David Scott, Chief Executive of Digital UK, has been awarded a knighthood for services to digital switchover in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Saying he was “honoured” to receive the recognition, Scott added that delivering switchover required the collaboration of many individuals and organisations, all of whom deserved to share in the credit. Before becoming Chief Executive in 2008, Scott represented [...]
Global pay-tv households will reach nearly 1 billion by 2018, up from 772 million in 2012 and 814 million in 2013. According to the Digital TV World Household Forecasts report, the Asia Pacific region will contribute 59 per cent (587 million) of the global total by 2018. Based on forecasts for 97 countries by Digital TV Research, China will have [...]
In its Q1 Cross Platform Report Nielsen says that, despite a small dip on last year, traditional live TV remains dominant while streaming and mobile video use is growing but still small in comparison. “Still vibrant, traditional TV is thriving as viewers continue to go to their sets for entertainment and information that appeals to them. In fact, traditional TV [...]
Live TV continues to drive the video consumption market in the UK despite the availability of VoD services, according to research from video solutions specialist QuickPlay Media. Regardless of device used for viewing, more than four in ten (42 per cent) consumers still only watch live content compared to only 28 per cent and 29 per cent of those questioned [...]
Digital UK, the body that led the successful implementation of digital TV switchover (DSO) from 2008-2012, has appointed Jonathan Thompson as its new Chief Executive. He succeeds David Scott, Digital UK’s current CEO, who announced in May 2013 that he was stepping down from the role. Thompson will oversee Digital UK’s transition to leading developments on the Freeview platform and [...]
ABS-CBN of the Philippines has raised 2.5 billion Philippines Pesos (about $60 million) for digital TV expansion. The cash is part of a larger plan, totalling P4 billion (about $95 million), with P1.5 billion of the cash coming from a sister company of current owners the Lopez Group. However, P2.5 billion will come from a new investor in the form [...]
Serbia, despite receiving millions of euros in EU help, has failed to start the process of converting the nation’s analogue transmissions to digital terrestrial TV (DTT). A strongly-worded letter has been sent by the head of an EU delegation to Serbia, following a visit, criticising the long overdue implementation of DTT. And the EU might demand the cash be returned. [...]
The number of pay-TV subscribers in Western Europe increased by 1 million in 2012 to 94.1 million, and will climb by another million in 2013, according to a report from Digital TV Research. This comes despite pay-TV subscriptions falling in Italy (down by 482,000) and Spain (down by 350,000) in 2012. Italy and Spain will experience further falls in 2013, [...]
Malaysia’s Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has picked three potential bidders to create the nation’s digital terrestrial TV system. The shortlisted bidders, drawn from 8 initial applicants, are: i-Media Broadcasting Solutions, Puncak Semangat, and Redtone Network – and each have submitted final proposed business plans. The MCMC regulator will announce the winning bidder in the fourth quarter of this year. [...]
Romania’s broadcasting landscape has shifted with the launch of Freesat, a new TV platform available from the Eutelsat 16A satellite. Freesat is a DTH platform of Standard Digital and High Definition channels available for a yearly subscription of only 99 lei (€23) and a one-off investment in a conditional access smartcard. It assembles Romania’s most popular public and private TV [...]
