it uses more than 120 billion webpages to build up its index of the information it finds on the web. It claims this is more than Google uses though the search giant has stopped reporting how much it indexes. Without revealing numbers Google claimed its index was still bigger.
Cuil claims that its technology moves away from the methods that have driven Google's success. Instead of just looking at the number and quality of links to and from a webpage as Google's technology does, Cuil attempts to understand more about the information on a page and the terms people use to search. Results are displayed in a magazine format rather than a list. The company is also trying to set itself apart from Google by not retaining any information about what people search for.
Back to top
Monday 28th July
XM and Sirius go ahead in principle
UK DCMS to regulate VOD services
BBC look to mobile again?
Canal+ has 80% of TPS subs
Microsoft aligns with Facebook
Netflix up slightly
New CEO for Thomson
NBC, Fox file sue Redlasso
Inmarsat deal back on
Trilithic buys OSS
MGM on Vodafone Germany
Minerva and Avail push IPTV in North America
XM and Sirius go ahead in principle
Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin has confirmed that there is an agreement in principle to approve the XM Satellite Radio-Sirius Satellite Radio merger.
Final conditions on approval included a three-year price freeze, but one that would still allow the companies to pass through programming costs; a la carte and family-friendly programming offerings; a commitment to interoperable and open receivers; and the 8 per cent set-aside (24 channels) for noncommercial and commercial independent programmers. The deadline for making the receiver specs available for outside suppliers has also been moved up to "immediately," and interoperable radios will be available within nine months rather than a year.
Also XM will pay $17.5 million and Sirius $2.2 million to settle the FCC’s complaints about unauthorised repeaters.
Back to top
UK DCMS to regulate VOD servicesPlans to regulate video-on -demand services and product placement on British television have been set out by Department of Culture Media and Sport in a consultation document published by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
The proposals are part of a comprehensive consultation on how the UK should implement the EU Audio Visual Media Services (AVMS) Directive. The Directive updates EU minimum standards on scheduled television services. It also for the first time brings in common standards for VOD services.
Burnham said: "Preserving standards must be the guiding principles as we look to the media of the future. We need to ensure that traditional protections against inappropriate content and advertising standards are secured as technology advances. While citizens embrace the opportunities offered by massively increased choice of content, and can watch on demand on TVs, online or phones, it’s right that the same standards apply."
The consultation focuses on the Government’s proposals on three specific issues in the Directive. These are:
- product placement in television and VOD services
- introducing a system for regulating VOD services in the UK
- controls over the content of non-EU satellite channels which are uplinked from a ground station in the UK.The AVMS Directive states that all EU member states must prohibit product placement, but they may decide to allow certain exemptions. Currently product placement is banned on any UK made programmes. The Government has already said its initial view is not to change this. The consultation document however sets out the arguments for and against, and seeks views from both sides.
Under the Directive the UK also has an obligation to ensure its VOD services meet new cross-EU standards. It encourages Member States to seek an industry solution in which the system of regulation is owned and run by the VOD industry, but with backup powers for Government or a national authority such as Ofcom. The consultation seeks views on a number of different options designed to achieve this.
The consultation runs for three months and closes on 31 October, 2008.
Back to top
BBC look to mobile again?The BBC Trust has opened a consultation on plans to put BBC TV and radio channels on to mobiles. The consultation, which closes on August 22, follows a controversial year-long trial that started last April in which BBC services were available on the 3G networks of Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3.
In its proposal, the BBC argues that it is "uniquely placed to drive mainstream use of mobile television", in a similar way that the BBC iPlayer has sparked the online catch-up TV market or Freeview has promoted takeup of digital terrestrial television. This despite the fact the trials proved tiny amounts of usage.
ITN has argued that the launch of ad-free BBC services will crush the development of commercial models of mobile advertising by rivals. But the corporation also argues that - in line with its remit - mobile allows it to increase the reach of BBC services and hit currently under-served groups such as 16- to 34-year-olds.
The trust will consider whether a public value test should be applied to the BBC's proposals.
Meanwhile the BBC Trust has revealed members claimed an average of over £12,000 (E17,000) each. This included Sky subscriptions and an £800+ TV set for the chairman.
Back to top
CanalSat has now won 80 per cent of subscribers to the former TPS platform according to parent company Vivendi. The company said the figures underlined its objective of having a single platform by the end of the year.
Canal+ Group’s total subscription portfolio now stands at 10.4 million, an increase of almost 140,000 compared to June 2007. Canal+ premium channel had 5.25 million subscribers and the combined CanalSat/TPS pay packages stood at 5.19 million. Home revenues grew E23 million as ARPU and advertising increased. Group revenues reached E2.254 million, an increase of 4.6% on the first half of 2007.
Back to top
Microsoft aligns with Facebook
Microsoft predicted continued heavy costs from its attempt to go head-to-head with Google and has announced an online search alliance with Facebook, as it tried to convince Wall Street that it could recover from a failed bid for Yahoo.
Display advertising provided by Microsoft is already expected to account for a big chunk of Facebook’s sales this year forecast to rise to about $350 million this year, up from about $150 million last year.
Attracting a higher volume of search traffic would boost the effectiveness of Microsoft’s search technology and help it deliver more relevant adverts to users – one of the things it hoped to gain from a Yahoo deal, said Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive at Microsoft. Facebook stressed that the deal was at an early stage and that details of how Microsoft search would be integrated into the Facebook site had yet to be decided.
Back to top
Netflix up slightlyNetflix Inc.'s second-quarter net income climbed 3.8 per cent on a 25 per cent jump in members as margins fell and subscriber-acquisition costs hit a record low. The online DVD rental pioneer posted net income of $26.6 million, or 42 cents a share, up from $25.6 million, or 37 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue jumped 11 per cent to $337.6 million.
Back to top
New CEO for Thomson
The French media services group, ended its search for a chief executive on with the appointment of a former Alcatel-Lucent executive as it unveiled losses in the first half of the year. Frédéric Rose, 46, will become chief executive from September 1, filling a gap left since February when Frank Dangeard gave up the role.Rose, a French-American national, was formerly president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Europe, Asia and Africa business and a member of the telecoms equipment-maker’s executive committee.
Back to top
NBC, Fox file sue RedlassoNBC and Fox News Channel have sued video-sharing service Redlasso for copyright infringement, accusing the website of showing programmes like "The Tonight Show" and "The Fox Report with Shepard Smith" without permission.
The lawsuit, comes two months after the television networks complained in a letter to the closely held website that it violated copyright laws by running unauthorised clips and full-length programs. After receiving the letter, the lawsuit charges, "Redlasso, in fact, did not stop reproducing, publicly performing or publicly displaying the network's programming and content."
Redlasso declined to comment on the suit. But Redlasso previously said it had talked with the networks about how to design a service that would be useful to Web bloggers searching for news clips while building a business model that safeguards copyright protections.
Redlasso is a site that enables users - often bloggers - to create clips from TV broadcasts and then share them. The service is free, according to its website, which says it splits advertising revenue with producers and owners of the content.
Back to top
Inmarsat deal back onA proposed takeover of Inmarsat was resumed when Harbinger Capital, the US hedge fund, and SkyTerra Communications, a US satellite company, announced their intention to make an offer for the UK satellite telephone operator. Talks had been suspended when Harbinger made clear it could not launch a formal offer for Inmarsat until it had obtained regulatory clearance The announcement follows a SkyTerra board meeting. Harbinger owns 48.43 per cent of SkyTerra, which will increase if the Inmarsat deal goes through.
In a separate funding deal, Harbinger is to provide SkyTerra and its subsidiary MSV with $500m in financing.
Back to top
Trilithic buys OSSTrilithic Inc. announced it has acquired Online Security Service, an expert provider of managed Internet security solutions. "With the market for managed security services at over $1 billion annually – and demand on the rise – there couldn’t be a better time for this acquisition," said Terry Bush, president and co-founder of Trilithic. "It will allow Trilithic to play a larger and more integral role in the innovation and delivery of high quality, cost effective security solutions to markets around the world. We’re very pleased to welcome our new team aboard as Trilithic Network Services."
Back to top
MGM on Vodafone GermanyMGM Networks has launched a new initiative to expand the television distribution of The MGM Channel to mobile subscribers, and has announced its first major agreement with Vodafone in Germany. Following a soft launch last month, The MGM Channel, which is currently available to pay television subscribers, will now also be available to mobile subscribers through theVodafone Live! network.
Back to top
Minerva and Avail push IPTV in North AmericaMinerva Networks and Avail Media have installed a joint solution that simplifies the deployment of IPTV services at 23 North American sites. PorchLight Communications in Colorado Springs, the most recent operator to deploy the Minerva/Avail solution, is offering IPTV services in El Paso and Teller Counties over their state-of-the-art, quad-play FTTH network.
Back to top
Clay Whitehead dead
Dr. Clay T. Whitehead, known as Tom, has died at the age of 69. Whitehead was an official in the Nixon Whitehouse and headed telco policy, working to remove the monopoly of Comcast and Intelsat, and was an advocate of far wider use of satellites in communications.
He went on to be president of Hughes Communications and in the early 1980s he came to Europe and founded the Coronet project in Luxembourg which later became SES Astra. Eventually there was a protracted legal battle over who was responsible for the foundation and success of the enterprise.
Back to top
