To misquote the old joke, Question: where does Googorola; the 800lb offspring of the Google buy of Motorola, sit in the media platform ecosystem? Answer: Anywhere it damn well pleases! Funny? Not really. True? Not really, but maybe a bit. Google has swept all before it in search, online advertising and now mobile, with Android […]
The BBC’s popular music radio station Radio 1 is again available for Sirius-XM listeners PROVIDED they are close to a computer or streaming service. The station will not be actually available on the Sirius-XM satellite or terrestrial repeater system other than for a few special events through the year. The BBC station rejoins the Sirius-XM […]
US DBS leader DirecTV is spending $100 million a week buying in its own shares. As at June 30 it had $3.4 billion of authorised cash available to buy back its shares, and according to ratings agency Fitch, it expects DirecTV’s capital allocation strategy will continue to focus on its share repurchase programme while managing […]
For some time now the signs for pay-TV growth have not been good. So-called ‘cord cutters’ who favour NetFlix, YouTube or other OTT suppliers seem to be getting the blame for pay-TV’s decline in subscribers. The Washington Post newspaper headlined the decline to a “toxic mix” of circumstances which have led to a net loss […]
The BBC’s Radio 1 has been dropped from the Sirius-XM pay-radio bouquet. Sirius has made no comment but it is understood that it was not that popular, although one source quoted the BBC saying they had ended their partnership with Sirius-XM. However, there is now a campaign from loyal US and Canadian listeners to […]
There are many thousands of UK residents who – at least so far – have been forbidden to have satellite dishes because of restrictive covenants on their homes or apartments. People living in so called ‘conservation areas’ and listed buildings are particularly limited in what they may fix to their homes. Those restrictions may now […]
It was a question from an analyst that prompted a rare note of indignation from BSkyB’s normally calm and collected CEO Jeremy Darroch. Asked whether BSkyB would continue to monitor the make-up of its board of directors, Darroch said it was quite ludicrous to suggest that News Corp was not a entity to hold a […]
BSkyB’s board meeting this week might have a few extra items on its agenda, not least whether Chairman James Murdoch should carry on sitting at the head of the table. But as far as its financial numbers are concerned (due to be released early on Friday morning), it is very much “business as usual” which […]
Just days after announcing its first long-term contract to start pay-radio transmissions over Italy, Solaris Mobile has been awarded its operating licence for Spain. The licence covers both S-band satellite transmissions as well as matching ground transmissions. This latest European licence authorisation brings to twelve the total number of Mobile satellite service licences awarded to […]
Did any Murdoch come out well from the recent grilling (albeit typically light grilling) from MPs in the DCMS Select Committee? The only one who enhanced their reputation was Rupert’s wife Wendi. She literally leapt to her husband’s defence as a pie-chucking protester approached and began to hit him with his paper plate, simultaneously shouting […]