Advanced Television

Policy

BBC says MNOs must pay for Freeview filters

A BBC director has called on mobile network operators to pay for the costs of filters to stop 4G mobile services interfering with Freeview. John Tate, Director of Policy and Strategy for the BBC, told The Independent that operators should be forced to pay the costs of signal filter equipment under the ‘polluter pays’ principle, […]

July 2, 2012

France extending TV licence to computers?

France’s minister of culture, Aurelie Filippetti has said that the government would consider next year the possibility of extending the TV licensing system to computer screens. The TV licence, now called the contribution to the public audiovisual services, is used to finance public broadcasters France Televisions and Radio France. Every home with one or more […]

July 2, 2012

Hooper: AV industry should streamline copyright

Richard Hooper, who chairs the UK’s Digital Copyright Exchange Feasibility Study, has suggested that perceived justification for illegally downloading copyrighted music or films would be reduced if the respective sectors were to streamline processes for accessing such material.. Briefing delegates at the Future of Broadcasting Conference in London on progress on the study, Hooper observed […]

June 28, 2012By Colin Mann

Vaizey: Only 4-5,000 at 4G risk

Ed Vaizey, the UK’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, has refuted suggestions that as many as 2.3 million homes risk losing their digital terrestrial TV service as a result of interference from 4G mobile phone signals. Speaking at the Future of Broadcasting Conference in London, Vaizey suggested that the real number was as […]

June 27, 2012By Colin Mann

Netflix ‘don’t let cable cap us’

Netflix has asked US lawmakers to prevent cablecos from hindering its growth by imposing online-data consumption limits for customers. Netflix, with 23.4 million subscribers, said in testimony submitted for a hearing this week before the House communications and technology subcommittee in Washington: “When you couple limited broadband competition with a strong desire to protect a […]

June 27, 2012

DTG confirms DTT safeguards

Richard Lindsay-Davies, Director General, of the UK’s Digital TV Group (DTG) the not-for-profit trade body formed to ensure the successful delivery and evolution of digital TV and associated technologies, has confirmed that the organisation will continue to safeguard the consumer experience of digital terrestrial television and connected TV. Addressing delegates at the Westminster eForum seminar […]

June 27, 2012By Colin Mann

Howling: Freeview at risk from spectrum policy

Ilse Howling, Managing Director of UK digital terrestrial TV platform Freeview, has suggested that the future of the service is at risk should unfavourable decisions be made in terms of the reuse of UHF spectrum. Advising delegates at the Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar on ‘The future of free-to-air TV’ that the platform had reached 2.6 […]

June 26, 2012By Colin Mann

Ofcom outlines online copyright protection measures

UK comms regulator Ofcom has published a draft code for consultation that would require large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to inform customers of allegations that their Internet connection has been used to infringe copyright. The code, which Ofcom is required to publish under the Digital Economy Act 2010, includes measures to help inform the public […]

June 26, 2012By Colin Mann

US House to consider future of video

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology is to hold a hearing on ‘The Future of Video’ on Wednesday June 27. Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden said that since the passage of the 1992 Cable Act there had been a sea change in the way that consumers gain access to video content. “The […]

June 25, 2012By Colin Mann

UAE’s Sharjah outlaws satellite dishes

The Middle East has some of the highest concentrations of satellite dishes anywhere in the world. But now Sharjah emirate, which is alongside that of Dubai on the Arabian Gulf, has banned satellite dishes that are fixed to balconies and terraces. Sultan Al Muallah, Director-General of the Sharjah Municipality, says residents can instead subscribe to […]

June 25, 2012By Chris Forrester