All Tech News
November 27, 2005
The French television companies in talks over a “combination” are studying two possible structures for uniting France’s rival satellite TV providers and take on the threat from telecoms groups.Vivendi Universal, the media group that has a majority stake in the Canal Sat operator, is trying to agree terms with TF1 and M6, the television groups that own TPS, the rival satellite platform, in a deal due to be concluded before Christmas.The first structure would see TF1 and M6 take stakes in Canal Plus, Vivendi’s wholly owned subsidiary, and fold TPS into the whole. The second would involve the creation of a new company.In either case, Canal Plus would hold a controlling stake but the division of equity is yet to be agreed.Patrick Le Lay, TF1 chief executive, has previously resisted the merger of the two groups.Observers believe the growing threat of competition from telecoms groups offering “triple play” – television, internet and telephone over broadband – has forced the company to reconsider.Belgacom, the Belgian telecoms operator, won rights to Belgian football earlier this year. Vivendi and TPS are concerned that telecoms companies in France will begin to fight fiercely for key content such as football and films.“A merger would be fantastic news,” said Nick Bertolotti, analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston. “It would solve this miserable situation of cut-throat war in French pay TV.”Analysts estimated potential savings for marketing, programming, transmission and overheads at €250m-€500m ($299m-$598m). The competition between the two satellite TV providers has kept their operating margins at about 5 per cent compared with about 20 per cent for BSkyB in the UK. Mr Bertolotti said a merged group could hope to end up just below BSkyB’s level.After the structure has been resolved, the companies will concentrate on preparing their case for an expected antitrust probe. They hope the competition from telecoms companies that has spurred the deal will act as their defence against antitrust charges.Every stakeholder in the deal saw its shares jump on Monday. Vivendi rose 3.5 per cent €26.00, TF1 rose 8 per cent to €23.91 and M6 rose 4 per cent to €23.76.Source : FT
Canal + and TPS to merge
byThe French television companies in talks over a “combination” are studying two possible structures for uniting France’s rival satellite TV providers and take on the threat from telecoms groups.Vivendi Universal, the media group that has a majority stake in the Canal Sat operator, is trying to agree terms with TF1 and M6, the television groups that own TPS, the rival satellite platform, in a deal due to be concluded before Christmas.The first structure would see TF1 and M6 take stakes in Canal Plus, Vivendi’s wholly owned subsidiary, and fold TPS into the whole. The second would involve the creation of a new company.In either case, Canal Plus would hold a controlling stake but the division of equity is yet to be agreed.Patrick Le Lay, TF1 chief executive, has previously resisted the merger of the two groups.Observers believe the growing threat of competition from telecoms groups offering “triple play” – television, internet and telephone over broadband – has forced the company to reconsider.Belgacom, the Belgian telecoms operator, won rights to Belgian football earlier this year. Vivendi and TPS are concerned that telecoms companies in France will begin to fight fiercely for key content such as football and films.“A merger would be fantastic news,” said Nick Bertolotti, analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston. “It would solve this miserable situation of cut-throat war in French pay TV.”Analysts estimated potential savings for marketing, programming, transmission and overheads at €250m-€500m ($299m-$598m). The competition between the two satellite TV providers has kept their operating margins at about 5 per cent compared with about 20 per cent for BSkyB in the UK. Mr Bertolotti said a merged group could hope to end up just below BSkyB’s level.After the structure has been resolved, the companies will concentrate on preparing their case for an expected antitrust probe. They hope the competition from telecoms companies that has spurred the deal will act as their defence against antitrust charges.Every stakeholder in the deal saw its shares jump on Monday. Vivendi rose 3.5 per cent €26.00, TF1 rose 8 per cent to €23.91 and M6 rose 4 per cent to €23.76.Source : FT
November 24, 2005
Google are reportedly testing their Google Talk format to test Click To Call - a service where advertisers pay only for leads that result in a phone call.
The service was reported seen on Problogger and quotes Google's comments on the service:
‘We’re testing a new product that gives you a free and fast ...
Google test Click to Call
by Brian Turner
November 1, 2005
BT are making strong moves for an IPTV audience for 2006, with trials for early in the year, with an expected full roll out for after the summer. From More details on BT and its TV service: The BT TV service will be built around a FreeView receiver with built-in PVR (personal video recorder), and employ Microsoft's IPTV software for ...
BT to enter IPTV market with Philips
by Brian TurnerBT are making strong moves for an IPTV audience for 2006, with trials for early in the year, with an expected full roll out for after the summer. From More details on BT and its TV service: The BT TV service will be built around a FreeView receiver with built-in PVR (personal video recorder), and employ Microsoft's IPTV software for ...
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