Predictions for 2018: A fool’s errand, so here goes. Everyone says that ‘the people’ have lost faith in their politicians. Who can blame them given the shower we currently have? Our own Brexiteer negotiators show a level of competence that would make you worry about leaving them alone with sharp objects. It is a terrible […]
In line with its objective to simplify the Group’s structure and allocate its capital and resources to its operating businesses, media and entertainment technology specialist Technicolor has confirmed that it is in negotiations for a strategic transaction relating to its patent licensing business. While there is no assurance that a transaction will take place, Technicolor […]
India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has approved the proposed merger between two of the country’s major DTH broadcasters. Official approval was given on December 15th for a scheme that was first mooted back in November 2016. The combined businesses will have more than 29 million subscribers according to their September 30th data. Dish TV […]
Deutsche Telekom AG and Tele2 have reached an agreement under which T-Mobile NL will acquire Tele2’s Dutch business for a combination of cash and shares. The enlarged company will continue to operate as T-Mobile Netherlands and will also use the Tele2 brand in the market. The companies say the transaction will establish “a true customer […]
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is merging with the Media Networking Alliance (MNA) to form a single trade association for promoting IP in the media and entertainment industry. The merger comes after a two-year history of collaboration, and it will enable the organisations to have an even greater impact on the industries they […]
In an move that complements and enhances The Walt Disney Company’s ability to provide consumers around the world with more appealing content and entertainment options, the entertainment giant has agreed to acquire 21st Century Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, along with cable and international TV businesses, for $52.4 billion in stock. Including […]
US mobile telco T-Mobile – which styles itself as the Un-carrier – has unveiled the next phase in its mobile video strategy, planning to enter what it says is the $100+ billion pay-TV market in 2018 with the acquisition of cable TV start-up Layer3 TV, aiming to bring consumers real choice, working with Layer3 TV’s […]
Italian broadcasters and private equity funds are the frontrunners to take over Telecom Italia’s DTT multiplex operator Persidera. According to news agency Radiocor Plus, the companies that are in the due diligence stage will have to present their binding offers by January 15th. It claims that the four likely bidders are the F2i and Clessidra […]
The move by the Walt Disney Co to acquire much of the Murdoch family’s 21st Century Fox movie-to-TV empire very much looks like happening this week. The deal has been valued as costing Disney some $60 billion (€51bn). Comcast dropped out of the rumoured bidding process for Fox on December 10th. Various sources say the […]
Private equity investment house Warburg Pincus has taken a 20 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel’s DTH arm, paying $350 million, the third-largest DTH operator in India. The agreement, signed December 12th, sees the transaction take two parts. The first is to take a 15 per cent stake directly from Bharti Telemedia, the parent of […]