The BBC’s 5G broadcast radio trial in Stronsay, Orkney, has been extended until the end of September 2019. The trial began in February with residents in Stronsay becoming some of the first people in the world to receive live radio broadcasts over 5G mobile networks. The trial has proven extremely popular with participants, with initial […]
Recognising that changes in technology and the competitive landscape in recent years mean that the debate about a future digital transition programme for radio in the UK has shifted, Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, has confirmed that the government will begin a review of digital radio in the coming weeks to […]
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of Bonnier Broadcasting by Telia Company under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the merged entity may shut out competitors from the audio-visual sector in Finland and Sweden. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The in-depth […]
A Committee of UK MPs has called for a “robust attack” on beoutQ, the Saudi Arabia-backed pirate TV operation, after it was revealed in Parliament that the illegal operation steals content from “100 UK based TV channels”, including the BBC. Giles Watling, a Member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) Select Committee led […]
A co-founder of Facebook has called for the US government to break up the company, warning that its power is “unprecedented and un-American”. Chris Hughes wrote in the New York Times that Facebook’s acquisition of rival platforms had given its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, unparalleled power over speech and that, from the early days of Facebook, […]
UK telco BT has raised its build targets for Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) from 3 million to 4 million premises passed by March 2021, with the ambition increased from 10 million to 15 million by the mid-2020s, subject to favourable regulatory conditions and policy decisions. The news came as BT announced its results for […]
Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into an allegation that China Global Television Network (CGTN), the international news channel of China Central Television (CCTV), aired a confession forced from a British private investigator while imprisoned in China. Ofcom said it would probe whether CGTN had broken the UK broadcasting code. In the UK, CGTN airs […]
Spain’s largest TV groups Mediaset and Atresmedia are in conflict with regulator CNMC over its proceedings against them following alleged unfair advertising practices. The CNMC has refused to close the file against them without sanctions – as requested by the TV operators – and will continue to press forward with its case and possible record […]
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on May 2nd outlined the regulations as to how it will compensate digital TV licence holders who want to return the licences to the country’s broadcasting watchdog. The NBTC will further expand its intentions on May 7th. In essence, broadcasters – some of whom have lost money on […]
Venezuela’s struggling President Nicholas Maduro has banned distribution of CNN from the nation’s cable and DTH networks. The BBC’s news channel has also been removed. DirecTV, Net Uno, Intercable and Telefonica have all be ordered to remove the news channels via the local telecoms regulator Conatel. CNN, in a web-statement, said: “CNN has been taken […]