euronews testing on MiniDig TV

2009-09-29: On 28 August 2009, Antenna Hungária started the free-to-air test of euronews on the MinDig TV digital terrestrial television service available in SD format. It is broadcast in the Budapest region on channel 62, in the Kabhegy region on channel 61, and in the Szentes region on channel 65. With the addition of the new programme, the free-to-air offer of the MinDig TV service comprises seven TV programmes and three radio programmes.

Nimiq 5 successfully launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome

2009-09-29: International Launch Services (ILS) successfully carried the Nimiq 5 satellite into orbit on an ILS Proton for Telesat, the fourth largest fixed satellite services operator worldwide. This was the fifth commercial mission of the year for ILS and the seventh successful Proton launch of 2009. With the launch of Nimiq 5 today, ILS has launched half of Telesat’s operational fleet.

Pace unveils DVB-T2 Freeview HD box

2009-09-16: At this year’s IBC, leading developer of digital TV technologies Pace plc, unveiled its next generation set-top box based on the DVB-T2 transmission standard. The Pace set-top box, expected to be one of the industry’s first to market for Freeview HD, will be available through retail distribution enabling UK viewers to take advantage of the HD experience made possible by the DVB-T2 standard as part of a nation-wide enhancement to the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform.

Digiturk launches VOD and HD PVR solutions

2009-09-16: Irdeto in conjunction with OpenTV, Pace, and TeleIDEA announced it has developed and implemented a highly complex broadcasting solution for Digiturk, a leading Turkish satellite television provider. Through the joint endeavor, Digiturk is now starting to deliver advanced digital video offerings to its customers, including push and subscription video on demand (P/S-VOD) with high-definition personal video recording (HD PVR) functionalities.

Netcom Africa signs deal with SES WORLD SKIES

2009-09-16: Meeting the escalating demand for content and connectivity across Africa, SES WORLD SKIES, a division of SES S.A., announced that Netcom Africa has signed a multi-year deal to expand its delivery of telecom and broadcast television services throughout Nigeria and West Africa.

SES WORLD SKIES Signs Deal With Galaxy Backbone

2009-09-16: SES WORLD SKIES, a division of SES S.A., announced Galaxy Backbone has signed a multiyear, two-transponder agreement for delivery of a broad range of information and communication technology (ICT) services to rural and remote government offices, schools and hospitals in communities throughout all 36 states of Nigeria.

ADB with new Altibox products

2009-09-14: Advanced Digital Broadcast, a leading supplier of technology to the global digital television industry, announced that it signed an agreement to supply two advanced IPTV devices, which will enable Altibox (www.altibox.no) to offer its customers an HD IPTV service with PVR functionality. The ADB-2810W set-top box and the ADB-5812WX digital video recorder also offer new levels of content security and memory.

NDS Snowflake awarded on IBC

2009-09-14: NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, announced that Cable & Satellite International magazine and a panel of international expert judges have awarded NDS Snowflake™ the “Best interactive TV technology or application” at IBC 2009. Snowflake is a high-end conceptual User Interface (UI) based around a minimalist 3D grid overlaid on live TV.

Pace cooperates with Viaccess

2009-09-14: Pace plc, leading developer of digital TV technologies, has announced a new range of leading-edge products with Viaccess, a France Telecom company and leader in conditional access. This new collaboration will enable Pace to take advantage of Viaccess’ enhanced conditional access (CA) security solutions in advanced DTT, DTH and IPTV digital TV entertainment solutions for consumers across Europe. Pace’s new agreement with Viaccess builds on a long-term relationship that spans more than nine years.

MultiChoice with capacity on IS-20

2009-09-14: Intelsat announced that South African direct-to-home (DTH) television operator, MultiChoice, signed a long-term, multi-transponder agreement for satellite capacity. The agreement extends and expands MultiChoice’s existing contract on the Intelsat 7 satellite at 68.5ş E to the follow-on satellite, Intelsat 20 (IS-20), which is slated to be launched in early 2012. The contract, which spans the 15-year expected life of IS-20, also provides restoration capacity, resulting in a more robust network platform.