Advanced Television

M&A

Cisco to acquire Pure Digital, i-CABLE deal

Cisco has announced its intent to acquire privately held Pure Digital Technologies. San Francisco-based Pure Digital, creator of the best-selling Flip Video brand is a specialist in developing consumer-friendly video solutions with mass-market appeal. “The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco's strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture […]

March 23, 2009

TW buys stake in CME, WB branded channels

Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (CME) has confirmed that Time Warner will invest $241.5 million in CME for a 31% stake. Time Warner is agreeing to allow CME founder and Non-Executive Chairman Ronald S. Lauder to vote Time Warner's shares of CME for at least four years, subject to certain exceptions. Also, Lauder has pledged […]

March 20, 2009

Virgin Media tidies for sale

Virgin Media TV is to close its teenage pay-TV channel Trouble within months as Virgin gets ready to off-load its content business. Reports say it plans to close Trouble and launch a new version of its popular Living channel in its place. Virgin Media has appointed UBS to sell its content division for sale and […]

March 20, 2009

Harmonic completes on Scopus

Harmonic has completed the acquisition of Scopus Video Networks for approximately $50 million, net of Scopus’ cash and short-term investments. The acquisition strengthens Harmonic’s technology and market leadership, particularly in the broadcast contribution and distribution markets, in addition to increasing the global customer base. Scopus’ customers will be supported by the expanded regional Harmonic sales […]

March 16, 2009

Virgin appoints UBS to oversee sales

Virgin Media has appointed UBS bank to advise it on a sale of its television channels businesses that could be worth up to £500 million (E560m). Virgin Media Television includes Virgin's 50 per cent stake in the cable channels business UKTV. The sale will be partly dependent on the outcome of a political debate going […]

March 11, 2009

Pro-Bel and Snell & Wilcox merger

Pro-Bel and Snell & Wilcox have announced the merger of their businesses, and the creation of a new joint company. The deal, which combines the strengths of two market leading innovators in the broadcast technology industry, creates a formidable competitor in the digital media sector. The combined company has two thousand active customers in more […]

March 11, 2009

Tiscali sale to BSkyB abandoned

Internet provider Tiscali said talks with BSkyB over the sale of its UK assets have ended. Tiscali said it was “de facto impossible” to proceed with the discussions because of the impact of the continuing economic downturn. As a result, Tiscali said it would miss an interest payment on its debt as it seeks to […]

March 11, 2009

Nagra OpenTV offer

The Kudelski Group, owner of Nagravision, has announced its 2008 annual results. It says the introduction of new generation security solutions at several Digital TV accounts together with the migration of some of the Group's largest accounts to the service model had a strong effect upon the Group 2008 results. In 2008, the Group delivered […]

March 4, 2009

BT for C4?

The credibility of a deal between BT and Channel 4 has a gained a little after the broadcaster’s chairman said he would welcome talks that could offer a solution to its £150 million (E169m) funding shortfall. Luke Johnson, Channel 4’s chairman, is reported to have said that a tie-up with BT’s television subsidiary BT Vision […]

March 3, 2009

ITV offloading Freeview business?

ITV is reportedly considering selling digital television business, SDN, up for sale as it weighs its options to raise extra funds. The broadcaster’s executive chairman, Michael Grade, is finalising plans to raise cash as the group faces a slump in advertising revenues and further pressure from servicing its debt and pension fund. Grade has just […]

February 25, 2009