Logo

Tech Briefs

May 14, 2001  •  Post A Comment

BSkyB writes off Web portfolio
British Sky Broadcasting has written off the entire value of its “new media” (Web) portfolio at a cost of L16 million ($22.7 million) while increasing its stake in British Interactive Broadcasting Holdings to 80.1 percent during the first quarter of 2001. According to its most recent quarterly results report, it also plans to make BIBH the centerpiece of a new division within BSkyB called Sky Interactive. The resulting reorganization is expected to result in a loss of about 300 jobs, according to some reports.
ACTV acts to gain three patents
ACTV was awarded three patents to fix the problem of video-switching delay between digital video signals, whether they are from the headend, on the digital set-top box or on storage devices such as servers or DVDs. The patents have implications for digital television applications, particularly customized digital television video content and targeted advertising.