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| Research: Holiday Shopping & HDTV, China DTT & More |
• According to a recently released Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, 65% of Americans intend to cut back on holiday spending including travel, gifts and entertainment. The poll also found that more than 13 million consumers are still carrying debt from the previous holiday season.
• According to a Knowledge Networks study, a group of HDTV viewers between 13 and 54 were polled in both 2007 and 2009 and now 43% more likely to claim they watch HD programming daily compared to the 26% reported in 2007 making that a 65% increase.
• Frost &Sullivan research analyst Mpho Moyo says Africa will be the “global growth frontier” for the telecommunications industry as Africa has experienced a lesser impact from the global recession.
• Screen Digest reports that China’s digital-terrestrial TV will grow to 18% by 2013. China is estimated to currently have 390 million TV households, of which about 180 million are cable subs. •
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| 31 Oct 2009 - 12:01 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| The End of Stand-Alone GPS? |
Giant-killer Google is now officially in the market with an Android phone GPS system offering turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps on the phone. That, btw, includes a voice-powered search and it should hit the market next Friday via Verizon Wireless.
So is this the end of stand-alone GPS as we know it? Let’s consider. First, there’s the screen size ... Just a touch over 3.5 inches versus today’s standard GPS of 4.3. Next, there’s the data connection: Do you really think you can get Verizon Wireless seamlessly, across the nation? And finally, let’s ponder the implications of GPSing on a phone while driving .... Like when the guy in front of you is not only lost but he’s ALSO staring at his phone. Nice.
So are existing GPS systems doomed? I say no.• EH
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| 31 Oct 2009 - 12:00 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Satellite Broadband Hits European Roadblock (But All Is Not Lost) |
As European policy makers ponder national subsidies for broadband projects, satellite broadband appears to be getting the short end of the stick. As reported by Satellite Today, the satellite sector has been working hard to get its systems considered. Recently released guidelines, however, seem to have pushed the dishes off the table.
The European Commission’s first draft consultation paper concentrated solely on the “transition from copper to fiber-based networks.” And a footnote opined “at this stage … neither satellite nor mobile network technologies appear to be capable of providing very high speed symmetrical broadband services.”
That’s rough stuff for a technology which has moved forward by leaps and bounds, particularly via hybrid technologies, and which can guarantee coverage across the continent. However, satellite broadband is not completely shut out of European markets. Indeed, Eutelsat’s Tooway satellite broadband service announced yesterday that it has been chosen to provide high speed broadband connectivity to homes and businesses in rural Ireland. So while news from the commission may be bad, considerable upside could remain.•
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| 31 Oct 2009 - 11:59 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| NASA Successfully Launches Ares 1-X |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A one-of-a-kind NASA rocket soared into the Florida sky Oct. 28 in a brief but critical test flight of a new booster slated to launch astronauts into space and, eventually, toward the Moon.
NASA's Ares 1-X booster, an unmanned prototype of the planned Ares 1 rocket intended to carry astronauts after the space shuttle fleet retires, blasted off on an experimental mission from the seaside Launch Pad 39B here at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
"I can't tell you how proud I am of all of ya," KSC director Bob Cabana told the launch team after liftoff. "That was just unbelievable, it was spectacular. I got tears in my eyes."
After several false starts due to bad weather, the rocket took advantage of a brief break in the clouds to loft at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Foul weather and a series of unlucky events foiled its first launch attempt the day before. NASA required good visibility for this first flight of the untried rocket.
"Think about what we just did," said launch director Ed Mango after the liftoff.
"Our first flight test and the only thing we're waiting on was weather. That says you all did frickin' fantastic," he told the team.
The rocket lifted off despite a bout of thunderstorms that passed over it the night before. About 150 lighting strikes were seen to fall near the site, with four lightning impacts within about a kilometer of the launch pad. The countdown toward liftoff was delayed Wednesday morning while ground crews checked out the vehicle to make sure it suffered no lightning damage; luckily, the tests showed Ares I-X was safe to fly.
"We looked at all the systems that could have been affected by this and all the data indicates that there was absolutely no real effect," Ares 1-X deputy mission manager Jon Cowart said.
The towering white booster rose into the sky toward the east, peaked at about 45 kilometers altitude, then dropped into the Atlantic Ocean, with parachutes softening its fall. By all appearances, the launch – which was aimed at demonstrating the rocket's design -- was successful.
Read More... |
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| 29 Oct 2009 - 07:34 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Hybrid Platforms Boost European Satellite Outlook |
As the European video market turns more and more to hybrid solutions, new opportunities are emerging for sat operators, notes a recent report from NSR. The analyst group points to developments such as the Orange TV bouquet in France which offers bundled broadband, telephony and video over aDSL plus a satellite bouquet supplement to serve outlying areas. Another example comes from Portugal’s MEO bouquet where “DTH is the primary service and aDSL are secondary.”
Across the European market, DTH players are facing challenges from DTT platforms. In response, NSR notes, satellite platforms are boosting SD and HD channel options and launching special low-cost bouquets.
In sum, the NSR report sees a diversifying market which new opportunities for satellite operators across the continent – a phenomenon which, the analysts note, is likely to spread to other parts of the world.•
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| 29 Oct 2009 - 07:32 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Programming: HSN, CNBC and the Travel Channel |
• HSN is putting together an HSN Cooks! 24-Hour Holiday Celebration scheduled for November 6. The show will feature culinary icons Padma Lakshmi, Ingrid Hoffmann and Duff Goldman as they showcase a series of products on HSN and www.hsn.com.
• CNBC will debut its new ‘green’ TV series “The Good Entrepreneur.” The series, hosted by CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick, will document three entrepreneurs as they pitch eco-friendly business ideas to a panel of CEOs and academics. The series will premiere on November 5.
• The Travel Channel will be coming to Asia as one of the first international broadcasters to take up space on the AsiaSat 5 satellite. The channel will be available in north and south-east Asia, India and Australasia and is expected to launch on November 3. •
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| 29 Oct 2009 - 07:31 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Programming: DISH's Free NBA Preview; TNT Gets Clooney Drama |
• DISH Network will be hosting a week-long free preview of NBA LEAGUE PASS, the NBA’s pay-per-view package of out-of-market games. The preview began yesterday and will continue through Tuesday, Nov. 3.
• TNT is greenlighting a drama pilot entitled “Delta Blues,” to be produced by George Clooney. The show spotlights a Memphis cop who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator and lives with his mother.
• ZillionTV is partnering with Lionsgate to gain access to TV content such as “Weeds” and “Mad Men” as well as movies such as “Rambo” and “The Haunting in Connecticut.” Lionsgate joins Sony, NBCU, Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. as a content partner to ZillionTV.
• Fox Sports En Espanol will air an exclusive Spanish-language programming for the 2009 World Series where the New York Yankees will take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox manager, will join the program as a postgame analyst. The first game will be tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST.
• Comedy Central scored its best performance for a series premier with the debut of "The Jeff Dunham Show" on Thursday, Oct. 22. The opener netted 5.3 million total viewers and 3 million adults 18-49.•
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| 28 Oct 2009 - 09:49 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Hughes Gets Avanti Deal, WISE Award |
Hughes Network Systems has penned a multi-year deal to provide Avanti Communications Group with network technology to operate over HYLAS, Europe's first dedicated, high-throughput Ka-band broadband satellite to be launched in 2010. The initial value of the contract is in excess of U.S. $24 million over a multi-year period.
Additionally, Hughes’ Brazilian operating unit, Hughes do Brasil, will receive the WISE Award for its distance learning project. The project was developed for the Education Department of the State of Amazonas.•
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| 28 Oct 2009 - 09:49 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV Gets Ready to Spin |
DIRECTV moved one step closer to a spin-off/merger with Liberty Entertainment yesterday as the IRS issued a much-expected private letter blessing the tax-free nature of the transaction. Liberty Entertainment (LEI) is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media. According to the IRS’ ruling, the LEI split off will qualify “as a tax-free transaction under sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”
The split off now goes to a shareholder vote on November 19. Since virtually no one expects the vote to go against Liberty, the split and the merger should come to fruition quickly. The merger would combine DIRECTV with Liberty’s regional sports nets plus gaming company FUN Technologies and other assets. The combination is expected to help boost Liberty Entertainment’s market value, which has been a key goal of the transaction.•
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| 28 Oct 2009 - 09:48 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Survey Says: eHoliday study, ABI, Cisco, Gartner |
• According to Shop.org’s eHoliday Study, more than 47% of online retailers intend to increase their use of social networks this holiday season. In addition, four out of five retailers, or 79%, said they would offer free shipping (with conditions) at some point during the holiday shopping season.
• ABI Research surveyed 1000 adults and 7% said they would be willing to pay a premium for a “green” handset. Forty percent said they would use one if price and performance were equal.
• According to a Cisco Systems survey, broadband users eat up 11.4 Gbytes of internet traffic per month. Cisco surveyed 20 service providers and also found that the top 1% heaviest global users make up more then 20% of all online traffic.
• Cloud computing has topped Gartner’s list of top 10 technologies that information technology personnel need to prepare for. The remaining nine are 2. advanced analytics; 3. client computing; 4. IT for green; 5. reshaping the data center; 6. social computing; 7. security--activity monitoring; 8. flash memory; 9. virtualization for availability; and 10. mobile applications.•
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| 24 Oct 2009 - 08:05 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Halloween Programming: HBO, Cartoon Network, ABC Family & More |
• TV Guide Network will host a Halloween horror movie double feature airing “Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest,” at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and “Werewolf Hunter: The Legend of Romasanta,” at 10:00 p.m.
• Cartoon Network’s Halloween programming will feature new episodes of “The Othersiders” as well as the return of the spooky “Goosebumbs” series. Both programs will air throughout the remainder of October.
• ABC Family will continues its 13 Night of Halloween with "The Haunted Mansion" airing October 27, “Hocus Pocus" airing on October 28, and "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" airing on October 29 all beginning at 8 p.m. EST, with "Edward Scissorhands" airing on Halloween day from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m
• Turner Classic Movies is planning a horror movie marathon which will begin on October 30 beginning at 7:15am with “The Mask of Fu Manchu.” On Halloween night the channel will featurer “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” beginning at 8 p.m. EST.
• HBO Family East HD will be showcasing a marathon of “Ghost Trackers” on the 31st starting at 2 p.m.•
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| 24 Oct 2009 - 08:04 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| The Return of White Space: for Broadband |
Satellite has long been bedeviled by white space spectrum plans ... but this time a full blow white space system run by Spectrum Bridge in Claudville, VA, is operational as a last mile, backhaul and Wi-Fi hot spot service using unlicensed TV spectrum white space. Their secret sauce? A claimed dynamic, intelligent system using white space databases and assigning - in real time - un-used and non-interfering frequencies for broadband deployment.
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| 24 Oct 2009 - 08:04 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Spidey Joins Mickey As Disney Buys Marvel |
8:42am UK, Tuesday September 01, 2009
Spider-Man, Captain America and the Fantastic Four look set to head to Disney after the entertainment giant swooped on Marvel Entertainment.
The £2.5bn cash and stocks deal means that Walt Disney will have access to Marvel's 5,000 characters.
The buy-up values Marvel at £30 a share and has been agreed by both boards.
It now needs the backing of Marvel shareholders and the competition authorities.
"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Marvel chief executive Ike Perlmutter.
"This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organisation and infrastructure around the world."
Walt Disney last month reported a fall in profits of more than a quarter.
Net profit between April and June came in at £579m, down 26% from the same period last year.
Disney president and chief executive Robert Iger said: "Adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation.
"We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."
Marvel is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Besides comics, Marvel characters also feature in movies, animated features, videogames and action figure toys.
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| 20 Oct 2009 - 11:38 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Optus D3 Ready to Rock |
Optus has announced that Australia’s newest state-of-the-art satellite, Optus D3 is fully operational after successfully completing extensive in-orbit testing ahead of schedule.
Optus 3D launched on 22 August 2009 from French Guiana, Optus has now completed a number of crucial tests at its geo-stationary 156°E location. The new bird will complement Optus' existing four satellites providing services across Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.
"Not only will D3 provide new business opportunities for Optus, it will also allow our customers to provide new and advanced digital services to their customers across Australia and New Zealand," Vicki Brady, Managing Director of Optus Wholesale, said.•
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| 20 Oct 2009 - 11:33 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| And Now ... Down on DISH? |
The DISH Network has taken a lot of flak over the past year as three quarters of distinctly lackluster performance gave Wall Street the willies. However, DISH scored some gains in the second quarter leading investors to cheer and pushing the stock close to its 52 week high.
But now come the naysayers. In a note released yesterday, BernsteinResearch analyst Craig Moffett takes a “too far, too fast” tack noting: “The satellite business is one of trade-offs. The question for investors is whether Dish Network can achieve growth without sacrificing ARPU and SAC.”
Moffett notes that in 2Q09 ARPU had dropped while SAC jumped and going forward the outlook is less than sunny. Overall Moffett projects a net subscriber loss of 9,000 in DISH’s upcoming reports.
Investors, however, appear unfazed by this as DISH closed yesterday up 3.35% at $19.10.•
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| 20 Oct 2009 - 11:32 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Ohio Sat Tax Under Fire |
Sixteen constitutional law scholars filed a “friend of the court” brief with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the Ohio Court of Appeal’s ruling that upheld a 5.5% state satellite TV tax. The scholars support DIRECTV and DISH Network’s position that the tax violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. •
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| 19 Oct 2009 - 12:19 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| DIRECTV Spinoff Set to Go |
Watch for Liberty Media to get its tax-free spinoff for DIRECTV done in November as CEO Greg Maffei told a NYC investor meeting on Friday that the company expects to get “pretty much everything we want” from regulators. Should that prediction come true, Liberty will waste no time spinning DIRECTV into a new company. The new co, Liberty Entertainment Inc., will hold the DIRECTV group, half of the Game Show net, all of Fun Technologies (an online games company) plus Liberty Sports regional sports channels.
With an okay from the gov on its DIRECTV moves, Liberty also plans to issue a prospectus for a new Starz tracking stock which, said Maffei, would have $800 million cash on hand and no debt.•
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| 19 Oct 2009 - 12:18 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Satellite |
Eutelsat Extends Cyfrowy Polsat Contract
Eutelsat Communications announced it has renewed its contract with Cyfrowy Polsat for three transponders at the HOT BIRD neighborhood. The new lease supports the expansion of Poland’s leading pay-TV platform with the launch of new TV services. Cyfrowy Polsat currently broadcasts over 75 Polish-language channels to more than 2.8 million subscribers.•
SES Astra Expects High Demand for HD+
SES Astra is planning to expand its HDTV platform HD+ by convincing German DTH households to buy a set-top-box. The managing director of Astra, Wilfried Urner, said the company estimates that the sale of HD+ receivers in 2010 should exceed six-digit figures. In addition Urner confirmed that a solution to allow pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland’s subs to receive HD+ was being negotiated. •
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| 15 Oct 2009 - 10:49 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Media and Programming |
Sky to Compete with iTunes With Digital Music Service
Satellite broadcaster Sky is preparing to launch its own online music service to compete with Apple’s iTunes. Sky Songs will offer users more than 4 million songs available for download or steaming. The service will include catalogs from four major music labels as well as independent labels. However, unlike iTunes, customers will need to choose a subscription package as opposed to being able to purchase individual tracks. •
Hungary’s MTV Signs Deal with Eutelsat
Hungary’s public broadcaster Magyar Televizió has begun broadcasting its second channel MTV2 free-to-air in SD and HD on Eutelsat’s Eurobird 9A satellite. The Hungarian telco Magyar Telekom, teleport operator e-Vision and Eutelsat signed a multi-year contract following an open public procurement procedure. MTV2 joins Hungary’s Hello HD satellite platform where the number of channels has almost doubled to 245 over the last 12 months.•
Sky Deutschland Open To Agreement With Telekom
Sky Deutschland, a German pay-TV operator, says it would like to seek a new agreement with Deutsche Telekom for the distribution of its channels on Telekom’s IPTV platform T-Home Entertain. Sky cancelled its contract with Telekom earlier this year due to Telekom’s marketing campaign for its Bundesliga channel which compete with Sky’s offer. Sky channels have not been available on T-Home Entertain since September 25, 2009. •
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| 14 Oct 2009 - 07:42 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| More on NBC-U |
Waving the red flag of (possible) competition appears to have done its job as the latest word in the NBC-U soap opera gives the edge to Comcast which has reportedly “agreed to agree” on a deal. It’s the same deal you’ve heard before: 51% to Comcast, 49% to GE (assuming, of course, that GE and Comcast come up with an acceptable price for Vivendi’s 20%). The only real “news” in this news is that GE could jettison its entire NBC-U stake in seven years.
Meanwhile, as some critics have dumped on NBC-U’s Jeff Zucker, GE big boss Jeff Immelt defended Zucker to Business Week as being “as good as anyone running a media company today.”•
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| 14 Oct 2009 - 07:40 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Vivendi on the Hunt? |
With organic growth at its French mobile and pay TV business slowing and a possible $6 billion (give or take) windfall from a sale of its stake in NBC-U, Vivendi is eyeing potential acquisitions around the world. So says the Wall Street Journal which also notes that Vivendi’s roving eye is making its investors mighty nervous. The problem is that shareholders value Vivendi for its stability and its dividend, both of which could be sapped by investments abroad. And with the company’s tax rate set to soar (a likely rise from 19% to 30% in 2012), Vivendi investors want it to settle down and focus on its at-home biz by buying out minority investors in such key units as Canal Plus.•
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| 14 Oct 2009 - 07:39 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Business and Technology |
More Fuel on the NBC-U Fire
The NBC-U maybe, maybe not, sale got more interesting yesterday as CNBC reported that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and John Malone's Liberty Media Corp are also eyeing the Peacock properties. That, of course, is in addition to Comcast which is reportedly looking at a New Co deal with General Electric which would give the cable company a 51% stake in NBC-U. If Liberty jumps into the bidding it will most likely be for a minority stake (Dr. John Malone's preferred modus operandi). If News Corp. joins the fray look for lots of government hemming and hawing as the company's Fox TV holdings will likely raise antitrust concerns.•
Lufthansa To Upgrade Wireless Connection
Deutche Lufthansa AG announced its plans to upgrade its cell phone and internet services on its international airline flights. The company would like its international passengers to have faster access to e-mail and web portals as well as the ability to makes calls from 40,000 feet. Lufthansa plans to use on-board technology and lower-cost satellite capacity to make connectivity easier.•
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| 13 Oct 2009 - 06:53 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Online Shopping to Dominate 2009 Holiday Shopping Season |
According to a consumer survey conducted by Burst Media, 62.8% of consumers intend to spend the same or less on their 2009 holiday shopping compared to 2008 with 85.3% estimated to shop online. The survey reported that seven out of ten consumers plan to make an online holiday purchase in addition to using the internet to "window shop." In addition, the survey found that women are more likely to be thrifty than men this holiday season with 38.1% of woman planning to spend less on gifts compared to thr 27.3% of all men. Lastly, Burst Media also found that there isn't a clear start to the holiday shopping season so Chuck Moran, Chief Marketing Officer for Burst Media, advises retailers to start building awareness now. •
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| 13 Oct 2009 - 06:51 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Build Your Own Sat Service |
For those who want to build their own tools for satellite-assisted solutions that provide coverage where cellular is not available, Digi has the kit for you. The company is touting its Digi m10 JumpStart Kit as “the industry's first cost-effective development kit that provides all of the tools necessary, including ORBCOMM trial satellite service, to allow customers to quickly and easily build satellite-enabled products.”
According to Digi, the kits and modems will be generally available in November. Advance orders can be place with at introductory price of $299.
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| 9 Oct 2009 - 06:18 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| International: New DTH Platforms for Poland, Solvakia; Telmex to Take a Piece of MVS-DISH? |
New DTH Platforms for Poland, Solvakia
Slovakia is getting ready to launch its fourth DTH platform. Slovak Telecom begun a service called MagioSat TV and will use the Amos Satellite. MagioSat TV is expected to debut in early 2010, and will include Filmbox, Filmbox Extra, Film+, HBO and MTV Europe.
Satkurier is reporting that Poland’s new DTH platform service will operate with Telekomunikacja Polska’s IPTV offer. The reception will be handled by Samsung decoders and will have two program offerings. Subs will be able to access channels for free for 10 months if they sign a two-year agreement. HD channels and multiroom service will be offered at a future date.•
Telmex to Take a Piece of MVS-DISH?
Echostar’s Mexican DTH play is apparently looking to hook up with telco giant Telmex. According to web reports surfacing yesterday, execs at MVS-DISH Mexico have acknowledged on-going talks with Telmex. Telmex is seeking the Mexican government’s blessing on a modification of its license to allow it to offer television services.
MVS-DISH says it should have 900,000 subscribers by the end of this year. •
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| 9 Oct 2009 - 06:18 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| ViaSat Just Keeps Rolling |
Hot on the heels of announcements that it would acquire WildBlue, ViaSat has added a few more feathers to its cap. Yesterday the firm announced a $46 million deal with Star Satellite Communications Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC (Yahsat), to supply Ka-band networking equipment and operations support for Yahsat high-speed internet access.
Dubbed YahClick, the service will target both enterprise customers and consumers in the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia and is expected to go live upon the launch of YahSat’s second satellite, Y1B in the second half of 2011. The YahClick announcement comes on the heels of a new $10 million deal with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command plus a $3 million contract with Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) of Tromsø, Norway.•
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| 9 Oct 2009 - 06:15 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Technology: 3D Sizzles at CEATEC; The FCC Tackles Wireless |
3D Sizzles at CEATEC
Think all that 3-D HDTV talk is just hype? Not according to reports leaking out of CEATEC, the Japanese version of the big CES show in January. Companies showing the technology included Samsung (which already has a 3-D DLP TV on the market), Panasonic, Sony and more.•
The FCC Tackles Wireless
Tomorrow morning is your opportunity to learn a lot more about the FCC and how it views the wireless industry. Just show up at 9am PDT at Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice, University of San Diego or catch the webcast: http://www.fcc.gov/live/) as FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will host another in the FCC's series of field events ... this time with panel #1 moderated by the chairman and billed as "Mobile Applications That Will Change the Way We Use Broadband." •
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| 7 Oct 2009 - 08:34 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| NSR: Recession Boosts DTH |
Staying home is cheaper than going out ... and that's helping to drive DTH subs according to NSR’s new report, the Global Direct-to-Home Markets, 2nd Edition. According to the report, in 2008 114 million subs generated more than $65 million in sub revenues worldwide. That revenue base is expected to grow to more than $100 billion by 2018. The number of channels provided by DTH platforms is projected to growth from the current 13,875 channels to more than 21,000 by 2018 with an annual growth rate of 4.6%.•
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| 7 Oct 2009 - 08:32 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Programming: DISH Offers Free Preview of CBS College Sports Network; i-concerts Partners with Eutelsat and YouTube; Versus Debuts Best NHL Season Opener |
DISH Offers Free Preview of CBS College Sports Network
Subscribers to The DISH Network will be treated to a free preview of CBS College Sports Network from Wednesday, Oct. 7 through Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 in celebration CBS College Sports Network's Armed Forces Appreciation Week. The CBS net shows on DISH Ch. 152 in standard and high definition and is available at a special rate of $37.99 per month for 12 months.•
i-concerts Partners with Eutelsat and YouTube
i-concerts, a Swiss-based live music channel, is partnering with Eutelsat Communications and YouTube. The channel will now be carried on Eutelsat’s Eurobird 9A satellite airing in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In addition i-concerts will launch its own channel on YouTube which will offer hundreds of free HD quality concert excerpts and backstage coverage. •
Versus Debuts Best NHL Season Opener
Versus had its largest opening night audience with its coverage of the NHL despite not being distributed through DirecTV. The Comcast-owned Versus averaged 832,781 viewers for its Oct. 1 double-header opening and has been covering the league for five years. Versus’ contract with DirecTV expired on Sept. 1 and the two companies have yet to renegotiate due to issues with pricing and positioning.•
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| 6 Oct 2009 - 07:07 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Satellite Industry Files FCC Petition |
The SBCA has filed a Joint Petition for Declaratory Ruling with the FCC against a Satellite Dish Ordinance created earlier this year by the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The petition was filed jointly with Antenna Star Satellites Inc. and Johnson TV & Satellite. The petition seeks a declaratory ruling from the FCC that pursuant to their Over-the-Air-Reception Device Rule. Hazleton currently has an ordinance requiring satellite dish owners to obtain and pay $10.00 for a permit for inspection and installation of a satellite dish. •
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| 6 Oct 2009 - 07:05 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| People and Partnerships |
People: MySpace, Scripps, AOL and NBC
• MySpace has appointed Alex Maghen as its new chief technology officer. Maghen was formerly the CTO with MySpace Music division.
• The head of Scripps Network interactive group, Deanna Brown, is leaving her position to become the first president and COO at Federated Media.
• AOL Inc. has hired yet another former Google exec Shashi Seth. Seth will work for the company's digital advertising systems.
• Former ABC ops manager, Zach Toback, has moved to NBC News as its VP of News Operations.•
Partnerships: Hershey Partners with Syfy to Sponsor ’31 Days of Halloween’
The Hershey Co. has partnered with Syfy to sponsor its “31 Days of Halloween” programming for October. The sponsorship will feature Hershey’s milk chocolate bar, Twizzlers, Reese’s peanut butter cups and Kit Kat brands. Hershey also signed a deal to feature Twizzlers in the second season of Syfy’s series “Warehouse 13.”•
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| 2 Oct 2009 - 06:33 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Study Shows UK Broadband "Not Fit" for Future |
According to a joint study conducted by Oxford University's Said Business School and Spain's University of Oviedo's Department of Applied Economics, the UK ranked 25th out of more than 60 countries for its quality and reach of its broadband networks.
Nine countries including South Korea, Japan and Sweden were deemed fit to meet future broadband demands. Sixteen countries including the U.S., Russia and Germany were ranked in the "Comfortable for today" category. Fourteen countries including the U.K., Singapore and Australia were placed in the "Meeting needs for today" category and 23 countries including Mexico, Indonesia and China finished in the "Below needs for today" section.•
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| 2 Oct 2009 - 06:31 by soullezz |
Industry News
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| Cause for Holiday Cheer? |
Best Buy is optimistic about the upcoming holiday season and is gearing up by amping up its marketing strategy. The retailer plans to release numerous Facebook applications and commercials referencing to the "Twelpforce" (Best Buy’s Twitter-based customer service effort) in an attempt to make an impact during this coming shopping season. Best Buy plans six or seven TV spots focused on branding, in addition to vendor commercials.
More optimism is coming from advertising and marketing execs 34% of whom say they plan to hire within the next 12 months, according to a national study developed by The Creative Group. Fifty-two percent of those who plan to hire will be recruiting web designers or production staffers.
Of course, it can't all be good news and on the ad front the research firm Carat sees a glass half-empty. The firm now expects worldwide advertising to drop 9.8% this year after forecasting only a 5.8% drop. The US and Western Europe showed the most significant downgrade with adspend to fall 16.3% and 11% respectively in 2009. The internet is the only medium expected to grow this year.•
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| 2 Oct 2009 - 06:31 by soullezz |
Industry News
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