Advanced Television

Policy

Tick off for DTT?

Intellect, the trade association for the UK’s technology sector, has called for a reduced role for government on Digital Terrestrial Television issues once digital switchover is complete, marking the end of the ‘digital tick’ symbol. In its report – The future of digital terrestrial broadcasting –  Intellect warns that excessive regulation of DTT could stifle […]

May 11, 2011By Colin Mann

Google sets aside $500m for ad investigation

Google is facing a wide-ranging investigation into its online advertising system by the US justice department, which could cost the Internet giant at least $500 million. The justice department has launched an investigation into whether Google’s lucrative advertising system unfairly treats some unnamed advertisers. Google is facing a similar probe by the European commission, as […]

May 11, 2011

Regulator cites Zon Multimedia

Portuguese telecommunications regulator Anacom is to take legal action against Zon Multimedia for the way it has been selling pay-TV services in Alenquer, the region that switches off analogue on May 12th. Anacom director, Luis Eduardo Cardadeira, has judged Zon’s behaviour as “absolutely unacceptable”.  According to Anacom, Zon installed mobile kiosks in Alenquer with signs […]

May 9, 2011By Branislav Pekic

Russian president seeks Internet copyright regulation

Russia should introduce an initiative to regulate copyright on the Internet, according to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. At a meeting with the country’s Internet community he stressed the need to optimise the work of the online services and mass-media, saying that protection of the intellectual property, copyright and prevention of cyber crimes were among the […]

April 30, 2011By Colin Mann

India to license 31 new DTH channels

India’s information and broadcasting Minister says that 31 new satellite channels are awaiting government approval to start broadcasting. 653 TV channels are already licensed, said the Minister, Mrs Ambica Soni. Perhaps even more of a revolution is the number of new radio stations that are awaiting licences. The Minister said that more than 800 new […]

April 29, 2011By Chris Forrester

Telcos target OTT traffic

Leading European telecoms companies want to levy significant charges on Google and other online content providers through an overhaul of the regime governing how data travel over the Internet, reports the Financial Times. The telcos complain that they are contending with an explosion of data on their networks, much of which comes from US sites […]

April 27, 2011By Colin Mann

NAB questions ‘spectrum crisis’

The National Association of Broadcasters has filed with the FCC a study by former FCC official Uzoma Onyeije questioning the existence of a spectrum crisis. The paper – Solving the Capacity Crunch: Options for Enhancing Data Capacity on Wireless Networks – suggests alternative solutions to auctioning broadcasting spectrum to help alleviate mobile broadband congestion. In […]

April 27, 2011

German channels appeal VoD regulation

ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL have confirmed the launch of a legal appeal against the decision by the country’s competition regulator to block their proposed ‘German Hulu’ video-on-demand service. The platform was blocked because the Bundeskartellamt was concerned it would be closed to smaller content providers and could create a duopoly in the German VoD market. Both […]

April 18, 2011

Egypt relaxes TV rules

The new Egyptian government is making life easier for new privately-owned TV channels to get on air. The new rules are expected to lead to many more privately-financed TV stations emerging. Sixteen new channels have already been permitted. On April 17th, Egypt’s Public Authority for Investment and Free Zones, which overseas broadcasting out of Egypt’s […]

April 18, 2011By Chris Forrester

Broadcasters call for CRTC to regulate streaming services

Canada’s leading television companies are targeting Netflix and other online streaming services in an attempt to bring the fast-growing competitive threat to the TV business into the same regulations they must follow. Senior executives for Astral Media said that documents have been filed with regulators seeking a review of the California streaming service’s ability to […]

April 15, 2011