Last month, the FCC voted unanimously to move forward with proposed rules that would underpin the auction of at least 100 MHz, and potentially up to 180 MHz, of Upper C-band spectrum for 5G and 6G services. The direction of travel is clear: an ongoing push to maximize spectrum availability for mobile connectivity.

While regulators and stakeholders weigh up the implications, broadcasters must act faster than many others to protect their interests and secure reliable distribution pathways, free from the uncertainties of satellite.

The Broadcast Perspective
This latest move intensifies the urgency for broadcasters to secure viable alternatives to satellite as the remaining C-band spectrum is repurposed. Many networks and station groups have already decided to migrate all or part of their distribution to an alternative model using broadcast-grade IP video distribution technology—known as "Transport Stream over Internet Protocol" (IP-TS). IP-TS distribution matches the reliability of satellite with far more flexibility and much-needed cost- and availability-certainty, which will become harder for satellite-reliant broadcasters to achieve as auctions approach.

Some broadcasters, particularly those using multiple transponders, are still relying on long-term satellite operator partnerships or investigating Ku-band capacity – which often experiences unpredictable results due to rain fade issues. Others hesitate due to perceived complexity or assumptions that MVPDs are not IP-ready. Those assumptions are outdated. Nearly all major MVPDs today support IP distribution, with the necessary gateways and operational readiness in place.

The bottom line: broadcasters are asking critical questions. What happens if our transponder contract isn’t renewed? What if the cost of distribution becomes untenable? The answers increasingly point to hybrid or full IP strategies that offer greater control and cost predictability.

IP Distribution is Here, And It's Changing
Market confidence in IP-TS distribution is growing. Just this year, MovieSphereGold, Tennis Channel and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) joined TelevisaUnivision and MSG Networks in moving to a managed IP distribution model. At LTN alone, we’ve seen a 45% annual growth in channel count over the past nine years, now delivering nearly 8,000 channels annually across every US TV market. This has been driven by satellite to IP migrations completed for nearly 2,000 broadcasters, MVPD/vMVPD head-ends, and content owner sites.

The overwhelming growth in satellite-grade IP distribution will come not from retrofitted public cloud or protocol-only IP solutions. It will be driven by managed, purpose-built networks with built-in redundancy, monitoring, and guaranteed SLAs. In live video distribution, reliability cannot be a theoretical metric.

The broadcasters we speak with that want to move from satellite need real confidence. That means contractual assurances that the new is even more reliable than the old. Too often, vendors refer to terms like ‘five nines’ with little to prove it. Many general-purpose IP transport solutions work well as a ‘best effort’ offering, but achieving always-on reliability in mission-critical live scenarios requires managed network technology.

Migration Isn’t 'All-or-Nothing'
Our experience shows us it’s becoming faster and easier to migrate from satellite to IP. The infrastructure is already in place. Broadcasters are increasingly starting with hybrid approaches—dual-illuminating IP and satellite feeds, or moving only a subset of channels initially. MVPDs are now onboarding IP feeds in hours via high-capacity gateways. This shortens the time-to-market dramatically and opens the door to phased adoption without disruption.

And for satellite operators, partnering with IP providers can offer effective ways to reduce transponder loads and provide more flexible, event-specific delivery models. In hybrid scenarios, satellite may carry some feeds while IP enables revenue-generating regionalization opportunities, HDR variants, or international versions.

What Broadcasters Are Asking For
The regulatory imperative is real, but so are the business incentives. Folks are kickstarting IP migrations already, not because they need to, but because it makes commercial sense. IP opens up greater opportunities to deliver customized feeds, support advanced formats like 1080p60 HDR, and simplify syndication across both legacy and digital endpoints.

Many broadcasters are now asking vendors to support in delivering localized versions of the same core feed, with dynamic graphics, custom ad insertion, and multiple languages. Meanwhile, they’re pushing for deeper visibility and monitoring as distribution chains become more complex, spanning traditional and digital platforms, B2B syndication and content sharing models. These are the types of tasks and modern requirements that a legacy satellite model simply fails to deliver.

Although the uncertainties of spectrum repackaging are causing initial anxieties for content providers, I notice a growing willingness to accept the new normal and move forward with transition plans. My message is clear: weigh up your alternatives early, talk to the right partners, ask them to move fast. Demand SLA guarantees. Demand more capabilities, flexibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness than what you already have.

COLUMBIA, Md.— Video infrastructure provider LTN has promoted Bryan McGuirk to chief revenue officer, tasked with driving the company’s global growth and strengthening its leadership in IP-based distribution as the industry shifts away from satellite.

A 30-year veteran of the telecom, satellite and media sectors, McGuirk has held executive roles at such companies as LTN, SES S.A., Globecom, NBCUniversal and Turner Broadcasting System. He is the former chief commercial officer at Stingray Advertising and had been president of media and enterprise services at SES.

“Bryan’s appointment comes at a critical inflection point for our industry,” LTN Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Malik Khan said. “As regulatory changes reshape the future of satellite capacity and content owners seek smarter, more scalable and agile ways to reach audiences, LTN’s purpose-built IP network has become the clear choice for future-focused broadcasters and sports organizations. Bryan’s expertise, strategic insight and deep industry relationships make him an ideal leader to drive our next phase of innovation and expansion.”

McGuirk’s new role comes as North American broadcasters are facing increased urgency to shift away from satellite delivery, LTN said. Federal auctions to repurpose at least 100 Megahertz of upper C-Band satellite spectrum, building on 2021 and 2023 auctions that reallocated 60% of available C-Band spectrum, will place new constraints on satellite-based video distribution, according to the company, which means media companies will need to act quickly to avoid disruptions to their ability to offer live content.

“The broadcasting industry is at a turning point,” McGuirk said. “Regulatory shifts are accelerating the reduction of satellite capacity, and industry players are looking for solutions. LTN has already built the infrastructure, interoperable technology and managed services to help the world’s leading broadcasters and sports leagues succeed in this new era. I’m excited to be fueling LTN’s next phase of growth in this fast-moving, IP-first future.”

McGuirk holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Union College and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, LTN said. He has served on the boards of the Society of Satellite Professionals International, SES Americom and the T. Howard Foundation.

McLEAN, Va.—Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, became one of the first foreign satellite operators to receive approval from the Indian government to provide extensive satellite coverage directly to India’s broadcast media companies, a significant regulatory achievement the company says puts Intelsat on an accelerated path to offering new services and further India investment.

The company has secured authorization for four geostationary (GEO) satellites providing C-band coverage over India: the IS-17, IS-20, IS-36 and IS-39 satellites. The approved satellite fleet will primarily serve India’s dynamic broadcast media industry, enabling enhanced content delivery and distribution capabilities across the subcontinent and from India to other regions of the world.

“This approval represents a significant step forward in Intelsat’s contribution to India’s space commerce sector, a source of great national pride,” Gaurav Kharod, regional vice president for Asia Pacific at Intelsat, said. “Our extensive satellite network with four satellites covering the region will provide Indian broadcasters with reliable, high-quality connectivity solutions that meet their evolving needs. This authorization enables us to better serve our customers and contribute to India’s growing media landscape.”

Following the authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Intelsat won new business from three of India’s largest media companies. This new and expanded service will see Intelsat deliver its full portfolio of media content to viewers in India.

PARIS—Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) and Globecast have extended an 18-year relationship with the launch of a new, comprehensive global distribution solution of the broadcaster’s suite of channels on multiple delivery platforms.

The pair began working together in 2006 with the launch of Al Jazeera English. Globecast now provides AJMN with a comprehensive suite of managed distribution services, including include global satellite distribution on five continents, along with terrestrial distribution to affiliates and a back-up cloud OTT platform for its suite of channels, Globecast said.

"Our partnership with Al Jazeera Media Network has been a journey of mutual growth and learning,” said Giorgio Giacomini, managing director for MENA at Globecast. “Their unrivalled technical expertise has consistently pushed us to innovate and excel, and we've learned as much from them as we've given. This has been instrumental in developing this next-generation solution."

Designed to maximize quality of service backed by reliable, round-the-clock supervision and support using a dedicated and resilient infrastructure with seamless switching capabilities, the setup will achieve a high level of availability and control that enables Globecast to manage and make any requested change in line with the priorities of AJMN, it said.

 "Working closely with Globecast allows us to deliver our content with utmost confidence, knowing that their expertise and technical prowess will maintain the broadcast quality our audience expects,” said Ahmed Al-Fahad, executive director of technology and network operations at Al Jazeera Media Network. "Their dedicated infrastructure, along with the seamless distribution and management services, is now vital for our continued success on a global scale.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

PARIS—Ateme, a global provider of video compression, delivery, and streaming solutions, says longtime partner SES is integrating its technology to improve and secure SES’s distribution network for broadcasting of sports and events content worldwide.

SES will utilize Ateme’s TITAN encoders, multiplexers, and decoders for distribution of UHD content via its ground and satellite infrastructure. Additionally, Ateme is integrating premium frame rate conversion with full motion compensation and supporting High Dynamic Range (HDR) in UHD for an enriched visual experience.

The combined solutions also utilize the BISS-CA encryption standard and receivers, integrating HDR conversion with HDR LUT (Look-Up-Table) conversion to facilitate the adoption of HDR technology. This will ensure reception of the highest quality video content with optimal picture clarity, smooth motion, and enhanced security measures, Ateme says.

"We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with Ateme to enhance our delivery workflow for major sporting events," said Michele Gosetti, Head of Media Sales France, Spain, Italy and Sports & Events at SES. "This partnership underscores our commitment to providing broadcasters with advanced, secure and reliable content distribution solutions and ensuring that viewers around the globe have access to an unparalleled viewing experience."

"We are excited to strengthen our partnership with SES to deliver premium sports content to audiences worldwide," said Julien Mandel, Sr Solution Marketing Director at Ateme. "Our collaboration reinforces our commitment to innovating with the BISS-CA encryption standard. We are dedicated to proposing evolutions for future sporting events, ensuring enhanced security and performance for content distribution."

LUXEMBOURG—Despite a decline of 6 million households in North America, satellite operator SES worldwide saw an increase to 336 million homes around the globe receiving TV satellite channels it delivers, which leads the industry when measured by number of homes reached, according to new market research from the company. 

SES now delivers 8,400 TV channels, of which more than 3,100 are HD or UHD, another “record-breaking number,” the company said.

The research, SES’s annual Satellite Monitor accounting of the reach of satellite TV, shows growth in Africa, APAC and Latin America, up 9.1 million, 1 million and 1.7 million, respectively, largely responsible for driving the overall increase. The regions have seen growth in direct-to-home satellite platforms, and. IPTV also has continued to gain traction, it said.

In Europe, via its 19.2 degrees East satellite, SES is reaching 117 million homes, delivering content to half of all TV homes in the market with satellite, cable or IPTV. However, the company saw a decline of 6 million in North America as audiences have adopted streaming alternatives, the research revealed.

In Africa, SES has continued to expand its satellite reach due to the growth of Ethiopia’s free-to-air offering, which includes Ethiosat, the country’s first dedicated TV platform. SES also has led an intensive program to get TV viewers in Ethiopia to repoint their dishes at the satellite positioned at 57 degrees East for the past two years, advancing the company to a position of prominence among satellite TV homes in Ethiopia, it said.

The new research offers a breakdown of TV households SES serves by market. It revealed:

Market              TV Homes
Europe               170 million

North America    59 million

Africa                    46 million

Latin America     44 million

Asia Pacific          34 million

Middle East         13 million

 The research also found surging uptake of television about multiple African markets with TV penetration growing 27% since 2017. The company attributes the growth to increasing popularity of satellite service for TV reception. 

In Europe, the research noted, free-to-air satellite TV has remained strong over the past five years, illustrating the value proposition of satellite TV and its status as a natural complement to OTT service. IPTV uptake also continues to grow around Europe while terrestrial TV has declined.

SES has conducted its Satellite Monitor market research for the past 28 years.

More information is available on the company’s website.

NEW YORK—The last two decades have seen an enormous proliferation of video content – and sports and other live events have been no exception, as a broader range of content has found its own audiences. Yet, at the same time, the value of each piece of programming has fallen and broadcasters must now find ways to do more with less. The upshot is it is harder for rights holders to justify the inherent cost of the “live-via-satellite” link that has been a mainstay of many live productions for decades.

Internet-based delivery models are now coming to the fore as a compelling alternative to the commercial communications satellite for broadcasters and other rights holders. As a result, satellite’s role in the TV ecosystem is waning, with close to six decades as the bedrock of live video delivery to and from almost anywhere in the world being eroded by IP-centric approaches.

Furthermore, the rise of multiplatform, over-the-top (OTT) streaming as a way of reaching wider, new and niche audiences has also impacted the use of satellite. The rise of streaming giants and specialist platforms has changed the game and forced everyone in the industry, including traditional linear broadcasters, to increase overall distribution capacity using IP-based methods that employ private fiber networks and the public internet to deliver live feeds.

These trends are forcing many sports and news broadcasters to evaluate the role internet-based delivery models will play in the future of their operations. Critical factors most need to look at include the balance between capital expenditure (CAPEX)  and operational costs and, increasingly, the potential that IP models offer over satellite for future-proofing their businesses.

The hybrid model 

IP is not a one-size-fits-all approach but offers many options for content contribution and distribution – from the public internet and dedicated leased lines to hybrid set-ups that mix and match different transports to balance cost per GB, capacity, latency and availability. 

In weighing up the relative strengths and weaknesses of IP, satellite and hybrid solutions, many broadcasters see shifting away from a satellite-driven approach as necessary for the future due to the IP-based model’s lower cost per circuit and flexibility to rapidly scale up and down. Many like the fact IP solutions offer inherent redundancy and the raw bandwidth to support 4K HDR broadcasts. Fiber options that can be used with IP, such as dynamic synchronous transfer mode (DTM), offer their own advantages.

DTM provides a highly scalable transport and switching layer between IP and fiber for next-generation networks and can deliver a direct point-to-point connection for UHD native video – at lower latency and better predictability than the open internet.

Nonetheless, satellite still can play an important role in live content delivery, such as distribution across a wide geographic area with numerous destinations – for which it can be a simpler and more cost-effective route to take. And even then, it can be integrated with IP-based elements for further distribution on the ground. 

The evolution of the TV satellite

The geosynchronous satellite traditionally used to carry TV signals requires significant capital investment and has an operational lifespan of about 15 years. Even though the average per Gb cost of satellite bandwidth has dropped significantly over the last decade, this limited operational window places a cap on how low prices can fall. 

Satellite can also be more inherently complex for broadcasters than straight IP-based delivery, adding additional steps and costs to the production process. IP-centric workflows using satellite require steps to encode, transmit and then decode content. Plus, booking satellite circuits is a pre-planned process involving a rigid schedule. While buying “always-on” satellite capacity may be an option for larger CNN-type organizations, smaller, more cost-sensitive operations face inherent technical and CAPEX barriers. 

However, satellite is evolving, and the next generation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are launching at a rapid rate. These offer low latency and use IP transport, making them potentially more efficient for broadcasters with end-to-end IP workflows. 

The growing appeal of IP

The shift to IP is built upon the vast amount of fiberoptic cable laid over the last decade, and when paired with 5G technology, the combined infrastructure capacity can exceed the equivalent satellite footprint. In practice, IP can ensure that a video stream – from a football stadium to a production center on the other side of the continent, for instance – will deliver a consistent circuit and low latency for a significantly lower cost than the equivalent satellite feed. 

Furthermore, building workflows centered entirely on IP-based video feeds creates new opportunities for broadcasters and streaming services to meet the expectations of multidevice consumers. IP workflows make dynamic content creation much easier to manage while unlocking the potential of remote and cloud-based production to support more flexible and efficient content creation for multiple platforms. 

Satellites, on the other hand, are not always reliable. Heavy snow or rain can affect transmitters, causing signal degradation. What’s more, the unpredictable nature of live event coverage can be a factor. For example, a delay in a press conference or game kick-off can mean that the allocated circuit may not be available when needed – so often excess, potentially wasted capacity needs to be booked.  

SAT to IP migration in the real world

Regional Sports Networks offer a great example of how shifting to IP-based content distribution from satellite strongly appeals to broadcasters seeking to balance scalability and costs as they look to the future. For instance, New England Sports Network (NESN) worked with The Switch over the last two years to replace its existing satellite distribution network with a next-generation hybrid private fiber and internet distribution model. 

NESN’s migration to a terrestrial distribution platform enabled it to build direct private fiber into its affiliates in areas that the broadcaster identified as its most important markets. This roll-out resulted in a significant improvement in signal quality delivered to the affiliates and a corresponding reduction in monthly costs to the client for the distribution network.

Grounded in the future

Satellite-based communication for TV will not vanish overnight. But the shift to IP will accelerate as global telecoms giants push up costs as they purchase more satellite spectrum for 5G, and broadcasters look for the scalability, redundancy and other pluses that IP-based delivery and workflows offer. 

With high-profile live events such as the Olympics and the World Cup on the horizon and sports leagues seeking to increase fan engagement, rights holders are looking for ways to spend less but still do more. For many, it makes more sense than ever to shift from satellite to an IP-centric approach, which offers a quick-to-deploy “on-demand” service and billing model.

Robert Szabo-Rowe is the senior vice president of engineering and product management at The Switch

EASTLEIGH, U.K., AMSTERDAM, PARIS, DENVER, SINGAPORE, SAO PAULO & SYDNEY—Ateme is partnering with SES, Videolabs and IERT for the first end-to-end UHD satellite broadcast transmission using the Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard, the company announced.

The test transmission is using an SES satellite positioned at the 28.2-degree East orbital position and is relaying a 4K UHD  video stream using VVC.

Source UHD video is being encoded with VVC and encapsulated in MPEG-TS using Ateme’s Titan Live video processing platform. The streams are modulated using DVB-T2 and broadcast via an Astra 2E transponder that covers all of Europe, the company said. 

On the receive side, the signal is being demodulated by a DVB-to-IP gateway. It is then forwarded to the VLC player that displays the video in real-time using the OpenVVC decoder from IETR.

The test demonstrates key benefits of VVC, including optimized bandwidth efficiency, increased audience reach and improved QoE (quality of experience). VVC, a versatile new standard that covers a variety of applications—from broadcast to OTT delivery, improves on High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) compression efficiency by 50%, said Ateme.

The Joint Video Experts Team developed VVC. The team consists of experts from ISO/IEC MPEG and ITU-T VCEG.

More information is available on the Ateme website.

Globecast has announced that Cartoon Network has extended its longstanding partnership with Globecast for the launch of two innovative, market-leading pop-up kids channels.

Following discussions earlier this year with Globecast that explored the possibilities, Cartoon Network launched pop-up channels in Singapore with Singtel and in the Philippines with Cignal. In Singapore, the channel, called “Pop & Watch”, was available free on Singtel’s IPTV service, as well as its Singtel TV GO and Singtel CAST mobile apps from June 12-21. Cartoon Network Classics was available as a pay-per-view channel on Cignal TV from May 3 to June 2.

James Crossland, Senior Vice President of International Operations for Turner, a WarnerMedia company, said, “These pop-up channels were something new for us in Asia and we were really pleased with the results. We’re always looking to offer our broadcast partners innovative new platforms to showcase our content and it’s important to everyone that the technical services are seamless and hitch-free.”

Globecast augmented its existing media management, playout and content archiving agreement with WarnerMedia to provide technical services for the channels. WarnerMedia in London delivered content to Globecast’s ingest and playout system in Singapore. The content was then supplied as transmission-ready files and these were automatically ingested. Much of the content was already held in archive by Globecast and was restored to playout as required by the daily playlist, and any missing material was highlighted well in advance of playout. Distribution to the affiliates was handled using existing WarnerMedia satellite capacity.

Graphics were also added to the channels. Comprehensive testing was carried out before launch, including full trial runs, with Globecast providing complete pop-up channel monitoring, 24/7, while on air.

Shakunt Malhotra, VP of Operations, Globecast Asia, said, “This was an exciting project and we expect to see more of these requirements on a global basis. Cartoon Network leveraged our expertise to manage content and our optimized workflow, which was ideal for for quick launch and smooth operation. This project was an excellent way to maximize content use and therefore ROI, extending brand reach.”

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Pay TV operators serving the Middle East and Asia-Pacific will soon have a new satellite in place to reach subscribers with Monday’s successful early morning launch of SES’ SES-12 satellite aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket.

“More content. More immersive viewing experience. Blazing internet speeds. Reliable cell coverage. All of these dynamic customer requirements can now be met with the successful launch of SES-12, which will provide incremental high performance capacity and offer greater reliability and flexibility to our customers,” said Martin Halliwell, CTO at SES.

[Read: SES, INDEMAND Partner On Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship In 4K On PPV]

The new satellite, designed with six wide beams and 72 high throughput user spot beams, will join SES-8 at 95 degrees east. It will be used for video, fixed data, mobility and government applications. Equipped with a Digital Transparent Processor to improve payload flexibility, SES-12 is one of the largest geostationary satellites SES has ever launched, the company said.

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, SES-12 will replace the SES NSS-6 satellite, joining SES’ network of seven geostationary satellites and 16 MEO satellites across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Along with SES-8, the new satellite will reach 18 million TV homes once in place and operational.

[Want more information like this? Subscribe to our newsletter and get it delivered right to your inbox.]

VAN NUYS, CALIF.—PSSI Global Services is teeing off with the Golf Channel, as the two companies have announced a new multiyear partnership. Under the agreement, PSSI will be the primary provider of satellite transmission services for Golf Channel news, live tournaments and entertainment programming across North America.

Among the services that PSSI will provide is the use of more than 20 C-Band satellite trucks and flyaway systems for covering tournaments, as well as encoding and transmitting live news, events and press conferences. PSSI and the Golf Channel will also collaborate on the development of new technologies to optimize transmission methods.

PSSI is a provider of mobile satellite transmission technology located in Van Nuys, Calif.