Advanced Television

Pay TV

Portugal pay-TV subs at 3.6m

Portugal ended the third quarter of 2016 with more than 3.63 million pay-TV subscribers, representing a growth of 44,000 customers (+1.2 per cent) on the previous quarter and 159,000 (+4.6 per cent) more than one year earlier, according to stats from Anacom, Portugal’s National Communications Authority. Growth was driven by fibre optic offerings (FTTH/FTTB), whose […]

December 20, 2016From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Vivendi eyes 30% Mediaset stake

Despite having earlier intimated that its intentions were limited to securing a 20 per cent stake in Italian broadcaster Mediaset, French media group Vivendi is ramping up its negotiating position relative to the disagreement between the two parties following a failed pay-TV cooperation. Vivendi has confirmed that its Management Board met has decided, with the […]

December 20, 2016By Colin Mann

Report: Pay-TV continuing slower growth

The latest issue of the informitv Multiscreen Index of 100 leading pay-TV service providers worldwide shows a total quarterly increase of 3.45 million subscribers, up by 0.80 per cent over the third quarter of 2016, compared to 3.74 million or

December 19, 2016

Red tape ahead for Fox, Sky bid

Some British politicians are calling for 21st Century Fox’s bid for Sky to be blocked – and not just delayed, but completely thrown out. Former Labour party leader Ed Milliband and senior Liberal Democrat figure Vince Cable (a former UK business minister in the Cameron government) are saying that little has changed since a 2012 […]

December 19, 2016

Rogers, Comcast partner for next-gen IPTV

In a move that sees it abandon its in-house IPTV product development, Canadian communications and media company Rogers Communications has agreed a long-term strategic partnership with US cable MSO Comcast to bring Rogers customers a best-in-class video experience by deploying Comcast’s X1 IP-based video platform. This agreement builds on Rogers’ Internet leadership and furthers its […]

December 19, 2016

European agreement on 700 MHz usage

The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have agreed on how to coordinate the use of the 700 MHz band to bring mobile Internet services to all Europeans and new applications across borders, thus facilitating the introduction of 5G as of 2020. Frequencies in the sub-700 MHz band will remain available, as a priority, […]

December 16, 2016

Italy: TV market grows by 5% in 2016

The TV market in Italy has shown signs of recovery in 2016 that calls to an end the period of deep structural crisis that affected the sector, according to a report by Rome-based ITMedia Consulting. Total market growth amounted to €404 million, growing at a rate of over 5 per cent compared to 2015. Advertising […]

December 16, 2016From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Fox, Sky agree deal

Less than a week after the pair confirmed that an offer had been made, Twenty-First Century Fox has reached an agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer by 21st Century Fox for the fully diluted share capital of Sky which 21st Century Fox and its affiliates do not already […]

December 15, 2016

Analyst: SVoD not cannibalising UK pay-TV

Findings from consultancy firm Decipher suggest that pay-TV subscriptions in the UK have not only increased since 2012, but SVoD subscriptions are growing faster amongst Pay homes – and in particular those with Top Tier packages – than any other. Decipher’s latest Mediabug report has

December 15, 2016

Ofcom prepares ground for BBC regulation

UK comms regulator Ofcom has published several consultations in preparation for regulating the BBC. This follows the publication earlier on December 15th of the final BBC Royal Charter, which details how the BBC will operate in the new Charter period from 2017 to 2027. Broadcasting Code Review This consultation extends all aspects of the Broadcasting […]

December 15, 2016