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.

“The worst is yet to come” for European TV

A major pan-European review of media stocks going into 2020 from investment bank Exane/BNPP gives high marks for Europe’s two major satellite operators SES and Eutelsat, saying that it sees a positive risk reward heading into the C-Band resolution at both SES and Eutelsat. Elsewhere in Media the bank says it remains cautious on European […]

January 10, 2020

Taiwan C-band auction is solid news for SES

The auction results for 5G spectrum in Taiwan are already worth an impressive $0.51 per MHz ‘pop’. The strong bids for capacity came from shrewd local operators such as Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Asia-Pacific Telecom and Taiwan Star. New Street Research argued that should this bidding rate be matched in the upcoming auction for […]

January 8, 2020

New Israeli satellite to compete with Spacecom?

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has won an order to build a new communications satellite for Israel. Named Dror-1, the craft will have a design life of 15 years. Details are vague as to the coverage or orbital location. IAI is a state-backed business and local reports say that the satellite will cost the Israeli government […]

January 6, 2020

ITU wins praise for ATSC 3.0

Just in time for next week’s CES show where every major TV manufacturer will be showcasing their very latest models, including 8K displays, the ITU has approved the use of the world’s first IP-based digital broadcasting standard, dubbed ATSC 3.0. January 2nd saw Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major US station grouping “applaud” the ITU’s decision. […]

January 3, 2020

Apple to enter satellite race?

Apple is reportedly contemplating entering the ‘mega-constellation’ satellite race and joining SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb and others in launching craft into orbit. It remains unclear whether Apple is preparing to construct and have its own satellites launched, or alternatively using capacity on existing satellites. A Bloomberg report says that Apple has quietly assembled a team of […]

December 23, 2019

Amazon ramps up Kuiper mega-constellation

Amazon’s massive Project Kuiper scheme to launch 3236 satellites into a mega-constellation serving the plant with a low-latency broadband service is moving ahead rapidly. In a blog the company said it was renovating two huge factories in Redmond, Washington States, measuring 219,000 sq.ft. and which will contain Research & Development space, prototype manufacturing as well […]

December 19, 2019

CBA optimistic over satellite windfall revenues

The past few weeks has seen the share prices of the two main satellite operators – Intelsat and SES – hammered by the market, anxious that an FCC-controlled auction of C-band spectrum is going to mean minimum revenue benefits for the operators. Bloomberg, in a report, says that a “catastrophic” November which led to Intelsat […]

December 18, 2019

CBA and FCC: “Let’s get moving”

The FCC held a meeting last week part of the agenda was the planned auction of C-band spectrum over the US and offered up by four satellite operators; Intelsat, SES, Telesat and Eutelsat. Some of the FCC all-important Commissioners have now been quoted favourably supporting prompt action on getting the auction up and running. Commissioner […]

December 17, 2019

Starlink revenue plans questioned

Elon Musk’s plans for a potential mega-constellation of 42,000 broadband satellites have been called into question. There are already more than 120 Starlink satellites in orbit, and another 60 will be orbited later in December. But there are concerns. Tim Farrar, an analyst at TMF Associates, questions the vague business plans for Musk’s system and […]

December 16, 2019

ProSiebenSat.1 moves away from traditional TV

While most people still see ProSiebenSat.1 as a traditional TV broadcaster and dependent on commercials for survival, a report from investment bank Berenberg suggests that the market needs to take a fresh view of the company, and in particular its ‘NuCom’ division. The report is headlined More than meets the eye and reminds readers that […]

December 12, 2019