Inside Digital TV articles from February 2002

Inside Digital TV archives from February 2002

Microsoft Says It Supported MHP All Along.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor Microsoft insists that not only does it support MHP, but that it does not exclude the possibility that it might create an MHP-compliant version of its Microsoft Advanced TV platform if one of its customers demands it,...

Vestel Details UK Free-To-Air DTT Market Plans.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor Turkish OEM manufacturer Vestel has revealed its plans for the UK free- to-air (FTA) DTT market in the wake of announcements by Pace and Nokia (see Inside Digital TV Vol.5 No.2). According to Alp Somyurek, general...

No Subsidy for CI, Says Novapal.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor Irish set-top box maker Novapal says that although UK DTT operator ITV Digital is keen to see free-to-air (FTA) DTT boxes incorporate pay-TV upgradeability, it refuses to subsidise them. Oliver Durkin, chief...

Q&A: Innovative Interactive Approach Key for TPS.(Interview)
February 6, 2002... TPS (La Television Par Satellite) has over a million subscribers in the French digital television market. It is the main competitor to Canal Satellite, which leads the way in one of Europe's most competitive markets. The operator is also...

Microsoft 'Out-branded' by TiVo.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Mark Holmes Senior Editor Forrester Research believes Microsoft has been outgunned by TiVo in the U.S. market, and that its recent move to consolidate its UltimateTV business into the MSN Group has been made to avoid embarrassment later...

NTL Bids To Avoid Becoming Cable's Enron.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Mark Holmes Senior Editor NTL is looking to Credit Suisse First Boston, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley for advice on restructuring its debt. The beleaguered European cable company is desperately trying to come to grips with its $17...

To Buy Or Not To Buy, That Is The Question.(BSkyB )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... Ahead of BSkyB's interim financial results on Feb. 8, should one be buying, holding or selling BSkyB stock? This is not a question that has direct financial consequences for me, I should hasten to add, since as a matter of principle I do not...

Briefs.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2002... * The future of Energis Interactive's Brightblue "walled garden" on Sky Digital could be in doubt as joint owner Energis warned that it would cut up to 500 additional jobs at the telco in the wake of a profit warning last week. Energis had...

BSkyB's German hopes in tatters.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 20, 2002... BSkyB's decision to write off its investment in KirchPayTV has been greeted favourably by analysts, despite the costs and potential losses involved. BSkyB announced during its recent presentation on its interim financial figures that it was...

Rimmell Lipstick i-ads experience 'double' response.(interactive television advertising)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor Advertising agency BMTVi has revealed detailed information about its pre- Christmas Rimmel lipstick interactive advertising campaign, dubbed "the most successful interactive poster campaign ever" by Robert Leach,...

ITV Digital posts worst figures since launch.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor In the last quarter of 2001, UK DTT operator, ITV Digital garnered a lower number of net sales than at any time since launch, according to Inside Digital TV's analysis. Subscriber numbers grew during the quarter by...

MILIA Special: ITV players struggle to find winning formulas.(interactive television)
February 20, 2002... The numbers of customers who use interactive services on their TV continues to grow at a healthy pace in Europe. Yet, despite operators and channels alike quoting impressive statistics, the picture may not be as bright as the one being...

Netgem throws down FTA gauntlet to Pace.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2002... Netgem aims to provide Pace all the competition it can handle in the FTA DTT device market. Netgem unveiled its first DTT set-top box at the MILIA show, which it will begin selling in May this year with the aim to attract subscribers who...

BBC unveils plans for new digital kids channels.(British Broadcasting Corporation Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2002... Julian Clover: MILIA 2002, Cannes The BBC has released plans for enhanced television services that will accompany the two digital children's channels on February 11. CBeebies will be aimed at pre-schoolers while CBBC will focus on six to...

ARPU the key to Sky's subscribership target.(Average Revenue Per Unit, British Sky Broadcasting Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 20, 2002... Barry Flynn Editor UK digital DTH operator Sky Digital added 218,000 digital subs in the final calendar quarter of 2001. Putting aside the previous quarter's performance, in which Sky carried the burden of around 70,000 'lost' subs due...

Interactive technology aims to take the next step.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2002... Much has been made since Sky Digital launched its Sky Active service last October of the phrase "contextual interactivity." What this means is that if you press the red button on your remote control, the enhancements you are presented with...

Briefly.(several articles concerning the cable television services and television broadcasting industries)(Statistical Data Included)
February 20, 2002... * European cable company United Pan-European Communications (UPC) has announced that Microsoft had sold all its shares in the company ahead of a planned debt restructuring. Meanwhile, US SEC filings have revealed that Capital Group, which...

Editor's Note.
February 20, 2002... Dear Subscriber: You are invited to attend an exclusive teleseminar presented by PBI Media on "The Tauzin-Dingell Bill: What It Means to You and Your Company," Feb. 25, 1:30-3 p.m. EST. This interactive teleseminar encourages audience...