The BBC Trust has commissioned a review to examine whether the way the BBC distributes its content provides good value for money for licence fee payers. The work is being undertaken by specialist media consultancy Mediatique and will look into the BBC’s UK distribution activities, from ‘traditional’ methods such as television and radio, to the […]
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has reached an agreement with Canal+ for the broadcast of Grand Prix racing in France for the next three years. The race broadcasts will be shown on pay-TV, but the agreement includes the airing of a free-to-air magazine programme. Canal+ will also show free-practice and qualifying sessions. The deal is […]
Discovery said that fourth quarter net income declined to $224 million, where analysts were expecting $336 million a year ago. The company attributed the drop in income to higher taxes, equity-based compensation and costs due to its acquisition of Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG’s 12 Nordic television stations for $1.7 billion. Still, Discovery, whose cable networks […]
Slow and jerky online video could become a thing of the past should the efforts of Internet researchers in seeking to make the web faster bear fruit. Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland are involved in a project that aims to significantly reduce online delay, or latency, without the need to invest in […]
US satellite TV provider DirecTV has reported that profit and revenue rose in the fourth quarter after it added 103,000 net subscribers. Net income attributable to DirecTV rose to $942 million compared with $718 million a year ago. Revenue rose 8 per cent to $8.05 billion. In the US it added 103,000 net subscribers. In […]
Google is suing BT, claiming the British telco has infringed a number of its technologies. Google has launched a series of legal actions against the firm in claiming four of its patents have been violated, and has also filed a separate case in the UK. BT had been expecting such action after it launched its […]
Further reinforcing its programming repertoire in its online entertainment sector battle with players such as Netflix, Amazon.com has secured an expanded content licensing agreement to bring classic series and hit TV shows from CBS Television Distribution and Showtime Networks to Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service, extending the catalogue of CBS content available for Prime members […]
The UK Supreme Court unanimously dismissed appeals by Digital Satellite Warranty Cover (DSWC) and Bernard Freeman and Michael Sullivan, trading as Satellite Services in a case which revolved around the so-called extended warranties offered by the businesses on Sky TV set-top boxes. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) issued winding up orders on the companies back […]
upc cablecom continued its strong growth trajectory in the fourth quarter of 2012: The company acquired a total of 54,800 new subscribers in premium TV options, Internet and telephony. These services grew by 206,000 subscribers throughout the whole of 2012. Switzerland’s biggest TV provider can also look back on a strong year financially. Revenue increased […]
Telenor’s Satellite Broadcasting division (TSBc) saw its Q4 gross revenues fall 7 per cent to NOK 239 million (NOK 257m), although operating profit rose by NOK 3 million to NOK 97 million, when compared with the same period a year earlier. TSBc stated that retiring its Thor 2 craft along with lower broadcasting revenues contributed […]