Beamr, an expert in media optimisation solutions, is acquiring Vanguard Video, a provider of HEVC and H.264 codec technologies, and raising a $15 million funding round led by Disruptive Growth, with the participation of Marker and Innovation Endeavors. Beamr says the transaction positions it as a global leader in H.264 and HEVC video encoding and […]
Two major players in digital media could be combining, according to a report in the NYT. Rovi is, apparently, bidding for TiVo with a mix of cash and stock that would mean the merged company would be owned about 70 per cent by Rovi (current market cap $1.7 billion) and 30 per cent by TiVo (current […]
Stephen van Rooyen, currently Sky’s chief marketing and digital officer is set to be named CEO of its UK and Ireland unit. The promotion comes as part of a changing senior management structure implemented following the merger of the Sky businesses in the UK and Ireland, Germany and Austria, and Italy. Former Sky UK and […]
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is following on from Moody’s with a lowered opinion of Intelsat’s position. S&P confirms its “1” recovery rating for its new batch of $1.25 billion of ‘senior secured’ fresh debt (which suggests that S&P “indicates our expectation for a very high recovery – 90 per cent -100 per cent of […]
Dubai’s Media City, Studio City and Production City (formerly its International Media Production Zone) all have new identities and logos. Tecom Group, the overall holding company for the various enterprises, held a gala dinner for VIP guests and clients to unveil the new looks. Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio […]
A report commissioned by UK public service broadcaster Channel 4 and produced by Ernst & Young (EY) examines the future of Channel 4 in a changing market environment. It finds Channel 4’s future to be sustainable, provided it retains the commercial and regulatory flexibility to respond to market developments and short-term change in the manner […]
Despite the downward trend of the Italian pay-TV market in 2015, broadcaster Mediaset reported increased pay-TV revenues – €558.8 million compared to €538.4 million in 2014. Contributing to the growth was the availability of exclusive and high quality content, generating an 11 per cent growth of furnover in the second half of 2015. The number […]
Investment bankers Morgan Stanley is slashing its share price target for satellite operator Intelsat to just $1 (from its earlier target of $5) and a 64 per cent discount to the operator’s closing price on March 21st. Morgan Stanley is maintaining its “Underweight” rating to investors. Intelsat’s share price has tumbled some 72 per cent […]
The Future of TV Coalition – a diverse group of US programmers, content creators, civic groups and television providers formed to celebrate and promote the thriving innovation that is revolutionising the video viewing experience – has suggested that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler made a serious error in comments made before the House Energy and Commerce […]
Sky has taken a minority stake in Sugar Films, an independent production company founded by senior television professionals Kwadjo Dajan, Narinder Minhas, Lucy Pilkington, Nav Raman and Pat Younge. Former Discovery Networks International president and CEO Mark Hollinger will also take a stake in the company and become Chairman. The investments by Sky and Mark […]