Advanced Television

M&A

Canal Plus and TVN merge Polish DTH

Following the news in October that France’s leading pay-TV platform Canal Plus was entering  into exclusive negotiations with Poland’s ITI and TVN Groups to create a strategic partnership in Poland, ITI has confirmed that Canal Plus  is to buy a “significant minority” stake in ITI, the parent company of the owner of 51 per cent […]

November 2, 2011

Adobe acquires Auditude

Adobe Systems has acquired privately held Auditude, a specialist in video ad management and monetisation technologies for publishers and media companies. Through the acquisition of Auditude, Adobe is now positioned to provide an end-to-end video offering, seamlessly connecting authoring, publishing, monetisation and optimisation with the goal of helping customers build long-term businesses through the delivery […]

November 1, 2011

VoD service SeeSaw closes

UK VoD service SeeSaw appears to have closed for good, following an initial planned closure in June. The company’s website simply says: “Thanks for your support but SeeSaw is no longer available.” Broadcast transmission infrastructure specialist Arqiva, which acquired the aborted Project Kangaroo from it founding partners BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, put […]

October 28, 2011

Sony to acquire Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson

Sony and Ericsson have revealed that Sony will acquire Ericsson’s 50 per cent stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, making the mobile handset business a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony. The transaction gives Sony an opportunity rapidly to integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices – including tablets, televisions and personal […]

October 27, 2011

Loton, Corp to acquire FilmOn.TV networks

Nevada-registered Loton, Corp has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire FilmOn.TV Networks Inc. (FilmOn), which holds a Licence and Franchise Agreement for The Americas from FilmOn.com, the Internet-based, high-definition television service provider with properties in the US and Europe. The letter of intent is subject to due diligence and negotiation of a definitive […]

October 25, 2011

BayTSP acquisition boosts Irdeto ActiveCloak

Software security and media technology specialist Irdeto is to acquire BayTSP, a search, discovery and anti-piracy company based in Santa Clara, California. Irdeto purchased BayTSP to expand its security portfolio and complement its Irdeto ActiveCloak solution. Following its recent acquisition of BD+ technology from Rovi Corporation, Irdeto suggests the BayTSP deal further demonstrates its commitment […]

October 24, 2011

Cisco buys BNI Video to boost Videoscape

Cisco has announced its intent to acquire privately-held BNI Video. Headquartered in Boxborough, Mass., BNI Video supplies service providers with two major video products that offer video back-office and content delivery network (CDN) analytic capabilities. The cash acquisition – rated at $99 million – will advance the capabilities of Cisco’s Videoscape TV platform, which allows […]

October 21, 2011

Carlyle scoops Telecable

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has reached an agreement to acquire an 85 per cent share of Spanish triple-play cable operator Telecable de Asturias. Liberbank will retain a minority stake after the transaction, which is expected to close by year-end. The transaction values the company at €400 million; equity for this investment will […]

October 19, 2011By Colin Mann

ITV acquires Channel Television

ITV is to buy Channel Television, the Channel Islands commercial TV broadcaster, in a further consolidation of the network. The broadcaster is in negotiations to buy Channel TV from the private Yattendon Group. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but it is reported to be worth more than £10 million (€11.5m). Channel Television […]

October 18, 2011

Hulu sale cancelled

The planned sale of online video website Hulu has fallen through after months of negotiations between the service’s owners and potential buyers. Hulu’s owners, which include Disney, News Corp, NBC Universal and Providence Equity, revealed they had decided against a sale of the video service. “Since Hulu holds a unique and compelling strategic value to […]

October 14, 2011By Colin Mann