ITV

Tag: satellite

  • Isro’s PSLV-C20 launches joint Indo-French satellite Saral

    Isro’s PSLV-C20 launches joint Indo-French satellite Saral

    BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation‘s (Isro) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C20 Monday successfully launched the joint Indo-French satellite Saral, along with six other satellites in its 23rd flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.

    Other satellites that launched with Saral include Unibrite (NLS 8.1) and Brite (NLS 8.2) from Austria, Sapphire and Neossat from Canada, Aaausat-3 (NLS 8.3) from Denmark and STRaND-1 from the United Kingdom.

    The satellite was launched in the presence of President of India Pranab Mukherjee along with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, E. S. L. Narasimhan, Andhra Pradesh (AP) CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Minister of State (Prime Minister‘s Office) V Narayanasamy, and other dignitaries from the Government of AP.

    At the completion of the countdown, PSLV-C20 lifted off from the First Launch Pad at SDSC SHAR, at 1801 hrs (IST) with the ignition of the first stage of the launch vehicle. The important flight events, namely, stage ignitions, heat-shield separation, stage separations and satellite injections took place exactly as planned.

    After a flight of 17 minutes 55 seconds, the main payload, Saral, weighing 407 kg was injected to an orbit very close to the intended orbit. Following this, the six auxiliary satellites were also successfully injected.

  • Russian telco signs three-year capacity deal with SES

    Russian telco signs three-year capacity deal with SES

    MUMBAI: Russia‘s leading mobile operators JSC VimpelCom (TM Beeline) has signed a three-year capacity deal with SES for additional capacity on NSS-9 satellite to deliver high-quality data services in the Russian Far East.

    The additional capacity onSES‘ NSS-9 satellite will be used to provide data services to VimpelCom‘s corporate clients based in the Kamchatka, Magadan and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky regions, and also enable VimpelCom to optimise the use of satellite capacity for their 3G network in the Russian Far East and East Siberia region. In total, VimpelCom now contracts multiple transponders on the NSS-9 satellite.

    “VimpelCom uses satellite capacity to connect the nodes of its transmission network in the absence of ground infrastructure. Thanks to satellites, the company can deploy 3G networks and provide high-quality services to users in remote regions of the Russian Far East. We are happy to have such a reliable partner as SES,” said VimpelCom VP of Technical Services Igor Parfenov.

    “VimpelCom operates in some of the harshest areas of Russia, which are best served by satellites. The high-powered NSS-9 satellite and its comprehensive coverage over Russia has enabled SES to support VimpelCom as it continues to roll out 3G networks and provide data services in the eastern regions of Russia,” said SES Asia SVP Deepak Mathur, who is also responsible for data and mobility services.

  • UFO bags best Digital Cinema Solutions award at Chhattisgarhi film award ceremony

    UFO bags best Digital Cinema Solutions award at Chhattisgarhi film award ceremony

    MUMBAI: Satellite delivered Digital Cinema network UFO Moviez has won the ‘Best Digital Cinema Solutions’ award at the Chhattisgarhi film award ceremony 2013.

    Averred UFO Moviez director Satish Jain, “UFO Moviez has brought about a major revolution in the Chhattisgarhi film industry. The number of Chhattisgarhi films releasing in the last three years has increased sharply from just 1 or 2 each in 2007, 2008 & 2009 to 14 in 2010, 18 in 2011 and 14 in 2012, thanks to UFO’s Digital Cinema solutions.

    In the pre-digitization era, hardly one Chhattisgarhi film used to release every 2-3 years, but the numbers have shot up to 12-15 films annually in the post UFO era. Today, Chhattisgarhi films are only shot digitally thanks to the availability of UFO’s Digital Cinema exhibition technology.”

    Said UFO Moviez India COO Pankaj Jaysinh, “We are thankful for this recognition and proud to be associated with a forum supported by a State Government body as well as local film industry stakeholders. UFO Moviez is a leader and pioneer in converting existing theatres in Chhattisgarh into digital ones so that film producers and distributors can showcase the latest local language films on a first-day-first-show basis to wider set of audiences in the state and even across India.

    UFO Moviez has been bridging the geographic divide and increasing the number of Chhattisgarhi films on its digital network over the years. Digital medium of film exhibition has not only benefitted the Chhattisgarhi film industry, but also other regional film industries like Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese, Punjabi to flourish. Theatre owners are also reaping the benefits of the digitization of films including higher footfalls in the theatre premises, more ticket collections and enhanced advertising revenue earnings. It’s a win-win situation for all stakeholders of the Chhattisgarhi film business and the industry benefits the most.

    Chhattisgarhi film ‘Mayaa’, which was directed by Jain and produced by Rocky Daswani, released in June 2009 and was the first blockbuster Chhattisgarhi movie to release on the digital platform through UFO. As a matter of fact, Mayaa even crossed the collections of Aamir Khan’s Ghajini in Maa Bhuwneswari Talkies, Vinay Talkies and New Raj Talkies.

    UFO’s platform has enabled filmmakers to get the maximum revenue which wasn’t possible earlier. Toora Rickshawala, which was produced by Dawsani and directed by Jain was also a blockbuster. The film released on the UFO platform on 4 June 2010 and completed 100 days in Apsara Talkies (UFO Cinema) in Durg.

    The ceremony was organized by Filmi Chhattisgarh and sponsored by Credible Chhattisgarh, Cultural Division, Government of Chhattisgarh and Bhatia Film Production. The third edition of Chhattisgarhi Film Award Ceremony 2013 was held on 30 January.

  • Rise of IPTV cuts dominance of cable and satellite in Canada’s pay-TV market

    Rise of IPTV cuts dominance of cable and satellite in Canada’s pay-TV market

    MUMBAI: Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in Canada is rapidly gaining momentum at the expense of incumbent cable and satellite services, with IPTV‘s share of pay-TV subscriptions in the country rising to nearly 10 per cent in the third quarter of 2012.

    IPTV accounted for 9.6 per cent of Canadian pay-TV video subscriptions in the third quarter, according to IHS Screen Digest Television Intelligence, from information and analytics provider IHS. This is up from 6.6 percent during the third quarter of 2011, and from 1.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2007.

    Such an expansion will set the pace for IPTV‘s portion of Canada‘s subscriber base to rise to 18.1 per cent by the end of 2017, in the process causing the combined share of competitive technologies-cable and satellite-to fall to 81.9 percent.

    IHS analyst for television research Erik Brannon said, "Canadian telcos are adding IPTV subscribers at a rapid clip as Telus and Bell Canada engage in large-scale build-outs of their infrastructure in order to reach more potential customers. IPTV will continue to make strong gains in Canada in the coming years, eroding the dominant position now held by the cable and satellite services."

    Cable and Satellite Suffer: Just as in the US, IPTV‘s growth in Canada has come at the expense of cable and, to a lesser extent, satellite.

    Both cable and satellite continued to lose subscribers in the third quarter of 2012, each experiencing a 2 per cent year-over-year decline in subscriber growth compared to the third quarter of 2011.

    The response from Canadian cable operators has been muted so far, but there are signs they are not staying idle as subscribers go elsewhere.

    For example, Shaw Cable is betting on its massive Wi-Fi hot spot rollout to reduce churn for its broadband service, and ultimately its video subscribers. Broadband service at Shaw is becoming a valuable component to its bundled services and will play a pivotal role in retaining pay-TV subs.

    IPTV becomes must-see TV: Bell Canada in the third quarter reported explosive growth for its IPTV service, Fibe TV. Fibe TV added 42,973 net new customers to pass 200,000 for the first time, with net additions in the same quarter of 2011 amounting to 20,297.

    The company now accounts for 18 per cent of IPTV subscribers in Canada, leaving Aliant, SaskTel and Manitoba Telecom (MTS) each with less than 10 per cent of the market.

    Telus remains Canada‘s IPTV giant, holding 56 per cent of the total Canadian IPTV market, with its service capturing 43 per cent of the third quarter‘s IPTV growth. SaskTel, the first IPTV operator to enter the market in 2002, together with MTS held nearly an equal share of IPTV subscribers until Telus leapt ahead in 2010.

    If the rapid uptake of IPTV services from Bell Canada and Telus is any indication, there will be significant pressure upon incumbent pay-TV operators when they enter new markets.

    Facing Down OTT: As a whole, Canada‘s pay-TV industry has been able to fend off the threat from OTT services in large part due to strict data caps and limited OTT options. However, the situation could change if data caps start to loosen up and broadband subscribers continue to increase.

    Netflix, for instance, now has more than 1 million subscribers in Canada, even though its content offerings are still relatively limited compared to the US.

  • Younger Americans watching streamed TV shows: Harris

    Younger Americans watching streamed TV shows: Harris

    MUMBAI: Americans‘ television viewing options continue to grow. First cable, and then satellite services, expanded the amount and variety of content Americans could expect to find in their living rooms.

    More recently, DVRs, cable- or satellite-provided on-demand programming, along with digitally streamed programming, have allowed Americans to watch what they want, when they want, wherever they like and on whichever device they choose. But how are all of these possibilities really affecting Americans‘ overall TV viewing habits? And how are they likely to change in the near future?

    A Harris poll shows that over half of Americans (53%) indicate having watched digitally streamed TV programming on any device, and streaming is well on its way to becoming a dominant means of viewership among 18-35 year olds, nearly tying top-ranked live feed TV (as it airs) as the way or among the ways they most often watch TV programming (44 per cent live feed TV, 41 per cent streaming).

    These are some of the results of a poll of 2,343 adults surveyed online from 10 – 15 October, 2012 by Harris Interactive.

    Despite US adults – particularly those 35 and under – clearly seeing streaming as a viable viewing option, our TV screens are far from endangered: when asked to select the way or ways in which they most often watch television programs, roughly nine in ten Americans (89 per cent) point to their TV sets, sans streaming.

    Though they are watching television programming on a TV screen, whether over the air or through cable or satellite providers, American are far from unanimous on how they do so: while over half (56 per cent) identify a live feed as the way, or one of the ways, they most often watch TV programs, roughly three in ten each specify watching recorded (32 per cent) or cable- or satellite-provided on-demand (29 per cent) programming.

    As for streaming, while it may not be overtaking traditional TV viewership methods today, it is by no means an afterthought: a combined three in ten Americans (30 per cent) have the ability to watch streamed programming on their TV sets (19 per cent via set top boxes or game systems, 17 per cent via Internet-compatible TV sets), and two in ten (20 per cent) list streaming – on any device – as among the ways they most often watch TV programs.

    Additionally, there is cause to expect growth in the streaming of TV content: two in ten Americans indicate that they are watching more online/streaming TV content now than a year ago (20 per cent) and that that they expect to be watching more a year from now (19 per cent). And among those not watching more when compared to a year ago, roughly six in ten (59%) indicate that there are factors which could encourage them to watch more online/streaming TV programming; top factors include improved free streaming options (31%), access to programming they currently cannot (or don‘t think they can) get via streaming (20 per cent), not having to watch on a computer screen (19 per cent), access to a sufficiently fast connection (17 per cent) and ease of access (17 per cent).

    Streaming proving a fit for households with children Americans living in households with children appear to be an especially strong market for TV streaming. Those with children in their households are more likely than those without to: own many of the streaming compatible devices asked about: Smartphone (62 per cent among those with children in their households vs. 40% among those without), TV with Internet access (either natively or via a box or game system; 38 per cent with vs. 27 per cent without), Tablet (31 per cent with versus 21 per cent without); have ever watched streamed TV programs (60 per cent with versus 49 per cent without); report watching more (24 per cent with vs. 18 per cent without) or the same amount (44 per cent with versus 36 per cent without) of online or streaming TV content than a year ago; and, anticipate watching more (27 per cent with versus 15 per cent without) online/streaming TV content a year from now.

    Vying for attention Regardless of how Americans watch TV programs, few are only watching: roughly eight in ten (81 per cent) report doing other things while watching TV. More specifically, nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) engage in online activities; over one-third (37 per cent) read a book, magazine or newspaper, with an additional 11 per cent reading a book on an electronic reading device; roughly one-third (35 per cent) text and one-fourth (25 per cent) do other things.

    So What? TV advertising has grown increasingly complex in recent years; gone are the days of simply choosing which programs to support and in which markets. Now advertisers must also consider how viewers will be watching, on what device, and – particularly for time-sensitive advertising – when.

    Harris Interactive Media Practice VP Rhona Wulf said, "This adds challenges to digital media planners and agencies needing to capture and engage audiences," explains. With the 35-and-under age group showing particularly strong streaming and multi-screening, along with those in households with children, "those looking to speak to these markets are under particular pressure to establish multi-platform approaches."

  • Eutelsat 21B satellite lofted in space, commercial launch by mid-Dec

    Eutelsat 21B satellite lofted in space, commercial launch by mid-Dec

    MUMBAI: Eutelsat 21B satellite, which will have a fleet of 40 transponders, was lofted into space on Sunday by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.

     

    Manoeuvres to circularise the new satellite’s orbit and place it into its operational configuration are now underway, managed by Eutelsat from its Rambouillet teleport, using a global network of earth stations. This will be followed by in-orbit testing before Eutelsat 21B enters full commercial service in mid-December.

    Commenting after launch and first manoeuvres, Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said, “Eutelsat 21B is the first of seven satellites we will launch by mid-2015 to increase our commercial flexibility and our overall resources by almost 30 per cent. We are delighted to see this new satellite on its way to an orbital location that is a point of reference for customers providing professional video, data and government applications in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.”

     

    The 40-transponder Eutelsat 21B Ku-band satellite will occupy the 21.5° East position, which has become a location of choice for broadcasters, news agencies, telcos, enterprises and government administrations. Its deployment is expected to enable Eutelsat to expand capacity at this sought-after location by more than 50 per cent.

    The satellite will replace Eutelsat 21A which will continue commercial service at another orbital location. Eutelsat’s 70.5° East orbital position that sits at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

     

    Eutelsat’s launch programme progresses with the lift-off, scheduled for early December, of the Eutelsat 70B satellite, designed to more than double resources at Eutelsat’s 70.5° East orbital position that sits at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
  • SES appoints Boeing to build SES-9 satellite for Asian market

    SES appoints Boeing to build SES-9 satellite for Asian market

    MUMBAI: SES has said that it has selected Boeing to build a new communication satellite, SES-9, to serve the fast growing markets in Asia.

     

    The new satellite ordered through SES’ affiliate company SES Satellite Leasing will expand SES’ capabilities to provide direct-to-home broadcasting and other communications services in Northeast Asia, South Asia and Indonesia, as well as maritime communications for vessels in the Indian Ocean.

     

    The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

    The spacecraft will be positioned at the orbital slot of 108.2 degrees East and provide incremental as well as replacement capacity to this well established SES slot over Asia, where it will be co-located with the existing SES-7 and NSS-11 satellites.

     

    SES-9 will be built in Boeing’s El Segundo Satellite Development Center based on the Boeing 702HP platform. The satellite is designed to operate for 15 years in geosynchronous orbit with a 12.7-kilowatt payload and 57 high-power Ku-band transponders (equivalent to 81 x 36 MHz transponders). The spacecraft will carry a xenon ion propulsion system (XIPS) for all on-orbit maneuvering and a chemical bi-propellant system for initial orbit raising.

     

    Boeing has a 25-year relationship with SES. SES-9 is the 11th spacecraft that SES has ordered from Boeing and the contract includes an option for an additional satellite.

    SES president and CEO Romain Bausch said, “We look forward to work again with Boeing on an important addition to our global fleet: SES-9 will greatly expand our transmission capacity over Asia, while adding increased flexibility and redundancy to a strategic orbital slot. SES is convinced that Boeing’s 702HP will prove to be mission-critical in order to provide state-of-the-art, high-power satellite capacity to the thriving markets of Asia.”

     

    “We are pleased to be selected by SES to build a highly flexible 702HP satellite, which has a uniquely configured XIPS propulsion system and chemical bi-propellant system, reducing the spacecraft’s launch weight while allowing for maximum payload capacity. Boeing has continuously evolved the 702 design since it was introduced over 15 years ago, allowing us to provide SES a satellite that will be consistent with their business requirements,” said Boeing Satellite Systems International CEO and Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems VP and GM Craig Cooning.
  • SES launches Astra 2F Satellite

    SES launches Astra 2F Satellite

    MUMBAI: Leading satellite operator SES has said its new Astra 2F satellite has been successfully launched on 28 September, on board an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. This is SES’ 36th successful launch on Ariane.

     

    Astra 2F was built by Astrium in Toulouse using a Eurostar E3000 platform and carries Ku- and Ka-band payloads for the delivery of high-performance Direct-to-Home (DTH) and next generation broadband services. It is the first of a three satellite investment programme (Astra 2E, 2F and 2G), that provides replacement and growth capacity for the UK and Ireland at the 28.2/28.5 degrees East neighbourhood.

    The new satellites in this neighbourhood will, as of October 2013, also use additional frequency spectrum for which the right of use was granted to SES by Media Broadcast pursuant to an agreement entered into in 2005. The new Astra 2F spacecraft also provides Ku-band capacity for pan-European services and for Sub-Saharan Africa. Its Ka-band payload will allow SES Broadband Services to support download speeds of up to 20 Mps.

     

    “The successful launch of Astra 2F is part of our fleet replacement and expansion programme,” said SES CEO Romain Bausch. “Astra 2F will provide seamless replacement capacity for our UK customers like BSkyB, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and will allow us to operate additional capacity at 28.2/28.5 degrees East on SES satellites. This orbital neighbourhood today serves close to 13 million DTH homes in the UK and Ireland. We would like to thank our long-standing partners Astrium and Arianespace for this mission success.”

    Astra 2F had a launch mass of 6 tons, generates 13 kW of power, and has a design life of 15 years. It is the fifth Eurostar satellite in the SES fleet. The new spacecraft will be brought into commercial service in the next few weeks following the completion of the extensive in-orbit testing programme.

  • IRS Q2 2012: Radio and cinema bounce back to post positive growth

    MUMBAI: Radio and cinema, which reported negative growth for the past three quarters, have shown positive compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the first time since Q2 2011.

    While radio grew at 1.9 per cent CAGR (over 2011 Q4 to 2012 Q2), cinema almost touched double figure growth at 9.4 per cent CAGR.

    Cable and satellite (C&S) grew at 11.7 per cent CAGR as its reach grew from 475.176 million in first quarter 2012 to 488.642 million in the second quarter.

    The reach of television (TV) also showed positive growth at five per cent from the first quarter’s 554.651 million to 563.435 million in the second quarter.

    Internet continued to show the most robust at 34.8 per cent from 37.483 million in 2012 Q1 to 39.944 million in Q2 2012.

    Press showed least growth at 0.9 per cent increasing its reach from 352.115 million in Q1 2012 to 352.004 million in the second quarter while literacy grew at 3.2 per cent CAGR to 649.715 million from 643.321 million in the first quarter.

  • Eutelsat acquires GE-23 satellite from GE Capital

    Eutelsat acquires GE-23 satellite from GE Capital

    MUMBAI: Eutelsat Communications, one of the world’s leading satellite operators, on Thursday announced closure of the transaction to acquire GE-23 satellite, associated customer contracts and orbital rights from GE Capital, having obtained all required regulatory approvals.

     

    The satellite, renamed Eutelsat 172A, is now part of Eutelsat’s fleet, with technical and commercial teams working to ensure a smooth transition for existing customers.

    Commenting on the acquisition, Eutelsat Communications CEO Michel de Rosen said, “We are delighted to announce finalisation of this acquisition that brings three key assets to Eutelsat: first, a high-quality satellite equipped with a flexible payload of C and Ku-band capacity in great demand over the Asia-Pacific region. Secondly, the transaction includes orbital rights at 172° East, giving us an exceptional platform to serve dynamic markets in the region as well as headroom for further expansion.

     

    “Thirdly, we are acquiring a portfolio of quality customer relationships that we are excited to serve. This satellite adds further ballast to Eutelsat’s organic growth initiatives, notably our Eutelsat 70B satellite which is equipped with a dedicated Asian beam and on track for launch later this year.”

    Built by Thales Alenia Space, the satellite was launched in December 2005 with expected performance for 15 years. From geostationary orbit at 172° East, it offers unique coverage over the Asia-Pacific region via a payload of 20 Ku-band transponders accessing five interconnecting beams and 18 C-band transponders connected to a trans-Pacific beam.

     

    Leveraging its comprehensive coverage and high-bandwidth capability, Eutelsat 172A already offers a broad range of telecom services to a diverse base of blue chip customers.