As consumers access digital video on more devices, applications for MPEG digital video compression technology are expanding, particularly in portable devices, reports In-Stat. As a result, shipments of MPEG ICs, which support compression and decompression of digital video, will reach 2 billion units by 2013. “Compression technology continues to improve, offering lower bit rates and […]

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 […]

Time Warner Cable the second-largest cable company in the US swung to a fourth-quarter profit after its year-ago results were dragged down by big write-downs related to its spin-off from Time Warner. The cable company continued losing video subscribers and overall customers during the quarter amid rising competition and a weak economy. It was able […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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,” […]