Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 03-24-10] Abu Dhabi TV (ADTV) has contracted Harris Corp. to provide satellite broadcast technology supporting ADTV’s fully tapeless HD production and playout center, Harris announced March 22.     The ADTV broadcast center will employ a file-based, integrated Harris One workflow solution, including Harris Invenio digital asset management products, ADC playout automation and Nexio...

[Satellite TODAY 03-24-10] Israeli DTH operator Yes has launched a video-on-demand service based on NDS technology, NDS announced March 23. The service will be based on Yes’s hybrid satellite-IP digital video recorder (DVR) platform. Yes subscribers will be able to download a movie or series to their MaxTotal HD DVR over the open Internet. Yes...

[Satellite TODAY 03-24-10] A total of 147.8 million set-top boxes will ship worldwide in 2010, an increase of 11.5 percent from 132.6 million units last year, according to an iSuppli Corp. study released March 18.     The report, “Global Set-Top Box Shipment Forecast,” asserted that shipments will continue to rise in the next few years...

[Satellite TODAY 03-23-10] EchoStar is planning to expand Dish Network’s broadcast market presence in North America following a capacity deal with SES and the launch of the EchoStar 14 satellite, the companies announced.     SES announced March 19 that it leased satellite capacity to EchoStar after the Mexican government granted SES subsidiary Sistemas Satelitales de...

[Satellite TODAY 03-23-10] BSkyB will launch its 3-D channel Sky 3D April 3, the company announced March 19.     The satellite pay-TV operator’s 3-D channel will kick off with the broadcast of the U.K. Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea.     Following the channel’s launch, Sky said it would show at least...

[Satellite TODAY 03-19-10] WorldSpace has ended talks with Sirius XM major stakeholder Liberty Media over an unkown transaction that has been in the works for a year, WorldSpace announced March 18.      Liberty Media bought WorldSpace debt in 2009 and expected to merge its operations with Sirius XM. As a result, Worldspace is “planning...

[Satellite TODAY 03-16-10] Sirius XM Radio is attempting to raise $800 million through a debt sale that carries 8.75 percent interest per year over five years, the company announced March 15.     The senior notes, due to investors in 2015, will be used to redeem all of Sirius XM’s outstanding 9.62 percent interest debt due...

[Satellite News 03-12-10] Slovak Telecom is the latest telco to use of satellite technology to bring pay-TV services to its customer base, launching a pay-TV service, Magio, via satellite in mid-January.    “According to the availability of satellite signal throughout the Slovakia, we expect a significant increase in the number of Magio TV customers,” Slovak...

[Satellite TODAY 03-10-10] Intelsat reported record revenues of $2.5 billion in 2009 but recorded a loss of 781.7 million, the satellite operator announced March 9. The loss included non-cash charges of $499.1 million incurred in the first quarter for orbital location impairments.    Revenue growth of 6 percent over 2008 was driven by continued strength...

[Satellite TODAY 03-10-10] GlobeCast signed a deal for an additional full transponder on the AsiaSat 5 satellite, GlobeCast announced March 9.    The increased capacity on AsiaSat 5, formerly AsiaSat 2, will be used to provide coverage of major live news and sporting events slated in 2010 such as the World Cup, Asian Games, G20...