Amid the rapid expansion of the Indian broadcast sector, AsiaSat recently concluded several major contracts with some of India's leading broadcasters as well as some new entrants to the sector for a wide array of broadcast services aiming to reach the 70 million plus cable and satellite homes across India.
ESSEL Group, India's largest media enterprise with diversified interests in Broadcasting (ZEE TV), DTH (Dish TV) and Cable Networking (WWIL) operations is utilising multiple C-band transponders on AsiaSat 4 to operate a new digital Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) delivery platform for distributing pay-TV signals to all cable operators across the country. Through this digital platform on AsiaSat 4, being the first of such kind in India, WWIL is helping to accelerate the process of digitalisation in all cable headends across India where viewers can enjoy an enhanced TV viewing experience. Up to 150 digitally encrypted channels are available on the platform for redistribution.
BIG Broadcasting, a new initiative from the Reliance ADA Group, has signed for one C-band transponder on AsiaSat 3S for launching a bouquet of television channels catering to the diverse tastes of the Indian audience. The channels will be spread across genres and languages, from general entertainment, movies to music, and other unique content. The service will have access to all cable headends across India through AsiaSat 3S's premium satellite coverage.
Chitkara Technologies Ltd., part of India's leading educational institute group, Chitkara Private Ltd., will be using AsiaSat 2's C-band capacity to launch a new television channel 'CUBE 3' across the country. CUBE 3 is a 100% city centric channel distributed free-to-air in Punjabi language, offering mainly news and general entertainment primarily to viewers in Chandigarh, capital of the Punjab state, and one of the most modern and affluent cities in India.
Vintage Studio, the broadcast arm of India's famous natural cosmetic company Ayur Group, will be using C-band capacity on AsiaSat 2 for distributing a brand new free-to-air television channel 'Ayur Living India' across India. The channel will offer English and Hindi language education and value-based social programmes primarily targeting the young generation and women segment in India.
Over the past months, AsiaSat achieved notable growth in its channel offerings across the fleet through successfully expanding its customer portfolio in India and internationally. Some 300 television channels are now on board AsiaSat offering programming in 30 languages across all genres, from general entertainment, news, sports, movies, to thematic content such as luxury lifestyle, fashion, urban music and culture, children's programmes. Some of the latest additions are:
EuroNews
This 24-hour news channel is broadcasting in eight languages, including Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish on Satlink's digital MCPC platform on AsiaSat 2. Launched in 1993, Euronews is now the most-watched international news channel in Europe. Joining many other European and international channels on Asia's most popular multilingual broadcast platform, AsiaSat 2, Euronews is able to extend and enhance its coverage in various key markets across the Asia-Pacific region, serving a wide Asian audience with news from a European perspective.
Daystar Television Network
This network is a U.S. based Christian channel that offers an extensive blend of multicultural programming including contemporary music videos and children animation. The channel, available free to air in English, is able to extend its service to the entire Asia-Pacific region via Satlink's powerful digital MCPC platform on AsiaSat 2. With over 50 television stations in major markets across the United States and production facilities in Dallas, Houston and Denver, Daystar reaches a potential audience of over 128 million viewers in the U.S. alone. It has emerged as the fastest growing and second largest Christian television network in the world.
Rede Record Internacional TV
This Brazilian broadcaster joined Satlink's MCPC platform on AsiaSat 2 to reach out to audiences in the Asia-Pacific region. The channel produces a wide range of programming in Portuguese language aiming at Brazilian expatriates and viewers interested in Brazilian culture. It is distributed free to air across AsiaSat 2's powerful pan Asian footprint that includes major markets such as China, Japan and India.
Noor TV
This channel uses AsiaSat 3S Ku-band South Asia beam to broadcast free to air, quality programming to Afghanistan and its neighbouring Central and South Asian countries.
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AsiaSat Secures New Contracts and Renewals with Customers in China |
Beijing Asia Pacific East Communication Network Ltd. renewed its AsiaSat 2 Ku-band lease to continue to provide transmission services for business enterprises in China.
Beijing Deserain Science & Technology Co. Ltd. renewed its AsiaSat 4 C-band lease to continue to operate nationwide VSAT network service.
Beijing Paide Satellite Telecommunications Technical Co. Ltd. renewed its Ku-band lease on AsiaSat 3S for the provision of telecommunications service across the country.
Beijing Sky Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. renewed its lease for Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S to continue to operate a VSAT network for data communications service in China.
Beijing Sunrise Technology Development Co. Ltd. renewed its C-band lease on AsiaSat 4 for VSAT operations supporting printing applications in China.
China Earthquake Network Centre signed a new lease for C-band and Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 4. The capacity is used to support the operation of a network for collecting and exchanging data and information on earthquake conditions nationwide.
China Netcom Beijing Branch Office signed new leases for Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 4 for the provision of satellite communications services in China.
Guangdong TV renewed its C-band lease on AsiaSat 2 to continue to provide video distribution services to customers around the region.
Management Centre of Film Digital Programme of SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film & Television) signed a new lease agreement for Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S for establishing a transmission network that delivers digital movie signals across China.
Nanjing Toptry China-Spacenet Co. Ltd. renewed its AsiaSat 4 Ku-band lease to continue to offer a wide range of application services including DVB, DAB, remote medical treatment, petroleum geology prospecting, network for emergency system of earthquake prevention, flood prevention and epidemic prevention in China.
Shanghai Cai Zhi Xing Information Technology Co. Ltd. renewed its C-band lease on AsiaSat 3S to continue to provide data broadcasting service across China.
Shanghai Stock Communications Co. Ltd. signed a new lease for C-band capacity on AsiaSat 4. The capacity is used to operate a satellite-based platform for the Shanghai Stock Exchange for securities and financial data service and on-line securities trading across the country.
SVA Communications Co., Ltd. renewed its Ku-band lease on AsiaSat 4 to continue to operate a nationwide VSAT network that supports service providers and clients in a wide range of service applications for a variety of industries, including distance learning, telemedicine, broadband Internet access, and services for industries such as postal service and petrol stations.
Tsinghua University renewed its AsiaSat 3S Ku-band lease to continue to operate a distance learning network for distributing education programmes to institutions and students across China.
Yinmore Telecommunication Technology Co. Ltd. renewed its Ku-band lease on AsiaSat 3S. Yinmore operates extensive business networks that connect thousands of VSAT terminals for a variety of industries in China.
Broadband World Forum Asia 2008, 15 -18 July, Hong Kong
At the Forum, more than 200 industry leaders from around the world presented through 50 keynote addresses, plenary panels, workshops and sessions.
Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat was invited to speak at a workshop session on 'Fulfilling IPTV's Promises: Technology Requirements for Next Generation Applications'. During the discussion, Mr. Jackson shared his views on the role of satellite in programming delivery in IPTV environments, in addition to aspects on the current landscape of interactive IPTV applications, timeline for implementation of new services covered by other market experts and professionals.
According to a report released by Broadband Forum and Point Topics at the Forum, Asia led the growth in IPTV subscribers by about 132% over the past 12 months to Q1 2008 with the total number of subscribers expanding to 2.6 million.
BroadcastAsia 2008, 17-20 June, Singapore Expo
AsiaSat joined the other 700 exhibiting companies at BroadcastAsia 2008, one of Asia's largest and most popular broadcast exhibitions. The event provided a valuable platform where AsiaSat could meet and interact with its customers, perspective satellite users and fellow professionals.
Over the 4-day exhibition, AsiaSat's comprehensive service offerings were introduced to over 16,000 attendees from more than 70 countries who turned up for the conferences, forums and a host of complementary activities held along the mega exhibition where a wide spectrum of leading edge digital technologies and equipment, interactive media including AsiaSat's quality satellite broadcasting solutions were displayed and demonstrated.
David Hochner and Yael Shamos (first and second from the right) of Satlink,
an AsiaSat teleport partner, visited AsiaSat booth at BroadcastAsia 2008
CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum, 16 June, Singapore
AsiaSat was again one of the sponsors of this year's CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum.
The 1-day event was designed to cover a wide range of topics including satellite spectrum management, market consolidation, government and military technology development, capacity supply and demand of the Asian marketplace that had attracted the active participation of 300 top-level executives from around the world.
Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat took part in 'CEO Wrap', where he shared with the delegates his views over the Asian market demand for satellite services, and how Asian operators could adapt to the changing markets and applications.
Peter Jackson (first from the right) of AsiaSat with
other panel speakers at the 'CEO Wrap' of the CASBAA Forum
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AsiaSat Contributes to Relief Efforts of the China Earthquake |
AsiaSat worked closely with various Chinese ministries and bureaus, and contributed to the relief efforts of the devastating earthquake that hit the Sichuan Province in May.
To support the restoration of communications in the affected areas, AsiaSat contributed satellite capacity across AsiaSat fleet to the Ministry of Information Industry, Ministry of Public Security, China Meteorological Administration, China Earthquake Network Centre, China Netcom, China Unicom and China Telecom Sichuan Company Limited. In addition, AsiaSat also provided VSAT equipments and engineers to the hard-hit areas joining the Sichuan Telecom Company to deploy VSAT terminals and equipment for emergency service.
In Hong Kong, AsiaSat also contributed transponder capacity on AsiaSat 2 for broadcasting a fund raising charity show held in June, in addition to donations made by the company and its staff to the Red Cross for earthquake relief work through a 'dollar for dollar' donation matching plan.
AsiaSat engineer providing on-site support to recover
communications in the affected area in Sichuan
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New Heads for AsiaSat's China Marketing and Engineering Team |
Zhang Hai Ming is AsiaSat's new General Manager China, who will head the China Marketing team in areas of sales and marketing, and customer relations in the Mainland China market.
Zhang has over 20 years of experience in the satellite industry. He has worked with Echostar, Lockheed Martin, Skywave TV (an 80% owned subsidiary of AsiaSat) and China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite in various management positions, covering areas in business development, sales and marketing, and operations.
Zhang graduated from Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade (now renamed Beijing University of International Business and Economics) and obtained a Master of International Management Degree from the American Graduate School of International Management.
Roger Tong is the new General Manager Engineering of AsiaSat, leading the engineering team into new dimensions of engineering service and support including spacecraft and ground network development, spectrum management and planning.
Prior to joining AsiaSat, Roger was a Technical Consultant to Telesat Canada where he was responsible for numerous programmes. He had also held various senior management positions at COM DEV International, Allen Telecom Corporation and Mark IV Industries.
Having over 20 years' experience in the satellite and telecommunications industry, Roger also possesses strong academic background with a Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering and a Master degree in Engineering from McMaster University, Canada and a MBA degree from the Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
On the 26th of April, AsiaSat moved to a new office at:
19/F Sunning Plaza
10 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
All contact numbers remain unchanged.
AsiaSat executives officiating the roast-pig cutting ceremony at the new office
Q: What is HITS? How can I receive HITS cable service at home in india?
A: HITS (Headend-in-the-Sky) is a TV delivery platform that allows cable operators to offer a readily encrypted high quality digital package of channels to their subscribers. A HITS operator will receive pay channels from various satellites which are to be decrypted and aggregated at a central facility. Channels are then turnaround with a single conditional access system, multiplexed and uplinked again to a satellite which acts as a 'Headend-in-the-Sky' and beams the signals to all cable operators' headends. This would allow cable operators to offer a new level of products and services with increased programming choices to customers at minimum investment in equipment and expertise. The cable subscribers can enjoy richer pictures, sound and an even wider range of multimedia services and value added features offered by the digital service. To receive the HITS digital cable service, please contact your local cable operators to see when this service is available in your area.
