Advanced Television

Business

Bennett appointed BBC3 controller

Zai Bennett, the ITV director of digital channels and acquisitions, ahs been appointed the controller of BBC3. Bennett succeeds Danny Cohen, who became the controller of BBC1 in October. His BBC start date is yet to be confirmed. Bennett will inherit a channel that had an £88 million budget in the year to the end […]

December 16, 2010

Bitter spat at ATVOD UK meeting

The (UK) Association for TV on Demand held a stakeholders meeting with Ofcom on December 13th in order to discuss fees for 2011 licences. The meeting, highly charged from the beginning, saw some strong opinions expressed over the proposed fees from Ofcom, with some channel owners expressing grave concern that ATVOD itself, and Ofcom, were […]

December 15, 2010By Chris Forrester

IFTA urges stronger online copyright protection

Global trade association the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has urged the US Department of Commerce and other government agencies to take concerted action to enhance effective online copyright protections. It contends that online piracy has put at risk future production by harming independents’ ability to recoup minimum guarantees. IFTA submitted the comments in […]

December 15, 2010

Eutelsat “not interested” in Canada’s Telesat

Despite previous reports linking Eutelsat with Canada’s Telesat, the Paris-based satellite operator confirmed Dec mber14 that it had no interest in acquiring Telesat. A Eutelsat spokeswoman repeated previous statements from CEO Michael de Rosen that the operator is much more looking to Asia for any expansion prospects. Meanwhile Intelsat itself is stressing that the complex […]

December 15, 2010By Chris Forrester

BBC Trust unveils strategy

A new strategy to deliver more distinctive, high quality programmes, improved value for money and greater transparency for all audiences has been published by the BBC Trust, the body that sets BBC strategy and top-level budgets . Launching the final conclusions of the Strategy Review, BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons stressed that the BBC […]

December 15, 2010From Colin Mann in London

Scripps eyes Virgin’s UKTV stake

Scripps Networks Interactive is in talks to buy Virgin Media’s 50 per cent stake in cable operator UKTV for about $500 million, the Wall Street Journal has reported. UKTV is a joint venture between Virgin and BBC Worldwide and currently consists of the channels: Alibi, Dave, Eden, Gold, Blighty, Good Food, Watch, Home. Really and […]

December 15, 2010

RTL, Time Warner want Dogan TV assets

Six bidders are reportedly in a race to pick up broadcasting assets from Turkish media giant Dogan Yayin. Discovery Communications, Time Warner and RTL are amongst the potential bidders reported by FT to likely proceed to the second round of the bidding process. TV channels Kanal D and Star are amongst the assets up for […]

December 15, 2010By Chris Forrester

ATIS IIF launches stereoscopic 3DTV quality initiative

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions’ (ATIS) IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) has launched a new work programme to address Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for Stereoscopic 3D IPTV. Stereoscopic 3D is a rapidly developing area, but further data collection is necessary in order to best understand user perceptions of quality.  To […]

December 15, 2010

Verimatrix certifies SMiT CAM

Verimatrix, the specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-screen digital TV services around the globe, has certified the SMiT conditional access module (CAM) for use in VCAS for DVB secured networks targeting broadcast consumer devices and professional receivers. Shenzhen State Micro Technology Co., Ltd (SMiT), a global designer and provider of CAM devices, is […]

December 15, 2010

Platform strengthens management and client services team

Platform the specialist PR and marketing agency for the broadcast, digital media and mobile industry, has strengthened its core management team with a number of new hires and promotions. The expansion comes off the back of a number of client wins and a growing demand for PR and communications from the industry. Gay Bell, CEO […]

December 15, 2010