Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

SES to Recoup US$1.6 Billion to Launch New Satellites

SES has confirmed its intention to clear a the company has arranged deferred the company opposes the potential sun
portion of its C-band spectrum in the US, payment terms with the vendors taking setting of its 300MHz C-band rights by
in line with the Federal Communications part in the satellite programs associated December 2025 in the unlikely event that
Commission’s (FCC) order published in with the accelerated clearing. SES intends accelerated clearing does not proceed as
April. The accelerated clearing of the to meet the deadlines envisaged in the outlined in the order. The company says
spectrum including the migration of FCC order, which entitles SES to receive up intends on filing a petition for review with
existing customers, is an important and to $3.97 billion in accelerated relocation the reviewing court to preserve its rights
resource-intensive process for the current payments. The company has supported should the accelerated clearing option
C-band users. SES’ board of directors has the FCC’s plan to clear C-band in order to no longer be available. Earlier this year,
approved investment of $1.6 billion, which drive up 5G leadership in the US, while also Intelsat responded to comments by FCC
includes the procurement and launch of protecting the spectrum’s current users. chairman Ajit Pai about C-band spectrum,
new satellites and other equipment and The accelerated clearing is based on saying “we note with appreciation the
services – expenses that are repaid through operators and spectrum holders electing hard work of all stakeholders to get to this
the program Clearinghouse. SES says that to clear the band, representing at least juncture, and the work to come leading up
it intends to place the vast majority of this 80% of accelerated relocation payments. to the Commission’s vote on February 28,
investment with US suppliers. In addition, Despite SES’ support of the FCC order, 2020”.

ZDF Extends Partnership with Satellite Operator SES

German public broadcaster ZDF will
continue to offer its TV channels in SD
resolution via the Astra satellite system
(19.2 degrees East). The agreement
with satellite operator SES covers the
distribution of ZDF, ZDFinfo and ZDFneo
in SD-MPEG-2 format. The duration of the
contract has not been specified. An SES
spokeswoman declined to comment on
details when approached by Broadband
TV News. A ZDF spokesperson indicated
that there was no fixed end date for the
SD distribution: “A decision for a date for
termination is currently not on the agenda.”
Also, no decision has been made yet on
how to proceed with the SD distribution of
joint public channels KI.KA, Phoenix and
3sat, according to ZDF. The extension of
the SD distribution is surprising because programmes exclusively via SD signals,” distribution in SD quality will continue to
fellow public broadcaster ARD and ARD’s said Christoph Mühleib, managing director enable many viewers who have not yet
regional affiliates recently announced of Astra Deutschland. The figure refers switched to HD reception to access our
the termination of the SD distribution of to the SD households across all TV public service program offer.” However,
their channels on Astra in January 2021 reception infrastructures. Among satellite license fee commission KEF has turned off
in favor of an HD-only distribution. “ZDF households, there are just 2.63 million the money tap for SD satellite distribution
reaches the whole population and all SD households. ZDF production director for ARD and ZDF. ZDF must therefore
age groups with its channel family. But Dr. Michael Rombach added: “For ZDF, finance the costs for the extended SD
only if it broadcasts in all transmission the reception of its channels in as many distribution by using funds from other
standards. After all, a total of 6 million households as possible is of strategic budgets.
viewers in Germany still receive their importance. The extension of satellite

65 MAY 2020