Satellite Industry News

Hughes Network Systems, LLC has signed a contract with Space Systems Loral to build its next-generation JUPTER™ 3 Ultra High Density Satellite (UHDS), to be designated EchoStar XXIV.  The new satellite is targeted at key markets across the Americas and will more than double the Hughes Ka-band capacity in the region.  Powered by the next-generation JUPITER Systems, the new satellite will enable significant increases in service performance, with speeds of 100 Mbps.  

Competitors are trying to derail SpaceX's plans to deliver broadband service to hard-to-reach areas via satellite, asking regulators to rebuff the company's request for waivers of certain deadlines. They also want the Federal Communications Commission to put off a decision until the agency can review how SpaceX will avoid interfering with other satellite signals. Space Intel Report (France) (7/17)

DIRECTV subscribers will have free access to HBO and Cinemax from Friday through Monday to promote three season premieres, including "Games of Thrones" and "Insecure." TVPredictions (7/17)

Startup service Reelgood is launching a website that allows users to track and watch shows from multiple streaming services via a single platform. The interface tracks content from more than 250 streaming services, including networks such as HBO, Starz, Fox and CBS. TechCrunch (7/17)

Internet users will spend a daily average of 47.4 minutes watching video in 2017, an increase from 39.6 minutes last year, driven by a 35% spike in mobile video viewing, Zenith reports. Worldwide investment in digital video advertising is estimated to rise 23% this year, hitting $27.2 billion. MediaPost Communications (7/17)

More Americans over the age of 50 are watching video online, per Barclays. In the first quarter, online video consumption increased 45% in the 50-to-64 demographic and 36% in the 65-or-over demographic, the study found. FierceCable (7/14)

AT&T will begin a beta test this summer for converting to a cloud-based unified platform across all its video services, with a formal launch slotted for DIRECTV Now and the DIRECTV companion app this fall. The company plans to extend the platform to U-verse TV "in the coming years." Deadline Hollywood (7/13)

Lockheed Martin has picked ViaSat to provide data links for its Long Range Anti-Ship Missile project with the US Navy. "The ViaSat datalink units provide highly advanced communications capabilities and enhanced performance beyond previous weapon datalink offerings," said President of Government Systems Ken Peterman. C4ISR & Networks (7/12)

Twenty-one percent of viewers in the 18-to-24 demographic and 12% of adults overall say they have used the log-in credentials of someone outside of their home to access streaming services, per a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Parks Associates estimates that password sharing will lead to $550 million in lost revenue in 2019. Reuters (7/12)

DISH Network's Charlie Ergen and Amazon's Jeff Bezos have been discussing partnering up for a wireless service, sources say. Amazon could provide funding for DISH's network for the internet of things, while the company could also offer DISH and wireless services for a higher Prime membership plan, a source said. Reuters (7/6)

Video ads have much greater return on investment than image ads despite the greater upfront cost for video, per a study from Marketing Land. The study found that all video ads perform the same at first but that higher-quality videos perform the best in the long term. source: Marketing Land (7/3)

DIRECTV Now has added ABC, Fox and NBC affiliates to its over-the-top service, doubling its number of live local channels since launching last year. Also, the company has announced that it plans to triple its number of live local offerings from NBC, ABC and Fox by August. source: Multichannel News (6/30)

The Federal Communications Commission has reinstated phone privacy rules that were in place before the 2016 Privacy Order. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn dissented from the rule change in part, saying that it does not provide clarity into broadband privacy. source: Broadcasting & Cable (6/30)

About 38% of US consumers have a least one smart device in their homes, a survey from Futuresource said. Most often, consumers reported having a connected security device, though climate control and entertainment device use is growing, the survey said. source: TWICE (6/30)

ViaSat has been contracted to provide multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS) joint tactical radio system (JTRS) terminals for the US Air Force (USAF).  The Lot 5 and Lot 5a contracts were awarded by the US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) and also include the supply of MIDS JTRS terminals to the US Navy.  source: Airforce Technology (UK) (6/29)

AT&T's DIRECTV and DISH Network have begun working with hotels to provide guests with streaming abilities from their devices to TV sets to make them feel more at home. Hotels linked to DIRECTV can offer AT&T's Staycast service, which is powered by Google Chromecast. source: FierceCable (6/28)

Tablo has developed an app that will allow Android TV owners to record over-the-air content from digital antennas. The Tablo Engine app permits recording of live TV using the Nvidia Shield without the need for additional hardware. source: TechCrunch (6/28)

Grace Hopper, computer scientist and naval officer

Sling TV subscribers can now access the company's cloud DVR feature on iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. The service costs an additional $5 per month and comes with 50 hours of cloud storage. source: The Verge (6/22)

AT&T is providing the Staycast system from Sonify Solutions to hotels with DIRECTV service, enabling guests to stream videos from their smartphones to televisions in their rooms. Staycast is based upon Google's Chromecast streaming adapter and works with the Hotel Cast phone application. source: Multichannel News (6/22)