US communications regulators have approved new rules designed to ensure that cable television subscribers who own analogue TV sets will still have access to local broadcast TV channels following the digital switchover in 2009. The FCC voted to endorse rules that require cable operators to continue carrying local broadcast channels that can be viewed on […]

Entriq has confirmed that BSkyB will use its services to support the delivery of pay-per-view television content. The EST (electronic sell-through) service will enable Sky to offer pay-per-view content via its online portfolio. With the Entriq service, customers with a 2Mb or greater broadband connection will be able to download a selection of Sky content, […]

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has backed US telcos, warning regulators against imposing 'net neutrality' rules that would block carriers from charging content providers premium prices to prioritise some web traffic. While the ultimate decision on new regulations rests with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the DoJ's comments represent a blow to content companies […]

The US cable television industry has launched a $200 million (E146m) advertising campaign to assure customers they will still be able programmes after the transition to digital broadcasting. Ad spots open with a graphic that reads: “By law TV stations will end analogue broadcasts on February 17, 2009, and broadcast exclusively in digital.” That will […]

From Sotires Eleftheriou in Paris Numericable, now the sole cable operator in France, made a series of announcements at its “back to work” press conference after the summer, to mark the launch of its optical fibre service. Numericable CEO Philippe Besnier said that cable is now better placed than ADSL operators in terms of both […]

Dutch file-sharing service TorrentSpy has blocked US users from its search engines after a US court made an order requiring the firm to log users’ IP addresses and activity. TorrentSpy said it would rather block users than breach its privacy policy by passing on details.

Qualcomm, developer of wireless technologies, mobile communications group Maxis and ASTRO All Asia Networks, have signed an agreement to conduct a technical trial of Qualcomm's MediaFLO technology in Malaysia. The MediaFLO trial is expected to begin in autumn 2007 and will feature 25 live content channels provided by ASTRO delivered in an 8 MHz UHF […]

Unitymedia, the Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia cable operator, is recording strong sales for its broadband and TV offerings: Around 550,000 cable customers already watch digital TV, 200,000 take Internet via cable and 120,000 customers make German fixed line calls from Unitymedia. It now claims to be the leading triple play provider in Germany.

RRSat Global Communications Network announced that it has signed an agreement with Loral Skynet to offer distribution of video content to the Asian Market via a powerful digital platform using Loral Skynet’s Telstar 10 satellite. Through the multiplexed content delivery platform, RRSat customers will gain access to over 80 million cable households across 33 countries […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid Spain’s ONO has reshuffled its pay-TV offer with the addition of new pay-TV packages and broadband Internet access with a speed of up to 25 Megabytes, being the first company in the country with such a capacity. Its three new pay-TV packages are Esencial (Essential), with more than 40 […]