Advanced Television

Business

Canal Digital profit up

Telenor Broadcast's Canal Digital added 12,000 DTH subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2008, ending the year with 1.113 million, down slightly from 1.131 million in 2007. The number of cable households increased by 5,000 in the three months to December 31, ending the year at 746,000, compared with 705,000 in 2007. Canal Digital posted […]

February 12, 2009

Telia IPTV growth

TeliaSonera had 867,000 TV subscribers, including 477,000 IPTV subscribers, at the end of last year. The IPTV base grew by 99,000 in the course of the year, while its overall TV subscriber base grew by 98,000. The company saw IPTV growth of 27,000 in the fourth quarter, including 4,000 in Sweden. Telia's Swedish IPTV base […]

February 12, 2009

Mockridge to Sky board

Sky has announced that Chase Carey, CEO of DirecTV, has resigned as a non-executive director to be replaced by Tom Mockridge. Mockridge is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sky Italia and Chief Executive, European Television of News Corporation where he oversees News Corporation’s television operations in Europe, outside the UK.

February 12, 2009

Eutelsat raises targets

Eutelsat has raised its revenue target for the full year after the world’s third-biggest satellite operator posted a 52.8 per cent increase in net profit over the first half of 2008-2009. Eutelsat said it now targeted sales of E910 million in full-year 2008-2009, up from a target of more than E900 million last confirmed on […]

February 10, 2009

STAR appoints Sharma

STAR, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation and Asia's leading media and entertainment company, has confirmed the appointment of Yeshpal Sharma as its Vice President of Distribution and Advertising Sales for the UK and continental Distribution and Sales and head of STAR's North American and European offices.

February 10, 2009

Pryde appointed Controller, BBC Distribution

Alix Pryde is to become the new Controller, BBC Distribution. She replaces Richard Waghorn who has left the BBC to become Chief Technology Officer for SABC, the South African public service broadcaster. …………..

February 10, 2009

Access takes Setanta stake

With some analysts doubting Setanta's future after it failed to renew both its Premiere League packages, Access Industries, which is headed by the Russian-born US citizen Len Blavatnik, is understood to have acquired a stake of about 3%. Blavatnik’s petrochemicals business, Lyondell Basell filed for bankruptcy protection last month owing $26bn. Royal Bank of Scotland […]

February 10, 2009

Salvatori for Seachange board

Carlo Salvatori, CEO of the Italian insurance and banking conglomerate Unipol Gruppo Finanziario, has joined the board of SeaChange International."Carlo is an exceptional addition to our team and the Board is enthusiastic to start working with him immediately," said Bill Styslinger, SeaChange President & CEO. Salvatori has been CEO of Unipol Gruppo Finanziario since 2006 […]

February 10, 2009

EC back open nets for Dutch cable

The European Commission has backed plans from Dutch telecoms regulator OPTA to open up the country's cable TV market. OPTA plans to force the country's four largest cable operators Ziggo, UPC, Delta and CAIW to open up their digital networks to third parties. According to OPTA, the regulations are needed to boost competition in the […]

February 10, 2009

Landmark piracy case in Oz

In a landmark case, leading Aussie ISP iiNet has formally defended itself against claims by movie studios that it willingly permitted customers to download movies illegally. In the Federal Court Australia’s third largest ISP – which could face millions in damages – argued the case was “like suing the electricity company for things people do […]

February 9, 2009