Austria to make transition to DVB-T2

Austrian transmitter network operator ORS wants to fully convert the country’s digital terrestrial transmission network (DTT) to the DVB-T2 standard.

The predecessor standard DVB-T will be switched off in 2017 at the latest, ORS spokesman Michael Weber told Austrian newspaper Der Standard. The transition will commence at the end of 2014 with multiplex C which carries public channels ORF Sport+ and ORF III as well as commercial channels Puls 4 and Servus TV.

DVB-T2 enables more channels, better picture quality and HDTV offerings on terrestrial airwaves, but viewers need new reception devices. Austrian DTT platform simpliTV whichlaunched on April 15, 2013 has been using DVB-T2 for its offering from the beginning.

Russian telco gains TV customers

Rostelecom ended the first quarter with 7.6 million pay-TV subscribers, an 8% increase on the same period last year.

Its IPTV subscriber total meanwhile rose by 33% to 2.3 million. The Russian telco’s revenues were, at R80.4 billion (€1.7 billion) in Q1, 1% up year-on-year, while revenues from continued operations (fixed business) rose by 4% to R73.2 billion.

OIBDA amounted to R26.5 billion (R29.4 billion a year earlier) and net income rose by 8% year-on-year to R6.9 billion.

CTC Media looks to Hulu

Russia’s CTC Media is close to reaching an agreement with Hulu to have some of its shows distributed online in the US.

Quoting CTC Media’s CEO Yuliana Slashcheva, Bloomberg reports that shows would be subtitled in English and offered on both the Hulu and Hulu Plus services. She added that final terms of a deal are now being discussed, with Russia’s state-run cinema agency also involved in the talks.

Slashcheva also said: “co-operation with Hulu is a serious precedent for Russian producers of original content.

“This will allow us not only to monetise our content on a new platform, but paves a way for promoting our original formats such as Molodezhka in international markets.”

CTC Media is backed by Modern Times Group (MTG) and one of the leading commercial broadcasters in Russia.

Hulu meanwhile operates a free ad-supported service of the same name with around 30 million users each month.

Its paid-for Hulu Plus service has around 6 million users.

New cable/IPTV player for Romania

Romania’s Antena TV Group has secured the right to redistribute TV programming via cable and IPTV.

Quoting Hotnews and the regulator Ancom, Media Expres says that Intact Satellite, which is part of the same group, has also received the same rights.

It adds that Antena TV Group obtained the rights on May 6 and Intact Satellite two days later.

There were 4.1 million cable subscribers in Romania as of the end of last year, with RCS&RDS and UPC the leading providers of services.

At the same time, the IPTV market was served by Ines Group, RCS&RDS and Romtelecom.

ProSiebenSat.1 to enable CI+ recordings at HD+

German commercial TV group ProSiebenSat.1 will enable viewers receiving the HD versions of its free-to-air channels on DTH satellite platform HD+ through a CI+ module to record its programmes from June 2, 2014.

The function will become available at Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD, kabel eins HD, sixx HD and ProSieben Maxx HD. Viewers will also continue to be able to use the time-shifting feature on all HD+ channels with the module. A software update is not necessary; the recording function will automatically be activated.

In mid-April 2014, ProSiebenSat.1 already enabled the fast-forwarding of programmes of its five free-to-air channels recorded with the HD+ DVR.

Millicom to launch DTH pay-TV in Latin America on Eutelsat

Millicom, the international telecommunications and media company, has selected Eutelsat Americas to support its recent entry into the satellite pay-TV market in Latin America.

Millicom has signed a multi-year contract with Eutelsat Americas for capacity on the Eutelsat 117 West A satellite (formerly Satmex 8) that provides premium Direct-to-Home coverage across Latin America. Millicom also has options for additional capacity and service continuity on the Eutelsat 117 West B satellite (formerly Satmex 9) that will be launched next year and co-located with Eutelsat 117 West A to build up a DTH hotspot over Latin America.

Operating under the Tigo Star brand, the new satellite pay-TV platform complements Millicom’s cable and mobile services and has already been launched in two markets: Bolivia and El Salvador. The Bolivian service addresses the 6.5 million people of Bolivia’s 10.5 million population who live beyond the company’s cable coverage. It comprises 75 channels, including eight in HD, five free-to-air and eight premium services. The DTH service in El Salvador offers customers up to 70 channels, including four in HD.

Commenting on the launch of Tigo Star, Millicom’s Executive Vice-President for Home and Digital Media, Martin Lewerth, said: “The launch of our new satellite-based service on the Eutelsat Americas satellite at 117° West is another significant step in the transformation of Millicom into a diversified digital lifestyle provider. It adds to our cable services and reaches right across Latin America which means we can now broadcast for the first time to communities and households throughout the region.”

Patricio Northland, CEO of Eutelsat Americas, said: “We are delighted that not only is Millicom adding satellite to the range of platforms it is deploying to accelerate availability of digital services in its target markets, but that its preference goes to our EUTELSAT 117 West A satellite for Tigo Star. There is a significant untapped opportunity in Latin America for satellites to extend access to digital and High Definition channels to homes beyond terrestrial networks. Winning the confidence of Millicom, an experienced player, clearly puts Eutelsat Americas on the map and encourages us to deliver the highest levels of service, innovation and creativity so that the 117° West position can take its place as a broadcasting point of reference in Latin America.”

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Russians viewers tempted by internet

A fifth of Russians access the internet while also watching TV, according to a study by Synovate Comcon.

Published by Vedomosti,the results of the study, which questioned viewers aged 10+, also found that accessing the internet was growing.

The figure of 20% at the beginning of this year was up from 19% in Q3 2013.

However, it was much higher in Moscow (42%), St Petersburg (46%) and generally in large cities (25%).

Another key finding was that children (29%) and adolescents (33%) were more likely to use the internet while watching TV.

Slowdown for Russian pay-TV

Growth in Russia’s pay-TV market is likely slow this year, both in subscriber numbers and value terms.

According to a forecast by J’son & Partners Consulting, published by Kommersant, they will fall from 10% to 4% and from 14.2% to 9%, with operators unable to continue their regional expansion due to difficulties in obtaining long-term loans and also experiencing increased competition from online video services.

Russia’s pay-TV market grew by 10% in 2013 to 35.1 million at year’s end, equivalent to 64% of all households in the country.

At the same time, its value increased by 14.2% to R57.1 billion (€1.2 billion).

As the largest segment, cable accounted for 54.6% of total revenues, followed by DTH (32%) and IPTV (13.3%). However, IPTV was the fastest growing (47.2%), with DTH (18.5%) and cable (0.02%) significantly behind.

Pay-TV ARPU in 2013 was R136, with Tricolor TV charging the lowest monthly fee (R75/month).

NSC had the most subscribers (29% share), followed by Rostelecom (21%), MTS (7.4%), ER-Telecom (7.4%) and Orion Express (5%).

Russia’s pay-TV market is set to grow by an average of only 3% a year over the next five years and will be worth R75.9 million in 2018.

The subscriber base will grow by 17% to 40.9 million, with the penetration increasing from 64% to 75%.

Cable, though still the most popular method of reception, will see its share drop to 48%, with DTH remaining the same at 33% and IPTV growing to 18%.

J’son & Partners Consulting’s figures differ from those produced earlier by iKS Consulting.

Among its forecasts were that the pay-TV market would grow by 5% in subscriber terms this year to 36.2 million and in value by 10% to R59 billion.

TrueVisions subscribers down 17,000 in 1Q 2014

True Corporation PLC has released results for the first quarter of 2014.

TrueVisions

TrueVisions’ service revenue decreased 10.2% QoQ on a seasonal decline in advertising revenues and 9.7% YoY to Bt 2.4 bn due to lower subscription and installation revenues following weakening economy and political uncertainty. Nevertheless, the decline in subscription revenue became more stabilized.

TrueVisions’ customer base was 2.4 mn at the end of 1Q14 while ARPU declined to Bt 774 in 1Q14 from Bt 802 in 4Q13 due to a change in subscriber mix with higher proportion of standard customers following positive response to the Group’s convergence campaigns.

In April, TrueVisions acquired the two digital terrestrial TV licenses for news and variety channels and started trial broadcasting these channels, the “TNN 24” and “True4U”, in the same month. Meanwhile, the business continued to enhance its portfolio with more top international and local content. This puts TrueVisions in a strong position to capture growth from the digital TV roll out while broadening its marketing opportunity to broadcast its content to a larger audience.

TrueVisions customers (000s):

                         4Q12   1Q13   2Q13   3Q13   4Q13   1Q14
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
Total                   2,042  2,175  2,274  2,368  2,371  2,354
 Premium                  435    429    393    360    343    327
 Standard                 308    312    340    387    419    450
 Free View                564    616    683    741    740    700
 Free to air box          735    816    859    881    870    876

NEOTION shows CI Plus 1.3 CAM ecosystem at ANGACOM2014

With NEOTION CI Plus 1.3 CAMs, Pay TV Operators can now provide Secure OTT Services to their subscribers

AUBAGNE — NEOTION demonstrates that the ecosystem surrounding its CI Plus 1.3 Conditional Access Module associated with a Connected TV will once again enhance Pay-TV attraction for the subscriber.

By using the CI Plus 1.3 Specific Application Support (SAS) resource in the CAM, the OIPF agent of the Connected TV set and the HbbTV standard as the user interface for Over The Top (OTT) services delivery, NEOTION demonstrates that live TV and broadband based services (VOD, Catch-up…) can be combined within a single offer.

Indeed, any subscriber equipped with a Neotion CI Plus 1.3 CAM will be able to receive the Operator’s OTT VOD services. The Neotion CAM merges linear broadcasting and extended on-demand services by focusing on the content security protection.

Through the CAM, subscribers’ references can be identified through the unique rights management from any Conditional Access System. The SAS resource allows the CAM to communicate with the Operator’s customised HbbTV application and authorizes the subscribers to access the video catalogue through the Internet connection.

Combining enhanced features of the Neotion CAM and the Connected TV, the subscribers could now enjoy the best of both, broadcast and broadband services.

Samsung & SMIT launch IDTV+CAM with AVG in Vietnam

Vietnam Operator AVG, Along with Samsung & SMIT, Launches IDTV+CAM Solution

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam’s largest private pay TV operator, An Vien Television (AVG), along with SMiT Corporation (SMiT), the leading operations platform provider for secure distribution of paid content, and Samsung, the world leading TV manufacturer, jointly launched to provide IDTV+CAM solutions to Vietnamese audience.

The solution, which includes Samsung’s integrated digital TV (IDTV), AVG’s HDTV programs and SMiT’s conditional access module (CAM), is facility embedded inside the IDTV allowing the subscribers’ interactive watching experience without the need for a set-top box (STB).

--------------I know everything, because I got things done !

NEOTION increases its CONAX CAM range

AUBAGNE — NEOTION confirms its partnership with Conax and increases its CAM portfolio for Pay-TV Operators requiring a CAM solution with a Conax Conditional Access System for TV content protection.

The NEOTION CI Plus CAM portfolio is compliant with the latest CI Plus 1.3 Standard specifications allowing Conax customers to access premium Pay-Tv content with OTT (Over-The-Top) services such as video on demand or catch-up TV, while increasing control over content usage (Unique Pin Code handling or Host Control v2).

The NEOTION Chipset Pairing CAM portfolio embeds the latest Conax STB Kit 6.0 specifications throughout the range: Standard DVB-CI Consumer CAM, CI Plus 1.3 CAM and Professional CAMs.

NEOTION Conax CAM portfolio:

NEOTION CAM range	DVB-CI	CI Plus 1.3	PRO DVB-CI
Non-Pairing CAM	✓	Not applicable	✓
Pairing CAM	✓	✓	✓

The NEOTION Consumer DVB-CI CAM available in Non-Pairing & Pairing versions can descramble up to 2 services simultaneously: live TV and Picture in Picture (PIP) – if supported by the end-user TV set or set-top-box.

The NEOTION Pro DVB-CI CAM Pairing or Non-Pairing is able to descramble up to 2, 4, 6 or more than 7 services simultaneously according to the Operator signalization (video, audio and subtitles PID allocation…) and the Conax Smart Card configuration. The full range is offered in 4 different packages to suit the Operator collective distribution needs based on a large panel of Integrated Receiver Decoders (IRDs), all tested in Neotion labs prior to release.

For more information, please visit NEOTION booth at ANGA COM, Level 10.2 booth #J36.

Geo TV gets reprieve as regulator rules suspension 'illegal'

Pakistan's Geo TV is still on air after the country's regulator disowned a public decision to suspend three of the network's channels by five of its board members.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said the declaration by these members, made during a press conference on 20 May, "had no legal standing" because not enough board members were present.

Reportedly, five private members of the authority met in private and recommended to suspend the licences of Geo News, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment. This meeting was not officially sanctioned, said a PEMRA spokesman after the announcement.

"According to Rule 3(4) of PEMRA Rules 2009, the chairman or as the case may be more than half of the total members can call the meeting, ie out of 12 members at least seven members can call a meeting," the PEMRA statement reads.

Many cable TV operators in Pakistan have already dropped Geo in recent weeks after the influential network aired controversial allegations that the country's spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence directorate (ISI), had attempted to kill one of its reporters Hamid Mir, who was shot in Karachi on 19 April 2014.

In response, the Defence Ministry has accused Geo News of "false, malicious and irresponsible reporting" that is "a continuation of the policy of the Geo Network for maligning state institutions".

PEMRA says it will schedule its next meeting after it receives the viewpoint of the Ministry of Law on the issue.

Tricolor TV secures Lybid satellite capacity

The Russian DTH platform Tricolor TV has acquired satellite capacity on Eutelsat 36B at 36 degrees East formerly used by Ukraine’s Lybid TV.

Quoted by Comnews and Satkurier, Nikolai Orlov, Eutelsat’s representative in Russia, said that the capacity was on two transponders and that on of these had been activated by Tricolor TV a few weeks ago.

He added that Tricolor TV is currently broadcasting only two channels for the platform.

Although Lybid TV, itself a DTH platform serving Ukraine, went off the air and filed for bankruptcy only last month, it is thinking of re-launching a service once the political and economic situation stabilises in country.

However, its prospects would be hampered by the fact that several dozen Ukrainian TV channels, among them some of the most watched, are available FTA via Astra 4A at 4.8 degrees East and Amos 2.3 at 4 degrees West.

Lybid TV was at one time headed by the former director of Tricolor TV and widely believed to have Russian backing. However, the Russian parties in question denied this.

Russian mobile TV: the full picture

Although mobile TV services arrived later in Russia than other parts of Europe, there are now almost 3 million people in the country receiving services.

Furthermore, analysts believe this number could double to nearly 6 million by 2016.

Quoting J’son & Partners Consulting, AKTR and TelecomDaily report that the mobile TV market can now be considered as a separate market to TV in general.

It was worth R6 billion (€126.5 million) in 2012 and could grow to R16 billion by the end of this year.

It is also interesting to note that the rate the value is growing (63%) exceeds subscriber growth. Furthermore, demand is being fuelled by interest in sporting events, the rights to which are acquired by the three major mobile providers, as well as premium services, as seen in Western Europe.

MegaFon currently has around 40,000 active mobile TV users, while VimpelCom has about 300,000 paid customers, with tens of thousands watching only free channels without registering.

VimpelCom also introduced a mobile version of Beeline TV in April 2013 that is currently used by over 150,000 subscribers throughout Russia.

MTS has not released mobile TV subscriber numbers but says that streaming video is currently one of the most popular services it offers

Telefunken partners with Aurora on fibre internet

Telefunken Communications has partnered with Pace-owned Aurora Networks to launch fibre-based fast internet services in Germany.

Telefunken said that residential and commercial customers in select communities in Rhineland-Palatinate will be able to take advantage of the new services.

Telefunken started construction work earlier this year and activated its first residential customers early last month – who can now enjoy internet services with speeds of up to up to 150Mbps.

They will soon also be able to sign-up for telephony, digital TV and interactive on-demand services, while business customers will soon be able to sign-up for advanced capabilities, including data rates up to 250 Mbps.

Aurora Networks is supplying its Unified PON (Passive Optical Network) portfolio for the service.

This includes high-density and outdoor-hardened chassis platforms, the industry-leading Node PON technology, a comprehensive range of ONTs for both residential and business applications, and its AurOS software solution for DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE).

“We focus on providing fiber-optic based high-speed broadband services in Germany in areas unserved and underserved with other terrestrial networks like ADSL and Coax-cable,” said Hardy Heine, Telefunken Communications’ head of marketing and sales

“Our clear target is to become a leading player and preferred partner for communities in our market. Significant for our expansion strategy in Germany are partnerships with other competent key players in the industry, such as Aurora Networks, so that we can provide our customers with a range of cutting-edge services with the highest quality.”

M7 Group to acquire KabelKiosk from Eutelsat

Satellite operator Eutelsat has sold its German direct-to-cable platform KabelKiosk to Luxembourg-based media company M7 Group.

The deal of which financial details have not been disclosed is performed through M7A Group, an affiliate of M7 Group, trading under the name of M7 Deutschland, taking over Eutelsat visAvision, Eutelsat’s Cologne-based German subsidiary which operates the KabelKiosk platform of digital channels and interactive services for cable and IPTV networks in German-speaking Europe.

The transaction includes a long-term agreement for the lease of multiple transponders at Eutelsat’s 9 degrees East orbital position. Eutelsat will also continue to provide uplink services for the KabelKiosk platform from its teleports in Italy and France. Eutelsat and M7 Deutschland have moreover agreed that they will establish a strategic partnership for connected TV, combining broadcast and on-demand video services.

“Having built a strong video distribution platform in Germany, it is now time for a new shareholder to drive KabelKiosk forward as it embarks on a new chapter of expansion,” said Michel de Rosen, chairman and CEO of Eutelsat. “Following the recent launch by M7 of its newHungarian pay-TV venture from our 9° East video neighbourhood, the transaction announced today strengthens our relationship with the M7 group of companies.”

“I take this opportunity, on behalf of all at Eutelsat, to express our appreciation to the KabelKiosk team, led by Martina Rutenbeck and Alessandro Lanfranconi, for the energy and dedication they have applied to building a vibrant business that is well positioned to move ahead with its next phase of growth,” added de Rosen.

Kees Färber, managing director of M7 Deutschland, said: “The acquisition of KabelKiosk is an excellent opportunity for us to enter the German market for TV platform operators. We are confident that KabelKiosk will further grow its existing cable business as well as achieve additional growth through the exciting new opportunities provided by the new IPTV and OTT delivery platforms.”

Martina Rutenbeck, managing director of KabelKiosk, said: “By leveraging M7′s significant expertise in platform operations, we are well positioned to continue to expand our cable activity and, at the same time, to accelerate our diversification into IPTV/OTT service provision.”

KabelKiosk generated approximately €25 million of revenues in Eutelsat’s 2012/13 financial year. The terms of the sale agreement remain confidential. Subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, the transaction is expected to close in July 2014.

M7 Group operates several TV platforms for consumers and business customers. The company’s portfolio comprises CanalDigitaal and Online.nl in the Netherlands, TV Vlaanderen in Flanders, TéléSAT in French-speaking Belgium, AustriaSat and HD Austria in Austria, AustriaSat Magyarország in Hungary and CS Link and Skylink for the Czech and Slovak market. M7 Group’s DTH platforms reach a total of more than 3 million viewers.

Since 2011, M7 Group has also been providing internet and telephony services to its customers in The Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, through its subsidiary Stream Group, M7 delivers enhanced interactive video, OTT and multiscreen services in Europe and Asia through its Solocoo platform.

Azerbaijan to manufacture 15 DVB-T transmitters in 2014

Azerbaijan’s state-owned radio and television broadcasting network, Teleradio, is planning to manufacture 15 Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) transmitters by the end of the year, which will be deployed in rural areas where there is limited or nil DVB-T coverage.

At present, over 90 DVB-T transmitters are operational across the country, according to a report. Around 12 television channels are available under this open package using the MPEG-4 format.

DVB-T is an European-based consortium standard for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television. DVB-T transmits compressed digital audio, digital video and other data in an MPEG transport stream, using coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (COFDM or OFDM) modulation.

Beximo, General Satellite to launch DTH service in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s industrial conglomerate, the Beximco Group, has signed an agreement with Russian STB manufacturer and research company, General Satellite, to procure license and launch DTH services in Bangladesh.

Both the companies intend to leverage and develop pay-TV market in Bangladesh. Apparently, there are no legal DTH operators in the country, currently.

General Satellite forayed into pay-TV market in September 2012, by launching digital terrestrial TV services with Cambodia’s conglomerate, Royal Group Company. General Satellite is also working to launch DTH services on a joint venture in Pakistan; and continues its activities for creating broadcasting projects in other countries.

VC Group launches Wi-Fi-enabled STB in Thailand

Thailand-based technology company, Venture Catalyst Group (VC Group), is launching a new Internet-enabled set-top box (STB) to provide on-demand video streaming services on its Penta TV, a smart TV platform which enables casting from smartphone and tablet to TV

VC Group is apparently targeting five million fixed broadband users in the country and is planning to generate a revenue of THB 300 million (USD 9.2 million) over the next three years, by controlling up to 60% of the all-in-one set-top box market by 2015, according to reports.

Penta TV Box is offered for a price of THB 3,500 (USD 107.6) and it requires a minimum Internet connection speed of 2 Mbps.

Vietnam’s VTV acquires FIFA World Cup rights

Vietnam’s state broadcaster, Vietnam Television (VTV), has acquired broadcasting rights to air FIFA World Cup 2014, held from June 12 to July 13 in Brazil; VTV will telecast 64 matches live along with its pre and post-match analytical shows on VTV3 and VTV6 channels.

The company is planning to share its broadcast copyright with local television, radio stations and pay TV providers with those who have registered and gained permits from the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA).

“After enlarged negotiations that lasted scarcely a year, we have finally sealed an agreement to move a 2014 Football World Cup to Vietnam,” said Nguyen Ha Nam, Head – Editorial Secretariat at VTV.

Global digital TV conversion almost complete by 2020

Based on forecasts for 138 countries, the number of digital TV homes will increase by more than 1 billion between 2010 and 2020 to 1.68 billion – or up by 185%, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. The Digital TV World Household Forecasts report estimates that the digital TV total will climb by 131 million in 2014 alone.

Global digital TV penetration will reach 97.9% of television households by end-2020, up from 40.5% at end-2010 and 67.7% at end-2014. By 2020, 94 countries will be completely digital compared with only 12 at end-2013. About 124 countries will have more than 90% digital penetration by 2020.

Source: Digital TV Research

Of the 762 million digital TV homes to be added between 2013 and 2020, 258 million will come from digital cable. Primary FTA DTT [homes taking DTT but not subscribing to cable, DTH or IPTV] will acquire an additional 292 million. Pay IPTV will more than double to 191 million, with pay DTH up by 79 million.

Digital cable will become the most popular TV platform in 2014, accounting for 33.6% of the world’s TV households in 2020 (up from 20.9% in 2013). Digital cable TV penetration will exceed 50% of TV households in nine countries by 2020, with Belgium leading at 64.9%.

Pay IPTV penetration will climb to 11.1% by 2020, up from only 2.5% at end-2010. IPTV penetration will exceed 20% of TV households in 20 countries in 2020; led by Iceland (68.2%).

Pay digital satellite TV penetration will be 15.8% by 2020. Penetration will exceed 30% of TV households in 19 countries, including South Africa (58.5%).

About 26.4% of homes will be primary FTA DTT at end-2020, up from 10.5% in 2013. By 2020, FTA DTT penetration will exceed more than half the TV households in 41 countries. The Sub-Saharan Africa countries will be especially prominent, led by Mali at 82.4% and Niger at 82.0%. However, FTA DTT penetration will fall in 24 countries between 2013 and 2020 as homes are lured away to other platforms.

The number of digital TV households in Asia Pacific will more than double between 2013 and 2020, with 88 million added in 2014 alone. The region will supply 501 million (66%) of the 762 million digital TV household additions between 2013 and 2020. Sub-Saharan Africa will more than triple its base over the same period.

China became the largest digital TV household nation in 2010, and will boast 460 million digital homes by end-2020 – or 27% of the global total – up by 225 million on 2013. India will add 118 million digital TV homes between 2013 and 2020. India will overtake the US to take second place in 2015.

Brazil will take fourth place and Russia fifth by 2020 – both of which will more than double their digital TV totals. Watch out for Indonesia, which will leap to seventh place, by adding 42 million digital TV households.

More: Digital TV World Household Forecasts

ER Telecom launches advanced STB

The Russian cable operator ER Telecom has launched a new advanced set-top box in 55 cities throughout the country.

According to the company, it allows viewers to watch content on their ioS and Android mobile devices and for up to three days after it is broadcast.

It also gives access to such services as VOD. Customers who purchase the new box and connect to Dom.ru TV will be offered the Viasat Premium HD package, consisting of six premium HD channels, for three months for only R1 (€0.02) a month.

The new set-top box was developed by Humax, with Universal Electronics Universal Electronics manufacturing the remotes and the UK’s V2 Studios its unique exterior design.

Russia’s JetStyle created the user interface and NagraVision supplied content protection, with SOTAL Interactive being the general contractor.

Thai’s CTH eyes capital raise of THB 3 bn from EPL

Cable Thai Holdings (CTH), a Multi-System Operator in Thailand, is targeting to increase its registered capital to THB 3 billion (USD 92.7 million) from THB 800 million (USD 24.7 million) in its first year of English Premier League (EPL) rights management.

The company’s two shareholders namely Wichal Thongtang, a lawyer-turned-businessman, and Yingluck Vacharaphol, heiress of Thai Rath newspaper family, have assured to invest an additional THB 2.2 billion (USD 68 million). Wichit Aurareevorakul, president of CTH shareholder Charoen Cable TV 999 Co, a major lender to the company, has also confirmed to approve over THB 11 billion (USD 340 million) in the second phase of its bank loan, provided CTH raises capital.

The MSO lost THB 3.5 billion (USD 108 million) last year after securing EPL broadcast rights for 2013 for 16 seasons for THB 10 billion (USD 309 million). However, CTH is optimistic of attracting one million subscribers by year-end. CTH now has over 400,000 subscribers.

CTH secured EPL rights in late 2012 but cable TV service installation delayed due to the incompletion of its fibre-optic network. Apart from EPL, CTH has invested THB 2 billion (USD 61 million) for content from Fox International and its fibre-optic network would cost around THB 20 billion (USD 618 million).