Paolo Pescatore


Eleven Sports “miscalculation” serves as wake-up call to sports providers

Eleven Sports’ distribution headaches have served as a pressing “wake-up call” to sports providers looking to break into the UK’s saturated market. The embattled sports SVOD is on the brink of closure just four months after launching in the UK and Ireland, due in large part to what TBI understands was a “miscalculated” risk that […]

Comcast threatens Murdoch deal with £22bn offer for Sky

US cable giant Comcast has made a £22.1 billion (US$30.9 billion) bid for Sky, marking a 16% increase on 21st Century Fox’s agreed takeover price for the company. Announcing the offer this morning, Comcast said it is making a superior cash proposal of £12.50 per share and said that the proposed combination would bring attractive […]

Sky’s new Now TV move preempts full streaming switch

Sky has unveiled a new Now TV streaming device, which the European operator is due to start selling in the UK next month priced at £14.99 (US$21.40), as a plan to make all of its channels available via streaming gets under way. The Now TV Smart Stick will be powered by Roku and will undercut […]

BT strikes deal with Sky for Now TV and sports

BT has agreed a deal to sell Sky’s low-cost OTT TV service Now TV to BT TV customers. Sky will make the full Now TV service, which includes content such as Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and the Sky Atlantic channel, available via BT TV set-tops. BT will be able to sell Now TV subscriptions direct […]

Amazon launches subscription TV in UK, Germany

Amazon has launched its Amazon Channels offering in the UK, Germany and Austria, allowing Prime users to add live and on-demand TV as part of their subscription package. Amazon Channels launches with a line-up of more than 40 channels in the UK and more than 25 in Germany and Austria, with Amazon promising more additions […]

RTL exploring ‘all strategic alternatives’ for MCN

RTL Group will not exercise its call option to acquire the 49% of YouTube multichannel network BroadbandTV that it does not already own, and has decided to explore “all strategic alternatives” for the company together with minority shareholders. Luxembourg-based RTL has hired boutique investment advisor outfit Liontree to lead the process. An RTL spokesman told […]

Netflix ‘still the benchmark’ despite falter

Netflix remains “the benchmark for its rivals” despite its poor second quarter financial results, according to analysts. Paolo Pescatore at CCS Insight said this was the case and that the streaming giant traditionally struggles in Q2 because of seasonal trends. He added that he expected “the outlook to remain challenging owing to competition, the 2016 Olympic Games and […]

Sky brings Ultra HD to Sky Q

Sky is set to launch Ultra HD content on its Sky Q service next month, offering sports, movies, documentaries and dramas in the medium. From August 13, Sky Q Silver customers will be able to access what Sky claims is “the UK’s most comprehensive Ultra HD service”, with 4K sport to be available live and […]

Sky launches contract-free, triple-play Now TV box

Sky’s standalone digital service Now TV has launched what it claims is the UK’s first contract-free triple play bundle – offering TV, broadband and call bundles. The Now TV Combo is due to launch next month alongside the latest generation of the Roku-powered Now TV Smart Box – which includes a new homepage and frequently […]

BT’s TV growth labelled ‘disappointing’

BT’s TV base grew by 66,000 in the first three months of the year, and by 28% year-on-year, to reach 1.5 million at the end of the company’s fourth financial quarter, a level of growth analysts said was ‘disappointing’. BT Sport’s average daily audience figures increased 45% year on year, from the start of the […]