Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific in Australia, a unit of media company Discovery Communications, has confirmed that Discovery HD has launched as one of the five dedicated 24/7 HD channels offered by FOXTEL's new service, FOXTEL HD +. Discovery HD first launched in the Asia-Pacific region in 2005 and is now available in 17 international markets.
French cable company Numericable has added HD content from CinePlay, TF1 Vision and I-Concerts o its Video Club VOD service. Prices for HD titles are E4.99 for brand new titles, E3.99 for library titles and E2.99 for individual programmes from TF1. Viewers need to have Numericable's Cablebox HD in order to view the VOD programmes […]
Blockbuster has withdrawn its offer to buy US electronics retailer Circuit City, citing difficult market conditions. Blockbuster said the bid, which valued the retailer at more than $1 billion was no longer in its best interests. Last month, Circuit City said its sales had fallen by 11 per cent in the three months to the […]
Microsoft has turned up the heat on its rivalry with Google with the purchase of a private Silicon Valley company that has developed one of the most promising Internet search tools of recent years. The acquisition of Powerset, reportedly for about $100 million, comes in the wake of Microsoft's failure to challenge Google either by […]
The Open IPTV Forum has added eleven new members at a recent meeting held at the headquarters of Telefónica in Madrid, and reports that the first release of its new specifications are close to completion. The new members are Fastweb, Swisscom, Access Company, BeeTV, Digital Fountain, Intel, InterTrust Technologies Corporation, Motorola, Opera Software, Thomson and […]
Virgin Media that promoted broadband download times for TV shows and music has been banned after rival internet provider BT complained to the advertising regulator that the speeds quoted were inaccurate. The national press ad, which ran with the headline Hate To Wait, featured a table with download times for TV shows and music tracks […]
Israel's Antitrust Authority is said to be concerned that Bezeq – the national carrier in Israel – would close YES if it is allowed to purchase control in the DTH platform. The Authority believes Bezeq would prefer to concentrate on the development of its IPTV service. However, the Restrictive Trade Practices Tribunal has judged that […]
The market for in-flight live direct broadcast video revenue is projected to grow to $913 million in 2012, according to research by MultiMedia Intelligence. With revenue of $87 million in 2007, live in-flight video promises impressive growth. “The current environment of increasing fuel prices and downward pressure on fares has been painful to the airline […]
A federal appeals court has upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to make rules intended to increase cable television competition in the US. Local governments had filed legal challenges to agency rules the FCC said would speed the approval process for new competitors, cap fees paid by new entrants to local governments, and ease requirements […]
The Scottish Premiere League has agreed a landmark four year deal with Setanta Sports for live domestic broadcasting rights.The £125 million (E166m) deal will extend the current partnership from the start of season 2010/11 through to the end of season 2013/14. 60 games will be covered live each season for broadcast across the UK and […]