Digiturk, Turkey’s largest digital television broadcaster, plans to raise as much as $550 million (E386m) in an IPO of 25 per cent of its business. The company is controlled by Istanbul conglomerate Cukurova and Providence Equity Partners. The pair are selling down their holding from 100 to 75 per cent. The Turkish media sector is […]
The US has led calls to allocate a significant chunk of the radio frequency spectrum for use by digital television. On the opening day the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), US delegation leader Richard Russell said it was important that countries identify sections or ‘bands’ of wavelengths to be used exclusively for advanced wireless services. The […]
Eutelsat Communications said sales jumped 6.2 per cent to E211.9 million in its first quarter to September from E199.5 million a year earlier thanks to “the continuing good performance of our markets.” For the year to June 2008, Eutelsat reiterated targets of sales of E840-850 million and an EBITDA margin of more than 77.5 per […]
Viacom has stated that it will not drop its $1 billion lawsuit against YouTube parent Google. Philippe Dauman, Viacom’s chief executive, said that Google had not done enough to prevent content from being illegally uploaded to YouTube. Viacom, owners of MTV and Nickelodeon, claims that Google allowed more than 160,000 clips of its programming to […]
The first closure of a major UK-based pay-TV pirate site was accompanied by raids and an arrest, the anti-piracy group Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has reported. Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said: “We at FACT have stated very clearly that we intended to pursue those who are openly exploiting and facilitating the distribution of […]
Gilat the Israeli satellite network group, is evaluating interest from several strategic and private equity buyers in buying the company. The company, which is listed on Nasdaq in the US and in Israel, could fetch more than $500m in a sale. Bids are due at the end of this week. Participating in the auction are […]
Ofcom has warned that all adult channels face being encrypted following a spate of complaints over explicit content including allegations of on-air masturbation and the promotion of premium-rate services. The media regulator has upheld complaints against five free-to-air unencrypted outlets known as “babe” channels, in which scantily clad women invite viewers to contact them via […]
A group of digital media heavyweights have issued a set of guidelines on copyright protection. The group–including Viacom, Walt Disney, Microsoft, Fox, MySpace and NBC Universal–agreed to use technology to purge pirated content circulating online, and to stop such material before it becomes widely available. “These principles offer a road map for unlocking the enormous […]
Google said net income in the third quarter surged 46 per cent compared with the period a year earlier. Sales rose 57 per cent, topping Wall Street's bullish forecasts. The results show that Google is growing roughly twice as fast as the overall online advertising market, which itself is booming, and that it is expanding […]
UK police may investigate the ITV phone-in scandal affair if asked to by Ofcom, and it is already reviewing evidence in the GMTV case. On ITV, the Metropolitan Police said it would take its cue from Ofcom, the media and telecoms regulator, which is planning to investigate the affair. Ofcom said: “ITV's review of its […]