Advanced Television

FTA

BBC DG highlights licence fee role

As the BBC prepares to mark its centenary with a year of special programming across all its channels and platforms, director general Tim Davie has delivered a strong defence of the role of the corporation at the heart of British national life, vowing that the BBC will work tirelessly to offer every single household outstanding […]

January 4, 2022By Colin Mann

Sony, Zee merger agreed

Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPNI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) have signed definitive agreements to merge ZEEL with and into SPNI and combine their linear networks, digital assets, production operations and programme libraries. The agreements follow the conclusion of an exclusive negotiation period during which ZEEL and SPNI conducted mutual due diligence. After […]

December 22, 2021By Colin Mann

Line of Duty most watched iPlayer show

Figures released by the BBC indicate that police drama Line of Duty’s return is BBC iPlayer’s biggest episode of the year so far, with the first episode of the sixth series streamed 9.2 million times, and the boxset has been streamed 137 million times. In addition, consolidated figure show that 14.6 million people watched the […]

December 21, 2021

Channel 5 joins Digital UK

UK commercial public service broadcaster Channel 5 is to join Digital UK Ltd, the joint venture which facilitates the provision of Freeview and Freesat, alongside BBC, ITV and Channel 4. The four public service broadcasters have entered into a new Digital UK members’ agreement, marking the first time that the venture has been wholly owned […]

December 20, 2021By Colin Mann

Molotov agrees M6 distribution deal

Molotov has ended its streaming dispute with M6 ​​Group and agreed a new distribution deal. The French TV platform now will be able to continue hosting the M6, W9, 6Ter and Gulli channels, but only as part of its paid offers. From December 18th, Molotov users will have to pay to watch M6 channels with […]

December 17, 2021

Spain: Vodafone offers 40 free TV channels for Xmas

Vodafone Spain has opened up 40 pay-TV channels to all subscribers during Christmas in a promotion available until January 10th. Current and new subscribers will be able to watch all these channels for free –including series, cinema, documentaries and music. They will be able to watch them on live through all devices and access the […]

December 10, 2021From David Del Valle in Madrid

Freesat adds channels; C4 HD returns

UK free-to-air digital satellite service Freesat is adding a number of new channels. Leading the line-up is a bouquet of Channel 4 channels, including the return of Channel 4 HD (126), They join a host of music channels, with Box Hits (501), Box Christmas (The Box) (502), Kiss (503), Magic (504) and Kerrang! (505) all […]

December 9, 2021By Colin Mann

Sky, Channel 4 to share F1 season climax

Sky has announced a partnership with Channel 4 that will see Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Formula 1 season finale shared with the whole of the UK and Ireland. Lewis Hamilton stands on the brink of history – victory in Abu Dhabi would clinch an eighth world title and confirm him as the greatest […]

December 9, 2021

Six FA Cup Third Round matches on BBC, ITV

The Emirates FA Cup Third Round returns to the BBC and ITV in January with six live matches on the FTA channels as Premier League clubs join the knockout competition. ITV’s January 9th coverage, which includes both the West Ham v Leeds United and Nottingham Forest v Arsenal matches, will also include the FA Cup […]

December 9, 2021By Nik Roseveare

Portuguese regulator proposes FTA channels on cable

Portugal’s National Communications Authority (Anacom) has recommended to the government that FTA TV channels are distributed “wherever possible” via cable instead of DTT. The proposal was made by Anacom president, João Cadete de Matos, within the working group on the future of DTT in Portugal, set up by Secretary of State for Cinema, Audiovisual and […]

December 8, 2021From Branislav Pekic in Rome