Advanced Television

Business

MGM OK’d to exit bankruptcy

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 […]

December 3, 2010Chris Forrester

IABM training academy

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 […]

December 3, 2010

SmarDTV to purchase Iwedia assets

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 […]

December 3, 2010

Diller steps down at IAC, Liberty sells up

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 […]

December 2, 2010

FCC readies Net rules

  FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has proposed network neutrality rules for the planned commissioners’ vote on December 21st. The meeting agenda notice, issued yesterday, says: “An Order adopting basic rules of the road to preserve the open Internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition, and free expression. These rules would protect consumers’ and innovators’ […]

December 1, 2010

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