Advanced Television

Broadcast

BBC: iPlayer’s future is mobile

Over 162 million requests were made for iPlayer programmes last month, a 12 per cent increase on December and a 35 per cent jump on January 2010. Just over 100 million of these requests were made online – but for Daniel Danker, head of on-demand, the future is mobile. “The ratio of growth we’re seeing […]

February 14, 2011

Spain rules on HDTV

The Spanish Government has approved a new piece of legislation to regulate HDTV content and the use of the multiplex capacity on DTT.  The new rule obliges broadcasters to inform viewers about HDTV broadcasts that must meet at least 720 active lines under 16:9 format in the production process. The new rule aims to avoid […]

February 14, 2011From David Del Valle in Madrid

Success for ProtoStar 2

Protostar 2, bought by satellite operator SES in December 2009 and re-named SES-7 (and operating from 108.2 Degree East), has won a major contract from the Indian market. SES says it has contracted a “multi-year, multi-transponder” order covering 12 Ku-band transponders with an unnamed client, serving the Indian DTH market. India is a hugely competitive […]

February 14, 2011By Chris Forrester

Ofcom’s ‘P’ for product placement

Broadcast regulator Ofcom has unveiled the logo that licensed TV channels must use to signal to viewers when a UK-produced programme contains product placement. The logo must appear for three seconds at the start and end of programmes, and after any advertising breaks. Broadcasters will be allowed to adapt slightly the logo, according to Ofcom […]

February 14, 2011

Sky completes digital roster with agency partners

Sky has finalised its digital marketing roster with confirmation of newly appointed agencies in both creative and paid search. The appointments follow a comprehensive review of agency support across all digital disciplines. The roster for the creative account is made up of three incumbents – Digital and Direct, WCRS & Co and Brothers & Sisters […]

February 14, 2011

AT&T eyeing Dish?

Shares in US digital satellite operator Dish Network rose sharply following a suggestion by financial services group Credit Suisse that telco  AT&T may make a bid to buy the company. Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin said in a note that AT&T could be interested in Dish’s wireless spectrum assets.  He said these make Dish an […]

February 11, 2011

3DTV gathers momentum in US

DirecTV, the US pay-TV broadcaster, is to launch 3net this weekend on February 13. 3net brings ‘the best of the best’ in 3DTV with content coming from Discovery, IMAX and Sony. On opening night, the channel will show China Revealed, Into the Deep 3D and Forgotten Planet. DirecTV promises that it will debut a new […]

February 11, 2011By Chris Forrester

S&T connected content for Freeview and Freesat

Strategy & Technology (S&T) is helping to deliver on demand video content over broadband to Freeview HD and Freesat set-top boxes and IDTVs as part of the new MHEG Interaction Channel (MHEG-IC). MHEG-IC is part of D-Book 6.2.1 the specification for Freeview HD and published by the UK’s Digital TV Group (DTG). It is anticipated […]

February 11, 2011

Classic sport on demand from Virgin and ESPN

Virgin Media and ESPN have confirmed the addition of ESPN Classic content to Virgin’s TV Choice on Demand service from 14th February, strengthening the range of sporting content available on the service. Virgin Media customers will be able to enjoy ESPN Classic on Demand with some of the most memorable moments and matches from football, […]

February 11, 2011

Nagra powers OTT service for Spain pay-TV operator DIGITAL+

Launch of Nagra Over-the-Top solution powering iPLUS set-top box-based on demand services PC/tablet/smartphone on demand and linear TV services to be launched later this year Nagra Multi-screen solution enables operator-controlled delivery of Over-the-Top services and seamless cross-device experience Cheseaux, Switzerland – February 10th, 2011– Nagra, independent provider of value-added content protection and multi-screen television solutions, […]

February 11, 2011