Pakistan’s media regulator (PEMRA) is taking action against more than 100 “illegal and unregistered” satellite TV channels.

A report carried by BBC Monitoring says that PEMRA has started pursuing channel operators.

“These illegal and unregistered channels were not only violating PEMRA laws but also incurring huge financial loss to the government exchequer,” said a press release.

“These channels have blocked the space, which according to law, is a legal right of local satellite TV channels registered by PEMRA since 2002,” says the report.

This action, says the report, was taken in a bid to create space for legitimate satellite TV channels, which had obtained licences and paid their respective dues to the Authority.

PEMRA being a regulator is steadfast to promote its licensees and this initiative has been taken to support the local broadcast industry.

Cable TV networks in Pakistan are operating on analogue technology, restricting their channel capacity to 90.

PEMRA has granted 82 licences for satellite TV channels and 28 permissions for Landing Rights.

“These licensed channels are facing exploitation from cable distribution networks either by not carrying them on their respective networks or by tuning them at the last numbers having poor signal quality.

In order to increase their subscription, cable TV operators, generally, prefer foreign satellite TV channels, which on the contrary are illegal for distribution purposes.”

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PEMRA targets illegal satellite channels in Pakistan

Website: Rapid TV News

DTH operator Sky Mexico has started its HD transmissions.

The offer enables live pause and rewind on an advanced EPG, HD recording, parental control and caller ID on the screen.

Jointly with the financial group Banamex, Sky offers a promotional package that includes a subscription and a ‘full HD’ Samsung TV set.

Sky Mexico is backed by DirecTV (41.3%) and Grupo Televisa (58.7%).

The operator is transmitting 15 HD channels and will broadcast the 64 South African Soccer World Cup 2010 games to be held in June.

A set-top-box with a 500 GB disk that enables 400 standard format programming hours and 100 HD programming hours is included in the offer.

Sky Mexico’s cable rival, Cablevisión, the Mexican operator controlled by Televisa (which also participates financially in Sky Mexico) and which already offers HD, has already started to offer VOD with HBO/Max programming.

Since March, HBO subscribers have received the VOD option that includes 120 monthly programming hours at no additional cost.

The launch had been expected since earlier this year, and it is understood the package will quickly expand to about 40 channels.

Original post:
Sky Mexico begins HDTV transmissions

Website: Rapid TV News

IPTV could finally be making its way Down Under.

Australian internet service provider iiNet has become the first top-tier ISP to sign a deal with new IPTV provider Fetch TV.

Fetch TV, partially backed by Malaysia’s Astro All Asia Networks and a different company from the UK-based provider of the same name, has so far caused ripples only in the sports rights market, reportedly planning to join bidding for the next Australian Rules football (AFL) contract.

But iiNet today announced a partnership with Fetch TV, confirming it would be the first ISP to deliver the service over an iiNet cutomer’s ADSL2+ broadband connection.

However, the third-ranked ISP could see stiff competition from incumbent telco Telstra, with the company also planning on launching its Tbox IPTV offering over the next few months.

Fetch TV will offer access to free-to-air digital channels, “a range” of subscription channels, a PVR and an EPG, plus unmetered video-on-demand content with a basic subscription.

The VOD content includes a continuously updated library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, kid’s programs, as well as new release movies.

The service will also include 3D TV capability, in-built single and multi player games and access to a selection of social networking web application.

FetchTV CEO, Scott Lorson said: “FetchTV has been developed to satisfy the entertainment needs of the 70% of Australians who have elected not to take up the existing and expensive subscription TV alternatives.

“We are delighted to team up with iiNet to introduce FetchTV to the Australian market, given their proven network reliability, reputation for product innovation and award winning customer service.

“The team at iiNet has been heavily involved in the development of the FetchTV service, and they share a common passion and commitment to innovation and differentiation.”

iiNet added it had “beefed up” capacity of its network to handle multicast transmissions.

Trials are set for the next month or so, shortly after which the service will be available to customers.

Original post:
iiNet to bring IPTV to Australia

Website: Rapid TV News

Intelsat’s important Galaxy 15 craft has some problems at its 133 deg West orbital slot.

It remains working as far as transponders are concerned, but it has stopped responding to ground-based commands, according to the company.

The problems were first noted a week ago on April 5, and as a result Intelsat is moving its Galaxy 12 satellite into the 133 deg W position as a back-up.

It should be on station this Wednesday, April 14.

Galaxy 15 carries 24 C-band transponders serving media customers in North America and an L-band payload used by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Galaxy 12 carries a virtually identical C-band package but does not carry any additional payloads.

Diane VanBeber, Intelsat’s spokeswoman, said this was the first time Intelsat had suffered any problem with the Orbital Sciences-built satellites.

Indeed, such is their general reliability that Intelsat has six of the satellites in orbit and another three under construction.

However, losing G-15 is a problem.

The satellite should have been good until 2022 – and it is not insured.

Intelsat has a policy of insuring its satellites for any launch problems plus the first year in orbit.

Thereafter they are uninsured.

Read more here:

Website: Rapid TV News

Greg Moyer, president of Scripps Networks International, has explained that the plan to launch its channels internationally is not only taking off but generating a real buzz for viewers.

For example, its Food Network in the UK has seen viewer numbers grow 33% in the first nine weeks of the year.

Moyer, speaking at the opening of the MIPtv programming market in Cannes, said the data came from the official BARB viewer’s measurement panel, adding that viewers were finding the channel “and it gives us confidence for the future.”

Scripps’ Food Network is carried on the Sky Digital bouquet, but he explained that the broadcaster’s EMEA joint venture with Liberty Global’s ChelloZone has also seen its Fine Living Network launch on April 1.

Moreover, Scripps would be bringing over to Europe an HDTV feed of Food Network, for the OSN (Orbit Showtime) Network out of Dubai.

He said that the next 30-60 days would see another couple of markets signed up.

Scripps’ investment in India is also showing progress.

Late last year Scripps bought 69% of NDTV Good Times, and thus have created a valued “strategic alliance” in the sub-Continent.

The deal includes about 120 staff working in Delhi on the lifestyle channel, said Moyer, and hinted that a second channel was now high on the agenda.

Scripps is also hiring.

Nick Thorogood joined last week as MD/EMEA, hired from the BBC’s commercial division and UKTV operation.

Jon Helmrich, who had been looking after his own IBC programming distribution operation, has also joined Scripps’ international line up.

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Viewer numbers soar for Scripps Networks International