The Russian cable operator Comcor-TV, which operates under the brand name Akado, has launched a music download service using a hosted Music2You (M2Y) solution supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks. Comcor-TV is understood to have entered the download market in the knowledge that new copyright legislation designed to counter illegal downloading will come into effect in [...]
STV funding worries ease
December 12, 2007 13.06 Europe/London By
The Slovakian public broadcaster STV is reported to have secured SKK100 million (€3.02 million) from the country’s Ministry of Culture to cover for some of its losses this year. STV is aiming to secure a European grant of SKK300 million to help in its transition to digital broadcasting, though its general director believes between SKK700-800 [...]
Russia jumps on the HD bandwagon
December 12, 2007 13.06 Europe/London By
The Russian company HD Media has announced that it will officially unveil two new HD channels today (December 12) at a press conference in Moscow. The first will be known as Perpetuum Mobile and be dedicated to all forms of transport, while the second will go by the name of The World of Aesthetics and [...]
New twist in Polsat sale saga
December 12, 2007 13.05 Europe/London By
The deal that would see Axel Springer acquire 25.1% in the Polish national commercial broadcaster Polsat has taken on a new twist. According to Polish sources, Polsat’s owner Zygmunt Solorz-Zak is now seeking a stake in Axel Springer’s Polish print interests, and even the German company itself, as part of the agreement. The €250 million [...]
LNT maintains lead in Latvia
December 12, 2007 13.04 Europe/London By
According to data produced by TNS Latvia and TV Metri, LNT was the most watched channel in the Baltic republic in November. However, its audience share of 18.3% was slightly down on the previous month’s 18.8%. MTG-owned TV3 was in second place with 18.2% (19.2%), followed by the Russian station PBK with 12.0% (10.0%) and [...]
STV general director dismissed
December 12, 2007 13.02 Europe/London By
Radim Hreha, the head of the Slovak public broadcaster STV, has been relieved of his duties. A former media advisor, Hreha had only been in the post for a year, with the previous occupant Richard Rybnicek having moved on to take up a position at the Czech station Febio TV. Speaking after his dismissal, Hreha [...]
LUXE.TV expands to UK and Ireland
December 12, 2007 11.39 Europe/London By
LUXE.TV has announced its official launch in the UK and Ireland, where it is now available in both HD and SD to 9.5 million Sky subscribers. A Luxembourg-based ‘luxury’ channel owned by DVL.TV S.A, LUXE.TV made its debut in June 2006 and currently broadcasts in six languages – English, French. German, Italian, Spanish and Russian [...]
UK leads multichannel growth
December 12, 2007 10.24 Europe/London By
Multichannel television viewing is increasing faster in the UK than in any other European market, according to The International Communications Market 2007, the second such review by the regulator Ofcom. The share of multichannel viewing increased from 20% in 2001 to 33% in 2006. In Germany the multichannel share in 2006 stood at 30%, while [...]
NBC-Universal joins the Fanfare
December 12, 2007 07.59 Europe/London By
NBC-Universal has said it will make episodes of its hit series ‘The Office’ and ‘Heroes’ available on the new Fanfare platform. Individual programmes may be requested and downloaded on the computer for viewing on regular TV sets and mobile devices. Fanfare is a new download service from SanDisk, slated for a January launch, which will [...]
TV5Monde staff back to work
December 12, 2007 07.44 Europe/London By
The editorial staff of the French international broadcaster TV5Monde have gone back to work following a brief strike which started last Tuesday. The reason for the work stoppage was “the degradation of working conditions” at the channel. It also demanded more journalists and better salary scales. The actions disrupted the various news flashes during the [...]
