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EchoStar beats TiVo shock

chris@rapidtvnews.com (Chris Forrester) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:48:21 +0000

PVR originators TiVo took a rare hit on July 1, when arch-rivals EchoStar/Dish won an officially-sanctioned delay to a Court order to start paying TiVo a royalty for its DVR ‘time warp’ technology.

UTECA pushes regional ad ban

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Iñaki Ferreras) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:47:32 +0000

With Spain's national public broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE) due shortly to have its advertising removed, now the national private TV networks want the same situation for the regional public broadcasters.

KoreaSat-2 sold to ABS

chris@rapidtvnews.com (Chris Forrester) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:46:32 +0000

Asia Broadcast Satellite is buying KoreaSat-2. KoreaSat-2 was launched in January 2006 and thus has a few years left of operational life. ABS will then move the satellite to its 75 deg East location, and rename it ABS-1A.

All OK for Measat-3a

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Rose Major) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:45:27 +0000

Malaysia’s Measat Satellite Systems said its recently-launched Measat-3a satellite has been successfully moved to the 91.4 degrees east orbital slot, in preparation for in-orbit testing.

Zee TV returns to No 1 – just

chris@rapidtvnews.com (Chris Forrester) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:39:21 +0000

Zee TV achieved the Number 1 position last week in India. Normally this sort of story wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, but Zee’s achievement meant that it dislodged the usual occupant Star Plus off its long-held perch. But there’s also a new Viacom-backed channel in the lists, and it is giving Zee and Star more than a few headaches.

German Brainpool joins Banijay Entertainment

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Pascale Paoli Lebailly) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:38:16 +0000

Banijay Entertainment, the group constituted by former Endemol France CEO Stéphane Courbit, has acquired 50% in German production company Brainpool.

CASBAA to look at India, China

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Rose Major) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:36:15 +0000

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) has unveiled the first details of this year’s talk-fest, due to be held in Hong Kong in November. Major markets India and China will provide an in-depth focus.

Ondas Media backs Solaris Mobile

chris@rapidtvnews.com (Chris Forrester) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:45:31 +0000

Ondas Media is the company looking to deliver Sirius-type satellite pay-radio to European drivers. It has already signed up Renault, BMW and Nissan to install its radios. It had hoped to tap into Solaris Mobile to deliver initial services to some European countries. Yesterday we reported that Solaris Mobile has technical problems.

Single pay-DTT box for Spain close

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Iñaki Ferreras) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:44:07 +0000

Spain’s broadcasters and manufacturers are almost ready with the technical specifications for the compatibility of future pay-DTT boxes, according to the industrial association ASIMELEC.

KDG expresses interest in Orion Cable

rosesmithmajor@yahoo.co.uk (Jörn Krieger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:42:05 +0000

Germany’s largest cable operator Kabel Deutschland (KDG) has expressed interest in acquiring parts of Orion Cable’s network should the financially troubled company need to sell off its assets.