The US House of Representatives has voted to overturn the FCC’s proposed rules barring ISPs from blocking legal content but do allow certain rationing of downloading. The vote would block funds to implement rules proposed by the Federal Communications Commission in December. The measure had been added as an amendment to a sweeping spending bill […]
Europe’s two giant satellite operators, SES Astra and Eutelsat, have both turned in blisteringly good results. SES’ results (for the year to December 31st) declared revenues up 7.1 per cent to €1.735 billion, and with record operating profits, up 10.8 per cent, to €797 million. Luxembourg’s SES’ President Romain Bausch said that a net 76 […]
ITV has appointed Richard Williams to the newly created position of controller of multi-platform commissioning and digital content. He’ll be responsible for implementing a collaborative approach to commissioning ITV digital content across platforms as part of the broadcaster’s stated transformation strategy. The company recently appointed BBC digtal strategist James Micklethwait to the newly created role […]
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the UK government does have the right to reserve for Free To Air TV major international football games including all the group matches the World Cup. The Court has rejected a complaint from FIFA and UEFA regarding a decision of the European Commission to approve the UK’s […]
Canal Plus Group reported a 5.8 per cent rise in full-year EBITDA as it moves closer to the planned initial public offering of Lagardere’s 20 per cent stake in its French unit, Canal Plus France. EBITDA for the full year rose to €690 million while revenue rose 3.5 per cent to €4.71 billion as more […]
Seven companies from the electronics and IP industries have announced the formation of the AllVid Tech Company Alliance. The organisation was formed to lobby on public policy in the Federal Communications Commission’s “AllVid” rulemaking. Founding members of AllVid include Best Buy, Google, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, Nagravision, SageTV, Sony Electronics and TiVo. All are said to […]
Virgin Media Inc (the UK operator is listed NASDAQ) has announced strong results for 2010 the year and quarter ended December 31, 2010. Revenue growth across all areas was up 5.8 per cent to £3.876 billion (€4.60bn) with Q4 over £1 billion, up 6.6 per cent. Operating cash flow – a key measure for indebted […]
A reduction in the time allowed for advertisements on commercial broadcasting channels has been called for by the House of Lords Communications Committee, who report that existing regulation of the market is no longer relevant in the digital age and doesn’t serve the best interests of viewers. The Committee – part of the UK parliament’s […]
Confirming CEO Mike Fries’ declaration yesterday that Liberty Global is on watch for acquisitions, Shane O’Neill, Chief Strategy Officer, took the opportunity of the Investor panel to confirm they were appraising KBW, but also that, given the choice and the right price, “Ziggo [the Dutch operator] is a much better fit for us.” Mixed news […]
CTIA – The Wireless Association and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) have submitted a white paper to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demonstrating that the auction of 120 MHz of under-utilised broadcast television spectrum will produce more than $33 billion in net proceeds for the US Treasury. In addition to providing the US government with […]