Latest SATELLITE NEWS/TV LISTING SECTION

[mike566]

Cyfrowy Polsat prepares for LTE launch

10.34 Europe/London, August 23, 2011 By Chris Dziadul

The Polish DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat will conclude its LTE technology-based mobile internet trial at the end of this month.

Although it officially says that a commercial launch will follow “shortly”, industry sources believe it could take place as soon as next month.

Quoted in Gazeta Wyborcza, Cyfrowy Polsat president Dominik Libicki said that modems would appear in the company’s outlets by the end of this month, when a launch date will be announced.

Cyfrowy Polsat’s LTE trial began on March 16 and has involved 2,000 people, who have been offered mobile internet access with download and upload speeds of up to 100 Mbps and 50 Mbps respectively.

Following the trial, they will be able to sign a 29-month contract, for which they will receive a data allowance of 200 Mbps a month for only PLN1 (€0.24) alongside 55 GB for PLN49 a month, though free of charge for the first six months.

No details are as yet available of the commercial LTE product that will be made offered to Cyfrowy Polsat’s subscriber base.

[mike566]

Dubai launches TV bouquet on Arabsat

10.09 Europe/London, August 23, 2011 By Robert Briel

Arabsat and Dubai Media have signed a contract for the distribution of a bouquet of TV channels, including Dubai HD Sports Channel.

Khalid bin Ahmed Balkheyour, president and CEO of Arab Satellite Communications Organisation (Arabsat), said in a statement: “We are pleased to develop our partnership with Dubai Media Inc. and more pleased with the continuous expansion and success of Dubai Media. I’d like to confirm Arabsat’s commitment to provide the best services to Dubai Media.”

The new bouquet from Dubai consists of eight channels: Dubai TV, One, Sama Dubai, Dubai Racing, Dubai Sports 1, Dubai Sports 2, Dubai Sports HD and Noor Dubai.

[mike566]

Arabsat-5C and SES-2 set for September 9 launch

07.51 Europe/London, August 23, 2011 By Robert Briel

The Arabsat-5C communications satellite has been fueled as preparations continue for the spacecraft’s September 9 launch on Arianespace’s next dual-passenger Ariane 5 flight from French Guiana.

This multi-mission satellite received its onboard propellant load in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation building, readying Arabsat-5C for the upcoming integration in Ariane 5′s payload “stack” along with co-passenger SES-2 for SES World Skies.

Arabsat-5C was built by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space in a joint programme for the satellite’s assembly and in-orbit delivery. As the lead partner, Astrium supplied the Eurostar E3000 platform, with responsibility for assembling and testing the spacecraft. Thales Alenia Space designed and built the communications payload, which integrates C-band and Ka-band transponders.

The spacecraft will have an estimated launch mass of 4,630 kg, and is to operate from an orbital position of 20 degrees East to provide a wide range of communications relay services for the Arab Satellite Communications Organisation (Arabsat).

Built by the U.S.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation for SES World Skies, the SES-2 spacecraft arrived in French Guiana aboard a chartered An-124 cargo jetliner, and was transported from Cayenne’s Rochambeau International Airport to the Spaceport’s payload preparation facilities.

SES-2 is based on Orbital’s Enhanced STAR™ 2.4 satellite bus and is a hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve North America.

In addition to the 24 active C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders of 36 MHz capacity each for its relay duties, SES-2 also carries the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force, which integrates a wide-field of view sensor in the satellite.

[mike566]

Nova Cinema gains new licence

08.46 Europe/London, August 26, 2011 By Chris Dziadul

The Czech Radio and TV Council has granted the thematic channel Nova Cinema a 12-year DTT licence.

It covers the entire country and allows the channel to be on air for 16-19 hours a day.

Up until now, Nova Cinema had operated with a compensatory licence, granted to its owner TV Nova in return for agreeing to relinquish its analogue licences early in the run-up to ASO in the Czech Republic.

Earlier this week, TV Nova, through its licence holder CET 21, was also granted the right to operate a new thematic channel named Kanal 5.

[mike566]

ER Telecom expands regional reach

09.08 Europe/London, August 26, 2011 By Chris Dziadul

The Russian cable operator ER Telecom has expanded its services to a satellite town of Krasnoyarsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia.

It is now providing subscribers in Sosnovoborsk 60 TV channels and internet access at up to 100 Mbps under the brand name Dom.ru.

ER Telecom has been present in Krasnoyarsk itself since March 2010 and currently claims 12% and 8% of its cable TV and broadband internet markets respectively.

It passes 190,000 apartments and has a total of 55,000 subscribers. According to ER Telecom, it is expanding to other satellite towns of cities in Russia it already has a presence in.

[mike566]

NBC inks Russian VOD deal

08.33 Europe/London, August 26, 2011 By Chris Dziadul

Rostelecom has signed a licensing agreement with NBC Universal International Television Distribution.

Under it, the Russian telco will be able to offer Universal movies on an on demand basis to subscribers of IPTV services operated by Rostelecom throughout the country.

The latter include TVi, Twist TV, U-Tel TV, J-TV, Disel TV, Avangard TV and Domolink TV.

Commenting on the deal

[Theron451]

CNNi launches iPhone application

CNN announced the launch of international version of their application for iPhone. Available free on the App Store, this new application specifically designed to offer its users a privileged access to international information and customized over the 24 hours a day and seven days a week, offering news in real time through a constant stream of videos, articles and photos. More info: cnn.com/mobile.

[hoosiers]

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