A company backed by the Permira funds, along with the Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) management team, has reached an agreement to acquire Kingsbridge Limited, the holding company for ABS, one of the fastest growing premium satellite operators in the world. The Permira funds will become the majority shareholder of ABS. Founded in 2006 by […]
The Digital TV Group (DTG), the industry association for digital TV in the UK, has announced that DTG Testing, the digital television industry’s test and conformance centre, is to provide manufacturers with a single facility for Connected TV, HbbTV, Freeview, Freesat and Digital Tick test and conformance. Additionally, DTG Testing is working with Project […]
Following a record 40 per cent revenue growth, driven by increased demand for broadcast services on both satellite and online platforms, London-based sister companies Playout247 and Vision IPTV have unveiled a major investment programme in studio and broadcast technology supported by capacity increases. Four existing studio facilities have been upgraded to HD, and […]
BBC Worldwide is appointing an iPlayer exec from the BBC itself to drive through its plan to launch an overseas version of the VOD service. Global iPlayer Launch Director is to be Mark Smith, who has been filling the role of general manager for programmes and on-demand. It means BBC Worldwide will have an exec […]
Nokia has appointed Microsoft business manager Stephen Elop as its new chief executive. The appointment may mark a sea-change in strategy at the top of the mobile phone giant. In July, Nokia reported a 40% slump in second quarter profits, as it struggled to break into the smartphone market. Nokia is still by far […]
The OIPF (Open IPTV Forum) has confirmed the publication of Release 2 of its global end-to-end specifications for IPTV. This is a major step forward for end-to-end interoperability within the IPTV ecosystem. Release 2 includes an evolution of functionality across many areas of the Release 1 Specifications, with notable enhancements of major functional areas. […]
Swissom has offered to buy out its remaining fellow shareholders in Fastweb, giving the Swiss telecommunications group full control of its troubled Italian subsidiary. The Swiss group will offer Fastweb shareholders E18 a share – 34 per cent, over this weeks prior average price. The all-cash deal will cost the highly profitable Swiss group […]
Sogecable-owned Digital Plus, continues losing subscribers with a drop of 24,523 in only two months ending August. It now has 1,760,320 subscribers with an ARPU of E41.7. The company, which reported an EBITDA of E189 million, claims to have reduced its churn rate “for the fifth consecutive month.” Over the last months, Digital Plus […]
Police have conducted a series of raids across Europe in the biggest crackdown yet on file-sharing. 48 sites were targeted in countries including the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Hungary. In Sweden, seven premises were raided including PRQ, which is believed to host Pirate Bay and the revelatory website WikiLeaks. Co-ordinated by Belgian police, the operation […]
The French media group has said it will press ahead with a flotation of its stake in pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus after failing to strike a deal with Vivendi. Arnaud Lagardère, chief executive, said there would “not be a U-turn” in a planned IPO of its 20 per cent stake which it values at E1.5bn […]