The French DTT distributor TV Numeric is to acquire one of its top competitors – TNtop TV, the French subsidiary of the UK's Top Up TV. TV Numeric says it intends to harness the acquisition to launch push-VOD systems on DTT. The company is currently preparing its first push-VOD technical tests in areas of Normandy.
A board meeting at Ofcom is set to approve the regulator obliging Sky to cut its wholesale prices on its sports channels. In choreographed weekend interviews BT set the ground claiming it would definitely significantly undercut Sky with its retail price if it gets access to the channels at the kind of prices put forward […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid The European Commission (EC) has urged Spain to put on hold the new RTVE’s new financial regime until its probe into the new Spanish legislation to determine whether it is compatible or not with the EU Treaty has concluded. Until then, RTVE, which ceased broadcasting advertising from on January […]
Ofcom is considering further relaxing the TV advertising rules, Chief Executive Ed Richards commented: “Ofcom is committed to reducing its regulatory burdens. In the last few years the TV sector has moved on with substantial increases in the take-up of digital services and in the number of available channels, and consolidation in the advertising buying […]
New rules to be introduced by government decree will require Italians who upload videos onto the Internet to obtain authorisation from the Communications Ministry similar to that required by television broadcasters, drastically reducing freedom to communicate over the Web. The decree is ostensibly an enactment of a European Union (EU) directive on product placement and […]
In 2009 UK media deals hit their lowest levels since the dot com crash as deal volume fell 36 per cent on the previous year, PricewaterhouseCoopers has reported. But the transformation of traditional media companies, continued reduction of debt levels, and a steadily strengthening economy all signpost a rise in M&A activity in 2010. Just […]
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) has unsurprisingly supported the Federal Communications Commission's recognition that its Internet policies should be subject to 'reasonable network management' and urged the Commission to continue to allow the industry to establish appropriate management techniques to meet evolving consumer needs. ATIS cited the ongoing work of its Next Generation […]
Time Warner is near to gaining the regulatory approvals needed to to complete its $160 million purchase Disney and Sony's combined one-third stake in HBO Central Europe, which operates seven channels. The deal will complete its consolidation of ownership of all HBO international operations.
Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) plans to issue Taiwan’s first two mobile TV licences by the end of 2010, one to operate on Channel 35 (596-602MHz) and the other on Channel 36 (602-608MHz). The two licensees will be allowed to choose a mobile TV standard between the Qualcomm's MediaFLO and DVB-H. NCC issued five trial […]
Major Spanish cableco has begun a major refinancing with a E200 million injection from existing VC backers. The company, which faces large repayments on a E3.5 billion loan, plans to negotiate to push the 2010, 2011 and 2012 amortisation schedule out to 2013. ONO initiated discussions with its main relationship banks at the back-end of […]