The proposed deal to merge NBCU and Comcast is now no longer expected to close before the end of the year. NBCU head Jeffrey Zucker distributed a holiday-greetings memo to employees saying that the companies expect a “green light” for the deal in January, and Comcast confirmed the new timetable Wednesday 22 December. Both companies […]
As anticipated, the European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. The Commission’s findings concern solely the competition aspects of the proposed […]
UK media regulator Ofcom has written to News Corporation raising a number of issues relating to the media group’s proposed acquisition of the 60.1 per cent of BSkyB it doesn’t already own, according to UK media reports. The document, known as an issues statement, sets out concerns raised by interested parties, including commercial rivals, during […]
Global trade association the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has urged the US Department of Commerce and other government agencies to take concerted action to enhance effective online copyright protections. It contends that online piracy has put at risk future production by harming independents’ ability to recoup minimum guarantees. IFTA submitted the comments in […]
A new strategy to deliver more distinctive, high quality programmes, improved value for money and greater transparency for all audiences has been published by the BBC Trust, the body that sets BBC strategy and top-level budgets . Launching the final conclusions of the Strategy Review, BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons stressed that the BBC […]
Global satellite provider Intelsat is in the lead to buy Canada’s Telesat. According to reports, Intelsat is now the front runner in the bidding battle to buy the Canadian satellite operator, and is seen to be ahead in the process thanks to a complex restructuring which will therefore comply with US anti-monopoly regulations. Eutelsat is […]
The Walt Disney Co. has reached an agreement with Internet movie and TV subscription service Netflix that allows the platform to stream television shows from the ABC network, Disney Channel and ABC Family, significantly strengthening its position as an online video provider. The agreement raises the competition between Netflix and Hulu, the online streaming service […]
The first-ever Entertainment Content Protection Summit in Los Angeles saw keynote speaker Taylor Hackford describe piracy as one of the most threatening issues that has hit the movie industry in its entire history, and call Google an “enabler” of illegal downloading. Hackford, president of the Directors Guild of America, stressed the need to stop piracy, […]
The UK Government has revealed plans to spend £830 million (€979m) in an effort to give the UK the best broadband network in Europe by 2015. An action plan – Britain’s Superfast Broadband Future – published by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, sets out the ambition to create a ‘digital hub’ in every community in the […]
Shortly after announcing a series of measures better to protect against copyright infringement, Google has revealed it is to acquire digital media solutions provider Widevine with the intention of improving access to video content across the web. According to Mario Queiroz, Google’s VP of Product Management, with rapidly improving broadband and wireless speeds, more powerful […]