Latest News

U.K.-based ViewAfrica Network and ViewAsia Network have launched a pair of regional platforms using the Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 10 satellites, Intelsat announced March 5. ViewAfrica is distributing a free-to-air programming bouquet to sub-Saharan countries, focusing specifically on direct-to-home services in South Africa and Nigeria. ViewAsia is distributing its programming into cable headends in Asia.

The U.S. Air Force Feb. 28 awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. for launch services. Lockheed Martin is being awarded a $108 million contract under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program to launch the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)-1 satellite in February 2009 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket. Boeing was awarded a...

The European Space Agency has released the technical details of the signals transmitted by the first Galileo test satellite, allowing receiver manufacturers and research institutions to use a real signal for research and development, the agency announced March 2. The Galileo In Orbit Validation Elements-A (GIOVE-A) test satellite, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., began...

SES Americom deorbited the Satcom C-4 satellite, the company announced March 2. The spacecraft, built by GE Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin) and was placed into orbit in August 1992 to provide C-band services to cable programmers in the United States. Satcom C-4 was replaced by the AMC-10 and AMC-11 satellites in 2004 and provided...

JSAT and direct-to-home operator Sky Perfect will join forces in the Japanese pay-TV market, the companies announced March 2. The two companies have formed a holding company, Sky Perfect JSAT, that is intended to put satellite in a better position to compete against other digital TV alternatives in Japan. The new company plans to roll...

Nearly two weeks after XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio announced their plans for a merger, XM sought to assure existing subscribers and future consumers that its service would not suffer if the planned merger takes place. In a March 2 letter in USA Today and signed by XM Chairman Gary Parsons, CEO Hugh...

EchoStar Communications Corp. reported revenue of $9.8 billion in 2006, up from $8.5 billion in 2005, the company announced March 1. Profits slipped from $1.5 billion in 2005 to $608 million in 2006. Earnings in 2006 benefited from $593 million in tax benefits and a $134 million gain related to the settlement of EchoStar-4 satellite...

Boeing Co. completed a critical design review of its family of advanced beyond-line-of-sight terminals (FAB-T) program, the company announced March 1. The review — attended by senior U.S. Air Force, government and industry officials in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 13 through 16 — demonstrated that the program’s requirements are well defined and understood. The review follows...

GIT Satellite and Iridium Satellite will provide communications for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which begins March 4. GIT Satellite will donate a complete complement of Iridium equipment, airtime, and data-enabling kits to be used to communicate with remote outposts along the 1,049-mile route from Anchorage to Nome, the company announced. "Most of the Iditarod...

Ascent Media Network Services has appointed Wee Way Kiat managing director of its Asian business, the company announced March 1. Wee, who will be based in Singapore, will have operational, strategic and financial responsibility for network origination and connectivity services in the region. He previously served as managing director for ST Teleport.