Advanced Television

Funding

Russia’s public TV needs more cash

Russia’s OTR public TV network is appealing for more voluntary cash from viewers. “Russian Public TV needs help so that the channel’s broadcasting can continue its existence and we can create new important projects,” the TV channel’s press service told viewers, and reported by BBC Monitoring. It said that the collection of donations to support […]

July 9, 2014By Chris Forrester

4 in 10 Brits oppose BBC licence fee

Four in ten (40 per cent) British adults support the current system of funding the BBC, however, just as many oppose it (40 per cent), according to research from ComRes on behalf of public affairs agency Whitehouse Consultants. Of the four potential funding models tested, the one which gained most popular support is abolishing the […]

July 7, 2014By Colin Mann

UK creative industries key to sustaining economic growth

Industry members of the Creative Industries Council (CIC) have revealed their vision and strategy for the UK creative industries for 2020. The Strategy outlines a plan that will see businesses and Government work together to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader for the creative industries. The sector is recognised as playing a key […]

July 3, 2014By Colin Mann

YouTube plans Fan Funding

YouTube has revealed plans for channel owners to make money by soliciting donations from their viewers. YouTube Fan Funding will be tested soon with a limited number of channels in the US, Mexico, Japan and Australia, with YouTube users in those countries able to apply for a space on the test scheme. “Fans will be […]

June 30, 2014

Ex-Hulu CEO Kilar plans new video venture

Jason Kilar, the former CEO of studio-owned online entertainment service Hulu, has revealed details of a video-focused service to be known as Vessel. In a statement on the company website, Kilar, founder and CEO of the new venture, and co-founder Richard Tom (formerly CTO at Hulu), who will act as CTO, say they have been […]

June 25, 2014By Colin Mann

Dolby family invests in seed Tech Fund

Last August saw the death of audio genius Ray Dolby. His family is creating the Dolby Family Venture in his name. The early stage venture capital fund adds to the Dolby family’s existing technology venture portfolio, and formalises the Dolby family’s ongoing, multi-generational commitment to Ray Dolby’s legacy of discovering and supporting visionary entrepreneurs. Dolby […]

June 18, 2014By Chris Forrester

3TS invests $7.2m in Visual Unity

OTT platform and multiscreen solution provider Visual Unity announces an investment of $7.2 million from 3TS Capital Partners, the growth capital technology fund. This investment will strengthen Visual Unity’s delivery of end-to-end OTT solutions on a global scale. The investment of 3TS, into Visual Unity is from their Cisco, EBRD, EIF and OTP backed growth […]

June 13, 2014

US funds anti-Boko Haram satellite channel

The USA’s State Department is reportedly financing a 24-hour channels devoted to to countering the influence of Islamic terror group Boko Haram. The channel, called Arewa-24 (North-24) is targeting Nigerian viewers especially those in the North of the country. It would use the Hausa language common in the region. The New York Times says the […]

June 9, 2014By Chris Forrester

Labour: BBC licence fee not a certainty

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman has raised the possibility that the BBC could be funded by something other than a licence fee, describing the current £145.50 (€179) a year compulsory charge as a “means to an end, not an end in itself”. Harman’s comments, in an interview in Total Politics magazine, come after The Thick […]

June 4, 2014

BBC withholds UK Local TV funds

UK local TV is already looking shaky as London Live reports near zero ratings and its programme chiefs departure and the BBC withholds funds as questions are asked about Comux funding. The BBC Trust has delayed paying out the latest instalment of up to £25 million (€29.4m) to fund the costs of transmitting the local […]

April 28, 2014