Advanced Television

MNO

SecondSync joins Twitter

UK-based TV social media analytics company SecondSync is to become part of Twitter. In an announcement on its website, SecondSync says it is “very proud” of the business it has built up over the last three years. “Through our social analytics products, we’ve enabled clients in the broadcast and advertising industries to realise the value […]

April 1, 2014By Colin Mann

4G DTT disruption lower than anticipated

at800 – the organisation responsible for ensuring people continue to receive free-to-air television when 4G mobile services operating at 800 MHz are launched – is revising its approach to improve its support for UK viewers of digital terrestrial Freeview services. The decision follows research among Freeview viewers before and after local 4G at 800 MHz […]

January 30, 2014By Colin Mann

India’s MSOs complain about TV tax

Recently the Mumbai region has placed the responsibility for collecting India’s entertainment tax firmly onto the shoulders of the major MSOs. Previously the cash was collected by the thousands of smaller Local Cable Operators. Now four of India’s largest MSOs are hitting back. Den Networks, Hathway , Siticable and inCable have filed separate writs in […]

January 22, 2014By Chris Forrester

EC OKs Vodafone Kabel Deutschland takeover

Vodafone has confirmed that it has obtained unconditional merger control clearance from the European Commission for the voluntary public takeover offer for Kabel Deutschland. With merger approval from the European Commission, all conditions to the offer have been met and Vodafone expects to close the transaction on October 14th 2013. Kabel Deutschland shareholders who have […]

September 23, 2013

India MSOs hit with tax summons

It seemingly never just rains on India cable MSOs but it pours! Not only are they struggling with an analogue to digital conversion task that’s massively complicated and much delayed and has some regions now officially blacked out, but the tax-man has hit some Kolkata cable players with tax demands and claims of financial irregularities. […]

September 2, 2013

Vodafone to sell Verizon stake

Vodafone has confirmed it is in talks with Verizon over the sale of its 45 per cent stake in their joint venture, Verizon Wireless. Reports earlier this year suggested that Verizon was looking to buy Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless for about $100 billion. Shares in Vodafone jumped 9 per cent following the company’s announcement. […]

August 29, 2013

Vodafone, Kabel Deutschland deal cleared

The German competition authorities have reported they have no objections to UK mobile phone giant Vodafone plan to take over Kabel Deutschland. “Following a preliminary examination on our part, we’ve assessed that it’s more of a complementary tie-up,” the head of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, Andreas Mundt, told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The dossier would now […]

August 21, 2013

Slim bids for KPN control

Carlos Slim’s America Movil has made a €7.2 billion bid for the 70 per cent of Dutch telecoms group KPN it does not own, challenging Telefonica’s attempt to buy KPN’s German business. Telefonica last month made an $11 billion offer to buy KPN’s crown jewel, Germany’s E-Plus, disrupting America Movil’s expensive – and on paper […]

August 9, 2013

Green light for Zon-Optimus merger

Portugal’s Competition Authority – Autoridade da Concorrência – has approved a merger between quad-play provider Zon Multimedia and Sonaecom’s mobile unit Optimus. The two companies said that they have been informed of the Authority’s non-opposition to the consolidation process, with the confirmation of the previously announced five conditions. The conditions include: Optimus extends the duration […]

August 1, 2013From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Malone: “…and so should MSOs to bid for Hulu”

Also at Sun Valley Malone told Reuters that all US MSOs would benefit from owning the online streaming service Hulu. Yahoo, AT&T and Time Warner Cable, have been linked to bids for Hulu, with US pay TV operator DirecTV said to be ahead of the pack. Malone siad: “On their own, if they were the […]

July 12, 2013