Advanced Television

FPT Telecom Chooses Thomson

Thomson Video Networks has announced that FPT Telecom, one of Vietnam’s top three telcos, has deployed the ViBE VS7000 multi-screen and HEVC encoding system to drive the upcoming release of its IPTV and FPT Play app, the company’s IPTV and OTT video service. The VS7000 system provides a next-generation platform for encoding both IPTV and […]

May 29, 2015

Second screen users ignore TV ads

Research has shown that the trend of using a smartphone or tablet whilst watching TV is distracting viewers and significantly damaging the impact of advertising campaigns. A study at Ohio State University demonstrates that viewers are struggling to recall brands they see or hear about on TV if using other devices simultaneously. The results of […]

May 28, 2015By Nik Roseveare

Charter TWC deal could see new OTT service

Charter Communications executives are said to be exploring an online video service as part of its combination with Time Warner Cable. The $78 billion takeover would make Charter the No. 2 US Internet and cable company after Comcast. Tom Rutledge, who would run the combined Charter-Time Warner Cable, has now opened the door to establishing […]

May 28, 2015

France: CSA calls for HD DTT bids

France’s TV regulator the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has issued a request for bids to operate an HD service over the country’s DTT platform. The request is part of the evolution of DTT in France, in line with the Government’s policy of transferring the 700 MHz band for telecoms services in April 2016 and […]

May 28, 2015By Colin Mann

CBS and Apple TV will “probably” sign deal

Les Moonves, the chief executive of CBS, has said that the US TV network will “probably” sign a deal with Apple TV. Apple is reported to be planning a slimmed down package of TV channels and Moonves said that CBS is likely to be included in that service. “We will probably do a deal with […]

May 28, 2015

Over half US households have connected TVs

Findings from Leichtman Research Group indicate that 56 per cent of all US households have at least one television set connected to the Internet via a video game system, a Smart TV set, a Blu-ray player, and/or a stand-alone device (such as Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV) – up from 44 per […]

May 28, 2015

TataSky drops IPO plan

The Indian press is reporting that India’s TataSky pay-TV operation has shelved plans for an IPO. In 2013 it had talked of a float of 25 per cent of the company in order to raise 20 billion Indian Rupees (about $312 million). India’s Economic Times is reporting that TataSky will instead raise INR18 billion by […]

May 28, 2015By Chris Forrester

Atresmedia replaces Gol with Mega


Spanish TV group Atresmedia, owner of Antena 3 and La Sexta among others, is to launch a new male-orientated channel Mega on DTT from July 1st. The new channel will replace the football-themed pay-DTT channel Gol TV, owned by Mediapro, which will close down at the arrival of Al Jazeera-backed BeiN Sports to be available […]

May 28, 2015From David Del Valle in Madrid

Avago completes $37bn Broadcom deal

Avago Technologies confirmed it is to acquire Broadcom for $37 billion in cash and shares. The latest merger in the semiconductor industry creates a company with annual revenues of $15 billion and a complete range of products for the fixed and wireless communications industries. Avago’s CEO Hock Tan will lead the combined company, which will […]

May 28, 2015

Sirius-XM facing “massive” royalties bill

A long-forgotten pop group, The Turtles and their 1967 hit Happy Together, is the reason why US pay-radio operator could face Court-awarded penalties running into many millions of dollars. The band is still very much around and nowadays led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, and the pair started a Class Action against Sirius-XM […]

May 28, 2015