Hulu, the US catch-up TV portal is no longer up for sale. In a joint statement from its owners News Corp., Providence Equity Partners, The Walt Disney Company and the Hulu senior management team, the company said the sale process had been terminated. “Our focus now rests solely on ensuring that our efforts as owners contribute in a meaningful way to the exciting future that lies ahead for Hulu.” The partners said they looked forward to working together towards greater success. … [Read more...] about No go for Hulu
VOD
Xbox moves beyond gaming
Microsoft has announced a slew of deals that will put TV content from 50 content providers in more than 20 countries onto its Xbox console. Subjected to geographic restrictions, these will be available to the existing 35 million users of the service. The BBC, Channel 4, Lovefilm (UK), Telefónica (Spain), Mediaset (Italy) and ZDF (Germany) join North American partners that include Bravo, Comcast, HBO Go, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in an updated version of the Xbox Live, which will launch before … [Read more...] about Xbox moves beyond gaming
The way forward
This year’s MIPCOM saw multiple cross-platform deals made, blurring the lines that once separated television from the digital sphere. Miramax, Netflix and Fox Broadcasting Company are three examples of this digitalization of TV taking place. Miramax, which attended its first MIPCOM this year, signed a string of digital distribution deals, including agreements with Netflix and Hulu. Netflix, an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in North and Latin America, itself … [Read more...] about The way forward
Chinese operator offers more VOD
Wuhu CATV, a cable operator serving the Anhui province in China, is offering more video-on-demand (VOD) services provided by Ericsson, to meet rising demand. According to Informa, the number of pay TV subscribers in China is expected to increase from 362 million in 2010 to 481 million by 2016. To cater to the population, the Chinese operator is deploying a system that includes the OpenStream Digital Services Platform by Ericsson. The on-demand service delivery platform addresses critical … [Read more...] about Chinese operator offers more VOD
Madness descends on Asia and Europe
New York – AMC/Sundance Channel Global today announced it has acquired the rights to multiple seasons of Mad Men for Sundance Channel in Asia and Europe. Sundance Channel will premiere season one of the award winning show throughout Asia in October. It will also debut the 13x60’ series in HD for the first time in Korea, as well as premiere the show on its channels in Singapore and Taiwan. In Europe, season one will premiere in Spain in October while season two will premiere in HD for … [Read more...] about Madness descends on Asia and Europe
mio TV launches Hokkien channel
Singapore – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) announced that mio TV will launch a new self-packaged Asian entertainment channel, Jia Le (Channel 88), focused on Hokkien and Mandarin content, on 29 August 2011. The 24-hour channel will feature the latest Hokkien and Mandarin dramas and variety shows, sourced mainly from producers in Taiwan and the rest of the region. “We are launching this channel because more than 40 per cent of Chinese Singaporeans are Hokkien” … [Read more...] about mio TV launches Hokkien channel