• DirecTV closes $2B debt financing
By The Associated Press
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) – DirecTV Group Inc. on Tuesday said it has completed $2 billion in debt financing, with proceeds to go toward retiring more expensive debt.
The nation’s largest satellite TV provider said its subsidiaries, DirecTV Holdings LLC and DirecTV Financing Co., have taken on $1 billion in senior notes due 2014, carrying an interest rate of 4.75 percent. They took out another $1 billion in senior notes due 2019, with an interest rate of 5.875 percent.
Funds will be used to retire debt with an interest rate of 8.375 due 2013 and for general corporate purposes.
Shares of El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV rose 51 cents to $27.30 in midday trading.
• N.Y. op selects Moto’s GPON, RF overlay solutions
By CED staff
Motorola’s GPON and RF overlay video solutions have been chosen by Middleburgh Telephone Co. for the delivery of rich, personalized media. Middleburgh and its subsidiaries provide digital voice, cable TV, broadband and wireless services to more than 20,000 customers in upstate New York.
Middleburgh will deploy a Motorola GPON network throughout its serving area, updating its current HFC network to a high-capacity, all-fiber network. With support for 1 GHz RF overlay, SCTE-55-1 RF return path and integrated return path demodulation, the all-fiber solution enables the introduction of GPON technology into any cable network, while helping to protect existing RF video network and set-top investments.
The new FTTP network for Middleburgh will run on the Motorola AXS2200 optical line terminal (OLT) and the 1 GHz-capable Motorola ONT1400 single-family optical network terminal (ONT).
• SeaChange, CCSA renew VOD partnership
By CED staff
CCSA and SeaChange International have renewed their Bulk Purchase Master Agreement for video-on-demand solutions, including on-demand and linear advertising systems.
“The success of SeaChange’s relationship with CCSA and its members highlights the inherent value that cable operators of all sizes recognize in on-demand television,” said Yvette Kanouff, chief strategy officer at SeaChange. “We are excited to renew this partnership and continue to help operators launch and grow their VOD business while adding new advertising capabilities and applications.”
In Canada, CCSA connects more than 95 independent cable operators and their subscribers with programming and equipment.
• Look out, Skype: Kineto launches mobile VoIP app
By Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week
Kineto Wireless has created a mobile VoIP application specifically designed to be resold through an operator’s app store. The application runs on operators’ existing voice network infrastructure and is compatible with several mobile operating systems, including iPhone, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Kineto is currently offering a limited number of mobile VoIP subscription trials to qualified mobile operators.
Kineto’s mobile VoIP app can be re-branded and positioned as an alternative to third-party mobile VoIP applications. Operators have been reluctant to allow applications like Skype, Google Voice and Truphone to run on their networks because they offer competitively priced calls – especially for international service.
A recent report from In-Stat found that mobile VoIP is being increasingly adopted by subscribers for both domestic and international calls. The research firm predicts calls placed over a Wi-Fi connection will generate global sales of $32.2 billion by 2013, with more than 278 million registered users.
