With some analysts doubting Setanta's future after it failed to renew both its Premiere League packages, Access Industries, which is headed by the Russian-born US citizen Len Blavatnik, is understood to have acquired a stake of about 3%. Blavatnik’s petrochemicals business, Lyondell Basell filed for bankruptcy protection last month owing $26bn. Royal Bank of Scotland […]
Carlo Salvatori, CEO of the Italian insurance and banking conglomerate Unipol Gruppo Finanziario, has joined the board of SeaChange International."Carlo is an exceptional addition to our team and the Board is enthusiastic to start working with him immediately," said Bill Styslinger, SeaChange President & CEO. Salvatori has been CEO of Unipol Gruppo Finanziario since 2006 […]
The European Commission has backed plans from Dutch telecoms regulator OPTA to open up the country's cable TV market. OPTA plans to force the country's four largest cable operators Ziggo, UPC, Delta and CAIW to open up their digital networks to third parties. According to OPTA, the regulations are needed to boost competition in the […]
Eutelsat has raised its revenue target for the full year after the world’s third-biggest satellite operator posted a 52.8 per cent increase in net profit over the first half of 2008-2009. Eutelsat said it now targeted sales of E910 million in full-year 2008-2009, up from a target of more than E900 million last confirmed on […]
STAR, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation and Asia's leading media and entertainment company, has confirmed the appointment of Yeshpal Sharma as its Vice President of Distribution and Advertising Sales for the UK and continental Distribution and Sales and head of STAR's North American and European offices.
Alix Pryde is to become the new Controller, BBC Distribution. She replaces Richard Waghorn who has left the BBC to become Chief Technology Officer for SABC, the South African public service broadcaster. …………..
In a landmark case, leading Aussie ISP iiNet has formally defended itself against claims by movie studios that it willingly permitted customers to download movies illegally. In the Federal Court Australia’s third largest ISP – which could face millions in damages – argued the case was “like suing the electricity company for things people do […]
The deal for NDS’s biggest shareholder in partnership with private equity firm Permira to buy NDS off the market has been completed. A deal valuing the company at $3.6bn sees News Corp keep a 49% stake . NDS provides CA and DRM services across all platforms.
BskyB followed up securing a further three years of live Premier League football with a vitriolic response to media regulator Ofcom's consultation on the UK pay-TV market, accusing it of “serious flaws” and “perverse conclusions.” Responding to Ofcom’s second Consultation Document on pay TV which was published last September and said: "Retail competition that we […]
The Australian Federal Court has made final orders in a case brought by Telstra to enforce Telstra’s exclusive right to broadcast AFL (Australian Football League) content on mobile phones and over the internet. Telstra and the AFL had brought the case against News Limited, whose newspaper subsidiaries unlawfully posted hyperlinks to AFL video files on […]