The UK government has not yet decided whether to refer for review the proposed takeover of pay-TV group BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, it said, responding to a report a review was likely. The BBC said Business Secretary Vince Cable was likely to ask the media regulator Ofcom to look at the impact of […]
Broadcast television technology and services provider Motive Television is to acquire the assets of NXVision from the liquidator for a total consideration of £10,000 (€12,000) in cash. NXVision has developed proprietary software that allows any Internet-connected device or mobile phone to obtain and display anything available on a home set-top box (STB) or Internet connected […]
Canadian telco BCE Inc. (Bell) has confirmed plans to acquire 100 per cent of CTV, the Canadian leader in speciality television, digital media, conventional TV and radio broadcasting. Bell says the transaction gives it full ownership of Canada’s best media assets to enhance the growth of Bell’s TV, wireless and online services for years to […]
A company backed by the Permira funds, along with the Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) management team, has reached an agreement to acquire Kingsbridge Limited, the holding company for ABS, one of the fastest growing premium satellite operators in the world. The Permira funds will become the majority shareholder of ABS. Founded in 2006 by […]
Swissom has offered to buy out its remaining fellow shareholders in Fastweb, giving the Swiss telecommunications group full control of its troubled Italian subsidiary. The Swiss group will offer Fastweb shareholders E18 a share – 34 per cent, over this weeks prior average price. The all-cash deal will cost the highly profitable Swiss group […]
The French media group has said it will press ahead with a flotation of its stake in pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus after failing to strike a deal with Vivendi. Arnaud Lagardère, chief executive, said there would “not be a U-turn” in a planned IPO of its 20 per cent stake which it values at E1.5bn […]
Yahoo! is preparing to buy a “considerable” stake in Hulu, if the VoD site goes through with its IPO, according to investment bank Stifel Nicolaus & Co. It has been reported Hulu will go for a float and seek a value of $2bn. Hulu generated video ad impressions of 783 million in July, putting it […]
Five is to lose seven of its nine executive directors in a management cull as new owner Richard Desmond looks to cut £20m (E24m) from the business. In total up to 80 jobs will go. Among the leaving are director of strategy Charles Constable and managing director Mark White. Dawn Airey, the Five chairman and […]
Management gurus and journalists have a habit of ascribing human characteristics to corporations: ‘the sleeping giant,’ ‘the agile start up,’ ‘the strong brand.’ But you hardly ever hear companies described as ‘nerveless,’ or ‘calm’ or ‘wise’. The reason is that they are none of the above and particularly not in the hot house of the […]
BSkyB is in talks to broadcast a 24-hour rolling news service in Arabic, based in Abu Dhabi, as part of a joint venture with a local private investor, according to reports. Entering a highly competitive market, the satellite channel would launch under the Sky News name and be the UK broadcaster’s first venture into a […]