Hungary delays DTT tender
October 31, 2007 by Chris Dziadul
Hungary’s National Communications Authority (NHH) has announced that a tender for DTT frequencies has been delayed. It was due to be announced today (October 31) at the latest but has still to be approved by a parliamentary committee.
It is expected the country will launch three DTT multiplexes in 2008, with the licence holder being allowed to also offer mobile TV services on the second of these. Two further DTT multiplexes will become available following analogue switch-off, likely to take place before end of the 2011.
Welho boosts Swelcom numbers
October 31, 2007 by Julian Clover
Swelcom, part of Finnish media giant SanomaWSOY, has increased its net sales by 9.3% in the third quarter on the back of growth at cable operator Welho, and totalling €103.4 million. Operating profit increased to €10.4m from €7.7m.
Welho, which is obliged to follow the terrestrial switchover by next February, has ramped up the distribution of digital set-top boxes. The cablenet has revised its pay-TV offering with a series of new channel packages and the launch of four HD channels.
Commercial TV channel Nelonen also played its part, and although audiences have declined as a result of market fragmentation, the combined broadcast operations increased their net sales to €56.7 million from €53.6m in Q3 2006. As previously reported, Nelonen launched a new video-on-demand service in September, offering viewers access to US shows over the web just days after their original transmission. Nelonen has also launched a new national pay-TV channel known as KinoTV.
Ukrtelecom prepares IPTV an VoIP offer
October 31, 2007 by Chris Dziadul
According to EEBC, the incumbent Ukrainian telco Ukrtelecom plans to start offering its broadband Internet subscribers both IPTV and VoIP services. The former, which will be known as U.tv and operated in association with the commercial broadcaster Inter, will allow viewers to form their own programme packages and give access to both a virtual cinema and VOD. The VoIP offer will meanwhile be known as Ogo!-Agent. Trials of U.tv are due to start this December.
Boost for Lithuanian DTT
October 31, 2007 by Chris Dziadul
The TeliaSonera-backed Lithuanian incumbent telco TEO has agreed to buy a 100% stake in UAB Nacionaliné Skaitmeniné Televizija (UAB NST), the holder of two DTT channel licences, for an undisclosed fee. UAB NST has been spun off from UAB Mikrovisatos TV, which has decided to focus on the provision of multichannel, cable TV and broadband Internet services.
Although TEO launched an IPTV service named Gala TV in October 2006, its efforts in the DTT sector have so far been less than successful. Despite having been awarded a licence to operate a platform, it has until now failed to reach agreements with licensed content providers and moves to buy UAB Mikrovisatos TV earlier this year fell through. Buying UAB NST should now assist the rollout of DTT services across the country.
Samal appointed Nova webmaster
October 31, 2007 by Chris Dziadul
Zdenek Samal has been appointed the head of Internet development at the Czech national commercial station TV Nova. He was most recently at the Czech public broadcaster Ceske Televize (CT).
Dutch broadcasters to allow Web usage
October 31, 2007 by Robert Briel
Dutch public broadcasters will allow usage of their programmes on websites, blogs and social networks. Before the end of the year they will make tools available to easily integrate (parts of) their programming in third party sites.
In order to accommodate the new service, the public broadcasters will make widgets available to allow this kind of integration. “By using these widgets we will stay in the loop,” said Monique de Haas, project manager, adding that “this will enable us to monitor usage, stick commercials to clips.”
The broadcasters have chosen to make some of their programming available, “as we want to reach people where they are with our programming. With the widgets, people will be allow to share our programming, comment on it and even watch together.”
It will also be possible to zoom in on certain parts or aspects of programmes. More details about the project will be announced soon.
Arcor launches IPTV in 51 German cities
October 31, 2007 by Robert Briel
The German telecom operator Arcor has said it will start to market its IPTV service in 51 German cities from December 1 this year. Called Arcor-Digital TV bestellen, it will offer over 50 TV and 60 pay channels. People will also be able to access – for a fee – a library of over 500 on-demand movies. The cities served will include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich.
A basic TV subscription will cost €9.95 a month, with extended thematic tiers starting at €5.95. Monthly triple play packages including IPTV, telephony and Internet access, will start at €34.95. In addition, new customers will have to buy a set-top box for €49.95, and there will be a one-time activation fee of €49.95 plus shipping charges of €9.95.
Versatel reports over 200,000 multiplay customers
October 31, 2007 by Robert Briel
The Dutch telecom company Versatel has said it now has approximately 201,000 customers over ADSL 2+. As of September 30, 2007, it recorded over 18,300 orders in The Netherlands for its multi play product over ADSL2+ during the third quarter. Although the company does not release individual numbers for its IPTV product, most of these ADSL2+ homes are believed to have one of the TV tiers included in their subscription.
On September 28, 2007, Versatel and Chellomedia jointly announced that they had signed an agreement allowing Versatel to broadcast the premium sports and movie channels Sport 1 and Film 1 to its customers. In addition, Versatel and various cable companies (including UPC, Casema, @Home and Multikabel) announced the signing of an agreement which allows Versatel to distribute its football pay-TV channel (“Tele2 Live Eredivisie Voetbal”) to the main cable companies in The Netherlands.
Romtelecom targets broadband growth
October 31, 2007 by Chris Dziadul
The Romanian incumbent telco Romtelecom has launched a new offer designed to boost the take-up of broadband Internet services in the country. Valid until the end of this year, it will provide both residential and business clients who subscribe to its ClickNet package such benefits as lifetime discounts – 50% in the case of monthly subscriptions – and even free computers.
Romtelecom is majority (54.01%) owned by Greece’s OTE and is expected to launch an IPTV service in the near future. It already operates Dolce, one of Romania’s five DTH platforms. Launched in December 2006, it already had 300,000 subscribers in its first six months of operation.
Numericable adds two more HD channels
October 31, 2007 by Robert Briel
The French cable operator Numericable will add two more channels to its existing line-up of HD channels. Besides M6 HD and Canal+ HD, this includes TF1 HD, Arte HD, Luxe.TV HD, NRJ 12 HD and National Geographic HD.
In a related development, Canal+ has launched a free-to-air HD trailer channel on the Astra satellite. The Canal Satellite bouquet currently carries HD versions of Canal+, TF1, M6, Ciné Cinémas Premier and National Geographic HD.
