For the first time, delegates from both the CommunicAsia2013 Summit and BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference will be participating in a two-part visionary address on 19 June 2013. The first is the Governmental Visionary Address by the Minister for Technology, State Government of Victoria, Australia, The Hon. Gordon Rich-Phillips. This is followed by the Industry Visionary Address by Mr. Karim Temsamani, Head of Asia Pacific, Google.

Telesat Holdings Inc. reported on Thursday a US$ 206 million (Ca$ 210) decrease in profitability, which the company blamed on a large one-time insurance claim it received last year.

EchoStar Corporation today reported total revenue of US$ 786 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2012 compared to US$ 834 million for the corresponding period in 2011. Total revenue for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2012 is US$ 3,122 million compared to US$ 2,761 million for the corresponding period in 2011.

As broadband subscribers approach 635 million globally, the latest figures published by the Broadband Forum and prepared by broadband industry analysts Point Topic reveal that hybrid fiber access (FTTx) has experienced the highest market gain over the past year. Of the 54 million new broadband subscribers added in the year leading up to 3Q 2012, 26 million are being served with fiber (48%). Overall, fiber deployments have now passed cable to account for 19.7% of the total broadband market.

SES  announced today that satellite continued to increase its household reach in Germany last year, with 18.07 million households receiving their TV directly from satellite at the end of 2012. This increase of 524,000 households from year-end 2011 (plus 3 percent) is despite the switch-off of the analogue satellite signal in April 2012 and is driven by continued strong consumer demand for the large programme offer and quality of satellite TV, especially in High Definition (HD).

Bob Zitter, EVP and CTO of Home Box Office (HBO) and Daniel Danker, General Manager of On Demand at the BBC, leading industry players in the OTT space, are set to deliver keynotes at next month’s TV Connect in London. The conference and exhibition, now in its ninth year, has evolved to reflect the changing nature of the converging connected entertainment ecosystem, which increasingly looks towards services, content and user-experience, rather than just technology, to drive the market.

Following the unsuccessful launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft on February 1, 2013, majority owner RSC Energia affirmed last week its unfailing commitment to the long-term success of the Sea Launch program. But despite the assurances from the Sea Launch partners, the company faces grim prospects. In addition to its difficulty to now secure launch contracts necessary for its survival, the company also faces a big lawsuit that could dampen prospects of Sea Launch’s emergence from bankruptcy.

Orbital Sciences Corporation today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2012 financial results.  Fourth quarter 2012 revenues were $354.6 million, up 6% compared to $335.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.  Fourth quarter 2012 operating income was $31.3 million, an increase of 41% compared to $22.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.  

DirecTV reported on Thursday an increase in fourth quarter net income by 31% to $942 million mainly due to addition of  761,000 new subscribers mostly from Latin America.

The satellite TV giant said fourth quarter 2012 revenues rose by 8% to $8.05 billion, operating profit before depreciation and amortization increased by 8% to $1.92 billion, and operating profit rose by 7% to $1.30 billion compared to last year's fourth quarter.

Liberty Global, Inc. said on Thursday it posted a loss of $331 million, or $1.27 per share, on the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to a profit of $322.8 million, or $1.21 per share, during the same period last year.

The international cable TV and Internet provider controlled by media mogul John Malone, however, posted a full-year 2012 net profit of $323 million, or $1.21 per share, on revenues of $10.3 billion, a 6 percent increase from 2011.