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Sony makes offer for 2waytraffic

Sony Pictures Entertainment is making an offer of E156 million for Dutch entertainment company, 2waytraffic the company which creates, produces, licenses and distributes light entertainment content across television, mobile and digital platforms. The acquisition will enhance Sony Pictures' global capabilities in the light entertainment market, which includes game shows, reality programming, variety shows, quiz shows […]

March 14, 2008

Changes to DSL forum board

Four of Europe's leading telecommunications network operators have been elected to the DSL Forum Board of Directors. The new members include Kevin Foster, of BT; Christophe Alter, from France Telecom; Mauro Tilocca of Telecom Italia; and Marcin Drzymala from Telekomunikacja Polska. Frank Van der Putten of Alcatel-Lucent, Les Brown of Infineon and Phil Skeba of […]

March 14, 2008

Google completes DoubleClick purchase

Google has completed its $3.1 billion acquisition of online advertising group DoubleClick after receiving the green light from European competition authorities, setting the stage for a broader push into the online display advertising market. The clearance also increased the likelihood that a future acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft would also pass regulatory scrutiny, since Google […]

March 13, 2008

Ofcom drops PSP

The Ofcom chief executive, Ed Richards, has confirmed the UK regulator is to abandon plans for a “public service publisher”. He said the idea had “served its purpose” in shifting the debate on the future of public service broadcasting by emphasising the importance of digital media. It is understood that Ofcom no longer envisages recommending […]

March 13, 2008

GridNetworks raises additional capital

GridNetworks, provider of managed Internet television delivery services, has announced that Cisco Systems has made an investment as a strategic investor in GridNetwork's first round funding. With this latest investment, GridNetworks raised a total of $9.5 million financing. GridNetworks streams television and film content with HD clarity and high-fidelity sound to a computer or a […]

March 13, 2008

MTG sells DTV to CTC

Modern Times Group (MTG), the international entertainment broadcasting group is selling national Russian free-to-air television network 'DTV Group' to CTC Media for approximately $395 million on cash. MTG owns 39.5 per cent of CTC Media, which is Russia's largest independent television broadcaster. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities.

March 12, 2008

Rubery joins Electra

Co-founder of Pace Micro Technology Barry Rubery is returning to the digital TV industry by joining interactive technology provider Electra Entertainment as Chief Executive. Rubery joins Electra coinciding with the launch of its next-generation interactivity technology platform for digital terrestrial and satellite television Electra is part of General Entertainment Technology Corporation, the newly-established holding company […]

March 12, 2008

Highwinds raises $55m

Highwinds Network Group, a multi-platform IP services and content distribution provider, has closed a $55 million round of equity financing led by General Catalyst Partners and Alta Communications. The financing will fund the infrastructure build-out of Highwinds' RollingThunder network, including a content delivery network offering. Highwinds' RollingThunder network was unveiled in conjunction with an announcement […]

March 12, 2008

Viaccess to buy Orca

France Telecom subsidiary Viaccess has agreed to acquire 100 percent of Israel’s Orca Interactive for $21.4 million. Orca Interactive, a subsidiary of telecom group Emblaze, develops software for IPTV. It has gross assets of $15.9 million and posted a net loss of $4.3 million in 2007. Emblaze said the deal is worth about 59 cents […]

March 11, 2008

Entriq acquiring DayPort

Entriq, the CA / DRM company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DayPort, a player in video publishing, content, workflow, and syndication solutions.

March 11, 2008