News Analysis

by Peter Galace, Associate Editor

Long Beach, Calif., February 15, 2013 — Following the unsuccessful launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft on February 1, 2013, majority owner RSC Energia affirmed last week its unfailing commitment to the long-term success of the Sea Launch program. But despite the assurances from the Sea Launch partners, the company faces grim prospects. In addition to its difficulty to now secure launch contracts necessary for its survival, the company also faces a big lawsuit that could dampen prospects of Sea Launch’s emergence from bankruptcy.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., February 14, 2013—DirecTV reported on Thursday an increase in fourth quarter net income by 31% to $942 million mainly due to addition of  761,000 new subscribers mostly from Latin America.

Fairfield, Conn., February 13, 2013--GE announced today the sale of its remaining 49% common equity interest in its joint venture with Comcast, which includes NBCUniversal (NBCU), as well as the NBCU floors in 30 Rockefeller Center, for $18.1 billion.

Hauppauge, New York, February 7, 2013 — Globecomm Systems, Inc. reported a 3.2% decline in revenues to $160.9 million for fiscal 2013 six months ended December 31, 2012 compared to $166.2 million in the same period last year.

Englewood, Colo., February 6, 2013 — Liberty Global is set to acquire UK-based Virgin Media in a stock and cash merger valued at about US$ 23.3 billion creating one of the world’s leading broadband communications company covering 47 million homes and serving 25 million customers across 14 countries.

Carlsbad, Calif., Feb. 6, 2013--ViaSat Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013. The fiscal third quarter results included new contract awards of US$ 265.7 million and another record revenues quarter of . Operating performance grew quarter over quarter reflecting Adjusted EBITDA of US $48.4 milllion and net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.04 per share on a non-GAAP diluted basis. On a diluted GAAP basis, reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $0.47 per share, which, as discussed below, reflects a one-time debt extinguishment expense of US$ 26.5 million or  per share on a net of tax basis.

Ottawa, Canada, Feb. 4, 2013 — Espial^® Group Inc. a provider of  on-demand TV software and solutions, today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of ANT plc ("ANT"). After initially entering into a co-operation agreement with ANT on Nov. 30, 2012, Espial has purchased all of the outstanding shares of ANT in exchange for all cash consideration of £0.205 per outstanding share. The acquisition values the issued ordinary share capital of ANT at approximately £5 million.

Miami, Florida. January 28, 2013--Today, leaders in the Latin American pay-TV industry are joining forces to create the Alianza Contra la Piratería de Televisión Paga (Alliance Against Pay-TV Piracy). The Alianza’s mission is to combat a form of piracy known in the industry as FTA piracy. FTA piracy involves the illegal use of “free-to-air” satellite receivers to decrypt pay television audiovisual signals, illegally and without authorization. The Alianza brings together most of the major players in the pay-TV industry and creates a framework for broader industry collaboration in the fight against FTA piracy.

Campbell, Calif., January 22, 2013—Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its new  Multi-Screen TV Service Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey for which Infonetics interviewed pay TV operators about their plans for multi-screen video services and delivering live and file-based video content to subscribers with multiple devices.