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.
India’s Videocon d2h branded satellite broadcasting operation is aiming to quickly move into the Top 3 slot amongst India’s hugely competitive DTH broadcasters. Last year (2013) they achieved growth of 26-27 per cent, and taking their total subscriber base to more than 10 million. D2h’s CEO Anil Khera says that 2013 saw a 1TB set-top […]
Analysts at investment bank Berenberg say they expect satellite operator SES to announce positive full-year results on February 21st (to December 31st) but perhaps more importantly to announce an improved guidance for 2014’s numbers and beyond. Senior analyst Sarah Simon states that SES is a “top pick” for 2014, and headlines her note to clients […]
UK number-crunchers at Enders Analysis say that Sky Deutschland’s 400,000-450,000 net subscriber additions targeted by the pay-TV business this year “is realistic”. Indeed, Enders adds: “The €70-90 million EBITDA [official] guidance may be conservative”. “Without any direct competitor, Sky is rightly enhancing its all-in-one premium appeal. This supports ARPU growth and increases its distinctiveness compared […]
This past weekend subscribers to Dubai-based OSN lost coverage of the English Premier League as well as other premium football matches. Initially OSN blamed a “technical issue”. But OSN is now firmly blaming supplier and rights holder Al Jazeera Sports (which now calls itself beIN Sports). Al Jazeera Media Network admits that it has changed […]
Satellite operator Eutelsat will unveil its H1 numbers on February 14th. While the operator’s numbers will be – as always – important, most analysts are anticipating more news and guidance on the January 30th announcement that Eutelsat had settled its long-running dispute with rival SES. Berenberg Bank, for example, expects “considerable focus” on the longer-term […]
A BBC TV programme has captured criminal gangs on film offering the public pirated pay-TV services for a fraction of the official fees. Fraudsters were caught on camera selling modified set-top boxes which could access top-level BSkyB packages for as little as £10 a month instead of the correct £80. The amount of piracy could […]
Investment banker Morgan Stanley, in detailed report to clients, say that Sky Deutschland’s results reinforced its belief that its shares are worth €10 and that 2014 should be a “strong operational year” for the broadcaster. “[There is a] huge potential in the market,” says the bank, adding that its €10 price target is based on […]
Sky Television’s quartet of satellite channels (Sky Network) first went on air 25 years ago today (February 5th 1989), and using SES’ Astra satellite. The small cluster of channels, backed by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, doubled the number of channels available to British viewers. The four initial channels, Sky News, Sky Movies, Sky Channel and […]
Arianespace is in the business of launching satellites into space, and is justifiably proud of its giant Ariane-5 rocket system which can simultaneously carry two satellites to orbit. But carrying two cargoes also presents problems, especially if one of those client passengers isn’t ready on time. And in the past this has created significant delays […]
Sky Deutschland will reveal its full-year numbers (to December 31st) on February 6th. The market is looking for some good news as a balance to a major slide in the broadcaster’s share price over the past 5 weeks. (On December 23rd its price was €8.13. At the close on January 31st shares were priced at […]
Survey: 45% say TV has negatively impacted mental wellbeing
Thailand: 86% regularly streaming live content
Premier Sports readies for 1,000th URC broadcast
Channel 4 to carry UKTV’s U streaming service
ITVX Premium now on Prime Video UK
Research: US streaming audiences riding nostalgia wave
Party Games coming to Netflix
RTVE launching 2Cat Catalan-language channel
Survey: Third of consumers considering switching ISPs
Study: In-game ads drive action, but measurement standards lag