July 11th saw the clearest indication that the long wait for SES to receive its permissions to acquire rival Intelsat is coming to an end, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) giving its approval to the transfer “of the control of licenses from Intelsat to SES”. This, in effect, ends the FCC’s oversight of the […]
Eutelsat and Swiss broadcasting corporation SSR SRG have announced the multi-year renewal of their capacity agreement at Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD video neighbourhood. The partnership has already spanned over 30 years. This new agreement assures the broadcast continuity of SSR SSG Group’s HD television channels and radio stations to audiences across Switzerland who are living beyond the […]
Charlie Ergen, founder and chairman of the EchoStar/DISH combination, is reported to be negotiating with some of the company’s bond and debt-holders for extensions to its debt payment obligations. However, some debt interest payment obligations have – or are about to be – met. But there are still challenges. For example, the FCC is pushing […]
Sky Europe is to sell its Sky Deutschland operation. RTL will acquire the German-language pay-TV operation which includes subscribers in Austria and Switzerland as well as Germany itself. RTL is paying an initial €150 million “with additional variable consideration linked to future value creation”. The end result for RTL will be an audience of 11.5 […]
Satellite operator trade body GSOA has welcomed the European Commission’s publication of the proposed EU Space Act and the accompanying Vision for the European Space Economy, suggesting that the developments acknowledge the strategic relevance of space infrastructure and services for Europe’s economic resilience, technological sovereignty, competitiveness and digital future. The GSOA says that as the […]
Satellite operator SES has raised two €500 million bonds. SES, as is usual in these cases, says it shall apply the net proceeds of the Notes towards its general corporate purposes, including, without limitation (i) financing all or part of the purchase price of the acquisition of Intelsat Holdings (including the payment of fees, costs […]
Eutelsat’s newly appointed CEO, Jean-François Fallacher, speaking at the Paris Air Show, firmly denied that the satellite operator was in financial difficulties. “Let me correct a misimpression: Eutelsat does not have financial difficulties: No. Eutelsat has a need for financing. There’s a difference,” Fallacher asserted. “We need financing to develop the constellation and continue our […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar share price rocketed 43 per cent on June 13th on news that Donald Trump has intervened with FCC chair Brendan Carr over the dispute between the FCC and EchoStar. June 16th saw EchoStar’s share price (Nasdaq:SATS) finish the day at $25.11 (€21.72). A week ago they were $15.99. In a nutshell, the […]
Satellite operator Intelsat has announced an expansion of its collaboration with iKO Media Group (iKOMG), a specialist in broadcast and media solutions, promoting the distribution of religious channels globally through their project, Faith Beyond. iKOMG’s Faith Beyond package is a fully managed, all-in-one service designed to support the specific needs of faith-based broadcasters looking to […]
Intelsat has renewed its agreement with ViewMedia, a media service provider providing a Free-to-Air (FTA) TV platform for Sub-Saharan Africa. This renewal, leveraging the Intelsat 20 (IS-20) video neighbourhood and Africa’s premier DTH community, aims to bolster ViewMedia’s business in the region by expanding its entertainment offerings and attracting new channels. Intelsat will collaborate closely […]