Advanced Television

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HbbTV Association releases v9.2 Test Suite

The HbbTV Association, a global initiative dedicated to providing an open standard for the delivery of broadcast and broadband services through connected TVs and set-top boxes, has confirmed that version 9.2 of its Test Suite has now been released. The aim of this release of the Test Suite is to support the certification of devices […]

August 3, 2017

Deutsche Telekom Q2 exceeds expectations

Deutsche Telekom, Europe’s biggest telecom company, has posted quarterly results that topped expectations, with a 9 per cent rise in core profit powered by strength in the US and modest gains in Germany and Europe. The German telco lifted up its 2017 outlook for core profit to around €22.3 billion from €22.2 billion. Q2 results […]

August 3, 2017

RTL leads $15m funding in Inception VR firm

Inception, a next-generation immersive content network, has announced a $15 million Series A funding round led by RTL Group, the broadcast, content and digital media giant. This investment helps Inception expand its content catalogue, enhance its technology platform and accelerate growth. Consumers can discover and experience VR content on Inception’s app – original programming created […]

August 3, 2017

Donati expands role at NBCUniversal

Duccio Donati has been appointed to take on the newly created role of EVP, Lifestyle & Kids, NBCUniversal International reporting to Kevin MacLellan, Chairman, Global Distribution & International, NBCUniversal. This strategic position sees Donati broaden his ongoing oversight of E! Entertainment Television (outside the US), adding international responsibility for DreamWorks channel. Further, Donati will collaborate […]

August 3, 2017

SoftBank eyeing Sprint, DISH merger?

A couple of months ago, Japanese media conglomerate SoftBank was attempting to engineer a merger between Intelsat and would-be satellite operator OneWeb. Intelsat’s debt-burden stymied that deal. Now SoftBank is reported to be behind a merger between US cellular telco Sprint, and Charlie Ergen’s DTH operation DISH Network. Shares in Sprint jumped 10.3 per cent […]

August 2, 2017By Chris Forrester

Vivendi vows to reduce dominant position in Mediaset

Italy’s Communications Authority AgCom has received a proposal from Vivendi, “to partially integrate and modify the plan presented on June 19th, aimed at eliminating the position of dominant influence on Mediaset”. In a statement, the telecommunications sector regulator said that it now expects Vivendi to provide further details how it intends to “structurally remove the […]

August 2, 2017From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Spain hinders International DTT entrants

The Spanish Government wants to keep the country’s DTT licences in the hands of Spanish companies. Consequently, the Administration has blocked the entry of Viacom, owner of The Paramount Channel, into the DTT business as a shareholder by banning the sale of a 25 per cent stake in a DTT licence from Vocento to the […]

August 2, 2017From David Del Valle in Madrid

Apple posts solid quarter

Apple has announced financial results for its fiscal 2017 third quarter ended July 1st, 2017. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $45.4 billion and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $1.67. These results compare to revenue of $42.4 billion and earnings per diluted share of $1.42 in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 61 […]

August 2, 2017

NEP acquires Bexel

NEP Group, a global provider of outsourced broadcast and live event production solutions, has acquired Bexel Global Broadcast Solutions, a subsidiary of Vitec Group. Headquartered in Pittsburgh with offices in 21 countries, NEP says its addition of Bexel strengthens its position as the worldwide broadcast services leader, and expands its ability to provide a comprehensive, […]

August 2, 2017

Netflix “$20bn in debt”

Netflix is more than $20 billion (€16.9bn) in the red and ‘bleeding cash’ according to a report in The LA Times. The streaming giant has more than doubled its spending this year and is expected to invest more than $6 billion on its slate of programming in 2017. Its negative free cash-flow of $258 million […]

August 1, 2017