Advanced Television

ISP

Sports viewers go online and multi-screen

Research commissioned by Tier 1 Internet operator Level 3 Communications to ascertain current trends in viewing broadcast sport has revealed that the Internet is challenging traditional broadcast technology as a means of delivering programming content. The company suggests that a “perfect storm” is brewing as intense competition between content providers and device makers meets faster, […]

August 10, 2012By Colin Mann

Google Fiber TV launches

Included in the July 26th launch of the Google Fiber 1 Gbps fibre-to-the home network in Kansas City was confirmation from the information and search giant of Google Fibre TV over the network. Promising not just high definition television, but “the highest quality” courtesy of the 1 Gbps connection, Kevin Lo, General Access Manager, said […]

July 27, 2012By Colin Mann

ISPs split over UK open Internet code of practice

Several UK Internet service providers have refused to sign a code of conduct designed to guarantee “full and open access” to the net. Ten ISPs including BT, O2 and TalkTalk backed the agreement, promising not to restrict or block content unless there was a reason to deploy “reasonable traffic management practices”. But Virgin Media said […]

July 25, 2012

EC consults on net neutrality

The European Commission has launched a public consultation seeking answers to questions on transparency, switching and certain aspects of Internet traffic management, with a view to its commitment to preserve the open and neutral character of the Internet. The Commission notes that such questions have emerged as key issues in the ‘net neutrality’ debate that […]

July 24, 2012By Colin Mann

BBC: Pirate Bay block effectiveness short-lived

A drop in file-sharing following the courts blocking of the Pirate Bay was short-lived, according to the BBC. A major UK ISP has reported peer-to-peer activity on its network returned to just below normal only a week after the measures were enforced earlier this year. Critics had warned the ban would prove ineffective. BPI, the […]

July 16, 2012

Torrent activity up despite Pirate Bay block

Despite the closure of The Pirate Bay, Dutch ISP XS4All has claimed that BitTorrent traffic has increased. Anti-Piracy group BREIN this week stated that 90 per cent of Dutch Internet users can no longer access the BitTorrent site directly. However, the group neglected to mention that many users now employ proxy sites to access the […]

July 6, 2012

YouView launches, Now TV on board

Following much-criticised delays, open IPTV platform YouView has finally launched, with confirmation that Humax-produced set-top boxes will be available via UK retail outlets towards the end of July at a cost of £299. YouView CEO Richard Halton revealed that Sky’s online service NOW TV would be a content partner. Describing the launch as “a great […]

July 4, 2012By Colin Mann

BT final ISP to block Pirate Bay

BT has become the UK’s final major Internet service provider to block The Pirate Bay, following a high court order for ISPs to censor the torrent-sharing site. In April 2012, the British High Court forced six major providers to block access to the website. BT asked for more time to respond to the court order, […]

June 21, 2012

Sky’s Darcey: NOW TV may be on YouView

Mike Darcey, BSkyB’s COO, has admitted the pay-TV operator’s planned OTT service ‘Now TV’ could be carried on open IPTV platform YouView, scheduled for launch later in the summer of 2012. Although BSkyB had expressed concern that public money had been used to support a project for which he felt the market should determine a […]

June 20, 2012By Colin Mann

Analyst firm: Broadband growth key for BSkyB

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics – Service Provider Quarterly Recap and Guidance: BSkyB (BSY): CYQ1’12 – BSkyB followed up on a strong CYQ4’11 by adding an impressive 212,000 broadband subscribers in the first quarter of 2012. At the same time, the company added only 15,000 new pay-TV subscribers. This marks a new […]

June 15, 2012