Advanced Television

Cable Europe: Lighter regulatory regime required

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 […]

January 13, 2014By Colin Mann

Historic Golden Globe for Netflix’s House of Cards

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 […]

January 13, 2014By Colin Mann

Ultra-HD: “The chicken & egg are leaving now”

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 […]

January 13, 2014

SARFT gets tough with China channels

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 […]

January 13, 2014By Chris Forrester

Liberty Global mulls LatAm spin-off

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 […]

January 13, 2014

Online debate on future of BBC

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 […]

January 13, 2014

StarSat hit with complaints on platform switch

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, […]

January 13, 2014By Chris Forrester

NBCU invests in NowThis News

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 […]

January 13, 2014

Anting appointed CSO at TVN

Effective immediately, Christian Anting has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of International Distribution at TVN, the Polish media group. In this newly created position, Anting is responsible for the company’s strategic development, with a focus on retail and subscription based-services, e-commerce activities as well as non-fictional […]

January 13, 2014

RRsat to broadcast Duna World TV

RRsat Global Communications Network, a provider of digital content management and global content distribution services to the broadcasting industry, has been awarded a tender by Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA), Hungary’s public service media organisation, to expand broadcast of Duna World TV channel and Duna World Radio worldwide. The tender will generate […]

January 13, 2014