Advanced Television

DTH/Satellite

‘Zombie’ satellite still a threat

Intelsat’s uncontrolled Galaxy-15 craft is still posing a threat to broadcasting satellites which are in its path. Galaxy-15 was probably affected by a solar flare back in April and cannot be controlled from the ground. It is drifting steadily – and predictably – along an orbital arc and while there is little chance of collision […]

October 19, 2010

UK ‘proving’ satellite

The UK is going to develop a satellite to trial innovative space technologies. The idea is components and instruments flying on TechDemoSat (TDS) can prove their worth and go on to win substantial international business. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) will lead the project. Participants are likely to include a novel instrument to measure the […]

October 18, 2010

Sky Italia denies pay-TV on DTT plans

Sky Italia does not intend to enter the DTT market with a pay-TV offer, claiming this would be technically impossible. It was refuting allegations in dialy “Corriere della Sera” which claimed that Sky Italia plans to team up with local media group Espresso as part of an “anti-Mediaset deal”. Sky Italia points out that it […]

October 18, 2010From Branislav Pekic in Rome

STRONG launches high performance HD+ Satellite Receiver SRT 7805

ARD, ZDF and five other broadcasters transmit High Definition programmes free-to-air in Germany  whereas RTL, SAT1, Pro7, VOX, Kabel1 and SPORT1, which is starting from November 1 st, can  only be received with an HD+ compatible satellite receiver. Set-top box specialist STRONG is now  launching its fully equipped SRT 7805 satellite receiver. With its built-in […]

October 13, 2010

Al Jazeera soccer jamming – “a prank”

  The soccer jamming squabble between Qatar’s Al Jazeera Sports and Jordanian broadcasting authorities has already stretched diplomatic relations between the two regions. Comments have bounced back and forth between the two nations, and there seems to be no doubt that the jamming occurred from within Jordanian territory. Now a local newspaper has suggested that […]

October 12, 2010

Murdoch interested in DigiTurk stake?

Turkish DTH broadcaster DigiTurk is 47 per cent held by private equity company Providence Equity Partners. Reports suggest that Providence is looking to exit the business and is having preliminary meetings with a number of potential buyers of its stake. Other private equity companies are reportedly conducting due diligence examinations of the business, while Time […]

October 11, 2010By Chris Forrester

Al Jazeera ‘proof’ on Jordan on FIFA jamming

  The past few days have seen something of a tennis match of allegations and denials made over the illegal jamming of this past summer’s FIFA World Cup soccer matches for Arab viewers. Fans paid up to $150 for Al Jazeera Sport’s exclusive coverage of the tournament. However, many matches, including the final, were jammed […]

October 6, 2010

Sky Germany gets bank warning

Sky Deutschland has just had another cash injection from News Corp which now controls almost 50 per cent of the pay-TV company, although Sky Deutschland is still seeking additional liquidity. News Corp says it will not absorb more than its current 49.9 per cent shareholding. Investment bankers Morgan Stanley, in a note to clients, say […]

October 5, 2010By Chris Forrester

New bidders emerge for UKTV

At least two more potential bidders are interested in the 50 per cent of UKTV that the BBC does not own. Virgin Media is looking to sell its 50 per cent stake of the portfolio of channels, which includes popular British channels such as ‘Dave’, ‘Watch’ and ‘Gold’. BBC Worldwide is holding onto its 50 […]

October 4, 2010By Chris Forrester

Orbit Showtime boss quits

Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, the head of the struggling Middle East pay-TV network Orbit Showtime Network, has quit. He himself confirmed his departure to a local newspaper, saying he will stay in Dubai for the time being. He is reportedly being replaced by David Butorac, until a year ago CEO at Australia’s WIN Corp. Butorac left WIN, […]

October 1, 2010By Chris Forrester