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Virgin rethinks TV sale, again

Virgin Media's attempt to sell its wholly-owned television channels has been called to a halt following an initial review in October and it now seems certain Virgin will try and package up a deal to sell its owned stations and its half of the UKTV joint venture. The company's advisors have valued its channels – […]

November 16, 2009

Widevine raises cash

Widevine Technologies has raised a fresh round of capital. Chief Executive Brian Baker said he plans to announce the financing and details of a strategic partnership with a large customer in the coming weeks. A Securities and Exchange Filing indicated that Widevine had raised over $7 million.

November 16, 2009

Sky set to lose cricket's 'Crown Jewel'?

From Colin Mann in London UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB may no longer have sole rights to show cricket's 'Ashes' series between England and Australia when the matches are played in the UK, according to the findings of an independent review Panel into the future of listed sporting events, which suggested that these be added to […]

November 13, 2009

Kudelski completes takeover of OpenTV

Digital TV company Kudelski has purchased approximately 60 per cent of the shares in OpenTV Corp it had not already owned for $1.55 a share, taking its voting rights to 91 per cent. In February, Kudelski had proposed buying the remainder of OpenTV’s shares for $1.35 per share, but withdrew that bid in June after […]

November 13, 2009

Disney wants pay TV Everywhere

Speaking on the company's fourth quarter earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger outlined his his disagreements with TV Everywhere. "What we've heard suggests that interest in charging the consumer for greater access isn't a priority and we think it should be," he added that, "if we go to a world of authentication we shouldn't be […]

November 13, 2009

Xbox pirates 'must buy new box'

Thousands of Xbox 360 owners who have been cut off from Microsoft’s Xbox Live service will have to buy a new console if they want to play online again, though modified consoles will still work offline. Microsoft says offenders machines will be permanently barred and “unable to connect to Xbox Live”. Microsoft has barred as […]

November 13, 2009

SARFT to establish copyright watchdog

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) plans to establish an organisation to supervise the new media industry, with a particular focus on evaluating new media content “transaction prices” and the “tort value” in copyright infringement cases. At the beginning of November, SARFT’s legal department sent a task force to China Central Television […]

November 13, 2009

ITV and Hulu content and equity deal?

ITV and Hulu are to sign a deal allowing the platform to distribute full-length ITV shows- some exclusively. As part of the deal ITV will gain an equity stake in Hulu UK, understood to be about 25%. Hulu’s parent company is owned equally by Disney, NBC Universal, Providence Equity and News Corp. ITV is the […]

November 13, 2009

Sony movie release goes to connected TV before DVD

Sony will make its new animated hit "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" available to viewers directly through Internet-enabled televisions and Blu-ray players before the movie is released on DVD. With the decline in DVD sales, down as much as 25 percent at some studios, finding new ways to distribute movies has become a necessity […]

November 13, 2009

Dish tries to trademark ‘TV Everywhere’

Dish Network has filed for trademark protection on “TV Everywhere,” which the satellite operator plans to use for its forthcoming Slingbox-enabled set-top box. Dish filed the “TV Everywhere” trademark application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Among other things, the filing covers “television transmission services” as well as “providing access to electronic sites for […]

November 13, 2009