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Business

Boxee gets a $6M catalyst general

Boxee has closed a $6m round of financing led by Boston-based General Catalyst with participation by prior investors Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures. Neil Sequeira from General Catalyst will join the board. The web to TV company, who suffered a blow recently when Hulu withdrew their service, says the investment will go to improving […]

August 14, 2009

China may appeal WTO media ruling

China said it would consider launching an appeal against a World Trade Organisation ruling that the US claimed would help open up Chinese markets for media as well as curbing rampant intellectual piracy.The WTO said that it was impermissible to give one state-owned enterprise the monopoly for importing products such as films and books in […]

August 14, 2009

Showtime, Orbit confirm merger

The pay-TV merger between Showtime Arabia and rival Orbit has concluded. The deal was announced last month, although no official valuation was given. Showtime Arabia had reportedly bought out its Viacom minority partner in its Gulf-DTH operation. Kipco, an investment vehicle ultimately controlled by the Kuwait royal family which already controlled 75.3% of Gulf-DTH.

August 14, 2009

Intelsat re-signs TV

Intelsat reported results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2009 with revenue of $642.5 million and a net loss of $32.7 million for the three months. The company reported EBITDAi, of $522.4 million. "Intelsat's record Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2009 surpassed the $500 million level for the first […]

August 14, 2009

NBCU hires Curtis

NBC Universal Global Networks has appointed Paul Curtis to the new role of VP, commercial strategy, for its portfolio of UK channels including Sci Fi, Hallmark Channel, Movies 24 and Diva TV. Curtis, a former deputy MD of Sky's in-house sales arm Sky Media, will report to Laurence Dawkin-Jones, MD (UK) NBCU Global Networks. Curtis […]

August 14, 2009

TDC TV subs up

Danish telco TDC reported 1.195 million TV customers at the end of June, up 6.3% year-on-year. The figures include analogue and digital cable subscribers of its YouSee cable operation and IPTV subscribers. TDC had 1.292 million retail broadband customers at the end of the first half, up 9.5% year-on-year. Wholesale broadband customers numbered 118,000, down […]

August 14, 2009

NBCU hires Curtis

NBC Universal Global Networks has appointed Paul Curtis to the new role of VP, commercial strategy, for its portfolio of UK channels including Sci Fi, Hallmark Channel, Movies 24 and Diva TV. Curtis, a former deputy MD of Sky's in-house sales arm Sky Media, will report to Laurence Dawkin-Jones, MD (UK) NBCU Global Networks. Curtis […]

August 14, 2009

EchoStar profits fall as subs pick up

EchoStar and its spin-off Dish Network declared their half-yearly results with profits down but subscription numbers up. EchoStar Corp, which operates the satellites more than doubled its profits in Q2 earning $101.8m (against $47.8m the same period last year). But the company's revenues fell 21% to $383m from $483.3m. The company blamed lower set-top box […]

August 12, 2009

C4 out of Virgin TV auction

Channel 4 has withdrawn from the bidding for Virgin Media’s entertainment channels, because it can't afford it. The broadcaster is reported to have told Virgin it would not submit a binding bid for Virgin Media Television, because it believes it has better uses for its limited cash resources. With Channel 4 out, Virgin Media faces […]

August 3, 2009

Arquiva pick Sebert for Kangaroo

Arqiva is understood to have hired Pierre-Jean Sebert, former managing director of British Eurosport, as chief executive of its proposed online TV venture. The broadcast transmission company paid £8m for the assets of Project Kangaroo, and has plans over the coming months to launch its own online TV aggregation service in conjunction with broadcasters. Arqiva […]

August 3, 2009