LepsiaTV adds 2 new TV channnels
SLOVAKIA 12 JAN

LepsiaTV adds 2 new TV channnels

Slovak online TV service LepsiaTV has expanded its pay TV lineup with the channels 360 Tune Box and Erox HD. Both channels are added to the Classic package, costing EUR 9.59 monthly, as well as the Top package, costing EUR 12.59 monthly. 

Eutelsat orders 340 more satellites from Airbus for OneWeb LEO constellation
GLOBAL 12 JAN

Eutelsat orders 340 more satellites from Airbus for OneWeb LEO constellation

Eutelsat Group, which combines Eutelsat and OneWeb, announced further progress in the expansion of its OneWeb constellation, with an order of 340 more LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites from long-standing partner Airbus Defence and Space. The order brings to 440 the number of satellites procured from Airbus as part of this planned expansion, following the contract for a 100-strong batch agreed at the end of 2024 and expected to go into production later this year. 

Tunisian and Algerian public broadcasters partner on DAB+ cooperation
ALGERIA 12 JAN

Tunisian and Algerian public broadcasters partner on DAB+ cooperation

Tunisia's state-owned Radio Tunisienne and Algeria's public radio broadcaster Radio Algerienne have signed a twinning and cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration, with a focus on digital radio technologies such as DAB+, RedTech reported. The partnership is designed to support the transition from analogue to digital audio broadcasting, with DAB+ identified as a priority area for shared technical expertise. The broadcasters say cooperation will also extend to internet streaming platforms, mobile app

Only 6% of Portuguese households rely on DTT
PORTUGAL 12 JAN

Only 6% of Portuguese households rely on DTT

Only 6.3 percent of households in Portugal exclusively relied on digital terrestrial television (DTT) for free access to national TV channels in 2025, marking a 1.1 percentage point decrease from the previous year, according to research by Portugal's National Communications Authority (Anacom). While 89.2 percent of primary residences had a TV, DTT usage (not necessarily exclusive) in these homes dropped to 22.7 percent, its lowest point since data collection began in 2016. The total number of DTT-enabled TV

Sama X obtains licence to provide Starlink services in Bahrain
BAHRAIN 12 JAN

Sama X obtains licence to provide Starlink services in Bahrain

Starlink global reseller Sama X has been licensed by Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to the satellite internet services in Bahrain. Sama X offers turnkey services ranging from customer consultation to rapid installation and activation as well as local support, including a round-the-clock call centre serving in both English and Arabic. Sama X is backed by privately owned company Alghanim Industries. It will provide the high-speed internet service to every corner of Bahrain using Starl

Starlink gets FCC approval to double satellite constellation
UNITED STATES 12 JAN

Starlink gets FCC approval to double satellite constellation

Starlink has received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to double its satellite fleet. Under this grant, its owner SpaceX is authorized to construct, deploy and operate an additional 7,500 Starlink satellites as the second phase of its constellation, bringing the total to 15,000 satellites worldwide. The wider constellation is expected to support improved coverage, speed and latency from the satellite internet service, as well as the wider roll-out of direct-to-device mobile satellite s

Kepler launches first optical relay satellites
GLOBAL 12 JAN

Kepler launches first optical relay satellites

Satellite company Kepler Communications announced the successful launch of the first tranche of its optical relay satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The satellites will now begin commissioning as Kepler transitions its optical data relay network into operational service. The tranche consists of 10 satellites, each approximately 300 kilograms, equipped with high-capacity SDA-compatible optical terminals and multi-GPU on-orbit compute modules with terabyte

Dutch TV time down 5% year-on-year in December
NETHERLANDS 9 JAN

Dutch TV time down 5% year-on-year in December

TV viewing time in the Netherlands reached a seasonal peak in December, but was still down 5 percent year-on-year, figures from the NMO show. Average daily time watching the main TV in the home was 211 minutes per day, including 130 minutes for linear TV (-6%) and 81 minutes for VOD services (-5%).

UPC Slovakia expands pay-TV lineup with 6 new channels
SLOVAKIA 9 JAN

UPC Slovakia expands pay-TV lineup with 6 new channels

UPC Slovakia has expanded its pay-TV lineup with six additional channels. The list includes the Ukrainian channel Dim, as well as five Slovak regional and local channels: TV Vega, TV Zemplin, TV Vychod, TV Sirava and TV Michalovce. This follows the end of the channels MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV 00s, MTV Live HD and Club MTV, which were withdrawn from the market. 

Keysight tests NR-NTN link in band n252 using Samsung modem chipset
GLOBAL 9 JAN

Keysight tests NR-NTN link in band n252 using Samsung modem chipset

Keysight Technologies said it has achieved a new radio non-terrestrial networks (NR-NTN) connection in band n252 using Samsung Electronics' next-generation modem chipset. The demonstration took place at CES 2026 in Las Vegas and included live satellite-to-satellite (SAT-to-SAT) mobility using commercial-grade modem silicon and cross-vendor interoperability. The n252 band is expected to be adopted by next-generation low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations and this validation follows those for n255 and n256.

Yettel Hungary sets new mobile internet and TV usage records in festive period
HUNGARY 9 JAN

Yettel Hungary sets new mobile internet and TV usage records in festive period

During the 2025 holiday season, Yettel Hungary customers set new records for mobile internet and TV usage, with significant increases compared to the previous year. Between 24 December and 1 January, mobile internet traffic surged by nearly 30 percent, reaching almost 30 million GB of data consumed – the highest ever recorded. Over a third (34%) of all data traffic in December was carried over the 5G network. TV viewing also saw a boost, with households spending approximately 10 per cent more time watching

Kino Polska Group offers localised version of DocuBox
POLAND 9 JAN

Kino Polska Group offers localised version of DocuBox

Polish broadcaster Kino Polska Group, part of SPI International is offering new version of the television channel DocuBox tailored for Polish viewers with dedicated programming and voice-over. DocuBox now offers a brand new schedule with a carefully curated selection of content but also the ability to watch every title from its library with Polish narration. 

GLOBAL 9 JAN

TikTok inks deal to create dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 hub

FIFA has signed an agreement to convert TikTok into its first-ever "Preferred Platform" to boost global access and fan engagement ahead of this summer's World Cup football tournament. The deal strengthens ties first formed during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and will give TikTok a central role in delivering original content, highlights and interactive experiences to fans during the tournament across North America.

SPAIN 9 JAN

Digi Spain to air Australian Open in 4K at no extra cost

Digi Spain has announced that all subscribers to its Digi TV service will be able to watch matches from the forthcoming Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament at no extra cost starting 18 January. The most important games will be available in 4K quality on the Eurosport 4K channel (dial no. 10), with remaining matches plus analysis, debates and other competition-related content shown on additional Eurosport channels.

POLAND 9 JAN

T-Mobile Poland adds Eurosport 3 to TV lineup

T-Mobile Poland has added the channel Eurosport 3 from Warner Bros Discovery to the lineup of its pay-TV service Magenta TV. The channel will be available in an open window for all subscribers of the operator until 31 March. The lineup already included Europsort 1 and Eurosport 2.

UNITED KINGDOM 9 JAN

Virgin Media makes Premier Sports Rugby channel free

Virgin Media has made the channel Premier Sports Rugby free for its TV subscribers in the UK. The 24/7 rugby channel provides coverage of the Investec Champions Cup, United Rugby Championship, EPCR Challenge Cup, Top14 (France), Major League Rugby and Japan Rugby League One, as well as other programmes.

UGANDA 9 JAN

UCC denies reports of immediate Starlink launch in partnership with Airtel

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has dismissed reports that Starlink will launch direct-to-consumer services this week, saying that the satellite provider still lacks the legal authority to operate in the country. UCC executive director Nyombi Thembo said recent speculation about an immediate roll-out in partnership with Airtel Uganda is inaccurate. While Airtel Africa and SpaceX have signed a regional agreement to explore satellite integration, Thembo said the deal is subject to regulatory approv

UNITED STATES 9 JAN

Disney+ plans vertical videos to boost daily audience

The Walt Disney Company announced plans to bring vertical videos to Disney+ later this year. The move is expected to attract more people to watching the streaming service on their mobile device, boosting the daily audience of the platform. The announcement was made at a presentation for advertisers at CES in Las Vegas. 'Verts' launched earlier on the ESPN app, and Disney wants to bring the format to its news and entertainment as well. The company said vertical video "delivers a more personalized, dynamic ex

GLOBAL 9 JAN

KDDI launches K-Pop YouTube channel "PBLive Produced by au"

KDDI has launched a new YouTube music channel, PBLive Produced by au, to distribute K-Pop content globally. The channel is built around the concept "One Booth, One Live" and features live-style performances by K-Pop artists filmed in a phone booth–inspired set. Through the format, KDDI aims to deliver Korean music content produced in Korea to audiences worldwide via YouTube. The first release will feature a music clip by Korean three-piece band CNBLUE, scheduled for publication on 12 January. A teaser video

JAPAN 9 JAN

NTT tests IOWN APN-based remote production for school rugby broadcast

NTT West has completed a technical trial of a remote broadcast production environment using its IOWN All-Photonics Network (APN) during coverage of the 105th National High School Rugby Football Tournament. The trial was conducted in collaboration with broadcaster Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS). The demonstration involved centralising advanced production functions, including AI-generated super slow-motion video and on-screen caption production, within a data centre rather than deploying them in an outsid

ASIA 9 JAN

Viu launches short-form vertical video offering on mobile app

Viu, the video streaming service operated by PCCW, has launched a new short-form video section called Viu Shorts, expanding its content catalogue with vertically formatted micro-dramas designed for mobile viewing. Viu Shorts is available within the Viu mobile app and features episodic content typically running between one and three minutes per episode. The new section sits alongside Viu's existing long-form television series and films and is aimed at viewers seeking shorter viewing sessions on mobile device

AUSTRALIA 9 JAN

2025/26 Ashes becomes most-watched series on Foxtel's Kayo

The 2025/26 Ashes cricket series in Australia has recorded the highest average audience of any Test series on Kayo Sports, as well as across all Foxtel group platforms. The five-Test series, which Australia won 4–1 over England, also became the most streamed Test series ever on Kayo Sports, with viewers streaming a total of 1.3 billion minutes across the platform and the wider Foxtel Group, including Foxtel, Foxtel Go and Foxtel Now.

GERMANY 8 JAN

RTL+ to offer new bundle with HBO Max at launch in Germany

RTL+, the streaming service of German private broadcaster RTL, will combine its offering with that of HBO Max for the launch of the streaming service from Warner Bros in Germany on 13 January. RTL+ and HBO Max will offer subscribers two options, one including RTL+ Premium and HBO Max Basic with advertising for EUR 11.99 per month, and a second option including RTL+ Premium Max, its ad-free subscription, and HBO Max Standard for EUR 17.99 per month.

GLOBAL 8 JAN

Nokia strikes first patent licensing deal with Hisense

Nokia has settled its patent dispute with consumer electronics group Hisense, announcing a multi-year licence agreement with Hisense covering the use of Nokia's patented video technologies in TVs. Under the agreement, Hisense will make unspecified royalty payments to Nokia. The agreement resolves all patent-related litigation between the companies, in all jurisdictions, Nokia said, noting this is its first licence agreement with Hisense. No terms were disclosed.

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