Thread: Satellite News May 2010

Georgian Maestro Channel on satellite

Georgian independent television news broadcast around the clock, launched by satellite. Maestro, so called because the channel can be received via satellite ABS-1 (75E). Until now only available via cable, also refreshed its image. The Director-General Kakha Bekauri television, is hoping that its TV station will proudly represent Georgia's information space.

It does not give too many details about the changes in the channel, but it reveals that the journalistic team faces were familiar and brand new.

We expect the first place in the market information of Georgia. According to optimistic forecasts, we will achieve this by the end of the year in the worst scenario we will need a year - said Kakha Bekauri.

License for satellite broadcasting to cable TV Maestro was granted for 10 years in July 2009. He admitted it to Georgian media regulator.

The transmission is carried out at a frequency of 12.713 GHz, pol. V, SR: 2170, FEC: 7/8, DVB-S/QPSK; FTA.

MultiChoice launches affordable PVR decoder

Multichoice (JSE: NPN)(LSE:NPSN) is launching a much more affordable PVR decoder that is also capable of delivering High definition programmes. This decoder, called HD PVR 2P, will be more accessible to the wider market. It is available from today at leading retailers and furniture stores at a launch price of R1999.

MultiChoice released this PVR decoder in time for the FIFA World Cup to give South Africans the chance to experience the benefits of PVR. Depending on your preferred bouquet subscription, subscribers will be able to view their favourite programs using PVR functionalities.

The decoder can also be used with a normal standard definition television set, enabling subscriber to enjoy PVR functionalities. These include watching one channel, whilst recording another channel at the same time; as well as pausing, rewinding live programs and fast forwarding live recorded programmes. Subscribers with high definition televisions and with premium subscriptions will be able to watch most of their favourite sports, movies and documentaries in high definition. SuperSport will broadcast FIFA World Cup matches on four dedicated soccer channels; two of these will be in High Definition.

MultiChoice Chief Technology Officer Gerdus van Eeden says, “The eyes of the world will be on South Africa during the FIFA World Cup, and the launch of an affordable PVR decoder before this event, enables more of our subscribers the opportunity to experience full control of your viewing experience using PVR functionalities, and to enable our premium subscribers the option to watch the games in glorious HD quality ”

You can store 150 hours of Standard Definition programming or 50 hours of High Definition programming on the decoder.

This decoder can also be linked to any of our latest decoders to provide a multi-viewing environment.

In order to launch this PVR decoder before the world cup,series record functionality and DStv ON DEMAND services have not been included but will automatically be downloaded to the decoder later this year.

More information is available on www.dstv.com or contact the MultiChoice Contact Centre on (011) 289 2222. Follow us on twitter for the latest updates.
__________________

China Digital TV Wins Satellite TV Contract in Venezuela

BEIJING — China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STV) (“China Digital TV”), the leading provider of conditional access systems to China’s expanding digital television market, today announced that it has entered into a contract with CANTV, the leading integrated telecommunication service provider in Venezuela, to install various systems and solutions on CANTV’s direct-to-home (DTH) satellite platform.

CANTV is the largest integrated telecom operator in Venezuela and has been developing its IPTV services since 2009, expecting to deliver IPTV beta tests in 2010.

China Digital TV has been engaged to install a conditional access (CA) system, a subscriber management system (SMS), and electronic program guides (EPGs) on CANTV’s DTH satellite platform to enhance the operator’s IPTV network. The DTH platform is expected to begin beta testing in the third quarter of 2010 and be fully operational in early 2011. It is expected to cover the entire territory of Venezuela, servicing more than 600,000 paying subscribers by 2015.

Tracy Yue, general manager of China Digital TV’s overseas business, commented, “We are delighted to win our first contract in Latin America, which shows the solid progress we are making in overseas market expansion. This encouraging achievement also demonstrates the strong demand for China Digital TV’s products and services in emerging markets. We will continuously optimize our solutions during the implementation process according to the needs of CANTV, and assist CANTV to enhance its competitiveness in Venezuela’s emerging pay-TV market.”

Alfredo Munoz, manager of multimedia operations at CANTV commented, “We are excited to partner with China Digital TV, whose solutions have demonstrated great success in China, the world’s largest TV market by viewership. China Digital TV’s excellent security technology, anti-piracy solutions, and high-quality service enjoy a high reputation among industry players in the China market. We are very confident in our partner’s ability to provide the advanced technologies and solutions necessary for the success of our groundbreaking DTH project.”
__________________

Head of IRIB admits to satellite jamming
May 29th, 2010 - 9:58 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.

“In a surprise confession, Ezatollah Zarghami, Head of state-run Iranian Broadcast Company, during a speech on Thursday to a group of war veterans, admitted that Iranian government indeed sends illegal satellite jamming signals against foreign broadcast satellites. Zarghami lamented: ‘Our own Alalam (Arabic broadcast by Iran) was removed from Nile Sat and Arab Sat in retaliation of our (own government’s) jamming signals targeting these satellites.’”
__________________

Istanbul to become ‘telecom hub’

By Chris Dziadul


T?rk Telekom plans to turn Istanbul into a ‘telecom hub’ following its recent acquisition of the leading alternative telco Invitel, which has a strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe.

Commenting on the purchase – last week T?rk Telekom agreed to pay €221 million for a 100% stake in Invitel – and quoted in H?rriyet, T?rk Telekom’s DG Paul Doany said that its purchase of an international fibre-optic backbone would turn Turkey into a significant centre in the region.

Invitel’s CEO Martin Lea added that it preferred T?rk Telekom as a purchaser as it had the necessary vision for growth and the resources for investment. In his view, it would become a strategic fibre-optic service provider that connects operators in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

Invitel, which has until now been owned by Mid Europa Partners, has a presence in 27 countries including Hungary, where it operates an IPTV service. It is T?rk Telekom’s first international acquisition.
__________________

Mediaset forks out €17.5m for 500-title Cecchi Gori film library


Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset has acquired the former Cecchi Gori Group's film library for €17.5 million (US$21.7 million).

The library includes free-to-air and pay TV rights to over 500 feature films from Italian directors including Luigi Zampa, Luciano Salce, Ettore Scloa, Gianni Amelio, Marco Risi, paolo Virz?, Alessandro Benvenuti, Carlo Vanzina and others as well as Hollywood movies of the '80s and '90s not distributed by the majors.

Berlusconi-family controlled broadcaster and media group Mediaset acquired the library after it was put up for auction following the liquidation of Finmavi, the former company of media magnate Vittorio Cecchi Gori. He was arrested in June 2008 on charges relating to financial irregularities.

Mediaset said: "With this acquisition, Mediaset will make it possible for a substantial part of Italy's most important film heritage to become once again available to a mass audience."