The Government's introduction of the Digital Britain bill on Friday last week will “secure the UK's position as a world-leading digital economy”, say ministers. “We need to make sure copyright and the systems around it work in the digital era.” The Government was “likely to get this bill through” they say but others doubt it […]
From Colin Mann in London Future assessment of the UK’s wireless spectrum should take into account whether optimum use is being made of broadcasting spectrum in an age of widespread broadband data, according to Ed Richards, CEO of Ofcom. “We need to continue to ensure that spectrum is put to good use for all our […]
General Electric and Vivendi are apparently $1 billion apart in their valuation of the French group's stake in NBC Universal, damping hopes of a quick resolution to the stand-off holding up Comcast's bid for a majority stake in the group. GE and Comcast, the cable operator that wants to take a 51 per cent stake […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid Telefonica is set to take a 20 per cent stake in Prisa-controlled DTH platform Digital Plus, for E400 million, valuing the platform at E2 billion – far from Prisa’s original expectation of E2.5 billion. The acquisition takes place 18 months after Telefonica sold its 16.73 per cent stake in […]
DirecTV has named Michael White as its new President and CEO. White announced in September that he will retire later this year from his current position as vice chairman of PepsiCo. He will assume his new role at DirecTV beginning January 1st, 2010.
From Colin Mann in London A senior executive at ITV has suggested that 20 per cent of viewing of its channels will be via 'catch-up' services in 2013, up from four per cent currently. Carolyn Fairbairn, Director of Group Development and Strategy at the broadcaster told delegates at the Digital TV Summit that this would […]
Italy’s Mediaset has filed a complaint with antitrust officials against Sky Italia over its Digital Key that allows Sky Italia subscribers to view free DTT channels. The pay-TV market is dominated by Sky Italia on DTH but Mediaset has been trying to challenge Sky’s position with low-cost pay-TV on DTT. “The distribution by Sky of […]
Targeted ad firm Phorm has lost its UK managing director Nick Barnett. With none of Phorm's initially-announced three interested UK ISPs having gone ahead with rollout it seems the company has chosen to focus on international opportunities. South Korea's KT has begun a trial. European potential customers have been put off by privacy concerns and […]
KDG's digital pay-TV subscribers totalled 844,000, up 21,000 year-on-year at the end of September. It had 1.7 million broadband and telephony subscribers adding 645,000 on the year. There were 851,700 internet and 872,000 phone customers. Average services per customer increased to 1.31 from 1.23 giving the operator 11.84 million RGUs, up 585,000 year-on-year. ARPU for […]
ITV has confirmed Archie Norman, the former chief executive of supermarket group Asda, as its new chairman. The appointment of Norman, 55, a former Tory MP, will bring to an end a seven-month search for the commercial broadcaster as it sought to replace Michael Grade, its executive chairman. ITV is expected to see its fortunes […]