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

Telmex launches Pre-Paid DTH in Chile
Jan 27, 2009 – Telmex (Mexico:TELINTL; NYSE:TII) has launched a pre-paid version of its DTH service in Chile. The price is 17 USD for one month. Customers also need to buy the Telmex Prepago Kit for 50 USD which includes a dish, set-top box and access card.
News categories: Telmex, CAM, Chile, Digital TV, Satellite, Set Top Box

Freeview NZ approaches the 200,000 homes mark
Jan 26, 2009 – Freeview NZ has released the latest quarter of retail figures for digital receiver sales. At the end of 2008, 198,938 receivers had been sold, with an additional 38,442 sold during the three months ending 31st December.
News categories: Freeview NZ, Digital TV, Market Research, New Zealand, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Terrestrial

Spanish judge orders open decoder market
Jan 26, 2009 – A judge of the Provincial Court of Madrid (Audiencia Provincial de Madrid) has ruled that the pay-TV operator Sogecable and its subsidiary Digital+ have to open up the market for decoders of the service.
News categories: Sogecable, Digital TV, Regulation, Satellite, Set Top Box, Spain

Significant Gap Between HDTV Ownership and HD Programming Usage Among US Households
Jan 26, 2009 – The number of households with an installed HDTV continues to grow, particularly in the US and Japan. However, within the US market, there is a significant gap between HDTV ownership and households utilizing HD programming, reports In-Stat.
News categories: In-Stat, Cable TV, Digital TV, IPTV, Market Research, Satellite, Terrestrial, USA

A new scenario for IPTV and Pay-TV in Latam
Jan 25, 2009 – At the IPTV World Forum Latin America, Ariel Barlaro, TVTelco Latam's CEO, presents updated 'IPTV and Pay-TV in Latin America 2002-2012' forecasts, affected by the global financial crisis and IPTV launching delays in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
News categories: TVTelco Latam, Argentina, Brazil, Cable TV, Chile, Colombia, Digital TV, IPTV, Latin America, Market Research, Mexico, Satellite, Subscribers, Video Exchange

Canal+ launches satellite bouquet for the Maghreb
Jan 21, 2009 – The Canal+ Group (Paris: VIV), through its subsidiary CANAL OVERSEAS, has announced the launch of a bouquet of French language satellite channels covering Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
News categories: CANAL OVERSEAS, Arabsat, Algeria, Conditional Access, Digital TV, Morocco, Satellite, Tunisia

New ASTRA 1M Satellite Ready For Operation
Jan 20, 2009 – SES ASTRA (Paris and Luxembourg: SESG) has announced that its new ASTRA 1M satellite has been successfully deployed at its final orbital position at 19.2 degrees East and is ready for commercial operations.
News categories: SES ASTRA, Content Distribution, Europe, Satellite

Satellite TV in China: Potential US$4 Billion Receiving Device Market by 2012
Jan 19, 2009 – In China, there are about 200 million households with a TV set but no cable connection. The launch, on June 9, 2008, of the Zhongxing-9 broadcasting satellite should thus generate a huge market for satellite receivers and related chipsets.
News categories: In-Stat, China, Digital TV, Market Research, Satellite, Set Top Box

DISH Network Becomes First Pay-TV Provider to Offer Television Series in 1080p Resolution
Jan 16, 2009 – DISH Network (Nasdaq: DISH), along with A&E Network, has emerged as the first pay-TV provider to offer a television series in 1080p resolution quality comparable to Blu-Ray disc.
News categories: DISH Network, A&E Network, Digital TV, DVR, Satellite, USA