Satellite Television (DBS, DTH, DSat, DVB-S, DVB-S2) News

DIRECTV NOW passes 200k; AT&T linear down 27k; DTVLA down 21k video subs in 4Q 2016
Jan 25, 2017 – AT&T (NYSE:T) has reported 2016 fourth-quarter and full-year results. In the U.S., linear video subscribers were down 27,000 over the period, whilst DIRECTV NOW reached 200,000. DIRECTV Latin America lost 21,000 subscribers.
News categories: AT&T, Brazil, Digital TV, IPTV, Latin America, Mexico, Results, Satellite, Streaming, Subscribers, USA

Montenegro adds 24,120 pay TV subscribers in 2016
Jan 25, 2017 – The Agency for Electronic Media in Montenegro has released pay TV subscriber figures up to the end of December 2016. The number of connections at year-end was 189,392, up 24,120 or 14.6% versus the end of 2015.
News categories: Agencije za elektronske medije, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, MMDS, Montenegro, Satellite, Subscribers, Terrestrial

Mega-Choice Digital launches in Ghana on Eutelsat 16A
Jan 25, 2017 – Mega-Choice Digital Network has officially launched its Direct-to-Home TV service in Ghana. A ten-year contract has been inked with Eutelsat Communications (Paris: ETL) for capacity on EUTELSAT 16A.
News categories: Eutelsat, Mega-Choice, Michel Azibert, Dr. Chief Crystal-Djirackor, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Ghana, Satellite

Airtel Digital TV adds 183,000 subscribers in 4Q 2016
Jan 24, 2017 – Bharti Airtel has announced results for its third quarter ended December 31, 2016. DTH had 12.6 million customers at the end of the quarter. Net customer additions for Digital TV during the quarter were 183,000.
News categories: Airtel, India, Results, Satellite, Subscribers

ABS-2A satellite enters service
Jan 23, 2017 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] has announced that ABS-2A, a satellite built for ABS, has entered into commercial operation providing services, including DTH TV, to customers in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, South Asia and South East Asia.
News categories: Boeing, ABS, Mark Spiwak, Tom Choi, Africa, Asia, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Middle-East, Russia, Satellite

Airbus completes construction of EUTELSAT 172B
Jan 23, 2017 – Construction of EUTELSAT 172B is undergoing final testing before its launch scheduled for April. The satellite will offer C-band, Ku-band and in-flight connectivity payloads for the Asia-Pacific market.
News categories: Airbus, Eutelsat, Asia, Content Distribution, Satellite

Nielsen gets access to AT&T STB viewing data for ratings measurement
Jan 18, 2017 – Nielsen has announced a multi-year agreement with AT&T to include anonymized set-top box data from connected homes subscribed to AT&T's DIRECTV and U-Verse services into Nielsen's local and national TV currency ratings services.
News categories: Nielsen, AT&T, Megan Clarken, Advertising, Digital TV, IPTV, Satellite, Set Top Box, USA

Canada pay TV industry announces STB efficiency agreement
Jan 17, 2017 – Canadian Pay TV service providers along with set-top box manufacturers have finalized a voluntary agreement committing themselves to improving the energy efficiency of set-top boxes.
News categories: CEEVA, Cable TV, Canada, Digital TV, IPTV, Satellite, Set Top Box

Hispasat 36W-1 satellite due for orbit on January 27
Jan 16, 2017 – HISPASAT has announced that Hispasat 36W-1 (H36W-1) will be put into orbit on January 27. H36W-1 has 20 Ku-band transponders and additional capacity for up to 3 Ka-band transponders over the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands.
News categories: HISPASAT, CDTI, European Space Agency, Elena Pisonero, Juan Carlos Cortés, Xavier Lobao, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Portugal, Satellite, Spain