
Intelsat and iKOMG expand Faith broadcasting via Galaxy 19
To further enhance its service offering, Intelsat has recently introduced audience measurement capabilities to its upgraded VideoNow electronic program guide (EPG) on G-19.
Intelsat has announced the expansion of its partnership with iKO Media Group (iKOMG), strengthening efforts to deliver faith-based content to global audiences through the Faith Beyond initiative. The collaboration is centred around Intelsats Galaxy 19 (G-19) satellite, a cornerstone of free-to-air broadcasting across North America.
Faith Beyond, developed by iKOMG, offers a fully integrated distribution platform tailored for religious broadcasters aiming to expand their global footprint and engage with followers more deeply. The all-in-one solution includes satellite broadcasting, OTT streaming, cloud-native playout, live event support, and metadata managementall delivered via the high-capacity Galaxy 19 satellite.
Rashmin Abhani, SVP Presale & Satellite Resource Management at iKOMG, said: 'Faith Beyond emphasises our commitment to empowering faith-based broadcasters with the tools they need to thrive in a competitive media landscape. Combined with the unmatched reach and reliability of Galaxy 19, Faith Beyond enables ministries to effortlessly expand and engage with their audience. Our collaboration with Intelsat is built on a shared dedication to excellence, accessibility and scalable growth, delivering solutions broadcasters can trust.'
Rhys Morgan, RVP EMEA region, Intelsat, added: 'The iKOMG dedication to providing high-quality religious content globally aligns perfectly with Intelsats mission to support and grow new opportunities for content providers. This renewal underscores the enduring relevance of linear TV and free-to-air platforms such as Galaxy 19, demonstrating its continued importance for North American audience.'
This deal uses Intelsats Galaxy 19 (G-19) satellite, a premier free-to-air, direct-to-home neighborhood that provides broadcasters with a powerful platform to reach diverse audiences across North America. G-19 provides 5.7m viewers with access to more than 110 channels, originating from 35 countries in over 20 languages. In addition to prominent faith-based programming, G-19 is home to premium entertainment, news and free-ad-support-streaming content.
Intelsat recently announced audience measurement capabilities to its enhanced VideoNow electronic program guide (EPG) for G-19, representing a significant step toward ad-monetization in the direct-to-home (DTH) free-to-air (FTA) satellite video market.
Unlike broadband-dependent services, G-19 is capable of reaching all households in North America, ensuring content is accessible regardless of internet reliability.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fintech News ME
2 days ago
- Fintech News ME
Dubai Named as First Sibos Host Outside Traditional Regions for 2029
Swift, a Belgium-based member-owned cooperative and provider of secure financial messaging services, has announced the host cities for its flagship Sibos conference through to the end of the decade, naming Dubai as the 2029 host, marking the first time the event will be held outside the traditional rotation of Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The announcement signals a strategic shift in Swift's approach to the global event, with an expanded focus on financial inclusivity across emerging markets. Starting in 2029, Sibos will rotate every fourth year to regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Swift stated that this broader rotation aims to reflect the diversity of its network, which includes over 11,500 institutions across more than 200 countries and territories. 'Swift is a convener of and for the global financial industry and as the breadth of our network continues to grow, we're delighted to be able to expand Sibos to more locations around the world,' said Rosemary Stone, Chief Corporate Officer at Swift. 'No other event brings the industry together on the same scale as Sibos, and the addition of even more perspectives to the event's debates and discussions will be increasingly valuable as the industry navigates rapid technological change and the growing risk of fragmentation.' Dubai's selection highlights the Middle East's rising significance in global finance. Often referred to as the 'Gateway to Africa,' the city's Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has grown into a key financial hub since its establishment in 2004, now hosting nearly 7,000 companies and a major portion of the Gulf's fintech ecosystem. The Sibos 2029 edition will follow events in Frankfurt (2025), Miami (2026), Singapore (2027), and Paris (2028), the latter of which will mark the 50th anniversary of the event. Sibos, which began in 1978, brings together stakeholders from across the financial services sector to discuss topics in payments, securities, cash management, and trade. It regularly draws over 10,000 delegates and is awarded to host cities through a competitive bidding process that considers financial significance, logistical and technological infrastructure, and venue capacity. The conference shifted online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has maintained a virtual attendance option since resuming in-person events in 2022.


Broadcast Pro
3 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Intelsat partners with WPDI to expand education access
Satellite-powered connectivity will support enhanced online education in conflict-affected regions in South Sudan and Uganda. Intelsat has announced a partnership with Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian Forest Whitakers nonprofit, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), to transform access to education in conflict-affected regions across Africa. The collaboration will deliver, for the first time, high-speed internet connectivity to WPDIs Community Learning Centres in South Sudan and Uganda, creating digital bridges to education for thousands of young people in areas where infrastructure has been insufficient or compromised. Intelsat will equip 10 centresseven in South Sudan and three in Ugandawith satellite connectivity. Over the course of this three-year partnership, Intelsat will provide equipment, managed connectivity services, installation, and ongoing technical support. This effort will bring reliable internet access to communities where traditional connectivity infrastructure is inadequate for modern online education. Forest Whitaker said: 'Education is the foundation for peace. At WPDI, we use technology as a conduit to opportunitybringing knowledge to young people whose lives have been upended by violence and political unrest. With the right tools, youths can reclaim their futures to become powerful agents of peace in their communities.' The initiative comes at a critical time, as digital inequality continues to widen globally. According to the International Telecommunication Union, a mere 19% of people in the least developed nations, like South Sudan and Uganda, use the internet. In areas directly affected by conflict, these numbers drop even further, creating significant barriers to education and opportunity for vulnerable populations. By improving digital access, Intelsat and WPDI are providing learning centre trainees with the resources they need to become drivers of positive change in their community and beyond. Graduates of WPDI programmes have gone on to become community leaders, educators, and advocates, exemplified by individuals like Benson Lugwar, a former child soldier who is now an elected official and radio host in Uganda. Dave Wajsgras, CEO of Intelsat, added: 'At Intelsat, we are great believers in the power of connectivity to promote education and sustainable development around the world. Forest Whitaker and WPDIs efforts represent exactly the kind of transformative work that satellite communications can enable. Were proud to support WPDIs efforts to bring young people together, close the digital divide, and create pathways to prosperity in communities that need it most.' The satellite-powered connectivity will enable WPDI to significantly expand its educational offerings, providing access to digital resources, online courses, and virtual exchange programmes that were previously impossible in these remote locations. Students will gain critical digital literacy skills alongside WPDIs established curriculum in conflict resolution, entrepreneurship, and community development.


TECHx
5 days ago
- TECHx
Why Smart Cities Deserve Our Trust, Not Fear
Home » Smart Cities » Why Smart Cities Deserve Our Trust, Not Fear When your city becomes smart, you expect convenience. But you may not expect to be watched, tracked, analyzed, all the time. That's the uncomfortable paradox behind today's smart cities. Built on data, driven by AI, and powered by sensors, they promise better living. But they also quietly raise the question: how much watching is too much? Globally, smart cities are booming. From Singapore's predictive traffic lights to Seoul's connected waste systems, we're seeing urban innovation at scale. The Middle East is no exception. In fact, it's one of the world's most ambitious players. Projects like Smart Dubai and NEOM in Saudi Arabia are redefining urban futures. But in the rush to digitize and optimize, we're beginning to sideline something fundamental, the rights of the people being watched. The City Is Always Watching Here's the reality: surveillance is no longer something we notice. It's embedded into the infrastructure of modern life. In 2018, a Chinese woman's face was wrongly flashed on a public screen for 'jaywalking.' She hadn't crossed the road, her image was on a bus ad. In San Diego, smart streetlights turned into police surveillance tools without public knowledge. Toronto's Sidewalk Labs project was shut down after residents revolted over unclear data policies. These are not rare cases. They're early signals of a bigger issue: cities are becoming watchers by design. The Middle East Moves Fast, Talks Less In the Middle East, governments are heavily investing in smart cities as a symbol of progress, and rightly so. The region faces challenges that smart infrastructure can solve: urban congestion, water scarcity, energy efficiency, and security. Dubai uses AI to manage traffic and monitor safety. NEOM aims to integrate biometric access and facial recognition into everyday life. On paper, it sounds futuristic. But in practice, it raises critical questions: Who owns this data? How long is it stored? Are citizens informed, or asked? This Isn't an Anti-Tech Argument Let's be clear, smart cities are not the enemy. In fact, they are essential for the future. They reduce traffic, cut emissions, and save lives. They make governments more responsive and cities more livable. During the COVID-19 crisis, smart tools like drones and thermal scanners helped enforce health measures effectively. But smart shouldn't mean secret. And safety shouldn't come at the cost of silent surveillance. What we need isn't fewer cameras. We need clear rules around how those cameras are used. We need transparency about where data goes and who benefits from it. A Smarter Way Forward Some cities are already showing us how to get it right. Barcelona has adopted open data governance, giving people more control over how their information is used. Amsterdam publishes a public registry of every algorithm used in city services. These cities are proving that it's possible to be both smart and ethical. The Middle East can lead too, not just in building cities of the future, but in building trustworthy ones. Governments here have a unique advantage: the ability to act quickly and at scale. That same top-down model can be used to implement strong data privacy policies, set up independent oversight, and involve citizens in tech decisions before deployment. Let's Not Wait for a Backlash The truth is, smart cities have a problem brewing. The more invisible surveillance becomes, the more visible public distrust will be. We can avoid that. But only if we start having the difficult conversations now. What's the balance between convenience and consent? How do we ensure tech serves citizens, not just systems? If smart cities are going to shape our future, we must ask these questions out loud. The Smarter Way Forward Technology moves fast. Trust doesn't. If we want truly smart cities, they can't just watch us. They need to respect us, our privacy, our rights, our role in shaping the urban future. Because the smartest cities won't just be data-driven. They'll be people-powered.