Advanced Television

Inside Satellite

Chris Forrester

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.

Ergen’s DISH in trouble over sales calls

Dish Network, the US DTH giant, is in trouble with the US government over tele-marketing sales calls. The broadcaster has already faced sanctions when back in April the Federal Trade Commission filed its lawsuit alleging that Dish had violated the FTC’s rules and breached its ‘Do Not Call’ lists of consumers who had opted not […]

September 18, 2013

Deloitte: “4K is going to happen”

The pros and cons of 4K transmission have dominated this year’s IBC, with the debate causing deep divisions amongst some members of the broadcast community. Everyone recognises that 4K is now very definitely on the agenda, and most of the news is positive. Russia’s NTV+ plans of test transmissions of the Sochi Winter Olympics, for […]

September 16, 2013

O3b delays crucial launch

Jersey-based O3b is the new satellite constellation designed to bring connectivity and broadband to the world’s ‘other 3 billion’ people currently not served, or under-served, by terrestrial suppliers. Google, SES and Liberty Global are amongst the system’s backers.  However, there are problems. Two of the four satellites, launched in June, have suffered minor power anomalies. […]

September 12, 2013

Forget 4K. By Tokyo 2020 it will be 8K

In a few days’ time, delegates and exhibitors to IBC will be discussing the merits of 4K production for TV, with most industry observers now agreeing that 4K will be introduced commercially in 2014 and start making headway in 2015. But the decision to award to 2020 Summer Olympics to Tokyo fits in beautifully with […]

September 10, 2013

ViaSat hits SS/L with another lawsuit

ViaSat is a satellite broadband supplier serving consumers over North America. It already has an action running against Space Systems/ Loral, a satellite builder, alleging that SS/L has misused patents granted to ViaSat for its High Throughput broadband satellite – which SS/L built. Now ViaSat is alleging additional patent infringements against SS/L. The new action […]

September 6, 2013

India MSOs hit with tax summons

It seemingly never just rains on India cable MSOs but it pours! Not only are they struggling with an analogue to digital conversion task that’s massively complicated and much delayed and has some regions now officially blacked out, but the tax-man has hit some Kolkata cable players with tax demands and claims of financial irregularities. […]

September 2, 2013

Qatari/Eutelsat satellite launches

Es’Hail-1, a joint-venture satellite with Eutelsat, has successfully launched from French Guiana towards its orbital position at 25.5 degree East. Eutelsat’s portion of the satellite will be operated as Eutelsat 25B. The massive 6.3 tonnes satellite – built by Space Systems/Loral – was launched on time at 8.30pm UTC and the craft’s solar panel deployed […]

August 30, 2013

BBC trio slammed by new boss

The current and former BBC execs behind the £100 million+ cancelled Digital Media Initiative (DMI) have been condemned by new BBC Director General Tony Hall.  Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, and following some bruising criticism from delegates to last week’s Edinburgh Television Festival, Lord Hall said the DMI project which he scrubbed in April “was […]

August 27, 2013

Arabsat/Qatar satellite deal

Arabsat has signed a groundbreaking agreement with Qatar’s Es’HailSat. The deal takes the shape of a “strategic partnership” at the 26 degrees East orbital spot. Arabsat already has satellite capacity at 26 degrees East, while Es’HailSat’s first satellite will launch on August 29th to the adjacent 25.5 degrees position. The 26 degrees East slot is […]

August 20, 2013By Chris Forrester

Thumbs Up for Virgin/BT Sport deal

BT is supplying its BT Sports channel to Virgin Media’s cable customers via a wholesale agreement. The news has gone down well with the market. Investment banker Morgan Stanley, for example, described it as a “good deal” for BT, and Virgin. “The agreement,” says the bank, “means that Virgin customers will no longer have to […]

August 16, 2013