Advanced Television

Funding

Bitmovin raises $30m

Online video infrastructure software Bitmovin has raised $30 million in Series B funding, led by Highland Europe, to help expand its global customer base of TV streaming providers, Internet companies and social media companies. The funding will allow Bitmovin to scale its product R&D, field engineering and sales teams worldwide. Bitmovin solves complex video problems […]

April 10, 2018

BBC Studios officially launches

The newly-created BBC Studios has officially launched, which the corporation heralding it as a new chapter in its content creation and exploitation activities. In an environment of increasing competition for viewers, the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios aims to bring the BBC Group into line with the rest of the industry and ensure […]

April 4, 2018

AR/VR startups raise record $3.6bn in last year

AR/VR startups raised a record over $3.6 billion from VCs and corporates in the last 12 months to the end of Q1 2018. Over three-quarters of a billion dollars was invested in the first 3 months of this year alone. A fundamental transition in the fundraising market towards AR from VR, as well as the […]

April 3, 2018

UK sets out high-speed broadband USO

High-speed broadband connectivity for the entire UK has moved one step closer following the laying of legislation setting the design of the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) Comms regulator Ofcom now has up to two years to implement the scheme, meaning that by 2020, everyone in the UK will have a legal right to an […]

March 28, 2018By Colin Mann

UK launches creative industries sector deal

Britain’s creative industries are set to consolidate the nation’s position as a global creative powerhouse, following a new Industrial Strategy deal agreed between government and the Creative Industries Council (CIC) on behalf of the sector. As part of a Creative Industries Sector Deal, to be announced by the Digital and Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, Business […]

March 28, 2018By Colin Mann

Investment in satellite activity stays strong

One of the panels at last week’s Satellite 2018 conference looked at the amount of cash flowing into the industry from Venture Capital funds and other investors. Bryce Space & Technology, in a presentation to delegates of its report (Startup Space: Update on Investment in Commercial Space Ventures) said that for 2017 some 164 investors […]

March 22, 2018By Chris Forrester

NextUP comedy SVoD set for expansion

NextUp, the stand-up comedy SVoD service has announced that, due to demand, its latest investment round size has doubled and is currently overfunding at 111 per cent via the online equity investing platform SyndicateRoom. In addition, NextUp has announced that Bruce Tuchman, the former president of AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global, will serve as […]

March 22, 2018

£67m boost for a Full Fibre future

Tens of thousands of businesses and homes across the UK are set to benefit from a £67 million (€75.9m) investment in faster Internet connections, the Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced. The Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) will provide vouchers worth up to £3000 for a small or medium sized business or £500 to residents […]

March 16, 2018

Channel 4 reveals regional strategy

Following pressure at a ministerial level and consultation on how public service broadcaster Channel 4 could most effectively contribute to regional economic growth, stimulate regional creative industries, and better serve regional audiences to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society, the service has announced a strategy that it says will significantly boost jobs in […]

March 9, 2018By Colin Mann

Report: BBC’s ‘critical’ commercial activities

The success of the BBC’s commercial activities will be critical to the BBC and licence fee payers in the immediate years ahead, according to the UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) which has published its first report on the BBC’s commercial activities, following an expansion in its statutory powers under the BBC Royal Charter. These activities […]

March 7, 2018By Colin Mann