A report by the Federal Communications Commission is claimed to show that cable TV companies have reached a subscriber saturation point that may lead to the agency exerting greater regulatory authority over the industry. The finding is in an annual report that assesses competition in the pay-television market. The report will conclude that the agency […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid The Spanish Competition authorities has started legal proceedings against the recent alliance between the Spain’s largest pay-TV group Sogecable and Telefónica to launch a joint triple play offer and joinly negotiate with TV content providers. The National Council of Competition (CNC) argues that there is evidence of an abuse […]
New consumer research from Leichtman Research found that about one-quarter of households in the United States have at least one television set capable of receiving high definition programming– essentially double the penetration of HDTV of two years ago. Yet, consumer confusion related to high definition programming and products remains strong. LRG's latest HDTV research found […]
Four buyout firms have been shortlisted in the race to buy British private equity firm Cinven’s 35 percent stake in French cable operator Numericable. The firms selected – PAI Partners, TPG Capital, Carlyle and Providence – must now submit a firm offer within a month, a fifth firm could still be added to the shortlist. […]
OpenTV Corp said it will get $1.5 million related to the settlement of a 2002 lawsuit against former competitor Liberate Technologies Inc over patents concerning interactive television. Liberate, whose assets have since been acquired by TVWorks, acknowledged that OpenTV’s patents are valid and enforceable and admitted infringement, OpenTV said in a statement. TVWorks, a joint […]
From Sotires Eleftheriou in Paris The French broadcasting regulator CSA has issued a call for candidates for national personal mobile TV services. The services are to be carried on the M7 multiplex using the DVB-H standard. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2008. M7 covers 70 urban areas and has a capacity for 16 […]
US operator Cablevision reported a wider net loss for the third quarter, but operating income rose 59 per cent as more cable TV customers signed up for high-speed Internet and digital phone services. Cablevision also trimmed its forecast for full-year growth in cash flow, from 10 per cent to 9 per cent, and said it […]
International cable group Liberty Global third-quarter profit fell from last year, when it recorded a gain on the sale of assets in France, Norway and Sweden. Liberty said it expects the fourth quarter to be the biggest quarter of the year in terms of subscriber growth, and that it expects to grow operating cash flow […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid Dahlia TV has been specifically created to provide pay-TV services on the DTT platform. Directed by a former executive of Spain’s largest cable company ONO, Fernando Ojeda, Dahlia TV claims to have reached agreements with some of the major networks in the country. The company hopes the government will […]
As the first major broadband operator in Sweden, Telia will begin to test HDTV via their broadband network. The trial period will last for six months, and is scheduled to begin in late November. Approximately 70 households in Stockholm and Gothenburg will participate in trial. The date for commercial launch has not yet been decided. […]