28/2/01
Not much for today, Aus vs Ind has been seen on DD 1 National on Insat 2E, they are showing the first and last hour of play. The Cricket is also on some of the analogs on Insat 2E. Can someone with a Nokia check Pas 4 for the FTA feed that is supposed to be there. Also be on the look out for a feed of NZ vs Pakistan that should be heading in the direction of Pakistan, possibly on Asiasat 2?
I still need screenshots of the 2 new channels on Asiasat 3, Alive and Bharathi
The expected Pas 2 analog test did not eventuate try again same time Thursday hopefully, it could be any time between 6 a.m and 10 a.m Syd time.
Dureing the Chat last night in the chatroom Aurora was reported to be FTA on B3 12720 V
A few other minor items of interest, the Aussie Mosc mailing list has been exterminated by Yahoo groups, one more reason to keep that kind of chat out of the Apsattv mailing list. The dealer is promising my cable for the Nokia will be here tommorow fingers crossed its the correct one. At least they have made up for the delay by supplying it at cost price.
From the Dish
Optus B3 156E 12720 V This transponder reported FTA for some time on the 27/2/01
NEWS
Sorry nothing to report today.
27/2/01
Livechat tonight 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom. There is cricket on today Australia vs India starts 2pm Syd time, I am getting a lot of requests for this let me know if you locate a feed or channel screening it.The best place to check would be Insat 2E the Dordashan channels there in analog and digital, check also Apstar 2R "Channel I". A source tells me its supposed to be fta on Pas 4 check the feeds page and check previous reported freqs. The Rove show was live on Mediasat last Tuesday night while the chat was on perhaps it will be there again tonight.
Panamsat 2 Analog test, one of the users of this site has arranged for Panamsat to put up an analog test for us. We don't have a time or freq yet other than approx 15-17 hours from now. So sometime between 9 a.m NZT and 12pm NZT, 7a.m Syd -10a.m Wednesday 28/2/01. Send a message on the mailing list if you see it or better still a screenshot. Especially if it says APSATTV on it :-)
A few feeds from the weekend added to Optus B3 Page.
Alive TV added to Asiasat 3 page
From the Dish
Nothing to report, watch out for the Panamsat 2 analog test see above for details.
NEWS
Nine's digital push
From http://www.bandt.com.au/article_view.asp?id=4624
IN a bid to position itself as a key player in the digital TV arena, the Nine Network has embarked on a visual identity upgrade.
Sydney-based Nova Design was called in to work on the project, in time for this month's launch of digital TV in Australia.
While Channel Nine demonstrated some forward planning, the introduction of digital TV to Australia has been a rocky ride.
Set top box decoders, which allow analog TVs to receive digital signals, were still on their way to Australia when viewers caught their first glimpse of Nine's visual upgrade.
Nova Design business director Ashley Durrans said the project, built on the back of the January 1 introduction of digital TV, was all encompassing.
The project covers everything from a new logo and TVC to brochures, business cards and letterheads.
"Digital TV will have a major impact on the future of viewing in Australia," Durrans said.
"Channel Nine wants to be right up there with it all."
His comments come just weeks after industry critics labeled the introduction of digital TV a "non event". A lack of available set top boxes and interference problems were among some of the areas of concern.
Telecom NZ buys 12% of Sky
From www.satnewsasia.com
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand has bought 12.1 percent of Sky Network Television, New Zealand's first pay TV service, for US$82.5 million.
Telecom acquired 46.7 million Sky Network shares owned by Tappenden Holdings, an investment group that also owns 10 percent of iHug, one of New Zealand’s leading ISPs. Tappenden was also part of a consortium that bought the airline, Ansett New Zealand, from media tycoon Rupert Murdoch last year.
Telecoms already owns 49 percent of Sky Networks. It also owns 10 percent of Independent Newspapers Ltd, (INL) New Zealand's largest publisher, which is 49 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Telecom provides a range of telecommunication services including local, national and international telephone services, cellular and other mobile services, enhanced network services and equipment sales.
Telecom and Sky Network have been offering joint telephone, Internet and television services for the past year and have announced plans to extend this partnership for another two years.
New Zealand's antitrust regulator, however, is going to look into the implications on the telecommunications market by Telecom’s 12.1 percent ownership, which would add to the company’s existing 49 percent ownership in Sky Network.
Telecoms analysts are keen on seeing how Telecom’s stake in Shy Network will play out. Telecom now markets products combining telephone and Internet services and is expected to combine these with Sky's television services to compete against Telstra Saturn, New Zealand subsidiary of Telstra Corporation, Australia's largest phone company.
Analysts speculate that Telecom’s purchase of the stake in Sky Network is a defensive strategy that will allow it to block any full takeover of Sky Network.
Telecom Chief Executive Theresa Gattung said her company’s shareholding would support ongoing development of the business relationship between Telecom and Sky Network.
"Our investment in Sky supports Telecom's transformation into an online and communications group at the forefront of convergence in Australasia,” said Gattung.
Sky Network operates five channels on its UHF network and provides sports, movies, news, general entertainment and documentary programming.
HK's Sun TV Eyes Strong Q1 Revenue Rise
From www.satnewsasia.com
Satellite television operator Sun Television Cybernetworks Holdings Ltd said on Sunday it expects to obtain a 300 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in media revenue in the first three months of 2001.
Crediting this growth to strong advertising revenues, Sun Television said its media revenues for the first two months of this year equalled those of the last quarter of 2000. "The revenue trend will likely lead to a financial improvement for Sun TV Satellite Channel," a company statement said.
Although the report did not quantify in dollar terms what the revenues were for the first months of 2001 or for the last quarter of 2000,
But on December 14 the company posted a net loss of HK$63.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2000. That compares with a HK$8.0 million net loss for the same period in 1999.
The Sun TV Satellite Channel is a 24-hour service transmitted via the AsiaSat 3S satellite. It also distributes blocks of programmes to cable and terrestrial television operators in China.
PCCW Buys Hutchison Satellite Firm for US$103 Million
From www.satnewsasia.com
Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW), a company owned by 34-year old Richard Li, has bought a satellite communications business from Li's father, billionaire Li Ka-shing.
PCCW bought Hutchison Telecommunications Technology Investments, a company that includes satellite firm Hutchison Corporate Access (HCA), for US$103 million in stock or a 0.8 percent stake. HCA’s former owner was Hutchison Whampoa, which bought HCA from Li for US$74.5 million in 1995.
HCA claims to have about 70 percent of VSAT rooftop satellite communication market in Asia, as well as some 200 multinational customers in more than 40 countries. It operates rates on 15 different satellites. HCA earned a net income of about US$1.79 million.in its last fiscal year on revenues of about US$39.5 million.
PCCW, which provides satellite-based network communications services in Asia,
said the acquisition will help expand its presence outside Hong Kong. Linus Cheung, deputy chairman of PCCW, said that adding the HCA business will accelerate the company’s platform rollout, “not just in Hong Kong, but in the region.''
PCCW also took pains to explain that the acquisition of HCA was made “at arm's length'' to counter speculations of a conflict of interest if Hutchison, whose businesses include telecommunications, were to take a stake in PCCW. PCCW said the valuation of the HCA business by made by PCCW's advisers, N.M. Rothschild & Sons.
PCCW said it will pay for the acquisition with newly issued shares, which will give Hutchison a 0.83 percent stake. Hutchison Whampoa said PCCW would issue it 183.63 million new shares at HK$4.375 per share as payment in the deal.
Hutchison Whampoa has been selling its satellite-based businesses for the past few years. The company now focuses on developing its 3G (third generation) networks in Hong Kong and Europe.
PCCW was the worst-performing stock in Hong Kong's key index in 2000. Market analysts said that it would take much more to get investors excited before they start to buy PCCW again.
26/2/01
Lots of news today. I still havn't got my cable for the Nokia think they must of sent to China for it :-(
From my Emails & ICQ
Hans Spitaler supplies the press release for Alive TV (Asiasat 3) (See news section)
This From Luke McKimmie
I have had a good look at the new Digital channel "ALIVE" on AS3. (freq-
3900 Pol- V SR- 27900 FEC- 7/8).
This channel is 100% English and is very interesting. Covering many subjects
with a focus on tourism and travelling/adventure etc.
The production and content is of Premium Quality. I think it will stay FTA
for some time. As it doesn't seem to have any advertising partners yet. And
only seems to advertise itself, The website www.alive.com
says that they are going to partner with Pay-TV
operators in Australia late 2001.
From the Dish
Insat 2E 83E Kairali Channel has moved from 3692 V to 3699 V,Dig, Sr 3184 Fec 3/4 Vpid 1160 Apid 1120.
ST 1 88E 3550 V "Open TV" is now encrypted. All radio channels in this mux have left.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3980 V "RTP Internacional" left in analog
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "Alive" Vpid 1210 Apid 1211.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "Alive" Vpid 1220 Apid 1221
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "PCM Test Card" Vpid 1230 Apid 1231
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "PCM Test Card" Vpid 1240 Apid 1241.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "Bharathi" is testing on here, Vpid 34 Apid 37.New FEC for this mux: 1/2.
Apstar 1A 134E 3840 H "CCTV 1,2,7" have new pids and 3 testcard have started here on other pids.
NEWS
PRESS RELEASE
Pacific Century Matrix Adds Alive Networks to Satellite Platform
From http://www.alive.com/
Alive Networks brings travel and learning information and services to consumers through Pacific Century Matrix's Broadband Satellite Services
Hong Kong SAR, China - February 24, 2001 - Pacific Century Matrix today enhanced its broadband satellite services with the addition of Alive Networks - the first international travel and learning company, using a unique combination of media channels - including TV, Internet, mobile devices and printed travel guides - to provide consumers with comprehensive and trusted information, ideas and services, when, where and how they are required.
PCM's broadband infrastructure accelerates the march towards the convergence of television and telecommunications. Through PCM's reliable and efficient integration of television broadcast, high-speed Internet access and content distribution network, Alive's television channel is multiplexed onto PCM's powerful DVB/IP satellite platform. The service joins the bouquet of other PCM television and data services being transmitted from Hong Kong, via PCM's C-Band transponders on the AsiaSat 3S satellite. Currently four transponders are used to support PCM's services to television broadcasters, Internet Services Providers, multinational corporations and content providers, across the Asia-Pacific region from the Russian Federation to Australia and from the Pacific Ocean to the Middle East, covering more than 66% of the world's population. PCM will undergo further dramatic expansion with the launch of its own broadband satellites, specifically designed for the burgeoning converged multimedia, IP data and Internet markets. The first satellite is scheduled for operation in mid 2003.
"The complete satellite and broadband solution that we are able to offer, will allow Alive to provide unparalleled depth and breadth of travel and learning services through its unique integrated media network, reaching out to consumers across the region," said Guenter Kring, Chief Operating Officer at Pacific Century Matrix.
Alive's television content is delivered in two distinct but complementary streams: travel and leisure - including holidays and special activity options, destinations, food, adventure, shopping, fashion and style; and learning and self-improvement - focusing on subjects such as cooking, photography, languages, and health and fitness.
"PCM offers Alive the best possible technology platform to deliver the first of our planned channels to viewers across Asia. As a key driver in our business model, television services will lead the charge in introducing consumers to Alive's unique travel and learning products", said Ian Henry, Alive Networks Chairman and Chief Executive.
In addition to its television service, Alive plans to release its Internet sites shortly, followed by mobile device products and printed travel guides later in the year.
About Alive Networks Limited
Alive Networks is a privately owned company, registered in Hong Kong. Alive Networks was launched in Hong Kong in November 2000. For more information go to www.alive-networks.com
About Pacific Century Matrix Limited
Pacific Century Matrix Limited (PCM) was founded in April 1999 as a service provider for end-to-end broadband connectivity and network services. PCM is a joint venture between Pacific Century Group (PCG) and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). PCM is a facility-based telecommunications service provider offering DVB/IP broadcasting services for TV broadcasters, plus a range of one-way and interactive broadband services for multimedia businesses, major corporations and content providers. In February, 2000 PCM was granted the satellite-based External Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Licence in Hong Kong and in February, 2001, the PNETS licence for providing international value added services (IVANS) and ISP services. website: www.pc-matrix.com
For more information, please contact:
Ann Tsang, Alive Networks Limited +852 2876 3315 +852 2520 6303 (Fax), [email protected]
Wendy Lui, Pacific Century Matrix Limited +852 2514 8699 +852 2509 9917 (Fax), [email protected]
ABA determines remote licence areas for digital television
The Australian Broadcasting Authority has determined eight commercial television licence areas to be remote licence areas for the purposes of conversion to digital broadcasting.
These are the licence areas of ITQ Mt Isa, IMP and QQQ Remote Central and Eastern Australia, WOW Regional and Remote Western Australia, WAW Remote Western Australia, VEW Kalgoorlie, GTW Geraldton and SSW South West and Great Southern Western Australia.
The Broadcasting Services Act deems all non-metropolitan licence areas to be regional, unless the ABA determines them to be remote.
A new provision of the Act (section 38B) allows existing commercial television broadcasters in two-station regional markets to apply for one additional licence in their market (unless a remote licence area overlaps their licence area). The broadcasters can compete for the licence or apply jointly.
These new third services can only be provided using digital transmissions. This means that during the digital conversion process the two existing analog services must be simulcast in digital mode while any new third service will be available in digital mode only.
All the two station regional markets (Tasmania, Darwin and Mildura), have overlaps with a remote licence area (Remote Central and Eastern Australia). The ABA is proposing to vary the television licence area plans for Remote Central and Eastern Australia to remove the overlap between the Remote Central and Eastern Australia television licence areas and the Tasmanian commercial television licence areas. This will enable the Tasmanian licensees to notify the ABA of their intention to apply for an additional licence (see backgrounder).
The time when these licence applications can be made is tied to whether a licence area is remote or regional. Eligible regional broadcasters must notify the ABA within a sunset period of 90 days from 1 January 2001. For the remote area broadcasters, and regional areas with overlaps with remote areas, the timing is 90 days from a date to be determined by the ABA..
BACKGROUNDER
A number of new provisions in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to do with the digital conversion of television services came into force on 1 January 2001.
The Act empowers the ABA to determine remote licence areas for the purposes of the conversion of commercial television broadcasting services to the digital mode of transmission. Conversion is governed by the Commercial and National Television Conversion Schemes (the schemes).
The schemes empower the ABA to determine the policies, methods and procedures it will use to achieve conversion of commercial and national television transmissions from analog mode to digital mode over time, while meeting the Government's policy objectives.
Broadcasters in regional licence areas are bound under Part A of the schemes. The Act provides however that the schemes must have a Part B to cater for the special circumstances of remote areas. Remote coverage areas in relation to National services are deemed to be the same as remote licence areas.
The legislation is prescriptive about the contents of Part A of the Schemes, including the requirement to start up digital transmissions no later than 1 January 2004. In Part B issues such as whether remote broadcasters will be required to match their existing analog coverage and provide specified minimum amounts of high definition television (HDTV) are left to the ABA's discretion. The ABA is yet to develop these policies.
Nevertheless, the ABA has determined which licence areas are 'remote' for the purposes of Part B because the timing provisions of section 38B of the Act apply differently to affected licensees, depending on whether they are licensed to serve remote or regional licence areas.
Section 38B provides for the allocation of a third commercial television licence in two-station markets. Section 38B commenced on 1 January 2001, from which time affected licensees in regional licence areas have 90 days to act if they wish to seek the additional licence (unless their licence areas are overlapped by a remote licence area, in which case the timing is tied to that of the remote licence area). Licensees in remote licence areas will have 90 days from a time to be determined by the ABA in which to act.
The licensing mechanism is for eligible licensees to notify their intention to pursue one of three options to secure the one additional licence that is available. They can form a joint venture licensee company, one or the other may apply alone or both may apply separately, in which case they must compete at auction for the licence.
By formally determining the remote licence areas now the ABA prevents inappropriate treatment of remote area broadcasters under s.38B. If the ABA had not determined these areas to be 'remote', the 90-day period would commence to run in all markets from 1 January 2001.
The determination will also provide certainty to industry as to which commercial television licensees and national broadcasting services are to be bound by Part B of the Schemes.
The determination can be found at http://www.aba.gov.au/what/digital/policy/remote.htm
APSC: From Australia to Brazil
From [sat-nd] 26.02.2001
Asia Pacific Space Centre (APSC) and other firms are behind
efforts to replace the current service provider for Brazil's
Alcantara launch site, Infraero, with a newly formed company.
APSC was originally interested in offering commercial satellite
launches on Russian rockets from Australia's Christmas Island.
The investment recently announced by the Brazilian government
for 2001, R$27 million (US$13 million,) is not sufficient: APSC
estimates that refurbishing the facilities needs R$100 million
(US$49 million.) An agreement is still under negotiation.
Ultra Short-Duration Balloon
From [sat-nd] 26.02.2001
"If successful, balloons could replace expensive satellite
technology for future science experiments," according to NASA
spokesman Louis Barber. Not this one, however: NASA's "Ultra
Long-Duration Balloon" made an emergency landing a few hours
after being launched from Alice Springs, Australia. The balloon
developed a leak for unknown reasons.
A team had been sent to recover the giant balloon, which is 64
m in diameter and 38 m high, and return it to Alice Springs for
examination. It is thought that the scientific instruments
aboard, which are worth US$1 million, were not damaged. The
mission was to examine cosmic radiation from a cruising altitude
of 35 km and should have lasted two weeks.
The launch of the balloon had been delayed for weeks because
of inclement weather. NASA said it would possibly try again with
a replacement balloon in a week's time.
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 08/2001 - February 25 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com Edition
A S I A
ESPN STAR SPORTS TO SHOW PREMIER LEAGUE
News Corporation’s ESPN Star Sports channel on February 23 won exclusive Asian
terrestrial, cable and satellite rights to English Premier League football for
the next three seasons. The rights, acquired for an undisclosed amount,
encompass a total of 165 games per season, broadcast throughout ESPN’s
footprint of 250 million viewers in 25 countries in Asia. The Premier League
joins an impressive ESPN sporting stable including NBA basketball,
international cricket, golf majors, Major League baseball, the US national
Football League, the Wimbledon and US Open Tennis, as well as the UEFA
Champions League, Spanish Primera Liga, the Chinese National Football League
and the Italian Serie A football in some areas.
CHINA - HONG KONG
SUN TELEVISION SET FOR MAJOR GROWTH
Hong Kong-based satellite operator Sun Television CyberNetworks has reported
that it expects to make 300 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in media
revenues for the first three months of 2001. Sun Television said that its media
revenues for the first two months of this year were equal to that corresponding
period in 2000. The company posted a net loss of HK$63.1 million for the second
and third quarters of 2000.
TVBI TO UNSCRAMBLE PAY-TV CHANNELS
Hong Kong broadcaster Television Broadcasts International (TVBI) on February 23
announced plans to convert its encrypted pay-TV channels into free-to-air
channels. The move will allow cable operators in China to re-distribute TVBI’s
TVB-8 and TVB Xing channels to a far greater viewer base. Presently the
channels are available to about 40 million cable users, but converting them
will add many millions of new viewers. The move is also expected to reduce
TVBI’s losses for its Chinese service from HK$87 million in 2000 to about HK$50
million in 2001.
INDIA
TAMIL TV LAUNCHED
Yet another 24-hour Tamil Television channel, Bharathi, launched on February 23
to cater to the cultural and entertainment expectations of the people of the
southern state Tamil nadu. To be uplinked from Singapore, the new channel would
try to capture the number two slot in the state. Dakshin Media Limited (DML), a
subsidiary of leading Indian Zee TV, has launched this channel in ‘strategic
alliance’ with Asianet. Named after Tamil poet, Bharathi, the channel would
offer a mix of TV series, films, game shows, talk shows, health, and other
programming catering to all segments of the society.
NEWS TV INDIA BECOMES STAR INDIA
Rupert Murdoch’s News TV India has changed its name according to a report in
the Business Standard. According to the news journal, News TV India, the Indian
Arm of News Corporation’s Star Group, will now be known as Star India, Ltd. as
part of Star’s upcoming push into the country’s direct to home (DTH) satellite
broadcast market. It said Star, in association with local company Hathaway
Cable, also planned to launch an interactive TV service in India before the
middle of 2001.
JAPAN
JAPAN COULD EASE RULES LIMITING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN TV SECTOR
Japan said on February 23 it may scrap rules that limit foreign investment in
its cable and digital commercial satellite (CS) TV companies to under 20 per
cent. The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and
Telecommunications is drawing up bills to allow foreign companies to invest in
Japanese broadcasters in a bid to help them run costly operations and attract
more content providers. The ministry also said it is planning to ease the
process of entering cable and digital CS broadcasting businesses, allowing
newcomers to freely venture into the market as long as they register with the
government. The bills are expected to be approved early next month and to take
effect in 2002.
NCB TO SELL FUJI TV STAKE
Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc. (NCB), a major shareholder in Japan’s Fuji
Television Network, announced on February 22 that it plans to sell 110,000 of
its shares in the TV network in March. NCB plans to use the proceeds to buy
back its own shares from Obunsha Co., which had 47.1 per cent of its
outstanding shares as of October 2000, and become independent. After selling
the shares on the market to domestic and foreign investors, the company’s stake
in Fuji TV will shrink from the current 13.9 per cent to 3.5 per cent. In July
2000, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting sold Fuji TV shares held by a subsidiary and
bought back shares from Obunsha.
NEW ZEALAND
TELECOM NZ BUYS PAY-TV STAKE
Telecom Corp of New Zealand on February 21 paid NZ$192.6 million for a 12,2 per
cent stake in Rupert Murdoch’s New Zealand pay-TV firm Sky Network Television.
Telecom purchased 46.74 million Sky shares at NZ$4.12 a share from Tappenden
Holdings, the investment vehicle of New Zealand businessmen Alan Gibbs and
Trevor Farmer. Sky is controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s media interests. It is 48
per cent owned by publisher Independent Newspapers Ltd, which is in turn 49.3
per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Telecom also holds a 10 per cent
stake in INL, which it bought for NZ$160 million early last year.
SKY RELEASES SUBSCRIBER FIGURES
Sky Network Television Ltd., New Zealand's main pay-TV operator, on February 22
said its subscriber numbers had passed the 400,000 mark, an increase of about
17.5 per cent from a year ago. Digital satellite television subscribers now
number 224,000 or about 55 per cent of total subscribers.
25/2/01
NO site update for today takeing a break.
24/2/01
I mentiond a couple of days ago about the NIT on Mediasat B3 (12336v) loading 12359v. This from a user."They must be viewing your site... the NIT now loads 12363!!". Well the more people reading the site the better, that way I feel I am not wasteing my time.I also have some news in the news section about the new Bharathi channel on Asiasat 3.
Possible Feed on I701? "WWF No Way out" PPV , Listed for 8 pm ET Sunday 25th Feb, I think thats Monday afternoon in Aus /NZ? send me an email if your good on the time/day conversions.
Page to be trimmed tommorow
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Victor via the mailing list
The "Alive" channel is FTA on Asiasat3 (freq 3900 pol V SR 27900 FEC 7/8).
Also seen on this satellite is" Bharathi" channel on 4135 pol V SR 15000 FEC 2/3
This from Bill Richards
0200UTC 24/2/00
Optus B1 12424 Horz S/R 19800 FEC 3/4
Vpid 308 Apid 257 Text 256 SID1 PMT32 "TEN MAIN1"Video is blocky and broken Audio in the clear assume 4:42 ?
Vpid 309 Apid 258 Text 259 SID2 PMT33 "TEN D2" Golf different shots
Vpid 310 Apid 260 Text 261 SID6 PMT37 "TEN D3" Golf score card
Regards
Bill
This via the mailing list from Abdul
Hi how are you going. At home ive got a Pas-2 satellite and Coship 2000BA reciever. Anyway ive got a problem with the Vision. ive got channels which are perfect and ive got other channels which come in no colour. for example take the Californian Bouquet. The channel MTA is perfect but the rest of the channels have no colour. do you know why this has happened and could i fix it up, or is there a part i could connect to fix it and make all channels in colour.
And also what happens when you subscribe to the mailing list?
thank you Abdul
Craigs Reply,
Yes if these are in Black and white its because they are useing NTSC format (american signal format) you need a new tv or to adjust the coship receiver to force output to PAL format. I do not have one so cannot give detailed instruction some receivers just pass the NTSC signal straight to your tv without converting ( A modern new tv will display the ntsc in colour) other receivers have built in converter. Also try useing AV-connection leads and not RF modulator output.
When you subscribe to the mailing list you should get a message back confirming you have subscribed then you will receive messages everyday usually about what is happening or general chat or feeds being reported.
From the Dish
Thaicom 3 78.5E "Sky Raceing 1" reported FTA
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "Alive tv" reported FTA here, Sr 27900 Fec 7/8, more details needed
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "Bharathi" channel testing here, Sr 15000 Fec 2/3
NEWS
Zee launches Tamil channel Bharathi Friday
From indiantelevision.com
Zee Telefilms, in continuance of its efforts to have a presence in south India, is launching on Friday a 24-hour Tamil television channel, Bharathi.
To be uplinked from Singapore on the Asiasat 3s satellite, the new channel hopes to capture the number two slot in the state. Sun TV is at present the numero uno channel in Tamil Nadu by a long ways with a host of others trailing far behind in terms of viewership and revenue.
Bharati is the second south Indian channel that Zee is launching after the Kannada language channel Kaveri, which was launched in June 2000. Zee Telefilms and Malayalam language channel Asianet each have a 50 per cent stake in Kaveri. Kaveri is still struggling to get recognition and efforts are on to try and revive it. So with another new channel to be nurtured it looks like the Zee team will have a plateful on its hands.
Dakshin Media Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zee Telefilms, is launching this channel in "strategic alliance" with Asianet, Arvind Kumar, senior vice-president and business head (southern channels), told reporters in Chennai on Wednesday night, the Press Trust of India reported.
A Telugu channel will be launched very soon, PTI quoted Kumar as saying. By middle of next month, one news bulletin would be introduced and gradually the number of news bulletins would be increased, he added.
Named after the Tamil poet, Bharathi, the channel will offer a mix of mega serials, weekly serials, films, film-based programmes, game shows, talk shows, health, and many more to cater to all segments of society.
Leading content developers like Tamizhmani and Citadel Video are producing various programmes to be aired on the channel, Financial Express quoted Kumar as saying. News and news-based programmes would be aired from next month on a phased manner, he added.
TV complaints not just digital's fault: ABA
From http://news.ninemsn.com.au/sci_tech/story_5653.asp
A dramatic rise in household complaints about blurry television screens was not necessarily the fault of digital TV, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) said.
Tens of thousands of callers flooded the help lines of the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations (FACTS) when digital technology was introduced in January.
The FACTS call centre received 28,884 calls in January, with just under 9,000 of those calls in December, the ABA said.
Calls from January 3-4, in the first few days of digital TV's introduction, leapt from almost 1,000 a day to more than 4,000 on one day.
The problems to the existing analogue network could have been caused by temporary outages due to tower work or technical reasons, ABA general manager Giles Tanner said.
"I would suggest that in a very large measure, those much larger figures for January reflect those other problems and viewers not being certain whether or not what they were experiencing was digital ... interference when in fact they were suffering temporary outages due to tower work or technical phenomena," Mr Tanner told a Senate estimates committee.
The calls tapered off once people realised the problems may not be the result of digital TV's introduction, he said.
"I think in general I would make the point that both in connection with digitalisation and for other reasons it is sometimes necessary for technicians to work on the towers which the transmitters are mounted on," Mr Tanner said.
"And for other occupation, health and safety reasons the power going into transmitters may at certain times have to be cut or even cancelled."
Mr Tanner said while there were some teething problems, the ABA was promoting talks between government and industry on how to improve the response to digital problems.
"We have experienced some teething problems with the service and we're feeding that into the negotiation," Mr Tanner said.
"But the ABA's aim in this is that government and industry negotiate a single common satisfactory approach to managing these problems."
23/2/01
Golf continues on B3 as predicted yesterday, its also being fed on B1 12424 H could be 16:9 looking at the screenshot Bill Richards supplied. The feed on B3 12363 V is 4:3. There is a lot of League and Super 12 on this weekend, reports needed asap if you see any up as FTA feeds.
Screenshot thanks to Bill Richards
From my Emails & ICQ
Latest Football games and times on FTA satellite supplied by "Sungadi"
Spanish League
Feb 26, 2001 - 03:00 Jakarta Time - Star Sport - Analog - Asiasat 3
Spanish Football League 2000/01 Spanish Football League La Coruna, SPAIN
Real Madrid @ Deportivo La Coruna (Live)
Seri A and B Italian League
Rai International on Pas 2 - digital - time: local time (Italian time)
Thursday 22 Feb. - Time: 20:55 (reply time next day: 6:21) Uefa Cup:
INTER - ALAVES (Live)
Sunday 25 Feb - Time: 14:15 Serie A: LECCE - REGGINA (Live)
Sunday 25 Feb. - Time: 22.30 Serie A: JUVENTUS - MILAN (Live)
Monday 26 Feb. - Time: 20.45 Serie B: SALERNITANA - GENOA (Live)
French League
TV5 - European Bouquet - Asiasat 2 - digital
TV5 - analog - Palapa 2C
UEFA Cup Reply - Nantes vs. Porto - 16:15 - Jakarta Time Feb 23, 2001
French league Cup: Amiens vs Lyon - 2:30 - Jakarta Time Feb 25, 2001 (Live)
Also check on Asiasat 2
Guang-Dong Channel - Ussually English soccer ever Saturday or Sunday will be
transmitting live here on matches that can be seen in china in 22:00 pm
night.
Adi.
From the Dish
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "3rd service seen here?"Zee_13"??"
NEWS
From [sat-nd] 23.02.2001
Fibre optic cable better than satellite
Asia Global Crossing and its affiliate Global Access Ltd. have
successfully transmitted uncompressed HDTV (high definition) and
SDTV (standard definition) video between Japan and the U.S.
using an STM-4C (622Mbps) on Pacific Crossing, the only
independent ring-configured fibre optic system connecting the U.
S. and Japan. The company said in a statement that the test
demonstrated for the first time that fibre optic cable is a
"less expensive, more reliable, higher quality alternative to
satellites for real-time video transmission."
For the video transmission tests, uncompressed and low
compressed HDTV and SDTV video content--including pre-recorded
Olympic opening ceremony footage, a baseball game, and b-roll of
scenic views--were transmitted more than 20,000 kilometres
between Tokyo to Seattle with insignificant delays resulting in
outstanding broadcast quality.
Asia Global Crossing stated that in the future, "the one-to-
many benefit of satellite transmission will be negated by the
quality loss inherent in satellite technology" and caused by
compression of the signal.
The company expects to begin offering commercial video
transmission services 1 March 2001
22/2/01
Sites a bit late today due to Cricket being on FTA. While the cricket was on I was flicking over to B3 12363 v and watching the Macworld Tokyo Steve Jobs presentation from Apple. Another user in NZ has confirmed the freq as 12363v the Mediasat Nit that loads on 12336v reports it as 12359v sr 6111. On the other Mediasat feeds freq on 12336v was the ANZ Golf Open I expect it will swap to the other freq tommorow.
From my Emails & ICQ
This reported via the mailing list last night
From Andy
If anybody is interested Boomerang Tv on Pas 8 Ku
is FTA at the moment 9.00pm sydney time.(Reported Wednesday)
From Robert Anthony
Look for the Grammies today on PAS-2 3901MHz (H) SR 30800 FEC 3/4 Adhoc
I at/after 0100Z (Noon Sydney time).
For at least the last two weeks CBS (US) has carried their Tuesday
evening programming there from 0100Z until 0400Z. This is in addition
to the CBS Evening news found there at 2330Z-0030Z and the David
Letterman Show at 0435Z-0538Z and at least the first few minutes of The
Late Late Show at 0538Z-0638Z (this show is usual cut after anywhere
from 3-30 minutes but the entire show was aired last night).
Besides Survivor II (which is aired around 0600Z-0700Z on Friday) has
anyone noted other US network programming?
John Kahler supplies the missing Boomerang TV screenshot from Pas 8
From the Dish
Intelsat 804 64E 3754 R New NID/TID and SID for TBN : 4/3840 and 3.
Optus B3 156E 12376 H "Phoenix Chinese" has left ,replaced by a test card.
NEWS
Telecom NZ buys into Sky
From http://www.heraldsun.com.au/common/story_page/0,4511,1734351%5E664,00.html
TELECOM New Zealand yesterday bought a 12.1 per cent stake in Sky Network Television in a bid to flex its corporate muscle in the online sector.
Telecom paid $157.9 million for a stake held by Tappenden Holdings – an investment vehicle for New Zealand businessmen Alan Gibbs and Trevor Farmer.
The deal values Sky at about $1.3 billion.
This is not the first venture between the comLpanies, with Telecom NZ having previously developed products that combined telephone and Internet services with Sky's operation.
"We are forming strong relationships with other key players in dynamic markets for communications, information and entertainment services," Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung said.
"Our investment in Sky supports Telecom's transformation into an online and communications group, at the forefront of convergence in Australasia."
Sky is almost half-owned by media outfit Independent Newspapers, which in turn is just under half-owned by News Corp.
Telecom and Sky revealed plans last week to extend their partnership by offering joint telephone, Internet and TV services.
The pair said they would offer the services nationally for at least another three years.
New Zealand's antitrust regulator said it would look into the proposal and its implications for the telecommunications market.
Analysts said yesterday the price paid by Telecom was reasonable given the strategic nature of the parcel and Sky's expanding subscriber base.
Telecom's Sky strategy cloudy
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=173343&thesection=business&thesubsection=
Telecom has bought itself a seat on the Sky Television board for just under $200 million - a move that has puzzled some analysts.
Less than a week after it failed to secure a slice of the country's largest pay-TV operator, Telecom succeeded in persuading Tappenden Holdings to sell its 12.1 per cent stake in Sky for $192.6 million yesterday.
Telecom is believed to have initially offered about $4 a share, and agreed yesterday to pay $4.12.
Analysts and industry players said they believed the move was a defensive ploy to fend off a full takeover.
The Tappenden stake is said to have been on the market for some time and may also have been offered to INL, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
Telecom may have wanted the stake to prevent Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel from buying in. Foxtel is jointly controlled by Telecom's Australian rival, Telstra, and News Corp.
Sky chief executive John Fellett said the purchase would not result in Sky doing anything to favour one shareholder at the expense of another.
Mr Fellett noted that Sky already had distribution arrangements with Telecom, TelstraSaturn, Meridian and Holden.
It would continue to make deals with Telecom, "but we will not do deals if they don't make sense, short of them buying 100 per cent," he said.
Nevertheless, the transaction will give Telecom a greater measure of influence than it receives through its 10 per cent stake in Sky's 47 per cent shareholder, INL.
It is likely to take over the board representation of Tappenden Holdings, which is controlled by businessmen Alan Gibbs and Trevor Farmer.
The move will also harden battle lines in the converging telecommunications and media industries.
TelstraSaturn chief executive Jack Matthews said: "To the extent that Telecom influences Sky, it just adds more impetus to our strategy that we have to get more aggressive in acquiring programming."
Telecom explained the move by saying it wanted to be a leader in the convergence of online entertainment and telephony.
Spokesman Martin Freeth said: "I would have to say it's in the context of getting the right relationship in place with some of the key players in terms of the convergence we all understand is coming."
Last week, Telecom and Sky announced plans to extend a partnership that has been offering joint telephone, internet and television services for the past year. The pair will offer the services nationally for at least two years.
UBS Warburg analyst Paul Richardson said the equity markets would not like the move.
"But most people in business around the board table say these are things you have to do to cement relationships," he said.
Paul Robertshawe, New Zealand equities manager for Tower Asset Management, said it would take some "serious logic" to justify Telecom buying more shares in the near future.
"I'm looking forward to hearing how they expect to leverage this stake," he said.
Analysts were also concerned that Telecom might need to spend billions of dollars if it was successful in bidding for Australia's second-largest telecommunications company, C&W Optus.
Sky shares fell 10c to $3.75 before the announcement, which was made after the market closed. Telecom fell 12c to $5.22.
The Commerce Commission said it would look at the implications of the acquisition for the telecommunications market, though it would not conduct a formal investigation.
In 1995, the commission cleared a proposal for Telecom to buy an indirect stake in Sky that was vigorously opposed by rival telecommunications companies. The objections were rejected after a long court battle but by then Telecom had decided not to proceed.
Analysts said the price paid by Telecom was acceptable given the strategic nature of the parcel, Sky's expanding subscriber base and the strength of the New Zealand dollar, which reduces the US-dollar-denominated cost of its programme purchases. Although Sky fell to a low of $2.60 in November, it placed 20 million shares in August at $3.99 a share.
Budget day will see a new look Zee News
From Indiantelevision.com
There's a positive buzz around Zee News these days. The place is a hive of activity as budget day draws near and the channel is savouring a lot of positive feedback for its excellent coverage of the Gujarat earthquake.
With new entrant Aaj Tak from the India Today stable in direct competition for the Hindi viewership, 2001 Budget coverage may well set the tone as to who will ultimately rule the Hindi news segment.
Zee News head Satish Menon said on Monday that the channel was being repackaged and come budget day the viewer will see and feel the difference. Zee News turning digital from 1 February was just one part of that effort, Menon said. They had roped in Novacom to improve graphics and there were other features being added which would make the channel a must see for the Hindi news buff, he added.
Zee News has the largest share amongst news channels in the country and commands more than 55 per cent relative shares of this market (as per INTAM, ORG-MARG, data for a 10 city average). Menon is pulling out all the stops to make sure it remains that way.
FTV to stay after agreeing to change programming content
From Indiantelevision.com
Fashion Television has adopted the adage if you can't beat them join them and agreed to "change its programming to suit Indian sensibilities".
FTV director-general Francois Thiellet, who was in New Delhi on a two-day trip till Tuesday, had an extended meeting with information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. The meeting ended with an assurance from Thiellet that the contents of the channel would be suitably changed.
Thiellet also had discussions with other Indian broadcasters to work on how FTV could be "Indianised". 'Financial Express', quoting sources, said FTV may get into a strategic alliance with an Indian broadcaster for an India-specific fashion channel.
It was earlier reported that FTV Director Michel Adam would be coming down but it was Thiellet who landed up instead.
Accompanying Thiellet as part of a high-powered FTV delegation were Manivel Malone, managing director for Asia, and Marie-Paule Jensen, executive producer. The team met senior government officials on Monday and discussed the cassette prepared by the "monitoring cell" set up by Swaraj.
Thiellet's visit came after a parliamentary panel led Swaraj decided last Thursday to convey to the FTV bosses that they drop some of their "objectionable" programmes.
21/2/01
Thanks to all that turned up in the chatroom even if discussion did get a bit weird at times. There is very little to report today.
For those that were having trouble with those B3 feeds, the NIT on Mediasat loads them as 12359 v sr 6111 try there first the Nokia will latch onto the signal and the tuner reports it on my machine as 12363 V in Australia it may need a bigger than 90cm dish to get the signal. What was there last night that I was watching while the chat was on, on the main mediasat channel they had the Channel 10 show "Rove" live on the feed channel they were doing a live feed they were about to gatecrash the Channel 7 Popstars house with a singing telegram. The whole thing was a disaster as nobody in the Popstars house would answer the door (probably watching it on tv).
From my Emails & ICQ
From Denny in Indonesia
Hi Craig,
Denny Hutchison from Indonesia here, can you help me, I have not
been able to locate the World of satellite TV as yet in country and may have
it sent up from Aussie also with a satellite finder from
www.johnselectronics.com.au for $75. There seems to be no one in Indonesia
that I can pay to help me set up my Echostar AD 2000 IP analog/digital unit
and dish to my satisfaction or even give me some tips on what I want. I
would really appreciate some basic help if you can
1/ My main question is, if I set up my dish to follow the direct path
of the sun from the horizon in the morning to midday and then set my offset
to suit my latitude of 6.10 in Jakarta, would this be OK? The Jakarta
longitude is 106.49. I have a lot of tall trees next door to the east but I
can view the suns path from morning to mid day through a gap,if I move the
dish to another location, the trees are about 20 metres away and the gap is
about 10m, is this sufficient?
2/ When I view AsiaSat2(100.5deg) my dish is about 20 Deg tilt to the
north. AsiaSat3S(105.5deg) tilt 10 Deg north. PalapaC2 tilt about 20 Deg
south, these sats are all viewed very clear but I would like to pick up
Pas2(169deg) & Pas8(166deg)and any others between 169deg to 100.5deg. In the
past the trees have obscured the direct vision to these Sat's, as I have had
Agila2(146deg) but very bad reception.
3/ How do I view or set up for KU Band? I pick up C Band OK.
4/ I have played with the dish settings myself and understand what has
to be done (I think) but setting up the feed horn? I have not attempted,
should I rotate, raise or lower it also for better reception.
5/ LBN SETTINGS How I have it set is Highlighted in Red the other
options to the right
Satellite Palapa C2
Other Sat's
Antenna Input A B
LBN freq.low 5150 Universal 8000
10750 9750 10000 10600 11475
LBN freq.high 5150 Universal 8000
10750 9750 10000 10600 11475
DISEqC Disable Mini A Mini B DiseqC1 DiseqC2 DiseqC3 DiseqC4
Polarity control Skew 0/12v 0/22Khz DiseqC 13/18v
LNB Freq. Band 0/22Khz 13/18v 0/12v
22KHz Tone Off
Cannot set otherwise
12v On Off
LBN Power On Off
Loop Through A B
Off
Should this be set up different for KU Band where available?
In the Lyngemark Satellite Chart it lists
Freq.TP
Channel Name
Analog or Digital
Video Encryption
SR-FEC / SID-VPID
NID-TID Audio
Beam
Source Update
Is this all the info I need to search for the sat? If the sat lists no
Analog FTA I go to Digital and what I get to feed info into is
Sat Pas8
Index Channel No.
Transponder Freq (This I must input with what
from the Lygnemark data?)
LBN Polarization Understood
Symbol Rate (This must also bet set with what?)
FEC ( I have AUTO is this enough or manual 1/2 - 2/3 - 3/4 - 5/6 - 7/8)
Longitude 166 deg E
I'm sorry to bother you with this request Craig, as I know you are a busy
man with other things to do but I'm getting desperate and have no where to
turn here in Indonesia for a bit of help. I contacted the manufacturer of
Echostar in Holland and they referred me to their local distributor in
Jakarta, who when contacted said they have no technicians to help as they
are only interested in sales. I e-mailed back to explain this to Holland and
the guy said he has forwarded my request to the next nearest distributor (In
Dubai) and see if they can help, but he hasn't come knocking on the door as
yet HA HA.
Anxiously awaiting your reply
Denny Hutchison Indonesia
Craigs reply, I have sent Denny a big long reply via email perhaps one of our readers in Indonesia would be able to help him with some more localized help. The formatting of his settings got a bit messed up when I pasted them in so ignore if they look a bit wrong. His email is [email protected]
From the Dish
Optus B3 156E 12336 V Access 1 (internet service) is on , MPEG-2, SID 112. (Note this has been here a while)
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "CTS" has started here on Vpid 105 Apid 106, in addition to Vpid 1184 Apid 1185.
Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "Australia TV" tests have been replaced by a test card.
NEWS
PanAmSat updates launch schedule (again)
From [sat-nd] 21.02.2001
PanAmSat updated its launch schedule by announcing that the
PAS 10 Indian Ocean Region satellite will be launched in the
second quarter 2001 aboard an ILS Proton, and the Galaxy IIIC
spacecraft will be launched in the third quarter 2001 aboard a
Sea Launch Zenit 3SL.
20/2/01
Livechat tonight 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom. Last night B3 "Mediasat" on 12363 V, vpid 4096 apid 4097 had the Australian Super Middleweight Boxxing feed for Sky (Australia). Those on the mailing list had nearly 2 hours prewarning before the event started. A good reason to be on the mailing list get notified of feeds before or while they are on rather than see what you missed when its reported the next day. Sky NZ is still playing with FTA signals today, the mosaic screen was up fta same place as last weeks test SI 1026 "Channel"
From the Dish
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3695 H "Sky Racing Channel 1" is FTA at the moment
Measat 1 91.5E The Astro package has encrypted in Mediaguard.(See above)
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "FTV" has encrypted, "CSMTV" is fta currently
Measat 2 148E The Astro package has changed from Cryptoworks to Mediaguard. (This service was widely hacked in Asia for the HBO service)
NEWS
New pay TV licences allocated
From http://www.aba.gov.au/about/public_relations/newrel_01/6nr01.htm
TV allocates pay TV licences to Primestar Communications Australia Pty Ltd
The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated seventy subscription television broadcasting licences to Primestar Communications Australia Pty Ltd (Primestar).
Primestar has indicated that it proposes to deliver a range of programs including subjects such as sports, movies, entertainment, documentaries, information, news (international and domestic), cartoons, education, music and youth culture.
Unlike apparatus licences or other service delivery permits, these licences do not have geographical limitations. Therefore, a service licence is valid throughout Australia as long as the programming on that service is the same in all areas of reception. Where the service differs in a location, a separate service licence is required.
Before allocating the licences the ABA examined the foreign holdings in Primestar to establish that allocation of the licences would not lead to a breach of the foreign ownership restrictions on pay TV broadcasting licences. A foreign person may not have company interests of more than twenty per cent in a pay TV broadcasting licence, nor may two or more foreign persons hold more than thirty five per cent in aggregate.
The ABA also considered a report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on whether allocation of the licences would be anti-competitive. The ACCC said it was not of the opinion that allocation of the licences would constitute a contravention of section 50 of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
Primestar contact: Mr Robert Porter, on (02) 9908 8861.
19/2/01
Has anyone with a Nokia tryed to find the KU signal on I802 (174E) there should be loads of internet data there, anyone have the frequency they are useing? not much else happening today either ABS channel 2/3 reported encrypted on Pas 8 3880?
A current look at CNBC line-up on Pas 8
Pas 8 166E 3900 H "CNBC Asia Bouquet " SR 27500 Fec 3/4
CNBC Asia
CNBC Australia
CNBC TEST CARD
CNBC India
CNBC TEST CARD
CNBC Hong Kong
CNBC Feeds
From the Dish
Nothing to report can someone scan I802 for KU?
NEWS
Intelsat 802 replaces defunct cable
From [sat-nd] 19.02.2001
Intelsat is providing a full duplex Ku-band OC-3 (155 Mbit/s)
link to China over its satellite at 174 degrees East to restore
service to millions of Internet users on the mainland following
the failure of a major cable between Shanghai and the west coast
of the U.S. The satellite link is operating between the Verestar
Satellite Network Access Point in Brewster, Washington and China
Telecom's Beijing Earth station.
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 07/2001 - February 18 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
(EDITED APSATTV.com Edition)
UNITED KINGDOM
GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE FREE DIGITAL TV CONVERSION
Thousands of UK homes are to be given free conversion to digital television as
the Government tries to boost the spread of the new Internet technology and
enable older people to send e-mails to their families. Along with television
and telecommunications bodies and businesses, the Government is to launch pilot
projects this year to give people the chance to shape the future of digital
television. Because digital can give people access to worldwide Internet
shopping, banking and learning, as well as e-mail, ministers have decided that
developing it is a central part of plans to help Britain prosper in the
?knowledge economy”. The experimental projects will start by offering
conversion to a small number of households, but will build up rapidly to
convert 1,000 or more. The Government will pick a number of areas which might
wish to benefit and then, in cooperation with the Independent Television
Commission and the digital industry, provide desktop access boxes and
adjustment of aerials and video recorders.
AUSTRALIA
AUTHORITY TO REVIEW SPORTS LIST
Australian Communications Minister Richard Alston on February 15 announced that
he has directed industry watchdog the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA)
to review the country’s anti-siphoning list. Under the anti-siphoning rules,
free-to-air (FTA) networks have a priority over pay-TV licensees to acquire the
rights to listed sporting events. If no FTA network has acquired the rights to
an event, pay-TV licensees may request it be de-listed so they can broadcast it
live. As it stands, the anti-siphoning list includes 37 events such as
Australian Football League and National Rugby League matches, rugby union
tests, Australian international cricket matches, and Grand Slam tennis games.
The ABA will hand its report to the Minister by June 30. Existing arrangements
on the list remain in effect until December 31, 2004.
AUSTAR BETS ON INTERACTIVE TV
Austar United Communications announced a deal with Oracle on February 12 aimed
at attracting new subscribers to its regional pay-TV service. Last week Austar
told the market it had lost more than 5000 pay-TV subscribers in the last three
months of 2000. Under the agreement, Austar will use Oracle’s interactive
television platform software. The pay-TV company presently offers just one-way
interactive services such as weather, games and a program guide to 250,000 of
its 427,000 subscribers. The new platform will allow two-way interactivity with
services such as email, home shopping, banking and tiered games.
CHINA
CCTV AND ENCORE EXTEND COOPERATION DEAL
China Central Television and U.S.-based Encore International signed a contract
on February 12 to extend their co-operation for another five years, allowing
CCTV to continue to air Encore’s international blockbusters and popular family
dramas every night to an estimated 50 million households in China. In return,
Encore International will go on broadcasting CCTV International’s programs on
its International Channel, claiming 10 million households in the United States.
These programs include CCTV’s English news coverage of China and other parts of
the world, as well as some sports and Chinese dramas dubbed in English.
Meanwhile, through its multi-ethnic digital platform, Encore International will
also go on to distribute the entire CCTV 24-hour channel among its 2 million
U.S. subscribers.
DVN TO UPGRADE SHANGAI’S BROADCAST NETWORK
Hong Kong-based digital video broadcast system developer DVN will supply its
platform to the Shanghai Broadcasting Bureau’s Technical Centre (SBBTC). DVN
said the deal will allow SBBTC to upgrade Shanghai’s broadcast network from
analogue to digital, improving broadcast quality and maximising cable
bandwidth. The province’s three main broadcasters, Shanghai TV Station,
Oriental TV Station and Shanghai Cable TV Station, will use the DVN platform to
broadcast over Shanghai Cable TV Network.
INDIA
ZEE TV TO ENCRYPT SIGNAL
Leading Indian commercial broadcaster Zee Telefilms plans to encrypt its main
Hindi-language channel Zee TV. Zee Telefilms wants to boost its revenues from
Zee TV. The company would not give its planned fee for Zee TV, but confirmed it
will encrypt the channel in the next financial year, which begins in April.
JAPAN
LOSSES UP AT SKY PERFECT
Sky Perfect Communications, the joint venture involving Rupert Murdoch’s News
Corp that runs one of Japan’s largest satellite broadcasters, suffered a rise
in accumulated losses to ¥91.25 billion in the nine months to December, up from
¥69.4 billion last April. Sky Perfect, a joint venture between News
Corporation, Sony, Itochu, Fuji TV, Softbank and Hughes Corporation, is the
last surviving satellite broadcast operator that uses a communication satellite
rather than a broadcasting satellite. It was formed in 1998 when JSkyB, a joint
venture between News Corporation and Softbank, merged with PerfecTV, the first
of Japan’s communications satellite broadcasters to establish itself in the
market. The difficulty multi-channel broadcasters faced in Japan’s market was
underlined when DirecTV, the Japanese subsidiary of the US broadcast operator,
agreed to merge with Sky Perfect last year. Sky Perfect said that its net loss
for the first three quarters stood at ¥21.8 billion, while revenues for the
period reached ¥34.94 billion. Sky Perfect, which over the past 4 years, has
signed up just 2.1 million paying subscribers, aims to reach the 3-3.5 million
needed to break even, within the next 2 years.
NEW ZEALAND
SKY ANNOUNCES INCREASED REVENUES
New Zealand pay-TV operator Sky Network Television (SKY) on February 15
announced a 20 per cent rise in subscriber revenue to more than NZ$119 million
for the first quarter of 2000/2001. The increase contributed to an overall
operating revenue for the six months to December 31 of almost NZ$145 million.
SKY also ended the period with an increase of more than 20,000 subscribers,
bringing its total customer base to 397,095. SKY now expects to be able to
offer a suite of interactive services over the next eight weeks using the Open
TV interactive platform.
SINGAPORE
SPH TO RUN CHANNEL OOH!
SPH MediaWorks (MW), the broadcast affiliate of media conglomerate Singapore
Press Holdings has announced a joint venture to own and operate Channel OOH!
(Channel Out of Home). OOH! would be an integrated island-wide out-of-home TV
channel to be screened on buses, in shopping malls, chain stores, supermarkets,
banks, departmental stores and other out-of-home points with mobile and
stationery screens. Viewers will be offered 10-15 minute packages of customised
entertainment programs, news, weather and travel updates. The joint venture
will be called CaptiveVision (CV), 36.4 per cent held by MW, digital
transmission specialist Advent TV (36.4 per cent) and IT/broadband multimedia
company Net.Wxs International (27.2 per cent). CV plans to launch OOH! by May
this year.
MEDIACORP LAUNCHES TVMOBILE
Singapore broadcaster MediaCorp on February 15 launched its TVMobile service,
offering digital TV to the country’s public bus commuters. The service will be
available on all air-conditioned public busses, reaching a potential regular
audience of about 1.5 million people. TVMobile will feature specially produced
10-15 minute news and entertainment programs in both English and Mandarin. The
service is designed to promote the quality of digital television to potential
home users.
18/2/01
Very small edition, Election feeds were on Mediasat last night and also the feed channel where the golf is today (12363 v B3 sr 6111 fec 3/4). Has anyone seen the NRL anywhere? Sorry about the lack of info today but I like spend a bit of time away from doing the site on the weekend
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Bill Richards
2200 to 2230UTC
The BBC News Feed Service on Pas2 3942V S/R 7500 FEC 2/3 is rebroadcast via
Optus B1 ABC Interchange Service "DV1" on 12326H S/R 6980 FEC 3/4 Vpid1160 Apid1120 SID1.
XFL Football 3901 H 0100 UTC Sunday
Regards
Bill
Craigs reply, I can't get get anything off that B1 Freq I tryed when the cricket was there..
From the Dish
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3800 H "mystery signal" could be Greek and encrypted Sr 12000 fec 3/4 (reports needed)
NEWS
Sorry no news section today
17/2/01
Not much happening today pretty quiet, look on B1/B3 tonight for a possible feed of tonights NRL matches
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards, these Colour bars off Pas 2 4026 H from "KBS Korea"
From the Dish
NSS 703 57E 3890 R "Surya TV" this channel has left
NEWS
FTV in India living on borrowed time if it doesn't dress up
From Indiantelevision.com
Looks like the "butts and cleavage" on Fashion Television will be around a while longer.
For how long remains to be seen because the parliamentary panel led by information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj decided on Thursday to convey to the FTV bosses that they drop some of their "objectionable" programmes.
Essentially that their should be less of clothes dropping and more of dressing up in line with "Indian cultural ethos", an all-embracingly vague term if there ever was one.
In other words the guys at FTV will have to tear their hair out finding ways on how to keep the clothes on. A bit of self-censorship should make the channel pass muster seems to be the general sentiment among the committee members.
Swaraj is expected to convey the panel's decision to FTV Director Michael Adam when he calls on her in New Delhi next week.
16/2/01
No time for the usual bit up the top have been to busy today.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
0745 UTC 15/2/01
Pas 2 169E 3873 H "WNBA Basketball Feed" NTSC, Sr 6620 Fec 2/3 Vpid 4160 Apid 4120
Regards
Bill
From ME :-)
12.00pm Syd 16/2/01
Optus B3 12365 V "C7 Feed-Ericsson Australian Golf Masters" Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 Vpid 1160 Apid 1120
Reported in NZ on 60cm and Perth on 90cm, no luck? others with Nokias report 12363/12362, Sr 6108
I am not to happy with the quality of the screenshots, I am useing a parallel port digitizer at the moment things should improve a lot once I get the cable and can run dvbedit on the Nokia.
From the Dish
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3682 H "Mediasat" tests have finished
PAS 8 166E 12686 H "TVBS Asia and TVBS Newsnet" TVB BQ have encrypted
PAS 8 166E 12726 H "CNN Financial Network" is FTA at the moment (Boomerang service) CNN here also FTA
NEWS
NZ Sky TV posts $19.6 million loss
Pay television operator Sky TV has chalked up another whopper half-year loss, but says the result is simply a reflection of the company's healthy growth.
Sky TV lost $19.6 million in the six months to December 31 - a four-fold increase on the $4.7 million deficit it recorded for the same period in 1999.
The result was in line with analysts' expectations.
The company gained more than 20,000 subscribers during the period, taking its total UHF and satellite subscriber base to over 397,000.
That growth, during what Sky said was traditionally its slower half-year, pushed subscriber revenue up 20 percent.
Total operating revenue was up from $130 million to $144.5 million.
Chief financial officer Paul Smart said a significant factor in the loss was the fall in the New Zealand dollar, which added $8 million to the cost of buying overseas programmes.
Another factor was an increase in depreciation - up to $45 million from $36.8 million last year - most of which involved writing down the value of set-top boxes as subscriber numbers grew.
"So ironically, the greater the loss, to some extent, the better we're doing," Mr Smart said.
Asked when Sky might become profitable he said: "Within the next couple of years we should get close to making a profit if the growth continues."
When told that the "within the next couple of years" phrase was one that Sky executives had been using for several years now, Mr Smart said forecasts were prone to change as expectations for growth changed.
"You could make the business profitable relatively quickly by just stopping growth, but strategically that wouldn't be the right thing."
Analysts expect Sky's loss will contribute to a fall in profit for parent company Independent Newspapers Ltd, which is due to announce its half-year result on Friday.
Sky TV closed down 5c at $3.75 on Thursday.
Sky Adds Another Australian News Channel
By : Abe Orchard
From http://www.spectrum.net.nz/index.html
Sky TV has replaced Sky News UK with Sky News Australia, a version produced specifically for the Australian market.
Sky already broadcasts CNBC Australia, a tailored version of CNBC Asia with itelf is a joint venture between NBC and Dow Jones of the US.
Sky News Australia will replace the British version from March 1. The channel will continue to include material from Sky News UK as well as content from CBS from the United States and 3 News which is inserted by Sky TV as part of an agreement the broadcaster has with the CanWest operated channel in New Zealand.
Massey media studies senior lecturer Graeme Bassett told the Dominion that the service is unlikely to include much content from New Zealand but because New Zealand and Australia's cultures were similar it would provide a more relevant service to New Zealand viewers. Sky News UK was developed by the News Corp owned BSkyB in competition to BBC and ITV operated news services and is aimed at BSkyB's viewers.
Intelsat Announces New Satellite at 85 Degrees E; Establishes Strategic Relationship with SINOSAT for Use of Capacity
From www.satnewsasia.com
The INTELSAT IX Series has the largest capacity in the INTELSAT system
with expanded beam coverage to provide growth and enhancement of services for key markets.
Intelsat today announced that it has finalized an agreement to purchase an all Ku-band satellite that will be used to create a new orbital role at 85 Degrees E. SINOSAT, the Chinese satellite operator, has acquired rights to use six transponders on this satellite during the entire orbital maneuver life of the satellite, which will be manufactured by Astrium SAS of Toulouse, France.
China Great Wall Industry Corp. is scheduled to launch the spacecraft, which will be known as the Intelsat APR-3 satellite, in the Spring of 2002. As part of this arrangement, SINOSAT also has acquired rights to use two C-band transponders on the Intelsat satellite at the 178 Degrees E location, scheduled to be operational by October 2003.
Cheng Guangren, SINOSAT's President, stated, "We are very pleased to establish this strategic relationship with Intelsat. Intelsat was quick to understand the growing demands of our market, and demonstrated great support in customizing coverage of the satellite beam to meet our requirements. This additional high quality capacity will help us meet the growing needs of our customers."
"This relationship represents the type of innovative solution that helps build success for our customers," said Conny Kullman, Intelsat CEO. "The new orbital role at 85 Degrees E will provide SINOSAT with coverage to meet its increasing demands for domestic service. It will also give Intelsat strategic landmass coverage of China, Russia, India and the Middle East. Further, with launch scheduled by Spring of 2002, this deal represents an extremely quick time to market for the design, manufacture and delivery of a new spacecraft, demonstrating Intelsat's flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs," Kullman continued.
The primary applications for the new satellite will include corporate VSAT networks, video distribution to cable head-ends, and Internet connections to ISPs. Intelsat currently has ten satellites on order (seven Intelsat IXs, two Xs and the Intelsat APR-3) which it plans to launch over the next three years.
Intelsat is an international communications provider that offers Internet, broadcast, telephony and corporate network solutions around the globe through its fleet of 19 satellites. For nearly four decades, many of the world's leading telecommunications companies, multinational corporations and broadcasters in more than 200 countries and territories have relied on Intelsat satellites and staff for quality connections, global reach and unrivaled reliability.
Japan Sets Date for Switch to Digital TV
From www.satnewsasia.com
Japan intends to shift to digital TV by 2011 in response to a continuing strong demand for the service throughout Japan.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications expects the Japanese Cabinet to approve its recommendation to shift Japan to digital transmissions for television broadcasts and end terrestrial analog broadcasting by 2011. The Cabinet will meet next week.
The ministry said that frequencies allocated for analog broadcasts will stop 10 years after frequencies are allocated for digital terrestrial broadcasts. Telecoms analysts said this could happen by this summer.
Digital terrestrial broadcasts are to start in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya by 2003, and nationwide by 2006.
Australia this January 1 launched its nationwide free to air digital TV service. Viewer response was mostly positive although there were complaints abut “snowy connections” or poor connections in several areas.
Japanese telecoms industry sources say Japan’s demand for digital TV and set top boxes should exceed two million in 2002 from 700,000 units this year. Demand for TV sets is estimated at 10 million units per year.
Satellite-based digital TV sets were introduced in 2001 while satellite-based digital broadcasts began December 1. NHK and five Tokyo-based stations intend to build a giant digital transmission in central Tokyo.
Public broadcaster NHK and five Tokyo-based commercial stations are teaming up in a project to build a 1,968-foot television transmission tower in central Tokyo.
The Akihabara district, famous for its dozens of electronics discount stores, is the favorite candidate site for the tower.
Digital TV offers higher quality pictures and more channels than analog broadcasts. It will also enable viewers to do online shopping, banking and Internet surfing.
Digitization of broadcasting transmission breaks down the barriers between the Internet, traditionally a telecommunications domain, and the traditional media-oriented television sector.
Consumers will be able to send and receive e-mail, browse the Internet, buy goods and services, and play games on their digital TV sets, while increased bandwidth to homes via telecom networks will enrich Internet services with broadcast quality video and audio, bringing television to the PC.
India's TV Channel Wars Heat Up
From www.satnewsasia.com
Players in India’s overcrowded broadcasting industry are fighting to survive and are looking at strategies ranging from the inspired to the, well, unoriginal.
India’s close to 100 broadcasters are fragmented by region, language and technology. The market is equally diverse and the question facing broadcasters is universal: how do I increase ratings and revenues?
The answer for the moment appears to be game shows, specifically game shows offering lots and lots of money. The “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” phenomenon has swept India thanks to the introduction of the Indian equivalent by Star, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
Star signed up durable film icon Amitabh Bachchan, to host the show in July 2000. Known by its Hindi name, "Kaun Banega Crorepat,” the show has become a huge success and has spawned copycat programs such as an offering from Zee Networks that offers twice the cash prize. Zee, India’s largest private broadcasting network, is owned by rice trader turned media magnate Subhash Chandra.
Bachchan and his game show are so popular that analysts say they will enable Star to break even earlier than their 2002 target. The game show’s success has given Star a leg up in India’s fierce broadcasting wars.
Among other industry heavy hitters are Sony Entertainment Television (a subsidiary of the Japanese electronics giant) that launched its own game show hosted by a younger host to contrast with the veteran Bachchan. Others stations are planning their own game shows.
These game shows will compete for eyeballs in a market crowded with specialized entertainment, news, business, music and other channels like BBC, CNN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and MTV. Then there is a plethora of regional channels.
Despite the huge market potential, Indian broadcasters are losing money. Blame is on the ferocious competition and the market’s penchant for price cuts.
But there is some good news. TV revenues are growing some 20 percent annually and are projected to bring in revenues for broadcasters. Another silver lining is the high growth expected of cable TV. Analysts expect high growth for cable, whose penetration rate reaches a high 43 percent in some of India’s urban areas.
A number of broadcasters are attempting to introduce a “bouquet of channels” to offer broader program packages to advertisers.
JSAT Up After Healthy 3Q Earnings
From www.satnewsasia.com
JSAT Corporation, Japan’s largest satellite operator, said profits for October-December 2000 rose 38.8 percent year-on-year to 2.4 billion yen.
The company’s stock rose 46,000 yen or 6.43 percent to 761,000. The stock, however, was about half of its peak of 1.52 million yen in August 2000.
JSAT currently has one of the largest number of satellites in orbit. Its satellite constellation consists of nine satellites, two of which are co-owned with NTT Corporation operator of the NStar satellites.
JSAT has ordered a 10th satellite, JCSAT-8, whose launch date has not been announced.
This satellite will replace JCSAT-2, and will carry 16 Ku-band amplifiers and 16 C-band amplifiers and will provide coverage to Japan, East Asia, Australia and Hawaii.
15/2/01
Not a good start to the day, my Eudora Email inbox decided to corrupt itself loseing all my kept email going back since 98. So I have a fresh clean inbox now so I took the chance to use the update patch and updated to Eudora 5.02. If you sent me email in the last day it may have been lost there is not much happening satellite stuff happening today. I have scrounged a 90CM with lnbf ex Ihug Ultra dish, its mine for just postage cost from Auckland down to Nelson, shouldnt be more than $35 or so this will make my ABC signal more reliable though its good for %90 of the time on the 60cm.
From Bill Richards RE: Tower Broadcast feed
From the info below I fail to find any TV or Radio service other than Tower Broadcast
Center feeds reguardless of the transmitted channel info.
Pids transmitted on 3942 are
0
1
16 = 00: 47 40 10 13 00 40 f0 5f 13 8a f1 00 00 f0 19 40 G@...@._.......@
10: 0b 50 41 53 35 4c 4f 4e 4d 43 50 43 0f 04 53 41 .PAS5LONMCPC..SA
20: 50 53 5f 04 53 41 50 53 f0 39 00 00 13 8a f0 33 PS_.SAPS.9.....3
30: 43 0b 00 40 00 00 00 00 01 02 76 90 15 41 24 00 [email protected]$.
40: 01 01 00 02 01 00 03 01 00 04 01 00 05 01 00 06 ................
50: 02 00 07 02 00 08 02 00 0b 01 00 0c 02 00 0d 02 ................
60: 00 0e 02 d1 0a 0d ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
70: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
80: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
90: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ............
17 = 00: 47 40 11 1f 00 42 f1 b3 00 00 c5 00 00 13 8a ff [email protected]..........
10: 00 01 fd 90 28 48 22 01 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 ....(H"..DEFAULT
20: 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 0f 42 42 43 20 2d 20 PROVIDER.BBC -
30: 43 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 31 53 02 0e 00 00 02 fd Channel 1S......
40: 90 26 48 20 01 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 .&H ..DEFAULT PR
50: 4f 56 49 44 45 52 0d 42 42 43 20 43 68 61 6e 6e OVIDER.BBC Chann
60: 65 6c 20 32 53 02 0e 00 00 03 fd 80 22 48 20 01 el 2S......."H .
70: 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 .DEFAULT PROVIDE
80: 52 0d 43 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 54 68 72 65 65 00 R.Channel Three.
90: 04 fd 80 21 48 1f 01 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 ...!H...DEFAULT
a0: 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 0c 43 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c PROVIDER.Channel
b0: 20 46 6f 75 72 00 05 fd 80 1a 48 18 Four.....H.
00: 47 00 11 10 01 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 G.....DEFAULT PR
10: 4f 56 49 44 45 52 05 44 57 2d 74 76 00 06 fd 80 OVIDER.DW-tv....
20: 18 48 16 02 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 4f .H...DEFAULT PRO
30: 56 49 44 45 52 03 44 57 31 00 07 fd 80 18 48 16 VIDER.DW1.....H.
40: 02 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 ..DEFAULT PROVID
50: 45 52 03 44 57 32 00 08 fd 80 18 48 16 02 10 44 ER.DW2.....H...D
60: 45 46 41 55 4c 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 03 EFAULT PROVIDER.
70: 44 57 37 00 0b fd 80 18 48 16 01 10 44 45 46 41 DW7.....H...DEFA
80: 55 4c 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 03 52 54 50 ULT PROVIDER.RTP
90: 00 0c fd 80 18 48 16 02 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 54 .....H...DEFAULT
a0: 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 03 52 54 50 00 0d fd PROVIDER.RTP...
b0: 80 27 48 25 02 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c .'H%..DEFAUL
00: 47 00 11 11 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 12 52 G...T PROVIDER.R
10: 65 6e 61 73 63 65 6e 63 61 20 43 61 6e 61 6c 20 enascenca Canal
20: 31 00 0e fd 80 21 48 1f 02 10 44 45 46 41 55 4c 1....!H...DEFAUL
30: 54 20 50 52 4f 56 49 44 45 52 0c 52 44 50 20 41 T PROVIDER.RDP A
40: 6e 74 65 6e 61 20 31 63 0a 5f 92 ff ff ff ff ff ntena 1c._......
50: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
60: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
70: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
80: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
90: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ............
500 Nil Data
1420 Apid Ch4
1422
1460 Vpid Ch4
5004 = 00: 47 53 8c 1e 00 02 b0 27 00 04 cb 00 00 e5 b4 f0 GS.....'........
10: 06 0f 04 53 41 50 53 02 e5 b4 f0 00 04 e5 8c f0 ...SAPS.........
20: 00 04 e5 8e f0 00 80 e5 97 f0 00 30 db 68 a7 ff ...........0.h..
30: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
40: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
50: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
60: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
70: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
80: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
90: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ................
b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ............
Craigs reply, Ahh thanks for that Bill though most wont understand it its a raw data dump from the Nokia showing info on those streams.
Hi Craig,
I'm an Aussie living in Indonesia and would like to pick up all the free to
air available. I have an Echcostar AD 2000 IP digital/analog receiver and
run a mesh 10ft dish. I look at Satchart (Ugar Tani) web site and see many
FTA but can not find when I channel search. I would also like to buy the new
small 20inch dish and use if possible. Do you recommend a book to teach me
the basics of programming or setting up to receive what I want.
Best regards Denny Hutchison Indonesia
Craigs reply, I hope you have some sort of motorisesd positioner? The Satchart site is very out of date the best one to use is
http://www.lyngsat.com/asia.shtml
You should be able to get nearly all the cband channels up there that are shown on my page. The Lyngsat site has all the setting you need provideing your dish is correctly aligned. The Echostar AD2000 IP is a good receiver for where you are.
The small 20 inch dish I presume is for KU band I am not quite sure what you will get but i think a number of beams cover Indonesia look at the Lyngsat footprints for more details. I think there are some South Asian beams that cover where you are. I don't know of any books that teach you how to program your sat receiver other than the manual you get with it. A good book all satellite owners should have is Mark Longs World of satellite TV book (Be sure to get the asia pacific edition)
Let me know how things go.
From the Dish
Agila 2 146E 3736 H "A-TV (South Korea)" is new here, Sr 3000, Vpid 1160 Apid 1120 (South Asia Beam)
NEWS
Telecom and Sky to Launch National Offers
From Telecom NZ
Telecom and SKY Television have agreed to launch soon a range of innovative offers for residential customers throughout New Zealand.
Based on a successful trial of telephone, Internet and home entertainment packages among some customers since last June, Telecom and SKY have agreed to extend their initial one-year agreement by a further two years and to introduce packages nationally within the next few months.
?We are driving integration between the telephone, the Internet and television with major benefits for our customers,” Telecom Chief Executive Theresa Gattung said today.
Details of new packages will be announced soon, Ms Gattung said.
?Telecom and SKY look forward to providing a range of exciting services for New Zealanders to be entertained and informed, and to communicate and transact business,” she said. “Our customers like packages because of their simplicity, and the choice and value they offer.”
Around 6,500 residential customers, mostly in Wellington and Christchurch, are on the current trial. Alternative packages have included:
- Monthly telephone access and SKY digital basic; or
- Monthly telephone access, SKY digital basic and 10 hours Xtra Internet; or
- Monthly telephone access, SKY digital basic and unlimited Xtra Internet.
SKY Chief Executive John Fellet noted that Telecom could reach around 1.4 million residential customers while SKY provided an unparalleled choice of home television entertainment to about 400,000 homes.
?SKY is one of the fastest growing pay television companies in the world and through its digital satellite service reaches every New Zealand household,” Mr Fellet said
Asianet looking to relaunch struggling Kaveri
From Indiantelevision.com
Leading Malayalam language channel Asianet is putting together plans to provide a fresh of life to its Kannada language channel Kaveri, which has been struggling to stay afloat ever since its launch in June 2000.
"We still have faith in Kaveri's potential but we have a lot of work on our hands," Asianet COO Mohan Nair said on Tuesday. "In the immediate term, we are trying to increase the programming content," Nair said.
Asianet and Zee telefilms each have a 50 per cent stake in Kaveri which has faced viewer recognition problems from the outset. A reason given is the fallout from the 108-day kidnapping drama of popular Kannada film star Rajkumar who was released on 15 November. During the kidnap period there was a virtual shutdown of the Kannada film industry, which led to a severe shortfall vis-a-vis fresh programming.
"Kaveri needs some dedicated nurturing because the market out there is till untapped and I see it as a challenge," Nair said. "We are planning a virtual relaunch. Just wait and watch," he added.
14/2/01
Thanks to those that turned up for the Tuesday chat it seems they are becoming more popular. Some more happenings on Sky NZ's FTA testing today they are testing with looping video footage perhaps we will see some programming on there by the weekend. A friend with Sky notes his receiver will not tune in this fta broadcast yet. It will require Sky to upgrade the software to enable it to show up. Video clips screened were a 5 second loop of soccer and a shot of someone zooming in on a man by some boats. They are also using slightly different card to the one used yesterday. No audio has been heard yet. NO the screenshot is not faulty some video information? appears at the top of the screen as seen below. There is a new Scat India online edition out click the picture above for it.
From My Emails & ICQ
These From Bill Richards, the usual fantastic quality screenshots
0820UTC
Pas 2 4026 H "KBS Korea" SR 5062 Fec 3/4 Vpid 3601 Apid 3604 SID 1
Pas 2 4026 H "KBS News Feed" SR 5062 Fec 3/4 Vpid 33 Apid 38 SID 2
Regards
Bill
This From Robert Anthony
Preview screen is up Tuesday night (FTA at least right now) for an 8:00 PM (Sydney
time) transmission of Shell (Oil Company) Business Television Broadcast
on PAS-2 Adhoc I on 3901 MHz (H) SR 30800. Maybe they won't encrypt
(and maybe it won't be boring...)
(Picture suppllied by Bill Richards)
***FOR SALE***
Unused Viaccess CAM,( no card ) swap with Iredeto CAM with no card.
[email protected]
From the Dish
Pas 2 169E 3901 H "Shell Business TV feed" adhoc 1 Sr 30800 Fec 3/4
Pas 2 169E 4026 H "KBS Korea" SR 5062 Fec 3/4 Vpid 3601 Apid 3604 SID 1
Pas 2 169E 4026 H "KBS News Feed" SR 5062 Fec 3/4 Vpid 33 Apid 38 SID 2
NEWS
Austar & Oracle sign and Interactive TV Agreement
The agrement will see the first implementation of OMI at significant scale as a true end-to-end interactive platform.
Austar United Broadband announced today that it has signed an agreement with Oracle Corporation Australia Pty. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, for the provision of Oracle’s interactive TV platform software, Oracle Media Interactive (OMI). This agreement will see the first implementation of OMI at significant scale as a true end-to-end interactive platform.
Oracle is the world’s largest provider of software for e-business and Austar is the leading provider of advanced communications and entertainment services in regional Australia.
The OMI platform will provide the basis for true two-way interactivity for Austar’s customers. Austar currently has a number of one-way interactive TV services (weather, games and the Electronic Programme Guide) available to 250,000 of its 427,000 customers. New services will include t-mail, home shopping, interactive advertising, interactive channel enhancements with impulse retail shopping, banking and tiered games.
*ustar is the first and only company to create an interactive platform in Australia and in the Asia Pacific region that can support multiple interactive television operating systems as well as content delivery system across multiple platforms including internet and mobile services,” said Dana Strong, Managing Director, Austar United Broadband.
?The beauty of Oracle OMI is that, as a total solution, it gives maximum flexibility to develop new services with minimal ongoing capital outlay. Unlike other operators, who have launched interactive television with customised development we will deploy a fully-supported off-the-shelf Oracle product which enables a fully integrated service with no need for expensive customisation and upgrades.
?We see interactive television as a major point of differentiation for our service which will fuel additional growth in our Pay-TV subscriber take up,” said Ms Strong. “Oracle’s strategic approach to this initiative enabled us to manage deployment costs effectively. This was achieved through the development of a scalable business model designed to benefit both organisations as the Austar subscriber base grows.”
Brian Mitchell, Managing Director, Oracle Corporation Australia said, “We are delighted to work with Austar who are at the forefront of innovation and are fully committed to the delivery of a major suite of services to enhance the viewing experience of the Australian public.”
Zee News goes in for major overhaul
From Indiantelevision.com
Zee Telefilms' best bet against new entrants in the Hindi news arena, Zee News, is working towards adopting major restructuring strategies to improve the channel's programme quality.
Satish Menon, who recently took the reins of Zee News, confirmed that a major revamp was under way. "We are working toward getting good people and improving the existing functioning of the channel and it is a continous process. We'll be working towards improving the content from all aspects," Menon says.
Zee has allied with American company Novocom to completely overhaul the graphics and design to make it more attractive. Menon was, however, tightlipped about the additional investment involved in sprucing up the channel. "I wouldn't want to talk in terms of investments. It is too early to talk about these," he said.
Zee is at present facing a stiff test from Aaj Tak, the 24-hour news channel launched on 31 December 2000 by media group India Today. Earlier, being the only major Hindi news channel, Zee News had a vice like grip on the TRP charts.
As per some recent news reports, a month after Aaj Tak's launch, the channel's viewer growth shot up nearly five times. The reports were based on a survey conducted by AC Nielsen. At the same time, the viewership of Zee and Star remained unchanged, the reports said.
With all the major players in the television industry about to turn fully pay channels, the viewership stakes can only get higher. Everyone will have to fight that much harder just to stand still.
13/2/01
Its Tuesday so of course the usual livechats on in the chatroom from 8.30pm Sydney time onwards. Lets hope it dosn't kick everyone out when it gets busy if it does, just try again to get back in you may need to use a different username untill it kicks out your other one. Sky NZ has a new FTA card up its possible they are testing some FTA services looks like TVNZ/Telstra could have some fta competition. Sorry for the lack of other news.
ABC Northern has been added to Optus B1 Gallery page
Click for Fullsize
From My Emails & ICQ
I am among the thousands other LEGAL TVRO Satellite TV users in Malaysia,
would like to iyou that the free receptions of satellite TV
were not COMPLETELY BANNED by the Malaysian government.
It's always been regulated and in order to use such system
one has to get appropriate licenses from the Telecommunication Dept.
A FTA TVRO system would be of no use for general public viewing who would
rather subscribe to local DTH services and receive premier programming
such as HBO, DISNEY, ESPN etc through it.
But for hobbyist and Satellite purist who prefers to watch satellite feeds
and foreign programming, they can always apply for a license.
Despite these easy to follow government policies,
we will always have Illegal TVRO users in Malaysia who would rather
not apply for any licenses and take things for granted!
Cheers.
Malaysian DXer
From the Dish
Apstar 2R 76.5E 4020 V "something" reported here Sr 27890 Fec 7/8
Palapa C2 113E 4048 V "SCTV - Surya Citra TV" IS NOT encrypted ( I didn't think the report looked right!)
PAS 8 166E 3900 H "CNBC Hong Kong" has started here Vpid 517 Apid 700.
NEWS
No news today
12/2/01
Not a lot happening today, Mediasat card on 12359 (B3) all day something may be happening there.
Page to be trimmed tommorow
From my Emails & ICQ
RE:Satellite Tests 2001 Magazine
"Satellite magazine tests 2001-the ultimate buyers guide"-
satellite magazine can be ordered from any newspaper shop-most shops have a magazine list-
it is clearly listed-!-it properly is located in sydney-any problems-let us know-i have ordered
6 copys with no problems-
h_strecker@gig pond.com (oak flats nsw)
Craigs reply, Thanks for that I am getting 2 or 3 emails a day from people trying to find it still. Its still here in the Shops in NZ.
From the Dish
(NyenLC)
Insat 2E 83E 3989 V "ETV Kannada" test card has left
Palapa C2 113E 4048 V "SCTV - Surya Citra TV" reported to have encrypted?? this will annoy a lot of viewers who enjoy the soccer on this channel. Reports needed if you have any furthur info on this.
Jcsat 3 128E 3960 V "CTV" and "TTV" are FTA again, Hot Channel has left this MUX
NEWS
* Intelsat orders APR-3
From [sat-nd] 12.02.2001
Intelsat finalised an agreement to purchase an all Ku-band satellite that
will be used to fill a new orbital slot at 85 degrees East. Chinese satellite
operator Sinosat has acquired rights to use six transponders on this satellite
during the its entire orbital manoeuvre life. The spacecraft will be
manufactured by Astrium SAS of Toulouse, France.
China Great Wall Industry Corp. is scheduled to launch the spacecraft, which
will be known as the Intelsat APR-3 satellite, in the Spring of 2002. As part
of this arrangement, Sinosat also has acquired rights to use two C-band
transponders on the Intelsat satellite at the 178 degrees East location,
scheduled to be operational by October 2003.
The primary applications for the new satellite will include corporate VSAT
networks, video distribution to cable head-ends, and Internet connections to
ISPs.
Intelsat currently has ten satellites on order (seven Intelsat IXs, two Xs
and the Intelsat APR-3) which it plans to launch over the next three years.
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 06/2001 - February 11 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic(Edited Apsattv.com Edition)
AUSTRALIA
NTL WINS ABC SATELLITE CONTRACT
NTL Australia (NTL Incorporated) has secured a 10-year contract with Cable & Wireless Optus to provide satellite downlink services for the distribution of Australian Broadcasting Corporation digital television in regional and rural Australia. The value of the contract is A$65 million. This follows NTL Australia winning the largest digital terrestrial television broadcast contract in Australia from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in December 2000. The 10-year satellite contract for digital distribution services will begin on 1st July 2001.
CHINA - HONG KONG
BIDDING PROCESS FOR GALAXY
Television Broadcasts Ltd must auction its television programmes via an open bidding process involving all local pay-TV operators under an agreement reached with the Hong Kong government on February 8. The agreement, announced by the Broadcasting Authority, resolves uncertainty surrounding the pay-TV licence for Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Ltd, a unit of TVB, Hong Kong’s dominant free-to-air broadcaster and biggest producer of TV programming. Galaxy last year was granted a pay-TV licence on the condition that TVB would have to offer to sell content to all of the territory’s other pay-TV licencees, including i-Cable, Hong Kong Network TV Ltd, Yes Television (Hong Kong) Ltd and Pacific Digital Media. The Broadcasting Authority said TVB group could not supply Galaxy with any programme or service channel without conducting an open bidding process approved by the authority.
JAPAN
DTH OPERATORS REPORT JANUARY SUBSCRIBER FIGURES
January proved to be a strong month for DTH operators Sky Perfect Communications (SPC) and Japan Broadcasting Corp. (WOWOW). SPC reported that it added 23,449 subscribers to its digital platform in January, bringing its total to 2,52 million. Rival WOWOW said subscribers to its digital and analogue satellite broadcast services grew 17,479 to 2,62 million. Subscribers to its digital service increased by 15,029 in January, while the analogue service added 2,450 customers.
JAPAN TO COMPLETE DIGITAL SWITCH BY 2011
Japan’s telecoms ministry wants to shift to digital transmissions for television broadcasts, ending terrestrial analogue broadcasting by 2011. Frequencies allocated for analogue broadcasts will cease to be used within 10 years after allocations for digital terrestrial broadcasts are made, which could begin this summer. Digital terrestrial broadcasts are scheduled to start in the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas by 2003, and nationwide by 2006.
THE PHILLIPINES
PLDT TO BUY GMA NETWORK
Leading telecom operator Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) on February 7 bought a two-thirds stake in local TV network GMA. According to the Financial Times, the US$177 million acquisition was made via PLDT’s wholly owned subsidiary Mediaquest, which already owns pay-TV operator Home Cable. Mediaquest has already revealed plans to attract foreign investment into GMA via an offer of special shares in the company. GMA is the Philippines’ second-largest TV network, with a share of 29 per cent compared to leader ABS-CBN with 47 per cent.
THAILAND
NTL BEGINS DTT TRIALS
UK-based transmission company NTL has begun trials with digital broadcasts in Thailand and hopes to offer its services to local broadcasters, according to a report in The Nation. Hugh Brammer, general manager of NTL (Thailand), said the company, which entered Thailand less than two years ago, had begun running the trials for several local TV channels including Channel 9 of the Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand (MCOT), Channel 11 of the Public Relations Department and iTV. The official launch of the digital TV service depends on the broadcasters, however, who tend to prefer to invest in their own infrastructure. Also NTL cannot move ahead with the service until Thailand’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) begins its operations and takes over control of the broadcasting frequencies.
11/2/01
Not much happening today. Except NZ won the cricket (VERY RARE). I spent some time today at a guys place watching satellite tv he has the same dish as me. I just wish I had the 42inch Fujitsu widescreen plasma tv that he has! it was next to a 52 inch projection tv which I thought had a very dark washed out image.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
0545UTC
Optus B1 160E 12700 H "Newsforce basketball" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256.
Regards
Bill
From R. Anthony via the mailing list
US XFL Feed on PAS-2 3901 MHz (H) SR 30800 3/4 FEC Adhoc I seen Saturday
Wanted : A digital FTA satellite receiver. $NEG
Contact : [email protected]
Location : Sydney NSW or surrounding areas.
hi craig..
can you help me ive tried to get the above mag in west aust and have had no luck can you help me get a copy im prepared to send money if you can post me one or maybe you might know someone in east aust that can help...
regards jeff bannister
Craigs reply, Can anyone in Australia find distributer of this magazine or help?
From the Dish
Nothing to report
NEWS
Cable operators launch shopping and comedy channel
From indiantelevision.com
A satellite television channel with a difference was launched on Thursday. The difference is the channel was launched by an Indian cable TV consortium led by Mumbai-based Live Satellite Media promoter Atul Saraf. Branded SN (Shopping Network) TV, it is positioned as a shopping and comedy channel and is in beta testing stage off a transponder on Thaicom-3.
For starters, it will have a four hour block of programming repeated through the day. This will go up to eight hours of original content over time and the ultimate aim is to become a 24-hour free-to-air channel.
Says Saraf: "We will have home shopping programming shorts but we will also offer advertisers the facilities of going beyond just a TV commercial, we will air infomercials. For instance, Phillips can explain clearly what a Flat Square Tube is in its commercial, instead of just airing attractive ads."
Saraf expects the channel to do well. "Live Satellite is a company that gets advertising to the tune of Rs 100,000 for almost 1,200 cable TV operators all over India," he says. "These cable TV operators will support us and we are not really interested in going in for funding at this stage."
The channel is targeted at the eastern, western and northern Indian markets.
Leading Kiwi sports presenter joins ESPN STAR Sports team
From Indiantelevision.com
Award-winning sports journalist Eric Young has joined Sportsline, ESPN STAR Sports' (ESS) daily sports news programme.
Sportsline, which was launched in September 2000, is broadcast on the STAR Sports India network.
The New Zealand-born journalist is a veteran of sports reporting, with more than 20 years experience in radio, print and television. He has been both the New Zealand Sports Writer of the Year and the New Zealand Sports Broadcaster of the Year, according to a press release issued on Thursday.
Eric Young's appointment boosts the strength of the Sportsline team: he joins veteran ESS presenter John Dykes and former Indian national squash player Misha Grewel to present viewers with the latest international and regional sporting news from an Indian perspective. The programme is broadcast live three times a day.
10/2/01
While tuneing things up I found SKY NZ has a fta colour bar up on Optus B1 it could be something interesting is about to happen as it says FTA 1 on the EPG.
12608 V Sr 22500 Fec 3/4 Vpid 517 Apid 655 Sid 1026 PMT 261 (NOTE this is FTA no Sky decoder or card needed)
A good chance for those in Australia to have a go at seeing if they can receive Sky NZ.
I did some screenshots (not with the Nokia) Click for Fullsize as usual
ABC Northern off OPtus B1
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Robert.Anthony reported on the mailing list last night.
Maybe this has been reported before, but I just stumbled across soccer
on Sky Sports on PAS-2 3942 V Sr 7497 Fec 2/3
Bumped into it while playing with my Strong 4800 and found a full MUX
with lots of encrypted stuff as well as the Sky Sports. Lyngsat show
this as a feed, but it is currently loaded as a mux with six audio and
six TV channels. "Channel 4" is the one unencrypted TV channel.
It's a european botique with two BBC Channels, DW, RTP, and two channels
labeled "Channel Three" and "Channel Four" Channel Four is the only FTA.
The six audio channels are all encrypted. After the soccer game and an all
girl exercise program they started up a "Tower Broadcast Center" card.
He also adds
Go figure that you can get ABC TV Northern in NZ with a 60cm dish
while I can't get it (on B1) with a 230cm solid in the NT.
Keith Mc'Roberts in NZ says Pas2 transponder is strong and he could receive the Tower Card when he looked on Saturday
These from Bill Richards
0645 UTC
12424 H Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Channel 9 Australia Cricket Feed"
0650 UTC
12415 H Sr 6110 Fec3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Channel 9 Cricket feed Action 2"
Bill also supplied screenshots which I didn't use as they were prety much the same as the ones I put up the other day, also note these freqs have been reported as 12427H and 12418 H so tune up or down if you can't find them.
This From Peter Berrett via the mailing list
Hi all
I understand that the Australia Television Tender is announced in late
February.
I think it would be an opportune time for people to express their opinions
about Australia Television and who they would like to or not to run the
service.
Here's the Minister for Foreign Affair's email address
The Hon. Alexander Downer MP
Suite MF 27, Parliament House,
Canberra ACT 2600
[email protected]
I've already sent an email expressing my opinion that the current operator
should not be allowed to run the service again and should there be no other
choice then the better decision would be to close the service down and spend
the money on Radio Australia radio services instead.
cheers Peter
From the Dish
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3846 H "TVB MUX" here has moved here and changed parameters
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "SNTV" has started here FTA Vpid 516 Apid 644 (Asia only beam)
ST 1 88E 3550 V "Open TV" is FTA
Palapa C2 113E 3760 H and 10972 V "Open TV" is FTA
NEWS
Sorry no news section today
9/2/01
I was just playing with the 60cm dish earlier and I thought the signals were down a little so I made some fine tuneing adjustments to the dish angle and got a 1/3rd increase in signal strength. Abc Northern on B1 loads and plays fine 4 channels! 1 visable havn't had time to investigate it fully yet.
Look for the World Series Cricket Finals match 2 on those feeds mentioned yesterday from 2.30 Syd time onwards. If anyone in NZ that can receive it let me know via email.
The ocasional virus can slip through into the mailing list if you are having trouble and need to clean your pc go here for a free online virus cleanup! http://housecall.antivirus.com/
It takes a while to download but its well worthwhile, of course the other way to prevent virus's getting into your pc is to avoid useing outlook express and do not run file attachments without having scanned them with your virus checker most modern virus checkers will pick up email virus as soon as the hit your mailbox.
From my Emails & ICQ
This From Eadie
I need help!
I have a nokia 9800s which is pre-programmed for use in Europe. A
group's friend helped me to downloaded in with MA 1.1 software. Still
not working properly. Is there someone knows how to use this receiver in
Australia or New Zealand ?
System information, on the menu , says: H/Ware ver.: 1.2 , Software
ver. : MA 1.1 and Boot S/ware : 104.
Your assistance would be appreciated.
[email protected]
From the Dish
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3687 V "Channel NewsAsia" has left, still on 3705 V
NEWS
* Digital ABC via Optus
From [sat-nd] 09.02.2001
The Australian Broadcasting Company will spend more than A$175 million over
the next 10 years on a deal with Cable and Wireless Optus to carry its digital
television signals via satellite, the broadcaster said.
The contract mirrors an Optus deal already in place for analogue television
and radio signals to be carried around Australia. The cost of the new contract
will be paid out of the Government's digital conversion package.
News Corp not actively looking at acquiring Austar
From http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0102/08/A20498-2001Feb8.shtml
News Corp was not actively involved in looking at purchasing regional Australian payTV operator Austar United Communications, News Corp President Peter Chernin said today.
Austar's shares have slumped dramatically during the last week, down from $2.65 on January 31 to yesterday's $1.567 close.
The fall coincides with funding and subscriber concerns for Austar.
"I don't think this is something that we are actively involved in or looking at," Mr Chernin said today in a conference call with reporters.
"We might potentially be interested in purchasing the 50 per cent of the channels they have joint ventured with Foxtel ... (but) we are certainly not involved in any deep look at purchasing those assets in an overall basis."
News Corp is a 25 per cent owner of Foxtel, Australia's leading payTV operator with 703,000 subscribers.
Digital take-up sees BSkyB ready to kill off analog
From http://www.theage.com.au/business/2001/02/09/FFXLPJBBXIC.html
As the Federal Opposition moves in Parliament to alter Australia's digital TV laws, News Corporation's British satellite company BSkyB yesterday revealed it planned to turn off its analog satellite service in June.
In Australia, the government has given the free-to-air TV networks until 2008 to convert enough people to digital so that the analog TV spectrum can be turned off.
But in Britain, where potential competition from free-to-air digital TV broadcasters, such as OnDigital, prompted the pay TV networks to give away digital set-top boxes, the conversion rate has been much faster.
News Corp's president and chief operating officer, Peter Chernin, said yesterday that BSkyB had signed its five millionth subscriber last quarter and 92 per cent of all its subscribers were now digital.
"We intend to turn off the analog service in June, giving strategic savings and benefits," he said.
The company began converting its subscribers to digital in only October 1999. Now those with access to its Open service can shop, bank and e-mail through the TV.
"It's probably the hottest marketing initiative ever," said ABN Amro media analyst Peter Shorthouse.
"For three years, they (BSkyB) had settled at three million subscribers, and in 15 months they have not only taken that to 5.2 million but have 92 per cent of them buying pizzas over the Net. All it's taken is a couple of years of BSkyB dividends."
In Australia - where only a handful of digital set-top boxes are available, people must pay for the boxes, and the new services such as datacasting face tough restrictions - the conversion time frame is expected to be beyond 2008.
The Labor Party's amendments seek to provide greater scope for the types of services offered on Australian digital TV.
CNN opens bureau with a spray for locals
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0102/09/bizcom/bizcom1.html
AOL Time Warner's CNN news service has opened an Australian bureau for its global Internet and television networks.
Launching the office in Sydney yesterday, CNN's Asia Pacific boss Mr Bruce Dover - the former head of News Ltd's Internet division - criticised Australian media companies for back-pedalling in the Internet market.
News Ltd recently laid off a third of staff at its News Interactive online division and speculation abounds about an imminent announcement regarding Fairfax's f2 unit.
One rumour considered "old news" among online media executives is the supposedly imminent sale of f2's auction site, Sold.com.
Yahoo Australia was among the prospective buyers, according to one source. Fairfax and Yahoo both declined to comment yesterday. Fairfax will next week release its half-yearly results.
Mr Dover said many Australian businesses, especially media companies, were "sitting on their hands waiting to see what happens next" in the online market.
Australia was in danger of falling behind Asia because of heavy-handed regulation and slow progress in rolling out broadband data networks.
"When you see what's happening in Asia and how fast it's rolling out, it's no surprise that in terms of CNN, the first real integrated newsroom is in Hong Kong, not London or Atlanta. It's there, because the infrastructure is there and the telcos are unhindered.
"It's a bit galling for Australians to see that back here we're still trying to work out what it's going to do and what we'll put up and who's going to own it. They [Asians] are just getting on with it.
"Down here they reached this dead end where everybody talked about it happening and then it stopped. It hit a brick wall."
The new CNN bureau - the 41st in the world but the first to integrate Internet and television production - will be headed by Mr Geoff Hiscock, a former Asia-Pacific correspondent for The Australian.
CNN.com was the sixth most popular news Web site in Australia last month, according to Red Sheriff's tracking service. However, the Australian bureau of CNN would mainly aim at the broader Asian market, Mr Dover said.
CNN, which recently retrenched 10 per cent of its staff - mainly in the North American interactive division - was trying to eliminate duplication of resources among its various divisions, Mr Dover said. "[The retrenchments] were largely about getting back to basics. Interactive took the biggest hit largely because it was caught up in that exuberant growth of the past few years.
"We went down the portal route, so we had everything from book reviews to recipes. Given the dot com bust and everything else, we've turned back to news, where our strength was.
The recent merger of CNN's parent, Time Warner, with the world's biggest Internet service provider, AOL, had not yet affected CNN, Mr Dover said.
"To an extent it's still being struggled with. There are synergies, obviously more so in the US, where they've got that huge audience of 27 million subscribers.
"Outside the US, AOL has probably found it more difficult to transition that model because they had that first mover advantage in the US. In terms of Asia and Australia, it's in early days in terms of talking. There's nothing yet that's been specific."
News out to create satellite TV giant
From http://www.theage.com.au/business/2001/02/08/FFX76BUVVIC.html
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation could be on the verge of creating the world's largest satellite television company valued at up to $US70 billion ($A127 billion) ahead of today's second-quarter results announcement.
The company is expected to report a second-quarter pre-abnormal net profit of about $US200 million, bringing profit for the half to $US350 million.
At the same time last year, News reported a second-quarter result of $US149 million and a half-year profit of $US417 million.
News flagged in its first-quarter announcement that its second quarter would be hurt by the World Series Baseball series in the United States. It lost $US70 million on the series due to poor sports viewing following the Sydney Olympics.
The company's half-year result will also be affected by a higher tax rate and weaker advertising conditions in its prime US market.
Abnormals are expected to include a $US200 million charge to write down the value of News' stake in health Internet company WebMD and up to $A100 million on its Sydney Fox Studios.
Meantime, News has continued to seek a way to unlock the value within its combined satellite businesses, Sky Global.
Mr Murdoch last week played down the likelihood of Sky Global coming to market soon, but yesterday The Wall Street Journal reported that merger talks with General Motor's satellite business, Hughes Electronics Corp (which owns DirecTV), were well advanced.
The report said General Motors might spin off Hughes, which would then be combined with News' satellite businesses in Britain, Asia and Latin America to create a separately listed business.
News may own between 35 and 40 per cent of the combined company but would have management control - a structure similar to that of its British satellite business, BSkyB. Microsoft was also expected to contribute up to $US4 billion, the report said.
The New York Times said Mr Murdoch had given General Motors 10 days to arrive at an initial agreement. It also said a final deal was at least two weeks away and could still fall apart.
News shares, which have fluctuated in recent times, were buoyed by the reports. The ordinary shares firmed 53 cents to $17.23 and the preferreds were 10 cents higher at $15.25. "It's a situation of one plus one equalling more than two," said a local funds manager.
News Corp spokesman Andrew Butcher said: "We made no secret of the fact that we have been talking to General Motors and Hughes among others, but we have no comment at this point on how those talks are progressing."
Before the technology market soured, News had hoped to spin off Sky Global and use the vehicle to buy into or acquire DirecTV, which would provide it with the US satellite business missing within its global satellite footprint. - with agencies
DirecTV deal close
From http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2001/02/06/deals/hughes/
News Corp. reportedly ready to form new $70 billion satellite company
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is on the verge of creating a $70 billion satellite company, merging existing assets with DirecTV, which he plans to purchase from General Motors' Hughes Electronics, according to the Financial Times.
The FT told CNN's Moneyline a surprise partner in the complex deal is likely to be Microsoft Corp. with a $4 billion-to-$5 billion involvement. The investment would give Microsoft (MSFT: Research, Estimates) access to home consumers across the globe for its set-top boxes.
News Corp. (NWS: Research, Estimates) is likely to pay $8 billion in cash to buy out GM's stake in Hughes Electronics, the paper reported. As part of the deal, Hughes would shed its Panamsat business for $6.5 billion-to-$7 billion.
After the deal, Murdoch's Sky Global satellite company would own 35 percent of the new operation, with Hughes shareholders owning the rest.
Also involved in the deal as a "significant investor" would be Liberty Media chairman John Malone, the paper said.
The boards have yet to approve the deal, the FT said.
A spokesman for Hughes (GMH: Research, Estimates) and GM (GM: Research, Estimates) said the companies will decline to comment on rumor and speculation until there is an actual deal. A News Corp. spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
In December, it was reported that AOL Time Warner, the parent of CNNfn.com, was interested in DirecTV.
Shares of Hughes finished $1.41 higher Tuesday, at $27.71, while American depositary receipts (ADRs) of News Corp. rose 20 cents to $37.50.
* BSAT-2a in Kourou
From [sat-nd] 09.02.2001
BSAT-2a, the first of three geostationary (GEO) satellites that Orbital
Sciences plans to deliver to customers in 2001, has arrived at its launch site
in Kourou, French Guiana. The BSAT-2a satellite was built by Orbital for
Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) as the first of a pair
of direct-to-home digital television broadcasting platforms.
From Kourou, the satellite will be launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket into a
geosynchronous orbit at 110 degrees East longitude. The BSAT-2 and N-STAR c
satellites are based on Orbital's "STAR" family of smaller GEO satellite
platforms, which are able to accommodate most types of commercial
communications payloads.
Orbital is also working on another GEO satellite program, the N-STAR c
communications spacecraft for Japan's NTT DoCoMo. On that program, Orbital is
partnered with Lockheed Martin Corporation, the prime contractor, to provide
the satellite platform, perform the integration of the payload with the
satellite bus, conduct pre-and post-shipment testing and arrange for launch
services.
* Cheap Worldspace receivers for Indonesia
From [sat-nd] 09.02.2001
WorldSpace signed a manufacturing, marketing and distribution agreement with
Indonesian electronics manufacturer, P.T. Hartono Istana Teknologi (HIT), which
is to produce low-cost satellite receivers for WorldSpace.
To speed up the manufacturing process, HIT plans to use its existing
manufacturing platform so that the WorldSpace satellite technology can be added
to their popular products, such as the Bazooke PSC 722 DC multi-band radio,
tape and cassette combo and the mega power MP 9100/9200 KDC with detachable
speakers.
HIT plans to produce up to 500,000 units annually for the Indonesian and
international markets.
HIT products are known under the Polytron, Digitec, and Okei brands, and the
company produces specially branded consumer electronics products for stores
such as Wal-Mart. Established in 1977, it is the largest Indonesian manufacturer
of consumer electronic goods, producing a wide range of entertainment
electronic products and home appliances for the domestic and export market.
8/2/01
Not much happening today, more stuff tommorow hopefully
From my Emails and ICQ
0830UTC Optus B1 12423 H "Channel 9 Australia Cricket Feed" Sr 6610 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256
Regards
Bill
Meanwhile Alex Checks it on 2 different receivers and finds
Optus B1 12418 H For the main feed and 12427 H with the scorecard feed both say Sr 6111 Which is quite different to Bills findings.
From the Dish
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3660 V "MTA International' Pids are Vpid 2560 Apid 2561
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "Hot Channel" has started Vpid 1200 Apid 1201 (Encrypted)
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "CTS" has new pids Vpid 1184 Apid 1185 (Encrypted)
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "Rainbow Channel 2" has new pids Vpid 1216 Apid 1217.(Encrypted)
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "CTV and TTV have left this mux."
NEWS
Net access decoder bait for TVNZ/TELSTRA Service
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=171510&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general
Television New Zealand and TelstraSaturn may offer discount internet access as a way of enticing viewers to fork out for set-top boxes to receive their planned digital service.
TVNZ executive Chris Lambourne told a digital television conference in Auckland yesterday that market research showed strong customer demand for television-based internet access.
Mr Lambourne, who is also chief technology manager for the TVNZ-TelstraSaturn joint venture, said offering a special deal on such a service was one option to encourage the sale of decoder boxes, which are expected to cost $200 to $300.
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn said last November that they were going into partnership to launch a nationwide satellite-based digital service to beam out TVNZ's two channels, other free-to-air broadcasts and pay channels.
The service is due to be launched by the end of June.
Mr Lambourne told yesterday's "Television@Evolution" conference that TelstraSaturn's existing internet service provider business could be a springboard to offer viewers the television-based system.
The joint venture had yet to finalise a supply of set-top boxes, Mr Lambourne said, but they would include a built-in modem to connect to customers' phone lines.
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn aimed to keep their technology options open to allow compatibility with Sky Network Television's decoder boxes, he said.
"We'd love to have interoperability with Sky, but it's not something we are going to be held hostage to."
If a deal on decoder compatibility is not struck, viewers will need two set-top boxes to receive both services.
Australian-based interactive television consultant Miranda Dyson told the conference that NZ viewers were poised to benefit from a price and content war between competing digital broadcasters, although there could be "huge cost implications" if a single platform was not agreed upon.
Miss Dyson said Britain's BSkyB pay network offered subscribers a free e-mail service, which increased customer loyalty and provided advertising opportunities.
7/2/01
Chatroom was going well last night untill it lost its temper and kicked everyone out! I hope it behaves better next week.
January History is up in the History section
From my Emails & ICQ
Hello Dear Sir,
how ru i hope you r fine and very good.i visit your
website to get the information about the agreement
between Asiasat and telstra.
i ask you what i can watch the Australian and
NewZealand telvision in the Pakistan.
i want to want the skytelevision (Newzealand)and nine
network of Australia.
please give the information verys soon.
best regard for you
Aamir From PAKISTAN
Hi the simple answer no you cannot get either, Pakistan is to far away and the beams of these services do not cover Pakistan. Also they are encrypted.
Hi Craig
Noticed MTV (Fta) on Pas 8 yesterday afternoon and evening. 3740H, SR 27500, FEC 2/3.
Cheers
Steve Adams
From the Dish
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3660 V "MTA International" has started FTA in with Saudia Channel
NEWS
Seven wins Asia-Pacific broadcast deal
From http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1685715%255E421,00.html
KERRY Stokes's Seven network is poised to win $50million to run a new Howard Government-sponsored Asia Pacific television service, prompting a storm of protest from expatriates in the region.
Five rival bidders for the $10million-a-year, five-year contract have been contacted by the Department of Foreign Affairs saying the Government has a preferred candidate, with Seven understood to be the last bidder standing.
Seven already runs Australia TV, acquired from the ABC in 1997, but has been criticised by the expatriate community for running cheap programming and constant repeats, such as children's show Here's Humphrey four times a day and often in prime time. The network is understood to be losing Seven about $6million to $7 million a year, with little advertising support.
Reports in The Australian this week that Seven is about to win the right to broadcast ATV set off a flood of emails to this newspaper from expatriates critical of the decision.
"ATV's recent format has made it a target for sarcasm and ridicule within the region," wrote Rob Spurr, an Australian in Jakarta.
Another expatriate in Jakarta, Andrew Mitchell, emailed: "I live in Jakarta and `our' television station is an absolute joke. A Country Practice that must be at least 15 years old played three to four times a day is certainly not good entertainment or a good portrayal of Australia."
Seven has been broadcasting to Indonesia and elsewhere in the region via the Palapa satellite just 10 programs every 24 hours, repeated four times a day.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has declined to comment on the progress of the bid, as has Seven. The department opened the tender last August to subsidise a better television service in Asia.
It is understood that in November the department had narrowed the selection to two bidders: Seven and Australian Vision International, a venture backed by former Liberal member of the NSW Upper House Lloyd Lange, advised by former ABC managing director David Hill.
But it is understood AVI was eliminated just before Christmas, leaving Seven in final negotiations.
Alston labels Labor digital TV changes a cheap stunt
From http://www.it.fairfax.com.au/breaking/20010206/A19807-2001Feb6.html?itnewsletter
Labor's plan to revisit changes to digital broadcasting laws was a political stunt, Communications Minister Richard Alston said today.
Digital broadcasting began in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on January 1 and will be phased in elsewhere over the next three years.
But takeup has been slow because of the limited amount of equipment available to allow digital signals to be picked up by existing analogue television sets.
Labor will reintroduce changes in parliament this week to expand services able to be shown on new digital information channels, or datacasting, and expand multichannelling for the ABC and SBS.
But Alston said the amendments had failed to get support last year and reintroducing them was a meaningless gesture.
?(Opposition communications spokesman Stephen Smith) is going through the motions, knowing full well that his amendments will not be passed into law because the digital television regime is in place,” he said.
?Just like Labor's fuel excise freeze legislation, this is nothing but a cheap stunt from an opposition that is policy lazy and has totally failed over the last five years to provide any alternative plan for Australian's future.”
Under laws passed by Parliament last year, datacasters are prevented from showing anything that resembles freetoair television.
Labor and the Australian Democrats both proposed alternative, broader definitions, but knocked each other's proposals out in the Senate.
The Democrats discussed Labor's changes at a party room meeting today.
Democrats block digital TV moves
From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1684822^2,00.html
LABOR'S attempt to reverse its stand on digital programming for the ABC and SBS has been met with a scathing response from the government and the Australian Democrats.
Labor will this week reintroduce changes to digital broadcasting laws to reverse the ban on the ABC and SBS using new multiple channels to show sport, drama and comedy, which it supported last year.
It will also seek to expand new interactive information services, or datacasting, after industry criticism that the government's approach was too restrictive.
But the move has outraged the Democrats, whose support is vital to get the changes through the Senate, and left the government slamming it as a cheap political stunt.
Labor's datacasting regime failed six months ago when the opposition and Democrats voted against each other's proposals, letting the government's model succeed by default.
Labor also angered the Democrats by voting with them to allow the ABC and SBS to multi-channel, then doing a last-minute deal with the government to restrict the sorts of programs they could show.
Opposition communications spokesman Stephen Smith denied Labor was trying to fix what it had caved in on last year.
"On the basis that getting multi-channeling up for the ABC and SBS in a limited way was better than nothing, reluctantly we agreed," he told reporters in Canberra.
"But I made it clear when that legislation went through ... that the Labor Party remained attached to the principle that the ABC and SBS ought to be able to multi-channel in an unrestricted way."
He also denied reintroducing the package now, a month after digital broadcasting began, was designed to get media proprietors on line in the coming election year.
Labor did not consult the Democrats on its plans and communications spokeswoman Vicki Bourne said Labor's proposal was still flawed because its definition of datacasting was too generous.
"If they can get rid of that flaw I will have another look at it," she told the ABC.
"(But) for them to now put it up as an amendment when it has little chance of getting through I find absolutely outrageous."
Communications Minister Richard Alston said Labor was just going through the motions knowing that the changes would never make it into law.
"Just like Labor's fuel excise freeze legislation, this is nothing but a cheap stunt from an opposition that is policy lazy and has totally failed over the last five years to provide any alternative plan for Australian's future," he said.
Digital broadcasting began in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on January 1 and will be phased in elsewhere over the next three years.
* GIFTS for meteorologists
From [sat-nd] 07.02.2001
A new A$200 million satellite, to be located over the middle of the Indian
Ocean from 2006, would revolutionise weather forecasting for Australia,
scientists said. The Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer
(GIFTS) satellite would be the biggest step forward since satellites were
introduced 40 years ago, according to John Le Marshall, principal research
scientist at the Bureau of Meteorology's Research Centre in Melbourne.
The satellite, which is being funded by NASA and the U.S. Navy, will be
launched in 2004 and will spend its first two years in the northern hemisphere
before being moved south. Meteorologists expect that four-day forecasts will
have the same accuracy as three-day forecasts once GIFTS is moved above the
Indian Ocean.
"Current satellites have about 40 channels, this one has between 3000 and
6000," Dr Le Marshall told scientists at the Australian Meteorological and
Oceanographic Society conference in Hobart.
The new satellite will provide information every 25 to 30 minutes throughout
the day, instead of every six hours as with current satellites. It will be able
to zoom in on specific regional areas and give researchers high-resolution
images of local weather conditions. GIFTS will also carry a high-resolution
low-light camera that can track the movement of fires as well as ozone and
carbon monoxide pollution.
* Loral Cyberstar opens Asian NOC
From [sat-nd] 07.02.2001
Loral CyberStar announced the opening of an Asian network operations center
(NOC) and master control room (MCR) in Singapore. The new NOC/MCR will monitor
all satellite and equipment operations as well as provide helpdesk functions
for CyberStar products.
The new NOC/MCR is co-located with CyberStar's Asian business headquarters in
Singapore and is staffed by Asian technical staff and engineers to provide
round-the-clock operations and helpdesk services as well as monitor the many
Asia-region satellites on which CyberStar leases transponders, including
Agila-II, JCSAT-3, Telstar 10, PAS-2, PAS-8, and AsiaSat 2 satellites.
The Singapore NOC/MSR will be fully redundant with CyberStar's main NOCs in
the United States and Germany. All three NOCs provide real-time network
performance management, technician call-out management, network configuration,
change management and technical support.
* High-speed Internet on Intelsat 802
From [sat-nd] 07.02.2001
Intelsat and Verestar Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Tower
Corporation, have successfully implemented the first satellite-based OC-3 (155
Mbit/s) duplex Internet service between the United States and China, according
to an Intelsat statement.
The service uses Verestar's Brewster facilities, in Washington State, which
provides access to the Intelsat space segment, as well as direct connectivity
to the U.S. fibre backbone. The satellite capacity is a Ku- to Ku-band link
offered on Intelsat 802 at 174 degrees East.
6/2/01
Live satellite chat tonight 8.30pm Sydney time onwards. In the news section there is a piece on the Channel 9 cricket feed being multicamera. The multicamera feed should be on the normal feed frequency? Lets hear from you if you see it. Satfacts reports Mediasat to expand to 8 channels and various other changes to Mediasat on B1 and B3 go check the Satfacts website out for the details.
From my Emails & ICQ
This from John via the mailing list
Has anyone seen a test feed on Optus B1 T12U (12512 H)?
There have been a few digital tests today, but i have been unable to obtain the symbol rate etc.
Anyone else have any luck?
For Sale
I am selling a 3.6 m dish, (mesh) made in USA together with 2 motors, digital
receiver, positioner and C band LNB, for only 2000 Aus dollars. I live in
Wollongon and I transported it from New Castle, you only need a box trailer.
Regards Art.
[email protected]
This from Joe
Hi Craig,
Refer to the Apsattv website wrote by "Siam Global", Indeed the goverment ban any used
feed receiver and antenna except ASTRO. I live in Kuala Lumpur and used the 7 feet
Orbitron Antenna in hiding. Put on the ground and blocked by my house. I could manage
to receive from 120 east onward to 66 east. Up to 169 east couldn't be. If I try, Police
will arrest me. But I enjoyed using this parabolic dish!
regards Joe
Craigs reply, Good on you for not letting your government control your viewing options! It must give you plenty of channels to watch. Perhaps you should paint the Astro Logo on it just in case anyone sees it .
From the Dish
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3695 H "Sky Racing Channel 2" is FTA at the moment.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3676 H "Feeds seen here" Sr 2170 global beam
Palapa C2 113E 3790 H "ETTV Shopping" has left
Optus B1 160E 12258 V "ABC TV Northern" Sr 5026 Fec 3/4 Vpid 832 Apid 833 has moved back here from 12331 V
NEWS
Nine to use digital multi-view for one-day finals
Channel Nine will use this week's tri series one-day cricket finals to pioneer its digital coverage, the network announced today.
Beginning with Wednesday's first match in the best-of-three finals between Australia and the West Indies at the SCG, Nine will broadcast three extra channels on top of its regular coverage.
One channel will give the view from the stumps, another will provide a high and wide shot of the field and a third will provide a continuous feed of match and player statistics.
It will be the first time the network has broadcast specifically for digital television users since its introduction on January 1 2001.
However only the handful of Australians with digital TVs or set top boxes will benefit from the increased coverage.
ICE cool on Austar platform
From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1680236%5E442,00.html
AUSTAR is working with Oracle to develop a platform for its interactive television service, to be launched later this year.
"This is absolutely paramount to our success – there are not a lot of products out there, not a lot of ways you can facilitate the platform," Austar's general manager of interactive services, John Paul, said. "We've had Oracle in-house for about the past six months ... and we're excited about what we've got and the platform they've created." he said.
Austar will use an Oracle development known as ISS in conjunction with a number of other technologies, including OpenTV's middleware and Massive Interactive's service creation solution.
"ISS isn't a complete turnkey solution, but it's about the closest you can get to a platform to build your interactive solutions," Austar spokesman Bruce Meagher said.
The ISS platform is derived from Oracle's work with the UK's BSkyB network.
In April, Austar will launch its new portal, Home. It plans to add more retail services in July, along with banking and pay-per-play games.
But Austar's decision to go with Oracle was met with derision by Sydney-based ICE Interactive, which creates interactive application software.
ICE was founded by Oracle and Liberate, and has run a pilot iTV project in Orange since September in partnership with WIN Television and SBS.
"It seems like a very expensive way of doing it," ICE managing director Carl Braden said.
He said ISS was not a "product" as such, and the arrangement with Oracle was likely to involve extensive consultation.
"When we formed ICE with the local Oracle company's support, we took all the technical resources that had any expertise in this area," he said.
"It doesn't make any sense to take it back to the beginning."
While Mr Paul stressed Austar did not want to become a software development operation, he said part of Austar's strategy was to "keep your software development close to you".
Austar is collaborating with Foxtel and Optus in its efforts.
"This market is too small for us to run around developing a $10 to $20 million platform for each operator," he said.
Oracle chose not to comment.
Labor at war with Packer
From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1682061%255E2,00.html
THE bruising political battle over digital television will be reignited today when Labor moves to rewrite the rules on who can compete with free-to-air broadcasters.
In a move that will infuriate Kerry Packer's Nine network but win the acclaim of other big media players, including News Limited, Labor will attempt to amend government legislation to widen the definition of datacasting.
The ALP will also call on the Coalition to suspend its auction of datacasting licences, due to begin next month.
The Labor bid will come one day after Kim Beazley indirectly criticised Mr Packer, using him as an example of a person who does not pay enough tax.
The Labor leader told Radio 3AW he would not stand for a tax regime that allowed "ordinary punters" to "pay the same rate of tax as Kerry Packer . . . (but) actually getting Kerry Packer to pay the ordinary tax rate might be interesting".
The ALP tactic will once again throw the future of digital TV and the interests of Mr Packer, News Limited (publisher of The Australian) and John Fairfax into the hands of the Australian Democrats.
But Labor's amendments may be doomed, because the Democrats have already voted against them, in the original digital TV legislation.
Labor will today move amendments in the Senate to government legislation that is intended to bed down the original digital broadcasting rules.
The present legislation, passed last year, forbids datacasters – the term for any group competing with broadcasters – from showing anything that resembles free-to-air television and also restricts the amount of moving video, internet content and news and current affairs.
Labor's proposals would still restrict datacasters from showing films or TV programs, but would give the new service more freedom to transmit data and sound.
Labor will also propose that the ABC and SBS should not be forced to pay licence fees for showing any datacasting services.
"We have said all along the datacasting rules were too much of a stranglehold, and there is one more chance of fixing up the datacasting regime before selling off the spectrum," Labor communications spokesman Stephen Smith said yesterday.
The Labor definition of datacasting would be much broader and was vigorously opposed last year by the Nine and Ten networks.
But the Labor gesture is a clear signal that it still wants the support of groups seeking wider datacasting rules, including News Limited, John Fairfax and Telstra. All three groups had planned to bid for datacasting licences, but pulled out late last year, saying the Government's rules were too restrictive.
"The Democrats have a choice," Mr Smith said. "Just like the GST, they can support the Government's datacasting regime or they can support our regime, which is suitable for the 21st century."
The digital TV debate last year polarised media groups and political parties, with Labor backing the regime favoured by News Limited and John Fairfax.
But the Government argued that the digital TV regime had to protect free-to-air broadcasters from new competition, on the basis of 1998 legislation that the Coalition, Labor and the Democrats agreed upon.
The 1998 original digital TV framework promised broadcasters no competition until at least 2007 in return for the costs of converting to digital broadcasting technology, and so made datacasting rules stringent to avoid "backdoor" broadcasting by big media groups, such as News Limited and Fairfax.
News Limited, Fairfax and other groups subsequently argued that the restrictions were anti-competitive and a waste of the digital TV spectrum.
The digital spectrum offers advantages including a sharper picture, multiple channels and the potential to send data, such as email or internet content, to TV sets.
But almost no Australian viewers have yet seen digital television, with few digital TV sets or set-top conversion boxes available in shops.
5/2/01
What a great game of cricket last night, The Aussies getting a fright and winning by just 1 run. I have to get a null modem cable and reload the DVB2000 software as mines glitched somehow and wont let me change the serial port speed meaning I can't use the other cable I have to program the channels via the PC or the other cool features like satellite scan etc.
Here what I can receive off B3 with the 60cm Sky Dish. 44 Channels load, most encrypted
12336V "Mediasat"
12359V "Feeds"
12369V "Feeds"
12407V "encrypted"
12532V "encrypted"
12594V "encrypted"
12657V "encrypted"
12720V "encrypted"
As for B1 of course all the Sky frequencys load and are strong signals (Encrypted) but I can't find anything FTA there.
From my Emails & ICQ
Hi Craig,
Today (Sunday), found American XFL (the latest version of the USA AFL), on Pas2 Adhoc feed 2, also the big fight on Intelsat 701 LA feed channel 4 as usual.
Muslim TV on Pas2 announcing plans to test on Asiasat 2 soon. (maybe a move is near)
BTW. The new Satcruiser range of receivers are about to hit the shelves.
I have been for some time now, testing the digital / positioner combination unit for the distributors Skyvision Australia, and I am delighted at the performance and ease of operation.
They have a winner here for sure!
Kind regards, Tony Drexel. Free To Air Satellite Services, S.Aust.
From Eadie via the mailing list
ABC NT , is back on B1, with the same parameters. 12256Vt ( 12258Vt on Phoenix 333 ), SR 5026 , FEC 3/4.
Eddie
Craig reply. Thanks for that THANKS ALSO for the Virus you included which I accidently activated while in the attachments folder checking some pictures I had been sent.
This From Robin via the mailing list
Hi Craig
Abc nt is back on old frequency b1
regards
Robin
From "Siam global"
Can someone assist ? This new channel PTV4 on AGILA is listed in Lyngsat at 3843H but on your site you mention it being at 3926H. I get no signal in Bkk at either frequency ! ! Could it be in DIGICYPHER , or what ? Secondly the sat test mag you have been reporting on these last few days is issued by What Satellite , a UK publication which has a website www.wotsat.com . Its tests are good as it is prepared to criticise. Telesatellite is good but they prefer to sing the praises rather than be critical, possibly because they need the goodwill of the manufacturers for ads.
Finally two sites appear to have been discontinued : Satchart you list under links and the strange jaring malaysia site you wrote about some months ago with the dirt cheap equipment from a country that bans all dishes and sat equipment other than for ASTRO !
Best wishes from RICHTEXT
Craigs reply, I checked the Satchart site it is working still I think they are redesigning it. The Malaysian site I no longer have so can not check it.
From the Dish
Optus B1 160E 12256 V "ABC NT" Sr 5026 Fec 3/4
NEWS
Star TV to launch new corporate identity campaign; drops TV from its name
From indiantelevision.com
Come 5 February and a new corporate campaign is slated to break across Asia. That of rebranding Star TV as Star. The campaign covers a high-pitch run in newspapers and magazines and possibly the outdoors later.
Star TV Asia chairman and CEO James Murdoch explains in a letter mailed to senior industry professionals has explained why TV is being dropped from the brand identity. He says that the past 10 years have seen a satellite TV broadcaster evolve into a company with strengths in:
*Content (19,000 hours of programming; seven languages, 300 million viewers in 53 countries)
*Distribution (partnerships with companies such as GigaMedia in Taiwan, Hathway in India - which should see enhanced television services and electronic programme guides being introduced in 2001).
*Radio (for once it has admitted that it is involved in FM broadcasting though through its media partner Mittal who is launching six FM stations in 2001. "We believe the commercial FM market in India is one the most promising new media sectors in the region," says Murdoch in the note.
*Internet (owned properties such as channelv.com, vindia.com, espnstar.com, partnerships with others such as netease.com, indya.com)
Murdoch adds that "by leveraging our brands, content, technology, local expertise and extensive infrastructure; and by forging important partnerships in key markets, we are actively creating the next generation of media connectivity in Asia. As STAR evolves from a television brand to a multi-service, multi-platform brand, we are evolving our identity from the media (i.e. from STAR TV) to the core of our brand, i.e. STAR."
Asianet planning news channel
From indiantelevision.com
Leading Malayalam language channel Asianet is putting together plans to launch a news channel within the next three to four months, chief operating officer Mohan Nair said on Saturday.
"We have a full-fledged news dissemination structure already in place for our news programmes so to convert that into a dedicated channel should not be a problem," Nair said. "Towards this end we have just got VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited - in charge of international telecommunication services in India) clearance for a transponder," he added.
"The news bulletins on Asianet get the highest viewership after our hit serial 'Sthree' so we are confident a 24-hour news channel will do well," Nair said.
On how his channel was doing vis-a-vis arch rival Surya of the Sun group, Nair said though they were facing stiff competition, they were still ahead in the channel wars.
Questioned on whether Asianet planned to join the gameshow bandwagon, Nair said Asianet would stick with what has worked for it till now, namely serials. Surya is launching a gameshow hosted by Malayalam film star Mukesh on the lines of the popular "Koteeswaran" on Sun, the leading Tamil language channel.
Nair admitted that an area of concern for the company was Asianet Kaveri, the Kannada language launched in June 2000, which was still to really take off. He ascribed it to the fallout from the kidnapping of popular Kannada film star Rajkumar who was released on 15 November after 108 days in captivity. During the kidnap period there was a virtual shutdown of the Kannada film industry, Nair explained. "This resulted in producers contracted to provide programming for Asianet being unable to do so causing a severe software shortage for the channel, forcing us to air re-runs. This really crippled us at a time when the channel was trying to establish itself and we haven't really managed to recover the lost ground," Nair said.
ETC registers 159% growth in Q3
From indiantelevision.com
ETC Networks Limited has registered a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 43 million on a turnover of Rs 326.6 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2000. PAT for the quarter ended December 31, 2000 is Rs 21.2 million, registering a growth of 159 per cent over the previous quarter ended September 30, 2000 at Rs 13.3 million.
In just its second year of operation, ETC has not only consistently retained the top position among music-based channels in viewership rating but also translated this popularity to very impressive revenue and profit figures, according to a company press release issued on Friday.
ETC Channel Punjabi, the regional channel under the umbrella of ETC Networks Ltd., which has just completed only its second quarter of operation, is also doing extremely well, having beaten all established Punjabi channels in the ratings war, as also attracting impressive revenue figures.
Etc hopes to consolidate its position with a whole slew of new programmes which are scheduled to come on air in the near future.
Zee TV draws up new programming lineup of soaps; bids to regain lost ground
From indiantelevision.com
Five new soaps and a handful of in-house produced shows. That's the first of Zee TV's artillery as it starts its offensive against Star Plus and Sony Entertainment. The duo has already stolen quite a lot of advertising ground from it.
They include: Samander, Aanchal Ke Chaon Mei, Gardish, Ankahee, Kaise Kahoon. Kaise Kahoon, the first of the five soaps starts airing on 5 February (Monday to Thursday 3:30 pm), and is produced by Mona Kapoor. Aashique Rahul Roy makes his small screen debut with this soap. (Wonder whether his lover boy image will help attract audiences?)
The story is about two close friends from different communities whose friendship extends to theri families. The families begin to drift apart when a narrow-minded female protagonist comes into the picture. "Effort is taken to blend two communities out of this serial, the happiness, misunderstanding and sorrow that these two families undergo due to the narrow way of thinking of a single female," says Sudha Chandran, one of the leads in the soap.
Aanchal Ki Chaon Mein commences from 6 February every Tuesday at 9.30 pm and is produced by Rakesh Sarang and Mir Muneer. "The series is the story of a woman torn between the attachment of her family and her own personal life," says Mir Munner the serial writer and co-producer. Slotted for the late night slot are Ankahee (produced by Manish
Goswami; debuts on 21 February, Wednesdays 9:30 pm) and Gardish (directed by Ravi Rai; 7 February, Wednesdays 10 pm). Ankahee has Govind Namdeo, Vivek Mushran and Iravati Harshe playing the leads . Samander by Rajesh Mishra debuts on 8 February and is to be telecast every Thursday at 10 pm with Kabir Bedi and the versatile Nikki Aneja starring.
Zee is also introducing a clutch of other in-house programmes. Lamhe a half-an-hour musical programme with Golden era's black and white movie songs is slated to air at 7.00 am every day. Highlight Zee, a 15-minute update of the entire day's lineup airs all weekdays at 10.30 am. Amrit Kalash, a 30 minute tete-a-tete with successful people from various walks of life who have achieved their success on their own. Vedic chants, bhajans and sermons will be interspersed with nuggets of their views. Directed by Jeetendra Sritava it is scheduled on week-end days at 6.30pm.
And if this is not enough to add to the programming masti, it has lined up Chatpati Chaat - a 15 minute programe consisting of select comedy scenes from Hindi movies (Monday to Friday 10:45 am) and hosted by Bhavna Balsaver.
Will the new programming help Zee TV regain lost turf? For that it is over to King Viewer, who wields that ominous remote in his/her hands.
4/2/01
A slow day nothing happening, I just managed to get the cricket feed off B3 today so off to watch it
From the Dish
Nothing to report
From my Emails & ICQ
Hello
Has anyone out there been able to confirm what analog Ku band frequencies are in use at the present moment eminating from Optus B1 and others in the Asia Pacific area, it seems that most list available are in accurate.
Any clues any one??
Cheers,
Mark
NEWS
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 05/2001 - February 4 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
(Edited Apsattv.com Edition)
A S I A
CHINA - HONG KONG
ESPN AND PHOENIX NEGOTIATE CABLE DEALS
Hong Kong pay-TV operator i-Cable Communications Ltd has confirmed it was in
talks to carry the ESPN sports channel and Phoenix Satellite Television
Holdings Ltd channels on it network. I-Cable lost the rights to distribute
ESPN, owned by U.S. entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. in April 2000 after the
two companies failed to agree on a new contract. Even with the loss of ESPN,
i-Cable’s subscriber base grew more than 23 per cent year-on-year to 520,000 in
2000, representing 30 per cent of the total number of households in Hong Kong
with access to cable television. I-Cable is a unit of Wharf Holdings. According
to a report in the South China Morning Post, i-CABLE Communications could lose
the broadcasting rights for the British Premier Football League (BPFL) to
Murdoch’s Star TV. Previously, i-CABLE had obtained the rights from Transworld
International, the IMG-backed consortium. The preliminary round of the
interview process started last week, with negotiations likely to be finalised
in end-February 2001.
JAPAN
WOWOW TO GO PUBLIC
Japanese satellite broadcaster Wowow has unveiled plans to raise about Y20
billion by listing shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company plans to
list by the end of March but may delay until April or beyond depending on
market conditions. Wowow plans to allocate these funds towards new equipment
and programme acquisitions, including films. It plans to launch a new
communications satellite (CS) service early next year, while continuing to
build the digital broadcast satellite (BS) service it has been operating since
December. During the 1999 financial year (which ended in March 2000), Wowow
recorded earnings of Y62.8 billion and pretax profits of Y7.424 billion. For
the 2000 fiscal year, it expects to incur a pre-tax loss of Y3.2 billion, but
subscribes have been steadily increasing and totalled 2,6 million by the end of
December.
THAILAND
SHIN CORP MAY SELL ITV STAKE
Thailand’s Shin Corp. PCL said on February 1 it was considering selling its
stake in ITV, a local television station, amid ongoing controversy over
interference in the station’s editorial content. ITV reporters have accused
Shin of interfering in news content during the recent electoral campaign, to
favour Shin group’s founder Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai Party.
Shin Corp. and Siam Commercial Bank PCL are the two largest shareholders of the
station with 39 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
A F R I C A
INDIAN CHANNELS IN MULTICHOICE PACKAGE
India’s B4U Music and B4U Movies will be available in Africa through
Multichoice, the largest DTH operator in the continent, according to a report
in the Hindu Business Line. The company claims that over 10,000 subscribers
have registered even before the formal launch. The channel now has plans to
enter Southeast Asia and some countries in the Eastern Hemisphere.
3/2/01
Watching the KINGZ Soccer on B3 right now. Sorry not much is happening with the site the last few days the Nokia has been keeping me busy.
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Elmo
dear sir
I got some friends living in Germany, they've got a Humax digital receiver, with a smartcard.
They bought a card, that they can decode european programmes.
He wants to sent me a card, can I use it here in Australia? Is it compatible with a foxtell satellite receiver?
If not, which programmes can I receive?
Please reply, thanks.
Craigs reply, Hello Elmo these cards will be not of use in Australia they will be programmed for channels not available in Australia.
Re "Satellite 2001 TESTS Magazine"
it can be ordered at any newspaper shop
and takes about 3 days-it is one of the best magazines apart from
tele satellite international-also satfacts
from -h_strecker
Re "Satellite 2001 TESTS Magazine"
Hi Craig,
I bought this mag from my local newsagent for $15.95 (aud) i think it's a good value.
Best regards,
Paul
Paul also has a receiver for sale.
SATCRUISER DSP-201P ANAL/DIGITAL WITH BUILT IN POSITINOR FOR SALE $475.00 OR
NEAREST OFFER.
CALL (03) 9731 0286 OR E-MAIL : [email protected]
I can COD or can negotiate price.
rgds paul
From our Indonesian Reporter
Soccer Match for this weekend !
All are Jakarta Time:
Lega Calcio - Serie A Itali
RCTI:
Sunday 4 Feb. - 02:15 - Atlanta vs. Juventus
20:50 - Parma vs. Roma
Monday 5 Feb. - 02:15 - Napoli vs. Fiorentina
English Premiere League
SCTV:
Saturday 3 Feb. - 22:00 - Conventry vs. Arsenal
Sunday 4 Feb. - 23:00 - Newcastle vs. Southampton
Also u can check on Star Sports Analog for Spanish League on Sunday 4 Feb 2001 03:00
regards
Adi.
From the Dish
Intelsat 804 64E 4172 L "Indian Path 2 Feed" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4
ST 1 88E 3509 H "Mega Movie 2" has left
Panamsat 8 166E 3860 H "Toyota Cup Soccer" Sr 28000 Fec 3/4 seen here
2/2/01
YES Success with the NOKIA have found B1/B3 can load B3 Mediasat just trying to get the feed of the cricket. If you are in Australia and managed to find a copy of the magazine shown above please let me know which newsagent you found it at as a few have enquired about it, Its still in the shops here.
Sorry about the late edition of the site and lack of stuff been very busy
From my Emails & ICQ
These from Victor,
NBC is currently broadcasting on Adhoc II on Pas2.
Fans of ER might want to check, even though it keeps going on and off.
Probably be off in a little while.
Survivor 2 is currently on Adhoc I on Pas2.
The time is 5:00pm(South Aust. time).
I'm assuming this will be a weekly event.
PRESS RELEASE
CANAL CALEDONIE PRESENTS “ LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS“
CANAL CALEDONIE, subsidiary of MEDIA OVERSEAS, has launched the DTH bouquet of digital channels CANALSATELLITE CALEDONIE on November 15th, 1999 over the whole Territory of New Caledonia.
MEDIA OVERSEAS is a company belonging to the VIVENDI Group..
CANALSATELLITE CALEDONIE is thus the third DTH bouquet launched by MEDIA OVERSEAS and counts, after 1 year of marketing, over 11,000 household subscribers.
CANALSATELLITE CALEDONIE is presently offering in New Caledonia 16 thematic channels and 1 radio.
CANAL+, premium channel, is also available on this bouquet.
The coverage of Intelsat 701 is able, through the spot beam S2 specific to CANALSATELLITE CALEDONIE, to extend over the Pacific area and cover more particularly Vanuatu, Fiji and the eastern side of Australia, from Cairns to Adelaide (and over). [Freq.11610MHz, H, MSYM 30000, FEC 3/4].
In response to a keen demand of French households residing in the eastern side of Australia, MEDIA OVERSEAS has devised and is launching at the end of February: L B F «LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS», an offer created specifically for export.
«LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS» offer consists initially of programs specific for export with the following 7 thematic channels:
GENERAL INTEREST: TV5
ENTERTAINMENT: RTL 9
NEWS: EURONEWS
GENERAL INTEREST: RFO SAT / TEMPO
MUSIC: MCM & RFM TV
RADIO: EUROPE 1
The reception of «LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS» is possible in most parts of Australia with a satellite dish of 90 to 180 cm diameters, depending on the reception area involved.
Specific Mediaguard digital terminal and smart card are needed for receiving programs of «LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS».
This equipment will be available for sale by approved professional distributors of satellite systems, in early March.
As «LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS’» channels are encrypted, the purchase of pre-charged cards, making decoding possible for a 6 or a 12 month period, is necessary for the reception of «LE BOUQUET FRANÇAIS» decrypted programs.
The selling price of these cards is $22, plus $165 for 6 months, or plus $264 for 12 months (GST included).
For more information or expression of interest, please contact one of our two Australian agents:
Alain CORROY in Gold Coast QLD, Tel: 07 5539 5488, Fax: 0414 236 601, E-mail: [email protected]
Zone 1: Queensland, New South Wales (North from Port Macquarie to Moree), Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Thierry DEMENE in Sydney NSW, Tel: 02 4730 1933, Fax: 02 4730 1085, E-mail: [email protected]
Zone 2: New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania.
Or our Importer / distributor in Australia:
- Geoff DARGIE, NATIONWIDE ANTENNA SYSTEMS in Brisbane QLD
Tel: 07 3252 2947, Fax: 07 3252 8541, E-mail: [email protected]
Or Carle DUCHESNE, Commercial Director of CANAL CALEDONIE, in Noumea NEW CALEDONIA,
Tel: 687 26 53 30, Fax: 687 26 53 21, E-mail: [email protected]
Or see us at Stand 42, DIGITAL MEDIA WORLD Australia 2001, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, SYDNEY, on the 26-27 & 28 February 2001.
From the Dish
ST 1 88E 3550 V "Tzu Chi TV" is FTA
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Bloomberg TV Asia" is FTA
NEWS
SkyHug revisited: Sky Digital and Ultra through the same dish?
From http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/4D3FCB930D8EF49CCC2569E6002FFB1C!opendocument
First task is OpenTV rollout, says Fellet
Sky Television and Ihug are in discussion about a partnership on internet service that could see Sky Digital and Ultra delivered through the same Ihug dish.
Sky appears to be near overcoming the technical impediments to launching interactive applications based on the OpenTV software platform and has been contacting customers to make sure the phone jacks installed along with Sky Digital decoders and dishes are operational.
Sky CEO John Fellet says the company is four to eight weeks away from loading OpenTV software onto all digital decoders, as a an over-the-air firmware upgrade.
Despite its name, OpenTV is a proprietary interactive platform designed specifically for use with digital TV. It is not the same as the internet, but Fellet says the broadcaster has recognised there is also a market for internet access via TV.
"My feeling is that we can do the internet. You've seen the box that Ihug has that does internet on the television - there's a market for that and I think that we'll get around to that, working with an ISP so that we can focus on our business. We'd rather not learn the ISP business."
Fellet says Sky has talked to several ISPs, "but Ihug is out there doing it right now". He says he does not regret the collapse of Sky's attempt to buy into Ihug in 1999: "I don't know that the cultures would have worked out well - and as it turned out that market didn't do as well as everyone expected. We would have been buying in at probably the highest point of the market.
"That's not to say anything against the Wood brothers because I have the greatest respect for them and what they've done."
Fellet says a single-dish system for Sky and Ultra would be a potential way for the two companies to work together.
Ihug director Nick Wood confirmed that Ihug has been experimenting with a dish with dual LNBs – one to point at the Optus satellite used by Sky and one at the PanAmSat bird that provides the direct-satellite version of the Ultra service.
"We've done tests and it works into the same dish we use now with a dual LNB and we've been discussing how that might work. There is a potential that that could be happening shortly," says Wood.
"It's perfect for people that live out in the sticks and want fast internet and they can't get it from anyone but us. It beats having a dish farm on your roof."
For Sky, the first task is to prepare and deliver the OpenTV upgrade to its boxes. Fellet says it currently has engineers from OpenTV, both its decoder manufacturers and the company that provides encryption for the TV service, NDS.
"They're making sure nothing they do trips up the other side. The worst thing I could do is download OpenTV and shut off 240,000 boxes."
Fellet is reluctant to declare technical problems solved until the software is actually installed on the decoders, but says engineers have successfully installed a beta version of the software on "experimental boxes".
"The thing you have to be careful about is that there are boxes from two manufacturers out there and even though they're supposed to be compatible we've just got to make sure that some command doesn't force a channel change or something."
The company's first interactive service – pay-per-view movies – has actually been using home phone lines as a return path since October. Fellet says the company racked up 70,000 movie purchases in December, amounting to $500,000 in revenue.
E-mail and other services will follow the upgrade, but Fellet says the first feature most customer notice will be an improved interactive programme guide.
i7 says no, RushTV sends its staff home
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0102/02/bizcom/bizcom1.html
Another brash young Internet broadcasting venture met its administrator yesterday, with Mr Haydon Bray appointing Arthur Andersen to sell RushTV after major investor i7 baulked at a request for another $1 million.
Some 30 staff who had survived a wave of redundancies just four weeks ago have been sent home without pay. "I'm never going near another start-up again," commented one young employee amid a grim scene around the bar at lunch.
i7, the Internet arm of the Seven Network, has pumped $5.75 million into RushTV since its launch 12 months ago. A rival to the now defunct KGrind, RushTV had planned to build a vast network of youth TV channels and Web sites starring celebrity sportspeople. Westpac, Pepsi and Telstra signed on as advertisers.
But, failing to raise venture capital from other parties, in RushTV retrenched 20 people in January, out of 48 staff. Much of the Internet division was dumped as the company restructured to focus on a weekly TV show broadcast on Seven. I7 provided $250,000 to cover the redundancies. "It is our best intention to look after the staff, in this case also in consultation with the voluntary administrator," an i7 spokesman said yesterday. Mr Bray had met i7 management on Tuesday to inform it a further $1 million would be needed to keep RushTV running until it could turn a profit, expected in July. The next day i7, the major shareholder in the business alongside Mr Bray, replied that it was not prepared to put up any more money.
i7 said it would no longer act as a venture capital fund for external Internet companies and instead planned to launch new Web sites drawing content from its own TV properties in order to achieve cost efficiencies.
In 1999 i7 made a series of investments in Internet companies, including radio station Digital One, auction house Wemyss and content provider Channel E, to build content for its site.
Mr David Winterbottom, a partner with Arthur Andersen, said he would try to achieve a sale of RushTV as a going concern but admitted it would be difficult to find buyers.
"The concept was good and the company was making progress towards profitability," said Mr Winterbottom.
Westpac, which signed on as a sponsor in November, said yesterday it had been "enthusiastic" about the Rush TV model.
Mr Bray, formerly a media buyer in the advertising industry, said he planned to relaunch the RushTV concept at a later date: "It works. We had huge sponsorship support. The marketing community got it. The audience was into it. I will not die with this - I've just got to get the timing right.
"Everybody in the venture capital market right now sees anything to do with the Internet and they run for the hills."
Yesterday i7 reaffirmed its commitment to another Internet joint venture, womenzone, run in partnership with Web developer Big River.
Big River managing director Mr Simon van Wyk said i7 was a 50 per cent equity holder in the community site, which employs four staff. "In our agreement there is still cash to come," said Mr van Wyk.
1/2/01
Sorry about the delay the Nokias been keeping me busy. WAHOOO I managed to get a signal from B3 Mediasat then that was it after it locked on the pic all the fiddling in the world couldn't bring it back. Oh well its a start and I managed it without a meter and in our skys its either B3 or B3 as the only Ku options so I think i did fine to get it. GOODBYE CNN Asia Pas 8 encrypted today expect CNN off Palapa C2 to go soon also
HELP ME
I would like to know what special kind of screws the Nokia has holding it together as somethings
rattling around inside my one. I need to go to Dicky Smiths and buy the right special screwdriver to open it up.
HELP ME
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Victor via the mailing list
You guys probably already know this, but CNBC Hong Kong are testing on the CNBC bouquet on Pas 8.
Hi
I am getting foxtel connected, through the satellite method, could I receive other transmissions
if I redirect the dish.
Regards Rohan
Hi yes you probably can get some signals fta off Panamsat 8, but you would need a fta sat receiver. Its not worth the bother!
From the Dish
Intelsat 602 4173 LHC Feed (BT Singapore) Sr 5632 Fec 3/4
ST 1 88E 3550 V "Open TV" has encrypted
ST 1 88E 3632 V "HKTV" has encrypted
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3940 V "Zee News" has left
Agila 2 146E 3926 H "PTV 4" has started Sr 7320, Fec 3/4. (Asia only)
Pansamsat 8 166.5E 3780 H "CNN International Asia"has now encrypted.
NEWS
Bankers may force Austar to sell assets, cut expansion
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0102/01/business/business4.html
Regional pay TV and Internet group Austar is expected to
unveil details of a restructuring of the group this month, including possible asset sales as well as the scaling back of expansion plans, as a condition of a new financing arrangement.
It is understood that Austar is finalising negotiations for a $200 million debt facility, but as part of the loan conditions, it will have to restructure, emphasising its core pay TV operations, and halt its plans to expand into metropolitan areas.
In October Austar paid $140 million for microwave spectrum to expand its data services in the major cities.
Austar's pay TV business is understood to have had a poor fourth quarter, with about a 20,000 subscribers (net) added during the period.
Media analysts said lenders would be tough with Austar
because, on its present cash burn rate of $27 million a month, it had only enough funds to last until May. The new debt facility would finance Austar until mid-2002.
Analysts said Austar was also considering asset sales, so that it would not be too reliant on debt. It could sell its half share in the Telstra-Saturn joint venture in New Zealand to its partner as Austar will have to invest another $50 million in the venture to access a major part of the venture's $NZ900 million ($723 million) debt facility.
Deutsche Bank media analyst Mr Mike Mangan said in a recent note that Austar's stake in Telstra-Saturn was worth $200 million.
Telstra-Saturn chief executive Mr Jack Matthews said yesterday there was no need for extra financing for the telephone, Internet and pay TV venture, and did not comment on a restructuring of the partnership.
Analysts said Austar was also looking at lowering the price its pay TV programming business XYZ Entertainment charges fellow pay TV operator Foxtel, which together with Austar jointly owns XYZ.
In return, Austar will pay less for sports programming from Foxtel's affiliate Fox Sports Australia. Analysts said the new arrangement would lower operating expenses for both pay TV players, which are both incurring losses.
A sale of XYZ to Foxtel, however, has been ruled out in the short term as it is the only part of Austar that is profitable.
Curtailing Austar's ambitions to be a major media and telecom player is already under way with the dissolution of its 50-50 Internet joint venture with its affiliate company Chello, the Dutch broadband group.
Austar shares jumped more than 6 per cent to $2.67 at one stage, ending 17c higher at $2.65, a two-week high, on the back of the Chello restructure.
Austar spokesman Mr Bruce Meagher said his company would continue to sell Chello, and would be responsible for the entire marketing of the service. Under the previous arrangement, marketing was handled by both groups. Austar had only achieved 1,000 subscribers by the end of last year, well short of the 20,000 targeted.
CNNfn to become CNN Money
AOL Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, said it will carry more personal finance and small business news on its CNNfn financial news cable network and rename the network CNN Money.
The changes at CNN Money were one of a series of announcements from AOL Time Warner, which also included new advertising agreements and a contract for the Home Box Office cable network to show movies from Vivendi Universal SA's Universal Studios.
AOL Time Warner was formed three weeks ago when Internet service America Online Inc completed its $US124 billion purchase of Time Warner Inc. Today's announcements show how AOL and Time Warner can generate more revenue as a combined company, chief executive Gerald Levin said.
"We've really hit the ground running across the company," Levin said in an interview. CNN Mon
ey will carry more news about personal finance and small business, after U.S. financial markets close, the company said. The new programming is in the early stages of development, spokeswoman Christa Robinson said. CNN Money will be carried on more of Time Warner's cable television systems; will receive content and promotions from Time Inc magazines, which include Money and Fortune; and will be promoted on the AOL Internet service's Personal Finance Channel.
HBO licensed the rights to Universal's theatrical releases from 2003 through 2010, the network said.
AOL Time Warner also announced marketing agreements.
Nortel Networks Corp., the biggest maker of fibre-optic telecommunications equipment, said it will advertise on AOL's television networks, Web sites and in its magazines. Nortel also said it will market AOL's technology that allows businesses to make information from their websites available by phone.
Cendant Corp., a franchiser of businesses including the Avis car rental chain and Century 21 real estate agencies, and PurchasePro.com Inc., whose websites allow businesses to buy and sell supplies, also signed agreements to advertise on various AOL Time Warner media outlets.
Warner Music Group said it would begin new online promotions of its performers, who include Barenaked Ladies, Jewel and Rod Stewart. The promotions will include songs that can be downloaded at AOL's Winamp.com and Spinner.com websites and 30-second excerpts from music videos, the company said in a statement.
New York-based AOL Time Warner said today that the combined company's fourth-quarter loss was $1.09 billion, or 25 cents a share, wider than the loss of $194 million, or 5 cents, a year earlier. The figures assume the companies had been combined in both periods.
AOL shares today fell $1.66 to $52.65 in late trading.
South Korea plans satellite launch pad
From [sat-nd] 31.01.2001
South Korea will build a satellite launch station on the Oenarodo island off
the southern coast by 2005, the Ministry of Science and Technology said. The
government plans to spend US$108 million on the launch pad, which will be used
to loft scientific satellites. South Korea so far has put two small locally
manufactured communications satellites into orbit using foreign rockets.
Satellite launch skips Centenary
From http://www.theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,4511,1656147^2702,00.html
IT was to be a glorious symbol of a century of Australian scientific achievement, blasting into space during our centenary of Federation.
But problems plaguing FedSat-1 – the first locally built satellite in more than 30 years – mean its launch has embarrassingly been delayed until February next year, missing the celebrations entirely.
The microsatellite, the size of a bar fridge, will conduct experiments on satellite-to-satellite communication, the Earth's magnetic field and solar panels.
It is the first major space mission for the Co-operative Research Centre for Satellite Systems, a consortium of universities, science agencies and businesses that aims to deliver benefits to local industry by building small satellites.
FedSat has already had to endure problems with the Japanese rocket it is to be launched on and the bankruptcy of the British company contracted to build sub-systems.
"It's good news and bad news," said CRCSS executive director Brian Embleton of the new launch date, adding it was "as firm as it can be".
"It's a disappointment that it's not actually happening in the year of the centenary," he said.
But the bankruptcy of the British company had forced delays and cost strains and the new date had given the consortium breathing space.
"We can also view it as an opportunity for Australians to have a greater rate of participation in the satellite as a whole," Dr Embleton said.
This is the third launch delay for the project, which contracted out much of its work due to time pressure.
FedSat will also include SpaceGram, a CD bearing the voices of Australians who phoned in messages last year, and the first Australian song in space: Paul Kelly's From Little Things Big Things Grow.
If the CRC had known when it started FedSat that the launch date would be in February 2002, "we could have done the whole thing in Australia", Dr Embleton said.
Sport and games to pay the way for interactive TV
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0102/01/bizcom/bizcom1.html
In the UK, Two Way TV reaches 7 million homes, about the same number as all TV households in Australia.
Forget shopping and banking via the TV for a while, it will be sports, game shows and horse tipping that will unlock "t-commerce" revenues in Australia by 2004.
That's the view of Mr Jim McKay, founder and managing director of Two Way TV Australia. The company is backed to the tune of $14 million from investors including Mr Sam Chisholm, Mr Reg Grundy and Mr McKay, a former Nine Network executive producer who also launched and ran the marketing operations of Australian rules football for 15 years. Mr Rodney Adler and Mr Trevor Kennedy are on its board.
The company changed its name from Interactive TV last year after acquiring the exclusive Australian licence for Two Way TV of the UK, which also became the major shareholder in the Australian venture with a 37.5 per cent stake.
In the UK, Two Way TV is carried on all the cable networks, reaching about 7 million homes with digital set-top boxes, about the same number as all TV households in Australia.
Mr McKay claims Two Way's UK experience is that 58 per cent wanted interactivity to play games, more than twice the demand for email.
The kind of "games" Two Way has developed allowed soccer fans watching last year's World Cup Series to virtually manage their own dream team made up of favourite players, with the team's value fluctuating according to the actual match performances of those players.
Very popular is an interactive version of Scrabble, where players can compete and chat via the TV on a national level. Then there's the ability to play along with TV quiz shows.
For those who doubt the demand for an opportunity to compete on Who'd Want to Be a Millionaire? Mr McKay offered the anecdotal experience of Channel Nine. The network received 500,000 phone calls per day from viewers wanting to participate in the free-to-air show. Charged at $2 per call, that $1 million in daily revenue exceeded the show's advertising revenues and if it had been allowed to continue would have challenged the entire network's annual revenue. But regulators stepped in.
Two-Way in the UK says players spend on average 80 minutes playing four to five games a day. They pay £4.95 per month, plus 50p per game if they want to win prizes.
While it is the entertainment that gets subscribers emotionally involved in interactive TV, Mr McKay admits the real revenue opportunities kick in from targeted advertising, impulse shopping, fees for conducting audience research and the opportunity of selling the news reader's shirt.
Woolworths in the UK was one of the first to trial t-retailing via the BSkyB Open Interactive service two years ago. Now its interactive TV store is claimed to be do more business than all but two of its 300-odd high street stores.
The big problem Australia has in building that mass market is in getting the set-top boxes into homes. In the UK, BSkyB has built a mass market of subscribers by giving them free set-top boxes. But Mr McKay predicts the scenario even for Mr Rupert Murdoch will be very different here. "In the UK there were 7 million people already subscribing to BSkyB. It was already very profitable. Here Foxtel is still edging its way.".
He predicts operators here could wait two years to see if the public will pay for set-top boxes.
A report Goldman Sachs last year predicted the broad adoption of interactive television in Australia would not happen for at least five years.
Cricket Coverage Gets Flash Graphics
From http://www.spectrum.net.nz/index.html
The days of white squiggles covering the television screen during cricket matches are over. State of the art 3D graphics will now show viewers what they need to know.
Dunedin company Virtual Spectator which introduced 3D images for the America's Cup has come up with a similar pacakge for Cricket.
Virtual Spectator director Ian Taylor said the new graphics feature 3D images of fielders, explanations of field settings and sophisticated wagon wheels to detail a batsman's innings.
The graphics were to be included in Sky TV's coverage of the today's one-day international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Napier.
Virtual Spectator's animators worked closely with Sky TV cricket director and former national captain Martin Crowe to
ensure they developed a ``workable'' graphics programme. Taylor said the key to successful graphics was developing images that were ``able to tell a story''.
Virtual Spectator has also developed graphics software for golf and is expected to announce a major contract with television companies covering the European PGA soon.
(Craigs note, I saw this in action yesterday
