Advanced Television

Catch Up

Gracenote boost for content search and discovery

Media and entertainment metadata provider Gracenote, a Nielsen company, is helping to enhance the experience for TV viewers who use new Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (vMVPD) services. A new TV metadata and electronic programme guide (EPG) solution from Gracenote enables Smart TV and streaming device manufacturers that offer live TV streaming services to make […]

May 16, 2018

BBC tech chief: ‘We’ll become an IP broadcaster’

Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology and Product Officer, BBC, has admitted that the Corporation will, at some stage, transition to becoming an all-IP broadcaster, but was unable to put a definitive timescale to such a move. Delivering a keynote address at the DTG Summit in London, Postgate suggested that the current 11-year BBC Charter period would […]

May 10, 2018Colin Mann @ DTG Summit

Ofcom exec: ‘Project Kangaroo veto a tragedy’

In the week that reports emerged that UK public broadcasters the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV are once again in talks to create a joint streaming service to take on the increasing dominance that Netflix and Amazon Prime Video hold in the UK, a senior member of UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom has declared the 2009 […]

May 10, 2018Colin Mann @ DTG Summit

Comcast $60bn to outbid Disney for Fox?

Reports suggest that US media giant Comcast is planning an all-cash bid of $60 billion (€50bn) for most of 21st Century Fox’s assets, dependent on whether the US administration approves AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner. Any such deal would also see Comcast acquire 100 per cent of Sky. Comcast made a $31 billion bid for […]

May 8, 2018By Colin Mann

Strong March gives iPlayer best quarter

Fans of true crime drama series The Assassination of Gianni Versace – American Crime Story have made the show BBC iPlayer’s most popular programme in March. The first episode of the hit US drama saw 1.6 million requests to take the top spot in March, in a month that proved a big one for drama. […]

May 8, 2018

Freeview brings on-demand to live TV

UK DTT platform Freeview has launched its on-demand content showcase on Channel 100 for connected TV service Freeview Play viewers. This is the first time the platform has integrated on-demand content into the linear TV guide. The specially-curated recommendations allow viewers to browse suggestions from BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, Demand 5 and UKTV Play […]

April 26, 2018By Colin Mann

BBC first UHD HDR live stream

The BBC has streamed a full Rugby League match between the York City Knights and Catalans Dragons live in UHD and High Dynamic Range on BBC iPlayer Beta, marking the first time the broadcaster has streamed a live event in the format. Writing in the BBC Technology and Creativity Blog, Phil Layton, Head of Broadcast […]

April 23, 2018By Colin Mann

BBC Chairman: ‘Smartphone generation our biggest challenge’

Sir David Clementi, Chairman of the BBC, has suggested that serving the 18-to-34 demographic, the so-called ‘smartphone generation’, is the Corporation’s biggest challenge as it responds to changing times and technologies in the broadcast world, needing to be

April 20, 2018By Colin Mann

France: 3.4m watch VoD daily

Each day, 9.5 million people in France are watching TV online, either live or catch-up, via a TV set. According to data from Mediametrie, some 4.4 million (7.3 per cent of the country’s population) aged 4 and above now watches online TV on a device other than a TV set, such as a smartphone or […]

April 16, 2018From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Australia: ‘Landmark’ cricket broadcast deal

Australian cricket fans will have access to more cricket coverage than ever following what is described as a “landmark” partnership with FOX SPORTS and Seven West Media, announced by the sport’s governing body Cricket Australia (CA). The deal sees long-time broadcaster Channel 9 lose the coverage rights. The new six-year broadcast and digital partnership, which […]

April 13, 2018