Rupert Murdoch’s media-entertainment giant 21st Century Fox reported Wednesday a dip in profits in the past quarter while expressing confidence on winning approval for its takeover of pay-TV giant Sky. Profit in the January-March quarter fell 3.5 percent from a year ago to $799 million, while revenues grew 4.7 percent to $7.56 billion. Shares in … Read more
BT has bowed to demands by the telecoms regulator Ofcom to legally separate Openreach, which runs the UK’s broadband infrastructure. Ofcom said that Openreach will become a distinct company with its own staff, management and strategy “to serve all of its customers equally”. It must consult with customers such as Sky and TalkTalk on major … Read more
High Definition TV continues to gain ground across the broadcast satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications with the 240 HD channels launched in 2016 equaling the total number launched during the previous two years. The symbolic landmark of 1,000 channels was crossed this month with the launch at Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD neighborhood of CGTN HD, the news … Read more
The story begins when the 150-year-old telecoms organization, called the International Telecoms Union (ITU), decides that globally; all television transmission must be conducted in digital as opposed to analogue broadcasting which had been the traditional method of transmission. The difference is similar to the analogue mobile phones, where phone calls to a handset, did not … Read more
Satellite broadcaster Sky has secured a last-minute deal to keep 12 Discovery channels on its television service. The US broadcaster behind channels such as Eurosport and TLC had threatened to remove its channels from Sky on 31 January after a dispute over fees. Discovery said the new agreement would keep its programmes on Sky for … Read more
Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA. O) said on Thursday it had agreed to buy European pay-TV firm Sky (SKYB.L) for $14.6 billion, sticking to its earlier offer despite complaints from some investors. Fox said it would pursue a Scheme of Arrangement, meaning it would need the backing of 75 percent of Sky’s independent shareholders … Read more
A major shareholder in British pay-TV company Sky (SKYB. L) will vote against Twenty-First Century Fox’s (FOXA.O) $14 billion takeover bid, the investor told Reuters on Sunday, while another said it is unhappy about the offer. Rupert Murdoch’s Fox offered 10.75 pounds ($13.52) a share in cash on Friday in its second attempt to buy … Read more
US media giant 21st Century Fox has made a takeover approach for Sky that values the UK-based satellite broadcaster at £18.5bn. The proposed offer is worth £10.75 a share in cash, a premium of 36% to the closing price on 8 December. Sky shares ended 26.6% higher at 999.8p in London following the announcement. Media … Read more