It has been revealed BBC director-general Mark Thompson had to apologise to the BBC Trust for signing the open letter criticising News Corp’s bid for Sky and asking the UK government to intervene (as they now have). The BBC Trust “expressed concern” about whether it was “appropriate” for Thompson to sign the controversial letter which […]
Digital TV technology specialist Pace has acquired Latens Systems, the Belfast-based specialist in software-based Conditional Access/DRM and Middleware solutions for the pay-TV market in a £28.75 million (E32.72m) cash deal, of which £10 million is deferred and payable in 2012 subject to the achievement of conditions. Latens offers its solutions across cable, IPTV, DTH,and DTT, […]
Vince Cable, the UK Business Secretary, has issued an intervention notice on News Corp’s bid to acquire the 61 per cent of BSkyB shares that it does not already own. The notice requires that Ofcom investigates the public interest consideration of media plurality and submits a report by December 31st. The European Commission will investigate […]
Zain, Kuwait’s largest telecoms company, have agreed to sell a controlling stake in the company to Etisalat, the United Arab Emirate’s operator, in what would be one of the biggest deals on record in the Middle East. Given that Zain owns 10 per cent of its own shares, the deal would give Etisalat a 51 […]
Sky has this morning served the formal notice of intent with the European Commission that signals the imminent tabling of a formal bid for the 61 per cent of BSkyB it doesn’t already own. The EC now has 25 days to decide whether further investigation is required on competition grounds. Meanwhile UK government will have […]
Kabel Deutschland (KDH), Germany’s largest cable operator, has confirmed the acquisition of approximately 70,000 cable households from Level 4 operator Primacom. The households are located in the city of Osnabrueck (approximately 40,000) in Lower Saxony and in the area of Mainz (approximately 30,000) in Rhineland-Palatinate. KDH currently provides video signals to these households through a […]
Global Crossing has acquired global video services provider Genesis Networks, an innovator in high-performance, rich-media and video-based solutions serving the world’s major broadcasters, producers and aggregators of specialised programming. Global Crossing paid aggregate consideration of approximately $27 million, including $15 million in connection with the repayment of existing debt. Founded in 2001, Genesis Networks is […]
Vivendi’s Canal Plus has renewed its interest in buying a stake in Digital Plus, its Spanish counterpart, as it steps up its international expansion plans. Bertrand Méheut, Canal Plus chief executive, told the FT he was “open” to buying the Spanish broadcaster. But he stressed that there had been no talks since last year when […]
News Corp is expected to begin the formal bid process for BSkyB this week with a formal notification to the European Union of its intention to buy the 61 per cent of the company it doesn’t already own. This step will give British ministers about two weeks to decide whether to refer the bid to […]
The merger between Spain’s largest private TV channel Mediaset-controlled Telecinco and Cuatro is closer following the approval of the by the competition watchdog CNC with several conditions. Tele 5 will be barred from selling advertising from the partners’ two main channels (Tele 5 and Cuatro) in one package that makes up more than 22 per […]