Advanced Television

Business

US Next Gen TV standard reaches milestone

Digital TV standards body the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has commemorated the achievement of what it says is a “major milestone” in TV history, with final member votes being tallied for approval of remaining standards that together comprise the ATSC 3.0 suite of next-generation TV standards. Announced at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, the […]

January 10, 2018By Colin Mann

Is the BBC institutionally mysoginistic?

About twenty years ago, a Judicial Inquiry following a notorious murder in south London found the police to be ‘institutionally racist.’ It was the first time an institution or organisation had been ‘found guilty’ of a behaviour that if displayed in an individual would be a crime. Mysoginism, as such, isn’t against the law, though […]

January 10, 2018

Telecom Italia to split?

Bloomberg News is headlining a quote from Italian economic development minister Carlo Calenda saying that Telecom Italia (TI) should be split into two listed companies (Network Co and retail company), and that he is in talks to define the ‘perimeter of the network’. This report comes followinf news last week that Vivendi is set to […]

January 10, 2018By Chris Forrester

O2 abandons Smart Home service

O2 UK is closing its smart home service after a disappointing response from customers. The Telefónica group MNO said in it had required “category-leading take-up” of the service in order to invest in it properly. O2 Smart Home allowed customers to control devices through a dedicated management app. The operator will refund all payments made […]

January 10, 2018

Florida taxes DTH dishes

The US Supreme Court has refused an appeal by Dish Network which objected to plans by Florida to implement a ‘satellite tax’ on users of DTH services from Dish and DirecTV. The State law can now be implemented. Cable users already have to pay a 4.92 per cent tax on their subscriptions. However, the satellite […]

January 10, 2018By Chris Forrester

SiriusXM dumps Bannon

Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump’s chief strategist, didn’t have the best of days on January 9th.  He lost his job as executive chairman of the controversial Breitbart News when its backers pulled their funding, reportedly extremely unhappy at his disparaging comments about the president and his family. Then, pay-radio operator SiriusXM dropped him from their […]

January 10, 2018By Chris Forrester

Altice to spin off US ops

Multinational cable, fibre, telecommunications, content and media company Altice N.V. is to separate Altice USA Inc. from Altice N.V. (which will be renamed Altice Europe). The separation will enable each business to focus more on the distinct opportunities for value creation in their respective markets and ensure greater transparency for investors. Altice NV aims to […]

January 9, 2018

Hancock replaces Bradley at DCMS

Matt Hancock has been promoted to UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, replacing Karen Bradley, who has moved to Northern Ireland Secretary. Hancock was appointed Minister of State for Digital in July 2016 in May’s first Cabinet following her election as Leader of the Conservative […]

January 9, 2018By Colin Mann

James new DCMS Minister

Margot James, currently Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to replace Matt Hancock, following his promotion from that role to Secretary of State in the Department as part of UK Prime Minister […]

January 9, 2018By Colin Mann

DSA publishes new rules for TV White Space tech

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) has announced the publication of new model rules for TV White Space (TVWS) technology. The new model rules will provide governments, policy makers and regulators with the tools necessary to enable the quick and efficient deployment of TVWS networks to help bridge the digital divide and support the Internet of […]

January 9, 2018