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Podcast: 6 criteria for choosing a backup loan servicer
The 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank reminded fintechs and financial institutions of the importance of having a backup loan servicer in the case of a trigger event. Examples of trigger events could include a bank collapse, a change in leadership or a servicer being unable to keep up with the level of collections needed…
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Record quarter for ITVX
ITVX recorded its best ever quarter between January 1st and March 31st with 896 million streams across the service – an increase of 12 per cent on Q1 2023. This follows January’s record-breaking month with 328 million streams, more than any other month on ITVX or previously on ITV Hub, and February was just behind…
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WBD directors step down on DoJ probe
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has announced that Steven Miron and Steven Newhouse, both independent directors, have resigned from WBD’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Miron and Newhouse resigned after the US Department of Justice informed them that it was investigating whether their service on the Board of Directors violated Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust…
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Ride to thrive
Full Disclosure: I write this piece without any pretence to journalistic objectivity. I ride a motorcycle, l love to do it, and I am a huge fan of motorcycle racing. Therefore, I wish Liberty Media all the best with their acquisition of Dorna, the organiser behind Moto GP and World Superbikes. Moto GP is the…
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Nilesat FY profits up 12%
Cairo-based Nilesat reported a 12 per cent increase in profits for the year ended December 31st 2023. The company’s profits reached $43.754 million, compared to $38.967 million in 2022. Revenues from operations also increased by 2 per cent to $101.825 million, compared to $99.859 million in 2022. The announcement was made during the company’s general…
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AVIA: Optimism for Asian video industry
The Asia Video Summit, the marquee conference for the video industry, kicked off in Hong Kong this March, as part of the HK Entertainment Expo. The Summit opened with an overview on the state of video in Asia, and how scale had redefined the industry. Vivek Couto, Executive Director, Media Partners Asia, shared that the…
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Mirroring as a future alternative to TV Smart functionality
The earliest of what we now consider smart TVs were first introduced around 2010. The usefulness of these systems when combined with an increased reliance on streaming quickly made them popular, to the point where smart functionality is now considered necessary. As useful as smart systems built into TVs are, however, they’re not without their…
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FCC approves SpaceX D2D application
During March the FCC approved some SpaceX applications and firmly denied others. But on March 28th it approved a request from SpaceX that was filed a few days earlier on March 25th. The application is for “experimental” (“Special Temporary Authority”) test transmissions direct-to-cellular devices from Starlink satellites. The approval kicks in on April 15th and…
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Kohler appointed CEO of Viaccess-Orca
Viaccess-Orca (VO), a provider of OTT and TV platforms, content protection, and advanced data solutions, has announced that Thomas Kohler has been appointed as CEO of the company, replacing Philippe Léonetti, who is retiring. Kohler is an established expert in business development, innovation, and company transformations, with over 20 years of international experience in senior…
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Netherlands: Talpa Network’s SBS9 rebrands as Viaplay TV
Viaplay Group and Dutch media company Talpa Network have agreed a linear TV partnership in the Netherlands. Starting April 5th, Talpa Network’s SBS9 linear TV channel will be rebranded as Viaplay TV, and will show selected content from the Viaplay streaming service’s portfolio of sports. Viaplay TV’s first live broadcast will be the second free…