China’s SARFT media regulator has issued new rules for suppliers and users of Internet-based TV transmission. The new regulation – Operation and Management Requirements for Licensed Internet Television Operators – requires that Internet TV set-top boxes be operated only in cities selected for China’s network convergence trials. The document requires that Internet TV platform operators, […]
The Federal Communications Commission has removed the final obstacle to the commercial use of the “white spaces” of unused spectrum between broadcast TV channels. “With [the] approval of the first TV white spaces database and device, we are taking an important step towards enabling a new wave of wireless innovation,” said Julius Genachowski, the FCC […]
Another US Internet industry grouping has declared its opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), currently stalled in ‘mark-up’ stage in the House. The Save Hosting Coalition, a consortium of businesses in the web hosting and Internet infrastructure industries, has delivered a letter from 300 leading industry executives expressing their opposition to the legislation. […]
UK tabloid The Sun has won an appeal to stop the video section of its website being monitored by regulators, a ruling that also clears services offered by all other newspaper publishers. Ofcom has upheld an appeal by News Group Newspapers, the parent company of the Sun, not to allow the video section of the […]
The US House Judiciary Committee has confirmed that it will delay continuing debate on online anti-piracy measure the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) until after Congress returns from its winter recess. Committee spokeswoman Kim Smith said that the hearing is expected to be scheduled for “early next year.” After two days of debate last week, […]
Senator Ron Wyden has now introduced the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act which is proposed as an alternative to tougher anti-piracy bills, such as the Senate’s Protect IP Act and the House’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Senators Jerry Moran and Maria Cantwell have signed on as co-sponsors. “The OPEN act […]
Tao Shiming, head of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television’s (SARFT) Department of Media Organisation and Online Programming Supervision, revealed at the 4th Annual 2011 China Media Trend Forum currently underway in Beijing that SARFT is exploring the development potential of paid programming, with the possibility of reducing the number of premium […]
UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom has hit another adult broadcaster with fines totalling £130,000 for breaches of its broadcasting code. In November Playboy TV was hit with fines totalling £110,000 for breaches of Ofcom’s ‘adult chat’ code. These latest penalties were levied on Satellite Entertainment Ltd (SEL), which telecasts Sport XXX Girls, Essex Babes and Northern […]
In a reversal of the current ‘beauty parade’ licensing plan, Italy has confirmed it will now auction off to the highest bidder its six remaining digital terrestrial frequencies – as first reported here on December 12th. Italy’s technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti has decided to support an opposition parliamentary move to hold an auction. The […]
Mexico’s antitrust agency has started an investigation into agreements between phone carriers and TV programming providers, a sign that Grupo Televisa SAB’s bid to enter the wireless industry is facing more scrutiny. Deals between fixed-line phone, wireless, Internet, broadcast and pay-TV providers could represent prohibited concentrations of market power, the antitrust agency said in the […]