Advanced Television

57% of DTR owners regularly time-shift their viewing

Top Up TV has revealed the results of a customer survey that revealed 57 per cent of its customers regularly use their Digital Television Recorder (DTR) to time-shift more than 50 per cent of the programmes they watch. “Our customers are time-shifting more than ever before… People want their TV viewing to fit in with […]

November 7, 2007

Microsoft signs $500m IPTV deal with Reliance

Microsoft has entered into a $500 million (E345m) with Reliance to launch IPTV and allied services in India. The IPTV service will be launched in Mumbai and Delhi by March 2008, to be followed gradually by other metros. CEO Microsoft Steve Ballmer said: “Reliance is about to change the way consumers experience television. TV is […]

November 6, 2007

RAI and Mediaset to provide digital frequencies

From Branislav Pekic in Rome Italy’s communications regulator, AGCOM, has recommended that public broadcaster RAI and commercial rival Mediaset should make available 40 per cent of the capacity on their digital multiplexes to smaller broadcasters and new operators. AGCOM has also established that independent media groups, and national operators that need to extend digital coverage […]

November 6, 2007

BSkyB sets repeats bar

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has increased the minimum amount of new programming which must be broadcast by channels on its Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). In a letter to broadcasters, BSkyB said that from 1 July 2008, it would “only provide an EPG listing to television channels and radio stations which broadcast no less than 6 hours […]

November 6, 2007

Swisscom to shut down Betty TV

Swisscom AG is to shut down its interactive television operation Betty TV in Switzerland. ‘The results from Betty TV (Switzerland) were significantly below our expectations,’ said spokesman Carsten Roetz in an interview. Betty TV gained 10,000 customers in Switzerland and 100,000 in Germany since its launch last June. But Swisscom had produced 300,000 devices for […]

November 6, 2007

US TV writers strike over web revenue

Film and TV writers are to stage their first strike for two decades, after last-minute talks failed. The WGA wants writers to receive a slice of the additional advertising revenue that studios make when TV shows are streamed over the Internet. It also wants an additional reward for creating bespoke digital content for the Internet […]

November 6, 2007

Alcatel-Lucent and Voda Portugal demo Mobile TV

Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Portugal have demonstrated for the first time in Portugal the Unlimited Mobile TV solution based on DVB-SH technology. The live broadcast Mobile TV demonstration, based on the DVB-SH standard, uses the S-Band frequency spectrum. The demonstration enabled representatives of the Portuguese Government and of the broadcast, telecom and media sectors to watch […]

November 6, 2007

Murdoch senior: Sky's remarkable story

Sky Chairman Rupert Murdoch offered BSkyB shareholders a vindication of his company’s 18 years in business by declaring it would relish the competition brought by changes in the media landscape. Murdoch told investors at the company’s annual general meeting that the satellite broadcaster’s history since launching 18 years ago had been “a remarkable story,” with […]

November 6, 2007

Murdoch junior: Sky+ exceptional

Satellite giant BSkyB won more new customers than anticipated in its first quarter but saw pre-tax profits fall to £121 million (E174m) in the three months to 30 September compared with £166 million last year. Revenue went up by 11 per cent on the comparable period to £1,185 million. The company said it had 939,000 […]

November 6, 2007

Tele 5 performs well; Antena 3 TV, so-so

From David Del Valle in Madrid Third quarter results for Tele 5 has reaffirmed the Mediaset-controlled channel as the most profitable in Spain, both in audience ratings and in profits. The company made a net profit of E262.8 million until September, 14.6 per cent more than the same period last year. Total revenues rose 10.0 […]

November 6, 2007