UK Media regulator Ofcom has revealed proposals for a significant upgrade of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) that will offer more channels and new services. The proposed upgrade will create capacity allowing high definition television channels on DTT – on which Freeview operates – as early as 2009. It says the proposals would deliver significant benefits […]
Wall Street rumours about a potential takeover of the second-biggest US satellite operator have abounded, peaking this week with TheStreet.com saying AT&T was preparing a takeover bid worth as much as $26 billion (E17.5m) and that both companies have been in talks. The reports sent Echostar's share price, depressed by recent disappointing quarterly results, soaring. […]
Ericsson, the Swedish telco supplier, lost another 11 per cent market value on Tuesday after it told an investors fourth-quarter earnings would come in at the lower end of expectations. It issued a shock profit warning last month. That warning wiped out a quarter of the Swedish company's market capitalisation – about $15 billion (E10.1) […]
Warner Bros is to launch its own channel, branded Warner TV, on Virgin Media and BT Vision’s on-demand service. The channel, which is the UK’s first devoted to TV series from a single studio, will feature popular US imports such as The West Wing and Nip/Tuck. Warner TV will be available for a £5-a-month (E7.25) […]
EchoStar's DISH Network has launched two interactive television applications for the ESPN and Disney Channel cable channels. Available content includes scores, headlines, TV listings and interactive advertising for ESPN and games, show information and listings, and a digital video recorder for Disney Channel. Disney touted the applications as a way for advertisers to reach a […]
ROK Entertainment Group, the UK-based mobile technologies company, has acquired a 51 per cent controlling interest in Los Angeles-based Fun Little Movies (FLM) for a combination of cash and shares in the company. Under the terms of the agreement, ROK and FLM will jointly offer made-for-mobile content, such as comedy short films, to network operators […]
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five announced that they have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding that, if agreed, would deliver High Definition (HD) channels on Freeview by the projected completion of Digital Switchover in 2012. Potentially from late-2009/2010, BBC HD (see below), ITV HD and Channel 4 HD could all be available on […]
Research has revealed how the European TV-based video-on-demand and pay-per-view markets will develop over the next five years. From a low penetration of just under 8 per cent today, Screen Digest predict that by 2011 over 20 per cent of Western European households will have true video-on-demand (VoD), a 30 per cent growth on current […]
24 Republicans politicians plan to write to FCC chair Kevin Martin, criticising him for a “misguided and harmful” proposal that would give the FCC more authority to regulate the cable industry. They call the Martin proposal “inappropriate at best and contradicts the statute at worst,” according to the letter, which was signed by all but […]
Freeview has confirmed that it is in 14 million UK homes, reinforcing its position as the most popular Digital TV Service. According to Ofcom's latest figures over 80 per cent of people moving away from analogue are opting to buy a Freeview digital box or a digital TV with Freeview built-in.