SES Astra acquires 75.2 percent stake in Digital Playout Center from Premiere
SES Astra, an SES Global company, has entered into an agreement to acquire a 75.2 percent stake in Digital Playout Center (DPC) from German pay-TV operator Premiere. The transaction, for consideration of 41.2 million EUROS, is subject to approval by competition authorities.
DPC operates a teleport facility in Munich and offers services that include playout, multiplexing, encryption and satellite uplinks to private as well as public broadcasters.
Under SES Astra’s control, DPC will launch Germany's first and only open pay-TV platform using Premiere compatible digital set-top boxes.
For more information, please visit: www.ses-astra.com.
CFL, Trajectory Sports & Media reach agreement to air 2004 season
Canadian football fans will have the opportunity to watch their favorite teams anywhere in the world thanks to an agreement between the Canadian Football League and Trajectory Sports & Media Group.
Worldwide coverage is expected to reach about 50 million households during the season, which began June 14 and concludes Nov. 21 with the Gray Cup Championship Game in Ottawa. The total possible international audience is five times the size of Canada’s domestic market.
For more information, please visit: www.oursportscentral.com.
HD Forum 2004 to offer comprehensive market view
HD Forum 2004 organizers are hoping to present a view of the entire HDTV "food chain" during the three-day event in Los Angeles.
Representatives from TV and cable networks, government agencies, satellite and cable providers, retailers, distributors, TV brands, TV OEMs, panel/tube/engine manufacturers, and IC manufacturers will be on hand to provide insight into the HD market's development.
The event, Aug. 24-26 at the Westin Century Plaza, will examine the migration to HD worldwide, obstacles blocking the path to rapid HD programming expansion, consumer awareness of HD, consumer product pricing trends, and retail and IT distribution issues.
For more information, please visit: www.insightmedia.info.