Starz Play, the on-demand video streaming service available in 19 countries across the MENA region, has announced an agreement with 20th Century Fox Television Distribution to provide its movies and series to the service’s subscribers. Khaled Benchouche, SVP of Programming & Acquisition at Starz Play, commented: “We are delighted to be working with 20th Century […]
Struggling music streaming service Pandora is laying off 7 per cent of its staff. The decision to downsize is said to be direct result of the failure of a buy-out of Pandora by pay-radio broadcaster SiriusXM. “Making workforce reductions is always a difficult decision,” Pandora CEO Tim Westergren said. “But the commitment to cost discipline […]
Shaw Communications has unveiled Shaw BlueSky TV, a new premium television product for Canadians. “Powered by Comcast’s next generation X1 platform, Shaw BlueSky TV leverages the strength of our network to make this new television experience possible for Shaw customers,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications. “We are proud to be the first in […]
According to research and knowledge-based consulting company Futuresource Consulting, announcements of global roll-outs in the video space at the start of 2016 and 2017 respectively by Netflix and Amazon are indicative of
Reports have emerged in the Israeli business press that senior executives at MX1 (the former RR Media) have been accused of allegedly “swindling…and acting utterly illegally and in complete violation of agreements they signed” when the business was acquired by satellite operator SES. The then NASDAQ-listed RR Media was acquired by SES in 2016 (the […]
France’s Canal+ Group is to broadcast a match in Ultra HD from the country’s leading football league – Ligue 1 – from the end of January at 21hrs and every Sunday thereafter. The first such fixture is PSG-Monaco on January 29. Canal+ has decided to launch production of matches in Ligue 1 in collaboration with […]
From a nail-biter World Series matchup and breathtaking Summer Olympics Games to some of the highest-rated political debates in history, 2016 provided no shortage of must-watch television. To provide insights about consumer television viewing activity, cable MSO Altice USA has released its first Altice USA Data Flash Review, which analysed 2016 viewing trends of its […]
A major study of Europe’s media stocks from equity analysts at Berenberg Bank includes a close look at the prospects for the satellite sector. Included in the report are detailed examinations for Europe’s two major satellite operators, SES and Eutelsat. The report says that new US President Donald Trump could be good news for satellite […]
Satellite operator SES is saving €60 million annually in debt interest repayments having successfully refinanced $1.3 billion of debt inherited when it fully acquired O3b last year. Since acquiring the remaining shares in O3b, SES has refinanced the entire $1.4 billion of gross debt at a materially lower average funding rate. This will deliver a […]
Italy’s third largest broadcaster Discovery Italia closed 2016 with advertising sales of €200 million, up 14 per cent over the previous year. There were good news on the audience rating front as well. In November (the latest figures available), the average share in the 24 hours was 6.69 per cent and 5.65 per cent in […]