Satellite News articles from December 2003

Satellite News archives from December 2003

Film Distribution Offers Niche.(Microspace and Boeing Digital Cinema exploring possibilities)(Industry Overview)
December 8, 2003... One of the newest opportunities for entrepreneurial satellite companies is the distribution of feature films via satellite to movie theaters. Movie studios incur huge costs to deliver new releases to theaters. Satellites potentially could...

Gilat Commits To Unusual Merger.(acquiring outstanding shares of rStar)
December 8, 2003... Israel-based satellite company Gilat Satellite Network [Nasdaq: GILTF] intends to pay roughly $5.8 million, or 60 cents a share, to buy the remaining shares it does not already own in money-losing rStar [Nasdaq: RSTRC], a Sunrise, Fla.-based...

GPS, Galileo Harmonization Talks Advance.(between EU and Interagency GPS Executive Board )
December 8, 2003... Concerns that Europe's proposed Galileo satellite navigation system might interfere with the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) appear to be easing. Talks between U.S. and European officials are leading to informal agreements aimed at...

Spotlight: Concert Helps To Raise Funds To Fight AIDS.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... A star-studded music concert in Cape Town, South Africa, broadcast worldwide via satellite helped to raise money and awareness to fight AIDS. The three-hour concert on Nov. 29 was made available internationally for rights-free redistribution by...

Regulatory Gains Aid Latin America.
December 8, 2003... By David Hartshorn Expanded satellite market access and earth station interoperability topped the telecom agenda at a recent government/industry meeting held in El Salvador. The focus was to identify the role satellites could play in...

Latin American Countries Make Progress.
December 8, 2003... Recent gains in promoting access to broadband services in Latin America have resulted from intensive private and public sector efforts to improve satellite regulations throughout the region. Collaboration among officials from industry and...

Philips Hopes To Exploit Satellite Opportunities.
December 8, 2003... Philips Consumer Electronics [NYSE: PHG], the Dutch-based electronics manufacturer, hopes to take advantage of the consolidation in satellite pay-TV markets across Europe to provide better products and services to its customers. Lucas...

Belgacom Beefs Up Satellite Strategy With Intelsat Deal.
December 8, 2003... Belgian telecom operator Belgacom has signed a multi-transponder deal with Intelsat to become part of Intelsat's global satellite network, enabling Belgacom to provide high-speed Internet access to ISPs in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa....

The Satellite News Financial Ticker.(Illustration)
December 8, 2003... Week of Nov. 28- Dec. 4, 2003 Percentage Change Dec. 4 One One Three Year to Symbol Price Week Month Month Date Operators APT SATELLITE HLDGS ATS...

Inmarsat Shakes Up Europe.
December 15, 2003... London-based Inmarsat Ventures, one of the oldest European satellite companies, is showing that it also is one of the most progressive by adopting a new ownership structure, pursuing a contract to manage the proposed Galileo positioning system...

iDirect Finds Profitable Focus.
December 15, 2003... A rapier-sharp focus on providing broadband networking equipment has turned Reston, Va.-based iDirect from a money-loser into a high-growth, profitable company. John Kealey, who became iDirect's CEO in late 2001, arrived when the company...

Experts See GPS Use Gaining Momentum.(Industry Overview)
December 15, 2003... Consumer use of Global Positioning System (GPS) services has grown considerably during the past five years and now is almost "omnipresent" in the daily lives of Americans, said Ron Stearns, principal, senior analyst, Frost & Sullivan, a market...

Spotlight: 40th Anniversary of Syncom Celebrated.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2003... U.S. broadcasting pioneers Walter Cronkite and Jim McKay were joined last week by veteran TV news host David Hartman in a 40th anniversary celebration of the launch of Syncom, the world's first geosynchronous communications satellite. The...

Satellite Radio Growth Beats Expectations.(Industry Overview)
December 15, 2003... By Jimmy Schaeffler The nascent satellite radio industry is showing strong legs and a knack for long-term success. Its early growth is second only to the early growth of digital video discs (DVDs). Surprisingly, satellite radio's sales...

Hispasat CEO Shrugs Off Digital+ Outcome.(Jacinto Garcia Palacios)(Interview)
December 15, 2003... Spanish satellite TV provider Digital+ has signed an agreement with Spanish satellite operator Hispasat and Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES Astra to use both of their satellite platforms to broadcast its programming. The decision by...

Premiere CEO Looks To Pursue Future IPO.(Georg Kofler )
December 15, 2003... German satellite pay-TV operator Premiere will make a decision next year whether to hold an initial public offering (IPO) of stock. The operator, which expects to break through the 3 million subscriber mark in January, could go to the financial...

The Satellite News Financial Ticker.(Industry Overview)
December 15, 2003... Week of Dec. 4 - 11, 2003 Percentage Change Dec. 11 One One Three Year to Symbol Price Week Month Month Date Operators APT SATELLITE HLDGS ATS ...

Loral Fallout Tops 2003 Stories.(Industry Overview)
December 22, 2003... The bankruptcy of satellite industry stalwart Loral Space and Communications [OTCBB: LRLSQ] and the sale of its valuable North American satellite assets to rival Intelsat for $1.1 billion ranked as the biggest story of 2003. Other...

Sirius Scores With NFL Deal.
December 22, 2003... Sirius Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: SIRI] is following the marketing game plan of DirecTV by signing a seven-year, $220 million contract with the National Football League for the rights to air all regular season and selected pre-season and...

GAO Backs Changes To DoD Procurement.
December 22, 2003... The General Accounting Office issued a new report recommending that the Department of Defense (DoD) focus on developing and implementing a strategic approach to procuring commercial satellite bandwidth services. The report specifically...

Spotlight: New Year's Eve At Times Square Celebrated.(free satellite feeds from the Times Square Business Improvement District and Countdown Entertainment )(Brief Article)
December 22, 2003... Broadcasters seeking to show scenes of New York's Times Square on New Year's Eve will have free access to two satellite feeds on the 100th anniversary of the celebration. The Times Square Business Improvement District and Countdown...

Deconstructing News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch.(Western Cable Show's panel discussion)
December 22, 2003... By Sean Badding The 36th and last Western Cable Show, held Dec. 2-5 in Anaheim, Calif., included the usual general sessions featuring CEOs talking about competition in cable and telecommunications, but it also featured a provocative panel...

Alcatel Space CEO 'Surprised' At Performance.
December 22, 2003... Alcatel Space, the satellite manufacturing arm of Paris-based Alcatel [NYSE: ALA], outperformed its expectations in 2003. It has signed a number of key contracts with operators such as XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR], Eutelsat and Arabsat....

The Satellite News Financial Ticker.
December 22, 2003... Week of Dec. 11 - 18, 2003 Percentage Change Dec. 18 One One Three Year to Symbol Price Week Month Month Date Operators APT SATELLITE HLDGS ATS ...