Microsoft and VivaKi, the digital arm of Publicis, have unveiled a broad cooperation deal spanning the fast-growing digital advertising sector to targeted television advertising. The deal will lead to the creation of a customised VivaKi advertisement exchange for television advertising delivered via Microsoft’s Admira software. As part of the agreement, VivaKi’s units Starcom MediaVest Group, […]

Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general, has accused a small group of "ideologically focused" people within the UK government of trying to undermine his organisation's financial security. The BBC chief directed particular attack on the government and Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, listing a series of causes – including the funding of Channel 4 and the […]

Wetpaint have released the TV Fandex, the first measurement tool that gauges online engagement with popular TV programmes rather than just measuring size of viewing audience. Measured from sources including Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Wetpaint fansites, the rankings are generated through an algorithm that tracks consumption and creation of content and fan buzz. The TV […]

Disney-owned ESPN is to broadcast live English Premier League football action in the UK for the first time after securing the rights to show 46 games for the 2009/2010 season and 23 games in each of the three following seasons until May 2013. The rights were made available by the EPL after the holder, Setanta, […]

From Branislav Pekic in Rome Italian public broadcaster RAI will launch a new free-to-air satellite TV channel for international audiences on June 28th. Yes Italia will promote Italy's cultural and historical heritage, with four-hour blocks of programmes dedicated to cuisine, travel, Italian design and cultural events. It will target both international viewers and foreign tourists […]

The French pay-TV operator Canal+ will test a special 'weekend subscription' this autumn. CEO Bertrand Méheut said the subscription will cost around E15 a month, about half the usual price for a package from Friday evening to late Sunday night. Méheut also said there are 6.2 million households subscribing to either the Canal+ or the […]

The BBC is developing an audience measurement tool which will provide insight into how audiences 'pick and mix' content across a variety of viewing platforms. The new Cross Media Insight system will factor in all time-shifted and online viewing. It will be designed to count repeats, iPlayer figures, recorded programmes, red-button, mobile-access and viewings via […]

Orange is to launch a VOD site in France called Welles (after Orson Welles), offering "mid-tail" recent archive shows. Most videos (500,000 at launch) will be ad-supported but some premium content is planned.

From Branislav Pekic in Rome Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has requested that the European Court in Luxembourg annuls the decision of the European Commission regarding the illegality of state subsidies for the acquisition of DTT decoders. At question is the European Commission's decision of 2007, that subsidies awarded by Italy for the years 2004 and […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid Spain's largest pay TV group Sogecable and Mediapro, main shareholder in commercial TV channel La Sexta, have signed an agreement to bring an end to their fierce war over TV football rights that has taken them to Courts. The three years deal will allow Sogecable-controlled digital DTH platform Digital […]