Advanced Television

Business

DVB for S. Africa, ASO 2013

The South African Development Community (SADC) has announced that the region, which has a population of over 250 million, will adopt DVB-T2, DVB’s second generation digital terrestrial television standard. The decision to adopt DVB-T2 was taken after rigorous testing and in-depth analysis of ISDB-T, DVB-T and DVB-T2. An Ad Hoc Committee of the SADC was […]

December 1, 2010

FCC may arbitrate Comcast, Level 3 dispute

Comcast is willing to have the Federal Communications Commission oversee negotiations with Level 3 Communications to resolve their dispute over Internet interconnection fees. “[W]e have not given up hope that Level 3 will make a reasonable business decision in the context of the parties’ overall commercial relationship… Commercial resolution is the appropriate path forward here,” […]

December 1, 2010

New brand and mission for CASBAA

CASBAA has announced re-branding for the Association with the roll out of a refreshed logo, a re-fashioned tagline and a new mission statement. “With our new look, tagline and mission statement, supported by dynamic animation and flexible web tools, we have re-defined the Association’s identity and direction for the second decade of the 21st century,” […]

December 1, 2010

Comcast is Internet ‘toll booth’ says Netflix provider

Internet backbone provider Level 3 Communications says Comcast is demanding a recurring fee for transmitting internet movies and “other content” to Comcast customers, accusing the cableco of violating the FCC’s “net neutrality” principles. Comcast says Level 3 is misrepresenting the negotiations between the two companies. “Comcast is effectively putting up a toll booth at the […]

November 30, 2010

Spain broadcasters must label HD

Following the public complaint made by electronic manufacturers for the lack of a real HDTV in the country, the Government is finalising a new piece of legislation that will oblige broadcasters to label their content, in an attempt to avoid public confusion between HD and standard definition services in the market. Several nationwide TV broadcasters […]

November 30, 2010From David Del Valle in Madrid

TF1, M6, Canal+ Free may break EU rules

France has two months to respond to European Union complaints that free channels awarded to Canal Plus, TF1 and M6 could violate competition rules. The manner in which the channels were granted, to compensate for the switch from analogue to digital television, could violate European Commission rules of transparency and non- discrimination. France’s culture ministry […]

November 30, 2010

Sky bid may have EU probe

News Corp’s bid to acquire the shares in BSkyB that it does not already own is to be reviewed by the EU competition regulator, now the UK’s own Office of Fair Trading has not sought jurisdiction over the case. The OFT had a deadline of November 26th to ask the EU for permission to review […]

November 30, 2010

Judge rejects TVCatchup case

A UK judge has dismissed an application by TV re-streaming site TVCatchup to throw out a copyright case brought against it by Britain’s broadcasters, saying that “the claim does have a real prospect of success”. The website has been re-streaming live TV channels for two years ago. ITV, Channel 4 and Five in June filed […]

November 29, 2010

SES invests another $75m in O3b

O3b is a new satellite constellation that is promising fibre-like speeds from orbiting craft and providing broadband connectivity to “the Other 3 Billion” (O3b) of largely unconnected people and businesses either side of the Equator. SES already owns 34 per cent of O3b. SES will invest a further $75 million over the next3 years. O3b […]

November 29, 2010By Chris Forrester

Canada needs TV and telco marriage

Two of Canada’s largest companies say their marriage is the best way to keep Canadian content thriving. While regulators have not yet approved telco BCE’s  purchase of broadcaster CTV, both told a Canada parliamentary committee that their union is crucial. The companies say that without working together, neither can compete against a rapidly growing influx […]

November 29, 2010