United Rugby Championship has reported sharply lower streaming costs and higher revenues after migrating its direct-to-consumer service URC TV to Eluvio’s Content Fabric platform.

The rugby competition said the first year of the switch delivered a 62% reduction in operating costs, a 64% increase in transactions and a 35% rise in revenue, despite lower pricing across its markets.

URC said the move also helped expand its international reach, with subscribers increasing 2.7 times, viewers in 150 countries, more than 1.25 million sessions and an average seasonal viewing time of 20 hours per user.

The platform now delivers more than 180 live matches, alongside live-to-VOD, DVR, highlights and archive content, across browsers, mobile devices and connected TV platforms including Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung, LG and Roku.

Adam Redmond, media director at United Rugby Championship, said: “In the old world, we were running at extremely high streaming costs and expending a lot of effort for relatively little reward. We knew we wanted to deliver an exceptional fan experience and transformational cost-efficiency. Eluvio already had a proven track record with our partners EPCR TV, and we believed their innovations could deliver, on both the cost and quality side of the equation, to better serve our fan base worldwide.”

He added: “For rights holders without unlimited resources, this is the lesson: the right tech partner is not just a streaming decision, it is a business model decision. Autonomy, cost control, and platform reach are what unlock commercial growth, which is exactly what Eluvio provided to URC TV. Most importantly, Eluvio innovations are all focused on enabling us to drive fan usage and engagement.”

Eluvio said URC TV is now operating as a global streaming hub, using a simplified IP video distribution model designed to improve efficiency, scalability and monetisation.

Michelle Munson, CEO and co-founder of Eluvio, said: “We’re honored to play such a key role in the commercial success of URC TV, and believe URC TV is a model for sports leagues and content owners of all sizes around the globe. We’re proving that the Content Fabric can shatter the cost and efficiency boundaries that have held back video over IP for decades, maximize monetization, and expand global distribution and fan engagement.”

The announcement comes ahead of NAB Show 2026, where Eluvio is expected to highlight the URC deployment as a case study in lower-cost sports streaming operations.

A federal judge in Washington, DC has permanently blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end federal funding for NPR and PBS, ruling that the measure amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment. 

US District Judge Randolph Moss said the order, which directed federal agencies to cut off funding to the two public media organisations, unlawfully targeted them over perceived editorial bias. In his ruling, Moss said the government could not use the power of the purse to punish disfavoured speech, and declared the directive unenforceable. 

The decision is a significant victory for the two broadcasters, both of which had challenged the administration’s move on constitutional grounds. PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger welcomed the ruling, while NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher said it reaffirmed the protections afforded to a free and independent press. 

The White House criticised the judgment and signalled it would continue the fight, arguing that NPR and PBS have no entitlement to taxpayer support. However, the ruling leaves in place a clear judicial warning that public funding decisions cannot be used as retaliation against editorial content. 

The latest additions include Fabella, a romance channel screening dramas and romantic comedies around the clock, MovieDome, which focuses on older TV films across multiple genres and a suite of channels built around well‑known German TV brands. These include Alarm für Cobra 11 and Balko, each offering continuous episodes of the long‑running RTL crime series, as well as Bauer sucht Frau, dedicated to the popular RTL dating format.

Also joining the line‑up is hundkatzemaus, featuring pet‑focused factual entertainment, and Shopping Queen, which brings the VOX makeover and competition format to a dedicated FAST Channel. All new channels are available to every MagentaTV customer at no additional cost.

The expansion continues Telekom’s broader FAST initiative, first announced in late 2025, when the company confirmed that FAST Channels would become a long‑term component of MagentaTV’s content strategy. At the time, Telekom said it aimed to offer around 40 FAST Channels by summer 2026.

US-produced content continues to dominate video-on-demand catalogues in Europe despite the high number of European titles available, according to new research from the European Audiovisual Observatory.

The study, found that while European works account for 46% of all individual titles, they represent only 32% of total catalogue “presences” – a measure of how often content appears across platforms.

By contrast, US titles make up 33% of individual titles but account for 48% of all presences across TVOD, SVOD and FOD catalogues, reflecting their wider distribution across multiple services.

The report highlights a significant gap for EU27 productions specifically, which represent 35% of titles but only 22% of catalogue presences. It also points to the importance of cross-border circulation, with 69% of EU27 works available outside their country of origin.

Films continue to dominate VOD catalogues, accounting for 85% of all presences, compared with 15% for TV seasons. EU27 works have a slightly stronger position in film than TV, with a 24% share of film presences versus 15% for TV seasons.

The study also identified differences between business models. Global SVOD platforms offer the most diverse catalogues, with 29% of content coming from outside Europe and the United States, while EU27 works account for 23% of presences. TVOD services show the strongest reliance on US content, with a 55% share, and the lowest EU27 share at 21%. FOD services, often operated by national broadcasters, carry the highest proportion of European works.

Geographically, EU content has the strongest presence in larger production markets including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, where national content plays a more prominent role. Smaller markets rely more heavily on non-national European works.

The findings underline the ongoing challenge for European content in achieving scale and visibility across VOD platforms, despite strong production output across the region.

Globo has migrated its primary content distribution to Secure Reliable Transport over a managed IP backbone, in a move that underlines the growing maturity of IP for large-scale broadcast delivery.

The Brazilian broadcaster has deployed Synamedia’s Quortex PowerVu and virtualised Digital Content Manager as part of the transition, with Convergint acting as lead systems integrator for delivery and ongoing support.

The move means Globo’s linear pay-TV operation now runs on an entirely IP-based distribution environment, with SRT adopted as the transport protocol for primary contribution and distribution. The new architecture is built on Globo’s managed IP backbone across Brazil and is designed to provide high availability, latency control and end-to-end resilience.

Synamedia said the deployment gives Globo centralised management, proactive endpoint monitoring, automated alarms, remote configuration and real-time dashboards, while maintaining the quality of service viewers were previously receiving.

The vendor has also increased the capacity of Globo’s PowerVu D9800 receivers to support more video feeds, while its software-based vDCM is being used as an IP gateway with SRT to strengthen resilience and scalability.

Edward Allfrey, EVP, Video Network at Synamedia, said: “The scale of this project – with Quortex PowerVu at the core – proves that IP-based distribution has reached the maturity required for primary distribution, bringing operational flexibility while ensuring the reliability and image quality that audiences expect.

“For decades, TV Globo has set the standard for broadcast innovation in Latin America. This deployment demonstrates its continued dedication to pushing boundaries and delivering the highest standards of quality and reliability. It has been a privilege to collaborate with Globo and Convergint on this landmark achievement.”

The HbbTV Association has released version 2026-1 of its HbbTV Conformance Test Suite, adding new DRM and CTA WAVE coverage as it continues to expand compliance tools for connected TV devices and services.

The latest version includes 3,439 test cases, of which 2,907 have been approved. HbbTV said the new release introduces 64 newly approved tests and quality improvements to more than 180 existing cases, reflecting evolving implementation requirements and real-world usage patterns.

Among the main additions are new approved test cases covering the Media Source Extensions API from the CTA WAVE project and Widevine DRM, highlighting the growing importance of secure and standards-based media delivery in connected TV environments.

The update also incorporates test cases that had previously only been available in the UK, broadening the suite’s international relevance and reducing the need for market-specific packages.

Vincent Grivet (pictured), Chair of the HbbTV Association, said: “HbbTV’s ongoing investment in expanding and refining the Test Suite is essential to ensuring the reliability, interoperability and quality of HbbTV-compliant devices and services worldwide. With Test Suite v2026-1, we continue to strengthen the foundations for secure, consistent and future-proof TV experiences across all markets.”

HbbTV said the Test Suite remains a core tool for manufacturers seeking to verify that TV sets and set-top boxes comply with the latest HbbTV specifications, while also helping broadcasters and platform operators improve consistency across devices and reduce implementation and maintenance costs.

The Test Suite is available through registered HbbTV test centres and to HbbTV members for use in their own facilities.

Nicktoons targets younger audiences with a 24‑hour schedule built around established brands and new content. The move adds further depth to a package that already includes more than 70 pay‑TV channels.

Perfect Plus now provides access to over 300 Full HD services, including 20 dedicated family channels. Features such as pause and rewind, cloud recording with 150 hours of storage, and streaming on up to four devices simultaneously are designed to give viewers greater flexibility.

Nicktoons is available immediately at no extra cost to Perfect Plus subscribers.

The State of TV & Video 2026 FAST Special, published by FUNKE Channels, a subsidiary of German media company FUNKE Mediengruppe, and digital consultancy valantic, examines how viewing behaviour, business models and competitive dynamics are shifting across German-speaking countries (DACH) and internationally.

The study draws on market research, international best‑practice examples and insights from industry stakeholders. It outlines how the structural transition towards digital, IP‑based distribution is reshaping the entire value chain – from content acquisition and channel curation to advertising sales and platform partnerships.

The report confirms that linear television remains the most‑used video format in the DACH region. However, its share is steadily declining as video‑on‑demand, subscription streaming and social video continue to grow, particularly among younger audiences. The authors note that cable and DTH satellite distribution are increasingly being replaced by IP‑based delivery, accelerating the shift towards platform‑driven digital models.

The authors also highlight that the VOD market is entering a maturity phase in which growth is driven less by new users and more by monetisation. This shift places greater emphasis on pricing strategies, advertising models and content efficiency

FAST has now established itself as a stable and fast‑growing segment of the streaming market. Built on curated, linear channels funded by advertising and primarily accessed via smart TV platforms, FAST appeals strongly to price‑sensitive audiences. The market continues to expand, but competition is intensifying as channel supply grows faster than demand and advertising budgets move from traditional TV to digital, programmatic environments.

New developments such as single‑IP channels, live content and AI‑driven localisation are driving international scale. The report concludes that FAST is evolving into a strategically relevant component of the wider video market, offering new reach and monetisation opportunities for media companies.

The report is aimed at content providers, advertisers, platform operators, telcos and media groups seeking to sharpen their strategic positioning in a rapidly evolving market. It can be downloaded here.

TV 2 and Amedia have combined on a joint rights offer for Norwegian football covering the period between 2026 to 2034, in a new partnership aimed at strengthening the sport’s position across the country.

The two Norwegian media groups said they plan to use a shared streaming platform to build the value of football rights, linking TV 2’s national reach with Amedia’s local presence through its network of newspapers and Direktesport service.

Olav T. Sandnes, editor-in-chief and CEO of TV 2, and Anders Opdahl, CEO of Amedia, said in a joint statement: “The fact that TV 2 and Amedia have joined forces on this offer represents a unique partnership in the Norwegian media landscape. We are uniting our complementary strengths to further develop the experience of Norwegian football. All based on the good cooperation we have had in recent years.”

Amedia said Norwegian football plays a central role in national life, from grassroots to elite competition, and argued that the partnership would help reinforce that position at a time of growing fragmentation in the media market.

Sandnes highlighted TV 2 Play’s scale as a key part of the proposal, saying the streaming platform was already present in 2.1 million of Norway’s 2.7 million households and had been the country’s largest streaming service by daily viewing time over the past two years.

He said: “TV 2 Play has already become a common property. 2.1 out of 2.7 million households in Norway now have access to our streaming service, and in terms of daily viewing time, we have been the largest in Norway for the past two years. The combination of TV 2’s position as a public broadcaster, this unique distribution and high daily usage, makes the platform the ideal destination for Norwegian football.”

The two companies said they would provide further details once discussions and negotiations with the rights holders have progressed.

AgileTV has entered the DACH market through a new deployment with Austrian operator LIWEST, which has launched its next generation IPTV platform.

The new service combines traditional linear television with streaming and app-based entertainment, giving LIWEST customers access to a more personalised and flexible viewing experience through a single interface.

AgileTV said the platform includes super-aggregation capabilities, an open content system for third-party integrations and regionalisation tools that allow content offers to be tailored to local market requirements.

Koldo Unanue, CEO of AgileTV, said: “We are strengthening our presence in the DACH market with the ‘next’ IPTV platform launch alongside with our partner LIWEST. It proofs the competitiveness and scalability of the AgileTV operating model and allows us to continue to grow and bring high-quality TV experiences to new audiences around the globe.”

LIWEST added the launch represents a further step in the development of its television infrastructure, alongside its broadband and telephony services.

Dr Stefan Gintenreiter, managing director of LIWEST, said: “The collaboration with AgileTV marks an important step in the ongoing development of our television infrastructure. With ‘next’, we are reinforcing our commitment to excellence in television together with AgileTV, and alongside our internet and telephony services.”

The TV-as-a-service platform is being made available immediately to new customers, while migration of LIWEST’s existing TV base is scheduled to begin in February 2027.

AgileTV said the platform is supported by a secure and highly available infrastructure aligned with data protection standards and powered by certified green energy. The service also supports multi-device access across iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Samsung Smart TVs based on Tizen.

The launch marks a further international expansion step for AgileTV as it looks to strengthen its position as a TV technology and services provider for telecom operators.