Photo by sir_watkynThe Government of India is seeking to acquire a technological solution that will allow it to block direct downlinking of satellite television channels distributed through direct-to-home (DTH) services and cable operators. However, this will involve compliance from a slew of companies including DTH operators or multi-system operators.

The move is being considered to stop illegal broadcast of some foreign television channels in the country, distributed largely by local cable operators. According to senior government officials, the step was contemplated in the aftermath of riots that broke out in Jammu and Kashmir following reports about the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in the US. The news was aired by an Iranian television channel that was downlinked by local cable operators in the valley, leading to protests in the valley, resulting in several deaths.

Photo by marcoPapale.comIreland’s answer to Freeview – called Saorview – launched across Ireland on October 31.

The first-stage service reaches 90 per cent of the population and carries RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TG4 and RTÉ News Now. There are also several radio channels, and TV3 is expected to join when it haas overcome some commercial issues.

A second stage will launch in Spring 2011 with high definition sport, drama and film; news services; interactive services and dedicated children’s services, and will reach 98 per cent of the population by 2012.

RTE is also planning to launch Saorsat – a free-to-air satellite TV service exclusive to Ireland – in Spring 2011 to reach the final two per cent.

This can’t be achieved with the Astra 2 group at 28 degrees East – used by Freesat and Sky – because it also covers the UK and parts of Europe.

But is might be done with Eutelsat Ka-Sat, a new satellite launching later this year which uses highly focussed beams in higher Ka-band frequencies.

The Irish government is already planning to use Ka-Sat to supply broadband to remote communities, so it would be ideal for getting TV to the same locations.

However, no deal for TV has yet been announced between RTE and Eutelsat.

Like all EU countries, Ireland must switch off its analogue TV transmitter network by the end of 2012.

Photo by Andy Field (Hubmedia)The new channel will be available on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

The new channel – a simulcast of BBC One – will free up the existing BBC HD channel to showcase more programming from BBC Two, Three and Four.

Viewers may need to retune their satellite receivers to pick up the new channel, as reported here.

The BBC’s internet blog features a piece on the extensive technical preparations for the channel launch.

Orange TV, part of the huge France Telecom organisation, has announced that its total European digital TV subscriber base has grown by a massive fifty three per cent to 3.217 million during the past year.

In France, which is of course the key area for France Telecom, Orange TV performed well, showing an incredible forty seven per cent increase in subscribers as at the end of December 2009.

However the French company includes online TV with its satellite subscriber base, which probably has more to do with providing advertisers with full viewer figures rather than any attempt to massage the amount of subscribers that the company has on its books at any one time.

Figures are up generally for Orange TV, with sport and film service users standing at 633,000 compared with 130,000 in 2008, while on demand services increased by 67 per cent to 8.5 million.

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