European TV weathers recession storm
January 28, 2010 by Chris Dziadul
2009 was undoubtedly a difficult year for Europe’s TV industry, though not as bad as many would have us believe.
That, at least, appears to be one of the main findings of the European Audiovisual Observatory’s 2009 Yearbook, created for the DG Communication of the European Commission. It shows that despite the global economic crisis, more than 245 European – defined as EU 27 plus Croatia and Turkey – TV channels were launched last year, with the most popular genres being sport (38) and kids (17). They included over 150 new thematic services distributed by cable, satellite and IPTV. Read the Story »
Free to air success on French DTT – premium a problem?
January 28, 2010 by Robert Briel
France has an interesting digital TV market served by DTT, DTH, cable and IPTV. DTT is the most widespread, with 61% of all new digital homes choosing at least one terrestrial tuner. Since the launch of TNT (Télévision Numérique Terrestre), the national digital terrestrial service, on March 31, 2005, more than 30 million receivers have been sold. Read the Story »
TVP: the death of a platform
January 26, 2010 by Chris Dziadul
If ever there was a golden era for satellite TV in Central and Eastern Europe it has to be today, with the region served by no fewer than 45-50 platforms. Read the Story »
Storm over Turkish pay-TV rights
January 20, 2010 by Julian Clover
The leading Turkish satellite platform Digiturk has secured the main rights to the country’s premier football league, known as the Türkcell Super League, for the period 2010-2014. However, the amount it bid – $424 million (€39.6 million), including VAT and duties – was over three times the $140 million paid previously per season and has caused considerable controversy in the country. Read the Story »
The world of content discovery
January 20, 2010 by Julian Clover
Content discovery is likely to be one of the buzz phrases of the next 12 months as operators look to offer their customers the means to find their increasingly broad programming line-up. Read the Story »
Consumers describe ‘TV like’ VOD content
January 6, 2010 by Julian Clover
It should come as no surprise that the term VOD was not in the least recognised by the participants, but more importantly on demand was not regarded as being a concept significantly different from other means of timeshifting such as Sky Box Office or a PVR recording.
Dutch and German cablers embrace CI Plus
January 6, 2010 by Robert Briel
Cable operators in The Netherlands and Germany are now embracing CI Plus. Following the announcement by Kabel Deutschland KDG, Germany’s largest cable operator, that it plans to launch CI Plus in the first half of the year, it looks like becoming the standard for cable tuners. Read the Story »
DTT in Central and Eastern Europe: a progress report
January 6, 2010 by Chris Dziadul
The transition to digital broadcasting is likely to intensify in Central and Eastern Europe in 2010, with at least one country completing ASO. Read the Story »
Operator Profile: Naxoo
January 6, 2010 by Julian Clover
Based in Geneva, Naxoo is Switzerland’s second largest cable operator after the UPC-owned Cablecom. It is 48.8% owned by Cablecom, with the remainder held in the hands of the City of Geneva. More than 150,000 households are connected in Geneva and the area around Valasi, including 43,700 signed to its digital packages. Read the Story »
Marketing push improves Sky Deutschland’s December
January 5, 2010 by Julian Clover
Outgoing Sky Deutschland CEO Mark Williams believes the pay-TV platform now has the right mix of marketing offers to drive subscriptions into 2010. It comes on the back of a promised €120 million investment from News Corp that will likely take its shareholding from 39.96% to a maximum 45.4%. Read the Story »
