UK (United Kingdom, Great Britain & Northern Ireland) Digital TV News

On-screen text-to-speech 'talking' chipset to be launched
Aug 11, 2009 – On-screen text such as TV programme guides, digital displays and menus are set to be brought to life with the power of speech thanks to a new 'talking' chipset resulting from a collaboration between the RNIB and leading digital technology companies.
News categories: RNIB, Ocean Blue Software, TW Electronics, Digital Technology Advisory, STMicroelectronics, Digital TV, Middleware, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Smart TV, UK

Virgin Media adds 56,600 PVR subscribers in 2Q09
Aug 6, 2009 – Virgin Media (NASDAQ: VMED) has announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Digital TV net additions were 32,900 in the quarter. Virgin added 56,600 V+ DVR subscribers in the period to reach an installed base of 668,500.
News categories: Virgin Media, Cable TV, DVR, Results, Subscribers, UK

BT Vision adds 10k subscribers in quarter to end-June
Jul 30, 2009 – BT (LSE:BT.A)(NYSE:BT) has released results for the first quarter to 30 June 2009. BT Vision net additions were 38,000 in the quarter before adjusting for inactive customers. After these adjustments, the customer base was 433,000 at quarter-end.
News categories: BT Vision, IPTV, Results, Subscribers, UK

Sky+ PVR reaches 5.5 million customers
Jul 30, 2009 – BSkyB (LSE:BSY) has released results for the twelve months ended 30 June 2009. The success of Sky+HD has been a key driver of Sky+ in the quarter, with 435,000 net Sky+ additions, to reach 5.5 million customers.
News categories: BSkyB, DVR, Ireland, Results, Satellite, Subscribers, UK

Sky to launch 3D TV in 2010 following record Sky+HD growth
Jul 30, 2009 – BSkyB (LSE:BSY) has announced that the number of customers choosing Sky+HD has increased to 1.313 million following record growth. In the next step in the Sky+HD journey, Sky has announced that it will launch the UK's first 3D channel next year.
News categories: BSkyB, Digital TV, DVR, Ireland, Metaverse, Satellite, Set Top Box, Subscribers, UK

European cable TV bucks recessionary trends
Jul 27, 2009 – Research from Screen Digest, in collaboration with Cable Europe, reveals that Europe's cable industry showed strong performance in 2008, experiencing an increase in total revenues of 5.4 percent, considering the challenging economic climate.
News categories: Screen Digest, Broadband, Cable TV, Digital TV, DOCSIS, Europe, Germany, Market Research, Netherlands, Subscribers, UK

BBC Trust publishes additional information on Project Canvas
Jul 24, 2009 – The BBC Trust, following the first period of public consultation, has asked the BBC Executive to provide more information on the proposals. The Trust has published the Executive's response and the timetable for the remainder of the process.
News categories: BBC Trust, Project Canvas, Digital TV, IPTV, Media Player, Middleware, Regulation, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, Terrestrial, UK

UK - FetchTV SmartBoxes available in John Lewis
Jul 16, 2009 – IP Vision's FetchTV is the first Freeview+ IPTV service to offer its users access to video-on-demand (VOD) and catch up content direct to their TV screen with no charges or tied-in subscription model.
News categories: IP Vision, DVR, Set Top Box, Streaming, Terrestrial, UK

EU Launches Digital Dividend Consultation
Jul 10, 2009 – By 2012 digital TV will completely replace analogue transmission and several Member States want to quickly use the potential of wireless to achieve full broadband access. The EU has launched an urgent public consultation on a common approach.
News categories: European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Content Distribution, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Digital TV, DVB-T2, Estonia, EU, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mobile, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Set Top Box, Slovakia, Slovenia, Smart TV, Spain, Sweden, Terrestrial, UK