Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite TODAY 08-24-09] Sirius XM is set to introduce XM SkyDock, a new accessory for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, which would turn the devices into a satellite radio, Rethink Wireless reported Aug. 21.     Sirius XM has confirmed that it will be holding a press event in New York Aug. 26 to announce...

[Satellite News 08-24-09] The Arab Advisors Group believes that free-to-air satellite TV advertising rates in the Arab region are low compared to other global markets due to the lack of an agreed-upon audience measuring system that diminishes the bargaining power of the popular TV stations.     In 2009, ad rates on free-to-air satellite channels in...

[Satellite TODAY 08-21-09] Envivio Inc. unveiled the latest product in its line of Convergence Series video encoders/transcoders — the 4Caster C4 HD, the company announced Aug. 19.     The unit provides telcos, IPTV service providers and broadcasters an increase in measurable video quality of as much as 35 percent over previous generations of Envivio encoders/transcoders...

[Satellite TODAY 08-18-09] International Datacasting Corp. (IDC) has acquired select product lines and related technology from San Diego-based broadcast company Comtech Tiernan Video (Tiernan) for more than $2 million in a cash transaction that closed Aug. 17, IDC announced.             Tiernan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., will be handing over its radio and...

[Satellite TODAY 08-19-09] FreeHD Canada Inc., a satellite television company, has filed applications with the Canadian Radio,Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to provide a Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite television service and wholesale programming distribution service for Canadian programmers, the company announced Aug. 18.     FreeHD Canada said it expects to commence operations early in 2011, in...

[Satellite News 08-19-09] The Tiernan Video product line, which has a long history in the broadcast community, has traded hands to another new owner — International Datacasting Corp. (IDC). The Ottawa-based hardware and software manufacturer acquired a total of 20 select product lines and related technology, including the Legacy Comstream line, from Comtech Telecommunication for...

[Satellite TODAY 08-17-09] Australian DTH operator Foxtel had 125,000 subscribers for its HD service in Australia at the end of June, according to the operator’s full year results, released Aug. 13.     Foxtel launched its HD service in June 2008, and the adoption of the service has been slower than expected, the company said. Foxtel...

[Satellite TODAY 08-17-09] National Polish media group TVN has appointed Markus Tellenbach group president and CEO, the broadcaster announced Aug. 13.      Tellenbach starts his new role in September.      Separately, TVN said in its 2009 second quarter results that its DTH operation had 683,000 subscribers at the end of June. TVN competes against Polish...

[Satellite News 08-17-09] Recent Indian DTH subscriber growth, may be offset in the long-term by excessive market regulation, said Vivek Couto, executive director of regional pay-TV analyst firm Media Partners Asia (MPA).     Couto told Satellite News that despite Indian DTH operators adding around 3.5 million net subscribers in the first half of 2009, current...

[Satellite TODAY 08-14-09] Sirius XM Radio has offered $250 million in senior secured notes due 2015, in an attempt to raise funds, the company announced Aug. 13.     The company said it would use the net proceeds from the offering to repay certain indebtedness incurred under its credit agreement with Liberty Media Corp, which issued...