The Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) has expressed its support and solidarity to all those in the European Audiovisual sector and beyond who are mobilised to face the current crisis. “As European broadcasters, we are continually looking for ways to support the communities we serve; providing accurate and trusted news and information, bringing […]
Would-be satellite constellation operator OneWeb is looking for the UK government to provide it with a rescue loan. OneWeb Global has also secured $75 million of fresh cash from its main backer, Japan’s SoftBank despite SoftBank’s own loss-making situation. SoftBank on April 13th reported losses of $12.5 billion overall, and that its ‘Vision Fund’ subsidiary […]
Unconfirmed reports, sourced from financial analyst and data company Debtwire, suggest that Intelsat might be exploring relocation cost financing, and that the company’s unsecured bond-holders have hired a law firm. The news prompted a 57 per cent rise in Intelsat’s share price on April 8th, to $1.65 (from $1.05) and at one point during the […]
ITV is partnering with NHS Charities Together as the official broadcast media partner on a new appeal urging viewers to donate to the NHS and send messages of support to their staff. The NHS Charities Together Million Claps Appeal is asking anyone who can afford it to make a £5 donation, alongside a personalised message […]
Liberty Global has announced the formation of a new Liberty Global Response Fund intended to help employees and their families who have been significantly affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The programme will be funded initially by Liberty’s executive leadership team and board of directors who will donate $2 million out of their remaining 2020 salaries […]
Netflix and Audiens – the social protection group of the French cultural sector – in agreement with the Minister of Culture represented by the CNC, have announced the creation of a new Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund to help the hardest hit workers in the television and cinema industry due to the near […]
Jack Dorsey, the founder of social media platform Twitter and payment app Square, has said he will donate $1 billion towards efforts to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Dorsey, who made the announcement (naturally) on Twitter, the donation represents approximately 28 per cent of his total wealth. Dorsey will use shares he owns in […]
ITV’s Director of Television, Kevin Lygo, has announced the creation of a £500,000 (€570,000) development fund targeted at the independent sector to help producers during the crisis. The fund is designed to accelerate the search for new ideas and content for the channel to play in the later part of 2020 and in 2021. Lygo […]
OneWeb’s lawyers told a New York bankruptcy court (by telephone) on March 31st that it is looking to sell its international satellite spectrum licences within the next three months. The hearing was the first in what is likely to be a long journey for OneWeb. Bloomberg News says that OneWeb is negotiating for a loan […]
BBC local radio is teaming up with manufacturers, retailers and a loneliness charity to offer free DAB radios to the most vulnerable people aged over 70. It comes as millions of people are forced to stay in their homes and isolate from their friends and families because of the Coronavirus outbreak. Radio is a vital […]