Advanced Television

Broadcast

AT&T writes down $15bn on pay-TV

AT&T has posted a $13.9 billion (€11.5bn) loss in the fourth quarter, as the owner of Warner Bros and HBO took a big Covid-19 hit with $650 million in charges. But this is dwarfed by the group’s decision to accept a $15.5 billion charge on its pay-TV business, as subscribers cut the cord. The only […]

January 27, 2021

UK increasingly attracted to AVoD

A report from digital ad verification specialist Integral Ad Science (IAS), suggests that consumer preference is shifting to ad-supported streaming content. The report, UK Streaming Wars, provides insights into UK consumer use and preferences for Connected TV (CTV) devices and ad-supported streaming services, and comes in the wake of stay-at-home orders around the globe in […]

January 27, 2021

Italy: discovery+ launches on TIMvision

discovery+ is now available to TIMvision’s subscribers in Italy. The streaming service from Discovery gives access range of entertainment, lifestyle, true crime, nature and adventure programming. The discovery+ offer is part of a broader renewal which also covers Nove, Real Time, DMAX, Giallo, Food, HGTV – Home&Garden, MotorTrend, Frisbee and K2, and the platform also […]

January 27, 2021

Big brands skip Super Bowl advertising

A number of big brands, including Coke, Hyundai, Budweiser and Pepsi, will not advertise their products during this year’s Super Bowl. Ad firms say the pandemic has made finding the right message difficult – a problem also further stoked by ongoing racial and political upheaval. Other firms are struggling with financial hits caused by the […]

January 27, 2021By Nik Roseveare

ITV Hub sees January viewing surge

The ITV Hub has exceeded its targets for January 2021 across both consumption hours and monthly active users, owing to a strong New Year schedule dominated by new drama and entertainment. The AVoD platform has seen its consumption hours rise by over 50 per cent above its estimations for January, while monthly active users have […]

January 27, 2021

EBU ‘trusted news’ initiative

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has unveiled what it describes as a “pioneering” online initiative that will enable public service media to transcend language barriers and offer their audiences trusted news content produced by counterparts from across Europe. This multilingual content will provide a pan-European perspective on issues of key interest to national audiences such […]

January 27, 2021By Colin Mann

RTL Group ups guidance

RTL Group has generated an Adjusted EBITA of around €850 million in 2020 (2019: €1.156 billion), according to preliminary and unaudited figures. This significantly exceeds the previous guidance for the full-year Adjusted EBITA of around €720 million and the current analysts’ consensus. With TV advertising markets in Europe performing significantly better than previously expected in […]

January 27, 2021

Hulu, Peacock to share Modern Family

Disney has announced that hit sitcom Modern Family will be available to both Hulu and Peacock subscribers in the US from February 3rd. As part of the multi-year shared agreement with Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, both Hulu and Peacock will be the dedicated subscription streaming homes to all 11 seasons of Modern Family. It […]

January 27, 2021

DistroTV now home to 150+ channels

AVoD service DistroTV is now home to more than 150 live streaming channels, which it says marks the network’s emergence as the largest, independent, free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform on the market. DistroTV operates under parent company DistroScale and caters its growing, multicultural content line-up to a diverse range of viewers in the UK, […]

January 27, 2021

Belgium: Telenet adds Play Sports Open channel

Telenet is adding a new, linear sports channel to its basic offering. The new Play Sports Open channel will offer all Telenet TV customers a selection of matches from different Play Sports competitions, including Premier League football, European League, Eredivisie, ATP and WTA Tennis, Belgian Hockey and Basketball, Cyclo-cross, Formula 1 and MXGP. Play Sports […]

January 27, 2021By Nik Roseveare