Advanced Television

M&A

Murdoch ups stake in Rotana

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is increasing its holdings in Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Rotana Media. News Corp already held 14.5 per cent of Saudi Arabian group and is paying $35 million for new shares which will take their holdings to 18.97 per cent. The news was reported in the Saudi Gazette and followed a Rotana […]

May 17, 2012By Chris Forrester

NZ: “TVNZ, Sky JV OK”

The Commerce Commission has completed its investigation into the joint venture between Television New Zealand Limited (TVNZ) and Sky Network Television Limited (Sky) finding the pay TV market will not be less competitive as a result of the venture. In November 2011, TVNZ entered into a joint venture agreement with Sky to launch a new […]

May 17, 2012

Perform acquires RunningBall

Digital sports rights company Perform has acquired real-time data firm RunningBall in a deal worth up to €120 million. The deal is the largest takeover yet by Perform, whose largest shareholder is US billionaire Leonard Blavatnik. Under the terms of the deal Perform, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2011, will pay a […]

May 16, 2012

DoCoMo buys into mobile content

Japan’s largest mobile telco is about to buy in to mobile media content in Europe by buying Buongiorno, the Italian producer of games, music and other services. NTT DoCoMo has bid €224 million. DoCoMo says it wants to grow outside of Asia by adding Buongiorno’s two billion customers in 57 countries. It already invested in […]

May 15, 2012

Liberty Media closes in on Sirius-XM

On May 1st, speaking at the Sirius-XM results, CEO Mel Karmazin suggested that main shareholder Liberty Media’s 40 per cent holding in Sirius-XM “wasn’t the new 50!” It was light-hearted throw-away comment on Liberty’s attempt to persuade the FCC to permit Sirius-XM’s valuable transmission licences to be re-allocated to Liberty. Perhaps Karmazin spoke just a […]

May 14, 2012By Chris Forrester

News Corp takes stake in China’s Bona Film

News Corp is to buy a 19.9 per cent stake in Bona Film Group. The agreement will help the Chinese film producer and distributor reach a more global audience with its films. Meanwhile, News Corp gets a chance to play a bigger role in a fast-growing market. Bona said News Corp is acquiring the stake […]

May 14, 2012

NBCU and Corus increase stakes in KidsCo

NBCUniversal International has confirmed the acquisition of a controlling 51 per cent stake in international children’s channel, KidsCo, in partnership with existing shareholder and content supplier Corus Entertainment, who also increased its equity in the channel to 43.8 per cent.   The announcement was made by Kevin MacLellan, President, International Television, NBCUniversal and Doug Murphy, President, […]

May 14, 2012

SeaChange completes on broadcast sell off

SeaChange has completed the sale of its broadcast server and storage business.  The sale to the new independent company XOR Media has closed following customary regulatory approvals. SeaChange CEO Raghu Rau commented: “This sale is an important part of our strategy to transform SeaChange into a pure play software company. Now that the transaction is […]

May 11, 2012

News’ Carey: ‘No Sky sale’

Despite the furore surrounding whether BSkyB is a ‘fit and proper’ holder of a broadcasting licence following the phone hacking scandal, News Corp COO Chase Carey has scotched suggestions that the company is considering selling its 39 per cent in the broadcaster. “We have no expectation to sell the Sky stake at this time,” Carey […]

May 10, 2012By Colin Mann

Telecom Italia confirms sale of Telecom Italia Media

Telecom Italia has officially confirmed the sale of Telecom Italia Media, its media and broadcasting unit in which it owns a 77 per cent stake. The Board of Directors has decided to begin the process for the disposal of the activities in the media sector, in view of the refocusing of the Group on the […]

May 10, 2012From Branislav Pekic in Rome