20 September 2004
SES ASTRA has further strengthened its position as the UK’s leading direct-to-home (DTH) satellite company with a major two-transponder contract with Channel 4.
It is SES ASTRA’s first direct deal with the British terrestrial channel, and the transmission capacity will be used across a variety of Channel 4’s digital channels as well as its extensive range of associated interactive TV applications.
David Scott, Deputy Chief Executive of Channel 4, said: “These transponders will provide Channel 4 with considerable flexibility when considering the expansion and future development of our broadcast services. We have worked with SES ASTRA in the past and look forward to a continued successful relationship.”
Alexander Oudendijk, SES ASTRA Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said: “Channel 4 programmes are watched by more than 75% of the UK population during an average week and we are delighted to add such a prominent terrestrial broadcaster to our client list. The UK is an extremely important market for SES ASTRA and this deal not only strengthens our position in the UK but also underpins our status as Europe’s leading DTH satellite company.”
On 15 September, SES ASTRA had announced its first transponder contract with the Broadcast division of communications giant ntl. The agreement gives ntl additional capacity in the rapidly expanding UK market for small channel launches.
The deal allows ntl to offer a seamless one-stop-shop solution including studio facilities and playout services from its Broadcast Media Centre at Feltham, contribution links, and the ASTRA 28.2° East satellite uplink and downlink. It will be of particular interest to new broadcasters and satellite channel start-ups.
ntl’s Broadcast division provides end-to-end service solutions for satellite channels and transmission services for terrestrial broadcasters. The company uplinks around 150 services from three teleports in London and Hampshire. It also provides comprehensive studio and playout services, and a full range of satellite newsgathering facilities including fully crewed production and uplink vehicles.
ASTRA’s 13 satellites transmit over 1400 analogue and digital TV and radio channels as well as multimedia and internet services. Its two prime DTH orbital positions are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Satellite News Gathering and Cable Contribution transmit from 23.5° and 5.2 °East.
20 September 2004
On 16 September Intelsat announced that is has decided to end its 51% participation in Galaxy Satellite TV Holdings Limited of Hong Kong, whose subsidiary Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited provides local and international pay-TV programming to the Hong Kong market.
Intelsats partner in the Galaxy business, TVB, will acquire Intelsats share in the joint venture and has agreed to release Intelsat from any future cash contributions. A related existing agreement for Intelsats in-kind contribution of satellite capacity on the IS-709 satellite will end on 31 March 2005. Intelsats financial results for the period ended 30 September 2004 will reflect a non-cash charge of approximately $30 million to write down the Galaxy investment.
We continue to believe that Galaxys service offering represents an attractive alternative for pay-TV subscribers in Hong Kong, said Conny Kullman, CEO of Intelsat. Galaxys growth has been slower than anticipated, however, and it is not in Intelsats strategic interest to invest additional resources and management time on this business.
20 September 2004
The Advert Channel has signed a three-year contract with independent global communications company, Inmedia, that will see Britain get its first 24 hour TV station dedicated solely to airing adverts. Broadcasting on the Sky digital satellite channel 694, the Advert Channel is dedicated to bringing viewers the best (and worst) TV adverts from around the world, with a focus on adverts as a form of entertainment, culture and from an artistic and creative aspect.
Love them or hate them, everyone has an opinion on adverts, says the channels co-founder, Chelsey Baker. Programmes on the station will include Ad Chat, where presenters will chat live about the top TV adverts; Advert Focus, looking at ads making the news; Adverts for You, featuring the adverts that make you laugh, cry and those that are controversial; and Adverts Today, a behind-the-scenes look at how top adverts are made. Themed shows will focus on commercials of a certain era and segments, such as ads from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, late night adverts, sports and celebrity adverts.
The deal will ensure the smooth delivery of the new channels 24 hour programming to Skys 7.3 million subscribers using Inmedias fully-managed playout and satellite uplinking via its EUROBIRD transponder.
16 September 2004
The senior executives of the AIB, Simon Spanswick – CEO, Tim Keeler – Director of Finance and Anver Anderson – Director of Business Development together with Samantha Woollett – Advertising Manager, will attend the forthcoming IBC Conference and Exhibtion in Amsterdam, 9th – 14th September 2004.
Members – and non-members – are welcome to drop by Booth 9.545 to meet the team and hear the latest activities of the Association.
16 September 2004
Germanys international broadcaster Deutsche Welle announced that is going to produce a daily 8-hour FM window with Macedonian Radio MRTV. DWs Director General Erik Betterman signed a Letter of Intent on 15 September in Skopje.
The programme with the title Metropolenradio will be broadcast on MRTVs second nationwide radio channel which focuses on culture and entertainment and which reaches 95 percent of the population. Part of the programme window are three 30-minute programmes of the Macedonian Service of DW-RADIO as well as parts of DW-RADIOs European music stream. Also planned are five minute bulletins on the hour in Macedonian, German and English.
MRTV was the first station in East/South East Europe with whom DW signed a cooperation agreement in 1969.
DWs Metropolenradio is also available on FM in Prishtina (Kosovo) as well as Tirana (Albania) und Sofia (Bulgaria).
16 September 2004
GlobeCast, a global satellite services supplier, PanAmSat, a global satellite operator, and Scientific Atlanta, a supplier of content distribution systems, have joined forces to offer a turnkey high-definition television (HDTV) satellite distribution platform on the Galaxy 13 North American spacecraft. By integrating the end-to-end resources necessary to enable quality HDTV transmission, the service will allow programmers to beam HDTV signals via satellite to cable and broadcast affiliates for live or pre-scheduled events such as sports, concerts, or PPV, as well as full-time HDTV channels.
GlobeCast will manage end-to-end HDTV transmissions and connect customers from its digital media teleport in Los Angeles, using Scientific-Atlanta®s state-of-the-art PowerVu® HD encoding and digital content distribution system and PanAmSats Galaxy 13 satellite.
Established cable networks and start-up channels can tap this sophisticated HDTV program delivery platform as well as a variety of associated GlobeCast services including master control, playout, ad and live feed insertion, remote video production, studio, and post production services. The service is ideal for delivery of live or pre-scheduled HD events on a part-time or occasional basis.
PanAmSats Galaxy 13 satellite will support the Globecast HD platform, offering ubiquitous C-band coverage over the United States. Specially designed to support HD transmissions, Galaxy 13 has double the power of its predecessor. Located at 127 degrees west longitude in the U.S. cable arc, Galaxy 13 is part of PanAmSats Power of Five antenna program, which provides qualified cable operators with simultaneous access to five Galaxy neighborhood satellites. It is also one of the industrys most advanced satellites and the nations strongest HDTV cable neighborhood. Its roster of HD programmers includes Cinemax HD, HBO HD, Encore HD, Fox Sports HD, NFL HD, STARZ! HD, TNT HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies and WealthTV.
HD programmers, Hollywood studios, and production facilities can easily feed HD signals to the platform via GlobeCasts HD-ready local access ports at key video exchange hubs in Los Angeles. Programmers in New York or Miami can seamlessly access the platform by entering GlobeCasts virtual teleport network through points-of-presence in those cities. GlobeCasts teleport offers full domestic arc and international satellite reception and uplinking, as well as the ability to connect to the HD platform from Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa via the companys global fiber ring and five-continent teleport network.
The platforms HD offerings include:
HD teleport services downlink, uplink and turnaround
Satellite space segment
PowerVu HD encoding 1080i, 720p, 480i/p and MPEG or Dolby AC3/4/5.1 audio
MPEG-2/DVB transmission
Conditional access
Additional transmission and content management services available include:
Record, store and playout services
Remote video production for live events
GlobeCast Studios and post production
HD – SD conversions
Transmission: rate changing, muxing, de-muxing, “cherrypicking”
Professional HDTV satellite receiver equipment optimized for the platform is available through Scientific Atlanta.
www.PanAmSat.com
www.scientificatlanta.com
www.globecast.com
