The starting gun has been fired on a programme to roll out gigabit-capable full fibre broadband to the most rural and remote locations in the UK, Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright has announced. In the summer of 2018, the UK Government identified that approximately 10 per cent of UK premises, largely in rural and remote areas, […]
Freesat has announced that David Thomas has joined the company as its new Head of Product. Thomas has a varied background and extensive experience in the communications and broadcast sector, having held positions with companies as diverse as Sky, Cellcast, Endemol and Atlas Mobile. He joins Freesat from fintech start-up, Novastone Media, where he was […]
Charlie Ergen is consolidating some of his satellite operations. DISH Network, his pay-TV arm, is buying his Echostar BSS (Broadcast Satellite Services) outfit for 22.9 million shares. DISH President/CEO Erik Carlson saidL “This transaction brings those operations, including the BSS satellites, associated assets and key team members, in house and we expect those additions will […]
Avanti Communications says it has received approvals (“Consents”) from 94.94 per cent of existing bond and debt-holders to seek fresh borrowing. Avanti is talking of borrowing an extra $75 million. The permissions mean that Avanti can proceed with its plan to raise further debt in the form of ‘Super Senior debt’ and that such debt […]
Turkish Aerospace and Argentina’s INVAP have formed a strategic alliance to develop a new geostationary satellite. INVAP is a well-regarded business with some 1300 staff. IT was the first company in Latin America to achieve certification from NASA. It constructs satellite payloads and ground stations. The pair’s statement said that INVAP has been working to […]
Some US regulators are seeking to end satellite’s unique ‘STELA Act’ which provides for US homes to receive signals from satellite broadcasters. A US consumer has three ways of receiving TV signals; Over the air, by cable and by satellite (and increasingly via broadband). The Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA) was […]
Spain’s Mediapro has taken over Fandroid, owner of the eSports league LVP (Professional Videogames League), by acquiring the remaining 50 per cent of the company it didn’t already own for €22 million. With a presence of over 30 countries, Fandroid made €6.5 million revenues in 2017 (latest known data) and in 2018 it reached over […]
Thomas Lasarzik has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Group Content Acquisitions & Sales at ProSiebenSat.1 Television Deutschland. In this position, he is responsible for the negotiation and acquisition of all licensed content, including films and TV series for the group’s channels and platforms. He reports to Henrik Pabst, Chief Commercial Officer Entertainment. Joining ProSiebenSat.1 […]
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged a European alliance to take on US giants such as Netflix, Disney and Apple, and emerging Chinese competitors. In a speech addressed to 130 cultural industry executives who were invited at the Elysée Palace, he said: “If we can’t get organised, we the French, the battle will be lost. […]
RTL Group has reported its Q1 revenue was up 7.2 per cent to €1,518 million. Total digital revenue grew 15.8 per cent to €220 million. The Group saw strong growth in paying subscribers for its VoD platforms in Germany and the Netherlands; up 59 per cent year on year. Thomas Rabe, Chief Executive Officer of […]