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| Legal: Venezuela Bans “Family Guy”; Long Day at the Portals: Broadband Into the Night |
Venezuela Bans “Family Guy”
Venezuela has banned Fox’s “Family Guy” cartoon with authorities threatening to punish TV stations if they keep broadcasting episodes of the show. Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami says the show should be banned because it promotes the use of marijuana. According to El Aissmi, cable stations that refuse to dump the show will be fined. •
Long Day at the Portals: Broadband Into the Night
At presstime, the FCC was still meeting in a marathon review of the so-called National Broadband Plan. The emphasis seemed to shift a bit as more and more data (real or not) becomes available. Almost 41,000 pages of written comments have flooded the FCC. Pew Research data showing that a third of homes with broadband available have not opted online in a fast way dominated much of the early discussion. Stay tuned ... •
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| 30 Sep 2009 - 07:23 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Austar to Go HD |
Australia's Austar service says it will launch its next generation service, MyStar HD, on November 15. To be launched in two stages, the new service will initially provide 15 new SD channels, 8 new timeshift channels and the 13 HD channels. Further improvements in early 2010 will include an on-demand service, a broadband-enabled catch-up TV service, interactive service enhancements plus further SD and HD channels.
Said Austar CEO John Porter, “We believe that AUSTAR HD is a world class product, not only in terms of the quality of the channels being broadcast in HD, but also in terms of our value for money pricing approach. For only an incremental $5 per month, MyStar HD customers will be able to access whatever HD channels are available in the tiers they already purchase.” •
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| 30 Sep 2009 - 07:19 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Iridium Returns to the Market |
Iridium Holdings, which flamed out in the late 1990s, is poised to return to the stock market. Via a reverse takeover which values the company at $560 million, Iridium has been acquired by GHL Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company affiliated with U.S. investment bank Greenhill & Co.. GHL has added $400 million in cash to Iridium’s coffers plus it plans to raise an addition $160 million through a share offering. The money will go toward financing the construction and launch of Iridium’s new satellite array, which is estimated to cost $2.7 billion.
The agreement will take the newly renamed Iridium Communications onto the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Said GHL Acquisition CEO Scott L Bok when the merger was announced, "Iridium is the fastest-growing full-service voice and data MSS provider and one of only a handful of major players in its industry, which has significant barriers to entry."
Iridium was originally envisioned as the basis of a worldwide mobile phone network, but the advent of improved and far less expensive cell technology derailed that business model. Today Iridium specializes in communications for maritime, forestry and oil refinery industries. In addition, 20% of the company’s business comes from the US military.
Iridium Communications will face fierce competition in the growing mobile satellite services market. •
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| 30 Sep 2009 - 07:19 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Over There: EchoStar in India, the BBC, Hockey in Russia, Poland's Mobile TV and MTV Germany |
• According to sources in India, EchoStar Corp. is sniffing around the market with an eye to gaining traction in the Indian DTH biz. The company's current interests in India include an engineering facility in Bangalore for Sling Media. Marc Lumpkin, a spokesman for EchoStar Corp. said there have been no announcements about “other potential opportunities for launching a DTH service” in India.
• The BBC is launching a new Red Button interactive service for pre-school channel CBeebies; it follows the launch of the CBeebies iPlayer. The interactive area is designed to reflect the mood and needs of children throughout the day using games and content based around popular programs like "The Night Garden" and "Green Balloon Club."
• Get that puck ready, a hockey channel is coming to Russia. CHL-TV will be run by the DTH platform NTV-Plus and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). CHL-TV will be run differently from the model used for the NHL Network. The channel will make all revenues from advertising and not on fees for the rights to broadcast matches as the NHL does. (But still no hockey at DIRECTV as Versus is still dark.)
• Poland’s first mobile TV service is expected to officially make its debut today (September 29).
• MTV Networks Germany and the sports broadcaster DSF are talking to SES Astra about joining the HD+ platform. The HD+ platform is set to launch Nov. 1st with RTL HD and Vox HD. They'll be followed by three channels from ProSiebenSat.1 to launch in January of next year. •
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| 29 Sep 2009 - 09:56 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Another Buyer for DIRECTV? |
We’ve been hearing for quite some time about the odds for an AT&T purchase of DIRECTV. But the big T isn’t the only game in town. Now speculation is surfacing about a Verizon bid for the DIRECTV Group. Noting comments from Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg about bundling video and wireless services, Saturday’s Wall Street Journal promptly nominated DIRECTV as VZ’s best bet. The No. 1 DBS service could bring Verizon both the bulk needed to beat down programming costs and national marketing synergies to couple with Verizon’s increasingly important wireless service.
Add to that a spate of recent press releases touting rollouts of Verizon’s “fast, affordable, DSL-enabled high speed internet service” in various locales plus releases on the great savings offered by a Verizon voice, data and DIRECTV video bundle and well ... we bet Dr. John Malone is getting some mighty interesting phone calls lately.•
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| 28 Sep 2009 - 06:40 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| EchoStar Seeks $1.1 Billion in Stimulus Funds |
Never one to think small, EchoStar Corp. has gone all out in seeking funds from the federal government’s broadband stimulus program.
In its latest proposal, EchoStar has teamed up with ViaSat in a satellite broadband project seeking $483 million in stimulus funds from the fed. According to reports in the Denver Business Journal, the project would build and launch a new satellite which would provide download speeds of up to 8 megabits per second in all or parts of 20 states west of the Mississippi River.
That makes at least three projects, seeking a combined $1.1 billion, which EchoStar and its partners have proposed for the government’s broadband stimulus program. Other projects include EchoBlue Rural, a partnership with WildBlue Communications, and a proposal to provide broadband from existing EchoStar satellites used for the DISH Network.•
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| 28 Sep 2009 - 06:40 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Technology: High-Speed In-Flight Internet; Verizon’s LTE Plans; VoIP Downer |
• Coming as early as 2010: An ultra-high-speed, Ka-band satellite-based airborne Internet solution. That’s according to LiveTV CEO Nate Quigley who cites several Ka-band sats set to launch and hints at an offering in the near future.. Since LiveTV is a subsidiary of JetBlue, where do you think this service might surface first?
• Tony Melone, SVP and CTO of Verizon Wireless, confirmed the company’s plan to launch its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network at the 2009 PCIA Wireless Infrastructure Show. Verizon plans to launch its LTE in 25-30 markets in 2010 while planning to deploy the 4G technology through its nationwide 3G network by year-end 2013.
• And this from the network convergence crowd: VON editor, Tara Seals, said she believes the industry is about to begin a phase of “post VoIP communications,” as VoIP technology becomes “irrelevant.”
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| 24 Sep 2009 - 07:09 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| NSR Sees Revenue Jump for Satellite Ops |
Look for satellite operator revenues to jump by 50% to $13.8 billion by 2018.
So says NSR's latest report – Global Assessment of Satellite Supply & Demand, 6th Edition. After a very good year in 2008, NSR says, "Most satellite operators have yet to report any substantial damage from the global economic crisis and, assuming recovery is solidly in place by the end of 2009, it appears that they will largely escape unscathed."
The report also predicts that as businesses re-launch delayed spending investments there will likely be a spike in demand for 2010 and 2011. Overall NSR expects commercial C-, Ku- and Ka-band transponder demand to increase at the average annual rate of 2.2% and reach more than 6,370 TPEs (36 MHz transponder equivalents) in the next ten years. •
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| 24 Sep 2009 - 07:09 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| A Bad Day for DIRECTV |
Some days you just can’t win and Tuesday was definitely one of those for DIRECTV. While rival DISH enjoyed an up-day (see yesterday’s Evening BRIDGE), DIRECTV took a double-whammy from its NFL Sunday Ticket woes plus a consumer lawsuit over allegedly illegal early cancellation penalties.
As reported yesterday, numerous NFL Sunday Ticket fans found their TVs festooned with error messages rather than football players this past weekend ... and one New York Times blogger attributed the problem to the DBS leader’s decision to no longer broadcast Sunday Ticket games via MPEG 2, preferring to keep them to the newer MPEG 4 format. It amounts, said the blogger, to a “blackout policy” on subscribers with older equipment.
Meanwhile, news broke on a lawsuit filed by California consumers who say they’re being charged “early cancellation penalties” which DIRECTV has deducted automatically from their bank accounts or charged to their credit cards without permission. A motion for a preliminary injunction filed in Los Angeles Superior Court claims that DIRECTV “systematically withdrawing the fees of up to $480” when customers terminate their service.
Said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the non-profit Consumer Watchdog, one of the attorneys in the case in a press release, "These days, many families are struggling to make ends meet. Now is the last time DIRECTV should be plundering people's financial accounts to pay a fee that we believe is unlawful."
Similar lawsuits have reportedly been filed in federal courts, including in California.
Said a DIRECTV spokesperson on the controversy: "Contrary to the statement in the press release, DIRECTV does not withdraw money from its customers’ bank accounts or credit cards without their consent. DIRECTV only charges an early cancellation fee to a customer's credit or debit card after the customer authorizes the charge so there is nothing for the Court to enjoin. Customers are informed of and consent to these charges on multiple occasions, and DIRECTV intends to vigorously defend against these claims in this litigation."
As for the NFL Sunday Ticket, DIRECTV pinned the problem on older receivers whose program guides have limited memory capacity. Said a spokesperson, "We have to minimize the number of titles available in the guide, including some sports subscription titles, in order to keep these receivers running smoothly. This issue has only affected less than 10% of our customer base and we are working quickly to upgrade these older receivers, at no cost, to mitigate any future problems."
The company also notes that NFL games continue to be broadcast in standard def via MPEG 2.•
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| 23 Sep 2009 - 10:49 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| It's a First! Swiss Satellite In Space — This Cube Isn't Cheese |
It's official — The date of the first ever Swisscube satellite launch is planned for next Wednesday September 23 according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO); liftoff is expected at 8:23 a.m., Swiss time.
A celebration at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne will include all institutions, private partners, students and researchers who collaborated to make this “Swiss first” happen.
Switzerland's first satellite, named SwissCube, will travel on the PSLV (C14 mission) from Satish Dhawan Center near Chennai. This picosatellite (10x10x10 cm3, 1 kg) has been developed at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland in collaboration with several other swiss engineering schools, universities and private industry; the University of Neuchâtel and five universities of applied sciences in western and German-speaking Switzerland. RUAG Space provided extensive support to the students during the construction of the satellite. About 200 students participated in the elaboration, fabrication and tests of the satellite.
The SwissCube has been designed mostly in the framework of undergraduate semester and master projects. Students learned systems engineering and concurrent design, and have been responsible for delivering on time and on budget complex sub-systems whose correct operation is essential to the success of the mission. During its development, several new technologies could be investigated, tested and for the ones ready, integrated in the flight satellite.
As main sponsor of the SwissCube project, RUAG Space not only supported the construction of the satellite financially, their experts at Switzerland's space company also provided the young engineers with advice and hands-on assistance during the project. RUAG engineers advised the students among other things on the design of the satellite structure and the electronics for the flight control system (avionics). Numerous tests were also conducted on the satellite at RUAG's Emmen and Nyon sites.
"SwissCube is an excellent example of how universities and industry can cooperate to their mutual benefit," states Axel Deich, Head of RUAG Space Switzerland. "The project gave the students an opportunity to gather industrial experience which will be of great value in their professional future," Deich continues. "And Swiss Industry too will ultimately benefit: four of the young engineers involved in building the Swiss satellite have meanwhile been taken on by RUAG Space as full-time employees."
The SwissCube scientific mission will focus on the observation of the airglow phenomena, a photoluminescence of the atmosphere occurring at approximately 100 km altitude. The objectives are thus to observe oxygen emission in order to characterize the airglow intensity as a function of the observation angle, the altitude, the latitude and the local time. The minimum science duration is 3 months, with an extended science mission of duration up to one year. This project further validates the successful collaboration between India and Switzerland.
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| 22 Sep 2009 - 06:11 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Programming: WWE, Leno plus International Entries |
World Wrestling Entertainment COO Donna Goldsmith told an investor's conference in New York that WWE is considering expanding their current weekly TV offerings to add another hour or two hours of programming.
Lots and lots of chatter lately about how Jay Leno is re-defining broadcast TV. Typical of the comment is this from Ad Age: “Mr. Leno symbolizes the new and heartbreaking reality of broadcast-network TV: Large numbers of viewers are moving from big, broad media venues to those that are more personalized, and often found online.” That, Ad Age says, means more cheap, live entertainment and fewer (and fewer) scripted series.
On the international front: A new pay TV company (Remember TV Africa) has officially launched operations in Kenya today. The Serbian station TV Sports Arena is aiming to develop into a pan-regional sports broadcaster. And finally, partners Setanta and TV3 decided to reduce their DTT consortium holdings to 10% leaving Arqiva and Eircom to take increased stakes.•
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| 22 Sep 2009 - 06:04 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV: Pissing Off Sports Fans |
If you could win an Emmy for pissing off sports fans, DIRECTV would be a shoo-in. First came the dust-up with Comcast’s Versus which has left many a couch-bound athlete fuming. (And yes, we certainly understand the problem of just how much Comcast is demanding in fees but that doesn’t mollify a lot of fans.)
Then this past weekend, some NFL Sunday Ticket customers found error codes flashing on the screen instead of their games. That in turn caused big backups on DIRECTV’s phone and Twitter lines, a slew of helplessly flailing CSRs and some pretty hot customers.
Said a DIRECTV spokesperson on the to-do: “We had higher than expected call volume from customers who were attempting to activate the service following the free preview last weekend and that slowed the systems down. Once we identified the issue, we took corrective action and all affected customers were able to watch their games in HD.”•
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| 22 Sep 2009 - 06:04 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Industry: NASDAQ warns Sirius; FCC/TV Alert: Genachowski on Net Neutrality |
NASDAQ Warns Sirius
More trouble at Sirius XM Satellite radio as late last week the company disclosed that it has received a notice that it is out of compliance with NASDAQ listing rules. (That happens after the stock closes below $1 for 30 consecutive business days.)
Sirius has until March 15, 2010 to right its ship. According to Barrons, that could mean a reverse stock split for shareholders. How big a split? Anywhere between 1-for-10 to 1-for-50.
Sirius closed Friday at $0.68, somewhat better than midway in its 52-week range.
FCC/TV Alert: Genachowski on Net Neutrality
Watch for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski speaking at the Brookings Institution this a.m. Expect Genachowski to set out his road map to codify into FCC regulations "net neutrality" promises made during the Presidential campaign. For more information, and a list of Genachowski’s likely proposals, check out this morning’s Morning BRIDGE.•
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| 21 Sep 2009 - 09:46 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Programming Notes: Comedy Central and MTV |
• After nine million watched the VMA's (Video Music Awards), it looks like award shows are back in vogue. Recent news says Comedy Central and Emmy producer Don Mishcer are partnering to bring back "American Comedy Awards" to show on Comedy Central in 2010. The Comedy Awards ran on ABC from 1985 to 2000; in 2001 Comedy Central aired it. However after a nine year break, will it be a hit?
• Speaking of MTV Networks (those music awards), the net has ordered a scripted series about an unemployed actor who tries to reclaim fame by appearing on a celebrity reality show. Called "Warren the Ape," Warren (the puppet), appears on a fictional reality TV show, much like the ones shown on sister network VH1. Gee.•
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| 18 Sep 2009 - 06:33 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Satellite: Nimiq 5 Takes Off With DISH Double Down; Inmarsat Hits 3200 in Maritime Segment |
Nimiq 5 Takes Off With DISH Double Down
Telesat’s Nimiq 5 satellite successfully lifted off yesterday afternoon on a Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Prior to launch, EchoStar Corp. upped its capacity agreement with Telesat, contracting for full capacity on the Nimiq 5 instead of the half previously agreed to. Full capacity will allow EchoStar to devote the satellite’s 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders to its wholly owned DISH Network. •
Inmarsat Hits 3200 in Maritime Segment
Satellite broadband continues to gain favor as evinced by higher-than-expected numbers recently reported by Inmarsat for its Fleet Broadband terminals. The mobile-satellite-service provider had reached 3,200 active units for its MSS product by the end of summer; that’s doubled since the end of ’08. According to a recent briefing from NRS, “Broadband is the name of the game today” for the MSS maritime segment.•
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| 18 Sep 2009 - 06:32 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Shakeup Coming To U.K. Pay TV Market |
Pay TV revenues in the U.K. are expected to reach $8.2 billion by 2014, according to a new forecast from Pyramid Research. That's up from about $6.2 billion in 2009.
But things are changing, according to the market research firm, which is predicting that cable and IPTV will increase their share of the overall market in the next few years thanks to the growing popularity of multi-play services. IPTV is expected to grow its share by 26 percent by 2014, with triple-play packages surpassing double-play offerings in the next few years.
"The pay-TV market remains dominated by satellite provider Sky with close to 9.9 million subscriptions estimated for 2009," said Pyramid analyst Andrei Tchadliev, "while IPTV remains concentrated to a small share of the market with only 4 percent of total pay-TV households choosing the service. The breakup of Sky's market control over exclusive sporting events, notably football and premier entertainment content, will likely result in an increase in the share of cable and IPTV as a percentage of pay-TV households."
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| 17 Sep 2009 - 07:52 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| SATELLITE: DISH Expands Local HD Offerings; Eutelsat Taking D-STAR Across Morocco; Intelsat, GVF Teaming Up For Satellite Education Programs |
DISH Network on Wednesday added six DMAs to its lineup of local HD markets, bringing its total to 152 markets covering more than 93 percent of U.S. households. The new HD channels include WTVC (ABC) Ch. 9 in Chattanooga, Tenn.; WBNS (CBS) Ch. 10 in Columbus, Ohio; WICU (NBC) Ch. 12 in Erie, Pa.; WWMT (CBS) Ch. 3 in Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich.; WTHR (NBC) Ch. 13 in Indianapolis, Ind.; and WPEC (CBS) Ch. 12 in West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Fla. ---
Eutelsat is supporting Nortis Cimecom's effort to deploy satellite broadband service to 470 schools across Morocco. The rollout is being supported by Eutelsat's D-STAR service ---
At the VSAT 2009 Conference Wednesday in London, Intelsat and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) announced plans to facilitate new training programs aimed at the latest satellite systems. According to Intelsat, the announcement is part of an industry-wide initiative to cut down on space interference.
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| 17 Sep 2009 - 07:51 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| SHVURA Passes House Committee 34-Zip |
The House Judiciary Committee passed the Satellite Home Viewer Update and Reauthorization Act 34 to zero yesterday, thanks to a deal between DISH and broadcasters allowing DISH to fill in distant signals while also agreeing to serve local-into-local in all Nielsen markets.
The ACA noted that it was left out of any negotiations.
And, some Representatives were less than happy about DISH being allowed back into providing distant signals. The bill also addresses phantom signal liabilities and updates licenses to reflect digital distribution.
DISH Network, for its part, is jazzed about the passage, issuing a statement yesterday afternoon thanking the representatives involved and calling the document a step in the right direction. "The strong and important bill that was unanimously voted out of the House Judiciary Committee today makes many necessary changes to the copyright law, and is a key step toward providing an incentive for DISH Network to offer local channels to every television market in the country," the DBS provider said. "We stand ready to work with the Judiciary Committee and the Congress to help this bill move forward."
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| 17 Sep 2009 - 07:51 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| INDUSTRY: Logo To Go Dark To Support LGBT March; Tennis Channel Calls Out Cablevision for MSG Varsity Addition; More Job Cuts Looming At Verizon; ADB Shows Off New STB Technologies; Video Game Sector Continues Free-Fall |
MTV Networks' gay- and lesbian-themed network Logo, will go dark from 11 am to 3 pm on Oct. 11 in support of Equality Across America's National Equality March 2009, which will take place in Washington, D.C. during those hours. Instead of regular programming, Logo will display a message pointing viewers to its 365gay.com web site where additional information about the march will be available.
Tennis Channel on Friday responded to Cablevision's addition of sports net MSG Varsity, calling the arrangement less than fair. "Cablevision subscribers who enjoy tennis should insist on an explanation for how MSG Varsity, with no history of ratings or advertising commitments and a reported schedule of largely taped events, will receive widespread distribution to all of Cablevision's three-plus million customers," Tennis Channel wrote, "while Cablevision insists that Tennis Channel be available only on a limited tier serving less than five percent of its total subscriber base."
Despite previously announced plans to lay off 8,000 employees in the second half of this year (on top of the 8,000 jobs that have already been cut in the last 12 months), Verizon CFO John Killian last week said that more layoffs are needed if the telco hopes to make up for recent losses in wireline and rural services.
At the IBC show last week in Amsterdam, Advanced Digital Broadcast introduced a range of new technologies designed to further "personalize" the TV watching experience. Among the featured ADB demonstrated at the show were multi-device content sharing, social networking via TV and DVRs with multi-room capabilities. The company also introduced a new line of IPTV/satellite/cable set-top box platforms incorporating the latest chipsets and features.
Sales of video games tumbled 16 percent year-over-year in August, despite a mild boost following the release of Madden NFL 10. The drop marked the sector's sixth straight month of declining sales.
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| 14 Sep 2009 - 07:02 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| PROGRAMMING: Mega TV Launches on Comcast; AT&T Adds NFL RedZone To U-verse Lineup; Comcast Snags Morning Joe For Hometown Network |
Comcast on Friday launched Spanish-language network Mega TV's HD feed to its lineup in South Florida.
AT&T on Friday announced that it had added NFL Network's new NFL RedZone channel to its U-verse lineup as part of the U-verse HD Premium Tier. The announcement made AT&T the fourth distributor to add NFL RedZone to its carriage, following Verizon's FiOS, Comcast and DISH Network. DIRECTV carries the original RedZone channel as part of its NFL Sunday Ticket package.
In other Comcast news, the MSO announced plans to begin airing MSNBC's Morning Joe on its Comcast Hometown Network in Northern and Central California starting Sept. 18.
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| 14 Sep 2009 - 07:02 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV Exec Sees Slowing Telco TV Growth |
Despite the fact that both Verizon and AT&T have posted impressive subscriber growth numbers since launching their respective video offerings, DIRECTV CFO Patrick Doyle last week told an investors' conference that he expects the IPTV services' growth to level off, according to a reports.
Both services have seen subscriber additions slow down since spiking early, Doyle said. Even so, Verizon's FiOS service currently claims more than two million subscribers, while AT&T's U-verse recently passed the one million mark.
Also of note from the conference, Doyle said that DIRECTV is currently looking for ways to cut costs to remain competitive in this economic environment. No details about those potential cuts were discussed.
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| 14 Sep 2009 - 07:01 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| HARDWARE: LG Intros Wireless HDTVs, Sony Does Too |
At the CEDIA show this week in Atlanta, LG Electronics is showing off its first-ever line of wireless HDTVs, designed with easy and convenient custom installation in mind. The sets, which include the 55-inch 55LHX and the LH85 series, include built-in support for wireless media streaming that's capable of sending a 1080p video signal up to 30 feet via an included transmitter box. According to LG, the HDTVs will be available later this year with MSRPs starting at $2,399 ---
Not to be outdone, Sony has introduced its own line of Bravia LED LCD TVs, known as the XBR10 series, featuring wireless connectivity. The company also took advantage of the CEDIA stage to announce a new wireless, networked Blu-ray player that will ship in October. The new BDP-N460 will offer access to both free and premium on-demand content from services including Netflix, YouTube and others.
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| 11 Sep 2009 - 09:01 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| PROGRAMMING: Oprah Radio Coming To Sirius; DIRECTV Touts Soccer Coverage; Netflix To Stream Oz For Free |
Sirius XM on Thursday announced that Oprah Winfrey's new 24/7 channel Oprah Radio will debut on its satellite airwaves next Monday, Sept. 14. The channel will air a variety of content from Winfrey and her usual cast of characters (including Gayle King, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Laura Berman and others) and will feature daily syndication of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which will be broadcast in another medium for the first time ---
DIRECTV will broadcast more than 300 European soccer matches during the 2009-2010 seasons of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Spain's La Liga, a figure that the DBS provider says make it the number one soccer broadcaster in the world. DIRECTV's soccer push includes a new mix channel that will feature multiple game feeds on one screen ---
In recognition of The Wizard of Oz's 70th anniversary, Netflix will stream the Judy Garland classic online for free on Oct. 3.
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| 11 Sep 2009 - 09:00 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| CEDIA 2009: Whole-Home Entertainment Comes Into Its Own |
The annual Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) show kicks off this week in Atlanta, and more than a few CE companies are taking advantage of the platform to introduce new products to the marketplace.
And what is this year's big trend? Multi-room entertainment.
I know, I know, whole-home has been the "next big thing" at just about every major industry show for at least the last three years, but this time it looks like the manufacturers are ready to move beyond the demonstration stage and really bring the technology to market.
Case in point: Sony. Far be it for me to ever accuse Sony of being cutting-edge (aren't they still clinging to MD?) but the CE giant is pulling out all of the stops at CEDIA this year with a new line of A/V receivers designed for use in multi-room, HD set-ups. The new Elevated Standard (ES) receivers offer IP control compatibility, home network connectivity and support for Control4 and other IP-based systems. All that, and a 120-watt power amp, to boot.
Pioneer is getting into the whole-home game as well, demonstrating the potential of networked entertainment at the show with its Project ET. The system combines Internet access and control capabilities that bring personal media streaming and management tools to the networked home.
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| 11 Sep 2009 - 08:59 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Live From Euroconsult 2009: Satellite Industry Award Winners Announced |
At World Satellite Business Week Wednesday in Paris, event sponsor Euroconsult announced the winners of its 2009 Awards for Excellence in Satellite Management. The winners, which are listed below, were chosen by a panel of experts from Euroconsult, Space News and Satellite Finance.
FSS Operator of the Year: Eutelsat
Strategic Transaction of the Year: Astrium Services
Regional Operator of the Year: Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC)
Earth Observation Operator of the Year: DigitalGlobe
Broadband Satellite Operator of the Year: WildBlue
MSS Operator of the Year: Inmarsat
Said Euroconsult CEO Pacome Revillon: “The Awards for Excellence in Satellite Management recognize companies who have made a particularly strong impact on the satellite industry through their vision, growth, profit or innovation. This annual tradition at the World Satellite Business Week allows the industry to celebrate their accomplishment, and the overall success of the industry.”
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| 10 Sep 2009 - 09:13 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| SATELLITE: EchoStar At IBC; A Busy Week For Intelsat |
At the IBC2009 show this week in Amsterdam (Sept. 11-15), EchoStar Europe plans to introduce a range of new technology products designed to help operators boost profits while offering new services to subscribers. Among the products set to debut this week are a SlingLoaded DVR platform for European DTV operators, a new user interface for the company's 900 Series DVR, a range of digital cable converter boxes and a new hybrid DVR/IPTV set-top box ---
Fixed satellite services provider Intelsat on Wednesday announced a pair of new distribution contracts with Spain's Telefónica Servicios Audiovisuales and Mexico's Televisa that will distribute TSA's Teuve programming across the Iberian peninsula and expand the international reach of Televisa's Spanish-language content. Intelsat also announced a new capacity deal with GlobeCast that will provide the France Telecom content management subsidiary with occasional use capacity across the entire Intelsat fleet.
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| 10 Sep 2009 - 09:11 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Latest Sirius XM Satellite Comes Online |
Sirius XM on Wednesday announced that its new SIRIUS FM-5 satellite has been placed into service, increasing the DARS provider's broadcast power and improving reception for its exiting subscribers.
"For our Sirius subscribers, FM-5 brings significantly improved performance to their cars as well as their homes and offices," said Terry Smith, Sirius XM's chief engineering officer. "We expect FM-5 to provide exceptional service for many years to come, while improving the overall performance, reliability and longevity of our satellite fleet."
The satellite, which was built by Space Systems/Loral, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on June 30 and has been placed at 96 degrees West over Texas. It is currently broadcasting Sirius XM programming to North America.
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| 10 Sep 2009 - 09:11 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| INDUSTRY: NDS Launches Pre-Paid Back Office Solution; IPTV Provider Adds Smart WiFi For In-Home Connectivity |
Consolidated Communications on Tuesday announced that it had selected Ruckus Wireless' Smart WiFi multimedia system for use as the in-home connectivity solution for its IPTV customers and is busy rolling out the system to its subscribers. The addition will enable the provider to offer a true multiplatform service, extending its wireless IPTV to customers' laptops and handheld devices.
NDS has launched a new add-on module for its conditional access system that allows operators to offer pre-paid service to their customers. The NDS VideoGuard Pre-Paid back office system functions via the subscriber's set-top box and accesses funds stored in their credit account.
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| 9 Sep 2009 - 10:21 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| RETAIL: AT&T Offers In-Home Support For RadioShack Shoppers; New CircuitCity.com Owner Sued By State of Florida |
AT&T has teamed up with RadioShack to launch a new suite of AT&T ConnectTech support services in the CE retailer's U.S. stores. Under terms of the deal, AT&T ConnecTech will serve as a full-service tech support team for RadioShack's customers, offering installation services and in-home support for a variety of technology products ---
Florida's Attorney General has filed suit against Systemax - the parent company of CompUSA, TigerDirect and CircuitCity.com - alleging that the CE retail company had failed to pay advertised rebates to customers. According to the suit, Systemax allowed rebate requests from customers to expire and fulfilled requests in a "haphazard fashion," leading to numerous customer complaints.
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| 9 Sep 2009 - 10:20 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| SATELLITE: Sirius XM Going Global?; DIRECTV Sues Michigan MSO; Zambia Cracks Down On Satellite Rebroadcasting; Satellite Tax Plan In Calif. Will Have To Wait |
Liberty Media has reportedly bought up some $102 million worth of overseas satellite radio provider Worldspace's debt, fueling rumors that the company is eyeing a global launch for U.S. DARS operator Sirius XM, of which it holds a significant interest ---
DIRECTV has filed suit against a small cable operator in Michigan, accusing the operator of rebroadcasting the DBS player's signals. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan against John Metzler, owner of Phoenix Communications and Pine River Cable ---
The government of Zambia has issued a warning to satellite broadcasters operating within its borders, reminding them that it is illegal for them to rebroadcast content belonging to regionally restricted radio and TV stations. The move came after satellite operator My Television announced plans to broadcast Muvi TV's content nationally despite the fact that Muvi TV has its own broadcasting license that limits its broadcasts to within the city limits of the capital city of Lusaka --
A push by the cable industry to convince the California state legislature to impose a five percent sales tax on satellite TV operators may have to wait until at least next year to face a vote, as the government body's 2009 session winds down this week. Why do I get the feeling that we haven't heard the last of this satellite tax issue?
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| 9 Sep 2009 - 10:20 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Industry and Programming |
INDUSTRY: NBCU Invests in Mobile Ad Network; Sony To Offer New Streaming Video Service in Europe
NBCU's Peacock Equity Fund has reportedly invested $2 million in mobile ad network Greystipe. The enterprise is also being backed by Disney's Steamboat Ventures --- Sony on Wednesday announced plans to launch a European version of its Bravia Internet Video service that will stream web TV content directly to users' TVs. The company is reportedly building a library of online content with a range of European broadcast partners including ARD in Germany, M6 in France, Mediaset in Italy, RTVE, Antena3 and LaSexta in Spain and Five in the U.K., and will offer web video content from YouTube, Dailymotion and other sites.
PROGRAMMING: DIRECTV Brings HD Locals To Lexington; Another Milestone For USA; Spike To Carry Rugby Playoffs; Verizon Becomes Third Distributor For NFL RedZone
DIRECTV has launched HD local channels in the Lexington, KY area, including WTVQ ABC, WKYT CBS, WDKY Fox and WLEX NBC. With the additions, DIRECTV now offers local HD programming in 129 U.S. cities --- USA Network on Wednesday announced that it drew an average of 3.6 million total viewers through summer 2009, marking the best summer ratings for a cable network since measurements began. The figure easily displaced the previous leader, Disney Channel, which averaged 3.1 million total viewers during the summer of 2007 --- Spike TV will be the exclusive American carrier of the 2009 National Rugby League playoffs and championships, the network said Wednesday, marking the first time NRL matches will air nationally in the U.S. The tournament kicks off Sept. 11 and culminates in the Grand Final game on Oct. 4 --- NFL Network's new all highlights, all the time NFL RedZone channel picked up another distributor when Verizon announced plans to carry the channel on its FiOS TV service. FiOS joins Comcast and DISH Network in carrying NFL RedZone.
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| 3 Sep 2009 - 08:45 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| HARDWARE: Sony's 3-D TV; Sony Embraces Google Web Browser; D-Link Overhauls Web Site |
In an effort to reassert its place in the HDTV market, Sony is reportedly planning to launch a LCD television capable of displaying video in 3-D by the end of 2010. Looks like we'll have to wait a little while for this "next big thing" --- In other Sony news, the CE giant this week became the first computer maker to sell PCs pre-loaded with Google's Chrome web browser. The Chrome-loaded Vaio models are now available in the U.S. and Europe --- Networking hardware vendor D-Link has launched an updated version of its company web site, adding network building tools and other installation aids to the mix.
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| 3 Sep 2009 - 08:44 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV, Versus Dispute Rolls On |
After dropping Comcast-backed sports channel Versus earlier this week, DIRECTV is showing no signs of backing down on the issue.
The DBS provider has called Versus, which is best known for airing the NHL and the Tour de France, "piggish" for suggesting a 20 percent increase in carriage fees, while the network says the dispute is really about DIRECTV wanting to move the channel to a niche programming tier. DIRECTV, for its part, hasn't denied that particular claim.
"Comcast has forced us to take down the Versus channel because we will not agree to their ridiculous demands that simply do not reflect current market valuations for their programming," explains DIRECTV spokesperson Robert Mercer. "DIRECTV already pays Versus more than any other independent distributor and apparently that's not enough for Comcast." Part of the problem, Mercer says, is that Comcast has allowed other distributors to carry Versus at much lower distribution levels, and DIRECTV wants equal treatment.
Whatever the outcome, this brouhaha will likely have a significant impact on satellite-programmer arrangements going forward, so neither side wants to give an inch.
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| 3 Sep 2009 - 08:34 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Satellite, Industry, and Retail |
SATELLITE: Sirius Demo Included With Used Volvos; Arianespace Gets Next Ariane 5
Sirius XM on Tuesday announced plans to begin offering introductory 3-month subscriptions to its Sirius Everything package to buyers of Sirius-equipped pre-owned Volvos. The offer mirrors similar trials that Sirius XM offers with used Mercedes, BMWs and other satellite radio-equipped vehicles. The company offers a 6-month free trial with the purchase of a new Volvo --- Another month, another upcoming launch for Arianespace. On Tuesday the launch services firm took delivery of its fifth Ariane 5 launch vehicle at the Spaceport in French Guiana. The heavy-lift vehicle is set orbit the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite for Spain's HISPASAT, and the German military's GMS communications satellite on the upcoming flight.
INDUSTRY: Sony Looking To Shake Up VOD; SeaChange Acquires eventIS Group B.V.; DivX Takes Over AnySource Media
Sony is reportedly working to develop a new VOD platform that will allow customers to watch movies at home before titles are released on DVD. Sony itself tested the idea last year when it released Sony Pictures title Hancock exclusively via its Bravia Internet Link network, though it remains to be seen whether any other major studios will see the value of the service --- VOD developer SeaChange International has acquired Dutch VOD and linear broadcast software maker eventIS Group B.V. in a deal valued at around $36.6 million U.S. --- Digital media firm DivX has acquired on demand web TV company AnySource Media.
RETAIL: Best Buy Planning New Stores; Gefen Moves Into Home Audio
Despite the slumping consumer electronics market and ongoing recession, things are apparently looking up for CE retail chain Best Buy. On Tuesday the retailer announced plans to open 22 new stores this fall, including a new location in New York City's Union Square and the company's first store in Puerto Rico. The first new stores are set to begin opening this week --- Home connectivity developer Gefen is taking the plunge into the home audio market with two new products set to debut next week at the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta. Both the GefenTV Home Theater Audio Processor and the company's new surround sound speakers are designed for use in residential settings.
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| 2 Sep 2009 - 10:26 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Hughes Gets Nod For Satellite Industry Leadership |
Market research firm Frost & Sullivan on Tuesday named satellite broadband provider Hughes Network Systems the winner of its 2009 North American Award for Market Leadership, given in recognition of Hughes market-leading HughesNet service and its other value-added applications.
"Hughes has clearly proven the profitability of the consumer satellite broadband business," said Gina Villanueva, Frost & Sullivan research analyst, "thereby significantly expanding the VSAT industry's addressable market beyond enterprise networking. With its wide range of HughesNet service plans and extensive customer care, Hughes is well positioned to at least maintain or increase its dominant position in the broadband satellite market."
According to Hughes, the HughesNet service currently reaches more than 470,000 customers, thanks to a 103 percent increase in net additions in the second quarter.
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| 2 Sep 2009 - 10:25 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Industry and People |
INDUSTRY: CBS Inks Web Content Partnership With Sports Illustrated; NBC Content Coming To A Gas Station Near You; Hong Kong Gets VOD; Outdoor Channel Signs With Rentrak
CBS Sports' online portal at CBSSports.com will feature direct links to content from Sports Illustrated's web site as part of a new content partnership between the two companies. On the flip side, SI.com will feature content from CBS' MaxPreps.com in its high school sports section --- Content from NBCU will soon be available at gas stations across the country as part of a new content and advertising partnership between the media conglomerate and Gas Station TV, which offers video clips and ads on gas pump screens. According to NBCU, the deal will extend its viewership base by some 30 million people each month --- A company called Anyplex has launched what it calls the first TV VOD service in Hong Kong, partnering with local iDTV manufacturer OLEVIA to stream video directly to compatible TVs and set-top boxes. The pay-as-you-go service will work with select OLEVIA TVs as well as the company's X01 set-top box --- Outdoor Channel has selected Rentrak's TV Essentials service to provide it with viewership information including audience behavior, network duplication, audience flow and program retention.
PEOPLE: Moves At The Weather Channel, LG, ActiveVideo Networks; Qwest
Former AOL Media Works president Michael J. Kelly has been named CEO of The Weather Channel --- LG Electronics USA has tapped former Sony Electronics exec Jay Vandenbree as its new senior vice president of operations. In the position, Vandenbree will oversee a range of sales support activities for LG's US businesses --- Cloud-based interactive TV developer ActiveVideo Networks promoted Greg Brown to vice president of product development and expanded the roles of Mark Dawson, vice president of product management, and Dr. Lena Pavolvskaia, vice president of advanced development --- Qwest on Monday named Teresa Taylor to replace Tom Richards as COO.
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| 1 Sep 2009 - 08:54 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV To Carry Farm Aid 2009 |
DIRECTV on Monday announced plans to broadcast the Farm Aid annual benefit concert live on its The 101 Network. The show will air commercial-free and in HD for the second year in a row.
As part of the event, DIRECTV has pledged to match all of its customers' donations to Farm Aid up to $50,000 between now and Oct. 31.
"We are delighted to be a part of Farm Aid 2009 and once again offer our viewers front row seats to this year's benefit concert," said Patty Ishimoto, vice president of DIRECTV Entertainment and general manager of The 101 Network. "Farm Aid 2009 is an important part of our music repertoire on The 101 Network, as we bring viewers exclusive concert events that can't be seen anywhere else, compliments of DIRECTV."
The six-hour concert will feature performances from Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and others and will kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 4.
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| 1 Sep 2009 - 08:53 by soullezz |
Industry News
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