PARIS, Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is to introduce new features to its Velocix Content Delivery Network (CDN) solution to enable pay-TV operators to better manage their networks and set a new standard for the customer experience of IP video services.

As operators cope with the ever-increasing amount of IP-based video traffic, the Velocix CDN offers a number of improvements which take advantage of innovations in virtualization, as well as tighter integration with IP infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of cloud networking for IP video services.

The Velocix Virtual CDN decouples the software that controls and routes traffic on a network from the physical infrastructure that provides compute and storage resources. This greatly reduces the time needed to install or expand the CDN. Virtualization also gives operators the agility to instantly create a new CDN cache in case of a hardware failure, minimizing any potential disruption in quality of service.

The Velocix Virtual CDN will use automatic resource allocation to create an ‘elastic CDN’ capable of adjusting capacity to both planned and unexpected changes in demand, for example during a popular sporting event or due to a viral video. After the peak, computing resource can be released for other applications.

The Velocix Virtual CDN joins the Alcatel-Lucent network functions virtualization (NFV) portfolio announced earlier this year to enable network automation and efficient use of resources for rapid scaling up and down of services.

Additional features to the Velocix platform are also being announced, and include:

Coupled with a brand new user interface and even more flexible reports, the world-class reporting capability of the Velocix CDN has been extended to give operators greater visibility of the traffic flowing through the network without increasing any additional latency or load. Patented Bell Labs techniques are used to measure the quality of video streamed to customers without the need for network probes or for installing software on customers’ devices.

Integration with the network routing control plane enables the CDN to learn automatically from changes in the IP infrastructure and optimize the cache selection accordingly. For example, when a new IP address is assigned to a user, the CDN adapts dynamically to make sure customers are always served from the optimal cache.

The Velocix Universal Network Application Programming Interface (UNAPI) also enables unprecedented integration with external systems to develop customized applications for network configuration, content management and reporting.

Velocix Proxy Language provides a powerful way to dynamically control how content is cached and processed. Using an industry standard programming language (LUA), a pay TV provider can modify how a request is treated depending, for example, on a user’s location or device. This opens up a wealth of personalization opportunities to improve the customer experience or traffic management on the network. It also allows a service provider to bring the web traffic for their pay TV service onto the same CDN as the video traffic.

According to the research analysts SNL Kagan MRG, Alcatel-Lucent is the leading vendor of CDN equipment to pay TV operators and other network operators who offer over-the-top and multiscreen digital media content delivery services. The Velocix CDN solution is used by some of the largest operators in the world, including Telus, Oi and Time Warner Cable.

Quotes

Paul Larbey, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s IP Video business: “Video represents the most traffic on a service provider’s network. Applying the principles of virtualization to content delivery networks is about giving service providers greater control over that traffic and subsequently providing a better experience to customers. The latest enhancements to our Velocix CDN further extends Alcatel-Lucent’s leading position in IP video and in cloud networking.”

About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)

We are at the forefront of global communications, providing products and innovations in IP and cloud networking, as well as ultra-broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, and to enterprises and institutions throughout the world. Underpinning us in driving the industrial transformation from voice telephony to high-speed digital delivery of data, video and information is Bell Labs, an integral part of the Group and one of the world’s foremost technology research institutes, responsible for countless breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Our innovations have resulted in our Group being recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 100 Global Innovator, as well as being named by MIT Technology Review as amongst 2012’s Top 50 “World’s Most Innovative Companies”. We have also been recognized for innovation in sustainability, being named Industry Group Leader in the Technology Hardware & Equipment sector in the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices review, for making global communications more sustainable, affordable and accessible, all in pursuit of the Group’s mission to realize the potential of a connected world.

With revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2013, Alcatel-Lucent is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges (Euronext and NYSE: ALU). The company is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

ALCATEL-LUCENT PRESS CONTACTS
VALERIE LA GAMBA
valerie.la_gamba@alcatel-lucent.com
T : +33 (0)1 55 14 15 91

MATHEW PITT-BAILEY
mathew.pitt-bailey@alcatel-lucent.com
T : +33 (0)1 55 14 11 14

ALCATEL-LUCENT INVESTOR RELATIONS
MARISA BALDO
marisa.baldo@alcatel-lucent.com
T : + 33 (0) 1 4076 1120

JACQUES-OLIVIER VALLET
jacques-olivier.vallet@alcatel-lucent.com
T : +33 (0)1 40 76 12 49

TOM BEVILACQUA
thomas.bevilacqua@alcatel-lucent.com
T : + 1 908-582-7998

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer: Shinji
Takada) has concluded a contract for a launch service for its JCSAT-16 communications satellite with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) (Head Office: Hawthorne, California, United States; President and COO:
Gwynne Shotwell) .

JCSAT-16 will function as an in-orbit back-up satellite to the existing services in the Ku- and Ka-band for the Japanese market, enabling the provision of more stable and continuous satellite services and further strengthening the foundations of SKY Perfect JSAT’s business.
With this launch, SKY Perfect JSAT will strive to maintain stable and high-quality satellite communications services in Japan.

About SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Today, SpaceX is advancing the boundaries of space technology through its Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Valor Equity Partners. The company has more than 3,000 employees in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Florida. For more information, visit www.spacex.com.

About SKY Perfect JSAT
SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is a leader in the converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia’s largest satellite operator with a fleet of 16 satellites, and Japan’s only provider of both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services.
SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through the SKY PerfecTV! platform, the most extensive in Japan with a total of 3.5 million subscribers. In addition, SKY Perfect JSAT’s satellite communications services, which cover Japan and the rest of Asia, as well as Oceania, Russia, Middle East, Hawaii and North America, play a vital role in supporting safety, security and convenience for society as a whole. For more information, please visit www.sptvjsat.com and www.jsat.net.

(Sept 10, 2014) CNN has promoted Ellana Lee, formerly vice president and managing editor of CNN International Asia Pacific, to the global role of senior VP at CNN International.

Read more at Marketing Interactive

Kuala Lumpur, 11 September 2014: MEASAT Global Berhad (“MEASAT”) announced today that the MEASAT-3b satellite will launch at 5:21am 12 September MYT (6:21pm 11 September GFT) from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

“MEASAT-3b was initiated in June 2011. This spacecraft, Malaysia’s largest and most advanced to date, is the result of more than three year’s cooperation between MEASAT, Airbus Defence and Space, the satellite manufacturer, and Arianespace, the satellite launch service provider,” said Paul Brown-Kenyon, Chief Executive Officer, MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. “We look forward to a successful launch. “

MEASAT-3b is equipped with 48 high-powered Ku-band transponders to support video and data services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia. MEASAT-3b will be co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a at 91.5°E to create the region’s most powerful and robust orbital location.

To view the launch, visit www.arianespace.tv

Updates on the MEASAT-3b launch can be found at http://www.measat.com/3b.

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to leading international broadcasters, Direct-To-Home (DTH) platforms and telecom operators. With capacity across five (5) communication satellites, the company provides satellite services to over 150 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

The MEASAT fleet includes the state-of-the-art MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a satellites at 91.5°E supporting Asia’s premium DTH and video distribution neighborhood; MEASAT-2 at 148.0°E; and, MEASAT-5 at 119.5°E. In Africa, the AFRICASAT-1a satellite at 46.0°E provides satellite capacity across the African continent with connectivity to Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. The MEASAT fleet will be further strengthened with the addition of MEASAT-3b in September 2014 and MEASAT-3c in H2 2015.

Leveraging facilities at the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of world-class partners, MEASAT also provides a complete range of broadcast and telecommunications solutions. Services include 3D, high definition and standard definition video playout, video turnaround, co-location, uplinking, broadband and IP termination services. For more information, please visit www.measat.com.

Contact
Ilham Bakti Adnan
+60 (3) 8213 2154
ilham@measat.com

Red Bull gives “Wings to 4k” with Eutelsat, IDC and ATEME
Ultra HD demo at IBC to show live content filmed by Red Bull from its iconic Hangar-7 studio in Salzburg, Austria

Paris, Salzburg, 9 September 2014 – Red Bull is giving wings to Ultra HD at this week’s IBC in Amsterdam. Together with partners, Eutelsat, IDC and ATEME, Red Bull is launching the “Wings to 4k” project to display its content on Ultra HD screens located on the Eutelsat and IDC stands at the show.
Red Bull Media House is producing live and pre-produced 4k content at Red Bull’s flagship Hangar-7 studio in Salzburg, Austria. Hangar-7 is a unique building housing the historical Flying Bulls aircraft fleet and Formula 1 race cars. It also offers space for art exhibitions and, together with its Ikarus restaurant, is an events location and a meeting point for art lovers.

Live acts from Hangar-7 will include Red Bull athletes and music. Red Bull producers will film with cameras operating at 50 frames per second, encoded with ATEME’s TITAN Live Ultra HD HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) encoder directly on site at Hangar-7. The content, with BISS encryption, will be broadcast through the EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite and decoded using the IDC Pro Cinema 4K Decoder for display at IBC from September 12 to 15 on the Eutelsat (D.59) and IDC stands (C.29) in Hall 1.

Markus Fritz, Director of Commercial Development & Marketing at Eutelsat, said: “We are delighted to work on this exceptional project with Red Bull and our partners, IDC and ATEME. Red Bull gives us the opportunity to inject fast-moving content into our demonstration platform on EUTELSAT 5 West A and show it to the global broadcast community assembling at IBC. “Wings to 4k” is another important example of HEVC encoding combined with 50 frames per second and how it can contribute to 4k deployment in the broadcasting chain and across the whole industry.”

Andreas Gall, CTO of Red Bull Media House, said: “This partnership allows us to show the capabilities of cutting-edge media technology. We look forward to getting our first hands-on experience with live production and distribution of 4k content, and we are proud to continue our course as an innovative media enterprise.”

About Red Bull Media House

Red Bull Media House is a multi-platform media company with a focus on sports, culture and lifestyle. As an umbrella brand, Red Bull Media House offers a wide range of premium media products and compelling content across media channels as diverse as TV, mobile, digital, audio and print, with core media offerings that appeal to a global audience. For more information: www.redbullmediahouse.com

About ATEME:

ATEME is a world leading provider of HEVC, MPEG-4 / H.264 and MPEG-2 bandwidth efficient compression technology. ATEME encoding solutions are deployed widely for broadcast contribution links, distribution, multi-screen live streaming, OTT and VOD applications. More information is available at www.ateme.com.

About International Datacasting Corporation:

International Datacasting Corporation (TSX: IDC) is a global technology provider for the world’s premiere broadcasters in radio, television, data and digital cinema. IDC’s products and solutions are in demand for radio and television networks, targeted ad insertion, digital cinema, 3D live events, satellite news gathering, sports contribution, VOD, and IPTV. IDC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with regional offices in Arnhem, the Netherlands and in San Diego, California. For more information visit: www.datacast.com.

About Eutelsat Communications

Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 37 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies. Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com

For further information

Press
Vanessa O’Connor Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 voconnor@eutelsat.com
Frédérique Gautier Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 fgautier@eutelsat.com
Marie-Sophie Ecuer Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 mecuer@eutelsat.com

Investors and analysts
Joanna Darlington Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30 jdarlington@eutelsat.com
Cédric Pugni Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30 cpugni@eutelsat.com

CARTOON NETWORK: DEVELOPING ASIA’S BEST ANIMATION
Creative talent search heads to the Philippines

MANILA (September 9, 2014) – Cartoon Network has extended its global animation talent search further into Southeast Asia, bring the International Shorts Program to the Philippines. The country’s No. 1 kids’ channel is casting a wide net to identify writers, artists and studios that can develop its next original hit series.

Today, Manila-based production studio Top Draw Animation opened its doors for the very first time to local animation and TV industry representatives who experienced an exclusive studio tour and a sneak-peek of Monster Beach. This feature-length animated TV movie was commissioned by the team at Cartoon Network’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong, created by Melbourne-based Bogan Entertainment Solutions and animation work was conducted by Top Draw Animation in the Philippines.

Silas Hickey, Cartoon Network’s Creative Director for Animation Development in Asia Pacific, said: “Our International Shorts Program signals serious intent that we are continuing to support the animation industry in Asia Pacific. We truly recognize the value of the talent in this region and a show like Monster Beach allows it to be consumed by a global audience. It’s really funny stuff and, with the exception of some voice talent based in North America, it’s all created in Australia, Hong Kong, and right here in the Philippines.”

After the tour, Top Draw Animation staff demonstrated their enthusiasm for the projects they are working on by dressing up as their favorite anime characters from Exchange Student Zero, another project that features the Asia-Pacific collaboration. Members of the animation industry, university students and the department of education were also on hand to show their support.

Original content makes up a large percentage of Cartoon Network’s line-up, and series like Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and Uncle Grandpa are a major factor that have made it the country’s No. 1 kids’ TV channel for the past five years.1

In Asia Pacific, Monster Beach premieres across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand on Halloween (October 31). Exchange Student Zero, an animated series, will premiere on Cartoon Network in mid-2015.

-Ends-

[1] Data Source: Kantar Philippines, national; 1 January 2010 – 28 August 2014 (all-week 0600-2359); CS 2-12

For further information, contact:
James Moore
Turner International Asia Pacific Limited
james.moore@turner.com
+852 3128-3720

About Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific
Cartoon Network, the number one kids’ channel in Asia Pacific, offers the best in original animated entertainment while also drawing from the world’s most iconic cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbera titles. Original series showcased on Cartoon Network include the international hit franchise Ben 10, Emmy-winning Regular Show and BAFTA-winning comedies The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time. Cartoon Network is available in 27 countries throughout Asia Pacific and is currently seen in more than 75 million pay-TV homes. Online, Cartoon Network reaches nearly three million unique visitors a month in the region. In Asia Pacific, Cartoon Network is owned and operated by Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., a Time Warner company.

About Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. creates and distributes award-winning brands throughout Asia Pacific. Turner runs 46 channels in 13 languages in 38 countries throughout the region, including CNN International, CNNj, CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, Boomerang, POGO, Toonami, WarnerTV, TCM Turner Classic Movies, truTV, WB, MondoTV and TABI Channel. In India, Turner also manages advertising sales and distribution for HBO, and distribution for HBO Defined and HBO Hits HD. Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. is a Time Warner company.

(Sept 9, 2014) Zee TV has seen a steady growth over the last two years. It has been a strong number two and rising on the back of its fiction properties. With four shows in the list of top fiction shows, the channel is currently looking to add more layers to programming, by offering shows that address the whole family, in its weekday as well as weekend primetime.

While it seemed that Zee TV was on an auto-pilot mode, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) roped in former TAM senior VP Pradeep Hejmadi to fill in as business head of the channel, a position that had been lying vacant since October 2010.

In his first interview three months after taking up the mantle, Hejmadi spoke with TelevisionPost.com’s Gaurav Laghate about his task of getting all the pieces to fire together and about Zee’s focus to build fiction with good inspiring stories.

Read more at Television Post

Eutelsat and industry partners set the scene for Push Video On Demand services using the HbbTV v2.0 standard

A practical and standardised route to optimising bandwidth for VOD services

Paris, 8 September 2014 — Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL), MStar Semiconductor, Aston and Quadrille Ingénierie announce they have combined their skills to implement and validate Push Video-On-Demand (VOD) services using the HbbTV1 v2.0 standard. The four companies will partner on showing the performance of an end-to-end HbbTV-based Push VOD system at IBC 2014.

Push VOD in a few words

Push VOD is a technology used to deliver Video-on-Demand services by broadcasting content to consumer devices. A push VOD system uses local storage (generally the Set Top Box) to host a range of content. It enables users to enjoy the benefits of interactivity by selecting and watching downloaded content as and when they want, immediately with no buffering. The content is usually deleted after a predefined period to create space for fresh content updates. The newest generation of Set Top Boxes includes storage of up to two terabytes, equivalent to over 500 hours of HD content.

Push VOD is already a preferred route for TV platforms to delivering true VOD services when users lack a high quality Internet connection. It also optimises videostreaming infrastructure by enabling broadcasters to deliver content to Set Top Boxes in a single push, satellite being one of the most efficient delivery technologies.

Push VOD and the HbbTV standard

Push VOD functionalities have now been added to the latest version of the HbbTV standard, which will be published later this year and is expected to be standardised by ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute) early 2015.

By integrating Push VOD into the HbbTV standard, the scene is set for faster and easier adoption of interactive services and smarter use of bandwidth that is increasingly absorbed by individual transmissions of video content. With this standard integrated into Set Top Boxes, a broader pathway is open for broadcasters to diversify their relationship with viewers, by for example monetising non-linear content and maximising the value of their catalogues.

Eutelsat and industry partners combining skills

Eutelsat, MStar Semiconductor, Aston and Quadrille Ingénierie have developed an end to end Push VOD system comprising:

• The back-end system able to prepare the content, present a catalogue of videos to end-user devices and transmit it over satellite in compliance with the transport protocol defined by HbbTV
• The first satellite Set Top Boxes integrating this new standard and able to receive and display HbbTV-based Push VOD services
• HbbTV applications leveraging these new Push VOD features

The technology has been integrated as a demonstrator into the HbbTV FRANSAT Connect Portal provided by the FRANSAT TV platform and is currently being tested by Arte and NRJ12. The system demonstrated at IBC protects the content with Marlin DRM from Intertrust to enable different models of monetisation, and is also compatible with other DRM solutions.

Eutelsat and Quadrille will demonstrate a full end-to-end system for the first time on their stands at IBC:
Eutelsat stand: 1D59
Quadrille stand: 2.B39b
1HbbTV: Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (or “HbbTV”) is a global initiative aimed at harmonising the broadcast and broadband delivery of entertainment services to consumers through connected TVs, set-top boxes and multiscreen devices. The HbbTV specification is developed by industry leaders to improve the video user experience for consumers by enabling innovative, interactive services over broadcast and broadband networks.

About Eutelsat Communications
Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 37 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies. Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

For more about Eutelsat please visit www.eutelsat.com

For further information

Press
Vanessa O’Connor Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 voconnor@eutelsat.com
Frédérique Gautier Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 fgautier@eutelsat.com
Marie-Sophie Ecuer Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91 mecuer@eutelsat.com

Investors and analysts
Joanna Darlington Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30 jdarlington@eutelsat.com
Cédric Pugni Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30 cpugni@eutelsat.com

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer: Shinji Takada) has concluded a contract for a launch service for its JCSAT-15 communications satellite with Arianespace (Head Office: France; Chairman and CEO: Stephane Israel).

JCSAT-15 is scheduled to launch from Guiana Space Centre in Guiana, an overseas territory of France located in South America, on an Ariane-5 rocket in 2016. The satellite will serve as a successor to the N-SAT-110 satellite, which is located at a longitude of 110 degrees East and is used for broadcasting of the multichannel pay TV service SKY PerfecTV!.

With this launch, SKY Perfect JSAT will strive to continue stable broadcasts and to enhance and improve its services in the future.

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s leading satellite launch company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 21 shareholders and the European Space Agency, the company offers an international workforce renowned for a culture of commitment and excellence.

As of 8 September, 2014, 218 Ariane launches, 35 Soyuz launches (9 at the Guiana Space Centre and 26 at Baikonur with Starsem) and three Vega launches have been performed. The company’s headquarters is in Evry, near Paris, and has local offices in Washington DC (United States), Tokyo (Japan) and Singapore.

About SKY Perfect JSAT

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation is a leader in the converging fields of broadcasting and communications. It is Asia’s largest satellite operator with a fleet of 16 satellites, and Japan’s only provider of both multi-channel pay TV broadcasting and satellite communications services. SKY Perfect JSAT delivers a broad range of entertainment through
the SKY PerfecTV! platform, the most extensive in Japan with a total of 3.5 million subscribers. In addition, SKY Perfect JSAT’s satellite communications services, which cover Japan and the rest of Asia, as well as Oceania, Russia, Middle East, Hawaii and North America, play a vital role in supporting safety, security and convenience for society as a
whole. For more information, please visit www.sptvjsat.com and www.jsat.net.

(Sept 8, 2014) Arianespace told the Euroconsult Satellite Business Week in Paris it had won four new contracts to be launched on its Ariane 5 ECA rocket. Arianespace also has another two potential contracts in the pipeline.

These four take the total contracts won this year to 11.

Read more at Advanced Television