French press reports over the weekend suggest that Vivendi is looking to sell its i>Télé free-to-air news channel. The channel provides 24/7 national and global news and is the second-most watched news channel (after BFM-TV) and ahead of LCI. The reports are firmly denied by Canal Plus Group. The rumours suggest that Vivendi is looking […]
Two giant India cable MSOs are reportedly in exploratory merger talks. Siti Cable, owned by Subhash Chandra/Essel Group (which also owns the Dish TV/Zee broadcasting empire) is already one of India’s largest cable operators with about 7.8 million connected homes. The talks are with DEN Networks, which has a subscriber base of some 8.5 million […]
Adobe is to acquire privately held Livefyre, a content curation and audience engagement company. The Livefyre platform gives brands and publishers access to billions of pieces of user generated content that can be streamed in real-time right to their sites, ads, emails, TV, digital billboards, and apps. With the planned integration of Livefyre into Adobe […]
Vimeo, an operating business of IAC, has confirmed the acquisition of VHX, a platform for premium OTT subscription video channels. The acquisition strengthens Vimeo’s leading marketplace for consumers to access high quality programming direct from creators worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Online video is expanding from a few, mainstream subscription services into […]
Some five weeks after reports first emerged that entertainment discovery specialist Rovi was planning to acquire advanced television technology specialist TiVo the pair have confirmed a cash and stock deal of approximately $1.1 billion (€0.96bn). The new company combines two media and entertainment technology innovators with complementary products, services, and intellectual property assets and a […]
SES says it is now carrying 23 Ultra HD channels across its fleet (up from 19 at December 31st). Fifteen of these channels are commercial. SES says it will increase its shareholding in specialist satellite operator O3b (which targets the ‘other 3 billion’ of underserved broadband consumers) to 50.5 per cent, and thus take a […]
Confirming recent speculation, NBCUniversal is to acquire DreamWorks Animation, the creator of animated feature films, TV series, live entertainment and related consumer products in a deal valued at $3.8 billion (€3.5bn). The studio will become part of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which includes Universal Pictures, Fandango, and NBCUniversal Brand Development. “DreamWorks Animation is a […]
Bloomberg is reporting that Mexico’s media giant Televisa is looking to buy Megacable Holdings, one of its main rivals in pay-TV in Mexico. The green light has reportedly been given by Mexico’s Federal Telecoms Institute regulator, which has said that a merged company would not dominate in pay-TV (despite Televisa reportedly already commanding a 60.6 […]
SFR has confirmed that it will launch five new sports channels, including one premium, one dedicated to multi sports, one for extreme sports, one for sports news (operated by NextRadio TV) and one for 4K events. Launching in June, the sport channels will not be exclusive to SFR subscribers, and will also be distributed on […]
SintecMedia, a provider of broadcast management software, has announced that SintecMedia’s management team and Francisco Partners, a global technology-focused private equity firm, have acquired SintecMedia from its existing shareholders, including Riverwood Capital. SintecMedia, which manages the business of multi-platform TV, is a business software partner for over 150 of the world’s top TV and media […]