Microsoft Corp's Zune portable media device and rival to iPod, is offering TV show downloads – including content from NBC (not available on iTunes.) More than 800 TV episodes will be available at the Zune store for the equivalent of $1.99 (E1.28) in Microsoft points that must be purchased in advance. Zune is also introducing […]

Cablevision is close to an agreement to buy the Sundance Channel, jointly owned by NBC Universal, CBS, and actor Robert Redford, in a cash and stock deal valued at close to $500 million. A purchase of Sundance will strengthen Cablevision’s position in the independent-film programming arena as the cable operator already owns another film channel, […]

Apple has announced that new movie releases from major film studios and premier independent studios are now available for purchase on the iTunes Store on the same day as their DVD release. New releases and catalogue titles will be available from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home […]

Modern Times Group (MTG), the international entertainment broadcasting group, has confirmed that the Swedish Radio and TV Authority has awarded Viasat Broadcasting two new channel broadcast licenses in the Swedish digital terrestrial network and renewed Viasat's existing four licenses. Premium channels 'Viasat Sport 1' and 'TV1000' will join Viasat's TV3, TV6, TV8 and ZTV free-to-air […]

Private Media Group has launched its content for Video-on-Demand on the Neuf Cegetel IPTV platform in France as part of Neuf's Triple-Play offer. Neuf VOD will provide access to hundreds of titles from Private's extensive proprietary movie library.

BBC Sport has confirmed a new five-year contract giving the BBC the rights to broadcast the Wimbledon tennis tournament for a further five years from 2010 to 2014 inclusive. People will be able to catch all the key matches via BBC iPlayer, for up to seven days after broadcast, and have the opportunity to watch […]

Screen Digest’s ‘China Television Market: Assessment and Forecast to 2012' has concludes that the world's largest TV market is enjoying a period of strong growth and despite regulatory hurdles still offers significant investment opportunities for global technology suppliers. In particular, the Beijing Olympics is driving domestic digital cable take-up which is set to grow from […]

FiOS TV customers now enjoy even more home entertainment choices as Verizon has expanded its video-on-demand offer with programmes from CBS, Discovery Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Ovation TV and more. Verizon has also announced new VOD content that features college basketball tournament programming.

From Colin Mann in London In a surprise move, the BBC has secured the television rights to show Formula One in the UK from the 2009 season. The five-year deal marks the return of the sport to BBC screens 12 years after rival commercial broadcaster ITV began broadcasting Grands Prix. A new five-year exclusive deal […]

From Branislav Pekic in Rome Italian public broadcaster RAI is to launch a dedicated channel for teenagers on digital terrestrial and satellite by the end of June. RaiSat director, Carlo Freccero, said that Rai Quattro will be the “iPod of RAI viewers”. He added that the programme schedule has already been defined, but that the […]