Astro wins football rights, share price buoyed

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 ― Satellite television operator Astro has won the broadcast rights for the next three seasons of the popular English Premier League (EPL), in what will be a major boost for its flagging share price due to concerns of over-valuation.

Astro shares fell to an all-time low of RM2.59 on Monday but rallied to RM2.67 at noon today, as news of the rights win circulated.

Broadcast rights for the current three seasons ending next year had cost Astro RM800 million, up from RM500 million in the preceding three seasons.

China Mobile Games Center Picks Irdeto to Secure Mobile Games on Android

Irdeto ActiveCloak™ makes mobile games protection debut by delivering renewable software security for the world’s largest mobile operator

BEIJING, 14 November 2012 – Building on its success in video content and applications security, Irdeto today announced that China Mobile Games Center (CMGC), the dedicated game operations center of China Mobile, has selected Irdeto ActiveCloak™ to secure games sold and played on Android smartphones within the China Mobile network. Irdeto ActiveCloak is a patented, renewable software security solution already protecting media apps and premium video content for customers such as Comcast, Rogers, Cablevision, Viaplay, Astro and Mediaset. Based on the proven success of ActiveCloak at some of the world’s leading pay TV operators, CMGC turned to Irdeto to protect both the games and their associated business models on the Android platform, including the popular “Try and Buy” billing model in China.

The rising number of smartphone users in China combined with the intense popularity of gaming presents a unique opportunity for CMGC to offer more mobile games across more platforms and devices. The failure to effectively protect games from piracy could potentially result in the loss of game developer support, thereby putting CMGC’s long-term business strategy at risk. It is a commonly held belief that game developers should not have to be security experts, and with ActiveCloak providing security that is completely transparent to developers, they do not have to be. By partnering with Irdeto, CMGC hopes to attract more game developers and provide the best games in the world to their subscribers.

According to a recent report by Analysys International, the number of mobile game players in China will reach 215 million in 2012 and 360 million by 2014. Given the significant growth projected for mobile games and rising popularity of Android devices, CMGC recognized the need to address security on open operating systems, without impacting the user experience of legitimate customers. By deploying ActiveCloak, CMGC can prevent abuse such as copying, cloning, unauthorized access to payment or server-side information, as well as allow publishers and distributors to more fully monetize gaming assets.

“CMGC is demonstrating its commitment to fighting the mobile games piracy cycle by choosing ActiveCloak and establishing an unparalleled protection strategy for its business,” said Graham Kill,CEO of Irdeto. “The mobile games industry must begin to adopt new technologies that respect the legitimate consumer, while blocking and restricting the hackers and criminals. Irdeto has decades of experience helping organizations secure their content and apps from attackers. We understand how to balance performance, user experience and offer a security service in a way that benefits everyone. We are enthusiastic about this new relationship with CMGC and the expansion of ActiveCloak’s capabilities to secure games.”

ActiveCloak provides security for CMGC’s high-value gaming assets in two key areas: the game code itself, and the transactions that take place around it. The first level of security is regarding game protection, which includes intellectual property (IP), integrity and asset protection with patented white-box cryptography technology that prevents reverse engineering and tampering. The second level pertains to business model protection, ensuring that games are protected from un-authorized use such as illegal copying, hijacking or re-packaging.

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About Irdeto

Irdeto is a world leader in content security, management and delivery for pay media companies. Through its innovative conditional access, dynamic monetization and content security technologies, the company allows new forms of distribution for broadcast, broadband and mobile entertainment. Regionally headquartered in Amsterdam, Beijing, and San Francisco, the company employs approximately 1,000 people in 25 locations around the world. Irdeto is a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers (JSE: NPN). Please visit Irdeto at www.irdeto.com.

About China Mobile Game Center (CMGC)

China Mobile Game Center was created by the China Mobile Group to unify the various aspects of China Mobile’s mobile gaming business, including content introduction, marketing, brand development and business standards, with the central model of “Supporting the Internet with One Touch Point”. China Mobile Game Center continues to be a customer-orientated business that is driven by innovation and integration, and is constantly on the lookout for new areas of growth in the gaming industry. China Mobile Game Center is committed towards becoming a pioneer, innovator and integrator of China’s gaming industry.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Benelisha
Asia Pacific Director, Technology
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Tel: +65 6303 8466
Mobile: +65 9271 5697
Email: danb@waggeneredstrom.com

Katie Judd
Senior Manager, Public and Internal Relations
Irdeto
Tel: +1 415 967 7148
Mobile: +1 603 738 9599
Email: katie.judd@irdeto.com

now TV wins exclusive rights for Barclays Premier League

PCCW (SEHK:0008) HONG KONG, November 13, 2012 – now TV, Hong Kong’s largest quad-play pay-TV provider, today announces that it is entering into an exclusive negotiating window, under a standstill agreement, to finalize exclusive multi-screen rights to broadcast in Hong Kong the Barclays Premier League (BPL) for three seasons commencing from the 2013/14 season.

Further to the standstill agreement, now TV expects to conclude the final agreement at the earliest possible opportunity, which would allow it to broadcast the BPL games covering a total of 380 matches on now TV in both HD and SD formats, VOD as well as on other platforms of PCCW’s unique quadruple-play service including Internet, eye and PCCW mobile.

now TV would also enable its customers to enjoy BPL matches on-the-go via multiple devices with its now Player app.

Ms. Janice Lee, PCCW’s Managing Director of TV and New Media, said, “We welcome the return of BPL to now TV. BPL is one of the most prestigious football leagues in the world and to successfully regain the rights is a demonstration of our commitment to bringing top-class sports content to our customers with superior viewing quality. We took a disciplined approach in submitting our bid, and we are confident that the addition of BPL will bring a positive effect to our customer growth and operational results.”

Apart from BPL, now TV offers customers an exciting lineup of other popular football events including La Liga, English FA Cup and J League. In addition, now TV also answers the needs of sports fans with NBA, Australian Open, French Open, US Open, Wimbledon Championships, ATP World Tour, Formula 1, PGA Tour, BWF Super Series, World Snooker Tour, and The Masters.

– # –

About now TV

now TV is one of the world’s largest commercial deployments of IPTV and Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV provider. It is delivered by PCCW Media, the multimedia and entertainment subsidiary of PCCW Limited. PCCW also holds interests in telecommunications, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

cont’d …

now TV serves Hong Kong with more than 180 channels of local, Asian and international programming, including premium content such as Spanish La Liga, English FA Cup, NBA, French Open, US Open, ATP World Tour, BWF Super Series, World Snooker Tour, F1 and PGA Tour. In addition, now TV is both a leading producer of news, sports and infotainment programming and a provider of a wide range of interactive services. now TV can be enjoyed on the eye devices provided by HKT, the telecommunications business of PCCW. Select now TV content and interactive applications can also be accessed via HKT’s 3G mobile network and broadband service. To learn more about now TV, please visit www.now.com.

About PCCW Limited

PCCW Limited (SEHK: 0008) is a Hong Kong-based company which holds interests in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, property development and investment, and other businesses.

The Company holds a majority interest in HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider. HKT meets the needs of the Hong Kong public and local and international businesses with a wide range of services including local telephony, local data and broadband, international telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting, and contact centers.

PCCW also owns a fully integrated multimedia and entertainment group in Hong Kong, which includes a highly successful IPTV operation, now TV. As the provider of Hong Kong’s first quadruple-play experience, PCCW offers a range of innovative media content and services across four delivery platforms – fixed-line, broadband Internet access, TV and mobile.

Also wholly-owned by the Group, PCCW Solutions is a leading information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing provider in Hong Kong and mainland China.

In addition, PCCW holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, and overseas investments including the wholly-owned UK Broadband Limited. To learn more about PCCW, please visit www.pccw.com.

For further information, please contact:

Ivan Ho
PCCW Group
Tel: +852 2883 8747
Email: ivan.wy.ho@pccw.com

Brightcove tops ABI Research’s OTT vendor assessment

November 13, 2012 – ABI Research has found that Brightcove tops a competitive assessment among vendors in the multi-screen video market.

As more and more carriers look to roll out multi-screen video strategies to better engage their customers by extending video experiences to PCs, tablets, and smartphones, video-on-demand (VOD) platforms have become more versatile and in demand as they have moved from transactional VOD (pay-per-view), to subscription VOD, catch-up TV and TV Everywhere platforms, according to ABI Research.

VOD hardware, video server hardware, ad servers, content delivery network (CDNs) hardware, and alternative delivery mechanisms are all key building blocks for this market, researchers noted, with online video platforms and CDNs playing key roles.

EUTELSAT 21B blasts into space, on the way to final home at 21.5° East

New satellite to enter commercial service in mid-December

Paris, 11 November 2012 – The EUTELSAT 21B satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) was lofted into space tonight by an Ariane 5 rocket (Flight VA210) from Kourou, French Guiana.

Lift-off occurred bang on time, at 21.05 GMT (on 10 November). Separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle occurred 28 minutes later. Manoeuvres to circularise the new satellite’s orbit and place it into its operational configuration are now underway, managed by Eutelsat from its Rambouillet teleport, using a global network of earth stations. This will be followed by in-orbit testing before EUTELSAT 21B enters full commercial service in mid-December.

Commenting after launch and first manoeuvres, Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen said: “EUTELSAT 21B is the first of seven satellites we will launch by mid-2015 to increase our commercial flexibility and our overall resources by almost 30%. We are delighted to see this new satellite on its way to an orbital location that is a point of reference for customers providing professional video, data and government applications in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. We thank Arianespace for this 26th launch and Thales Alenia Space for this 20th spacecraft for Eutelsat.”

The 40-transponder EUTELSAT 21B Ku-band satellite will occupy the 21.5° East position. Developed by Eutelsat since 1999, this slot has become a location of choice for broadcasters, news agencies, telcos, enterprises and government administrations. Its deployment will enable Eutelsat to expand capacity at this sought-after location by more than 50%. The satellite will replace EUTELSAT 21A which will continue commercial service at another orbital location.

Eutelsat’s launch programme progresses with the lift-off, scheduled for early December, of the EUTELSAT 70B satellite, designed to more than double resources at Eutelsat’s 70.5° East orbital position that sits at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Tonight’s launch was also a special event in Africa as the rocket’s faring was decorated with an illustration by student Michael Yeboah from Ghana who was one of the two winners of last year’s DStv Eutelsat Star Awards. Sponsored by MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat, this competition is an initiative to encourage young students across Africa to embrace science and space technology. Entrants from secondary and high-schools are invited to write an essay or design a poster on applications that can support the development of the African continent. Overall prizes include a trip to Kourou to attend a satellite launch and a trip to Eutelsat’s satellite installations in France.

download the press release >

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 29 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators. As of 30 September 2012 Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 4,400 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group’s satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30 countries. www.eutelsat.com

For further information

Press

Vanessa O’Connor, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frédérique Gautier, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: + 33 1 53 98 32 45, mecuer@eutelsat.fr

Investors & Analysts

Lisa Finas, Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com
Léonard Wapler, Tel: +33 1 53 98 31 07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

SES Q3 revenues up 8.7%

November 9, 2012 – Satellite giant SES has reported its Q3 numbers saying that revenues increased 8.7 per cent to €467.7 million, and helped by a stronger dollar during the period which ended September 30th. However, at constant exchange rates that number softened to a 1.8 per cent increase on the same period last year.

SOLARtv signs capacity with MEASAT

Kuala Lumpur, 9 November 2012 – MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“MEASAT”) announced today an agreement with Solar Television Network Inc. (“SOLARtv”) for capacity on the MEASAT-3 satellite.

SOLARtv, a sister company of Solar Entertainment Corporation (“Solar”), is a free TV channel that delivers news and information to affluent adult viewers. It has both local and foreign programs geared toward giving the Filipino a wider perspective on current issues.

“MEASAT is delighted to support SOLARtv with satellite capacity for its television content contribution in the Philippines,” said Jarod Lopez, Senior Director, Sales and Marketing, MEASAT. “A key customer since 2004, we are proud to be able to continue supporting Solar’s business growth through this agreement.”

The MEASAT-3 satellite, co-located with the MEASAT-3a satellite at 91.5°E support MEASAT’s vibrant video neighbourhood across Asia Pacific. The video neighbourhood features an assortment of premium 3D, HD and SD channels that include news, general entertainment, sports and factual programming. The 91.5°E slot will be further strengthened with the addition of the MEASAT-3b satellite end of 2013.

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to leading international broadcasters, DTH platforms and telecom operators. With capacity across a fleet of five communications satellites, MEASAT is able to provide satellite services to over 145 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

The MEASAT fleet includes the state of art MEASAT-3/3a satellites at 91.5°E which support Asia’s premium DTH and video distribution neighbourhood, MEASAT-2 at 148.0°E, MEASAT-5 at 119.5°E and AFRICASAT-1 at 46.0°E. The MEASAT fleet will be further strengthened with the addition of AFRICASAT-1a at 46°E in Q1 2013 and MEASAT-3b at 91.5°E in Q4 2013.

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:
Tan Shyue Wern
MEASAT
+60 (3) 8213 2152
tswtan@measat.com

News Corp to drop ESPN brand across Asia

9/11/2012: Regional – As News Corp completes the acquisition of Disney’s 50% stake in the ESPN STAR Sports, the media group will stop using the ESPN brand in most Asia markets from next year.

News Corp was unable to comment the move, but it is widely understood that the Fox Sports brand will replace ESPN in most Asia markets.

But before that major move takes place, News Corp has kick started the task of integrating Disney’s 50% share of ESPN STAR Sports into the Fox International Channels Asian business.

In the coming months, all ESS teams, excluding India, will be fully integrated into FIC Asia, effectively becoming the sports division of FIC Asia. ESPN STAR Sports India will be integrated into Star India.

The process of integration is likely to take six to 12 months.

After the dust settles, News is widely tipped to up the ante on its sports properties across the region with more channels, more HD, more non-linear and more local productions.

The moves in Asia also mirror similar moves around the world, particularly for Fox Sports US, Sky Sports in UK, Germany, Italy and Fox Sports Australia.

http://www.marketing-interactive.com/news/36607

VCTV grabs VTC

04/11/2012: VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Cable Television and Electronics Joint Stock Company (CEC), which faces big difficulties in investment, has decided to sell 51percent of its stakes to Vietnam Cable Television (VCTV) to get money to pay bank debts.

CEC, whose the big guy VTC (the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation), and a major shareholder–has released a document informing that the management and operation of the CEC’s cable television network would be transferred to VCTV, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Television.

The document says that from November 1, 2012, CEC’s subscribers would enjoy VTCV’s services, provided that CEC’s subscribers agree to sign new contracts with VCTV.

The new service provider would apply its pricing policy to CEC’s subscribers from December 1, 2012 (110,000 dong a month for the first TV, and 33,000 dong for the second and subsequent TVs). Meanwhile, the subscription fee for November (from November 1, 2012, to November 30, 2012) would remain unchanged at 77,000 dong.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/science-it/51665/vtv-takes-over-vtc-s-cable-tv-company.html

News Corp seals Foxtel control

03-11-2012: Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp boosted its share of Australia’s pay-TV market after shareholders in Consolidated Media Holdings voted in favour of a A$2bn (£1.3bn) takeover offer from News Corp.

Reuters reports that the deal will double the stake of News Corp’s Australian arm in dominant pay-TV operator Foxtel to 50% and give it 100% of content provider Fox Sports, increasing its pay-TV exposure at the same time as it cuts costs at its print operations.

Consolidated Media said shareholders at a meeting on Wednesday voted 99.9% in favour of the takeover. Its board had backed the offer.

“Foxtel and Fox Sports are going to be two cornerstone assets in the News Corp publishing business after the demerger, and I assume the market will put fairly healthy multiples on those assets,” Citi analyst Justin Diddams told Reuters.

News Corp announced plans in June to split the $60bn (£37bn) media conglomerate into two publicly traded companies, publishing and entertainment. The split will take about a year to complete.

The publishing arm will include Australian newspaper The Australian, UK newspapers The Times and The Sun, The Wall St Journal, book publisher Harper Collins, and pay-TV assets including Fox Sports, Foxtel and Sky TV New Zealand.

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