Advanced Television

Policy

France: Call for DTT service applications

France’s Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique/Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority) has issued a call for applications for the award of two national FTA High Definition DTT licences. This call comes in light of the expiry of the authorisations currently granted to the TF1 and M6 services. The spectrum, available […]

December 9, 2022By Colin Mann

SABC wants more cash from DStv

South Africa’s public broadcaster, already suffering from a lack of licence fee income and a downturn in advertising, is facing a controversial arbitration over its ‘must carry’ obligations towards pay-TV operator MultiChoice. South Africa broadcasting regulator ICASA has admitted that its negotiations with DStv and SABC have reached an impasse. SABC COO Ian Plaatjes has […]

December 8, 2022By Chris Forrester

DCMS Secretary reviewing Channel 4 options

Michelle Donelan, the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has said she is considering “other options for providing long-term sustainability” to PSB Channel 4 as the government reviews previously-announced plans to sell the broadcaster. Donelan’s predecessor Nadine Dorries set out plans to take it out of public ownership Responding to questioning at […]

December 7, 2022By Colin Mann

Welsh broadcasters face MP questioning

Senior leaders at S4C, ITV Cymru Wales and BBC Cymru Wales will be giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee of the UK’s House of Commons as MPs hold a second evidence session exploring the future of broadcasting in Wales. From the role of public service broadcasting to the growth of on-demand and subscription services, […]

December 7, 2022By Colin Mann

Eutelsat takes Press TV off air

French satellite operator Eutelsat has taken Press TV off air following the European Union’s imposition of sanctions on Iran’s English-language news network, according to a Breaking News report on the service’s website. On November 14th, the European Union imposed sanctions on a number of Iranian institutions and individuals, including Press TV, over alleged rights violations […]

December 7, 2022By Colin Mann

Italy’s Tivùsat to block uncertified STBs

Italian DTH platform Tivùsat has announced it will block the use of uncertified set-top boxes with official smart cards. The Tivusat smart cards are sold in a bundle with certified decoders and CAMs, however it is possible to find pre-activated Tivùsat smart cards on eBay and several online sites. It is a well-known fact that […]

December 6, 2022From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Intelsat court dates set

Judge Jeffrey White has set some key dates in the Intelsat ‘inside trading’ class action allegations. The judge has set the case to be “answered, or a Motion to Dismiss” on January 19th 2023. Any Opposition filing must be made by March 2nd with a subsequent response from the Petitioners set with a deadline of […]

December 6, 2022By Chris Forrester

United Media joins ACE

Further strengthening its fight to combat piracy in Europe, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the coalition dedicated to protecting the dynamic legal ecosystem for creative content, has welcomed United Media as its newest member. United Media, the media arm of United Group, is a leading media company in Southeast Europe, broadcasting more than […]

December 6, 2022By Colin Mann

Poll: UK adults want FTA broadcasting protected

Three quarters (75 per cent) of people in key UK constituencies want their MP to protect traditional TV services, as the country faces a deepening cost of living crisis. A poll of over 5,000 people in the north and south of England found that eight in 10 (78 per cent) see digital terrestrial TV – […]

December 5, 2022By Colin Mann

Research: ‘UK audiences OK’ with brand placements

Audience research commissioned by broadcast regulator Ofcom reveals UK viewers’ attitudes towards commercial references in and around TV programmes. In addition to income from adverts in commercial breaks, broadcasters can generate revenue from references in programmes. These commercial arrangements allow brands, products and services to feature in and around TV programmes – through product placement […]

December 5, 2022By Colin Mann