Interview with Francesco Cataldo, Chairman of the Board-iKO Media Group
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Francesco Cataldo |
Pfaffikon, Switzerland, May 2, 2025- Effective April 1st, 2025, iKO Media Group (iKOMG) announced the appointment of Fancesco Cataldo, a distinguished industry expert, as its new Chairman. Cataldo brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in broadcasting, media, and telecommunications. His background includes executive roles such as Deputy CCO and other commercial and operational roles in Eutelsat. Satellite Markets and Research spoke to Cataldo on his new role. Excerpts of the interview follows:
First of all, congratulations on your appointment as Chairman of the Board of iKOMG. As you assume your duties as Chairman, can you give us a brief overview of where you see the company as it stands today in the key markets that it serves?
Thank you. As I step into this role, I see iKOMG as a company at a very exciting and strategic point in its evolution. The media landscape is rapidly evolving, with traditional broadcasting models giving way to hybrid solutions that blend satellite, IP, and cloud technologies. iKOMG has strategically positioned itself at the forefront of these changes.
Today, we serve clients across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia with a comprehensive portfolio that includes satellite uplink and playout services, OTT delivery, cloud-based solutions, and growing support for FAST channels. Our strength lies not only in our advanced technical infrastructure—such as state-of-the-art teleports and cloud integrations—but also in our flexible, client-centric approach.
When I joined iKOMG, I was inspired by the energy and collaboration across the team. It’s a young, dynamic group of talented professionals, all driven by a shared sense of purpose. There’s a mix of curiosity, creativity, and technical know-how that keeps us moving forward. That spirit is what allows us to be more than just a service provider. It’s how we become true partners in our clients’ success.
Where do you see the company going forward in the next few years?
Looking ahead, our focus is on deepening our role as a solutions partner – not just a service provider. Our clients are navigating a rapidly shifting media landscape where agility, scalability, and reach are paramount. iKOMG aims to make global distribution effortless—whether through satellite, IP, cloud, or a strategic blend of all three.
To support this vision, we've invested significantly in upgrading our teleport infrastructure to enhance quality of service (QoS), increase resilience, and ensure greater broadcast continuity. These improvements are complemented by the expansion of our 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC), enabling us to provide consistent, real-time support to our global customer base.
We're also exploring new business concepts to offer more value to our clients, reflected in the innovative products we've developed and commercialized. Our natural inclination to adopt new technologies positions us to create pathways for broadcasters and creators to expand revenue streams while controlling costs and ensuring quality.
Ultimately, our vision is to become the most agile, customer-centric media delivery company in the industry—trusted by broadcasters, streaming platforms, and content creators alike to handle everything from signal acquisition to final screen delivery. We’re building for the future of how the world consumes content.
There are two major trade shows this month with CABSAT in Dubai and Satellite Asia in Singapore. Can you tell us briefly about iKOMG’s offerings for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific markets?
Absolutely. We’re really looking forward to both shows. CABSAT is set to be an exciting one for us. At CABSAT, we're excited to officially launch our eCLUTCH esports package in the Middle East, in collaboration with Eutelsat. This innovative offering combines satellite and cloud services to bring esports content to wider audiences, exemplifying our hybrid approach to content distribution.
We're also introducing our "FAST ON SAT" project, bringing FAST channels to the Eutelsat 7W satellite with programmatic advertising and integrating these channels into MENAFLIX, our OTT service tailored for the MENA region.
In Asia, we're renewing our commitment to the region by showcasing our full suite of capabilities. This includes our OTT services, such as MENAFLIX, and our own products like eCLUTCH and PadelTime TV. Additionally, we're highlighting our new Middle Eastern teleport, which serves as a strategic gateway between Europe, Asia, and Africa, offering numerous technical advantages.
When your appointment was first announced, the company affirmed its commitment to expanding into new markets and driving technological innovation. Can you elaborate on your specific plans in this regard?
We're committed to expanding our presence in high-growth regions such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, where demand for both traditional and digital delivery is increasing. Simultaneously, we're investing in new technologies, including enhanced cloud-based playout, AI-powered metadata and compliance tools, and stronger OTT capabilities. Our natural instinct to adopt new technologies ensures that we stay ahead of industry trends and meet the evolving needs of our clients. Our focus remains on customer satisfaction, and we continuously seek new business concepts to offer more and better services, as reflected in our diverse product portfolio.
What differentiates iKOMG from other service providers?
What truly sets iKOMG apart is our ability to combine deep technological expertise with a highly client-centric, agile approach. In a market where many providers offer fragmented or off-the-shelf solutions, we deliver fully integrated, end-to-end media delivery services tailored to the exact needs of each client.
Whether it's traditional satellite broadcasting, IP contribution, OTT streaming, or a hybrid model, we design workflows that are flexible, scalable, and built around real-world use cases. Our teleport network and operational backbone have been significantly upgraded to enhance QoS, boost resilience, and guarantee reliable global signal delivery. These upgrades are supported by our 24/7 NOC, staffed by skilled professionals who monitor every feed, playout schedule, and signal path in real time.
We foster a spirit of partnership in everything we do, working closely with each client to understand their business goals and help them achieve them—whether it's entering a new market, monetizing content more effectively, or launching a new channel under tight deadlines. Our size and structure allow us to be nimble, responsive, and hands-on—qualities often lost with larger providers.
Innovation is in our DNA. Initiatives like “FAST ON SAT,” modular cloud playout solutions, and our evolving portfolio of digital tools are all designed with one goal: to future-proof our clients' operations in a fast-changing media landscape. At iKOMG, we’re not just keeping up with change—we’re helping to lead it. That’s what sets us apart.
Anything else you would like to add?
Yes, one final thought that’s central to our philosophy: Satellite isn’t dead. It’s evolving.
In fact, satellite is now a vital part of the hybrid future, seamlessly integrating with IP and cloud technologies to deliver reach, resilience, and reliability at scale. At iKOMG, we don’t just believe in that future—we’re building it.
Everything we do is driven by a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and global growth. Our young, dynamic team is constantly pushing boundaries, developing smarter solutions, and turning bold ideas into reality. We’re expanding across continents, growing both organically and through strategic partnerships, and redefining what’s possible in media delivery.
This is more than a transformation. It’s a movement. And we’re proud to be leading the charge.
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