Advanced Television

Google ramps up online piracy fight

Google is to make major changes to the way it deals with copyright infringement on its search engine in the coming months, aimed at making it tougher for websites that flaunt the law and making it harder to find pirated content. Noting that there are more than one trillion unique URLs on the Web and […]

December 3, 2010

Encompass scoops Ascent’s content distribution business

US-based digital media services provider Encompass Digital Media is to acquire the global content distribution business of Ascent Media Corporation for some $120 million, including approximately $113 million in cash and the assumption of certain indebtedness and obligations totalling approximately $7 million. The deal creates a major global provider of mission-critical outsourced media services to […]

December 3, 2010

DoCoMo, Softbank eye mobile TV

Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo and media group Softbank Corp are among six companies vying to provide a new broadcasting service for portable digital devices. The prospective operators have  declared their intentions to the Communications Ministry, which is finalising details such as the number of service providers to be chosen in 2011, prior to service launch […]

December 3, 2010

Research: BARB says linear TV still popular in UK

TV viewing figures reveal that people in the UK watched an average of 27 hours, 34 minutes of live, linear TV each a week during July to September 2010 (3 hours, 56 minutes a day), with growth across every age group. This represents an increase of 1 hour, 50 minutes on the same period last […]

December 2, 2010From Colin Mann in London

blinkx sets sights on YouView

Video search-engine operator blinkx is hoping it will be available on UK IPTV platform YouView when it launches in 2011, and has initiated discussions to that end. “We know the YouView team very well and we are involved in the various processes they currently have running with the tech teams,” blinkx founder and chief executive […]

December 2, 2010

Research: UK consumers “early adopters”

UK consumers are some of the earliest adopters of new communications technologies, according to research from UK regulator Ofcom. They are among the best connected for broadband, mobile and digital TV and the UK has seen the fastest growth in smartphone take-up. UK consumers are also enjoying lower prices for communications services than many consumers […]

December 2, 2010From Colin Mann in London

CSA seeks on demand DTT

France’s Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has issued a request for expressions of interest in the broadcast of audiovisual media services on demand (SMAD) on digital terrestrial television, with the aim of  the platform providing the public with access to a richer and more diverse audiovisual offer. The CSA will authorise either one or several […]

December 2, 2010

Virgin Media launches TiVo platform

UK quad-play operator Virgin Media has unveiled details of its Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo next-generation entertainment platform. The new service is aimed at revolutionising the way people find and enjoy their favourite content. An easy-to-use graphical interface will combine the live TV schedule with catch-up TV, a huge library of on-demand programming and […]

December 1, 2010From Colin Mann in London

Research: Pay-TV trumps free-to-air

Paid-for television content – whether through cable, satellite or the Internet – is preferred over free-to-air services – even in markets where free programming is more readily available, according to global research from Motorola Mobility. Motorola Mobility’s Global 2010 Media Engagement Barometer – an independent global study of video-consumption habits among 7,500 consumers in 13 […]

November 18, 2010

F1 revs up for HD

Formula 1 is set to give the green light for High Definition television coverage of Grand Prix motor racing, beginning with the first race of the 2011 season, according to Autosport magazine. HD coverage ranked top of F1 fans’ wish-lists in recent surveys, but Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has held back from approving the […]

November 18, 2010From Colin Mann in London