Advanced Television

DTH/Satellite

First full-year drop for US multichannel subs

The US multichannel segment posted its first full-year decline in subscriptions, according to SNL Kagan estimates for cable, DBS and telco offerings at the end of 2013. While seasonally driven quarterly declines have become routine for industry watchers, the annual dip illustrates

March 20, 2014

Telesat sale edges closer

Canada’s Telesat satellite operator has been up for sale for some time, and majority owner Loral Space & Communications is reported to have selected private equity firm Apax Partners, as well as a pair of Canadian pension funds, to negotiate the sale of the business. Loral holds a 62.8 per cent economic interest in Telesat, […]

March 20, 2014By Chris Forrester

Thaicom to switch domicile?

Thailand-based satellite operator is contemplating leaving its HQ and domicile in Bangkok and moving the entire operation to another country. The thought is that the operator would then be free of the near-continuous political – and financial – unrest that Thailand has faced in recent years. The Bangkok Post is reporting that the satellite operator […]

March 20, 2014By Chris Forrester

Measat HD platform tips 50 channels

Measat has revealed that the Measat -3/3a platform has become the first Asian C-Band satellite platform to exceed 50 HD channels, confirming the maturing of the HD content business in Asia. Measat started offering HD distribution services on the Measat -3 satellite in July 2007. Working with a select group of channels, technology partners and […]

March 20, 2014

M7 picks Eutelsat to launch Hungary pay-TV platform

M7 group, one of the fastest growing companies for pay-TV services in Europe, has selected Eutelsat’s 9°East neighbourhood to support the Hungarian launch of AustriaSat Magyarország by its subsidiary, M70 Group Kft. M7 Group has signed a long-term contract with Eutelsat for two 33 MHz transponders on the Eutelsat 9A satellite to broadcast the new platform. […]

March 20, 2014

More DTH problems in Iran

There were localised demonstrations in western Iran when police confiscated satellite dishes in a small town. Reportedly the police were forced to leave the town with three policemen injured. These confiscation raids have increased over recent months with the regime’s Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) aggressively seizing dishes and receivers. IRIG’s deputy commander is on record […]

March 18, 2014By Chris Forrester

SES tops 290m worldwide reach

Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES says that its global reach, as at the end of 2013, is now 291 million TV homes. Expressed as individuals then SES suggests the total number viewing one of more of its client’s channels is close to 800 million.   Europe alone reaches 151 million TV homes, and SES claims market […]

March 18, 2014By Chris Forrester

New look for Sky EPG

Sky customers will start to see a brand new Homepage on their Sky+HD boxes in what the satellite broadcaster describes as the most significant shake-up to its electronic programme guide (EPG) since its introduction at the launch of digital TV in 1998. For the first time ever, On Demand, including Catch Up TV and Sky […]

March 18, 2014

First overall subs loss for US pay-TV ops

The latest findings from the Leichtman Research Group (LRG) reveal that the thirteen largest multi-channel video providers in the US – representing about 94 per cent of the market – lost about 105,000 net video subscribers in 2013. Annual net multi-channel video additions in 2013 were

March 17, 2014

Arabsat wants 4 more satellites

Arabsat says it has issued important Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from the world’s major satellite builders for four additional satellites. Two will be for its newly-acquired HellasSat asset (currently designated HS3 and HS4) and two for its existing Arabsat fleet (AR6E and AR6A). The new satellites will be allocated to three different orbital locations with […]

March 17, 2014By Chris Forrester