Broadband TV News
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NHK to be permitted to stream its TV channels
Japan is normally perceived as being ahead of the curve when it comes to television technology. However, until now public broadcaster NHK has not been permitted to run simultaneous online streaming of its channels. That’s about to change following proposa
Broadband TV NewsENEX chooses IP contribution solution from Rohde & Schwarz
Global news exchange association ENEX has selected R&S RelayCaster, the IP contribution solution from German technology company Rohde & Schwarz, for its new global contribution and distribution network. R&S RelayCaster delivers contribution an
HBO Portugal added to Sony Android TVs
HBO Portugal is now available on Android TVs in the country. The streaming service launched in February, initially as an exclusive to Vodafone customers. All of the current range of Sony’s Android-based TVs will run the service including the Master Series
Tricolor launches smart home service
Russia’s leading pay-TV operator Tricolor TV has launched a smart home service. It allows its customers to handle smart home devices from a TV screen or using a mobile application on iOS or Android and has been made possible after updating the software on
Hungary prepares for DTT tender
The Hungarian regulator NMHH has drafted a document on the construction and operation of a national DTT network. In a statement, it says that the contract of the current service provider Antenna Hungária (AH) expires in the autumn of 2020 and it has invit
MIPTV 2019 launches 8K programme screenings
MIPTV 2019 will be launching the world’s first programme of 8K content screenings on Tuesday, 9 April, in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes. The industry is rapidly moving forward on new broadcast standards. Major Japanese broadcasters started 4K and 8K tr
Abramovich sells Channel One stake – Report
Roman Abramovich has sold his remaining 20% stake in Russia’s Channel One, reports RBC. Quoting two sources familiar with the details of the deal, it adds that the stake has been bought by VTB Capital, an investment unit of VTB Group. Although VTB and Cha
Czech Radio goes visual on DVB-T2
Czech Radio (Cesky rozhlas) is now available as a visual service to owners of DVB-T2 set-top boxes and TV sets. According to Cesky rozhlas, it is being distributed by the DVB-T2 Transition Multiplex 11, with also carries a HD version of Czech TV (CT) and
RT France HD to reach Middle East via Yahlive
RT expands its partnership with Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between SES and the UAE satellite company Yahsat, by introducing RT France HD to French speakers in the MENA region via Yahlive. For the next three years, RT France HD wi
Ukraine renews Russian channel ban
The Ukrainian regulator National Council has renewed its retransmission ban on the Russian channel RTVI for a further year. In a statement, it says that it initially suspended the channel six months ago for repeated violations of the Ukrainian laws On Tel
Report: Disney may test Disney+ in the Netherlands
Disney may test its planned streaming OTT service Disney+ in the Netherlands, according to a report in The Information. Disney has scheduled April 11 as the date to announce its plans with the new OTT streaming service. The Netherlands test would be an at
Major US pay-TV providers lost 2,875,000 subs in 2018
The largest pay-TV providers in the US – representing about 95% of the market – lost about 2,875,000 net video subscribers in 2018, compared to a pro forma loss of about 1,510,000 subscribers in 2017. According to the Leichtman Research Group, the top pay
Samsung adds waipu.tv to smart TV sets
Samsung has commenced offering German internet TV platform waipu.tv on all QLED and Ultra HD smart TV sets sold in Germany in 2019 as a pre-installed app on multimedia portal Samsung Smart Hub. The buyers receive 6 months free-of-charge access to subscrip
DAZN to show MotoGP live in Germany
Sports streaming service DAZN will transmit the entire 2019 season of racing series MotoGP live. The rights package, of which financial details have not been disclosed, covers Germany, Austria and Switzerland and also includes the Moto2 and Moto3 series.
ASA rules on Incredible Sky Wi-Fi complaint
A campaign for Sky Wi-Fi using characters from the animation The Incredibles 2 has been partially upheld by the ASA. Three issues were investigated, of which one was Upheld and two were Not upheld. In the TV version of the ad a Sky engineer explains that
NENT extends Boxer distribution
Viaplay streaming will be made available to viewers of Boxer following an extension of an agreement between Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) and the Danish digital TV platform. NENT Group says the new contract runs for “several additional years”. B
Netflix beats all SVOD services in Europe
The top five SVOD services are behind 89% of total subscription streaming revenues in Europe, according to Michail Chandakas at Kagan. With 52% of all SVOD revenues in Europe, Netflix beats all other players, including HBO and Amazon, in total, dabbing mo
Nick Thexton joins ProSiebenSat.1 as CTO
German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 has appointed Nick Thexton to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer, as the company continues to advance the technological transformation of its business. The 56-year-old British national, who has worked
Digi CEO sells shares
Serghei Bulgac, the CEO and executive director of Digi Communications, has sold a total of x shares in the company since the beginning of this month. In two separate announcements, Digi says that the first batch consisted of 75,123 class B shares and the
Eleven Sports extends Orange deal in Belgium and Luxembourg
Eleven Sports has agreed a two-year extension to its distribution partnership with Orange in Belgium and Luxembourg. The new agreement means that Eleven Sports 1, 2 and 3 will continue to be distributed for free in Full HD in Orange’s standard digital tel
Spanish broadcasters face heavy fines
The Spanish National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Atresmedia and Mediaset, the country’s two leading broadcasters. In a statement, it says that this is due to a possible violation of article 5
Nova TV buyers lodge appeal
The prospective new owners of MTG’s Bulgarian national broadcaster Nova TV have asked the country’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) to allow them to complete the acquisition. According to Capital, the CPC now has five weeks to make a decisi
Samsung to add direct HD+ access to TV sets
Samsung will offer integrated access to German DTH satellite platform HD+ on all new QLED and Ultra HD TV sets sold in Germany from the end of March 2019. With the solution, viewers don’t need additional hardware such as a set-top box, CI+ module or TVkey
Roku adds Alexa support
Roku is making Amazon’s smart speaker Alexa compatible with its latest devices. Initially available in the United States, the functionality will be available to anyone running Roku OS 8.1 or above on devices such as Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, Echo
MX1 teams up with IMS Productions for NTT IndyCar Series
MX1, the technical services subsidiary of Astra satellite operator SES, has formed a partnership with US production company IMS Productions to provide distribution services for the NTT IndyCar Series. Over the next three IndyCar seasons, IMS Productions w
New content partners for STV Player
STV has added international content providers, Flame Distribution and Jukin Media, to its video on demand service. It’s the latest expansion to the STV Player, which this week also introduced a premium, commercial-free, element. Jukin Media is owner/opera
Syfy to launch new sci fi experience Eleven Eleven for VR and AR
Syfy’s new science fiction experience will be made available on Sky VR, NBC Universal has confirmed. Eleven Eleven is an original science fiction story designed for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) has been selected by the 2019 SXSW Film Fe
Synamedia hires Mark Billinge and Avidan Lamdan
Video software provider Synamedia has expanded its senior team with the appointment of Mark Billinge from OSN, and Avidan Lamdan from Kaltura. They’ll be responsible for refining and driving Synamedia’s platform, operations and services to meet current an
Ziggo names cloud Horizon STB Mediabox Next
Dutch operator Ziggo will be introducing the new 4k Ultra HD STB based on Liberty Global’s Horizon EOS 4-platform and names it Mediabox Next. Last week, VodafoneZiggo said it would start to roll out the new platform in Q1 after testing the platform with a
Bob Greenblatt to chair WarnerMedia Entertainment
WarnerMedia has announced changes to its management team following the AT&T acquisition. Robert Greenblatt, most recently chairman at NBC Entertainment, will chair WarnerMedia Entertainment, which includes HBO, TNT and TBS. He’ll also be responsible f