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 […]

I get the feeling we will soon see some seismic moves in M&A, the kind that will make the weather for some time to come. A look at Vodafone’s results reflects a lack of lustre; revenues down and an absence of bright spots. The odds on a shape-shifting deal, using the ammunition of the $135 […]

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 […]

A fresh look at BSkyB’s half-yearly results by investment banker Morgan Stanley points out that BSkyB is creating a new market out of “pay-TV Lite” potential subscribers, and is making money out of this new sector. The report cites the post-results presentation made by CEO Jeremy Darroch and his team. “A key theme of Sky’s […]

Discovery Communications, via its growing control over Eurosport, is considering bidding for the English Premier League (EPL) TV rights. The Guardian quotes Discovery’s president and CEO David Zaslav who confirms Discovery is interested in the rights. “We will look opportunistically at everything, strong sports rights can be very compelling and ‘must have’ content for viewers […]