Advanced Television

Business

Cisco to acquire Tandberg (not that one)

Cisco is to acquire Tandberg for $2.96bn. The Norwegian public corporation is the world's biggest maker of videoconference equipment and was the mother company from which Tandberg Television (now owned by Ericsson) was spun off in the 1990s.

October 7, 2009

News Corp appoints key execs to Digital Media Group

News Corp has announced a series of executive appointments within the company's Digital Media Group, the division responsible for driving digital strategy across the organisation, and directing the company's standalone digital media businesses. News Corp. Digital Media's (NDM) new executive team includes General Counsel and EVP of Business Affairs Dan Fawcett; EVP of Operations Jack […]

October 7, 2009

BT attacks anti-piracy plans

BT Group has criticised a government proposal that would allow UK authorities to suspend Internet access temporarily for those who engage repeatedly in copyright-infringing file sharing. BT said the 'summary justice' proposal undermines rights to due process and raise costs for consumers by requiring expensive network interventions on the part of ISPs. BT also said […]

October 7, 2009

Canwest bankrupt

Canada's largest media company, Canwest Global Communications, has filed for bankruptcy protection as it struggles to unearth itself from a C$4bn (£2.4bn) mountain of debt. The sprawling empire owns a range of broadcasting and print businesses. Canwest’s chief executive, Leonard Asper, said business would carry on as usual despite the legal process: “We are firmly […]

October 7, 2009

EBU backs Hybrids, calls for harmony

The Technical Committee of the European Broadcasting Union has agreed a set of measures for Hybrid Broadcast Broadband (HBB) services and devices. It says it backs "the exciting opportunity these technologies bring to viewers and the broadcasting world, and the significant work that has already been done in this domain." The committee said that while […]

October 7, 2009

Sky hires BBC’s Gibney

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 […]

October 7, 2009

Telefonica and Mediaset to take over Sogecable?

From David Del Valle in Madrid Telefonica and Berlusconi-controlled Mediaset may join forces to acquire Sogecable, owner of pay-TV platform Digital Plus and commercial TV channel Cuatro, say reports in Spain. The Italian TV group would be looking to integrate Cuatro with Tele 5, controlled by Mediaset and currently leading the audience ratings. Sogecable has […]

October 7, 2009

NXP, Trident merge DTV units

NXP Semiconductors will take a majority stake in Trident Microsystems Inc. in a deal that combines Trident with NXP’s business of selling chip sets for televisions and set-top boxes. The two companies said that privately-held NXP will receive a 60% equity stake in Trident. NXP will get newly issued shares along with a purchase of […]

October 7, 2009

KIT bags Nunet and The FeedRoom

From Colin Mann in Cannes KIT digital, a leading global provider of on-demand software solutions for managing and monetising Internet Protocol (IP)-based video assets, has reached deals to acquire two of its leading competitors, Nunet of Cologne, Germany and The FeedRoom, based in New York City. The aggregate consideration paid for Nunet and The FeedRoom […]

October 7, 2009

Virgin Media to proceed with secondary listing

Virgin Media has published a copy of its prospectus for listing and trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange by way of a secondary listing. It is expected that admission will become effective, and that dealings on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘VMED’ will commence, […]

September 30, 2009