Advanced Television

FTA

UEFA launches free OTT platform

UEFA has officially launched its new OTT streaming platform – a first for a football governing body – which is aimed at giving viewers greater access to live and on-demand video content from a variety of competitions. The service, branded UEFA.tv, will initially provide football fans with an entertainment platform which will offer original programming […]

June 14, 2019

Ofcom: Provisional go-ahead for iPlayer changes

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has provisionally concluded that the BBC can go ahead with planned changes to BBC iPlayer, subject to certain conditions and guidance. The BBC wants to change BBC iPlayer from a 30-day catch up service, to one where programmes are available for 12 months as standard, with some available for longer. As […]

June 12, 2019By Colin Mann

BBC offering personalised Glastonbury 2019 experience

As the iconic Glastonbury music festival makes its comeback after a fallow year, the BBC has revealed its plans to once again bring the best moments and biggest sets across multiple platforms. Whether at home or out and about, viewers and listeners will be able to watch Glastonbury coverage on BBC iPlayer and listen on […]

June 5, 2019

Infront wins Sub-Saharan Africa FTA rights

The Premier League and Infront have agreed a new partnership for free-to-air rights across sub-Saharan Africa for three years commencing with the 2019/20 season. The rights to the Premier League cover over 40 sub-Saharan countries, including major territories such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. “We are very pleased to be working with Infront […]

June 1, 2019

BBC, BT live 5G production trial

The BBC and BT have successfully made the UK’s first live TV contribution over a public 5G connection, using EE’s 5G network. On BBC Breakfast on the morning of May 30th, viewers will have seen BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones cover the launch of the UK’s first 5G network from Covent Garden in Central London. […]

May 30, 2019

South Africa: Openview tops 1.5m receivers

South Africa’s Openview free-to-air digital platform says it has now activated more than 1.57 million receivers, and is activating new viewers at the rate of some 35,000 boxes a month. Openview is majority held (67.7 per cent) by eMedia Holdings, an independent South African broadcaster. In its annual results eMedia Holdings (to March 31st) Openview […]

May 29, 2019By Chris Forrester

ITV, BBC score FA Cup deal

As revealed by advanced-television.com, UK terrestrial broadcasters ITV and the BBC have agreed a new broadcast deal to show the Emirates FA Cup, making the competition available entirely free-to-air to viewers from 2021. Pay-TV operator BT Sport has shared the broadcast rights to the competition with the BBC since 2014. The new four-year deal with […]

May 24, 2019By Colin Mann

European finals FTA on Virgin TV

All customers of UK multiplay operator Virgin TV will be able to watch this year’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League final free of charge. Four Premier League sides will compete in the final of the two biggest European competitions meaning that millions of British football fans will be scrambling to watch the action. Virgin […]

May 24, 2019

Freesat upgrades datacasting systems with Icareus

Icareus, the Helsinki-based broadcast and online video partner, has delivered its Icareus Playout platform to Freesat, the free-to-air satellite television service – a joint venture between the BBC and ITV. Icareus’ solution will allow Freesat to replace their legacy system with a future roadmap to expand their hybrid, broadcast and broadband services (HbbTV).  Icareus Playout […]

May 23, 2019

BT Sport Champions League final stream free – and in VR, HDR

BT is making the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final and the UEFA Champions League Final available for anyone in the UK to watch whether on TV, online or on mobile. Both finals will be available for free on the BT Sport website, on the BT Sport YouTube channel  and via the BT Sport App for […]

May 21, 2019