Telecom Italia Media and Italian multimedia group L’Espresso have signed a non-binding term sheet for the possible merger between Telecom Italia Media Broadcasting (TIMB) and the operations of the network operator Rete A (controlled by L’Espresso). This merger, which would integrate five multiplexes with national coverage (three from TIMB and two from Rete A) on […]
Fox International Channels (FIC), a 21st Century Fox company, is in the final stages of acquiring Setanta Africa Services, a sports channel bouquet distributed throughout all of sub-Saharan Africa in over one million homes. The acquisition is complete subject to approval by the Irish Competition Authority. Setanta Africa business broadcasts three sports channels: Setanta Africa […]
Google has bought a start-up in gesture-recognition software. Flutter, founded three years ago in the US, detects simple hand signals via webcam, allowing users to control apps such as iTunes and Netflix. The acquisition has led to speculation that Google will integrate the technology into its ranges of Chromebook laptops and Nexus tablets. Gesture-recognition technology […]
Millicom, the international telecommunications and media company, and Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), the largest public service company in Colombia, have signed a final agreement to combine their respective businesses in Colombia. This follows the announcement of an agreement in principle in July 2013. The regulatory process will now commence and comprise reviews undertaken by […]
Arabsat has completed the purchase of Greek satellite operator HellasSat. A number of Arabsat executives have joined the HellasSat board of directors. HellasSat was controlled by Greek telephone company OTE. Arabsat says that it has earmarked a $700 million investment programme for two new satellites for HellasSat. The $208 million deal was announced in February […]
Fox International Channels (FIC) has confirmed the purchase of Paramount Pictures share of LAPTV, bringing FIC’s ownership of the company to 100 per cent. LAPTV is the leading operator of premium movie channels in Latin America. Paramount has also extended its long-term content output agreement with Fox. The deal gives FIC access to new Paramount […]
The UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred the anticipated acquisition by Ericsson of broadcast services provider Red Bee Media Limited (RBM) to the Competition Commission (CC). After careful consideration, the OFT has found that the merger might lead to an increase in prices or a worsening of service levels in the supply of […]
A Canadian pension fund is reportedly looking to buy a 25 per cent stake in British satellite services and transmission company Arqiva. Australian fund manager Macquarie is said to be selling the portion. Macquarie’s Singapore-based International Infrastructure Fund sold an 8.7 per cent stake in March 2010 for £115 million (€135m). The buyer on that […]
Genius Digital, the specialist in capturing, analysing and applying viewer data for the TV industry, has revealed that GfK, the global market research agency, has made a strategic investment in the company. This move will provide global reach to Genius Digital, strengthening the company’s position in the data analytics market and driving the development of […]
Kabel Deutschland has ditched its appeal against the German Federal Cartel Office blocking of its acquisition of smaller cable operator Tele Columbus. Reports say Kabel Deutschland took the decision because it does not want to be involved in a lengthy legal dispute following its acquisition by Vodafone. The acquisition of Tele Columbus was blocked earlier […]