Connected entertainment specialist Netgem has unveiled a significant development of its NetgemTV middleware to support new adaptive TV technologies. Extending the reach of pay-TV Operators, these new features are geared to enable the creation of multi-screen services which can be delivered securely and consistently. Microsoft’s Silverlight and Play Ready plug-ins have been integrated into Netgem’s […]
A number of barriers need to be overcome and issues need to be addressed for the broadcast and pay-TV industry to see 3DTV as a viable business proposition, according to speakers at a 3DTV Analyst Forum held during IBC. Doug Sheer, CEO and Chief Analyst, D.I.S. Consulting Corporation, suggested that although 3DTV had drivers such […]
Mike Darcey, Chief Operating Officer, BSkyB, has suggested that the real challenge facing the broadcasting industry isn’t finding the technical ‘nous’ to develop the products and systems such as those showcased at IBC, but rather how to pay for it all. Participating in a keynote panel on ‘New Routes to Funding Original Content’, Darcey told […]
The French government has dropped its proposal to raise the rate of VAT on pay-TV operator Canal Plus from 5.5% to 19.6%. President Nicolas Sarkozy dropped the plan, which could have forced Canal Plus to raise its subscription charges significantly, after lobbying from the French cinema industry which fears a loss of vital revenue […]
Sogecable-owned Digital Plus, continues losing subscribers with a drop of 24,523 in only two months ending August. It now has 1,760,320 subscribers with an ARPU of E41.7. The company, which reported an EBITDA of E189 million, claims to have reduced its churn rate “for the fifth consecutive month.” Over the last months, Digital Plus […]
Sky Deutschland is to introduce a conditional access module plug in for flat-screen TV sets with inbuilt tuner and a CI+ interface. Sky will tie up with manufacturers of TV sets and will co-market the module and pay-TV services in time for Christmas. “Today many new TV sets with an integrated digital reception unit have […]
The French media group has said it will press ahead with a flotation of its stake in pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus after failing to strike a deal with Vivendi. Arnaud Lagardère, chief executive, said there would “not be a U-turn” in a planned IPO of its 20 per cent stake which it values at E1.5bn […]
Findings from ABI Research suggest that worldwide pay-TV subscribers totalled 688m at the end of the second quarter of 2010. “Subscriber growth is fastest in IPTV platforms, while cable and satellite platforms have the most stable growth rate,” according to Jason Blackwell, practice director, digital home at ABI Research. According to ABI data, overall pay-TV […]
Deutsche Telekom and Sky Deutschland are in discussions with the German Football League for the rights to broadcast Bundesliga games in 3D, according to local press reports. Bidding to acquire the broadcast rights for the 2013/2014 season are set to commence next year – one year earlier than normal – allowing more time for discussions […]
From Branislav Pekic in Rome Portuguese pay-TV channel Sport TV has launched a HD channel solely dedicated to English Premier League football, with live transmissions of the new season and archive content. Sport TV Liga Inglesa will be available in the pay-TV packages of Zon, Meo and Clix, at no additional cost to subscribers of […]