Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 11-30-09] Solaris Mobile started a major hybrid satellite and cellular network trial in Paris with the help of its project collaborators Alcatel-Lucent and TowerCast, Solaris announced Nov. 27.      The network aims to demonstrate the broadcast of TV and radio services to phones, other handheld devices and cars. The network will be trialed...

[Satellite TODAY 11-26-09] DirecTV, which split off from its parent company Liberty Media on Nov. 19, is not for sale, according to Chairman John Malone.     Malone was featured in an interview with CNBC to silence industry rumors that the split with Liberty was initiated in order to sell DirecTV to AT&T or Verizon.    ...

[Satellite TODAY 11-24-09] NDS has been contracted by MYtv to power a new hybrid pay-TV service in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for launch across Eastern Europe in late 2009, NDS announced Nov. 23.      NDS will provide its MediaHighway set-top box software along with professional services and other end-to-end solution solution for MYtv’s...

[Satellite News 11-25-09] Eutelsat’s decision to team up with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) to co-locate the Eurobird 4 satellite at 75 degrees East with ABS-1 and ABS-1A puts Eutelsat a step farther eEast on the global coverage map and creates new opportunities for the operator to compete, according to industry analysts and exectives.     The...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-09] DirecTV Group chairman John Malone has not ruled out selling the company to AT&T or Verizon Communications and believes the two phone companies have strong ties to the company’s business model, according to a Bloomberg News report, released Nov. 19.     “Our relationship will continue to broaden and intensify. It may lead...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-09] AsiaSat has won a contract from East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited to supply satellite capacity on AsiaSat 3S for live television coverage of the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games (EAG), the company announced Nov. 20.     AsiaSat 3S will be exclusively used to distribute television feeds of the 2009 EAG...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-09] Pace Networks won a contract from Quadriga Worldwide to provide its MultiDweller satellite pay-TV solution to Quadriga’s hotel industry business partners, the company announced Nov. 19.     Hotels associated with Quadriga will implement the MultiDweller TV portal in their guest rooms. The deal follows Pace contract wins with Canal Digital, a pay-TV...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-09] Tahiti Nui Satellite (TNS) has selected Thomson to supply satellite MPEG-4 HD set-top box technology to support the launch of TNS’ high-definition broadcast service in the 2009 fourth quarter, Thomson announced Nov. 19.     Thomson will supply its DSI2110 set-top box, part of its HD zapper product line, to allow TNS subscribers...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-09] A Chinese government  inquiry concluded that a burn-through of its Long March rocket engine’s upper-stage gas generator was the primary cause of its failure to place Indonesia’s Palapa-D into proper orbit, Chinese government officials announced Nov. 19.     The inquiry determined  that foreign matter or humidity-caused icing in the engine’s liquid-hydrogen injectors...

[Satellite TODAY 11-20-09] The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee has passed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), according to Senate reports released Nov. 19.     STELA, the committee’s version of the satellite reauthorization bill, extends licenses for satellite operators to carry out-of-market network TV station signals for viewers who are unable to receive them...