Satnews

[Lujdzo]

Russia takes DTT development plans forward
October 12, 2012

Russia is on course to complete digital switchover by 2017, according to broadcast infrastructure provider RTRS’s chief Viktor Pinchuk.

Local press reported Pinchuk as saying that the country’s first digital multiplex would include the new public TV channel set to launch next year as well as a channel for regional services, while a competition for participation in a second multiplex would be held in the middle of December. The second mux will comprise 10 channels initially.

Pinchuk said that a decision of switching off DVB-T transmssions during the first quarter of 2013 would be taken after the situation was analysed. However, it was likely the switch would be delayed slightly, he said.

Pinchuk said there were currently 96 models of DVB-T2 set-top available on the Russian market.

[Lujdzo]

MIPCOM sees strong turnout

October 12, 2012

The organisers of MIPCOM say that 12,900 people attended this year’s market in Cannes.
Of the total 4,400 were buyers and significantly, Reed Midem, which runs the TV trade show, said 500 of those were dedicated buyers for digital services or platforms.


Reed Midem added that as well as there being a lot of digital buyers in town this year, the digital platforms were also in Cannes to talk to partners about production.

“Companies such as Netflix, Google/YouTube or Hulu have been attending MIPCOM for several years, but mostly as buyers,” said Laurine Garaude, director of Reed Midem’s television division. “Today, they are very much involved in developing great content.”
Other tre$$$ this year included an uptick in the number of attendees from Latin America, up 36% year-on-year, and China, up 30%.
DreamWorks made its first appearance at the market and the Hollywood studios all had a presence. The number of US companies in Cannes was up 11% on last year’s event.

[Lujdzo]

New market for CEE

October 12, 2012

Eastern European channel distributor Mediavision is to launch a television market in CEE to rival Natpe Budapest.


The company, which is run by Sanja Bozic-Ljubicic, will launch NEM (New Europe Market) from May 8 to May 11 2013 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The market will focus on broadcasters, producers and distributors as well as IPTV and cable and satellite distribution and will include a content sales market and conference sessions.

“The CEE region is the most attractive world telecommunications market having a development potential unsurpassed by any other region in the world. The growth of the number of television channels and multi-channel platforms in the Central and Eastern Europe region continues in spite of global economic problems,” Mediavision said in a statement.

[Lujdzo]

IT revolution: a trend to beware of…

October 12, 2012

The IT revolution has benefited the broadcasting industry in terms of reduced costs and greater connectivity and versatility, but has it been an entirely benign influence? Simen Frostad, chairman of Bridge Technologies, attempts an answer.

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with the IT industry knows all too well the stories of hubristic projects conceived on a grand scale with budgets running into billions of dollars, with completion dates years â€" even decades â€" into the future. Schemes for rationalising government departments or making public services more efficient at the point of delivery usually promise the world, but many end in expensive failure.

Is a tendency to over-reach and over-complicate a characteristic of the IT industry that broadcasters and media people should be wary of? There’s something about working in IT that seems to make people love complexity, seemingly for its own sake. Perhaps there’s a more calculating aspect at an organisational level: the more complex a ‘solution’ is, the more work it creates for the providers of the solution. But it’s almost as if after a few years in IT, an otherwise normal human being forgets the importance of simplicity, or at least forgets where to find it.

I don’t mean to be too critical here, because nearly every big IT innovation seeks to solve enormously complicated challenges. There’s no way around that: significant invention always involves intricacy, minute detail and complexity. But the best inventions also have an intuitive quality and some have an essential simplicity that makes us wonder ‘how come nobody thought of that before?’. What the media industry needs to be careful about, now that IT is so much a part of it, is the tendency of IT people to convert us all to a currency of complexity, as if there were no other legal tender.

Broadcasters were used to working with a fairly simple set of parameters in order to create their signals and get them to the viewer. The tools they used for monitoring and analysing these signals were mostly simple too: crude perhaps, but effective and easy to use. Now that the one-size-fits-all ‘broadcasting’ model has become superseded by diverse, multi-platform, social-media-connected, second-screen, live/on-demand consume-it-anywhere ‘media delivery’, much more varied and complex technologies are involved. And the people who make it all work are having a much more complicated time of it as a result.

The crux of this situation is that complexity should not be allowed to become the norm for the user in everyday operations. If it does, there will be some serious consequences for service quality and operational costs. Even if the technology under the hood is complicated, manufacturers still need to make the tools to run it easy to use. And there’s a tendency in IT-based, engineering-driven manufacturers not to focus on that.

When the stakes are high enough, tech manufacturers come through. An airliner’s cockpit is stuffed full of complex technology, but it’s presenting data in simple form. It has to be simple, because if a pilot can’t quickly understand the information the aircraft’s systems are delivering, it’s a potentially fatal situation.

The media industry has some pretty high stakes too. Not directly life-threatening maybe, but in the super-competitive race for new business, the difference between profitable operation and failure can hinge on operational costs in a way it never did before. If a media business is based on technology that its staff are constantly struggling to understand and manage, there’s trouble ahead.

Technical staff have to deal with the complexity of today’s diverse IT-based media systems: that’s just a fact of life. But they don’t have to put up with tools that are complicated and opaque to use. Manufacturers should work hard to resist placing that burden on them, and instead deliver products that make complexity understandable at a glance.

It’s hard to make the complex simple, but manufacturers of IT technology for media use need to make the extra effort.

[Lujdzo]

Social TV market set for strong growth

October 12, 2012

The global ‘social TV’ market, including hardware, is expected to reach US$256.44 billion (â,¬197 billion) by 2017 with a compound annual growth rate of 11.2%, according to a report by US-based analysts MarketsandMarkets.

According to the report, ‘social TV’ market revenues will amount to US$151.14 billion this year, with Europe commanding the largest share â€" US$55.48 billion European revenues are expected to grow to US$77.74 billion by 2017, representing a CAGR of 7%.

The report analysed the hardware and smart TV market by value and volume, social TV technologies and platforms, end user technology, second-screen usage and TV viewing behaviour.

[Lujdzo]

Without IRIB package at 13 ° E



Without any announcement on Oct. 15 turned off the entire package of channels and radio stations IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting). Transmission was conducted 13B satellite Hot Bird (13 ° E), using one transponder in its entirety. No signal is not the result of noise time - simply transmission is not carried out at all, and the transponder is turned off. According to information from the sender operator Arqiva, who was responsible for the station uplinks - the contract was terminated because of pressure from the European Council and the French government.

We broke the contract, because that was the decision of the European Commission. We had to adjust. - Explained Karen Badalov, who is the position of Area Manager in Eutelsat SA, the Press TV.

Slightly more widely spoken head of Public Relations operator Arqiva, Gary Follows, who informed the sender that the cessation of emissions and immediate termination of contract is the result of tighter sanctions against Iran, the European Council (for the lack of progress on halting Iran's nuclear program), and many times repeated requests by the French regulator media market, CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l'audiovisuel) with permanent disabling channel Sahar 1, which was broadcast on IRIB channel part of the package. As a result, on October 15 excluded IRIB package of 13B Hot Bird (13 ° E).

In addition to the one at issue Sahar channel also disappeared: Jame-Jam TV Network 1, Jame-Jam TV Network 2, Irinna, Quran TV, Al-Alam News Channel, Al Kawthar TV, Sahar 2, Press TV and 10 radio stations: Radio Quran, Ashen Seday 1, Radio Iran, COI Radio, IRIB World Service Radio 1/2, IRIB World Service Radio 5/4 and the IRIB World Service Radio 3/6.

Used for the transmission of tp. 87 with a frequency of 12.437 GHz, pol. H (SR 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S/QPSK)

The sender does not hide dissatisfaction with the situation, noting that the exclusion came after several months of regular channel interference issue, what I suspect are "British experts", the movement of the operator Eutelsat defines as illegal and accused the European Union of a lack of respect for freedom of speech.

It is worth noting that Press TV also has problems communicating with 19.2 ° E (Astra 1M), where the message had already been suspended for the period from April 3 to June 20 because of the decision of the German regulator für neue Landeszentrale Bayerische Medien (BLM) . Transmission resumed after appeal this decision, but in mid-September, the message was interrupted again.

Sam Sahar 1 has had trouble in the past and was removed from the 13 ° E, but only this one station, not the whole package. The channel is accused of presenting on-air and anti-Semitic incitement to racial violence.

Press TV has launched a profile on social networking site Facebook called Save Press TV in Europe, where they can gather supporters stations, where the fate of the channel is not indifferent.

[Lujdzo]

Humax Freesat+ box with goes on sale


The first next generation Freesat+ box with free time, the Humax HDR-1000S, will appear in UK stores this week. Delivering the new smart on-screen TV guide, the HDR-1000S allows users to move effortlessly between live digital channels and on demand programmes from BBC iPlayer and ITV Player.

Available to buy from John Lewis, Currys, Comet, Argos, Euronics and a range of other independent electrical retailers, the Humax HDR-1000S Freesat+ box will be priced at around £279. It will deliver the new free time service, which offers the following features in a single guide, all subscription-free:

- A backwards TV guide to watch programmes that have already been on
- An ‘at a glance’ Now & Next view to show you what’s on the minute you sit down
- A new Showcase section with recommendations on what programmes to watch now, in the future and on demand

[Lujdzo]

Mediaset, Al Jazeera partner for pay-TV?
From Branislav Pekic in Italy


Media reports suggest plans for a possible pay-TV partnership between commercial broadcaster Mediaset and Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera are firming up. This follows similar speculation over the summer.

The partnership would be based on Mediaset’s existing pay-TV platform, Mediaset Premium, which is available on DTT nationwide. The renewed speculation has boosted the value of Mediaset shares on the Milan Stock Exchange, as a new partner could help reduce Mediaset Premium’s debts (losses in 2011 amounted to â,¬70 million).

However some analysts fear that, in the long term, the arrival of a new player on the Italian TV market could have negative effects on Mediaset’s advertising revenue. In fact, since the start of 2012, Mediaset has seen ad revenue drop by 10.5 per cent.

[Lujdzo]

Cosmos TV takes Russian Extreme


Belarus pay TV operator Cosmos TV has added sports and entertainment channels Russian Extreme TV to its programming line-up.

The channel specialises in travel and adventure programming and extreme sports, with shows including In Search of Adventure with Mikhail Kozhukhov, I’m Ready for Anything! with Dmitry Dibrov, Stunt with Gosha Kutsenko, and Extreme Situations with Nikolai Fomenko. Russian Extreme will be offered as part of Cosmos TV’s Sport and Full digital packages.

[Lujdzo]

SatLink delivers six Nigerian channels to Africa



Teleport and playout operator SatLink Communications has been selected to provide end-to-end broadcast services and content distribution for six Nigerian TV channels to Africa on Spacecom’s Amos-5 satellite.

The broadcasters will also use SatLink’s HD Playout Centre.
SatLink will deliver two Christian channels from Hosanna Broadcast Network, along with Voice of God, Champions of Fire TV and Hola TV to DTH viewers in west, east and central Africa.

David Hochner, CEO of SatLink, said, “These latest African customer announcements represent an important milestone in our engagement with the African market place as a strategic focus for our company. These are perfect examples of where we can add value to African broadcasters looking for an end-to-end service including all equipment and installations as well as satellite distribution and playout services to deliver localised content into and out of Africa.”

[Lujdzo]

Meo launches A Bola channel


Portugal Telecom has added sports channel A Bola to its Meo TV platform.

Operated by the sports daily of the same name, A Bola will offer a strong emphasis on football coverage. Portugal Telecom said the launch of A Bola was in keeping with its strategy to offer a strong sports line-up. The channel will join other sports networks offered by Meo, including Benfica TV, Real Madrid TV, BarçaTV, ChelseaTV and Man United TV.

The A Bola newspaper has a daily circulation of about 900,000 readers.

[Lujdzo]

YahLive adds Saudi HD channels


UAE-based DTH operator YahLive has added a bouquet of Saudi HD TV channels to its line-up.

YahLive subscribers now have access to channels Saudi 1, Quran Kareem, El Sunnah, El Ekhbariya, El thaqafiya and Sport 1 in high definition.

Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive, said: “This partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Information is yet another step forward that demonstrates our commitment to bringing a new era to TV viewing by integrating the highest HD quality services with an exclusive bouquet of the most popular TV channels and delivering it to our viewers on the YahLive platform. The Saudi market in particular has been witnessing a number of positive, dynamic developments in the broadcasting sector, but the most significant is the advent of HD. We broadcast at 8Mbps per HD channel to give viewers true picture beauty and interaction that comes only with the HD experience.”

[Lujdzo]

ECS to deliver OH TV throughout Africa


Broadcast services provider ECS has signed a deal to deliver to deliver the OH TV network throughout Africa.

ECS collects the OH TV signal at a London point of presence, se$$$ it by fibre to the uplink station and uplinks the signal to the Spacecom’s Amos-5 pan-African satellite.

OH TV is a London-based TV network providing contemporary entertainment that reflects the black experience worldwide.

“We are proud to extend our agreements with OH TV and enlarge their viewing audience to every corner of Africa,” said ECS CEO EranAvni. “ECS offers cost effective solution for broadcasters from the UK and Europe seeking distribution for their content over Africa. Our turnkey operation is opening a huge market for UK and European broadcasters enabling to reach a tremendous viewership with their content.”

[Lujdzo]

Music Box Russia, however, the current tp. at 13 ° E


With No. 153 satellite transponder EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 13A (13 ° E) excludes the message copied music channel Music Box Russia. Since then, Music Box Russia is available as before, ie # 157 transponder frequency 11.642 GHz, pol. H, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 (DVB-S/QPSK). Emission parallel with the old and the new frequency was conducted a few days. Probably emission Music Box Russia with a new transponder was purely a test like last time # 153 transponder frequency 11.566 GHz, pol. H, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 (DVB-S/QPSK).

Specifications regular issue:
EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 13A (13.0 ° E)
tp. 157 (11.642 GHz, pol. H, SR 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S/QPSK)

Image: Music Box Russia
PID V: 1301 (MPEG-2/SD)
PID: 1302 (rus)
PID PCR: 1301
SID: 10630
PID PMT: 1070
Provider: BSS
Encoding: none

[Lujdzo]

Eutelsat pulls plug on Iranian TV

Editor    | 16-10-2012   

Only days after it appealedappeal to international regulatory authorities to intervene to put an end to constant jamming of satellite signals by Iran, Eutelsat, along with Arqiva, is to end broadcasts of channels belonging to the Islamic Republic on its HOT BIRD craft.
The Paris-based satellite operator says that since May 2009 its network has suffered from deliberate interference by international networks, including BBC Persia, the Voice of America's Persian service and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Radio Farda. It has condemned the practice of deliberate interference with broadcast signals, which has ramped up over the last few weeks, as “a violation of rules” of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The decision to pull the plug on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)was based on reinforced European Union (EU)Council sanctions and a confirmation by France's broadcasting authority, the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, that the Sahar 1 TV channel that broadcast in IRIB’s multiplex of TV and radio services should be permanently switched off. Moreover, Ezzattolah Zarghami, head of IRIB, was included in the list of EU-sanctioned persons disclosed on March 23, 2012, following a violation of human rights by IRIB in its programming.
IRIB has been informed of the termination of its contract. As a French company, Eutelsat is bound to comply with instructions from the French broadcasting authority and transmissions through the HOT BIRD transponder have ceased.