MGM have agreed to have their movies distributed by Intertainer. This adds to the deal they did last year with Universal. Viewers will be able to watch the movies on-demand (VOD). Intertainer currently only distribute their content to users who live in a number of region in the US and have at least a 580kbps connection. Not a great deal of chance of them distributing in the UK as the base BT ADSL service offers UPTO 500k – even if they could sort out movie distribution deals.
SightSound Technologies claim distribution patents
An initial ruling by a US federal magistrate on patents held by SightSound Technologies states they cover the distribution of audio and video content over all telco networks, including the Internet. The ramification of this could be that all online music and movie venture will have to pay a license fee to SightSound.
BT to roll out satellite broadband across Scotland
After a tiny trial of twelve companies, BT is now rolling out their satellite delivered broadband across Scotland.
The fact that there’s satellites footprint over the area gives them 100% coverage, no matter how remote the location. Sadly the service is significantly more expensive to install (a minimum of nearly £900) and use than ADSL, so to get things moving government bodies are subsidising it.
Broadband merger talks halt in Korea
The number two and three provider of broadband in Korea have suspended merger talks. The feeling is that both Hanaro Telecom and Thrunet are concerned about current levels of their individual debts.
Bredbandsbolaget raise charges
Bredbandsbolaget the Swedish broadband operator is raising its monthly charge from EU21 to EU35. They say the higher than expected costs of installing the fibre and the current lack of income from content have lead them to not be able to cover costs with their current charge.
Capital Radio and UBC Media form JV in DAB
An exciting area that hasn’t arrived on most people radar is data-over-DAB. Most people aren’t aware that it can be used to broadcast pure data, making it an interesting way of getting content to a lot of people for a fixed cost. Today Capital Radio and UBC Media announced they are forming a Joint Venture to develop data over DAB.
Sony to launch Broadband PlayStation 2
Sony will be launching its PlayStation 2 on Broadband service in Japan in April. Through recent deals it now has access to 70% of Broadband users and is talking about offering general entertainment (music, films, etc) as well as downloading and playing games.
Liberty Media interested in NTL
Rumours are circulating that Liberty Media is in talks with debt-laden NTL about buying a stake of between 25-51%. Interestingly Liberty already own 25% of Telewest and would try to merge the two. Given they are the biggest two cable companies in the UK by far, I would imagine it may be investigated by the Mergers and Monopolies commission but given the fragile nature of the cable business in the UK, they just might pass it.
Digeo announce ‘broadband media center’
A potentially interesting clash of old friends is brewing. Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft and over the last five years has bought a large number of cable companies that he amalgamated into Charter Communications, making it the fourth largest cable provider in the USA with around seven million customers.
He also has a company called digeo which has just announced with Motorola. their ‘broadband media center’. It’s comprehensively equipped with PVR, photo, music, games and telephony facilities. Using an interesting approach, it will initially be an add-on box that works with Motorola’s widely used DCT2000 set-top box, later moving to one box that performs all of the functions. I imagine it will have a period of exclusivity on Charter, then be sold into the large number of other cable companies that run on Motorola hardware – leading to a pretty formidable platform.
We await its launch in May with interest and look forward to the ensuring battle.
Sega innovating in gaming
Having now got out of the console market, Sega are innovating in gaming again. They are providing content and equipment to enable the distribution of games and PC software between ISP and their Broadband customers, thus avoiding any bottleneck their may be over the Internet.