YouTube has launched a new advertising format branded ‘TrueView’ that allows viewers to skip adverts they aren’t interested in. The new advert format will play ads for just five seconds before the viewer can skip and in some cases it will be possible to choose which advert appears. Advertisers will only pay for the adverts […]
Google is to make major changes to the way it deals with copyright infringement on its search engine in the coming months, aimed at making it tougher for websites that flaunt the law and making it harder to find pirated content. Noting that there are more than one trillion unique URLs on the Web and […]
DirecTV says it expects to add a net 200,000 US subs in this fourth quarter of the year, taking its total to just over 19m, and a very healthy $24 billion in annual revenues. But its future prospects over the next three years, claimed CEO Michael White, include a subscriber base of 30 million, […]
Time Warner Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes has questioned the sustainability of Netflix’s current business model. He said a subscription service has to provide the best content and that means paying top dollar for films as soon as possible after theatrical release. Bewkes told the Reuters Global Media Summit “It’s hard to see how that […]
US-based digital media services provider Encompass Digital Media is to acquire the global content distribution business of Ascent Media Corporation for some $120 million, including approximately $113 million in cash and the assumption of certain indebtedness and obligations totalling approximately $7 million. The deal creates a major global provider of mission-critical outsourced media services to […]
The European Commission has given itself an extra fortnight to consider the competition implications of News Corp’s bid to take control of Sky as News reportedly offers significant concessions to try and ensure the deal is approved. The EC decision deadline has been moved back from 8th December to the 22nd after it received […]
Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo and media group Softbank Corp are among six companies vying to provide a new broadcasting service for portable digital devices. The prospective operators have declared their intentions to the Communications Ministry, which is finalising details such as the number of service providers to be chosen in 2011, prior to service launch […]
Troubled Hollywood studio MGM on December 2nd saw its bankruptcy reorganisation plan approved by a New York court, and cleared the way for MGM to speedily exit its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. MGM expects the new plan to become effective mid-December. “Today’s ruling is an important milestone for MGM,” said Co-CEO Steven Cooper. “Thanks to the […]
The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) has announced the appointment of Roger Crumpton as director of education, employment, and training. The appointment coincides with the launch of the IABM’s new training academy designed to address the worldwide shortage of qualified broadcast engineers and technicians. “Our recent industry surveys have shown that the shortage of […]
SmarDTV, a Kudelski company, has entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets from French technology company Iwedia including the transfer of all staff from Iwedia to SmarDTV. “We are delighted to announce our acquisition of the Iwedia team and assets” said Eric Chaubert, CEO of SmarDTV. “CI Plus is really building steam across Europe […]