News Corp has unveiled details of a shake-up of its Hong Kong-based Star television group as James Murdoch, chairman and chief executive for Europe and Asia, looks to cut costs and consolidate overlapping businesses in the region. About 150-200 jobs at Star are expected to go in the Hong Kong office over the next 12 […]
TMT companies are showing some signs of confidence over the economy, according to new research from accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward, which looked at confidence levels in the sector over the next six months. The survey covered technology, media and telecoms companies across the UK, with worldwide revenues ranging from £10m (E11.7m) to […]
BskyB has written to the BBC Trust expressing "serious concerns" about its handling of Project Canvas. The Trust's conduct of a consultation process on Canvas "will only serve to undermine further industry confidence in its ability and inclination to act as a genuinely independent regulator of the BBC", Sky said. Since February, the Trust has […]
Cindy Rose is joining Virgin Media as executive director of television, where she will lead Virgin Media's strategy for TV, including development of its digital platform and market leading video-on-demand service. Rose was most recently as SVP & Managing Director, Disney Interactive Media Group (EMEA). Neil Berkett, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: "Cindy […]
Sky Deutschland (formerly Premiere) lost 7,000 subscribers during the second quarter of the year and reported losses of over E360m. The pay-TV operator ended June with 2.364 subs against 2.371 at the end of the previous quarter. While the operator attracted 23,000 monthly contract customers, it lost 30,000 Flex subscribers during that time, overall churn […]
Boxee has closed a $6m round of financing led by Boston-based General Catalyst with participation by prior investors Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures. Neil Sequeira from General Catalyst will join the board. The web to TV company, who suffered a blow recently when Hulu withdrew their service, says the investment will go to improving […]
China said it would consider launching an appeal against a World Trade Organisation ruling that the US claimed would help open up Chinese markets for media as well as curbing rampant intellectual piracy.The WTO said that it was impermissible to give one state-owned enterprise the monopoly for importing products such as films and books in […]
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.
Intelsat reported results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2009 with revenue of $642.5 million and a net loss of $32.7 million for the three months. The company reported EBITDAi, of $522.4 million. "Intelsat's record Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2009 surpassed the $500 million level for the first […]
NBC Universal Global Networks has appointed Paul Curtis to the new role of VP, commercial strategy, for its portfolio of UK channels including Sci Fi, Hallmark Channel, Movies 24 and Diva TV. Curtis, a former deputy MD of Sky's in-house sales arm Sky Media, will report to Laurence Dawkin-Jones, MD (UK) NBCU Global Networks. Curtis […]