Eutelsat Communications said first half net profit was E94.7 million, up from E79.9 million a year earlier, driven by strong business growth from two key sectors using satellite communications, digital TV and high-speed internet. EBITDA was E349.2 million, up from E329.6 million. Sales were E429.4 million, up from E415.3 million.

Modern Times Group posted a 40 per cent increase in fourth quarter pre-tax profit to a better-than-expected SEK607 million, helped by organic sales growth, acquisitions, and sharply increased margins at its free-to-air Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe divisions. For the full year group sales were up 12 per cent year on year to SEK […]

Virgin Media has appointed Alex Green as MD of its portal, responsible for accelerating growth of Virginmedia.com. Green takes on a new role within Virgin Media, which the media company says is unrelated to the departure of its director of portal Chris Bunyan, who leaves the company this week. Green will be charged with overseeing […]

ITV has appointed Patricia Wagstaff to the new post of director for digital productions. Wagstaff joins ITV Productions from the US cable network HBO. She has also worked as vice-president at the web video site iFilm.com. The new role will see her develop ITV content for new platforms and technologies, working as part of Dawn […]

The body representing internet service providers in the UK has cast doubt on government proposals to make them responsible for identifying and punishing illegal music and video downloaders. The Internet Service Providers' Association opposes the idea that it should take responsibility. “ISPs are no more able to inspect and filter every single packet passing across […]

DirecTV reported that fourth quarter 2007 revenues increased 17 per cent to $4.88 billion, and operating profit increased 4 per cent to $617 million compared to last year’s fourth quarter. “DirecTV’s content and service leadership continue to drive superior results in a tougher marketplace that reflects increasing competition and a slowing economy. Advanced services–including the […]

Yahoo has bought Maven Networks a provider of online video technology for about $160 million to expand its ability to sell advertising alongside Web clips. The deal will help Yahoo and its network of Web partners deliver video to sites and sell advertising within and around the clips, in a challenge to the Internet video […]

Vocento has revealed that Disney has agreed to acquire 20 per cent of the Spanish media group’s Net TV unit for around E27 million. In a statement, Vocento said the sale is part of its 2008-10 strategy plan to consolidate its position as a Digital TV provider. After the sale, Vocento will hold 55 per […]

Mark Hurd, the chairman and chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, has joined the board of News Corp. Hurd replaces Roderick Paige, the former US education secretary. Rupert Murdoch praised the HP boss's management skills. “Mark has had great success in sharpening HP's strategic focus resulting in increased growth and profitability for what is one of the […]

Britain is to follow France in making ISPs cut access to users who repeatedly download music or films illegally. The government had given the music and film industries a year to come to a voluntary agreement with ISPs over how to tackle illegal file sharing, but that period expired at the end of 2007. In […]