French international news channel France 24 has made its first foray into French DTT this week, launching on channel 33 to a potential 12 million viewers. This channel was foreshadowed by French Ministry of Culture and Communication last April. Mentioned in the 2013-2015 strategy of France 24’s holding France Médias Monde, this expansion in France […]
Otter Media, the venture between The Chernin Group and AT&T, is acquiring a majority stake in global youth media company Fullscreen in a move designed to enhance Fullscreen’s industry-leading position in youth media. As part of the deal, Fullscreen CEO and Founder George Strompolos will continue as CEO and maintain a material ownership stake in […]
Diet Coke has emerged as the main sponsor of UK commercial network ITV’s new channel, ITVBe which launches on October 8th. ITVBe will benefit from Diet Coke’s brand being associated with broadcast, online and mobile transmissions of the channel, which will be focusing on ratings hit The Only Way is Essex, and a ‘Real Housewives’ […]
BBC Worldwide has entered into a new arrangement with existing partner Lookout Point. Under this deal, BBC Worldwide will acquire a 35 per cent shareholding in Lookout Point, and will enter into a new distribution and co-production agreement for a minimum of five years. The new partnership will give Lookout Point capital for further growth, […]
Middle East Broadcasting’s (MBC) CEO Sam Barnett says that his region is already home to about 1000 channels, many of them small and serving local audiences, but that it could absorb “several thousands more”. He said 100 were launched last year, about 43 in Kurdish alone. “There are lots more to come,” he added. Indeed, […]
Australia’s Optus-10 satellite, launched on September 12th, has reached geostationary orbit where it will be tested prior to being located at its target destination at 164 degrees East. In orbit tests will take some 2-3 weeks to complete. The satellite, constructed by Space Systems/Loral, will undertake preliminary deployments and tests prior to reaching the geostationary […]
Further ramping up its content exclusivity as it competes with other online entertainment platforms, streaming service Hulu has commissioned 11/22/63 – a new Hulu Original from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, acclaimed author Stephen King, Executive Producer/Writer Bridget Carpenter and Warner Bros. Television. Writing in the Hulu Blog, Craig Erwich Senior Vice President, Head of […]
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa will broaden its entertainment offering on DStv across Africa with the launch of two new 24-hour kids and family channels from Nickelodeon, while also extending the reach of general entertainment channel BET International in South Africa. With the launch of Nick Jr, Nicktoons and BET International on September 30th, […]
AMC Networks is rebranding film channel CTK in Spain to Sundance Channel. The rebrand will widely extend the distribution of Sundance Channel. From October 1st, Sundance Channel’s mix of first run original drama alongside independent films and documentaries fresh from some of the world’s most prestigious festivals will be available to subscribers throughout Spain who […]
Aurora Networks, a Pace company, and developer and manufacturer of advanced, next-generation Optical Transport and Access Network solutions for broadband networks that support the convergence of video, data and voice applications, aims to increase a cable operator’s return-on-investment with the introduction of its high-density upgradeable digital return path receiver technology. This solution complements Aurora’s Universal […]