London-based speciality satellite operator Avanti Communications has lost a major investor. Prudential PLC has lowered its stake in Avanti from around 17 per cent of the issued share capital to below 5 per cent. News has also emerged that Avanti is involved in a legal action (at the London International Court of Arbitration) seeking $17 […]
A Chinese ‘Long March’ rocket has successfully launched a satellite for APT Satellite Holdings of Hong Kong and Bermuda. Apstar 6C was launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, and was the 13th Chinese launch of the year to date and the fifth from Xichang this year. Apstar 6C is equipped with 45 transponders with […]
The cord-cutting trend that threatens the future of the global pay-TV industry was not confined solely to the United States in 2017 according to business information provider IHS Markit; total pay-TV subscriptions also declined in 13 other markets. Customers cancelling their TV services in favour of online alternatives has been a key factor in declining […]
Intelsat had a reasonable set of results on May 1st, but it was a decision by the FCC to examine how its C-band spectrum might be utilised by the upcoming 5G technology that drove Intelsat’s share price to extremely dizzy heights that day. At one stage, Intelsat’s stock jumped 42 per cent before settling back […]
The Gulf state of Qatar is involved in a diplomatic argument with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, which has resulted in the recall of ambassadors and imposition of trade and travel bans. The row has now extended to Qatar-based beIN Sports which has “strongly denounced” satellite operator Arabsat and its backing to the Dubai-based […]
Malaysian horror channel ‘Boo’ is now being carried by satellite operator Measat over Malaysia and the Philippines with 24-hour horror content including “psycho-thrillers to other sub-genres such as horror-comedy, horror-action and more”. Measat operates from 91.5 degrees East. The channel is packaged by Astro Malaysia which now offers 6 of its channels on Measat (eGG, […]
Back on January 1st Intelsat adopted the ASC 606 accounting rules* which make absolute like-for-like comparisons with 2016’s numbers slightly difficult. This year’s Q1 numbers saw total revenue of $544 million, an increase of $5 million or 1 per cent as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Total revenue excluding the effects of ASC […]
Amazon-owned Jeff Bezos is not planning to deliver customer orders by rocket anytime soon, but his Blue Origin family of rockets will add a well-funded private enterprise competitor to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. On April 29th a Blue Origin ‘New Shepard’ reusable rocket lifted a ‘crew’ of a mannequin plus experimental packages to a height of […]
Spacecom, which operates the AMOS fleet of satellites from Israel, has today (April 30th) notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that the Israeli state is to buy a new communications satellite from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The worrying news is that the notification says the new satellite will be positioned at 4 degrees West, which […]
Following the launch of new, dedicated sports channels in 2017, UK broadcaster Sky Sports will now add a channel dedicated to horse racing. ‘Sky Sports Racing’ will replace ‘At The Races’ and will be available to every Sky TV customer in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost. It will be available in HD […]