Focus: Broadcasting

For decades, satellite and cable television service providers have been bundling channel packages, forcing consumers to pay for channels they don’t necessarily watch. This could soon change if a recently introduced U.S. Senate bill continues to gain traction.

[Satellite TODAY 05-10-13] MEASAT Satellite Systems has announced an agreement with Level 3 Communications to upgrade the Setanta Sports channel on the MEASAT-3/3a video platform from standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD). Setanta is an international sports broadcaster with operations in Ireland, Canada, Australia, Asia and Africa.       The MEASAT-3/3a video neighborhood...

North Africa's telecommunication operators have started to use Azerbaijan's first telecommunication satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1, launched on Feb. 8.

[Satellite TODAY 05-07-13] C-COM Satellite Systems has announced that its next generation iNetVu 1201 antenna system has received type approval from Eutelsat. The 1.2m drive-away system has met all the auto-pointing characterization tests per the latest Eutelsat ESOG Module 260 requirements. This officially enables the iNetVu 1201 vehicle mounted auto-pointing to operate on Eutelsat’s Satellites...

[Satellite TODAY 05-07-13] Cobham has announced its plans to introduce a new HD MPEG4 IP Encoder at Broadcast Asia 2013. Specifically engineered for broadcast application, the encoder is able to operate in standard, low and ultra-low latency modes; has balanced audio inputs; and includes integral broadcast-standard IFB talkback.       Cobham will also demonstrate MediaMesh,...

[Satellite TODAY 05-07-13] Sky Deutschland now has reached more than 3.4 million customers in Germany and Austria. This was one of the highlights of its first quarter results issued late last week. The company also reported more than 1.6 million HD subscribers, up another 100,000 compared to the same stage last year. The operator also...

[Satellite TODAY 05-03-13] International Datacasting Corporation won a $1Million contract to support the U.S. government on the expansion of its worldwide satellite broadcast network. The deal includes the order of additional SuperFlex Pro Data receiver/routers for a centralized broadcast network that distributes encrypted data files and live streams to remote U.S. government agencies throughout the...

[Satellite TODAY 05-03-13] The Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) has a made a lot of progress over the last year, not least involving Carrier ID technology, which is a key weapon in the battle against satellite interference. With interference a recurring problem in the industry, there are constant issues that need to be addressed.  ...

[Satellite TODAY 05-02-13] Viasat Broadcasting has appointed Aleks Habdank as chief operating officer of its Pay-TV Emerging Markets operations, effective May 7, 2013. Habdank will be based in London and manage Viasat Broadcasting’s pay-TV channel operations in Central and Eastern Europe, and develop its pay-TV business in the Emerging Markets. He will report to Irina...

[Satellite TODAY 05-01-13] Modern Times Group MTG has announced that Viasat Broadcasting, which comprises MTG’s television broadcasting operations, will make its Viasat Premium HD package available to Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS) IPTV and digital cable subscribers in Russia as an optional addition to their Basic channel packages.       The Viasat Premium HD package...