Focus: Broadcasting

[Satellite Today – 6-30-08] CETel and strategic partner Arabsat are offering DVB-S2 services on Arabsat-2B in C-Band, the companies announced June 30.     The service is designed to serve CETel’s growing customers demand in the Gulf region, Middle East and African markets. "We trust this major breakthrough will pave the way for a whole new...

[Satellite Today – 6-30-08] Sirius Satellite Radio expects to achieve synergies of about $400 million in 2009 if its merger with XM Satellite Radio is approved, Sirius announced June 30.     The company also expects to report earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of about $300 million and to achieve positive free cash...

[Satellite Today – 6-30-08] Euronews has signed with SatLink Communications a deal that will improve distribution of Euronews in key markets in Asia, the company announced June 30.     SatLink will transmit Euronews’ seven-language, 24-hour news channel on SatLink’s AsiaSat 2 multiple channels per carrier (MCPC) digital platform. AsiaSat 2 is located at 100.5° East,...

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] Gateway Broadcast Services is on track to reach its target of 100,000 subscribers in its first year of operation for its GTV direct-to-home (DTH) platform.     The operator launched the DTH service in July 2007, targeting Africa’s burgeoning middle classes. “We are not quite at the 12-month point yet, but we...

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] BSkyB reached an agreement with BT regarding support for BSkyB’s Sky Talk telephony service, BT said June 25.     BT will provide BSkyB with a wholesale voice service to support call services to its 1.1 million Sky Talk customers, and the three-year deal will support the further expansion of Sky Talk,...

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] Foxtel, which has launched high-definition (HD) services in Australia, signed a significant new content deal with the BBC, Foxtel announced June 26.     Under the agreement with BBC Worldwide, Foxtel’s direct-to-home subscriber base will have access an extensive range of BBC channels, including BBC HD, which will be launched in June....

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] SES Astra will begin broadcasting public channel Arte in high definition (HD) July 1, the satellite operator announced.     The channel will be broadcast from Astra’s orbital position at 19.2° East using existing and previously contracted digital capacity. This will bring the number of HD channels distributed on Astra to 35,...

[Satellite Today – 8-25-08] Antenna Technology Communications Inc. (ATCi), has integrated a complete flyaway broadcast system for Kuwait’s HNDC, ATCi announced.     ATCi customized and integrated the package to meet HNDC’s unique requirements, providing a motorized satellite newsgathering 1.2-meter antenna-based turn-key system that is configured to be vehicle mounted.     HNDC will lease the system...

[Satellite Today – 3-24-08] Kudelski Group will upgrade the conditional access system for France’s Canal+ Group, Kudelski announced June 23.     Under the deal, Canal+ will replace the smart cards for more than 3 million subscribers to its Canal+ Le Bouquet and Canalsat services with Kudelski’s Nagravision conditional access system.     “Even though the current...

[Satellite Today – 3-24-08] The Measat-3A satellite will be launched aboard a Land Launch rocket Aug. 21, Measat Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. announced.     Measat-3a, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., will be co-located with Measat-3 at 91.5° East and carry 12 C-band transponders providing coverage across a region bounded by Africa and Eastern Europe in...