Advanced Television

Broadcast

AsiaSat, Globecast distribute RTR-Planeta Asia

AsiaSat, Asia’s leading satellite operator, and global media solutions provider Globecast, have reached an agreement to deliver RTR-Planeta Asia to viewers via AsiaSat 5. The deal continues expanding the exposure of Russian-language programming available in the Asia-Pacific region. Globecast is providing RTR-Planeta with complete distribution services to the channel via this deal, including across Asia-Pacific, […]

July 14, 2017

Netflix in top 4 ‘must-keep’ viewing options

Scandal’s Olivia Pope had better watch her back, because House of Cards’ Frank Underwood is coming for her, warns consultancy firm Solutions Research Group, noting that ‘must-see’ TV is giving way to ‘much-stream’ TV, with Americans increasingly likely to name streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video among their most valued entertainment […]

July 13, 2017

Pact calls for 50% C4 investment outside of London

In its response to the UK Government’s consultation into public service broadcaster Channel 4’s future, Pact – the UK trade association representing and promoting the commercial interests of independent creative content producers – has called for the broadcaster to up its investment in programmes made in the nations and regions to 50 per cent. This […]

July 13, 2017

UAE softens demands on Al Jazeera

The United Arab Emirates is said to be softening its controversial demand that Qatar should close the Al Jazeera news channel. According to a report in The Times, the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has given his backing to Qatar, calling its refusal to accede to the demands “reasonable”. The newspaper quotes an interview […]

July 13, 2017By Chris Forrester

Analyst: 59% US homes major SVoD subs

According to findings from market research and consulting company Parks Associates, 59 per cent of US broadband households subscribe to Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. The firm’s OTT Video Market Tracker service notes that only 6 per cent of US broadband households subscribe to any other OTT service without also having a subscription to one of […]

July 13, 2017

Analyst: SVoD gaining mindshare with legacy pay-TV

If forced to decide between legacy pay-TV or SVoD services, 57 per cent of dual-service users would choose legacy pay-TV, 43 per cent streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, according to new insights from actionable intelligence firm TDG’s 7th annual Benchmarking the Connected Consumer study. “One would be excused for thinking the difference would […]

July 13, 2017

Report: APAC online video market $46bn by 2022

Online video consumption and broadband distribution continues to grow rapidly across Asia Pacific with content monetisation models steadily evolving, according to a new report, Asia Pacific Online Video & Broadband Distribution, published by independent consulting and research provider Media Partners Asia (MPA). The report indicates

July 13, 2017

SIA: “Satellite industry in positive state”

The annual report from the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), and which compares and contrasts the state of the industry in 2016 with 2015 and previous years, in general terms says that 2016 was “once again a positive year,” though results for the four key industry market segments varied quite widely.  For example, Global satellite manufacturing […]

July 13, 2017By Chris Forrester

Zimbabwe DStv subs cannot pay fees

A Zimbabwe bank doesn’t have sufficient foreign currency in order to pay South African-based Multichoice DTH broadcaster’s fees due from local subscribers. Steward Bank, itself a subsidiary of cellular telco Econet Wireless, admits that it has run out of US dollars, the official currency of Zimbabwe. In a statement, the bank said it was suspending […]

July 13, 2017By Chris Forrester

Survey: BBC licence fee doesn’t offer value for money

Research conducted by Broadband Genie has found more than half (60 per cent) of the public believe the TV licence doesn’t offer good value for money. Additionally, it seems many believe the current system is outdated, as 68 per cent say it’s unfair for users to have to pay for a licence if they’re just […]

July 12, 2017