News Analysis

Digitürk for Sale as Turkish State Fund Seizes Çukurova Assets

Ankara, Turkey,  May 31, 2013--Turkey’s satellite television provider Digitürk is up for sale following  a Turkish state fund’s seizure of 12 companies owned by the pay TV operator’s majority owner, Çukurova Group.

Dish's Ergen Bids US$ 2 Bil. for LightSquared

Englewood, Colo.., May 22, 2013 — In another bold attempt Charles Ergen, chairman of Dish Network Corp., has offered to buy broadband company LightSquared Inc., which is in bankruptcy proceedings,  for its wireless airwaves for US$ 2 Bil.

Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Services Transformation Ahead

New NSR Report Pinpoints Game-Changing Improvements in an Increasingly Competitive Industry

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, May 20, 2013 – NSR’s Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Services (SMLS), 3rd Edition report describes the difficulties of an industry facing a low demand period and the technologies and changes that will greatly improve the industry value proposition over the next decade.

SES reports 2.1% drop in revenue to US$568.12 million

Betzdorf, Luxembourg, May 17, 2013 — SES S.A. has posted revenues of US$568.12 million (€440.8 million) for its latest quarterly results, down 2.1 percent year-on-year. EBITDA for the three months ended March 31 reached US$414.00 million (€321.2 million), down 4.8 percent.

Thaicom Posts Q1 Profit of THB 330 million

Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2013 — Thailand-based satellite operator Thaicom posted a net income of US$11.08 million (THB 330 million) in the first quarter, up from US$1.41 million (THB 42 million) in the year-ago period equivalent to an increase by almost 300 percent.

ViaSat Nets $1.9M, Posts Record US$ 1.1 B in revenues

Carlsbad, Caliif., May 16, 2013--ViaSat Inc., a provider of satellite and other wireless networking systems and services, earned profits of US$ 1.9 million in its fiscal fourth quarter after a boost from new contracts.

KVH Industries Acquires Headland Media

Middletown, RI, May 13, 2013 – KVH Industries, Inc. announced that it has acquired Headland Media Limited, a UK-based media and entertainment services company. Headland Media is a provider of commercially licensed news, sports, movies, and music content that they sell in the maritime, hotel, and retail markets.

StarHub's Q1 net profit up 3 percent to US$73.24M

Singapore, May 10, 2013 — Singaporean telco StarHub has reported a 3 percent rise in Q1 net profit to US$73.24 million (S$91 million) compared with the same period a year ago. However, its group operating revenue for the period fell 2 percent to US$466.83 million (S$580 million) while EBITDA grew 3 percent to US$146.47 million (S$182 million) from US$142.45 million (S$177 million) previously.

Inmarsat Acquires TC Communications

Sydney, Australia,  May 9, 2013-- Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat has acquired TC Communications Pty Ltd. based in Australia. Inmarsat will integrate the company into its existing operations with a particular focus on supporting its expanding Global Government and Enterprise Business Units, according to a company statement.

Intelsat Reports Reveneues of US$ 655 mil. and Net Loss of US $7.8 mil. in 1Q 2013

Washington, D.C., May 9, 2013 — Intelsat S.A. reported revenues of US$ 655.1 million and a net loss of US$ 7.8 million, or $0.09 per share, during the first quarter of 2013.  Intelsat also reported an EBITDA or earnings before net interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, of US$ 496.8 million, and Adjusted EBITDA1 of US$ 505.8 million, or 77 percent of revenue, for the first quarter. The company said it has contracted backlog amounting to $10.4 billion at the end of the quarter.