Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY Insider 05-03-11] Dish Network and its sister company EchoStar have reached a settlement to pay TiVo Inc. $500 million in a patent lawsuit between the companies, which began in 2005 regarding digital video recorder technology, Dish Network announced in its 2011 first quarter financial results issued May 2.     Dish Network and EchoStar...

[Satellite TODAY 05-03-11] SES Astra is delivering its German HD Plus broadcasting service to 769,000 households via its on Astra satellite located at the 19.2 degrees East orbital slot, according to a company report issued May 2.     SES said that about two-thirds of HD Plus’ customers opted for the fee-based continuation of reception between...

[Satellite News 05-03-11] Despite predictions by some financial analysts that Sirius XM Radio’s subscriber growth would dwindle in early 2011, the company far outpaced Wall Street’s net new subscriber growth expectations of 203,000 to reach 373,000 during the quarter, bringing its total customer base to 20.6 million users.     On a conference call, Sirius XM...

    TV Azteca operates two of Mexico’s most-watched stations. CEO Mario San Román discusses the Mexican digital and pay-TV market and the opportunities this growing market provides for broadcasters.   VIA SATELLITE: How many channels do you run currently? San Román: Right now, Azteca has three over-the-air channels in Mexico, which are channel 13,...

[Satellite TODAY 04-29-11] Video delivery solutions provider Sencore renewed its global partnership agreement with Netherlands-based DekTec Digital Video to jointly develop products and share technologies for customer offerings, the two companies announced April 28.     The renewed agreement also expands the partners’ joint efforts, allowing Sencore to now sell the co-developed products outside North America...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 04-28-11] U.S. trade representatives are encouraging the Indian government to change its satellite policies to allow foreign countries to sell capacity to India’s growing DTH market, according to a U.S. Department of Trade report issued April 27.     India currently gives exclusive direct DTH satellite capacity selling rights to the Indian Space...

[Satellite TODAY 04-28-11] U.K. and international media organizations have booked a significant amount of Eutelsat capacity for live coverage of the April 29 royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, the operator announced April 27.     A total of 13,000 MHz hours – equivalent to 15 transponders over 24 hours – have been reserved...

[Satellite TODAY 04-28-11] Dish Network completed its acquisition of movie retail chain Blockbuster’s assets and will immediately move forward with its plans close at least 1,000 Blockbuster locations and take on the leases for about 500 remaining retail stores, the U.S. pay-TV operator announced April 27.     Dish Network bought Blockbuster on April 7 for...

[Satellite TODAY 04-28-11] Danish national broadcaster DR has selected Snell’s Mosart automation system to drive its DR Update news channel distributed via satellite, terrestrial and Internet streaming, DR announced April 27.     DR will use Mosart to switch between DR Update’s live news production and its alternate 20-minute looping sections. The capability aims to allow...

[Satellite TODAY 04-25-11] Hispasat and Pittsburgh International Telecommunications (PIT), a privately owned teleport and global distributor, have entered into a strategic partnership to launch New Winds, a DTH platform that will be hosted on the Amazonas-2 satellite, the companies announced April 22.     New Winds will target the North American DTH market, providing an MCPC...