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Newzbin2 pirate links closes

Newzbin2, once one of the most popular sites with links to pirated content, has closed down. It comes 15 months after a UK court ordered ISPs to block the site, and amid global pressure from copyright holders. In a statement, Newzbin2’s owners said it had struggled to cover costs because payment providers had “understandably lost […]

November 30, 2012

BPI demands Pirate Bay proxy closure

The UK’s music industry body is demanding that a service offering a workaround to access banned site The Pirate Bay is shut down by its owner. Pirate Party UK, ‘a political group,’ has set up a proxy that can be used to reach the piracy site even though it has been blocked by the UK […]

November 30, 2012

FOX and Dutch football form partnership

FOX International Channels (FIC) and Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV (EMM) have announced the formation of a long term partnership. The Dutch Competition Authority (NMa) approved the proposed partnership and the parties have formally completed FIC’s acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in EMM. EMM is the media company established by the 18 clubs […]

November 30, 2012

Netflix UK adds exclusive Warner content

Netflix and Warner Bros have confirmed a multi-year licensing agreement allowing Netflix members in the UK and Ireland to exclusively enjoy complete previous seasons of popular US TV television. The first three seasons of hit teen supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries will be available on Netflix from December 1st, while seasons one through five of […]

November 30, 2012

MTV two-screen with Gandia Shore app

MTV Spain is pioneering second screen interaction with its new interactive reality TV show, Gandia Shore. Using audio watermarking from industry leaders, Intrasonics, MTV is engaging its audience by granting access to exclusive content on their smartphones and tablet devices through the new MTV XTRA app. Intrasonics’ technology has been built into in the MTV […]

November 30, 2012

Woven for Samsung Smart TV

Woven by litl has announced the launch of “Woven for Samsung Smart TV,” an extension of its mobile photo-viewing app that enables picture viewing on the largest and most social screen in the home – the television. Woven for Samsung Smart TVoffers a new way to share special photos with family and friends, eliminating the need to huddle […]

November 30, 2012

Futuresource: 4K channels in 2014

Research consultancy Futuresource expects a number of broadcasters to launch 4K channels during 2014. Test transmissions from the likes of SES Astra could start showcasing the technology in 2013. Futuresource’s forecasts suggest that by 2020, the sale of 4K-equipped receivers could amount to some 15 per cent of the overall TV set market and a […]

November 29, 2012By Chris Forrester

Sky Italia expands on-demand service

Mediaset’s on-demand offer, Premium Play, has surpassed one million users, of which 750,000 are active via an Internet connection. Premium Play, which launched in February 2011, is providing over 3,000 content (including football channels and HD) for subscribers of the pay-TV service Mediaset Premium, at no extra cost. The service has been averaging 10,000 new […]

November 29, 2012From Branislav Pekic in Rome

US: Copyright Alert System delayed to 2013

The US’s Center for Copyright Information (CCI) – a collaborative effort between content creators in the movie and music industries and leading IPSs to help educate the public and deter copyright infringement – has announced that alerts under its Copyright Alert System (CAS) – a system through which ISPs will pass on to their subscribers […]

November 29, 2012By Colin Mann

C4 and Capablue: Second screen ads are the future

Capablue, a specialist in TV Everywhere solutions, has been working with Channel 4 to create a proof of concept that explores the potential of future advertising formats. The interactive advertising application uses the second screen to provide the broadcaster with a more sophisticated and less intrusive way of showing ads and interacting with viewers. Having […]

November 29, 2012