English news http://minicat.tv/forum/index.php Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:06:27 +0000 90 http://minicat.tv/forum/uploads/av-1.jpg http://minicat.tv/forum/index.php http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/167032-belgium-prepares-for-open-cable/ Belgium prepares for Open Cable
Published: 10.46 Europe/London, February 22, 2012 By Julian Clover


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/csa-belgium.jpgThe introduction of Open Cable regulation in the Belgian market has moved a stage closer.

The Conseil Superieur De l’Audiovisuel (CSA) has opened a pre-consultation period on the resale of analogue television services, access to digital TV platforms, and the resale of broadband access.

Tecteo, Brutélé and Telenet, the three principal cable operators in French-speaking Belgium, have now submitted their offers to the regulator following the market analysis issued by the Conference of Regulators (CRC) last July.

The CRC encompasses the Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media, the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, the Medienrat en the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications).

A number of operators have informed the CSA that they already had a concrete idea of their expectations compared to reference offers in order to develop a commercial offering.

In a statement the CSA said it wanted to make use of the market knowledge of the three operators and that the pre-consultation, which runs until March 1, was not intended to take the place of the formal consultation to follow.

]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:06:27 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/167032-belgium-prepares-for-open-cable/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166801-chellomedias-oneill-dead-at-50/ Chellomedia’s O’Neill dead at 50
Published: 12.37 Europe/London, February 20, 2012 By Julian Clover


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ShaneONeill-300x233.jpgShane O’Neill, the former head of Liberty Global’s content division Chellomedia, has died after a 15-month fight with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.



The Irishman, who leaves a wife and three children, resigned from his posts as SVP and chief strategy officer, Liberty Global and president of subsidiary Chellomedia Services Limited in December.

The 50-year-old oversaw Liberty Global’s strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and corporate development activities.

In addition, O’Neill was president of Chellomedia, Liberty Global’s content division, and was responsible for LGI Ventures, the group’s investment arm.

Among his key deals was the acquisition of the Paris cable system that became the rump of UPC France before its sale to Numericable and the purchase of Ireland’s Cablelink.

O’Neill had been instrumental in determining and executing the strategy that has resulted in the highly successful turnaround of UPC Broadband division, which comprises Liberty Global’s core European cable businesses.

Prior to UPC, O’Neill worked with KPMG, Macquarie and Goldman Sachs.

]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:57:06 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166801-chellomedias-oneill-dead-at-50/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166718-swisscom-takes-stormtest/ Swisscom takes StormTest
Published: 07.00 Europe/London, February 20, 2012 By Julian Clover


Swisscom has chosen S3 Group’s StormTest Development Center for software testing on its Microsoft Mediaroom set-top boxes.

The IPTV operator was previously running manual testing and the new deployment is said to have significantly sped up testing.

StormTest Development Center allows automated software testing to be executed across multiple digital TV devices. Swisscom is optimising the solution to test its customized Microsoft Mediaroom Client and TV apps. This simulates the customers’ experience and reduces the amount of time required per test hence optimising the productivity of its development in general.

“S3 Group not only provides us with its StormTest Development Center but it also acts as a professional service partner that expresses great interest in supporting and addressing Swisscom’s future test automation requirements. Any partner working together that aids in bringing our business forward is invaluable,” said Michael Krause, head of entertainment and TV test management at Swisscom.

Swisscom is the latest international powerhouse to choose StormTest Development Center for its testing and validation needs. Most recently, MediaSet, Canoe Ventures, Irdeto and BBC have also selected S3 Group to enhance its multi-device testing capabilities.

]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:48:27 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166718-swisscom-takes-stormtest/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166194-bbc-confirms-live-3d-olympics/ BBC confirms live 3D Olympics
February 15, 2012 16:30 By Julian Clover


The BBC has announced which events from the London 2012 Olympic Games will be broadcast in the 3D format.

The opening and closing ceremonies, the Men’s 100m Final, as well as a daily highlights package will be seen as part of the corporation’s on going 3D trials. The 3D coverage will be broadcast via the BBC HD channel, allowing full HD coverage to continue on BBC One.

As with previous experiments around Wimbledon and Strictly Come Dancing, the transmissions will be free to air across cable, satellite and terrestrial transmitters.

Kim Shillinglaw, Head of BBC 3D, says: “We have always said we believe some of 2012 should be captured in 3D, and we’re delighted to confirm our offer to audiences in the UK, providing them with a new way of getting close to some of the key moments from the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

Shillinglaw’s predecessor, Danielle Nagler, had expressed concern that 3D coverage might take up bandwidth from regular transmissions, while offering 3D to a minority of compatible receivers.

The BBC will be offering extensive coverage of the London Olympic with up to 24 live video streams available on the BBC Sport website, as well as BBC One, BBC Three, BBC Red Button, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Mobile.

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:35:38 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166194-bbc-confirms-live-3d-olympics/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166125-successful-launch-for-ses-4/ Successful launch for SES-4
February 15, 2012 10:14 By Robert Briel


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SES4_launch-300x200.jpgThe SES-4 satellite roared into space on board an ILS Proton Breeze M booster on February 14. After a 9-hour, 12-minute mission, the Breeze M upper stage of the Proton rocket successfully released the SES-4 satellite directly into geostationary transfer orbit.

SES-4 is a 20-kilowatt satellite manufactured on the flight-proven Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform with 52 C-band and 72 Ku-band transponders. It has C-band beams serving the eastern hemisphere of Europe and Africa, full coverage of the Americas, and a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers.

Four high-power, regional Ku-band beams provide service to Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, as well as North and South America with extensive channel switching capability between C- and Ku-band transponders for enhanced connectivity.

SES-4 is the 50th satellite in the global SES fleet and also the largest, most powerful SES satellite to date. It will replace the NSS-7 satellite at 338 degrees East longitude and provide replacement as well as incremental capacity at this well established SES orbital slot over the Atlantic Ocean.

Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES, declared: “SES is delighted to see the 50th satellite in its fleet successfully launched after two unfortunate Proton-related launch delays. We thank the launch teams of Space Systems/Loral, ILS, Khrunichev and SES for their dedicated work. Their relentless efforts ensured ultimately a total success. After thorough in-orbit testing, SES and its customers can now look forward to SES-4 providing new, state-of-the-art satellite capacity across three continents.”

“With today’s successful launch of SES-4, we marked several more milestones with our longtime customer SES, including the 20th SES satellite launched on ILS Proton and the 50th satellite in the SES fleet. It is also our 70th ILS Proton launch since the first launch with SES’ ASTRA 1F satellite in 1996. It is an honor for ILS and Khrunichev to be entrusted with launching the powerful SES-4 satellite and all of the past and upcoming ILS Proton missions for SES,” said ILS President, Frank McKenna.

John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral, stated: “I would like to congratulate SES, ILS and Khrunichev on this successful launch and to recognize the teams from all of our companies who have worked so hard to assure a perfect launch. Space Systems/Loral is very pleased to help support SES’ fleet expansion and its ability to provide communications services across the world.”

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:24:28 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166125-successful-launch-for-ses-4/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166122-penthouse-hd-launches-on-entertain/ Penthouse HD launches on Entertain
February 15, 2012 10:00 By Robert Briel


Penthouse Digital Media Productions is expanding the footprint of its HD channel in Europe with the launch on Entertain, Deutsche Telekom’s IPTV service in Germany reaching more than 1.6 million customers.

The Penthouse HD channel will broadcast daily from 21:00 until 5:00 within the HD package of Entertain. Deutsche Telekom will also make the branded channel accessible to its SD subscribers via a separate SD feed. The SD converted signal of Penthouse HD will be made available within both the Big TV Package as well as the Lounge Package.

Launched in 2009, the Penthouse family of channels (Penthouse HD, Penthouse HD1, Penthouse HD2 and Penthouse 3D) currently reaches over 300 million households globally and includes channels that were the first linear adult HD channels available in Europe.

This new carriage agreement with Deutsche Telekom is also planned to expand and include VOD/SVOD services in the spring of 2012.

“We are very excited about adding to the existing Penthouse channel line-up,” sids Marc Bell, CEO of FriendFinder Networks, owners of the Penthouse channels. “Our goal remains to provide the viewer with the highest quality content possible on one of the premium platforms in Europe.”

Jacky Wauters, independent sales agent/CEO of NOA productions, who represents the Penthouse HD channels in Europe, added, “Sales of HD hardware including HD television and HD enabled set-top boxes have been on the rise for quite some time in Europe resulting in high consumer demand for top quality HD programming. The internationally recognizable Penthouse brand is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this vital piece of the broadcast market.”

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:18:07 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/166122-penthouse-hd-launches-on-entertain/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165946-al-jazeera-sport-to-launch-two-channels/ Al Jazeera Sport to launch two channels
February 14, 2012 By Robert Briel


Al Jazeera Sport is set to launch two channels in France in June. The broadcaster is also bidding for the Euro 2012 football rights.

Last year, Al Jazeera turned pout to be the surprise bidder for the live rights of the French premier football league, the Ligue 1. The broadcaster won the rights to two matches a week of the L1, which will start on August 3.

Al Jazeera also acquired the rights to the Champions League matches of which it will broadcast two matches on every day the games are played. The Ligue 1 games are split between Canal+ and Al Jazeera from the 2012 season. Until now, Canal+ held the exclusive rights.

The broadcaster is now also bidding for the live rights to the Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 games. The results of this tender will be known any moment now.

Talking to the French website LepParisien.fr, Al Jazeera Sport France’s managing director Charles Biétry said that the talks with Orange to acquire its sports channels were ended with no result. He also said that rumours that Al Jazeera was interested in buying Eurosport were not true.

The two new sports channels will be distributed by as many platforms as possible, but no contracts have been signed so far. They will include cable, IPTV and possibly CanalSat.

The subscription price for the new channels has not been set, but will be between €20 and €25 monthly. The two channels will not only broadcast football, but will include all kinds of sports in their programming.

]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:58:10 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165946-al-jazeera-sport-to-launch-two-channels/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165877-cyfra-launches-ci-plus-offer/ Cyfra+ launches CI Plus offer
February 13, 2012 By Chris Dziadul


The Polish DTH platform Cyfra+ is offering a free CI Plus CAM module worth PLN199 (€46.9) to subscribers who bought an LG ‘S’ series set with an inbuilt satellite tuner after October 31 last year.

By taking up the offer, those who opt for the packages Kompakt HD, Optimum HD, Canal+ Kompakt HD, Canal+ Optimum HD, Canal+ Superpremium HD or the full Cyfra+ service will also able to benefit from the “Less means more” promotion.

This sees subscribers offered specific packages for a lower fee, discounts up to a period of a year or a free, three-month subscription.

]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:03:10 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165877-cyfra-launches-ci-plus-offer/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165787-tv3-closure-draws-closer/ TV3 closure draws closer
February 13, 2012 By Chris Dziadul


Slovenia’s TV3 is now expected to go off the air at the end of this month.

News of the station’s closure was first released at the beginning of this year, when Modern Times Group (MTG) announced a realignment of its activities in Central and Eastern Europe.

It is understood to be exiting Slovenia due to a difficult environment that sees the TV industry dominated by Pop TV/Kanal A, both which are owned by CME.

TV3 was launched in 1995 and initially operated as a religious channel.

It was taken over by MTG in 2006 and reverted to its original name, having previously been rebranded as Prva TV.

]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:17:30 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165787-tv3-closure-draws-closer/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165173-satellite-now-leading-delivery-mechanism-for-german-tv/ Satellite now leading delivery mechanism for German TV
11.22 Europe/London, February 8, 2012 By Julian Clover


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/astra-technical-centre.jpgFor the first time more Germans are now watching television via satellite than over cable.

At the end of 2011, 17.5 million households were watching TV via satellite, almost 900,000 more than in the previous year. Of these 90% were tuned into digital signals, leaving 1.8 million homes on analogue.

The figures, prepared by the market research company TNS Infratest for satellite operator SES as part of its annual TV monitor, showed cable had lost 900,000 homes to 17.3 million.

Digital terrestrial TV lost 180,000 households, bringing its coverage down to 1.8 million. IPTV has continued to grow; with an increase of 330,000 households, IPTV exceeded the million mark, reaching 1.3 million.

Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer, SES said: “The new TV Monitor reveals a historical quantum leap for ASTRA and Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite reception in Germany. In only two years, we were able to increase our reach by 1.3 million households. We are confident that we will be able to develop further significant momentum until the definitive technical switch-over from analogue to digital satellite transmission taking place on 30 April 2012.”

The forthcoming analogue switchoff took on a considerable momentum during the course of 2011. The number of German satellite households still watching analogue TV dropped by 1.2 million between the end of 2010 and the end of 2011 to reach a figure of 1.8 million.

In the first half of 2011, the number of analogue satellite households dropped by more than 400,000, while in the second half nearly 800,000 made the switch to digital.

Analogue switchoff will take place in Germany on April 30, 2012.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:53:33 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/165173-satellite-now-leading-delivery-mechanism-for-german-tv/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164448-piracy-forces-canal-maghreb-to-stop/ Piracy forces Canal+ Maghreb to stop
11.16 Europe/London, February 2, 2012 By Robert Briel


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/CANAL+Maghreb.jpgCanal+ Maghreb has stopped broadcasting on the Arabsat satellite claiming piracy as the reason.

About a year ago, Canal+ CEO Bertrand Meheut said the Canal+ Maghreb service would cease operations because of widespread piracy in the target markets Algeria and Morocco.

Canal+ made the decision to stop marketing its p[=repaid cards in the two countries, but would honour all cards out in the market. On January 31 the validity of all these card expired, so Canal+ could switch off all broadcasts from Arabsat.

Canal+ Maghreb began broadcasting in February 2009. The offer consisted of 25 channels using Viaccess encryption.

“We decided to postpone our commercial investments as long as the control of piracy will not bear fruit”, said Meheut, when presenting the annual results of Vivendi in Paris on March 1, 2011.

]]> Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:48:34 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164448-piracy-forces-canal-maghreb-to-stop/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164101-in-brief-sky-d-bt-vision-itunes/ In Brief: Sky-D, BT Vision, iTunes
11.18 Europe/London, January 31, 2012 By Julian Clover


Sky Deutschland and Warner Bros International Television Distribution have extended their current agreement through until 2015. The extension covers exclusive SVOD rights for all new releases during the licence period of the first pay window and the exclusive pay TV rights for all Warner films across all distribution channels, including satellite, cable, IPTV, internet, and mobile.

BT and Miramax today announced a licensing agreement that will bring films from the leading independent studio to BT Vision customers in the UK. BT Vision subscribers will be able to access the Miramax films in a Miramax-branded environment, in the BT Vision Film area.

US thriller series The River, from Steven Spielberg, and Oren Peli, the creator of Paranormal Activity, is set to make its UK debut on iTunes on February 8, just 24 hours after its US broadcast on ABC. iTunes customers will be first in the UK to see the drama series, the first time ABC Studios has made a show available in the UK as an iTunes exclusive.

]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:32:16 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164101-in-brief-sky-d-bt-vision-itunes/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164097-ukrainian-cable-eyes-major-change/ Ukrainian cable eyes major change
11.06 Europe/London, January 31, 2012 By Chris Dziadul


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Triolan.jpgThe disappearance of a number of leading channels including Eurosport and Discovery from operators’ offers could signal an important shift in the Ukrainian cable industry.

According to Mediasat and Vremya, at least one leading player (Triolan) has said although some of these services could reappear in its schedule, it is likely to reduce the number of pay-TV channels it offers as they are proving to be unpopular.

The latter typically cost operators UAH1-2 (€0.09-0.19) a month per subscriber, while FTA services funded by advertising are available for free and some less popular (regional, for instance) channels actually pay cable operators for carriage.

Underreporting of cable subscriber numbers in Ukraine is meanwhile believed to be rife, with operators declaring only 30-50% of their customers.

Cable operators are also now finding the provision of internet services more profitable than TV channels.

]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:11:05 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164097-ukrainian-cable-eyes-major-change/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164086-film1-and-sport1-accelerate-subscriber-growth-7/ Film1 and Sport1 accelerate subscriber growth +7%
10.43 Europe/London, January 31, 2012 By Robert Briel


Chellomedia’s Dutch premium channels Film1 and Sport1 have announced a 7% growth in subscriber numbers bringing the total to 490,000 for the year ended December 2011.

According to the broadcaster, “the growth in subscribers is mainly driven by innovation and commitment to add features to the Film1 service all of which are designed to enhance the experience for the movie subscriber. This includes the thematic rebranding of channels which allows clear signposts to the genre of the movie content, clear communication to new subscribers, and an On Demand offering,“

Film1 subscribers continue to find their way to the VOD service. Compared to 2010, usage of the Film1 On Demand service increased by an average of over 30% per subscriber. Viewers request an average of five movies per month.

Most popular on-demand movie in 2011 was Gangsterboys. Family movies are the most requested titles with Up, Monsters vs Aliens and various Harry Potters titles being the most popular.

Film1 has also recently added a fifth channel to its portfolio, Film1 Series. In March, Film1 will add Sundance, the independent American movie channel (see separate story). The Sundance deal also means an increase of the number of available to VOD titles to an average of 250 per month.

The addition of Sundance and Film1 Series comes at the time, when the broadcaster will face new competition on the premium pay market with the arrival of three HBO channels on February 9

.

Sport1 subscriptions also showed increases with the launch of a 24/7 golf and tennis channel in 2011. Sport1 plans to launch a channel dedicated to soccer in summer this year.

“Our results are built on our continued commitment to bring the best and distinctive programming to our viewers” said Jeroen Bergman, managing director of Chello Benelux, in a statement. “With the recent launch of Film1 Series, the addition of Sundance channel; and, with Sport1 increasingly offering a wider range of world-class sports events, we are confident that 2012 will be a good year.”

]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:48:14 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164086-film1-and-sport1-accelerate-subscriber-growth-7/ http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164085-chellomedia-launches-sundance-channel/ Chellomedia launches Sundance Channel
10.08 Europe/London, January 31, 2012 By Robert Briel


http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sundancechannel-300x225.jpgChellomedia has announced that it will add Sundance Channel to its portfolio in the Netherlands as of March 1.

The channel will be part of the Film1 portfolio of premium channels. Sundance Channel will feature a diverse selection of independent films, documentaries and original programmes.

The subtitled channel will be available in both HD and SD on cable and satellite platforms throughout the Netherlands. Selected Sundance content will also be available on the Film1 VOD service.

As a result of the new agreement, the Film1 portfolio of movies will increase with around 300 on a yearly basis, while the number of on-demand content will grow from an average of 140 titles per month to around 250.

Bruce Tuchman, president, AMC/Sundance Channel Global, said in a statement, “As a leading global provider and packager of independent content, we look forward to partnering with Chellomedia which will allow us to reach nearly universal penetration of the Dutch market and bring significant new value to Film 1 subscribers and consumers across the Netherlands.”

Sundance Channel was established by Robert Redford and offers audiences a diverse selection of independent films, documentaries and original programmes. Film1/Sundance Channel SD and HD will be available as a 24/7 linear channel and selected programming also on Film1 VOD.

The announcement of the cooperation between Chellomedia and Sundance follows recent new carriage agreements across Europe for the independent film channel.

]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:47:41 +0000 http://minicat.tv/forum/topic/164085-chellomedia-launches-sundance-channel/