Focus: Broadcasting

[Via Satellite 01-08-2015] SES’ Astra 2G satellite, launched Dec. 27 aboard a Proton rocket from International Launch Services (ILS), reached Geostationary Orbit (GEO) on Jan. 2, 2015. The satellite’s manufacturer, Airbus Defence and Space reported the solar arrays and reflector antennas have been deployed and the satellite has acquired final Earth point. Located at 28.2/28.5...

[Via Satellite 01-06-2015] KVH Industries has released a low-profile five-inch high satellite TV antenna for vehicles with height restrictions such as luxury SUVs, family minivans, charter coaches, and emergency vehicles. The TracVision A9 antenna can track DirecTV and Dish satellites for access to television content across the continental United States. The device is integrated with...

[Via Satellite 01-06-2015] Dish Network announced the launch of its first Ultra-HD Set-Top Box (STB). Named the 4K Joey, the unit is designed to easily integrate with Dish’s Hopper Whole Home HD Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system. The Dish 4K Joey is dedicated hardware for Ultra-HD that will be compatible with all HDMI 2.0/ HDCP...

[Via Satellite 01-05-2015] Broadcom announced a new low-power satellite device in its Outdoor Unit (ODU) portfolio. The BCM4554 adds support for up to 32 resident Set-Top Boxes (STBs) on a single coaxial cable within a multiple dwelling unit, enabling operators to deliver additional services to more subscribers without requiring new satellite dish installations. These offerings also...

[Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Starting Jan. 1, 2015 Al-Jazeera Media Network plans to begin broadcasting on the Es’hail 1 satellite, owned by Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat, to reach the full Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The formal switch follows a year of successful dual illumination using Es’hail 1 satellite capacity and uplink facilities. Al-Jazeera...

[Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Huawei and China Telecom Sichuan have developed a commercial 4K Ultra-HD iTV network service in China, which was released today. The 4K network is the culmination of a partnership that began three years ago. The two companies are using H.265 video coding and have created a smart Set Top Box (STB) to...

[Via Satellite 12-30-2014] The Rostelecom board of directors has approved a new joint venture with the cable and satellite pay-TV producer All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK). The joint venture merges Rostelecom’s subsidiary NKS-Media with VGTRK’s Digital Television. To facilitate the merger, Digital Television will carry out an additional share issue by private...

[Via Satellite 12-26-2014] Australia’s remote connectivity needs are fueling growth for domestic satellite operator Optus Satellite. The company’s latest satellite, Optus 10, began commercial service this month following a Sept. 11 Ariane 5 launch. Optus Satellite Vice President Paul Sheridan told Via Satellite that demand for telecommunications and broadcasting in and around Australia propelled the...

[Via Satellite 12-23-2014] Broadcom, a semi-conductor manufacturer for wired and wireless communications has combined a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with a satellite Outdoor Unit (ODU), enabling pay-TV operators to geo-lock content to subscribers. The company hopes the new product, which took roughly a year to complete, will reduce the theft of premium video...

[Via Satellite 12-19-2014] The 4K market will begin in earnest in 2016. This is the view of the Michael Inouye, a research analyst at ABI Research who looks in-depth at pay-TV markets around the world. Inouye believes the nascent 4K market will expand and likely by the 2018-2020 timeframe in some markets, begin to stand...