From Colin Mann in Cologne ActiveVideo Networks has revealed that is to acquire interactive TV platforms and tools specialist Avinity Systems BV, bringing together two leading providers of cloud-based interactive TV platforms and applications, and expanding the reach and availability of the Web-based user experiences that are redefining interactive television (iTV 2.0). The transaction will […]

Orange has confirmed it has dropped out of talks to purchase the technology for Project Kangaroo, the failed VOD joint venture from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. France Telecom, Orange parent company, had been in discussions to acquire the technology since the UK’s Competition Commission banned the project earlier this year. However, France Telecom […]

A commercial partnership being negotiated between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 would generate annual turnover of £800m (E895m) and a profit of £200m, John Smith, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide, told the House of Lords communications committee. That partnership would include the corporation’s commercial arm’s UK assets, including its 50% stake in the UKTV […]

Channel 4, Time Warner and BSkyB have been shortlisted as potential buyers of Virgin Media’s wholly owned VMtv channels Virgin 1, Bravo and Living. Virgin Media intends to sell the channels separately from its joint venture with BBC Worldwide, UKTV, which will be sold at a later stage. The BBC has denied interest in purchasing […]

The Channel 4 chief executive, Andy Duncan, has told MPs that he expects to have an agreement on a partnership with BBC Worldwide signed within weeks. Duncan told the culture, media and sport committee that a memorandum of understanding with the corporation’s commercial arm would be signed before the government publishes its final Digital Britain […]

DirecTV will merge with John Malone's Liberty Entertainment to simplify its ownership structure and improve its ability to pursue deals; specifically making itself a more attractive target for one of the big telcos. Liberty Entertainment will be spun off from Liberty Media as previously announced, and will now include 54 per cent of the stock […]

Reports in the US say online video platform Joost is actively seeking a buyer and has told cable and satellite providers that it could be their online video solution. Time Warner Cable is one of the companies that has expressed interest in Joost say the reports. In the online video sector, Joost has fallen far […]

Richard Li has thrown in the towel on a proposed $2bn buyout of PCCW, his Hong Kong telecommunications company after a protracted legal battle, saying the saga has been "unnecessarily divisive to society". Li and state-owned China Unicom, PCCW's second-largest shareholder, said they would let the controversial HK$4.50 a share offer lapse and pay investors […]

German pay-TV group Premiere has completed a E450 million capital increase, which saw Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp raise its stake from 25 per cent to 30.5 per cent. The company announced the two-step rights issue in December in order to fund last autumn’s purchase of rights to show live Bundesliga soccer. ….

From Colin Mann in Las Vegas Despite its impending separation from parent company Thomson, Grass Valley is upholding its intentions to be active across a range of platforms by revealing a complete ATSC-M/H broadcasting solution, designed to give broadcasters and service providers a one-stop shop for test and evaluation solutions which can go on to […]