The US Democratic FCC commissioner Michael Copps has asked FCC chairman Kevin Martin to start an inquiry into News Corp.’s acquisition of The Wall Street Journal. In a letter to Martin, Copps said he is concerned that the $5.6 billion combination would result in control of a network and two of the nation’s five largest [...]
ANGA welcomes EC ruling; LfM disappointed
October 25, 2007 11.45 Europe/London By
The association of German cable operators ANGA is pleased with the recent ruling of the European Commission, which prohibits DTT subsidies to private broadcasters by the state of Nord Rhine Westphalia. The state’s media authority Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (LfM) on the other hand is ‘disappointed’ by the ruling. ANGA president Thomas Braun said in [...]
EC prohibits planned DTT subsidies in North Rhine-Westphalia
October 24, 2007 12.38 Europe/London By
The European Commission has decided that German plans to finance part of the fees commercial broadcasters pay for the transmission of their channels on the DTT network in the German Land of North Rhine-Westphalia are not compatible with EC state aid rules. The Commission fully supports the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. However, the [...]
Babe channels face PIN code protection
October 22, 2007 13.51 Europe/London By
Ofcom has told broadcasters of the so-called Babe channels that it is considering a change in its codes that would require the channels to introduce mandatory PIN codes across the Adult section of the Sky EPG. It follows last year’s warning on the appropriateness of adult content broadcast before the 21.00 watershed and the use [...]
Ofcom suggests HD DTT in 2009
October 17, 2007 08.54 Europe/London By
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards has defended the regulator’s stance towards high definition television on the DTT platform. In the Ofcom Annual Lecture, delivered last night to the Westminster Forum, Richards said that Ofcom was far from indifferent to HD and remained firmly “platform neutral and pro-competition” in its approach, giving the clearest indication yet [...]
Further OTE privatisation halted
October 15, 2007 12.53 Europe/London By
There will be no further privatisation of the incumbent Greek telco OTE in the foreseeable future, according to the Greek government. OTE is currently majority (53.4%) owned by international institutional shareholders, with the Greek state holding 28%, Greek institutional shareholders 13% and others unnamed parties 5.6%. Spain’s Telefónica has already said it has no intention [...]
Invitel secures Tele2 acquisition approval
October 12, 2007 11.45 Europe/London By
The Hungarian Competition Office (GVH) is reported to have given its approval to the sale of Tele2’s Hungarian business to Invitel. The deal, worth €4 million in cash, was announced as one undertaken by the Hungarian Telephone and Cable Corp (HTCC) in July. Since then, however, HTCC and its associated interests have started operating under [...]
More HD tests in France
October 12, 2007 06.25 Europe/London By
The French media authority CSA has approved new experimental HD broadcasts on DTT in the cities of Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Rennes. During October TF1, Arte and M6 will transmit programmes in HD on an experimental basis. This week the CSA interviewed the four broadcasters that have submitted applications for the launch of an [...]
RTL Netherlands cancels Call TV programming
October 10, 2007 07.39 Europe/London By
RTL Netherlands will remove all Call TV type programming from its schedule from November 1, 2007, the broadcaster said, following investigations by the Dutch department of justice. Programming from its own production house as well as Endemol is affected. RTL said its programming will conform to the voluntary code of conduct agreed by the broadcasters [...]
Anacom releases bundle figures
October 9, 2007 11.31 Europe/London By
Data produced by the Portuguese regulator Anacom indicates that there were a total of 503,894 homes in the country receiving double or triple play services at the beginning of July this year. The majority of these (357,844) opted for double play, with 228,463 paying for broadband Internet access and TV signals through a fixed telephone [...]
