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Euro 50 > Leaders in broadband and pay-TV Digital TV Europe
November/December 2009
David Pollack CEO and president, Spacecom
Lessons learned from the downturn Spacecom’s commitment to our
customers and vice-versa has been the foundation of our business
model and has served us well during the past 18 months. We have been
in a good position this past year because a majority of our customers
have committed to medium- and long-term contracts and because
Amos-3 contributed to our growth after beginning operations in summer
2008. We have maintained a positive outlook because our customer
base is drawn from entertainment, communications and IT industries
that are traditionally more resilient. That said, the global economic
downturn has made raising capital to launch new satellites a more
costly endeavour, but so far it has had little effect on our capital rais-
ing plans and we’re continuing as planned. Our investors are satisfied
with our performance and are continuing to support our business
strategy. In fact, we have just finalised raising the capital for Amos-5.
Last year’s most important development From an economic point
of view, this past year was challenging. However, we know that hard
Spacecom is an important regional satellite player with a solid business times generate great business opportunities for those who can capi-
model and client base. Its satellite fleet includes Amos-2 and Amos- 3, talise on a weak market. With a great deal of uncertainty out there, our
co-located at 4° West. Under Pollack’s guidance, the company is in the job is to capitalise on these uncertainties and turn them into opportuni-
process of finalising Amos-5, which will be launched into service in early- ties by making the right moves, decreasing risks and helping our clients
middle 2010 over Africa, followed by Amos-4 over Asia. achieve their goals. Overall, Spacecom and the industry were able to do
so. Collaborations as well as consolidations were engineered and deal
Age 60 flow continued this past year and I would say that the industry is not
weaker but even stronger as we reach the end of 2009.
Education Electric Engineering (cum laude), The Technion Israel
Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; MBA, the Stern Graduate School of Goals for the next year In 2010 we will focus on penetrating the
Business of New York University, USA. African market, adding new business to our new satellites at 17° East –
Amos-5i in January 2010 and Amos-5 commencing services in mid 2011.
Career path I’m a 16-year veteran of the satellite industry, and have We will continue our development programmes for Amos-4 headed for a
enjoyed every minute here. I began working in this industry in 1993 slot above Asia and further into the future with Amos-6 and Amos-7.
when I joined the space division of Israel Aerospace Industries. In 1996, I
took the helm at Spacecom, serving as president and CEO. Likely breakthrough service or technology With European and US
broadcasters moving to HD, I believe that the HD market is going to
Highlights from the last year Despite the challenging economic envi- prove itself in the years to come. By the end of 2009, I expect to have
ronment, 2009 has turned out to be a good, if not a very good year for more than 15 HD channels broadcast on the Amos constellation.
Spacecom. We have been working hard to make 2009 a year of great Sporting events, such as the football World Cup from South Africa in
growth for the company. During the first half, profits reached almost 2010, in HD are especially exciting in the new markets we are targeting
US$20m [€13.5m] as a result of reaching capacity of over 90% on the in Asia and Africa, as well as in our traditional central European and
Amos-2 and Amos-3 satellites. We are now focusing our attention on Middle Eastern markets. With nature and entertainment channels alter-
moving forward with pre-selling capacity at our new orbital slot over ing viewer habits toward the HD experience, and being supported by
Africa, 17° East, on the Amos-5i satellite commencing operational servic- new screens (also on mobile devices), I am very bullish on HD.
es in January 2010, paving the way for Amos-5, slated for launch in 2011.
These two satellites that expand Spacecom’s services to the African con- Favourite TV personality I enjoy watching channels and programmes
tinent – a new and exciting market for us – are one of the major high- that show me how professional sportspeople work their magic. I am
lights for the company and me in 2009. During the past year we met awed by the synergies of the human spirit and body when challenged.
our manufacturing goals for Amos-4, scheduled for launch and opera-
tions over Asia in 2012. We also are now finalising the design of Amos-6, Life outside work I continue to be an avid sports outdoorsman and will
also scheduled for launch in 2012 to our existing orbital slot at 4° West never give it up. My favourite leisure activities include mountain biking
where it will enhance and expand our coverage over Europe and the and snow skiing. Recently, I have taken up wind surfing, not quite at the
Middle East. We look forward to an equally exciting and successful 2010, Olympic level in which Israel excels, but we will see where I go from
as we continue to deliver capacity where our customers need it. there.
Visit us at at www.digitaltveurope.net
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