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Tag: AsiaSat

  • Turbidite partners with AsiaSat to expand its edge data center solutions offering

    Turbidite partners with AsiaSat to expand its edge data center solutions offering

    Mumbai: Turbidite Ltd, Asia’s newest edge data center platform and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Ltd (AsiaSat), the region’s premier satellite solutions provider have announced their strategic alliance. The partnership will leverage AsiaSat’s existing satellite and ground infrastructure with Turbidite’s dynamic edge data center platform to support the accelerated demand for digital services.

    “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with AsiaSat as we broaden our edge data center solutions to support new mandates by the growing number of OTTs and media companies as they continue to drive up digital traffic,” said Turbidite co-founder and chief executive officer Bill Barney. “Together with AsiaSat, we are able to further empower these customers to transform into digital-ready organisations with secure access, flexible transport/bandwidth options, and real-time deployment.”

    The partnership will bring together the expertise and skills of the two companies to provide hosting services alongside satellite and ground-based connectivity from AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station, said the media statement.

    “We see this partnership as one of our strategic moves to support customers with a breadth of new services to cope with the rapid pace of digital transformation,” said AsiaSat CEO Roger Tong. “Turbidite’s extensive expertise in the data center and network infrastructure deployment and management will truly complement our current satellite and ground-based solution portfolios.”

     

  • AsiaSat taps into HERMES Live’s streaming service

    AsiaSat taps into HERMES Live’s streaming service

    NEW DELHI: Satellite solutions provider Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) has signed up Hong Kong-based live-streaming platform HERMES Live as its technology partner. Under the deal, HERMES Live will provide seamless live streaming service to AsiaSat customers across the world.

    The announcement comes at a time when digital transformation is fast reshaping the way audiences consume content. The partnership will enable AsiaSat to fulfil the ever-increasing demand of customers to distribute content flexibly and affordably while attaining the maximum reach. HERMES Live provides professional, broadcast-grade video-streaming for live events, including live sports, conferences, performances and education to a wide audience across all devices. It also allows simulcasting to social media channels.

    The platform has seamlessly broadcasted several major events to a global audience, including one of the region’s most anticipated charity concerts of popular Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, which was organised earlier this year in July. The event was streamed to as many as 100 media platforms across the globe.

    It also helped livestream the annual general meetings for listed companies, with Tricor offering Hong Kong’s first and only full-function platform that enables electronic general meetings with live streaming. Apart from this, it has also provided seamless coverage of virtual conferences, interviews and commercial events including Hong Kong FinTech Week 2020, Entrepreneur Day 2020, and Sotheby’s Hong Kong Sales Live Auction.

    “It is important for us to keep pace with digital transformation by growing our services into new areas that complement our core competencies in providing the best-in-class satellite capacity and transmission solutions. We are delighted to have HERMES Live as our technology partner to offer streaming service as part of our end-to-end media solutions,” said Ina Lui, senior vice president, commercial, business development and strategy of AsiaSat.

    “We’re excited that AsiaSat has selected HERMES Live as its technology partner to complement AsiaSat’s media solution portfolio with this innovative and technology proven platform to deliver streaming service based on customers’ specific requirements,” said Wilson Yuen, chief executive officer of HERMES Live Technology Ltd.

    AsiaSat's powerful stream of satellites – which includes AsiaSat 5, AsiaSat 6, AsiaSat 7, AsiaSat 8 and AsiaSat9 – provides access to over two-thirds of the world's population.  The new streaming service will add to AsiaSat’s end-to-end media and broadcast solutions which includes transponder capacity from some of Asia’s hotbird satellites, signal uplink, turnaround and downlink, multi-channel per carrier (MCPC) distribution platforms, fibre connectivity, playout and broadcast facilities, equipment hosting, ground equipment such as bandpass filters available for full time and occasional use.

  • Linear TV witnesses upsurge in viewing during lockdown

    Linear TV witnesses upsurge in viewing during lockdown

    MUMBAI: Recent media reports have revealed shifts in consumers’ viewing behaviours, with individuals and families spending more time at home due to the Covid2019 pandemic. This has resulted in a spike in linear TV viewing, in terms of penetration and time spent across multiple markets and all generations.

    News channels and programmes have seen a surge in viewership as news updates and government announcements on new regulations and the pandemic development become profoundly important to the public. During this period of uncertainty, satellite continues to be a reliable and cost-effective means for content delivery, serving audiences nationally and abroad with critical and timely news and information.

    As Asia’s leading provider of broadcast platforms, AsiaSat strives to meet consumers’ evolving demand for content and viewing quality. Among the 550 TV and radio channels originated from more than 30 countries and regions in 30 languages delivered by the AsiaSat fleet, more than 80 are news channels, with 60 per cent of them in local languages targeting local markets as well as expatriates and travellers who want to keep abreast of the happenings in their home countries.

    Over the past year, the number of HDTV channels increased across AsiaSat’s core video satellites AsiaSat 5 and AsiaSat 7, as well as its new video hotbird AsiaSat 9 at 122°E. These HDTV channels have included the Asian Action Channel, CTI Asia, ET Mall, PILI TV, Trace Sport Stars, Trace Urban, TVB Xing He and tvN Movies on AsiaSat 9, and a selection of WarnerMedia’s bouquet of regional HD channels on AsiaSat 7 including CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Warner TV, raising the share of HDTV services to 30% across the AsiaSat fleet.

    “At AsiaSat, while committed to protecting the safety and health of our employees during this difficult period, we will continue supporting our customers to deliver high-quality and uninterrupted services to their audience even as demand for TV content surges unpredictably. With our growing HDTV services and wide-ranging news and entertainment programming, we are delighted to demonstrate satellite’s ability to multicast high resolution content, particularly over a vast geographical area and with a growing population of receive antennas, which is more resilient in coping with unexpected soaring demand for services than streaming TV services that were required to lower streaming quality at times of network congestion,” said Ina Lui, senior vice president, commercial, business development and strategy at AsiaSat.

  • WarnerMedia chooses AsiaSat as strategic partner for HD channels distribution in Asia Pacific

    WarnerMedia chooses AsiaSat as strategic partner for HD channels distribution in Asia Pacific

    MUMBAI: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), Asia’s leading satellite operator has been selected by WarnerMedia as a strategic partner for distributing regional HD services of CNN International, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Warner TV, as well as HBO HD in South Asia, via AsiaSat 7 in the Asia-Pacific.

    AsiaSat has been distributing a total of five WarnerMedia SD channels on AsiaSat 7 (previously on AsiaSat 3S) since 1999. Since transmission, these channels have gained access to hundreds of rebroadcast networks and hotel networks across the region.

    To allow a smooth migration to HD service for its rebroadcast affiliates including pay TV platforms and hotel  networks  across  Asia  Pacific,  and  for  audiences  to  enjoy  a  more  compelling  viewing experience, WarnerMedia will migrate its HD services and consolidate them into its existing SD platform on AsiaSat 7.

    “The migration allows us to upgrade and streamline our services at the same time. Working together with AsiaSat, the new arrangement also allows us to offer our regional broadcast partners the chance for their viewers to enjoy our channels in HD,” said James Crossland, Senior Vice President of International Operations for Turner, a WarnerMedia company.

    From September, AsiaSat 7 will carry a total of eight HD and three SD channels of content from news, entertainment, to children, movies and drama. With migration of service to HD completed in the next few months, viewers across the region will be able to enjoy high-quality TV benefiting from the high penetration of AsiaSat 7 at 105.5°E, the world’s most watched orbital slot.

    “The media brands under WarnerMedia are some of the world’s most famous and most popular broadcast networks. We are very proud of our long-time partnership with WarnerMedia, which is one of the most valuable assets we have built over time. We look forward to continuing to support WarnerMedia in their service migration to HD on our high performance AsiaSat 7, and through our leading-edge broadcast solutions to serve audiences with ever better TV viewing experience,” said Ina Lui, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Business Development & Strategy of AsiaSat.

  • Andrew Jordan resigns as AsiaSat’s ED & CEO

    Andrew Jordan resigns as AsiaSat’s ED & CEO

    MUMBAI: Andrew Jordan has resigned as executive director (ED) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd (AsiaSat), one of Asia’s leading satellite operators, effective 16 April 2018. He will serve as the senior advisor of AsiaSat until 31 October 2018.

    Roger Tong has been appointed by the board to succeed Jordan as ED and CEO with effect from 16 April 2018. Prior to the appointment, Tong served as vice president (engineering and operations) and chief technical officer of AsiaSat and has led various satellite and teleport programmes since joining AsiaSat in March 2008. Tong has over 33 years’ experience in the satellite and telecommunications industry and has worked in Canada, Mainland China and Hong Kong. He has also held various senior management positions at COM DEV International, Allen Telecom Inc and Mark IV Industries Ltd.

    AsiaSat’s chairman Gregory Zeluck said, “On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to express my gratitude to Jordan for his service. We look forward to his continued contribution as Senior Advisor to the Company.”

    “I would also like to welcome Tong, an industry veteran with extensive knowledge, experience and network of contacts across the satellite communications, broadcast and telecom industries who has served the Company for more than 10 years to join the board. We are confident that he has the strategic vision, capability and experience to continue to build AsiaSat’s leadership in this rapidly changing environment and to steer the company to its next phase of growth,” Zeluck added.

    Also Read :

    AsiaSat 9 set for 28 September launch

    DTH satellite GSAT 9 (South Asia Sat) blasts off today

  • AsiaSat 5 & Eurovision to deliver Taipei event in 4K & HD from 19 Aug

    MUMBAI: Eurovision Media Services, in collaboration with its long-term satellite partner, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), will use AsiaSat 5 to deliver the Taipei 2017 Universiade across the Asia Pacific.

    The 29th Summer Universiade is an international sporting and cultural event staged biennially, with Taipei as this year’s host city between 19 and 30 August. The Universiade will include 21 competitive sports as well as one demonstration sport throughout 12 days of competitions, attended
    by talented youth athletes from around the world.

    Since 1999 Eurovision Media Services and AsiaSat have enjoyed a successful partnership that delivers top quality sports content to broadcasters and TV networks in 4K and HD. This new delivery on AsiaSat 5, an OU service platform, sees the strong relationship continuing into the future with other major events to come. AsiaSat 5 currently provides access to more than 800 million households via terrestrial networks and pay TV platforms in the Asia Pacific.

    “Eurovision is our long-standing partner in creating value for customers and their audience, especially where it comes to AsiaSat’s strength in delivering high quality live sports coverage,” said AsiaSat chief commercial officer Barrie Woolston.

    “We have collaborated with AsiaSat to deliver top quality, reliable services for major sporting events in the Asia Pacific,” said Eurovision chief operating officer Graham Warren.

  • CASBAA Forum ’17 set to tackle critical issues

    MUMBAI: At a time of unprecedented technological and business change for the Asia Pacific satellite sector, the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 (22 May at the Four Seasons, Singapore) is set to tackle the most critical issues experienced by the industry after more than two decades of continuous growth.

    During the packed agenda for the Forum 2017, the Keynotes, Panels, Short Presentations, Interviews and Networking Breaks will focus on the promise of tomorrow as well as the challenges of today.

    Re-usable Launchers are impacting business plans at every level, Massive LEO Constellations are now set for take-off, Space Junk Galore is making headlines, and emerging technologies such as IOT and Flat Panel Antennas are promising to change the game yet again. All this is taking place at a time while revenue growth remains marginal, and when operators in space markets around the world urgently need to capitalize on premium plans.

    How can Asian satellite operators retain their Video Spectrum and serve smaller customers with economic efficiency?

    Other topics to be debated include:

    · Keynote: “Re-entering Asia” with Andrew Jordan, CEO, AsiaSat

    After more 15 years anchored in Europe and Australia, AsiaSat CEO Andrew Jordan has returned to the region with fresh perspectives and a clear-sighted view of “The “Asian Opportunity”.

    · Managing Change in Times of Tech Turmoil. The CEO Panel

    · “What can they be Thinking? Let’s hear it from the Customers”

    Competition is all fine and good, but when it leaves the customer feeling bruised, what should the industry be doing?

    · The C-suite fortune hunters

    In the air and on the ground, the global satellite industry is entering the future at warp speed. But do the Next Gen Operators have all the answers?

    · With India in View: Forever complex; forever dynamic

    Even as India makes great stridsdes in the launch sector (104 smallsats orbited in a single cluster this March), the dynamic domestic communications market remains subject to complex rules and interventions.

    · In-flight connectivity is evolving as a key revenue stream — just as the future of the Mobility Market remains unpredictable.

    “More than 100 companies have registered for the CASBAA Forum 2017 with half the audience coming from Asia and much of the balance from the US and Europe,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO, CASBAA. “With so much change in the air the issues are more critical than ever. The ‘Need to Know’ is paramount.”

  • Eurovision, AsiaSat partner for content delivery in APAC

    NEW DELHI: Eurovision, the operational arm of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), have expanded their partnership for use of multiple C-band transponders on AsiaSat 5 and a teleport service from AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.

    The C-band transponders will be used for occasional live sports and news transmissions in the Asia-Pacific region. They will also support permanent TV channel distribution in Asia for EBU Members and customers, according to a joint statement by the two in Hong Kong.

    Eurovision and AsiaSat have partnered together since 1999 to deliver top quality sports events to broadcasters holding the rights in the Asia-Pacific region, including major football leagues and tournaments.

    The collaboration has recently expanded to 4K transmissions of major events successfully delivered to the international broadcasting community.

    Over the years, AsiaSat’s space and ground facilities have been a key part of the Eurovision Global Network. Connecting AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong to the Eurovision FiNE (fibre network) allows Eurovision to provide enhanced value-added services, including equipment hosting, turnaround and uplink services to EBU Members and customers.

    AsiaSat Chief Commercial Officer Barrie Woolston said: “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to continue working with our long-term partner Eurovision, expanding on our shared commitment to bring more value to our customers and their audiences through our ever strengthening partnership. AsiaSat is determined to stay at the forefront of technology to deliver the best global live sports content possible.”

    Eurovision COO Graham Warren said: “We are delighted to expand our collaboration with AsiaSat to deliver more global live sports events using advanced technology such as the 4K. Together we can enhance and offer Asian audiences a superior viewing experience and additional complementary services in the future.”

  • AsiaSat sees positive outlook in India’s 7.3% growth forecast

    MUMBAI: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited yesterday announced its 2016 annual results for the year ended 31 December 2016.

    AsiaSat 9, a replacement for AsiaSat 4 and planned for launch in late 2017, will offer additional capacity serving new markets for Direct-to-Home (DTH), regional video distribution, private networks and broadband services.

    AsiaSat 9 is expected to launch in late 2017. “We believe this satellite, which carries 28 C-band and 32 Ku-band transponders, along with a Ka-band payload is ideally positioned to exploit the growth in both HD and Ultra HD (UHD) video content and advanced broadband networks. AsiaSat 9 will be a replacement for AsiaSat 4 at 122 degrees East with additional capacity delivering enhanced power and greater coverage for Direct-to-Home (DTH), regional video distribution, private networks and broadband services within our footprint running from New Zealand to the Middle East,” AsiaSat stated in its annual results statement.

    “With regional economic prospects as estimated by the [International Monetary Fund], World Bank and [Economist Intelligence Unit] that range from 6.8% [gross domestic product] growth for China in 2017, 7.3% for India and forecasts that hover around 6% for the majority of South and Southeast Asia (with Myanmar outstanding at 8.5%), as an innovative service provider AsiaSat has a positive commercial outlook despite the short-term negatives such as the current capacity over-supply.”

    Financial Highlights:

    2016 revenue of HK$1,272 million, down 3% compared to 2015 primarily due to reduced short-term revenue from AsiaSat 3S. If excluding the short-term non-recurring AsiaSat 3S revenue, revenue grew by about 3% 2016 profit attributable to owners maintained at HK$430 million (2015: HK$440 million), as a result of lower income tax charges following the reversal of a provision made in previous years Combined new and renewed contracts during the year valued at HK$1,870 million (2015: HK$1,310 million). As at 31 December 2016, the value of contracts on hand increased by 16% to HK$4,067 million (2015: HK$3,517 million). Proposed final dividend of HK$0.20 per share

    Operational Highlights:
    Utilisation of AsiaSat 4, AsiaSat 5, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 7 as of 31 December 2016 stood at 67% (99 transponders utilised), with AsiaSat 8’s entire Ku-band payload fully leased at 4 degrees West and AsiaSat 3S operating in inclined orbit to provide service in Asia.

    The acquisition of new customer Shanghai Interactive Television (SiTV) on AsiaSat 6 marked AsiaSat’s re-entry into the China video market through establishing a high value platform to support the development of High Definition (HD) broadcasting in China.

    Continued to lead the industry in advanced technology through advocating Ultra HD (UHD) broadcasting in Asia with its free-to-air UHD channel ‘4K-SAT’ on AsiaSat 4, and evaluating opportunities to develop its High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ka-band capabilities.

    AsiaSat’s Chairman, JU Wei Min, said, “In the coming year, the Board of Directors is cautiously optimistic on the economic prospects for the region, which, despite relatively flat indicators for some markets continues to invest in new telecommunications and media infrastructure, as well as renewing and updating existing facilities. New DTH platforms focused on smaller emerging markets remain attractive, especially given the need for relevant local-language services.”

    “In order to address the ever-increasing, long-term demand for new data transmission capacity AsiaSat will continue to evaluate opportunities to develop its HTS Ka-band capabilities, carefully monitoring and benefiting from the technical and commercial progress of deployments of IoT, UHD and other consumer driven services,” JU added.

    JU Wei Min stated: “In 2016, AsiaSat laid the groundwork for the prospect of improved revenues in 2017 as we move into a period of more efficient use of satellite bandwidth and increasing demand for media and data services across Asia. Although disappointing, this year’s outcome should be viewed against a backdrop of globally unstable market conditions and the impact of disruptive new technologies.”

    “The market instability resulted from a global oversupply of satellite capacity of all kinds and generally uncertain economic conditions. We recognise the need to continue to manage closely the pricing pressures on data services as well as compression improvements for video distribution which to some extent neutralise the benefits of the increased demand generated by mobility applications and video format upgrades.”

  • AsiaSat appoints Woolston & Cubbon

    AsiaSat appoints Woolston & Cubbon

    MUMBAI: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) has strengthened commercial and strategy teams with appointments of Barrie Woolston as the chief commercial officer and Sabrina Cubbon in the role of vice-president, business development & strategy.

    On 1 February 2017, Woolston will integrate and lead all sales, marketing and commercial activities of the company. Woolston will lead a strong team that will search to understand and meet customers’ needs, and continue to develop new businesses worldwide.

    “I am confident that with an experienced and integrated sales team, Barrie (Woolston) will take AsiaSat’s commercial and customer activities to the next level,” said AsiaSat president and CEO Andrew Jordan said.

    “I’m delighted to take up this new commercial role and work closely with our customers and partners to provide enhanced service portfolio that meets customers’ changing needs. I join at an exciting time with the upcoming launch of our new satellite AsiaSat 9 and other new services later this year,” said Woolston.

    Woolston has 30 years of experience in the Technology，Media，Telecom sectors, with a wealth of solid experience in managing sales teams and driving new business, most recently as Chief Commercial Officer with Encompass Digital Media based in Atlanta, GA, 13 years as Commercial Director of Arqiva’s satellite and media business, and various global sales, marketing, product management and operations positions with leading brands globally.

    In the new role, Cubbon will be responsible for developing strategic initiatives to drive company’s business growth.