News Analysis

Hong Kong, August 1, 2014-- Asia’s pay-TV and broadband industries are at a critical stage of growth and evolution, according to leading research & consulting firm Media Partners Asia (MPA). Pay-TV industry sales, including subscription and advertising, grew at a robust 10% in 2013 to reach approx. US$ 49 billion.

Nonthaburi, Thailand, July 29, 2014-- Thaicom today announced that the NBN Co has selected its wholly owned subsidiary, IPSTAR Australia (IPA), for a new initiative to boost the number of broadband connections for Australians who cannot access an existing commercial broadband service. Under the NBN Co Satellite Support (NSS) Scheme, IPA is appointed an official wholesaler and will deliver the scheme together with participating Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Australia.

Johannesburg, South Africa, July 24, 2014--ABS has expanded its presence in Johannesburg, South Africa and formed a new Sales liaison office to support its growing business in the Africa continent.

El Segundo, Calif. July 23, 2014—Ultra-high-definition televisions (UHD TVs) continued to make slow and steady inroads throughout the world, but their share of the overall flat-panel TV market remained minimal by the end of May, suggesting that UHD TV pricing in the market remains too high to gain meaningful share, according to a new report from IHS Technology.

Ekaterinberg, Russia,  July 18, 2014--GS Group shared insights on how to successfully conduct business in Southeast Asian markets at a  round table on  "Modern Industrial and Technology Policies in Asia: challenges and opportunities for Russia” organized by the Center for Strategic Research “North-West.” Sharaf Kochkarov Representative for foreign relations, Foreign Broadcasting Projects Department, GS Group, unveiled the successful experience of GS Group entering pay-TV market of the Southeast Asia and establishing broadcasting projects there.

Riyadh,Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2014--ABS and Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) announced today that they have signed a strategic commercial agreement for a multi-transponder lifetime Ku-band payload on the new ABS-3A satellite planned for launch in late 2014/ early2015.  This Ku-band payload deal will provide ARABSAT with additional growth opportunities to serve their customers over the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Paris, France, July 9, 2014 - According to Euroconsult's newly released executive report, Government Space Programs: Strategic Outlook, Benchmarks & Forecasts, government funding for space is expected to progressively recover as public finances regain their comfort zone and programs enter a new growth cycle. Following a critical period of cyclical low funding which concluded in a budget decrease in 2013 worldwide, moderate growth is expected moving forward which should bring world spending to $82 billion by 2023.

Venice, Italy, July 8, 2014–European satellite operators today underlined the crucial role that satellite plays in the roll-out of future digital infrastructures. The European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), represented by its Secretary General, Aarti Holla, and by the CEO of SES, Karim Michel Sabbagh, participated in a high-level meeting between leading EU political and business representatives in Venice.

Hong Kong, July 7, 2014–CASBAA, the Asian association of the pay-TV industry, lauded Indian police action in busting up a ring of streaming-TV pirates and arresting four conspirators in Hyderabad a week ago.  The activities of the ring were aimed at diverting the signals of Indian pay-TV broadcasters onto the internet, and retransmitting their signals globally to hundreds of thousands of viewers who paid for a “Jadoo TV” streaming media box.