Advanced Television

Business

Discovery: OpenTV should buy out Kudelski

Discovery Group, the largest independent shareholder of OpenTV, has sent a letter to the Board of Directors proposing that OpenTV offer to repurchase Kudelski Group's 32 per cent economic stake for $1.35 per share. Discovery's recommendation follows Kudelski's failed attempt to take full ownership of OpenTV. Discovery points to recent disclosures by Kudelski that suggest […]

June 12, 2009

New CEO for CableLabs

The Board of Directors of CableLabs has named Paul Liao, the chief technology officer at Panasonic, the next CEO of Cable Television Laboratories Inc. Liao will take over from long-time head Dick Green.

June 12, 2009

France "three-strike" system vetoed

France’s highest legal authority struck down a key provision of the controversial law that would have cut off Internet access to people who repeatedly download copyrighted content illegally. The council rejected the core portion of the measure, under which a newly created agency, acting on the recommendations of copyright owners, would have been able to […]

June 12, 2009

UK industry lobbies for pressure on illegal downloads

The lobbying effort is backed by more than 15 organisations from the creative industries and, for the first time, Amicus/Unite and the Trade Union Congress. The coalition urges the government to ensure a tough stance is taken in the final Digital Britain report, due to be published by the communications minister, Lord Carter. “Job losses […]

June 12, 2009

Coship raises funds for STB production line

Chinese digital set-top box manufacturer Coship Electronics has received conditional approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for a private placement, the value of which Coship estimates will not exceed RMB 430 million (E45m). Approximately 77 per cent of the funds are be used to build capacity for annual production of 2 million HD […]

June 12, 2009

Phorm puts 20% on sale

A year after placing shares worth £32 million (E37m), Phorm, the ad targeting company, wants to sell 19.4 percent of the company through a new share offering for £15 million. In 2007, it burned through $22.4 million cash and made a $32.8 million loss. So far the controversial system has several trials but no confirmed […]

June 12, 2009

Blavatnik saves Setanta?

American investor Len Blavatnik is offering £20m (E23.4m) to buy some time for the beleaguered sportscaster. However the BBC reports he is demanding a 51% stake in return. Blavatnik is also involved with Top-up TV, the pay-tv channel on Freeview, and is said to have strong Russian connections.

June 12, 2009

Carter to resign

The communications minister Lord Stephen Carter is to leave his job after this week’s Digital Britain report is published. It is being reported that Carter will leave the government by the end of next month to return to the private sector. Carter has been in the role 18 months after a fraught spell as Downing […]

June 12, 2009

Kudelski not interested in selling OpenTV stake

The 'round robin' on the OpenTV non-takeover by its biggest shareholder continues. The Kudelski Group, has commented on Discovery Group's recommendation that OpenTV buys out Kudelski Group's stake in OpenTV: "The Kudelski Group confirms that it is not interested in selling its shares of OpenTV…Kudelski Group reiterates its commitment to remain OpenTV's controlling shareholder and […]

June 12, 2009

Rosen joins Eutelsat as Deputy CEO

The Board of Eutelsat Communications has unanimously approved the proposal from its Chairman Giuliano Berretta to nominate Michel de Rosen as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Rosen joins Eutelsat Communications on July 1st. He will collaborate closely with Giuliano Berretta in advance of assuming the position of Chief Executive Officer after the General Assembly of Shareholders […]

June 12, 2009