Advanced Television

Business

OmniGlobe buys BTIG

OmniGlobe Networks, specialist in delivering cellular, broadband Internet and VoIP services, has acquired Bandwidth Technologies International Group Limited (BTIG), the UK based international provider of satellite communications systems. OmniGlobe Networks, the privately held Canadian group, acquired the entire equity of BTIG – including its principal trading subsidiary L-TEQ Limited. BTIG will become the operations and […]

February 22, 2008

BSkyB appeals Competition ruling

BSkyB has confirmed it is to launch a legal challenge against key conclusions of the Competition Commission’s report on its investment in ITV plc and the Secretary of State’s consequent decision that it should dispose of the majority of its 17.9 per cent shareholding. Sky will lodge its application with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) […]

February 22, 2008

AEPOC chief refutes pirate allegations

Davide Rossi, chief of AEPOC, the anti-digital media piracy industry association, has denied allegations in the Italian press that he is implicated in smart card pirate ring. In recent days Rossi has been named in two Italian newspapers in connection with information acquired in raids in France, Poland, Greece and Sicily. The public prosecutor in […]

February 22, 2008

SK takeover of Hanaro approved

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) in Korea has approved the acquisition of Hanaro Telecom by SK Telecom. SK won a 1.090 billion KRW bid for the company late last year, which was subject to the approval of government antitrust regulators. Hanaro had been rumoured to be an SK takeover target for the last […]

February 22, 2008

New regulation for broadcast PRS providers

PhonepayPlus (previously known as ICSTIS) has announced that service providers looking to provide premium rate services (PRS) to broadcasters must first seek its permission. Taken alongside tough new rules for broadcasters from Ofcom, it is expected the new regulatory regime will protect viewers from any possible harm when participating in broadcast PRS. Ofcom has made […]

February 20, 2008

RTVE and Telefonica in multimedia deal

From David Del Valle in Madrid The Spanish state-owned group, RTVE -that operates the terrestrial TVE 1 and La 2- and the incumbent telco Telefonica have signed a 3-year strategic agreement to promote and develop joint multimedia projects through all existing distribution platforms. The agreement, signed by the presidents of the companies, Luis Fernández and […]

February 19, 2008

Zee contests Trai’s mobile TV regulation

Zee Network has written to the Information & Broadcasting ministry, stating that the Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) regulation for mobile TV is discriminatory. Zee has demanded that any broadcasting company should be allowed to provide mobile TV services. Zee says that cross holding caps are not appropriate in these scenarios, and has warned […]

February 19, 2008

SES falls

SES Global reported profit and turnover down but declared it was still in the market for small add on acquisitions despite its failed offer for Spacecom of Israel. Net profit fell by 7 per cent to E404 million from the previous year's E435.8 million, mainly on interest charges related to the debt incurred in the […]

February 19, 2008

Q4 in Latin America for DirecTV

DirecTV Latin America achieved net subscriber additions of 199,000 in the quarter, a jump the company attributed to strong customer growth in Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina. The total number of DirecTV subscribers in Latin America as of December 31 increased 21 percent to 3.28 million, compared to 2.71 million as of December 2006. Revenues for […]

February 19, 2008

Australia consider 3 strike rule

The Australian Government is considering a three-strikes policy against computer users who download illegally. The Government will examine new legislative proposals being unveiled in Britain this week to target people who download films and music illegally. Under the three-strikes policy, a warning would be first issued to offenders who illegally share files using peer-to-peer technology […]

February 19, 2008