News Archive
Think IPTV is a Joke? -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, April 26 2008
The numbers surprised some … and may have had the harshest critics of the big IPTV product scratching their heads.
AT&T reported this week that its U-verse TV service netted 148,000 new customers in the first quarter, reaching 379,000 at the close of the three-month period. For comparison, the IPTV-based offering ended 2007 with 231,000 customers.
That's a rather decent gain for the video service. Better than decent, maybe.
And the continued growth could've confounded those who have had nothing but disparaging comments about the IP-based video platform.
As Craig Moffett of Bernstein Research put it, "although the numbers remain too small to matter much, U-Verse does continue to ramp, and somewhat more quickly than expected, and perhaps enough to finally quiet the claims that it simply ‘doesn't work.'"
Satellite TV remains a key part of AT&T's video strategy, with about 2.3 million DBS customers enrolled through the telco's efforts as of the end of March. When combining U-verse and small dish numbers, AT&T had more than 2.6 million video customers at the close of the first quarter.
While satellite remains a key component of AT&T's video strategy, U-verse is becoming a competitive issue that the DBS companies must have under close scrutiny. Meanwhile, those critics of IPTV must be reassessing their views of the technology.
Think IPTV is a joke? Think again.
DISH Ready to Test Mobile/Satellite Technology -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, April 26 2008
The No. 2 DBS provider has taken another step into the mobile world.
On Thursday, DISH Network said it is working with Alcatel-Lucent to test the DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handhelds) mobile broadcast technology in the United States. The evaluation will take place at DISH's laboratories in Atlanta between May and August.
The objective of the trial is to validate the performance and cost-efficiency of the DVB-SH standard, the companies said.
DVB-SH is an evolution of DVB-H and a mobile broadcast standard allowing for cost-effective mobile TV deployments. It can be used in any frequency spectrum below 3GHz and in terrestrial, satellite or hybrid networks, DISH said.
Said Nolan Daines, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for DISH Network, "Considering the global momentum of DVB-SH, we decided that performing a critical analysis of this new open standard was the right thing to do for DISH Network. We look forward to working in tandem with Alcatel-Lucent during this testing phase."
HOW DARE this lil Bitch even speak about BILL.... -- Posted by soullezz
on Friday, April 25 2008
Bill clinton did good things for this country that most people will never realize.... HOW DARE this ASSHOLE take this stance.....And use Bill to farther his own approach and career....FUCK HIM!
(CNN) – The most powerful African-American in Congress again scolded former President Bill Clinton for comments he made over the course of the Democratic presidential race.
In an interview with the New York Times late Thursday, House Majority Whip James Clyburn called the former president's conduct "bizarre," and said several of Clinton's actions had deeply upset many African-Americans.
Clyburn told the newspaper that many African-Americans believed the Clintons were trying to damage Obama to the point where he could not be elected. He also made similar comments in an interview with Reuters Thursday.
"There are African Americans who have reached the decision that the Clintons know that she can’t win this," he told Reuters. "But they’re hell-bound to make it impossible for Obama to win.”
Speaking with the New York Times, Clyburn said such actions could lead to a longtime division between the former president and his once most reliable constituency.
“When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Clyburn said. “I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.”
Speaking to reporters Friday, Obama said he does not believe in "irreparable breaches. "
"I am a big believer in reconciliation and redemption," he said. "This has been a fierce contest. I am confident, come August there are going to be a whole bunch of people standing on the stage with a lot of balloons and confetti raining down on the Democratic nominee and people are going to be excited about taking on John McCain in November."
More HD for DISH -- Posted by soullezz
on Monday, April 21 2008
As part of an ongoing push to expand its high-def programming slate, DISH Network late last week launched CNN HD, SCI FI HD and USA HD.
The new high def channels are available to DISH customers who subscribe to AT100 and Essentials HD or higher. CNN HD is available on channel 200 HD, SCI FI HD is available on channel 122 HD, and USA HD is available on 105 HD.
And the HD programming additions came with the company reiterating its commitment to keep growing its high-def programming slate, despite some challenges for the service, including a recent failed satellite launch. Eric Sahl, senior vice president of programming for DISH Network, said Friday that the small dish service is sticking to its year-end goal of 100 local HD markets and 100 national HD channels.
Also last week, the company announced the addition of seven local HD markets: Baltimore, Md.; Columbia, S.C.; Green Bay, Wis., Cleveland/Akron, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wis.; Richmond, Va.; and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
With those additions, DISH Network said it offers HD locals in 46 markets, reaching more than 60 percent of U.S. TV households.
In order to view HD programming, DISH Network customers can upgrade to a dishHD receiver like the ViP722. The dual-tuner HD DVR operates with two televisions in separate rooms, one in HD and one in standard definition.
The ViP722 can record up to 55 hours of HD and up to 350 hours of standard definition programming and allows customers to pause, rewind and fast forward TV.
SES Keeps Supporting Niche Satellite Provider -- Posted by soullezz
on Wednesday, April 16 2008
SES AMERICOM announced that Home2US Communications, a direct-to-home provider of international programming, has expanded its relationship with the satellite services company to deliver additional foreign programming to the U.S. market.
Since 2003, Home2US has relied on SES AMERICOM's AMC-4 satellite to deliver its programming to homes and cable networks throughout the U.S. To meet growing customer demand, Home2US said it is renewing a contract with SES and adding additional programming to its lineup.
In particular, Home2US said it is expanding the Korean language programming lineup of The Asia Network (TAN TV), which includes all five of the major South Korean broadcast networks. Home2US also renewed its distribution agreement with the Christian Global Network as part of its Korean language bouquet.
In addition, the platform is offering BVN, the largest Dutch language channel from The Netherlands, the company said.
Successful Launch for ICO Satellite -- Posted by soullezz
on Wednesday, April 16 2008
A satellite that will support ICO Global Communications' North American operations successfully launched late Monday from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Later in the year, and when the satellite is fully functional, ICO said it will conduct alpha trials for its interactive mobile video, navigation and emergency assistance services, which have been branded ICO mim.
ICO CEO Tim Bryan said during the summer the company will commence market trials in Las Vegas and in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina for the mobile interactive media service. He said the service should be commercially available sometime in 2009.
The final position of the spacecraft will be at 92.85 degrees, and it will provide service to the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
More Noise on Sat Radio Merger -- Posted by soullezz
on Wednesday, April 16 2008
As everyone awaits a final decision from the Federal Communications Commission on the pending merger between XM and Sirius, more interested parties traveled to the Portals to offer their opinions on the proposed deal.
For starters, representatives from the advocacy group Media Access Project stated their preference that the merger be "disapproved," yet offered ideas on how to address the impacts of the satellite radio combination if the deal wins approval. The group said a portion of spectrum presently held by the two companies could be recovered for alternative uses, and a scheme resembling cable leased access could be implemented for a combined satellite radio entity.
Representatives from National Public Radio asked FCC officials that if the deal wins approval, a combined satellite radio entity should be required to include terrestrial HD radio reception capabilities in satellite radio receiving equipment.
Meanwhile, counsel for XM and Sirius met with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, asking for prompt approval of the merger. Other specifics were not available from a filing describing the meeting.
The FCC is the final hurdle for the companies and their plan to combine operations. In late March, the Justice Department's Antitrust Unit cleared the deal.
EchoStar/NDS Case Underway Today -- Posted by soullezz
on Wednesday, April 9 2008
A trial pitting EchoStar and its signal security provider NagraStar against conditional access giant NDS Group gets underway today in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, a case that has been branded by some as one of the biggest industrial espionage cases to hit the American court system.
EchoStar and NagraStar are seeking $1 billion in damages in the litigation, alleging that NDS compromised the conditional access technology utilized by the companies. Not only does the case involve the sensitive issue of satellite piracy, but also claims of sensitive corporate leaks, the employment of pirates themselves and spying.
In their complaint, EchoStar and NagraStar allege that NDS cracked their access card technology, and extracted proprietary codes within the system. What's more, NDS personnel then designed and built a pirating device that was capable of reprogramming those access cards, claims the litigation. Those devices were then allegedly distributed to the pirating community.
Press reports said key executives, including DISH Network/EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen, could take the stand. There were no comments from the companies prior to the trial's start.
Canadians Brace for Pay-TV/Broadcaster Debates -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, April 8 2008
Canadian multiplatform players are set to face off today on matters that have pitted north of the border cable and satellite TV companies against broadcasters that want the video services to pay for use of their signals.
The issue has resemblances to skirmishes U.S. pay-TV companies have faced when battling broadcasters. But the divide goes further to include the debate as to whether Canadians should receive U.S.-centric services like ESPN, and whether government-granted protections should be kept intact for so-called "genre" specialty channels, such as Canada's sports net TSN, which don't face competition from foreign programmers.
And some fret that any moves by Canadian regulators could raze a broadcasting scheme that backers said has nurtured a creative and robust domestic TV industry throughout the nation.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will begin its hearings on the items today.
For their part, broadcasters promoted a survey conducted by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting that suggested consumers don't think de-regulated cable and satellite companies would promote and deliver Canadian content.
"These results clearly point out that Canadians strongly support regulations that ensure access for independently owned broadcasting companies on both cable and satellite distribution systems in Canada," said Martha Fusca, president and CEO of Stornoway Communications, a Canadian specialty television channel operator. "The CRTC could make or break the sector depending on their decision."
Any final regulatory decision also could have big implications for Canada's cable and satellite TV players. Those companies include cable operators Rogers and Shaw and satellite TV companies Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice.
Spaceway 3 Goes Online -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, April 8 2008
On Monday, Hughes Network Systems said it activated its first HughesNet consumer subscriber for broadband internet service utilizing its new Spaceway 3 satellite.
The satellite can deliver up to 10 Gigabits per second of gross capacity, which Hughes said makes it the highest traffic-carrying satellite to be brought into service in North America. Also, the next-generation, Ka-band satellite is the first to employ on-board traffic switching and routing.
"With this significant milestone, our Spaceway 3 satellite has officially commenced carrying revenue-bearing traffic, making Hughes a fully integrated service provider," said Pradman Kaul, president and CEO of Hughes.
Spaceway 3 was launched by Arianespace last August, and then was placed into geostationary orbit by Boeing in December, at which time Hughes assumed operational control.
Former AG Weighs in on Satellite Radio Merger -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, April 1 2008
A group that has been fighting the proposed satellite radio merger inside Washington got a boost last week from a unique source.
Dick Thornburgh, a former attorney general for two presidents who now is an attorney for the D.C. law firm of Kirkpatrick and Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, wrote the Federal Communications Commission on Friday concerning his take on the Justice Department's clearance of the pending XM/Sirius combination. His letter was sent to the FCC on behalf of the Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio, a group that has been fighting the proposed deal.
In his letter, Thornburgh said a ruling from the Justice Department's antitrust division that found the merger would not lessen competition was "built upon a faulty foundation, ignores the facts of the satellite radio marketplace, and disregards substantial evidence" contrary to information provided by the coalition and others to the department.
"In my opinion, the DOJ decision reaches the wrong conclusion because it fails to give sufficient, perhaps any, weight to this evidence of direct competition," Thornburgh said in his letter to the FCC. He added that approval of the merger "in a rubber-stamp manner based on DOJ's decision will permanently foreclose competition in the satellite radio industry and irreparably harm the public interest."
Thornburgh urged commissioners to "exercise great caution" in their deliberations on the transaction. "Reliance on the DOJ decision alone will only lead to problematic and undesirable outcomes contrary to the public interest," he wrote.
Last week, the antitrust division at the Justice Department cleared the merger between XM and Sirius. The Federal Communications Commission is the remaining hurdle for the deal.
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