The Social Market Foundation (SMF) – an independent, non-partisan think tank – says that big companies in UK sectors such as broadband, mobile telephony and personal banking don’t face enough competition, meaning that consumers are hit with a lack of choice, higher prices and underinvestment, suggesting that part of the increased concentration seen in the […]
Global citizens movement Avaaz has launched what it describes as an “unprecedented” public interest legal challenge to Britain’s broadcasting regulator, filing papers in court seeking a judicial review of Ofcom’s decision to clear the proposed takeover of Sky by 21st Century Fox. In June 2017, Ofcom found that if Sky was fully owned by Fox, […]
Portuguese operators NOS and Vodafone Portugal have opposed the planned acquisition by Altice Group of Media Capital. According to Madalena Sutcliffe, director of regulation of Vodafone Portugal, the operation cannot be approved by national regulators ERC and the Competition Authority “not even with compromises because it creates so many problems of pluralism”. Sutcliffe pointed out […]
Trade body Cable Europe has voiced concerns over the future of investment in telecommunications network infrastructure, as it responds to the Belgian consultation on levels of competition in the broadband and broadcasting markets. Submitting a formal response to a national consultation is a rarity for the association of cable operators. Cable Europe says it feels […]
The Board of Directors at Telecom Italia (TIM) have unanimously proceeded to co-opt Amos Genish onto the board, and to appoint him Chief Executive Officer, conferring executive powers on him. “We have a clear long-term vision: to return TIM to its rightful splendour, making a crucial contribution to the digitalisation of the Country, the creation […]
Blend Media, a 360˚ video and VR specialist that is working with Facebook among others, has closed a third round of funding, securing £1.5 million (€1.7m) and bringing total investment to £2.6 million. New investment came from Hambro Perks and I2BF Global Ventures along with participation from existing investors including Paul Cooper, partner at Clarity […]
Roku has raised $219 million (€186m) in an initial public offering priced at the higher end of its expected range, the company said. The offering of 15.7 million shares was priced at $14, valuing Roku at $1.32 billion. As well as providing set tops the company licenses its software to companies such as Sharp and […]
The Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s Communication Tackling Illegal Content Online: Towards an enhanced responsibility of online platforms. The Communication’s self-regulatory approach involves online platforms taking greater responsibility for removing illegal content uploaded by users. The Communication is clear that violations of intellectual property – primarily […]
Nielsen has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Visual IQ, an independent provider of multi-touch attribution (MTA) modelling of advertising on digital platforms that helps improve ROI for brand marketers. With this transaction, Nielsen will acquire Visual IQ’s industry-leading MTA software platform, along with the underpinning data, technology and intellectual property. The acquisition of […]
India’s Economic Times newspaper says that DEN Networks, one of the country’s largest MSOs is again involved in bid talks. The would-be acquirer is Reliance Industries, which operates a 4K cellular service in India under the ‘Jio’ brand, has been working on the launch of home broadband and cable TV services for quite some time […]