Technicolor has received a binding offer to acquire the Thomson Video Networks business from the Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises (FCDE). The FCDE finances the recovery and development of small- to medium-sized enterprises demonstrating a strong potential for success. The capital development fund, with approximately €200 million, is financed with up to […]
In the opening skirmish of the ‘spin wars’ that will characterise negotiations, Chase Carey, Rupert Murdoch’s right-hand man at News Corp, told delegates at Deutsche Bank’s Media & Telecoms conference that while News Corp wanted to do the deal to buy the remaining 61 per cent in BSkyB that it did not already own, but […]
YouTube has purchased Next New Networks for an undisclosed sum. Based in New York and backed by former television executives from Nickelodeon and MTV, Next New Networks has built a network of videos created both in house and by independent filmmakers. YouTube made clear that it has no plans to dive into the content business. […]
Fidelity Investments, one of the smaller investors in BSkyB, says a fair price for its holdings would be 950p (€1.1) a share, and letting it be known that News Corp should dig deeper into its pockets and pay a big premium over the offer price of 700p already on the table. BSkyB’s share price was […]
CBS has acquired Clicker Media, a service that creates a guide for TV shows broadcast over the Web, and named the its top executive as the new head of CBS Interactive. Jim Lanzone will succeed Neil Ashe in running CBS Interactive, the digital division that includes CNET.com, TV.com, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, CBSNews.com and Gamespot.com. CBS did […]
Sony has confirmed the acquisition of Hawk-Eye, a UK based company that specialises in providing tracking technology to sports events and broadcasters. Hawk-Eye’s capabilities, based on vision processing and triangulation, coupled with Sony’s AV production and B2B solutions will enable the delivery of managed services and innovative solutions for Sports Stadia and Broadcasters.
Providence Equity Partners has sold half its stake in Kabel Deutschland (KDG) on the market. The investor reduced its stake from 43.7 per cent to 22 per cent realising about €760 million for its shares. The sale is six months after the IPO when Providence sold 17 per cent of its then controlling stake. KDG, […]
Vivendi’s Canal Plus unit didn’t abide by commitments made to France’s antitrust regulator when it bought a rival in 2006, French newspaper La Tribune has reported, saying it has seen a preliminary report by the regulator. The authority is probing Canal Plus’s practices following the purchase of competitor TPS, and is expected to publish the […]
Boom TV, a struggling DTH operator in Romania owned by Israel’s DTH Television Grp, is being bought out of liquidation by Romtelecom. Boom was a late-starter in the over-crowded Romanian television market and has always struggled to make headway. Its signals are carried on the Amos satellites, owned and operated by Spacecom. Romtelecom is paying […]
As expected, Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary, has cleared the News Corp takeover of the 61 per cent of Sky it doesn’t already own. In a compromise to avert concerns on plurality in the UK news market, Sky News will be spun off as a separate UK PLC with shares distributed to BSkyB stockholders on their […]