The Franco-German culture channel Arte plans to launch its online “catch up” service as a free VOD offer in September. Operating under the brand name Arte+, it will provide seven days worth of programming, including news bulletins, current affairs and magazines, for viewing. At present Arte runs the artevod.com website on which programmes are available [...]
STV Cameroon launches on NSS-7
March 29, 2007 07.21 Europe/London By
The Cameroon media company Spectrum Group has launched its two free-to-air TV stations STV1 and STV2 on the NSS-7 satellite. Located at the orbital location of 338 degrees East, the satellite can provide high-power Ku-band coverage of West, Central and Southern Africa. The launch of the two channels on the New Skies satellite enables Spectrum [...]
Bulgarian BTC attracts more interest
March 29, 2007 06.44 Europe/London By
Local reports indicate that the US companies TPG and Warburg Pincus have joined forces to put in a bid for Bulgaria’s incumbent telco BTC. Although Mid-Europa Partners, Turk Telekom and the Turkish mobile operator Turkcell are also known to be interested, doubts have been raised as to whether the US’s Providence Equity Partners still remain [...]
Successful year for Poland’s ITI
March 29, 2007 06.28 Europe/London By
Poland’s ITI Group has posted better than expected results for 2006. Its consolidated revenues in the year amounted to €355.6 million, as opposed to €264.6 million in 2005, while the operational profit was up from €59.6 million to €115.5 million. Its net consolidated profit meanwhile rose from €23.6 million to €72.1 million. Although ITI Group [...]
PTV Global to launch on Sky
March 28, 2007 19.05 Europe/London By
Pakistan Television (PTV) is to launch its PTV Global channel on Sky Digital next Monday (April 2). The channel first launched in the United States in April 2006 with the aim of providing news, current affairs and entertainment to the Pakistani community. The channel will be broadcast free-to-air from the 28 degrees East position and [...]
Setanta extends Irish cable carriage
March 28, 2007 15.45 Europe/London By
Setanta Sports has extended its carriage agreement with UPC Ireland. The recently launched Setanta Golf Channel will be added to the UPC-owned NTL and Chorus networks, while the Setanta Ireland channel will be included in the Chorus basic package for the first time. The Setanta Golf Channel will be a part of the Setanta Premium [...]
In-Di launches HD on April 10
March 28, 2007 10.13 Europe/London By
The Flemish digital In-Di platform will launch its previously announced HD bouquet on April 10. The new service will comprise four HD channels: premium movies on Kinepolis TV, commercial broadcaster VTM, cultural channel Exqui and HD1, both from Euro 1080/Alfacam. The In-Di platform is a joint venture of the four cable companies that make up [...]
Orion Cable plans German shopping spree
March 28, 2007 07.14 Europe/London By
Orion Cable is to establish a €365 million debt facility through its parent company Escaline S.a r.l. The plan is to use the proceeses to purchase additional preference shares in Orion Cable and Escaline, repay existing debts, and finance the potential acquisition of other retail cable operators in Germany. In a statement the company named [...]
Showtime Arabia revamps pay-TV packs
March 28, 2007 07.04 Europe/London By
Showtime Arabia has announced a major restructuring of its programme packages. The Dubai-based DTH platform says that the 20 locally produced premium channels will make it easier for viewers to navigate its content. From April 1, content will be divided into four key brands. The six Showcinema channels will replace the Home Cinema channels with [...]
Liberty unveils digital plans
March 28, 2007 05.53 Europe/London By
According to local reports, Liberty Global has announced its UPC operations in Poland and Hungary will start rolling out digital TV services from 2008. They are likely to include HDTV, a PVR product and virtual VOD libraries, with reception equipment supplied by Philips and Thomson. Separately, a draft law to be presented in Poland next [...]
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Digital TV Eastern Europe NEW REPORT by Simon Murray of Digital TV Research. 2012 is a watershed year for Eastern Europe as the number of digital homes for 15 forecast countries will exceed the analogue total for the first time. This electronically-delivered,150-page report comes in three parts, a PDF file and two Excel workbooks. Countries covered include Russia and Ukraine.