Advanced Television

Results

Netflix posts positive Q4

Online movie rental outfit Netflix has reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Netflix ended the fourth quarter of 2009 with approximately 12,268,000 total subscribers, representing 31 per cent year-over-year growth from 9,390,000 total subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008 and 10 per cent sequential growth […]

February 1, 2010

Sky: Good Q2, launches 3D

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has reported strong second quarter results and confirmed that it will launch Sky 3D, Europe's first dedicated 3D TV channel, this April. As part of the final preparations for the launch, and to preview the service, Sky will become the first TV company anywhere to broadcast a live 3D TV sports event […]

January 29, 2010

Roku seeks to raise cash

Roku, the television set-top box maker spun off by Netflix, is planning to raise $30 million in private funding this quarter and may sell shares to the public next year, Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood said. The company, which lets customers stream movies from Netflix and Amazon.com on their TVs, along with music from Pandora […]

January 28, 2010

FiOS growth slows

Verizon’s FiOS ended 2009 with a comparatively sluggish quarter, adding 153,000 subscribers for both TV and Internet services. Verizon had 2.9 million FiOS TV customers as of the end of 2009, and 3.4 million FiOS Internet customers. Year to year, Verizon boosted FiOS TV subs by 49 per cent (with a 24.5 per cent penetration […]

January 27, 2010

Sirius gains

Sirius XM the now sole satellite radio player in the US, added 257,000 net new subscribers for the fourth quarter 2009 and reported $100 million free cash flow for the full year. Mel Karmazin (CEO) noted that 2009 is the first year ever for Sirius XM to report positive free cash flow for an entire […]

January 21, 2010

ONO refinancing begins with E200m

Major Spanish cableco has begun a major refinancing with a E200 million injection from existing VC backers. The company, which faces large repayments on a E3.5 billion loan, plans to negotiate to push the 2010, 2011 and 2012 amortisation schedule out to 2013. ONO initiated discussions with its main relationship banks at the back-end of […]

January 14, 2010

Virgin issues $1bn bonds

Virgin Media is to issue $1 billion in secured bonds as the first step to refinancing its main bank debt on terms similar to its existing credit. The issue will have an eight-year maturity. The proceeds will offer greater flexibility to the operator, which was facing repaying £3.1 billion (E3.44bn) in 2012. Virgin Media has […]

January 13, 2010

Widevine raises further $15m

Widevine, the cardless CAS vendor has raised another $15 million of development capital from Samsung Ventures and Liberty Global and a third corporation, each of which have become strategic shareholders in the company. “Widevine will use the additional capital to support and grow our customer base, broaden our product portfolio and defend our intellectual property,” […]

December 15, 2009

Telegent to raise up to $250m in IPO

Telegent Systems, a developer of semiconductors that enable mobile TV services, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to $250 million in its initial public offering (IPO). The company, which plans to list its shares on the Nasdaq under the symbol “TLG,” has yet to announce details such as the number […]

November 25, 2009

GE and Vivendi stall over NBC stake valuation

General Electric and Vivendi are apparently $1 billion apart in their valuation of the French group's stake in NBC Universal, damping hopes of a quick resolution to the stand-off holding up Comcast's bid for a majority stake in the group. GE and Comcast, the cable operator that wants to take a 51 per cent stake […]

November 23, 2009