Advanced Television

ABS appoints Bachabi Africa MD

ABS has announced the appointment of Flavien Bachabi as the Managing Director of Africa.   Flavien will be responsible for leading the sales and business operations for the African continent. Tom Choi, Chief Executive Officer of ABS said, “We are excited to have Flavien on board at ABS, heading up our African operations.  As the regional […]

December 9, 2014

Saudi Arabia bans Nilesat from coffee bars

Alcohol-free Saudi Arabia has totally banned youngsters and teenagers under 18 from visiting coffee bars, and the government is warning the coffee shop owners that they must only screen TV programming from Arabsat. Coffee bars are favourite places for youngsters to hang out, and frequently will be packed out with viewers watching soccer matches. But […]

December 9, 2014By Chris Forrester

‘Video Games’ inventor dies

Ralph Baer, the inventor and patent-holder of the first video game, has died aged 92. Baer, by popular acclaim described as the “father” of the video games industry, patented his prototype in 1972 and the idea was eventually marketed in 1971 as the Magnavox Odyssey – but at $100 for the unit. Magnavox subsequently sued […]

December 9, 2014By Chris Forrester

Envivio upgrades head-end Guru

Software-based video processing and delivery solutions specialist Envivio has introduced a new option for its Guru head-end monitoring solution  – a new ‘service-oriented’ approach to monitoring that results in faster and more efficient troubleshooting of video delivery networks, including cable, IPTV, satellite and OTT. This new option, available only through separate purchase, incorporates a service-driven, […]

December 9, 2014

Canal+ deploys Frog by Wyplay

Canal+ Group has updated all its digital terrestrial STBs with the Frog by Wyplay software, customised by the Canal+ team. The new software version has been successfully deployed and transparent to DTT subscribers who will now benefit from:  A new HD HTML5 user interface; Access to the complete range of Canal+ and CanalSat channels through […]

December 9, 2014

Ubee selects Ikanos for next-gen multi-mode gateway products

Ikanos Communications, a provider of advanced broadband semiconductor and software products for the connected home, has extended its partnership with Ubee Interactive, a global provider of broadband connectivity products and solutions, to develop next-generation CPE products for deployment by global carriers. Building on Ubee’s existing installed base of Ikanos-based triple-play gateways in Europe, the company plans to integrate Ikanos’ […]

December 9, 2014

KPMG: ‘Huge online content choice for UK consumers’

Almost 90 per cent of the most popular and highest quality film and television content is now available across legal digital platforms, according to the findings of a report compiled by consultancy firm KPMG. The report, UK availability of Film and TV Titles in the Digital Age, examines

December 8, 2014By Colin Mann

Number of UK TV homes falls for first time

After years of consecutive growth, the number of TV households has fallen from 26.33 million at the end of 2012 to 26.02 million at the end of 2013 – as viewers increasingly turn to alternative devices according to Ofcom research. There are now nearly

December 8, 2014

4K “milestone” for DirecTV-14

DirecTV’s latest satellite, its fourteenth, was successfully launched out of French Guyana on December 6th, and will be a “significant milestone” in DirecTV’s build-up of its 4K/Ultra-HDTV services. Phil Goswitz, DirecTV’s SVP/Space and Communications, speaking from the launch, congratulated rocket company Arianespace as well as Space Systems/Loral, the satellite’s builder on the success, adding: “Today […]

December 8, 2014By Chris Forrester

ITU approves G.fast standard

ITU members have confirmed final approval of G.fast, the new ITU broadband standard designed to deliver access speeds of up to 1Gbit/s over existing telephone wires. The ITU suggests the standard answers service providers’ need for a complement to fibre to the home (FTTH) technologies in scenarios where G.fast proves the more cost-efficient strategy. According […]

December 8, 2014