In its 50th year, the IBC Conference is still built around the technical papers programme, with the most influential paper in the programme winning the IBC Conference Prize. This year, the award goes to Marcelo Souza and his colleagues Joāo Castellani, Daniel Monteiro and Carlos Octávio Quieroz from Brazilian broadcaster, TV Globo, for their paper entitled ‘Big data for data journalism, enhanced business analytics and video recommendation at Globo’.

NAGRA, a Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S) company and one of the world's leading independent provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions, in partnership with MTM, a leading international research and strategy consultancy, today revealed  initial survey findings investigating the top priorities and challenges facing pay-TV operators around the world.

Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNI) (“Scripps”) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Discovery to acquire Scripps in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at US$ 14.6 billion, or $90 per share, based on Discovery’s Friday, July 21 closing price. The purchase price represents a premium of 34% to Scripps’ unaffected share price as of Tuesday, July 18, 2017. The transaction is expected to close by early 2018.

Satellite operartor Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Intelsat reported total revenue of US$ 533.2 million and a net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of US$ 23.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Intelsat reported EBITDA or earnings before net interest, loss/(gain) on early extinguishment of debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization, of US$ 407.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA1 of US$ 417.9 million, or 78 percent of revenue, for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Telesat Canada  today announced its financial results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017.  For the quarter ended June 30, 2017, Telesat reported consolidated revenues of CDN $226 million, or a decline of 3% ($6 million) from the same period in 2016.

Speedcast International Limited (ASX: SDA), today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire UltiSat for a purchase consideration of up to USD$100 million, payable over two years and subject to the ongoing financial performance of the company. UltiSat is a leading provider of remote communications and professional services to governments, in particular the US government, and to international government organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI), a leading global provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced today financial results for its second quarter ended May 31, 2017. The company declared its 21st consecutive quarterly dividend payment and its 25th consecutive profitable quarter.

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today released its 2017 State of the Satellite Industry Report at an industry briefing held in Washington, D.C. For 20 years, SIA has been publishing the leading analysis of the satellite industry. The industry report produced by Bryce Space and Technology, LLC, is derived from proprietary surveys of satellite companies, indepth public information, and independent analysis which are combined to assess the performance of key satellite industry sectors including satellite services, ground equipment, launch services and manufacturing.

Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC (Odyssey) has entered into an agreement to acquire CPI International Holding Corp. (CPI) from affiliates of Veritas Capital (Veritas).  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, announced today that it has acquired the assets of inthinc, Inc. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, inthinc provides best-in-class fleet management and driver safety solutions to a broad range of industrial enterprises.