Advanced Television

Joint Venture

Dish/Siti form Comnet j-v

Two of India’s largest pay-TV operators, Essel Group’s Dish TV and MSO Siti Cable Networks are forming a joint-venture, Comnet, in order to better negotiate with broadcasters. Comnet’s main role is to tap into the synergies available in jointly dealing with broadcasters and shift the balance of power more in favour of distributors, and to […]

July 2, 2015By Chris Forrester

Mediaset, Sky Italia plot pay-TV alliance

Italian broadcasters Mediaset and Sky Italia are negotiating a pay-TV alliance that could create a monopoly in the sector. According to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, the talks are underway and the first draft of a deal foresees a JV company, majority-owned by Sky Italia and with Mediaset below 50 per cent. The pay-TV activities […]

May 20, 2015From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Content investment boosts UKTV

Commercial broadcaster UKTV’s focus on investment in exclusive and original programming generated record ratings, revenue and profit in 2014. Officially the fastest growing broadcaster in Britain, UKTV’s £123 million investment in content produced strong growth in commercial impacts and in its on demand services. UKTV – an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and […]

May 19, 2015

Netflix eyes China partnerships

OTT entertainment streaming service Netflix is in talks with Jack Ma-backed Wasu Media and other potential partners to enter China’s booming online video market, according to Bloomberg. Netflix would need a partner that has licences for content on all devices, including mobile phones, computers and set-top boxes. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos had suggested […]

May 15, 2015By Colin Mann

ARRIS, Charter acquire ActiveVideo

ARRIS Group and Charter Communications have established a joint venture that has agreed to acquire ActiveVideo for approximately $135 million. ARRIS will own 65 per cent of the joint venture company and will be the sales channel for ActiveVideo’s CloudTV platform. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the second quarter, subject to […]

April 14, 2015

EchoStar, Nagra join forces in SmarDTV

Kudelski and EchoStar have confirmed EchoStar will become a shareholder in SmarDTV, the subsidiary of Kudelski that offers advanced set-top boxes and conditional access modules. As part of the transaction, EchoStar’s operations in the UK and Spain will be transferred to SmarDTV. SmarDTV will build on the heritage of Nagra, Conax and OpenTV, as well […]

March 31, 2015

comScore, Kantar partner as WPP buys in

comScore has announced a strategic alliance with WPP’s data investment management division, Kantar. The alliance, which covers territories outside the US, establishes a framework for the parties to bring the best of breed together from the two companies – their products, technology, data assets, research panels and relationships – to provide cross-media audience and campaign […]

February 12, 2015

Singtel, Sony, Warner hook up for Asia OTT

Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment have established HOOQ, a joint venture start-up, to offer a regional over-the-top (OTT) video service in Asia. HOOQ will deliver both Hollywood blockbusters and television series, as well as popular local movies and programmes to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling them to stream and download their favourite […]

January 30, 2015By Colin Mann

Rostelecom, VGTRK form media JV

Rostelecom, Russia’s national telecommunications operator, is to create a media joint venture with the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), Russia’s leading producer of pay-TV channels for cable and satellite broadcast. The JV will be made up of VGTRK’s Digital Television and Rostelecom’s subsidiary NKS-Media. The main aim of the JV is to […]

December 30, 2014

JB&A, Piksel strategic partnership

JB&A and Piksel together announce a strategic channel partnership to expand market reach in video management, distribution, and monetisation solutions. JB&A is now an official Sales Partner of Piksel’s portfolio of solutions and services, in particular the Piksel Video Platform. “We are very excited to have partnered with JB&A, who now joins our existing roster […]

December 18, 2014