The European Commission has published the consolidated text of its revised Television Without Frontiers Directive. The new Audiovisual without Frontiers Directive is designed to provide a legal framework to Europe’s audiovisual sector following developments in video-on-demand, mobile TV and digital TV. The proposals include a relaxation on the amount of advertising that can be screened […]
Sci-Fi awarded Benelux licences
Versions of Sci-Fi Channel and 13th Street have been licensed by Ofcom for carriage in the Benelux. The two stations have been issued with television broadcast licences. Another broadcaster using the UK as its base is Discovery Channel and the network has received a new licence for Spain and Portugal. Also receiving a licence from […]
Providence eyes Bulgaria’s BTC
The US investment company Providence Equity Partners has emerged as the frontrunner to buy a majority (65%) stake in the incumbent Bulgarian telco BTC. It is currently owned by the Icelandic entrepreneur Thor Bjorgolfsson’s Novatur Holdings and has attracted interest from several parties including Turkey’s Turk Telekom and Turkcell. Providence Equity Partners are understood to […]
Flemish analogue switch-over in 2008
Flanders (Belgium) will switch off its analogue terrestrial television signals at the end of 2008, the Flemish government has decided. The Dutch speaking part of the country is highly cabled with around 97% of all homes connected and it is thought about 60,000 homes will be affected who only receive television over the air. A […]
Increased advertising opportunities in Flanders
Flemish private broadcasters will no longer be forced to air five-minute long videoclips prior and following children’s programmes, as the media regulator has announced its new advertising rules will take effect on Monday (March 5). Currently Flemish private broadcasters are not allowed to air commercials five minutes prior to the the start and following a […]
Trade Secretary launches Sky-ITV investigation
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling is to rule on whether BSkyB’s purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV was against the public interest. Darling has asked Ofcom to hold an inquiry into last autumn’s purchase by BSkyB in the wake of plans by the then NTL Telewest to make its own takeover of Britain’s […]
EC approves Liberty Global control of Telenet
The European Commission has approved Liberty Global’s recently increased and controlling ownership position in Telenet Group Holding NV. As previously announced on November 13, 2006, Liberty Global exercised options that increased the Company’s ownership in Telenet to 28.07%. With today’s regulatory approval, Telenet will be consolidated for financial reporting purposes beginning January 1, 2007 and […]
CSA extends mobile TV consultation
The French media regulator CSA has put back the date for the completion of its consultation into mobile TV by two weeks. The second phase of the consultation including a call for candidates began on January 17, 2007, following a plenary meeting of the regulator, and ahead of the National Assembly’s revision of French broadcasting […]
EU completes swift review, approves ProSiebenSat.1 acquisition
Following ProSiebenSat.1’s announcement of record annual results, Thursday, the European Commission delivered the expected icing on the cake. Allowing the German broadcasting group to be acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Permira controlled Lavena Holding 4 GmbH. Also approving the subsequent merger with SBS Broadcasting. The EU launched its anti-trust investigation of the […]
Reding: Spectrum reform won’t happen overnight
The European Commission has unveiled its strategy for a more flexible use of the radio spectrum. The plan is to reduce access and usage restrictions after it was found existing regulations were failing to keep pace with the convergence of mobile, television and internet services. “Europe must fully exploit the potential use of certain spectrum […]