According to a new report from Digital TV Research, rapid expansion meant that Brazilian DTH subscriptions overhauled cable as the most popular platform with considerable panache during the first six months of 2011. Further change is ahead as the government will soon amend legislation to allow telco to offer full IPTV services.

Among Chinese respondents, HDTVs were the second most cited device when considering CE purchase intentions in the next six months, according to a recent trio of surveys conducted by ABI Research on the Asia Pacific consumer electronics markets. Smartphones were number one, with nearly 60% of respondents; only 43% of respondents were interested in HDTVs. Purchase intent was similar in South Korea, with smartphones and HDTVs representing the top two device categories at 47% and 22% of respondents, respectively.

Despite a bleak economic climate, European Pay TV providers continue to add new subscribers. Collectively, Europe’s top ten providers added nearly 1.5 million new subscribers in the first quarter of 2011, according to a report just published by Strategy Analytics.

UK-based BSkyB holds on to the title of the largest Pay TV service provider in Western Europe, posting 10.1 million subscribers at the end of Q1’11, while French IPTV operators SFR and Free each saw their strongest first quarter results in four years.

Russia, China, Japan and India are among the countries challenging the US in Space leadership according to the fourth annual Space Competitiveness Index Report by Futron.

Growth still robust in a number of segments and regions according to new Euroconsult report

Los Angeles, Calif., August 4, 2011 by Michelle Elbert

Government and military clients are looking to meet global challenges yet spend more efficiently. In the US, deficit-reduction efforts have caused DoD and its various branches to make serious changes in how it acquires goods and services.

Mobile subscriber growth in the Philippines is experiencing a slowdown due to the fact that the market is approaching saturation, according to the latest Research and Markerts report entitled: "Philippines Telecommunications Report Q4 2011." This report incorporates the latest figures provided by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Globe Telecom and Digital Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel) into the forecast scenarios, with minor changes in mobile and ARPU expectations.

As Digital Switch Over in Europe proceeds, generally without hiccups, the battlelines are being drawn betweenbroadcasters and multimedia operators over the use of spectrum. Europe continues to lead the world in the switch over to digital television.By the end of 2011 DTT should be well advanced across the European Union and the 2012 EU directive for switch-off is expected to be met by almost all member states.

Back in 2007, NSR viewed the longer term outlook in the maritime segment likely to “benefit products in Ku- and C-band ultimately and provide stronger competition to L-band services...”, recognizing that VSAT flat monthly fees with Mbps data rates provided a more predictable return-on-investment than the traditional MSS pay-per-byte model. Then Inmarsat on July 1, 2011 announced new rates that seem to go counter to this view and could drive a growing base of the smaller boat community towards the flat, predictable VSAT service fees.

The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers)  released the fourth edition of its "Broadcast and Media Technology: Global Market Valuation and Strategy to 2015" study. Based on original research commissioned from IHS Screen Digest, the study offers unique insights into the recovery and growth of the worldwide broadcast industry.