Advanced Television

Regulation

€10m for CNC from OTT tax

The so-called YouTube/Netflix video tax, imposed upon French OTT platforms since January 1st 2018, will bring a relatively small €10 million to film and TV funding body CNC. Talking to daily Le Figaro, CNC president Frédérique Bredin said that compared to “movie theatres that will pay €140 million and TV broadcasters €290 million.” the contribution […]

February 26, 2019From Pascale Paoli Lebailly in Paris

FCC: ‘Modern regulatory approach boosts 5G’

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr has suggested that policy decisions it has adopted have helped the early development of 5G in the US. Delivering a speech on ‘A Modern Regulatory Approach to 5G’ during the Transatlantic Policy Dialogue at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Carr noted that although the benefits of 5G are […]

February 26, 2019Nick Snow @ MWC

Vodafone Spain urges new market rules for football

Vodafone Spain is lobbying regulator CNMC to change market rules and oblige Movistar to share its premium content at a more reasonable price. The operator has urged it to modify the criteria to calculate the football cost per customer, coinciding with the revision plan of the conditions imposed on Telefónica to guarantee free competition to […]

February 25, 2019From David Del Valle in Madrid

Fastweb, Samsung 5G Fixed Wireless Access trial

Samsung Electronics and Italian telco Fastweb are to conduct Italy’s first 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) trial on commercial spectrum. Companies are trialling to demonstrate how 5G FWA networks could serve as a compelling alternative to FTTH (Fibre-to-the-Home) to deliver ultra-broadband connectivity and gigabit experience to end users. Following the recently-signed agreement by the companies, […]

February 25, 2019

Trump ‘I want 6G’

President Trump tweets: “I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible…It is far more powerful, faster and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind.” “There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on something that is so […]

February 22, 2019

Spain’s DTT migration plan at risk

The Government’s call for elections in April 2019 may endanger the DTT migration scheduled to start this month. Recently, the Spanish Administration approved by Royal Decree a new DTT plan that paves the way for the second digital dividend to be completed before June 30th 2020. Under the new DTT plan, broadcasters must release the […]

February 22, 2019From David Del Valle in Madrid

Ofcom: Draft ‘no-deal Brexit’ licences

UK media regulator Ofcom has published draft TV broadcast licences which it proposes to issue to new successful applicants in the event the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place (no-deal Brexit). If the UK Government agrees an implementation period for Brexit with the EU, Ofcom understands that arrangements for the broadcasting […]

February 22, 2019By Colin Mann

Missing Link champions Moments Worth Paying For

Lionsgate’s animated adventure Missing Link is the latest movie to receive an exclusive trailer as part of pro-copyright education body the Industry Trust’s Moments Worth Paying For campaign, to combat film piracy. The trailer features brand new, never-seen-before footage, showcasing the hilarious and heart-warming moments in the film and reminding families that sharing unforgettable moments […]

February 22, 2019By Colin Mann

C-Band restructuring: ‘Encouraging feedback’

The second quarter of this year should see the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) make its ruling on whether the C-Band Alliance (CBA) of Intelsat and SES can restructure – and sell – 180 MHz of spectrum over the US for 5G take-up. Much of yesterday’s (February 20th) analyst call with senior staffers from Intelsat was […]

February 21, 2019

Euro broadcasters call for online platform regulation

Public and commercial broadcasters met February 19th in Brussels at the invitation of European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. With European broadcasting being increasingly impacted by largely unregulated global online platforms, they say it is critical that action is taken to ensure citizens have easy access to trusted news and information. Following a discussion focused on […]

February 20, 2019By Colin Mann