The top media owner is Google, which is by some distance the world’s largest media owner, with revenues 47% higher than the second-largest, DirecTV. This gap has widened from 39% in last year’s edition of the report, as Google’s core search function has benefitted from the rapid rise in search volumes from smartphones and tablets. Among the rest of the top five, DirecTV remains in second place and Comcast remains in fifth. Disney has overtaken News Corporation to take third … [Read more...] about Chinese companies enter Top 30 Global Media Owners for the first time
Comcast
Comcast buys Time Warner Cable
Philadelphia & New York – Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA)(Nasdaq:CMCSK) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) announced on February 13 that their Boards of Directors have approved a definitive agreement for Time Warner Cable to merge with Comcast. The agreement is a friendly, stock-for-stock transaction in which Comcast will acquire 100 percent of Time Warner Cable’s 284.9 million shares outstanding for shares of CMCSA amounting to approximately $45.2 billion in equity value. … [Read more...] about Comcast buys Time Warner Cable
Bharti Airtel in talks to sell DTH arm
According to The Economic Times, Bharti Airtel is in talks with American media and communications giant Liberty Media to sell a stake in its unlisted direct-to-home (DTH) business, as compulsory digitisation and higher foreign ownership limits drive firms to seek capital and market reach. Several private equity funds were in independent discussions with the company to buy a minority stake in the DTH business, which commands an 18% market share in subscribers. … [Read more...] about Bharti Airtel in talks to sell DTH arm
Hulu’s CEO Jason Kilar resigns
Hulu’s Founding Chief Executive, Jason Kilar, has announced on Hulu’s blog that he will be stepping down from his role in the next three months. The New York Times reported that his departure comes just several months after Providence Equity Partners, the only independent owner of Hulu, sold its 10% stake originally bought for US$100 million, for US$200 million. The report also added that Kilar’s departure is certain to raise speculation about the future of Hulu due to … [Read more...] about Hulu’s CEO Jason Kilar resigns
Comcast close to selling stake in A&E
Comcast is close to selling its stake in the A&E cable networks, which would bring in nearly $3 billion for just 15 percent of the company, according to The New York Times. The deal has been in the works for many months, and now awaits approval from banks. A&E Networks, whose majority 85 percent stake is co-owned by ABC-Disney and the Hearst Corporation, will make the purchase of the Comcast stake and will pay back the loan from the networks’ profits. According to The New York … [Read more...] about Comcast close to selling stake in A&E
Cable subscribers to get free Asian movies, music in celebration of APAHM
International Media Distribution (IMD) has announced that Comcast and Cox will provide select Asian movies, music and related content free of charge in celebration of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) throughout the month of May. Comcast and Cox will offer more than 11.5 hours of content to digital cable subscribers without a subscription during this time. Among the free content to be showcased are Bollywood Hits On Demand, which will be available in Hindi with English subtitles, … [Read more...] about Cable subscribers to get free Asian movies, music in celebration of APAHM
