Liberty Global has announced an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the equity of Aster Sp. z.o.o (Aster Cable) from private equity funds of Mid Europa Partners. Poland’s Aster provides video services to 368,000 (including 92,000 digital TV), 177,000 Internet and 70,000 fixed telephony subscribers. Mike Fries, President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty […]
Newtec, a global player in satellite communications, has announced that PALS Electronics has successfully achieved the Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite (MENOS) certification of its vehicle-mounted and fly drive satellite antenna systems for use with Newtec’s ASBU-MENOS Open DSNG networking solution. The certification process ensures that the proposed solution is fully compliant with the MENOS […]
Australian investment funds managed by Macquarie have increased their holdings in the lucrative satellite and TV services sector. Various Macquarie funds already invest in UK-based Arqiva, and have just bought facilities house Ascent Media, part-owned by John Malone, which has sold its distribution business to Encompass Digital Media for $120m, including $7m of debt. Malone […]
Shortly after announcing a series of measures better to protect against copyright infringement, Google has revealed it is to acquire digital media solutions provider Widevine with the intention of improving access to video content across the web. According to Mario Queiroz, Google’s VP of Product Management, with rapidly improving broadband and wireless speeds, more powerful […]
US-based digital media services provider Encompass Digital Media is to acquire the global content distribution business of Ascent Media Corporation for some $120 million, including approximately $113 million in cash and the assumption of certain indebtedness and obligations totalling approximately $7 million. The deal creates a major global provider of mission-critical outsourced media services to […]
The European Commission has given itself an extra fortnight to consider the competition implications of News Corp’s bid to take control of Sky as News reportedly offers significant concessions to try and ensure the deal is approved. The EC decision deadline has been moved back from 8th December to the 22nd after it received […]
Troubled Hollywood studio MGM on December 2nd saw its bankruptcy reorganisation plan approved by a New York court, and cleared the way for MGM to speedily exit its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. MGM expects the new plan to become effective mid-December. “Today’s ruling is an important milestone for MGM,” said Co-CEO Steven Cooper. “Thanks to the […]
The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) has announced the appointment of Roger Crumpton as director of education, employment, and training. The appointment coincides with the launch of the IABM’s new training academy designed to address the worldwide shortage of qualified broadcast engineers and technicians. “Our recent industry surveys have shown that the shortage of […]
SmarDTV, a Kudelski company, has entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets from French technology company Iwedia including the transfer of all staff from Iwedia to SmarDTV. “We are delighted to announce our acquisition of the Iwedia team and assets” said Eric Chaubert, CEO of SmarDTV. “CI Plus is really building steam across Europe […]
Barry Diller is stepping down as chief executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp, adding it had bought out one of its largest shareholders, John Malone’s Liberty Media. IAC said on Thursday Liberty had sold its entire equity stake in IAC in exchange for $220 million in cash and the Evite and Gifts.com businesses. The online businesses will become […]