Satellite News Room

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Ericsson tops Arris' offer for Tandberg TV

Swedish telecommunications group Ericsson has offered SEK 9.8bn (£707m; $1.4bn) to acquire video compression specialist Tandberg Television. The cash offer for Tandberg Television's shares represents an 18.2% premium to Tandberg's 90-day average share price, and a premium of 10.4% to the proposed $1.2bn cash and shares offer made for Tandberg last month by US-headquartered broadband network equipment maker Arris.

Ericsson, which has already acquired 11.7% of Tandberg Television's Norwegian-listed shares, said the acquisition was a "significant step" towards creating a world leadership position in internet protocol television (IPTV), and would expand Ericsson's customer base to include cable and satellite operators as well as broadcasters.

Ericsson CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg said: "IPTV for cable and telecom operators is the biggest networked multimedia opportunity going forward. Ericsson and Tandberg Television is a strong combination with a unique ability to offer complete IPTV solutions. Tandberg's leading TV technology and customer base and our global presence and strong position in IP networks and IMS, will create a leading player in networked media solutions for telecom, cable and satellite operators as well as media companies."

Tandberg Television has a global reputation for its video head-end, encoding and compression technology which is key to IPTV rollouts. Ericsson said Tandberg was "particularly strong in MPEG-4 which is critical for cost effective delivery of high-definition TV". Tandberg's board will now review the offer and issue a recommendation.

Telecommunications groups around the world are offering video services, bundled with high-speed internet access and voice telephony, in a bid to retain customers. Ericsson's most recent end-to-end IPTV solution is being provided to Vodafone Iceland.

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Kabel BW Selects NDS



· Leading German cable operator Kabel BW chooses worldleading conditional access technology from NDS

· NDS’ VideoGuard to replace incumbent CA technology

· Smart card swapout to be completed by Q3 2007

· Represents the first deployment of NDS VideoGuard in Germany

NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital payTV, today announced that Kabel BW, the leading cable operator in the Southwestern German state of BadenWürttemberg, has chosen to protect its digital cable offering with VideoGuard ® , NDS’ worldleading conditional access solution which secures service revenues of more than $32 billion worldwide. The decision to switch its conditional access system to NDS VideoGuard is a cornerstone of Kabel BW’s strategy to operate and further develop a fully independent technical platform for its digital payTV offering.

With more than 69.9 million active smart cards deployed, NDS VideoGuard is the worldleading CA system with an unsurpassed track record in securing digital content. During the coming months, NDS and Kabel BW will migrate the cable platform to the new VideoGuard technology. As part of this process, smart cards currently deployed in Kabel BW’s STBs will be swappedout and NDS VideoGuard conditional access software will be downloaded to all existing STBs. New boxes will be exclusively equipped with VideoGuard. Following the deployment of NDS VideoGuard, Kabel BW plans to complete its service offering with new interactive features and applications based on NDS' middleware infrastructure MediaHighway™.

“The determining factors for choosing NDS VideoGuard were its high level of security and the farreaching technological perspective of the system”, said Uwe Bärmann, Managing Director Technology of Kabel BW. “VideoGuard is an endtoend solution that seamlessly integrates with new service offerings and applications such as VideoonDemand (VOD), digital video recording technologies (DVR), and home networking including the use of multimediaenabled devices, and much more.”

Gerhard W. Bickmann, Managing Director Finance of Kabel BW, added: “With an independent technology platform based on NDS VideoGuard, Kabel BW will be able to continue reacting quickly and flexibly to customer demands and market challenges. This fits in perfectly with our ,successful tripleplay strategy, characterizing Kabel BW as one of the most innovative cable noperators in Germany.”

Becoming the partner of choice for Kabel BW means that NDS VideoGuard will be deployed for the first time in one of Germany’s key markets,” commented Caroline Le Bigot, VP and General Manager of NDS France. “We are looking forward to actively supporting Kabel BW in securing and developing their digital cable platform and content service offering,” Le Bigot added.

Yves Padrines, Director of Business Development at NDS France, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce our second major breakthrough in Germany, following the recent deployment of NDS MediaHighway middleware with Premiere.”

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Gateway Selects NDS



• NDS is chosen by Gateway Communications to provide end-to-end security solution for GTV’s new subscription-based satellite TV platform which will deliver services across Sub-Saharan Africa

• Solution includes NDS VideoGuard® conditional access (CA), which already secures service revenues of approximately $32 billion worldwide

• Platform launch planned for mid-2007, with rapid expansion initially planned across English-speaking countries, extending to French-speaking countries

• Partnership expands NDS’ footprint in Africa, where it already provides middleware solutions for MultiTV Afrique

NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that it has been selected by Gateway Communications, the leading provider of communications services to telecommunications operators and corporations in Africa. Under the agreement NDS will deploy a full end-to-end security system featuring VideoGuard® conditional access (CA) for GTV, its newly created African-focused, subscription-based satellite TV service that will deliver digital pay-TV services across Sub-Saharan Africa.

With a planned launch in mid-2007, GTV will target a previously severely underserved customer base who have been unable to afford the current subscription-based services available in the market, bringing direct-to-home (DTH) services within the reach of all middle income Africans. GTV will initially target rapid expansion across English-speaking countries. GTV’s service will employ the very latest in satellite and set-top box technologies, providing customers with high quality digital reception and content.

Commenting on the news, David Nabozny, VP and General Manager EMEA for NDS, said: “We are very excited about being chosen by Gateway Communications to assist with the launch of their African DTH service. They are bringing an attractive new offering to the African market, which has huge potential for growth. Our CA solutions will help ensure that they can quickly, seamlessly and securely deploy their satellite TV service across target markets in the African subcontinent.”

Julian McIntyre, President and Chief Treasurer of Gateway Communications, remarked: ““We are pleased to be working alongside NDS who share our vision and excitement in the growth potential of this exciting new market. We had many options when choosing the security solution for our new DTH service, and selected NDS based on their successful support of some of the world’s leading platforms as well as their expertise in systems integration. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with NDS as we roll out the GTV television service across Sub-Saharan Africa.”

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New Satellite THOR 5



Telenor Satellite Broadcasting today announced that their THOR II-R satellite will be named THOR 5. The announcement was made at Satellite 2007 Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C. THOR 5 is scheduled for launch from Baikonour, Kazakhstan, in October 2007 and is expected to be in full service by Q1 2008.

“The THOR name has a strong association with Telenor’s satellite fleet”, says Cato Halsaa, Managing Director of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting. The name is synonymous with the 1º West orbital position which has gained much credibility for the delivery of quality satellite broadcasting over the past 14 years.

The launch of THOR 5 strengthens Telenor’s TV broadcasting capacity on 1° West, an ideal position for satellite services in the Nordics, Europe and the Middle East. Telenor firmly believes that the growth of niche TV channels, the introduction of HDTV and the expansion opportunities within new emerging markets will continue to increase the demand for satellite capacity.

“THOR 5 is built on Orbital’s industry-leading STARTM satellite platform. We are very pleased to be providing this satellite to a dynamic and expanding market in Europe, says Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO communications satellite unit. “We are now at the final stage of assembly and testing. We at Orbital are confident that we will deliver THOR 5 on time “

To secure further growth, Telenor is in the process of acquiring a replacement for THOR III. Telenor has received several responses to the RFP which was issued in December 2006. A process of evaluation is now taking place and Telenor is set to make a final decision by the end of April 2007.

Telenor has a long history within satellite communication. In the early 70`s the company was a pioneer in the satellite industry providing satellite communication to the offshore oil installations in the Norwegian Sea and the Svalbard Islands. Telenor’s first satellite began its life as Marco Polo II and was launched using a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the 17th August 1990. It was constructed by British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) but was purchased by Telenor in July 1992. Telenor renamed it THOR 1 and successfully moved it to its new in-orbit position at 1º West. For Telenor, a leading Norwegian Telecommunications company, the name “Thor” represents its cultural heritage associated with both Thor, the Norse god of Thunder, and Thor Heyerdal, the Norwegian explorer who sailed from South America to Polynesia in 1947 (the Kon-Tiki expedition).

Telenor has continuously expanded the 1˚ West position with THOR II, THOR III and ownership in Intelsat 10-02. THOR 5 and the replacement of THOR III represent Telenor’s commitment to invest in satellite communications and to develop a growth strategy for the 1º West platform beyond the Nordics.

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Virgin/Sky spat to benefit Tiscali



Tiscali is to launch a combined TV-on-demand and broadband service tomorrow and stands to benefit from the current dispute between Virgin Media and Sky.

Tiscali TV is a 'triple play' package, offering 2Mbps broadband with no download limits, free weekend landline calls and 30 digital TV channels with another 100 hours of on-demand content available, all for £19.99 per month. With Sky threatening to withdraw certain channels from Virgin Media's offerings, some ana*lysts think the timing couldn't be better.

"Tiscali is one of the cleverest marketers in the broadband market, and I expect that it will take a bit of the Freeview market share and possibly pick up some disaffected Sky and Virgin Media customers who don't want to pay for premium content," said Jason Lloyd.

Tiscali customers will also have the £11 monthly line rental charges covered. However, despite looking like a good deal in principle, Tiscali's offering is not without its limitations, according to Lloyd.

"With Tiscali customers get 30 digital TV channels and free weekend landline calls, whereas with Sky they can get 68 digital TV channels and free landline calls anytime for £6 a month more. It seems a small price to pay for a whole deal more," Lloyd said.

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Footie game launches on student TV network

Media company VPSurf have launched an interactive football penalty shoot out game called Golden Kicks that will be shown to the UK’s university students throughout the Champions League football tournament.

Players use their mobile phones to participate in the game that will be shown on SubTV’s network of almost 100 British student union bars.

Results are shown in real time on the screen throughout the contest, which can be played locally in each bar with the players competing against players elsewhere in the network. The game can be seen as either full or partial screen so as not to interfere with the live football matches.

George Butler, director at VPSurf, said: “The Golden Kicks contest will be the first of our games to run on the SubTV network of student union bars in the UK, reaching up to 1.65 million people each week throughout the Champions League. We’re hoping that the combination of an exciting game and entertaining content will prove to be a really winning formula for advertisers who want to engage this audience.”

SubTV is available in 97 of the UK’s 140 student unions, and shows advertising led bespoke programming as well as regular terrestrial and satellite TV.

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Kabel Deutschland: Success through New Business Activities



* Strong growth for Kabel Digital program packages, Kabel Internet and Kabel Phone

* Marketing success lifts earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

* Progress with respect to digitalization: already over one million digital TV households through Kabel Deutschland

Kabel Deutschland today released its results in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the nine months ended December 31, 2006 of the fiscal year 2006/2007. The total number of revenue generating units (RGUs) increased to 10.393 million at December 31, 2006. This represents an increase of 3.6 percent in comparison to the 10.031 million RGUs the company had on December 31, 2005. The total number of RGUs is made up of basic cable access, digital TV program packages as well as Kabel Internet and Kabel Phone.

The average monthly revenue per unit (ARPU) increased by 5.1 percent from EUR 7.26 during the first nine months of the previous fiscal year to reach EUR 7.63 during the same period of the current fiscal year.

The company saw a significant increase in Kabel Digital Home and Kabel Digital International RGUs. The number of RGUs rose from 401,000 at the end of 2005 to approximately 660,000 at the end of the current reporting period. The company also significantly expanded its cable-based digital free-TV access services over the course of the year. The digital access product is currently comprised of 76 digital TV programs and will shortly be boosted to over 100.

“Kabel Deutschland is driving forward the process of cable television digitization. In particular, since we began offering our direct customers free set top boxes, the number of digital households has seen rapid growth. We are proud to say that to date we have enabled more than one million households to make the switch to the digital age”, says Christof Wahl, Speaker of the Management Board of Kabel Deutschland.

The company has also enjoyed strong growth in the Kabel Internet and Kabel Phone product fields, where RGUs rose to 267,000 at December 31, 2006. This corresponds to an increase of 223,000 over the last twelve months. In particular the number of Kabel Internet RGUs increased from 31,000 to 146,000. In the telephone service area, the number of RGUs rose from 13,000 to reach 121,000. There is an increasing trend towards bundled products. In this regard, more than 80 percent of new customers chose one of the packages comprised of both internet and phone services.

The number of basic cable access subscribers at the end of the third quarter of the current fiscal year totaled 9.466 million, compared to 9.585 million at the end of 2005.

“With the digital program packages and Kabel Internet and Kabel Phone we have in recent years built up two new product fields that are growing very dynamically. In particular Kabel Internet and Kabel Phone are bringing us significantly higher monthly average revenues than the classic basic cable access. With these products, we have been able to more than compensate for the modest decline in the number of basic cable access subscribers, which we had anyway been anticipating,” says Christof Wahl. “With the triple-play strategy, we have created a positive outlook for Kabel Deutschland.”

On the basis of its sustained marketing success, Kabel Deutschland has been able to lift total revenues during the first nine months of the current fiscal year to EUR 813.2 million. This corresponds to an increase of 8.0 percent relative to the comparable figure of EUR 752.7 million for the previous year. Subscriber based revenues rose 9.2 percent, from EUR 646.7 million at the end of 2005 to reach EUR 706.4 million at the end of the period under report.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA as adjusted1) on December 31, 2006 totaled EUR 290.0 million. This compares with the figure of EUR 309.2 million for the previous year. The EBITDA margin approximated 35.6 percent, compared with 41.1 percent during the corresponding period of the previous year. The decline in EBITDA was primarily due to the accelerated expansion of the network and the start-up losses caused by the cost of acquiring new customers. A quarterly review of the period ended December 31, 20006 indicates, that the additional revenues generated by the new customers are beginning to have a positive impact on EBITDA. Kabel Deutschland has been able to increase its EBITDA for the third consecutive quarter: from EUR 90.5 million in the first quarter and EUR 95.2 million in the second quarter to EUR 104.3 million in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Kabel Deutschland reported a net loss of EUR 26.8 million at the end of the reporting period. Net loss for fiscal year 2005/2006 totaled EUR 76.8 million.

The company is rigorously continuing its network expansion for internet and telephone services. By the end of March 8.6 million households will have been upgraded for Kabel Deutschland’s triple-play service. In mid 2007 the company will begin the major process of modernizing the cable networks in Lower Saxony. By the end of the 2008/2009 fiscal year Kabel Deutschland will have upgraded 90 percent of the 15.6 million homes passed within its supply area.

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Dishtv, Tata Sky plan schemes for World Cup



DTH service providers Dishtv and Tata Sky will use the upcoming cricket World Cup to entice their viewers and increase subscription numbers.

Dishtv has come out with a World Cup For Free offer. It has come out with a special world cup promotional pack at Rs 3990, all inclusive with six months subscription free. This also includes dishtv's sports active services free for the same six-month period. The offer is being introduced by the dishtv mascot who entices the viewer with his histrionics and invites them to this unique experience only on dishtv.

Dishtv is positioning itself as offering active services that enable a better than stadium experience for the viewer. Besides digital picture quality and stereophonic sound, viewers will have value added controls.

The matches can be viewed with multi-camera angles. Subscribers can watch a match through three different camera angles - the main feed, the square leg and the third which will be a mix of stump cam/high wide shot.

Language Feed:
The dish subscriber will have the opportunity to hear the commentary from a choice of five languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali along with a live stadium ambient sound.

Highlights:
Match highlights, i.e. all wickets and key shots like - 4's, 6's will be available to the dishtv viewers at the press of a button whenever they want

Statistics:
The dishtv subscriber will have access to a stupendous Amount of cricketing data like team line ups, score cards, in-depth history of the players, their past records and so on again on their TV screens merely at the touch of a button.

The firm says that subscribers will get the Sports Active services at no extra cost that would otherwise cost Rs. 25 per month.

Dishtv CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor says, "Cricket is like religion in our country and the Cricket World Cup being the biggest opportunity to delight the consumers. With the adventof active services and new consumer offers available in the market, the subscribers have a win win situation. dishtv has always worked towards maximising its viewer's delight and will continue to do so".

Commenting on the caricature launched by, dishtv to flag off the World Cup campaign, dishtv VP marketing Anjali Malhotra says, "The mascot lends a face to the brand that is warm, consumer friendly and trustworthy. Moreover he seems to simplify an otherwise perceived technology product apart from adding an element of fun to our communication as we are but, an entertainment provider to Indian homes. We are sure that the consumers will warm up to him."

As far as Tata Sky is concerned the company's MD and CEO Vikram Kaushik says, "Tata Sky is offering free subscription for three months and has roped in actor Hrithik Roshan for its new marketing campaign."

He explains that as part of this campaign select viewers who have subscribed before 15 April will get to watch the World Cup final match with him. In adition the company is extending the free pricing policy to the second, third and fourth television set within a consumer's household.

"The new marketing campaign is a step to reach one-million subscriber base by the end of this year. We expect phenomenal subscription during the World Cup."

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Sky TV, TNS & NDS team up to launch audience measurement service



Sky Television, New Zealand's pay television company, in conjunction with TNS, the global market information specialist, and NDS, provider of technology solutions for digital pay TV, have developed and launched an audience measurement research service.

According to an official announcement, this measurement system is based on the establishment of a new viewing panel, recruited and managed by TNS, which will initially comprise 6,500 households equipped with digital satellite television. The digital set-top boxes (STB) in these households have been deployed with the NDS Audience Measurement System (AMS) software to collect and ana*lyse viewing data.

A key element of NDS' end-to-end digital broadcasting platform on which Sky Television relies to protect and enhance its pay-TV business, the AMS is capable of securely tracking and reporting many types of digital TV viewing activity.

The data collected from the STB are processed and delivered by TNS to provide insights into how subscribers consume digital satellite television. The system will initially focus on providing robust viewing data for all satellite channels. The service will additionally be able to measure and provide an understanding of enhanced television viewing activity such as electronic program guide (EPG) usage and interactive advertising viewership, adds the release.

Sky Television chief executive officer John Fellet said, "Sky Television broadcasts more than 80 channels, and we continually strive to improve the service to our subscribers. By working with NDS and TNS on the Audience Measurement System, we will be able to further understand our subscribers' viewing habits and therefore provide more of what they want. Furthermore, we will be able to provide our programming partners and advertisers with an understanding of how our subscribers use our service which will aid their strategic planning."

TNS will be responsible for design, recruitment and maintenance of the viewing panel, and processing of viewing data. ana*lysis of viewing data will be carried out via a bespoke version of InfoSys, TNS' television audience ana*lysis system.

TNS director of TV Audience Measurement Tony Taylor said, "We are delighted to be partnering with Sky in this service. It represents a key milestone in our audience measurement strategy which is leading the way in new digital measurement services and our involvement in the region. TNS is confident that the data will offer real value to Sky in understanding digital TV subscribers as well as providing greater insight on both the programming and advertising sales fronts."

NDS Australia and New Zealand GM Peter Iles said, "NDS Audience Measurement System resides in the subscribers' set-top boxes and enables Sky Television to directly capture viewing data from domestic set-top boxes, without truck rolls and without the cost of additional hardware in the home. Previously, it was not possible to capture viewing behaviour in such depth, but NDS AMS is a downloadable software extension which enables existing settop boxes to provide detailed tracking in selected households."

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Neo Sports targets Pan Asian expansion by mid 2007



Neo Sports has announced the details of its Pan Asian expansion as part of its mission to be a Pan Asian cricket channel by the middle of 2007. These markets include the Middle East, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Shortly, the cricket dedicated channel will also commence broadcasting in Malaysia and Singapore.

Neo Sports Broadcast Pvt Ltd CEO Shashi Kalathil said, "In barely three months of our commercial launch in India, we have succeeded in a comprehensive Pan Asian roll-out.

The revenues from the Pan Asian operations of Neo Sports outside India, between subscription and advertising are expected to add up to approximately $ 26 million in 2007-2008 with an approximately 30 per cent EBIDTA margin, as incremental cost for international operations is relatively insignificant since the bulk of the costs are already absorbed in the Indian operations, informs an official release.

Neo Sports was launched in Nepal through Pacific Traders on Cable and MMDS and has also partnered with the Pehla bouquet on the ADD platform in the Middle East, which is the pay TV platform management company in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

Neo Sports has also been launched on Cable in Bangladesh via SAARC Media in January 2007 and in Sri Lanka through Sri Lanka Broadband Network. In March 2007 Neo Sports will commence broadcasting on Hong Kong's Cable system I-Cable and via DTH on One Broadcast Ltd, in New Zealand.

Neo Sports, which had its soft launch in October 2006 and its commercial launch in the first week of January 2007 in India, has secured platform partnerships across Asia, as part of its mission to be a Pan Asian cricket channel by the middle of 2007.

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Peking Express steams into Scandinavia



SBS in Scandinavia has become the latest broadcaster to pick up Kanakna Productions' reality format Peking Express, and will run the locally produced series on its channels Kana*l Sweden, Kana*l Denmark and TV Norge in Norway.

The Scandinavian version of Peking Express will air in autumn 2007, with Titan TV in Sweden, Easy Film in Denmark and Lime Light in Norway as the producers.

The production for Scandinavia is syndicated for three countries but each country will make a local production with its own host and contestants.

Peking Express takes nine couples from Moscow to Bejing. The couples have to manage the race based on a budget of just €2 per day, forcing them to get very close to the locals as they travel through Russia, Mongolia and China.

The format has already had four seasons in Belgium and the Netherlands and the second series is currently airing on M6 in France. One season has also been made for RTL in Germany.

"We think Peking Express will work very well in Scandinavia. Based on the success in Belgium, Holland and France, we are also expecting a number of new territories to adapt the format in 2007," said Francois-Xavier Arguillere at Kanakna.

Kanakna is a member of international format exchange Sparks Network.

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MTV: More jobs cuts



Viacom is to axe around 250 jobs from its MTV Networks International business, which operates channels including MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 in the UK.
This represents around 8% of MTVNI's total workforce of 3,257. The job cuts form part of a restructuring designed to improve MTVNI's operating margins and focus the outfit on high growth markets and business.

In London, MTVNI will be merging some of its international operations with its UK business, which is the cable and satellite broadcaster's biggest money spinner outside the US.

The company is also planning to relocate some of its emerging markets Europe/Middle East group from London to Budapest and Warsaw.

MTVNI said it would be undertaking a formal consultation with staff before finalising the restructuring plans.

The job cuts come on top of the 250 posts that MTV Networks said last month it would be shedding from its US business. "These changes will position us well for the next phase of our growth - increasing our operating margins through more efficient corporate structures, while also mobilising our resources to build our multiplatform brand portfolios in priority markets and expand growing revenue areas such as ad sales, digital media and consumer products," said Bob Bakish, the MTVNI president.

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BBC Worldwide S-DMB Asia deal

BBC Worldwide has become the first UK distributor to provide entertainment content to an Asian mobile television broadcaster’s S-DMB (Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) service.

The deal means that customers of Tu Media can watch 39 hours of Top Gear programming through in-car devices or mobile phones, laptops, and digital cameras. Launched in May 2005, Tu Media’s S-DMB service currently attracts almost one million subscribers.

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Cablevision strong subs growth

Cablevision strongly increased its subscribers for its TV, internet and telephone services in the fourth quarter. It reported revenue growth of 18.6 per cent for its cable business, but overall performance was lower due to a weaker performance in its cable networks and the Madison Square Garden sports venue.

The Dolan family, which controls Cablevision, tried to take the group private but its offer was rejected by a committee advising the board after the family refused to raise it further.

Total revenues rose 13 per cent of $1.69bn (E1.27bn), from $1.49bn a year ago, Cablevision said. For the cable business, with operating income up 12 per cent versus a year ago to $195m. The company said it would reduce its capital expenditure in 2007.

Cablevision did not make projections for Rainbow, the company’s programming unit. This again raised speculation that the Dolans, who control Cablevision with 71 percent of the voting rights, and 20 percent of the equity, might try to sell Rainbow or at least some of its cable networks.

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Switzerland FTTH IPTV service


Amino, IPTV platform supplier, has enabled Switzerland’s first Fibre To The Home (FTTH) IPTV service as the operator, Sierre Energie, launched its IPTV service. Amino will supply its AmiNET100 series of set-top boxes to enable the viewing of 90 channels.

The triple-play deal will initially offer a broadband connection, fixed telephone and digital TV services. It will also offer video on demand (VOD) and its Catch-Up TV service.