Advanced Television

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Japan regulators probing KDDI over Jupiter deal

The Japanese Financial Services Agency has started an investigation into KDDI over its planned purchase of Jupiter Telecommunications shares from Liberty Global, according to reports in Japanese newspapers. The FSA is asking KDDI to change the planned purchasing method for the shares to a tender offer, the report said, as the transaction in its current […]

February 3, 2010

China Digital TV invests in OpenV

China Digital TV, provider of conditional access systems to China’s television market, has made a joint investment in OpenV, a leading Chinese online video company, alongside one of OpenV's existing shareholders. China Digital TV's investment will be up to $14.5 million through which China Digital TV's equity interest in OpenV would be approximately 25 per […]

February 2, 2010

MPEG IC shipments on track to reach 2bn units

As consumers access digital video on more devices, applications for MPEG digital video compression technology are expanding, particularly in portable devices, reports In-Stat. As a result, shipments of MPEG ICs, which support compression and decompression of digital video, will reach 2 billion units by 2013. “Compression technology continues to improve, offering lower bit rates and […]

February 2, 2010

Record year for Virgin on demand

Virgin Media saw a record breaking 2009 with over 750 million on demand views, an increase of 50 per cent on the previous 12 months. Over 59 per cent of Virgin Media's 3.7 million TV customers are now regularly using the service, an increase of over a quarter of a million homes in a year. […]

February 2, 2010

Time Warner Cable returns to profit

Time Warner Cable the second-largest cable company in the US swung to a fourth-quarter profit after its year-ago results were dragged down by big write-downs related to its spin-off from Time Warner. The cable company continued losing video subscribers and overall customers during the quarter amid rising competition and a weak economy. It was able […]

February 1, 2010

EC outlaw's French telco tax to fund broadcasters

The European Commission has determined the French plan for a tax on telecom operators to finance public broadcaster France Télévisions is an administrative charge incompatible with European law, and has opened infringement proceedings against France. The Government has two months to reply to make representations.

February 1, 2010

Netflix posts positive Q4

Online movie rental outfit Netflix has reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Netflix ended the fourth quarter of 2009 with approximately 12,268,000 total subscribers, representing 31 per cent year-over-year growth from 9,390,000 total subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 and 10 per cent sequential growth […]

February 1, 2010

China Mobile to launch CMMB service this month

China Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), China’s national operator of CMMB mobile TV, CBC general manager Sun Chaohui revealed that CBC and China Mobile will officially launch mobile phone TV service in early February. CBC and China Mobile signed an agreement to cooperate by promoting CMMB service on TD-SCDMA handsets in May of last year. Although CMMB-enabled […]

February 1, 2010

Sky: Good Q2, launches 3D

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has reported strong second quarter results and confirmed that it will launch Sky 3D, Europe's first dedicated 3D TV channel, this April. As part of the final preparations for the launch, and to preview the service, Sky will become the first TV company anywhere to broadcast a live 3D TV sports event […]

January 29, 2010

Crozier lands ITV CEO role

From Colin Mann in London One of the longest-running broadcasting appointments sagas has been resolved with the news that Adam Crozier, currently Chief Executive of Royal Mail Group, is to take over as Chief Executive of ITV later this year. Crozier also worked for advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi from 1988, becoming joint chief executive […]

January 29, 2010