Nokia will pay $410 million (E263m) for the 52 per cent of shares in Symbian it doesn't already own. Symbian’s software is used in two-thirds of smartphones and six percent of all mobile phones, but new platforms such as Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone could challenge its dominance. The Symbian software will now be made […]
STB makers and pay-TV platforms are considering legal action against the European Commission after a tax ruling left many of them facing millions of pounds in unexpected costs. Basic set-top boxes, which are classified as communications devices, are exempt from tax when imported into the European Union. But a change to the rules last month […]
Federal regulators are beginning an effort to crack down on stealth advertising in television shows, a move aimed at letting consumers know when companies have paid to use their products as props. The FCC is expected to open a formal proceeding about new rules requiring more disclosure of product placement. Regulators say they’ve become more […]
Mediaset-controlled Tele 5 has filed a lawsuit against YouTube accusing the video sharing service of violating intellectual property rights by posting video clips without permission. The TV network has urged YouTube to cease distributing its content on several occasions, according to the channel, but the company has ignored its claims arguing that it is only […]
Without or without merger XM and Sirius face a bleak future says Wall St. Goldman Sachs, citing a dramatic slowdown in subscriber growth, high debt costs, refinancing pressure and a shrinking trend in revenue per customer cut its XM price target to $6.50 from $11.50 and reduced Sirius to $1.75 from $2.25. After a rapid […]
Former singer Feargal Sharkey used the London Calling music conference to demand a levy on gadgets that allow music to be copied. “To legislate for the copying of a CD on to an iPod might, at this point in the development of humanity, seem like a technical irrelevance, even bizarre. But if successful, this would […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid The sale of Sogecable pay-TV division, Digital Plus, is also attracting interest from several private equity firms, such as Permira and Apax, with suggestions that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Mexican media mogul Carlos Slim and even Telefónica are potential bidders. Prisa has hired HSBC to handle the sale process. […]
Hardware makers are meeting politicians and copyright societies to discuss introducing a Europe-wide levy on media devices, offsetting revenue apparently lost from personal copying. Since 2001, 22 of Europe's 27 countries have made technology manufacturers pay the surcharge on products that allow music, books, movies and other copyrighted content to be copied. Now the European […]
Vodafone Group has announced that, after five years in the role, Arun Sarin will be retiring as Chief Executive at the end of the Company’s AGM on 29th July 2008. He will be succeeded by Deputy Chief Executive Vittorio Colao
From David del Valle in Madrid The Spanish media group Prisa, owner of the newspaper El PaÃs, is taking full control of the TV company Sogecable, owner of Digital Plus, Canal Plus and Cuatro, by acquiring the remainder 2.29 per ceny shares to reach 100 per cent for E75.5 million. The move paves the way […]