Advanced Television

DTH/Satellite

DISH proposes $22.5bn Sprint Nextel merger

DISH Network Corporation has submitted a merger proposal to the Board of Directors of US telco Sprint Nextel Corporation for a total cash and stock consideration of $25.5 billion. According to DISH, the offer “clearly represents” superior value to Sprint shareholders, including greater ownership in a combined company that is better positioned for the future […]

April 15, 2013

Sky hits back in BT Sport ads spat

BSkyB has responded in withering terms to telco BT’s complaint that the satellite broadcaster has refused to screen a TV advertising campaign booked to promote its Premier League and other sports coverage as part of its BT Sport channels, scheduled for launch in July 2013. BT has complained to broadcast and communications regulator Ofcom about […]

April 15, 2013By Colin Mann

SES to launch 4K channels for Europe

The 4K logo was being showcased prominently at this week’s MIPTV programming market in Cannes, where there were three dedicated sessions devoted to encouraging 4K production for TV, and sponsored in part by Sony. SES played an active part in the ‘broadcasters’ panel with Norbert Hoelzle (CCO) speaking alongside the BBC’s Mike Gunton (head of […]

April 10, 2013By Chris Forrester

VTB Capital acquires Tricolor TV stake

Global investment bank VTB Capital has acquired a minority stake in National Satellite Company, the largest Russian satellite TV operator operating under ‘Tricolor TV’ brand. The aim of VTB Capital as a global investment bank and a financial investor is to help Tricolor TV to increase value of its assets and get prepared for an […]

April 10, 2013

Sportitalia channels may close

The future of Sportitalia 1, Sportitalia 2 and Sportitalia 24 is uncertain following the start of bankruptcy proceedings at Interactive, the company that owns the concessions of the Italian thematic TV channels. According to local press the company has changed name to Maroncelli 9 and transferred to EDB Media its assets and employees, however the […]

April 8, 2013From Branislav Pekic in Rome

TRACE adds Turksat distribution

International brand and media group TRACE is celebrating its 10th anniversary by securing carriage deals with leading Turkish operator Turksat for its TRACE Sports and TRACE Urban channels. As part of the deal, HD channels TRACE Sports and TRACE Urban will both be available to customers with Türksat’s ‘Ust Paket’ premium package. An SD version […]

April 8, 2013Colin Mann @ MIPTV

KAON STBs for Brazil

Korea’s  KAON will launch DTH and Hybrid DTH/IP platforms for Brazil’s GVT in 2013. “GVT of Brazil and Kaon have entered into a cooperation with respect to the new advanced Satellite(DTH) and Hybrid DTH/IP platforms to be launched in accordance with new GVT service offerings in Brazil. First products will hit the market during the […]

April 5, 2013

Dish taps market for $2.3bn

Charlie Ergen’s pay-TV operation Dish (officially the ‘Network’ part of its brand was dropped a year ago) says it wants to raise $2.3 billion in fresh debt that it looks to use for general corporate activity and “which may include wireless and spectrum-related transactions”. Only a month ago, Dish was talking about a similar move […]

April 4, 2013By Chris Forrester

Intelsat seeks $823m in IPO

Intelsat’s upcoming IPO terms have been unveiled. While originally Intelsat talked about raising $1.5 billion, and then reduced its expectations to $750 million, the actual target amount falls somewhere between the two. Intelsat will sell off 21.74 million shares at $25 a share, plus another 3 million convertible non-voting preferred shares priced at $50 each. […]

April 3, 2013By Chris Forrester

Travel Channel arrives on Freesat

Scripps Networks Interactive’s Travel Channel has launched on UK free-to-air digital satellite service Freesat. Travel Channel is currently available on the Sky platform (channels 251/252) to more than 10.3 million subscribers. The move expands its reach, with Freesat recently announcing its three millionth sale. Travel Channel will be available to watch on Freesat’s Channel 405. […]

April 2, 2013