ABS and Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) announced today that they have signed a strategic commercial agreement for a multi-transponder lifetime Ku-band payload on the new ABS-3A satellite planned for launch in late 2014/ early2015.  This Ku-band payload deal will provide ARABSAT with additional growth opportunities to serve their customers over the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces it completed the acquisition of Orbital Technologies Corporation (Orbitec), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company will continue its operations in Madison, while supporting SNC’s Space Systems in Louisville, Colorado.

According to Euroconsult's newly released executive report, Government Space Programs: Strategic Outlook, Benchmarks & Forecasts, government funding for space is expected to progressively recover as public finances regain their comfort zone and programs enter a new growth cycle. Following a critical period of cyclical low funding which concluded in a budget decrease in 2013 worldwide, moderate growth is expected moving forward which should bring world spending to $82 billion by 2023.

Avascent has acquired the satellite, space, and telecommunications businesses of Futron Corporation, a leading provider of market analytics and consulting services to corporate and government clients around the world. 
 
With the integration of the Futron space and telecommunications team, Avascent will further deepen its expertise in the sector, according to the company.. Avascent already serves the full spectrum of space and satellite communications players, from NASA to launch providers, satellite manufacturers, satcom operators, and service providers. 

European satellite operators today underlined the crucial role that satellite plays in the roll-out of future digital infrastructures. The European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), represented by its Secretary General, Aarti Holla, and by the CEO of SES, Karim Michel Sabbagh, participated in a high-level meeting between leading EU political and business representatives in Venice.

CASBAA, the Asian association of the pay-TV industry, lauded Indian police action in busting up a ring of streaming-TV pirates and arresting four conspirators in Hyderabad a week ago.  The activities of the ring were aimed at diverting the signals of Indian pay-TV broadcasters onto the internet, and retransmitting their signals globally to hundreds of thousands of viewers who paid for a “Jadoo TV” streaming media box.  

KVH Industries, Inc., today announced that it has acquired Videotel, a producer of high-quality training films and e-Learning services for the commercial maritime industry.  Servicing over 11,000 vessels, Videotel is a market leader in the provision of maritime training services, offering video, animation, e-Learning computer-based training (CBT), and interactive distance learning courses.

CASBAA’s highly anticipated annual multichannel TV industry convention will take place from October 27-30, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. A popular stop on the Asia Pacific broadcasting calendar, this year’s event will explore the theme “Beyond the Box.”

Reflecting the evolution of the television industry, this year’s CASBAA Convention theme looks at what the future holds for broadcasting – while never losing sight of the core business of linear TV.

Spanish satellite telecommunications operator HISPASAT has chosen Space Systems/Loral (SSL) to buil Hispasat 1F satellite, to be located at orbital position 30º West.  Hispasat 1F will serve as a replacement for the Hispasat 1D and will give the group additional Ku band capacity, in the Andean region and in Brazil.

XCOR Aerospace announced today that it has closed the acquisition of all operational subsidiaries of Space Expedition Corporation, the previously independent Dutch company also known as SXC.

SXC served as XCOR's general sales agent for XCOR Lynx flight sales and as their lead wet lease customer. The new sales entity, XCOR Space Expeditions, will continue to focus on sales, commercial partnerships and participant (customer) training on a global level, and will serve as an open sales channel available for all future XCOR Lynx wet lease clients.