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.
Analysts at Berenberg Bank remain cautious over future prospects for BSkyB, retaining their ‘SELL’ advice to investors. The latest note from the bank comments on the new Sky Sports 5 channel, as well as BskyB’s ‘free’ broadband offer for two years. The bank’s note is blunt: “We do not see the channel as a driver […]
Yamal-201, a satellite serving Russia and owned by Gazprom Satellite Systems, has suffered technical problems. Some reports say it has failed completely. Reportedly its transponders were switched off on June 5, and its broadcasting clients switched to other satellites in particular the Yamal-300 craft which is co-located with Yamal-201. Yamal-201 operated from the 90 deg […]
Arabsat is linking with Inmarsat to provide a joint-venture satellite at Arabsat-owned Hellas-Sat’s orbital slot. The twin-mission spacecraft will supply Inmarsat with extra, and valuable, S-band capacity for aircraft users to tap into in-flight services. The second mission will add 44 Ku-band transponders – and dubbed Hellas-Sat 3 – and part-replace the capacity on Hellas-Sat […]
Worldspace’s two tired and very aging satellites are again being used by founder, humanitarian and altogether good fellow Noah Samara. This time the genius, who according to the Wall Street cost investors a reported $2.5 billion in lost cash, is using the satellites for an India-based e-learning project. Samara’s post-bankruptcy company Yazmi acquired the two […]
A 14-page report from investment banker Berenberg on the prospects of BSkyB’s potential acquisition of Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia, which is in the bank’s view “in many ways not surprising” nevertheless, creates considerable food for thought for analysts at the bank. The bank cites slowing organic growth from BSkyB and increasing competitive and market […]
Arianespace’s already delayed launch of Measat 3b and its co-passenger Optus-10 satellite have been further impacted by the decision to send Optus-10 back from French Guiana to its manufacturers in California for examination. No fresh date has been given for the launch of Measat-3b. One option quoted is to bring forward the availability of an […]
The Middle East is again suffering serious interference to its satellite news channels. Arabsat itself reports that most of its news channels have suffered deliberate jamming over the past few days, with sources saying that the errant signals are coming from Ethiopia, “and hopping from one transponder to another”. Broadcasters such as the BBC’s Persia […]
Fifteen months ago it was all doom and gloom as a Sea Launch rocket exploded after take-off and destroyed a valuable Intelsat craft. Late on May 26th it was a very different story when a flawless launch lifted the near-6 tonnes Eutelsat 3B into its transfer orbit, and on its way to operate from 3 […]
Chip-set supplier Broadcom is enjoying what its President/CEO Scott McGregor has described as “significant progress” in its home, hand (telecoms) and infrastructure/data divisions. “These three core businesses of the company, looking into each of those over the last year, have all made significant progress in each of the areas. In the home business, Broadcom has […]
Charlie Ergen, founder and chairman of Dish Network (and also of sister company Echostar) is a self-confessed poker player, but this past weekend’s deal where AT&T is to buy Dish’s arch-rival DirecTV must leave him somewhat anxious about the cards he is still holding Ergen, for some time, has wanted to merge or sell his […]
SkyShowtime launches on United Group platforms
Report: Older audiences regularly watching influencer content
The Celebrity Traitors Final attracts 15m viewers
Spain: Orange, Vodafone add new TV channels 
Analysis: Repeat Xmas ads top consumer testing
Channel 4 appoints Nash as Director of Brand & Content Marketing
DocuBox launches Polish version
Karlén named EVP and CEO Viaplay Group Sweden
Report: Larger TV size sales continue to grow
Ofcom fines Virgin Media £23.8m for telecare failiures