Advanced Television

Business

EC clears Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Sky

The European Commission has approved unconditionally under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Sky by Comcast, concluding that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in Europe. Comcast and Sky are mainly active in different markets in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the UK and Spain. They compete with each other only to a […]

June 18, 2018

No-go for Altice-Media Capital deal

The planned acquisition of Prisa’s share in Portuguese media company Media Capital by Altice unit Meo will not take place. In a statement sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission (CMVM), Prisa announced the “end of the purchase and sale contract entered into with Meo”, saying that this is a “consequence of not having met […]

June 18, 2018From Branislav Pekic in Rome

BBC distribution policy reviewed

The BBC has published its new distribution policy following the conclusion of a four month consultation process on a draft policy. The BBC is required by its Royal Charter and Framework Agreement to develop a strategy and policy for distributing its output and services, and to consult the public and Ofcom on the Policy before […]

June 18, 2018

Inmarsat ‘sale’ could create security anxieties

London-based Inmarsat operates a global suite of satellites providing connectivity to some of the world’s shipping and aircraft fleets. Last week, Inmarsat rejected an initial “highly preliminary” bid from Denver-based EchoStar, owned by Charlie Ergen. Veteran British politician Sir Vince Cable (and a former Secretary of State for Business) has warned that any take-over of […]

June 18, 2018By Chris Forrester

Huge profits rise for Multichoice owner

Except to say that the profit rise has not come from Multichoice, but from owner Naspers and its hugely valuable stake in Chinese Internet giant Tencent. Cape Town-based Naspers, already Africa’s biggest company, says that its core headline earnings will rise by 70-75 per cent when it unveils its full year results on June 22nd. […]

June 18, 2018By Chris Forrester

Splay and Nice One to become SplayOne

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) companies Splay and Nice One will merge to create SplayOne, a new Nordic powerhouse in branded entertainment operating as part of NENT Group’s studio business; NENT Studios. As the Nordic region’s leading digital video network and online media house, Splay helps brands succeed in social media. Nice One is a […]

June 18, 2018

Kino Polska TV takes majority stake in Stopklatka TV

SPI subsidiary Kino Polska TV, owner of television networks Kino Polska, Filmbox, Kino TV and Zoom TV has acquired from Agora 41 per cent shares of Stopklatka SA (the company broadcasting Poland’s top terrestrial movie channel). As a result, Kino Polska TV SA now owns 82.6 per cent shares becoming Stopklatka’s majority stakeholder, which significantly […]

June 18, 2018

AT&T completes Time Warner acquisition

Following the US Court ruling that rejected the US Justice Department’s objection to the deal, AT&T has completed its acquisition of Time Warner, bringing together what AT&T says is global media and entertainment leaders Warner Bros, HBO and Turner with AT&T’s leadership in technology and its video, mobile and broadband customer relationships. “The content and […]

June 15, 2018

Ofcom: ‘Openreach separation broadly satisfactory’

UK communications regulator Ofcom has published its first progress report on the legal separation of Openreach from its parent company BT. BT agreed in March 2017 to Ofcom’s requirements to make Openreach – which runs the UK’s main phone and broadband network – a distinct company. This means Openreach having its own staff, management and […]

June 15, 2018

Comcast makes $65bn Fox bid

Seemingly emboldened by the US Court decision that rejected the Justice Department’s objection to the AT&T/Comcast merger, Comcast has made what it says is a superior all-cash proposal to acquire 21st Century Fox after the spin-off of ‘New Fox’. In a Statement, Comcast said it had delivered a letter to the Board of Directors of […]

June 14, 2018By Colin Mann