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.
IBC saw much discussion on the likely prospects for 4K transmission, how the technology might be implemented, possible costs for broadcasters, timetable of likely events that might trigger early adoption and how low prices of 4K flat panels might need to fall to gain consumer acceptance. In other words, the assorted Plus and Minus points […]
Dr Abe Peled, former president and CEO at NDS, insists he is now an ordinary member of Cisco Systems’ 72,000 employees and as such he needed to go through the new staff ‘onboard’ induction system. Now, six weeks into his new job as Cisco’s SVP/Strategy Video & Collaboration Group, was in good humour at his […]
NileSat and Arabsat have removed the state-backed Syrian TV channels from its satellites. Instructions were given to the two Arab satellite operators by the Arab States foreign ministries. However, the action received immediate condemnation from Damascus. BBC Monitoring reports that the Syria’s Information Ministry the ban “contradicts principles of media work in an unacceptable and […]
The broadcasting industry is gearing up for the ‘next big thing’, and well beyond today’s 3D, ‘smart’ TVs and HDTV. With the giant IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin now underway, and just days away from IBC, the professional end of the broadcasting industry, the talk is all about Ultra-HDTV. We expect the first announcements […]
Back on August 7th, a Russian rocket failed to deliver two satellites into orbit. Various boards of inquiry were set up, but the approval to resume launches has not yet been given which is a major worry for Mexico’s Satmex satellite operator. The exact same type of rocket is due to launch Satmex-8 later this […]
Here’s a conundrum: Pay-radio operator Sirius-XM is making very useful operating profits in its US division (and minority stakes in its Canadian operation also help out). Last week, Sirius-XM paid off $681 million of debt almost a year ahead of time, such is its sound financial position. John Malone shrewdly bailed the business out from […]
For the past three weeks, Jordanian TV channel JoSat has been dark, unavailable because of actions by an unnamed – but senior – figure. In a statement, reported by BBC Monitoring, the channel said it had worked hard at finding out who was responsible for ordering the Amman-based uplink centre to take the channel down, […]
The head of Russia’s leading rocket-making organisation has resigned. Vladimir Nesterov, 63, is leaving the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre, which manufactures Russia’s Proton rockets, after Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev harshly criticised the industry. A Proton rocket failed earlier this month leaving two broadcasting satellites in useless orbit. Russia’s reputation, such as it […]
The analysts and number-crunchers have looked at Sky Deutschland’s numbers and the consensus is overwhelmingly that the pay-TV broadcaster is pressing all the right buttons. Investment bankers Morgan Stanley comments are typical, saying the results (issued August 14th) “demonstrated growing consumer acceptance of pay TV in Germany with good growth in core pay TV and […]
The news from Unterföhring, near Munich, home of Sky Deutschland, was much, much better than expected. CEO Brian Sullivan, fresh from his annual holiday, used the clever device of delivering better results than the market forecast, and the old corporate mantra of under-promising and over-delivering has worked well for him and his team. While the […]
CIISA launches standards consultation
Bundesliga Konferenz moving to DAZN
Samsung TV Plus adds 12 FAST channels from A+E
England Hockey internationals on Channel 4
WISI’s insolvency proceedings terminated
Paramount+ now on EE TV
China outlines Beidou constellation
Fasmer takes the helm at Telenor
Telesat retires satellite to graveyard slot
Teads expands VIDAA partnership