- TVE Tematica, the company Spanish public broadcaster Television Espanola (TVE) created two years ago to make channels for Via Digital when TVE had a 15 per cent of the digital platform, is to be absorbed by TVE. The public broadcaster will now not only will make channels for Via Digital but also for other operators such as cable. TVE’s thematic TV activities will be managed by former New York correspondent Martin Dominguez. TVE-Tematica made five channels for Via Digital: Cineparaiso, Alucine, Hispavision, Canal Clasico and Canal Nostalgia. The other two channels from TVE (TeleDeporte and Canal 24 Horas) will continue to be part of the Sports and News divisions.
- Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe has appointed Barbara Salabe to the post of vice president and managing director of TBS Italy. According to the October 25 announcement, Salabe will be responsible for marketing, distribution and affiliate relations as well as business development for TBS channels CNNI, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network in Italy. Prior to joining TBS, Salabe was head of marketing of Rome-based pay-TV operator Stream and had also worked with leading publishing group RCS Editori.
- Private pay TV stations like Canal Plus Polska will not be able to buy exclusive rights to broadcast important events under an amended TV law recently passed by the Polish government. Another amendment to the broadcasting law raises the allowed share of foreign capital in Polish media from 33 to 49 per cent.
- Middle East pay-TV broadcaster Orbit has abandoned its US$50 "minimum threshold" tier and dramatically dropped its charges for an expanded channel line-up. Viewers can now sign up to Orbit’s ‘Mega Bouquet’, comprising all of Orbit’s TV and radio channels for $59 a month. This is a dramatic reduction on previous charges where even watching CNNI cost $3 a month, and premium movie channels were charged at up to $20 a month.
- The political changes in Pakistan following the recent coup have meant scrubbing plans for a 24-hour news channel (PTV3). Deposed Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif had intended the channel to counter what is seen as an overabundance of Indian news. PTV3 had been expected on air this week (November 1) and final arrangements were being made for the launch when the government was overthrown, a local news agency reported.
- Flextech has signed to take up to five retail ‘zones’ with Open…’s interactive service. UKTV Shop and SceneOne will be the first to air next year, with Flextech having options to extend the service with ScreenShop and TV Travel Shop. UKTV, which is a Flextech joint-venture with the BBC, has appointed Catherine Mackin as channel editor on its flagship service UK Gold.
- ShowNet was launched at last week’s Gitex information technology show in Dubai. ShowNet, a KIPCO-owned company, uses DVB-compliant Ku-band digital transmissions to deliver high-speed internet access to PCs with dishes turned towards Nilesat 101 at 7 degrees West.
- Pan-European news service Euronews has added Portuguese as its sixth language. Euronews will start broadcasting in Portuguese from November 1. The service will go out on Portuguese public broadcaster RTP’s second terrestrial channel from 0800-1600 Monday to Friday and 0800-1000 at weekends. It will also be broadcast on RTP1, RTP Africa, on RTP’s international channel RTPI and on cable networks in Portugal.
- Atlanta, Georgia-based US wireless and satellite communications specialist EMS Technologies is to provide hardware for BT’s planned Skyphone IP airborne high speed Internet service. BT is planning to offer a satellite delivered Internet service at rates of up to 64bit/s to aircraft in partnership with AT&T and Excite UK Ltd. The service is expected to cost between $60-70,000 to install.
- Mark Albrecht has been appointed as president of US-Russian joint venture International Launch Services (ILS). He succeeded Wilbur Trafton, who has moved to Sea Launch.
- It has been revealed that former BSkyB chief executive Sam Chisholm received a final bonus of Pounds 2.8 million when he left the pay-TV broadcaster in May. The amount was made up of salary as a part-time member of the board as well as a final bonus on leaving the board.
