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YouView launches, Now TV on board

Following much-criticised delays, open IPTV platform YouView has finally launched, with confirmation that Humax-produced set-top boxes will be available via UK retail outlets towards the end of July at a cost of £299. YouView CEO Richard Halton revealed that Sky’s online service NOW TV would be a content partner. Describing the launch as “a great […]

July 4, 2012By Colin Mann

BT final ISP to block Pirate Bay

BT has become the UK’s final major Internet service provider to block The Pirate Bay, following a high court order for ISPs to censor the torrent-sharing site. In April 2012, the British High Court forced six major providers to block access to the website. BT asked for more time to respond to the court order, […]

June 21, 2012

Sky’s Darcey: NOW TV may be on YouView

Mike Darcey, BSkyB’s COO, has admitted the pay-TV operator’s planned OTT service ‘Now TV’ could be carried on open IPTV platform YouView, scheduled for launch later in the summer of 2012. Although BSkyB had expressed concern that public money had been used to support a project for which he felt the market should determine a […]

June 20, 2012By Colin Mann

Analyst firm: Broadband growth key for BSkyB

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics – Service Provider Quarterly Recap and Guidance: BSkyB (BSY): CYQ1’12 – BSkyB followed up on a strong CYQ4’11 by adding an impressive 212,000 broadband subscribers in the first quarter of 2012. At the same time, the company added only 15,000 new pay-TV subscribers. This marks a new […]

June 15, 2012

UK Government reveals Communications Review next steps

The UK Government has outlined the next stages in its review of communications policy. The announcement follows recent speculation that the process was being delayed as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the position of Media Secretary Jeremy Hunt, whose continuation the post had been called into question amid suggestions that he had expressed support […]

June 7, 2012By Colin Mann

O2 and Be join Pirate Bay blackout

O2 and Be Broadband are the latest UK ISPs to block The Pirate Bay. Be Broadband has already started blocking access to the bittorrent tracker, with O2, which owns Be’s network, starting its blocking measures today. O2 and Be Broadband, along with BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Everything Everywhere were issued a court order […]

June 7, 2012

Kroes reveals neutrality consultations

EU Commission VP Neelie Kroes has revealed plans to create new recommendations on net neutrality for ISPs. Kroes said she still wants to provide consumers with more transparency and choice in their Internet services. She plans three recommendations: for ISPs to provide clear information on actual, ‘real-life’ broadband speeds, more detailed information on limits to […]

May 30, 2012

Virgin Media first to block Pirate Bay

Virgin Media, the UK’s second-largest broadband provider, has become the first to block access to The Pirate Bay file sharing website after a High Court order. Virgin Media was one of five major broadband firms ordered to block the website on Monday after an application to the High Court by the BPI, a record industry […]

May 3, 2012

Sky claims triple play crown

Announcing its Q3 results, Sky says it is the nation’s favourite digital TV, broadband and home phone provider. Following a record quarter of growth, more than 3.2 million Sky homes now take the ‘triple play’ of services from Sky, equating to around a third of all Sky homes. Since launching in 2006, the success of […]

May 2, 2012

Court ‘bans’ Pirate Bay

The UK High Court has ruled that Pirate Bay must be blocked by UK Internet service providers. Sky, Everything Everywhere, TalkTalk, O2 and Virgin Media must all prevent their users from accessing the Swedish download directory site. “Sites like The Pirate Bay destroy jobs in the UK and undermine investment in new British artists,” BPI’s […]

May 1, 2012