Website: Rapid TV News

Muslim leaders in the north of Kenya have prohibited all public viewing of the privately-owned NTV channel.

The ban extends throughout the Kenyan district of Mandera.

BBC Monitoring is reporting that the ban includes public viewing of international football on satellite television.

Secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Adan Wachu, has voiced support for the ban saying the “intermingling of the sexes, chewing of [mildly soporific leaf] khat and smoking of bhang” in commercial “TV dens” in the district was affecting the Muslim youth.

Some residents of the district who were interviewed, said they supported the ban which appeared to target DSTV – a South African-owned international satellite pay channel.

Unlicensed public viewing of DSTV sports channels, which mainly feature the English Premier League, is common and attracts large viewership in Kenya.

Monthly-subscription for the sports channel is about US$70 (about 6,000 Kenyan shillings) and is beyond the reach of most Kenyans.

Public viewing is available in hotels, bars and kiosks where a fee of about 50 shillings (less than a dollar) is charged.

DSTV has no adult content channel and carries the UK-based Islam Channel in all its bouquets.

The report quoted the Supreme Council official as saying that district residents should tune in to the government-owned KBC television to watch the World Cup.

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Muslim leaders ban NTV channel in Kenya

Website: Rapid TV News

Documentary and factual broadcasting giant Discovery is about to top 100m USA subscribing homes.

Discovery Networks is celebrating its 25th Anniversary year (it first went on air in 1985) and is now the second most-distributed cable and satellite channel in North America.

Ratings agency Nielsen says that next month will see Discovery reach 100.1m US homes.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Discovery Channel, our Founder and Chairman John Hendricks and our entire company as we celebrate our 25th anniversary,” said Discovery Channel president/GM Clark Bunting.

“For a quarter century, Discovery has inspired audiences with groundbreaking programming and compelling storytelling about the ever-changing world around us.

“This latest achievement underscores the tremendous loyalty viewers have for Discovery Channel and its steadfast strength in the marketplace.”

“Passing the remarkable 100-million subscriber threshold is a testament to Discovery Channel’s unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality content to viewers and being a trusted, value-building service for distribution partners,” added Bill Goodwyn, president Domestic Distribution and Enterprises, Discovery Communications.

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Discovery to reach 100m US homes

Website: Rapid TV News

VOD specialist SeaChange has sold its stake in IPTV/DOCSIS company Casa Systems.

It will book a US$25.2m pre-tax gain on the five-year investment.

SeaChange International sold its stake in Casa Systems for gross proceeds of $34.1m.

SeaChange expects to generate net after-tax proceeds of $30m on its investment of $8.9m in Casa Systems.

SeaChange also expects to record a pre-tax gain of $25.2m in its fiscal first quarter related to the completion of this transaction.

SeaChange initially purchased an equity stake in Casa Systems in July 2005 for $8.2 million, paid in cash and the cancellation of promissory notes previously issued to Casa in 2005.

In June 2009, SeaChange invested an additional $654,000 in Casa Systems. SeaChange’s sale of its equity interest in Casa was executed as a stock repurchase by Casa.

Commenting on the sale, Bill Styslinger, SeaChange CEO/Chairman, said: “We invested in Casa five years ago to help accelerate the development of cost-effective, marketable solutions that enable IP streaming over cable.

“IP streaming is essential for SeaChange to deliver advanced IP-based television software applications.

“Now that IPTV is a reality, it is the right time for us to sell our shares of Casa so we can allocate all of our resources to help grow our core business.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Casa and to see our mutual vision of DOCSIS 3.0 and IP streaming come to fruition. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”

Styslinger continued: “The sale of SeaChange’s stake in Casa represents one of several strategic actions that the Company is taking to improve its liquidity position and deepen its focus on software.

“SeaChange and Casa will remain close technology and business partners after the transaction and intend to continue collaborating on future projects.”

Casa Systems is a privately held company in Andover, Massachusetts, offering network edge devices targeting the growing interactive digital video and broadband IP services market opportunity.

With an eye toward creating gains in its VOD business, SeaChange developed its Casa partnership to speed the feasibility of IP-based streaming and to fully leverage Casa’s leadership in DOCSIS 3.0 development.

Casa achieved a range of strategic milestones over the course of SeaChange’s involvement, including the first DOCSIS 3.0 gold level certification of Casa CMTS from CableLabs, as well as Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) deployments with Multiple Systems Operators worldwide, notably UPC Broadband.

SeaChange sells Casa Systems

Website: Rapid TV News

South Korean electronics company Samsung is helping SES Astra in its 3D promotion efforts.

Samsung will supply its 3D-TV models to retailers to showcase Astra’s 3D test transmissions.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES Astra, said: “The new Astra 3D demo channel demonstrates the huge advantages of satellite for the transmission of high quality 3D TV signals, and the leading role of SES Astra in driving innovations in broadcasting technology.

“We are proud to partner with Samsung, and we are confident that 3D television will become the next driver for the home entertainment market.”

SH Shin, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe, added: “As the first manufacturer to bring 3D television to the consumer market, Samsung is at the forefront of 3D innovation.

“By partnering with SES Astra, Samsung will be the first manufacturer to demonstrate live streamed 3D content through this free promotional channel, and can showcase the full capability of its innovation in 3D technology.

“The content we provide to Astra’s 3D channel will help consumers to realise the true potential of the 3D television experience.”

The launch of Astra’s 3D channel will take place on May 4 at the ANGA Cable trade show in Cologne, Germany.

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Samsung and SES Astra partner on 3D

Website: Rapid TV News

As if the Middle East doesn’t already have sufficient all-news channels, it is reported that Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal wants his own news service to compete with market leaders Al Jazeera and MBC’s Al Arabiya.

Prince Alwaleed told Bloomberg TV in an interview that the proposed channel was something he “would be doing personally” given that it needed a great deal of up-front investment.

He stressed that the project would not be part of his Rotana or Kingdom Holdings investments.

Bloomberg reported that the news channel would borrow from the business model used at Rupert Murdoch’s Fox and Sky News channels while broadcasting different content in the Middle East, Prince Alwaleed said.

He added that he plans to sell a stake in media company Rotana Holding to the public within two years.

“An IPO will be happening in the coming two years,” he said, adding: “we need to brand the company very well before going into an IPO.”

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Saudi billionaire wants own news service