Advanced Television

Policy

Spanish broadcasters reject DTT plan

The Spanish government’s new DTT plan has been turned down by the private TV broadcasters – Antena 3 TV, Mediaset, Net TV and Veo TV – on the grounds that it will put the reception of all free-to-air DTT channels at risk. The broadcasters also severely criticised the fact that citizens have to pay the […]

November 8, 2012From David Del Valle in Madrid

EC: RAI, Mediaset should be banned from TV frequency auction

The European Commission has proposed that Italian public broadcaster Rai and its commercial rival Mediaset should be excluded from the auction to assign surplus TV frequencies. According to Italian newspapers, this is the opinion of the EC on the regulations that Italy’s Communications Authority (AgCom) is proposing for the auction that will issue digital mutiplexes […]

November 7, 2012From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Russia TV in breach of Ofcom rules

News broadcaster Russia Today has been criticised by UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom for comments made in a July 12 broadcast about the Syrian popular uprising. Specifically, Ofcom found Russia Today “in breach” of its impartiality rules, and comments made during a newscast for a lack of balance and absence of perspective and impartiality. TV Novosti, […]

November 5, 2012By Chris Forrester

Cheeky Indian MSOs still in analogue mode

The latest excuse to delay adopting digital TV in some Indian cities is down to Diwali, the Hindu ‘festival of truth and lights’ which this year happens on November 13th. Officially, the cable MSOs in India’s four main cities were required to cease analogue transmissions at midnight back on October 31st. The situation was muddied […]

November 5, 2012By Chris Forrester

CEA files brief in favour of Aereo

US consumer electronics trade association the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has confirmed it is joining an ‘amicus brief’ in respect of the ongoing copyright violation case involving online television service Aereo. Stating that the CEA is filing the brief on the side of ‘disruptive innovation’, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CEA said the […]

October 30, 2012By Colin Mann

DCMS lobbied for 24/7 PIN watershed

UK viewers could soon watch post-watershed programmes before 9pm under proposals being put forward by a lobbying group for cable and satellite broadcasters. Peak-time shows are currently not allowed to be shown before the watershed, unless they are cut to remove swearing, violence and sex. However, pay-per-view programmes and content on premium film subscription channels […]

October 30, 2012

Ofcom to continue to monitor Sky pay-TV power

Responding to the full judgement from the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal on its pay-TV decision, comms regulator Ofcom has confirmed that it will continue to monitor developments in the pay-TV sector, in particular relating to BSkyB’s activities as a wholesaler of premium content. Ofcom claims that in the two and a half years since its […]

October 29, 2012By Colin Mann

Argentina demands “must carry” for public TV

The head of Argentina’s Audiovisual Communications Services Federal Authority (Afsca), Martin Sabbatella, says every public broadcaster’s signals must be included in any Pay TV operator’s programming schedules. “Whoever does not do it will be breaking the law and will affect the right to information for millions of people”, he stressed. Sabbatella initially spoke about a […]

October 29, 2012By Chris Forrester

ITU condemns satellite jamming

Middle East satellite jamming has reached what one local broadcaster has described as “catastrophic” proportions. While Eutelsat and Intelsat have legitimately removed troublesome Iranian (IRIB) channels from their satellites, the jamming from within Iran and affecting incoming satellite feeds continues. The BBC, France 24, Deutsche Welle and the Voice of America are just some of […]

October 29, 2012By Chris Forrester

Venezuela plans new pay-TV rules

Dario Vivas, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly Popular Power & Communication Media Commission, says that the Venezuelan Government will revise its Pay-TV rules. The draft bill addresses three issues: the contract tie between the user and the company, the operator’s programming and prioritizing national broadcasters in Pay-TV services and EPGs. Deputy Blanca Eekhour, in charge […]

October 25, 2012By Chris Forrester