cover story_cover story 25/02/2016 18:37 Page 4
Leading broadcasters, satellite operators and service providers
across the MENA have joined forces under the 'Anti-Piracy Coalition,'
to address and combat all forms of piracy that impact the sector.
same satellite through another providers and
everyone is keeping quiet about [this].”
Noorsat’s VP/Legal Affairs, Rawand AlZoubi, says that the company is extremely
pro-active, and has in the past taken down
channels ahead of the MENA-APC
intervention. “We took many TV channels off
air based on the spirit of cooperation with
the coalition and by ONLY sending us a
notification of the infringement by email,
which was not supported by any court order
or any legal action.”
AGREEMENT. “Let me stress the fact that
the whole concept behind any coalition or
alliance is a common and mutual benefit for
all members, which is not the case in the
Anti-Piracy Coalition. We at Noorsat have
voluntarily acted on behalf of the copyright
owners, while no one is acting to defend our
interests, or at least reaching a gentleman’s
agreement, where all satellite providers
agree and pledge not to carry a stopped
channel on basis of infringement. Without
this no one will benefit, and no one is
obliged to respond to any claim, unless there
is a final verdict regarding any
infringement,” said Al-Zoubi.
Noorsat, not unreasonably, says it has
tough contractual obligations in place with
its clients with regard to infringement. “As
per Article 9 of the Agreements we sign with
our clients, the TV channel shall be liable for,
and shall indemnify Noorsat from and
against any direct or indirect loss, damage,
liability or expense arising from any claim by
SES takes options on SSI-Monaco
B
ack in July 2013, satellite operator SES confirmed an earlier
agreement with Space Systems International Monaco for access to
some of the SSI-Monaco satellite’s transponders. The satellite was
launched in April 2015 to 52° East and is now officially called
TurkmenAlemMonacoSat, which might not be the snappiest name for a
spacecraft, but it is orbiting in
what is undoubtedly an interesting
‘hot spot’ for the region.
The craft has 38 active Ku-band
transponders operating over three
beams. The Turkmenistan Ministry of
Communications is keeping 26
transponders and 12 are leased to SES. The YahSat/YahLive operation is
now taking four transponders. The YahLive transponders operate from
52.5° East, and would thus be seen as co-located with the
Turkmenistan/Monaco craft.
YahLive’s existing Ku-band transmissions from YahSat 1A are near-full,
and the company says that the extra four transponders will add flexibility
to its offering.
EUROMEDIA 19