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Online content in EU; Dialog Semiconductor's acquisition; BBC's iPlayer revamp

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Online content in EU; Dialog Semiconductor's acquisition; BBC's iPlayer revamp

TOP NEWS

* The EU will vote Oct. 10 on a resolution urging greater scrutiny of social media to help combat electoral interference by the dissemination of misinformation over social media and other online means. Members of the European Parliament are recommending that a committee is set up to identify political misinformation.

* Tech giants such as Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc., Alphabet Inc. unit Google LLC and Microsoft Corp. committed to work together to help combat the spread of terrorist content online across the European Union, in line with the EU Crisis Protocol. The protocol is expected to trigger a coordinated and immediate response from the public and private sectors to remove violent content on digital platforms.

* Dialog Semiconductor PLC agreed to acquire Creative Chips GmbH, a German chip supplier for the industrial internet of things sector. The British chipmaker agreed to purchase Creative Chips for about $80 million in cash, plus an additional consideration of up to $23 million, subject to the latter meeting revenue targets in 2020 and 2021. The acquisition will include Creative Chips' product portfolio and relevant chipmaking technologies.

* The British Broadcasting Corp. will roll out a revamped version of its iPlayer streaming platform next year, Variety reports. Once launched, iPlayer will bring together livestreaming and catch-up services, as well as box-sets and podcasting. The BBC's overhauled streaming service will also lengthen its contents' availability to 12 months, compared to the current 30-day window, following Ofcom's recent approval on the extended catch-up window.

UK AND IRELAND

* Viacom International Media Networks Inc. and Virgin Media entered into a multiyear agreement that allows the latter to broadcast channels such as MTV, Comedy Central (UK), Nickelodeon (UK), Nick Jr. (UK) and Paramount Network, along with associated catchup rights and box sets, in the U.K. and Ireland. Viacom Inc. owns Viacom International Media Networks, while Liberty Global PLC owns Virgin Media.

* British Telecom unit Openreach Ltd. are conducting trials using new tools and techniques to upgrade broadband network in 13 rural areas. The company is looking to deploy full-fiber networks to about 50,000 homes and businesses in the selected areas by the end of March 2020.

* David Frank and Matthew Frank, co-founders of London-based online licensing platform The RightsXchange Ltd., will step down from their roles as executive chairman and CEO, respectively, by the end of the year, TBI Vision reports. The company, which has about 20 employees, may opt for further redundancies after a round of job cuts earlier this year.

* Ofcom revealed in its assessment that TV presenters Naga Munchetty and Dan Walker’s discussion on the "BBC Breakfast" show on the BBC1 channel was "duly impartial" and does not breach broadcasting rules. The investigation was prompted by 18 complaints about the program. Ofcom Director for Content and Media Policy Kevin Bakhurst however, stated that the British regulator has "serious concerns around the transparency of the BBC's complaints process which must command the confidence of the public."

* The BBC teamed up with universities and agencies in the U.K. for its Level 7 Artificial Intelligence Data Specialist Apprenticeship program, wherein people can gain skills for postgraduate level careers in data science, data research. Recruitment for the program is expected to start at the end of the year.

GERMANY, SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA

* ETHOS Investment Foundation recommended for Sunrise Communications Group AG's shareholders to approve the capital increase intended for the acquisition of UPC Schweiz. The proxy adviser also suggested the dismissal of the planned discussion on the removal of board Chairman Peter Kurer and board member and audit committee Chairman Jesper Ovesen.

* German newspaper alliance Bundesverband Deutscher Zeitungsverleger plans to provide digital publishing companies with specialist subscription deals, reports Meedia. Germany's Verband Deutscher Zeitschriftenverleger currently does not have similar ambitions.

* German TV channel RTL II (DE) changed its Roman logo to RTL Zwei, reports DWDL.

FRANCE

* TF1 Group SA-owned company Newen SAS said it completed the purchase of Canadian telefilm producer Reel One Entertainment, after the Department of Canadian Heritage approved the deal. The acquisition is expected to help expand Newen's development strategy in English-speaking markets.

* Youngest Media will be establishing operations in France, in partnership with production house Deeply Superficial. The London-headquartered entertainment studio plans to bring the company's formats across TV, digital video and apps, as well as collaborating with Deeply Superficial on launching new shows for the French and international marketplaces.

* Telecom regulator Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes allocated frequencies to the first eleven 5G projects. The selected candidates must have a network operational by Jan. 1, 2021, and make it available to third parties.

* Orange SA is launching 5G experiments in the French cities of Châtillon and Rennes. The first phase of the experiment, in partnership with railway operator Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer français and Nokia Corp., will involve an almost instant download of high-definition video content and a co-innovation lab open to potential partners and companies.

* French Culture Minister Franck Riester opened the consultation process on the proposed audiovisual law, according to Telecompaper, citing a Contexte report. The draft articles include merging the media regulator Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel and anti-piracy authority Hadopi under a new authority to be called Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique. A new holding structure, to be called France Médias, will also be created under which several public entities will be placed, including broadcasters France Télévisions SA, Radio France Internationale SA and France Médias Monde SA.

* The government is expecting to earn about €600 million in revenue from the sale of 5G frequencies, L'Expansion reports. The award procedure open to Orange, Altice France SA's SFR, Bouygues Telecom SA and Iliad's Free, is set to take place this autumn at the earliest, for a commercial launch next year. Altice Europe owns Altice France.

NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG

* KPN NV successfully tested its new 5G network between multiple locations across the Netherlands. The Dutch operator conducted phone calls, video calls and data sessions from the latest smartphones between the 5G indoor network in the Johan Cruijff Arena, the 5G FieldLab in Rotterdam and KPN's technology lab in The Hague.

* KPN is also offering a new TV receiver to new customers, or existing users who take out a 4K subscription. The new device, which is a small, flat square box that comes with a Bluetooth remote control, would be twice as small as KPN's previous receiver.

* U.S.-based entertainment company 4KUNIVERSE expanded its European presence by joining Luxembourg IPTV platform PostTV, reports Advanced Television. PostTV added the company's new 4K channel to its Entertain Me Package, which allows customers to customize their own subscriptions.

* Dutch regional broadcaster Omrop Fryslân appointed Ingrid Spijkers as new editor-in-chief, effective Dec. 1, reports Villamedia. With Spijkers' arrival, Omrop Fryslân concludes a long search for a new editor-in-chief, after the forced dismissal of its previous editor-in-chief, which led to a protracted legal conflict.

NORDIC COUNTRIES

* Nordic Entertainment Group AB is planning to cut the number of full-time positions in its Norwegian operations by between 30 and 50, Kampanje reports. The downsizing is part of the company's efficiency measures, in connection with changes being made to its business model. Employees were informed about the cuts at a meeting in Oslo, Norway.

* Swedish book streaming company Storytel AB said that during the third quarter it reached more than 1 million paying customers, representing a growth of about 126,900 customers from the previous quarter. Revenues increased 43% year over year to 399 million Swedish kronor.

* Cloud services company OmniClouds implemented Nokia's Nuage Networks SD-WAN 2.0 solution for its network, which is anticipated to improve cloud connectivity for enterprise customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

SOUTHERN EUROPE

* América Móvil SAB de CV denied reports it is in talks with Telefónica SA and Telecom Italia SpA about a possible joint bid for Brazil's Oi SA, Reuters reports, citing the Mexican telecom operator's Communications Director Arturo Elias Ayub. Expansión earlier reported that the three companies are negotiating about acquiring Oi assets, according to Reuters.

* Vodafone España SAU is extending its 5G coverage to an additional 34 cities across Spain, Advanced Television reports. The Vodafone Group PLC unit plans to roll out commercial 5G services in the first half of 2020.

* Fremantle's Spanish production arm said it will adapt "El Director," the best-selling autobiography of former war reporter and newspaper editor-in-chief David Jiménez, according to a news release.

* RTVE is preparing to launch two new HD satellite channels on Jan. 15, 2020, Telecompaper reports, citing Nowsat. The Spanish public broadcaster earlier opened distribution tenders for the HD versions of its Canal 24 Horas and TVE Internacional channels, with Telefónica and Eurona Telecom submitting bids.

EASTERN EUROPE

* Orange Polska SA is forming a national consortium with Systemic-PAB and the Institute of Communications to participate in 5G Perfecta, a global project aimed at developing standards for testing 5G services and applications, Telecompaper reports, citing Telepolis.pl.

* The Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania granted requests by Internet Copyright Management and Lithuanian-related rights group AGATA to block websites filmi.in and torrent.ai for streaming pirated content, Broadband TV News reports, citing a statement.

* Lithuanian state-owned operator Telecentras named Vidas Danielius its new board chairman, Telecompaper reports. Danielius will replace Egidijus Vaisvilas, who was ousted after a company audit.

* Polish cable operator Vectra SA appointed Piotr Szalamacha the new board chairman of its Echostar Studio unit, replacing Piotr Ziemnievicz, Telecompaper reports, citing Telko.in.

FEATURED NEWS

M&A Replay: Apple acquires UK technology company; Abertis completes Hispasat sale: Apple Inc. acquired U.K.-based animation technology solutions developer IKinema Ltd., while toll roads operator Abertis Infraestructuras SA completed the sale of its stake in Spanish satellite operator Hispasat SA to Red Eléctrica Corporación SA.

FEATURED RESEARCH

The Best Of: Kagan research and analysis, editor's picks: Presenting the editor's top picks from Kagan's exclusive research and analysis for the week ended Oct. 4.

Anne Freier, Sylvia Edwards Davis, Charlotte van Hek and Esben Svendsen contributed to this report.

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