BT Vision Download Store is trailing the launch of a new service that offers customers free film rental in return for watching targeted advertisements. BT Vision, Hiro Media, Intel Corporation and FremantleMedia Enterprises will collaborate on a three-month trial offering Download Store customers three films, Mischief Night, Played and The Punk Rock Movie, at no […]
Fox Entertainment Group has purchased Beliefnet, a Web site on spirituality and faith, as part of its Internet expansion. Founded in 1999, Beliefnet, which offers everything from message boards, news and blogs to e-mail newsletters and social networks, attracts more than 3.1 million unique monthly visitors and 7.6 million subscribers, according to its Web site. […]
The BBC iPlayer will become fully available to consumers on Christmas Day. The internet-based catch-up TV service has been in beta operation. Downloads will be available for PC and streaming for Macs. Downloading for Macs is expected early in 2008.
MTV Italia, the Italian affiliate of international media powerhouse MTV, has purchased a range of Digital Rapids DRC-Stream media encoding and streaming solutions. The Digital Rapids hardware and software combinations were selected by MTV Italia for encoding and streaming live content on QOOB TV, MTV Italia's interactive website. QOOB TV explores new ways of producing […]
The US Federal Communications Commission is being investigated by the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight, prompted by criticisms of the FCC’s processes and what one official described as a “breakdown in proper procedure.” The committee informed FCC chairman Kevin Martin and the other commissioners of concerns saying that it wanted the chairman to […]
From David Del Valle in Madrid Spain’s largest cable company ONO leads the pay-TV audience ratings with an average share of 7.11 per centin November, well ahead of the digital DTH platform Digital Plus, with 3.95 per cent, Telefonica’s Imagenio and other cable operators, with 5.64 per cent, according to TNS Sofres. The most widely […]
Microsoft will allow UK gamers to purchase films through its Xbox 360 console from next week, as the console moves to compete with online download stores. The Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store will initially offer 40 popular film titles in standard and high definition. Users will pay between £2 (E2.9) and £4.50 for each film […]
Bertelsmann is considering taking full control of RTL Group, Europe's largest broadcaster. Bertelsmann confirmed a WSJ report that it was possible it would make an offer for the 10.2 per cent of RTL it does not already own, but cautioned that this had yet to be approved by its supervisory and management boards. Buying the […]
Irdeto announced it has acquired 100 per cent of Cloakware, a privately held software company based in Virginia, USA and Ottawa, Canada. Graham Kill, CEO of Irdeto said: “This acquisition strengthens our existing content security offering, broadens Irdeto's reach across the entire content lifecycle and vertically expands our offering into new markets.” Cloakware's technology, which […]
NBC, as promised, removed all its content and that of its affiliates from the iTunes Store after its contract with Apple expired. Meanwhile News Corp was reportedly “actively negotiating” with Apple to put new releases and catalogue titles on iTunes beginning in early 2008 amid speculation Apple will relent on fixed pricing. NBC has switched […]