Advanced Television

M&A

Telekom Austria buys MRS

Telekom Austria Group has bought the interactive TV voting company Mass Response Service GmbH (MRS) from the Dutch company Twister Media Group for around E19.5 million as part of its plans to expand its television business. MRS, which among other shows is responsible the voting for the Eurovision Song Contest, reported a turnover in 2006 […]

August 29, 2007

NBC buys Sparrowhawk

NBC Universal has agreed to acquire Sparrowhawk and its global portfolio of pay TV channels, including the international Hallmark Channels, from Providence Equity Partners, 3i and management shareholders. The announcement was made by Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal and David Elstein, Chairman, Sparrowhawk Media. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but a […]

August 29, 2007

DIG takes 40% stake in Indian IPTV

Dubai Investment Group (DIG has acquired through its subsidiary Dubai Ventures, a 40 per cent stake in Time Broadband Services, India's newest IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service provider. Having extensive technical and managerial experience in the telecom sector through its investments in Maltacom and Tunisie Telecom, DIG is well positioned to leverage its expertise and […]

August 29, 2007

Macquarie after C&M

A consortium including Macquarie Bank's South Korean private equity arm and MBK Partners is set to acquire a 30 per cent stake in the country's second biggest cable TV group and targeting the remaining shares. Macquarie Korea Fund has signed a preliminary deal to purchase the stake from Goldman Sachs for about $650m (E479m), and […]

August 26, 2007

Cavalier in SecureMedia deal

Digital media protection specialist SecureMedia has been acquired by US competitive communications provider Cavalier Telephone and TV. SecureMedia will remain an independent company, servicing current customers while pursuing new worldwide. The company will also provide technology and services to advance Cavalier Telephone and TV’s new business developments and long-term strategy. “When Cavalier first set out […]

August 20, 2007

Virgin delays auction

As predicted Virgin Media is to delay its auction in the hope credit market turbulence will settle to allow private equity suitors to finance bids of up to $23 billion (E16.8bn). The UK company had set a deadline of next week for initial offers, after an approach by Carlyle kicked off an auction. But its […]

August 3, 2007

Disney acquires social net

Disney has made its first acquisition in social networking buying Club Penguin, which operates an online virtual world for children, for a fee that could eventually rise to $700 million.The deal bolsters its presence in digital entertainment. Unlike social networking sites for older audiences, such as MySpace and Facebook, Club Penguin has a subscription-based business […]

August 3, 2007