From Colin Mann in London The UK's Competition Commission has decided to block the proposed video on demand (VOD) joint venture between the BBC through BBC Worldwide Limited (BBCW), ITV plc (ITV) and Channel Four Television Corporation (C4)—UKVOD, also known as 'Project Kangaroo'. It has concluded that none of the other remedies proposed could remove […]

The US Senate has unanimously passed another bill to delay the national transition to digital television. Earlier this week, the Senate passed another bill delaying the DTV transition, but the measure failed in the House of Representatives. The bill is essentially the same that previously passed the Senate, but with a few minor modifications from […]

From Colin Mann in London The UK Government departments responsible for business and media have published a plan aimed at securing Britain's place at the forefront of the global digital economy. The interim report – produced by voluntary Steering Board of industry experts led by Stephen Carter, the Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting – […]

A large percentage of the BBC’s £130 million-a-year (E141m) digital switchover surplus licence fee money is expected to be taken by comms minister Lord Carter to help achieve his goal of getting broadband in every UK home by 2012. It has been reported that the outline of a deal has been reached, although the full […]

The UK’s Intellectual Property minister David Lammy has said the government will not force Internet service providers to pursue file sharers. This despite signals from government they would force ISPs to clamp down Lammy said legislation would be too complex: “We can’t have a system where we’re talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms,” he […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid Spain’s Telecommunications Market Commission (CMT) has freed Telefonica from the obligation of sharing its network with other operators for speeds over 30Mbps. Below that speed, the company will have to offer rivals a wholesale service, whether offered via the copper wire network or its new fibre optic network. It […]

Outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has issued notices of liability against several cable operators for their alleged failure to respond to an agency investigation into the migration of analogue channels to digital tiers. In total, 31 notices were assessed against numerous operations controlled by large cable operators. Those listed in the FCC Enforcement […]

As widely trailed, UK regulator Ofcom has recommended to government that Channel 4 should be underwritten as a PSB broadcaster via a merger or partnership with either BBC World Wide, the commercial exploitation part of the BBC, or Five. It says Channel 4 should receive £130 million (E140m) a year from the BBC Licence Fee […]

In further leaks of Ofcom's forthcoming 'Digital Britain' report, The Sunday Times says the auction of further UHF spectrum freed by switchover could be ditched – instead companies will be given spectrum in return for commitments to invest in broadband access. Dropping the long-planned auction might sacrifice £5bn (E6.3bn) of public income in favour of […]

France's antitrust body is set to investigate exclusive content deals made by ISPs for their IPTV services – a move that could force Orange to open up its IPTV channel offering. The body will review whether deals between ISPs and content producers are anti-competitive, according to France's Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment France has […]