The pay-TV market in the Middle East and North Africa saw record growth in 2016 despite harsh economic conditions, according to new analysis released by critical information, analytics and solutions source IHS Markit. Pay-TV households topped the five million mark for the first time in the region’s history, growing 8 per cent year-on-year. Revenues rose […]
Tough times continue in Eastern Europe, with poor job prospects forcing many to seek work abroad. This migration, married with low birth rates, mean that populations will fall in 15 of the 22 countries covered in Digital TV Research’s Eastern Europe Pay TV Forecasts report between 2016 and 2022. Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital […]
According to market analysis specialist Ampere Analysis, a lot of jargon used to describe what’s happening in the constantly evolving television services market. The latest research from the firm, of 53,000 Internet users across Europe and North America, shows that, far from deserting their pay-TV operators through cord-cutting, viewers are building their own TV bundles […]
Charlie Ergen’s joint-venture in Dish Mexico with billionaire Carlos Slim’s Telmex operation has been hit with a fine by Mexico’s Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) for failing to observe the rules of its DTH concession to operate over Mexico. However, the problem is not likely to ruffle too many feathers. The Telmex fine was for […]
EU Competition Authorities have reportedly given the greenlight for 21st Century Fox to acquire full control of Sky plc. The acquisition, agreed last December, has also been referred to Ofcom by Karen Bradley, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The regulator now has 40 working days to decide whether the bid […]
Lifestyle content developer Scripps Networks Interactive is launching Food Network in Italy. The leading global culinary lifestyle channel will launch on May 8th on free-to-air LCN 33. Food Network is the first dedicated multi-platform food entertainment channel to launch in Italy. “The launch of Food Network in Italy, a key growth market for Scripps Networks […]
MGM is to acquire all of the interests in premium pay-TV network EPIX of fellow partners Viacom, Lionsgate and Paramount for approximately $1.032 billion (€0.970bn), based on a total value for the company of $1.275 billion (inclusive of $75 million of distributions to the partners). Viacom and Lionsgate currently own 49.76 per cent and 31.15 […]
Danish triple-play service provider Stofa has selected digital platform security specialist Irdeto’s Irdeto Cloaked CA to securely deliver content through its upcoming new Android set-top box (STB). With Irdeto’s latest renewable and cardless software security, any form of content delivered to customers will be robustly protected. This will enable Stofa to focus on providing an […]
YouTube is launching its YouTube TV service in five US cities at a cost of $35 (€32.90) a month, which it points out is “less than half the average cost of cable”. Suggesting in a Blog post that it is enabling TV fans to access the channels they care about, at a price they can […]
Spain’s competition watchdog, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC), has started legal proceedings against Mediapro, operator of beIN Sports and beIN LaLiga, over possible anti-competitive practices in the OTT TV market. The investigation has been opened following a complaint by Obwan Networks and Services, which distributes sports content through its OTT […]