Satellite Broadband’s Consumer & Commercial Applications wil be topic at Spring SkyFORUM in New York

Top satellite broadband executives will discuss the latest developments in consumer and commercial applications during the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association’s spring SkyFORUM, the satellite services industry’s top financial symposium, to be held on Tuesday, May 20 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.

“Satellite Broadband: A Look at Consumer and Commercial Applications,” moderated by

Harry Thibedeau, Manager of Satellite Industry Relations at the National Rural Telecommunication Cooperative, will address how the latest injection of capital will affect the industry, when Ka-band will become a reality, and what strategies companies will undertake to ensure their success in the enterprise and consumer markets. 

Panelists will include:

• MarkDankberg, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, ViaSat, Inc.
• Zur Feldman, Chairman and CEO, StarBand Communications, Inc.
• Pradman Kaul, Chairman and CEO, Hughes NetworkSystems
• Thomas Moore, CEO, WildBlue Communications
•        Kevin Smyth, Senior Vice President, Residential Satellite Services, AMERICOM2Home

The bi-annual SkyFORUM, hosted by SBCA and its SkyTRENDS partners, brings together Wall Street’s analyst and investment community with top satellite and telecom industry executives to discuss topical issues and upcoming trends.

“Broadband access is an important product in the competitive landscape of the satellite industry,” said Clay Mowry,president of Arianespace, Inc. and SkyTRENDS chair. “We have brought together leading companies to discuss their current offerings and future plans, and to shed light on what consumers can expect within the next year.”

As recently announced, Chase Carey, a member of the board of directors and consultant to News Corporation, will be the afternoon keynote speaker at SkyFORUM, addressing the increasingly competitive landscape in the multichannel television industry and how consumers will benefit as a result of this heightened competition. CNN Anchor and Managing Editor Lou Dobbs will interview DIRECTV Chairman and CEO Eddy Hartenstein as the featured morning one-on-one CEO interview.

The SkyFORUM program will also include live demonstrations of emerging consumer product and services technologies, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and the most current consumer research on DBS subscribers conducted by The Taylor Group. In addition, recent global research on the satellite industry and the competitive multichannel video providers market will be featured.

Other panels scheduled for the spring SkyFORUM include:

• Satellite Radio: Tuning In to a National Audience
• Straight from the Street: Satellite’s Leading Analysts Speak Out
• Super Session on High Definition Television and Digital Video Recorders

Additional information and registration for SkyFORUM can be found on the SBCA Web site http://www.sbca.com/ or by contactingJennifer SeetinorBrian Lynchat SBCA at (800) 541-5981.

SkyFORUM was developed to create a higher awareness of the satellite industry among the financial and investment communities, and the media. SkyTRENDS is the SBCA’s market research, data collection and reporting program for the satellite services industry. SkyTRENDS is a committee of the SBCA and is directed by SBCA’s SkyTRENDS partners with assistance from Media Business Corp. 

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (www.sbca.com) is the national trade organization representing all segments of the satellite industry.  It is committed to expanding the utilization of satellite technology for the broadcast delivery of video, audio, data, music, voice, interactive and broadband services.  The SBCA is composed of DBS, C-band, broadband, satellite radio, and other satellite service and launch vehicle providers, content providers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retailers, encryption vendors, and national and regional distribution companies that make up the satellite services industry.