Satellite operator SES is raising about €1 billion in order to complete its purchase of O3b (a ‘next generation’ satellite constellation serving the ‘other 3 billion’ unserved and underserved broadband users). SES already owns 50.5 per cent, and has made no secret of its intentions to mop up the segment of O3b that it did […]
MTG has acquired 22 per cent of Engage Sports Media (ESM) with the option to increase its shareholding in the future. ESM enables premium sports rights owners to digitalise and monetise their content for global audiences, by making it available online, on demand and on mobile. ESM partners include leading owners and brands in Football, […]
France’s TF1 group and six leading broadcasting industry bodies – SATEV (press agencies), SEDPA (distributors), SPECT (content developers), SPFA (animated films), SPI (independent producers) and USPA (TV production) – have drawn up agreements they say represent a step change in relations between the different players in the creation of French audiovisual content. These agreements are […]
Comcast is amongst several firms to have invested $3 million in a new virtual reality company launched by executives behind DreamWorks Animation’s VR content. Branded ‘Spaces’, the compnay creates virtual and mixed reality experiences and has been co-founded by CEO Shiraz Akmal and chief technology officer Brad Herman. The company’s executive team has previously led […]
Vivendi boss Vincent Bolloré has given a very rare interview to French business newspaper Les Echos, and makes it clear that the Canal Plus premium channel can be saved and was a priority for Vivendi. He said: “Canal Plus will be fixed provided our current agreement with (beIN Sport) is accepted and efficiency measures (within […]
The BBC’s online activities will focus on six flagship areas after a review to ensure they remain high quality and distinctive. The review was launched last autumn and led by James Harding, Director of BBC News and Current Affairs. It reaffirms that the BBC’s purpose online is to provide a distinctive public service that informs, […]
A number of industry commentators have expressed their view on the Government White Paper – A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction – including Professor Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, who describes the announcements about the future of the BBC as “profoundly worrying for anyone who cares about […]
In its initial response to the Government White Paper on the BBC, the Corporation’s senior executive and Trust Chair have suggested that further discussion should take place on issues of its governance. It says that the White Paper affirms the importance of the BBC to the public and to the creative industries. It is a […]
A new report commissioned by UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 – authored by Patrick Barwise, emeritus professor of management and marketing at London Business School, and Gillian Brooks, research fellow at Oxford University’s Centre for Corporate Reputation – concludes that Channel 4’s public service remit is comfortably sustainable and that the impact of privatising it […]
SES says it is now carrying 23 Ultra HD channels across its fleet (up from 19 at December 31st). Fifteen of these channels are commercial. SES says it will increase its shareholding in specialist satellite operator O3b (which targets the ‘other 3 billion’ of underserved broadband consumers) to 50.5 per cent, and thus take a […]