Featured Stories

UPC PARENT INTO SAUDI

UnitedGlobalCom, parent company of cable operator United Pan European Communications (UPC), has taken a 50 per cent stake in Saudi pay-TV bouquet Al Rawwad (‘Pioneer’, formerly known as Sara Vision)....

SBS-CME DEAL ENDS IN TEARS

Scandinavian Broadcasting System’s (SBS) $615 million takeover of troubled Central European Media Enterprises (CME) hit the buffers last week. SBS’ COO Woody Knight said SBS had watched with increasing concern...

CANAL IN TALKS WITH TPS

Canal Plus has confirmed reports that it has written to TF1 chief executive Patrick Le Lay to request carriage for itelevision on the TPS platform. Canal Plus is to launch...

HALLMARK TO LAUNCH ON SKY

BSkyB has signed a deal with Hallmark Entertainment Network that will see a UK version of the family-oriented channel launch on Sky Digital early next year. The channel initially will...

INTELSAT PRIVATISATION

Intelsat is to privatised by April 2001, according to the satellite organisation’s US signatory, Comsat Corp. Intelsat plans to conduct an initial public offering within one year of its proposed...

NEW FACES AT ICO

ICO Global Communications has undergone a number of senior personnel changes aimed at reversing the company’s fortunes. An ICO spokesman said the company’s deputy chief executive officer, Fredrik Verkroost, and...

NEWS BYTES...

Zee Telefilms will buy out Star TV’s 50 per cent interest in Asia Today, the Zee/Star TV subsidiary which broadcasts Zee TV, Zee Cinema and Zee News. Patco, the operating...

TELENOR: NO EFFECT ON SATELLITE

The merger between Nordic telcos Telia and Telenor, expected to be approved by the European Commission this week, is not expected to have a major impact on Telenor’s satellite activities....

LORAL/EUTELSAT DISPUTE ESCALATES

As the clock ticks to the October-scheduled launch of Orion 2, destined for the 12 degrees West mid-Atlantic position, there is no sign of any agreement between the satellite’s operator,...

ZDF IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

German public broadcaster ZDF will partner ARD and Deutsche Welle (DW) in a relaunched worldwide German television channel. ZDF’s board gave the green light to its participation at its meeting...