Focus: Broadcasting

MBC Group, one of the Middle East’s strongest FTA broadcasters, signed a significant HD agreement with YahLive in December to broadcast its portfolio of high-definition channels. As a result of the deal, viewers of YahLive now have access to seven HD MBC Group channels across the Middle East and North Africa. Sam Barnett, CEO of...

SIS Live, Eutelsat Sign New Capacity Leases U.K. satellite uplink fleet operator SIS Live has expanded its satellite capacity lease agreements with Eutelsat Communications. SIS Live has signed new contracts for significant capacity on Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird 1 and W3C satellites. W3C, Eutelsat’s newest satellite, will provide SIS Live with access to 144 MHz of...

[Satellite TODAY 02-29-12]  GlobeCast has signed a long-term capacity deal with SES as it looks to boost its presence in the U.K. TV market. The capacity on Astra’s future replacement fleet at the 28.2 degrees East neighborhood will be used by GlobeCast to serve its wide range of television and radio clients seeking to address...

[Satellite TODAY 02-28-12]  There are likely to be 105.1 million IPTV subscribers in 2015. This number is one of the highlights from the new IPTV forecast given by U.S. research organization, Multimedia Research Group (MRG). In what could be an ominous sign for the satellite industry, it seems as though growth in IPTV is beating...

[Satellite TODAY 02-24-12] Dish Network boasted an 11 percent increase in 2011 full-year revenues at $14.05 billion compared with $12.64 billion for the corresponding period in 2010, according to the company’s latest financial results issued Feb. 22.    The U.S. pay-TV broadcaster also increased its full-year net earnings from $985 million in 2010 to $1.52...

[Satellite TODAY 02-24-12] Arqiva has built a new European Playout Center to enhance its provision of media services to broadcasters, the company announced Feb. 23.    The European Playout Center is co-located at one of Arqiva’s U.K. teleports close to London with direct access to its global distribution network of fiber and satellite connectivity. Arqiva...

[Satellite TODAY 02-23-12] Iraq has deployed several Newtec Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite (MENOS) TV interactive terminals that will operate within the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) exchange network, Newtec announced Feb. 21.    The terminals will allow Iraqi broadcasters to access their own IP-based and fully automated secure Virtual Network (VN) for contribution and...

[Satellite TODAY 02-22-12] Scandinavian satellite company Viasat Broadcasting has extended its live broadcasting rights to the National Football League (NFL) in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland until the end of the 2017 NFL season,    The rights include live broadcast coverage on free- and pay-TV, as well as live simulcast for mobile phones and the...

[Satellite News 02-22-12] AsiaSat is the latest operator to sign a launch services deal with SpaceX. The company announced the deal earlier this month, joining fellow operators Thaicom and SES that have put their faith in the new launch services provider.    SpaceX will launch two AsiaSat satellites, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8 in 2014....

[Satellite TODAY 02-20-12] Rising television programming costs and thriftier U.S. consumers will not prevent satellite pay-TV operator DirecTV from meeting its growth targets for 2012 and 2013, CEO Mike White announced during a Feb. 17 conference call.    White said that while competition had intensified and that programmers were seeking higher-than-expected rates for content and...