Focus: Broadcasting

[Via Satellite 08-20-2015] DirecTV, now part of AT&T, is offering a new Set Top Box (STB), the 4K Genie Mini, to expand the number of customers who can access 4K movies without a “DirecTV ready” 4K TV. The new STB offers full Genie and 4K capability, and also supports Dolby Digital Plus audio decoding. DirecTV...

[Via Satellite 08-19-2015] German media production company in satellite-based live broadcasting, rt1.tv production GmbH, has invested in Riedel Communications’ MediorNet real-time media network and Artist digital matrix intercom system for its new OB van and three Digital Satellite Newsgathering (DSNG) vehicles. Rt1.tv has integrated 13 MediorNet Compact Pro frames, one Artist 128 mainframe, and more...

[Via Satellite 08-10-2015] Japan-based Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) intends to ramp up its progress toward 4K and 8K transmissions when its newest satellite, BSAT 4a, comes online. The operator purchased the satellite from Space Systems Loral (SSL) earlier this month to replace BSAT 3a. “BSAT 4a has an important role of maintaining the current...

[Via Satellite 08-05-2015] German broadcaster Deutsche Welle has signed a new long-term capacity agreement on three SES satellites to broadcast two channels in Eastern Europe and Africa. The company will be broadcasting its German-language TV channel DW using SES’ Astra 4A satellite to reach more than 6 million Direct-to-Home (DTH) households in Eastern Europe and...

[Via Satellite 08-04-2015] Hispasat has reached an agreement with British teleport owners Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) to provide television distribution services across Europe. A transponder from the Hispasat 1E satellite will provide the capacity contracted over the next three years, which will be transmitted by means of one of the teleport antennas. The entire process...

[Via Satellite 07-31-2015] Digital TV operator StarTimes has entered an agreement with SES subsidiary SES Platform Services for Direct-to-Home (DTH) distribution services for subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Under the new multi-year agreement, SES Platform Services will be providing signal turnaround, video processing, and uplinking services for StarTimes’ SD and HD channels. StarTimes is a Chinese...

[Via Satellite 07-27-2015] Pay-TV service provider Media Networks is shifting its focus primarily to HD, 4K and expanding the reach of television beyond the home. The company has close to 80 HD channels in Brazil and almost another 80 HD channels in the rest of Latin America. Going forward, the intention is to double the...

[Via Satellite 07-27-2015] Telefonica Business Solutions, through its wholesale business unit, has launched a new Internet service for satellite video transmission in Ka-band through Media Networks’ platform (a part of Telefonica). This service was used during Mexico’s federal elections last June and in the FIFA Copa America 2015 held recently in Chile. In both cases,...

[Via Satellite 07-22-2015] Synacor announced a major partnership with Siemens Convergence Creators and EveMeta to further propel Over-The-Top (OTT) video distribution. The company integrated its search and discovery, cloud ID authentication, streaming linear TV technology, and consumer experiences services with Siemens OTT Swipe Business Management Systems (BMS) and EveMeta’s encoding capabilities. Together, the partnership supports...

[Via Satellite 07-20-2015] SES announced it has initiated a live and linear Ultra-HD trial with cable Multiple System Operator (MSO) Armstrong. From its headquarters cable lab in Butler, Pa., Armstrong is testing SES’s camera-to-screen Ultra-HD ecosystem first unveiled in April 2015. SES’ solution combines broadcast and IP technologies in a fully managed, scalable service. The...