Advanced Television

M&A

Intelsat complete buy

Serafina Holdings, an entity formed by BC Partners, Silver Lake and other equity investors, has closed its acquisition of commercial satellite operator Intelsat. Through the transaction, the equity of Intelsat Holdings was valued at about $5 billion. As part of the deal, funds associated with Apax Partners Worldwide, Apollo Management, Madison Dearborn Partners and Permira […]

February 6, 2008

Google troubled by Microsoft move

Google has said it finds Microsoft’s $44.6 billion bid to buy rival Yahoo “troubling” and wants regulators to scrutinise the proposed deal. Google said the tie-up could unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors’ email and instant messaging services. It said Microsoft had previously sought “to establish proprietary monopolies”. “Microsoft’s hostile bid […]

February 5, 2008

ITV shares rise on takeover report

Shares in UK commercial broadcaster ITV rose as much as 4.6 per cent in London trading after weekend media reports that private equity firms were consider a takeover bid. ITV shares climbed as much as 3.5 pence to 80 pence and traded at 79.3 pence as of 12:37pm, valuing the broadcaster at £3.08 billion pounds […]

February 5, 2008

BC finalises $16.5bn Intelsat deal

BC Partners is set to announce the completion of its $16.5 billion purchase of Intelsat, the world's biggest satellite operator. The UK-based private equity firm has agreed to make concessions on the structure and terms of its $15 billion debt package to hold together its syndicate of main banks – Credit Suisse, Bank of America […]

February 5, 2008

Microsoft swoops for Yahoo

Microsoft has launched a $44.6 billion takeover bid for Yahoo in an attempt to challenge Google. Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer, claimed that combining the two companies would create a stronger challenger to Google in the online advertising market. Hesaid the deal would create a “more efficient” company with total annual synergies of $1 billion, […]

February 5, 2008

Sky, ITV decision

UK Business secretary John Hutton is expected to announce imminently whether he accepts the ruling of the Competition Commission that Rupert Murdoch’s pay-TV company must reduce its 17.9 per cent stake in ITV to below 7.5 per cent. It is anticipated it will insist on some sale. ITV’s share price has tumbled since Sky bought […]

January 29, 2008

PT Multimedia’s acquires TVTEL

PT Multimedia has acquired a 20 per cent stake in Potugese cable TV company TVTEL and will acquire the remaining 80 per cent from investment bank Caixa BI, subject to the approval of competition authorities.

January 18, 2008

MTV Adria for sale, CME interested

From Branislav Pekic in Rome US media group CME has emerged as the frontrunner for the acquisition of regional music channel MTV Adria, according to local media reports. CME already owns MTV Romania, as well as commercial broadcasters in Croatia (Nova TV), Slovenia (Pop TV, Kanal A), Romania (Pro TV, Acasa TV, Sport.ro), Slovakia (Markiza, […]

January 16, 2008

BSkyB appeal extension on ITV

BSkyB has been granted an extension of the time it can apply to the Competition Appeal Tribunal over a forced sale of its stake in rival broadcaster ITV. Originally BSkyB was meant to decide on an appeal by January 16th but has been granted permission to wait and hear the view of the secretary of […]

January 15, 2008

Industria partnership with Anevia

Industria, IPTV solutions provider, and Anevia, French designer of the Toucan VOD/nPVR servers, have signed a partnership agreement that is intended to ensure successful sales activities between Industria’s products and services and Anevia’s products. The main focus of the partnership will be on marketing and sales of integrated solutions featuring Industria’s flagship product, the Zignal […]

January 11, 2008