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

Eutelsat to offer software-defined satellites
Dec 8, 2014 – Eutelsat (Paris: ETL) has announced a programme that will enable its clients to actively define the performance and flexibility they need from a satellite. The software-defined 'Eutelsat Quantum' class of satellites will set new standards of configurability for users.
News categories: Eutelsat, European Space Agency, Airbus Defence and Space, Michel de Rosen, Magali Vaissiere, Eric Béranger, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Europe, Satellite, Worldwide

India's GSAT-16 communications satellite launched successfully
Dec 7, 2014 – According to ISRO, India's communication satellite, GSAT-16, has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana. GSAT-16 is a geostationary communication satellite which will carry 24 C-band, 12 Ku-band and 12 Upper Extended C-band transponders.
News categories: ISRO, Content Distribution, Digital TV, India, Satellite

DIRECTV launches 4K Ultra HD-capable satellite
Dec 6, 2014 – DIRECTV has announced the launch of its DIRECTV 14 satellite. The satellite will be used to deliver 4K Ultra HD TV to viewers’ homes, along with more HD for local markets and will act as a backup for DIRECTV’s existing fleet of six HD satellites.
News categories: DIRECTV, Phil Goswitz, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Satellite, USA

Digital TV Research Newsletter - December 2014
Dec 5, 2014 – The Digital TV Consultancy has announced that the December 2014 edition of Digital TV Research's free monthly newsletter is now available for download.
News categories: The Digital TV Consultancy, Cable TV, Digital TV, Germany, IPTV, Market Research, Mexico, Satellite, Smart TV, Streaming, USA, Worldwide

Emerging markets drive satellite pay-TV growth
Dec 4, 2014 – According to Euroconsult, the global satellite pay-TV industry has observed strong growth in the past five years despite an increasingly competitive TV landscape where IPTV, DTT and connected entertainment services have rapidly expanded their reach.
News categories: Euroconsult, Dimitri Buchs, Digital TV, Market Research, Satellite, Worldwide

Pay TV subscribers in Portugal up 46.5 thousand in 3Q 2014
Dec 2, 2014 – According to Portugal’s Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), at the end of the 3rd quarter of 2014, there were about 3.29 million subscribers to subscription TV in Portugal, 46.5 thousand more than in the 2nd quarter.
News categories: ANACOM, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Portugal, Satellite, Subscribers

ACTV DTH satellite TV launches in Nigeria
Dec 1, 2014 – African Cable Television (ACTV – pronounced 'Active') has launched its DTH satellite pay TV service in Africa. ACTV offers four packages ACTV Prime, ACTV Family, ACTV Family Max and ACTV Premium, ranging from 19 to over 60 channels.
News categories: African Cable Television, Digital TV, DVR, Nigeria, Satellite

Russia's Raduga TV to close down
Dec 1, 2014 – The Russian digital satellite TV platform Raduga TV will stop its broadcasting services on 5 December 2014, as it has not been granted the required broadcasting license from the local media regulator.
News categories: MTG, Raduga TV, Irina Gofman, Digital TV, Regulation, Russia, Satellite

Over 500 million multichannel TV homes in Asia Pacific
Dec 1, 2014 – According to CASBAA's Asia Pacific Multichannel TV Advertising 2015 book, the Asia Pacific now boasts 500,639,000 multichannel homes. The pay-TV advertising market continues to grow with a 9.4% increase expected for 2014.
News categories: CASBAA, ZenithOptimedia, Christopher Slaughter, Jonathan Barnard, Asia, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite