Sky, which is currently part of Comcast Corporation, has announced an agreement to acquire the ITV Media and Entertainment business from ITV plc for £1.6 billion. The deal will comprise £1.2 billion in cash, the transfer of the Love Productions business to ITV, and up to £0.2 billion in earn outs. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
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Vizio OS is expected to overtake Roku in television sales in North America. The competitive landscape of television operating systems is shifting from manufacturers to a broader competition involving retail, media, and technology companies. Sales of televisions alone no longer generate significant profits, while competition from Chinese manufacturers is driving down prices and steadily capturing market share.
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BBC online material will come under the direct regulation of Ofcom under proposals for a new code. It follows an extension of regulatory powers from the government from its mid-term review of the BBC Charter, which is now subject to further review. Ofcom will also have increased oversight of how complaints to the BBC are handled.
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Comcast is planning to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into a separate public company. It is not simply restructuring. It is recognising that the convergence strategy which shaped much of the media industry over the past fifteen years has largely run its course.
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The football World Cup is one of the biggest television events globally. With 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 venues spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament is the largest and most complex production challenge FIFA and Host Broadcast Services has ever faced. Every match is being produced in ultra-high definition with high dynamic range as an enhanced world feed, with up to 45 cameras at each stadium. Whether you will be able to see it in true 4K UHD depends on where and how you are watching.
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Sky is reported to be close to announcing an agreement to acquire the media and entertainment business of ITV, the leading commercial television broadcaster in the United Kingdom. The deal is worth around £1.6 billion but includes a significant spending commitment to the remaining ITV studios business to guarantee the production of popular programmes for five years.
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