Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite Today 07-01-09] SES Astra signed a transponder deal with BSkyB to provide 24 transponders on a long-term basis at Astra’s 28.2 degrees East orbital position, SES announced June 30.     BSkyB has more than 9 million subscribers and more than 1 million subscribers t its high-definition services in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In...

[Satellite Today 07-01-09] Eutelsat has launched Fransat, a satellite service providing access in metropolitan France to all free digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels, Eutelsat announced June 29.     The service, based on Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird 3 satellite, offers access to 18 free DTT channels, plus France Ô and four high-definition channels. It is a subscription-free...

[Satellite Today 07-01-09] Prime Time Communications, a provider of integrated IP-based services, and Amino Communications, an IPTV entertainment solutions provider, have completed an MPEG-4 upgrade program to deliver expanded high-definition services to their customers in Utah, Prime Time announced June 29.      Prime Time, which offers IP-based services to more than 10,000 subscribers, said it...

Microsoft and Sky Television signing a deal for users in the United Kingdom and Ireland to watch BSkyB satellite TV via an application on Xbox 360 video game consoles created a fairly big stir in the media, as will happen when the name "Microsoft" is attached. Sky Player will be launched this fall with live...

[Satellite Today 07-01-09] Pace appointed Scott Sheldon as its first chief strategy officer, the company announced June 29.     Sheldon will be responsible for development of a strategy in the global market for digital TV technology.     Previously, Sheldon served at N.M. Rothschild & Sons, where he was a director and global head of technology...

Demand for communications and other services helped drive a strong 2008 performance for the satellite sector. Via Satellite takes a closer look at developments that shaped the business and how some of those factors, such as long-term contracts and increased demand, will help keep satellite players in the black through a tougher economic climate. Global...

[Satellite News 06-30-09] BSkyB CEO Jeremy Darroch reacted furiously to the news that a consultation from U.K. telecoms regulator Ofcom revealed that the agency might take action to offer Sky’s premium content at better wholesale prices to Sky’s competitors in an attempt to even out the market.     Ofcom “defies belief that it expects Sky...

[Satellite Today 06-30-09] Microsoft has signed a strategic partnership deal with French broadcaster Canal Plus to bring pay-TV content to Xbox users in France, Microsoft announced June 29. There are 1 million Xbox 360 users in France, while Canal Plus’ Canalsat direct-to-home platform has more than 5 million subscribers.     The partnership initially will involve...

[Satellite Today 06-30-09] DirecTV and Dish Network applauded a unanimous decision by the Kentucky State Supreme Court to strike down a Kentucky law allowing local governments to tax satellite TV, according to a joint statement by the companies released June 29.     “The decision is a resounding affirmation of federal law that was designed to...

[Satellite Today 06-26-09] BT Media & Broadcast signed a deal with CET Teleport to extend its Global Media Network (GMN) reach using satellite, BT announced June 24.     The deal enables media and broadcast organizations located in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Central and Northeast Asia to deliver and exchange large bandwidth content such...