Advanced Television

Inside Satellite

Chris Forrester

Chris Forrester is one of the most experienced and highly regarded journalists in the field. His insight and analysis, particularly in the satellite and pay-TV arena, is highly prized. He has written for all the major business journals in the sector as well as several national newspapers.

Eutelsat shareholders unhappy

Eutelsat’s CEO Rodolphe Belmer, in his results discussion with analysts, stressed again that the operator’s business was healthy. At one stage, and grumbling about the company’s low share price, he rhetorically asked one analyst why would Eutelsat be continuing to invest long-term in replacement satellites if its overall business was in decline. “Our Video Broadcast […]

February 17, 2020

Bank cautious on European FTA prospects

France’s new combined TV streaming service Salto is due to beta launch on June 3rd ahead of a full roll-out during September. However, a bank report suggests it remains cautious on other European free-to-air broadcasters’ prospects because of their limited libraries and lack of marketing firepower. CEO Thomas Follin has already announced that the French […]

February 14, 2020

What are Ergen’s wireless prospects?

On February 11th, US District Judge Victor Marrero approved the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. A report from research company MoffettNathanson (MN) says the deal represents a potential positive for what will now be a new wireless service for the US in the shape of Charlie Ergen who – at long last – can make […]

February 12, 2020

ViaSat on a growth roll

A report from investment bank Jefferies on broadband-by-satellite operator ViaSat, and following on from last week’s Q3/20 results, was positive. For example, ViaSat’s Satellite Services revenue growth grew 19.2 per cent, although subscriber numbers are – at best – flat at about 580,000 but the company’s subscriber ARPU has grown nicely (+15.1 per cent) and […]

February 11, 2020

Eutelsat downgraded by bank

Eutelsat has been downgraded from ‘Buy’ to ‘Neutral’ by analysts at investment bank Exane/BNPP with the satellite operator’s ‘top line’ trends remaining under pressure. The FCC is set to reveal details of its C-band restructuring plan today (February 6th). Analyst Sami Kassab, in a 27-page report, reminds investors that Eutelsat’s share price has fallen 25 […]

February 6, 2020

Space rescue tug ready to work

Northrop Grumman’s ‘Mission Extension Vehicle’  the robotic MEV-1 has arrived on station. Launched in October 2019 it is now resting, in orbit, a few hundred kilometres away from its target satellite to be rescued, the 18-years-old Intelsat’s I-901 which is running out of fuel. MEV-1’s task is to rescue the Intelsat craft, and extend the […]

February 3, 2020

Comcast/Sky have Canal+ in their sights

Brian Roberts, CEO at Comcast – and arguably one of the most powerful figures in UK broadcasting – speaking at an advertising industry event in London last week, praised Sky and in a major feature in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper there was much comment about the next step for the entertainment giant. One option, according […]

January 30, 2020

Amazon’s Project Kuiper planning laser links?

Jeff Bezos’ mega-constellation Project Kuiper is advertising (at ‘Amazon Jobs’) for a “Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer”. This is just one position amongst many which suggests that Project Kuiper is dramatically ramping up its hiring, and with a specification that calls for laser linking between satellites. This position needs a talent to fulfil a task specified as: […]

January 29, 2020

Bank provides CBA/Washington update

Sami Kassab, a media analyst at investment bank Exane/BNPP last week held a variety of meetings in Washington DC in connection with the C-Band Alliance’s plan for the auction of satellite spectrum over the US for re-use by the 5G industry. Kassab met with a couple of opponents to the scheme as well as key […]

January 28, 2020

Eutelsat makes shock suggestion to FCC

Eutelsat, no longer a member of the C-Band Alliance (CBA), has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it should only pay out a maximum of $7 billion in payout to the satellite operators (including Eutelsat) in a planned auction of US spectrum for re-use for 5G. Bloomberg Intelligence, in a report late on January […]

January 27, 2020