Mediaset-owned TV channel Tele 5 will have to pay a €15.6 million fine imposed by the competition watchdog CNC for a serious violation of the conditions imposed in 2010 over its merger with Cuatro. The CNC has determined that Mediaset did not comply with the obligation of separating the two advertising companies Publiespaña and Publimedia […]
Greek Billionaire Alki David, founder of Internet-based content streaming provider FilmOn, is suing rival service Aereo’s founder Barry Diller in the next stage of the battle between the pair, at the same time bemoaning the involvement of the legal fraternity. FilmOn offers all the major US network television networks in seven major cities, as well […]
Thailand’s Food & Drug Administration has sent warning letters to 33 satellite channels saying they must stop airing “exaggerated” advertisements. The channels must immediately stop airing the commercials, or else face fines and potentially imprisonment. 301 channels were officially licensed (mostly with straightforward renewals) only last week by Thailand’s National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission, although […]
Recognising that new technologies have huge implications for the creative sector, as well as for the policies and regulatory structures that underpin it, Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, has renewed her call for changes to those structures. Delivering a speech as part of the stakeholders dialogue on copyright, […]
DigiTAG, the broadcast industry body that promotes digital terrestrial television (DTT) and protecting broadcast spectrum for broadcasters has published a new guide on digital switchover. The guide provides a comprehensive overview of the key regulatory, business, and technical issues that must be addressed for a successful digital switchover process. It also explores strategies for analogue […]
Europe’s satellite operators have issued a strong condemnation of the European Commission’s attitude towards terrestrial bias in broadband deployment. Brussels, it is argued by the operators, regularly favours and helps underwrite terrestrial and cellular connectivity and yet ignores similar help towards the satellite industry. A meeting in Brussels, organised by the European Satellite Operators Association, […]
EchoStar’s Dish ‘Hopper with Sling’ ad-skipping device has been belatedly given its ‘Best of CES’ Award, and former awards sponsor CNET has been turfed out of CES as part of the fall-out over the scandal. (CNET had reversed the granting of the award under pressure from owners CBS). However, Fox Network as well as NBC, […]
A new centre dedicated to examining the changing nature of copyright and the need for new business models in the digital age is being launched on January 31st at the University of Glasgow. The Centre for Creativity, Regulation, Enterprise and Technology (CREATe) brings together internationally renowned researchers from seven UK universities who will work to […]
Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, has suggested that in the light of certain recent events, copyright laws in the US should be re-evaluated, bemoaning the influence and lobbying efforts of the content community. Writing a Forbes opinion piece, Shapiro asks: “Are copyright laws hurting America? Increasingly, and particularly in this […]
UK comms regulator Ofcom has awarded the licence to operate the new local TV multiplex on digital terrestrial TV (DTT) to local infrastructure co-operative Comux. The multiplex operator will be responsible for building and maintaining the technical infrastructure required to broadcast the 19 local TV services currently being licensed by Ofcom. The award follows legislation […]