The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal filed by four major broadcasters against Internet TV streaming service Aereo. Mid-December 2013 Aereo filed a brief with the Court saying that it would no longer oppose an action brought the broadcasters which petitioned the Court to overturn a denied injunction regarding their contention that […]
Discovery Networks is reported to have ended negotiations to buy Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI). The reason given by the WSJ is that Scripps’ all-important family shareholding members were reluctant to sell, and that the timing was not right. Discovery’s interest in Scripps was based on the fast-growing portfolio of US and international channels under the […]
Trade body Cable Europe has welcomed moves by the European Union to create an integrated single digital and telecoms market, but warned that the new legislation should complement and not overturn the existing regulatory framework. In a statement, Cable Europe noted that European Heads of States have given their green light for EU action in […]
Netflix has become the first original online programming service to earn a major television award, with Robin Wright being named Best Actress in a Drama Television Series at the Golden Globes for her performance in Netflix’s political drama series, House of Cards. The programme – Netflix’s first foray into original programming – was also nominated […]
While there was much debate at CES about new Ultra-HD display products being magnificent, and that prices were steadily falling, there was also debate as to the missing programming and content leaving consumers with a ‘what comes first question: The chicken or the eEgg’? However, one continued strong supporter of Ultra-HD told delegates at a […]
China SARFT media regulator last week penalised two TV channels (Sichuan Satellite Television Channel and Xinjiang TV) for exceeding permitted ad-breaks. “Despite repeated criticism and orders to correct mistakes, the two satellite channels aired advertisements that each ran over 20 minutes, severely violating rules,” the SARFT statement said. New rules came into force on January […]
Liberty Global is considering a spin-off of its Latin American activities. Its main investments are 80 per cent of the Chile cable and mobile operator VTR and 60 per cent of a cable network in Puerto Rico. CET reports the company made the announcement in the prospectus of a bond offering by VTR. The group […]
An online platform which gives audiences the chance to debate the BBC’s future has been relaunched with a University of Lincoln professor at the helm as its newly-appointed editor. Our Beeb is a web forum where matters relating to the BBC can be argued, discussed, and developed. As its new editor, Professor Brian Winston will […]
Reports out of Cape Town state that StarSat’s service for On Digital Media is at risk of total meltdown following the broadcaster’s playout switch from SES Platform Services in Munich to a new facility operated by StarTimes Group in Beijing. The switch took place just before Christmas. One report said that decoders are not working, […]
The NBCUniversal News Group, and NowThis News, the exclusively short-form video news network built specifically for mobile and social, have agreed that the NBCUniversal will take a minority stake and the two companies will co-produce original short-form news videos. Content will be produced by co-located NowThis News and NBCUniversal News Group teams based out of […]