Advanced Television

Ofcom submits BSkyB report

As the 2010 working year drew to a close, it emerged that a report looking at whether News Corp’s proposed acquisition of the 61 per cent of BSkyB it does not already own would give the media group too much media power, was sent to the British government without being made public. The UK government […]

December 31, 2010by Colin Mann

Research: Connected TV satisfies

Consumers are using the connected features of their connected TVs and say that they are pleased with the results, according to The NPD Group. The research firm’s Connected TV Owner Study reveals that nearly half of US consumers (45 per cent) who say they have an Internet-connected TV, access Internet features. Of those who have […]

December 30, 2010

Sears and Kmart launch day and date download service

Sonic Solutions’ RoxioNow platform licensee, Sears, has launched its online movie download service, Alphaline Entertainment. The new service enables the US retail giant and its Kmart customers to download entertainment online, including new movies on the same day they are released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Sonic is working with Sears on a multi-phase rollout […]

December 29, 2010

Du eyes 3DTV service

UAE-based telco du is planning­­ to be among the first companies in the Middle East to provide its customers a 3D TV viewing experience. The company has confirmed that its video-on-demand service is now 3D-capable and has started airing its first 3D content. Du has struck a deal with the UK’s On Demand Group to […]

December 29, 2010

Poll: News Corp/BSkyB investigation called for

The proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation should be subject to an independent investigation, according to an ICM poll. The results revealed that 63 per cent of respondents support an independent probe into News Corp’s plans to acquire the 61 per cent stake it doesn’t already own. The ICM survey was commissioned by telco […]

December 27, 2010by Colin Mann

Technicolor in Grass Valley transmission disposal

French technology and media services company Technicolor has received a binding offer from Parter Capital Group, a private equity investment consultancy firm based in Germany, to acquire its transmission business, operating under the Thomson Broadcast brand. The offer values the Transmission business for a non-material amount. As announced early 2010, a range of former Grass […]

December 26, 2010

Technicolor in Grass Valley transmission disposal

French technology and media services company Technicolor has received a binding offer from Parter Capital Group, a private equity investment consultancy firm based in Germany, to acquire its transmission business, operating under the Thomson Broadcast brand. The offer values the Transmission business for a non-material amount. As announced early 2010, a range of former Grass […]

December 24, 2010

Comcast-NBC merger on course for January approval

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has revealed that he will vote to approve the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal as long as certain conditions are met. Julius Genachowski December 23 issued a draft order of approval for the merger on the condition that the companies promise to share TV shows not […]

December 24, 2010by Colin Mann

Pause for Comcast-NBCU deal

The proposed deal to merge NBCU and Comcast is now no longer expected to close before the end of the year. NBCU head Jeffrey Zucker distributed a holiday-greetings memo to employees saying that the companies expect a “green light” for the deal in January, and Comcast confirmed the new timetable Wednesday 22 December. Both companies […]

December 23, 2010by Colin Mann

News Corp gets EC merger approval

As anticipated, the European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. The Commission’s findings concern solely the competition aspects of the proposed […]

December 22, 2010by Colin Mann