2008: This past year has been a great year for RRsat with two major acquisitions, the launch of an HD playout center, and new, additional, satellite platforms.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ:RRST) provides production, playout, uplink, down-link, turnaround services and end-to-end transmission for television, radio and data channels. In 2008, RRsat announced two major acquisitions: “Hawley Teleport” located in Pike County Pennsylvania, USA, acquired from Loral Skynet Satellite Corporation, and the satellite business of “Bezeq Sat” in Israel — “Emeq Ha’ela Teleport”.
The Hawley Teleport includes approximately 200 acres, a 2 floor communications building, communications equipment and antennas in which substantial resources have been invested during the teleports' 33 years of operation.
Emeq Ha’ela Teleport has operated as one of the premier communications facilities in Israel for more than 30 years and is currently one of the most interconnected fiber network hubs in the country. The facility was designed to support video, radio, and data content, and will significantly increase the capacity and redundancy of RRsat’s infrastructure. In addition, RRsat has launched a new HD Playout Center, which is capable of providing end-to-end HD services; including high resolution, graphics and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
This new installation will expand the playout services, currently provided to more than 90 TV channels. Also, in addition to the 30 satellite platforms RRsat already operates on a large number of satellites, the Company has started operating four additional satellite platforms: ABS-1, a new solution for cable operators in Russia and Asia — EuroBird-9, DTH to Europe, Middle East & Africa — Galaxy-25, DTH to North America — Thaicom-5 to Asia, Africa, & Australia.
2009: Overall, RRsat intends to be the leading independent network for the global TV market. RRsat persistently expands the range of innovative, value added services and adapts service offerings to new technologies. RRsat, through its new additional “RRsat-Hawley Teleport” in Pennsylvania, intends to build a strong local presence in the U.S. and South America. The strategy to attain this goal includes providing additional services to existing customers and joining new customers who are seeking for content management and global distribution services.
About the author
David Rivel, our Founder and CEO since 1991, is also one of our directors. Mr. Rivel is an electronic, computers and communications engineer with over 30 years of experience in radio frequency communications, antennas, video, television and satellite communication. He is responsible for the development and implementation of our strategy, our business development and the overall management of our company. He holds an MSc. degree in electrical engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Be'er Sheva Campus and is a member of the IEEE, World Teleport Association and Society of Satellite Professionals Association.
About the company
RRsat Global Communications Network provides uplink, downlink, turnaround services and end-to-end transmission for television, radio and data channels.RRsat provides global, comprehensive, content management and distribution services to the rapidly expanding broadcasting industry. Through the Company's proprietary "RRsat Global Network", the integration of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic transmission capacity and the public internet is accomplished.RRsat's comprehensive content management services offers producing and playing out television content as well as providing satellite newsgathering services (SNG), sports feeds and other occasional feed services providers. The teleport has several fully equipped playout centers, production support, and various value added services that provide the customer with the complete solution.
RRsat's Emeq Ha’ela Teleport