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The best TV and Broadband News from around the ‘net

• informitv – Sky plots new internet television strategy
  Sky is planning to launch an online service to allow customers, including those who do not currently subscribe to its pay-television platform, to watch some of its most popular programmes, including movies, over any broadband connection. Most observers have assumed … Continue reading →
• IP TV Times: The Price Of A Telly
  Between them, Sony, Sharp and Panasonic lost $16.9 billion dollars last year. The business of producing TVs isn’t what it was.. via IP TV Times: The Price Of A Telly.
• informitv – 4K resolution displays bring really high definition
  After high-definition, the next step in television displays will be 4K resolution. Some manufacturers are already showing screens around four times the resolution of high definition, with around four thousand pixels across, generally referred to as 4K. Some might suggest … Continue reading →
• The Hermes Project: Netflix shares slide on Sky competition news
  Sky’s announcement that they are to launch an online video on demand (VoD) service focused to consumers as a whole – i.e. not just their own subscribers – has had a negative effect on the share price of Netflix, who … Continue reading →
• The Hermes Project: Internet traffic to more than quadruple by 2014
  The rise and rise of online video has been shown in forecasts by Internet infrastructure colossus Cisco, who predict that total Internet traffic will more than quadruple by 2014. via The Hermes Project: Internet traffic to more than quadruple by … Continue reading →
• The Hermes Project: Motorola Mobility profits hit by Google deal costs
  Motorola Mobility have posted a dampened set of financial results as costs associated with Google’s proposed USD$12.5bn purchase of the handset division of Motorola affected their financial performance. via The Hermes Project: Motorola Mobility profits hit by Google deal costs.
• The Hermes Project: How Comcast overhauled their engineer visit experience
  An interesting article has summarised how US cable giant Comcast managed to halve (in less than a year) their infamous four hour window when engineers would arrive at customer premises to install or undertake maintenance of their cable services, with … Continue reading →
• Google TV 3.2 update enhances HLS video streaming support, Plex update takes advantage – Engadget
  The Google TV update that rolled out to Sony units earlier this week (no word on the Revue, yet) brought tweaks to Chrome and support for Blu-ray 3D playback on the player, but that’s not all. via Google TV 3.2 … Continue reading →
• Survey says: Hollywood could make more money without windows — Online Video News
  Surveys conducted and sponsored by research firm BTIG suggest that movie viewers might actually spend more money on films, if they were available online or on cable video-on-demand services at the same time as they are available in theaters. The … Continue reading →
• Survey: Collapsing Windows Won’t Harm Box Office – 2012-02-03 19:25:48 | Multichannel News
  BTIG Research media analyst Rich Greenfield’s recent push to convince content providers and distributors to reduce on demand windows for movies to zero got a lift Friday, after the majority of the more than 1,300 respondents to his recent survey … Continue reading →
• What is the mystery “entertainment device” Google is testing? — Tech News and Analysis
  Google is asking the Federal Communications Commission for permission to test a mysterious Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled “entertainment device,” in employees homes in four U.S. cities. So inquiring minds want to know, what exactly is it? And why is Google filing … Continue reading →
• DTG :: News :: EBU to offer white label HbbTV apps
  The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will be offering its members generic applications to deploy Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) during the Olympics and the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). via DTG :: News :: EBU to offer white label HbbTV apps.
• Panasonic confirms massive losses | Advanced Television
  Panasonic is headed for a $10.24 billion loss this year (in the 12 months to March 31st) and is engaging on a significant restructuring of its giant electronics businesses. via Panasonic confirms massive losses | Advanced Television.
• Huffington online TV | Advanced Television
  The Huffington Post is making its first move into TV, with a live online video channel described as a “never-ending talkshow”. Arianna Huffington announced that the HuffPost Streaming Network would launch in the summer and feature 12 hours of original … Continue reading →

For your consultancy needs in TV, contact Blackarrow Consulting

The best TV and Broadband News from around the ‘net

• The Feldman File: eyeIO: New compression technology company signs up Netflix as its first customer
  It’s not unusual for developers to claim that they’ve improved the efficiency of video compression algorithms, but they usually result in one of two outcomes: The changes result in a new compression scheme that’s not accepted as a standard, or … Continue reading →
• Apple iTV ‘to land 2012 and to revolutionise market’ | News | TechRadar
  Apple has tapped up a number of component manufacturers and is all set to release its version of a connected TV by the end of 2012, according to US analyst Gene Munster. via Apple iTV ‘to land 2012 and to … Continue reading →
• Sony loses billions, blames TVs | News | TechRadar
  Sony has published the results for the third quarter of its 2011 fiscal year, detailing significant losses. via Sony loses billions, blames TVs | News | TechRadar.
• BSkyB facing growing pressure, says Fitch » Digital TV Europe
  UK pay TV operator BSkyB is likely to face growing pressure from internet pay TV services over the next few years, according to ratings agency Fitch. via BSkyB facing growing pressure, says Fitch » Digital TV Europe.
• Piracy forces Canal+ Maghreb to stop | Broadband TV News
  Canal+ Maghreb has stopped broadcasting on the Arabsat satellite claiming piracy as the reason. via Piracy forces Canal+ Maghreb to stop | Broadband TV News.
• RTL, Virgin join ad-group Thinkbox | Advanced Television
  Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV in the UK, has gained two new high-profile members. European entertainment network the RTL Group the leading, and quad-play operator Virgin Media have joined the organisation as Associate Members. via RTL, Virgin join … Continue reading →
• UPC fined over Aster deal | Broadband TV News
  Poland’s leading cable operator UPC Polska has been fined by the competition authority UOKiK for providing false information during its acquisition of Aster. via UPC fined over Aster deal | Broadband TV News.
• Sky D finally reaches 3 million mark | Broadband TV News
  The German premium broadcaster Sky Deutschland surpassed 3 million customers on December 31, 2011 and has secured additional financing of €300 million for continued growth and product innovation. via Sky D finally reaches 3 million mark | Broadband TV News.
• UPC Romania looks East | Broadband TV News
  UPC Romania has added a new package known as Bollywood to its offer. via UPC Romania looks East | Broadband TV News.
• TeliaSonera passes TV milestone | Broadband TV News
  Over half a million subscribers in Sweden now take TeliaSonera’s TV offer, according to new data from the telco. via TeliaSonera passes TV milestone | Broadband TV News.
• Kanouff departs SeaChange | Broadband TV News
  SeaChange international President Yvette Kanouff is leaving the video technology company after 14 years. via Kanouff departs SeaChange | Broadband TV News.

For your consultancy needs in TV, contact Blackarrow Consulting

The best TV and Broadband News from around the ‘net

• More UltraViolet on Smaller Releases, Please | Home Media Magazine
  My first experience with UltraViolet came with the release of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Drive — my personal pick for movie of the year, Oscars be darned. via More UltraViolet on Smaller Releases, Please | Home Media Magazine.
• IP TV Times: The Rights Battlefield
  It looks like the UK is going to become a rights battlefield as more and more player pile into the paid for online video market. via IP TV Times: The Rights Battlefield.
• The Sky is Rising: report shows that entertainment industry is thriving; anti-piracy laws are about profit-maximization, nor survival – Boing Boing
  The Sky is Rising: report shows that entertainment industry is thriving; anti-piracy laws are about profit-maximization, nor survival via The Sky is Rising: report shows that entertainment industry is thriving; anti-piracy laws are about profit-maximization, nor survival – Boing Boing.
• The state of browser gaming – HTML5 vs. Flash [Infographic]
  We’ve always had browser based games and they were typically done with Flash from Adobe; and also for the most part pretty simple type games but with the advent of Facebook, social media and companies such as Zynga browser based … Continue reading →
• Good DRM Makes Bad Neighbors: This Is The Content Protection Tipping Point | TechCrunch
  For people who have been doing just one thing for a long, long time, it’s amazing how many content distributors get things so catastrophically wrong. These last few weeks brought us quite a few unique situations, including the launch of … Continue reading →
• Report: 13% of Subscribers Canceling or Downsizing Pay-TV Service | Home Media Magazine
  More than 13% of pay-TV subscribers will cancel or downsize their monthly bills in favor of lower-cost video entertainment sources during the next three months, according to a new report. via Report: 13% of Subscribers Canceling or Downsizing Pay-TV Service … Continue reading →
• EU opens antitrust probe into Samsung | Intellectual Property | ZDNet UK
  The European Commission is investigating Samsung over patent licensing deals relating to European mobile standards. via EU opens antitrust probe into Samsung | Intellectual Property | ZDNet UK.
• SeaChange Trims Workforce In Q4 | Multichannel News
  SeaChange International cut an unspecified number of jobs in its fiscal fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, which along with other cost-saving measures will save more than $5 million per year, the company announced Tuesday. via SeaChange Trims Workforce In Q4 … Continue reading →
• Boxee officially pulls the plug on PC client — Online Video News
  Want to run Boxee on your PC or Mac? Then hurry up; Boxee is removing all copies of its PC-based app from its servers by the end of the day Tuesday to fully concentrate on the Boxee Box. via Boxee … Continue reading →
• Twitter should be silent for Frozen Planet, says BBC – Telegraph
  John Tate, the BBC’s director of policy and strategy, has said that social media and interactivity should not distract viewers. via Twitter should be silent for Frozen Planet, says BBC – Telegraph.
• MNOs held responsible for mobile video quality | Advanced Television
  A broad survey of mobile phone users conducted for Mobixell Networks by On Device Research, indicates that 74 per cent hold operators most responsible for their video stalling, buffering or taking too long to start when streaming over their mobile … Continue reading →
• The Hermes Project: Sky announces fibre plans
  In another announcement alongside the company’s financial results this morning Sky have revealed their hand – having previously been very tentative – in terms of their offering of faster broadband services over the Openreach (largely) FTTC network which is currently … Continue reading →
• Miramax inks on demand deal with BT » Digital TV Europe
  US movie producer and distributor Miramax has inked a content deal with BT Vision, the IPTV service operated by UK telco BT. via Miramax inks on demand deal with BT » Digital TV Europe.
• BeeSmart embraces iPhones | Advanced Television
  BeeSmart, the interactive TV solution provider for service operators and AltWolf, a software development company, are proud to announce a BeeSmart iPhone application. This novelty represents easier access to services for end-users, which are now available from iPhone devices and … Continue reading →
• New Hybrid TV Study from iDate (OTT Report)
  Hybrid TV is now a reality, and gaining momentum. The appetite for OTT video content, reinforced by the development of connected TV solutions further exacerbates this phenomenon. This study from iDate aims to position the hybrid solutions in this new … Continue reading →
• Sky’s new broadband TV goes after Netflix | News | TechRadar
  Sky has announced a brand new internet TV service, aimed at selling its premium content to those people who do not currently want a satellite service but have a broadband connection and are happy to pay. via Sky’s new broadband … Continue reading →
• Sky takes on YouView | Advanced Television
  Sky has revealed plans to launch a new service allowing viewers to watch some of its most popular content over the Internet, the new service will be an additional choice for people who don’t currently subscribe to a pay-TV service … Continue reading →
• BSkyB over-delivers, as usual | Advanced Television
  BSkyB has a cheeky habit of under-promising and over-delivering on its results. It isn’t such a bad habit, but often catches out the analysts. Sky’s half-year numbers, revealed on January 31st, declared 6 per cent revenue growth to £3.4 billion, … Continue reading →
• Dutch digital TV penetration reaches 72.9% | Broadband TV News
  Digital television now reaches 72/9% of all Dutch homes, according to the latest Media Standard Survey from TNS NIPO. A total of 35% own a hard disc recorder. via Dutch digital TV penetration reaches 72.9% | Broadband TV News.
• Russia gears up for OTT services | Broadband TV News
  Interest in content delivery networks (CDNs) is growing amongst leading telcos in Russia. via Russia gears up for OTT services | Broadband TV News.
• CenturyLink Launches Microsoft Mediaroom Upgrade
  CenturyLink™ (NYSE: CTL) Prism™ TV, the alternative to cable and satellite, just got better with new features and functionality through Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Mediaroom TV technology, the world’s most deployed Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform. Microsoft Mediaroom already enables Prism … Continue reading →
• Sky Will De-Couple Pay-TV Content From Satellite For OTT IPTV Era | paidContent
  BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) is acting to head off rising City concerns about the threat from over-the-top connected TV services, by announcing it will launch, by the summer, its own such service that does not require a satellite subscription. via Sky … Continue reading →
• Akamai Claims UK Average Broadband ISP Speeds Reached 5.1Mbps in Q3 2011 − ISPreview UK News
  The Akamai global Content Delivery Network (CDN) has today released its latest quarterly State of the Internet Q3 2011 report, which reveals that the average global internet download speed has climbed by 4.5% to 2.7Mbps (up from 2.6Mbps in Q2-2011). … Continue reading →
• Sky Go now on Android
  Another day of news about Sky, and today they’ve launched their Sky Go mobile app. via Sky Go now on Android.

For your consultancy needs in TV, contact Blackarrow Consulting

The best TV and Broadband News from around the ‘net

• Hollywood Isn’t Ruining DVD Rentals On Its Own: Netflix is Happy to Help
  It’s easy to slam Hollywood for not understanding how technology works, or for putting its legacy business models ahead of user experience. Especially when big media companies do things like restrict digital access to movies and then cry about piracy. … Continue reading →
• Sky records highest-ever first half profits | Broadband TV News
  BSkyB has announced the addition of 100,000 new subscribers in the final three months of 2011, setting the benchmark for the UK’s other pay-TV providers, expected to report in the next few weeks. via Sky records highest-ever first half profits … Continue reading →
• Sky launches new internet TV platform | Broadband TV News
  Sky has announced plans to launch a new internet-based TV platform that it is positioning as an additional choice for those who do not currently subscribe to a pay-TV service. via Sky launches new internet TV platform | Broadband TV … Continue reading →
• Sky’s ITV and BBC agreement is a huge deal | News | TechRadar
  Make no mistake about it, announcing the arrival of the BBC iPlayer and ITV content for its burgeoning Anytime+ service is a massive deal not only for the satellite giant but for UK television as a whole. via Sky’s ITV … Continue reading →
• Synacor Prices IPO, Expects To Raise Up To $94 Million – 2012-01-30 18:03:37 | Multichannel News
  Synacor, a provider of TV Everywhere services and Web portal software to cable and telecom operators, on Monday announced it expects its initial public offering to raise up to $94 million, based on expected pricing of $10 to $12 per … Continue reading →
• Networking technology used by 50%+ of broadband homes | Advanced Television
  According to research from Futuresource Consulting, of the 600 million global broadband homes at the end of 2011, 400 million deployed home networking technology. By 2015, expectations are for 650 million of the 700 million broadband homes to be interacting … Continue reading →
• PayWizard for ITV micropayments | Advanced Television
  UK commercial broadcaster ITV is to delay the introduction of micropayments for its on-demand ITV Player catch-up service, which it intended to launch in January 2012, and carry out closed trials based on MGT’s PayWizard solution. via PayWizard for ITV … Continue reading →
• Espial Demonstrates TV Everywhere Solutions at CSTB 2012
  Espial, a leader in on-demand TV software and solutions, today announced it will demonstrate its latest sophisticated and high-performance end-to-end solution at CSTB 2012 on Feb. 7-9 in Moscow. Visitors to the Espial booth will see a powerful TV Everywhere … Continue reading →
• ZON now in play? | Advanced Television
  Shareholders at Portuguese pay-TV provider ZON Multimedia have approved the lifting of voting rights beyond a current 10 per cent limit. The approval of the measure opens the way for shareholders to raise their stakes in the company, with mobile … Continue reading →
• Sky UK Expands Anytime Internet TV Service to all Broadband ISPs − ISPreview UK News
  BSkyB ( Sky Broadband ) has today expanded its popular Video-on-Demand (VoD) service, Sky Anytime+, by making it available to all UK based Sky+ HD homes with an internet connection and across all broadband ISPs (the service was previously exclusive … Continue reading →
• ITV Picks Its ‘Oyster Card’ For Online Programme Payments | paidContent
  Telegraph.co.uk reports the UK’s main commercial free-to-air TV broadcaster has delayed a programme under which it wants to charge online viewers for some content. But that’s not quite the case. via ITV Picks Its ‘Oyster Card’ For Online Programme Payments … Continue reading →
• Vodafone Germany eyes cable partnership » Digital TV Europe
  Vodafone Germany is eyeing a deal with a local cable operator as it looks to expand its business. via Vodafone Germany eyes cable partnership » Digital TV Europe.
• Access launches DLNA media-sharing software » Digital TV Europe
  TV technology provider Access has launched Access MediaPilot, a DLNA Certified software that it says enables consumers to share music, movies and photos on connected TVs, PCs, iPads, tablets and mobile phones without connecting cables or copying files. The app … Continue reading →
• Virgin Media contributes to Met fraud investigation | Broadband TV News
  Virgin Media agreed to fund police overtime as part of an investigation into £144 million set-top box fraud. via Virgin Media contributes to Met fraud investigation | Broadband TV News.
• Upgrade to Sky Anytime+ adds BBC iPlayer and ITV Player | Broadband TV News
  Catch-up content from the BBC and ITV will be made available in Sky homes during 2012. All five million homes with the Sky+ HD box will be able to connect their boxes to Sky Anytime+ through the internet, regardless of whether … Continue reading →
• Sky Adding Broadcaster-Branded VOD Services From BBC And ITV | paidContent
  The UK’s leading pay-TV provider BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) is taking a significant step to improve its PVR box’s new IP on-demand TV service by adding catch-up TV services from the BBC and ITV. via Sky Adding Broadcaster-Branded VOD Services From … Continue reading →
• Challenges ahead for BSkyB | Advanced Television
  BSkyB unveils its Q2 numbers on January 31st, and most observers see continued progress for the broadcaster, although with net TV subscriber additions being somewhat less than this same time last year. via Challenges ahead for BSkyB | Advanced Television.
• Motorola 2011 set-top shipments up 6 percent compared to 2010
  Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today reported net revenues of $3.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, comparable to the fourth quarter of 2010. The GAAP net loss in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $80 million, or … Continue reading →
• BBC – Media Centre – BBC enters new partnership to bring BBC iPlayer to Sky
  The BBC and Sky today announced a landmark partnership deal that will bring the BBC’s popular video-on-demand service BBC iPlayer to up to five million Sky homes in 2012. via BBC – Media Centre – BBC enters new partnership to … Continue reading →

For your consultancy needs in TV, contact Blackarrow Consulting