Gilat the Israeli satellite network group, is evaluating interest from several strategic and private equity buyers in buying the company. The company, which is listed on Nasdaq in the US and in Israel, could fetch more than $500m in a sale. Bids are due at the end of this week. Participating in the auction are […]

Nokia has agreed to buy US mobile advertising firm Enpocket. Nokia claims that the move will allow it to accelerate the scaling of its mobile advertising business, taking advantage of Enpocket’s platform and strong partnerships with advertisers, publishers and operators.

The Competition Commission has extended the timetable for completing its inquiry into BSkyB’s £940 million (E1.3bn) purchase of a 17.9 per cent stake in ITV until next year. It had intended to hand over the results of its inquiry to John Hutton, the secretary of state for business enterprise and regulatory reform, by November 7. […]

Discovery Communications has expanded its web presence with the acquisition of online knowledge repository HowStuffWorks for an estimated $250 million (E176m). Discovery will use HowStuffWorks to showcase its existing footage, uploading programme clips into entries on the site. It also plans to create a HowStuffWorks-branded series to air daily on Discovery Channel from next summer. […]

Eagle Broadband, a national provider of IP products and services, has completed an asset purchase agreement with Nighthawk Systems whereby Nighthawk purchased all rights, title, and interest in Eagle Broadband’s set-top box business. As part of this sale, the team of set-top box engineers and support staff formerly with Eagle has now become employees of […]

Channel 4 has held talks with Emap about taking full control of Box Television – owner of seven music channels on digital television platforms such as Freeview, including Kerrang!, Kiss, Q and The Hits, the UK's most popular music channel. The broadcaster, which bought half of Emap's music television division in July for £28 million, […]

NBC Universal has agreed to pay $925 million (E652m) for Oxygen Media, the independent cable television channel for women launched seven years ago by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. It marks NBC's latest move to tap into the cable sector. Executives hope they can cross-promote NBC’s traditional broadcast network, cable services and Internet portals, and believe […]

Richard Desmond, owner of the UK's Daily Express newspaper, has confirmed plans to sell a majority stake in his adult television business, assumed to be a prelude to an IPO of the newspaper business. The plans for a placing of shares in Portland Television, which is responsible for pay TV channels ranging from Red Hot-branded […]

BBC Worldwide has bought a majority stake in travel guide company Lonely Planet. The corporation’s commercial arm has acquired a 75 per cent stake in the privately owned company. The Lonely Planet operation will boost BBC Worldwide’s travel output, which includes over 500 hours of travel programming such as Michael Palin’s New Europe and Planet […]

Germany’s Deutsche Telekom has concluded a deal to buy Dutch mobile phone and broadband Internet operator Orange Netherlands from France Telecom for E1.3 billion. Deutsche Telekom said it expects the combination to result in savings of about E1 billion over the next few years. About half of those savings would be generated in the first […]