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Business

Dish Network loses subs, profits up

US satellite broadcaster Dish Network reported total revenue of $3.21 billion for the quarter ended September 30th, 2010, a 10.9 per cent increase compared with $2.89 billion for the corresponding period in 2009. Net income attributable to common shareholders totalled $245 million for the quarter compared with $81 million during the corresponding period in 2009. […]

November 5, 2010

PrimaCom acquired by lenders in debt-for-equity swap

The lenders of German cable operator PrimaCom have confirmed that they have taken over the company in a debt-for-equity swap. In exchange for writing down PrimaCom’s loans, the lenders – including US-based hedge fund Tennenbaum Capital Partners, Avenue Capital Group and London-based Alcentra Group – will acquire all of the shares in holding company Medfort […]

November 5, 2010

Pace buys Latens

Digital TV technology specialist Pace has acquired Latens Systems, the Belfast-based specialist in software-based Conditional Access/DRM and Middleware solutions for the pay-TV market in a £28.75 million (E32.72m) cash deal, of which £10 million is deferred and payable in 2012 subject to the achievement of conditions. Latens offers its solutions across cable, IPTV, DTH,and DTT, […]

November 5, 2010From Colin Mann in London

Liberty Global Q3 profit

Liberty Global has swung to a third-quarter profit — its third quarterly profit in the past year after a string of losses. The company benefited from changes in currency values and growth in Western Europe. Subsidiary UPC strengthened its operations in western Europe, has seen revenue grow as more customers subscribe to bundles of two […]

November 4, 2010

News Corp sales up, MySpace in trouble

News Corp has reported revenue in its fiscal first quarter was $7.43 billion, up from $7.2 billion in the previous year. Net income was $775 million up from $571 million last year. Rupert Murdoch chairman said, “Our global cable network programming business continues to lead News Corporation’s financial and operational momentum.” Meanwhile, MySpace, the social […]

November 4, 2010

Eutelsat hits all its Q1 numbers

By any measure Paris-based Eutelsat’s latest numbers (for its Q1 to Sept 30) are impressive. Overall revenues are up 12.9 per cent to €285.6 million, while all its divisional metrics are also in extremely positive territory. Video is up 8.1 per cent, Data and value-added revenues are up 23.5 per cent and Eutelsat’s “multi-usage” division […]

November 4, 2010By Chris Forrester

Cable refers News Corp Sky bid

Vince Cable, the UK Business Secretary, has issued an intervention notice on News Corp’s bid to acquire the 61 per cent of BSkyB shares that it does not already own. The notice requires that Ofcom investigates the public interest consideration of media plurality and submits a report by December 31st. The European Commission will investigate […]

November 4, 2010

DirecTV adds 380,000 subs

DirecTV has reported an increase in third quarter 2010 revenues of 10 per cent to $6.03 billion, operating profit up 10 per cent to $1.48 billion up on $868 million in last year’s third quarter. DirecTV reported third quarter net income increased 31 per cent to $479 million. “For the fourth consecutive quarter, DirecTV achieved […]

November 4, 2010

Etisalat buys Zain

Zain, Kuwait’s largest telecoms company, have agreed to sell a controlling stake in the company to Etisalat, the United Arab Emirate’s operator, in what would be one of the biggest deals on record in the Middle East. Given that Zain owns 10 per cent of its own shares, the deal would give Etisalat a 51 […]

November 4, 2010

News notifies EU on Sky bid

Sky has this morning served the formal notice of intent with the European Commission that signals the imminent tabling of a formal bid for the 61 per cent of BSkyB it doesn’t already own. The EC now has 25 days to decide whether further investigation is required on competition grounds. Meanwhile UK government will have […]

November 3, 2010