Satellite Today articles from November 2004

Satellite Today archives from November 2004

DART Launch Postponed Again.
November 1, 2004... Officials from both Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the launch of the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is not expected to occur before Nov. 4. A...

Foxtel Revels In Digital Performance.
November 1, 2004... Foxtel, the Australian pay-TV operator, announced some impressive new ratings figures that show the strong performance of subscription television. In the latest week ending Oct. 30, subscription television's share of viewing in subscription...

Iridium Passes 2,500-Sub Mark In Aircraft Market.
November 1, 2004... Iridium Satellite LLC said 2,500 aircraft have been fitted with Iridium satellite communications equipment, and the market is growing at a rate of more than 100 percent annually. "One of the reasons for our substantial growth in the aero market...

Russian Telecom Satellite Launched.
November 1, 2004... Satellite Today learned the Express AM-1 satellite, built by the Reshetnev scientific research association, was successfully launched aboard a Proton-K launch vehicle from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:11 p.m. GMT on Oct. 29. The...

U.S. Air Force Jams Satellite Transmissions.
November 1, 2004... The U.S. Air Force just deployed technology designed to jam satellite transmissions from enemy satellites. According to reports, the ground-based technology can knock out transmissions using electromagnetic radio frequency energy without...

Conax Focuses on Asia.
November 1, 2004... Conax, a leading European-based Conditional Access (CA) supplier, announced two key appointments and it hopes to drive more revenues out of the Asia Pacific market. It has created a new position of vice president of Asia within the company,...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 1, 2004... * BT Broadcast Services, the Americas, the media and satellite solutions arm of BT, said that Entravision Communications Corp.-owned WVEN-TV purchased a BT Satnet unit. Satnet is BT's fully automated satellite network system. WVEN will use...

SS/L, Intelsat Finalize Intelsat Americas-9 Design.
November 2, 2004... Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) said it reached an agreement with Intelsat LLC for the design of the Intelsat Americas-9 satellite - a high-power, C- and Kuband satellite that ultimately will provide service to North and Central America, and the...

Philips Exec Makes Europe HD Prediction.
November 2, 2004... Giant consumer-electronics manufacturer Philips is urging a more proactive approach when it comes to High-Definition Television (HDTV) in Europe, and it warns that Europe is in danger of falling behind in this area. Frans van Houten,...

BSkyB Exec Hails Interactive-Advertising Turning Point.
November 2, 2004... Robert Leach, head of interactive services at BSkyB, the U.K. satellite pay-TV operator, believes interactive advertising will go from strength to strength, as advertising agencies understand the value of the medium. Leach told Satellite...

Canadians Allowed Access To Foreign Programming.
November 2, 2004... A recent ruling by a Quebec court judge struck down two sections of Canada's Radiocommunications Act that made it illegal for Canadian residents to receive foreign broadcasts on satellite dishes, Satellite Today has learned. According to...

South Korea Sat-TV Rollout Delayed By Regulators.
November 2, 2004... A planned rollout of mobile satellite television service by South Korea's SK Telecom may be delayed as country regulators ponder whether the service can broadcast terrestrial television programs. According to reports, the Korean Broadcasting...

HP, Lockheed Martin Form Strategic Alliance.
November 2, 2004... Monterey, Calif.-based Hewlett Packard and Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin [LMT] formed a strategic alliance. Details will be announced tomorrow, Nov. 3, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. PST, at the MILCOM 2004 convention in Monterey. ...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 2, 2004... * Hughes Network Systems Inc. expanded its relationship with JSC Ukrainian Satellite Systems. Under the new agreement, HNS will supply JSC with a Direcway network operations center and an unspecified number of DW6000 remote satellite terminals....

No Matter Who Gets Galileo Contract, Navteq Wins.
November 3, 2004... Navteq [NVT], a provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and locations-based solutions, said it will supply its products to whichever group - the Eurely (including Alcatel, Finmeccanica, Vinci Concessions and Capgemini) consortium or the...

Globecomm Unveils New Satellite Terminal.
November 3, 2004... Globecomm Systems Inc. [GCOM] took the wraps off its new auto-explorer flyaway terminal designed for a broad range of government applications. The terminal is a compact, self-contained Ku-band system that can be transported, set up and operated...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 3, 2004... * ITV inked a $18.3 million deal to acquire Sky Ventures' 49.5-percent share in multichannel operation Granada Sky Broadcasting (GSB). The acquisition also signals the launch of ITV3, replacing GSB's channel Plus. ITV3 made its U.K. debut...

Quarterly Financials.
November 3, 2004... * Gilat Satellite Networks LLC [GILTF] reported revenues of $64.8 million and a net loss of $200,000 for the third quarter ended Sept. 30. The numbers are an improvement compared with the same period one year ago, when the company reported...

GPS Satellite Launch Likely For Early Morning.
November 4, 2004... Satellite Today has learned the launch of the last of the Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built GPS II-R series GPS satellite aboard a Delta 2 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida will likely occur shortly after midnight...

More Delays In DART Launch.
November 4, 2004... Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] had hoped that today would have been the day to launch the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft, but lingering effects of solar activity...

New Satellite Internet Service In Poland.
November 4, 2004... A new satellite Internet service is to be available in Poland. SES Astra signed a deal with Go!nternet to launch a new one-way satellite Internet service across Poland. The satellite downlink will be provided via ASTRA 19.2 degrees East and the...

Asia Digital Media Delivers HDTV To Chinese Market.
November 4, 2004... A joint venture, named Asia Digital Media, was unveiled today to deliver secure technology service and to enable HDTV satellite broadcasting, high-speed Internet and on-line transaction services to meet the needs of the Chinese market. ...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 4, 2004... * Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Globecomm Systems Inc. [GCOM] entered into a oneyear agreement with Afghan Telecom to provide international voice origination and termination services. The agreement, renewable on an annual basis, calls for Globecomm to...

Boeing Scrubs This Morning's Launch, Will Try Again Tomorrow.
November 5, 2004... A launch attempt scheduled for early this morning involving a U.S. Air Force GPS satellite aboard a Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II rocket was scrubbed again and will be attempted early tomorrow. The countdown from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,...

SES Americom Initiates Service On AMC-11.
November 5, 2004... Princeton, N.J.-based SES Americom began offering commercial service on its recently launched AMC-11 satellite at the spacecraft's orbital position 22,000 miles above North America. Cable programmers now will be better positioned than ever...

Fourth Time A Charm For DART?
November 5, 2004... The launch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] Pegasus XL rocket has been rescheduled for Nov. 9 from Vandenberg Air...

Anik F2 Launch Means More Channels For Star Choice.
November 5, 2004... Star Choice Communications Inc. said that with the July launch of the Anik F2 satellite, the company has added 17 new channels to its direct-to-home satellite television service for its Canadian subscribers, including channels in both English...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 5, 2004... * Inmarsat's regional BGAN ambitions have been given a boost, thanks to new deal with U.K. telco BT. BT and Inmarsat signed a deal that will see BT distribute Inmarsat's Regional BGAN IP data service. As a distribution partner, BT will offer...

Quarterly Financials.
November 5, 2004... * Globecomm Systems Inc. [GCOM] reported revenues of $25.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 ended Sept. 30, up 24.4 percent form the $20 million in revenues earned during the same period one year ago. Net income for the first fiscal...

DirecTV Inks $3.5 Billion 'NFL Sunday Ticket' Extension Deal.
November 9, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV Inc. reached a five-year, $3.5 billion agreement with the National Football League to extend and expand the company's exclusive rights to carry "NFL Sunday Ticket." Under the pact, DirecTV will continue to have...

Lockheed Delivers Parts Of EHF Military Sat.
November 9, 2004... Lockheed Martin [LMT] delivered on schedule the flight structure and key payload support equipment to Northrop Grumman for assembly of the first space vehicle in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) program. The satellite is designed to...

Hellas Sat Takes Control of Satellite.
November 9, 2004... Hellas Sat now has assumed full control of the Hellas-Sat 2 satellite. In an announcement today, SES Astra's Techcom Unit handed over control of the Hellas-Sat 2 satellite to the Hellas Sat control center in Greece from the SES Astra control...

XM Plans College Basketball Programming.
November 9, 2004... Washington, D.C.-based XM Satellite Radio, the largest U.S. satellite TV services provider with more than 2.5 million subscribers, will launch its college basketball programming starting Nov. 15. XM, the official satellite radio network of...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 9, 2004... * GlobeCast boosted its global distribution network by announcing three channels have joined the network. The deals are with Racing UK, The Wrestling Channel and Discovery Networks Europe. New horse-racing channel Racing UK and TWC Re:loaded, a...

Quarterly Financials.
November 9, 2004... * EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] reported $1.86 billion in revenues and $102 million in net income for the third quarter of 2004, compared with $1.45 billion in revenues and $35 million in net income during the same period one year ago....

ILS Launchers Top-Ranked In Futron Study.
November 10, 2004... Futron Corp. ranked International Launch Service's (ILS) Atlas V and Proton launch vehicles first and second, respectively, in its just-released Best Launch Service Study And Analysis report, based on interviews with nine satellite industry...

NDS Appoints New CFO.
November 10, 2004... NDS, a leading supplier of Conditional Access (CA) and interactive TV solutions to satellite pay-TV operators around the world, named Alexander Gersh its new CFO. Gersh replaces Rick Medlock, who left to take up a similar position at Inmarsat....

BellSouth Plans To Start Bundling Video Service In South Carolina.
November 10, 2004... Charlestown, S.C.-based BellSouth [BLS], which recently added DirecTV service to create an enhanced offering of bundled services, announced today its customers in that Designated Market Area (DMA) now will be able to receive digital-quality...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 10, 2004... * Stratos Global Corp. inked a three-year contract worth about $9 million to install and support a StratosITek VSAT broadband data and voice communications system for approximately 60 GlobalSantaFe Corp. offshore drilling rigs and remote...

Quarterly Financials.
November 10, 2004... * German satellite pay-TV operator Premiere announced a positive set of third-quarter results, underlining the operator's strengthening position in the German pay-TV market. The operator saw total revenues for the nine months to Sept. 30...

NAB Deters Satellite Radio Battle On Local Services...Until Later.
November 11, 2004... The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) withdrew its "petition for declaratory ruling" that asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] and Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] from providing local...

Mediaset: DTT Could Impact Sky Italia.
November 11, 2004... Federico di Chio, the head of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) project at Mediaset, believes the breadth of the DTT offer could put pressure on direct to home (DTH) operator Sky Italia. Mediaset, one of Italy's largest private...

Telenor Offers Special Holiday Ship-To-Shore Rates.
November 11, 2004... Oslo, Norway-based Telenor Satellite Services will offer cut-rate phone calls to sailors during the upcoming holiday season to spur demand. The company, in tandem with satellite operator Inmarsat, is extending low-cost Super Quite Time (SQT)...

Stratos Fishes For New Subs With Discounts As Bait.
November 11, 2004... Stratos Global Corp. today announced discounts to select maritime satellite terminals in an effort to attract customers from the fishing industry and other maritime users. The deal, called "Come Sail Away," offers immediate discounts of $1,500...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 11, 2004... * JSAT, the Japanese satellite operator, is looking to boost revenues in China and other parts of Asia via a new alliance with Taiwan telco Teleport Access Service (TAS). JSAT and TAS will provide satellite data-communication services for...

Survey Shows Consumers SIRIUS About Satellite Radio.
November 12, 2004... With satellite radio is becoming more mainstream among American adults, Simmons, a reported authority on the behavior of the American consumer, just signed SIRIUS Satellite Radio [SIRI] to a multi-year agreement for the Simmons National...

Seattle Company Unveils Emergency-Preparedness Tool.
November 12, 2004... Seattle-based Incident Tactics, a developer of simulation and assessment tools that help forecast the readiness of emergency personnel to respond to disasters, released a new product today designed to help mitigate the aftermath of attacks...

NPR Upgrades ScheduLINK System.
November 12, 2004... Hollywood, Fla.-based ScheduALL is providing National Public Radio's Distribution Division with an interface linking its existing ScheduLINK system to NPR's new ContentDepot. This interface linking is an enhancement to one implemented last year...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 12, 2004... * Berlin-based German TV signed a contract with EchoStar Communications' [DISH] DISH Network in which DISH will carry German public-television programming. EchoStar customers could receive the programming for an additional fee of $9.99 a month....

India, France Team For Observation Satellite.
November 15, 2004... Satellite Today has learned the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French National Space Centre signed an agreement late last week to move forward on their Megha-Tropiques atmospheric satellite mission. ISRO would build and...

Lockheed Martin Deploys Iraq Network-Centric Satellite System.
November 15, 2004... Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin [LMT] completed installation of a new network-centric satellite communications system for use by coalition forces in Iraq. The Coalition Multinational Network (CMN), developed for U.S. Central Command,...

SkyTerra Acquires Equity Stake In MSV Joint Venture.
November 15, 2004... New York-based SkyTerra Communications [SKYT] acquired a 22-percent equity stake in MSV Joint Venture by converting $51 million in notes, originally purchased in the venture during November 2001, into partnership units. The $6.45-per-share...

NetSat Express Renamed.
November 15, 2004... Globecomm Systems Inc. [GCOM] renamed its wholly owned subsidiary NetSat Express Inc. to a more branded Globecomm Network Services Corp., reflecting the evolution of the subsidiary's business into a total communications provider. When launched...

SSPI Meeting Addresses DoD Satellite Use.
November 15, 2004... The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society Of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) is hosting a panel discussion reviewing the current status of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) use of commercial satellite communications and providing...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 15, 2004... * SCS Corp. signed Infoterra, a European-based geospatial information company, to provide a complete satellite-image-based Global Seeps Study over its entire 16 million concession. The process will produce digital data providing scene...

Alcatel To Develop Liaison Between Satellite, Wireless.
November 16, 2004... Satellite Today has learned that Alcatel has been named the prime contractor in a $27.2 million contract for the Liaison project, which aims to develop technology for use by public safety, utilities and other government entities that allows...

Sky Launches New Interactive Channel.
November 16, 2004... BSkyB, the leading satellite pay-TV operator in the U.K., has revamped its interactive service portal, Sky Active, and it will deliver the new service portal later this week. The new service portal will make greater use of video and original...

Lockheed Martin Reaches Space-Based Infrared System Milestone.
November 16, 2004... Lockheed Martin [LMT] today said the Space-Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High) team it leads successfully completed the system's signal-processing assembly software critical design review with payload provider Northrop Grumman [NOC]. The...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 16, 2004... * Norwegian telecom supplier Nera will deliver a new broadband satellite gateway to Telenor Satellite Services (TSS) in a deal announced today. The new gateway - the Nera Satellite Gateway - will be located at Telenor's teleport in Southbury,...

Launch Date For AMC-16 Set.
November 17, 2004... SES Americom, a SES Global company, said its AMC-16 satellite that will support advanced video and broadband services for EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH], has been delivered to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for a...

Meanwhile, Swift Satellite Launch Rescheduled.
November 17, 2004... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the launch of the Swift satellite, which will be looking for and gathering data on bursts of gamma rays, has been delayed, Satellite Today has learned. The launch, which was set for...

Sirius, Target Dogs Team For Holiday Promotion.
November 17, 2004... Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] will broaden its reach with a new promotion offering the Xact XTR1 "Stream Jockey" palm-sized receiver at more than 500 Target retail stores nationwide. The receiver, which comes with a universal kit for the car or...

Jetix Promotes Interim CEO To Permanent Position.
November 17, 2004... Jetix Europe, reportedly one of the largest providers of childrens' entertainment programming to satellite pay-TV operators, named Paul Taylor as its new CEO. Taylor has been interim CEO since July. Jetix Europe, formerly known as Fox Kids...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 17, 2004... * Satlynx has teamed with Fuchs Elektronik to provide Internet access via satellite to an entire U.S. film cast and crew while on location in various locations across Germany. The movie, "Aeon Flux," features Oscar- winning actress Charlize...

Quarterly Financials.
November 17, 2004... * Orbimage Inc. [ORBM] reported increased revenues and a widening loss for the third quarter of 2004. The company reported revenues of $8.9 million, up from $1.1 million during the third quarter of 2003. Net loss for the justcompleted quarter...

ARINC Demos In-Flight Calling Capability.
November 18, 2004... A new technology developed by ARINC Inc. and Telenor that would allow users of GSM mobile phones to make calls during the in-flight portion of airline travel. The service, ARINC/Telenor Mobile Connectivity, uses Inmarsat equipment already on...

Intelsat Division Changes Name.
November 18, 2004... Intelsat Government Solutions Corp. changed its name to Intelsat General Corp. following the completion of the integration of the assets of the recently acquired Comsat General business. Intelsat said the name change "is intended to reflect the...

Unnamed Investor Buys XM Convertible Notes.
November 18, 2004... XM Satellite Radio said that plans to issue $300 million of 1.75-percent convertible senior notes due 2009, and it has granted the initial purchaser of the notes the option to purchase as much as $100 million aggregate principal amount of the...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 18, 2004... * Primaris Airlines is outfitting its fleet of all-first-class aircraft with Iridium satellite phones, which are being supplied by Blue Sky Network. The first installation happened in April on a Boeing [BA] 757 that operates under charter for...

Sirius Names Mel Karmazin CEO.
November 19, 2004... Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] scored another personnel win, this time on the corporate management side, when it named Mel Karmazin the new CEO of the company. He succeeds Joseph Clayton, who will remain with the company as chairman of Sirius'...

BT Hopes Latest Trend Will Be Successful.
November 19, 2004... BT and Thane Direct have teamed up to launch TrendPro TV, a new Germanlanguage shopping channel. The channel is the first DTH service to take advantage of BT's Astra 1G satellite platform, which was launched in September. The channel is aimed...

Swift Satellite Launch Postponed Again.
November 19, 2004... Officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) postponed for the third time the launch of the Swift satellite, which will be used to observe gamma rays, Satellite Today has learned. NASA officials are looking at a...

China Launches Earth Observation Satellite.
November 19, 2004... Satellite Today has learned that China has launched what is being reported "a small scientific experimental satellite." The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's Sichuan Province aboard a Long March 2C...

Satellite Deals Of The Day.
November 19, 2004... * Conax has signed an important new contract to supply Conditional Access (CA) to Focus Sat, a DTH operator in Romania. The deal sees Conax deliver its new Conax CAS7 system to the Romanian operator for launch of new channels in March. Focus...

Congress Reauthorizes Satellite Transmission Measure.
November 22, 2004... In a rare Saturday session, Congress passed the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, allowing direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television providers to continue to retransmit broadcasters' television signals for another...

Astra Prepares For New HD Broadcast.
November 22, 2004... In another boost for high-definition television (HDTV) in Europe, SES Astra is once again teaming with ProSiebenSat.1 Produktion for another simultaneous HD and SD forecast later this month. This time, it will take place Nov. 29-30, with the...

EuroNews Adds African Dimension.
November 22, 2004... EuroNews, a pan-European news channel, made its debut in Africa, thanks to a deal with leading satellite pay-TV operator Multichoice Africa. The introduction of the channel will be a boost to English, French and Portuguese speakers across...

NASA Swift Satellite Finally Launches.
November 22, 2004... After a few delays, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Swift satellite, which will be used to observe the formation of black holes, finally launched at 12:17 p.m. EST from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

Telstra Names Morawski Senior VP/Global Accounts.
November 22, 2004... Telstra today promoted Andrew Morawski to the position of senior vice president of global accounts. He will head an extended global sales-engagement initiative, managing Telstra resources in the United States, Australia, India, Hong Kong,...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 22, 2004... * Paradigm Secure Communications signed a 15-year contract valued at about $186 million to provide a specific portion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) space segment requirements. Beginning in 2005, Paradigm will be providing...

Sirius Moves Closer To 1 Million-Subscriber Mark.
November 23, 2004... Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] today said it has crossed the 800,000-subscriber threshold and remains on track to reach the one million-subscriber mark by the end of the year. The company's latest milestone was achieved Nov. 22. [Copyright...

New Satellite Broadband Service Reunites Partners.
November 23, 2004... Neo-Sky is set to launch a new satellite broadband service in Spain. The broadband operator, which provides services in the Iberdrola region of Spain, reached an agreement with SES Astra to offer the service, and it will target those consumers...

Foxtel Digital Connects Half-Million Homes.
November 23, 2004... Foxtel, the Australian direct-to-home (DTH) operator, now has 500,000 homes connected to its Foxtel Digital service. More than 51 percent of its managed subscriber based is now connected to the digital service. This is an impressive takeup,...

Satellite Deal Of The Day.
November 23, 2004... * Researchers at the Hokkaido Institute of Technology along with a group of unnamed private companies will set up a venture to develop a small satellite to help farmers decide if their rice has grown well. The venture plans to launch the...