Advanced Television

Business

Belgacom helped by TV

Belgacom reported profit that beat analyst estimates for the second quarter on higher sales of high-speed Internet access and raised its forecasts for mobile-phone and fixed-line revenue. Net income rose 12 per cent to E245 million a share, from E219 million a year earlier. The rising profit seems to validate Belgacom’s strategy of expanding its […]

August 27, 2007

Macquarie after C&M

A consortium including Macquarie Bank's South Korean private equity arm and MBK Partners is set to acquire a 30 per cent stake in the country's second biggest cable TV group and targeting the remaining shares. Macquarie Korea Fund has signed a preliminary deal to purchase the stake from Goldman Sachs for about $650m (E479m), and […]

August 26, 2007

Alcatel Lucent loses top execs

The turbulent 10-months at Alcatel Lucent has claimed two senior victims. Mike Quigley, the Australian once tipped to be chief executive of the French group, and Frank D'Amelio, the former Lucent executive who was put in charge of integrating the two companies, had both resigned, the company said. D'Amelio is leaving to become chief financial […]

August 26, 2007

OFT to look at CRR

The Office of Fair Trading will make its decision on whether to review contracts rights renewal by the end of summer. With the start of the TV trading season – which will see advertising deals struck between broadcasters and media agencies for 2008 – starting next month, any decision to review CRR is unlikely to […]

August 22, 2007

Bosco for MySpaceTV.

Tom Bosco will oversee sales of video advertising across MySpace. “Tom’s proven track record of driving revenue around online-video products gives MySpaceTV an incredible advantage in the marketplace going forward. Video is a huge focus for us from a monetization perspective with virtually limitless opportunities on MySpace. Tom’s experience adds to our team one of […]

August 20, 2007

Cavalier in SecureMedia deal

Digital media protection specialist SecureMedia has been acquired by US competitive communications provider Cavalier Telephone and TV. SecureMedia will remain an independent company, servicing current customers while pursuing new worldwide. The company will also provide technology and services to advance Cavalier Telephone and TV’s new business developments and long-term strategy. “When Cavalier first set out […]

August 20, 2007

Virgin delays auction

As predicted Virgin Media is to delay its auction in the hope credit market turbulence will settle to allow private equity suitors to finance bids of up to $23 billion (E16.8bn). The UK company had set a deadline of next week for initial offers, after an approach by Carlyle kicked off an auction. But its […]

August 3, 2007

Copyright warnings 'too heavy'

An association of computer and communication companies, including Google, Microsoft and Yahoo, accused several professional sports leagues, book publishers and other media companies of misleading and threatening consumers with overstated copyright warnings. In a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, the group, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, said that the National Football League, Major […]

August 3, 2007

Widevine alleges patent breach

Widevine has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Verimatrix for unspecified damages. The lawsuit comes following attempts by Widevine to openly license its intellectual property to Verimatrix. Widevine claims it has important intellectual property in the field of content protection with a robust patent portfolio of 8 issued patents and approximately 45 domestic and international […]

August 3, 2007

Viacom surprise rise

Viacom Inc posted a better-than-expected profit, boosted by the film division. The New York-based owner of MTV Networks, Paramount movie studios and Nickelodeon cable channels said its second quarter profit fell less than 1 per cent to $434 million down from $437.3 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 13 per cent to $3.19 billion ahead […]

August 3, 2007