31/07/02
Thanks to all that showed up in the chatroom it was a bit quiet I guess people were watching the games.
For those that are wondering about Globecast (B3,12336v) the encrypted event they have been showing the last few days is the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh cricket test. Which is available to Zee subscribers on the ocassional channel.
From my Emails & ICQ
From: "shanky -- aaa" <[email protected]>
I am from INDIA.
I want to become NASA ASTRONAUT> I want to go on MARS on NASA
MARS PROGRAM I am studing in class +2(non medical) in C.B.S.E.
board.
I saw in news paper that I can become only COMMANDER ASTRONAUT
as I am not AMERICAN.
Please tell me about this and about study after +2 that I have to
do ENGINEERING or B.Sc.or any thing else for MARS PROGRAM and
colleges in abroad or in my country And tell me about things which
I can do at home like learning HAM RADIO and PHONETIC ALPHABET AS I don't know what is it.
And tell me about wed sites of NASA which help me for mars program.
THANK YOU
(Craigs comment, I am sorry I can't help you get to Mars. You may like to experiment with launching things into space by building your own rocket. I am sure you probably have access to a fireworks factory where you can purchase some good quality explosives. Also try these websites for help about ham radio and also the Nasa Website)
http://www.nasa.gov/
http://www.arrl.org/
From "Z"
Subject: little dish
Hi craig recently got hold of a jonsa js351m11 35cm offset dish from satworld in melb...set up on coffe table on my balcony...using an autosat bk525 lnb single pol...get 72% sig strength and 60% sig quality on b3 12688 hor...cert is 40% sig strength and 25% sig quality(these results are from a hummie 5400z sig screen)...if and when c1 goes up readins should be a lot better..I would say that these little dishes may become very much in demand...comes complete with a compass and a suction cup mount(for mounting on your car..hehehe)
cheers
ps...note the coke can for scale...my other half says that its cute...would look good on any mantle piece
(Craigs comment, I will be trying a BK 25 LNBF later this week have heard they are very good.)
From Jundong Wu
Subject: about the Ku band signal off Asiasat 3S
Hi Craig and Jsat,
I knew this Ku band signal off Asiasat3S (12596H,
SR30000)had been there for a long time, at least half
year ago. According the lease agreement between
Asiasat and Telstra, Telstra uses this transponder for
providing a 2-way internet service for the remote
countryside area of Australia.
This signal is very strong here (Melbourne), according
the footprint of this steerable beam, probably it
could also be received in the South Island (NZ). Craig
and Kiwis could have a try.
Best regards,
Jundong Wu
(Craigs comment, I will try to have a look tommorow or this weekend but it may be pushing things a bit to expecta signal on my 76cm)
From the Dish
Thaicom 1 120E 3746V "MRTV" is new here ,Sr 5787 Fec 3/4 (can anyone in Aus pick up this sat?)
PAS 8 166E 12366 H New SIDs and PIDs for Fashion TV, MCM Asia and ABC Asia Pacific on: 1-3 and 257/258-769/770. ABC Asia Pacific (-2h) has left this mux.
Superbird C 144E 12688 V "occasional Tzu Chi TV" feeds.
Telkom 1 108E SID updates for all channels in TelkomVision.National Geographic Channel Adventure 1 Asia has replaced Phoenix Chinese on 3580 H, Irdeto, PIDs 49/69.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 12349 H "Hebei Radio 1-2" have started , Fta, SIDs 2-3, APIDs 84-88.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 12368 H "Tianjin Radio" has started , Fta, SID 2, APID 1220.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 12452 H "China Radio International" has started, Fta, SID 3, APID 1321.
Yamal 102 90E 3539 L "TRT and ORR" are still Fta , Sr 3570, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256 and 257.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Star Vijay" is now encrypted.
PAS 10 68.5E 3774 V "Aastha" is still testing, Fta, Sr 2940, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
PAS 10 68.5E 3778 V "CMM Music test card" has started, Fta, Sr 2940, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4130/4131.(Not sure if this is correct must be part of a mux above as the settings are the same)
NEWS
Loral Skynet granted first patent for transponder measurement system
From indiantelevision.com
Loral Skynet has announced that it has received its first-ever patent for a unique transponder plot measurement, storage and distribution system.
According to an official release, this allows Skynet's engineers to clearly see a customer's satellite signal integrity, power levels and possible interference problems directly from a desktop computer in real time. Loral Skynet is a subsidiary of Loral Space and Communications. Transponder plots - a snapshot in time of the radio frequency spectrum on a given transponder - are generally drafted on paper at a satellite operater's control centre and faxed to engineers and the satellite's end-users, says the release. Skynet's electronic plot system allows its engineers to supply customers with a clear and professional quality plot of their signals on Loral Skynet satellites quickly and efficiently. The information can also be sent to customers electronically as a JPEG file.
The software gives Skynet engineers a consistent and flexible electronic plot format that allows for analysis, annotation and distribution with no loss in the professional presentation quality. In its electronic format, over a year's worth of plots can be archived on a single CD ROM, says the release.
The transponder measurement system was developed by Loral Skynet engineers Derwin Skotch and David McDowell in May 2000. Loral Skynet is a satellite communications services provider that operates the Telstar satellite fleet. This fleet provides C-band and Ku-band coverage to over 85 per cent of the world's population for the transmission of video and data services. Loral Space and Communications is a high tech company that concentrates primarily on satellite-based services and satellite manufacturing, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services.
EWTN Signs 10-Year Agreement on PAS-10 Satellite for Distribution throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean Region
From the Press release
Wilton, CT, July 30, 2002 -- PanAmSat Corporation (NASDAQ: SPOT) today announced a 10-year transponder lease agreement with the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the world’s largest religious media organization. The agreement, the second EWTN has signed with PanAmSat in the past four months, is for content distribution throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean Region on the PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellite.
?This agreement enhances our already strong partnership with EWTN, one of our most important customers,” said Tom Eaton, PanAmSat’s executive vice president, global sales and marketing. “We look forward to working closely with their team and helping them increase their penetration around the world.”
In its 21st year, EWTN has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming to more than 75 million homes in 100 countries and territories on cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users. EWTN currently uses capacity on PanAmSat’s Galaxy IR, Galaxy XI, Galaxy XR, PAS-3R, PAS-8 and PAS-9 satellites. In April, PanAmSat announced that EWTN had entered into a new lease agreement for one 36 MHz c-band transponder for follow-on capacity on the Galaxy IRR satellite for US domestic distribution.
?With this agreement, PanAmSat now transmits EWTN to more than 98 percent of the world’s population,” said EWTN's President Michael Warsaw. “It is truly incredible for us to know that so many people around the globe can access our message. We are grateful for the excellent service that PanAmSat has provided to us over the years and look forward to our continued partnership with them.”
The PAS-10 satellite, located at 68.5 degrees east longitude, is a Boeing-built 601 HP model satellite with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. The satellite’s expansive footprint covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia. PAS-10’s C-band customers include the BBC, CNN, CCTV, Discovery, Doordarshan, ESPN, MTV, NHK, Nickelodeon and Sony. PAS-10’s Ku-band payload contains multiple high-powered beams focused on Africa, Europe, India, the Middle East, Central and Western Asia as well as Northeast Asia. Many of the beams can be switched between the various regions, offering flexibility in the creation of new platforms for the delivery of video, data and IP-based services.
About EWTN
With more than 21 years experience in the area of religious programming, EWTN Global Catholic Network is the world's largest religious multi-media organization. Reaching more than 75 million television homes across the globe, EWTN transmits its signal via more than twelve satellites (North America, Latin America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Africa/India) with customized channels for each continent, 24-hours a day. EWTN reaches countless millions more via short-wave radio, satellite delivered AM/FM radio and its Online Services (www.ewtn.com).
About PanAmSat
PanAmSat Corporation is the premier provider of global video and data broadcasting services via satellite. Operating a global network of 21 in-orbit spacecraft, the company reaches 98 percent of the world’s population through cable television systems, broadcast affiliates, DTH operators, ISPs, and telecommunications companies. The company serves the top video and network services customers in the world, such as Disney, AOL Time Warner, Viacom, BBC, British Telecom, CCTV, NHK and Telstra. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.panamsat.com.
About HUGHES Electronics
HUGHES Electronics Corporation is a world-leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband services, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data broadcasting. HUGHES is a unit of General Motors Corporation. The earnings of HUGHES are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH).
ESPN-Star knocks off competition
From http://www.business-standard.com/today/corp7.asp?Menu=2
ESPN-Star Sports combine is all set to become a virtual monopoly in the broadcast of international cricket matches in Asia following the world's biggest ever acquisition of international cricket rights.
Industry analysts maintain that the ESPN-Star combine could now have control over the live broadcast of almost 75 per cent of international cricket matches over the next five year period i.e. up to 2007.
According to available figures, ESPN-Star Sports will now have the rights for live broadcast of international cricket for 1,108 days over the next five years, while its rival Sony which bagged the rights to the ICC World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Youth World Cup, has the live broadcast rights for 153 days of international cricket with another 165 days of cricket for the Youth World Cup.
Ten Sports the other sports channel in India holds rights for live telecast of cricket matches for around 184 days for the next five years.
However of these around 84 days account for the broadcast of cricket related to the Sharjah circuit which does not fall under the purview of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Doordarshan on its part is way behind the pack accounting for the rights for live telecast of just 80 days of cricket over five years.
However Doordarshan also has a sharing agreement with Sony for the telecast of most of the ICC knockout and World Cup matches.
30/07/02
Livechat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom.
Not much else happening!
Can I have some reports from people who can get the zone beam off Insat 2E, have been told its a good signal even on 2.3M dish in the NT. Just wondering how far south it travels.
Byutv on Jcsat2a not transmitting any pids? signal is still there nice and strong though.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
JcSat2A
The Mormans have gone into a crazy mode
No Pics here but signal still there
Did a rescan of transponder and no pids
Oh well
From Victor Holubecki
ATN World on Asiasat 3
Frequency- 3760 Pol- H SR- 26000 FEC- 7/8
vpid-1040 apid-1041
From the Dish
Superbird C 144E 12688 V "Tzu Chi TV" has started , Fta, Sr 2900, Fec 5/6, SID 99,PIDs 33/34, NE Asian beam.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H "ATN World" info card has started, Fta, PIDs 1040/1041.
Yamal 102: 90E 3539 L "TRT and ORR" have left .
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3554 V "ATN World" has left , replaced by a test card.
PAS 10 68.5E 3774 V The Aastha TV tests have left , replaced by a CMM Music test card,new PIDs: 4130/4131.
NEWS
Beat that ESS tells Sony, announces OCSI rights acquisition
From indiantelevision.com
NEW DELHI: It's war out there in the cricket broadcasting arena. Sony Entertainment Television may have ICC cricket, including the next two World Cups, but for sheer breadth of coverage, it is ESPN Star Sports (ESS) that has it.
ESS, a joint venture between ESPN Asia and Star Group, today announced the acquisition of telecast rights of all international cricket from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and England (the OCSI territories) for a period of five years from 2003 to 2008. Estimated cost of acquisition: around to $ 140 million.
With the acquisition of 805 days of additional days of cricket telecast of 110 tests and one-day internationals in which India will feature in 17 tests and one-day series. The broadcast will go out to millions of fans across India and other countries that are covered by the footprint of the Asiasat 3 satellite. The total number of days of cricket with ESS now amount to 1,108 days of cricket till 2007, compared to about 153 days of cricket telecast rights that has been bagged by Sony Entertainment TV India till 2007 which includes the two cricket World Cups.
ESS is also set to announce within two weeks new programming and marketing initiatives to exploit the total number of cricket telecast days it has at its disposal.
"With this acquisition we hope to maintain the our leadership position (where telecasting of sports events are concerned) in India," Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India told indiantelevision.com after a press conference in Delhi.
Though Sawhney put forward a defensive bat of "no comment" to a query on the acquisition cost of the additional cricket telecast rights, broadcasting industry sources indicated that it was around $ 140 million. The deal, signed on Saturday, has had numbers thrown up that put the cost even as high as $ 200 million. Compare that to the $ 24 million ESS paid out in September 1999 for the telecast rights for the four cricket boards Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe (England was not included as part of the OCSI bid then) from 2000 to 2004 and that gives some idea as to just how competitive this business is. Also, $ 24 million was seen as an astronomical figure to pay for cricket rights then. But then there were more competing bids what with ESS, the Zee Network, Vatsa Television Network and a number of air-time buyers like Stracon India and 21st Century Media all in the race. This time round only three players were seen as bidders for the rights - ESS, Sony Entertainment Television and Ten Sports.
"ESS has held an unparalleled leadership in sports broadcasting across Asia and India over the past six years. The acquisition of this multi-cricket broad deal demonstrates the continued long-term commitment of the shareholders of ESS (to the Indian and Asian market at large)," an ESS statement quoting Rik Dovey, managing director of ESS, said.
The cricket rights include 203 days of cricket from Australia covering tours by India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England, Zimbabwe and New Zealand; 145 days of cricket from South Africa, 207 days of cricket from England, including tours by India, Australia, SA and Pakistan; 120 days of cricket from New Zealand and 130 days of cricket from Zimbabwe.
Indian satellites find water under desert
From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_27518,0000.htm
India's remote sensing satellites have traced the buried course of the Saraswati, the mythical Himalayan River, kindling hopes of finding drinking water under the hot sands of the Thar desert in Rajasthan.
Mentioned in Rig Veda, the Hindu scripture, and other ancient literature, the mighty river is believed to have once flowed, parallel to the river Indus, through what is now desert before falling into the Arabian Sea.
According to published literature, the river disappeared between 5000 BC and 3000 BC due to tectonic events in the Himalayas, that cut off the water supply, and climatic changes that converted what was once a lush green Rajasthan into an arid zone.
Past attempts to accurately trace the lost river and reconstruct its drainage system did not succeed. "Recent advancements in space-based sensors and in data processing technologies made it possible," says J R Sharma of the Jodhpur-based Remote Sensing Service Centre of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
He and his colleagues A K Gupta and G Sreenivasan have mapped the 'Palaeo Channels' - relics of the river and its tributaries - using data from three different sensors on board Indian satellites
Two new Malayalam TV channels launched
August is a hot month. In Kerala's television industry, things will be hotter with the entry of new TV
channels in the already overcrowded space.
Jeevan TV will go on air from August 1. Another channel, India Vision TV, is also preparing for a launch on August 17.
Understandably, the existing channels are preparing themselves hard for the impending battle.
Jeevan TV, believed to be promoted by the Trissur Archdiocese, will be headquartered at Kochi.
Sources close to the channel say that the share capital of the channel is Rs 25 crore, with close to 7000 shareholders contributing to it.Adding to the bandwagon of TV channels is India Vision TV.
Speaking to IANS, the India Vision TV promoter, state Public Works Department Minister Dr M.K. Muneer, said: "We are all set to go. We will have our head office at Kochi from where the uplinking would be done."
With Asianet, Surya, Doordarshan and Kairali channels already operating in the state, the moot question now being asked is whether the advertisement revenue being generated will be adequate to keep this many number of channels floating.
C. Praveen, general manager of Surya TV, sounds unperturbed. He told IANS: "We have nothing to prove. The onus is on others to prove. Competition is always welcome and we are ready. Our revenues have grown by 50 per cent in the last one year, so we are not at all worried "
According to a recent television audience survey, Surya TV has 35 programmes in the top 60 Malayalam programmes.
Asianet was the first private TV channel to start operating in Kerala. It had has recently resorted to a major overhaul of its top officials and is also planning major changes in the programme content in order to fight competition.
The third private TV channel, Kairali, promoted by the CPI (M) party in the state, appears to be struggling and film superstar Mammooty, the chairman of the channel, today spends more time in the Kochi office of the channel than on the film sets.
Kairali also faces severe shortage of funds and for the past few months has not been able to pay the full salaries of its employees. Presently the channel is sitting on losses of about Rs 9 crore.
The immediate fallout of the increasing number of channels is going to be a dip in the advertisement revenues.
More importantly with technology changing fast, all these channels would have to find fresh investments for modernising their studios.
Only time will tell what is in store for the players on Kerala's TV turf.
29/07/02
A screenshots special edition, thank you to those that contributed.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
More screenshots to fill in the missing ones on the Asiasat 3 page.
Pheonix info news and IndusVision
And if the Mormon channel isn't exciting enough for you how about this Thaicom 3 "Amway" feed on 3600H
Also from Bill a couple of small updates on Optus B3
0635 UTC
Optus B3, 12532 V, Sr 30000, Fec 2/3, Vpid 848 Apid 849 Text 850, SID 504 "ABC National TV"has started here.
Optus B3, 12532 V Apid 1873 SID 525 "SMA RFM" Radio has started here.
0645 UTC
Optus B3, 12658 V, Sr 30000, FEC 2/3 "Test card" has ceased.
From Zapara
Pas 10 Screenshots
Channel I, Ewtn Africa, BBC World India, MTV India
Intelsat 704, Euro Sports News
Screenshots from Insat 2E
Asianet, Asianet Global, Jeeven TV
ETV Oriya, ETV Urdu, ETV Gujarati
Screenshots from Apstar 2R
Matv and TVB8
From Steve Johnson 28/07/02
9.30 a.m Syd
B1, 12410vt, SR = 6110, FEC = 3/4 (V8 Supercars)
1pm Syd
B1, 12420vt, SR = 6980, FEC = 3/4 (NRL)
Steve J
NZ
From Jsat
Have signal on Asiasat 3 at 12600H . 30000..5/6.
loads 9 channels..which i would say is internet data...
45% on nokia with a 3m mesh lower south west of WA.
regards jsat
From John Vandeven
Jcsat2a 100% on 3 meter dish with eMtech.
Best Regards
John Vandeven
Manager
www.johnselectronics.com.au
PO Box 174 Albury NSW Australia
Ph: 02 60413388 0418 698106
Fax 02 60413047
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12326 H Some Major changes in the TARBS mux.
Optus B3 156E 12658 V The test card has left .
Optus B3 12532 V "ABC TV National" has started, Irdeto 1, SID 504, PIDs 848/849.(This one been there for a month or so)
Jcsat2a 154E 12257 V "testcard" Sr 3426 Fec 3/4
Jcsat2a 154E 12298 V "testcard" Sr 3426 Fec 3/4
Agila 2 148E 12541 V "4UTV has replaced DreamMall", Nagravision, SID 1.CETV, Hallmark Channel and National Geographic Adventure 1 Asia have replaced Dream Sports, NOW and Da'Ai on 12661 H, Nagravision, SIDs 42,43 and 45.
Palapa C2 113E 4080 H New APID for RFI : 650.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H A test card has started, Fta, SID 3, Vpid 1030 Apid 1031.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4140 V "Zee News"is encrypted again.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3749 V "Ekushey TV" has left , replaced by Ekushey World.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Rainbow Channel 1 and Xin Ying" are now in Fta.
Insat 2E 83E 3643 V "Jeevan TV promo" has started, Fta, Vpid 513 Apid 660.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H An Amway promo has started , Fta, Vpid 515 Apid 680.
PAS 10 68.5E 3836 V "Big Brother South Africa" has started regular transmissions, Irdeto 2, PIDs 521/649.
NSS 703 57E 3881 R "Gurjari Channel" has started, Fta, Sr 6112, Fec 3/4,PIDs 4194/4195, East hemi beam.
NEWS
TV's future: one box or three
From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/28/1027818485150.html
The Federal Government is ready to hold a summit on set-top boxes later this year, to decide just how cluttered the television sets of Australians will be as pay and digital TV infiltrate more homes.
In an interview with the Herald, the Communications Minister, Richard Alston, discussed the "intricate mosaic" of broadcasting reform - including multichannelling, slashing the list of protected sports events, and the rationalisation of pay TV - and said he wanted to resolve the issue of set-top boxes this year.
"We may well end up having a summit on this to thrash it out," he said. "I think we'd like to resolve it one way or another, certainly in terms of whether there's a need for government intervention or legislation. We want to clear the air."
Commercial broadcasters are pushing for a common set-top box for pay TV and free-to-air digital TV, arguing that two boxes are too costly for consumers. This is opposed by pay TV operators, who do not want to subsidise the networks.
Senator Alston appears unmoved by the calls for a single set-top box.
"We want them to drill down and demonstrate a business case for all this and there might well not be [one] at all - particularly if the starting point is [that] set-top boxes are so expensive people can't afford two, therefore we need to share a single box. That falls over if all of a sudden there are very cheap set-top boxes around and that may well be what's going to happen in the not too distant future.
"At the end of the day, does it really matter if you have three devices?"
Senator Alston has faced criticism over his digital television regime, with a paltry number of set-top boxes (which receive the digital signal) sold. Industry groups have been reluctant to release a figure but it is believed to be well below 30,000.
The minister acknowledged that he planned reforms that would allow commercial networks to broadcast multiple channels, a move which would give viewers more programming choices and encourage the take up of digital technology. But there was "no dramatic urgency" about it, he said.
The plan has been fiercely opposed by the cable operator Foxtel, as well as the Nine and Ten networks, and was pulled from the cabinet agenda last week.
"Our job is really to ensure we take all their views properly into account, we don't commercially disadvantage them, but at the end of the day we have a workable regime that's in the best interests of consumers."
On the question of the anti-siphoning legislation governing sports broadcasts, Senator Alston said Australia's list of sports events for which free-to-air broadcasters had first rights was "much bigger" than in Britain.
"As you work down the list you find more and more of that stuff doesn't find its way to free-to-air and you quite rightly look at whether the list needs to be overhauled or rationalised. I think it does," he said.
Events the Government is considering removing from the guaranteed free-to-air list include the Hong Kong Sevens rugby, and various cricket and tennis events.
The Future Of NZ Digital TV
From http://xtramsn.co.nz/technology/0,,7005-1629020,00.html
TVNZ's announcement of a deal to transmit a digital service via Sky has brought the new technology another step closer. But what effect will digital technologies have on our television, in particular New Zealand-made programmes?
The digital environment so familiar to PC users is invading the world of television and the main changes in the revolution are already under way.
Already much television programming is produced on digital equipment,cameras and editing gear,and within the next 10 years or so all transmission systems will move to digital.
Viewers will need a set-top box to decode the digital signal, or one of the new digital television sets appearing in some countries.
For viewers, this will mean the possibility of many more television channels. Up to 10 digitally compressed channels can be transmitted over the spectrum required for one analogue channel.
It will mean clearer pictures and sound.But most of all,it will mean an extraordinary revolution in what we understand by television. Television will become interactive and "me-centred " and no longer will viewers have to sit back as traditional couch potatoes and accept the programme schedules that broadcasters have ordained for them.
They will have a huge increase in the range of choices available. Using the Internet,they will be able to download video from sources anywhere in the world at their own time and convenience.
Interactive television proper is far more than just using the remote to access enhancements to standard programming,such as different rugby or tennis games,a variety of camera angles, match statistics or player biographies.
Through a return path to the content provider,it also enables the viewer to initiate actions,such as playing along with gameshows,doing a little gambling,engaging other players in new games which are not on television,and of course core activities such as shopping and banking.
In New Zealand,Sky is about to introduce some limited interactive services,including weather, sports statistics,games and email,using an infra- red keyboard.
This raises the key issue of the convergence of computing and broadcasting, and whether one device may ultimately prevail. Using the TV for email suggests the television set is becoming more like a computer.
Some interactive providers offer access to the Internet through the television set,and there are those who argue that if there is to be universal access to the Internet this can best be achieved through television, as most households have a television set, whereas even in New Zealand with its relatively high penetration of PCs, only just over half of all homes have a PC. Then too, the Internet is moving closer to television.
Broadband delivery means that full motion video can be sent over the Internet and received on a PC, meeting broadcast quality standards. Broadband is simply a delivery system of sufficient bandwidth to convey large amounts of digital information at speed.
The advantage of broadband is that it provides high-speed Internet access and it is "always on ",in contrast to narrowband access using a dial-up modem.
Once broadband is widely available, it will open up enormous possibilities for the accessing of video programming over the Internet. True video on demand will become a reality, with users able to access programmes from vast databases of video on servers as and when they want it.
Different countries are at different stages in achieving high-speed Internet access via broadband. Access may be via the phone line, using what is known as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)technology in New Zealand we have Jetstream or it may be through digital cable, digital satellite or wireless.
Another significant development is the personal video recorder (PVR). These can record up to 60 hours of programmes on the hard disk of the recorder or set-top box, and allow viewers to pause, rewind or replay while they continue to record. Furthermore the PVR can "learn " the viewer 's programming likes and dislikes, and can then search for relevant programming and assemble a customised channel for the viewer.
If a viewer 's dislike extends to the ads, the PVR can simply omit them. Not surprisingly, the advertising industry is very wary of PVRs.
When broadband is seen in conjunction with the PVR, the scope of the revolution is apparent. If viewers are able to access their choice of movies and other forms of entertainment programming the stuff of television at their convenience,the television industry as we know it will be immeasurably weakened.
As it is, the market share of commercial free-to-air television is declining worldwide in the face of the challenge from pay TV.
Add recession and an advertising downturn and the prospects for commercial television look bleak indeed.
Viewers deserting television because they perceive they are getting better service and value over the Internet could be the final straw. What is unknown and unknowable is how far this revolution will go and at what speed.
It seems most likely that there will be a form of co-existence between television and the Internet, with television perhaps having to find new business models to survive.
But there are significant implications for television in New Zealand, particularly for programmes funded by the taxpayer through NZ On Air.
If the commercial television channels TVOne,TV2,TV3 and TV4 and Prime are reaching fewer and fewer viewers, should NZ On Air be working towards new strategies to reach its target audiences? Might such strategies include funding programmes on pay channels, or even establishing its own portal through which viewers could access an archive of the best of New Zealand programmes, past and present?
That would be one response to the ephemeral nature of television played once and gone forever. It would also see NZ On Air moved firmly into the digital age, our own Kiwi stake in the ground in the face of a vast array of content available from global sources unmindful of our national identity and culture.
Paul Norris and Brian Pauling, both of the New Zealand Broadcasting School,Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, undertook research for NZ On Air on the ways in which new technologies may change the face of the broadcasting environment.
Jeevan TV to go on air on August 1
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?artid=17400569
KOCHI: Jeevan TV, the fifth Malayalam news channel, will go on air on August 1. The channel, promoted with the backing of the Christian church in the state, will start its operations with 20 hours of programming initially.
P C Cyriac, managing director, Jeevan TV told ET that the channel will have a programming mix consisting of news, family oriented programmes and entertainment.
"Entertainment, education and information will be the focus of our channel," he said.
Promoted by the Christian church the channel has nearly 7,000 shareholders. The total authorised capital of the channel is around Rs 25 crore.
To be telecast through the APR-1 satellite the channel will have a footprint which covers India, south east Asia, Australia, Middle East and Central Europe.
Mr Cyriac said that unlike many other channels, Jeevan TV will uphold certain ethical and moral values. "For example, we will not accept surrogate advertisements of liquor," Mr Cyriac said.
"Nor will we entertain programmes which encourages similar social evils," he added. Jeevan TV is the fifth Malayalam channel to launch operations from the state. Apart from Doordarshan, the other Malayalam news channels are Asianet, Surya TV and Kairali TV.
28/07/02
Sunday no update
27/07/02
Not much to report for today, have a look around the sky this weekend and see what you can find. Try realoading some of the services you have loaded in your receivers you never know what changes have been made but havn't been reported yet.
Satfacts page updated!
From my Emails & ICQ
From Steve Johnson
B1 feed, 12410 V, SR = 6110, FEC = 3/4 (Astralinks - V8 supercars?)
From Bill Richards
0835 UTC
Pas2 4045V Sr 4285, Fec 3/4, Vpid 4194 Apid 4195, SID1, "Occ Asian Feed" "Tadiran Scopus"
Regards
Bill
From Thomas Baxter
HD DEMONSTRATION TAPE
http://www.dba.org.au/templates/files/Nine_HD_Loop020726.pdf
The Nine Network HD demonstration tape consists of a number of high
quality video segments with discrete 5.1 surround sound compiled into a
43 minute programme.
The programme is repeated throughout the day. The tape is intended to
show consumers, the quality that can be achieved with high definition
generated material.
The perceived quality to a viewer will be dependant on the resolution of
the display device which should have a minimum resolution of 1365 x 768
pixels.
Technical Parameters HD Video.
* *Aspect ratio 16 x 9
* *Scan rate 1080 lines, 50i vertical
* *Resolution 1920 pixels
* *Encoding standard MPEG2, 4:2:0, GOP 12, IBBP
* *Data rate 12.5Mbps
Technical Parameters HD Audio.
* *Encoding standard Dolby AC-3, 5.1 channels
* *Data rate 448Kbps
Technical Parameters Terrestrial Transmission.
* *Channel 8 Band 3
* *Frequency 191.625Mhz
* *Channel bandwidth 7MHz
* *Effective average radiated power 30Kw
* *Modulation 64 QAM
* *Transmission COFDM 8k
* *Inner FEC ¾
* *Guard interval 1/16
Technical Parameters Network Satellite Distribution.
* *Optus B1T12 as a 15Mbps payload
* *Frequency 14,239.75 / 12,491.75Mhz
* *Modulation 8PSK
* *FEC 5/6
* *Symbol rate 6.510638 MBaud
Thomas 'bacco007' Baxter
(Craigs comment can anyone tune into the B1 service? I guess its an H pol Transponder)
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 4020 H "ESPN Brazil" has started on , PIDs 1260/1220, Fta.
New SIDs and PIDs for several of the channels.Occasional ESPN feeds on SIDs 15 and 16, PIDs 1760/1720 and 1860/1820.
Agila 2 148E 12541 V "ABS-CBN Channel 2" has left .
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3980 V "National Geographic Adventure 1 India" has started, Videoguard,SID 1741, PIDs 512/640. National Geographic Adventure 1 Asia has left this mux.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3700 V Updates in the Zee Network, Mediaguard, "Zee International" has started on PIDs 161/84.Zed TV has replaced Zee Music
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4140 V Updates in the Zee Network, Mediaguard: "Zee Music" has started on PIDs 35/34.Zee News is now Fta.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "CMM Music" has left , replaced by a test card.
PAS 10 68.5E 12428 H The Doordarshan tests have left .
NEWS
Pay-TV 'unsustainable'
From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4783616%255E462,00.html
PAY-TV group Foxtel confirmed yesterday its net loss had blown out to $100 million and warned Australia's industry was unsustainable under the current regulatory regime.
"In Foxtel's own instance it lost $100 million in the last financial year . . . the one just finished," Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams told a regulatory conference in Sydney. Foxtel, Australia's largest pay-TV group, is locked into expensive programming contracts with Hollywood studios which force it to pay for content in US dollars.
Mr Williams referred to reports that Foxtel spent more than 65 per $1 in revenue on programming costs.
"I am not going to share with you the full horror of that figure but it is north of 65 I can assure you," he said. The Australian competition watchdog is currently considering a major content-sharing proposal by Foxtel and SingTel's pay-TV arm Optus aimed at salvaging the loss-making industry.
Mr Williams said $8 billion had already been spent on Australia's pay-TV industry with no sign of a return on the investment.
"Australia's subscription television is unprofitable and in its current market construction unsustainable," Mr Williams said. As well as lobbying for the Foxtel-SingTel deal to be approved, the pay-TV industry is also pushing for changes to tough anti-siphoning laws which are designed to keep major sporting events on free-to-air television.
It is believed the Government is considering relaxing the anti-siphoning laws as a trade-off for allowing free-to-air networks to introduce digital multi-channelling. Mr Williams used the conference to attack anti-siphoning laws as a "national outrage" and said Foxtel had invested hundreds of millions of dollars on expectations that multi-channelling would not be introduced before 2005.
In a rare sign of support for Foxtel's complaints, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission indicated it might be willing to consider supporting an easing of the anti-siphoning laws. "The ACCC has in previous submissions to the Productivity Commission inquiry on broadcasting certainly indicated due to their inherent anti-competitive nature that if they were not meeting their social objectives they should be pretty seriously looked at," ACCC general manager telecommunications Michael Cosgrave told the conference.
Australia's Foxtel 2001-02 losses at A$100mn
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=17146913
SYDNEY: Pay-television group Foxtel confirmed on Friday its 2001-02 net loss had blown out to A$100 million and warned Australia's pay-TV industry was unsustainable under the current regulatory regime.
"In Foxtel's own instance it lost A$100 million in the last financial year ... the one just finished," Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams told a regulatory conference in Sydney.
Foxtel, Australia's largest pay-TV group, is locked into expensive programming contracts with Hollywood studios which force it to pay for content in US dollars.
Williams referred to reports that Foxtel spent more than 65 cents per every A$1.00 in revenue on programming costs.
"I am not going to share with you the full horror of that figure but it is north of 65 cents I can assure you," he said.
The Australian competition watchdog is currently considering a major content-sharing proposal by Foxtel and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd's Australian pay-TV arm aimed at salvaging the loss-making industry.
Williams said A$8 billion had already been spent on Australia's pay-television industry with no sign of a return on the investment.
"Australia's subscription television is unprofitable and in its current market construction unsustainable," Williams said.
As well as lobbying for the Foxtel-SingTel deal to be approved, the pay-TV industry is also pushing for changes to Australia's tough anti-siphoning laws which are designed to keep major sporting events on free-to-air television.
Local newspaper reports say the Australian government is considering relaxing the anti-siphoning laws as a trade-off for allowing free-to-air networks to introduce digital multi-channelling.
Williams used the conference to attack anti-siphoning laws as a "national outrage" and said Foxtel had invested hundreds of millions of dollars on expectations that multi-channelling would not be introduced before 2005.
In a rare sign of support for Foxtel's complaints, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission indicated it may be willing to consider supporting an easing of the anti-siphoning laws.
"The ACCC has in previous submissions to the Productivity Commission inquiry on broadcasting certainly indicated due to their inherent anti-competitive nature that if they were not meeting their social objectives they should be pretty seriously looked at," ACCC general manager telecommunications Michael Cosgrave told the conference.
Foxtel is half owned by Australia's largest telecoms group Telstra.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Commission each own 25 per cent.
Telstra shares were one per cent weaker at A$4.76 in a lower overall market Friday. News Corp lost 4.4 per cent to A$8.52 and PBL was trading 1.4 per cent lower at A$9.03.
GREEN LIGHT FOR DIGITAL TV PLATFORM
From TSI CHANNEL NEWS -
The government of Vietnam has given the go-ahead for a $15 million joint
venture project to build a digital TV platform covering the south-east Asian
territories of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The government has commissioned
the South East Asia Technical & Vocational Institute (SEATVI) to set up
the country's first digital platform. It will see the launch of initially
four educational channels - health, public administration, foreign languages
and technology - out of a possible ten, all to be carried on EuAsiaSat-1.
The satellite is owned by a joint venture between Turk Telekom and France's
Alcatel Space. The Vietnamese project will see some 10,000 subscribers,
chosen from among the country's students, public officials and other decision-makers,
getting the set-top boxes needed to receive the channels. SEATVI will oversee
the production of the channels in Vietnam. The project is due to be launched
by the end of 2003
26/07/02
Jcsat2a continues to surprise all with its signal levels, so far an 85cm in Perth is the record for small dish reception! remember this is CBAND. It might even be useable for a DTH pay service?
Commonwealth Game feeds should be available has anyone located any yet?
From my Emails & ICQ
From Zapara (W.A)
Jcsat2a 85.6cm Jonsa Offset, 25 deg Cal amp voltage switching LNBF
Humax 5400, 18% signal lock, very roughly setup /
From Stewert
Re: Jcsat2a
Hi Craig, FYI Jcsat here in Rockhamton, Central Queensland on a 1.2 fibreglass prime ,60% but perfect.
the LNB it is a GARDINER 27deg, C-band feed is ADL.The dish is about 15 years old, I had it made by a spa maker. Receiver is a Phoenix 222
Cheers
Stewart
From Andrew Moore
Hi Craig,
Here in Melbourne 7.5Km due East from the central business
district the Mormons on Jsat-2a are coming in at a surprising 92% on a Strong
4600 with a 1.2M Andrews solid dish and a Zinwell 15 degree LNB.
This is the strongest signal I have logged on C band. Only the
Ku band Optus signals are quite this high on the scale. As a comparison the
BBC on PAS2 comes up in the mid 60% range.
Always a pleasure to check out your site. It is one of the most
if not the only reliable source of information on this topic on the web.
Best regards
Andrew Moore
From Carl Ling
Jcsat2A
I finally found this bird and the BYU signal.
Strong signal. Location=Canberra, 2.6m mesh dish, Satcruiser 201. I finally worked out the trick with this receiver - you must find the bird before SR is entered. Otherwise, nothing loads.
From Mario Garcia
Mormon's channel on JCSAT2A / 8 in Perth is loud and clear!!!
Signal quality on Humax 5410z is 100% (incredible). 3.0 m mesh dish
From John Harrison
ESPN mux on Pas 8
Lyngsat reports this as fec 7/8 it is now 4020H Sr 26470, Fec 3/4
From Zapara (W.A)
ESPN on Pas 8
Chs.
1. BRAZIL V 1260 A 1220
2. ESPN 2 V 1660 A 1620
3. ESPN V 1560 A 1520
4. LATIN A V 1160 A 1120
5. LATIN B V 1160 A 1122
6. ATLANTIC V 1360 A 1320
7. PAC RIM V 1460 A 1420
8. SYNDICATE NTSC V 1760 A 1720
9. SYNDICATE PAL V 1860 A 1820
And here are the screenshots
Espn, Espn 2, Espn Brazil
Espn Latin, Espn PacRim
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 4020 H All channels in the ESPN mux are Fta. New FEC: 3/4.
PAS 8 166E 12686 H "Barker Channel" has left , replaced by a test card.
Agila 2 146E 12581 V "Studio 23" has left .
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3980 V "National Geographic Adventure 1 Asia" has started, Videoguard, PIDs 517/660.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "Aastha TV" has left , replaced by an info card.
PAS 10 68.5E 3774 V "Aastha TV" has started testing, Fta, SR 2940, Fec 3/4,PIDs 308/256.
NEWS
Ten eyeing one NZ station
From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/25/1027497382835.html
The Ten Network is likely to limit its bid for the New Zealand television assets put on sale by cash-strapped parent CanWest to just one network to avoid further damage to its investment record following the Eye Corp disaster.
Ten has apparently emerged as a leading contender for the two television stations but is said to be reluctant to take on the loss-making TV4 network, which has eroded the positive earnings generated by TV3.
"I'll be surprised if (executive chairman) Nick Falloon wants to do something so soon in Ten to damage the impeccable reputation he currently has," an analyst close to the deal said yesterday.
CanWest reported that its TV stations made an operating loss of $C1.6 million ($A1.88 million) in the third quarter, ending May 31.
"There's already three commercial broadcasters in NZ as it is and the fourth, in what is a small market, was always going to be difficult," said another source close to the sale process.
Ten is believed to have lodged two offers - one for the TV networks and the other including CanWest's radio assets.
Speculation has emerged that Ten, which is 57.5 per cent owned by CanWest, was under pressure to pay an inflated price.
However, analysts believe the network is more determined to restore faith in its investment judgment after spending $240 million on a 60 per cent share of the loss-making Eye Corp advertising business.
CanWest is expected to raise as much as $NZ350 million ($A303.75 million) from the sale, which will help cut some of its $C3.5 billion debt and avoid breaching banking covenants.
Prime New Zealand, owned by Australian regional media group Prime TV, is also a strong contender for the TV networks, with its bid said to be worth $NZ100 million. Ten's offer for the networks, valued at about $NZ80 million, is believed to be well under Prime's figure.
Meanwhile, Fox FM and Triple M network owner Austereo is a leading candidate for CanWest's MoreFM and Radio-Works networks with an offer that is believed to exceed $NZ250 million.
Ten shares were unchanged yesterday at $2.10 as Austereo rose three cents to $1.58, and Prime climbed one cent to $1.96.
From skyreport
*MultiChoice Debuts ITV - MultiChoice Africa, the South
African pay-TV provider, said it's rolling out interactive
TV services to its customers, an effort that started in
early July. Among the offerings are TV-Mail, TV-Shopping
and a new DStv Guide.
Irdeto Access finds another Chinese customer for Irdeto M-Crypt
From indiantelevision.com
Irdeto Access, a world leader in content protection and management and a subsidiary of MIH, has signed on another partner in China. This time it has licensed Jiangxi Radio & TV Network Transmission Co to use its Irdeto M-Crypt content protection system.
According to the licence agreement, Jiangxi Radio & TV Network Transmission Co will use the compact conditional access system for the introduction of digital pay-TV in the province of Jiangxi. The first order of 5,000 smart cards has been made.
Jiangxi Radio & TV Network Transmission Co. will use Irdeto M-Crypt to encrypt TV signals from the satellite and interactive programs to broadcast over its cable network covering the Jiangxi province The operation is expected to grow to 100, 000 subscribers in the coming three to five years.
The province of Jiangxi is located in the south-east of China. There are 11 cities and districts in the province and 99 counties. Most of the cities and districts in the province have been integrated in the cable network. The total population of the province is 41 million with about three million cable TV subscribers among them.
Irdeto M-Crypt is a compact conditional access system that is specifically developed for the small to medium-size pay-TV operator and is of a high standard as any large-scale system. Irdeto M-Crypt is easier to use and to maintain than other conditional access (CA) system as it runs on a Windows NT platform and can be installed onto a standard PC, a company press release claims. Irdeto M-Crypt is also a modular CA system that allows the operator to grow his business while protecting the content of his broadcasts at the lowest possible cost. As the subscriber base grows, Irdeto M-Crypt can be upgraded smoothly to Irdeto Access' large-scale system: Irdeto PIsys.
"Through co-operation with Irdeto Access and OpenTV, we will create an integrated end-to-end solution based on a very advanced platform that will bring the digital TV operation of the province of Jiangxi to a new stage," said general manager of Jiangxi Radio & TV Network Transmission Co Wang Zhuqing.
DD Plays Its French Connection
From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=13863
New Delhi: Time was when the government wanted to take Fashion TV (FTV) off the Indian television screens for all the skin that the French channel was exposing the desi audience to. Several months and many high-level meetings later, not only does FTV continue to thrill thousands in the cable and satellite homes, but another channel has started airing French fare, though this time it’s all censored. Move over from FTV to Doordarshan (DD)!
Censor or no censor, one tends to associate hemlines and all things steamy and adult with anything French. But DD is cautious. DD never shows anything adult on its channels, boasts an official. After all, the public broadcaster has to act in a responsible manner. Despite the censor axe, DD does not want to ruffle any feathers. So, the broadcast time has been fixed at 11 p.m every Friday, immensely adult time!
The 26 French films, that DD Metro is showing over a period of six months till the end of the year, have to undergo the sometime ruthless cuts of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). While six films have already been cleared by CBFC, out of which three have already been shown on DD Metro, the remaining 20 films are yet to get the nod of the board.
At a time when film certification is a touchy issue, with the government rubbishing a proposal on legalising exhibition of soft porn films and the subsequent resignation of the CBFC board chief Vijay Anand, DD’s on a long-term date with the French. Interestingly, France is the first country to go for a long-term association with India in the broadcasting sector, when Canal France International (CFI) of France signed up with DD for the French films. Other countries too have had cultural exchange agreements with India, but none for a long-term period.
With its current offering ranging from old classic movies to newer ones such as Witch Way Love, Fanfan The Tulip, The Black Tulip and Damned Nuisance, all software free of cost, France’s CFI may talk money at a later stage.
According to a DD official, revenue-sharing between DD and CFI is likely to be explored. Some sponsors have already been tapped, he said, as an indicator.
As for now, every Friday it’s French time on Indian tele, post-scissors, of course!
25/07/02
"UPFM" in The Sky mux on Optus B1 actually started broadcasting after being listed for several weeks. Good to see that it's FTA like all radio services on Sky should be. "The Edge Radio" is the only that isn't fta there now. Perhaps someone needs to talk to them? getting all the radio services FTA is a start they may even wake up and realize the TV channels should be as well.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Glen Gibson
Craig and all,
Jsat 2a(8) confirmed on a 1.6m solid dish from Brisbane.
Yes I said a 1.6m!!!!. Also the data/strength rate is 100%!!!!!
This is quite a strong signal, so for the guy on chat last night, I think
you have a major problem if you cannot recieve this one.
Cheers
Glenn
From The Bassetts Kennel
I would just like to report that the Mormon channel is running at around 93%
strength at Bassettville, in the Dorrigo Hills Northern NSW
on 2 mitre solid dish, using Hyundai 800, No need to wake the Nokia up.. For
people using a Horizon to Horizon mount, the signal can be found [ took me
all of 2 mins] if you set the mount dead centre of the Arc.
From Bill Sydney
hi craig long time no talk no probs with jcsat2a/8 here in sydney on 3mtr dish
85%on satcruiser 1 tv
Sorry i get it right
{ bill sydney}
From "rambod"
I have 60% on Jsat 2A.
3m from Melbourne, with satcruizer.
this signal is strong, same as CNBC, from pas2.
(Craigs comment, might be worth checking your dish it should be better than Pas 2)
From the Dish
Palapa C2 113E 3473 H "RCTI 2nd copy" has NOT started on , PIDs 1260/1220, still only on 1160/1120.
Insat 2E 88E 3643 V "Asianet Global" has moved here from 3683 V, Fta, PIDs 514/670.
From Linton
Hi from sunny! Nth East Victoria.
I have 3M Dish on a polar mount.Swept west of B3 with small sat finder in
line with RX and jcsat2A came in with strong signal.
Setup specs from Lyngsat, Hooray!! Mormon TV.
Regards Linton.
(Craigs comment, whoever thought we would be happy to welcome The Mormons into our houses! I would say for most of us its not the content that matters its the fun of seeing a new satellite up there with a good strong signal.)
NEWS
Ten Sports ready and waiting to unveil Morocco tri-nations cricket tourney
(24 July 2002 9:00 pm)
From indiantelevision.com
MUMBAI: After the Fifa World Cup what next has been what the naysayers have been harping on when it comes to new kid on the block Ten Sports. Well, big ticket cricket is what the new sports broadcaster that is promoted by Sharjah cricket's Abdur Rahman Bukhatir has lined up.
All is set and ready for the kick-off of the first international tournament to be held in Morocco's multi-million dollar Tangier Cricket Stadium. Taking place between 12 and 21 August, the tri-nations cricket tourney will have Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka participating.
The $ 25-million Tangier Cricket Stadium in northern Morocco with five pitches and another seven in the practice area will provide a striking oasis-like setting amidst the dry, desert backdrop of the African environment. What makes this event all the more unique is that it will be the first major tournament to be held there after it was granted international status by the ICC.
The Tangier Cricket Stadium The stadium met the relevant cricketing admission criteria following an inspection of the ground, facilities and infrastructure and has been audited by the ICC Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) against stringent security standards and protocols.
When the matches are in progress it will be Kingston inmedia, the satellite-centric broadband solutions provider of Kingston Communications (KCOM.L) that will be delivering content to Taj TV, the parent company of Ten Sports.
What is planned is that one of Kingston inmedia's satellite news-gathering (SNG) Trucks will be driven down to Tangier from London to cover the duration of the series. It will deliver the signal to Taj TV's base in Dubai, from where Ten Sports will broadcast the tournament throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Mike Walsh, head of sales for Kingston inmedia K-Links division, was quoted as saying in an official release: "Kingston inmedia is thrilled to be working with Taj TV in distributing this very special sporting event. It's the first time that a high-level international cricket tournament has been held in Morocco, and proves once again how incredibly flexible our SNG fleet can be."
Fred Clow, director of operations for outside broadcasts, Taj TV, said: "We selected Kingston inmedia based on the company's reputation for providing an ultra fast, ultra reliable service. We know the Kingston team can deliver the goods, and we are delighted that their high standards mirror our own."
Bukhatir's Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), the Sharjah-based organisation that put Sharjah on the international cricket map, will be handling the organisation of all tournaments hosted at the Tangier Cricket Stadium. With total prize money of $250,000 and $120,000 for the winning team in this tournament, Tangier could soon outshine Sharjah as a venue for offshore cricket.
Morocco is very close to Europe and can be easily accessed from the Gulf. It has a pleasant Mediterranean climate and is cool during the subcontinental summer. During the monsoons, when it is difficult to hold sporting events in India, Morocco has only mild rain.
Morocco has also been proposed as a potential venue for Australia's series against Pakistan in September, due to the security concerns following the suicide bombing in Karachi recently that killed 14 people.
EuroStar To Distribute NagraVision CAS
From indiantelevision.com
Chennai: Swiss company NagraVision, the leading international manufacturer of conditional access systems (CAS) for digital TV and broadband Internet, has appointed Chennai-based Eurostar Network Private Ltd as the sole authorised distributor of its digital CAS for pay channels.
Steel baron LN Mittal-owned satellite channel B4U Music is the first customer for the NagraVision CAS, according to Eurostar managing director Harry T Jethwani.
?These systems are encrypted for greater security and are completely hacker-proof,” he said. The systems cost between $175,000 and 300,000 per unit.
Eurostar, which is a marketer and manufacturer of satellite receiving systems, is already a major supplier of digital receivers to most free-to-air channels in the country. The pay channels, however, require more secure access to information, which includes encryption and access rights management. The uplinking signals are formated in such a way that only authorised persons (those who have paid the subscription, in this case) can gain access to them while others cannot intercept the signals.
The company has also recently entered into a technological tie-up with Dalvi of the UK to manufacture inexpensive basic analogue set-top-boxes useful for scrambling TV channels priced at Rs 2,500 per unit. Currently, an imported analog set-top-box costs around Rs 5,000, while a complete broadband pay TV CAS costs upwards of Rs 10,000.
24/07/02
More Jcsat2a reports, excellent signals reported everywhere and some in NZ are saying its the strongest satellite available! I will assemble all the reports and forward them to my contacts at Jcsat. How about some reports from outside of NZ and Australia. Especially the Pacific Islands part of the beam covers Hawaii and New Caledonia, some signal should spill into other parts of the Pacific.
I made a mistake yesterday about Intelsat at 176 or 178 possibly carrying the feed of the BUYTV channel just misread one of my emails.
From my Emails & ICQ
From "jsat"
hi receiving JSAT2A in the lower south west of WA on a 3m KTI with c/ku feed
at 100% on my nokia Dbox...99 signal reading on the tuner menu!
regards jsat
From "Anon viewer in W.A"
Jcsat2a %90 on Pheonix 333 on 2.4M solid Paraclipse
Also Tarbs PAS 10 %74
From Mathew who first reported Jcsat 2a
I am getting 9C-A2 range on the nokia here on a 3m kti in Perth. Strongest
signal I have ever seen here.
Matthew
From Ahmad Mobasheri (Auckland, NZ)
Jcsat2a At 154E, 3915V,3426,3/4 on Pheonix 333, 3m mesh dish, 99% signal strength in Auckland.
One TV channel, many Radios. luckily understand nothing!
Cheers
From Keith (Nelson, NZ)
On a 3 Meter mesh dish, Jcsat2a %69 signal strength on Pheonix 111 Receiver
Pas 8 usually %65 !
From Gavin Barbour (Christchurch, NZ)
JSAT2a Report
Received here in Chch nz 15 db above noise
a small signal in something that hopefully will be a full bandwidth of FTA
From Andrew Rajcher
BYU TV is Brigham Young University TV from that den of polygamy,
Salt Lake City, Utah!
It's english language, with lots of audio-subcarriers for foreign languages.
Coming through in Melbourne 97-100% signal quality on a 3.0M KTI mesh dish!
Andrew (aragorn)
From Mathew (W.A)
PAS-10 4065 V Sr 21000 Fec 3/4
listed as follows, all scrambled except the one radio channel
vid aud
VIT 512 640
INN 513 641
TVM 514 642
ALIC 515 643
NAPI 516 644
STV1 517 645
LEON 518 646
ORE 519 647
PL09 520 648
P102 (Russian Radio?) 661
Matthew
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12366 H "ABC Asia-Pacific (-2h)" has started, Fta, SID 5, PIDs 1281/1282.
Palapa C2 113E 3473 H "RCTI" a 2nd copy has started , Fta, PIDs 1260/1220.
Palapa C2 113E 4080 H "RFI" has started , Fta, APID 663.
NEWS
Satellite companies merge
From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,4765712%5E15320%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
FRANCE Telecom subsidiary GlobeCast has acquired local player MediaSat, forming the largest satellite transmission service company in Australia.
Both companies offered satellite transmission of live sporting and news events for free-to-air and pay television stations.
GlobeCast Australia chief executive Peter Booth said the two companies had competed for the same clients but had different technical capabilities.
GlobeCast relied on satellite trucks while MediaSat had a teleport - an earth station with a bank of satellite dishes - and a switch room at the MLC building in Sydney's central business district.
The transaction was an all-scrip deal resulting in a new merged company half owned by France Telecom and half by the Australian businessmen who founded MediaSat.
The new company would lease capacity on the Optus B3, Intelsat 180 and Intelsat 62 East satellites.
Mr Booth said the industry was still "very competitive" but the new company would have more than a 50 per cent of the satellite transmission market.
But the company would have to stave off a challenge by satellite alternatives such as fibre optic networks, which were gaining in popularity at Australia's sporting venues.
Previously MediaSat employed 27 people, while Globe Cast had a team of seven. Mr Booth said the new GlobeCast would have 23 staff, but only two people had been made redundant. The rest had left of their own accord over the nine-month acquisition process.
"In 2003 if we grow, which we plan to do, we will need extra people," Mr Booth said.
(Craigs comment, good to see a local item take note of the satellites they plan on using)
Digital TV reforms deferred
From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/23/1027332376485.html
Federal Communications Minister Richard Alston is expected to rework plans for anti-siphoning and digital TV reform to appease disgruntled pay television operators.
The minister was forced to defer presenting his proposal to cabinet at yesterday's meeting following a hostile reaction to the mooted changes.
This follows reports that Senator Alston is preparing to overturn his digital TV strategy and give in to the demands of Kerry Stokes' Seven Network.
The Federal Government will spend the next month talking to key media players, including the free-to-air networks, Foxtel and Fox Sports, in an attempt to resolve their concerns.
Reports that a decision was imminent prompted Foxtel to write to all cabinet ministers a fortnight ago, attacking plans to allocate multiple digital channels to free-to-air broadcasters.
The pay TV broadcaster argued that even a more palatable anti-siphoning regime, which prevents major sporting events migrating to pay TV, would not offset the damage inflicted by free-to-air multi-channelling.
A spokesman for Senator Alston disputed Foxtel's claim that anti-siphoning reform was a trade-off for multi-channelling. "Anti-siphoning is an issue about what's a fair amount of protection that free-to-airs should get to ensure the public gets access to the most important sporting events - that's somewhat of a separate issue to how we might be able to encourage greater digital TV take-up," he said.
"We want to try and expedite the onset of digital TV and give the public a reason for making the move."
Despite the problems with digital multi-channelling in the UK, the spokesman said, the experience in Europe suggested it could be an economically viable model for broadcasters.
The Federal Government is also looking at the benefits of using a single set-top box to accommodate pay TV and free-to-air networks for the roll-out of digital television. All relevant media players are preparing submissions on the issue to meet Friday's deadline.
"On the face of it, it has value, and means the public only has to have one box," the spokesman said. "But it's premature to mandate it."
The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association and Foxtel will argue that the 78 per cent of households that do not have pay TV should not be forced to pay for a common box.
23/07/02
Live satellite chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom
Jcsat2a at 154E Alive! or should that be slightly awake, finally some video on this satellite the BYUTV channel has arrived in glorious NTSC with all your favourite Mormon programs. Yes its a religion channel and appears to be hopped to us via 176E? (details unconfirmed) Please keep those reports coming in. It sounds like it could be good even on dishes in the 1.5M range. Expect a door to door Mormon "Salesman" to bring you a new message from god shortly.
Looks like I will be able to add a Jcsat2a page soon if it stays.
Coops Tech digest magazine, for those who get it yes it is late it should of been Posted Monday. This months issue is about Piracy around the world.
Satfacts magazine yes this issue about Nokias was a sellout and copies are no longer available. But not to worry the entire article will be made available here soon. If you have this issue let me know if someone out there can scan the pictures that went with the article. My scanner is still packed away in a box somewhere. Or else someone may like to put the whole article into a PDF file?
Sky TV share watch.. down to $3.81 at 6pm NZ
From my Emails & ICQ
From Mathew
Hi everyone,
Scanned around the sats tonight and found what could be the first C-Band
channel or feed on the new JSAT-8 at 154 deg East
(BYUTV Screenshot Thanks to Bill Richards)
Parameters are
3916 V Sr 3424 Fec 3/4, Vpid 4121, Apid 33 english, 34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44
pcr 4121 pmt 32 sid 1
It looks like Church of the Latter Day Saints TV in english with numerous
audio subcarriers in other languages, very strong signal on my nokia here in
Perth, as strong as Insat 3 DD signals
I think this Mormon TV is called BYUTV and here my be the link for any
Mormans out there http://www.byutv.org/
PAS-10 TARBS report
Tarbs bouquet I found on PAS-10 is as follows although of little interest as it is all encrypted
Pas 10, 4065 V Sr 21000, Fec 3/4
All scrambled channels without an epg so hard to work out exactly what
channels are there
Cheers
Matthew
From "Schippy75"
Subject: [Apsattv] Re: JSAT2a Report
94% Signal Strength on 2.3 Mesh Dish from Brisbane
From John Harrison
JSAT2a Report
Comfirmed
Spanish/English Morman Channel
Sig Quality In Townsville 90% loads on emtech as CH-9-0001
Freq 3915v, Sr 3426, Fec 3/4
regards
John
From Peter Eade (NZ)
Mormons found @ 177East (Napier,NZ)
Twelve dual audio channels!!
3M Andrews dish, 100% data rate
Peter Eade
From Steve Johnson 22/07/02
Two feeds seen last night
B1 - 12420vt, SR = 6980, FEC = 3/4 (Globecast A)
B1 - 12430vt, SR = 6980, FEC = 3/4 (Tandberg - Celebrity Big Brother) 16x9.
From "SiamGlobal"
Subject: SKY NEWS UK
UK expats need not fret. Once more Lyngsat is wrong ! Sky News audio is still up and running on Intelsat 704
66 degrees East. This is the only fta 24 hr source of local UK news available by satellite in Asua Pacific.
Siamglobal Bkk. [ PS The parameter details are available on Satcodx ]
From "nyoman-yudi"
Subject: [Apsattv] moto gp feed at palapa C2
the feed was clear sunday at 3935 H sr : 5632 the moto gp
was quite interesting....anyone know other feed schedule ??
and also j-league soccer feed every saturday evening at
4040 H sr: 28125 . last saturday feed also show bbc world
and some gp highlight but went color bar again sunday.
RCTI was encrypted sunday night , we all missed
"highlander" ...i wonder why they did that ??
From John Vandeven
Subject: [Apsattv] Emtech
For all your upgrades and latest information on eMtechs go to
http://www.sat-news.co.uk/_eM_team/index-em.html
Best Regards
John Vandeven
Manager
www.johnselectronics.com.au
PO Box 174 Albury NSW Australia
Ph: 02 60413388 0418 698106
Fax 02 60413047
From the Dish
JCSAT 2A 154E 3915 V "BYU TV" has started, Fta, Sr 3424, Fec3/4, PIDs 4121/33.
NEWS
Sky TV denies bid for NZ TV stations
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1275157a13,FF.html
Sky Network Television stated today that contrary to a media report, it had not put in an offer for CanWest's New Zealand television assets, TV3 and TV4.
The Sydney Morning Herald today said Rupert Murdoch, through Sky, was one of at least three prospective buyers for the stations.
Sky TV's share price was down 14c to $3.88 in a broadly weaker market this afternoon.
Now for Planet TV
From http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,759366,00.html
Maggie Brown examines the World Service's television plans
It has been clear, ever since September 11, that the World Service has been on a roll, recognised as a great British institution, able to bring objective and trusted news and information to the most fraught areas, for a comparatively small outlay - £188m last year.
But quite how ambitious, confident, and, yes, empire building it is feeling has become apparent with the news that, as it gears up to celebrate its 70th birthday on December 19 - it began life as Broadcasting to the Empire from a transmitter in Daventry - it plans to add a television channel.
Mark Byford, its director, and Gavyn Davies, BBC chairman, have been negotiating to expand the World Service brand from radio - where listening in key areas such as India is falling - and the internet, into a full-blooded 24-hour global TV news channel.
There were hints in last week's annual report. The corporation has just asked the government, initially, for permission to move BBC World, the chronically loss-making commercial news, current affairs and BBC repeats service, funded by advertising, into a new global news division, headed by Byford, where it will be made "much more focused" on news, he says.
The Foreign Office is supportive about future development. It grants World Service funds, and has just agreed the most generous new settlement ever - £48m extra money over three years, double the real increase built into the BBC licence fee. This might even result in a hybrid service being eventually created, part funded by public money.
There is even a suggestion, raised by the Foreign Office, that the licence fee agreement could, in the 2006 new charter, be rewritten to allow some funds raised here to be directed into a global news channel. The government is toying with the idea.
The minister involved, parliamentary under-secretary Denis MacShane, is in basic sympathy with the proposal, which was first mooted by the BBC in the 1980s, but rejected by Margaret Thatcher. He says it is being examined seriously. The BBC also runs News 24, as a domestic news service. Its performance is currently being reviewed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
MacShane sees the World Service's challenge for the 21st century as, "building a World TV service which has the same impact as radio had in the 20th century. There's no doubt, wherever you go, in even the poorest countries, people are watching television. But it has to have the BBC name up there and it has to be public service."
On the radio side Byford has plans on what to do with the extra money. The first priority and initial £8m tranche is for Afghanistan and the Arab world, to keep 24-hour services running and expand programming in Pashto and Persian.
There will also be a wider range of programmes devised for Africa, where listening is rising, beyond news and current affairs programmes such as Network Africa and Focus on Africa. Development and health issues in a continent devastated by Aids are top priorities. It will also start an English language business service for China. After this is fixed, World service will ramp up its conversion to FM broadcasts and away from short wave, so audiences get better reception (70% of output is still in crackly short wave). The target is to ensure FM coverage in 75% of the world's capital cities. After that, it will develop more foreign language websites, which have been the success story of the past five years.
But the incentive to drive into television can only be reinforced by its sobering experience in India and Indonesia. Total audiences last year dropped 3m to 150m after years of solid growth, due to "exploding competition".
The survey of India, historically one of the key audiences, showed that they had melted away over seven years by 45%, to 14.6m. "In India, TV has gone from 19% penetration of the population to 68% in a decade. Radio has fallen from 50% to 24%," says Byford, who is devising a fightback.
BBC World attracts one of its biggest audiences in India. That's why a tri-media strategy, bringing in the missing link of television, looks so compelling. And when is a government likely to be more supportive?
22/07/02
The news section finally has a bit more activity things were very quiet last week.
Jcsat2a 154E KU feeds reported on Lyngsat take a look you never know where the signal may get to.
Nz Sharemarket is down again, Sky down 12 cents to $3.90
I see they have launched a $199 install promotion to coincide with the Bledisloe cup final. The newspaper advert promotes a "delayed rugby viewers kit" (for those that don't have Sky and have to watch the delayed version on TV3) it shows a paper cut out blindfold and pieces of paper to cut out and stick in your ears. Is everyone getting fed up with this nonsense? YES seems to be the answer. The latest complaint with Sky being a lip Sync problem and complaints of over compression on the cartoon channel. Meanwhile the UHF service is being pirated by the use of a pc tv tuner card and piece of software called HVCplus.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Roger Hambridge Johnson
Subject: SKY TV.
I have just spoken to Prime tv about getting Prime tv fta on my own decoder.the answer they gave me was to get in touch with Sky and they would connect me up to Prime at a price i find as day light robbery.why should Sky charge the elderly who have no source of income the right to watch some thing one can watch in the cities for free but if one would like to buy there own system at a one off cost with no on going charges like a 1 year contract and also a weekly charge rob the poor of what little spare money they have for entertainment.the same also goes to Tv3 and Tv4. Lets put things another way. If i was an advertiser the first thing i would do is to boycott the 3 channels to force Sky tv to make the channels fta and allow the people of New Zealand to purchase there own equipment to watch what they want and not be robbed and be bullied into paying for some thing which is ther just right.
R .Johnson.
Waiuku.South Auckland.
(Craigs comment, there are also instances of NZonair programing screening on TV3. Why should you have to PAY to see these on Tv3 if you live outside a good reception area? The time has come for some action I have contacted various people and they agree. It's coming up to the anniversery of the TVNZ / Saturn deal falling through and the public need to be reminded of what could of been / should of happend and what still could happen if some common sense is shown.)
From Bill Richards 21/07/02
0345 UTC
Thaicom3 3600 H Sr 26667, Fec 3/4, Apid 651, SID 12, PMT 267
"Unidentified Radio Station in Thai" has started "TGN_AUDIO"
Regards
Bill
From Chris Pickstock 21/07/02
British Open Golf feed is on Asiasat 2, same as yesterday, 3705 V, sr 5632
Chris
From the Dish
JCSAT 2A 154E 12329 V "Occasional feeds", Sr 4820, Fec3/4.
Palapa C2 113E 11132 V "CCTV 1" has replaced "ERA News", Viaccess, PIDs 72/73.
Yamal 102 90E 3645 L "Prometei AST" has left , replaced by a test card.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Mega Movie Channel" has replaced "Scholar Movie Channel", enc.,PIDs 1057/1058. Several channels are in clear again.
NEWS
Austereo, Prime in box seat for NZ sale
From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/21/1026898946388.html
Ten Network's parent, CanWest, will decide on the sale of its New Zealand operations by the end of this week, with Austereo and Prime Television tipped to stump up a combined $NZ350 million ($305 million) for the radio and television assets.
Final bids were due last Wednesday. It is believed the top three bidders for CanWest's assets will conduct due diligence this week, before a decision is made on the successful buyers on Friday. Sources told the Herald that CanWest is likely to reap $NZ350 million from the sale - at the top end of its original expectations.
Under pressure to raise money to slash its $C3.5 billion ($4.1 billion) debt burden and ensure it does not breach its banking covenants, CanWest put its New Zealand business on the market two months ago.
Prime New Zealand, owned by Australian regional TV company Prime TV, is the leading contender to snap up CanWest's TV3 and TV4 stations, with a bid believed to be in excess of $NZ100 million.
Although within the $NZ100 million to $NZ150 million price range CanWest is seeking, Prime's bid is likely to come as a surprise to most analysts, who estimate the unprofitable TV stations are worth just $NZ80 million.
CanWest reported last Thursday its TV stations made a $C1.6 million operating loss in the third quarter ended May 31. Revenue rose $C3 million to $C17 million. Prime's own New Zealand station booked a pre-tax loss of $10.8 million last year.
Austereo is "way out in front" of other prospective buyers for CanWest's MoreFM and Radio-Works radio networks, with a bid of more than $NZ250 million.
As Austereo's dominance of the Australian FM radio market is under threat from new entrant DMG, the radio giant is keen to expand offshore to ensure future revenue growth.
Revenue generated by CanWest's NZ radio stations rose from $C13 million to $C14.6 million last quarter. The stations posted a 22 per cent increase in operating profit to $C3.3 million.
Sources close to the CanWest sale process said there was "daylight" between Prime's bid for the TV stations and the second highest offer, which was made by CanWest subsidiary Ten. It is believed Ten submitted two separate offers - one for the TV assets alone and one for the entire CanWest NZ business.
There has been speculation Ten would succumb to pressure from its parent and pay an inflated price for the Kiwi operations. CanWest has a 57.5 per cent economic interest in Ten.
"Ten wouldn't have made the short list, except for the pressure [CanWest executive chairman] Izzy Asper put them under," the source said.
"There is still internal debate about [Ten executive chairman] Nick Falloon trying not to overpay."
Rupert Murdoch emerged as a dark horse in the race for CanWest's TV stations. New Zealand pay TV operator Sky Network Television - in which News Corp has a 29 per cent interest via its stake in Independent Newspapers - submitted an offer.
(Craigs comment, I am hoping Murdochs offer was a very low one...Sky already has to much say in the NZ television market)
Minister backs plan for BBC World Service TV channel
From http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,759620,00.html
The government is considering a radical plan to invest public money in a television equivalent of the BBC World Service.
Foreign Office officials are examining ways of using public and private funding to turn the BBC's struggling international TV news channel, BBC World, into a global player along the lines of the World Service radio network.
The use of public money would infuriate rivals such as CNN, but ministers believe World Service TV would be more than just a news channel: its existence would promote "good governance" and help raise Britain's international profile.
Dennis MacShane, the junior minister responsible for World Service funding, said: "A World Service television network that was popular and successful would do more to promote British interests abroad than almost anything else I can think of."
He said that a television version of the World Service could be broadcast in some of the world's major languages - at the moment, the radio network can be heard in 43 versions including English - with particular concentration on "areas of crisis".
The incentive to boost the reach of BBC television is clear: the World Service's radio audience fell by 3 million last year to 150 million after years of growth. Audiences in India and Indonesia have dropped over seven years by 45% to 14.6m.
But BBC World - the corporation's existing international news channel - is dogged by crippling losses, which rose from £13.2m in 2000-01 to £15.3m in 2001-02. It does not have the same reputation for speed and impact as CNN, although its impartiality and tone have won recognition around the world since September 11.
The BBC is attempting to turn BBC World's fortunes around by bringing it into a "global news" division headed by the World Service director, Mark Byford. Under the plan, which is awaiting approval from the Department of Culture, Mr Byford would take charge of the BBC's international TV, radio and online news services.
Under present rules, BBC World TV can not draw on public funding, and must remain separate from the domestic news channel, BBC News 24.
Mr MacShane suggested the two could eventually be merged. "It's absurd that News 24 is funded out of the licence fee while BBC World has to be funded from advertising. These are the first areas that we have to look at. We have to see how they could come together."
The first opportunity for changing the BBC's funding rules will come at the renewal of the corporation's charter in 2006.
The plans are at a very early stage, and no decision about whether to commit any new public money would be reached until officials and the BBC came up with a firm set of proposals. Mr MacShane said BSkyB would be invited to submit ideas on how it could become involved.
Mr Byford said the first priority was to make the current BBC World television channel break even by 2006. Asked whether eventually it could be turned into a multilingual service along the radio model, he said: "In the past we have had an Arabic TV service and a Hindi TV service, but they have not worked. Anything is possible, but they cost money."
Staff at the World Service would be suspicious of any switch in priority to television. One said yesterday: "It sounds like a mad idea. Radio is so cheap - look at what you get for your money with the World Service. With TV you get much less bang for your buck."
The Foreign Office has agreed a generous increase in the World Service's grant of about £180m that amounts to an extra £48m over the next three years, significantly above the rate of inflation.
The World Service has earmarked an initial £8m for Afghanistan and the Arab broadcasts, and to expand news and current affairs programmes for Africa, where audience levels are rising. New programmes will focus on development and health issues, including Aids. It will also start an English language business service for China.
Its controversial policy of switching broadcasts from short wave to FM will be extended.
Fortune favours the brave as STW passes screen test with TV gamble
From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/21/1026898946441.html
Towards the end of 2000, Mark Carnegie, John Wylie and friends including John Singleton's media group, STW, placed a large bet on the Indonesian television industry.
There were a few people who thought they were barking mad at the time. But as sharemarkets everywhere nosedive and experts declare that almost every stock is a sell, it is worth remembering that sometimes fortune favours the brave. It did last week when the company the Australians invested in floated on the Jakarta stock exchange at a handsome premium.
Carnegie, Wylie, the Singleton group (now called STW Communications) and their Indonesian partner, Eddy Sariaatmadja initiated the play in November 2000, paying $US37.5 million ($A67.4 million) for one third ownership of PT Abhimata Mediatama, which owned an indirect 73 per cent interest in Indonesia's SCTV television network.
STW put up $US23.73 million, and the advisory-investment boutique Carnegie and Wylie had just established, Carnegie, Wylie & Co, stumped up $US10 million.
It was a fair-sized bet for them both, and particularly for Carnegie and Wylie. They were committing half of a private equity investment kitty they put together by combining their own money with that of investors including Wylie's former employer, Credit Suisse First Boston, and the Los Angeles-based investment and advisory house, Hellman and Friedman, which Carnegie represents in Australia.
In return, the partners got effective control of Indonesia's third-largest free to air television network.
The deal valued SCTV at just $US125 million and, on face value, it was a promising entry price. SCTV had about a quarter of the Indonesian market, which generated advertising revenue of just under two trillion rupiah in 2000, equal to about $US387 million.
The big risk was Indonesia itself: In November 2000, the country was politically and financially fragile, and not many were prepared to bet that the situation would improve any time soon.
Apart from finding a fundamentally undervalued asset, the key call the partners made was that the TV business in Indonesia would not be overwhelmed by the distressed macro environment.
That proved to be the case: SCTV was cash-positive from the start, and it contributed 22 per cent of STW's December 2001 half-year net profit after tax of $17.5 million. The television company's earnings before interest, tax and depreciation are now running at about $US35 million a year.
Last week's public float of SCTV wasn't a sure thing. Markets have been weak everywhere this year, and SCTV was the first global offering on the Jakarta Exchange since the 1997 financial markets crisis.
The shares were also marketed from mid June right through the global sharemarket shake-out in response to the WorldCom debacle, necessitating a cut in the offer price from between 1400-1550 rupiah a share to 1100 rupiah a share.
The latest Wall Street ructions mean that SCTV shares will be under pressure today, but so far the consortium is comfortably ahead. SCTV floated at small premium on Tuesday, and the shares held the gain to close at 1125 rupiah on Friday, valuing the company at 2.1 trillion rupiah, or about $US233 million.
On paper therefore, the consortium has achieved a return of about 86 per cent on its investment - in a 20-month period when the global sharemarket, as measured by the Morgan Stanley Capital International basket of stocks, has fallen by about a third.
So far, that's only a paper gain. The Australian partners did not sell into the float, and the consortium actually increased its stake in SCTV, from 17 per cent to about 26 per cent, after taking on Abhimata Mediatama convertible debt last year, which was extinguished and converted to shares in the float.
The consortium's total ownership now stands at 40 per cent, and SCTV's float gives them an exit path, should they want to take it.
The signs are that the partners are staying in for the moment, however. And why not? The hard work has been done.
Australia, Russia Create Joint Space Launch Complex
From satnewsasia.com
Australia and Russia are to sign an agreement next week that will make possible satellite launches from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
Australian Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane said both countries had agreed on protocols for the first deployment of Russian launch rockets in a foreign country. In a statement, MacFarlane said Australia was very close to settling the bilateral agreement with the Russians for safeguarding and licensing launch technologies for use on Christmas Island. MacFarlane will visit Moscow this week for discussions with Rosaviakosmos, the Russian Space Agency.
In an agreement signed May 2001, Russia will supply its Aurora rockets and launch expertise and Australia will provide infrastructure on Christmas Island and commercial opportunities. Australia has committed US$55 million to assist the Asia Pacific Space Center (APSC) to develop the spaceport on Christmas Island. The US$408 million project between Australia and APSC will be the first fully commercial land based space launch facility in the world. Senator Nick Minchin, Australian Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, said the spaceport will establish Australia as a significant player in the satellite launch industry dominated by the United States, Russia, the European Union and China.
When inaugurated in 2003, the facility will be operated with technical assistance from Russia. APSC has formed an international consortium with the Russian space agency, Rosaviakosmos, and with Rocket Space Corporation Energia, TsSKB-Progress and the Central Bureau of General Machine Building (KBOM) to develop the Aurora launch system and provide technical equipment for the spaceport. An agreement between the Australian and Russian governments authorizing joint Australian/Russian space launch services was signed in May 2001.
Australia expects the spaceport project to lead it into the highly prized geostationary launch market while offering capabilities for low earth orbit launches, as well. The APSC project focuses on the growing Asian satellite market. The center will also open opportunities for the Australian space sector, especially in the design, manufacture, testing and flight preparation of satellites, and in launch related technologies. Global demand for satellite launches is expected to be worth up to US$40 billion over the current decade, and Australia expects to take between 10 and 20 per cent of that market.
The Aurora launch vehicle for the project will be supplied by APSC's Russian partners and is based on the successful and reliable Soyuz family of rockets. The Aurora launch vehicle uses four strap-on liquid oxygen-hydrogen boosters. There are three- and four-stage versions designed to deliver payloads to different orbits. Aurora's four-stage version can deliver 4.5 metric tons of payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit and more than two metric tons directly to geostationary orbit.
APSC will invest a minimum of US$8 million over the first five years of launch operations towards the establishment of a Space Research Center. The center would be a partnership between APSC and Australian universities to support and sponsor research, teaching, and technical and managerial capacities in the Australian space industry.
The APSC project is also expected to ensure a better economic future for Christmas Island, whose 1,200 residents are currently dependent on an existing phosphate mine. APSC will generate up to 400 jobs in the construction phase and some 550 jobs when fully operational.
The island's proximity to the equator (it lies between 10 degrees 30 minutes South and 105 degrees 35 minutes East) makes it an ideal satellite launch site as heavier payloads can be sent into orbit using less fuel. Located 1,500 kilometers off Australia's northwest coast, Christmas Island is the summit of an undersea mountain covered and has an area of 135 square kilometers.
HK's APT Signs Transponder Deal with China's CCTV
From satnewsasia.com
APT Satellite Holdings Ltd, a leading Asian satellite operator, has signed an agreement with China Central Television (CCTV), the country’s national TV network, to carry five of the latter’s TV channels on its Apstar-IA satellite.
CCTV will use two of the satellite's transponders, and will bring the total number of TV channels carried on Apstar-IA to some 24. APT operates three in-orbit geostationary satellites: Apstar I, Apstar IA and Apstar IIR. It plans to launch another satellite, Apstar V, late in 2003 to replace Apstar I. Apstar V will be capable of delivering DBS services to private households, and will carry C, Ku and Ka-band high power transponders. APT plans to spend around US$300 million for the DBS in China, which allows improved reception of satellite information with smaller antennae.
Among CCTV channels are CCTV-1 that broadcasts a comprehensive range of programs, with the emphasis on news and current affairs; CCTV-2 that focuses on economic, social and educational topics; CCTV-3 that airs operas and music and CCTV-4, also known as CCTV international, that presents a variety of programming targeted at overseas viewers.
PCCW Seeks Gov't Okay to Exit Hong Kong's Pay TV Business
From satnewsasia.com
Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd. (PCCW) will give up its interactive TV service and surrender its video-on-demand license after merging both services a few months ago.
PCCW confirmed the move, saying that it had submitted an application to the Hong Kong government to discontinue both services. The application is subject to approval by Hong Kong’s executive council since government approval is needed to shut down a service that has paying subscribers. PCCW said it was transferring its iTV subscribers to now.com.hk, its multimedia content provider that currently has over 100,000 subscribers. Over 80 percent of these are paying customers.
iTV was launched only in February 1998 by Hong Kong Telecom to provide interactive TV services (video and broadband Internet access. Hong Kong Telecom was acquired by PCCW in August 2000. The company’s subscribers have dwindled in the past two years to only a few thousand from 90,000 two years ago, however, and iTV has been criticized for being a money loser.
PCCW spokeswoman Joan Wagner said the move would have no effect on staff or customers. “We want to focus on now.com.hk as our one content play,” she said. Hong Kong’s pay TV market remains dominated by I-Cable Communications despite government efforts to increase competition in the industry. Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), the dominant free-to-air broadcaster has had no luck in finding an investment partner for its Galaxy pay TV business, while two other companies that won pay TV licenses pulled out of the business citing unprofitability. Some analysts say that Hong Kong’s population of less than seven million is too small to support more than one pay TV operator.
ISRO to launch lighter satellites
From http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/02211803.htm
Finding it increasingly expensive to send satellites into space through foreign agencies, Indian Space agency, ISRO, is mulling cost cutting by launching lighter satellites with lesser payloads through its own launchers.
Distributing the payloads over several satellites and having a series of launches conducted by ISRO itself would be a better alternative than to go in for costlier multi-payload satellite launches like the INSAT series through foreign agencies, Indian Space Research Organisation sources said.
ISRO, sources said, was now considering this alternative which could be applied over the next few years involving single payload lighter satellites.
ISRO has already developed its capability to launch satellites onboard the polar synchronous satellite launch vehicle, which has successfully launched one Indian and four foreign satellites.
The Geo-Stationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) was successfully tested in April last year ushering India into the select space club with the capability to launch its own satellites.
However, ISRO officials said since the GSLV had to be further improved to lift heavier communication satellites that require a geo-stationary orbit, they had to continue launching these through foreign launching agencies like Ariane Space.
21/07/02
No updaes Sunday
20/07/02
Just a small update today!
I note Sky TV on the NZ sharemarket has dropped 26 cents this week, they are currently at $4.02 NZ, a few weeks ago they were trading up around $4.40.
More about Sky, A new box with keyboard is being tested...no doubt they are keen to launch the email service and some kind of home shopping interactive service. Add these "valuable services" and knock the price up a few $
B1, 12706 V Vpid 519 Apid 657 sid 1045 "TVSN" is now listed in Skys mux. NOT FTA :-(
From my Emails & ICQ
From Steve Johnson
ABC Asia Pacific, Pas8 Service is down. Carrier still present. Spec an indicates sync loss within data stream.
(Craigs comment, seems to be working again)
From Mohammed
Hi fellow there,
British Open Golf, I found the respective feed via Asiasat 2 (100.5) Freq 3705V Sr 5632
From Dave Knight 19/07/02
Aye, there be a feed on B1.
12428 V, 6980, 3/4. Globecast Australia. Southport Boxing.
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 3860 H Occasional feeds on , PIDs 460/461.
Apstar 1A 134E 3836 V "CETV SD" is back on , Fta, SR 3290, Fec 3/4, PIDs 32/33. Shandong Radio is on APID 34.
Koreasat 3 116E 12370 H Kids TV has left
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3792 V ModelFlat has left .
ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the MMBN mux are now encrypted, except BBC World.
Thaicom 2 78.5E 3764 H New SR and FEC for BBTV Channel 7 4700 and 3/4.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "Gurjari Channel" has left , replaced by test card. (This and Lashkara possible moving to 57E)
NEWS
B4U to be stand-alone digital pay channel
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=16480777
MUMBAI: Hindi movie channel B4U movies on Friday announced that it will become a stand-alone digital pay channel with effect from August 1.
B4U is the first channel to go pay-solo with subscribers having to pay Rs 8.90 per month, a channel release said here.
The channel, which beams through PAS 10 Satellite, has also introduced the Nagara vision, a subscriber management system, built on a modern platform for easy and rapid implementation and efficient customisation, it said.
The channel was launched in October 2001.
19/07/02
Come on people how about spending a few minutes this weekend scanning the skys for anything new or interesting to report. Things are to quiet. Panamsat 10 is supposed to have some Tarbs services operating on it for the last few weeks or so but nothings been reported yet. Get those Nokias fired up and see what you can find.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Dave Knight
Arrr me hearties,
Aye, there be a feed on B1.
6pm Syd
12428 V, 6980, 3/4. Globecast Australia.Southport Boxing.
From "Froggy"
Craig, I sent an email to TV5 about their digital signal (whether the analog
one would be replaced with the digital one).
Here's their reply:
"A l'attention de Monsieur daniel gerbaud
Nous avons bien reçu votre message et nous vous en remercions.
Palapa C2 va basculer en tout numérique en 2003, nous supposons donc qu'ils
commencent à dupliquer les signaux analogiques pour permettre aux
téléspectateurs de monter en numérique au plus tot.
Sincères salutations,
Relations Téléspectateurs
Véronique Brunet"
Translation:
We received you message and we thank you for it.
Palapa C2 will go in all digital in 2003, we suppose that they begin to
duplicate the analog signals to enable TV viewers to upgrade to digital as
soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Public relations (?)
Veronique Brunet"
I'm not quite sure what they mean with "they" but I guess it's about
Satelindo.
Daniel Gerbaud alias Froggy
From Steve Johnson , NZ
NZ Elections + FTA Satellite
To all NZ installers, hobbyist's & potenetial customers. Now's a good time to beat your local MP (he/she needs votes) up over TV 3, TV 4, Prime & TAB et all - not being available FTA via sat (B1)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Craigs comment, worth a try. I will write up something for my local m.p later.Its a pity all those tv viewers who can't get Tv3/4/Prime via terrestrial are being prevented from installing their own gear to watch these channels by Sky encrypting the signal. These people if they want Tv3 (so they can watch delayed coverage of the All Blacks) still have to fork out $20 a month to Sky to "rent" a Sky decoder. Seems to be purely a move by Sky to discourage a FTA satellite market in NZ. Have any installers got figures on how many jobs they would get if Tv3/4Prime were also available fta on B1?)
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12606 H "Vizyon" is now encrypted.
Koreasat 3 166E 12370 H "Kids TV" is now encrypted.
Yamal 102 90E 3606 L "ASTV" has started, Fta, Sr 4285, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Insat 2E 83E 3643 VAn Asianet Global test card has started, Fta, PIDs 514/670.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "Lashkara Channel" has left , replaced by a test card.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3569 H "MRTV" feeds are still on , PIDs 49/52.
NEWS
AirTV's global S-Band satellite network will deliver BBC World to airlines
From indiantelevision.com
MUMBAI: BBC World, the BBC's 24-hour international news and information channel, will soon be available to audiences on the move though the AirTV global satellite network, which will deliver television broadcasts to airlines flying major global routes.
The initiative came about as a result of growing demand by international travelers for up-to-the-minute news and information from around the world, says a company release. BBC World's programming line-up will be delivered live to airliners through AirTV's network of four geostationary S-Band satellites. Each of these platforms will deliver 60 channels of satellite television, plus e-mail and Internet connectivity. AirTV plans to start its direct-to-aircraft (DTA) service in two and a half years.
BBC World is currently provided to airlines via tape delivery, while satellite and cable distribution is used to serve over 222 million homes, hotels and cruise liners around the world, says the release. BBC World also will also be available through the AirTV satellite network for expanded coverage to the maritime industry and remote global locations that are currently unable to receive the TV channel reliably. The AirTV satellite network will operate at the very high data rate of 80 Mbps per satellite (320 Mbps globally with the four-satellite network).
In addition to television, AirTV also will provide airborne connectivity to both passengers and flight crews. For business and leisure travelers, this allows high-speed access to e-mail and the Internet. For flight crews, it means safety and operational data will be delivered more than 1,000 times faster than the current 9.6 Kbps standard, the release adds.
One of the first new applications for AirTV's service is expected to be weather information that can enable flight crews to anticipate, and possibly avoid, in-flight turbulence. The AirTV system is being developed by an industry team composed of world leaders in their fields: Alcatel, Arianespace, CMC Electronics and SITA. AirTV also has established strategic alliances with Tenzing Communications and Rockwell Collins, which will provide on board equipment and infrastructure to support the AirTV system.
(Craigs comment, Anyone heard of these guys or if the Pacific is covered? or even the names of the satellites?)
Malayalam channel Asianet goes digital
From indiantelevision.com
MUMBAI: Asianet, the leading Malayalam language channel, has gone digital from this week in an effort to stay ahead of the competition.
The channel, that was operating a dual feed for two weeks prior to digitalization, has withdrawn the analog feed and has gone fully digital from Monday (15 July).
In another development, it has set up its own teleport in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, at an investment of around Rs 150 million. The company also plans to offer uplink facilities to other channels. Asianet COO Mohan Nair says Jeevan TV, the soon to be launched Malayalam channel, has already reached a deal with Asianet where it will be the first non-Asianet channel to be uplinked from the teleport.
Jeevan TV, promoted by the Catholic Church of Kerala, was to have commenced telecast on 14 July. The launch date has however, been pushed over to next month, say sources. The 24-hour channel will have an emphasis on news and current affairs, information and education.
Technical specifications of Asianet post digitalization-
FREQUENCY 3642 MHZ
SYMBOL RATE 19.531 FEC 3/4
POLARIZATION VERTICAL
SATELLITE APR 1 - 83 Degree East
(Craigs comment, Insat 2E)
18/07/02
Sorry about the lack of news there dosn't seem to be much going on in my daily trawls of the news sites. I know some of the Indian stuff refers to pay channels. Its better than nothing though.
For those wondering about the Net 25 Philipino channels signal strength its up and down due to it being monsoon season in the Philipines. (Thanks to Al who rang them and got that info). Now I was thinking maybe its the same situation with Agila 2 KU Philipino mux being recieved in Perth. Perhaps they crank up the power during rainy season.
From my Emails & ICQ
Nothing to report
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12526 H "Kanal D Fun, ATV and TGRT" are now encrypted.
Optus B1 160E 12483 V "National Geographic Channel" has replaced Saturn Choose on ,Irdeto 1, PIDs 516/654.
Apstar 1A 134E 3836 V "CETV SD" has left.
Palapa C2 113E 4040 H "Quick Channel and Metro TV" have started on , FTa, PIDs 33/34 and 1057/1058. ( I reported this to them a week ago, wonder why they took so long???)
Insat 2E 83E 3693 V "Asianet" info card has left .
NEWS
Indo TV play is on song
From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4719697%255E462,00.html
JOHN Singleton's STW Communications got a return on its investment in third-ranking Indonesian television company SCTV when it yesterday listed at a 4.5 per cent premium on the Jakarta Stock Exchange.
Despite jitters in international equity markets immediately before the listing, SCTV's parent company, PT Surya Citra Media, hit the boards at 1150 rupiah (23 cents) compared with its 1100 rupiah issue price.
It was the first global offering of shares in an Indonesian company since the country's 1997 financial crisis.
The stock had initially been offered to global institutions at between 1400 and 1550 rupiah but the price was scaled back after falls on the Jakarta exchange.
STW is believed to be the only Australian company with a major interest in a company on the Jakarta main board.
STW has invested $48 million in the television business in the past 18 months, but with the listing the stake was worth $89 million and the total company $440 million.
STW chief executive Russell Tate said they were pleased with yesterday's trading.
"It's a minor miracle to get it away in the first place given the equity markets generally and New York almost melting overnight," he said.
All trades were above the issue price and little stock was dumped. Only 11.7 million of the 375 million new shares issued were traded.
STW owns 20 per cent of Surya Citra Media, having reduced its holding from 28.6 per cent following the share issue. The offer raised $US54.4 million ($97.1 million) for Surya Citra.
Some of those funds will be used to repay debt and the rest will be used to fund new production equipment.
MTV India enters the reality genre with 'The Osbournes'
From indiantelevision.com
Music channel MTV India has started airing The Osbournes from Monday. The show is radically different from the chat shows and countdowns that populate the channel's programming.
The series sees a change of role for Ozzy Osbourne. The former rock star is now head of a household who has to cope with rebellion of a different sort from his teenage son and daughter. He also lectures them on touchy isues such as sex. He leads a pretty average American life by watching the tube while eating ice cream. Other assorted characters include cats and dogs, and security guards.
The show airs 15-19 July at 11 pm, 22-26 July at the same time. After that it will air every Saturday at the same time with repeats on Monday at 6:30 pm and Wednesday at 9:30 pm.
(Craigs comment, note those are Indian times and MTV India can be found on Pas 10. I do hope they realize its not a sitcom and it's cameras watching their real family life. I expect the Indian market will get a cutdown censored version of it.)
Harmonic enables French satellite broadcaster expand programming by increasing bandwidth efficiency
From indiantelevision.com
California based Harmonic, a digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems provider, has announced that its digital headend systems are being used by Media Overseas, a leading French-language Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite broadcaster, to increase the effective bandwidth of its network, providing more capacity to deliver additional programming content.
Deployment of the high-performance DiviCom MV50 MPEG-2 digital video encoding systems and the DiviTrackXE statistical multiplexing solution enables Media Overseas to reduce the distribution cost per channel and increase the number of channels offered over a single satellite transponder. Use of the Harmonic systems has enabled Media Overseas to upgrade its services without having to lease more satellite transponder capacity.
Media Overseas, a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal, delivers digital television services to the French Overseas Territories and French speaking West African countries. These regions include the West Indies, Indian Ocean, South Pacific, Central and West Africa. Media Overseas has created a number of multi-channel service offerings specific to each region. Media Overseas determined that Harmonic solutions offered the greatest scalability, network efficiency and picture quality. With Harmonic, Media Overseas is able to increase value to the subscriber while minimizing service operating costs, says a company release.
To remain at the forefront, Media Overseas has established the digital headend infrastructure needed to easily introduce new and different television programming and services. At the same time, the cost of delivering these services can be more carefully managed to maximize their return on investment. The Harmonic solution deployed by Media Overseas is built around the DiviCom MV50 digital video encoders, DiviCom MN20 remultiplexer and DiviTrackXE statistical multiplexing system. This scalable solution allowed Media Overseas to expand the number of channels it broadcasts by nearly 30 per cent, increasing from 14 to 18 channels, without compromising video quality.
The MV50's advanced noise reduction and video compression capabilities significantly lower the bandwidth required by a video stream. The statistical multiplexing solution optimizes the use of transponder bandwidth to support more channels of Media Overseas' variable bit-rate PAL format programming. Better bandwidth utilization eliminated the high cost associated with leasing capacity on another satellite transponder by enabling Media Overseas to expand its programming options within the same bandwidth.
(Craigs comment, I think they are talking about Canal+)
Will three be a crowd for sports channels in Indian Market?
From http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/icew135.htm
Between ESPN-Star, Sony MAX and Ten Sports, the coming battle for sports viewership will be a no-holds-barred contest for eyeballs and advertising revenues. Surajeet Das Gupta provides a sneak preview of what the three are planning
How does the country's premium sports channel grapple with the fact that its domination of the sports channel business is now under serious threat? And that a non-sports channel known for its entertainment programmes has wrested one of the most coveted cricket offerings?
That is the answer that ESPN-Star, the popular sports channel, is seeking as it takes on Sony TV, an upstart in the sports telecasting business. Sony has won the rights to telecast the World Cup cricket matches to be held in February-March in South Africa. Taking them on is also Ten Sports, the new kid on the block, which established its brand name by acquiring the rights to telecast the FIFA World Cup soccer matches that concluded last month.
Sony has grabbed the rights to telecast World Cup cricket for six years (meaning two consecutive Cup matches, apart from other matches), for a staggering $255 million. And cricket is where the big bucks advertising revenue comes from (over 80 per cent, say industry sources), with all other games paling into insignificance. What is more, Ten Sports has wrested the rights to the other popular television property, the FIFA World Cup, reportedly for $ 4.5 million.
Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, which oversees the ESPN-Star channel in India, plays downs the challenge and says that that it has already built up a strong brand which it can leverage.
Says Sawhney: "It is naive to see a sports property in isolation. World Cup cricket is good for five weeks but we have a lot of cricket on a continuous basis next year. We are a sports channel, not an event-based channel."
A Mumbai-based media analyst agrees with that view, and wonders whether the World Cup rights will deliver on the bottomline for Sony. "At US $255 million you cannot make money on World Cup cricket as your ability to increase subscription rates as well as ad rates is limited. ESPN-Star preferred to lose marketshare and viewers for 51 days instead of being stuck with such a large cash outflow. It is a sound strategy."
Sony Entertainment Television CEO Kunal Das Gupta, however, sees the World Cup as part of a larger gameplan: "The acquisition of ICC cricket telecast rights is a natural fit in our vision to be the preferred network for entertainment and consolidates our position as a provider of top quality entertainment."
Like Das Gupta, Sawhney of Star-ESPN is aware that it's cricket that brings in the crowds and sets the cash registers ringing. He is, thus, putting together a strategy to take on the challenge.
While the details are still under wraps, the channel is planning a series of non-live sporting programmes based on cricket in a run-up to the World Cup. To push these programmes, ESPN-Star has signed a multi-crore (over Rs 12 crore, according to industry sources) deal with superstar Sachin Tendulkar as the brand ambassador.
Under the three-year exclusive contract, Tendulkar cannot promote any other channel, leave alone sports channels. He is expected to anchor programmes on cricket apart from advertising the channel. Con-firms Sawhney: "Yes, Tendulkar will be an integral part of our progra-mmes in the run-up to World Cup cricket."
ESPN-Star still controls telecast rights to matches in eight of the 10 sporting countries (excluding India and Sri Lanka). And some of these rights come up for renewal only in 2004 (though negotiations for them are already under way). As a result, Sawhney and his team expect to show around 260 days of cricket next year, vastly more than the 51 days of World Cup cricket to be beamed by Sony.
The second plank of the strategy is to push more and more non-live sports-related programmes and leverage these properties to build brand loyalty. Says Sawhney: "Earlier only cricket was key, but now other games and non-live programs are also catching on. Look how motor sports has become popular. Some years ago no one knew about it."
Sawhney agrees that the percentage of non-live programmes will increase, though he does not put a number to this. For example, the channel had a school sports quiz programme. This roped in 1,200 schools in 12 cities. Building on its relationship with the schools, ESPN Software India is now looking at offering sports scholarships to students.
ESPN-Star is looking at other options, too. One involves launching a sports magazine using the channel's brand name. Sawhney is not ready to divulge his strategy but admits that entry into print is a possibility.
Obtaining compelling content is one part of the challenge, but equally important is to increase its reach. ESPN-Star currently reaches 28 million households covering 4,000 towns and cities. It wants to raise this number to 32 million by the end of this year. As a pay channel, more reach means more revenues through subscription.
Sawhney's strategy, according to many media analysts, is sound. That's not the same as saying that he is home and dry. While subscription revenues can be relatively stable, ad revenues for sports channels tend to fluctuate violently, depending on the kind of properties available during the year.
For instance, the ad revenues of sports channels shrank from Rs 305 crore in 1999 to Rs 199 crore in 2001, according to television monitoring agency Current Opinions & Future Trends. The reason: 1999 was a World Cup year for cricket and ads came pouring in. In the subsequent years, with no big events to entice advertisers, revenues shrank.
It is this craze for cricket that Sony is hoping to tap into with its ICC rights. But it is not banking only on this to bring in the viewer and the advertiser. It has worked out a multi-pronged strategy that, at one level, involves offering cricket programming of a different genre.
"We will be telecasting all the (World Cup) matches with some outstanding and unique programming techniques - camera angles, information for viewers, commentary and analysis among others. We will be showing cricket like its never been shown before, reaching out to a wider audience," claims Sony's Rajat Jain. But at another level, Sony is targeting the entire family rather than just the cricket fan by creating a complete entertainment bonanza.
The company has roped in Kapil Dev as a brand ambassador for the World Cup Network (SET & MAX), virtually taking on Sachin Tendulkar at ESPN-Star. In addition to special World Cup programming for viewers and providing daily commentary and updates, Kapil Dev will also appear in the advertisements and roadshows meant for viewers and advertisers planned by MAX.
Like Star, Jain too is targeting subscriptions. One plan involves raising subscription rates per household as it will be offering a premium programme, but Jain declines to divulge details. Of course, raising rates is easier said than done. One industry insider claims that cable operators typically report only 10-15 per cent of their total connections. Current estimates of total subscription revenues for sports channels vary from Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore a month.
The battle for the sports viewers is not a straight duel between ESPNStar and Sony. Another challenger has emerged -- Ten Sports, which is reported to have paid close to $4.5 million for the FIFA World Cup football telecast rights. Industry sources say that the company recovered only Rs 1.7 crore as advertising revenues from the FIFA Cup.
Peter Hutton, vice-president, programming and events, at Taj Sports (which owns Ten Sports) says the idea was to get into homes, not make money immediately: "Our logic was to get into as many homes as possible through a property which would be demanded by customers." To that extent, at least, Ten Sports succeeded. Hutton claims that the company has already roped in 23 million households in the last two months.
But winning in the sports channel business is a long-distance run, not a 100-metre dash. Getting viewers temporarily hooked during the FIFA Cup is not the same as generating long-term loyalty. Ten Sports has realised that cricket is not a cheap product to buy and is looking at various other strategies to woo viewers.
One key element of that strategy is to build up a loyal viewership base by offering them programmes which will trace Indian sporting personalities or Indian teams abroad in various tournaments. Says Hutton: "Our aim will be to look at sporting personalities and Indian teams in India and trace how they are doing in various tournaments. Of course we have to look at more cricket properties also, but we have to see whether the property is viable ."
For instance, Ten Sports is pushing motor racing wherever Indian star Narain Karthikeyan is participating. It has bought rights to key motor sports events where he is involved. It has also bought rights to the Champions Trophy -- the six-nation hockey tournament -- to woo Indian hockey lovers.
Additionally, the company has tied up with JK Tyres and MRF in an exclusive deal for all local sports and carting events in the country. It is also looking for tennis properties in which Indian stars like Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes are participating.
Ten Sports will also be aggressively pushing cricket programming. It has already tied up two key events, the Sharjah Cup and the Morocco Cup. Hutton says that it is also looking at bidding for telecast rights of cricket matches in Pakistan when these are up for bids.
The company has also picked up long-term telecast rights to matches to be held in Sri Lanka. Says Hutton: "Both Sharjah and Morocco are cricket properties which have been conceived and developed by us. This helps us in providing stability to the channel."
Thirdly, similar to ESPN-Star, even Ten Sports is looking at non-live programmes geared towards sports entertainment. Says Hutton: "We want to build up an audience among the younger generation through offerings in the arena of sports entertainment." Ten Sports already has the rights to popular WWF wrestling shows and is now looking at developing programming based on contests and quizzes and even documentaries related to sports.
The gong has been sounded in the battle for sports viewers. The next two years will tell whether three's a crowd in the sports channels business or there will be space enough for ESPN-Star, Sony MAX and Ten Sports.
17/07/02
Thanks to those that showed up in the chatroom. Saturn on B1 last night was playing up, every few seconds it would go fta then pop back to irdeto encrypted. Very weird I thought for a moment the nooneman software I had loaded into the Nokia to play with was somehow decoding it! had me confused for a while. Then I got someone else to check and it was doing the same for them. Seems like it's back to normal today.
Sorry about the lack of news lately dosn't seem to be a lot happening .
For those that asked about it I have uploaded Nooneman and Dvbsandra both for the Nokia, use at your own risk. Don't ask for instructions either because I don't know how they work!
From my Emails & ICQ
From Mike
HI,
Telefe International (Spanish) and TelePace (Italian) have been added to the TARBS channel Lineup. That boosts the Italian channel to 6 and Spanish to 3.
Mike
(Craigs comment, these are supposed to be comming in via Pas 10 can someone scan with a Nokia to get the freqs)
From John Harrison
Asianet Global & Asianet Digital on Insat 2E moved to
Freq 3642 V SR 19531 FEC 3/4
p.s. to those that replied to my request re teletext, i have found English teletext on
Asiasat2
"IRIB3"
Freq 3660 V SR 27500 FEC 3/4
Regards
John
From MAX [email protected]
Hi there
I'm writing to you to enquire if you might be able to assist me with any info with regards to aquiring pay channels for free. Is it possible for me to do this, Do I need a card or just some particular brand of decoder.
If I need a card can I make one that doesnt get shut off by the providing companies.
I would be gratefull of any assistance.
Kind regards Max ( Australia)
(Craigs comment, this is sample of the emails I get everyday. I am thinking of adding a new section to the site "Idiot of the week" perhaps I need to add something up the top of the page that my site does not support the hacking of Pay TV services in any way. From now on any of these emails will be Blind Carbon Copied and forwarded to Foxtel.)
From the Dish
Koreasat 3 116E 11747 L Occasional feeds on , SID 8336, PIDs 161/162.New SID for Oun: 4255.
Palapa C2 113E 11132 V "Xing Kong" has replaced TVB Xing He Channel, Viaccess, PIDs 70/71.
Koreasat 2 113E 12530 H Hyundai-Kia Channel and National Geographic Channel Korea on are now encrypted.
ST 1 88E 3632 V Almost all channels in the MMBN mux are now encrypted.
Insat 2E 83E 3693 V An Asianet info card has started, Fta, SR 4340, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Insat 2E 83E 3651 V "Asianet" has left (PAL), moved to 3643 V.
Insat 2E 83E 3693 V "Asianet has left" , moved to 3643 V.
Insat 2E 83E 3643 V "Asianet and an Asianet Global test card" have started, Fta, Sr 19531, Fec 3/4, PIDs 512/650 and 513/660, wide beam.
Insat 2E 83E 3643 V "Jeevan TV" test card has started, Fta, PIDs 513/660.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3569 H The occasional MRTV feeds have left .
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H "Jame-Jam TV Network 3" is back again, Fta, PIDs 523/651.
PAS 10 68.5E 3836 V "RAI International" has started, Irdeto 2, APID 663.
Intelsat 804 64E 3644 R "ITV 2" has left , replaced by a 5 test card.A 5 test card and East Africa FM have started on PIDs 1025/1026 and APID 1027, clear.
NEWS
DD Set To Clinch Terrestrial Rights Deal With WSG Nimbus
From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=13255
New Delhi: Doordarshan (DD) is set to give competition to the Sony network, at least in cricket. Even as Sony Entertainment Television had acquired the satellite rights for the ICC Knockout matches to be held this year and World Cup Cricket in 2003 and 2007, for a reported sum of over $250 million, DD is about to bag the terrestrial rights for World Cup 2003 and ICC Knockout, sources said.
After series of negotiations and indications of talks failing, DD and WSG Nimbus, which holds the ICC-organised cricket telecast rights till 2007, have reached an agreement. Although they haven’t inked a pact yet, DD and WSG Nimbus have sealed the deed for World Cup 2003 and ICC Knockout this September, sources confirmed.
WSG Nimbus is a joint venture between World Sports and Mumbai-based Nimbus Communications. Earlier, the Sony network had purchased the satellite rights for World Cup 2003 and 2007 and ICC Knockout from WSG Nimbus.
DD officials refused to give out any figures involved in the deal with WSG Nimbus. But they said the arrangement between the two parties would be on a revenue-sharing basis. Nimbus would be responsible for marketing the channel (DD) during the events. While Sony may now grudge the big amount paid for the cricket rights, DD officials are talking about the masses. People with no cable connection would be able to watch the matches on DD now, they say.
According to sources, Sony is already in talks with potential advertisers for coming out with attractive packages for the forthcoming matches. Similarly, DD is also devising a matching marketing gameplan, said an official.
Earlier, when talks between WSG Nimbus and DD broke down as DD’s offer did not find much favour with World Sport Nimbus, the public broadcaster got worried. Since it recently missed out on the opportunity to show FIFA World Cup 2002, the rights for which were with Ten Sports, DD has been more than keen to bag the terrestrial rights for World Cup cricket and ICC Knockout. To ensure that DD bagged the terrestrial rights to all major events, particularly in sports, Prasar Bharati had even moved the government.
16/07/02
Livechat in the chatroom tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30 Syd onwards. Perhaps we can discuss alternative versions of DVB for the Nokia? I have been playing with different versions No ONE MAN 1.3H seems the most interesting. One of the things I like about it is they improved the spectrum analyser that's hidden in the expert settings menu.(expert menu, Tuner, 0 "hidden"). I have no idea what the other extra menus do though.
Mystery signals? reported approx 1/2 a degree west of Optus B3, Ku lower than 12250 mhz and Vertical?? please check!
As expected no reply back from TVSN as to if they will be FTA or not on B1, Sky NZ
Sky NZ, B1, 12608 V has added "Business Link" Vpid 512 Apid 650 Sid 1250 , Encrypted whatever it is probably another perhaps a special business channel?
From my Emails & ICQ
From Dave 15/07/02
6.30pm Syd
B1, 12420 V. Sr 6980. Fec 3/4. "Mundine fight"
From the Dish
No Lyngsat arrived yet.
Optus B1 160E 12608 V "Business Link" is new on Sky NZ, Encrypted Vpid 512 Apid 650
NEWS
Disney Channel launches in Indonesia
From indiantelevision.com
The arrival of the Big Mouse in India may be delayed but it is setting up shop in other parts of the region. AsiaNet-ABC Cable Networks Group today announced plans to launch the Disney Channel in Indonesia beginning this month. The channel will launch on cable via PT Broadband Multimedia's Kabelvision and on DTH through PT Matahari Lintas Cakrawala's Indovision Digital. The announcement was made by David Hulbert, president of Walt Disney Television International.
"Asia is an important region for the growth of Disney Channels throughout the world," an official release quoted Hulbert as saying. "Launching the channel into Indonesia is another major step in expanding our presence throughout the region," he added.
The agreements were signed in Jakarta in June and the channel will be made available this month on the basic tier of both platforms.
"With this launch, our Disney Channel Asia feed has expanded into six countries in just over two years," says Jon Niermann, managing director for branded television - Asia Pacific for Walt Disney Television International. "After launching in South Korea in April, we're very pleased to bring the magic of Disney into more homes in the region with the addition of Indonesia."
Disney Channel Asia is headed by managing director Raymund Miranda and is now available in Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. Launched in January 2000, it is a multi-language feed with both dubbing and subtitling in Mandarin, a Korean feed with subtitling, and a main feed in English. The Indonesian feed will launch in English with plans to dub into Bahasa Indonesia in the future. From launch, Disney Channel will reach 70 per cent of Pay TV households throughout Indonesia, the release says.
The Asia feed is one of three feeds dedicated to the Asia market, the two others being Taiwan and Australia. There are 15 Disney Channels worldwide now covering 54 countries.
ABC Cable Networks Group is based in Burbank, California and manages The Walt Disney Company's interest in global television businesses, including the wholly-owned international Disney Channels and the company's majority interest in the international Fox Kids channels. ABC Cable Networks Group also manages the Disney-branded and Fox Kids-branded kids programming on television platforms around the world.
Walt Disney Television International - Asia Pacific is responsible for the consolidated international free and pay television activities of the Walt Disney Company and ABC Inc. in the region. These activities include program sales (Buena Vista International Television), production and the development and management of Disney Channels and other international broadcasting investments in Asia Pacific.
The Disney Channel is currently available on pay TV in eight Asia-Pacific markets: Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Disney branded programs are broadcast on local free-to-air networks in 12 countries around the region, reaching a total audience of 300 million in Asia-Pacific, the release says.
(Craigs comment, and testing on Sky NZ last week......)
- PanAmSat Reports 2Q - - -
From Skyreport
PanAmSat reported slight improvements in some of its financial numbers for the second quarter.
The company's revenues for the second quarter were $209.2 million, compared to revenues of
$208.2 million for the second quarter of 2001.
Operating lease revenues totaled $204.6 million for the second quarter, compared to $202.9 million
for the same period in 2001. The increase in operating lease revenues was attributed to
occasional service revenues related to the World Cup and higher network service revenues recorded
during the second quarter, PanAmSat said.
The revenue increases were partially offset by lower program distribution and direct-to-home revenues, as
compared to the same period in 2001. Total sales and sales-type lease revenues were $4.6 million for the
quarter that ended June 30, compared to $5.3 million for the same period in 2001.
PanAmSat CEO Joseph Wright said the company has $725 million in cash plus another $250 million of
an unused credit line. In addition, the exec said the company is pursuing alliances, joint ventures and
acquisitions in key markets, an effort that hopefully will generate new revenue growth for the
satellite services company.
PanAmSat also increased its EPS guidance for the full year to between 45 cents and 55 cents per share.
Satellite, cable firms let viewers take control of TV programming
From http://www.modbee.com/24hour/technology/story/466294p-3730091c.html
(LAT) - The fierce competition between cable and satellite TV services is driving a fundamental change in the way television is delivered, giving consumers a growing number of ways to seize control of the programming schedule.
After several years of dabbling with video-on-demand services, the top U.S. cable TV companies are enabling millions of customers to watch what they want, when they want.
Four kinds of on-demand service are emerging from cable operators this year, with satellite companies working on a fifth.
The systems have some glaring weaknesses: They don't offer the most popular TV programs, they're not included yet in the regular cable program guides, and the selection is no match for the local video store. Yet cable operators, satellite companies, studios and networks all have a stake in getting the new services up.
For cable operators, VOD is one of the few services that clearly separates digital cable from satellite TV and traditional basic cable. Satellite companies counter with personal video recorders, which have limited on-demand potential but are extremely popular with their owners.
A number of movie studios, meanwhile, have embraced VOD as a step up from pay per view, which has generated fewer dollars than most other outlets for their films. And several TV networks see on-demand services as a new way to turn programs into cash, with or without advertisers' support.
HBO, for example, is testing a service that lets subscribers watch any original program from that month's lineup at any time. A subscriber can watch "Six Feet Under" at 8 p.m. Tuesday instead of 11 p.m., or even watch all four of the month's episodes back-to-back.
The shift to on-demand is expected to be gradual, yet it challenges many of the ways networks promote shows, build audiences and attract advertisers. For starters, cutting programs loose from their time slots means networks lose the benefit of running new shows after popular and established ones.
And broadcasters can't assure local merchants that their commercials will be seen before the big holiday sale or promotion ends.
Granted, cable and phone companies have been hyping video on demand for years without ever committing to it. But analyst Josh Bernoff of Forrester Research Inc., a technology research and consulting firm, said, "This is real. These (cable) guys are going for this in a huge, huge way. ... This is the year they're all doing VOD."
For a cable operator, the new VOD services start with two-way, high-capacity digital networks. The operator stores several dozen movies on a powerful central computer, and customers browse through titles on their TV screens. When they find one they want to watch, the central computer streams it to their digital converter box. The computer can pause, rewind and fast-forward the movie in response to commands from the customer's remote control, just as if the movie were on videotape.
The last wave of VOD services came and went in the mid-1990s, when a group of major cable and phone companies launched and then abandoned several experiments with interactive services. Although consumers liked VOD, the systems required such expensive set-top boxes and computers that they were economically unfeasible.
Suppliers of VOD technology eventually adapted their services to basic digital converter boxes, and the cost of computers plummeted to the point where on-demand services could turn a profit. The lingering issue today is obtaining the rights to offer programs on demand - some top Hollywood studios have yet to strike deals with VOD services, and winning the rights to the major networks' prime-time shows is complicated by the interests of producers, licensees, syndicators and advertisers.
Nevertheless, cable operators are enthusiastic about VOD in part because it's something the satellite companies can't offer, said Mitchell E. Kertzman, chief executive of Liberate Technologies, which makes software for set-top boxes. VOD also helps convince consumers to switch from analog to digital cable, which cable operators view as a springboard to future services, Kertzman said.
Satellite TV operators DirecTV and DishNetwork don't have the capacity on their orbiting transmitters to beam programs on demand. Instead, they're offering receivers with built-in personal video recorders, laying the foundation for a different kind of on-demand service.
In recent roll-outs of VOD, the increased control and convenience leads consumers to order two to three times as many movies as they do with regular pay per view, said Greg DePrez, a vice president at Starz Encore Group. Their usage increases even more, DePrez said, when they can order an unlimited number of programs for a flat fee.
Starz has been a leading advocate of "subscription video on demand," offering consumers on-demand access to 100 of the 800 movies that are scheduled to run on the Starz Encore channels each month. HBO and Showtime also have begun subscription VOD services built around their original programming, and Walt Disney Co. subsidiary ESPN plans one to let subscribers call up extreme sports programming on their TV or computer.
Companies still are trying to figure out how much to charge for these services. Fees for subscription VOD are expected to cost between $3 and $10 a month, although several cable operators have included such services in their digital cable packages at no extra charge.
A third version of VOD is being developed by Comcast Corp., which would become the largest U.S. cable operator if its $72-billion bid for AT&T Broadband is approved.
Later this year, Comcast plans to offer a free VOD tier to digital-cable subscribers that includes 750 hours of programming each month from cable and broadcast networks, said Dave Watson, executive vice president of marketing and customer service.
Watson wouldn't say which shows will be offered, but the networks developing on-demand versions of their original programming include NBC, A&E, Lifetime, Discovery, CourtTV, Comedy Central, ESPN, BBC America and TNT. Comcast has found so much interest among programmers in its new on-demand service, it's "running out of shelf space" on the company's central computers, Watson said.
A final variation being explored by cable operators is to record programs digitally on central computers as they're broadcast, letting customers replay them on demand. To avoid getting ensnared in a copyright dispute, the operators are focusing on news and sports programs whose rights are readily available.
The only deployment so far has been by Adelphia Communications Corp. in Buffalo, N.Y. Earlier this year, the company made Buffalo Sabres hockey games available on demand for free on digital cable.
The satellite operators' on-demand strategy starts with personal video recorders, which Bernoff estimates were in 700,000 of their customers' homes by the end of 2001. Once PVRs have sufficient capacity, satellite companies could broadcast 10 to 15 popular movies to customers' recorders in the middle of the night, and users would pay only for the ones they watched.
Cable operators have been slow to deploy PVR-equipped converter boxes, but the pace is picking up.
Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications Inc. have started testing a PVR-equipped digital cable box from Scientific-Atlanta Inc., and Charter Communications Inc. has announced plans to deploy this fall a PVR-equipped box made by Motorola Inc.
One potential pitfall of PVRs for cable operators is that they may dim customers' interest in VOD.
David Rothman, a Cablevision customer in Long Island, N.Y., has filled his customized digital recorder with movies from various cable channels. "Now I've got 120 to 180 hours of movies on my hard drive," Rothman said. "It's unlikely, unless there's something very new, that I'm going to want to go to video on demand."
Still, the recorders enable cable operators and advertisers to store personalized, interactive programming in subscribers' homes, creating a new source of revenue, said Manu Mehta, chief executive of Metabyte Networks, which supplies the PVR software for Scientific-Atlanta's boxes.
For example, he said, consumers could shift from a 10-second commercial for a cruise line to a stored program that provides an interactive tour of the ship. Or they could click on a beer ad to launch a video game sponsored by the brewery.
"In the long run, the cable operators see PVR as a new way of doing business," Mehta said. "PVRs will change television."
15/07/02
I have emailed TVSN to see if they will be FTA on B1 Sky NZ, since they are fta on B3. Don't laugh the more FTA channels we have over here the better. Ideal situation would be Tv1,2,3,4 Prime, TAB channel, Maori channel and perhaps a free NZ music channel and an Education channel of some kind all fta. Either True DVB FTA or via an irdeto access card like with Aurora.
I had a look at Pas 2 ku on Sunday, Nothing new to report. I have loaded DVB1.82.0 Sandra version into my Nokia today to see what its all about. Does anyone have any instructions on how to use the extra menus?
Not much else to report today.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Khai Le
Dear Sr
I,m Khai Le ,Can you hepl how can i receiver
channel VTV 1,2,3 on Measat 2 148.E, What size dish
in south Australia , What LNBF K-Uband , I having K-Uband RF Input 10.7-11.8 GHz 11.7-12-75 GHz
LOW 9.75-10.60 GHz IF 950-2050 MHz 1100-21500 MHz
This LNBF can get signal from 11522 H 9766- 3/4
Please Email for me , I,m looking forward hear from very soon
Thank you very much
Khai Lee
(Craigs comment, a check in South Australia with 1.2M offset dish revealed very little signal. As it appears to be out of footprint reception a 3M or larger solid dish may be needed. Its best to check with a local satellite dealer where they can test the signal to see if it is available. If anyone has any reports from South Australia please send them in)
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 4136 V Net 25 is back, Fta, Sr 2343, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Optus B1 160E 12670 H DIG Radio has started regular tranmissions Fta, APID 3001,and 12706 H, Fta, APID 2321.
Optus B1 160E ABC TV South and ABC TV Northern on 12606 H and 12626 H have swapped frequencies again.
Apstar 1A 134E 3836 V "CETV SD" has started, Fta, Sr 3290, PIDs 32/33.
Apstar 1A 134E 4180 V "CCTV 3, CCTV 6 and CCTV 8" are encrypted again.
Palapa C2 113E 4000 H "Quick Channel and Swara" have started , Fta, PIDs 1260/1220 and 1360/1320.
ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the MMBN mux are Fta again.Wan Sheng has replaced CASA on PIDs 5169/5153.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H "Jame-Jam TV Network 3" has left again, replaced by a test card.
NEWS
Laos to Launch First Satellite Within 2 Years
From satnewsasia.com
Landlocked Laos expects to sign a memorandum of understanding by the end of this month with two foreign partners (one Asian and one Western) that will enable it to launch its first satellite by 2004.
Sources in the government said Laos intends to rent the satellite, to be called “L-Star,” to Asian and Western communications firms to earn much needed revenue. Laos plans to rent out the satellite, which will be equipped with 32 transponders, to broadcasting companies covering the 2008 Olympic Games in China, and will also use it for Internet communications.
The satellite project is expected to cost some US$380 million and will be implemented by Lao Star Company. The Laotian government owns a 20 percent stake in the project with 80 percent being owned by the Asia Broadcasting and Communication Network (ABCN). Lao Star will hold a 30-year concession to operate L-Star. The government said the project was an 80 percent certainty
Laos intended to launch its first satellite in late 1997 but the collapse of its currency as a result of the Asian currency crisis delayed the plan. ABCN, a joint venture among Thai, North American and Japanese investors, said it had already spent US$100 million on the project, mostly to build ground stations.
Retired Chinese Worker Invents New Global Positioning Device
From satnewsasia.com
A retired shipyard worker from China's Hunan Province has claimed to have invented a new global positioning system (GPS) device that allegedly does not require satellite, radio or any other information from outside to do its job.
Chinese experts claim the invention by Cao, a high school graduate but a member of the prestigious China Society of Mathematics, may break the monopoly of satellite-based GPS technology by the West. Cao has received a patent certificate from the Patent Office of China for his invention. Chinese experts said the device can work automatically in any place in the world and under any weather conditions, but did not give specific technical details. They said the device occupies no radio frequency and needs no base stations, which makes it much cheaper than the current satellite-based GPS technology. Cao said he started his research on positioning and navigation in 1986.
HK Ok's Phoenix Head's Bid for Unlisted ATV; ATV Becomes Largest Shareholder
From satnewsasia.com
Hong Kong's Broadcasting Authority, the broadcasting regulator, has approved a bid by Phoenix Satellite Television to buy a majority 46 percent stake in Asia Television Ltd (ATV), Hong Kong’s second leading broadcaster.
The investment, made last month by Phoenix head Liu Changle through a subsidiary, Vital Media Holdings, was widely criticized, as Liu has not lived in Hong Kong continuously for the past seven years, the mandatory residency requirement under Hong Kong’s broadcasting rules. The Broadcasting Authority’s approval was necessary as Hong Kong law requires a qualified voting controller of a local broadcaster to be a resident of the city for at least seven years.
In defending its decision, however, the authority said one of its broadcasting policy objectives is to encourage investment in the industry. “As such, our regulatory regime does not restrict foreign ownership of a licensee company,” the authority said in a press statement. The authority said it is satisfied that ATV will remain controlled by persons and companies that are sensitive to Hong Kong viewers' taste and interests.
The approval clears the way for Phoenix to become ATV's single largest shareholder, with direct and indirect holdings totaling 46 percent Tom.com only yesterday bought 32.75 percent stake of ATV from Lai Sun Development Co. Ltd.
Tom.com, owned by Chinese billionaire Li Ka-Shing, might acquire more ATV shares later on, said analysts. Tom.com also signed a separate MOU to acquire a 50 percent interest in ATV subsidiary, HKATV.com Ltd. Tom.com's investment, however, must be approved by the government since another of Li's companies owns a local radio station, placing the ATV deal in conflict with Hong Kong’s rule against cross-media ownership.
14/07/02
Sunday no update
13/07/02
Good news for some? Measat 2 Ku is being received in Perth, but not the Eastern Aus beam but what appears to be out of footprint reception of the Vietnam beam! VTV1,2,3 are available FTA and possibly on dishes as small as 1.2M! A 2.7M solid dish is giving %71 signal level on Humax.
New Satfacts magazine turned up today , have not read it yet but flicked through it looks very interesting, a report on Pay and satellite tv up in Fiji and also a how to modify your Nokia article. Also more on "MADMAX"
Sky NZ now listing CTV 1,2,3,4,5 Ethnic Chinese services. I don't think they are direct feeds of CCTV but rather a name change.Only 1 new CTV seems to have been added, details in the From the Dish section. More info available at http://www.wtv.co.nz/home.htm
Speaking of SKY, in August they will launch TVSN! Wow I can hardly wait.!
Optus B1, Sky NZ / Saturn beams now correctly listed at Lyngsat, listed as NZ Beam
From my Emails & ICQ
From Zapara (Perth)
Mystery signal from last week now confirmed as 148E Measat 2 11522H VTV
mux , supposedly on Vietnam beam? Can anyone else get this?
Received in Perth on 2.7M solid dish %71 on Humax, Signal level.
VTV 1, VTV 2, VTV 3 Screenshots
Also of interest, Agila 2 KU ! not strong enough to lock!
(Craigs comment, who said DXing satellite signals was dead, a lot of High power KU is being aimed at Asian regions its no surprise some overspill is showing up. Now can anyone else also get this signal in other locations? its a very strong signal so smaller dishes should have a good chance.)
From ANON
I was speaking with a chap today who used to install Aurora in Cairns and he
was of the strong opinion that Optus C1 was successfully launched last year
and is being used elsewhere, maybe for some other hush-hush usage at this
time. We certainly agreed that there is no information about launch
manifests for Optus C1, so...
Maybe someone out there can leak the launch date (from French Guyana I
believe) or perhaps...?
(Craigs comment, very interesting how could they keep it quiet though?)
From Spencer
Interestingly
I just put a Universal LNB on my torroidal and am now getting 2 lots of signals.
One is about 4 degrees from B3 which I presume is Jcsat8.
The other 8 degrees would be Measat2.
I havent tried to find what they are as I only have a humax so cant search without sr.
Info would be great.
Spencer
(Craigs comment, anyone have any ideas? a sidelobe perhaps?)
From Me
2.30 pm Syd
B1, 12418 V Sr 6980 Fec 3/4 "AFL feed"
4.00 pm Syd
B1, 12428 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 "Astralink Rally feed"
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 12637 V "ABC NewsRadio" has replaced PNN, PowerVu, APID 1623.
PAS 8 166E 12432 H Occasional feeds, SR 4420, Fec 3/4.
Optus B1 160E 12581 V "CTV4" new in the Sky mux, actuall channel unknown
Apstar 1A 134E 3884 H EuroSport News has moved here from 4060 V, Fta, Sr 7140, PIDs 34/35.
Apstar 1A 134E 4050 V New APIDs for the ZheJiang radio channels on : 34-39.
Apstar 1A 134E 4180 V "CCTV 3, CCTV 6 and CCTV 8" are now Fta.
Koreasat 2 113E 12290 H "DCN" has replaced CNS , Fta, PIDs 900/901.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3773 H "Reuters World News Service" is now encrypted.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Scholar Movie Channel, MusicCountry, RAI International 2, TTV, CTV, FTV and FTV News Channel" are now encrypted.
NEWS
Goonhilly is largest operational satellite station on Earth
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2124000/2124232.stm
Satellite pioneers remembered
Communications have come a long way since 1962 when the first live television satellite signal winged its way across the Atlantic to BT's Goonhilly Earth Station, in Cornwall, UK.
Forty years on, the three Earth Stations involved in that pioneering test, at Andover in the USA, Pleumeur Bodou in France and Goonhilly, linked up live once again.
Live TV footage of the World Cup and other events is now taken for granted. But a revolutionary step forward was taken on a hot summer night on 11 July 1962, as the face of AT&T's then-chairman Fred Kappel was broadcast across the Atlantic.
At Goonhilly on the Lizard Peninsula, a satellite dish, affectionately nicknamed Arthur after the knight of the Round Table, received the historic image.
British-designed Arthur weighed in at a bulky 1,118 tonnes and was 26 metres (85 feet) in diameter. It was unique at the time, being a dish antenna compared with the American-favoured horn-shaped antenna.
Now, round satellite dishes are used all around the world.
Walking a tightrope
Dr John Bray was closely involved in the design of Arthur, officially known as Goonhilly Antenna One.
Aged 90, he was back in the Cornish Earth Station 40 years later to celebrate the tremendous achievements he and his colleagues brought to the world of communication.
Arthur remains fully operational
He recollected the day the transmission went live as "like walking a tightrope" as no one was sure whether the test would work.
In fact the reception on the first attempt was very fuzzy, leading some to speculate the dish was too heavy to accurately track the satellite.
The problem actually turned out to be more mundane. One component was fitted the wrong way round and the problem was solved within 20 minutes.
Despite the teething problems, it was a joy to be involved in such a project, recalled Dr Bray.
"They were tremendously exciting times. There was a real spirit of camaraderie among those involved. We really did feel like pioneers," he said.
Fiction becomes science
The tests were made possible by the launch of Telstar One, the world's first commercial communication satellite, from Cape Canaveral the previous day.
Goonhilly pioneered satellite communications
Its historic launch brought to reality the vision of science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke back in 1945 and proved such communication had a commercial future.
The same day as the live link up, the world's first long-distance telephone call via satellite took place between US Vice President Lyndon B Johnson and AT&T's then chairman Fred Kappel.
Telstar was a low-orbit satellite, between 950 and 5,630 kilometres (590 and 3,500 miles) above the Earth and only usable for three or four 40-minute periods in each 24 hours.
During its seven months in orbit, Telstar delivered live pictures of baseball games, plays, news broadcasts and a US Presidential news conference.
Telstar could transmit one television channel or 500 simultaneous telephone calls. Today's satellites can handle more than 500 television channels and thousands of data circuits.
Its cost was $6m compared with the modern satellites, which cost in excess of $200m.
International hub
Goonhilly has grown to be the largest operational satellite station on Earth, with more than 60 antennae dealing with a wide range of transmissions.
These include international phone calls, the transfer of financial data, television, ship and aircraft communications and internet traffic.
Many of the transmissions during the Afghanistan conflict came via Goonhilly and it was also involved in the 11 September disaster, providing alternative routes for data when US communications were damaged.
Goonhilly was chosen to house the satellite dish because the Lizard Peninsula offered an unimpaired view of the Atlantic horizon, giving the longest possible contact with low-orbiting satellites.
The geology of the area also offers vital support for the massive weight of the antennas.
The base is now a popular tourist attraction with 90,000 visitors touring the centre every year.
Arthur remains fully operational and currently carries satellite communications to India and the Far East.
Showing its true historic pedigree, the famous dish has just been recommended to English Heritage for Grade II listed building status.
Zee shuts down two channels
From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=15795521
NEW DELHI: Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms has shut down two regional channels Bharati (Tamil) and Kaveri (Kannada).
"Both these channels are off-air now. We plan to relaunch these channels under our Alpha banner in January 2003," Partha Ghosh, director (marketing) Zee Telefilms said. Despite Zee’s effort to make a dent in the flourishing southern market Bharati and Kaveri failed to make a mark in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Zee has pumped in over Rs 50 crore in Bharati after launching it in March 2001. Kaveri was launched with a tie-up with Asianet in June 2000.
The company had to face tough competition from Kalanidhi Maran’s Sun TV and Teja. Zee is chalking out a new strategy to foray once again into south India next year, with a focus on local needs. After Hindi, South is the largest market in the country in terms of generating revenue through advertisements. Tamil Nadu alone generates Rs 250 crore every year through ads.
Company officials said they have got licence to uplink Alpha Tamil and Alpha Kannada from Essel-Shyam port in Noida. Zee Telefilms has now permission to uplink 10 channels from India. The company has also decided to launch Alpha Telugu early next year.
Zee plans to leverage on the strengths of Padmalaya Telefilms which has over 300 hit films in Tamil and Telugu. The company plans to offer current affairs having local relevance, locally-anchored chat-shows, local game shows, city/region specific features. ‘‘We would like to tap ads from the local market. We have completely overhauled our strategy,’’ said an official.
Delhi HC cracks down on piracy of ESPN signals
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=15802063
MUMBAI: In a novel measure to block cable piracy on the eve of the India-England finals of the NatWest one-day cricket series, the Delhi High Court issued a proactive injunction blocking as many as 27 cable operators and networks all over the country from relaying the matches to their subscribers.
ESPN’s case is that, though these operators have not renewed their contracts, they continue to tap the ESPN signal using decoders of South Africa-based Multichoice direct-to-home (DTH) service.
In a sweeping order passed by justice Mukundakam Sharma of the Delhi High Court, commissioners have been appointed, to be assisted by the local police, to monitor the offending cable operators and ensure compliance with the court order.
These commissioners, most of them local advocates, have been authorised to search the premises of these cable networks, make an inventory and take into custody all such equipment that could be used to broadcast or transmit ESPN’s signals.
The court commissioners have also been authorised to enter the premises of other cable operators (not parties in this case), and “to take photographs and video films of all those who are responsible for broadcasting the plaintiff’s (ESPN) channel in a clandestine manner and submit a report to this court within three weeks.”
According to Rajiv Nayyar, the advocate representing ESPN, the raiding parties are already on their way. Those operators who had been pirating the signals would be stopped before the NatWest finals got underway, he said.
The court commissioners, all advocates from Delhi, have been authorised to raid cable networks in locations as far off as Bhavnagar and Rajkot in Gujarat, Indore in MP and Gazipur in UP.
12/07/02
Not much happening to end the week. B1, 12456V looks like TVNZ or someone? is making a few adjustments there. Two versions of TV1 loading there now. I have not watched it long enough to see if one of them is a regional version.
I have sent Lyngsat an email asking for him to alter the beams listed on B1, for SKY NZ I get many emails from people in Australia asking how to get Sky NZ or TVNZ off B1. Most of the problem is they read at the Lyngsat site that the beam for these is aimed at Aus / NZ. It is of course on a NZ only beam.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Budi (Satelindo)
Dear Sir;
Today, I have improve the Quick channel, please give me the result base on to your monitoring.
Frequency 4040Mhz, use Asean beam coverage. In thailand, the signal should be ok.
EIRP in Guangzhou, Taipei, Dacca, Calcutta is 36dBw.
I am waiting for your response.
Regards;
Budi Purwanto
(Craigs comment, can anyone in Australia get a signal from this one?)
From Steve Johnson
Hi Craig. Optus B1 - 12456vt, now loads 3 channels. TV1, TV2 & TV1 again. Haven't looked for pids yet.
Steve Johnson
Pukekohe, NZ
From the Dish
Optus B1 160E 12268 V The mystery data signal that was here appears to have left
Optus B1 160E 12456 V "TVNZ mux testing with some changes" Sr 22500 Fec 3/4
Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H "Withus Shopping" has started on SID 6, PIDs 1660/1620, Fta.
Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H "Cinex US" has replaced WCN on PIDs 1060/1020, Fta.
Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H A test card has started on SID 20, PIDs 1160/11620, enc.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3700 V "Zee Music Plus" has started testing, Fta, SID 5, PIDs 164/96.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H "Jame-Jam TV Network 3" is back on , Fta, PIDs 523/651.
Intelsat 804 64E 3651 R "Star News" has started , enc., Sr 5730, Fec 3/4, PIDs 512/650, East hemi beam.
NEWS
Rugby channel widens viewership
From http://ontv.nzoom.com/ontv_detail/0,1584,115356-80-3,00.html
Sky TV is using this weekend's Bledisloe Cup game as a curtain-raiser for more widescreen broadcasts.
For Saturday only, from 8am, all Sky Digital viewers can access the subscription-based Rugby Channel to see widescreen coverage of the All Blacks vs the Wallabies (normally it costs nearly $2 a week to tune into the channel).
Expect the grandstand promotion to kick off extended widescreen coverage on Sky beyond the Rugby Channel and selected movies on MovieMax.
Already chief executive John Fellett has confirmed widescreen viewing will be "just one of a number of new services" Sky launches in the next few months.
Certainly Sky subscribers deserve a better deal than they're getting following the last round of sub rises and the removal of the MGM channel from the basic subscription tier.
Compare what's on offer here to across the Tasman, where pay-TV viewers can access a superior variety of programming, including channels dedicated to the arts, history, comedy and vintage TV shows.
Meanwhile, subscribers in the United States and the United Kingdom can opt for broadcasts in Dolby Digital and set-top boxes with hard-drive or digital recording.
Now that Sky has all the free-to-air channels on its platform and has topped 500,000 subscribers, it's time the pay-TV monopoly began providing extra-value viewing.
(Craigs comment, agree totally with the last line Sky NZ still has a long way to go to actually give the subscribers what they want to see. Competition would see to that. But where is the competition???? I think many have given up on there ever being an alternative to Sky NZ's Monopoly.)
Celebrating a milestone in satellite TV
From http://www.msnbc.com/news/779084.asp?cp1=1
40 years ago, Telstar 1 flashed the world’s first trans-Atlantic TV signal
Researchers whooped for joy when the era of live TV via satellite was born 40 years ago as Telstar orbited overhead, a scientist who was there said Thursday. Four decades ago, the first trans-Atlantic TV signal was relayed from a huge antenna in the woods of western Maine, beamed to Telstar 1 and relayed to Europe. The black-and-white image showed an American flag waving in front of the Andover Earth Station.
WALTER BROWN, a retired scientist from Bell Labs, which created Telstar, was among the scientists, federal officials and dozens of reporters drawn to this former logging town of 700 people to mark the anniversary.
“Forty years ago I was one of those at Andover, watching, waiting, holding our breath, hoping yes, hoping that Telstar would be a success,” Brown said Thursday. “Then as Telstar came over the horizon, and the command was given to turn it on, there was a ‘whoop’ that filled the (air). It works! We had done it!”
A video teleconference re-enacting the broadcast was held in the town square at the anniversary observance, arranged by the International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
A plaque from all three Earth Station sites in Andover; Pleumeur-Bodou, France; and Goonhilly, England was dedicated.
THE BIRTH OF TELSTAR
President Dwight Eisenhower had announced in 1960 that he had directed NASA to take the lead in devising the use of space technology for commercial communications.
The 171-pound (78-kilogram) Telstar, which was 34 inches (0.86 meters) in diameter, was launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 10, 1962.
AT&T chose the remote western Maine town of Andover to build a ground station because it is surrounded by mountains and is far enough from microwave repeaters to avoid interference. The antenna that beamed the signal was enclosed in a huge bubble, 160 feet high (49 meters high).
After the successful transmission on July 11, 1962, President Kennedy released a statement calling it “an outstanding example of the way in which government and business can cooperate in a most important field of human endeavor.”
That same day, the first long-distance telephone call via satellite was carried by Telstar. During the call, then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington spoke to Fred Kappel, then chairman of AT&T, who was in Andover.
The success of Telstar even inspired a hit record. The pop instrumental “Telstar” by the British group the Tornadoes reached No. 1 on the charts in both England and the United States.
Telstar remained in operation only until February 1963, but the Andover Earth Station continues to operate. There are 260 active communications satellites today.
Sony Keen On News, Music Channels
From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=12917
New Delhi: The Sony network is planning to add a news and a music channel to complete its bouquet. Currently, it has Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Max, Discovery, AXN, CNBC and Animal Planet in its bouquet. Although not divulging any details on the broadcasters or production houses that Sony is talking to for the news and music channels, head of Sony-Discovery joint venture Shantanu Aditya told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here on Thursday that the channel was interested in the two genres. For sports, it’s not planning a separate channel, but it already has Sony Max with a lot of cricket going there.
Recently, there was talk about NDTV, which provides news to Star, opting for a venture with the Sony network for a news channel. But, there’s no confirmation of that from any of the sides.
Zee-Turner looking to expand its bouquet
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?artid=15695374
NEW DELHI: The newly-formed Zee-Turner, which distributes channels of the Zee and Turner groups, is on the prowl to pick up at least two new channels for its bouquet.
Industry sources said that one of these channels could be the music channel MTV, which is learnt to be in serious negotiations with Zee-Turner.
Interestingly, the second channel, industry sources said, could be a new foreign satellite channel, which has tasted success in US the History channel.
Though company officials are cagey about discussing names of channel expected to join the Zee-Turner bouquet, they confirmed that a few new channels may enter the bouquet soon.
Zee Telefilms holds a 74 per cent stake in its joint venture with AOL Time Warner unit Turner International India, called Zee Turner Pvt Ltd for distribution of each others' channels. The company is based in New Delhi and manages the distribution and marketing of the chan-nels of the two companies and others in India and South Asia.
But it’s not the Zee-Turner bouquet alone which is keen on expand-ing their offerings. Even Sony’s One Alliance -- which includes channels of the Sony stable, besides Discovery and CNBC India is on the lookout for more channels to join their bouquet. “We are seriously looking at more channels to join our bouquet,” said a Sony official.
To an outside observer, the keenness of channels to expand their bouquets at a time when conditional access system (CAS) will usher in an era of “consumer pays for the individual channels he/she watches” may seem strange.
But the channels are hatching deep plans to keep their bouquets flying in post-CAS era. Says a channel official, “Channels may price their main entertainment channel very high, at say Rs 50. And the total cost of the bouquet may be kept at Rs 55. Any consumer who will pay Rs 50 for a Star/Sony/Zee will then not grudge the Rs 5 for a whole host of other channels. These channels can then sort out the internal pricing arrangements within the bouquet.”
The premier cable TV company Star too has a substantial bouquet of channels, though it is studded with mostly its own channels, like Star Plus, Star World, Star Movies and Channel V, besides National Geographic.
11/07/02
Getting to the end of the week and things are fairly quiet. As expected Sky NZ encrypted those signals that were FTA yesterday. I have supplied Lyngsat with an update on the Sky services. There should be some Tech Documents appearing on the site soon including a FAQ about Asia Pacific Region satellite tv.
B3, Globecast and Aurora are all up in strength for some reason
From my Emails & ICQ
Nothing to report!
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 3860 H The test card has left , PIDs 460/461.It's occasional feeds on PIDs 450/451.
Optus B1 160E 12643 H "ABC TV Northern" has replaced ABC TV South, Fta, PIDs 2308/2309. (Craigs comment, this could spell the end of the B1, Abc Northern transmission on 12260V )
ST 1 88E 3632 V "CCR 1" has left .
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Savoir Knowledge Channel" is in Fta again.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H "Jame-Jam TV Network 3" has left , replaced by a test card.
NEWS
Piracy Crackdown Continues
From Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association
The Victoria Police successfully executed search warrants on two Ballarat premises yesterday after occupants were believed to be engaged in illegal subscription television pirate activity.
Two arrests have already resulted from yesterday's raid and police confiscated a significant amount of equipment relating to pirate activity. Additional charges are likely to follow.
Debra Richards, Executive Director of the Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association (ASTRA), said. "The Subscription Television industry is actively assisting police to combat piracy. Yesterday's result demonstrates the resolve of the industry or fight this illegal activity."
"Industry members are working co-operatively through ASTRA to address a problem that costs millions of dollars in lost revenue and resources that would otherwise be used to grow the Australian Television and Production Industries. The real victims here are the consumers who are being hoodwinked into being involved in a criminal activity, often paying more than they would otherwise do for a legitimate service." Ms Richards said.
BACKGROUND
*Piracy occurs when a viewer or end user gains access to a Subscription Television Service without payment to the relevant subscription television provider. Use the pirate smart cards is a crime.
*Since it's inception in Australia in 1995, the Subscription Television has invested $8 billion in people, infrastructure, technology and programming and now directly employs over 3,500 people ranging from program makers and advanced IT professionals to call centre staff and sales people. Thousands of others are indirectly employed in related industries.
*Piracy undermines this contribution, costing the subscription television industry millions of dollars in lost revenue each year.
*Piracy is a crime - incurring civil and criminal penalties. Criminal penalties can reach $60,500 in fines and imprisonment for up to five years.
Sky's rising dollar bonus
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1259940a1865,FF.html
Sky Television looks set to be a major beneficiary of the rise in the dollar as its programming costs should drop sharply from next year.
This should help the company - which has mostly traded in the red since setting up in 1987 - report its first solid profit in two years, some analysts believe.
Remarks by Sky chairman Tom Mockridge that the country's only national integrated pay-TV company would break even in two years were greeted with some cynicism earlier this year.
Since then the New Zealand dollar and subscriber numbers have risen more sharply than expected and in a detailed study of the company, ABN Amro reckons Sky's profitability is about to lift.
A hint of Sky's improving fortunes came at the last half year when it reported a better than expected loss of $13.9 million, following a $42.3m loss in the 12 months to June last year.
ABN Amro reckons Sky will report a loss of $32.3m for the current year to June 30 when it reports in September. It forecasts the loss will fall to $5.58m next year and should turn to the black in two years with a solid profit of $31.8m.
Becoming profitable will be an important milestone for a company that has been reinvesting all spare money in growing business since setting up. Listed on the sharemarket 10 years later, Sky made token profits in 1997 and 1998, before returning to losses, and has never paid a dividend.
It could also be significant for its parent, Independent Newspapers, publishers of the Sunday Star-Times, which owns 66%. INL has been using Sky's tax losses to boost bottom line profits. These slashed $12m from INL's tax bill for the six months to December 31.
INL plans to repay Sky this money when its subsidiary becomes profitable. However, analysts say INL might be tempted to make a full takeover bid. This would ease the need for INL to repay Sky the money it owes Sky's minority shareholders who are unable to use the company's sizeable tax losses.
As a first step INL might negotiate to buy the 12.1% stake held by Telecom. Telecom paid $4.12 a share, then well ahead of market prices.
Telecom might be wishing it could have sold as recently as June 20 when Sky TV shares were fetching $4.72. Since then the price has slipped to close at $4.30 on Friday, mainly due to changes in investor sentiment thanks to accounting scandals and other uncertainties on Wall Street.
Many analysts can't see why Telecom retains stakes in Sky and INL as both companies are effectively controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and the relatively small stakes give little say in the running of the companies.
Telecom CEO Theresa Gattung, in an interview with Infotech Weekly last month, said Telecom bought into INL when Sky had been the real target. It had subsequently bought into Sky.
Asked if Telecom still needed these shareholdings, Gattung said: "We don't have a religion on this. There's always a possibility we might divest." Asked if there were any gains to be made from the INL stake, she said this depended on INL strategies.
She pointed out Sky and Telecom bundle services to about 40,000 customers, with Xtra providing the TV email service. "Beyond that I'm not sure how the relationship will pan out," she said.
Under the takeover code, INL can't simply buy the Telecom stake but would have to bid for the whole company. However, Telecom could sell its Sky shares at a big discount to INL - which would then extend the offer to all Sky shareholders. If the deal was substantially lower than Sky's market price, the remaining 22% of Sky shareholders wouldn't accept.
A similar takeover strategy is being mounted in the bid by Eric Watson's Logan Corporation to buy out Pacific Retail's minority shareholders. Other Telecom shareholders, however, would be less than happy if its Sky shares were sold well below market prices.
Sky, which recently celebrated reaching 500,000 subscribers, is in an immensely strong position in this country as the dominant provider of pay-TV with 37% of households linked to its UHF transmissions or direct digital broadcasts. The digital systems seem particularly well poised for growth due to further penetration and interactive services, such as online betting.
ABN Amro says that while Sky is gaining from the stronger dollar, the full benefits are not being felt. It estimates the company bought forward cover for its US dollar exposure for this calendar year at US43-44c. However, ABN Amro says what matters more is the assumption the New Zealand dollar will rise further, substantially increasing Sky's purchasing power for overseas programmes. Every 1c rise in the US-NZ dollar exchange rate improves Sky's earnings by $2.2m-2.3m, ABN Amro says.
Based on improving subscriber numbers and the currency benefits, ABN Amro has upgraded its recommendation on Sky from a reduce to a hold and values it at $5.03.
JB Were recommends Sky as an accumulate, valuing it at $4.90 though recommends clients take an indirect investment by buying shares in parent INL. Macquarie Research says Sky continues to do better than the market and its internal forecasts are expecting. It says Sky TV will outperform the NZSE Top 40 index in the short and long-term, and values it at $4.66.
INL closed on Friday at $3.75.
MTV India expects to go digital by end-July
(Posted on 10 July 2002 7:00 pm)
From indiantelevision.com
Joining the trend among most channels to switch from an analog feed, music channel MTV is preparing to go digital by end-July.
Sanjeev Hiremath, vice-president, network development, South Asia, licensing and merchandising, said till the full transition to digital was carried through, the channel would be operating a dual illumination feed, continuing the analog feed on the PAS 10 satellite.
Hiremath said that just over 1,500 Philips Cryptowork boxes had been seeded so far and that he expected to seed a total of 4,000 set tops by the time the channel switched to a completely digital feed by the end of July. Set tops were being supplied to cable operators at a subsidised rate of Rs 12,000 per box, Hiremath said.
Aside from improved transmission quality, a digital feed occupies less transponder space, which makes it far easier to introduce new channels when required, Hiremath said. Will India finally get to see Viacom channels VH1 and the like in the not too distant future? With the introduction of conditional access systems (CAS) around the corner, the possibilities can only increase.
Current Technical Specifications
Analog feed:
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 7C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz
Digital feed:
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 11C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 4154 MHz
Technical Specifications Post Digitalisation
Satellite: Panamsat PAS-10
Transponder: 7C
Downlink Polarisation: Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 4034 MHz
(Craigs comment, they are already transmitting in Digital, FTA in the mux on 4154 H and Lyngsat lists it as Power VU!)
10/07/02
Sky NZ on Optus B1, 12608V has a few channels running FTA at the moment, of interest Tv3 and Tv4 are not FTA there usually they are when this transponder goes fta occasionally. ENG 69 channel is testing The Disney channel (Australian version) could it be Sky plan to add this channel soon? Could it also be why Sky put their prices up last month?
Not much news about today.
This months Satfacts will have a step by step set of instructions for converting ANY (any!) Nokia to DVB2000 including hardware mods and software instructions.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Me
Disney Channel testing on Sky NZ
From the Dish
No Lyngsat update in my mail
Optus B1 160E 12608 V "various Sky NZ FTA" Sr 22500, Fec 3/4
NEWS
TV rage blossoms as rainfall freezes Sky sports action
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/entertainmentstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=2051224
Sky subscribers are fuming at signal failures causing breaks at crucial moments in sports matches and movies.
The rain fade problem affecting the digital service causes the satellite signal to "drop out" temporarily, making the television picture freeze or cut out completely.
One customer told the Herald he experienced rain fade often and it seemed to happen at the worst possible moments, such as during cricketer Scott Styris' maiden test century against the West Indies.
"Imagine my displeasure when on the very ball, when he was about to make the necessary runs ... the screen froze on the picture of the bowler about to release the ball. The next shot was of Stephen Fleming's disembodied applause, with his hands resembling a rainbow illusion and his smile going every which way."
Numerous other frustrated subscribers, from Auckland, Whangarei, Wellington and Christchurch, have told of losing their signal during the Soccer World Cup.
Satellite technology experts say rain fade occurs when the digital signal cannot penetrate rain or rain-filled clouds.
Auckland has received 74mm of rain so far this month. The average rainfall for July is 100mm, according to the MetService.
More rain is expected, and heavy downfalls forecast for the weekend could disrupt Saturday's Tri Nations match between New Zealand and Australia for some viewers.
Rain fade can cause signal disruption for a few seconds to several minutes, although the Herald heard from viewers who had lost the signal for a day or more.
Tony Dunnett, technical co-ordinator for Tisco in Auckland, said the problem could be reduced by installing satellite dishes between 76cm and 80cm wide.
Standard domestic dishes used by Sky in Auckland are 60cm wide.
Sky subscribers north of Auckland and in the west of the South Island have 76cm dishes because they are on the edges of the satellite "beam" covering New Zealand.
As the seemingly constant rain in Auckland has played havoc with Sky's digital service, some customers believe the network should compensate them for an incomplete service.
But Sky's contract with customers says the network will credit accounts only if the service is blocked for more than 24 hours.
Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said rain fade was a phenomenon common to satellite-delivered services around the world. Digital service was "either perfect or nothing".
If the signal did not "self-correct", viewers should reboot their decoder by switching the power off and then on again, said Mr O'Brien.
Some customers had found their satellite dishes had moved during the bad weather, which had led to more rain fade than usual.
Sky technicians realigned the dishes, which should sit at 45 degrees, when customers reported problems to the network, he said.
He did not think people would want bigger dishes on their homes.
(Craigs comment, That last line is of interest the general public knows nothing about satellite reception they would expect to pay their money for a system that gives them the service they are paying for at an acceptable quality. This includes the dish for the Sky service being suitable for the purpose intended. I believe the NZ consumer goods act says exactly that.)
Pay TV access still a concern
From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/09/1026185042484.html
Pay television aspirants have expressed fears that the proposed $1.3 billion content accord between Foxtel and Optus will proceed without any legislative protection, leaving them powerless if denied access to the cable network.
Media and entertainment companies repeated concerns that undertakings by Foxtel would offer inadequate legal recourse for third parties in the event of an access dispute.
The apprehension among industry figures surfaced after sketchy details of Foxtel's undertakings were leaked, casting doubt over whether Seven Network, Network Ten and John Fairfax Holdings would be granted access to Foxtel content.
It is believed that Ten has questioned the adequacy of undertakings to prevent Foxtel shareholder Telstra from controlling the gateway into homes for future interactive services.
Seven has also questioned their effectiveness. A spokesman said: "Any undertakings on access by Foxtel and its partners do not address many of the core issues identified by the ACCC, and would represent only a small concession by the partners."
Fairfax is also pushing for a legislated access regime, arguing that undertakings have uncertain legal weight.
Foxtel presented the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with a set of legally enforceable undertakings last Friday, two weeks after the regulator blocked Foxtel's proposal to take on $600 million in Optus programming liabilities.
The ACCC identified four key areas in which the merger breached the Trade Practices Act, including reducing competition in the purchase and supply of pay TV content, the supply of pay TV services, and access to Foxtel's network.
The Foxtel partners opted to provide the undertakings under section 87 of the Trade Practices Act, which allows a transaction in breach of the act to proceed.
The undertakings reportedly include guarantees to provide content to regional broadband companies, including Neighbourhood Cable and TransACT, but not for media rivals such as Fairfax, Seven and Ten.
Foxtel has apparently agreed to invest more than $500 million to convert its network to digital in the second half of next year and provide a transparent pricing structure covering access to this platform.
Neighbourhood Cable has pressed for a meeting with Foxtel to seek more information on the undertakings, saying it has not been briefed in any detail.
"Having access at the right commercial arrangements is important, not just having access," said Fred Grossman, the cable company's chief operating officer.
ACCC mergers and acquisitions commissioner Ross Jones said the undertakings would be subjected to market scrutiny in coming weeks after a consultation period with Foxtel.
"There's no point in us going out into the market with undertakings that we think are useless, because that is just a waste of everyone's time," he said. "Whether or not they are comprehensible is a different thing."
If the transaction is approved, the ACCC will have the power to take legal action over breaches of the undertakings.
BBC wins licence to show 27 digital channels
From http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j42240514&w=1
The BBC was handed the task of salvaging Government plans to convert the country to digital television yesterday after it was awarded the three licences left vacant after the collapse of ITV Digital.
Under a 12-year deal announced by the Independent Television Commission, a consortium led by the corporation and BSkyB was given the go-ahead to launch its new digital terrestrial service this autumn.
It means viewers will get 27 digital free-to-view channels, plus radio and interactive services, through an existing aerial. But they will need to buy a set-top box costing about £100.
Greg Dyke, the BBC's director-general, said the decision to award the licences to the corporation, rather than a rival bid from ITV and Channel 4, would mean a fresh start for digital terrestrial television.
The decision was welcomed by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, who hopes it will boost take-up of digital television.
The Government aims to switch off the traditional analogue signal by 2010 but only if 95 per cent of homes have access to digital. That compares with 40 per cent of households who have digital at present.
However the ruling was criticised by commercial broadcasters who denounced the corporation's decision to join forces with BSkyB as a cynical "digital land-grab".
The licences were put out to tender in March after ITV Digital was forced into administration amid losses of more than £1 billion.
In a statement yesterday the ITC, the regulator in charge of awarding the licences, said it believed the bid by the BBC coalition - which includes the transmission business Crown Castle - was best suited to promoting digital terrestrial television as an alternative to satellite or cable.
Sir Robin Biggam, the commission's chairman, said: "The Commission believes that the BBC-Crown Castle application is the most likely to ensure the viability of digital terrestrial television.
"It will target those viewers who have not been so far attracted by digital TV and will help facilitate the move towards digital switchover."
Under the BBC consortium, called Free To View, viewers will receive the five current analogue channels - BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - plus several digital services including CNN, ITV2, BBC4, and the children's channels CBeebies and CBBC.
They will also get three Sky channels: Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Travel.
The corporation said it will spend £3.5 billion of licence fee payers' money on the new service over the next 12 years, including more than £5 million a year on marketing.
However Mr Dyke admitted it faced an uphill struggle persuading viewers to adopt the new service following the high profile demise of ITV Digital. He said: "This is a fresh start for digital television in the UK and the best outcome for viewers."
The Digital Terrestrial Alliance, the name of the unsuccessful ITV/ Channel 4 bid, had proposed allowing viewers the option of a limited selection of pay-television channels as well as the free-to-view service.
A spokesman for the alliance said it "bitterly disappointed" that the bid had failed, adding: "We remain convinced that digital customers want the option of a pay TV upgrade."
9/07/02
Livechat in the chatroom 9pm NZ and 8.30 Syd onwards (or earlier)
BBC World still alive and FTA on Pas 2 3744V, I asked Lyngsat about this mistake and he had to urgently leave on icq. Maybe he got more than a few messages about it. ABC Asia Pacific is now also in the PAS 8 Satlink mux beamed at N.E Asia not sure about the reason for this.
Good to see plenty of Emails from the readers today.
Tour De France, is FTA on RFO Tempo on I701 and also FTA
From my Emails & ICQ
From Siamglobal
VERIFICATION RE BBC PAS 2 V
SHOULD THERE BE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT RE RECEPTION OF BBC WORLD ON PAS 2 V THEN PLSE HAVE GEORGE THE OTHER THAI RESIDENT APSATTER CHECK..
IT IS INDEED THERE WITH A SIGNAL STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE !
(Craigs comment, stronger than ever before? that sounds like it may have been switched off for a short time and the power increased?)
From Chris Pickstock
RE: Pas 2 BBC World
9.00 pm SA time
With reference to todays update of Apsattv.com, I've just checked Pas 2 and find BBC World and the test cards are still FTA on 3743 V. Perhaps Lyngsat are wrong.
Chris
From Tony
Dear Craig,Its still there BBC World on Pas 2 3744V
FTA on my dish in Yogyakarta Indonesia,
Yours Tony.
From Peter Clark
New mux on Palapa C2, 4040H
I am located on the NE Coast of the NT. Signal strength here is good - about
70%. Video quality on Metro is excellent but awful on Quick Channel - the best
way I can describe it is that the contrast is turned up way too high, and other
problems.
From Bassett
Palapa 4040, shows no signal and does not load, at Bassettville,,
North Coast NSW
From Andrew Harrison
New mux on Palapa C2, 4040H
loads no problems here in Vila, (169E 15S) 4 channels
@20% quality on the satcruiser -3.7 mesh dish.
From Megb1968
Palapa 4040, shows no signal in Perth. Dish 3.0 m dish.
From MCHUNG
Dear Sir,
There's two porn channels at ST1 3582H12860 but the two channels
has no name, from 10.30pm(malaysian time) to 6a.m its bare all.
Regards,
Mchung
(Craigs comment, Bare all sounds good ;-) hopefully it dosn't require the special mosaic decoder!)
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 10975 H "Loft Story" has left .
PAS 2 169E 3744 V "BBC World" and the test cards are still on , Fta, Sr 21800, Fec3/4.
PAS 2 169E 3901 H "BBC World" has not started, still only a test card.
PAS 2 169E 4165 VAll the test cards have left .
PAS 8 166E 3860 H The test card on , PIDs 460/461, is now encrypted.
PAS 8 166E 3880 V "ABS-CBN Music Radio WRR 101.9" is now encrypted.
PAS 8 166E 12366 H "ABC Asia Pacific" has started, Fta, SID 4, PIDs 1025/1026.
ST 1 88E 3582 H "Super TV" has started, Viaccess 1 & Nagravision, PIDs 34/35.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "MusicCountry" has started, Fta, PIDs 6193/6177, 06-17 HKT.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Savoir Knowledge Channel" is encrypted again.
NEWS
Dishes alienate residents
From http://www.mytown.co.nz
Angry Albany (Auckland , NZ) residents say satellite dishes in their backyard blatantly breach resource consent conditions - but council has turned a blind eye.
Last week Shore News revealed council had decided to ignore residents when it approved six extra dishes to be erected on the Unity Drive site.
The news was the final blow for neighbouring residents who have been fighting a paper war against the three existing dishes since 1996.
The first satellites were also installed without anyone being told.
Over the last six years residents have uncovered a raft of discrepancies between what the satellite company had permission to do and what it did.
Consent for the first three satellites was granted to Clear in 1996.
The company got permission to erect three dishes “having diameters of 13m facing north and angled at 47 degrees”.
When installed the dishes were nearly two metres wider than agreed, they weren’t all angled at 47 degrees and at least one points not north, but in a westerly direction towards nearby homes.
Clear was required to submit a radio frequency report within three months of operation and to ensure that radio frequency levels meet New Zealand standards.
But Rob Andrews, North Shore City’s major projects team leader, admits that council has never received any reports and hasn’t chased them up.
He says council hasn’t insisted on the reports because it is confident the satellite emissions are within agreed levels.
Clear’s site plan includes specifications for extensive planting of a “buffer” zone between the satellite plant and residential properties.
John Halford, whose property backs onto the planting, says the trees are not the size or type agreed to, and the area has become so overgrown he found marijuana growing there.
The plan also includes planting in a strip which runs up to Albany Highway.
No trees have ever been planted there but council repaid Clear’s landscaping bond back in 1999.
Liz Thaisen is another resident sick of being stone-walled by council, and she has arranged a residents meeting with Councillor Margaret Miles to discuss the issue.
Mrs Miles has agreed to investigate the residents’ claims and is digging out paper work relating to the satellites, including the current application by new operators Stratos New Zealand.
ACCC considering new Foxtel submission
From http://www.egoli.com.au/egoli_frame.asp?Frame=NewsandViews&File=22523.asp
According to overnight newswires, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is considering a revised submission from Telstra Corporation (TLS) and SingTel’s (SGT) Optus unit seeking approval for a pay-tv programming deal.
Last month the ACCC knocked back a proposal for Foxtel to take over programming costs for Optus pay-TV, which would essentially see all pay-TV content distributed by Foxtel. In addition, Telstra was looking to bundle its Foxtel offerings with its telephone services.
?They presented a major submission to us which they believed addressed the issues that we had raised. We are now having a look at that submission,” said an ACCC spokeswoman.
In June Professor Allan Fels outlined four main areas of concern relating to: (1) the acquisition of content; (2) the likely dominance of the Foxtel distribution network; (3) the supply of pay TV services to households; and (4) the provision of channels to 3rd parties who wish to supply pay TV to customers.
It is thought that the main objections are related to ongoing access to Foxtel’s programs and the amount of competitors providing content.
Industry observers believe Foxtel and Optus will have to concede most of the concessions , which is owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, are expected to back down to most of the ACCC's requirements in order to push the deal through.
Among other concessions, analysts expect that Foxtel will have to allow its rival content providers full access to Telstra's cable in order to win ACCC approval.
It is expected a final decision will be made within the next 3 months.
Foxtel is 50%-owned by Telstra Corporation (TLS), and 25% each by News Corp (NCP) and Publishing & Broadcasting (PBL).
At the close of trading yesterday, Telstra Corp was 5c lower at $4.77 while SingTel was down 4c at $1.49
China Declares War on Falun Gong Satellite Hackers
From www.nytimes.com/
BEIJING (Reuters) - China vowed Monday to punish members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement who hijacked state-run satellite signals during the soccer World Cup finals in one of the group's most daring protests to date.
``This is extremely despicable and represents yet another crime committed by Falun Gong,'' said Liu Lihua, Director-General of Ministry of Information Industry'sRadio Regulatory Department told a media conference.
The MII said Falun Gong followers had, under the guidance of U.S.-based leader Li Hongzhi, hijacked nine national channels and 10 provincial stations by interfering with signals of state-run Sino Satellite (SINOSAT) company between June 23 to 30.
``We solemnly warn the Falun Gong cult to immediately stop its lawless disruption of normal communications,'' the ministry said in a statement.
Followers had hacked into cable television networks earlier this year but this was the first time Falun Gong had intercepted the Sinosat satellite, which serves strategic interests such as the national weather bureau and state-run Xinhua news agency.
Millions of Chinese missed part of the World Cup finals, celebrations for the fifth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, and news related to the fatal floods that had swept the nation, Liu said.
Instead, viewers concentrated in poor and mountainous areas of the country were intermittently shown blackened screens and, at one point, around 20 seconds of images showing Falun Gong adherents meditating in seated positions.
It disrupted a government scheme to broadcast propaganda to the massive rural population, part of efforts to maintain social stability as wrenching reforms threaten to see millions lose their jobs ahead of an expected key leadership re-shuffle.
Xinhua quoted a senior official as saying the act was an ``overt challenge to modern civilized society'' and a ``flagrant subversion of social order.''
China's sensitivity over Falun Gong was highlighted last week when Beijing stopped transmission of the BBC's World Service Television channel after it showed group members in Hong Kong protesting against visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
MEDIA TARGETED
Falun Gong, banned in China after followers staged a peaceful demonstration to demand recognition of their faith in 1999, practices a mixture of Taoism, Buddhism, traditional Chinese exercises and its founder's own ideas.
The group's once frequent demonstrations, mostly on Beijing's Tiananmen Square, have petered out following a fierce crackdown.
Followers appear to have changed tactics to focus on state media, and successfully hacked into cable television networks in the southwestern city of Chongqing in January and in the northeastern city of Changchun in March, Liu said.
He said substantial progress had been made in tracking down the perpetrators, who he said had breached national security and international telecommunications conventions.
``They can run but they cannot hide forever. They will be subjected to severe punishment according to the law,'' Liu said.
The interception of Sinosat's signals, which disrupted more than a dozen hours of viewing, had caused extensive but unspecified economic losses to the commercial reputation of Sino Satellite Communications Ltd, officials said.
While it was easier to interfere with cable television systems than with a satellite, people could buy some of the necessary equipment from local shops and learn how to analyze satellite signals, said Du Baichuan, deputy chief engineer of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).
``It is not as high-tech as a layman may think,'' Du told the news conference.
Sun Network Channels Set To Go Pay By 2003
From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=12712
Chennai: The Kalanithi Maran-controlled Sun Network, which owns a bouquet of nine regional language channels, is planning to go pay by early 2003. Its Telugu language channels - Gemini TV and Teja TV - will be the first to go pay followed by other regional channels in phases.
Talking to eFE, Mr Sharad Kumar, director of Gemini TV and Udaya TV, controlled by the Sun Network said Gemini and Teja would go pay by September or October with the rest of the Sun channels following suit in six months time.
Every 30 to 45 days, one or two Sun Network channels would go pay, he said.
?We expect a substantial increase in our revenues from the subscription model,” he said.
Sun Network has nine satellite channels in its portfolio - Gemini and Teja for the Telugu audience, Sun TV, KTV and Sun News for Tamil viewers, Udaya, Ushe and Udaya News in Kannada language and Surya TV in Malayalam. It also runs a cable channel SCV (Sumangali Cable Vision).
The company is planning to charge a subscription of Rs 10 per household for both Gemini and Teja.
Considering that there are around seven million cable and satellite TV owning households in Andhra Pradesh and Gemini has 100 per cent penetration, the channel would get a revenue close to Rs 85 crore in the first year itself from these two channels, if all its cable operators stay with it.
Ultimately, all the Sun channels would be offered as a bouquet, said Mr Kumar.
The company is, however, confident that even if a cable operator refuses to comply, another will take his place as its channels are very popular.
In fact, cable operators in Andhra have already expressed their acquiescence for the plan, Mr Kumar told eFE.
It does not expect any churning despite its nearest rival ETV being a free-to-air channel, according to him.
According to the latest weekly report of TAM (June 23 to June 29), Gemini has a 41 per cent viewership and Teja has an eight per cent viewership in the rest of Andhra Pradesh, while in Hyderabad their share is 40 per cent and five per cent respectively.
The corresponding figures for ETV of Eenadu group is 15 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.
According to industry sources, Gemini has over 50 per cent share in the Rs 120-crore TV ad market in Andhra Pradesh, while Sun accounts for around 80 per cent of the Rs 200-crore TV ad market in Tamil Nadu.
About 19 of Gemini’s programmes figure in the top 100 TAM ratings across all channels in India.
Sun is currently in the process of appointing distributors for its channels in Andhra Pradesh.
In small districts the company will have two to three distributors, while it is looking at five to six distributors in bigger districts.
It is planning to distribute over 8,000 decoder boxes in Andhra Pradesh alone - a number some of the other pay channels have given for the entire country.
In Tamil Nadu, however, the company would do its own distribution.
(Craigs comment, these channels are on NSS at 57E only available in Central and Western Australia)
Brad Edwards dreams of an elevator stretching 62,000 miles into space
From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134489679_spaceelevator08m.html
Brad Edwards, 39, is the chief technical officer of High Lift Systems of Seattle.
As offices go, Brad Edwards' isn't much to look at: a few chairs, a desk, a laptop, a cellphone and a bundle of decorative reeds. Not exactly mission control. But as traffic puffs along outside his window on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle, Edwards dreams of changing the future of space exploration.
He wants to build a 62,000-mile elevator into space, and as far-fetched as that sounds, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has given him $570,000 to research the possibilities.
The 39-year-old former Los Alamos National Laboratory staff scientist has teamed up with a dot-com refugee, Michael Laine, who runs the business side of High Lift Systems. This is a serious venture, they insist.
"If everything works beautifully, if we get funding, if there aren't any serious problems that crop up in the design or development, it's conceivable that it could be up and operating in about 15 years," Edwards said.
Maybe.
Edwards' idea hangs on a thread. His "elevator" is a one-meter-wide carbon ribbon strung between an off-shore rig operating in the Pacific Ocean and a satellite 62,000 miles above. Electric lifts would clamp onto the ribbon and ferry gear into orbit and beyond, like a dumbwaiter serving space.
No one has yet figured out how to construct the ultra-strong ribbon, but hundreds of researchers worldwide are investigating the possibilities of the carbon material needed to make it.
Interest is strong because even if the elevator proves little more than a flight of fancy, the carbon would have countless earth-bound uses.
Edwards' work is funded by a grant from NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC), and he is looking for private investors. The institute awards $4 million a year in grants, a fraction of the $15 billion spent overall by the agency. The institute's motto is "Don't let your preoccupation with reality stifle your imagination."
You could say they are the Hail Mary division of NASA.
But the space elevator as a concept is not half as nutty as it sounds. Even some of Edwards' doubters admit it may not be a question of if, but when it will be built.
An elevating discussion
High Lift Systems is sponsoring a conference about the space elevator Aug. 12-13 in Seattle. For information: www.confcon.com
"I think they're way out of line with reality in terms of making this happen in the time scale they're talking about. ... The time scale for this is 50 years at the earliest. If they don't do it, maybe their grandchildren will," said Derek Webber of Futron Corp., a Bethesda, Md., aerospace-consulting firm that works for NASA and major aerospace companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
NIAC Director Robert Cassanova, who backed the space-elevator grant, says, "Brad is very enthusiastic. But I think (the time scale) is very optimistic.
"If you just look at the engineering feasibility and the technologies that are required, I think that if someone with billions of dollars of disposable income wanted to build something like this, I think it could be done in 30 or 40 years. ... Maybe 50 or 100 years is more realistic."
Here's the quick rundown of Edwards' space elevator:
The derrick would be located along the equator, hundreds of miles from anywhere and far from commercial flight paths.
"If you're standing on the North Pole, you're probably closer to civilization," is how Edwards describes it.
It's also in the middle of the world's calmest seas, where there is seldom lightning, which would cause problems if it hit the elevator base or carbon ribbon.
The other end of the ribbon is in outer space, tethered to a 650-ton satellite. Think of a string stretching from the planet into space with a big rock tied to the end.
At the business end, space-bound payloads would be clamped to the ribbon and would roll up it, the same way an old-style washing machine pulls material through a couple of rolling pins.
The first strand of ribbon would be taken up into space aboard a conventional rocket and unfurled down to the Pacific Ocean. As electric lifts, or climbers, began to move up the strand, they would pull additional strands with them, bringing the ribbon up to its full cargo-bearing width.
The climbers would be powered by a house-sized laser strapped on a second derrick nearby. It would shoot beams of light at solar-power cells fitted to the lifts.
The technology for the cordless power transmission is available, though a system built to the specifications needed for the elevator does not yet exist, Edwards says.
Customers could bolt whatever they wanted onto the climbers satellites, small spaceships, pieces of space stations.
Edwards figures each climber could deliver 13 tons of cargo into space at a time the equivalent of a Mack truck. (NASA's space shuttle can carry 24 tons; more frequently used unmanned rockets carry about 5 tons.)
Edwards estimates the climbers would reach the top of the ribbon in about 10 days, though most cargo would be jettisoned into orbit somewhere along the way, depending on the desired orbit.
The system also could fling cargo or manned craft into space. As the Earth rotates at some 16,000 mph, the ribbon with its satellite counterweight would act as a giant slingshot, capable of flinging cargo and manned craft deep into space, Edwards says.
He imagines future explorers carrying along a space-elevator kit, building it on Mars and flinging themselves back home.
If the elevator is built in his lifetime, Edwards could be a very rich man. The space-launch market is worth billions. Launching a communications satellite costs anywhere from $45 million to $450 million. Like buying a car, the price depends on the options, according to a 2001 Federal Aviation Administration report.
If the elevator is built, the cost of going into space would plummet. "On price per pound, nobody's going to be able to touch us," said Edwards.
The missing link remains the carbon ribbon. Edwards wants to raise $28 million to fund research and development on the carbon material he thinks may eventually produce a strong enough cable.
In 1991, a group of Japanese scientists produced the first tiny ropes made entirely out of carbon. They're called carbon nanotubes, or "Buckytubes," after geodesic dome inventor R. Buckminster Fuller, because the carbon atoms form a soccer-ball pattern.
The tubes took the scientific world by storm. More than a thousand scientific papers on nanotubes were published last year.
The space-elevator community and there is a space-elevator community noticed Buckytubes right away. The tubes are strong and small, seemingly perfect for the job, but it turns out they're not quite strong enough.
That's where High Lift Systems comes in. Edwards wants to develop an epoxy that's 50 percent to 60 percent carbon nanotubes. Current methods can produce epoxies with about 1 percent nanotubes, according to Edwards, who says development of the carbon ribbon is just a matter of time (and money).
"The cable is the last hurdle. Looking at where things have gone in the last two years, and where they're going, it would be foolish not to plan the rest of the space elevator for when the ribbon will be done," he said.
Even if the elevator doesn't pan out, if Edwards only goes as far as developing the new epoxies, his investors will be more than happy. Industry should clamor to buy the ultra light, 150-times-stronger-than-steel material, he says. "We're talking about (developing) a core technology that changes the way we live," said Laine, who joined Edwards two months ago as High Lift Systems CEO.
Edwards rattles off terrestrial applications for the new material bridge cables, super strong and safe car bodies, the list goes on but it's the space elevator that fills his dreams.
"It could change everything; it could be just an unbelievable opportunity. How often does something like this come along? So, of course, you've got to take it," he said.
Some day, he says, moving cargo into space could be so cheap and easy that it would be financially viable to put giant solar panels into orbit that could provide abundant, clean energy for earthlings.
"And you could beam it to the middle of Africa if you want; it would jump-start their standard of living immediately," he said.
The space elevator is not a brand-new idea, and it's not clear who was first to suggest it. The Russians talked of the concept in the early 1960s. Famed science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke was once asked when he thought a space elevator would be built.
"The space elevator will be built about 50 years after everyone stops laughing," he said in a speech in 1979.
Fluttering softly in wake of the air conditioning in Edwards' office is a letter. It is from Clarke, wishing the company well. He signs off:
"All good wishes and I hope it isn't as long as 50 years!"
(Craigs comment, excuse me while I hop up to the satellite to change the batterys )
8/07/02
Not good news today, according to Lyngsat BBC World on Pas 2 3744V has left, moved to 3901H where it is encrypted in Power Vu. I hope this isn't a Lyngsat error ! if this is true it's going to upset a lot of people. Especially in the Pacific Islands where the Pas 8 FTA signal dosn't reach so well. Southern NZ is also not to hot for Pas 8 reception. I am not sure of a suitable address for you to email complaints to, if anyone has an email address that BBC responds to then please forward it to me.
Sky NZ B1, 12519 V, New Radio service loading here "UP FM" on Apid 664 Sid 1107 PMT 262, no Audio yet. Website is the obvious www.upfm.co.nz
I have sent them a nice email explaining what FTA is and asking them to support free to air open access and not limit users to paying an unnecessary subscription if they just wish to receive "UP FM". It appears they are a dance music station so I mentioned if a listener wishes they could buy a satellite receiver with built in HD. They could record UP FM on it then download onto their pc and then re-mix re-edit re-master and burn their own music. This is the sort of possibilty that can happen when you don't limit your self by being encrypted and limited to Skys box.
More news from Sky in the News section.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Zapara (Perth)
There is a Mystery signal in the area of Measat 2 148E?
11525 H approx , could be Measat 2 service possibly out of footprint reception
1.8M dish Dvbedit scan gives reading of 37 not enough signal to lock
(Craigs comment, it matches with the VTV Vietnam service thats started a couple of days ago there hmm, the Vietnam beam is listed at Lyngsat, looks like a long sharp beam and a very high powerd signal take a look at the footprint and see what you think anyone else locate it? reports please)
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 3744 V "BBC World and the test cards" have left .(please I need a few people to confirm this)
PAS 2 169E 3901 H "BBC World" has started, PowerVu (encrypted), PIDs 1460/1420.
Optus B1 160E 12519 V "UP FM" Radio FTA (not broadcasting yet) on Apid 664
Apstar 1A 134E 3800 H A CCTV mux has started, Fta, Sr 27500, Fec 3/4, a copy of 3840 H.
ST 1 88E 3582 H "PTS" has left . New PIDs for SET International: 38/39.
Intelsat 804 64E 3644 R "Radio One has replaced East Africa FM" Fta, Apid 259.
NSS 703 57E 3939 L "ETV (Ethiopia)" is back Fta, Sr 6000, Fec 3/4, PIDs 33/34.
NEWS
REGIONAL ADVERTISING BREAKS FOR TV ONE & TV2 ON SKY DIGITAL PLATFORM
Press Release
From www.skytv.co.nz
Television New Zealand SKY Television and have signed an agreement that will enable TVNZ to offer its advertisers regional advertising on TV ONE and TV2 on SKY Television's Digital Platform.
TVNZ Chief Executive Officer, Ian Fraser said that the collaborative approach between SKY and TVNZ was an example of the two broadcasters working together to provide a better service to viewers and advertisers.
"With viewers watching TV ONE and TV2 on SKY Digital, it is important that we can continue to offer our advertisers the regional emphasis they require."
The agreement with SKY Television will see the creation of three TVNZ digital viewer regions. The North Island will have two regions - north and south of Lake Taupo, with the third region covering all of the South Island.
The regional advertising north of Taupo will be that of the current Auckland analogue service, the lower North Island will be the current Wellington analogue region and the South Island advertising on the digital service will be that of the Christchurch analogue region.
In addition to the new advertising regions, TVNZ Teletext is also confirmed to launch on the SKY Digital Service. SKY Director of Communications, Tony O'Brien said, "We are pleased to be able to provide this additional service for our viewers and look forward to working with TVNZ in the future."
Teletext, as with TV ONE and TV2, will be supplied to SKY viewers free of charge.
Both services are planned to be fully operational in September 2002.
For further information contact:
Tony O'Brien
Director of SKY Television
Ph: (09) 579 9999
Email [email protected]
Andrea Rush
Communications Manager
SKY Television
Ph: (09) 579-9999 or
027 4962-349
Email: [email protected]
(Craigs comment, 3 regions x 2 channels for each region = 6 channels what a waste of transponder space!! As for TXT subtitles have been available for a long time the TVNZ on 12456V has had full teletext available since when it started (with a few problems) . They probably have a deal to rearrange 12456 V which has just 2 services at the moment named Tv1 Wellington, TV2 Wellington, I picked this to happen ages ago. I wonder if they will also change them to NDS? I don't know about you but I am not happy about how Sky's slowly taking over everything! There is an email address in that press release. make good use of it. )
Japan's N-Star c Successfully Orbited
From satnewsasia.com
Japan's N-STAR c and Europe's Stellat 5 satellites were successfully launched into orbit by an Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou on July 5.
Stellat 5, a multi-purpose communications satellite, rode in the upper payload position on Flight 153 and was released into geostationary transfer orbit first. The satellite will replace Telecom 2. Built by Alcatel Space in Europe, Stellat-5 will provide TV and two-way Internet service to users in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and along the east coast of the American continents.
It was followed seven minutes later by N-Star c in the lower position. Built by a Lockheed Martin/Orbital team for NTT DoCoMo, Inc., N-Star c will operate in S-band frequencies from an orbital location at 136 degrees East longitude. The spacecraft is optimized for a 10-year on-orbit life and will provide mobile telephony and data transfer services to Japan and its surrounding waters. N-Star c will have a launch mass of 1,625 kilograms and is based on Orbital's Star-1 and Star-2 standard platforms. NTT DoCoMo currently operates two other satellites and this third spacecraft will ensure NTT DoCoMo can continue serving its 43 million customers.
The July 5 mission shot was the 153rd for Arianespace and the ninth commercial mission for Ariane 5. There have been 12 Ariane 5 launches, including one earlier this year. Six Ariane 4 rockets were also launched this year. Arianespace's next launch is now targeted for Aug. 27 and will carry Atlantic Bird 1 and MSG 1 into orbit.
Shin Sat in Broadband Deal with Samart
From satnewsasia.com
ShinSat plans to launch its iPSTAR-1 Broadband Internet Satellite in late 2003.
Shin Satellite Plc, Thailand’s only private satellite operator, has signed an agreement with VSAT operator Samart Telecoms Plc to help widen the customer base for its iPSTAR-1 broadband satellite.
Under the agreement, Samart Telecoms will provide broadband networks by using iPSTAR-1 technology. The US$350 million satellite is due to launch in late 2003 and is seen by ShinSat as its major revenue source in coming years. Executive Chairman Dumrong Kasemset earlier said that ShinSat had so far booked US$75 million for iPSTAR and had signed contracts to sell 25 percent of its capacity in China, Malaysia and India.
Shin Sat, Asia’s second leading satellite company in revenues, is 51 percent owned by the family of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since 2000, ShinSat has been aggressively selling capacity on its iPSTAR-1, especially in India, which the company considers its largest foreign market. Analysts said the company plans to launch broadband services by linking with existing satellites in India, China and Myanmar by the end of this year. Shin Sat has already launched its broadband technology in Thailand and Malaysia using ground stations linked with satellites.
iPSTAR-1 will be first of a new generation of Asian broadband satellites that will act both as an Internet backbone connection to fiber optic cables for ISPs and as a last-mile broadband Internet service to consumers, competing with coaxial cable and ADSL, iPSTAR-1 will have a total of 100 beams: 10 Ka-band spot beams, 87 Ku-band spot beams and three Ku-band shaped beams. iPSTAR-1 will provide telecommunications and multimedia services to households, business and private organizations.
Asian Multimedia Satellites: Too Few to MatterFor Now
From satnewsasia.com
Satnews Asia/ When Thailand’s Shinawatra Satellite pcl (ShinSat) finally launches its much-hyped iPSTAR-1 broadband satellite in 2003, Asia will have more Ka-band capacity than it needs.
IPSTAR-1 will be first of a new generation of Asian broadband satellites that will act both as an Internet backbone connection to fiber optic cables for ISPs and as a last-mile broadband Internet service to consumers, competing with coaxial cable and ADSL, iPSTAR-1 will have a total of 100 beams: 10 Ka-band spot beams, 87 Ku-band spot beams and three Ku-band shaped beams.
iPSTAR-1 will provide telecommunications and multimedia services to households, business and private organizations. Considering the nature of iPSTAR’s spot beams and ground system network, the most reasonable future service with the best optimized resource utilization will be Asymmetric Internet Traffic.
In addition, there will be dedicated regional broadcast beams that will provide cost effective, high quality broadcast services to several regions within the coverage area. This dual use of the available spectrum for narrowcast services (Internet, data, or other two-way communications, i.e., telephony) and broadcast services on the same platform represents the highest efficiency and flexibility in service provision possible.
By using just one single set-top box and a small receiver dish, users will be able to take advantage of all the services mentioned above, with competitive price levels comparable to other terrestrial broadband solutions such as ADSL, cable modem and LMDS.
ShinSat’s research and development partner has developed high efficiency digital coding and compression techniques, together with a unique and flexible system architecture that will enable the iPSTAR Broadband Satellite System to provide a nominal capacity of over 50 gigabits per second.
This is equivalent to more than 1,000 standard 36 MHz transponders, and is 20 to 40 times more efficient than conventional satellite technology. Using this technology, iPSTAR-1 will offer far more capacity than other proposed broadband satellites, making iPSTAR-1 not only much more cost-efficient than existing satellites but other broadband satellites as well.
When launched, iPSTAR-1 will become will become one of only a few Ka-band or multimedia satellites in orbit. Korea Telecom’s KoreaSat-3 and a number of Japan’s JSAT Corporation satellites are the only other Asian Ka-band satellites in space.
ShinSat’s chosen Asian markets are some of the most fiercely fought over by satellite service providers. Then there are American providers such as PanAmSat and Intelsat to contend with in the Ka-band arena, along with Europe’s SES Global, the world’s largest satellite operator.
ShinSat, however, expects iPSTAR to become its flagship satellite with 13 million users by 2008, of which 600,000 customers will be in Thailand. Its biggest market, however, is expected to be China. The new satellite is seen as the main driver of the company's future earnings.
American research firm Northern Sky Research believes the satellite-broadband Internet access market in Asia-Pacific could be worth as much as US$4.51 billion in combined residential and enterprise service revenue by 2006.
Of this total, the enterprise segment should account for revenues of US$2.6 billion while broadband satellite access revenues from residential users should hit some US$2 billion.
The appeal of Ka-band satellites rests in the cost savings they can provide. The switching capability of Ka-band satellites makes them operate like a public telephone network but with the facility to offer digital services with a wide variety of bit rates.
Users will be offered “bit rate on demand” and its variation, “variable bit rate on demand,” meaning that users will only pay for the time that they use a link. This contrasts with conventional satellites where users usually have to pay for permanent leases. That only makes it economic to use satellites where there is a massive amount of information to be moved, such as TV channels and trunk telephony links.
In contrast, the Ka-band concept offers the equivalent of a local drop telephone circuit where the user pays for temporary lease of time. The Ka-band environment also allows an alternative, charging per bit of information moved. Ka-band satellite operators will become something like telephone companies but with their telephone exchanges in the sky.
The Ka-band available to satellite operators involved a massive 2.5-3.5 GHz of spectrum, or some 4-7 times that available to some C-band satellite operators. On the demand side, the growth of Internet as a mass-market consumer and business service and perceived likely growth in demand for multimedia services combining two way video, voice, data and graphics showed a need to provide substantive infrastructure for two way services and associated switching technology. Ka-band satellites offered one major solution to meeting the demand.
The main market for Ka-band satellites is now believed to be in the provision of high speed Internet and Intranet access. Western satellite service providers are exploiting Asia’s huge appetite for high-speed Internet access.
New Skies Satellites, the global satellite communications company, intends to more than double its satellite capacity for broadband content delivery for Asia by 2003, according to New Skies’ Chief Executive Officer Bob Ross.
Ross outlined New Skies’ plans to launch Asia’s first intra-regional Ku/Ka-band satellite and to augment its other Asian satellites. The new satellite, NSS-6, will be launched by the end of 2002, and will carry six broad Ku-band beams covering India, China, the Middle East (including Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean), South Africa, Australia, and South East Asia and North East Asia.
Twelve super-high-gain uplink spot beams in the Ka-band (10 of which can be used at any one time) will facilitate high data-rate transmissions from antennas as small as 90 cm directly from remote premises. This feature will permit ISPs and enterprise customers to avoid congested terrestrial communication systems and obtain fully-interactive access to high-speed Internet and other multimedia communications within or across service regions throughout Asia.
To support these investments in Asia, New Skies opened an office in New Delhi in 2000, which joins Singapore and Sydney as regional centers for New Skies activities.
Most major Ku-band satellite developments, however, are occurring in the USA. Early this year, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) announced that construction of two A2100 geosynchronous satellites is underway for SES AMERICOM, Inc., based on a contract awarded in 2000. The Ku/Ka-band satellites, designated AMC-15 and AMC-16, will provide distribution of video channels as well as broadband data and internet services across North America.
The new hybrid Ku/Ka-band spacecraft will expand SES AMERICOM's fleet of satellites, which provide global distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services, business TV and broadband data.
7/07/02
No update Sunday
6/07/02
Nothing exciting going on, Satelindo have asked for reports of Bali TV in Australia and NZ, please email me with dish size signal strength etc so I can forward them.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Chris Pickstock
2.30pm Syd
B1, 12420 V, Sr 6980, "AFL ,Geelong v West Coast," 16:9 format
Chris
From "ADI"
hai ............... I'm your favorite surfed at your site "APSATTV.COM"
from one year ago until now......
but I have much problem with C Band cause I'm in Aceh ( Indonesia)... it's
very hard to get Ku Band for my satellite disc (12 Inch disc) . any one of
u have idea to change C to be Ku Band without buy a new one of Ku Band
?????????
thank's ...........
I LOVE This site very ..very.. much.........
sorry my english not to good :)
(Craigs comment, you will need a KU band feed, its better to set up a 2nd dish that way you don't need to change the feed over all the time. Or you can swap your cband feed for a Dual Feed that does C and KU. I am not sure of your dish size perhaps you mean 12 feett?)
From: "rudino"
Craig,
Pal C2 "new mux" on 4040 can be clearly seen in Western Australia.
(Craigs comment, no mention of dish size but interesting, no signal in Sydney, the above could indicate reception of the Asia or Asean beam.)
From Harinder
hello craig
how u going ,how u been , well found this new channel testing on 3760 ,26000 (where splash was)
its playing indian /hindi music videos non stop ,its been breifly been telling us what there are , they calling them self
universal media network ,have u heard of them before??
tell me what u know hopefully a new indian channel
ok see ya
(Craigs comment, just a testcard there when someone checked it must be tests keep checking)
From the Dish
PAS 10 68.5E "TCM UK" has moved from 3836 V to 3716 V, Irdeto 2, PIDs 516/644, 19-07.
Intelsat 804 64E 3644 R Radio One has left .East Africa has started on SID 20, APID 515.
NEWS
Cable TV firm faces raps for airing World Cup
From http://hoovnews.hoovers.com
A CABLE television operator is facing charges of unauthorized rebroadcasting after it was found to have aired the 2002 World Cup without the proper permits.
National Bureau of Investigation acting director Fermin Nasol yesterday said charges would be filed against Taiwanese Phillip Chien, chair and president of Global Cable Television.
Global serves the cities of Makati, Pasay and Mandaluyong.
NBI agents began investigating Global after the Philippine Multi-Media System Inc. (PMSI), the licensed and exclusive broadcaster of the 2002 Fifa World Cup in the country, filed a complaint.
The National Telecommunications Commission issued an order for the inspection of Global's offices at the corner of Gen. Mascardo and Capt. Reyes streets in Bangkal, Makati, Nasol said.
NBI agents and NTC inspectors went to Global's office and confirmed that it was broadcasting the World Cup, which was held in Japan and South Korea, Nasol said.
He said Global had aired the World Cup series in real time over its Channel 99.
Investigators said Global got its feed from Thailand's Channel 11. They said the company "probably received the feed" from the Thaicom satellite.
Nasol said inspectors also found in Global's office four integrated receiver-decoder (IRD) boxes, owned exclusively by PMSI.
Global apparently used the IRD boxes to receive the signals of local television channels ABC 5, PTV 4, RPN 9, and IBC 13, authorities said.
PMSI officials said the IRD boxes were not sold to Global since selling them to another cable operator is prohibited.
Spiritual Saboteurs
From the July 8, 2002 issue of TIME magazine
Followers of the Chinese spiritual practice Falun Gong often use high-tech tools to spread their message in China, where the sect is banned. But the group's latest tactic overriding Chinese satellite Sinosat 1 and replacing its regular programming for 10 minutes last week with fuzzy text reading "Falun Dafa Is Good"--stunned government officials with its sophistication. (Falun Dafa is the name given to the group's beliefs.) To pull off the feat, the activists needed a nearly 30-ft. satellite dish plus about $1 million worth of equipment that would fire a perfectly tuned beam at Sinosat 1. Since two beams on the same frequency yield nothing but static, someone in Beijing had to shut down the official programming to let the illicit message through. The override was not a failure of Sinosat's encryption technology, says Ian Barnard, who runs China operations for the South African firm MIH, provider of the encryption software. So was it inept technicians? Or are there Falun Gong sympathizers somewhere in the state-run broadcasting industry?
China blocks BBC transmission for 'infringement'
From indiantelevision.com
BEIJING: China said on Friday it had removed the BBC World television news channel from its airwaves for "infringing" broadcast rules, a move the corporation said was linked to a report on the banned Falungong spiritual movement.
The British Broadcasting Corporation, announced from London that Chinese authorities switched off the channel's encrypted signal through the Sinosat 1 satellite earlier this week.
"The transmission of BBC World has been suspended by the Chinese authorities since Monday following an item on the Falungong that appeared on the station," a BBC World spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for the China International Television Corporation, the state-run body responsible for the import and export of programmes to the country, confirmed the signal had been switched off.
"Yes, it's true, the reason is that some programmes of the BBC infringed rules on the transmission of foreign programmes in China," he said, declining to say what had caused the offence.
The spokesman said he did not know when or if the signal would be restored. China's supreme authority on broadcasting matters, the State Administration of Radio, Television and Film, professed ignorance of the affair.
"We have not heard about it," a spokesman said. The BBC spokeswoman said the offending item had run repeatedly on the channel's hourly news bulletin over Sunday and Monday as part of its fifth anniversary coverage of Hong Kong's return to China.
BBC World which is only available at upmarket hotels and a small number of foreigners' residence compounds in China could still be viewed in Asia via PanAmSat 2, 8 and 10, she said.
The corporation was in discussions with Chinese authorities in a bid to clear up the problem, the spokeswoman said, adding that the BBC was also unaware of what part of the report had caused offence.
Falungong, which mixes Buddhist and Taoists beliefs with breathing and meditation exercises, is outlawed in China as an "evil cult", although it is still permitted in Hong Kong.
Rights groups say tens of thousands of Falungong adherents have been jailed or sent to labour camps in recent years, while the group alleges that hundreds of followers have died in custody, mostly from beatings and maltreatment.
China and the BBC have long endured a difficult relationship, going back to 1989 when Beijing was angered at the corporation's coverage of the bloody crackdown on demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.
In 1994, the BBC was removed from Rupert Murdoch's Star TV satellite, which at the time beamed the corporation into China, in an attempt by the media tycoon to appease Beijing and advance his business interests in China.
The current license bringing the BBC into the country was granted by the China International Television Corporation in January 2001, marking a thaw in relations. It allows the channel to be seen in around 60,000 three to five-star hotel rooms.
Intelsat Champions Satellite Voice Over IP
From http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,326157,00.asp
When is it acceptable to tolerate a noticeable satellite-based delay in a telephone conversation? When there's no terrestrial alternative.
Intelsat Ltd. is testing VOIP (voice-over-IP) gateways for carrier customers with the goal of enabling them to integrate voice and data over its satellite system and providing new theoretically cheaper calling services. A former intergovernmental satellite organization, the now-private operator is touting VOIP via satellite as a way to rapidly deploy reliable voice networks worldwide, recognizing that the technology appeals primarily to niche markets.
"The biggest challenge for us is to minimize the effects of latency," said Graeme Kennelly, business manager for Internet services at Intelsat, in Washington. "Our satellites will always be a long way from Earth. We can't do anything about that."
Telecommunication services that travel via Intelsat's geostationary constellation of satellites which do not target the U.S. domestic market are not for everyone. But for enterprises with suppliers, partners or customers overseas with vulnerable terrestrial networks, the satellite-based services can offer a more reliable, if less smooth, alternative.
"Everything's relative. Here in the United States, we kind of take our phone quality for granted," said Michael Massey, an analyst for Pioneer Consulting LLC, in Boston. "In emerging markets and developing countries, quality takes a back seat to price."
Minutes of VOIP calls carried by satellite are projected to rise to almost 3 billion this year, up from less than 2 billion last year, according to Intelsat. The technology's appeal for international telecom carriers lies not only in the advantages of converged networks but also in its ability to bypass costly regulatory obstacles in countries with monopoly telephone systems still in place.
Intelsat officials said the company's legacy as a treaty-based organization run by signatories in member companies gives it an edge in the commercial marketplace. "It's really important in this business to have the relationship at the destination," Kennelly said.
Analysts said they don't expect users to see immediate price benefits from carriers using VOIP over satellite, but they said they do expect the technology to enable competition, which eventually will drive prices down.
"VOIP has opened up a door for second carriers to emerge in a lot of these countries," Massey said. "It allows competing carriers to establish their own connectivity, rather than sending everything through the incumbent carrier's facilities."
Intelsat, which is based in Hamilton, Bermuda, with most of its work force in Washington, is required to offer public shares by year's end.
Ten lines up a slew of shows it hopes will keep the viewers hooked
From indiantelevision.com
After the World Cup what? That is the question that the naysayers have asked of Ten Sports on the programming front.
The "upstart" sports broadcaster has put car racing, boxing, beach volleyball... as some of the fare on its menu.
And it all starts Saturday, 6 July. Formula One, the FIVB Beach Volleyball International Circuit and a series on boxing legend Muhammad Ali is what is being showcased. On Sunday, Ten presents Indian car racing ace Narain Karthikeyan live & exclusive at the Telefonica World Series.
on 6 & 7 July, Ten will be airing the British Grand Prix from the Silverstone circuit, which comprises a fraction of the FIA Formula One World Championships. Ten will be telecasting the qualifying races as well as the championships all year long. The telecast is 5:30 pm onwards on both Saturday and Sunday.
Karthikeyan, the first Indian to have graduated to the Telefonica World Series, a step away from the most coveted Formula One Championship, struts his stuff on Sunday, 7 July. Karthikeyan pits his talent against the world's most promising drivers and Formula One veterans like Ricardo Zonta. The telecast is at 4:30 pm and 19:30 pm.
By way of this telecast, Ten Sports has chosen to present Narain Karthikeyan and give him the recognition that live coverage bestows," says Chris McDonald, chief executive, Ten Sports.
For old school boxing enthusiasts, a ringside view of the exploits of the "Greatest" is what is being offered. Among Ali's fights that will be showcased on Super Bouts: Legends (Ali) are: his winning the National Golden Glove middleweight championship and the Olympic light heavyweight gold medal tomorrow at 10:30 pm or Sunday at 3:30 pm.
In addition to telecasting Ali's fights, Ten will also broadcast an exclusive documentary on the life and career of the boxing legend through a mosaic of anecdotes, reminiscences and reflections.
Rounding it all off is the FIVB Beach Volleyball International Circuit. Telecast is tomorrow at 16:30 hrs
(Craigs comment, they would promote themselves a little better if they spent some money on a website)
Pacific Century Matrix looking to penetrate Indian market
From indiantelevision.com
Hong Kong-based satellite broadband service provider Pacific Century Matrix (PCM) is looking at forging alliances through one or more partners to offer its product in the country.
At the Workshop on DVB and Internet Protocol which took place in Delhi, PCM's India head Sandeep Bhargava told indiantelevision.com today that it was looking at increasing its customer-base in India.
Bhargava disclosed that the current list of customers of the company includes Internet Service Providers and even some broadcasters. He however added: "But I cannot tell you the names now as it is a competitive business and we are in the process of establishing a full-fledged operation in India."
Senior V-P business development of PCM Patrick Yeung said that it would be more advantageous for the company to develop business relationships in markets like India rather than operate out of the headquarters based in Hong Kong.
PCM's suite of innovative satellite solutions is designed to meet the most demanding of communications requirements. With access to over 110 million connected households, PCM claims to provide direct access into the homes of some 400 million viewers and users.
The video broadcasting services include:
1. Turnaround of foreign TV programmes from international regions to Asia pacific in analog and digital format.
2. Broadcasting on satellites to high-demand neighbourhoods.
3. One-off services as well as occasional use for special events and satellite news gathering.
The company founded in 1999, is a joint venture between Richard Li-promoted Pacific Century Group and European Aeronautics Defence & Space Company (EADS). The joint venture is a facility-based telecommunications services operator offering DVB/IP broadcasting services for TV broadcasters, a range of one-way and interactive broadband data delivery and network management end-to-end solutions for multimedia business, content and service providers.
5/07/02
Sorry about the site update being late Fridays are always a busy day for me.
An advert in my P.O box sent to me by Clayworth Electronics LTD here in NZ they have a number of satellite items available. I suggest you check http://www.clayworth.co.nz/ for a look at what they have.
New mux on Palapa C2 see below for details can anyone in Australia or NZ get it?
From my Emails & ICQ
From Satelindo
Dear Sir;
I am still co-ordination with TV5 to change the audio to stereo. Regarding Ar-Rahman, I will improve it.
Thanks for your comment.
Regards;
Budi Purwanto
From the Dish
Measat 2 148E 11522 H "VTV 1-3" have started , Fta, Sr 9766, Fec 3/4, PIDs 2050/2060- 2250/2260, Vietnam beam.( This is worth checking as someone in W.A reported some big signal spikes in the region of 148E last night)
Apstar 1A 134E 4060 V It's EuroSport News here , not EuroSport. New FEC: 1/2.
Palapa C2 113E 4040 H "new mux" contains, "Metro TV", "Quick Channel", "Test", "Satelindo card" Sr 28125 Fec 3/4 (This one mentioned yesterday, George in Thailand can receive it. Might be on the Asia beam though)
Telekom 1 108E Telkom vision mux FTA?
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3700 V "Asianet Bharathi and Asianet Kaveri" have left . (Unconfirmed)
ST 1 88E 3582 H FTV and FTV News Channel have left .
Intelsat 804 64E 3921 R "Uganda TV" is Fta again.
NEWS
Small print takes Sky movies away
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Sky subscribers have no consumer comeback against changes such as the decision to move the MGM movie channel.
The pay network this month increased its prices for some packages and removed MGM as an extra with sports and included it in its movie package.
David Russell, of the Consumers Institute, said he had received calls from Sky subscribers unhappy with the move.
He told them to check their contracts.
Sky said yesterday that its contract included a clause allowing it to make programming changes.
"People are upset and angry," said Mr Russell. "But we can't do anything if they have signed a legally binding contract.
"What Sky has to do is weigh up the damage it is doing to its customer relations against the fine interpretation of its contract."
Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said the network was required to give 30 days' notice of price changes, but the contracts specified no time frame for changes to programming.
He said Sky told customers of both changes 30 days in advance.
Sky has more than 500,000 subscribers to its UHF and digital services.
Three Sky packages have gone up by between $2.99 and $5 a month. The network blamed increased programming costs.
Mr O'Brien said MGM had been moved, but new channels, such as E Entertainment and The Living Channel, had been introduced.
They did not replace MGM in the package from which it was removed.
(Craigs comment, seems Sky can do whatever it wants and the public just put have to put up with it due to there being no competition)
China Cuts BBC TV Feed
From http://www.voanews.com
The BBC says China has cut transmission of its Worldservice television channel following a Sunday broadcast with a news item mentioning the banned Falun Gong protest movement.
A British Broadcasting Corporation statement Thursday said Chinese authorities have kept the network from broadcasting into China via the state-owned Sinosat one satellite since July 1.
BBC officials say they suspect a feature on Hong Kong's hand-over to China angered Beijing officials because it included material on the Falun Gong.
A BBC spokeswoman says the news service is in touch with Chinese authorities trying to clarify the situation.
China's state-controlled media requires all foreign broadcasters to channel their transmissions through the Sinosat satellite. BBC broadcasts via other satellites can still be seen in China, though the equipment needed to receive those signals is illegal there.
The Sinosat one satellite, had allowed BBC television to be seen in about 60,000 hotel rooms in China that are mainly used by foreigners.
The Falun Gong movement was banned in China after it shook the one-party Communist leadership by organizing a silent protest of 10,000 followers outside the main party headquarters in Beijing.
The Falun Gong says that since it was banned, tens of thousands of its followers have been jailed or sent to labor camps, and that hundreds have died of brutality in police detention.
(Craigs comment, I suppose my site will be banned in China also for daring to post about it)
B4U Movies targets 31 July as go pay day at Rs 8.90 per subscriber
From indiantelevision.com
One more channel readies to take the pay mode plunge. The difference this time being that it will be the first pay channel to be offered as an independent offering and not part of any bouquet.
B4U Movies begins a dual illumination feed from 15 July, with plans to be fully encrypted by 31 July. "All the technical parameters are in place. But keeping in mind last minute hold-ups, it still may take till end-August for the full rollout, B4U Worldwide CEO Ravi Gupta said. B4U is using the Smart-card from Nagravision as the encryption module.
Queried as to the subscription price, Gupta said it would be Rs 8.90 per month. B4U is offering 15 per cent discount on its subscription rate to cable operators making advance payments or quarterly payments.
Where B4U Music will be different from the others is that it will be the only pay channel that is not offered as part of a bouquet. When it was put to Gupta that this would likely prove disadvantageous, he had this to say: "Yes, but that's a short term way of looking at it. The reason to go it alone is because of the price sensitivity of the market. We believe that especially in the non-metro markets there are operators for whom single channel option like B4U are worth going for."
"I do not want to tie up with anyone at the present juncture. I want to keep my options open. I prefer to wait for a time where I am able to offer my channel non-exclusively to all the bouquets. And we will be constantly tracking developments. Being independent allows us the freedom to take a call on it when we feel it is advantageous for us," Gupta said.
Whether Gupta is correct in his reasoning will be known soon enough anyway.
4/07/02
Not much news to report all seems fairly quiet. TV5 on Palapa C2 now has a better picture just as they said they would do for us. Now lets wait and see if they can also give us stereo audio.
Latest version of DVB Recorder software for the Nokia. V 1.19b
http://dvb2000recorder.gmxhome.de/
From my Emails & ICQ
From Mark Lobwein (Globecast / formally Mediasat)
Would any Installers interested in helping out our FTA Channel TZU-CHI
with installs please send me a mail.
Best regards
Mark Lobwein
DTH Services Manager
Globecast Australia
[email protected]
(Craigs comment, this probably applys to NZ installers as well)
From Peter Berrett
TV5 French (Report!)
Craig
I have turned my dish back on to Palapa C2 and yes indeed the signal is
significantly improved. It is a nice bright picture now. The AlRahman
channels seems a bit poor and the other channels seems ok but it is a little
hard to judge. I much prefer to receive TV5 this way as I can also watch
MTV. The other European channels on Asiasat 2 are pretty useless.
For the record, I'm using a 1.6m solid dish here in Melbourne and have got a
solid signal.
(Craigs comment, I have also asked them if they can switch to stereo audio on Tv5 so keep checking and report if they do)
From the Dish
Apstar 1A 134E 4060V "Eurosport" Sr 7140 has changed Fec to 1/2 (Please some in northern Australia have a look for this it should be much easier to lock onto if you can get any signal)
Palapa C2 113E 4040 H "mystery" Sr 28150 Fec 3/4 (Please someone check and report this one as to what is there)
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H The Splash tests have left .
ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the MMBN mux are now Fta.
Apstar 2R 76.5E 12430 H New SR for the Apstar DTH mux 13020. (asia only)
Intelsat 704 66E 3807 L "Nepal TV" has started, Fta, SR 4991, FEC 1/2, NE zone beam.
Intelsat 804 64E 4188 L "Occasional GlobeCast feeds" on , Sr 13330, Fec 7/8, global beam.
Intelsat 902 62E 4181 L "BT Testcard" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4
Intelsat 902 62E 4193 L "BTS Testcard" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4
NEWS
AHA hits back at Sky piracy accusations
From Afr.com
A war of words has erupted between TAB and the Australian Hotels Association over allegations of piracy of the Sky Channel television racing service by member pubs throughout Australia.
In a statement issued late yesterday, the AHA called on Sky to apologise over allegations that its members were engaged in illegally accessing the Sky service, which is costing TAB millions in lost revenue a year.
TAB - in a letter obtained by The Australian Financial Review - told the AHA: "Sky Channel has been concerned for some time by the level of piracy engaged in by some hoteliers throughout Australia. Many of these hoteliers are members of your association."
It warned that it would seek criminal prosecution against pubs illegally accessing the service.
However, the national executive director of the AHA, Richard Mulcahy, yesterday called on Sky to withdraw their broad allegations.
"We only received the letter from Sky today... I also personally met with the CEO of TAB over a week ago and no mention of this action was made," he said.
"If Sky were so concerned about this issue, why haven't they raised it with me personally? To imply, as Sky have, that the AHA is involved in this kind of conduct is insulting."
TAB's stepped-up attack on pirates comes as the pay-TV industry moves into crisis mode on the issue, which is hindering attempts to make the industry viable.
Industry estimates suggest as much as 10 per cent of Austar and Foxtel customers are not paying for their pay-TV service.
Amendments to the Copyright Act, which came into effect on March 4, ban the use of illegal set-top boxes and fraudulent smart cards.
Criminal penalties can reach $60,500 in fines and imprisonment for up to five years.
Mr Mulcahy said the AHA was strongly opposed to piracy and had recently warned in its newsletter that piracy was a serious crime. He said the AHA was working with the pay-TV industry to stamp out piracy.
TAB has presented evidence to the Australian Federal Police alleging systematic piracy of its Sky Channel racing television service by certain clubs and pubs throughout the country.
The company is believed to have evidence, including sworn affidavits, showing a number of pubs in areas such as Ballarat in Victoria use fake smart cards to access its expensive Sky Channel service.
Bangladesh's Ekushey TV faces closure over allegation of irregular licensing
From indiantelevision.com
Bangladesh's first private television channel and only independent station Ekushey Television, better known as ETV, is teetering on the brink of closure.
On a charge made by individuals supporting the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party that the station did not win its license fairly during the regime of the earlier government, the court has granted it a five week reprieve to make a last ditch appeal. If ETV fails to convince the court that the license was not obtained unfairly during the Awami League's rule, the channel may well have to shut shop, leaving several hundred employees in the lurch.
The legal action that has lasted several months, resulted in the Supreme Court rejecting ETV's leave to appeal petition and upholding the high court division verdict issued on 27 March that the licensing agreement between the government and ETV was illegal. The plaintiffs had said that ETV failed to fill in the correct documentation at the time of getting its permit ahead of rival bids and had secured its license by assuring favours to those in power at the time.
Three years ago, the channel commenced broadcast as both a terrestrial and a satellite channel. In 2000, a petition was filed against it by members sympathetic to the governing coalition led by the BNP. It questioned the manner in which ETV topped the list of parties when international bids were invited for setting up a private television channel in the country in 1998.
Lawyers for the station, which is backed by the American banking firm Citicorp, have argued that if the licensing process is found to be defective, it can be replaced by another. Citicorp has invested over 100 million Tk in the venture.
(Craigs comment, Ekushey is fta on Asiasat 3 better known for it FTA english broadcast of WWF wrestling. Friday nights I think?)
INSAT 3C dedicated to the nation
From indiantelevision.com
Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee this morning dedicated newly launched indigenous satellite INSAT 3C to the nation.
At a function at the Delhi Earth Station, Atal Behari Vajpayee also inaugurated the telemedicine project for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The function was telecast live on Doordarshan National at 11 am. ISRO chairman Dr K Kasturirangan also presented models of INSAT 3C to the prime minister and to minister of state for space Vasundhara Raje, also present on the occasion.
The INSAT 3C, that has strengthened India's communication, broadcast and meterological capabilities and is currently positioned 36,000 km above Earth was also instrumental in carrying the event live on DD National today, officials said.
The Indian National Satellite(INSAT) is a multipurpose space system for communication, broadcasting and meteorological services. INSAT-3C, carrying Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) transponders, Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS) transponders and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) transponders is intended to continue the services of the earlier INSAT-2DT and INSAT-2C, which are nearing the end of their life, besides improving and augmenting the Insat system capacity.
INSAT-3C, launched on 24 January this year is the second satellite of the INSAT-3 series; the first satellite, INSAT-3B was launched in March 2000. Another three satellites INSAT-3A, INSAT-3D and INSAT-3E are planned to be launched under INSAT-3 series in the coming years. Like all other INSAT satellites, INSAT-3C is controlled from the Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka.
The telemedicine project for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on the other hand, will help provide expert medical services to rural and remote areas, helping link hospitals and remote areas through Insat satellites. The G D Pant Hospital in Port Blair will be linked to the SRNC in Chennai initially, officials announced at the function.
3/07/02
TV5 (French) on Palapa C2 will stay available in Analog and also available in digital in the mux on 4080 H. A few have made comments about the lower quality picture of it. So I emailed Budi at Satelindo and they made some changes to the brightness and other levels. They would like to know if viewers are happy with it now. So please send your comments to me, I will also ask if they can do something about changing the audio to stereo.
Panamsat problems recently were due to Scintilation (atmospheric conditions) at Napa.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Stephen Brown (ABC)
Gday,
Just to update you on the ABC Asia Pacific situation.
The uplink site for PAS 8 is now being fed via a terrestrial data service. The drop outs in the service people have been seeing is some last minute configuring of the terrestrial Network. All should be okay now as the final configuration is in place. The KU PAS 8 Feed may drop off in the coming weeks as it is not needed anymore, however it may remain a little while longer if we come across some unknown network issues.
If you keep seeing dropouts, can you note down a time for me. We log the Off-Air feeds and it would be a good exercise to compare your noted dropout times with or logs.
Thanks
Steve Brown
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 3787 V "Occasional feeds" , Sr 6110, Fec 3/4.
PAS 8 166E 12410 H "Venus-Eye" is now encrypted in Viaccess.
Optus B1 160E 12360 H "Imparja" mux has moved back here, Fta, Sr 5424, Fec 3/4.
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "FTV, CTV and TTV"are now encrypted.
Insat 3A and Insat 3E are delayed to October 2002 and March 2003.
NEWS
TAB cracks down on pub Sky pirates
From AFR.com
TAB has threatened to sue members of the Australian Hotels Association for piracy of its lucrative Sky Channel racing television service, in an escalation of a dispute that is costing the gambling company millions of dollars a year in lost revenue.
In a letter obtained by The Australian Financial Review, TAB's Sky operation has told the AHA that it will seek civil and criminal remedies against hotel owners illegally accessing the Sky service, which costs venues $12,000 a year.
TAB is believed to be losing $5 million a year from clubs and pubs illegally using smart cards to get the service from Optus's digital satellite - but it has yet to take significant action on the issue.
The company is understood to now have documented evidence of hotels across Australia using the smart cards to access the service, as well as vendors of digital satellite services promoting the illegal tapping of pay-TV services, including Sky Channel. In a letter to the AHA, Sky Channel said it wants full support from the body to crack down on the issue as it seeks legal and criminal remedies.
"We seek your commitment to provide us with any information about this illegal activity which you may become aware of . . . furthermore, we seek your assurance that you will co-operate fully with us in bringing offenders to justice," it said.
The letter comes as the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association met yesterday to thrash out ways to stem the loss of revenues from piracy, which is estimated to affect between 5 per cent to 10 per cent of pay-TV revenue in Australia.
Sky chief executive Geoff Want yesterday confirmed the company was looking to prosecute hotel and club owners. "We intend to protect our rights to the fullest extent possible," he said. "We have made information available to the Federal Police and we will be pursuing individual sites."
Mr Want said he was seeking the co-operation of all industry bodies.
TAB bought the Sky channel from Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd and Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd in 1998 for $260 million to diversify its earnings base and is currently seeking to boost returns.
Sky's commercial service provides Sky Channel to hotels, clubs, TABs, and racecourses over 100 live race meetings a week via a satellite dish and a decoder box to 5,600 customers. The company's pay-TV service, Sky Racing, is available to 1.5 million subscribers through the Optus, Foxtel and Austar platforms.
Macquarie Bank has forecast revenue from commercial, pay-TV and international services of $105.3 million in 2002 and $118.8 million in 2003 and earnings before interest and tax of $27.1 million in 2002 and $32.7 million in 2003.
TAB is also looking to renegotiate its content and program agreements with race clubs. It recently negotiated a reduction with Victorian clubs, which has led to a 5 per cent discount being passed on to venues from this month. Agreements with other clubs expire in the next five years.
Australia's TVSN LTD Completes Merger With Danoz Group
From http://au.news.yahoo.com/020702/3/aioz.html
Australia's only 24-hour television shopping network, TVSN Ltd, expects to continue to grow as more and more consumers take advantage of internet and television shopping.
TVSN, which completed its merger with TV retailer Danoz Group today, is now one of the country's leading direct retailers with a new-found critical mass, TVSN chief executive officer Rob Hunt said.
TVSN has raised A$1 million (US$558,500) through the issue of new shares, completing the recapitalisation of the merged business.
Mr Hunt said TVSN had injected scale into the business, gained a new strategic partner and recapitalised the balance sheet through the Danoz merger.
"It is pretty exciting, we are the only company taking advantage of this kind of retail through television and it is huge - we really feel like we have tapped into the right industry at the right time," Mr Hunt told AAP.
"More and more people are taking advantage of television and internet shopping - it is easier and people trust our service."
Danoz operations have been relocated to the TVSN site at Lane Cove in Sydney.
Mr Hunt said one whole duplicate set of infrastructure, including the call centre and warehouse, could be taken away, saving the business A$2.5 million (US$1.4 million) per annum.
He said TVSN and Danoz would retain most of their combined 190 staff, possibly reducing the total number by 30.
"There will be some job losses but we will try and keep that to a minimum," he said.
Consumers could expect to see a lot more promotion of TVSN on free-to-air networks, Mr Hunt said.
Danoz has a chain of 10 retail stores across New South Wales and Victoria, in addition to its infomercial, direct response TV, internet and direct mail retailing businesses.
TVSN plans to expand its retail capacity by up to 20 stores, franchised and company owned, over the next 12 months and is expected to move into the Queensland market.
Mr Hunt said up to 85 per cent of TVSN consumers wanted to "touch and try" before they bought products.
TVSN is shown across Australia on Austar, Foxtel and Optus, via cable and satellite, and in New Zealand on Prime.
The company's board has also undergone a shake-up, with Ron Baskin, who owns the Knife King group of stores, becoming chairman.
Danoz owner Moshe Ozana has taken on the position of executive vice chair, with Mr Hunt continuing on the board as CEO.
Austar chief executive John Porter and Eric Melman will be non-executive directors.
Pay TV group Austar has a 22 per cent stake in TVSN, with Ozlink (the Ozana Family Trust) holding 44 per cent and the Ron Baskin Group nine per cent.
ISRO to launch 2 more satellites
(Posted on 2 July 2002 6:20 pm)
From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=14791642
NEW DELHI: India will launch two more multi-purpose satellites, INSAT-3A and INSAT-3E, in the near future to make the country self-sufficient in the area of communication through satellites, said Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Kasturirangan on Tuesday.
While INSAT-3A will be launched in October this year, INSAT-3E is slated for a launch in March next year. India uses around 90 transponders at present, of which 80 are from the country itself. INSAT-3A will have 18 C-Band transponders, while INSAT-3E would have 36 transponders.
"The INSAT system has been responsible for the phenomenal expansion of television coverage in India and now provides access to 87 per cent of the population, with over 1,000 transmitters in the INSAT network," said Kasturirangan, delivering a talk on "Connectivity through Space: A boon for developing India".
The major infrastructure created in the country in the field of space over the last two decades broadly falls into two categories: the INSAT system for communication, broadcasting and meteorology; and the IRS system for space-based remote-sensing.
The data from India's remote-sensing satellites now accounts for 25 per cent of all such data sold in the global markets. "The IRS system is an excellent example of how remote sensing from space has contributed to societal development and also for making forays in the global arena," said Kasturirangan.
He said ISRO was now also contemplating to build a dedicated satellite for education called "Edusat" in the near future. "It is being planned in view of the challenges faced by the nation in the field of education and the potential of using satellite communication to support education," he said.
Ten Sports climbs into top 100 shows thanks to Fifa World Cup
From indiantelevision.com
It's may be a great brand positioning statement they said. But in India its only cricket that everyone watches, they said. Well, the Fifa World Cup, which ended on Sunday (and left large swathes of the globe with a serious case of soccer hangover) has left its impact even on cricket-crazy India.
Ratings data for the week ended 22 June (all C&S households) show that Ten Sports, which had the telecast rights for the soccer spectacle, has been able to make it to the top 100 programmes list.
Three quarterfinals of the game entered the top 100 shows, according to data released by TAM. The England vs Brazil match on 21 June ranked 54th in the top shows of the week among 4+ C&S audiences across the country, with a TVR of 3.05. The next day's quarterfinal matches also ensured a place for themselves in the top shows, ranked at 80 and 84th place. The match between Spain and Korea drew a TVR of 2.67 while the one between Senegal and Turkey drew a TVR of 2.66.
While ESPN Star had been insisting that cricket held sway even when the World Cup began, the latter half of the Fifa championship seems to have caught the fancy of viewers. Viewership for the World Cup in the week ended 8 June had shot up considerably in the metros, according to TAM. Reports had indicated that the Argentina versus England match recorded a rating of 3.3 as compared to the previous week's high of 1.45 TVR.
The India-West Indies one dayer on 2 June had however done much better effortlessly with a TVR of 6.31 on 2 June, helping ESPN to climb into the top 100 shows in C&S homes at number 13, according to TAM.
Select cities like Kolkata and Cochin reacted favourably to the soccer matches from day one. However, metros like Delhi and Mumbai caught on only after the last week.
Sunday's finals between Brazil and Germany, which saw the Samba Kings win their fifth World Cup, had a global television audience estimated to be 1.5 billion, the largest ever in history. What ratings the the match drew in India should make for interesting viewing. Especially considering that the same day saw the Indian cricket team put on a steller performance in defeating Sri Lanka in the Natwest tri-series currently on in England. The match was telecast on Star Sports.
Prasar Bharati sees monsoon session govt nod for CATV Act amendment on sports rights
From indiantelevision.com
The increasing frequency with which India's pubcaster DD is being left out of business of sports telecasts has got the goat of Doordarshan director general SY Quraishi. Speaking to indiantelevision.com he said that the Prasar Bharati - overseeing the work of DD and All India Radio - was persevering with its proposal to the Indian government to bring in a law mandating that the telecast rights of any important event - and specially those where India has an interest - be awarded to DD.
The Prasar Bharati had moved the government on this front last month. And its hopes are high that things will get kickstarted during the next Parliamentary session. "If all goes well, we may see something happening on this front during the monsoon session of Parliament," Quraishi said.
If the Indian government decides to bring in a law which makes it mandatory for the telecast rights of important global events to be necessarily given to DD also apart from any other broadcaster beaming into India, then certain amendments have to be made in the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Act. And if it manages to push the amendment through, it will be a fait accompli for the pubcaster.
A private broadcaster quipped in lighter vein, "Only a DD can show DDgiri." Touche!!!
2/07/02
Livechat in the chatroom 9pm NZ and 8.30 Syd time.
Fox News encrypted, Emails to the address below to see if we can change their minds.
Odd happenings with Imparja on B1, they moved to 12380H from 12360H. Stayed 1 day and is now back at 12360 H! not sure why? maybe it was a short test and after receiving a lot of complaints they had to move it back?
Problems reported with ABC Asia Pacific? Those watching via Pas 2 and Pas 8 reported it dropping in and out. Maybe a problem with the Temp link they are using on Pas 8 KU?
I hope to add some Technical Documents to the site, the question is what would you like to see? YOU suggest the topics and I have someone who has offered to write up some technical papers for the site. Send me your ideas via Email / Mailing List / Chatroom.
Here are some ideas.
"Predicting out of footprint coverage areas signal levels"
"Installation of a small KU dish"
"Dual feeding a C or Ku band dish for multiple satellite reception"
"Repair and maintenance of your satellite system"
"Understanding Skew"
Pas 8 page updated with screenshots.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Steve Johnson (NZ)
Hi all. Have a UEC 700 Irdeto receiver for sale. Selling on behalf of ex Zee customer - Offers.
Also, Scientific Atlanta SA - 9223 commercial receiver (Power Vu) - $1,250 + GST (worth $2,500 new).
From Bill Richards
Some missing screenshots from PAS8 Taiwanese mux
TTV, FTV, CTV
CTS, Super TV, Star Chinese
Set International
(Craigs comment, Thanks for that it always adds a splash of colour to the page and looking at the google search engine I see a few TV Dxers in Asia have discoverd my site as a source for screenshots!)
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 3992 V "Fox News Channel" is now encrypted.
PAS 2 169E 12292 H "CTS" has left
PAS 2 169E 12483 V "TF 1" has left .
PAS 2 169E The occasional feeds have left 12475 V and 12490 V.
PAS 8 166E 12463 H The occasional feeds have left .
Optus B1 160E 12670 H "Dig Radio has started testing" on , Fta, APID 3001.
Optus B1 160E 12706 H "Dig Radio has started testing" on , Fta, APID 2321.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3773 H "Reuters World News Service" is nowr Fta.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3864 V "Beijing TV" has left .
Yamal 102 90E 3539 L, "TRT has started" Fta, PIDs 308/256.
NEWS
Falun Gong hijacks Chinese TV
From http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4600187%255E15306,00.html
MILLIONS of Chinese television viewers got a shock this week when Falun Gong propaganda was beamed into their living rooms as members of the banned sect hijacked one of China's main television satellites.
And in Beijing, surprised residents answered their phones this month to find a recorded Falun Gong message, up to five minutes long, attacking the Government's anti-Falun Gong claims point by point.
The hacking incidents highlight Falun Gong's sophistication and audacity as the group attempts to fight back in China and overseas.
The satellite broadcast, in which a banner reading "Falun Gong is good" replaced normal TV viewing in Shandong province on Sunday night and again in prime time on Tuesday, is among the group's most daring moves since it was banned in 1999.
Chinese security sources told The South China Morning Post that most of China Central Television's 10 channels, and another 10 provincial channels sharing the Sinosat-1 satellite, were interrupted on Sunday night.
The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, based in Hong Kong, said the Falun Gong banner appeared on TV screens in Yantai city, Shandong and Laiyang county twice last week, in some cases for up to 15 minutes. The centre said it had confirmed the incidents with local security authorities and television stations.
A spokesman for the Yantai security office in charge of dealing with Falun Gong said it had received complaints from the public. "They said a blurred image appeared on their screens for between 10 and 20 seconds," an official said.
A news blackout was enforced on the mainland and security officials and TV stations denied all knowledge of the incidents yesterday.
Hong Kong media said Vice-President Li Lanqing, responsible for the mainland media, had ordered an investigation into the hacking. After the Falun Gong broadcast, millions of TV sets in remote and rural areas went black as the authorities tried to trace the source of the interruption.
Officials are reportedly perplexed as to how Falun Gong had the knowledge and equipment needed to intercept a satellite broadcast. There was speculation sect followers had equipped a vehicle to avoid notice.
The human rights and democracy centre said an antenna with a diameter of 3m could disrupt reception for hundreds of kilometres.
Similar incidents occurred in January in Chonqing, Sichuan province, in March in Jilin province where Falun Gong leader Li Hongzhi was born and in Harbin in April. In these cases the targets were cable TV stations. More than 20 Falun Gong members were arrested over the March hacking and face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.
Falun Gong's recorded telephone message - sent to an unknown number of Beijing residents, and probably further - claimed the Government had fabricated the incident in which three Falun Gong supporters set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square in January 2001.
The recording also said sect followers were beaten and tortured in prison, and invited listeners to follow prompts to hear more information or Falun Gong songs.
NDTV plans to launch 2 channels next year
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=14695121
NEW DELHI: The number of news channels in the works is growing by the day. NDTV, the current content provider for the Star News channel, is planning to launch not one but two news channels in April next year, when they split with Star.
According to an NDTV insider, the company is mulling floating two news channels one in Hindi and one in English. This source told ET that NDTV will float the new channels under its own banner. “We have built our brand name and I don’t think we need to use any other banner for floating our channels,” said this source.
However, speculations continue to mount on whom NDTV will offload stake to or tie up with for its news channels. Among the companies that have been talked about most are CNN and Sony. NDTV has however, steadfastly refused to comment on any speculations.
NDTV’s contract with Star is due to end in March-end 2003, which means NDTV will no longer be the content provider for Star News. Star is floating a Hindi news channel after April 2003, to be headed by former Channel Nine CEO Ravina Raj Kohli.
In 2003, one may hope to see at least four new news channels: a Hindi-English news channel from Videocon, Star’s Hindi news channel and two likely channels from the NDTV stable. There has also been talks of Aaj Tak going in for an English news channel, but it is not exactly known when this channel will debut.
The stars of Indian news channels have been on the ascendant, since the September 11 events. The tense saga of South Asia has ensured that the viewership of TV news channels remain on the upswing. Events like the September 11 attack, December 13 Parliament attack and the elections in four states have seen news channels upstaging the ratings of even entertainment channels.
1/07/02
Imparja reportedly missing from B1 as I assemble the site.
Pas 2 Pas 8 pages updated
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards 30/06/02
0520 UTC
Pas2 3810 H, Sr 13238 Fec 3/4
Vpid 2160 Apid 2120 SID21 Belleville MCPC
Vpid 2260 Apid 2220 SID22 Globosat MCPC
"Occ Feeds"
Regards
Bill
From Mike (NZ)
Sky 60cm dishes are being found in the inorganic rubbish collections around Auckland ,a friend picked up 6 of them
(Craigs comment, sounds like a good tip either that or suggests something about the quality of Sky)
From Me
5.30 NZ
B1, 12400 Sr 8000 fec 3/4 Vpid 4096 Apid 407 Mediasat DSNG1 news feed
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 3886 R "WorldNet" , Fta, Sr 25000, Fec 3/4, PIDs 3160/3120-3460/3420, West hemi beam. (Lyngsat finally catches up with this one)
Palapa C2 113E 3760 H New PIDs for all test cards in the Global Vision mux.
Palapa C2 113E 4080 H "TV 5 Asie has replaced Quick Channel", Fta, PIDs 512/650. (just test going on here) Anteve has left this mux.
Yamal 201 and Yamal 202 are scheduled to launch in April 2003. 201 will go to 90E, 202 to 49E
NEWS
Japan's N-Star c Liftoff set for July 5
From satnewsasia.com
Japan’s N-STAR c and Europe’s Stellat 5 satellites are due for launch on July 5 on Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 from Kourou.
Stellat 5 will ride in the upper payload position on Flight 153 and will be released into geostationary transfer orbit first. It will be followed by N-STAR c, in the lower position. Built by a Lockheed Martin/Orbital team for NTT DoCoMo, Inc., N-STAR c will operate in S-band frequencies from an orbital location at 136 degrees East longitude. The spacecraft is optimized for a 10-year on-orbit life and will provide mobile telephony and data transfer services to Japan and its surrounding waters. N-Star c will have a launch mass of 1,625 kilograms and is based on Orbital's Star-1 and Star-2 standard platforms.
Stellat 5 will be used by a joint-venture company called Stellat, which brings together France Telecom with Europe*Star. Positioned at 5 degrees West longitude, Stellat 5 will support two-way broadband Internet access across much of Europe, and is to offer a connectivity matrix between Europe, the east coasts of North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and significant swaths of near Asia. Stellat 5 is based on the Alcatel Space Industries' Spacebus 3000 B3 platform and will have a launch mass of 4,100 kilograms.
Fox Japan to Pioneer Transmission of Digital Films Via Satellite
From satnewsasia.com
Twentieth Century Fox has announced that “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” will become the first movie to be transmitted by satellite in Japan.
The company’s Japanese subsidiary will transmit the move via satellite to five theaters on July 13. The company will send the George Lucas film to theaters using a system developed by T-Joy Company, a cineplex operator funded by Toei Company, satellite operator JSAT Corporation and other firms. Each theater will store the encrypted digital data on servers. Conventional digital technology will be used to show the movie in other theaters.
The Boeing Company made digital projection of full-length motion pictures a reality only in May this year with the installation of the Boeing Digital Cinema systems in markets across the United States and in London.
With the system, moviegoers are able to enjoy consistently clear images, free of all the defects typically associated with 35-millimeter film such as scratches, dirt, mechanical jumps and other degradation. The Boeing system, which utilizes satellite, fiber optics and physical media technologies, were installed in at least 23 theatres by end of May. Other theatre locations are getting their systems are installed.
Digital Cinema has given theatres using the Boeing system a competitive marketing advantage and attract more moviegoers because every showing of a digital movie will be as sharp and full of detail as the first viewing, said Frank Stirling, executive director, Boeing Digital Cinema. "This brings the cinematic experience closer to what was actually shot during filming. Moviegoers will see and hear the film the way the filmmaker intended."
RTR, Culture programs to become available in Western Europe.
From www.variety.com/
Programs of the RTR and Culture television channels will be available for viewers in Western Europe starting from July 1, 2002. The RTR-Planeta new channel will make the broadcast, heads of the RTR television channel and the All-Russia State TV and Radio Holding have told the press.
Initially, the RTR programs will be available in a part of Europe. Russian television will be on in all European countries after the connection to the Express-3A satellite and global cable systems will be done.
The RTR-Planeta channel is expected to start the broadcast in the United States in September or October 2002, holding chairman Oleg Dobrodeyev said.
The RTR-Planeta programs will be free of charge and maximum open, he said. "We do not plan to code the satellite signal," he remarked. The new project is non-commercial. First and foremost, it is meant for Russians living abroad. The channel will broadcast plenty of news and represent the Russian culture and language abroad.
So far it is not planned to release commercials on the RTR-Planeta channel. Dobrodeyev said they finance the channel with reserves of the holding and do not get any extra funds from the state budget.
China in talks with Vivendi, BSkyB to show state-run CCTV-9 in Europe - report
From http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_619073.html?menu=
China has been in talks with Vivendi Universal and News Corp Ltd associate British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc to broadcast its state-run English language news channel CCTV-9, the South China Morning Post reported, citing an unnamed official from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (Sarft).
The official said Sarft hopes to announce a deal in October.
However, the European companies will not be given the same rights in return as those granted to AOL Time Warner and News Corp to broadcast their own channels into mainland China, the official said.
Last year, China gave AOL and News Corp approval to broadcast entertainment channels into Guangdong province through the local authority's cable network in return for running CCTV-9 on their cable networks in the US.
"I don't think there will be a third foreign company (to receive special treatment)," the Sarft official said.