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.

Starlink speeds under pressure?

Data from internet speedtest provider Ookla show a decline of around 100 Mb/s over the past quarter for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband by satellite system. Ookla says that during Q2 this year the median download speed for Starlink users was 97.23 Mb/s. During Q3 the median speed had dropped to 87.25 Mb/s. Ookla’s head of content, […]

December 22, 2021

Satellite CEOs: “2021 better than expected”

This past year has been full of continued Covid problems and a near-absence of lucrative cruise ship passengers and crews as well as much-curtailed airline traffic which combined to severely limit revenues for In Flight business communications and cruise holiday-makers (and their families). However, the consensus from satellite industry executives is that while this past […]

December 21, 2021

Intelsat can clear final bankruptcy hurdles early in 2022

Intelsat’s last-minute set of reorganisation agreements, the 6th Supplemental Declarations, as part of its Exit Plan reached on December 16th with some of its – relatively modest – remaining creditors should now enable the satellite operator to fully emerge from bankruptcy early in the New Year. There are some legal hurdles ahead, not least the […]

December 20, 2021

Intelsat Creditor Settlements approved

Judge Keith Phillips, on December 16th, approved Intelsat’s plan for the settlement of much of its indebtedness prior to its May 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The bottom line is that the agreement reduces Intelsat’s old debts of about $16 billion by more than half thanks to the acceptance of the company’s new Plan of Reorganisation. […]

December 17, 2021

Last day for Intelsat confirmation hearing?

Judge Keith Phillips has set December 16th for what looks likely to be the final day set aside for Intelsat’s bankruptcy Exit Plan confirmation hearings. There will be other discussions, motions and legal manoeuvres but most observers expect this particular element of the bankruptcy exit process to wrap. Judge Phillips has already set aside January […]

December 16, 2021

Intelsat asks court to approve exit financing plan

Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reconstruction has cost the business some $200 million in legal and professional fees. The end might now be in sight, but there will still be arguments on the exact shape of the new business, and Judge Keith Phillips will still be reviewing documents well into the New Year. Intelsat entered into […]

December 15, 2021

Parties narrow issues in Intelsat Exit Plan

The bankruptcy court in the Intelsat review and confirmation of its Exit Plan heard that a number of issues previously considered contentious have “been narrowed” according to Steven Serajeddini, a restructuring partner at Kirkland & Ellis, who are acting for Intelsat in the case. The court heard that the parties want to wrap the discussions […]

December 14, 2021

Fraud allegation in Intelsat bankruptcy

December 10th saw a submission entered into Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy hearing which used the phrase ‘actio pauliana’, which translates as meaning ‘designed to protect creditors from fraudulent legal transactions’. The phrase was used by Luxembourg lawyer, Yann Hilpert, in his declaration to the court. He said that under Luxembourg law, an actio pauliana is […]

December 13, 2021

Intelsat creeps towards bankruptcy exit

Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy court on December 9th heard detailed evidence from one of its reconstruction financial advisors. This was Day 4 of a probable 10-day legal process to see Intelsat’s exit from bankruptcy approved. However, the expert was challenged as to whether he had examined alternate methods to exit bankruptcy. Also, on December 9th, […]

December 10, 2021

Analyst: The mystery of SpaceX’s value

Tim Farrar of TMF Associates says the recent “breathless” valuations for SpaceX (ranging from between $80 billion to $100 billion) are inconsistent. He says the quoted company valuations have near-tripled over the past year, and with SpaceX’s share price – albeit privately held – rising from about $200 per share to $560 over the same […]

December 9, 2021