Advanced Television

Business

Liberty targets Ziggo

A few weeks ago when pressed on whether Liberty Global would bid for Kabel BW, Shane O’Neill, chief strategy officer, deflected the question by stating Ziggo was a more prized target as ‘it is a much better fit.’ Two weeks ago Liberty beat out the competition to buy Kabel BW and now seems set to […]

April 4, 2011

Momentum building for US piracy legislation

Lawmakers from both parties in Congress are gathering at the Capitol with representatives from industry to once again denounce the effects of online piracy and counterfeiting on the US economy. “The Internet has regrettably become a cash-cow for the criminals and organised crime cartels who profit from digital piracy and counterfeit products,” said House Judiciary […]

April 4, 2011

Bell Media emerges from CTV buy

Bell has completed its $3.2 billion acquisition of CTV and launched Bell Media, a new business unit encompassing all CTV and other Bell content assets. Bell Media has announced a package of top news, sports and entertainment content for Canada’s mobile providers. Bell fulfilled all regulatory, legal and other requirements to close the transaction, approximately […]

April 4, 2011

Bale for CNN digital post

MSN’s international programming director Peter Bale will fill a new post of VP and GM of CNN International Digital. Bale will head up all non-US digital operations for CNN from London. Bale was online editorial director at Times Online from 2005 to 2007, before heading MSN UK for three years.

April 4, 2011

EchoStar to buy Telesat?

Denver-based satellite operator EchoStar is one of the final bidders in the race to acquire Canada-based Telesat, which operates the Anik and Nimiq satellites. Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar Corporation spun off its Dish Network division in December 2007. EchoStar already supplies its set-top boxes to pay-TV broadcaster Bell TV in Canada. A decision could be announced […]

April 1, 2011By Chris Forrester

New Disney media marketing division

Disney has unveiled a new marketing division, Disney Media+ to leverage its brand properties through commercial partnerships. The London-based division will serve as a single point of contact between potential brand partners and all areas of the Disney business to develop integrated marketing plans across multiple platforms. Disney outlined three major opportunities for brand partnerships […]

April 1, 2011

Compal, Technicolor green lighted by Euro Certification Board

Cable Europe Labs has disclosed new products that passed the rigorous testing programme of the Euro Cable Certification Board. Euro-DOCSIS cable modems, cable modem termination systems (CMTSs), and set-top boxes are fundamental for the development and improvement of broadband services, guarantying their functionality is essential. “Broadband services in Europe are growing rapidly, and the high […]

April 1, 2011

FTTH Council Europe will further address the urgent need for FTTH with new initiatives

At the General Assembly of the FTTH Council Europe the members have reaffirmed their commitment to continue the mission of the FTTH Council Europe to urge Europe to move to FTTH. With more detailed “Why Fibre & How Fibre” initiatives, the organisation will provide the necessary arguments and data to the broadband stakeholders to build […]

April 1, 2011

UK ISPs “mustn’t set their own rules”

Speaking at a House of Commons debate on net neutrality, the executive director of the Open Rights Group called for Government to step in to prevent ISPs making up the rules for Internet service. Jim Killock said: “What we have here is ISPs setting the rules. They are the de facto regulation of content on […]

March 31, 2011

RTVE claims €47m loss down to levy avoidance

State-owned broadcaster RTVE ended its first year without ad revenue with a deficit of €47.1 million – a sum roughly the same as the amount it claims the telecos and private broadcasters are side stepping in the levy system set up to compensate it for the loss of airtime sales. RTVE has accused commercial broadcasters […]

March 31, 2011From David Del Valle in Spain