The FCC has paved the way for new high-speed web devices by releasing unused television frequencies for use by mobile broadband. The unanimous decision of the Federal Communications Commission, was hailed by the regulator as its first major release of unlicensed spectrum in 25 years. It will open the way for service providers to market […]
The financial future of the public TV group RTVE looks increasingly bleak. Brussel’s decision to start legal proceedings against Spain over the tax on telco operators to finance RTVE, on the grounds that it may break the European legislation, may ruin its new financial model and open the door for privatization. The EC’s objection to […]
Steve Wadsworth is to resign as head of the company’s interactive media group after more than a decade running the unit. Pressure has been building for the division to deliver a better return on the substantial investments Disney has made in its online activities. The company has tried to stay abreast of rapidly changing trends […]
Discovery Networks International has announced a new senior management structure for its operations in Europe, Middle East & Africa. The new structure organises the European operation geographically into two businesses which cluster those markets in similar stages of development. The Western Europe operation covers 16 markets including the UK, Germany, Southern Europe, Nordic and Benelux […]
UK-based IPTV services provider Vision IPTV will launch its fully featured Internet TV platform at Mipcom. The platform enables broadcasters to create fully interactive television channels online where viewers can view programmes ahead of schedule and catch up on previous programmes, skipping items, while being guided by a scheduled TV channel. Broadcasters can customise the […]
Qatari telco Qtel is running a pilot project that will make HD channels available for free on its IPTV service ‘Mozaic TV+’. The HD channels will be delivered over the fibre-based network which Qtel has installed in the West Bay area, and the first to be offered will be Al Kass Sports HD, Luxe HD, […]
On Demand Group have completed a deal with MBC to provide hundreds of hours of Arabic TV content to UAE’s integrated telecom service provider du’s VOD TV service. In the first subscription VOD and Catch-Up TV deal by MBC – a major free-to-air Middle Eastern TV broadcaster – top TV series will be available to […]
Verizon Communications chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg said he sees parallels between the onset of declining cable TV subscriptions and consumers cutting their phone company landlines. “Cable is probably starting to experience what we experienced five to six years ago (with voice lines), which is the low end is disappearing into other alternatives,” said Seidenberg, […]
News Corp Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey has downplayed the threat of OTT services calling it just “flavour of the month” for investment analysis. Major TV companies have been barraged by questions about the threat of online video after Credit Suisse last week downgraded the entertainment sector, citing the potential for Netflix and other web […]
The European Parliament has adopted a non-legislative report on enforcement of intellectual property rights, calling for tougher application of intellectual rights and copyright harmonisation at the EU level. Meanwhile, civil liberties activists warn that such moves would undermine fundamental freedoms in the bloc. “Online piracy is an infringement of copyright and causes serious economic damage […]