Screen Digest has looked at how IPTV services in Europe are likely to fare in the credit crunch. With the entertainment and media sector a prime target for both consumer and advertiser cost-cutting, the revenue flow for media firms could start to dry up. The backing of a major telco is essential. Across Europe IPTV services are typically priced at [...]
Euroconsult, and NPA have reported that the high definition television market in Europe is set to take off. Today 59 million European households are equipped with HD-enabled TV sets. That figure is set to grow to 116 million in 2010, a 51 per cent penetration rate and explode to 220 million in 2018, according to a report co-published by the [...]
A study into the state of Video-on-Demand (VOD) in the UK, from the perspective of the viewer, has revealed that fragmented delivery technologies, confusing rights restrictions and expensive download charges risk driving viewers away from legitimate VOD services. Many viewers are keeping their use of VOD to a minimum, while others are turning to illegal download sites. But the study: [...]
Thomson group has warned it is likely to breach certain debt covenants and needed to bolster its balance sheet, notably by selling more non-core activities. The loss-making company said it would sell businesses which contributed around E1 billion to 2008 sales, including Grass Valley and PRN, for which it has already received expressions of interest, and focus instead on providing [...]
From David Del Valle in Madrid A Spanish consortium formed by Net2, ITA, SABIA, Inves and Mapfre have launched the first Tele domestic help service through DTT across the country. Called T-Asisto and using MHP technology, the service provides remote help to all those users who need any assistance at home. The application allows the viewer to manage through the [...]
A large percentage of the BBC’s £130 million-a-year (E141m) digital switchover surplus licence fee money is expected to be taken by comms minister Lord Carter to help achieve his goal of getting broadband in every UK home by 2012. It has been reported that the outline of a deal has been reached, although the full details have yet to be [...]
Digital media company etv media group has been appointed by Gala Coral Group to produce Gala TV – broadcast on the Sky and Freesat platforms as well as online etv will produce eight hours of live programming for Gala TV seven days a week, as well as elements of the auto-game which will broadcast at other times. The channel will [...]
Aprico, a venture of Philips, and StreamUnlimited, an independent technology provider, have announced a partnership for the technical development of a reference implementation of the personal Aprico channel concept into video entertainment devices. The implementation package combines the Aprico personalisation software development kit (SDK) and the Axel Springer EPG and advertising services with the latest technology of StreamUnlimited.
The UK Film Council has launched FindAnyFilm.com; A film search engine, that will find out when, where and how a film is available in the UK, legally and across all formats and platforms – cinema, TV, DVD & Blu-ray sale or rental, download and streaming. The service is free to use and currently contains over 30,000 unique film records.
AT&T have reported a fall in quarterly profit. While the top US telco added a net 2.1 million subscribers during the quarter, higher than the average analyst forecast for 1.9 million subscribers, investors remained concerned about a weakening wireline business. It reported a net addition of 264,000 subscribers to its U-verse video service in the fourth quarter of 2008, bringing [...]
