Archive for March, 2007

Ofcom launch investigation into pay TV market – prompting Sky to demand investigation of Virgin Media

Ofcom has received a submission from BT, Setanta, Top Up TV, and Virgin Media, which asks Ofcom to investigate the pay TV industry and to consider whether to make a market reference to the Competition Commission under the Enterprise Act 2002.
Pay TV includes subscription and video-on-demand television services on all platforms: [...]

European Commission: Regulate Mobile TV or Else

The EU has recommended that the mobile TV industry pick a single standard or risk minimal take-up of the technology.

Viviane Reding in her role as EC information society and media commissioner sounded like a scolding mother in a statement she released insisting that countries need to work together on mobile TV: “I am disappointed about the lack of progress made so far… Member states must work more closely together to devise a common approach, compare technologies, look at possible legal obstacles, make spectrum available throughout Europe and choose together the best way to ensure a quick and large take-up of mobile TV by Europeans, preferably based on a single standard.”

‘It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future’ ~ Yogi Berra

I read Luke’s post earlier this weekend on the digital dividend review (DDR) and Philip Rutnam’s letter in the Guardian. Here’s my response:
Disclosure of interests. I am a Sony shareholder. Folks, if you want a high-quality, affordable high def TV I strongly recommend the Sony Bravia. Also, in less than a [...]

Philip Rutnam tells it like it is on HD

Ofcom’s Philip Rutnam is a bright bloke. He doesn’t just ‘do’ public policy or regulation he actually ‘gets’ it. So when he sees the type of lobbying letter that was placed in the Guardian this week by a group of self interested parties calling for special treatment he responds by telling it like it [...]

Ofcom Consumer Panel’s letter to Ofcom – a friendly critique

We were bemused here at Ofcomwatch Towers by the Consumer Panel’s decision to write formally to Ofcom CEO Ed Richards in regard to the recent Sky-Virgin Media spat over carriage fees for Sky content. The rumble between the two companies has resulted in the loss of three Sky channels to Virgin Media customers – which [...]

As if no one saw the YouTube lawsuit coming….

The FT had an interesting editorial on the Viacom v YouTube lawsuit and assesses the shades of grey in the issue. The lawsuit “poses the central question of the digital age: how can old [circa 1998] laws be applied to new technologies, in ways that balance the rights of copyright owners with the public interest.”

Number 10 e-petition lobbies against Ofcom’s ‘intervention’ in the Sky-Virgin Media content dispute

An e-petition aimed at lobbying Number 10 to have Ofcom remove requirements on Sky to provide its television content to competitors on ‘fair and reasonable’ terms has appeared on the Number 10 website. Not sure that the petition creator has the best grasp of competition law and what it aims to achieve.
Here is the slightly [...]

Mailcall! (more pressure on Ofcom over its DDR initial conclusions)

Today, the Guardian published two letters, one pushing HD and one pushing community media…
Letter 1:
“This year more than four million people will buy televisions that are “HD ready” – capable of receiving high-definition digital television. Many who make that purchase, spurred on by the promise of a vastly improved viewing experience, could be disappointed. [...]

Ofcom releases latest statistics on digital television

Ofcom say in their press release:
“Ofcom today published its Communications Market: Digital Television Progress Report for the fourth quarter of 2006 (October-December).
The report shows that at the end of 2006 almost half (48.5%) of the UK’s 60 million television sets were connected to a digital device, up from 44.7% in the previous quarter and 39% [...]

Next Generation Network Interconnection Event

As network architectures advance and regulatory pressures continue to impact interconnect revenue, join the experts and learn to adapt your business models and commercial approaches to gain best advantage.
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th March 2007
Jolly Hotel du Grand Sablon, Brussels, Belgium
Click here to register.