The Times of India summed up its take on the news that an Indian investor would be taking a major stake in the struggling MGM studio. “Mera naam hai Baand, James Baand”, is how Mr Bond’s introduction might work in Hindi. Whether the global entertainment community will be shaken or stirred by these reports […]
Saudi Arabian newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabia is quoting local sources saying that Orbit has prevaricated over paying its rent at Egypt’s Media Production City (EMPC). Orbit is now part of the Orbit Showtime Network but still produces content for its Arabic channels. The Al-Quds newspaper says the decision to close Orbit down was made on Saturday […]
It has not been the best of week for smaller satellite operators. Two are suffering problems with their satellites. Israel’s Spacecom has discovered that its Amos 5i (a second-hand satellite bought from AsiaSat at the end of last year) doesn’t have the fuel on board that it expected. The AsiaSat craft was designed to last […]
France – Euroconsult used its Paris satellite business week conference to present its latest study, saying that an estimated 1,220 satellites will be built for launch over the next decade. The average of 122 satellites to be launched per year is up significantly from the annual average of 77 satellites launched in the previous decade, […]
At this week’s EuroConsult satellite business week in Paris, one group of delegates will be smiling. It seems the all-important satellite insurance industry is looking likely to have a record year for profitability. Insurance giant Willis Inspace on September 3 reported that insurance premiums for the year are likely to approach $600m, and while there’s […]
Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat says it does not fear competition from fibre-based ultra high-speed broadband services, because it targets different consumers, Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen told La Tribune. In France, for example, there are still three million homes without digital terrestrial TV (DTT) coverage due to topography or proximity to borders, he said. As […]
A few weeks ago Romain Bausch, the CEO of satellite operator SES, spoke ambitiously of further expansion for SES. He specifically mentioned two possible target operators: Intelsat, a similarly huge supplier of satellite capacity and services, and Telesat of Canada. Telesat is part-owned by Canadian pension interests and the investors behind Space Systems Loral. Evidently […]
The rise and rise of Avatar as far as the international box-office was concerned is all so long ago. That Avatar – and more recent Hollywood events – have raised the profile for 3D is undoubted. But there have also been critical 3D flops (but sometimes financial hits) such as Clash of the Titans, Cats […]
Worldspace, the struggling pay-radio operator, is facing another challenge, this time from investors who allege certain wrongdoings over the broadcaster’s IPO. Last week Judge Peter Walsh, who is supervising Worldspace’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ruled that Worldspace must hand over all and any documents that lawyers have demanded in the long-running Class Action against Worldspace and […]