[Satellite Today 05-29-09] Yahsat CEO Jassem Al-Zaabi is investing $100 million in YahLive, a direct-to-home service it plans to launch in the fourth quarter of 2009 with joint venture partner SES Astra, Yahsat said in a May 28 statement.
    According to Al-Zaabi, SES Astra is investing $50 million in the project.
    Al-Zaabi said he expects YahLive to generate revenues in its third year on growing regional demand for high definition and that a large portion of its capacity will be utilized between the third and fifth year. “The market will grow 38 percent per annum with about 100-plus high definition channels to be added in the region by 2017,” Al-Zaabi said.
Yahsat’s two satellites are being by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space and are scheduled for launch in the second half of 2010.