Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 11-10-09] International Datacasting Corp. (IDC) has entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire select product lines and related technology from Logic Innovations, a digital audio, video and data communications technology developer in San Diego, IDC announced Nov. 9.     IDC will seek to acquire transport stream multiplexing, IP multicasting and unicasting, ATSC, DVB,...

[Satellite TODAY 11-10-09] Dish Network Corp.’s 2009 third quarter revenues dropped 1.5 percent to $2.89 billion from $2.94 billion in the corresponding period of 2008, the pay-TV company announced Nov. 9.      Despite gaining about 241,000 net subscribers during the quarter, Dish Network’s net income dipped to $81 million from $92 million in the corresponding...

[Satellite TODAY 11-06-09] The DirecTV Group reported a 94 percent increase in its free cash flow to $643 Million in its 2009 third quarter results, released Nov. 5.     DirecTV’s total revenue, which includes DirecTV Latin Amerca, grew 10 percent to $5.47 billion in the quarter compared to 2008. In the United States, revenues increased...

[Satellite TODAY 11-06-09] Measat Satellite Systems signed an HD channel capacity deal to distribute the Food Network HD channel accross the Asia-Pacific region, the operator announced Nov. 5.     The operator will distribute Food Network,  lifestyle network, owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive, via the Measat-3a satellite.     “Given the remarkable success of the...

[Satellite TODAY 11-04-09] Dielectric Communications is launching a line of digital antennas and filters targeting low-power television (LPTV) broadcasters, the company announced Nov. 3.     The new product line aims to provide cost-effective solutions for LPTV broadcasters in advance of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) open filing window for digital LPTV stations and translators...

[Satellite TODAY 11-04-09] The Kudelski Group extended the expiration date of its tender offer to acquire OpenTV Corp. to Nov. 12, Kudelski announced.     The $215 million acquisition offer, initially announced Oct. 5, was set to expire Nov. 6.     Kudelski, which has been aggressively campaigning to convince OpenTV shareholders to approve the offer, decided...

[Satellite TODAY 11-02-09] The Kudelski Group urged shareholders of OpenTV Corp. to approve a proposed tender offer before it expires Nov. 6.     The letter, dated Oct. 30, is in regards to the Oct. 5 offer Kudelski made to acquire OpenTV for $215 million. In the letter, Kudelski also informed shareholders that it eliminated a...

Germany has proven to be a tough market for satellite pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland, formerly Premiere. The operator has been beset with problems throughout recent years, including widespread piracy and a scandal involving false subscriber figures which led to widespread change among executive ranks. The man now responsible for turning Sky Deutschland around is CEO...

The Internet and wireless communications have had a major impact on the consumption of video content. TV operators no longer can think of just offering services via a single device at a set time and now have to think about whether to extend into mobile and other delivery methods. Big-name operators such as France Telecom...

For years, high-definition TV (HDTV) was known as “tomorrow’s” technology within broadcasting circles. While standards mostly were set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the late 1980s and its technical feasibility was demonstrated decades ago when broadcasting was still in the age of analog transmissions, HDTV often was talked of as something that would...