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Facebook: Increasing focus on video

Social media site Facebook surprised market analysts with above expected results “on all fronts” for Q3 according to investment bank Exane/BNP-Paribas. However, Facebook’s management, in an analysts call on November 2 said it was cautious about the company’s ad-revenue prospects this coming year. Facebook’s headline numbers were impressive, with revenues jumping 56 per cent, topping […]

November 3, 2016By Chris Forrester

Spacecom to receive full payment for AMOS-6

Spacecom has been informed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) that IAI’s insurers will pay a sum of $196 million (€176.5m), the full amount that was paid to IAI for the construction and delivery of the AMOS-6 satellite that was destroyed on September 1 in an explosion at the Kennedy Space Center. The sum will be […]

November 3, 2016

DTG’s D-Book 9 paves the way for UHD

More efficient encoding (HEVC) introduced to products to help pave the way for future UHD (Ultra High Definition) services is one of the key elements of the DTG’s D-Book 9, the industry-determined, next-generation, universally-deployed specification which supports future interactive services and enables the transition towards HbbTV. Open, democratic and supportive of public policy, the D-Book […]

November 3, 2016

DirecTV sued for Dodgers Channel ‘collusion’

The US Department of Justice has sued DirecTV and its corporate successor, AT&T Inc for acting as the ringleader of a series of unlawful information exchanges between DirecTV and three of its competitors – Cox Communications Inc., Charter Communications Inc. and AT&T – during the companies’ negotiations to carry SportsNet LA, which holds the exclusive […]

November 3, 2016

Edge targets £10m for UK television production

Edge Investments, the specialist investment house focused on the creative industries sector, has revealed it will invest up to £10 million (€11.2m) in the thriving UK television production industry. Joanna Smith, Investment Manager at Edge commented: “We want to meet television production management teams who are looking for a pure equity investor focused on growth […]

November 3, 2016

Discovery could be ‘Netflix of Sport’

Discovery CEO David Zaslav discussing results with analysts said that Eurosport’s linear digital rights locker meant it could become ‘a Netflix for sport in Europe.’  Eurosport has the Olympics, and much increased football and tennis rights plus. Zaslav also referenced the hiring of former BBC iPlayer executive Ralph Rivera. “Ralph joins us from the BBC, […]

November 2, 2016

Telia criticises spectrum auction cancellation

Swedish telco Telia has criticised the decision by the national regulator PTS to discontinue the on-going auction of frequencies in the 700 Mhz band for mobile broadband, suggesting it was a step back for digitalisation in Sweden. The Swedish Government made the decision that the 694-790 MHz frequency space should be available for terrestrial television […]

November 2, 2016By Colin Mann

Speedcast acquires Harris CapRock

Fast-growing satellite communications and facilities company Speedcast is to buy Harris CapRock, for $425 million (€386m). Harris CapRock has a strong position in supplying bandwidth and connectivity in the Energy and Maritime sectors. The acquisition strengthens SpeedCast’s already strong position in the Maritime industry, in which Harris CapRock has a leading position, and in particular, […]

November 1, 2016By Chris Forrester

Discovery reports flat Q3 revenue

Discovery Communications has reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30th 2016. Q3 revenues of $1,556 million (€1,414m) were flat compared to the prior year, as 2 per cent growth at US Networks and 19 per cent growth at its education unit were offset by a 3 per cent decline at International Networks, primarily […]

November 1, 2016

Nickelodeon suspended in Pakistan

Kid’s channel Nickelodeon has seen its broadcasts “suspended” by Pakistan’s media regulator. The suspension took place on October 31st, reports BBC Monitoring. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) ruled two weeks ago that even those channels which were authorised to be carried by the country’s cable operators had to observe limits on Indian content. Nickelodeon […]

November 1, 2016By Chris Forrester