Advanced Television

Business

BBC Studios wins commercial approval

BBC Studios, the BBC’s TV production arm, has secured approval to launch as a commercial subsidiary and make programmes for other broadcasters and customers. Following an extensive regulatory assessment and public consultation, the BBC Trust has formally approved the proposals, which are supported by Government and Ofcom. The BBC says in an increasingly competitive market, […]

December 20, 2016

Vivendi eyes 30% Mediaset stake

Despite having earlier intimated that its intentions were limited to securing a 20 per cent stake in Italian broadcaster Mediaset, French media group Vivendi is ramping up its negotiating position relative to the disagreement between the two parties following a failed pay-TV cooperation. Vivendi has confirmed that its Management Board met has decided, with the […]

December 20, 2016By Colin Mann

Avanti “refinancing” $242m

Struggling specialist satellite operator Avanti Communications says it has cancelled its proposed sale and instead will proceed with a refinancing exercise. Avanti started a review of its business in July when it said it had started discussions with a number of potential investors/buyers. Avanti has launched a proposed refinancing which will fully fund the company […]

December 20, 2016By Chris Forrester

Report: Let Australians access geoblocked content

The Productivity Commission, the Australian Government’s principal independent review and advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation, has suggested that timely and cost-effective access to copyright content is the best way to reduce infringement, recommending that the Government should make it easier for users to access legitimate content by clarifying the law on geoblocking. The […]

December 20, 2016By Colin Mann

Cisneros and Smartycontent alliance

Smartycontent, a company providing advanced digital video solutions that integrates audiences, content, and advertising, and RedMas, a Cisneros Interactive company, have announced a joint venture to launch Smartycontent America in Latin America and the US. The alliance brings together the technology of Smartycontent – which provides publishers access to a powerful digital video platform for […]

December 20, 2016

Red tape ahead for Fox, Sky bid

Some British politicians are calling for 21st Century Fox’s bid for Sky to be blocked – and not just delayed, but completely thrown out. Former Labour party leader Ed Milliband and senior Liberal Democrat figure Vince Cable (a former UK business minister in the Cameron government) are saying that little has changed since a 2012 […]

December 19, 2016

OneWeb raises $1.2bn for satellite constellation

Channel Islands-based OneWeb has raised $1.2 billion (€1.14bn) from Japan’s Softbank in a new funding round. OneWeb is planning to build a super-constellation of 640 broadband and data satellites to supply Internet-by-satellite connectivity to the planet. It already has manufacturing agreements in place with Airbus Group, and the plan is to start launching these satellites […]

December 19, 2016By Chris Forrester

Denmark: SE acquires Boxer TV

Energy group SE, the owner of Danish cable operator Stofa, has agreed to purchase the Danish Boxer TV arm from Sweden’s Teracom Group.. SE will acquire Boxer TV’s 280,000 customers, strengthening its position in the country’s pay-TV market. SE Group president Niels Duedahl said that the acquisition will make SE “even stronger” in the Danish […]

December 19, 2016

CBS eyeing Sony Pictures?

Wall Street has picked up on rumours that CBS boss Leslie Moonves has recently visited Japan and held talks with Sony bosses about bringing media production powerhouse Sony Pictures Television (SPTV) into his CBS media conglomerate.  CBS is denying that a Sony-related visit took place. The rationale is that while an expected ‘merger’ between CBS […]

December 19, 2016By Chris Forrester

Liberty Media F1 deal receives antitrust approval

Liberty Media Corporation has received all required approvals from all appropriate anti-trust authorities in connection with its pending acquisition of Formula 1. Closing of the Acquisition remains conditioned upon (i) approval by Liberty Media’s stockholders of the issuance of LMCK shares in connection with the Acquisition at a special meeting scheduled for January 17, 2017 […]

December 19, 2016