NBCU had a lopsided Q3, as earnings grew 13 percent to $732 million even as revenues dropped 20 percent to $4 billion from $5 billion. NBCU's troubles are attributed to its declining broadcast business, which offsets gains on the cable side. There is much speculation parent GE is about to do a deal to buy […]

Sigma Designs and CopperGate Communications have entered into a definitive agreement for Sigma to acquire CopperGate in a cash and stock transaction with an agreed value of $160 million, net of CopperGate’s cash at the closing of the transaction. CopperGate is a provider of silicon-based modem solutions enabling distribution of broadband digital content over all […]

Cisco is buying Starent Networks a supplier of IP-based mobile infrastructure solutions targeting mobile and converged carriers. Cisco will pay $35 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.9 billion. The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

Patrick Barry, the executive in charge of the Yahoo’s Internet-connected TV group, has quit. Barry was responsible for deals with consumer-electronics manufacturers to deliver Yahoo’s Widget Channel apps to consumers. In January, Yahoo announced partnerships with Samsung, Sony, LG Electronics and Vizio to embed the “widgets” into their Internet-enabled TV products.

COO John Cresswell, named interim CEO on Tuesday, has scrapped the sale of its DTT multiplex SDN and is looking instead to transfer its ownership to ITV's pension fund as an asset that will plug a growing hole there. ITV paid £134m (E143m) for SDN to a consortium including S4C, United News & Media and […]

British Sky Broadcasting has accused the BBC of "riding a coach and horses" through the market for internet TV by investing licence-fee money in Project Canvas. The BBC and its partners, ITV, BT and Five, say Canvas will bolster the free-to-air TV platform Freeview as Sky, Virgin Media and other pay-TV providers launch more advanced […]

ITV has confirmed that John Cresswell, currently Chief Operating Officer, has agreed to assume the role of Interim Chief Executive to lead the company through to the appointment and arrival of the next Chief Executive. Cresswell has informed the company that he then plans to leave to seek a fresh challenge. The Interim CEO role […]

Canal Plus CEO Bertrand Meheut has called for a moratorium on the French government's plan to tax commercial channels to compensate public broadcaster France Télévisions for the loss of advertising on its channels. Meheut told Le Figaro the tax should be put on hold until the end of 2011, when advertising on the public channels, […]

RealNetworks is appealing a court ruling barring it from selling its RealDVD copying software and a set-top device in development that copies DVDs. The company has filed a notice with a Circuit Court of Appeal that it intends to appeal a preliminary injunction preventing it from selling RealDVD or its Facet set-top. In August, US […]

BSkyB has hired BBC marketer Naomi Gibney, who has responsibility for flagship brands including BBC1, BBC2 and CBBC, to head marketing across the satellite broadcaster’s entertainment channels. At she'll be director of marketing and communications for Sky Networks with responsiblity for all content and channel marketing across entertainment channels including Sky1, Sky Movies, Sky Arts […]