Red Bee Media has joined the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECC), a multinational cross-industry coalition dedicated to establishing the first open market for digital content distribution. Red Bee Media represents international broadcasters and advertisers across TV, web and mobile such as Discovery International, BBC, Channel 4, Virgin Media, UKTV, Nike, Canal+, Lonely Planet, and Action […]
Altech UEC, the South African developer of digital STBs and interactive software solutions announced the appointment of Peter Balchin as Chief Executive Officer. Balchin previously worked with organisations such as Pace Networks, Novatel Wireless and Nortel Networks in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Altech Group Chief Executive Officer, Craig Venter said […]
The US Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, is trying to impose strong conditions on the Comcast/NBCU deal, including that it divest its stake in online video site Hulu within a year. The committee has written to the FCC saying the proposed joint venture “has the potential for serious anticompetitive and anti-consumer effects in at least three […]
Alongside rowing over wholesale pricing of Sky premium programming on its cablenets, Virgin and Sky have managed to drag long running negotiations on the sale of Virgin's TV channels to a conclusion with a deal expected next week. Virgin has been trying to off load its V1, Bravo, Challenge and Living portfolio for a long […]
In its public response to the BBC Trust's consultation on the BBC Strategic Review, BSkyB has accused the Trust of abdicating its responsibility by letting the BBC executive lead the review. It says the changes they have signalled are 'cosmetic' and 'tinkering'. Sky said that the corporation’s cost cutting proposals are “arbitrary in nature, designed […]
From Branislav Pekic in Rome Italian alternative network providers Fastweb, Vodafone Italia and Wind have asked the country's regulator Agcom to introduce an obligatory switch-off, from copper to fibre, based on ASO. According to the managing director of Wind, Luigi Gubitosi, the companies “need fast decisions on a clear framework in which to operate”. Their […]
From Branislav Pekic in Rome Tivuitalia, a company controlled by Italian broadcast equipment manufacturer Screen Service Broadcasting Technologies (SSBT), has become the country's latest DTT network operator. The group has filed with the national regulator AgCom a “declaration of commencement of activities” as a national TV multiplex operator. Tivuitalia will be a network provider for […]
The BBC has unveiled the latest version of the iPlayer service – a customisable upgrade that includes links with Facebook and Twitter allowing users to share content via the social media networks. Other broadcasters including ITV, Channel 4 and Five will also benefit from iPlayer’s traffic for the first time, with the service offering links […]
KidsCo, the international children's channel, has secured a partnership agreement with Ukrainian distribution agency, Visit Agency, to represent the channel across the Ukraine. Visit Agency will represent KidsCo in the Ukraine, administrate cable agreements and distribute the channel among local cable operators with a view to expand into HD, VOD and IPTV markets.
Sony continue to try to make their PlayStation 3 the home entertainment console of choice, after reaching agreement with Time Warner to host episodes from 11 different HBO series. Big Love, Curb Your Enthusiasm, True Blood and Entourage are understood to be four of those prime cuts, and the deal means that PlayStation 3 users […]