Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 12-20-11] UAE-based satellite operator YahLive has begun broadcasting the Saudi Sports Bouquet in HD to the European continent via the Y1A satellite located at the 52.5 degrees East orbital slot.    The operator confirmed Dec. 19 that the Saudi bouquet includes six channels, including exclusive broadcasts of Saudi Football League matches. The HD...

[Satellite News 12-20-11] Dish Network stocks soared nearly 10 percent today following the Dec. 19 announcement that AT&T was withdrawing its $39 billion bid to acquire T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom. Analysts said the pay-TV satellite broadcaster, who actively criticized the potential merge between the two international cellular service providers, holds a powerful hand of assets...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-19-11] Eutelsat has rolled out digital service on its French subscription-free platform Fransat following the country’s analogue switch-off in late November. The operator announced Dec. 15 that the free-to-air channel would now work to deliver content to French viewers beyond range of over-the-air, cable or ADSL reception in a digital format.  ...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-16-11] Liberty Global has received regulatory approval to complete its acquisition of Germany’s third largest cable TV operator Kabel BW (KBW) in accordance with the terms of its previously announced purchase agreement, the company announced Dec. 15.    Liberty Global paid 3.16 billion euros ($4.10 billion) to acquire KBW. Following the acquisition,...

[Satellite TODAY 12-13-11] GlobeCast Americas appointed Bart Palmer as its new CTO effective Jan. 2, the company announced Dec. 12.    Palmer will report to GlobeCast Americas CEO Lisa Coelho and be responsible for establishing the company’s technical vision and leadership, including managing, deploying and developing GlobeCast’s technical facilities and satellite and terrestrial infrastructure.  ...

[Satellite TODAY 12-12-11] Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam plans to end his company’s wireless LTE partnership with pay-TV operator DirecTV and will stop its build-out of FiOS television and Internet services during the next two years, the executive confirmed Dec. 8 during a speech at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference.    McAdam said Verizon...

[Satellite TODAY 12-09-11] GlobeCast has expanded its available satellite capacity resources over Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by launching a new Ku-band platform on the Yamal-201 satellite, the company announced Dec. 8.    Located at the 90 degrees East orbital slot, Yamal-201 will offer free-to-air or encrypted channels uplinked from Moscow, providing...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-08-11] The ESPN sports network renegotiated its broadcast contract with the National Football League (NFL) and has agreed to pay $15.2 billion over eight years for the rights to Monday Night Football, as well as online and mobile extensions. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, however, criticized the deal while speaking at a...

[Satellite TODAY 12-06-11]  YahLive has signed a key deal with a major broadcaster in the Middle East. The company, a partnership between SES and Yahsat,announced Dec. 5 that it had signed a deal with the MBC Group to broadcast its large portfolio of HD channels. Viewers of YahLive can now watch seven MBC Group channels...

[Satellite TODAY 12-03-11]  The European Broadcast Union (EBU) is moving forward with plans to make hybrid TV more of a reality in Europe. The organization has announced that a group of more than 20 public service broadcasters have agreed to exchange best practices and support one another to push through a fast, comprehensive rollout of...