United Kingdom

News Byte

Rhapsody Arrives in U.K. and Germany Via Napster Deal

Peter Kafka in Media on January 26 at 12:01 am PT

Streaming music service Rhapsody, which has only been available in the U.S. for the last 11 years, has finally made it to Europe. The service has finished a deal to buy one-time competitor Napster’s operations in the U.K. and Germany; last fall, Rhapsody bought Napster’s U.S. assets. Rhapsody competitor Spotify isn’t in Germany yet, but industry sources expect that to change soon.

News Byte

Netflix Heads to U.K. to Take on Amazon

Peter Kafka in Media on October 24, 2011 at 4:04 am PT

Netflix says it will bring its streaming video service — but not its DVDs — to the United Kingdom and Ireland in “early 2012.” The announcement confirms earlier reports and speculation that the company would target the U.K. after a Latin American expansion in 2011; other reports have the company moving into Spain as well. Unlike other Netflix expansion moves, in the U.K. the company will run up against its first entrenched digital competitor: Amazon’s LoveFilm, most often known as “the Netflix of Europe.” Netflix reports Q3 earnings this afternoon.

News Byte

Coupons.com Buys U.K. Couponstar After Big Fund-Raising Round

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on October 12, 2011 at 12:01 am PT

Following two back-to-back rounds worth $230 million, Coupons.com says it has acquired the remaining 50 percent stake in Couponstar, a European digital coupons company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coupons.com, which is working to make traditional paper coupons digital, raised $30 million last week from Greylock Partners, which valued the company at $1 billion. In June, it received a $200 million cash injection.