The UK government is considering four options to solve Channel 4’s funding crisis, including privatisation and a potential tie-up with BBC Worldwide. Lord Carter, minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, is likely to outline his proposals when the interim report of his Digital Britain panel is published at the end of January. Ofcom is scheduled […]

Poland's four mobile operators have united to bid for a DVB-licence. According to Wirtualne Media, Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), P4 (Play), Polkomtel and PTK Centertel (Orange) will each hold a 25 per cent stake in the new joint venture. The move follows a ruling last week by Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) […]

NetPlay TV, the interactive gaming company, has confirmed the acquisition of a DTT licence to operate a 24 hour Freeview Channel. NetPlay TV plc is the first interactive gaming company to secure a dedicated Freeview channel. With effect from 8th January 2009 the Company will broadcast its services, including Supercasino.com and Live Bingo on Freeview […]

NDS, provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, has revealed that Tata Sky, provider of Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite pay-TV services in India, has achieved a major milestone in reaching 3 million subscribers within a period of just 27 months. The latest 1 million subscribers were gained in just seven months. The Tata Sky platform is […]

SES Americom will cease providing its IP-Prime service, which provides a complete IPTV programming transport solution to North American telcos, by July 31st 2009, due to “slow adoption” of IPTV in the region as well as the “difficult market outlook” for the service. IP-Prime offers a range of programming in standard- and high-definition for North […]

BT has concluded its delayed trial of the controversial behavioural ad targeter Phorm and hopes to roll out the service to its ISP customers. Phorm told the market: "The trial achieved its primary objective of testing all the elements necessary for a larger deployment, including the serving of small volumes of targeted advertising. There will […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid Mexican TV group Televisa is injecting an extra E52 million into the Spanish commercial network La Sexta, in which it has a 40 per cent share, taking its total investment of more than E265 million by the end of 2009. The injection forms part of a capital enlargement of […]

Andy Burnham UK culture minister said he would not rule out top-slicing the licence fee to boost Channel 4’s future funding. The broadcaster estimates that it will face a £150m annual funding shortfall once it loses the subsidy of terrestrial TV spectrum, when the analogue TV signal is switched off by 2012. However, he said […]

ITV is preparing to overhaul its website next year to introduce more social media features and a greater emphasis on its most popular TV shows with a “fewer, bigger, better” strategy. “Project Penguin” will see ITV.com’s content management system restructured and new discussion and content-sharing features introduced, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal. This follows the rebranding of […]

TiVo is offering advertisers a new way to reach TiVo subscribers, who are prone to fast-forwarding through standard 30-second spots as they consume time-shifted programming. "Pause Menu," allows clickable, promotional graphics to be placed on the TV screen when a TiVo user pauses a live or time-shifted programme. The first advertisers to use Pause Menu […]