Advanced Television

Policy

Ligado under threat from US senators

Ligado Networks is planning a US terrestrial wireless system using L-band (1526-1536 MHz) and is hoping to start services on or after September 30th this year. However, there are allegations that its service is potentially interfering with GPS signals. London-based Inmarsat has some potentially valuable agreements with Ligado which uses Inmarsat spectrum over the US. […]

August 23, 2022

Sustainable media marketplace initiative from Accedo

Video solutions provider Accedo has launched a new sustainability initiative, aimed at supporting its customers in their journey towards building more sustainable video businesses. The company will work with service and technology providers globally to define industry standards for delivering sustainable video services, and drive experiments to accelerate and achieve sustainable transformation across the video […]

August 23, 2022

PSBs call for sports rights protection

The heads of UK public service broadcasters (PSBs) BBC and ITV have written an open letter warning that so-called ‘Crown Jewel’ sporting events such as the Olympics and the football World Cup risk going behind a paywall unless the Government proceeds with new legislation, amid fears that proposed media legislation could be dropped by Prime […]

August 22, 2022By Colin Mann

Bouygues, RTL offer TF1/M6 merger concessions

With the French competition authority (Autorité de la Concurrence) raising concerns about the proposed merger between TF1 and M6, in particular its effect on the advertising market, Bouygues Group and RTL Group have revealed their first proposals covering advertising and TV production. To rescue the merger, they are both proposing to keep their advertising agencies […]

August 22, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Intelsat’s Galaxy 15 goes rogue

Intelsat has informed the FCC that it has lost overall control of its Galaxy 15 satellite probably as a result of a geomagnetic storm. It is the second time that the satellite has suffered problems in orbit. The official notification to the FCC says: “Galaxy 15 is currently authorized to operate at the 133.0° West […]

August 22, 2022By Chris Forrester

Spacecom agrees $1m claim against Intelsat

A long-running dispute between Tel Aviv-based satellite operator Space-Communications Ltd (Spacecom) against Intelsat and centred on an agreement between the two has resulted in Spacecom being awarded an agreed payment of $1 million by Intelsat’s bankruptcy court. Intelsat and Spacecom both operated satellites at 65 degrees East or nearby. Intelsat agreed to pay Spacecom $650,000 […]

August 22, 2022

Ofcom: Sky in breach of pay-TV contract rules

Following an investigation, UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has found that pay-TV operator Sky has breached – and continues to breach – its rules by failing to send end-of-contract notifications to pay-TV customers. The rules On February 15th 2020, Ofcom introduced new rules that require broadband, mobile, home phone and pay-TV companies to notify their customers […]

August 19, 2022By Colin Mann

Harding appointed to Ofcom Board

Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, has appointed Will Harding to the Board of UK media and comms regulator as a non-executive director for a four-year term from October 3rd 2022 to October 2nd 2026. Harding has almost 30 years’ experience in the media industry. He started his career […]

August 18, 2022By Colin Mann

UK: Cheaper broadband for struggling families

Broadband bills could be cut for millions of low-income households under UK Government plans to encourage ‘social tariffs’. A new service, which will be run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will allow Internet service providers to verify – with customers’ permission – whether they are in receipt of a relevant benefit and […]

August 15, 2022By Colin Mann

UK landlord fined for illegally screening Sky Sports

Patrick Hennessy of the Boat Inn, Church Street, Wolverhampton has been found guilty of two offences of dishonest reception of a television transmission, in this case, Sky Sports televised football matches, with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Sky Sports is only available to licensed premises in the UK via […]

August 12, 2022