Digital nightmare unfolds in Romania
Romania’s transition to digital broadcasting has been thrown into confusion, with the fate of a DTT tender about to take place hanging in the balance. Read the story »
BBC undecided on 3D format choice
The BBC has yet to take a view on the long-term format choices for the delivery of 3D content. Graham Plumb, head of distribution technology, BBC said he was painfully aware of the ongoing standards debate surrounding the distribution of the format. Read the story »
EBU members see three-year 3D horizon
EBU members are worried at the push being given to 3DTV from manufacturers as the next generation of television. Andy Quested, principal technologist, HD, BBC Future Media and Technology, said Europe’s public service broadcasters were concerned that the strategies of the manufacturers did not fit with their own models for the next three to five years of planning. Read the story »
Video Consumption across Multiple Platforms is a Global Phenomenon
US-based research company Nielsen recently completed a survey of more than 27,000 online consumers in 55 countries, asking simple questions about how they watch video.
The regular TV set is still the main way people are watching television, but other ways of watching video are now increasingly becoming popular. The research provides some insight into these developments. Globally, 90% of online consumers use their in-home television at least once per month. Read the story »
Time for reflection for TVN
While the Polish TV market goes from strength, the performance of one of its leading players TVN, which is backed by ITI Group and lists no fewer than two DTH platforms in its portfolio, has of late been disappointing. Read the story »
Russian DTH deal completed
Gazprom-Media has finally completed the acquisition of Tricolor TV, Russia’s leading DTH platform in terms of subscriber numbers. Read the story »
Sky Movie rights face Ofcom WMO
Sky faces further regulation of its premium content after Ofcom confirmed plans to refer the sale of pay-TV movie rights to the Competition Commission. Read the story »
More News and Analysis»Market Analysis
French media authority CSA looks to revive DTT pay-TV
The French media authority CSA has opened a tender for two new pay- TV channels on the terrestrial digital network. The Council hopes to breathe new life into over the air premium TV, as such services haven’t been doing very well. Out of the total of 12 million households now watching DTT, just 800,000 subscribed to pay-TV at the end of 2009. Read the story »
Romania: the price war continues
The unique nature of Romania’s digital TV marketplace came quickly to the fore during the latest business breakfast organised by Broadband TV News, publisher of New Television Insider, and Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) in Bucharest earlier this month. Read the story »
Bulgaria: a magnet for investors
Earlier this month News Corp completed the last stage of its withdrawal from Central and Eastern Europe when it sold the national commercial station bTV and other Bulgarian TV assets to CME for $400 million (€298 million). Read the story »
Data
Fast growth for IPTV
Global broadband hit the 484 million subscriber mark as more than 14 million lines were added in Q1 2010, according to the Broadband Forum. IPTV growth stood at nearly 8% in the last quarter, contributing to a 46% increase over the previous 12 months – the most rapid expansion yet recorded. Read the story »
CI Plus Adoption
Interest in CI Plus has grown steadily in recent months. The CI Plus Conditional Access Module (CAM) allows owners of integrated digital TV sets, which have a slot for a CAM, to receive the cable signals without the need of an additional set-top box. Read the story »
European 3D Plans
Europe’s pay-TV operators are continuing to show off their 3D capability, so we make no apologies for an early reprise of our 3D progress chart. However, to date only Sky 3D in the UK, Canal+ France and ZON in Portugal have emerged with plans for a permanent service. These in addition to the regular test broadcasts from satellite operators Astra and Eutelsat. Read the story »
