The US Federal Communications Commission is being investigated by the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight, prompted by criticisms of the FCC’s processes and what one official described as a “breakdown in proper procedure.” The committee informed FCC chairman Kevin Martin and the other commissioners of concerns saying that it wanted the chairman to […]
Bertelsmann is considering taking full control of RTL Group, Europe's largest broadcaster. Bertelsmann confirmed a WSJ report that it was possible it would make an offer for the 10.2 per cent of RTL it does not already own, but cautioned that this had yet to be approved by its supervisory and management boards. Buying the […]
Irdeto announced it has acquired 100 per cent of Cloakware, a privately held software company based in Virginia, USA and Ottawa, Canada. Graham Kill, CEO of Irdeto said: “This acquisition strengthens our existing content security offering, broadens Irdeto's reach across the entire content lifecycle and vertically expands our offering into new markets.” Cloakware's technology, which […]
Channel Five’s director of programmes, Jay Hunt, is the new controller of BBC1. The former controller of BBC daytime will replace Peter Fincham, who resigned following the “Crowngate” scandal.
TiVo shares gained 25 per cent as the US Patent and Trademark Office upheld TiVo’s time-warp patent covering the company’s DVR technology. As reported, EchoStar had requested that the patent be re-examined in an effort to have an earlier patent infringement judgement against the company overturned. TiVo officials said the company is extremely pleased the […]
German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 said adjusted core earnings more than doubled in the third quarter mainly thanks to the acquisition of SBS broadcasting. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to E124.8 million. As expected by the company, a E120 million fine imposed by Germany’s cartel office for anti-competitive practices in the marketing of advertising […]
Channel 4 is buying a 10 per cent stake in mobile ad tech firm Mobile IQ to boost its mobile advertising efforts. The two companies have been working together since February 2006, during which time Mobile IQ has deployed both Channel 4's direct-to-consumer mobile services and its mobile content portals on Vodafone and O2. Channel […]
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested that both telecom operators and cable TV operators should be allowed to offer IPTV. In a draft recommendation, the telecom regulator has also said that the Cable TV Act should be amended to allow broadcasters to provide signals to all distributors of TV channels such as […]
Avail Media, provider of IPTV and advanced media services to broadband operators, has closed the final tranche of a $25 million Series B equity round. First time investor Valhalla Partners joined Columbia Capital, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, and Pioneer Ventures in the round. The financing, along with $5 million in debt financing from a strategic […]
Harris Corporation has acquired Zandar Technologies, a privately held developer and provider of high-quality multi-image display processors for television broadcast and professional video markets.