MBC Launches Arabic Drama Channel, Inks Exclusive Multi-Platform Deal With MTVNI

MBC, the leading pan-Arab free-to-air satellite broadcasting company, expects its new Arabic language TV Drama channel to attract millions of viewers. The channel, targeted to family, will start broadcasting on Saturday and will air series from Egypt, GCC and the Levant. The launch of MBC Drama marks the 10^th channel and the 20^th anniversary of MBC group according to Mazen Hayek, the official spokesman and group director of PR and commercial at the company.

In addition, MBC Group has also signed an exclusive multi-platform deal with MTV Network International, a division of Viacom. Under the agreement, MTVNI will grant the exclusive rights to develop consumer product programmes around hit Nickelodeon properties, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Go, Diego, Go! in the Middle East. The key categories include home furnishing, stationery, apparel, toys, publishing, personal care and fashion accessories and product is expected to roll out from early 2011, according to the company statement.

Cox launches Mobile service

Cox Communications, the third cable company in the United States, has launched its cellular network. At first, the service will only be available in Orange County (Calif.), Omaha (Neb.) and Hampton Roads (Va.) and all areas where Cox is the local provider, which represents 1.5 million population. A further expansion of the network is planned.

Cox uses its own cell towers like mobile phone companies and does not need to have a parternship to offer mobile service, like some competitors. The company can now offer their bundle, including mobile service. In the areas where Cox does not have network, subscribers will use “roaming” on Sprint’s network with no additional fees.

DISH Launches Google TV Solution for $179

DISH Network has just announced that its Google TV solution is now available to customers for $179, the lowest price on the market according to the company. The service, which combines Google’s Web search capabilities with DISH Network’s onscreen programming data, DVR and Video on Demand content, aims at delivering a comprehensive and seemsless entertainment experience to DISH subscribers.

“Only DISH Network customers will have access to the most fully-featured Google TV experience available, which includes our unique pairing protocol for simultaneous search capabilities across Web and DVR content, as well as DISH Network’s VOD programming,” said DISH Network Chief Marketing Officer Ira Bahr. “Customers can now surf the Web, check email, interact with social media, and find additional online television content all from the comfort of their living room sofa.”

“Google TV makes the Web another channel on your TV by bringing the Internet together with the TV programming you know and love,” said Rishi Chandra, lead product manager for Google TV. “We’re excited to work with DISH Network to bring an enhanced Google TV experience to its subscribers so they can find even more content to watch – whether on their DVR, TV or the Web.”

Arqiva Signs 30+ Channel Contribution Deal with EchoStar

Arqiva, the communications infrastructure and media services company, today announced that it has reached an agreement with EchoStar Broadcasting Corp, a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, to extend its long-term contract for global contribution. The multi-year deal consists of full-time delivery of more than 30 international channels from Europe and Asia to EchoStar’s teleports in Cheyenne, Wyo. and Gilbert, Ariz.

“By utilising our extensive fibre and teleport infrastructure in Europe, we are able to reliably deliver a portion of EchoStar’s international programming fare to its US locations,” said Jon Kirchner, EVP, Arqiva Broadcast & Media, from the company’s Washington, DC offices and teleport.

“We’ve enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Arqiva and look forward to continued teleport services from Europe and Asia,” said Jeff McSchooler, SVP, EchoStar Broadcasting Corp.

Netflix Subscribers Up 52%, Revenues Up 31% In Q3 2010

Netflix has reported results for its third quarter ended September 30^th. During the quarter, subscribers increased by 52% year over year to 16.9 million customers from 11.1 million at the end of the same period last year and 13 percent sequential growth from 15 million subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2010. Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 1.9 million compared to an increase of 510,000 for the same period of 2009 and an increase of 1.03 for the second quarter of 2010. Netflix now expects to reach between 19 million and 19.7 million subscribers by the end of the year instead of its earlier forecast of 17.7 million to 18.5 million.

Revenue reached $553.2 million, which represents 31% year-over-year growth from $423.1 million for the third quarter of 2009, and 6 percent sequential growth from $519.8 million for the second quarter of 2010.

Reed Hastings, CEO, said: “Q3 represents our fourth consecutive quarter of more than one million net subscriber additions. This growth is clearly driven by the strength of our streaming offering. In fact, by every measure, we are now primarily a streaming company that also offers DVD-by-mail. At the same time, the introduction of our streaming offering in Canada in late September has provided us with very encouraging signs regarding the potential for the Netflix service internationally”.

AT&T’s TV service to come on Xbox360 and Windows phones

AT&T’s TV service called U-Verse TV will be available on Xbox 360 and Windows Phones. On mobile, AT&T had a TV service using Flo TV, but with the announcement of Qualcomm to close this business, the company  will offer a  U-Verse TV application. This application wil be preload on Windows Phone 7, on sale November 8.

U-Verse TV will also be available on Xbox 360 console this week. Customers will be able to watch TV without using a separate cable box. The startup kit costs $99, along with monthly service fees.

Qualcomm to shut down FLO TV operations

According to paidContent, Qualcomm will shut down its FLO TV operations by the end of the year. AT&T and Verizon are concerned by this decision, as Qualcomm offered this service to current customers. In June, Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm, said that the copany planned to sell or spin off MediaFlo but declared that there are no plans to shut down the technology.

This decision won’t be a total loss, the spectrum itself worth almost $2 billion according to Jacobs. Qualcomm wants to focus on its spectrum to distribute other kind of content. Netflix and Hulu are already offering video content for mobile devices such as iPad, iPhone and other smartphones.

NBC strongly opposed to Apple’s 99 cent iTunes rental model

NBC has strongly opposed Apple’s new 99 cent rental service unveiled earlier this month. According to Jeff Zucker,  Chief Executive, offering NBC’s shows for that price would undermine the value of the shows: “We do not think 99 cents is the right price point for our content. … We thought it would devalue our content”, he said. NBC shows are already available for $1.99 for download on Apple’s iTunes service.

NBC Universal is in the process of being merged with Comcast Corp’s entertainment unit in a new joint venture with current owner General Electric Co, pending the outcome of an ongoing regulatory review. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of the year according to Comcast Chief Financial Officer Michael Angelakis.

Apple has inked deals with News Corp’s Fox and Walt Disney’s ABC to make their shows available for 99 cents per rental when it announced the launch of the new Apple TV box.

First commercial LTE services in USA launched by MetroPCS

MetroPCS, one of the top 5 wireless operators by subscriber base in U.S, has become the first to launch commercial LTE services in the country. The services that are currently available in Las Vegas are expected to be extended to a number of cities within the operator’s footprint by year-end.

MetroPCS’ 4G LTE offerings consist of two packages of talk, text and 4G Web access starting as low as $55 per month up to $60 for value-conscious consumers. To fully benefit from these new services, users have to be equipped with 4G-enabled devices such as the Samsung Craft that MetroPCS is currently offering in Las Vegas metropolitan area stores and online for $299

Microsoft to launch Zune service in Europe on Xbox 360

Microsoft is expanding its Zune music and film download service to Europe in an effort to overtake Apple’s iTunes. The software, which can be downloaded for free online, will be available in France, Italy, Germany and Spain this fall and targets users of Windows computers, Xbox consoles, and smartphones with the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system: “The integration between Zune, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE is an exciting expansion in our entertainment offerings. Zune enables users to access the entertainment they want, wherever they want it — and now, more people than ever will be able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that the Zune service offers”, said Craig Eisler, Corporate VP Interactive Entertainment Business Group at Microsoft. Chris Lewis, Microsoft’s VP for Interactive Entertainment in Europe added: “The Xbox is going to be a critical element of our strategy. But we want consumers to be able to digest this on the product of their choice”.

Zune services in Europe will not be available on the media player of the same name, which Microsoft sells in the U.S. as a competitor to Apple’s iPod. Microsoft will partner with local content producers such as Vivendi SA’s StudioCanal unit and Germany’s Constantin Film AG to provide offerings targeted at individual European markets, said Chris Lewis.