Bangladesh wants its own satellite. The problem is that the ‘rights’ to place a satellite at one of its allocated orbital positions (69 degrees and 102 degrees East) is complicated by the fact that other nations either have satellites at the positions or have priorities filed with the ITU of intentions to occupy the positions. […]

Australia’s Optus-10 satellite, launched on September 12th, has reached geostationary orbit where it will be tested prior to being located at its target destination at 164 degrees East.  In orbit tests will take some 2-3 weeks to complete. The satellite, constructed by Space Systems/Loral, will undertake preliminary deployments and tests prior to reaching the geostationary […]

London-based satellite operator Avanti Communications reported an increased loss of $87.7 million ($58.88m, a year ago). Revenues expanded from $32.12 million a year ago to $65.62 million for the year to June 30. Backlog also fell back from $445 million a year ago to $430 million now. Avanti had some $195 million cash at hand […]

Cairo-based Nilesat is taking a long-term ‘multi-transponder’ lease on the upcoming Eutelsat 8 WestB satellite. The satellite is due for launch next summer, and will be located at 8 degrees West, alongside Nilesat’s orbital slot at 7 deg West. The two locations, which can be received on a single dish, already carry more than 1000 […]

It is fair to say that YahLive, the DTH portion of Abu Dhabi’s YahSat craft, struggled over the first year or two of its life to convince broadcasters to come aboard. YahLive was launched back in 2011 with the mission to be the Middle East’s first all-HDTV satellite. The sales concept didn’t work out, but […]

A multi-year contract renewal between DISH Network and Scripps Networks Interactive improves DISH customers’ access to Scripps Networks’ entire content portfolio, including new and expanded digital rights. The agreement includes over-the-top (OTT) multi-stream rights for live and Video-on-Demand content. The agreement also expands DISH’s distribution of authenticated live and Video-on-Demand Scripps Networks programming on Internet-connected […]

UK subscription-free TV service Freesat has unveiled the latest version of Showcase, its editorially-driven TV recommendations service on Freetime next-generation programme guide. Showcase is one of the key features of Freesat’s Freetime service. It offers recommendations of programmes to watch that are selected by Freesat’s dedicated in-house editorial team, and is available online, on the […]

Whereas his counterparts at SES have suggested that Europe will see its first commercial Ultra-HD channels as early as 2016, Markus Fritz, Eutelsat’s Director of Commercial Development and Marketing has expressed a more cautious note, suggesting that any such launches are dependent on business models being developed. “The content is waiting, but operators must consider […]

Three leading European free-to-air satellite TV operators – Fransat (France), Freesat (UK), and Tivùsat (Italy) – have come together to form the FreeTV Alliance. In the first collaboration of its kind, the Alliance aims to promote the harmonisation of satellite TV services and technology across Europe. This will help drive the continuing rollout of compelling […]

Onlime announced signing of the contract during the IBC event in Amsterdam with Gazprom Space Systems taking capacity on Yamal-402 satellite to increase Ku offering addressing a growing demand in Sub-Saharan Africa. Onlime has full Ku and C-Band satellite coverage for VSAT services over the African continent, providing reliable business communications solutions to the enterprise […]