Advanced Television

Policy

Iran’s Press TV appeals to UN

Iran’s controversial Press TV channel is no longer carried by the world’s major satellite operators. July 1st saw its last transmissions which have meant that Press TV’s regular complaints have escalated over the past few days. Iran’s minister of Communications & Information, Mohammed Hassan Nami, in an interview on July 2nd, says he will be […]

July 4, 2013

NHK TV sued for using ‘foreign’ words

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK is being sued for ’emotional distress’ because the national channels are using, he claims, too many ‘loanwords’ in its transmissions. He is suing NHK for 1.4 million Yen (about $14,000), and is arguing in his writ that NHK is making its broadcasts unintelligible. Hoji Takahashi, age 71, cites words such as […]

June 28, 2013By Chris Forrester

Ofcom fines Scuzz TV

Ofcom has imposed a financial penalty of £10,000 on CSC Media in respect of its service Scuzz TV – a digital satellite music TV channel that broadcasts rock and pop-punk music videos and related programming. This penalty follows Ofcom’s finding relating to a block of programming called ‘Rock All Stars’, broadcast on August 19th 2012. […]

June 28, 2013

Vodafone KDG referred to cartel office

Vodafone’s bid for Kabel Deutschland is to be investigated by Germany’s competition authority. Deals in the German cable sector are routinely examined by the authorities, and it is thus far unclear whether the Bundeskartellamt will conduct the investigation or pass it up to EU level. Kabel Deutschland accepted a €7.7 billion offer from Vodafone last week.

June 27, 2013

Ofcom upholds Everton FC ATVOD appeal

Ofcom has upheld an appeal by Everton Football Club in relation to a decision by the Authority for Television On Demand (ATVOD), which is responsible for regulating the editorial content of certain on-demand programmes services. In April 2012 ATVOD determined that, on its website, Everton Football Club provided an On-Demand Programme Service in the form […]

June 26, 2013

RAI could be privatised, says PM

Italy’s prime minister Enrico Letta says that the public broadcaster RAI could be privatised.  “The question of eventually privatising RAI is not part of the government programme presented, (but) we will discuss it, talk about it,” Letta told foreign journalists at a press conference in Rome. Currently, Italians pay an obligatory annual TV licence fee […]

June 25, 2013By Chris Forrester

Spain: Our TV policy is a national embarrassment

“Instability”and “uncertainty” are the main words used by the Spanish private TV broadcasters to define the TV policy the Administration is implementing. UTECA, the private TV Association, has urged the government to clarify the TV map to avoid “sending out (outside of Spain) a message of instability, lack of definition and a clear regulation” to […]

June 24, 2013From David Del Valle in Madrid

Spectrum for mobile delivers highest economic impact in Europe

Findings from a report issued by mobile industry trade body the GSMA suggest that mobile services generate the greatest economic value of eight major applications of spectrum. Developed by Plum Consulting, the report – Valuing the Use of Spectrum in the EU – reveals that mobile’s use of spectrum currently contributes €269 billion to the […]

June 21, 2013By Colin Mann

Russia: Duma supports blocking of illegal video content

The State Duma has voted in favour of amendments to the “piracy bill” introducing pre-trial blocking of pirated video content in Russia. The bill was submitted to the Duma on June 6th and adopted in its first reading on June 18th. It sets out the legal grounds and the procedure for limiting access to websites […]

June 21, 2013

Greek court endorses public service media

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has welcomed confirmation by Greece’s highest court – the Council of State – that public service broadcasting in Greece must be put back on air. EBU President, Jean-Paul Philippot said: “We are impressed by reports that the Government now intends to put a temporary public service broadcasting system in place […]

June 21, 2013