Civolution, a provider of technology and services for identifying, managing and monetising media content, has acquired the Software & Technology Solutions (STS) watermarking business from Thomson. With this acquisition Civolution says it will be able to offer a broader and richer portfolio of content identification and tracking technologies to enhance its current technologies, products and […]
Cox Communications has decided to sell a majority stake in the Travel Channel in an auction expected to value the cable network at $600 million or more and break the drought in media industry deal-making. Scripps Networks Interactive, owner of the Food Network, is widely seen as the front-runner in an auction likely to test […]
The BBC Worldwide chief executive, John Smith, is confident a deal to form a joint venture with Channel 4 will be signed within weeks following the tabling of a new streamlined proposal that he claims has gained traction with both parties. Smith said the new proposition would pull in parts of Channel 4’s operation, including […]
Walt Disney Company has agreed to a management buy-out of its Jetix channels in Italy. The management team, led by MD Francesco Nespega has established Switchover Media to take control of two Disney-owned channels in the territory. The deal comes as Disney continues its Jetix rebranding effort across Europe, dropped the boy-skewing channel’s name in […]
Bahrain-based Orbit and Dubai's Showtime Arabia are merging between the two rival pay-TV businesses. The new company is an "equal partnership" between Orbit, up until now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabia-based Mawarid Group, and Showtime Arabia/Gulf-DTH which was owned by Kuwait's KIPCO and Viacom. The new business will offer new packages to viewers […]
Packet Video the mobile video and software company has sold about a 35 percent stake in the company to Japanese mobile giant DoCoMo. The all-cash deal is intended to "strengthen DoCoMo's position in advanced music and video services in Japan," it said.
Setanta’s founders and MCD boss Denis Desmond are expected to take full control of the sports giant’s Irish business after agreeing a buyout with original investors, including Doughty Hanson and Goldman Sachs. The deal comes as secured debt holders, who are owed E220 million by Setanta, consider fresh “commercial terms” offered by the Irish team. […]
Boxer, the Teracom-owned DTT platform has acquired a majority stake in its Finnish equivalent PlusTV. Existing backers Baker Capital and IT Provider Funds will remain minority shareholders. "PlusTV has established itself as a leading Finnish pay-TV operator and has great continued potential. We count on developing synergies between our businesses in Sweden, Denmark and Finland […]
Despite receiving some money against the £35m (E41m) it is owed, the English Premier League has told Setanta if it does not pay the balance by Friday, 19 June, it will put its remaining games – 46 live matches in the 09-10 season – out to tender. “In view of the shortage of time before […]
American investor Len Blavatnik is offering £20m (E23.4m) to buy some time for the beleaguered sportscaster. However the BBC reports he is demanding a 51% stake in return. Blavatnik is also involved with Top-up TV, the pay-tv channel on Freeview, and is said to have strong Russian connections.