Ed Vaizey, the UK minister for comms and the creative industries, used his address to Cable Congress to back Liberty Global’s takeover of Virgin Media, signalling it would get a green light from government. He said the planned takeover would be good news for increased investment in fast access and digital development. Vaizey noted the […]
Belgian triple play operator Telenet has announced that its chief executive Duco Sickinghe is to leave the company, and will be replaced by the former head of Australian pay-TV firm Austar United Communications. Sickinghe will step down from its executive duties on March 31st and as a director at the occasion of the annual shareholders […]
FremantleMediam has announced the appointment of Keith Hindle as CEO of its newly created Digital & Branded Entertainment division. In his new role, Hindle, who was formerly CEO, Americas at FremantleMedia’s Enterprises arm, will steer and oversee FremantleMedia’s growing multi-platform business worldwide, with functional responsibility for all digital, sponsorship, social media and YouTube activity, including […]
Tesco has confirmed its commitment to digital media with three new hires to oversee its forthcoming services. Tesco is planing an ebookstore called blinkboxbooks and a digital music store called blinkboxmusic later this year, and will roll out Clubcard TV, an ad-supported streaming TV and movie site, soon. Gavin Sathianathan, Facebook’s EMEA retail chief will […]
I remember a press conference many years ago down at MIP, the room was packed and not just with eager reporters, there was also a surfeit of testosterone. Television, then recently released from the monoculture of national broadcasters, had become the field of choice for the world’s more colourful entrepreneurs to compare appendages. Ranged before […]
Things were already bad at YouView, the UK’s struggling on-demand TV service, but there was complete meltdown on February 28th when the operation’s Chairman, Lord Alan Sugar (who fronts the UK’s version of The Apprentice reality TV show) and the owner of Channel 5, Richard Desmond reportedly came to near fisticuffs during a regular board […]
Lord Sugar is to step down from his role as non-executive chairman of YouView in the next few weeks. During his two-year tenure, Sugar was credited with being instrumental in the successful launch of the open IPTV service, with YouView now claiming to be the fastest growing TV platform in the UK. He took over […]
Neil McIntosh has been appointed managing editor of the BBC’s Online and ‘Red Button’ services. McIntosh – currently deputy editor of The Wall Street Journal (Europe) – will start his new job at the beginning of April. Between 2004 and 2008, McIntosh was assistant editor and head of editorial development for guardian.co.uk, where he launched […]
Thinkbox has announced that Leila Travis, currently Total Media’s Head of TV, is to join the organisation as its Head of Planning. She will start her new role on April 29th. As Thinkbox’s Head of Planning, Travis will be responsible for running Thinkbox’s planning team, including overseeing the development and management of Thinkbox’s planning tools, […]
Dailymotion is streaming Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille in the French Cup live on February 27th – in what is expected to be David Beckham’s first start for his new team following a 15 minute substitute appearance last week. The game kicks off at 20:50 and is free to watch online for viewers watching […]