Advanced Television

AsiaSat 6 launch postponed

The launch of AsiaSat 6 has been postponed until further notice to allow more time for launch service provider SpaceX to examine and verify data. The satellite and launch vehicle remain in a safe configuration. The launch had already been delayed by one day until August 27th because of an explosion of a test flight […]

August 27, 2014

4K trial for Chunghwa Telecom

Chunghwa Telecom, the leading telecommunications operator in Taiwan, is undertaking a trial project for a new 4K HEVC streaming service using solutions from content delivery network technology specialist Broadpeak. Utilising Broadpeak’s server and CDN manager solutions that support the HEVC compression standard and set-top boxes, Chunghwa Telecom  delivers 4K VoD and NVoD content to a […]

August 27, 2014

Smart card shipments to rise by 2.1bn units by 2019

Global unit shipments of smart cards are expected to rise by 2.1 billion from 2014 through 2019 – about equal to the combined populations of China, the US, Indonesia and Brazil, according to IHS Technology. Smart card shipments in 2019 will rise to 10.9 billion units, up from 8.8 billion in 2014. To put this […]

August 27, 2014

Update expands Freeview TV guide

Freeview, the UK FTA TV service, is expanding its on-screen programme guide to allow for even more great free entertainment. Children’s and News services will move to new numbers on September 3rd, increasing capacity for up to 99 general entertainment channels. Channels 70-76 in the Children’s genre will move to 120-126, and News channels 80-85 […]

August 27, 2014

Discovery, Eurosport distribution teams merge

Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), a division of Discovery Communications, has announced that there will now be a combined distribution team selling a joint portfolio of 22 channels across Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. Under the leadership of VP Distribution Oxana Yanushkovskaya, the team is now […]

August 27, 2014

Free home-theatre for new Sky Italia subs

New subscribers to Sky Italia’s pay-TV bundle are this week being tempted with a ‘free’ Philips-branded home theatre system. Sky Italia’s lowest-priced bundle costs just €19 a month, so the deal could prove tempting for football fans keen to view – and hear – Sky’s coverage in Surround Sound. This is not the first time […]

August 27, 2014By Chris Forrester

Fight Sports lands carriage deal with ONO

CSI Sports, a provider of televised fighting content, has signed a multi-year carriage deal for its new 24/7 HD Network Fight Sports with fibre optic network provider ONO, becoming Spain’s first TV channel dedicated to supporting the entire genre through exclusive live events and original programming. Since launching in December 2012, CSI Sports has already […]

August 27, 2014

shomi SVoD from Rogers, Shaw

Canadian media companies Shaw Communications and Rogers Communications are teaming up to launch shomi, a new subscription video-on-demand service, which they say ups the ante in entertainment with the latest, most exclusive shows and selections personalised for users. Available initially on tablet, mobile, online, Xbox 360 and set-top boxes, shomi will launch in beta first […]

August 27, 2014By Colin Mann

Irdeto fights broadcast piracy in Egypt

As a part of a collaborative investigation to stop the illegal distribution of satellite channels across the African continent, Irdeto, in conjunction with African pay-TV operators, the Egyptian Cybercrime Unit and Egyptian Ministry of Interior, have made significant progress with the arrest of two Egyptian suspects on August 11th. These arrests mark the culmination of […]

August 27, 2014

Matthews to join HBO Europe

Steve Matthews will join the HBO Europe Original Productions team as Executive Producer, Drama Development on September 1st 2014. A drama producer and script executive with international experience, Matthews will be based in London but will work with the HBO Europe original production centres in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania. He will support […]

August 27, 2014