News Analysis

El Segundo, Calif., April 1, 2014--Various media outlets are reporting that U.S. Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite operators Echostar and DirecTV are engaging in possible merger talks. The merger will create a monopoly of DTH services in the U.S., which is the second largest DTH market in the world with 34 million subscribers.

The April 2014  issue focusing on the North American Broadcast Market of  the  Satellite Executive Briefing magazine  sponsored by  ABS is now available.  Featuring:

NAB 2014 to Highlight the New Multiplatform Media Environment  by Virgil Labrador

Trends in Broadcasting by Elisabeth Tweedie

Direct-to-Home Satellite Trends by Dmitri Buchs

Back and Forth with Jorge Villareal, Tomaz Lovsin and Eric Greenberg by Lou Zacharilla

The Road to Sprint/T-Mobile Merger Goes through DISH by Armand Musey

plus Product and Services MarketPlace Profiles for NAB 2014, Case Study on Digital Cinema Distribution Via Satellite, Market Briefs, Executive Moves, Vital Statistics and Satellite Markets and Research 25^TM Stock Index  and many more.   Click here to read or download the file

Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, March 26, 2014 – The Kudelski Group announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Conax AS from Telenor Broadcast Holding AS for approximately CHF 200 million (approximately US$ 226 million). Headquartered in Oslo, Conax is a provider of content protection for digital TV services over broadcast, broadband and connected devices.

Burbank, Calif.,  March 25, 2014 – The Walt Disney Company announced that  they are acquiring Maker Studios, the leading network of online video content on YouTube. Maker Studios shareholders will receive total consideration of US$ 500 million, and a performance-linked earn-out of up to US$450 million if the strong performance targets are met, according to the company.

Kourou, French Guiana, March 22, 2014--Arianespace's Arian 5 rocket successfully launched Hispasat's Amazons 4A satellite and SES' ASTRA 5A satellite from its launch facility in Kourou, French Guiana.It was the 59th successful launch in a row for the Ariane 5 rocket.

Doha, Qatar, March 20, 2014- Qatar satellite company Es’hailSat, today announced that a Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued for the design and manufacture of the company’s second satellite, Es’hail 2. The new satellite will be positioned at the 26 degrees East hotspot position for TV broadcasting will add to the company’s ability to provide high quality, premium DTH television content across the Middle East and North Africa.

Hong Kong, China, March 20, 2014-- Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited reported that turnover was down 16% and profits attributed to shareholders  down 4% for the year ended 31 December 2013 from the previous year. Turnover from continuing operations in 2013 was HK$1,498,631,000 (approximately US$ 194,822,000) and profits attributed to shareholders was HK$747,520,000.  

London, UK, March 19, 2014--Vislink plc  today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Pebble Beach Systems for a total consideration of £14.9 million (approximately US$ 24.8 million), comprising £12.9 million payable in cash and £2.0 million represented by the issue of 4,700,904 new Vislink ordinary shares at a price of 42.545 pence per share, being the average mid-market closing price of Vislink's shares for the last 25 business days before, but not including, the day of completion.

New York City, March 18, 2014--Harris Broadcast has announced plans to split into two, under the new brands of Imagine Communications and GatesAir. Imagine Communications will be headquartered in Dallas, with Centers of Excellence in Denver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv and Beijing.  Harris Broadcast made the announcement at its inaugural MediaDay held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Melbourne, Fla., March 14, 2014--Thales signed a binding agreement to acquire LiveTV, JetBlue’s fully-owned subsidiary for a total of US$ 400 million dollars. The sale which is subject to regulatory and other approvals is expected to be completed in mid-2014.