Advanced Television

Russia threatens Starlink and OneWeb users

Reports out of Moscow state that Russia’s lower house of parliament (Duma) has legislated penalties for any citizen using Elon Musk’s Starlink or the UK/India-backed OneWeb low Earth orbiting satellite systems. Neither company currently has users in Russia. Russia is reportedly working on ‘Sphere’ (Сфера, in Russian), its own mega-constellation of satellites. But the probable […]

January 20, 2021

EchoStar and Viasat revised down by bank

Viasat, the California-based international broadband-by-satellite supplier, and Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar satellite business have both suffered a downgrade by analysts at investment bank Jefferies. In essence, the bank’s report says that Viasat’s revenues are likely to be impacted by the Covid pandemic and the bank has downgraded its revenue forecasts for this trading year. The bank […]

January 19, 2021

Intelsat boss accused of insider trading

Intelsat has been hit with another claim of insider dealing over the reallocation of C-band spectrum and the collapse of Intelsat share values. This time the allegation concerns its current chairman and former CEO Dave McGlade. Intelsat is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reconstruction. McGlade is specifically alleged to have sold a significant package of Intelsat […]

January 18, 2021

OneWeb dramatically cuts satellite plan

During its bankruptcy last year, would-be satellite operator OneWeb requested permission to launch almost 48,000 satellites into orbit. That application was made in May 2020. Now, perhaps wiser heads have prevailed, and the overall number reduced dramatically by almost 85 per cent. OneWeb, in a filing this week with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has […]

January 15, 2021

Bank: Vigtory buy makes fubo strategy clear

fuboTV this week announced it will be acquiring sports betting and interactive gaming company Vigtory, significantly advancing the development of Fubo’s nascent wagering strategy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close sometime in Q1. Investment bank Berenberg issued a note to clients said that while in the past […]

January 14, 2021

Bank downbeat on SES, upbeat on Eutelsat

Investment bank Berenberg, in its previews of media stocks for 2021, is downbeat on satellite operator SES. It is maintaining its ‘SELL’ advice to clients and gives a guide price for SES shares of just €6.80 per share. The bank downgraded SES last year and says it remains of the view that consensus forecasts will […]

January 13, 2021

SES vs Intelsat dispute drags in Telesat

SES, which is suing Intelsat with a $1.8 billion claim and due to go to trial in June, is looking to bring testimony from Ottawa-based Telesat into the dispute. At the heart of the legal dispute between SES and Intelsat is an argument over Intelsat’s handling of an alleged 50/50 agreed division within the C-Band […]

January 11, 2021

More FCC auction cash for satellite operators?

The demand for the FCC’s allocation of new spectrum in its current Auction 107 has been staggering. The bids and the auction have resulted in the highest-ever payments being made for spectrum. More than $80 billion has already been tabled in gross payments, and the process fully enabled by the satellite industry freeing up their […]

January 8, 2021

Viasat winning Delta, and hurting Gogo

Intelsat has ordered up two new satellites to serve its recently acquired Gogo commercial aviation in-flight service. But Intelsat/Gogo faces continued challenges from Viasat which has announced a major airline contract which damage revenues from the existing Gogo service. Viasat says it has won a contract to equip more than 300 Delta Airlines with its […]

January 6, 2021

Satellite insurance a catastrophe

The specialist insurance companies who provide launch and ‘in use’ cover for satellites have had another disastrous year. One report says that space insurance underwriters have had their third year of reporting losses despite increases since 2019 of premiums to cover key aspects of the launch and periods in orbit of satellites. Space Intel Report […]

January 5, 2021