Chris Forrester is one of the most experienced and highly regarded journalists in the field. His insight and analysis, particularly in the satellite and pay-TV arena, is highly prized. He has written for all the major business journals in the sector as well as several national newspapers.
International Launch Services (ILS) could see the troubled Proton rocket system back in use this autumn. ILS is expected to form its own Failure Review Board in September to examine the evidence and assess the results of Russia’s own examination of the probable cause of a catastrophic launch failure which occurred in May. That failure […]
International Launch Services (ILS), which handles the sale to ‘western’ clients of rocket launches by the Russian-built Proton system, is laying off staff. ILS has been badly hurt by a series of embarrassing failures by the Proton rocket, in particular the complete loss of a Russian Express-AM4R satellite in May. A failure review board has […]
Eutelsat admits it is biding its time and patiently waiting for the day when it can control all of Hispasat, and not just the 33.69 per cent it currently owns. Back in July 2013 Spanish infrastructure giant Abertis bought a 16.42 per cent slice of Hispasat from Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) which […]
One valuable measure of success for any satellite operator is the amount of contracted ‘backlog’, that is the value of that future business that the operator has tied up for years down the line. This past 12 months has seen Eutelsat increase that backlog by 19.9 per cent, from €5.37 billion to €6.44 billion. Eutelsat’s […]
In an industry where the usual talk is of ”millions” and even “billions” of dollars it is all too easy to forget that – at least in India – subscribers pay just pennies for their TV service. Yesterday (July 29) Airtel Digital TV said that it had raised its ARPU by 17 Rupees (US 28 […]
London-based specialist satellite operator Avanti Communications has not had the best of weeks. Last week it put out a profits warning saying it would be hit by a £7 million loan arrangement fee. It was bizarre in that house broker Jefferies then drew special attention to the statement, warning investors and shareholders to “give careful […]
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the leading telecom services company in Indonesia, PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia TbK (Telkom), to build a new telecommunications satellite. Telkom-3S will increase the operator’s C-band capacity from its orbital position at 118° East, and will also offer HDTV channels and remote GSM/Internet services in Ku-band. Thales Alenia Space […]
The Malaysia aircraft catastrophe could result in a worsening of US-Russia relations, and severely damage upcoming satellite launch plans, as well as the manning and supply of the orbiting International Space Station. The British government, along with the Dutch, Australian and Malaysian authorities are amongst those calling for tougher financial and business sanctions against Russia, […]
Investment banker Berenberg has cut back on its expectations for German broadcasting giant Pro7Sat.1. In terms of the broadcaster’s share price the bank says its 12-month target is cut by €2 from €29.60 to €27.60. The reasons are the broadcaster’s “material underperformance” over the past year, although stressing that the bank’s view is some 5 […]
Time Warner might have won Round One of what may turn out to be a long-running boxing match, but Rupert Murdoch is quite likely to have a Plan B, and C, and D, in his corner ready for the next round. 21st Century Fox, in making a bid of $86 a share (in cash and […]
Parties lobby against US sports streaming JV
Sony, Apollo table $26bn offer for Paramount
Report: Asian Americans lead US streaming consumption
Fubo Q1 exceeds guidance
Study: VPNs boosting piracy in France
Lockheed Martin drops bid for Terran Orbital
Portugal: DAZN acquires F1 rights
Banijay Kids & Family unveils portfolio of hub channels
Curiosity, Estrella FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus
SAG-AFTRA to license Nielsen streaming data