Disney is betting on Content as King, paying $4bn for Marvel Entertainment in a shares and cash deal. Disney will take over ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters, if the deal is approved by Marvel shareholders and competition regulators. “We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth […]

SeaChange International, provider of software and hardware solutions for VOD television, has confirmed the acquisition of eventIS Group – a privately owned Netherlands-based company that provides VOD and linear broadcast software and related services to cable television and telecommunication companies primarily in Europe.

ARRIS has acquired certain assets of EG Technology, an Atlanta-based company for approximately $6.5 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Arris acquired EGT patents and video processing technology for digital networks, and will employ approximately 20-25 of the existing employees. The acquisition complements ARRIS video offerings by adding multi-functional, flexible, and scalable video processors […]

There is uncertainty surrounding the purchase of file-sharing website The Pirate Bay by Swedish-based Global Gaming Factory (GGF). Trading in GGF shares has been suspended and there are reports that the firm’s chairman – Magnus Bergman – has resigned. GGF paid £4.7 million (E5.4m) to take over The Pirate Bay in June. The Swedish stock […]

The pay-TV merger between Showtime Arabia and rival Orbit has concluded. The deal was announced last month, although no official valuation was given. Showtime Arabia had reportedly bought out its Viacom minority partner in its Gulf-DTH operation. Kipco, an investment vehicle ultimately controlled by the Kuwait royal family which already controlled 75.3% of Gulf-DTH.

Channel 4 has withdrawn from the bidding for Virgin Media’s entertainment channels, because it can't afford it. The broadcaster is reported to have told Virgin it would not submit a binding bid for Virgin Media Television, because it believes it has better uses for its limited cash resources. With Channel 4 out, Virgin Media faces […]

Virgin Media has apparently inserted a clause into the sale of VMtv and its 50% share in UKTV, preventing the buyer from selling them on to a company that is part or fully owned by News Corporation. But neither News Corp, nor associated companies such as BSkyB, are precluded from buying the assets directly from […]

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 […]