Advanced Television

DTH/Satellite

Berneke named Eutelsat CEO

Eva Berneke is Eutelsat’s new Chief Executive Officer, with effect from January 1st 2022. She joins Eutelsat from KMD, the Danish IT and software company that is part of the NEC Group. During her tenure, she oversaw the transformation of KMD from a mainly government service provider to a modern, digital company competing in both the […]

December 20, 2021By Chris Forrester

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

Report: Decline in turnover of FSS operators

Dataxis has published its latest report on the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) civil communications market. After years of significant growth, the decline in traditional video activity in the most developed countries is being sustained, resulting in a limited but steady decline in the turnover of FSS operators. The outlook for the future is equally becoming […]

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

SES still pursuing Intelsat C-Band share

Last week, the news emerged that SES had dropped its massive $1.35 billion claim on rival Intelsat for “punitive damages” over the way Intelsat handled the negotiations with the FCC and the division of FCC ‘incentive’ payments over the C-Band Alliance. The removal of the claim allows Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy to proceed and cancels […]

December 13, 2021By Chris Forrester

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

Freesat adds channels; C4 HD returns

UK free-to-air digital satellite service Freesat is adding a number of new channels. Leading the line-up is a bouquet of Channel 4 channels, including the return of Channel 4 HD (126), They join a host of music channels, with Box Hits (501), Box Christmas (The Box) (502), Kiss (503), Magic (504) and Kerrang! (505) all […]

December 9, 2021By Colin Mann

Eutelsat holds onto Cameroon

French satellite operator Eutelsat will continue to broadcast Cameroon’s public TV channel CRTV – one of the country’s most influential media outlets – and its other channels, until 2023, according to news that emerged from Africa Intelligence. Eutelsat is also working with NuRAN Wireless to connect up and backhaul from an eventual 242 planned cellular […]

December 9, 2021By Chris Forrester

Slovakia: RTVS selects M7 for satellite distribution

Luxembourg-based M7 Group, owned by Canal+, has concluded a long-term agreement with Slovak public broadcaster RTVS for the ASTRA 23.5 satellite distribution of all its channels: Jednotka, Dvojka, Trojka, and the new channel RTVS Šport, well-timed for the upcoming Winter Olympics. All RTVS channels will broadcast in HD quality, with dedicated EPG positions in the […]

December 8, 2021