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 decision to refer Kangaroo to competition authorities – a move much welcomed by Sky – has seen ITV's share price hit a new low of around 45p bringing Sky's loss on its 17.9 per cent stake close to £650 million (E866m).
DISH Network, the US satellite television provider, said it has received notice that phone operator AT&T is ending their agreement at the end of the year to sell TV, phone and Internet packages. AT&T and DISH have had a joint marketing agreement since July 2003 to sell the “triple-play” package in AT&T regions. AT&T said […]
From Branislav Pekic in Rome The Italian Government and the country's Communications Authority (AgCom) is aiming to bring forward the complete switchover from analogue to digital, which is currently planned for the end of 2012. Announcing plans to present a plan for the complete national switchover by September 9, Italy's Undersecretary for Economic Development responsible […]
BSkyB has said that the BBC should not be allowed to bid for Hollywood films or US TV series and that Channel 4’s claim of a potential £150 million (E187.5m) funding gap is “open to challenge”, in its submission to Ofcom’s second review of public service broadcasting. BSkyB said the BBC was obliged to focus […]
In a surprise move News Corp has made a deal to become the minority shareholder in its conditional access subsidiary NDS. Two newcos backed by private equity house Permira will take the business private. The plan is the Permira newcos will own 51 per cent while News will keep 49 per cent. The deal has […]
From Colin Mann in London The UK's trading watchdog, the Office of Fair Trading has referred the proposed video on demand (VOD) joint venture between BBC Worldwide Limited, ITV plc and Channel 4 – also known as Project ‘Kangaroo’ – to the Competition Commission (CC) for further inquiry. The CC now has 24 weeks to […]