Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster is in talks with Venezuela’s Simon Bolivar satellite’s owners in an attempt to get Iranian channels back on air internationally. IRIB wants carriage for its Spanish-language version of Press TV (Hispan-TV). Hispan TV, launched in December 2011, has since been dropped by most European and US satellite operators because of United […]
Eutelsat’s annual TV Awards, which took place in a star-studded Venice gala on November 15th, celebrated what CEO Michel de Rosen said were the ‘best of the best’ in terms of TV channels carried on the Eutelsat fleet. But the evening also showcased the latest Ultra-HD/4K TV, and where Eutelsat announced a joint venture with […]
It hasn’t been a good week for satellite operator SES of Luxembourg. On November 13th it announced that its upcoming Astra 5B craft would have to wait until January for launch by Arianespace. Now, barely 24 hours later it has been confirmed that its SES-8 communications satellite is also to be delayed. SES-8 is being […]
A Euroconsult report on DTH platforms shows more than 150 platforms with TV revenues primarily derived from direct-to-home satellite broadcasting are now offering services. The 202 million DTH subscribers in over 100 countries (early in 2013) will result in over $100 billion in revenues this year. Although the report highlights large national specificities, three market […]
Spanish infrastructure giant Abertis has taken full control of satellite operator Hispasat. Abertis bought a 16.4 per cent stake through its wholly-owned subsidiary Abertis Telecom. The 16.4 per cent stake was bought from Spain’s state-owned National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA). Abertis paid €172.5 million for the stock, and now controls 57.05 per cent of […]
Rai and Eutelsat Communications have sealed an agreement enabling Italy’s public service broadcaster to deliver its new portfolio of HD channels across Italy via the TivùSat satellite platform that already reaches into 1.7 million TV homes. Rai will broadcast its three flagship channels in HD – Rai 1, Rai 2, Rai 3 – via TivùSat […]
SES Astra has had to scrub its planned December 6th launch because its co-passenger on the giant Ariane 5 rocket isn’t ready. The missing passenger is Hispasat’s Amazonas 4A craft. Astra 5B will now have to wait until January for launch. The news is a triple blow to SES. The first is that the satellite […]
India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan is to switch some of its resources from terrestrial to satellite in an attempt to boost coverage in particular in the North East of the country. Prasar Bharati’s CEO Jawhar Sircar told reporters that Doordarshan needed to rethink how its transmission networks could be re-engineered to improve both TV and FM […]
SES has announced that Comcast Wholesale has renewed and expanded key agreements for nearly 650 MHz of C-band capacity to deliver a broad range of content management and delivery solutions to media companies across North America. As part of the multi-year deal, Comcast Wholesale continues to utilise 16 transponders aboard the AMC-18 satellite and one […]
South Korea’s government is to fine Korea Telecom (KT Corp) for the unauthorised sale of two old satellites. KT Corp sold the two craft without informing the government. The two satellites (Mugungwha 2 and 3) were sold for $4.24 million and had been retired from the KT fleet. Officially, KT Corp should have notified the […]