Hermes Datacomms Malaysia Provides New VSAT Services with MEASAT

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Kuala Lumpur, 23 May 2013 – Hermes Datacommunications (M) Sdn. Bhd. (“Hermes”) and MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“MEASAT”) today announced an agreement for the provision of VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communication services across Malaysia’s offshore oilfields via the MEASAT-3 satellite.

Under the agreement, Hermes will base their new communications hub at the world-class MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre. The Hermes Datacomms hub will provide telecommunications access to Malaysia’s growing oil and gas industry via VSAT connectivity. The hub represents a significant investment by Hermes to support a drilling campaign being carried out in Malaysian waters.

“This is a very exciting new service,” said Mohd Faizal Zainal Amri, General Manager, Hermes Malaysia. “Our new hub provides optimised bandwidth utilisation for efficient and reliable communications with high link quality to support voice calls, video and real-time data applications for Malaysian oilfields.”

“MEASAT is pleased to support Hermes to provide reliable satellite communications connectivity to the Malaysian oil and gas industry,” said Alex Tan, Director, Sales and Marketing, MEASAT. “Our collaboration with Hermes expands MEASAT’s support to local companies and the Malaysian Information and Communication Technology industry. We look forward to continue supporting Hermes as their service grows.”

“MEASAT provides the ideal platform for our service with excellent satellite coverage and customer care. Our customers appreciate the world-class technology and support being provided locally via Hermes and MEASAT,” concludes Faizal.

About Hermes Datacommunications (M) Sdn Bhd
Hermes Datacommunications (M) Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian company which was established in 2004 to support Telecoms requirements of the Malaysian Oil and Gas sector. Hermes Malaysia is associated with Hermes Datacommunications International Ltd (www.hermes.uk.com), a British company providing communications for oil and gas in 54 countries around the world. Hermes Malaysia provides mission-critical communications to a number of key customers in Malaysia.

Contact
Mohd Faizal bin Zainal Amri
General Manager, Malaysia
+603 6207 9905
faizal.z@hermes.uk.com

About MEASAT
MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to leading international broadcasters, DTH platforms and telecom operators. With capacity across five (5) satellites, the company provides satellite services to over 150 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia Pacific, 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 which support Asia’s premium DTH (direct-to-home) and video distribution neighbourhood, 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 at 91.5°E in Q1 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
MEASAT
+60 (3) 8213 2154
ilham@measat.com

Study: Viewers Seek TV Info on Social Media

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(May 21, 2013) The ways social media is having an impact on TV — and vice versa — is a both a big deal here and a global phenomenon, according to a new study by Viacom.

In “When Networks Network: TV Gets Social,” Viacom says viewers have three main reasons for TV-related social media use. Those are: Functional, such as searching for show schedules; communal, such as connecting with others; and playful, spending time with games or entering contests.

Read more at Broadcasting Cable

Sony Sees Growth Potential in Channels Business, Franchises

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(May 22, 2013) Sony Corporation’s chief executive, Kazuo Hirai, confirmed that the board is considering a proposal from hedge fund Third Point—one of the company’s key investors—to spin off its Sony Pictures Entertainment business. The division had a strong Q4 2012, with revenues up 11 percent to $7.8 billion and an operating profit of $509 million, a 40-percent gain. While the company as a whole returned to a profit in the quarter, its electronic businesses have struggled.

Read more at World Screen

Are we really in a ‘second golden age for television’?

(May 23, 2013) Cinema has historically considered itself superior to television, with executives and critics frequently sneering that a movie or documentary has a “made-for-TV” feel. But a number of significant Hollywood film-makers – including David Lynch, Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone – have moved to the junior medium for mini-series or documentaries and now Steven Soderbergh has paid a compliment, if a slightly qualified one, to home entertainment. “In terms of cultural real estate,” Soderbergh said at the Cannes film festival, “TV has really taken control of the conversation that used to be the reserve of movies. It’s sort of a second golden age of television, which is great for the viewers. … If you like your stories to go narrow and deep, TV is exciting.”

Read more at The Guardian

Inmarsat Acquires TC Communications

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(May 9, 2013) Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat has acquired TC Communications Pty Ltd. based in Australia. Inmarsat will integrate the company into its existing operations with a particular focus on supporting its expanding Global Government and Enterprise Business Units, according to a company statement.

Read more at Satellite Market & Research

Astro forms Malaysian funding JV

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(May 22, 2013) Asian media firm Astro Overseas has linked up with the Malaysian government to develop and fund live-action and animated English-language productions.

Read more at C21 Media

HBO inks exclusive five-year Russian output deal

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(May 22, 2013) Russian producer and pay TV channel operator Amedia has inked an exclusive five-year output deal with HBO. The agreement covers the US premium programmer and channel operator’s scripted series and movies and documentary output.

Read more at Digital TV Europe