Focus: Broadcasting

[Via Satellite 06-27-2014] Intelsat signed a 15-year agreement with Encompass Digital Media for capacity on Intelsat 34, one of the operator’s prime video neighborhoods serving the Latin American market, set to launch in late 2015. Encompass will transition from Intelsat 805 at 304.5 degrees east, where it will be replaced by Intelsat 34. The company...

[Via Satellite 06-26-2014] Millicom, owner of the Tigo brand, has set its sights on Latin America as a top growth market. The company has been aggressively expanding across the region and now operates pay-TV services in six countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay under the brand Tigo Star. Once Millicom’s Colombian...

[Via Satellite 06-25-2014] AT&T President and CEO Randall Stephenson and DirecTV Chairman and CEO Michael White presented before Congress on June 24, 2014, to explain their desire to merge into a single company. The executives argued that their companies today lack significant competitive overlap with each other, and that the combined company, with 26 million...

[Via Satellite 06-24-2014] Telenor Group selected Ragnar Kårhus as the new CEO of Telenor Broadcast Holding and Canal Digital, replacing Patrik Hofbauer, who was recently appointed CEO of Telenor Sweden. The decision becomes effective Aug. 1, 2014. Kårhus’ experience includes positions as CEO of Telenor Norway and SVP in Telenor’s group industrial development. He joined...

[Via Satellite 06-23-2014] SAT Corporation, a subsidiary of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, provided a global satellite operator with Carrier Identification (Carrier ID) technology for its ground network to assist in identifying and combating Radio Frequency (RF) interference. Carrier ID ultimately helped the operator assure quality service as global broadcast demands increased for the World...

[Via Satellite 06-20-2014] The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) contracted additional capacity on SES’ Astra satellite at 28.2 degrees east for the duration between the 2014 Wimbledon Tennis Championships and Glastonbury Festival, beginning in late June, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, ending Aug. 3, 2014. This capacity will be used to broadcast High Definition (HD) and...

[Via Satellite 06-20-2014] Mobile Viewpoint introduced a new software-only solution for Apple laptops and desktop computers to its family of encoders. The new application allows Mobile Viewpoint’s bonding technology to be used on any computer. Mobile Viewpoint can use all available network connections on the computer for bonding, and live video is handled by BlackMagic...

[Via Satellite 06-20-14] Thaicom installed more than 30 Newtec M6100 broadcast satellite modulators on the platform for the Thaicom 6 satellite, allowing the spacecraft to provide television broadcasting in C-band and Ku-band. Along with the modulators, Thaicom installed Newtec’s Automated Equalink technology, which provides space capacity savings by allowing broadcasters to gain up to 10...

[Via Satellite 06-20-2014] Teledyne Paradise Datacom, a subsidiary of Teledyne Microwave Solutions, launched a new broadcast satellite modem/modulator solution for Asynchronous Serial Interface (ASI) and Internet Protocol (IP) Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) video broadcasts. This Q-Flex 5 solution provides broadcasters with a “single-box” modem and modulator solution for Ultra-High Definition television (Ultra-HD TV), Direct-to-Home (DTH),...

[Via Satellite 06-19-2014] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) signed an agreement with Signalhorn to use the company’s technical center in Leuk, Switzerland as part the infrastructure for its broadcasting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The EBU will deliver the 64 matches in High Definition (HD), as well as all 4K broadcasts of the games...