Charlie Ergen, the founder and billionaire owner of US pay-TV broadcaster Dish Network, has talked for a couple of years about the “inevitability” of merging with arch-rival DirecTV. Both are losing subscribers at a worrying rate, and common sense suggests that a merger is the only route to saving cash, exploiting synergies and reducing the […]
Industry consortium IAB Tech Lab has formed an Advanced TV Commit Group which will lead the development of technology frameworks, technical standards, and market strategy to make every TV environment addressable. The Group aims to drive interoperability and standardisation across the entire TV ecosystem. Inaugural members include: Extreme Reach Paramount EW Scripps NBCUniversal GroupM VAB […]
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support research, innovation and the first industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies across the value chain. The project, IPCEI ME/CT, was jointly prepared and notified by fourteen Member States: Austria, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, […]
Roku has expanded its Board of Directors with the election of Jeff Blackburn, who has a background in digital media and entertainment. “Jeff’s extensive experience in digital media and technologies makes him a great addition to our Board of Directors,” said Roku Founder and CEO Anthony Wood. “I look forward to his contributions to Roku […]
The BBC has announced that Kerensa Samanidis will join the BBC as General Manager for BBC iPlayer, effective June 19th. Reporting into Dan McGolpin – Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels – Samanidis will be responsible for the delivery of the BBC iPlayer growth strategy and management of the overall iPlayer operation. McGolpin commented: “I’m […]
Boeing’s aerospace division is being sued for alleged theft of IP concerning the counterfeiting of highly specialised tools used on NASA projects. The action comes from Colorado-based Wilson Aerospace which is suing Boeing over what Wilson alleges is its ‘Fluid Fitting Torque Device-3’ developed by Wilson, and which Boeing used to attach four main engines […]
Channel 4 Ventures has announced it will pay A$6.5 million (£3.5m) for a 20 per cent stake in Airtasker UK, the UK subsidiary of the online and mobile marketplace. Airtasker says the investment will enable it to accelerate its UK marketplace growth through access to Channel 4’s free streaming service (with over 1.2 billion views […]
BBC Studios Kids & Family, has announced the appointments of Katharina Pietzsch as VP Content Sales, BBC Studios Kids & Family; and Kelly Wood in the newly created role of Head of Content Strategy, BBC Studios Kids & Family. Pietzsch’s role will see her lead the sales and co-production strategy for the BBC Studios Kids […]
Chris Licht, CEO of CNN, is out at the news network. The NYT reports he met with WBD chief David Zaslav, who then told staff that Licht was departing immediately. Licht had been handpicked a year ago by Zaslav to steer CNN after the departure of its long-time chief Jeff Zucker. However Licht’s tenure was […]
Local TV services are set to remain on the UK airwaves until 2034, subject to a review of each station’s future plans, under proposals set out by the government. The plans would allow the media regulator Ofcom to renew the licences of all 34 local TV services, subject to a review of each station’s plans […]