Advanced Television

Brightcove Jump Start for Echo Show

Brightcove, a provider of cloud services for video, has unveiled Brightcove Jump Start for Echo Show, a new service enabling publishers and brands to launch video skills quickly on the new Amazon Echo Show. Jump Start for Echo Show builds on Brightcove’s existing expertise of delivering and monetising a wide range of video experiences across […]

July 14, 2017

Netflix orders 2nd Spanish original

Netflix is partnering with Spain’s Zeta Audiovisual to develop and produce its second Spanish original series, Elite, currently slated for a global release in in 2019. The move comes following the success of the streaming giant’s first Spanish original, Las chicas del cable, which was released in April. Elite will tell a murder-mystery tale set […]

July 14, 2017

AsiaSat, Globecast distribute RTR-Planeta Asia

AsiaSat, Asia’s leading satellite operator, and global media solutions provider Globecast, have reached an agreement to deliver RTR-Planeta Asia to viewers via AsiaSat 5. The deal continues expanding the exposure of Russian-language programming available in the Asia-Pacific region. Globecast is providing RTR-Planeta with complete distribution services to the channel via this deal, including across Asia-Pacific, […]

July 14, 2017

Netflix in top 4 ‘must-keep’ viewing options

Scandal’s Olivia Pope had better watch her back, because House of Cards’ Frank Underwood is coming for her, warns consultancy firm Solutions Research Group, noting that ‘must-see’ TV is giving way to ‘much-stream’ TV, with Americans increasingly likely to name streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video among their most valued entertainment […]

July 13, 2017

Live VR sharing app from Facebook Spaces

Facebook users are now able to share live video on Facebook from Facebook Spaces to give the people they care about a window into their VR world. “Facebook Live is already one of the most immediate and interactive ways to share moments with friends,” says Mike Booth, Head of Product Management, Facebook Spaces. “By going […]

July 13, 2017

Pact calls for 50% C4 investment outside of London

In its response to the UK Government’s consultation into public service broadcaster Channel 4’s future, Pact – the UK trade association representing and promoting the commercial interests of independent creative content producers – has called for the broadcaster to up its investment in programmes made in the nations and regions to 50 per cent. This […]

July 13, 2017

Ofcom sets out Openreach delivery measures

UK comms regulator Ofcom has announced how infrastructure unit Openreach will be held to account, as it becomes legally separate from BT, to ensure it delivers for phone and broadband users. Ofcom expects the reformed Openreach to engage with industry to deliver widespread fibre networks, offering fast, reliable broadband. The new company should provide a […]

July 13, 2017By Colin Mann

UAE softens demands on Al Jazeera

The United Arab Emirates is said to be softening its controversial demand that Qatar should close the Al Jazeera news channel. According to a report in The Times, the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has given his backing to Qatar, calling its refusal to accede to the demands “reasonable”. The newspaper quotes an interview […]

July 13, 2017By Chris Forrester

Analyst: 59% US homes major SVoD subs

According to findings from market research and consulting company Parks Associates, 59 per cent of US broadband households subscribe to Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. The firm’s OTT Video Market Tracker service notes that only 6 per cent of US broadband households subscribe to any other OTT service without also having a subscription to one of […]

July 13, 2017

Analyst: SVoD gaining mindshare with legacy pay-TV

If forced to decide between legacy pay-TV or SVoD services, 57 per cent of dual-service users would choose legacy pay-TV, 43 per cent streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, according to new insights from actionable intelligence firm TDG’s 7th annual Benchmarking the Connected Consumer study. “One would be excused for thinking the difference would […]

July 13, 2017