Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 12-21-09] The United Kingdom has the highest proportion of households with a digital TV as their main set amongst leading nations, according to a study issued Dec. 17 by U.K. communications regulator Ofcom.     According to the study, 88 percent of U.K. households have a digital TV as their main set, up 3...

[Satellite News 12-17-09] Ondas Media hopes to bring a successful satellite radio platform to Europe but has experienced a setback in its plans due to the anomaly that occurred on Solaris Mobile’s W2A satellite in July, Ondas CEO David Krueger told Satellite News.      “We had high hopes for Solaris and the W2A satellite,” said...

[Satellite TODAY 12-16-09] Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s (TSB) Thor 6 satellite has completed all necessary in-orbit and ground related testing will begin commercial service in late December, the operator announced Dec. 15.     TSB has taken formal ownership of the satellite and is now controlling the satellite from its in-house space control center in Oslo, Norway. ...

[Satellite TODAY 12-16-09] Thomson has initiated a high-volume production launch of its HD MPEG-4 DSI705, a satellite set-top box (STB) capable of supporting advanced, IP-based video services over existing coaxial L-band delivery infrastructures, Thomson announced Dec. 15.     The STB, which combines L-band with low-noise block control signaling, aims to enable operators to migrate IP...

[Satellite TODAY 12-16-09] Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) has launched its first branded channel in the U.K. on the BSkyB satellite DTH platform, MGM announced Dec. 14.     The channel, which is a 50/50 joint venture between Sky and MGM, is part of MGM’s strategy to extend its reach of branded network broadcasting. MGM recently launched...

[Satellite News 12-14-09] YahLive will spend the next year searching from contracts and figuring out how to market its upcoming DTH satellite service to broadcast customers in the Middle East, YahLive CEO Mohamed Youssif told Satellite News.      Youssif said that YahLive, a joint venture created by SES Astra and Yahsat, expects deals to be...

[Satellite TODAY 12-11-09] Vizada has teamed up with Singaporean broadcaster MediaCorp to enable reporters to perform live broadcasting from remote areas, the company announced Dec. 10.         Vizada will supply MediaCorp with portable Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite terminal, replacing the broadcaster’s fixed satellite system. To support the service, Vizasa will build a data communications...

[Satellite TODAY 12-11-09] Malaysian satellite pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks (Astro) posted $39.1 million in profits in the 2009 third quarter, driven in part by a 13 percent increase in revenue to $254.3 million, according to results issued Dec. 9.     Astro’s reported a profit of $8.2 million in the 2009 second quarter.    ...

[Satellite TODAY 12-09-09] The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) is delivering digital TV packages to Siberia and the Far East, the company announced Dec. 8.     The digital program package includes all Russian public TV and radio communications channels approved by a Russian Mandate passed in June. RSCC said the service roll out will lead...

[Satellite TODAY 12-09-09] International Datacasting Corp.’s (IDC) 2010 third quarter revenues dipped to $5.4 million from the $7.6 million it reported during the same period last year, according to the company’s financial reports, released Dec. 8.     To date, the company has reported $15.4 million in total revenue for its 2010 financial year. IDC generated...