Englewood, Colorado – Liberty Global, Inc. and Virgin Media Inc. have entered into an agreement, subject to shareholder approvals, to which Liberty Global will acquire Virgin Media in a stock and cash merger valued at approximately USD$23.3 billion. The deal between the two companies was made with several objectives, including being one of the world’s leading broadband communications company covering millions of homes across 14 countries. The combined company will focus on the … [Read more...] about Liberty Global to acquire Virgin Media
+Digital TV
Global pay-TV subscribers to grow 5%
The global pay-TV subscribers will reach 858.1 million at the end of 2012, up 5% from last year, despite a decline in the North America pay-TV market in 2012, according to market analyst ABI Research. The key growth will be driven by the Asia-Pacific market, which is expected to add more than 27 million subscribers in 2012. In particular, the APAC region will see the strongest growth in digital TV subscriptions in 2012, mainly driven by the on-going digitization process in countries such as … [Read more...] about Global pay-TV subscribers to grow 5%
RTHK launches digital terrestrial television signal test
Digital TV tests in Hong Kong have gone underway. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) recently conducted formal signal tests for digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels by broadcasting the services from the Temple Hill station. According to the company, about half of all TV households in the city-state should have been able to receive broadcasting signals from one HD and two SD RTHK channels in this test. The other three transmission stations located at Golden Hill, Castle Peak and Kowloon … [Read more...] about RTHK launches digital terrestrial television signal test
Asia Pacific to add 440 million digital TV homes by 2017
Asia Pacific is undergoing a digital TV boom that will see penetration increase from 36 percent in 2011 to 83 percent in 2017 – or up by 440 million homes, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. Digital TV Asia Pacific forecasts that China alone will provide 268 million of the additional digital TV homes, with India adding 82 million. Of the 440 million digital homes to be added between 2011 and 2017, 103 million will come from DTT. Digital cable will contribute a further 195 … [Read more...] about Asia Pacific to add 440 million digital TV homes by 2017
TRAI announces digital TV tariff structure in India
India – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced a new Tariff Order and Interconnection Regulations for the digital cable TV systems in the country. As per the regulation, all channels (pay and free-to air) will now be offered on a-la-carte basis to subscribers. There will be a Basic Service Tier (BST) consisting of a minimum of 100 free-to air (FTA) channels, comprising at least five channels of each genre – news and current affairs, infotainment, sports, kids, … [Read more...] about TRAI announces digital TV tariff structure in India
Tough road ahead
Melbourne – Changes in market conditions and consumer behaviours is forcing dramatic shifts and creating an uncertain future for the Pay-TV industry, states Ovum. This analysis was made in the research firm’s latest report, in which it states that new technologies and players offering alternative ways to view video are undermining the established order of Pay-TV operations. As a result, Pay-TV subscriber growth is slowing in several markets. Jonathan Doran, Ovum principal analyst and … [Read more...] about Tough road ahead