ITV

Tag: Measat-3

  • RigNet contracts MEASAT-3 for distn of VSAT services

    RigNet contracts MEASAT-3 for distn of VSAT services

    MUMBAI: MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. announced that RigNet Pte Ltd global provider of managed communications solutions to the oil and gas industry had signed an agreement contracting capacity on the MEASAT-3 satellite for the distribution of VSAT services.

    MEASAT has been supporting RigNet since 2005 with satellite capacity for the distribution of VSAT services via MEASAT-1.

     
    Said MEASAT senior director sales and marketing Yau Chyong Lim, “We are delighted that RigNet has selected the recently launched MEASAT-3 satellite, which has been designed to be one of Asia-Pacific’s premier satellites with extensive coverage over more than 100 countries, to distribute their services to their upstream oil and gas customers. MEASAT-3 has an excellent footprint that covers Asia Pacific, Middle East and parts of Africa. This increased satellite footprint size is vital to RigNet’s hyper-growth in these regions”.

     
    Said RigNet Vice President for the Asia Pacific region John Troup, “RigNet is extremely pleased that MEASAT-3 was successfully launched and in service. With this new satellite, RigNet will be able to provide coverage for our customers’ drilling rigs seamlessly across regions. MEASAT-3 also complements RigNet’s global satellite coverage across all upstream oil and gas regions.”

    MEASAT-3’s powerful C-Band beams will allow RigNet’s host of VSAT terminals to communicate with multiple offshore locations via high-speed, reliable and secure satellite links. MEASAT-3’s bandwidth will facilitate cost-effective operations and heightened efficiency in RigNet’s global network.

  • Measat-3 satellite successfully launched

    Measat-3 satellite successfully launched

    MUMBAI: A Proton Breeze M launch vehicle, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, successfully placed the Measat-3 satellite into orbit earlier today.

    After separation, the satellite will be manoeuvred into its orbital location and will undergo in-orbit testing. This is expected to be completed by 1 February, 2008.

    The project cost of the Measat-3 satellite is $ 280 million.

    Providing 300 per cent more capacity at the key 91.5E orbital location, Measat-3 is one of the region’s most technologically advanced satellites.

    Measat-3 has 24 Ku-band transponders and has been designed to provide capability for data services and Direct-to-Home (DTH) applications in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Indian Subcontinent. The satellite has been designed with a C-Band payload capable of reaching over 100 countries, representing 70 per cent of the world’s population, and the most powerful Ku-band DTH coverage for over 160 million TV households in the countries under its footprint.

    Measat-3’s launch opens up the options available to Indian operators looking to enter the DTH arena. Kalanithi Maran’s southern broadcast network Sun Group’s Sun Direct DTH service is ready to launch and is only waiting a satellite to beam off. Anil Ambani’s ADAG also has plans for a DTH service under the brand name Bluemagic, which is headed by the former CEO of Zee Group’s Dish TV, Sunil Khanna.

    It may be recalled that the unfortunate failure in July of the GSLV-F02 launch rocket carrying the Insat-4C communication satellite had wrecked the timetables for the launch of Sun Direct.

    Sun had booked seven high-power Ku-band transponders, six for DTH and one for DSNG (digital satellite news gathering), of the total 12 carried by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Insat-4C.

    Said Measat’s COO, Paul Brown-Kenyon: “The launch of Measat-3 will enhance our ability to support Malaysian and international customers. It will not only augment capacity but also enhance redundancy capabilities for customers using the Measat-1 satellite. Planning is already underway for the launch of Measat- 1R, scheduled for end 2007 / early 2008, which is being developed to support and sustain future growth requirements for existing and prospective customers.”

    Currently operating a two satellite network, Measat provides video distribution services across East and South East Asia, Indochina, South Asia and Australia. The launch of Measat-3, and Measat-1R end 2007 / early 2008 will extend the reach of the Measat fleet, providing customers with a satellite able to reach Pay-TV operators in over 100 countries, representing more than 70 per cent of the world’s population. Leveraging facilities at the Measat Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of world-class media partners including Astro, Pacific Century Matrix and STT, Measat provides a complete range of broadcast services including video playout, up-linking, and video turnaround to and from the key European and North American markets.

  • Malaysia’s Astro eyes significant FM presence in India

    Malaysia’s Astro eyes significant FM presence in India

    MUMBAI: South East Asia’s leading media group Astro All Asia Networks plc is eyeing a major expansion of its activities in India. It is currently in advanced discussions with strategic partners on various initiatives, including participation in a nationwide consortium of FM radio networks.

    Speaking to reporters after Astro’s third AGM at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Group CEO Ralph Marshall said, “We expect to finalise partnership arrangements in the coming months. Appropriate announcements will be made in due course.” Added Marshall, “We expect that we would have a 20 per cent interest in a nationwide radio licence as soon as we receive the approvals.”

    Astro already manages two FM radio stations in Kolkata. Astro’s direct FM operations in India are managed through AMSI (Airtime Marketing & Sales India). Astro, working with its local Indian partners Power107.8 FM and Aamar 106.2 FM, provide studio facilities and airtime sales and marketing services to the two FM radio stations in Kolkata.

    Additionally, Marshall mentioned that Astro also wants to create content for distribution in both India and China.

    A key part of Marshall’s interaction with the media yesterday was devoted to Astro’s plans to invest $135.8 million over the next three to five years to build up its business in Indonesia. The pay-TV operator is to take a 20 per cent stake in a joint venture in Indonesia, known as PT Direct Vision (PTDV). Terms and conditions of the joint venture are expected to be finalised in six to eight weeks, reports Malaysia’s Business Times. Astro also expects to introduce more services, including pay and premium programming, in Malaysia and Brunei once it has access to MEASAT’s new satellite transponder capacity on Measat-3.

    “We will have a significant number of new services for our customers in Malaysia and Brunei once we have access to new satellite transponder capacity on Measat-3. Malaysia remains a growth market for us and content is key to driving future growth and customer retention. Our programming team has lined up a suite of local and international programmes of various genres and languages. In this regard, we are pleased to have received confirmation from satellite owner and operator Measat Global of a new launch slot for M3 between 28 November 2006 and 26 January 2007,” said Rohana Rozhan CEO Astro TV.

    The company will soon also launch Astro MAX, its next generation set-top box that incorporates an 80GB integrated hard disk drive.

    “Outside Malaysia, the Group is focused on expanding our distribution platforms and content development, particularly multi-lingual, multi-ethnic content, for the regional markets,” said Marshall.

    It was just last month that Astro and Prannoy Roy’s NDTV jointly announced the launch of a 24 hour news, infotainment and lifestyle channel called Astro Awani in Djakarta, Indonesia. The language of the channel is primarily Bahasa Indonesia. Astro Awani is the first channel launched by NDTV outside of India.

    With this launch Astro Awani became the first news channel in Astro’s bouquet, and is being distributed throughout Indonesia on PT Direct Vision’s platform, that is currently licensing the ‘Astro’ trademark.

    Astro Awani is the first channel launched by NDTV generating news that is not India-related and is specifically for viewers of that country. NDTV will be launching a similar channel with Astro in Malaysia by this year-end.

  • Zee Network launches ‘Zee’ in Indonesia

    Zee Network launches ‘Zee’ in Indonesia

    MUMBAI: Zee Network has launched its channel Zee in Indonesia. The channel will be dubbed in the local language Bahasa.

    The commercial launch of the channel was held on 1 March 2006 on the multi-channel satellite pay-television platform Astro Nusantara as a package.

    Astro Nusantara hopes to reach 3.5 million subscribers in Indonesia in the next three years with the channel in their basic line up. The dubbed channel will be telecast from 13 March.

    Simultaneously, another one hour band will be telecast in Malaysia to 1.7 million households with sub-titles in Bahasa. This will be available on Astro Prima (the local Astro channel) as a band until Measat 3 is launched. On the launch of Measat 3 (tentatively August 2006), the entire channel Zee will be available with sub titles to the Malay audience.

    Indiantelevision.com had first reported Zee Network’s plans to work out an arrangement with Malaysia’s multi-channel pay TV operator Astro to launch a new dedicated channel with Hindi content, for its Indonesian, Malaysian and Brunei audiences, in September 2005.

    Speaking on the launch, Zee International Operations CEO Dheeraj Kapuria said, “We take great pleasure in announcing Zee in Bahasa. We are optimistic about the popularity of this channel, as our viewers in Malaysia and Indonesia will now be able to enjoy the content on Zee in a language they can easily comprehend.”

    The channel’s content will be sourced from the flagship channel Zee TV library, which will be localised with Bahasa Indonesia dubbing and Bahasa Melayu subtitling, to reflect the different language, lifestyle and viewing habits of the audiences in the three countries, Zee Network said in an official release.

    Content from the Indian sub-continent, such as top Bollywood movies, have enjoyed high ratings in this region. The Zee channel promises programmes of various genres which include top Hindi soap operas, drama serials, blockbuster movies, lifestyle, entertainment and musical programmes, the release adds.