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Gadget lovers are waiting with bated breath for the much-anticipated unveiling of the Apple tablet, but don't expect it to take the world by storm the way the iPod and iPhone did.

"There will be a strong interest in it, but it won't be the wave of the future," said James Brehm, analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Tablet computers are hardly a new concept. In fact, Apple already brought a tablet device to the market in 1993 in the form of the Newton MessagePad. Despite a ton of hype, Apple only sold a few hundred thousand Newtons in the five short years it was on the market.

Other tablet-like devices have also fizzled. The Compaq iPAQ and the Palm Pilot were quickly replaced by smart phones. Consumers can find some modern-day "tablets" in the form of notebook computers with swiveling monitors, but they're clunky, expensive and haven't taken off.

The problem with handheld tablets is that they're middle-of-the-road devices. They have better functionality than smaller gadgets but don't have enough functionality to replace your PC.

Though Apple hasn't released any details about its tablet, analysts who have been briefed on the device say it will run apps like the iPhone and iPod Touch do, but the tablet will be better suited for watching movies and reading. According to a New York Times report, Apple will unveil a tablet on Jan. 26.

"The Apple tablet will have a beautiful user interface, it will have a pleasing aesthetic and will be marketed well," said Chris Collins, senior consumer research analyst at Yankee Group. "But at the end of the day, we're still talking about a smart phone with a bigger screen."

Collins anticipates the tablet will initially take off with lots of excitement, but ultimately he expects it will help accelerate innovation in smaller gadgets, like smartphones, and bring down prices for PCs.

Such was the fate of netbooks. Shipments of the mini, ultra-portable notebook computers soared in 2008 and earlier this year. However, sales have cooled off as full-sized notebook prices dropped, and smart phone performance grew, according to John Jacobs, NPD Group's director of notebook market research. As a result, NPD expects netbook shipments to grow just 19% in 2010.

"Netbooks won the battle but lost the war," said Collins. "Eventually, people either went to a smartphone or a notebook. Tablets will also generate a lot of interest initially, but they will ultimately suffer a similar fate."

Too pricey?
Tablet technology doesn't come cheap. Creating screens that allow users to write on them is a costly endeavor, and swivel-monitor notebooks tend to run several hundred dollars more than non-tablet peers.

Apple will likely need to charge around $800 for the device, analysts say, which could relegate the tablet to "niche" status. That $800 price point could be too rich for some and others may opt to spend just a little more for a full-function laptop computer.

Brehm and Collins argued that the there will be some compelling uses for the tablet, including note-taking for students or examining electronic health records for physicians. Apple fans will also bite because, well, it's an Apple product, and it's bound to be really cool.

"The market will be there, but this will definitely be more of a niche product," said Brehm, who was Gateway's tablet product manager a decade ago.

Apple may pull it off
The tablet will have to offer more than the iPhone or iPod Touch to be successful, say analysts.

"They have to trump themselves," said Laura DiDio, principal analyst at ITIC. "That will be difficult, but the tablet shouldn't only be an iPhone with a bigger screen. It's going to have to bring something new to the table to be successful."

DiDio said the tablet will have a 10-inch to 12-inch screen and a high-end graphics card that will enable stunning resolution -- even more so than the iPhone and iPod Touch. She said the device will come in several different models that offer varieties of Internet connections, such as Wi-Fi or 3G, perhaps through a contract with AT&T (T, Fortune 500). A Web cam will also be available for video conferencing.

Is that enough to change the gadget game? Maybe. Analysts counted out Apple before the iPod changed the music player and before the iPhone re-imagined the smartphone.

Likewise, it may be too soon to count out the long-awaited tablet. Even tablet detractors know better than to dismiss a Steve Jobs creation too quickly.

"There have been tablets before, and they did not take off," said Brehm. "There had been MP3 players before 2001 too, but we hadn't seen anything like the iPod before."

Ford Brings Information Super Highway to the Realworld Highways

28 Dec 2009 - 17:13 by soullezz

Industry News |

Ford is making its cars into mobile Wi-Fi hot spots.

The next generation of the Sync in-car entertainment and information system will use a USB mobile broadband modem to establish a secure wireless connection capable of supporting several devices simultaneously.

The system will be available next year on selected models -- no word yet which ones -- and you won't need a subscription or hardware beyond the modem.

"While you're driving to grandma's house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. "And you're not paying for yet another mobile subscription or piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already have."

Several automakers already offer in-car Internet access -- Japanese drivers have been using it since 1997 -- and many others are rushing to bring it to us. Ford's announcement follows General Motors' promise last week to make in-car connectivity available in seven models of trucks and SUVs. They're the latest automakers to bring the infobahn to the autobahn.

Mercedes recently announced it has successfully tested in-vehicle Internet applications -- including web browsing, vehicle software updates and VOIP -- on a prototype 4G network. It follows BMW's Internet-connected iDrive system and Chrysler's Uconnect Web in-vehicle mobile hotspot. With so many automakers getting in on the action, there's a push to introduce hardware standards.

Ford is taking a decidedly different approach, opting to allow consumers to plug in their own USB modem to get connected.

General Motors, on the other hand, offers a dealer-installed system called Chevrolet Wi-Fi by Autonet Mobile. It creates a Wi-Fi hot spot 300 feet in diameter around the vehicle, and GM claims the 3G network achieves speeds of up to 1.5 mbps. The hardware costs $199 after the $200 mail-in rebate, and the service costs $29 a month.

Given how connected we are, it makes sense for automakers to put the Internet in our cars. The number of iPhones and other mobile devices being used to connect to the Internet jumped 75 percent in the third quarter of this year, according to JiWire Mobile Audiences Insights Report.

Letting people log on from the road will be a big selling point among 20-something buyers, the so-called Millennials who have propelled much of Sync's success. Millennials will make up 28 percent of the driving population next year, a nine-point increase from 2004.

Kids aside, Ford says interest in in-car connectivity is high among the general public, with one-third of people surveyed by the Consumer Electronics Association expressing interest in being able to check e-mail or surf the Web from the car.

Web Video Box on Its Way

27 Dec 2009 - 17:06 by soullezz

Industry News |

Heads up for a web-based video service likely to appear in the first quarter of 2009 from ZapMyTV. The company hopes to deploy an over the top subscription service at $30 a month, with a 50-channel video offering. The new company is willing to pay content owners, apparently on a par with existing MVPDs but those owners are reluctant to anger their current customers. Still, bets are it’ll get real next year as ZapMyTV’s CEO Steve Turner tells Telephony Online that 20 to 25 channels have already signed up.

Whale Watching Via Satellite

26 Dec 2009 - 13:24 by soullezz

Industry News |

Chrisar Software Technologies has chosen Applied Satellite Engineering (ASE) to create a satellite data solution for a whale reporting program that utilizes the satellite network operated by Iridium Communications Inc. ASE is using the Iridium short-burst data (SBD) modem with software customized for this application. Watchstanders on ships will use the system to record and transmit reports of whale sightings through the Iridium network to a central server. Trials are underway on a small number of ships with large-scale dissemination planned for 2010.

Behind the scenes: NORAD's Santa tracker

24 Dec 2009 - 14:08 by soullezz

Industry News |

Last Christmas Eve, Jeff Martin found himself forced to explain to a Canadian general why, when Santa Claus passed through Toronto, Ontario, that night, Google Maps had placed the city in the United States.

Martin, then a senior marketing manager in Google's Geo group, was part of a huge team of people involved in the joint U.S.-Canada North American Aerospace Defense Command's annual NORAD Santa tracker program, a long-running effort to provide children the world over a live view of Santa's progress as he and his reindeer deliver Christmas presents.

In 2007, Google signed onto the project as a technology partner, and since then, has been incorporating NORAD's data on Santa's whereabouts into special 2D Google Maps and 3D Google Earth representations.

And that's where the trouble began.

Inexplicably, as Santa made his way through Toronto that night last year, the mapping software began identifying the city as being in the United States. Instantly, NORAD Santa's dedicated Gmail account "just lit up" with messages from irate Canadians, Martin said, and quickly, the Google team fixed the problem.

But not before Martin's run-in with Canadian Lt. Gen. Marcel Duval. "He said, 'I understand that you have a new American city,'" Martin recalled. "It was a slightly tense moment for me, standing in front of a three-star general explaining to him why one of his cities had been designated as a United States city."

Is this Santa Claus?

All joking aside, NORAD has been taking its Santa tracking project seriously for decades. But it actually began in 1955 with a wrong number.

One morning that December, U.S. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the director of operations at CONAD, the Continental Air Defense Command--NORAD's predecessor--got a phone call at his Colorado Springs, Colorado, office. This was no laughing matter. The call had come in on one of the top secret lines inside CONAD that only rang in the case of a crisis.

Grabbing the phone, Shoup must have expected the worst. Instead, a tiny voice asked, "Is this Santa Claus?"

"Dad's pretty annoyed," said Terri Van Keuren, Shoup's daughter, recalling the legend of that day in 1955. "He barks into the phone," demanding to know who's calling.

"The little voice is now crying," Van Keuren continued. "'Is this one of Santa's elves, then?'"

The Santa questions were only beginning. That day, the local newspaper had run a Sears Roebuck ad with a big picture of St. Nick and text that urged, "Hey, Kiddies! Call me direct...Call me on my private phone and I will talk to you personally any time day or night."

But the phone number in the ad was off by a digit. Instead of connecting with Santa, callers were dialing in on the line that would ring if the Russians were attacking.

Before long, the phone was ringing off the hook, and softening up, Shoup grabbed a nearby airman and told him to answer the calls and, Van Keuren said, "'just pretend you're Santa.'"

Indeed, rather than having the newspaper pull the Sears ad, Shoup decided to offer the countless kids calling in something useful: information about Santa's progress from the North Pole. To quote the official NORAD Santa site, "a tradition was born."

From that point on, first CONAD and then, in 1958, when NORAD was formed, Shoup's organization offered annual Santa tracking as a service to the global community. A phone number was publicized and anyone was invited to call up, especially on December 24, and find out where Santa was. Manning those phones over the years have been countless numbers of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel and their families, and for many people, turning to NORAD to find out where Santa is became something to look forward to each year.

NCTA Urges Broad FCC Inquiry - Not Just Multifaceted Box Dreaming

24 Dec 2009 - 14:03 by soullezz

Industry News |

The NCTA filed a mouthful with the FCC today, urging the commission to greatly expand its inquiries into the media marketplace. In light of the "billions of dollars invested by the cable industry" in broadband services, the NCTA essentially asked the commission to investigate the full range of today's marketplace including all its competitive factors before launching into a move to mandate a universal box, capable of serving a wide variety of platforms.

Such a box is the latest holy grail for both the commission and CE manufacturers. In one of the most recent moves to "democratize" multichannel video, ZapMyTV is expected to introduce an over-the-top internet video service next year.

Apple TV, PBS & More

24 Dec 2009 - 14:01 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Apple TV Plans: It is rumored that Disney and CBS may be signing on to offer programming on Apple TV. Apple is trying to add a monthly subscription to its TV content available on iTunes. Apple is aggressively seeking licensing deals, but none have been signed as of yet. According to the Wall Street Journal CBS may offer programs from both the CBS and CW networks and Disney may do the same for content from ABC and the Disney Channel.
• PBS Gets Rated: PBS announced it has subscribed to full-time TV ratings from Nielsen Company. PBS intends to use the Nielsen subscription to better provide sponsors with information about its audiences for various programs. PBS has ordered weekly ratings reports.
• People: After seven months of searching, the White House has named Howard Schmidt as its cybersecurity chief/czar. Schmidt is a former eBay and Microsoft exec who was an adviser to former President George W. Bush. As the cybersecurity chief, Schmidt will have to work with various agencies and help the country’s defense against cyber attacks.
• Show Me The Money: Qwest has announced it has received a $1.035 billion revolving line of credit. The administrative agent for the credit line was Wachovia Bank, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities. This new line of credit replaces Qwest’s pre-exisiting credit agreement which is to expire in October 2010; the new credit line will expire on September 20, 2013.
• Leno Ratings Help Cable, Not Networks: According to an article from Media Life Magazine, ad-supported cable networks may be benefiting more from NBC’s decision to move Jay Leno to 10 p.m. The article notes, “Season to date through 12/6/09, A18-49 ratings for ABC/CBS/NBC (the only three nets that program at 10 p.m.) are down 14% Y/Y in aggregate with the loss entirely attributable to NBC. CBS and ABC are essentially flat Y/Y. In other words, CBS and ABC have not seen a meaningful ratings uptick at 10 p.m. from the Leno move.”

Programming: Fox Soccer Ratings; Crosby Radio; and More

21 Dec 2009 - 13:00 by soullezz

Industry News |

• The Fox Soccer Channel earned its highest telecast ratings last weekend during England’s Barclays Premier League with Manchester United vs. Aston Villa on December 12 and the Liverpool vs. Arsenal game on December 13. During the Villa vs. Old Trafford game, the channel gained a M25-54 household rating of 0.9 and secured the second highest total viewership at 329,000 since the network began daily measurement in October 2008.

• Crosby Radio: Regis Philbin is slated to host the ‘Bing Crosby Christmas Radio’ channel on SIRIUS XM. The programming will run from December 19-25 and will feature 20+ years of Crosby’s radio programs. The channel will be on SIRIUS channel 105 and XM channel 151.

• Programming Fee Battle: Time Warner Cable subs may stop receiving programming like “American Idol,” “24” and NFL league games if the company can’t agree on fees with News Corp’s Fox television by the year-end deadline. The programming fee dispute revolves around the price TWC would have to pay to continue carrying Fox.

• Vancouver Olympics on NBC-U Channels Feb. 12-28 - Handy skier's guide to the games in the January issue of Skiing Magazine with day by day events and the athletes to watch. And in the December DIRECTV bills you'll find which channels will be carrying what plus how to use the interactive features.

Programming: Holiday Programming and A Heisman Series

19 Dec 2009 - 13:16 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Deck The Halls: The Hallmark Channel will be airing 36 consecutive hours of holiday programming beginning Christmas Eve and running through Christmas day. Some of the programming includes: “Christmas in Canaan,” “Silver Bells,” “A Season For Miracles,” “Holiday Celebration on Ice” and more.
Additionally, the Hallmark Channel announced it has begun production of a new original movie entitled “Class.” The story chronicles a well-to-do law student who is given the assignment to help a young, working class woman facing a tough life situation. The film will star Jodi Lynn O’Keefe, Justin Bruening Constance Marie and Eric Roberts. The movie will air sometime in 2010.

• CBS College Sports Network will be debuting a one-hour original series “Heisman Tales: featuring legendary LSU running back Billy Cannon, the 1959 Heisman recipient. The program will air tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET. For more information, go to www.cbscollegesports.com.

DIRECTV Launch; Intelsat and Etisalat & More

19 Dec 2009 - 13:15 by soullezz

Industry News |

• DIRECTV Launches Enlace TBN: DIRECTV has launched Enlace TBN, a Hispanic faith-based network. The network features more than 80 original Spanish-language Christian programs which include: talk shows, concerts, music videos, children’s programs and church services. Some of the popular Enlact TBN programs include: Aqui Entre Nos, La Vision, Equilibradament Sanos and Café Libre. Enlace TBN is now available nationwide for viewers on channel 448.

• Capacity Agreement: Intelsat has penned a multi-year deal with Etisalat UAE for capacity on the recently launched Intelsat 15 (IS-15) satellite, located at 85º E. Etisalat intends to expand its network platform beyond the Arab Emirates and deliver higher broadband capabilities to its customers in the Gulf region. IS-15, launched in November 2009, is expected to go into service in early 2010.

• Launch Postponement: Arianespace has announced the postponement of Flight 193-HELIOS 2B due to an anomaly which happened during the final count-down. The launch vehicle and its HELIOS 2B satellite payload are in stand-by mode. A new date for the mission will be announced at another time.

• Showcasing Products: ARRIS announced the successful demonstration of its interoperable capabilities in its EuroDOCSIS system at the recent Cable Europe Labs Interop Event. Charles Cheevers, the company’s CTO Europe notes, “…we have the technologies capable of keeping Cable Operators at the front of the Entertainment to the Home industry with robust and scalable Data, Voice, MPEG and IP Video solutions."

• DIRECTV + Madden = Cool Sundays: Great article in yesterday's New York Times on the DIRECTV set-up for John Madden (http://tinyurl.com/yjfzn24).

North American Sat Market Weak ... But Looking Up

19 Dec 2009 - 13:14 by soullezz

Industry News |

In the face of global economic woes, commercial satellite players have had a pretty good run with strong market growth around the world, except in North America. Indeed, the most recent tome on satellite markets from NSR (the 6th edition of its “Global Assessment of Satellite Supply and Demand”) notes several signs of weakness for North American markets as demand for both C-Band and Ku-band capacity has loosened considerably.

Not to worry, however. NSR pegs the slowed markets to several relatively short-term factors including: The great digital switchover (which boosted supply as digital signals replaced the more bandwidth-intensive analog); the closing of SES’s IP Prime (which likewise increased demand); and Hughes’ increasing use of its Spaceway 3 (which has caused a sharp growth in leased Ku-band capacity).

For the future, NSR sees a good uptick for in North American markets as the reviving economy boost demand from current and wanna-be media players. The analysts conclude: “NSR is very confident that there are no real systemic, long-term issues in the North American commercial capacity leasing market, and within a few quarters the North American region will likely wax bright again for satellite operators serving the region.”

Arianespace’s Two Launches

17 Dec 2009 - 12:30 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Double Launch Announcement: Arianespace is preparing to launch Gaia, a satellite that will observe stars in our galaxy. Gaia will be replacing the Hipparcos satellite which was launched in 1989. Gaia will be launched from the Guiana Space Center in 2012. Gaia will give scientists information concerning the formation, composition and evolution of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, extrasolar planets and other galaxies.
Additionally, Arianespace’s final Ariane 5 is back on the launch pad and is scheduled for a mid-day liftoff today. The vehicle was moved back to its launch zone after a launch postponement on December 9. To follow Arianespace's launch activity visit www.arianespace.com.

• Milestone: SES Astra announced it is now broadcasting more than 100 HD channels following the launch of five additional HD service by its Spanish pay-TV operator Digital+. The new HD channels launched by Digital+ are: Canal Accion HD, Eurosport HD, Fox HD, National Geographic HD and MTVN HD. These channels and are transmitted via Astra’s 19.2 degrees East orbital position.

• Distribution Agreement: Tring Communications, a division of Albanian Satellite Communications, has signed a distribution contract with Eutelsat Communications for the Tooway consumer broadband service. The contract was signed with Skylogic, Eutelsat’s broadband affiliate. Additionally, Tring has renewed and expanded its capacity on the W2 satellite with a multi-year contract for broadcasting its Tring Digital pay-TV platform.

• Contract: Iridium Communications has signed a contract with Integral Systems Inc subsidiary, RT Logic, for the creation of a software-defined modem for the new feeder link terminals to be used at Iridium ground stations. Under the contract, RT Logic will supply two prototype modems for on-orbit test and verification. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

• End Of Discussion: Apparently BSkyB has ended talks with Google regarding putting BSkyB’s shows on YouTube for free. Sources have reported that Sky will continue to offer clips on YouTube, but will not allow internet users to watch its full-length programs for free. Sky’s programming is currently available on the internet via SkyPlayer; however, only Sky TV subs are able to watch for free.

WA Files Against DIRECTV

17 Dec 2009 - 12:30 by soullezz

Industry News |

Alleged "unfair sales practices" are the target of a lawsuit filed yesterday against DIRECTV by the Washington State Attorney General. Claims AG Rob McKenna DIRECTV has been "wooing new viewers" with low prices while hiding a "multitude of fees, planned rate changes and terms that call for automatic renewals" in small print at the bottom of ads. DIRECTV says the allegations lack merit or, more specifically ....

""We always strive to provide 100 percent customer satisfaction but, to put it in perspective, we are talking about less than one percent of our customer base in the entire state. The vast majority of our customers in Washington, and the U.S. for that matter, understand our lease agreement and are happy with our overall service. We are disappointed that the state elected to file a lawsuit. We believe their allegations lack merit, and we are confident the court will agree with us."

Meanwhile, Alabama Senator Jeff Session has put the kibosh on the the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act due to complaints over language allowing DISH back into the distant signal business. Whether the complaints came from other Senators, consumers or DISH itself objecting to some provisions is the subject of some dispute. Whatever the truth, the Act missed its ride on the Department of Defense appropriations bill and instead got a 60 day extension.

FCC Enters Programming Wars

16 Dec 2009 - 13:54 by soullezz

Industry News |

Holy Comcastic! Looks like the FCC might jump into the programming wars, yanking that terrestrial exemption from cable ops. This, of course, would sever Comcast's lock on its regional sports programming as well as causing headaches for Cablevision and Cox. According to a report from analysts at Stifel Nicolaus (who have been very, very busy of late), it looks like there's a "serious chance" that the FCC will adopt the restriction. This would make the DBS and telco players quite happy. But if the so-called terrestrial loop-hole gets closed, look for the cable guys to go to court.

SpaceCom and iDirect Team Up; Inmarsat Activates Terminal and More

16 Dec 2009 - 13:53 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Partnership: SpaceCom International has selected iDirect to support its recently introduced GSM cellular backhaul service. This new service has already been launched in rural sites in Afghanistan and is planned to expand throughout South and Central Asia. SpaceCom selected the iDirect platform to reduce satellite bandwidth and costs and improve voice and data traffic quality.

• Terminal Activation: Inmarsat has activated its 5,000th FleetBroadband terminal. This figure represents commercially active SIM cards passing operational traffic. The 5,000th terminal was activated on Happy Rover, a 1997-build owned by Dutch company BigLift Shipping B.V., a member of the Spliethoff Group. With the upgrade to FleetBroadband, the 20-person crew onboard Happy Rover will have global connectivity as they sail around the world delivering cargo.

• Retrans Rages On: More fireworks are flying over retransmission fees as DIRECTV, DISH and Insight are now lined up with Mediacom in its battle with Sinclair. In a letter sent to the FCC earlier this week, the companies suggested that the FCC examine whether Sinclair – which controls multiple broadcast properties in several DMAs – is negotiating in good faith.

• Webcast: Via Satellite will be hosting a webcast focusing on the issues of government and military bandwidth acquisition. Beginning today at 1:00 p.m. ET a panel will discuss how the satellite industry and its military partners can make a case to Congress and express the urgency of fixing this acquisition process.

• Sneak Peek: SATELLITE 2010, scheduled for March 15-18 at the Gaylord National Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland, will kick-off with the CEOs of four satellite operators discussing the “Agenda for the Coming Decade.” Moderated by Jason Bates, editor of Via Satellite, and Scott Chase, Chairman of SATELLITE 2010, the opening general session will feature panelists Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES; Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat; Daniel Goldberg, CEO of Telesat; and David McGlade, CEO of Intelsat.

• Saudi Arabia’s Culture and Information Minister, Abdul Aziz Khoja, has announced the government will launch four new channels in early 2010, adding to the hundreds of already established free-to-air satellite channels. Two channels will be dedicated to the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah and will be broadcast from the Kingdom’s two holy cities while the remaining two will cover the economy and culture topics.

A Military Boost for Commercial Satellite?

16 Dec 2009 - 13:52 by soullezz

Industry News |

Watch for demand from the military and government to boost commercial satellites, say the folks from NSR in their latest report. According to the research firm, the gap between military/government demand and transponder supply is growing, which could significantly boost leasing and other activities in some regions.

In other potentially interesting news for the satellite industry, the December 10 issue of The Economist has a piece on how consumer technology is increasingly flowing to the military. (The US Air Force, for example, plans to build a supercomputer from 2,200 Play Station 3 game consoles.) Does this suggest that some of the more interesting new applications from DBS and sat broadband might find its way to military money? Worth a thought or two.

DirecTV Aquistion "No"; No Dish Inspection Fees

16 Dec 2009 - 02:46 by soullezz

Industry News |

Verizon Says ‘No Thanks’ To DIRECTV Acquisition

Verizon’s CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, has squashed the rumors that the company may acquire DIRECTV. Reuters reported that Seidenberg said, “We don't have any strategic need” at a NASDAQ conference. However, Verizon will continue its partnership with the satellite company and its ongoing FiOS TV rollout.•

Hazelton Comes to its Senses - Drops Satellite Dish Inspection Fee

The Pennsylvania town, in response to a petition filed by the SBCA, Antenna Star Satellites, Inc. and Johnson TV & Satellite. The Petition sought a declaratory ruling from the FCC pursuant to their Over-the-Air-Reception Device Rule. Among several violations SBCA addressed in the petition to the FCC, Hazleton’s ordinance required satellite dish owners to obtain and pay $10.00 for a permit for inspection and installation of a satellite dish. Hazelton backed off, so the FCC petition has been withdrawn.•

International News

12 Dec 2009 - 15:21 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Malaysia’s Astro TV launched its HD offering today. The company is expected to spend more than RM200 million for the service in the upcoming year. The HD programming line-up has not yet been announced, but the company’s CEO Rohana Rozhan said sports would most likely be a key product. In addition to the HD offering, Astro plans to introduce a new PVR product which is expected to launch in the first half of 2010.
• Globalstar Inc has completed the installation of its network upgrades and can now offer coverage in un-served areas including parts of West Asia and maritime coastal and oceanic regions. The upgrades enhance the customer messaging capacity and the data receiver sensitivity of the Globalstar Simplex data network.

DISH Passes 14 Million Customers

12 Dec 2009 - 15:21 by soullezz

Industry News |

DISH Network reached a milestone by passing the 14 million customer mark. Dish chairman and president, Charlie Ergen noted, “Surpassing 14 million subscribers is testimony to the strides we made over the past year in providing a best-in-class video experience. We have more HD channels than any other TV provider, we feature award-winning DVR technology, and we do it all at the most economical prices in the business.”

International News: Portugal’s Fiber Numbers; Cartoon Network Breaches Regulations

9 Dec 2009 - 13:54 by soullezz

Industry News |

• According to a report from Autoridade Nacional de Comunicaçôes, at the end of September there were 731,000 homes in Portugal connected to fiber optic-delivered broadband. Additionally, the number of homes with access to EuroDOCSIS network 3.0 is roughly 1.7 million. The study also noted that ZON and Sonecom were the top two operators in the country.
• Cartoon Network admitted to breaches of OFCOM regulations regarding the nutritional value of foodstuffs during kids programming. The breaches cover Turner Broadcasting’s transmissions to Spain. The products in question are: Nesquik, Haribo and Choco Krispies. Ofcom is putting the licensee on notice and the broadcaster to attend a meeting to review its compliance processes and procedures.

The Problem with Programming: $$$ & Sports

9 Dec 2009 - 13:53 by soullezz

Industry News |

Like the sports guys need any encouragement .... Pali's Richard Greenfield is suggesting that the NCAA should ramp up the bidding for its Men's Basketball tournament next year, even though CBS holds a contract through 2013. Greenfield points out that the NCAA has the exclusive right to exit its contract after the 2010 tournament. Add that to the growing importance of sports in today's increasingly DVRed world plus an increasingly competitive field of mega-bidders (Comcast/Versus/NBC-U, CBS, Disney/ESPN/ABC and News Corp/Fox) and the NCAA could considerably up its take. How far up could it go? No telling but Sports Business Journal pegs the final three years of the current CBS contract at more than $700 million.

Hughes Supports Military; IDirect Expansion & More

8 Dec 2009 - 14:34 by soullezz

Industry News |

• Hughes Network Systems announced that it has expanded its high-speed satellite internet access for US troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Open at US military bases, the broadband service will allow troops to stay in touch with family and friends. Rick Lober, VP and GM of Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division said that allowing troops to stay connected to their homes improves overall moral.
• iDirect Inc announced that its Orange Business Services has expanded its satellite network to include a DVB-S2 broadband. This upgrade enables Orange Business Services to offer the same next-generation IP broadband service over satellite that it already provides terrestrially. The service also helps Orange Business Services to alleviate the satellite bandwidth shortage in some areas of the world.
• Iridium Communications Inc has activated of the 1,000th Iridium OpenPort marine satellite terminal abroad the Euronav tanker MV Fraternity. The unit utilized IPSignature communication management software for voice and data calls. The Fraternity is the 13th Euronav vessel to be fitted with Iridium OpenPort, and the company is currently installing the Iridium satcom terminals on 20 more ships.
• SatLink Communications and SES World Skies have jointly launched a new DS3 fiber link connecting their teleport facilities. This link will allow SatLink clients access to SES World Skies’ US satellite fleet. For SES WORLD SKIES, the link represents an additional means to extend the reach of SES' satellite fleet in the growing Asian, Pacific, African, Middle Eastern and European markets.
• Stratos Government Services Inc was selected by the US Coast Guard to deploy Inmarsat’s Fleetbraodband mobile broadband satellite service on up to 50 USCG vessels. Under the arrangement, SGSI will deploy FleetBroadband on USCG High Endurance Cutters and Medium Endurance Cutters. The broadband service will enable the cutters to interconnect with the USCG data network to exchange operational ship traffic.
• According to a study published by Dutch Telecom Agency, in three-quarters of cases the use of LTE devices leads to interference to digital cable TV signals. In half the cases reviewed, neighboring homes were also affected. The Agency notes, “The results of the measurements show that there is a high likelihood of interference and that the default configuration is not sufficient to prevent this…” In one of the several scenarios tested, three of four TV sets experienced issues in a distance of three meters. No word on sat-boxes.•

Virgin Galactic; Discovery & SureWest; CTAM

8 Dec 2009 - 14:34 by soullezz

Industry News |

Calling All Space Cadets: Virgin Galactic Unveils Spaceship

Virgin Galactic has unveiled its new commercial rocket plane designed to take tourists into space. This plane will seat six passengers and two pilots. The plane, named SpaceShipTwo, will test flights next year with commercial launchings carrying paying customers starting after government regulatory requirements are met. Tickets for a sub-orbital up-and-down flight are expected to run about $200,000 a seat for the initial flights.

People: Discovery and SureWest Gain New Execs; CTAM Names New Board

• Discovery Communications has appointed Peter Liguori as its chief operating officer. Liguori will be replacing Mark Hollinger, who assumed the role of president and CEO of Discovery Networks International last week. Liguori is an industry veteran and has worked for News Corp, Fox/Liberty Networks and HBO.
• Bloomberg has named Paul Bascobert as its president of Bloomberg BusinessWeek effective January 4, 2010. Prior to taking his new role, Bascobert served as the chief marketing officer from Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corp.

News Bits

7 Dec 2009 - 16:04 by soullezz

Industry News |

Arianespace Celebration

Last Friday, Ariane celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first flight in Washington D.C. Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall highlighted the importance of launch services maturity and continuity in today's competitive marketplace. Le Gall also underscored Arianespace's contributions in helping new satellite operators literally get off the ground by providing access to space for start-up companies such as TerreStar Networks. Additionally, Arianespace will be introducing Soyuz as the newest member of its launcher family in 2010.

Distribution Talks

Epix is in talks with Dish Network, and other carriers, to potentially secure a distribution deal by early 2010. Reuters reported that Mark Greenberg, president and chief executive of Epix, is confident that this deal will soon be completed. Time Warner Cable on the other hand mentioned this week that there has been no progress on a deal to carry Epix.

Renewed Partnership

Vizada and Météo-France renewed their agreement to deliver digital weather information and software to the maritime community. This renewal goes along with the release of the updated version of its SkyFile Weather solution. The new version gives meteorological information to crew via a direct internet connection through a mobile satellite terminal.

Reaction to SHVRA

7 Dec 2009 - 16:03 by soullezz

Industry News |

Both DIRECTV and DISH Network have issued statements regarding the passage of the Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act of 2009.

DIRECTV wrote: "On behalf of our more than 18 million subscribers, DIRECTV applauds the House of Representatives for passing HR. 3570, the Satellite Home Viewer Update and Reauthorization Act. We appreciate the hard work of the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce committees who successfully struck a balance among the various industries affected by the bill. More importantly, HR. 3570 protects the interests of the viewing public."

DISH Network also released this statement but had a cautionary tone: “DISH Network thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for passing this bill. House leadership, as well as Chairmen Henry Waxman, John Conyers and Rick Boucher, and Ranking Members Joe Barton and Cliff Sterns, were instrumental in securing its passage. DISH Network remains concerned about the HD carriage mandate for PBS stations included in the bill, and the substantial additional penalties and burdensome audit requirements recently added to the bill. We look forward to working with House and Senate committees to make the changes necessary to ensure that legislation is enacted this year that serves the needs of the American public and continues to provide the framework for a vibrant satellite industry to compete with cable and telcos.”

nFusion Still Down

5 Dec 2009 - 11:58 by soullezz

Industry News |

Here we are two days later and nFusion users are still looking for TV. Satzen receivers never went down, and Sonicview receivers came back online the next day. Hopefully nFusion won't leave their customers in the dark much longer.

MTV brings Change; Verizon offers Couch Shopping

5 Dec 2009 - 11:56 by soullezz

Industry News |

MTV Is Bringing About Change

MTV has announced its “A THIN LINE” initiative to encourage America's youth to identify, respond and stop the spread of digital abuse. This multi-year program emerged from a study conduced by MTV and The Associated Press that found that half of 14-24 year olds have experienced digital abuse.
"A THIN LINE" will address digital abuse issues through a series of on-air, online and real world initiatives including integration in MTV's programming, an MTV News special focused on Sexting, PSAs, and the "Redraw the Line Challenge" -- which calls on young people to submit innovative digital antidotes to digital abuse.

Verizon FiOS Offers Couch Shopping With New Widget

Verizon FiOS TV subs will now be able to shop from their couches as the company releases it new HSN Shop By Remote Widget. The widget allows customers to purchase items from HSN with a few clicks on their TV remote. Subs can shop current on-air items, daily specials, the Verizon FiOS deal of the day or view the last 15 items aired.

SHVRA Sails through House

5 Dec 2009 - 11:52 by soullezz

Industry News |

On a vote of 394 to 11, the House version of the Satellite Home Viewer Reauthorization Act sailed through. The bill adds five years satellite's compulsory license for carriage of distant network signals and deals with various cable carriage and copyright issues (including an audit process for copyright owners). Under the bill DISH could get back into the distant-signal business by way of delivering local station signals to all markets (28 are currently without such signals) plus DISH would need to deliver HD signals for noncommercial stations by 2011, something the DBS provider says it cannot do. DISH was offered some tenuous workaround possibilities but the issue is likely raise continued debate. Now the House and the Senate need to come to some agreement on their various versions of the bill, so the sausage making is hardly over.

AS NBC-U Turns

3 Dec 2009 - 17:54 by soullezz

Industry News |

CNBC is reporting that the deal between GE and Comcast for the acquisition of NBC-U is complete and is awaiting competition of the paperwork. The deal is rumored to be finalized today assuming Vivendi has signed and agreed to the sale of its 20% stake in NBC-U. However, some speculate that the deal could take up to a year pending approval from the FCC. Meanwhile, Comcast is renaming its version of TV everywhere Fancast Xfinity (presumably, the authentication is via pronunciation).

The Spectrum Conundrum Gets Serious: FCC Has Questions

3 Dec 2009 - 17:53 by soullezz

Industry News |

And US broadcasters will need to have answers by the 21st. The Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice asking specific questions about the usage of spectrum in America. The FCC says, "This inquiry takes into account the value that the United States puts on free, over-the-air television, while also exploring market-based mechanisms for television broadcasters to contribute to the broadband effort any spectrum in excess of that which they need to meet their public interest obligations and remain financially viable." (Go to www.fcc.gov and click on "Data Sought on Uses of Spectrum. Public Notice dated 12/02/09" for details). This is part of the National Broadband Plan which has led to the FCC attempting to rethink the world. We've often written here (and in CableFAX) about using spectrum for something better than serving a small percentage of TVHHs and just a couple of months ago, FCC's Blair Levin floated the idea of buying back spectrum from broadcasters. They, of course, reacted with horror noting that the digital transition had just cost broadcasters a fortune while returning spectrum to the government. This issue is going to get even more serious next year and might wind up as electric as raising cable rates as the elections near.

DISH Takes a Stand

3 Dec 2009 - 17:52 by soullezz

Industry News |

DISH Network issued a statement regarding its use of the words “Merry Christmas” in a TV commercial. The statement reads: "Since being called a 'Patriot' on last night's edition of 'The O'Reilly Factor,' , DISH Network has received an outpouring of both support and displeasure from people across the country over the use of the phrase 'Merry Christmas' in a holiday greeting to customers. DISH Network acknowledges and respects the diversity of faith in our country, but at the same time recognizes the overwhelming majority that celebrate Christmas. We cannot imagine that Americans of all faiths would not want to embrace the spirit of the holiday and join us in wishing Christian Americans a very Merry Christmas."

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