Advanced Television

BAFTA introduces new Short Form category

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the introduction of a new Short Form category for 2018’s Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards. The Awards, which along with the British Academy Television Craft Awards open for entries today, will now include a designated category to recognise single shorts, short form series and […]

October 9, 2017

Netflix raises prices

Netflix has announced price rises, effective immediately, for its monthly subscription fees in major markets such as the US and key European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and The Netherlands. Markets such as Spain and Italy will likely follow shortly. In the US, the ‘Basic’ subscription fee, that offers single-screen streaming remains at $7.99 […]

October 6, 2017By Chris Forrester

Ofcom plans tougher requirements on ISPs

Broadband shoppers must receive better information about speeds before they commit to a contract, under a range of new protections set out by media regulator Ofcom. Broadband is now an essential service for many households and companies, and speed is a vital factor when shopping around for the right deal. But there can be a […]

October 6, 2017

Sky Q enhances Voice Control features

Sky Q customers will soon be able to enjoy new features including enhanced Voice Control via the Sky Q touch remote, a personalised menu of favourite channels and an Ultra HD section in My Q. With the new Voice Control features, viewers will be able to speak into their remote and use a range of […]

October 6, 2017

$1.8bn AR/VR investment in last 12 months

Some $1.8 billion (€ 1.54bn) was invested in Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the last 12 months to Q3 2017, with $300 million raised in the last quarter, according to a Digi-Capital report. This has been typical of AR/VR quarterly investment for the last 18 months, as Q2 2017’s outsize $800 million came primarily […]

October 6, 2017

Disney, Altice finalise distribution deal

Following the announcement on October 1st of a tentative carriage deal that averted a potential blackout of Disney-owned channels in nearly 2.6 million homes in the greater New York area served by the cable MSO Altice USA’s Optimum cable TV service, Altice USA and The Walt Disney Company have announced a comprehensive distribution agreement to […]

October 6, 2017By Colin Mann

DPP prepares UK producers for a world without videotape

The Digital Production Partnership (DPP) has launched an updated version of A Producer’s Guide to File Delivery. Enabled by DPP Member, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, a video creation to distribution company, the guide is a handbook aimed at UK production companies and programme suppliers, providing guidance on the end-to-end file delivery process from file creation (AS-11) […]

October 6, 2017

Arabsat buoyant despite satellite piracy

Khalid Balkheyour, president & CEO of Saudi Arabia-based satellite operator Arabsat, told delegates to its 9th Customer Forum in Salalah, Oman, that the operator was in extremely healthy state despite the problems created by satellite signal piracy and the consequent loss of advertising revenues. Arabsat, the world’s 6th largest operator, confirmed that it will be […]

October 6, 2017By Chris Forrester

SpotX integrates with Amazon’s TAM

Video ad serving platform, SpotX, has announced the integration of its header bidding suite with Amazon Publisher Services’ Transparent Ad Marketplace (TAM). The SpotX and TAM integration is a fully server-side approach to video header bidding. SpotX brings over 10 years of video expertise to the table, providing competency and focus on the intricacies of […]

October 6, 2017

SES 11/EchoStar 105 launch delayed

SpaceX has postponed the launch of the SES/EchoStar ‘condominium’ satellite from October 7th to – at least – October 11th. According to sources, SpaceX needs the extra few days to make minor modifications to the Falcon 9’s rockets. But it also means that expected bad weather at the Cape Canaveral would be safely missed. The […]

October 6, 2017By Chris Forrester