European Union Commission decided that merger of two Spanish Pay TV platforms - Via Digital and Canal Satellite Digital is entirely national issue and is to be reviewed by Spanish authorities only.

RTL Group has acquired 47.3% stake in German 24 hour news channel n-TV, for 170 million Euros.

Tandberg Television and Irdeto Access announced launch of new low cost end to end package aimed at TV providers with low budgets. Earlybird is a complete solution, from content encryption to set top box.

AOL Time Warner has doubled their stake in German music television group Viva Media by purchasing additional 15.3% stake in from EMI Group.

Nowy Canal+, Polish PayTV platform face 1 million PLN fine for imposing onerous terms upon subscribers. Why only Nowy Canal+ and why only 1 million, can we make it a Europe wide movement?

Jean Rene Fourtou, Chairman of Vivendi Universal denies group plans to sell further major Canal Plus assets to cover 20 billion Euro debts. There are plans to sell non-core assets though.

On August 21 Atlas V space launcher elevated HotBird 6 into geostationary orbit. HotBird 6 has 28 Ku band and 4 Ka band transponders and is a replacement for damaged Hot Bird 5 at 13°E. Satellite is estimated to serve for the next 12 years.

German free to air broadcaster ZDF plans job cuts and new cost management to cover annual loss of 25 million Euros.

On August 29Atlantic Bird™ 1 onboard Ariane 5 craft was successfully launched into space and is currently closing in to its geostationary position at 12.5°W. Atlantic Bird ™ 1 payload consists of 24 Ku-Band transponders and its life span is estimated to reach 15 years.

Scientific-Atlanta plans to introduce new PowerVu modulator with 8PSK Turbo Code this month. Modulator codenamed D9390T will be capable of receiving up to 30% more channels per single transponder at higher bit rates compared to traditional QPSK.

On September 16 the youngest British public TV programme Channel 5 will be relaunched as Five to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

Any of you cheapskates was hunting for bargains this season? Some goodies straight from the Digital Broadcast Centre and Head Office Facility of the suddenly departed and never missed ITV Digital Plc are to be had at low prices in public online auction organised on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th September at DoveBid. Hundreds of receivers, more and less professional broadcast equipment, furniture, PCs and netowrk equipment can be previewed here.

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