DTVE: the week in view - Streaming goes back to the future
Digital TV Europe
Covering new content and distribution platforms, technology and the business of payTV and broadband.
First the revolution, then the reaction. The big studios and tech companies that have plunged wholeheartedly into video streaming have now retrenched, with casualties mounting in the shape of layoffs and cancelled shows.
Disney was no exception. In February the mouse house’s Q1 financials came in below expectations, weighed down by costs associated with the company’s ambitious streaming plans.
Disney’s streaming business lost US$1 billion in the quarter, and the company announced a wave of 7,000 job cuts in an attempt to deliver US$5 billion in savings.
Immediately afterwards reinstalled boss Bob Iger announced a major restructuring initiative, with the company organised into three core, collaborative business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.?
This was enough to see off the threat of a confrontation with activist investor Nelson Peltz, who had been seeking a position on the board.
领英推荐
DTVE's Top Stories...
Vodafone and Three-owner CK Hutchison Holdings (CKHH) have confirmed that they are in discussions about a possible combination of Three UK and Vodafone UK. The envisaged transaction would involve both companies combining their UK businesses, with CKHH owning 49% and Vodafone 51% of the combined business.?
UK broadcaster ITV is to shut down its kids-focused linear network CITV later this year and create a new ‘dedicated destination’ for children’s programming on nascent streamer ITVX. The CITV broadcast channel will close in early Autumn, once the new streaming destination for kids has been rolled out.
French media giant Vivendi has reported that its revenues for 2022 increased by 10.1% to €9.6 billion, “driven by the activities of Havas Media Network and CANAL+ Group , as well as a historically high contribution from (video game publisher) Gameloft”. It also revealed losses of around €1bn “mainly due to the deconsolidation of Telecom Italia”.
UK regulator Ofcom is to consult on a plan to stop broadband service providers from using the word ‘fibre’ to describe any type of network connection other than FTTH. Under the watchdog’s planned guidance, broadband providers would only be able to use the terms ‘fibre’ and ‘full-fibre’ on their websites and in contracts if their network uses fibre-optic cables all the way from the exchange to the home.
French service provider Free, the consumer-facing brand of Iliad Telecom, has launched its first AVOD offering, OQEE Ciné. The new service is available to free of chanrge to all Freebox subscribers. OQEE Ciné offers a mix of blockbuster movies, cult series, comedies, thrilllers, cartoons and drama.