BSkyB is to continue legal action in the fight to hold on to the 17.9 per cent stake it holds in rival broadcaster ITV. The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal last month upheld an original ruling by the Competition Commission that by holding the stake BSkyB had an adverse impact on the market. But Sky has […]

The FTTH Council Europe has concluded its input into the European Commission's public consultation exercise on regulatory approaches to Next Generation Access (NGA) networks. Joeri Van Bogaert, President of the FTTH Council Europe explains the guiding principles of the response: "The FTTH Council Europe believes that, where feasible, competition based on access to passive infrastructures […]

Project Kangaroo, the JV between ITV, the BBC and Channel 4, is planning a test launch in January ahead of a competition ruling that will decide its ultimate fate. It is currently the subject of a Competition Commission investigation assessing its impact on the online video-on-demand market, but is forging ahead with technical development of […]

From David Del Valle in Madrid SES Astra is to make a formal complaint before the European competition authorities against the Spanish Government for its alleged preferential treatment to Abertis Telecom in the deployment of DTT in the country. The Luxembourg-based company has accused the Spanish Administration of helping out its main competitor in the […]

Project Kangaroo, the joint venture between ITV, Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide to provide an online video on-demand service, will not pose a threat to competition, the project has said in its submission to the Competition Commission's inquiry. In 73 page rebuttal of competitors claims, Kangaroo insists it will not reduce competition in the nascent […]

Virgin Media has had a competition tribunal appeal rejected that, if upheld, could have resulted in rival pay-TV broadcaster BSkyB being forced to sell its entire 17.9 per cent stake in ITV. Last month Virgin Media lodged an appeal arguing that the Competition Commission failed to properly consider special rules governing the plurality of media […]

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has stated that Microsoft founder Bill Gates has signalled his approval of the FCC white spaces agenda as the Commission moves to approve allowing devices to use the spaces and disappoint broadcasters who have warned of signal interference. According to the FCC, Gates praised the FCC’s recent conclusion that laptops and […]

The first-ever Global Standards Symposium has concluded in South Africa with broad agreement on the need to take aggressive action to streamline standards work and end the duplication of efforts within the sector. The one-day symposium brought together government Ministers, diplomats, senior executives from the private sector and lead officials from other standards bodies. Opening […]

ATIS has released a new standard created by the ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF): "Network Attachment and Initialisation of Devices and Client Discovery of IPTV Services (ATIS-0800017)". This document specifies the initial set of activities that prepare devices in the consumer domain to receive and consume IPTV services. It is a foundation specification addressing fundamentals […]

Outgoing Ofcom chairman David Currie has said that his successor should expect the communications regulator to have an expanded remit with responsibility for stricter control over internet content. Currie said there was an appetite among legislators for putting a tighter rein on the internet now the medium had moved beyond its formative stages. Echoing comments […]