The television sector is undergoing structural change. Increased broadband speeds and devices like smartphones, tablets and connected TVs have resulted in new forms of distribution and ways of connecting with the viewer.  This changing landscape presents opportunities but also challenges as the competition for viewers' attention and spend has increased.

Now more than ever clients need lawyers who understand the underlying technologies, how best to finance, create or acquire content and how to tap into new revenue streams and make lawful use of the consumer data available.

Olswang has over 30 years' experience in the television sector.  Over that period we have helped our clients across the industry grow their businesses to evolve with and help shape each new development.

We undertake an incredibly wide range of work spanning top level strategic advice, corporate deals, high value commercial litigation and regulatory advice, through to all manner of commercial contracts.  Our clients include broadcasters, producers, TV platforms, VOD services and infrastructure providers. 

We advise on all aspects of content finance and creation.  Our corporate lawyers have helped create some of the largest television producers in the world, through landmark consolidation deals in the independent production sector. 

Our broadcasting team is recognised for its expertise in every area of the industry.  Our in depth knowledge of content distribution spans linear and VOD services and our technology experience covers the building blocks for both broadcast and on demand platforms.  We regularly advise on complex carriage deals and advertising sales arrangements.  

BBC

Advising the BBC on the implementation of digital switchover, the most significant broadcast engineering project ever undertaken in the UK, together with a substantial expansion of the BBC's DAB network and the subsequent launch of Freeview HD.

BBC Worldwide

Advising BBC Worldwide for over 15 years on the media, corporate, tax and employment aspects of most of their key joint ventures and strategic partnerships, including their JV to set up UKTV, with Discovery Communications for the Animal Planet channel worldwide, with Woolworths to form the DVD business 2entertain, with Random House for book publishing, Penguin for children's books and Pearson for learning products. Also acting for BBC Worldwide on the ill-fated VOD venture "Project Kangaroo" with ITV and Channel 4 and most recently on the sale of BBC Magazines to Exponent Private Equity.

Top Up TV

Advising on all aspects of its business, including contracts for the infrastructure of the Top Up TV platform, output agreements with Hollywood studios and on the launch of a new SVOD business called "Anytime".

Lovefilm

We have advised the on demand movie service Lovefilm on its output deals for the acquisition of SVOD rights from major studios and independents and also on its agreements to distribute its service on third party devices and platforms.

Sky Italia

We have advised the pay television platform Sky Italia on its acquisitions of premium sports and movie rights and multi-channel carriage deals.

Shine

Olswang has advised Shine since its incorporation and throughout its impressive growth, on a series of acquisitions and other transactions, culminating in the sale of Shine to News Corp. in April 2011. Since the acquisition by News Corp, Olswang has continued to advise, including on the acquisition of UK-based social gaming specialists Bossa Studios and of ChannelFlip, the largest creator and broadcaster of short form quality online video programming in the UK which is one of Europe's largest premium YouTube networks with over 500 million aggregate views, delivering up to 30 million monthly views to more than 7 million viewers globally.

Zeebox

Olswang advised app developer Zeebox on the sale of a 10 per cent equity stake to British Sky Broadcasting as the TV giant looks to capitalise on the growing 'dual screen' trend.

Founded by BBC iPlayer developer Anthony Rose and former EMI board director Ernesto Schmitt, Zeebox's application, launched in September 2011, connects viewers to each other and their favourite programmes, harnessing the power and feeds of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

Alongside the equity investment, Sky will become the only TV platform in the UK to integrate zeebox's technology into its own companion screen applications. The sale will also provide Zeebox with the capital to expand internationally. As part of the deal, BSkyB's advertising-sales house, Sky Media, will also sell sponsorship and product placement opportunities around Zeebox's "Zeetags", accompanying text that highlights actors, characters and topics being shown on screen.

Encompass

Olswang has advised US digital media services company Encompass Digital Media, Inc. on its acquisition of Ascent Media Corporation's global content distribution business, including its London play-out facility.

Viacom International Media Networks

Olswang has advised Viacom International Media Networks (formerly MTV Networks International) for many years in connection with arrangements for distribution of its brands, including MTV, VH1, Viva, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon across a range of distribution platforms including mobile, broadband internet, VOD networks, DTT, cable and satellite.

RDF Media - Sale to Zodiak

Advising RDF Media Group, one of the UK's largest independent production and distribution companies, on its acquisition by Paris-based producer Zodiak Entertainment. The deal created the world's third largest TV production company, with annual sales exceeding €500 million.

Shed Media - Management Buyout

Advising the management team of AIM-quoted independent TV production company, Shed Media plc, and the newly incorporated bidding vehicle on the £99.9 million recommended takeover of Shed Media backed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., effected by way of a scheme of arrangement.

ITV Network - X Factor and Britain's Got Talent

Advising ITV on its deal with Fremantle Media/Talkback Thames and Syco to secure the production and broadcast of ratings juggernauts The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent for a further three years after 2010. The deal played to Olswang's strengths across the sector, involving consideration of production, digital media and advertising sales issues and also sees ITV gaining exclusive UK broadcast rights to the US version of the X Factor and America's Got Talent.

SES AMERICOM

Advising SES AMERICOM (now SES World Skies) on the technical building blocks for their IP Prime platform, including licences for conditional access and middleware and agreements with set top box manufacturers.

Microsoft

Supply of Microsoft's Mediaroom IPTV platform to BT for the BT Vision service.

Blinkbox

Acquisition of rights and syndication of content, including over connected TV platforms.