Recognising that new technologies have huge implications for the creative sector, as well as for the policies and regulatory structures that underpin it, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, has renewed her call for changes to those structures. Delivering a speech as part of the stakeholders dialogue on copyright, […]
Private equity groups Permira and KKR are looking at options for their approximately 53 per cent controlling stake in German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media, according to reports. A decision on the potential sale of the full stake or part of it is expected this year. Time Warner, News Corp. and Comcast-controlled NBCUniversal could be among potential […]
News Corp is again investing heavily in a digital future. This time the initial $1 billion is going to secure video content for News Corp’s book and newspaper publishing arm – which is shortly to be hived off into a separate entity. What is being described as ‘new’ News Corp has reportedly created a special […]
Italian public broadcaster RAI is set to launch DVB-T2 broadcasts in almost all the provincial capitals with a new dedicated multiplex (number five) on VHF channel 11. This move follows tests conducted by RAI in Palermo and in Valle d’Aosta. The new DVB-T2 transmitters will serve the regional capitals, while the composition of the new […]
The Spanish Administration will not finance the migration to new digital frequencies or the adaptation of antennas, but will fund a public campaign to announce the advantages of releasing the so-called digital dividend. A €7.5 million budget has been approved to explain the “second analogue switch-off” following the digital migration that all nationwide TV channels […]
DigiTAG, the broadcast industry body that promotes digital terrestrial television (DTT) and protecting broadcast spectrum for broadcasters has published a new guide on digital switchover. The guide provides a comprehensive overview of the key regulatory, business, and technical issues that must be addressed for a successful digital switchover process. It also explores strategies for analogue […]
UK broadcast and communications regulator Ofcom has awarded the licence to run the local TV service in London on digital terrestrial TV to ESTV’s London Live channel. The London channel is expected to cover around 4 million homes, the largest reach of all the new local TV services. ESTV beat four other applicants to the […]
Amazon has upped the ante in its battle for online entertainment supremacy with Netflix by securing the exclusive subscription rights to the third series of drama series Downton Abbey for its Prime Instant Video service, with the prospect of extending such exclusivity to future series. Seasons 1 and 2 of the award-winning series are currently […]
Europe’s satellite operators have issued a strong condemnation of the European Commission’s attitude towards terrestrial bias in broadband deployment. Brussels, it is argued by the operators, regularly favours and helps underwrite terrestrial and cellular connectivity and yet ignores similar help towards the satellite industry. A meeting in Brussels, organised by the European Satellite Operators Association, […]
Mobile phone provider Three says it will not charge its UK customers extra to upgrade to the 4G data service. Three is due to get access to the fast data network later this year. Provider EE was the first company in the UK to be able to offer customers access to 4G and received complaints […]