Satellite Today articles from May 2004

Satellite Today archives from May 2004

Broadcasters Eye Pay-TV Services To Compete With Cable, Satellite.
May 3, 2004... Broadcasters are looking into rolling out pay-TV services that could pose new competition for cable and satellite TV operators, said Robert Sachs, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), during his...

ViaSat Teams With DigitalGlobe.
May 3, 2004... ViaSat [VSAT], a Carlsbad, Calif.-based satellite equipment supplier, won a contract from DigitalGlobe of Longmont, Colo., to provide two 5.4-meter X-Band remote sensing satellite ground terminals for the next generation WorldView commercial...

PanAmSat Introduces HD Feed On Its Satellite, Fiber Network.
May 3, 2004... PanAmSat [SPOT] today announced that every major cable movie programmer has introduced its HD feed on the PanAmSat hybrid satellite and fiber network. In addition, the company said its Galaxy 13/Horizons-1 neighborhood is the first and largest...

WCC Awarded Five-Year GSA Contract.
May 3, 2004... World Communications Center (WCC), a provider of global satellite communications, now is the official supplier of Iridium satellite phones and accessories to all U.S. federal government agencies. The supplier's five-year contract reportedly...

Gilat Satellite Marks Milestone.
May 3, 2004... Petah Tikva, Israel-based Gilat Satellite Networks [GILTF] has supplied more than 1,500 Skystar 360E VSATs to ITC Ltd. in India during the past 12 months. The VSATs are used by ITC for its E-Choupal project aimed at communicating with more than...

DirecTV 7S Will Expand Local Channel Availability.
May 4, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV launched a new spot beam satellite this morning that will deliver local channels to its customers in more than 60 markets. The DirecTV 7S, a Space Systems/Loral-built 1300 model spacecraft and the second...

DirecTV Announces Improved 1Q Financial Results.
May 4, 2004... The DirecTV satellite television business unit's parent company, DirecTV Group [DTV], boosted its revenues 22 percent to $2.51 billion during firstquarter 2004, compared with the same quarter a year ago. The DirecTV Group's revenues rose...

SES Americom's AMC-10 Satellite Initiates Service.
May 4, 2004... SES Americom officials today said the inaugural program distribution aboard the A2100 Lockheed Martin [LMT] spacecraft began at 4:01 a.m. EST. SES officials said the start of service marks the in-orbit ribbon-cutting for HD-Prime, America's...

Telkonet, Hughes Sign Co-Marketing Agreement.
May 4, 2004... Telkonet [TKO] officials today said the company signed a co-marketing agreement with Hughes Network Systems. Both Telkonet and Hughes can offer a total Internet solution throughout multi-unit buildings using Hughes' DirecWay broadband Internet...

Alcatel Space Ties Up CNES Deal.
May 4, 2004... The French space agency CNES (Centre National D'etudes Spatiales) has chosen Alcatel Space to build its Jason-2 spatial oceanographic satellite. The satellite, designed to monitor oceans and climate, will carry on the mission of Jason-1,...

Barrington Broadcasting CEO Blasts EchoStar Before Senate Panel.
May 4, 2004... Jim Yager, CEO of Barrington Broadcasting, spoke on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters today when he criticized EchoStar Communications [DISH] for providing "illegal services to hundreds of thousands" of DISH satellite TV...

New Skies Reports 1Q Drop In Net Income.
May 5, 2004... New Skies Satellites N.V. [NSK] today reported net income of $100,000, down from $3.6 million during the same period in 2003. The drop was attributed to increases in operating expenses, coupled with higher depreciation charges arising from the...

BTBS Shuffles Executive Team.
May 5, 2004... BT Broadcast Services (BTBS), the broadcast and media solutions arm of BT, announced a number of management appointments in a restructuring of its sales team. David Lomas joined the company as chief commercial and operations officer. Simon Orme...

Dual Electronics Markets XM-Ready Car Stereos.
May 5, 2004... Dual Electronics will offer Dual car stereo products that are compatible with XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] service. Dual will introduce car-stereo head units compatible with the XM Direct tuner box during the third quarter, and it will be shipping...

Uni-Solar Tapped To Supply Solar Cells For USAF Satellite.
May 5, 2004... United Solar Ovonic Corp. (Uni-Solar) was selected by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to provide 3kW of Uni-Solar lightweight solar cells deposited on thin stainless steel to supply power to an experimental satellite. [Copyright...

EchoStar Records Net Loss For 1Q04, Nets 360,000 New Subs.
May 6, 2004... EchoStar Communications [DISH] officials today reported the company cut its net loss, boosted the total number of Dish Network subscribers and increased its revenues during first-quarter 2004. As of March 31, EchoStar reported it had...

XM Subs Grow, Net Loss Increases for 1Q04.
May 6, 2004... XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. [XMSR] today reported a net loss of $170.1 million for the first quarter of 2004, compared with a net loss of $126.3 million during the same period one year ago. Officials attributed the change to the growth in...

Sirius Names New Executives.
May 6, 2004... Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] appointed James Meyer president of operations and sales, responsible for overseeing and directing all operations and sales, including Sirius' automotive OEM business, retail markets, product management, strategic...

SES Global Reports 2003Net Profit.
May 6, 2004... SES Global S.A. said it earned $1.5 billion in revenues and notched a net profit of $248 million in 2003. [Copyright 2004 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]

New Skies, KMS/FalconStream Introduce Internet Hub In Middle East.
May 6, 2004... Officials from New Skies N.V. [NSK] and KMS/FalconStream today introduced a new two-way satellite IP hub for the Middle East, which will access New Skies' NSS-6 satellite. That spacecraft will allow for expanded and more advanced broadband...

ND SatCom Appoints New CFO.
May 6, 2004... ND SatCom, a supplier of satellite-based broadband, broadcast and military communication network solutions, appointed Siegfried Schlabschi as its new CFO, effective immediately. ND SatCom is a 90-percent-owned subsidiary of AUGUSTA Technologie...

Dish Network Delivers Local Channels In Two More Venues.
May 6, 2004... EchoStar Communications [DISH] officials today said that the company's Dish Network direct-to-home satellite TV service will begin offering local channels to subscribers in Columbus-Tupelo, Miss., and in Portland-Auburn, Maine. Columbus-Tupelo...

PBI Media Changes Name To Access Intelligence LLC.
May 7, 2004... PBI Media LLC, publisher of Satellite Today and a provider of global competitive business-to-business information and marketing solutions, announced a company name change to Access Intelligence LLC. According to Access Intelligence CEO Don...

MTG CEO Sets Ambitious Target.
May 7, 2004... Modern Times Group (MTG) aims to become one of the biggest media companies in Europe. The company already is a significant player in the pay-TV and free-TV markets in the Nordic region and in Eastern Europe, and it hopes to cement its position...

GlobeCast Chosen By Broadcasters For Olympic Coverage.
May 7, 2004... Officials from GlobeCast, operator of a global network of satellite distribution platforms for broadcast and advanced-content delivery, today said a group of international broadcasters selected its Athens Broadcast Base for coverage of the 2004...

Vicom Deploys DirecTV Service In Multi-Unit Properties.
May 7, 2004... Vicom Inc. [VICM] said its newly acquired subsidiary MDU Inc. completed the installation of equipment necessary to launch DirecTV direct-to-home satellite television services to 27 new properties, including 11 new apartment properties, and 16...

Stratos Names New CFO.
May 7, 2004... According to executives at Stratos Global Corp. [SGB], Alfred Giammarino will assume the duties of executive vice president and CFO as of May 10. He will be responsible for all financial and investor- relations affairs and activities for the...

Puerto Rico Dept. Of Educations Taps iDirect For Internet Connectivity.
May 7, 2004... iDirect Technologies will be providing the Puerto Rico Dept. of Education with high-speed Internet connectivity for 1,539 school locations throughout the country through its bi-directional, satellite-based, broadband-access technology....

MDA Wins 3 Canadian Contracts.
May 7, 2004... MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates [MDA] said its Information Systems group signed three contracts worth as much as $1.81 million for the building and maintenance of its Observation via Satellite ground stations. The first contract is with a...

AGS, Verestar Offer Feds Broader Network Solution.
May 10, 2004... Officials from Americom Government Services Inc. (AGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of SES Americom, and Verestar Inc. today said the companies formally linked their complementary General Services Administration federal supply service schedules....

Satlynx Provides Broadband Services For ANGA Trade Show.
May 10, 2004... Satlynx S.A. will provides two-way satellite broadband communications services to ANGA's Cable 2004 trade show, opening later this week in Cologne, Germany. ANGA e.V. is the German Association of Private CATV Operators. [Copyright 2004 PBI...

Arianespace, EADS Ink Billion-Dollar Contract.
May 10, 2004... Officials from Arianespace and EADS Space Transportation signed a contract worth $3.6 billion for the production by EADS Space Transportation of 30 Ariane 5 launch vehicles. The contract makes EADS Space Transportation the single prime...

BAE Systems Opens STC.
May 10, 2004... BAE Systems is celebrating the opening of the newly upgraded Semiconductor Technology Center (STC) along with the company's 25th anniversary May 10 at its headquarters in Manassas, Va. The STC upgrade consists of two projects. The first,...

Omaha Criminal-Justice Concern Picks iSECUREtrac.
May 10, 2004... ISECUREtrac [ISRE], an Omaha, Neb.-based provider of GPS tracking solutions, won a contract from Alternative Corrections of Castle Rock, Colo. Alternative Corrections will use the tracNET24 for criminal-justice tracking solutions. Financial...

Telesat Canada Teams With ViaSat.
May 11, 2004... Carlsbad, Calif.-based ViaSat [VSAT] finalized a contract with Telesat Canada to supply gateways and terminals for Telesat's consumer Ka-band services on the Anik F2 satellite. Under the pact, ViaSat would deliver and install a complete Ka-band...

SES Astra Tops 36 Million European Homes.
May 11, 2004... SES Astra officials today said the company added two million new households in Europe to its customer base during 2003, bringing the number of total households covered to 36.4 million at the beginning of 2004. Those homes subscribe to the...

Intelsat Revenues, Net Income Drop In 1Q04.
May 11, 2004... Intelsat Ltd. reported a slight drop in revenues and a 74-percent drop in net income for the first quarter of 2004, compared with the same period last year. Revenues of $235.4 million were earned during the first quarter ended March 31,...

Intelsat Buys Comsat General From Lockheed Martin.
May 11, 2004... According to Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] executives, Intelsat Ltd. will acquire Lockheed Martin's Comsat General business for $90 million in cash. The deal includes provisions, under certain circumstances, for Intelsat to substitute as much as...

Loral Revenues Drop, Net Loss Widens.
May 11, 2004... Loral Space & Communications Ltd. [LRLSQ] reported a net loss of $79.6 million for the first quarter of 2004, compared with a net loss of $48.2 million during the same period one year ago. Revenues also dropped, with the company earning $103.7...

CapRock Names Tutt Director Of South American Ops.
May 11, 2004... Officials from satellite telecommunications provider CapRock Communications today said the company appointed Douglas Tutt as director of the company's South American operations, based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Officials said Tutt has extensive...

XM Satellite Radio, Cambridge Soundworks Intro PlayDock.
May 11, 2004... XM Satellite Radio, [XMSR] announced a partnership with Cambridge SoundWorks to produce the PlayDockXM, a portable, high-performance audio system with a flexible docking apparatus that allows rapid connection or removal of the Delphi XM Roady...

Intelsat Purchases Atlas V Rocket.
May 11, 2004... International Launch Services (ILS) reported Intelsat Ltd. agreed to purchase an Atlas V rocket for the launch of a future satellite. Financial terms were not disclosed. ILS is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] and...

Thomson Buys Hughes' Set-Top Box Assets.
May 12, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV Group [DTV] agreed to sell the set-top box manufacturing operations of its Germantown, Md.-based Hughes Network Systems subsidiary to France-based Thomson [TMS] for a minimum of $250 million. The deal could...

Arianespace Tapped To Launch Aussie Telecom Satellites.
May 12, 2004... According to Arianespace officials, Australian telecommunications carrier Optus has chosen the company to launch its D1 and D2 satellites. Optus D1 is to be launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, at the end of 2005 via...

Sirius Reaches 400,000 Subscribers.
May 12, 2004... New York City-based satellite radio provider Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] reportedly has reached the 400,000-subscriber mark. "Reaching the 400,000-subscriber mark is another important milestone for Sirius as we continue to grow our business...

L-3 Garners $30 Million Contract.
May 12, 2004... L-3 Communications' [LLL] Narda Satellite Networks division was awarded a $30 million interim, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity task order contract to provide deployable satellite communications systems, subsystems and components as well...

Worldsat, KT Corp Partner For Northeast Asia Telecom Services.
May 12, 2004... Officials from Worldsat and KT Corp. today said the companies have entered into a long-term framework agreement to provide telecom services in Northeast Asia via several high-powered, Ku-band transponders on the Worldsat-1 satellite. Worldsat-1...

OHB-System, Elbit Subsidiary Form Joint Venture.
May 12, 2004... Space-based technology company OHB-System AG and Elop Electro-Optics Industries Ltd., a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. [ESLT], are planning a joint venture for the common development of electro-optical systems and infrared payloads suitable...

SBCA President Defends Satellite Broadcasters.
May 13, 2004... A solid first quarter of financial results from the two major U.S. satellite TV and satellite radio operators proves they all are delivering the kinds of subscription services that consumers want and are willing to buy, said Richard DalBello,...

Orbital Recovery Taps Arianespace For Space Tug Launches.
May 13, 2004... Officials from Arianespace said the company signed a contract with Orbital Recovery Ltd. to provide launch services for the ConeXpress Orbital Life Extension Vehicle (CX OLEV). The contract covers the first launch, scheduled for 2007, and four...

Gilat Reports Increased Revenues, Net Loss For 1Q04.
May 13, 2004... Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [GILTF] today reported revenues of $57.4 million earned during the first quarter of this year, up 12 percent from the $51.1 million earned during the same period one year ago. However, the company reported a net...

Dish Expands Local Channels In Two Markets.
May 13, 2004... EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] will be offering local channels to its Dish Network direct-to-home satellite television service subscribers in Peoria, Ill., and in Providence, R.I. In both venues, subscribers will be able to view the local...

Pace Prepares For Satellite TV STB Rollout.
May 13, 2004... Pace Micro Technology [PIC] will launch Premiere digital satellite settop boxes (STBs) in later this month. The DS210(a) reportedly will be the smallest digital satellite STB in Germany, measuring in at 3.5 cm in height, 14 cm in depth and 22...

ViaSat Reports Record-Breaking Fiscal 2004.
May 13, 2004... ViaSat Inc. [VSAT] is touting a record-breaking 2004 when it comes to revenues and net income. For fiscal 2004, which ended April 2, the company reported revenues and net income of $278.6 million and $13.2 million, respectively. In fiscal 2003,...

Sky+ A Big Hit For BSkyB.
May 14, 2004... Brian Sullivan, director of new product development and sales at BSkyB (BSY.L), told the Euroconsult DTH World Summit for Satellite TV Platforms & Channels in Paris that its Sky+ Personal Video Recorder (PVR) offering had been a big hit with...

Satlynx, Alcatel Bring Broadband To Remote Areas.
May 14, 2004... Officials from Satlynx S.A. today said the company is working with Alcatel to bring Internet access to areas that have poor or no opportunities to connect via traditional terrestrial networks. The two companies will be lending their expertise...

WorldSpace Named Global Satellite Radio Broadcaster For Benefit Concert.
May 14, 2004... Music legend Quincy Jones picked WorldSpace to serve as the international satellite radio broadcast partner for his "We Are The Future" benefit concert scheduled for May 16 in Rome. WorldSpace will broadcast the concert throughout Africa,...

HDNet Affiliates Order Wegener Satellite Receivers.
May 14, 2004... Wegener Corp. [WGNR] has received orders for an undisclosed number of Wegener Unity 4600 satellite receivers from HDNet cable affiliates. The specific affiliates also were not disclosed. [Copyright 2004 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]...

Research: Aftermarket In-Vehicle Navigation Products Face Challenges.
May 14, 2004... Vendors of aftermarket in-vehicle navigation systems are facing market challenges from such lower-cost consumer electronics products as GPS-enabled PDAs and wireless phones with Internet connectivity. "For the occasional user, there is...

Space Imaging Wins Colorado Export Award.
May 14, 2004... On May 18, Colorado's Gov. Bill Owens will give Space Imaging a state award for export excellence in the large-size manufacturing company category. The Excellence in Exporting award has been given annually since 1970, and it recognizes Colorado...

AMC-11 Ready For Launch.
May 17, 2004... SES Americom's AMC-11 telecommunications satellite is ready for its scheduled May 19 launch, officials from International Launch Services (ILS) said today. AMC-11 will be sent into orbit on an Atlas IIAS rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force...

Latens Secures Key Scandinavian CA Deal.
May 17, 2004... Latens is to provide a next-generation Conditional Access (CA) system to Norwegian broadband operator Lyse Energi, a Norwegian power utility. Lyse Energi offers multi-channel TV and video on demand services as part of its triple-play offering...

Panasonic Will Make XM Radios For Truck Fleets.
May 17, 2004... XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] said Panasonic will produce XM-ready car stereos for the nation's trucking fleets. Panasonic will produce two kinds of XM-ready AM/FM stereos: one equipped with a CD player and one equipped with a cassette deck. The...

MSV Receives $21 Million In Additional Financing.
May 17, 2004... Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) closed on additional optional funding rounds with its original investor group, which includes affiliates of Telecom Ventures and Columbia Capital, providing $21.3 million in new capital. The proceeds are being...

Sky Italia To Deploy OpenTV Middleware.
May 17, 2004... OpenTV [OPTV] officials today said Sky Italia will deploy OpenTV's middleware, based on a multi-year agreement signed by the two companies. Sky Italia provides digital satellite services to subscribers in Italy. The OpenTV middleware product...

Dish Designs UEFA Euro 2004 Soccer Packages.
May 17, 2004... EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] said the Union Des Associations Europeennes de Football (UEFA) Euro 2004 soccer tournament will be available to Dish subscribers via On Demand pay per view. Customers can purchase a 31-game, all inclusive...

End Of An Era For Atlas II.
May 17, 2004... Last Friday, Lockheed Martin [LMT] celebrated the assembly of the final Atlas II rocket (an Atlas IIAS configuration). The Atlas II series has been used in 61 missions during a 13-year period with a 100-percent success rate. The final Atlas II...

GlobeCast Gets Ready For European Championship.
May 18, 2004... GlobeCast signed deals with Sky News, Sky Sports News, French broadcaster France televisions and Japanese national TV Wow Wow for services covering the European Football Championships in Portugal later this summer. It will offer broadcast...

Comtech Subsidiary Receives $4 Million Order.
May 18, 2004... Officials from Comtech EF Data Corp., a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. [CMTL], today said the company received a $4 million order for satellite-communications equipment. The agreement calls for the purchase of $2 million in...

Delphi Portable Receiver Sales Could Reach 1 Million Units.
May 18, 2004... Delphi Corp. [DPH] expects to reach the one-million mark in sales of portable satellite radio receivers to retailers this June, covering both the XM SkyFi and Roady products. This would bring the total receivers sold by Delphi to 2.6 million,...

Scripps Purchases More Capacity From SES Americom.
May 18, 2004... SES Americom executives said Scripps Networks signed a second agreement for more C-band capacity to distribute an expanding lineup of home-focused programming on its HD-Prime cable neighborhood. The latest agreement calls for transponder use on...

IMS, Spaceconnection Transmit ALCUE 2004 Summit.
May 18, 2004... Satellite service supplier Spaceconnection and International Media Services (IMS) united to become the official host transmission provider for the ALCUE 2004 Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, scheduled for May 26-29. The ALCUE event discusses...

Atmel, u-blox Intro New Aiding-GPS Receiver.
May 18, 2004... Atmel [ATML] and u-blox today announced the Antaris GPS technology, jointly developed by the two companies, now features an innovative aiding functionality that makes the time to first fix in only four seconds, suitable for applications...

AMC-11 Launch Expected To Go Off Without A Hitch.
May 19, 2004... CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--The launch of SES Americom's AMC-11 C-band satellite has a "90 percent chance" of happing later this evening as scheduled, an official from International Launch Services told Satellite Today this morning. The launch window...

PanAmSat Inks Transponder Deal With RNC.
May 19, 2004... PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT] officials today said the company has signed a 15-year transponder agreement with Rainbow Network Communications (RNC) for the transport of AMC (American Movie Classics) from PanAmSat's 1R satellite. Financial terms of the...

Musicians Set For Satellite Education.
May 19, 2004... The Musicians Channel (M-channel), a new channel dedicated to encouraging, inspiring and educating all people with an interest in musical activity, is set to launch on BSkyB next week. The aim of the channel is to encourage participation in...

OneTouch Systems Is Direcway-Certified In E-Learning Category.
May 19, 2004... Officials from OneTouch Systems today said the company's interactive distance learning has received formal certification by Hughes Network Systems Inc. for use via HNS' Direcway satellite broadband service. The HNS certification covers the...

MDU Acquires Direct Satellite Inc.
May 19, 2004... Officials from MDU Communications International Inc. [OTCBB: MDTV], an end-to-end provider of DirecTv and other telecommunications services, today announced that the company has reached an agreement to acquire the business assets of Direct...

AMC-11 Successfully Launched.
May 20, 2004... CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--Officials from International Launch Services said today that the AMC-11 satellite was placed successfully into orbit yesterday. The satellite was launched at 6:22 p.m. EDT on an Atlas IIAS rocket and was injected into a...

com hem CEO Confident It Can Squeeze Satellite Rivals.
May 20, 2004... Swedish cable operator com hem aims to put the pressure on its satellite pay-TV rivals Viasat and Canal Digital in Sweden. The operator will launch a VoIP telephony service in September to go alongside its digital television and Internet...

Local Channels Available to DISH Subscribers In All 50 States.
May 20, 2004... EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] officials today said that, with the addition of Cheyenne, Wyo., local channels are now available in 127 markets covering all 50 United States and the District of Columbia. The company added that nearly 90...

Voom Announces New Retail Partner.
May 20, 2004... Voom officials today said the company is teaming with BrandsMart USA, a South Florida retailer, to offer Voom's comprehensive high-definition satellite television service. [Copyright 2004 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]

Comtech Receives $1.3 Million Order.
May 20, 2004... Officials from Comtech EF Data Corp., a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. [CMTL] today said the company has received a $1.3 million order from a major telecom service provider in South America for various products, including...

Frost and Sullivan Honors DigitalGlobe.
May 20, 2004... Frost & Sullivan as recognized earth Imagery Company DigitalGlobe for its outstanding work toward the next-generation commercial remote sensing satellites by presenting them the 2004 Aerospace and Defense Product of the Year Award. The decision...