Global Brief
The latest news from the international broadcasting industry
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ASTRA in 4 out of 5 satellite homes in Europe
The results of SES ASTRA’s European Satellite Monitor make interesting reading.
The ASTRA Satellite Monitor confirms SES ASTRA’s sustained audience growth
within its 30 country European footprint. At year-end 2003, the number of homes
receiving audiovisual broadcast and broadband services via the ASTRA Satellite
System at 19.2º East and 28.2º East increased by 2,5 million to reach more than 94
million.
These results confirm SES ASTRA as the leading satellite system for direct-to-
home reception (DTH and SMATV) in Europe. At the beginning of 2004, a total of
36.4 million households in Europe were receiving ASTRA services directly via
satellite (2 million households more than the previous year). Another 57.9 million
homes receive ASTRA content via cable.
The study illustrates the success of both ASTRA direct-to-home platforms, 19.2° East
and 28.2° East. The DTH audience served via ASTRA 19.2° East increased to 29.2
million homes, while the ASTRA satellites at 28.2° East reached 7.2 million homes -
predominantly in the UK & Ireland. ASTRA’s overall
audience growth is driven by the sustained increase
of digital direct-to-home (DTH) reception in Europe.
At year-end 2003, almost 18 million homes received
digital services via ASTRA at 19.2° or 28.2° East,
up from 15 million at year-end 2002.
In a very competitive environment, ASTRA has thus
consolidated its strong position in the digital
marketplace. More than three out four digital
satellite homes in Europe receive services carried
by ASTRA. Digital reception now accounts for 49%
of ASTRA’s total DTH reception, up from 44% in
2002, with France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the
UK remaining the traditional key markets for ASTRA satellite reception. In addition
ASTRA is received by almost 19 million exclusively analogue satellite homes. 70%
of these homes (more than 13 million) are located in the German-speaking countries,
where a strong analogue channel line-up persists.
Extreme Sports launches in Portugal
Following a new distribution agreement
with Portugal’s biggest cable and satellite
operator, TV Cabo, Extreme Sports Channel
launched in Portugal on 8 May. This is the
latest European launch for the channel,
following the conclusion of deals with a
number of networks including 27 new deals
in Poland, 12 in Romania, 20 in the Ukraine
and several others in Croatia and Slovenia.
Extreme Sports Channel is the world’s first
television channel totally dedicated to the
world’s fastest growing participatory sports
and the music, fashion and way of life that
accompanies them. The channel was
launched in 1999 and is now available in
53 countries across Europe, the Middle East
and North Africa. It transmits in 10
languages and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7
days a week to nearly 18million households.
Slovene public broadcaster unveils
long-term development strategy
RTV Slovenia, the Slovene public broadcaster,
has adopted a long-term development
strategy until 2010. According to RTV director
general Ales Stakul, the goal is to transform
the broadcaster into a modern, credible
quality public service station. The aim is to
achieve greater economic stability and
independence, and to serve listeners and
viewers and not individual political parties
or government. One of the strategic goals is
technological development, i.e. the
digitalisation of radio and TV.
Bulgarian Media Council selects
national TV director
The Electronic Media Council has elected
Emil Vladkov general director of the
Bulgarian National Television. The voting
was secret but in the presence of reporters.
Fight to save Radio Slovakia
International
The Slovak Syndicate of Journalists (SSN) is
concerned about the fate of Radio Slovakia
International (RSI), which may be
definitively switched off due to a lack of
finances. The journalists have requested that
the government allocate funds to preserve
RSI. Slovak Radio Director General Jaroslav
Reznik has said that he will close down RSI
on 1 July if he does not receive 75m Slovak
koruna (Euro1.9m) to continue the
broadcasts. The SSN views RSI as an
important tool for promoting Slovakia
abroad. They say it is illogical that, on one
hand, the cabinet wants to set up a special
institution to promote Slovakia abroad and
on the other hand, it wants to cancel a
promotional tool that has been working
efficiently for a decade. The parliamentary
media committee disagrees with the possible
termination of RSI’s shortwave broadcasts.
Icelandic president rejects media bill
The Icelandic president, Mr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, has refused to approve a
controversial media bill, which will now be put to a
national referendum – an unprecedented decision in the
history of the Republic of Iceland. The government had
put the bill forward in response to increased
consolidation in media ownership. The main concern
was Northern Lights, which following a series of
acquisitions now controls newspapers with 66% market
share, its television channels have almost 40% share of
the market, it owns almost all private radio stations as
well as operating music stores, movie theatres, etc. The
bill puts strict limitations on media ownership and would
be the first legislation of its kind in Iceland – for example, a company would not get
a licence if it has business unrelated to media as its main concern, or if a company
has shares in a newspaper. The effects of the bill would first be felt in June 2006.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson
Deutsche Welle goes mobile
Currently in its pilot phase, DW’s new serviceMCAST could soon be offeringmultimedia
phone owners regular news reports and up-to-date news briefs from DW-WORLD three
times daily, in partnership with Orange andVodafone.WithMCAST, cell phone providers
just send the information package once, and any number of subscribers can click and
receive. It’s a financial dream come true for the providers, who stand to cut transmission
costs by 70 to 90 percent. “We have created a platform for people to comfortably consume
media content,” explained Wilfried Runde, the Internet specialist in charge of Deutsche
Welle’s MCAST project. And at just
€
5 per month for news updates delivered three
times a day, the service is good value for money. After initial trials in Israel, a second
pilot was launched in Athens in June. Runde sees it as a good opportunity for Deutsche
Welle to reach even more people around the globe. “For the first time, we can offer the
mobile transmission of our information to a new user group,” Runde said.
