Advanced Television

Business

ARC buys IP specialist

Configurable processor specialist ARC International has bought multimedia IP developer Alarity Corporation, for £2 million (E2.9 million) in cash. The bulk of Alarity’s development team is based in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the 40 strong group focuses on codec software, firmware, and advanced multimedia architectures.

September 25, 2007

Arris buys C-COR

Arris Group is to pay $730 million (E517m) in a mix of cash and stock for C-COR Incorporated. Arris says with over 250 customers around the world, the companies collectively reported revenues of over $1.2 billion over the past year and the merged company will be the largest pure-play provider of equipment and solutions to […]

September 25, 2007

Phone in scandal results in £250k fine

Icstis, the UK's premium-rate phone regulator, has issued a record £250,000 (E360,050) fine over fraudulent phone-in competitions on ITV show GMTV that 18 million callers entered but had no chance of winning. Icstis imposed the maximum penalty on phone company Opera Telecom, after it found the revenue generated by callers who could not have won […]

September 25, 2007

Subs sue for a la carte

Some cable subscribers are suing to get their programming a la carte. A multimillion-dollar class-action suit has been filed against the major cable programmers and operators for violating antitrust laws by bundling programming in expanded basic tiers. In a suit filed by veteran antitrust attorney Maxwell Blecher on behalf of 14 cable and satellite subscribers […]

September 24, 2007

Alcatel-Lucent buys Tamblin

Alcatel-Lucent announced it has acquired Tamblin, a privately held software company that provides applications and tool kits that will enhance Alcatel-Lucent’s solution for enabling IPTV users to find, connect and interact with brands and entertainment they care about. Service providers can use Alcatel-Lucent’s interactive TV applications, now enhanced by the Tamblin software with their existing […]

September 24, 2007

Ofcom: BBC HD channel OK

Ofcom's Market Impact Assessment (MIA) has ruled that the BBC's plans to introduce a new mixed genre digital TV channel in high definition format, available free-to-view without advertising, is unlikely to have significant negative market impacts. Audiences would have the opportunity to access the BBC's proposed HD channel on all digital television platforms – digital […]

September 19, 2007

Dolgen and Freston join Veoh investors

Former Viacom president and CEO Tom Freston has joined a growing list of investors in Internet TV service Veoh Networks. Freston, who left Viacom a year ago, took part in the company’s Series C funding, which closed in August 2007, via his Firefly3 LLC firm. Former Paramount Pictures head Jonathan Dolgen was also amongst investors […]

September 17, 2007

Canadian regulator to give TV, cable operators more leeway

Canada’s broadcasting regulator should give more flexibility to cable operators and television stations on advertising, Canadian content and channel packages, according to a report commissioned by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The study will feed into the federal regulator’s public consultations next year on speciality and pay channels and cable and satellites services. Lawyers […]

September 17, 2007

Technetix buys Foentel

UK Cable component supplier Technetix has bought its Spanish equivalent Foentel. It is the intention of Technetix to merge this business with its existing Spanish operation Tratec Telecom España, broadening the depth and reach of its world class engineering solutions and integrated supply chain business within Spain. Technetix bought Tratec of The Netherlands last year. […]

September 14, 2007

Porn against piracy

A total of 65 producers of adult movies, their lawyers and other employees have organised a conference, where possible measures to be taken against piracy will be discussed. Data shows that only about 20 per cent of porn production is being legally spread, which causes serious losses for the whole industry.

September 14, 2007