E-letter: News Feed

KirchPayTV’s Premiere World admitted last week that it had signed up fewer new subscribers than expected in 2001. “Growth was below our expectations,” said Premiere CFO Michael Boernicke in a […]

Despite its new Convergence Bill enacted last year (and due to be in place this mid-summer) India still does not see DTH transmission as a likely prospect for 2002, according […]

The Oslo Court of Execution and Enforcement has thrown out claims by Canal Plus relating to payment issues concerning the sale of Canal Digital. The ruling made on January 11 […]

Last year was a tough one for niche broadcasters with many channels (Money Channel, Simply Money, Rapture, Carlton Taste, Wellbeing, dbc/u>direct, computer channel .tv) giving up after recognising that making […]

Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon 90 degreesE: Yamal 102 D: Tumen TV from Russia and radio station Ekho Moskvy have returned to 3578 MHz […]

Abrared, owner of NEO, an interactive broadband supplier into the Spanish market, has linked with SES Multimedia to supply two-way satellite capacity on Astra’s broadband interactive (BBI) system. NEO is […]

Alcatel Space last week signed a $118 million contract with APT Satellite Holdings covering the design and manufacture of a 50 transponder high-capacity telecommunication satellite and its associated ground segment. […]

Zee TV confirmed Dec. 12 that it is setting up a joint venture with AOL’s Turner Broadcasting International. Zee, which is India’s largest commercial TV network, will hold 74 percent […]

Interspace’s In Depth Study of European satellite Activity, Compiled By Mike Fallon D: Digital A: Analogue 78.5 degreesE: Thaicom 2&3 D: Thailand’s BBTV Channel 7 has left 3765 MHz horizontal. […]

Local reports in Islamabad on 27 November quote Minister for Science and Technology Ataur Rahman saying Pakistan plans to set up its own communication satellite Paksat, before 2003. In an […]

A ‘best of Belgium’ French-language TV channel is now transmitting on Astra (19.2 deg East). RTBF-SAT went on air last week with a schedule of news, variety, sport and current […]

The Wellbeing Network, a UK-based joint-venture health and beauty channel from Granada (40%) and Boots (60%), is expected to close having lost more than GBP30 million ($41 million). It went […]

Hispasat revealed record trading results earlier this week, while at the same time the Spanish press was suggesting European aeronautical company EADS is looking to acquire a 5% stake in […]

According to recent reports, there are more than 50 pure sports channels broadcasting in Europe, almost all available on satellite and cable. Most of the 50-plus sports and sports-related channels […]

From February 2002 Sky News will double its current four-way multi-screen offering. Viewers to its Sky Digital platform will be able to select an eight-way news selection. Currently Sky shows […]

Investment bankers Merrill Lynch predict the newly expanded SES Global will be making gross annual profits of more than 2.11 billion euros by 2006. Gross revenues will be topping 2.35 […]

Telespazio, through its Telespazio Brazil subsidiary, is planning to offer satellite-based telecommunication services to Brazilian-based companies. Its first contract is for a group of local banks. The project includes the […]

Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon A = Analogue D = Digital 90 degreesE: Yamal 102 D: As mentioned in Transponder Monitor November 7, the […]

The European Space Agency’s latest ministerial-level Council meeting (the supreme organ of the agency, composed of member-state government ministers with responsibility for ‘space affairs’), had a surprisingly fruitful meeting at […]

UK cable outfit NTL’s attempts to sell its wireless towers and satellite uplink business for up to GBP1.5 billion ($2 billion) has hit problems. Reports suggest that NTL’s favoured bidder […]

The ministers of the European Space Agency (ESA) members are meeting to discuss the funding and implementation of the 30-satellite European navigation project called Galileo. Europeans are currently working very […]

Italy’s Antitrust Authority (AA) has postponed its decision on the planned merger of the country’s two loss-making pay-TV platforms, Tele+ and Stream. The formal decision had been expected on Nov. […]

Flight Explorer, a global provider of Internet-based, real-time flight tracking information, will team up with Satellink Technologies Inc. to offer an aircraft situation display for subscribers in the cockpit. The […]

Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon D = Digital A = Analogue 78.5 degreesE: Thaicom 2&3 D Pakistan’s PTV 1 and Radio Pakistan have left […]

Sirius Satellite Radio has not enjoyed the best of press during the past few months. Some of the major anxieties addressed by a conference call last week included being late […]

Al Majd (Glory) was scheduled to begin transmissions at the beginning of Ramadan (16 November). Al Majd is a private-venture enterprise and says it will focus on a variety of […]

A summit of leading European pubcasters held in Rome late last month agreed to increase co-operation in both the programming and satellite TV sectors. On the initiative of Italy’s RAI, […]

France’s Lagardere group is to launch a new channel named Match TV based on the concept of the well-known glossy news magazine Paris Match. The service, which will be available […]

Chris Forrester Editor Speaking at the BSkyB AGM last Friday, Rupert Murdoch said that its 24 percent investment in Leo Kirch’s Premiere World had proved to be a disappointment, with […]

Travel agents Thomas Cook will launch a new travel-based service in December this year. Named Thomas Cook TV, it will be available initially as a free-to-air digital satellite channel uplinked […]