31/10/02

I posted on the site the other day that Hamara TV would be on Globecasts Adhoc service this is incorrect. I have had an email from Nikki at Hamara TV and she said all info about the service is on their website! Not good because anyone who has been there will see it doesn't even say which satellite its on or the settings for it. Do they want people to watch it or not?

Interesting NSS6 scheduled to go to 95E on the 27th of next month has been delayed until December. As you will see in the rumours section maybe C1 pushed forward in the launch schedule?

I have sent an email out to the people who hope to start NZ's Rural tv channel via Sky, no reply as yet but at least 1 of the 3 email addresses I had for them is no longer working.

Finally if any other little brat bangs on my door wanting lollys this evening then they will be getting some of grannys laxative chocolates. We don't need to encourage this rediculous American tradition in NZ or Australia.


Rumours


C1 to launch NOV 27th 2002???


From my Emails & ICQ


From PJW

G'day

I am live in bathurst, nsw, australia.

I am interesting about the russian news tv and looking for Gorizont 33 at 145 deg East, I got spot near the measat 2 at 148 deg East.

I read a the LYNGSAT/asia, Gorizont 33 (0.6), this has 3 transponders (8+h), say BEAM can be target australia.
I play with the FTA receiver tuner no signal strenght at all for day and night.

any clue you have?
cheers Peter


(Craigs comment, they are on the Zone beams which need very large dishes to get in Australia, 2 of them are Analog did you try an analog receiver? the only decent beams to Aus and NZ are the Global beams which are not being used)


From the Dish


Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "The Indus info cards" have left .

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3774 H "Reuters World News Service" has left .

Satellite Launches

NSS 6 with Ariane is delayed from 27 November to December.
E-Bird & Insat 3A with Ariane are delayed from 9 December to January-March 2003.


NEWS


ACCC and Foxtel may ditch pay TV deal


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/30/1035683475235.html

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Foxtel are likely to abandon negotiations over a radical pay TV deal if they are unable to resolve the major competition issues by next week.

The ACCC still has the same concerns which prompted it in June to block the original proposal for pay TV rivals Foxtel and Optus to share programming, despite the numerous concessions subsequently offered by the parties and intense negotiations that have ensued.

It is understood that the ACCC and Foxtel partners Telstra, News and PBL have agreed to walk away from the deal for good if they are unable to resolve the outstanding competition issues by next week. The regulator has promised it will give Foxtel and Optus a formal answer on their revised proposal by mid-November.

The ACCC ruled almost five months ago that the original Foxtel/Optus proposal was likely to breach the Trade Practices Act.

The commission said the deal created four main areas of concern - the acquisition of pay TV content, the supply of pay TV services, the likely dominance of the Foxtel network, and third party access to the Foxtel network to broadcast competing pay TV services.

In a bid to assuage fears its deal with Optus would create a virtual monopoly over pay TV in Australia, Foxtel gave the ACCC a raft of undertakings in September. Foxtel promised to resell its pay TV service to infrastructure providers, and has already struck commercial deals to do so with broadband network operators TransACT and Neighbourhood Cable.

Foxtel also promised to give aspiring pay TV players access to its network to broadcast competing services - for a minimum $1.25 million cost per channel. Some industry insiders have described it as "Clayton's access", arguing that Foxtel has set the price so high so as to deter any potential competition.

Since the undertakings were unveiled, Foxtel has made further concessions during its discussions with the ACCC. These, however, have been described as "negotiating around the edges", rather than resolving the main competition issues.

The ACCC also remains concerned about Telstra's proposal to bundle the Foxtel service with its telephony and internet services.

Telstra is adamant that the program-sharing deal with Optus is conditional on it being able to bundle pay TV.

Earlier this month News Corp deputy chief operating officer Lachlan Murdoch said: "There really is no room left to move" in terms of making more concessions to win ACCC approval for the Foxtel deal.

There will be massive ramifications for Australia's media and telecommunications sectors if Foxtel is unable to satisfy the ACCC's concerns and the pay TV deal is scrapped.

Foxtel and Optus have pitched their radical plan to restructure pay TV in Australia as the unprofitable industry's best chance of moving into the black. Optus has threatened to quit both the pay TV and local call markets if the deal does not proceed, claiming it could not justify continued investment in these areas.

Australians might also have to wait even longer for digital interactive services, as Foxtel has made its commitment to spend $600 million upgrading its analog cable network to digital conditional on the pay TV deal's being passed.


Fairfax attacks Foxtel plan


From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5395322%255E462,00.html

JOHN Fairfax Holdings has urged the competition watchdog to reject outright the proposed agreements between Foxtel, Optus and Telstra.

Fairfax chief executive officer Fred Hilmer said the group had told the Australian Competition and Consumer Association it should not approve the proposed Foxtel deal as the agreements substantially lessoned competition.

"What is presented in the agreements and undertakings is the creation of the most powerful and pervasive monopoly in the delivery of television, telephony, interactive and internet service since Telstra's monopoly was ended ten years ago," Mr Hilmer said.

"We should not be going backwards towards monopoly, but forwards to great competition."

Mr Hilmer said Fairfax was calling for a policy review to be undertaken by the Government to address the structure of the pay television industry in Australia.

He said the review should consider the separation between carriage and content across pay television and consider the limitations on cross-platform integration.

"With a proper review of industry structure, the requisite legislation could then be devised and implemented." Mr Hilmer said.

Foxtel and Optus unveiled their revamped content sharing proposal in early September, after the ACCC blocked the initial deal in June.

Mr Hilmer said the undertakings made by Foxtel on the key issues of access and digitisation were "irretrievably flawed and wholly inadequate".

Mr Hilmer said the terms and pricing of the access undertakings were onerous and would ensure that any service offered by competitors would not be commercially viable.

The undertakings on digitising the cable network were conditioned on a "give away" of basic protections afforded to consumers and competitors under legislation, he said.

Mr Hilmer also said the undertakings failed to address Foxtel's monopoly position in certain pay television markets, particularly sport, and would create a new monopoly in movie content.

He said the undertakings failed to resolve Fairfax's concern that the basic package would be used by Foxtel as a tool that was an effective barrier to entry.

Fairfax's submission to the ACCC is part of growing opposition to the Foxtel-Optus pay TV content sharing proposal.

A Foxtel spokesman told the Australian Financial Review that Fairfax appeared "not to comprehend the content of the proposed undertakings at all".

"The Fairfax response chooses to overlook the operational benefits to the sector from the comprehensive and transparently fair package of offered undertakings," the spokesman said.


TV3 PARTNERS WITH SKY FOR THREE YEAR RUGBY DEAL


From Sky website

TV3 and SKY Television announced today that agreement had been reached confirming TV3 as the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster for Rugby until 2005.

The new agreement gives TV3 the free-to-air broadcast rights for Super 12, Tri-Nations, International tests, NPC and Maori Rugby for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons.

In an enhancement to their existing package, TV3 will also be able to screen a one-hour Super 12 highlights package of the weekend's round each Sunday. Also, TV3 will screen a second NPC match each weekend, and one hour highlights of the Australia V South Africa Tri-Nations games.

"We are extremely pleased to strengthen our good relationship with SKY Television even further with this three year Rugby deal," said TV3 CEO, Brent Impey.

"Our current contract with SKY Television allows us the option of matching any bids by competitors - an option we have taken up in order to match TVNZ's offer for these rights," he said.

SKY Television Chief Executive, John Fellet said, "Having a free-to-air broadcast
partner is an important part of our on-going involvement in televised sport in New
Zealand. TV3, with more than 98% coverage across New Zealand, is an ideal partner for us to continue working with.

For further information contact:

Brent Impey
CEO
TV3
Mob: 021 925 302

Tony O'Brien
Director of Communications
SKY Television
Ph (09) 579-9999
Mob: 021 497 830


(Craigs comment, TV3 also has the deal for FTA broadcasts of the cricket)


Falun Gong Followers Hijack Mainland Satellite Signals Again


From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200210/31/eng20021031_105978.shtml

Taiwan-based followers of the Falun Gong cult hijacked mainland satellite signals twice in the past week, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Taiwan-based followers of the Falun Gong cult hijacked mainland satellite signals twice in the past week, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the office said that the Sinosat satellite received "attacks from illegal signals" on October 24 and 29 and the attacks had "seriously affected normal program broadcasting."

Li also said those responsible must be punished.

"Our relevant departments made a prompt technical investigation into the direction of the interference and confirmed that it was arising from the city of Taipei in Taiwan province," said Li.

The spokesman said: "We strongly request that Taiwan authorities immediately begin searching for those who sent the illegal signals and seriously punish them," he said.

At a press conference on Sept. 25, experts revealed signals by the illegal Falun Gong cult had severely affected program transmission from China Central Television (CCTV) and China Education TV Station (CETV).

The Taiwanese authorities were responsible for investigating the incident, since the source of the illegal TV signals had been traced to a position in Taipei city in Taiwan, said the spokesman


China says Falun Gong used Taiwan to launch new attack on satellite


http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2002/10/31/1036026471.htm

A pirate broadcaster based in Taiwan tried to break into a Chinese satellite signal last week to show Falun Gong material, a government spokesman and a state television employee said yesterday.

The government demanded that Taiwan track down the broadcaster and hand out "severe punishment."

It was the second time in six weeks that Chinese authorities have claimed that Falun Gong protesters using Taiwan as a base tried to break into signals on Sinosat. The satellite carries state-run China Central Television and other channels.

The latest attempt began October 24 and continued off and on until Tuesday, said Li Weiyi, a spokesman for the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office. He said Chinese technicians tracked the broadcast to Taipei, the Taiwanese capital.

"We strongly demand the Taiwan administration immediately find the illegal signal source and give severe punishment," Li said at a news conference.

Taiwanese officials did not immediately comment on Li's accusation. But in the earlier case, they promised to investigate, while expressing doubt that the signal could be tracked so precisely. They said it could have come from anywhere in a large area of the Pacific Ocean.

China banned Falun Gong in mid-1999 as a threat to communist rule and public safety.

Thousands of Falun Gong adherents have been detained, though most are released after a few weeks. Activists abroad claim more than 500 have been killed in captivity. Chinese authorities deny mistreating anyone.

Chinese claims that Taiwan is the base for the satellite attacks put Beijing in the awkward position of appealing for help from a government that it says is illegitimate.

Li did not say who was accused of carrying out the latest attack. But a woman who answered the phone at the management office of the China Central Satellite Television Transmission Center said it was Falun Gong material. The center is run by CCTV.


DD to air foreign films


From http://www.hinduonnet.com/bline/stories/2002103100082000.htm

AFTER Star Gold, now it's DD Metro's turn to bring sub-titled international blockbusters to Indian households.

Director-General of Doordarshan (DDG), S.Y. Quraishi, said that Doordarshan has asked National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to hunt for English movies which could be aired during the 8-10.30 time slot.

He also added that the recent acquisitions of new movies by satellite channels has made it difficult for DD to get new movies. The national broadcaster works on a royalty payment arrangement.

Quraishi also said that the broadcaster was facing problems in acquiring Tamil movies as the terrestrial rights for the films have been acquired by the Sun group.

Earlier too, there have been instances of satellite channels buying terrestrial rights, especially cricket matches. These channels later sold the rights to DD.

Doordarshan has a corpus of around Rs 11 crore for films every year and airs over a dozen films in its various channels.

Among the other initiatives, Quraishi said that DD is planning to celebrate 100 years of recorded music. The channel is planning to come out with a television series, radio shows, audio CDs and a book.




30/10/02

ABC Asia Pacific Pas 8 KU band is back but just for a couple of day as temp feed as the ATM broke down.

Not much else to report today


From my Emails & ICQ


From SCHIPPY

Subject: [Apsattv] BT1 and BT2 on I701

Currently No Video, But Audio Sounds like the E Channel from the states.


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 4087 V "RTS Sat" has started on , Fta, PIDs 520/648.

PAS 8 166E 3860 H Star Chinese is back on , Viaccess 2, SID 12, PIDs 920/921.SBN is now encrypted.

Yamal 102 90E 3725 L Radio Rossii has left .

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Balle Balle" has left , replaced by a test card.

Intelsat 704 66E 3760 R "ETV Kannada" has left (PAL), replaced by a test card.
Intelsat 704 66E 4055 R "EuroSport News" has left .


NEWS


INL looking to Sky for profit in 2004


From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2096360a13,00.html

Independent Newspapers Ltd chairman Ken Cowley told shareholders at the publishing company's annual meeting today that two thirds owned Sky TV was on track towards positive cashflow in fiscal 2004.

He said Sky was set to reduce bottom line losses in fiscal 2003 and be profitable in 2004.

INL, 45 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd, said its core publishing company was performing strongly.

Mr Cowley did not believe continuing rumours that Telecom might sell its 10 percent stake in INL and, or, its 12 percent stake in Sky TV was the reason for INL's weak share price. He cited a worldwide falloff in media stocks as the main factor.

INL shares were up 3 cents at $3.03 today, having fallen from $4.20 in March.

INL's new chief executive Peter Wylie stressed the importance of INL having a stake in all parts of the media.

"New media has always been a threat to newspapers...the secret is you must have a share of the entire media action and you must dominate it."

Mr Cowley stressed the company's value as a national advertising vehicle and said it would look for cost reductions, synergies, and better use of its printing presses and other plant to improve performance.


ORBITAL WINS CONTRACT FROM TELKOM OF INDONESIA


From Press release

Contact: Barron Beneski, (703) 406-5000, [email protected]

Company Continues to Capture Global Market Share for Small GEO Satellites
(Dulles, VA 28 October 2002) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that it has signed a major new contract in its geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite manufacturing business. Indonesia's state-owned telecommunications company, PT Telkomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TELKOM) (NYSE: TLK; LSE: TKID; JSK: TLKM), has signed a contract with Orbital to manufacture one GEO communications satellite. The satellite, based on the company's state-of-the-art STAR-2 platform, will carry 24 C-band transponders and will be designed for a 15-year in-orbit life. The contract calls for a satellite delivery schedule that supports a planned launch in late 2004.

"This satellite contract from TELKOM is further evidence that our small satellite solution is an ideal fit for many customers around the world," said Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO communications satellite unit. "For customers such as TELKOM, whose frequency availability does not call for one of the industry's larger, more expensive spacecraft, our STAR-2 design provides the most modern, easy to manage small satellite available today. With an advanced satellite design based on three-axis stabilization and a significant power margin over our nearest competitor, we have become the preferred supplier of satellites in this class," Dr. Atia concluded.

The order from TELKOM builds on Orbital's growing list of GEO communications satellites in orbit or in production. To date, Orbital has manufactured and launched four GEO satellites and has six other GEO spacecraft in various stages of design or production.

The new TELKOM satellite will be based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform, which provides up to 4.5 kilowatts of payload power and can carry as many as 40 transponders for C-, L-, S-, X-, Ka- and Ku-band applications. STAR-2 satellites range in launch mass from approximately 1,500 to 2,300 kilograms. Orbital also offers a slightly smaller GEO platform, the STAR-1, which provides up to 1.5 kilowatts of payload power and weighs approximately 1,000 to 1,500 kilograms at launch.

The new satellite for TELKOM will be launched into geosynchronous orbit, 22,300 miles above the Earth, at 118 degrees East longitude. The satellite will enable TELKOM to replace its existing Palapa-B4 satellite with an expansion of its coverage area into Southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent in addition to its current Indonesian capacity. The satellite will be used for voice, video and data communications for the region.

Orbital is one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of affordable space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products include low-orbit, geosynchronous and planetary spacecraft for communications, scientific and remote sensing missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as target and interceptor vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.

More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com


NDTV on recruitment drive for Hindi channel


From indiantelevision.com

MUMBAI: Prannoy Roy's New Delhi Television (NDTV) has made official its intent to launch its Hindi news channel after March 2003, with advertisements in a national daily today.

According to the advertisement in The Times of India, NDTV will be launching its Hindi news channel , early next year.

The ad specifies that the channel is looking to hire reporters, correspondents, anchors, junior and senior editorial staff, camerapersons, engineers, graphic artists and designers. No details of the qualifications or the minimum experience required for the various posts are mentioned.

The production company obviously requires manpower only for the Hindi channel, as an entire team is already in place for the English channel it is reportedly simultaneously launching. With Aaj Tak also having advertised for personnel in various positions last month, the proposed news channels are now gearing for a hefty recruitment drive.


Eutelsat To Launch A Satellite Aimed At Indian Broadcasters


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=20704

Mumbai: Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading providers of satellite communications solutions, will by next month launch W5, a satellite on Ku band dedicated to the Indian and Asian markets. The satellite will be operational by January, 2003.

The company has applied for landing rights permission from the government.

?We are in the process of getting landing rights for W5. We envisage a large market in India and are targeting channels in the news, regional languages and entertainment genres,” said Jan Grondrup-Vivanco, regional director, Middle East, Asia and Scandinavia, Eutelsat.

Eutelsat is also keen to exploit the direct-to-home (DTH) market in India. There is no transparency in the cable industry and a lot of discrepancies exist in the area covered by the public and the private broadcasters.

?If the government is not liberal with its policies, DTH will come in India through the back door. The technology is ready and waiting, there is local content, the market is big enough and there is a need for DTH. India should be careful not to create a Napster-like situation because of pressures,” said Mr Vivanco.

The music distribution over Internet came through the backdoor. Dominated by an expensive manual distribution system, the music industry was lying too comfortable and too fat, for too long. DTH could make an entry like the music business, Mr Vivanco added.

Eutelsat is also plans to tap the re-broadcasting market in India. Television content from India would get re-broadcasted on the Hot Bird satellite in the overseas markets.

The overcapacity of satellites in the Asian region, Mr Vivanco said, is leading to a “lot of price dumping in the market.” Several small operators have joined the business, while big players have created more capacity. “For satellite companies, the trend is towards consolidation. We just bought a small operator, Stellat, in France. With a fleet of 18 satellites and additional capacity on three other satellites, Eutelsat has the flexibility to shift capacities. We shifted one of our beams on satellite for coverage on Afghanistan, for the US attack on Taliban,” said Mr Vivanco.

From its Hot Bird and other orbital positions, Eutelsat transmits 1,300 TV and 550 radio stations to 98 million cable and satellite homes. “With an excess satellite capacity in the market and the global economy not expanding, the industry is going through a tough period. But with most of the broadcasters, we have signed long term contracts and so are better protected,” said Mr Vivanco.




29/10/02

Livechat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom.

Lots of news today

The Access 1 internet service on B3 Globecast has changed its no longer available to dialup users. The service will remain on the transponder though.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Zapara

RTS Satellite channel seen on Pas 2 Tarbs mux

http://www.rts.co.yu/kategorija_program.asp?redosled=prioritet&Category=xtsatsema

Subject: [Apsattv] 12527 Vert services

Most people may not be aware of it but the 12595 Vert services are now
transposed on 12527 Vert, because they do not have a NIT they are coming up
untagged on a Nokia, all the PIDs are the same, the actual Program Map
loads up 41 chs although only the Tagged chs load on a Humax, It looks
like the ch shuffling has started.

If you have a copy of Sept 2002 Satfact, it contains a comparison chart for
B3 and C1 transponders.


From Bill Richards 27/10/02

0805 UTC

Pas 2 4045 H Sr 6110, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256, SID1 "9MHz SCPC" "Indy Car Feed from Queensland Australia"

From Bill Richards 28/10/02

1910 UTC

Pas 8 3920 V Sr 25707, Fec 7/8
Vpid 257 Apid 258 SID1 Mexico APEC 2002 test card
Vpid 273 Apid 275 SID2 apec promos
Vpid 289 Apid 291 SID3 apec promos
Vpid 305 Apid 306 SID4 apec promos
Vpid 321 Apid 322 SID5 apec promos
Vpid 337 Apid 338 SID6 apec promos
Vpis 353 Apid 354 SID7 apec promos

Regards
Bill


From "Yudi" 27/10/02

Feed on palapa c2 :

3885H sr 5632
3895H sr 5632

it also seen last weekend...i guess the feed is for serie A soccer...fta
but sctv and tpi broadcast serie A in fta also....


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 4087 V "KISB 3" has left , replaced by a test card.

PAS 8 166E 4050 V The TVB mux is still Fta.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Southern Spice" has started, Fta, PIDs 520/648.


NEWS


ACCC decision near on Foxtel-Optus alliance


From http://afr.com/companies/2002/10/29/FFXNEXA4U7D.html

Foxtel and Optus should know the fate of their proposed $1.3 billion alliance as early as next week after meetings with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams met senior ACCC officials in Canberra.

But it is believed the pay-TV group and the regulator remain divided on several key competition issues relating to Foxtel's plan to share programming with Optus.

Dialogue is expected to continue this week and the partners are likely to know early next week if the alliance - and a separate deal to allow Telstra to bundle pay-TV, internet and telephony services - will proceed.

Telstra, Foxtel's 50 per cent shareholder, is adamant that the content-sharing and bundling deals are linked and will not be separated, despite the requests of the regulator.

But the ACCC remains concerned about the competitive impact of allowing Telstra to bundle products, including pay-TV, while third parties will be compelled to take an inseparable package of basic content from Foxtel which will mirror that offered by Telstra.

The regulator is understood to be keen for Foxtel to consider giving its competitors access to a specific Foxtel channel or channels to boost competition, specifically the premium sports channel Fox Sports.

Fox Sports, now owned by Foxtel's 25 per cent shareholders Publishing and Broadcasting and News Corporation, is part of Foxtel's basic package of programming.

The package is being offered to third party infrastructure providers on an all-or-nothing basis under one of a series of 12 undertakings Foxtel has given to the ACCC to allay competition concerns.

Meanwhile, fresh concerns have arisen about the fate of legislation which will ensure Foxtel receives immunity from standard regulation under the Trade Practices Act. Foxtel says it needs the security provided by legislative amendments to the Trade Practices Act to ensure it spends $600 million to upgrade its network to digital.

The reforms would allow companies like Foxtel to give enforceable undertakings to provide third-party access to their digital services without having the new service "declared" and thus regulated.


Satellite ISP shuts doors


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5382534%255E15306,00.html

SATELLITE internet service provider Access 1 has closed its doors, telling its customers to look elsewhere for their internet connectivity.

Access 1, which was bought by ASX-listed Swish Group in January, notified customers by email on Friday that their connections would be terminated at 5pm that day.

They were advised to contact Pacific Internet to arrange a new service.

Pacific Internet, who provided Access 1's bandwidth, confirmed they had cut off the satellite ISP for failing to pay its bills.

"They didn't pay their bills for a couple of months, so eventually we had to cut them off," said Pacific spokeswoman Caroline Shawyer.

"It's unfortunate for their customers, but we want to stay afloat, so we had to do it."

One Access 1 customer said they had not received a bill from the company for six or seven months.

Swish Group has been contacted for comment.


Funding agency reviews subsidy of TV transmitters


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

New Zealand On Air is reviewing its $1 million-plus funding for transmission coverage so 14,000 homes can receive TV One and TV2.

The households are in black spots in Northland, north Taranaki, coastal Wairarapa, Milford Sound, Murchison, the West Coast and Banks Peninsula.

NZ On Air wants to revise the $1.18 million subsidy it pays TVNZ now that TV One and TV2 are available on Sky Television's satellite platform.

TV One and TV2 are not encrypted, so homes with a satellite dish and decoder can receive the digital signals without having to pay a Sky subscription.

However, households without Sky would need to buy the hardware - a satellite dish and set-top box - to receive the digital signals.

"On a technical level, we are continuing to pay a subsidy for maintaining the analogue transmitters in those remote areas needlessly," NZ On Air chief executive Jo Tyndall said.

The review would assess the lifespan and viability of the analogue system.

The $1.18 million could pay for 250 hours of a magazine programme or studio-based children's show, Ms Tyndall said. NZ On Air would find out how many of the homes affected already had Sky.

There was no suggestion NZ On Air would pay for a set-top box and a satellite dish for homes that do not have them, but TVNZ believed the subsidy should continue despite its deal with Sky.

"That is a pay service and the whole purpose of this [subsidy] is to provide free-to-air access to those channels," TVNZ spokesman Glen Sowry said.

He said TVNZ and NZ On Air had many times discussed the best way to achieve universal coverage.

NZ On Air hopes to report to the Government by the end of the year and have a decision before next June.


TV direct sales outdo hopes


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Australian direct sales group TVSN says its foray into the New Zealand digital television market is performing better than expected.

TVSN, which runs infomercials, home shopping and wholesale retail operations, launched on the Sky Television platform in New Zealand in August 2002, reaching an estimated 330,000 new viewers.


NDS rejects latest charges by Measat


From indiantelevision.com

LONDON: News Corp technology arm NDS Group has responded to the latest suit filed against it by Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan's satellite group, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems. "NDS has categorically rejected these allegations in the past and has motions pending to have the case dismissed," a company statement says.

The lawsuit which began with Canal Plus Technologies (CPT) of France alleging that NDS helped fund hackers who published secrets on the Internet about its pay-TV technology, was soon followed by another lawsuit by DirecTV, which blamed NDS of breach of contract, fraud, breach of warranty and misappropriation of trade secrets.

"Measat, a customer of Canal+ Technologies, has filed a motion to intervene in the Canal+ action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on the basis of the same allegations claimed by Canal+ in its action."

"On 1 October Canal+ and NDS agreed to stay all proceedings in the action until the closing of the acquisition of Telepiu by News Corporation, at which time the lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice," the statement goes on to say.

Recently , NDS filed a countersuit which alleges that DirecTV Enterprises and a chip manufacturer had misappropriated NDS' trade secrets and proprietary information, conspired to infringe NDS' patents, colluded to create unfair competition and breached agreements and licenses restricting the use of NDS' intellectual property.

The Measat suit followed a day after NDS countersued DirecTV.

MEASAT's entry into the proceedings adds a new twist to this ongoing saga as Canal Plus was to have dropped its suit as part of a deal struck earlier this month when its parent company, Vivendi Communications, sold its Italian pay-TV operation, Telepiù, to News Corp.

NDS has repeatedly denied all allegations, which its says are "baseless and motivated by a desire on the part of certain persons and entities to cause harm to NDS and to thwart legitimate competition from NDS".


Australia To Help Ease DSN Demand


From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/dsn-02f.html

When six spacecraft besiege Mars in early 2004, CSIRO will help NASA catch as much data from them as possible.

The three tracking stations of NASA's Deep Space Network - near Canberra, Madrid in Spain and Goldstone in California - will be working flat out to monitor the Mars craft and several others.

CSIRO oversees the operation of the Canberra station on NASA's behalf.

"We've recently upgraded the station," says station Director Mr Peter Churchill. "We can now listen to two spacecraft and talk to one of them, all at the same time through one antenna."

And the Parkes telescope has been contracted to lend a hand by tracking some of the Mars spacecraft and others from November 2003 to February 2004.

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey probes are already orbiting the planet. Six more missions will arrive in 2003-04.

NASA's two robotic Mars Exploration Rovers will be looking for evidence of liquid water and analysing rocks and soil. Nozomi, Japan's first Mars probe, will be studying the upper atmosphere. And Europe's Mars Express will map surface and subsurface structures. It will drop a British lander, Beagle 2, which will search for signs of water and life.

NASA is spending $US54 million ($A100 million) to prepare the Deep Space Network for the coming 'traffic jam'.

The 64-m Parkes telescope has tracked NASA spacecraft from the 1960s through to the 1990s. Its most prominent role, celebrated in the film "The Dish", was supporting the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing.

"Our ability to track spacecraft and to build the necessary technology flows from our basic research in radio astronomy," says John Brooks, Assistant Director of CSIRO's Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), which operates the Parkes Observatory.

NASA will pay about $A3 million to cover Parkes' tracking time, to build a sensitive new signal receiver, and to upgrade the telescope's surface.

Some of the wire mesh panels in the outer part of the dish will be replaced with more even ones of perforated aluminium sheet, to enlarge the smooth part of dish's surface. This will make the dish more sensitive to signals at 8. 4 GHz, the frequency at which the spacecraft will broadcast. The work will be carried out by Sydney Engineering Pty Ltd.

The surface upgrade and the new receiver will double the amount of signal power the telescope can collect at this frequency. "This is a major gain for NASA and for the astronomers from all around the world who use the telescope," says Dr John Reynolds, Officer in Charge at the Parkes Observatory.


China’s New Satellite to End Airwave Hijacking


From satnewsasia.com

Apstar VI, a communications satellite built by Alcatel Space to resist signal hijacking from the ground, will be launched in late 2004 by China to combat what it claims are signals terrorism by the outlawed Falun Gong religious movement.

Apstar VI will be operated by APT Satellite Co Ltd in Hong Kong and will become China's first foreign-made satellite employing technology to prevent malicious interruptions. Apstar VI, with an expected mission life of 13 years, will be orbited by a Long March-3B launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It will carry 38 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders that will provide broadcasting and telecommunications services in China, Southeast Asia, Australia and Hawaii.

This countermeasure comes in the wake of alleged signals hijackings by Falun Gong followers based in Taiwan. Earlier this month, China claimed Taiwan as the source of TV signals illegally transmitted by the Falun Gong. It said the signals originated in the Taipei area and were traced through the use of internationally-accredited technologies and advanced monitoring equipment.

Twice in September, signals allegedly beamed by Falun Gong cult members repeatedly jammed transmissions of the Sino Satellite (Sinosat) system. Beijing's experts claim to have traced the source of interference to the area of Taipei. Taiwan earlier dismissed China's allegations that Falun Gong members had used the island to hijack signals from Sinosat. Lin Ching-chih, an official at Taiwan's Directorate General of Telecommunications, called Beijing's charges "far-fetched" as they had sent personnel and equipment to investigate a site in Yangming Mountain near Taipei from where Beijing claimed the broadcast signals originated and had found nothing.

Last September, Alcatel Space and the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) signed a contract to jointly develop the first high capacity Chinese telecommunications satellite. Both parties signed the contract in the presence of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Alcatel President and Chief Executive Officer Serge Tchuruk, the President of China Aerospace Corporation (parent company of CAST) Zhang Qingwei and the President of Asia Pacific Telecom (APT), Chen Zao Bing.

Alcatel will provide the payload module for the satellite, Dongfanghong-4 (DFH-4) to CAST for integration into DFH4. The new satellite that will be delivered to APT (Hong Kong) will provide communication, radio and TV broadcasting services to telecom operators and the broadcast industry. DFH-4 is to be launched by a Long March rocket in 2005. In 2001, APT purchased the Apstar VB satellite from Alcatel Space.

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 DBS in China, which allows improved reception of satellite information with smaller antennae.

Alcatel Space develops satellite technology solutions for telecommunications, navigation, optical and radar observation, meteorology and scientific applications. It also Europe's leading contractor for Earth observation, meteorology and navigation ground segments, as well as space systems operations. Alcatel established itself in China the 1980s with a full portfolio of telecom equipment activities.


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 43/2002 27 October 2002 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A


AUSTRALIA

REGULATOR EXPECTS PAY-TV DECISION IN MID-NOVEMBER

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said on October 22 it
expects to make a decision on a proposed deal between pay-TV companies
Foxtel and SingTel Optus in mid-November. The regulatory process has been
slowed by other industry participants wanting extra time to make their
submissions to the ACCC, a spokeswoman said. The ACCC has received several
submissions and is continuing to have discussions with many parties, she
added. According to a report in the Australian Financial Review newspaper,
the regulator is at odds with Foxtel over key parts of its planned alliance
with SingTel Optus’ pay-TV business, raising speculation that the deal may
collapse if more concessions are sought. The commission also has
reservations about a separate plan by Foxtel’s 50% owner, Telstra Corp, to
bundle pay-TV with its telephone and Internet services, the paper said.
Foxtel and SingTel Optus have rejigged their alliance hoping to overcome
ACCC objections to their original plan. The pair want to align their pay-TV
offerings, hoping to bring an end to widespread losses in their industry.

NETWORK SEVEN OPPOSES LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

Terrestrial Network Seven said it opposed legislative changes that would
guarantee that pay-TV leader Foxtel would be able to recover the estimated
€300 million cost of digitising its network. Under the terms of legislation
currently before the upper house of the Australian parliament, the
Telecommunications Competition Bill, Foxtel would be able to set the tariff
for access to services on the digitised network even before it is built.
But Seven argues that this would be contrary to the Trades Practices Act
that mandates open access to pay-TV services. Seven added that it is
concerned that Foxtel would be able to control the digital gateway to
households for TV, telephony and the Internet. Foxtel, which is proposing a
content sharing deal with third-ranked pay TV platform Optus in order to
cut content acquisition costs, says that it needs to know what it can
charge for access to a digitised network to persuade shareholders Telstra,
News Corp and PBL to pay for the upgrade.

CHINA HONG KONG

PAY-TV CHANNELS TAKE STAND AGAINST PIRACY

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), which
represents 120 member companies, has confirmed that a law suit has been
initiated against five companies involved in the trading of unlicensed
satellite TV signal decoding equipment. The defendants are charged with
selling equipment that enables the unauthorized distribution of programming
in Hong Kong. Broadcasters named as plaintiffs in the suit are STAR TV,
CNN, Turner Entertainment Network, ESPN STAR Sports, Discovery and NGC
Network, who are all seeking damages as well as an injunction to prevent
further unauthorized distribution of their services.

MALAYSIA

MEASAT JOINS CANAL+ COURT ACTION

Measat Broadcast Network Systems, a Malaysian satellite broadcaster and a
customer of Canal+ Technologies, has filed a motion to intervene in the
Canal+ action in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of California on the basis of the same allegations claimed by Canal+ in its
action. NDS has categorically rejected these allegations in the past and
has motions pending to have the case dismissed. On October 1, 2002 Canal+
and NDS agreed to stay all proceedings in the action until the closing of
the acquisition of Tele+ by News Corporation, at which time the lawsuit
will be dismissed with prejudice.

NEW ZEALAND

SKY TV TO LAUNCH E-MAIL SERVICE

Leading pay-TV operator, Sky Network Television, expects to launch its
television-based e-mail service in November. Subscribers would need to
purchase a wireless keyboard to operate the e-mail system, which will be
text-based and won’t support attachments. Pay-per-view movies generated
revenue of NZ$10 million in the company’s last financial year with a
heavyweight boxing fight earning NZ$900,000 alone. The recently launched
games channel has signed up 13,222 subscribers.

(Craigs comment, Games channel??? they are referring to LUDI games, its not a channel, rather low quality games that play and look like something from the early 1980's)


THE PHILIPPINES

NEW RULES FOR CABLE CARRIAGE

Philippine TV regulator the NTC is to publish new rules preventing program
providers from entering into exclusive arrangements with cable operators.
The move was prompted by Hong Kong-based Star's decision to pull five
channels from Destiny Cable. Destiny, which is the second-ranked MSO in the
Manila area, reportedly fears that channel providers are pressured by
bigger rival Beyond Holdings to sign exclusive deals. Star has not given a
reason for pulling its channels from Destiny.

SAUDI ARABIA

GLOBAL ISLAMIC TV CHANNEL TO LAUNCH

The first English-language Islamic television channel launches next month,
promoting the religion's teachings across the Middle East, with plans to
roll the service out across Europe, Asia and North America. The Saudi-based
Almajd Group, a privately-owned conglomerate with interests in real estate
and airport services, is making its first moves into the TV sector with the
launch of two channels: Al Majd (in Arabic) and sister service Al Majd 2,
in English. Both are due to launch on the first day of Ramadan on November
6. The free-to-air services are intended to "propagate Islamic knowledge
and awareness," according to Almajd Group, featuring documentaries, current
affairs, news, re-enactments from Islamic history, children's shows and
animation. The channels will also feature live coverage from the Grand
Mosque in Mecca during the Islamic holy month, alongside other programmes
on Islamic instruction. The channels are intended to cater to the estimated
100 million satellite homes across the Islamic world. Besides carriage on
Egyptian satellite platform Nilesat, Almajd Satellite Broadcasting
Corporation is building set-top boxes that are designed only to decode
Almajd signals so viewers in Saudi Arabia can avoid what they see as
"pornographic Western channels", said an Almajd spokesman. After Ramadan,
the English-language channel will also be carried by Eutelsat and AsiaSat,
and there are also plans to have the service on Astra in Malaysia and on
Telstar for the US. The English channel will air eight hours a day, from
production bases in Cairo, Riyadh and Dubai.




28/10/02

No update is a Holiday here today




27/10/02

NO update Sunday





26/10/02

Sorry only a small update today. What is the ABC up to ? I wonder how long the broadcasts on B1 will stay FTA?

Not much news today

Various feeds seen today B1, 12430V 12420V and 12410V


From my Emails & ICQ


From SSS <[email protected]

Dear All,

For your information, the ABC have implemented Regional Blocking on all
their Aurora TV Services.

This means that all DTH viewers will now only have their State Regional ABC
TV channel available (except ABC SE viewers who will also get the ABC
National Channel 49). ABC have implemented this on instruction from their
legal department.

Please call the ABC on 1300 139994 if you would like further information.

Regards,
Satellite Support Services.
"Yes" Optus
Service Out of this World!


(Craigs comment, anyone know why and what they are up to?)


From newsmedia

HAMARA TV

According to their website the start-up HAMARA TV has now been deffered to Early January 2003
http://www.hamaratv.com/hamaratv.asp?section=news


From Zapara

CCTV1 Asiasat 2

Show TV Thaicom 3


From the Dish


Nothing received


NEWS


CNBC Asia cuts 40 jobs in region-wide restructuring


From http://asia.reuters.com

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Business news network CNBC Asia will cut 40 jobs as part of a restructuring of its Asia-Pacific operations to meet declining advertising revenue, a spokesman for the company said on Friday.

Shawn Galey, vice president for business and legal affairs at CNBC Singapore -- a joint venture between NBC and Dow Jones & Co DJ -- said most of the job losses would be in the city state and were effective from today.

"Of the 40 people between 80 and 90 percent will be from the Singapore operation," Galey said. The job losses reduce CNBC Asia's total workforce by 23 percent to 135 people from 175.

Galey said conditions in the global advertising market place were driving the change "combined with very demanding shareholders who want to get a return on their investment".

As a result of the cutbacks, CNBC Asia will switch to U.S. programming from 8.00 pm. (1200 GMT) each evening to coincide with the start of the trading day in New York.




25/10/02

Hamara TV confirmed as being on Adhoc channel in the Globecast mux on Optus B3

I was going to put up some screenshots from Thaicom 3, but they will have to wait until tommorow

One email for the ANON Rumour Column

"Optus C1 planning to be positioned at 152deg E, Aurora customers are the ONLY ones moving, This can be confirmed by the Aurora ch reshuffling. Foxtel to stay on B3 because C1 power level to be down by as much as 3db compared with B3. and they can not afford to reposition dishes and change to larger dish size. 1.2mt required for reliable service."



From my Emails & ICQ


From Ahmad Mobasheri

RE: Shandong TV Asiasat 2
No signal in Auckland . AS2, 3853V,6813,3/4.

Cheers


From Various..

Optus B1, 12410 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 "Channel 10 Indy Feeds"


From Mike

Hi,

Tarbs have added MBC (arabic), Eurosports News, Marco Polo (Italian), Hunan TV (Mandarin), Asia Plus (Mandarin) ... More to come. Tarbs Channel Line UP so far.

TARBS Channel line up as of 25/10/02

Credits to Phil Debono

channel 1: Sky Racing/Nightmoves
channel 2: ESPN sports
channel 3: CNN
channel 4: MCM
channel 5: Cartoon Network
channel 6: TCM
channel 7: ESC (ARABIC)
channel 8: NDM (ARABIC)
channel 9: FUT (ARABIC)
channel 10: NTV (RUSSIAN)
channel 11: NTVP (RUSSIAN)
channel 12: KDTV (TURKISH)
channel 13: ATV (TURKISH)
channel 14: SHOW TV (TURKISH)
channel 15: TRT INT (TURKISH)
channel 16: VIZ (VIZYON TURKISH)
channel 17: NITV (PERSIAN)
channel 18: TVP (POLISH)
channel 19: ESC-2 (ARABIC)
channel 20: TVC (SPANISH)
channel 21: TVE (SPANISH)
channel 22: TI (TELETALIA)
channel 23: VIT VIDEO ITALIA(ITALY)
channel 24: TVG (PORTUGUESE)
channel 25: MKTV (MACEDONIAN)
channel 26: PINK PLUS (BELGRADE)
channel 27: BKTV (SERBIAN)
channel 28: RTS (SERBIAN)
channel 29: KOTV (KOREAN)
channel 30: TLIB (LEBANON)
channel 31: PHOE (CANTONESE)
channel 32: CCTV-4 (MANDARIN)
channel 33: TFC (FILIPINO)
channel 34: CIN1 (FILIPINO)
channel 35: TV SYRIA (ARABIC)
channel 36: ALPHA (GREEK)
channel 37: MEGA COSMOS (GREEK)
channel 38: ERT (GREEK)
channel 39: ANTENNA (GREEK)
channel 40: SIC (PORTUGESE)
channel 41: C1 (Armenian)
channel 42: EGYPTIAN CHANNEL 3 (ARABIC)
channel 43: NILE VARIETY (ARABIC)
channel 44: ORT (RUSSIAN)
channel 45: PALESTINIAN CHANNEL (ARABIC)
channel 46: MBC (ARABIC)
channel 47: Al-MANAR TV LEBANON (ARABIC)
channel 48: .............
channel 49: .............
channel 50: .............
channel 51: .............Channels 48 to 54 are for
channel 52: .............the future
channel 53: .............
channel 54: .............
channel 55: PTV (POWER TV MANDARIN)
channel 56: TV MODA (ITALIAN)
channel 57: EUROSPORT NEWS
channel 58: Marco Polo (Italian)
channel 59: TV5 THAI TV GLOBAL NETWORK
channel 60: IRIB-3 (IRANIAN)
channel 61: TELEFE INTERNACIONAL (SPANISH)
channel 62: TARBS Test card
channel 63: TARBS Test card
channel 64: INN (ITALIAN)
channel 65: ALICE/LEONARDO (ITALIAN)
channel 66: RAI INTERNATIONAL(ITALIAN)
channel 67: TELEPACE (ITALIAN)
channel 68: TV MODA (ITALIAN)
channel 69: Power TV (Mandarin)
channel 70: ASIA PLUS (MANDERIN)
channel 71: HUNAN TV (MANDERIN)
channel 72: TARBS Test card

Channel 58 has EuroSports will keep an eye on this one to see if it stays


Mike


(Craigs comment, Hunan and Asia Plus are of course FTA on Cband, keep an eye on them and see if they stay FTA)


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Star Chinese" has left .
PAS 8 166E 4050 V All channels and test cards in the TVB mux are now encrypted.

Optus B1 160E 12734 V "Sky Box Office Movies 63-64" have started on , Videoguard,SIDs 1046-1047, PIDs 2305/2306-2307/2308.

Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H "Shopping S" has left , replaced by a test card.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 4169 H "Occasional feeds" on , Sr 4400, Fec 3/4.

Intelsat 906 64E 3963 R "TBN" has started , Fta, Sr 6620, Fec 3/4, PIDs 1360/1320,West Hemi beam.


NEWS


Seven sets dogs on Foxtel


From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5356026%255E462,00.html

THE Seven Network is expected to launch a multi-million-dollar damages claim against pay-TV group Foxtel and its owners next week, relating to the demise of Seven's pay-TV sports channel, C7.

After more than a year of pre-action discovery, the network is expected to launch an action in the Federal Court under the Trade Practices Act.

It will allege that Foxtel and its owners - The Australian's owner, News Ltd - Publishing & Broadcasting, Telstra and others used their market power to force C7's demise.

While the case is likely to prompt months of legal argument, its immediate effect will be to pressure the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission into disallowing the Foxtel-Optus content-sharing deal.

Sources have also told The Australian Seven believes it has strong evidence against Telstra which it may also be able to use to leverage itself into a future T3 sell-off.

In 1997, Seven delayed the Optus listing after suing the Optus Vision consortium, of which Seven was a member, before the matter was settled.

Seven's C7 sports channel ceased operation on Optus in March when its AFL pay-TV rights expired.

Foxtel, News, PBL, Ten and Telstra gained the AFL rights in a five-year, $500 million deal last year.

Seven owned the first and last right of refusal on the AFL rights, but could not match the consortium's bid.

Seven began the pre-discovery process in July last year, seeking information on the TV rights negotiations for the NRL and AFL.

It also sought information from News, Publishing & Broadcasting, Foxtel, Fox Sports, Telstra and the AFL on how the contract was awarded.

At the time, Seven's managing director of new media and investments Steve Wise said: "We are concerned that this powerful consortium may have made illegal arrangements and used their market power to remove competition from subscription TV in Australia."

The court allowed Seven access to most, but not all, of the documents it sought.

Seven executive chairman Kerry Stokes has recently been talking up the potential action to Seven's investors.

Seven said this year it had formed a board subcommittee to consider its legal options.

It said in August its deliberations were continuing.

Meantime, Optus chief executive Chris Anderson said yesterday he did not believe recent reports that the ACCC would disallow its deal with Foxtel.

He maintained consumers would be the greatest beneficiaries from the deal and maintained it would be difficult for Optus to remain in pay-TV if the deal was defeated.


Casbaa clamps down in HK on unlicenced decoder sale


From www.indiantelevision.com

HONG KONG: The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) has confirmed that civil action was launched in Hong Kong on Monday against five companies for allegedly importing and trading in unlicensed satellite TV signal decoding equipment.

The plaintiffs named in the actions are Star TV, CNN, Turner Entertainment Network, ESPN Star Sports, Discovery and NGC Network.

There has been concern among Casbaa members since the beginning of the year that traders are selling decoders for services that are not licensed in Hong Kong. For example, pay TV service providers such as UBC of Bangkok, Astro of Kuala Lumpur and Dream of Manila are only authorised to distribute the channels mentioned earlier in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines respectively and are not legally authorized to distribute them in Hong Kong.

In mid-2002 the Casbaa-member channels hired an independent investigation firm to collect evidence against companies in Hong Kong that were selling equipment and subscriptions for various pay-TV services and packages that do not originate from Hong Kong.

"We see these actions as a 'heads-up' that commercial entities that do not pay the copyright owners for the right to distribute their signals will be taken to court," Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies, was quoted as saying in an official release.




24/10/02

A New Indian service has popped up from out of the woodwork, HamaraTV claims to be the local channel for Australia and NZ Indians. It's likely to be on Optus B3 but the info is confusing as it says its free but also mentions a smartcard. Globecast or BTV perhaps?

New Technosat IRD's being used on Zee's B3 Vision Asia service are not working acording to prospective customers who have been inquiring to see when their install will take place with the NZ installation and service agent. This is leaving many unhappy prospective subscribers worried that they will miss out on the Diwali celebrations. Dealers now may be a good time for Cband Indian "Diwali" special

Sky channel labled 0404 and 0104 that appeard last week have left. The newest change noticed is below

12733 V Sr 22500 Fec 3/4

"SBO Movies 63" Vpid 2305 Apid 2306 Sid 1046 PMT 276
"SBO Movies 64" Vpid 2307 Apid 2308 Sid 1047 PMT 273

A mailer from Sky says their "SKYMAIL" email service will be available by Christmas here it is.

"SKYmail arrives in time for Christmas"

The Convenience of television email is now here in your living room.SKYmail is a revolutionary new service from SKY that lets you send and receive text based emails on your TV just in time fo Christmas. Access SKYmail through the interaction key on your digital remote. If you are a SKY Digital subscriber all you need to do is purchase SKY'S funky new wireless keyboard. SKYmail is easy to use, and comes with easy to follow instructions. It's also much cheaper than a computer and best of all, you can do it from your couch. You can access your existing email addresses or setup a SKYmail address at a small cost. To find out more about SKYmail call 0800 759343.

Pas 8 ABC Asia Pacific Temp feed on KU has left



From my Emails & ICQ


From Mayadass Brijmohun


Dear craig

Fijian indian community in australia have put efforts together to start a satellite tv channel.
They have website hamaratv.com.

They start broadcasting as from this Sunday 19.00-20.00.FTA

A 90 cms Ku dish is required,but not much details are available.

For all those fans of bollywood,indian news,indian soaps etc,try to scan the skies this sunday 27 oct.

May it will be on Optus B3 Globecast feeds.

Brij , canberra.


(Craigs comment, this taken from their site "Please call (61) 2 9821 1131 or email [email protected] to get information about installing HAMARA TV at your premises. To get connected you will require a satellite dish (approx 87cms), digital decoder and smart card. People with existing satellite dish and decoders maybe be able to watch HAMARA TV. Please call us to find out if you can. Only outlay will be installation charges and equipment. HAMARA TV is free to air TV and does not require subscription" there has been no response to my request for info so far.)


From Zapara

Shandong TV on Asiasat2 3856V Sr 6811

It took a couple of minutes to load on the Nokia with the ABW around
5. signal leval is about 50% and slightly skew to the other services?.
Asiasat 2 here is fluctuating randomly in power levels over numerous
transponders. some go weak while others increase then vice versa, has
anybody else noticed that.

Alek

Shandong TV Screenshot


From Lai Chee

Recieving Shandong TV loud and clear in Whyalla South Australia.

Lat 33 02 Long 137 34
2.4 Perfect 10 Dish
SatCruiser 101

Chee


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "SET Taiwan, SET Metro, SET News and Star Chinese" are back ,Viaccess 2, PIDs 410/411, 420/421, 440/441 and 920/921.
PAS 8 166E 4050 VA TVB mux has started , Fta, Sr 13240, Fec3/4, SIDs 1-4,PIDs 1160/1120-1460/1420, line-up: TVB 8, TVBJ test card, TVB Xing He Channel and a test card.

Measat 2 148E 12532 H All channels in the I-Sky-Net mux are encrypted again,except MAC TV and Tzu Chi TV.

Gorizont 33 145E 3731 R "STS (+7h)" has started , Fta, Sr 3200, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195. (Beam, not Global)

Palapa C2 113E 3926 H "Bali TV" has left .(Anyone confirm?)

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3864 V "CCTV 1" has started , Fta, SR 4420, Fec 7/8, SID 301, PIDs 512/650.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3923 H Reuters World News Service has moved to 3905 H, Fta, Sr 4000, Fec3/4, PIDs 512/640.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3672 H "Show TV has replaced Kanal 7 International" on , PIDs 2081/2082.

LMI 1 75E 3431 H The occasional feeds have left .

PAS 10 68.5E 3808 V "Ten Sports Pakistan" has started on , Irdeto 2, PIDs 34/40. It's Ten Sports India on PIDs 32/33.


NEWS


New Satellite Makes Debut to End Airwave Hi-jacking


From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200210/24/eng20021024_105584.shtml

An anti-jamming communications satellite, capable of carrying radio and TV signals to the whole of China and parts of the United States, will be launched at the end of 2004 by a Chinese launch provider, industry executives announced Wednesday in Beijing.

An anti-jamming communications satellite, capable of carrying radio and TV signals to the whole of China and parts of the United States, will be launched at the end of 2004 by a Chinese launch provider, industry executives announced Wednesday in Beijing.

APSTAR VI, made by the French-based Alcatel Space for APT Satellite Co Ltd in Hong Kong, will become China's first foreign-made satellite employing technology to prevent malicious interruptions, corporate officials said at an agreement signing ceremony last night.

"The satellite will be reinforced by state of the art technology to make acts of sabotage technically impossible,'' said Liu Zhixiong, vice-president of the China Great Wall Industry Corp, China's sole launch provider.

Under the agreement struck with APT (HK), the Great Wall firm will place APSTAR VI into orbit atop its Long March-3B launch vehicle at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the fourth quarter of 2004, Liu said.

With an expected mission life of 13 years, the satellite has 38 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders which will provide broadcasting and telecommunications services for regions including China, Southeast Asia, Australia and Hawaii of the United States, he said.

The manufacturer, Alcatel Space -- a global space industry leader -- was not available to comment on the launch last night.

The technical reinforcement is a countermeasure following the latest hi-jacking episode in which Falun Gong cult followers, based in Taiwan, illegally interrupted the normal transmissions of SINOSAT-1 owned by Sino Satellite Communications Corp (SINOSAT) last month, according to Liu and other officials.

Min Changning, chief engineer of SINOSAT, a Beijing-based satellite operator, said his company had considered applying high-technology to a new, domestically manufactured satellite to prevent further airwaves hi-jackings.

The satellite is also due to be launched in 2004, Min said in an earlier interview with China Daily.

He Dongfeng, vice-president of APT (HK), said his company chose the Long March rocket as the carrier vehicle because of its reliability and quality service.

Following its first success in 1990, China has carried out 22 commercial launches for overseas customers, placing 27 foreign-manufactured satellites in space, said Zhang Xinxia, president of the Great Wall company.

The Long March 3B -- the most powerful rocket developed in China -- has reported four straight successful launches after its failed first attempt in February 1996, he said.

The Long March rockets are now capable of carrying 5.1 tons of payload into geo-stationary transfer orbit and 9.2 tons of payload into low earth orbit, Zhang said.

"This means that China is well able to send all kinds of satellites into space,'' he said.

The president said launching satellites solely made in Europe has opened new market for China's commercial launch provider.


Billionaire takes on News Corp arm


From http://afr.com/companies/2002/10/24/FFXKAV55M7D.html

A Malaysian billionaire, Ananda Krishnan, has joined a satellite piracy lawsuit against the embattled technology arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, NDS Group.

The Los Angeles Times reported overnight that Mr Krishnan's Malaysian satellite group, MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, had applied last Friday to intervene in proceedings in California between NDS and rival encryption group Canal Plus Technologies.

MEASAT's intervention breathes new life into the case, which was to be dropped as part of a deal struck earlier this month when CPT's parent, Vivendi Communications, sold its Italian pay-TV operation, Telepiù, to News Corp.

No details were available of the claim by MEASAT, which uses CPT encryption smartcards with its Astro satellite pay-TV service in Malaysia. It has an estimated 800,000 subscribers.

Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that Microsoft had a 10 per cent stake in MEASAT.

MEASAT representatives declined to comment yesterday.

Another CPT customer, ITV Digital in Britain, which collapsed in April, had said earlier this year that it was considering legal action against NDS.

When CPT lodged the case against NDS in March it claimed damages of $US1 billion ($1.8 billion), alleging that NDS had reverse engineered the source code for CPT's smartcards and emailed this to a satellite piracy site in Canada in March 1999, allowing millions of counterfeit smartcards to be produced.

NDS, which has strongly denied the claim, has been hit by a barrage of legal action in the past month. US satellite broadcaster DirecTV sued NDS for fraud, while another satellite broadcaster, EchoStar, applied to intervene in the Canal Plus case, claiming that NDS had also hacked its NagraStar smartcard. Days later, NDS was served with 31 subpoenas for documents by a US grand jury investigating related matters.

NDS has repeatedly denied all allegations, which its says are "baseless and motivated by a desire on the part of certain persons and entities to cause harm to NDS and to thwart legitimate competition from NDS".

Yesterday NDS countersued DirecTV, claiming its ex-customer had misappropriated trade secrets.




23/10/02

Thanks to all those that turned up in the chatroom lastnight I was still in there at 3.15a.m NZ!

16 Weeks to go until Asiasat 4 launches at 122E with 28 Cband transponders and 20 Ku. This satellite will be very welcome as many are now having difficultys with Asiasat 2 services. Power levels seem to be fluctuating on some transponders. Can anyone get the Shandong channel that Lyngsat reported today?

Weekend may be a good time to DUST off your dishes after the storm?



From my Emails & ICQ


From Walter Howse

Subject: Indonesian TV in NW Australia

Craig

Thanks for your brilliant site! I am located in Perth.

The comments from Rudino Penny regarding Indonesian TV on UHF are not surprising. In addition to my satellite watching, I am also a keen student of tropospheric propagation. A man called Hepburn provides a daily propagation prediction for VHF/UHF. It can be found on http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_ino.html

This has been showing for the past week very good conditions between Indonesia and NW Australia. Rudino may well like to follow the charts to see when he is likely to get terrestrial TV from Indonesia!

The same site has links to other parts of the world and may be useful in NZ.

Regards
Wally


(Craigs comment, the problem with Indosair on UHF maybe related to a dodgy modulator some of the cheap nasty ones put spurious signals all over the place, gets even worse if the antenna has an amplifier and its finds its way back into the system. The link you supplied is very interesting. I myself used to watch UHF summer TVDX from Auckland down here at the top of the South Island, and I have listened to Aussie FM stations here. Try it when conditions are right you may find yourself enjoying another TV related hobby)


From the Dish


Optus B3 156E 12336 V "SET Asia, Zee TV Australia, Zee Cinema Australia and Star Plus" are now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 4070 H "PN TV" has started Fta, PIDs 1360/1320.

JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V All channels in the I-Sky-Net mux on are encrypted again,except BLTV, MAC TV and Tzu Chi TV.

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3856 V "Shandong TV" has started , Fta, Sr 6811, Fec 3/4, PIDs 32/33. (this has been listed at Asiasats website for a while but those checking couldn't get it on the published settings)

Insat 3B 83E 4677 H "Fortune Media" has started, Fta Sr 2000, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195.

Intelsat 804 has left 64 East, moving east by 3.2 degrees/day.

Intelsat 906 64E

* Reception reports:
I am receiving 4080 L approximately 60% compared with 35-40% before.
There are also several strong spikes on the spectrum around 4160 etc,
but can not be loaded? Nothing else seen.

(A Zapara with 270 cm in Perth, Australia)


NEWS


QAS to supply TARBS World TV with address management solution


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/23/1034561535596.html

QAS Pty Ltd, a provider of address management technology, will supply its QuickAddress management software to TARBS World TV (Television and Radio Broadcasting Services Australia Pty Ltd), a media release says.

QuickAddress will help the pay TV and radio operator to maintain records of subscriber address information and forms part of the broadcaster's new global subscriber management system.

TARBS World TV, a multicultural broadcaster, uses digital satellite technology to broadcast 65 channels in 30 different languages round the clock in Australia.

Dirk Eisner, TARBS' Head of IT, said, "TARBS wanted to ensure it was getting the most out of its PeopleSoft CRM solution. By adding the QuickAddress to our system, we were ensuring the validity of the address information in our customer database, thereby further enhancing operational efficiency".


(Craigs comment, gosh I wonder if it will help them locate all those TARBS MDS decoders that seem to have dissapeard. Mind you they could go down the local market and pay $900 and collect some of them back!)


Foxtel decision delay


From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5337384%255E462,00.html

AUSTRALIA'S competition watchdog has pushed back the timing for its ruling on the controversial Foxtel-Optus pay TV deal, amid reports it is still unhappy with aspects of the bid.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission is now expected to make a decision of the deal in mid-November.

The Australian Financial Review today reported the ACCC was concerned about the structure of Foxtel's proposal to offer programming to third parties.

It also had reservations about a separate plan by Foxtel's major shareholder Telstra Corp to bundle pay TV with telephone and internet services, the newspaper said.

An ACCC spokeswoman said the regulator expected to make a decision on the deal next month.

"I would imagine around mid-November," she said. "We are still working through various issues."

The regulator had previously indicated a decision would likely be reached by the end of this month.

A number of media companies opposing the alliance have made submissions to the ACCC and several had received extensions to last month's deadline.

The AFR said Telstra and Foxtel had met with the ACCC last week to hear a summary of its concerns.

It comes just a day after Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski said a decision on the deal was imminent.

"Our position is well known we believe the very complete set of undertakings that we gave to the ACCC some weeks ago, not only justify approval of the content sharing deal, but really should get their enthusiastic support," he said yesterday.

Foxtel is 50 per cent owned by Telstra, with News Corp (publisher of news.com.au) and Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd holding the rest.

Foxtel, Telstra, Optus and News declined to comment today.

Foxtel last month gave the ACCC 12 key undertakings in a bid to allay competition concerns and win approval for the deal.

The ACCC blocked the initial Foxtel-Optus proposal in June, citing potential breaches of the Trade Practices Act, in areas including the acquisition of content and the likely domination of the Foxtel distribution network.

News Corp deputy chief operating officer Lachlan Murdoch earlier this month indicated the company was not prepared to make further concessions on the deal.

"There really is no room left to move," he told reporters after News Corp's annual general meeting in Adelaide.


Seven brushes off Foxtel tale


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5340830%255E15306,00.html

THE proposed pay-TV industry restructure hit another hurdle yesterday, with the Seven Network opposing legislative changes to guarantee Foxtel investment certainty before it spends $600 million digitising its network.

Seven said Foxtel should not be exempted from the access provisions of the Trade Practices Act, arguing it "would be an abrogation of the policy of both major parties since the early 1990s that there be mandated open access to pay-TV services".

"Given their potential to control the digital gateway to the home for broadcasting, telecommunications and related services, these services are of such importance that exemptions from the access framework should not be granted in any circumstance," Seven said. The comments were Seven's first since Foxtel and Optus provided 12 undertakings to overcome the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's concerns with their content sharing deal in September.

They came in its submission to the Telecommunications Competition Bill, which seeks to amend the Trade Practices Act, now under scrutiny by a senate review committee.

The amendments stem from the Productivity Commission's review of the telecommunications industry.

Apart from the proposed accounting separation of Telstra, the bill also enables companies such as Foxtel to set, in conjunction with the ACCC, access terms and conditions to new infrastructure such as digital pay-TV before making the investment.

Foxtel wants to know how much it can charge for third-party access to its digital service, fearing a repeat of its protracted analogue access dispute with Seven.

Foxtel has made that a con dition of its deal with Optus, about which the ACCC continues to have concerns.

But a Telstra spokesman said the exemption would only be given if the ACCC believed Foxtel's 12 undertakings provided sufficient access guarantees to third-party channel providers.

"The undertakings facilitate open access to all parties to digital, but before the massive investment can be made there needs to be some guarantee of a return on investment," he said.

Foxtel said the ACCC would hold a public inquiry before granting it any exemption.


Telstra to continue with Indosat bid



From http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,2276,61389,00.html

Rival Telekom also not deterred by Bali bomb blasts

TELSTRA Corp wants to pursue its bid for 42 per cent of PT Indonesian Satellite Corp, bankers advising Australia's No 1 phone company said, even though the Bali bomb blasts raise the risk of any investment.

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday warned the country's nationals of the danger of terrorist attacks in Indonesia following the Oct 12 bomb attacks that killed at least 184 people. The government has urged all Australians without essential business to leave the country.

'Clearly the events of the last week or so can only serve to increase our estimate of country risk in Indonesia,' Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski said. 'The appalling events in the last week, however, do not completely shut down our evaluation of potential opportunities in Indonesia.'

Telstra wants to expand in Asia to help recover from its first profit drop in five years. The government-owned company hired UBS Warburg to advise it on its bid, according to bankers at the unit of Switzerland's biggest bank. The bank's spokesman Mark Panday declined to comment.

Indonesia wants to sell most of its 56.9 per cent stake in Indosat to raise money towards a US$4 billion budget deficit and meet pledges to the International Monetary Fund.

Rival bidder Telekom Malaysia Bhd has also said the Bali bomb blasts won't deter it. Salomon Smith Barney Inc is advising Malaysia's No 1 phone company.

Other suitors include Singapore's ST Telemedia Pte and Maxis Communications Bhd, Malaysia's biggest mobile-phone company.

ST Telemedia, part of state-owned Singapore Technologies Pte, is advised by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - Bloomberg


- - - NDS Countersues DirecTV - - -


From SkyREPORT 10/22/02

NDS said it's countersuing DirecTV and two of
its subsidiaries, as well as a chip manufacturer
and that manufacturer's North American sales
affiliate which deals with the satellite TV provider.
NDS, News Corp.'s TV technology unit, said
its countersuit, filed under seal as part of a
lawsuit initiated by DirecTV last month, alleges
that the satellite TV provider and the unnamed
chip manufacturer misappropriated NDS's trade
secrets and proprietary information, conspired
to infringe on NDS patents, colluded to create
unfair competition and breached agreements and
licenses restricting the use of NDS intellectual
property.

In a statement, NDS said that for at least two
years DirecTV has allegedly been working with
the chip manufacturer to develop a knock-off of
NDS's latest generation smart card for DirecTV
that infringes on NDS patents. Additionally, NDS
claimed that DirecTV induced the chip
manufacturer to breach agreements with NDS.

NDS also said DirecTV has been leaking confidential
information related to its smart card to pirate
websites to give the satellite TV service an
excuse to break agreements with NDS and unveil
its competing knockoff smart card.

In response, a DirecTV spokesperson said the NDS
allegations "are a desperate attempt to shift
blame for its own gross misconduct and shortcomings
onto to its customer, DirecTV. These allegations
are completely baseless and patently false."

DirecTV also said it stands by its complaint that
NDS breached its obligations and defrauded the
satellite TV service. "Our complaint is under
seal, it is not appropriate to comment on the
details of the lawsuit. Evidence supporting these
allegations will be presented in court. We believe
we have a strong case and we will prevail in
court," the DirecTV spokesperson said.


BBC may pull plug on Sky


From http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/0,10655,519528,00.html

Corporation fears huge increase in satellite fees next year

BBC1 and BBC2 could be withdrawn from the basic package of channels available to Sky's 6m subscribers if a growing row over the prices the corporation is charged to air its programmes on satellite is not resolved.

The BBC last night warned that it was considering taking the radical action because it feared a multi-million pound escalation in fees when its contract with Sky comes up for renewal in May. "This is money that could be spent on creating new programmes like Blue Planet yet instead its being used to subsidise the cost of Sky's commercial network," said Julian McGougan, senior policy adviser at the BBC.

"We fear the fee Sky wants to charge us could at least triple. At some point we may have to say, sorry, something has to give and one of our options is to take our channels off the platform."

The BBC has teamed up with ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to lobby the government to amend legislation so that public service broadcasters are exempt from paying so called "conditional access" fees on Sky. Cable firms NTL and Telewest levy no charge on any of the terrestrial channels.

A growing number of MPs are sympathetic to the terrestrial channels' cause and the culture media and sport select committee has recommended that public service broadcasters are given free carriage on Sky.

"I have no objection to Rupert Murdoch having the opportunity to own Channel 5 but I worry that he has control of the choke-point in the system which is the set-top box," said Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda and a member of the committee.

"Given Sky's control of the set-top box there needs to be robust, independent arbitration on the prices it charges and Oftel doesn't do that. Otherwise carriage for public service broadcasters needs to be made free altogether."

The extent of the rift between Sky and its terrestrial rivals emerged yesterday after regulator Oftel threw out a complaint from ITV about the price the network is charged to broadcast its programmes on digital satellite TV.

After a lengthy investigation Oftel insisted that it had found no evidence that the £17m charge levied on ITV each year was "unreasonable, unfair or discriminatory".

The money pays for "conditional access" which covers the cost of encrypting ITV broadcasts on Sky so that programme copyrights are protected and regional shows do not spill into other areas.

PSBs insist that because they are obliged to make their programmes available to everyone they should not be charged to show them through Sky.

BSkyB says that broadcasters like ITV are only able to reach its 6m subscribers and benefit from interactive programming because of the £2bn it has invested in digital television infrastructure.

"No complaints against Sky's terms have ever been upheld and Oftel has quite rightly told the PSBs that they should not receive unique treatment and be allowed carriage for free," said a BSkyB source.

Insiders at the satellite firm stress that the BBC is obliged to promote its channels across all platforms and are sceptical it would risk withdrawing its eight digital channels from Sky's 6m homes.




22/10/02

Live chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30 Syd onwards a chance to discuss some ideas about a possible XXX channel?

The big news of the day is Panamsats deal with Jsat, now we should see more activity with Jcsat2a and Jcsat 3 (this bird often overlooked as it needs a good dish to receive)

All Zee channels on B3 appear to have encrypted (noted 4.45pm NZ)

I still didn't get the history section of the site uptodate last night


From my Emails & ICQ


From Rudino Penny

Craig,

I'm a favourite viewer of indonesian programs on palapa c2.I've found in the last 2 months that the signal strength on horizontal freq especially rcti have been so weak!Why?.Another thing I've found with palapa c2 is that when you turn the reciever on and use another t.v in another room and tune on uhf band you will get a clear pic of Indosiar,on UHF!!!!.

Thankyou.(location n/west australia.3m dish)


(Craigs comment, I have emailed Satelindo asking about this but my thought is that RCTI has been knocked back in power due to signal coverage copyright issues in India with some of RCTI's programming.)


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "SBN and PTS" are now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 3834 H A test card has started, Fta, Sr 6425, Fec 3/4, PIDs 34/35.

Palapa C2 113 E 3885 H "Satelindo Feeds" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Balle Balle" has started regular transmissions , Fta, PIDs 516/644.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "ETC Punjabi and ETC" have started, Fta, PIDs 518/646-519/647.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3672 H "Kanal 7 International has replaced Show TV" , Fta, PIDs 2081/2082.


NEWS


PANAMSAT AND JSAT DELIVER SATELLITE SERVICES IN ASIA PACIFIC


From Press Release

Companies Expand Strategic Alliance, Setting The Stage For Further Global Cooperation

WILTON, CT, October 21, 2002 -- PanAmSat Corporation (NASDAQ: SPOT) and JSAT Corporation today announced the formation of a strategic alliance for the distribution of digital video, data and Internet services across the Asia Pacific market. This alliance complements the original PanAmSat and JSAT joint venture called “Horizons,” which supports the construction and operation of a Ku-band satellite over the U.S. Through this new agreement, PanAmSat and JSAT customers will be able to leverage the strength and expertise of each operator in the Asia Pacific region to deliver enhanced digital video, data and Internet delivery solutions to their own customers.

?Through this expanded relationship with JSAT, PanAmSat will be able to provide customers with an even greater level of power and service in the Asia Pacific market,” said Joe Wright, president and chief executive officer of PanAmSat. “Both the BT and JSAT agreements are perfect examples of how PanAmSat is using joint ventures and alliances in developing markets as a primary strategy for growth. Rather than launching new satellites as a means of expansion in new markets, we look for opportunities to expand through collaboration and development with a trusted partner. This strategy results in a wide range of solutions for customers and expanded market access at reduced capital costs. We are excited to have the chance to explore new areas of partnership and growth with JSAT.”

A leading satellite operator in the Asia Pacific region, JSAT owns and operates a network of eight satellites and two ground facilities. “When two of the most powerful companies in a region collaborate as JSAT and PanAmSat have agreed to do here, both companies will be able to provide customers with the best combined satellite distribution solutions available,” said Takuya Yoshida, chief executive officer of JSAT.

The signing of the agreement by Mr. Wright and Mr. Yoshida took place in PanAmSat’s Wilton, CT headquarters. Through the expansion of the relationship, PanAmSat customers will be able to distribute video programming and data in the Asia-Pacific market, via JSAT’s C-band payload on its JCSAT 2A and JCSAT 3 satellites and related ground facilities. PanAmSat customers will also have access to JSAT’s extensive range of communications and broadcasting services, as well as to its expertise in broadcasting to the Asian market. JSAT’s customers will be able to take advantage of PanAmSat’s PAS 2 and PAS 8 satellites, as well as PanAmSat’s strong broadcasting capabilities, satellite neighborhoods, and ground facilities in the Asia Pacific region.

About PanAmSat

PanAmSat Corporation is the premier provider of global video and data broadcasting services via satellite. Operating a global network of 22 in-orbit spacecraft, the company reaches 98 percent of the world’s population through cable television systems, broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers and telecommunications companies. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.panamsat.com.

About HUGHES

HUGHES 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).

About JSAT

JSAT is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The company owns and operates eight satellites in seven orbital slots. JSAT provides communications and broadcasting services that offer a range of unique features made possible by satellite communications which is well suited to support the high-volume, wide-distribution, high-speed networks. Based on its corporate slogan, "JSAT, Expanding Horizons," the company is working to actively expand its business. JSAT is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information on JSAT, visit the company’s web site at www.jsat.net.


Sahara TV plans star-studded Diwali show


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k2/oct/oct128.htm

MUMBAI:Bharat Parva, a three-hour show depicting India's unity in diversity through the various vibrant festivals celebrated in different parts of India, featuring Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Karisma Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani, Rani Mukerjee and Raveena Tandon will be aired on Sahara TV on 3 November at 7:00 pm.

The mega event opens with an impressive laser show set to Vande Mataram followed by an inspiring rendition of Hamari Janmabhoomi (the Hindi version of the famous Bangla song Dhan Dhanya) with special appearances by Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

"This new mega event Bharat Parva is an emotion-driven programme, which evokes patriotic feelings among us with the celebration of national festivals,"Sahara TV, vice president (publicity and PR) Priya Raj is quoted as saying in the release.

Giving a sneak preview , the release states that the show includes Aishwarya Rai's dance, to Purva Suhani Aayee Re to welcome Baisakhi and again to the fast-track Jai Jai Shiv Shankar on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

While Aftab Shivdasani and Karisma Kapoor celebrate Eid with Chand Hai, Holi is a pleasing riot of colours with Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerjee and Raveena Tandon. One will also get to see Shah Rukh and Rani swinging to the popular hit Govinda Ala Re and Karisma offering her obeisance to Lord Ganesh to the reverberating tunes of Morya Re.

The highlight of the show is Shah Rukh calling out to his cheering fans to come on the stage in a show of camaraderie and dancing to Chhaiya Chhaiya.

The thrilling mega event ends with an exclusive and - exciting performance by all the stars to the accompaniment of Sahara India Pariwar's special silver jubilee song Safar Josh Ka, Khushi Jeet Ki, says the release.


(Craigs comment, don't miss this "thrilling mega event" late evening Australia time and in the early hours NZ time)




21/10/02

Thank you to all those people that emailed about a possible XXX channel package. The idea is being looked into.

I hope to update the site history files tonight for the last few months I keep meaning to do it but never get around to it its a cut'npaste job just a bit time consuming to assemble. I also need to look at adding a search feature!



From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards 19/10/02

0745 UTC

Pas2 3968 V Sr 6620 Fec 3/4 Vpid33 Apid36 "Aus vs Pakistan Cricket" (seen fta for a short time, this one is hopping to Pas 9)

It is of course encrypted now..(So don't blame me for publishing this!)


From Spencer 19/10/02

Feeds seen from NBN Telethon

12420v 6980 3/4
12430v 6980 3/4

These are on B1 and are from Taree and Coffs Harbour.
There is one from Port Macquarie but I cant find it.

Spencer


From Dave Knight 20/10/02

B1, 12430V 6980 3/4
B1, 12420V 6980 3/4

Religious services for Bali.
They are using the secondary audio channel for directorial(?) dialogue.


From Retuers World News

ADVISORY-ASIASAT-CLIENTS

TO ALL CLIENTS WHO RECEIVE REUTERS WORLD NEWS SERVICE VIA ASIASAT 2

Further to our advisory of October 3, 2002, the interference problem with
the new channel for the WNS service in Asiasat 2 transponder 8b has been
resolved.

We have been allocated a new frequency channel by Asiasat and would advise
you to move your reception to this new channel after 00.30 GMT on Sunday
October 20, 2002.

The receive parameters for this new channel are as follows:

Centre Frequency: 3905 MHz
Symbol Rate: 4.000 MSymb/s
(On the CSR820 receiver the input frequency is 1245 MHz)

Please note that the WNS service on the old channel in transponder 4b will
cease from 27 October, 2002.

We apologise for any inconvenience being caused to you by our having to
revise our initial planned move, but this was due to external interference
within the channel originally allocated to us by Asiasat.

Best Regards,
Reuters London

Any queries please contact:
Reuters Television HelpDesk
Tel: 44 20 7542 2244
Fax: 44 20 7542 2620
email [email protected]


From the Dish


Optus B1 160E 12370 H Occasional GlobeCast feeds, Sr 6111, Fec 3/4.
Optus B1 160E 12570 H "Mix 106.3" has started, Fta, Sr 1853, Fec 3/4, Apid 4195.

Optus B3 156E 12527 V "Retail Radio Network" has started , Irdeto 1, SID 524, Apid 1872.

Measat 2 148E 12532 H Updates in the I-Sky-Net mux, ETTV News has started on PIDs 432/433, 06-20, time sharing with Hot Channel.All channels are Fta, except ETTV News and Hot Channel.Fujian TV has left PIDs 512/513, replaced by a test card.

Agila 2 146E 4070 H New SR and FEC for the mux here : 10455 and 7/8.

PAS 8 166E 12400 V The Taiwanese mux has left (Digicipher 1).

Apstar 1A 134E 4180 V All channels in the CCTV mux are now Fta.

Palapa C2 113E 3926 H "Bali TV" still has PIDs 33/36.
Palapa C2 113E 4055 V New PIDs for Anteve : 257/258.
Palapa C2 113E 4074 V "Radio Elsinta" is now Fta.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Balle Balle" has started testing , Fta, PIDs 516/644.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3848 H "TVB Xing He Channel" is encrypted again.

Intelsat 906 64E 4160 R, 4175 R and 4183 R, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, Occasioanal feeds on global beam.
Intelsat 906 64E 3898 L "Sun TV (India)" has started , Fta, Sr 3200, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195, NW zone beam.
Intelsat 906 64E 3721 R "Radio Uganda" has started, Fta, APID 35.


NEWS


Terrorists outwit spy bases


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/19/1034561354582.html

Those responsible for the Bali bombing were able to plan and carry it out undetected despite the massive and constant monitoring of communications within Indonesia by spy bases in Australia.

The terrorists appear to have slipped below the high-tech net by avoiding modern phone systems or using simple codes to avoid detection.

The ability to gather vast amounts of information from its neighbours in this electronic eavesdropping operation has long been regarded by its allies as one of Australia's most important strategic assets.

Australia's main role involves massive satellite surveillance of its Asian neighbours' civil and military communications that extends over a third of the planet.

The effectiveness of that complex process is one issue that is likely to be examined closely by the inspector-general of intelligence and security, Bill Blick, as he carries out the investigation ordered by Prime Minister John Howard.

Since 1947, Australia has been part of a highly sensitive intelligence-gathering alliance with the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand approved by the Chifley government. It was top secret for 40 years until revealed by strategic analysts Des Ball and Jeffrey T. Richelson in their book The Ties That Bind.

The agreement divides the planet into spheres of intelligence-gathering responsibility, with Australia's Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) covering the eastern Indian Ocean, parts of South-East Asia and the western Pacific.

Technology has given it a much wider range.

Equipment aboard satellites, aircraft and warships and in land-based stations in Australia acts as a series of massive electronic vacuum cleaners, sweeping up every kind of communication.

That flows to the defence headquarters at Russell Hill in Canberra where powerful computers use key words and groups of words to sift out valuable information from the mass of mundane conversations.

Information that might include details of military movements, plans to destabilise a government, hints at a terrorist operation, a people-smuggling racket or a drug transfer is passed on to specialist agencies for comprehensive analysis.

Linked ground stations at Kojarena, near Geraldton, in Western Australia, Shoal Bay, in the Northern Territory and Waihopai, in New Zealand, intercept satellite signals over a massive area extending from East Africa and Eastern Europe across all of Asia to the mid-Pacific and from the Antarctic up to Siberia.

Key targets are the Palapa satellites which provide the national telecommunications systems of Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

The information gathered by the ground stations is supplemented by a mass of information gathered by Australian naval and air force units on long-distance patrols.

The RAAF's EP-3 Orion maritime-surveillance planes can operate as intelligence platforms and Australia also uses the reconnaissance version of the F-111 bomber, the RF-111C equipped with a long-range imaging pod able to record signals and sounds over a great distance.

The aircraft regularly patrol as far away as India and Pakistan.

As well, information is constantly monitored by patrolling naval vessels and a key role of Australia's six Collins-class submarines is to gather intelligence using their own electronic equipment.

But even that potent system has limitations. It relies on terrorists using modern communications and being sufficiently indiscreet to give the game away. Then it gathers such an enormous amount of information that sifting it for hints that an act of terror is being planned is a logistical nightmare relying heavily on a computer's selection of key words and phrases and analysts' instincts.

Even before September 11, US intelligence specialists warned that long-range electronic surveillance was not going to be enough.


English-language Islamic channel to start in Ramadan


From http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19617

DUBAI, 21 October — The world’s first English-language Islamic satellite television channel, Al-Majd 2, said yesterday it will start broadcasting on the first day of Ramadan, the fasting month.

"As the majority of the world’s Muslims are non-Arabs we felt it was natural to launch this channel in English," said Wajdi Al-Ghazzawi, chief executive officer of Al-Majd 2.

"There are approximately 100 million satellite TV households across the Islamic world," Ghazzawi said in a statement, adding that transmission will begin from studios in Dubai, Riyadh and Cairo.

Ramadan will begin this year in the first week of November.


(Craigs comment, On NIlesat to begin with but keep an eye on Asiasat 2 might possibly show up there, website is http://www.almajdtv.com/)


TechTV & History change plans, air programmes on local channels


From http://www.screenindia.com/20021018/tvnews1.html

Paul G Allen-promoted TechTV and A&E Television Networks-run History Channel have shelved plans to launch their channels in India. They have decided, instead, to make an entry first through programming blocks in different local channels across the country.

TechTV, which planned to debut in India as a pay channel, will take a decision only after the Conditional Access Systems Bill is passed. Besides, the channel felt that it had to customise some of its content to make it relevant to the Indian market.

In US where consumer technology is big phenomenon, it has two popular shows: a programme related to the Wall Street on technology companies and a game show on videos. These programmes, however, would not be acceptable in India. The History Channel is not available in the Asian region except Japan. In Malaysia, it is available as a programming block, a model which it believes is feasible in the Indian market too. But it is considering various options on how to launch its channel in India.

TechTV and History Channel have signed contracts with Cutting Edge Media to market their content as programming blocks in India. While TechTV has agreed for some customisation of content, the History Channel has not given any such liberty. “We aim to start by January, 2003. We have finalised on what programmes to bring into the country. But we are still working out on the channels we would target for telecasting these shows,” said Cutting Edge Media managing director Rohinton Maloo.

The common target will be DD Metro and south-based channels. For History Channel, Kolkata would also be an important market. “We want to partner with DD Metro for the History Channel, while we may decide to buy a slot on the channel for TechTV,” said Maloo.

The plan is to have one-hour block for TechTV and air the Gadget Show and Tips and Tricks. “We are targeting late prime time and the weekends. We are looking at shows about technology which India can use and adopt. The subjects could range from which laptop to use to which mobile has the best features. In te US, TechTV has a live component. We can have 5-7 minutes live if the channel has such uplinking facilities,” said Maloo.

With History Channel, the plan is to take two-hour blocks and have content on Mughal era and Middle East history. “We will also use the show on World leaders from the History Channel,” said Maloo.

Vulcan, the investment and project management organisation founded by Allen, has invested in TechTV. It is the lifestyle network that showcases how the latest trends enhance lifestyle.


(Craigs comment, Channel customization to suit local markets is the key. TBN being a prime example of a channel needing similar treatment in our region)


NDS wins award for contribution to broadband industry


From Indiantelevision.com

NDS's XTV technology, enabling the highly-successful BSkyB Sky+ Personal Video Recorder (PVR), was recognised this week with the Technical Innovation Award at this year's Broadband Communications Europe (BCE) Awards in London. XTV was developed by NDS, a News Corporation company and leading provider of technology solutions for the digital pay-TV industry.

The BCE Awards, the high-profile broadband industry awards are competed from around the world, and confirms that XTV offers far more than just a set-top box (STB) with embedded storage. XTV meets and exceeds both the needs of the business and the consumer, with the value of content a key consideration, along with future proofing. The part played by XTV in the success of Sky+ was also recognised in August this year, when the Sky+ PVR was nominated as Product of the Year by the magazine Cable & Satellite International.

XTV creates time for viewers, allowing them to watch any program they want at any time. By using the bandwidth and flexibility available in a digital broadcasting environment to create a vast, instantly available archive of TV content, XTV uses the STB hard disc storage to create the effect of a personal channel.

An XTV-enhanced STB does not require viewers to deal with complex instructions to record a show. Instead, as with Sky+ they use the familiar interactive Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and integrated digital storage to record hours of programming. Other features of XTV ensure that all content is recorded with the original broadcast encryption ensuring the operator's control and protecting the content provider's interests.


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 42/2002 21 October 2002 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited www.apsattv.com Edition

A S I A


ASIAN-PACIFIC BROADCASTERS STOCK UP WITH BUENA VISTA PRODUCT

Buena Vista International Television has licensed the ‘Classic Treasures’
package -- a unique collection of Disney and Disney/Pixar animated features
-- to a number of key broadcasters across the Asia Pacific region for
telecast on terrestrial television for the first time. These landmark
agreements have been signed with the Seven Network in Australia, TVNZ in
New Zealand and with the Media Corp-owned Channel 5 in Singapore. Viewers
in these territories will be able to enjoy some of the most popular
animated movies ever: A Bug’s Life, Mulan, Pocahontas, Toy Story and Toy
Story 2. These titles combined have grossed over $2 billion at worldwide
box offices.

AUSTRALIA

HDTV POLICY REVIEW TO BE DEFERRED

A review of the high definition television (HDTV) policy by the Australian
Government is to be deferred. The October 15 announcement by Communications
Minister, Richard Alston, that the government wanted to review HDTV over a
"sensible period of time" will relieve television manufacturers and
production houses of some of their apprehension over HDTV. There has been
speculation that the HDTV aspect of the Government's digital policy may be
replaced by multi-channelling, an alternative promoted by the Seven Network
but opposed by the Nine Network and the Ten Network as well as pay-TV
operator, Foxtel. The HDTV review deferral is for 18 months, to July 2005.

STAR PLUS LAUNCHES ON VISION ASIA

Star Plus is expanding its frontiers. The Indian expatriate community in
Australia and New Zealand can now tune in to India’s leading Hindi
entertainment channel. The channel began beaming on Vision Asia’s South
Asian pay-TV direct-to-home platform over the weekend. The Star Plus
channel will however, not be broadcast “as-is”, official sources have said.
This is because the network does not have the worldwide telecast rights for
all the programmes that are on air on the channel, the sources have said.
The programming gaps will be filled up by Star News bulletins. The bouquet
of South Asian channels is downlinked in Sydney, digitised and encrypted
for uplinking onto the Globecast platform of Optus B3 Australia and New
Zealand beam. Vision Asia has a subscriber base of between 2,500 and 3,000.

CHINA HONG KONG

TVB TO CUT SPENDING FOR GALAXY PLATFORM

Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts (TVB) has cut back on its planned
expenditure in the Galaxy direct to home satellite TV platform as the
domestic economy continues to falter. Brokers from CLSA who met with TVB
executives said that they were planning to reduce the original €200 million
plan down to perhaps as low as €150 million. The development comes as TVB,
also the dominant of Hong Kong's two terrestrials, faces lower advertising
revenue from the local market. TVB was given an eight-month extension to
February 2003 for a government-mandated sell off of at least 50 per cent of
its stake in Galaxy. The condition was imposed because of TVB's leadership
in the free to air market when it was issued a licence in July 2000.
Several would-be buyers have walked away from the negotiating table since
that time, prompting TVB to seek an extension. The brokers indicated that
TVB was still committed to taking part in the pay-TV project and claimed to
be close to agreeing a deal with a western investor to take a 51 per cent
stake in Galaxy. According to reports, TVB is seeking to remain the largest
shareholder in Galaxy and is also said to be looking for a third party to
take a stake in the DTH plan, although CLSA said it had heard similar
comments from the company in the past.

RESOURCES ALLOCATED FOR DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

To accelerate the rollout of digital TV in the Shenzen region the local
government has earmarked RMB40 million. The cash will be spent on research
and test transmissions.

NEW ZEALAND

TELECOM NEW ZEALAND WON’T SELL MEDIA INTERESTS

Telecom Corp., New Zealand’s biggest telephone company, on October 10
reiterated it will be a long-term investor in Independent Newspapers and
Sky Network Television despite also aiming to reduce debt by up to NZ$1
billion over the next two years. Telecom has a 9.2% stake in Independent
Newspapers and a 12% stake in pay-TV company Sky Network, which is 66.25%
owned by Independent Newspapers.

THE PHILLIPINES

GOVERNMENT INTERVENES IN STAR TV DISPUTE

The Philippine government has on October 9 described Star TV’s bid to
remove five prime channels from a local cable television company’s line-up
as “unfair competition.” The local company, Destiny Cable, one of two major
cable television companies in the country, has received notice from Star TV
that its contract to carry the five channels - ESPN, Star Sports, Star
Movies, Star World and National Geographic - won’t be renewed when it
expires on October 14.

TAIWAN

TERRESTRIAL TV CHANNELS TO BE REFORMED

The Taiwanese government information office has pledged to reform
terrestrial channels Chinese TV System and Taiwan TV. A proposal will be
put before lawmakers within a month and one of the channels is expected to
be completely privatized. Currently, the national government controls 75%
of CTV and 47.4% of TTV.


A F R I C A


SOUTH AFRICA

SABC PREPARES FOR DIGITAL SWITCH

The South African Broadcasting Corporation has launched a new strategyto
migrate both its production and transmission systems from analogue to
digital technology. The strategy will be developed in partnership with a
consortium of IT and broadcast technology partners. BBC Technology will
focus on the broadcast element. Managing Director of Technology at the
SABC, Sharoda Rapeti, said a strategic plan would be announced by the end
of this year. It is envisaged that the migration process will take three to
five years at a total cost of between 300 million and 500 million Rand.




20/10/02

No updates Sundays




19/10/02

TBN channel, is anyone watching this channel via Globecast on Optus B3,  I don't think they will get many viewer based on their current programing format. Its far to Intense with its 80's religous preaching style. They need to move into this century and come up with a more suitable style to suit the Aus/NZ viewing audience. It needs to be toned down, some sport and light general entertainment and some local Aus/NZ programs would create more interest, Childrens programming and family movies scheduled at the right times could also improve things.

Not much news today

Palapa C2 for the G.p coverage..see below for details

Adults only pay tv is there a demand out there for say a 4 channel service of fulltime XXX for say $400 a year? via Ku, let me have your comments on this.

Interesting link about S.A 9234 receivers http://www.growl.de/d9234.html

New userpage added John H in Townsville


From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards

2130 UTC

Optus B1 12570 H Sr 1853 Fec 3/4 Apid 4195 "Mix 106.3FM" is operating here,128 kbit/ssampl : 48khz stereo
Optus B1 12527 V Sr 30000 Fec 3/4 Apid 1872 Sid 524 "ARRN Retail Radio Network"

Bill


From Rudi

Motor GP seen on Palapa C2 the feed is at 3935 H sr 5632 and 3894H sr 5632


From the Dish


No Lyngsat update received yet


NEWS


SABe TV begins local uplink


From indiantelevision.com

MUMBAI: The Adhikari brother's promoted Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd (SABTNL) has officially launched local uplinking operations as of yesterday.

"Conforming to Information and Broadcasting ministry guidelines for uplink channels, SABe TV's is the first Hindi General Entertainment channel to migrate from Singapore to India," an official statement released to the Bombay Stock Exchange says.

The uplinking is being done from the Essel-Shyam Telecom facility in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi, for which SABTNL had earlier secured government clearance. As per SABTNL's initial uplink launch schedule, it was to begin local operations from 1 October 2002.

Local uplink will reportedly result in a cost saving of Rs 10 million a year for SABTNL. But even more significant for SAB than the operational cost savings is the new government policy that allows non-exporting companies (local advertisers) to advertise on satellite channels as well. These local advertisers will improve commercial time utilisation rate and spot rates; they are also expected to drive advertisement revenues in the future. With the local market opening up, all broadcasters are aggressively wooing local advertisers.

Markand Adhikari, vice chairman and managing director of SABTNL, has been earlier quoted as saying he estimates the size of the local advertising market at Rs 4 billion and says SAB will be looking to aggressively tap that.


Japan Shuttle Test Flight a Success


From http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/nasda_shuttle_021018.html

TOKYO (AP) _ Japan's space shuttle successfully lifted off Christmas Island in the South Pacific on its first test flight, soaring for about five miles before landing with only a slight jolt, Japan's space agency announced Friday.

The 10-minute flight was the latest success for the country's beleaguered, cash-strapped space program. Last month, its often problematic H-2A rocket reversed a string of glitches by putting two satellites in orbit after a trouble-free launch.

Japan's delta-wing space shuttle lands at a runway on Christmas Island in the South Pacific Friday, Oct. 18, 2002, following its first test flight. The unmanned jet-powered craft lifted off the island and soared for about 8 kilometers (5 miles) in a 10-minute flight before landing with only a slight jolt, Japan's space agency announced. (AP Photo/NASDA, NAL, H0)

Japan's delta-wing space shuttle, an unmanned jet-powered craft, took flight Thursday from the National Space Development Agency's tiny tracking outpost on Christmas Island. The craft cruised at about 130 mph, reaching an altitude of nearly 2,000 feet before gliding back to earth.

``It was a success,'' NASDA spokesman Hiroshi Inoue said. ``There was a small problem of bouncing during the landing, but it caused no damage.''

Thursday's flight tested the craft's navigation and automatic piloting through global positioning satellites. Four more tests are planned through next week, with the craft's speed gradually being jacked up to about 0.5 mach, or half the speed of sound, Inoue said.

Japan's space shuttle is not expected to challenge NASA, which has been flying space shuttles for more than two decades.

Besides being much smaller and unmanned, the Japanese shuttle is the prototype for a program _ the Hope-X project _ recently put on hold because of budget cuts.

Hope-X, started in the 1980s to develop a reusable unmanned space shuttle, originally was slated for launch in 2004. But lack of funds pushed it four years behind schedule before it was postponed.

Inoue would not speculate about when the Hope-X might be resurrected, but he said the purpose of Thursday's test flight was to gather data for future projects.

Japan will spend $22.4 million on two rounds of testing for the space shuttle, the current round on Christmas Island and a later one scheduled for next spring in Sweden.

Though Japan has sent an unmanned probe into lunar orbit and is striving to compete in the commercial satellite launching market, its space program has been rife with problems.

A February launch of Japan's H-2A rocket, the main focus of its space program, failed when one of the probes was lost in space.

Still, Japan has pledged 10 more launches over the next three years. A fall launch is planned between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, and a space shot early next year will carry Japan's first spy satellite.




18/10/02

Good to see plenty of emails coming in from readers, even though the news section seems very quiet!

An update to the situation with Shine Tv in the Emails section, cross that one off the list of possible FTA channels. Those who want Free to Air Christian programming via small dish will have to continue watching TBN on Optus B3.

SATFACTS UPDATED, on the left hand side column



From my Emails & ICQ


From John G. Fabrin (Rhema Broadcasting Group)

Hi Craig,

The Shine TV service will launch on December 1st as part of Sky's basic
digital service. It will be encrypted. The contract with Sky is not for a
free to air service apart from the rebroadcast in ChCh on UHF.

Immediately that the channel comes on line over 360,000 households will be
have access.

Whilst a free to air service would have been great, it is not a viable
option at present. I can assure you that every possibility was considered.

I have attached an explanation from Denis Delaney CEO of Shine TV as to why
Sky Digital is to be used.

Thanks for your interest and the valuable service that you provide.

Regards
John F

John G. Fabrin
Chief Executive
Rhema Broadcasting Group Inc.
53 Upper Queen Street.
Postal- Private Bag 92-636 Symonds St.,
Auckland, New Zealand
Ph +64-9-307-1251
Fax +64-9-309-6888

Why not FTA Satellite rather than SKY DTH?

Direct to Home satellite to provide free transmission for people wanting a Christian channel.

While this is a future possibility it is not a current option while we are on SKY TV.

Yes channel 1 & 2 are unencrypted on SKY due to Government intervention when TVNZ were looking to put up their own satellite service.

Whichever way we go there is no such thing as free to air. Someone has to come up with the finance to make the service available, either the viewer or the broadcaster. At this point in time we believe we have taken the most viable option to achieve the goal of making a Christian channel available to as many people as possible throughout New Zealand. While we want to meet the needs of the Christian community, we also want to reach as many people as possible in the wider community. Currently SKY TV is the most effective way to quickly achieve this goal.

SKY has 360,000 households subscribing to their basic digital service. This equates to over 800,000 potential viewers. These people don't have to do anything more than select Shine TV on their remote. They don't have to buy and install dishes and they have another option added to their existing service without further cost. SKY subscriptions are consistently increasing. This tells us that SKY is the preferred option for an increasing number of TV viewers.

People express concern that SKY is too expensive for low-income families. The fact is that the biggest uptake of SKY subscriptions is from people in low-income households.

The reason Shine will be free to air on UHF in Christchurch is that we already operate a UHF channel in Christchurch called Freedom TV. In fact Shine TV was developed by Freedom TV as the best option for establishing a nation wide Christian channel. To duplicate the Christchurch free to air UHF service throughout New Zealand would cost at least 20 times more than the cost of transmission via satellite.

In the model we have chosen, the viewer and the broadcaster share the cost of supplying the Shine channel. As it is we are reliant on financial support from donors to establish and maintain Shine TV. It would cost substantially more to lease our own satellite space and then supply an unencrypted signal. Shine would only be available to people who invested in reception hardware to get Shine TV plus a couple of other channels at this stage. The current 360,000 homes receiving SKY would not have the option of a readily available Christian channel.

In time we expect this will change and other options will be available for reaching New Zealand with Christian TV. Transmission is but one portion of the cost of broadcasting a sought after TV channel.

Programme purchasing and New Zealand production would account for the biggest portion of our budget. With the kind of expenditure necessary we must make every attempt to reach the largest potential audience we can, right from the first day of broadcast.

Denis Delaney
CEO Shine TV


From SiamGlobal

The time is now 1500 hrs GMT Thursday and the Solar Entertainment Network on Agila 2 is showing the 2002 Basketball Championships between New Zeeland and Germany ! CNTv the only FTA 24 hour movie channel in Asia Pacific I know about, is also clearly viewable . The info you had received and published on the site yesterday re encryption was fortunately erronious !

Siamglobal, Bangkok


Subject: Re: Mr X's question on Apsattv.com

Dear Craig,

In New Zealand, pay television channels, such as Sky TV, have their own broadcasting standards (http://www.bsa.govt.nz/_p-bsacod.htm) so there is a complaints procedure in place for viewers, who are peeved by an item on any of the channels on Sky TV, and they deem in breach of a specific standard. New Zealand has a complaints-based system and does not have a censor for television channels (TV channels apply their own discretion when deciding what they can get away with in broadcasting) - unlike the state-appointed cenosr for film, videos and publications.

Australia's pay TV standards can be found here: http://www.aba.gov.au/tv/content/codes/payTV/index.htm

Kind regards,Hans Versluys

Director of Programming, Triangle Television
[email protected]
http://www.tritv.co.nz
PO Box 78-034, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand
+64 9 376 5030


From Peter

HI ALL.. Feed info ....

B1 12372 H 6110 3/4 CH10 NEWS LINK
B1 12399 H 7198 3/4 ATN DIGITAL LINK
Found late afternoon's ....

CHEERS.. PETER


From the Dish


Palapa C2 113E 3926 H New PIDs for Bali TV : 257/258.

Intelsat 906 64E Uganda TV has moved from 3921 R to 3721 R, Fta, Sr 4882, Fec 2/3,PIDs 33/34, West hemi beam.


NEWS


Black box breaks TV adverts' grip


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

A simple black box, similar to a VCR, sits in Greg Nikoloff's suburban Auckland home, next to his television set.

The only thing that makes this box look even slightly interesting is a small logo on the top right-hand corner - a cutesy little television with bendy rabbit ears and the word TiVo emblazoned on the screen.

TiVo is a digital video recorder (DVR) that enables Nikoloff to zap through television advertisements at the rate of one minute a second.

DVRs have been available in Britain and the United States since 1999, allowing viewers to watch ad-free television.

DVRs such as TiVo use digital technology to record programmes on to a hard disk.

They record as viewers watch past segments, letting them skip advertisements, pause, rewind, replay instantly and frame-advance.

One of the latest DVRs can edit out advertisements altogether.

The number of DVR users in the US has reportedly grown to more than one million, prompting media companies to view the technology as serious threat.

DVRs could destroy the traditional television commercial and expose broadcasters to a situation where viewers trade programmes and movies through the internet.

But New Zealand broadcasters and advertising agencies view the DVR as a distant threat.

Their relaxed attitude is based on the fact that DVRs are not available in New Zealand and have not reached critical mass in the North American or British markets. So why worry?

But since hooking up a TiVo to his television two years ago, Nikoloff watches less then 10 per cent live television. Does he fast-forward all ads?

"Definitely."

Nikoloff records the 6pm news every night. He starts watching about 20 minutes into the broadcast, "blasts" through the advertisements, and by 7pm is back watching live TV.

Nikoloff knows of two other people in the country who use TiVos to skip advertisements.

And although TiVos in New Zealand are not fed programme information via a subscription - "that's what gives them their killer punch," says Nikoloff - he thinks they are still a "compelling product."

Former Colenso BBDO creative director and Saatchi & Saatchi consultant Len Potts believes there is a good chance TiVos will come to New Zealand and describes the technology as a loitering threat.

"Hopefully it will weed out some of the obnoxious junk that spews out of the TV."

Potts agrees that TiVos have the potential to severely affect television advertising, but does not think it spells the medium's end.

Instead, TiVo could lead to a lift in standards and force advertisers to find clever ways to push products.

Colenso BBDO creative director Mike O'Sullivan says TiVo will pressure clients and agencies to make ads that stand out in the clutter.

Paul Norris, co-author of a report on new TV technology for NZ on Air last year, says DVRs probably will not be available in New Zealand until a manufacturer or distributor thinks there is a market here.

"But they will work with any digitally delivered television, and considering about 40 per cent of households now have Sky, the market is beginning to look attractive."

TV3 and TVNZ agree there is risk associated with TiVo, but are unconcerned about the product's ad-zapping capabilities.

They say that unless the recorders take off in the US, they have little to worry about.

"We are way off from it getting any sort of critical mass here," says TVNZ communications director Glen Sowry.

"Even in the US, the network television operators are still the dominant broadcasters and while it is having some impact, it is still some way off being a major issue."

TV3 managing director Rick Friesen agrees the technology is too new and undersubscribed to be of any serious concern.

"There are always commercial threats. TiVo just doesn't rate that high on the spectrum now ."

But TV3 and TVNZ are keeping a close eye on overseas developments.

TiVo provides nothing new in principle - anyone with a VCR can fast-forward ads.

But Paul Norris says that if TiVo catches on, problems for advertisers will be extreme because the whole basis of commercial television will disappear.

Friesen and Sowry say that having a TiVo does not mean you always skim through the ads.

And they may be right.

Nikoloff watches some ads on his TiVo, but only new ones or ones he thinks might be interesting.
"There was a strange one on TV the other night that I went back and had a look at.
"If some ads are really interesting I might look at it two or three times. But with a TiVo if you have seen an ad already, you just skip it." "

For Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington media director Alistair Jamison, the day viewers choose not to watch television advertising is a long way off.

"We'd be mugs to think it's not going to be an issue. It's just not an issue we're worried about right now."


New Multichoice Receiver


From http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/computing/2002/0210081153.asp?O=FPT

MultiChoice's new Dual View decoder could go a long way to resolving armchair squabbles over programme choices. The
new decoder, planned for release early next year, allows subscribers to split the output of the decoder and view different programmes on two different televisions simultaneously.

While subscribers will have to buy a new decoder to be able to take advantage of the new multichannel facility, they will still be able to use their existing satellite receiver.

Phil Nicholson, MultiChoice's technology, strategy and risk manager, says subscribers will have the option to either continue with a single feed which is then split along its route to the decoder box, or upgrade their existing satellite dish with a new dual-LNB, or low-noise block, which allows the dish to receive two independent satellite feeds.

The advantage of the twin-feed LNB system is that the Dual View decoder is able to simultaneously tune into horizontal and vertical polarities. Without the dual-feed LNB setup, the decoder is only able to pick up on one or other of the polarities at any one time with the effect that different channels on different polarities cannot be viewed simultaneously. The Dual View decoder
has two independent tuners built into the box.

"The launch of this new decoder takes place in the context of a constantly evolving decoder and broadcasting technology environment," says Gerdus van Eerden, CTO for MultiChoice Africa.

He says the new Dual View decoder was developed in response to customers' requests "for a decoder that allows parents to watch one channel while children watch another channel on a different television". It will also allow subscribers to videotape one channel while watching another.

The Dual View decoder is in testing and is expected to be released early next year. MultiChoice has not finalised pricing for the new decoder, but says that while it will be more expensive than existing decoders, it will "not be significantly more".

There will also be additional costs associated with the dual broadcasts to twin-feed dishes, but no decision has yet been made on whether this will affect subscription prices.

Nicholson says that with the Dual View decoder, only one of the televisions, known as the master, will be able to access MultiChoice's new interactive services.

Further into the future, MultiChoice is planning the release of personal video recorder (PVR) decoders which will include hard drives, time shifted viewing and the ability to view two channels and record a third. PVR units are expected on the market only after 2003.




17/10/02

Very quiet still, I moved my dish back to B1, seems to be a couple of changes in the SKY NZ mux, listed below

12544 V Sr 22500 Fec 3/4 "0404" Vpid 515 Apid 653 Sid 1251 PMT 275 (Unknown what this is)
12581 V Sr 22500 Fec 3/4 "0104" Vpid 515 Apid 653 Sid 1250 PMT 260 (Unknown what this is)

New issue of Satfacts arrived in the mail but I have been to busy to flick through it, but the Cover says "Humax mods", "Wintv/Nexus PC card does satellite Tv" "Neighbourhood Fm", "Measat 148E loading"



From my Emails & ICQ


From TBN

Hello Australia and New Zealand. TBN needs to know how many watch this
channel on GlobeCast Australia.

Please email [email protected] or phone our NZ office + 64 - 4 - 902 7777

Perhaps several times throughout the day a shorter version, say . . .
Please let us know you are watching - [email protected] or phone + 64 - 4 -902 7777

And at other times perhaps . . .

Free programme schedule . . contact TBN South Pacific, Box 61, Paraparaumu
6450, NZ. [email protected] + 64 - 4 - 902 7777

Regards,
Owen Sunnex


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "SET Taiwan, SET Metro, SET News and Star Chinese" have left .

Agila 2 146E 3843 H "Solar Entertainment Network" is now encrypted.

Express 6A 80E 4125 R "Radio Arsenal" is back on , Fta, APID 101.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Tara Marathi" has left , replaced by a test card.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3440 V "Channel Nepal" has started, Fta, SR 3333, PIDs 308/256, Asian beam.

PAS 10 68.5E 4064 H "EWTN Global Catholic Radio and EWTN Radio Catolica" are still here Fta, APID 1622.

Intelsat 906 64E Intelsat 906 has replaced Intelsat 804 at 64 East.All channels are on the same frequencies as before.
Reception reports comparing Intelsat 804 and Intelsat 906 are very welcome. Please include dish size and location. One person in Perth reporting no change so maybe this hasn't happend yet despite the Lyngsat report)


NEWS


Paradise lost in Bali blast


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5298830%255E7582,00.html

FACED with a scene of death and danger, every human instinct screams at us to flee. But when terrorist bombs ripped through Bali last weekend, killing more than 180 people and wounding hundreds more, the only thought for many journalists was how to get to the scene of the crime as quickly as possible.

The attack on the tourist-packed nightclubs in Bali's Kuta occurred shortly before midnight on Saturday (2am Sunday AEST) and for dozens of senior reporters, photographers, producers and camera crew the rest of the day was spent scrambling for the Indonesian island.

Some hitched a ride. When Seven Network executive chairman Kerry Stokes made his private Falcon 900 jet available to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a Seven news crew and journalists from The West Australian were also able to jump aboard.

The jet arrived in Bali at 6pm (Perth time), spent six hours on the tarmac and arrived back in Perth on Monday morning, carrying nine wounded survivors and a doctor.

Newspaper publishers Fairfax and News Limited (publisher of The Australian) flew in every nearby writer and photographer, with correspondents converging from Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok and Perth.

"It was pretty hard to get people in and some didn't make it, they couldn't get flights," says Michael Gawenda, editor of Melbourne's The Age. "The flights seemed pretty full . . . and obviously we didn't want to get in the way of people going to Bali to search for missing family members."

The ABC distributed its people among Bali, Denpasar and Jakarta and also bolstered its Darwin and Perth bureaus. "You might think that's a lot of people on the ground initially but, with all those outlets, those people will work till they drop," says ABC news and current affairs head Max Uechtritz. He was alerted to the story at about 4.30am on Sunday.

Some journalists were almost part of the story. Nine's Mark Readings, a sports reporter from Perth, and the ABC's Alan Atkinson both happened to be holidaying in Bali. Indeed, Readings had been in the Sari Club, one of the attack sites, just minutes before the bomb went off. Both men immediately started filing eyewitness material. Readings, still looking slightly shell-shocked, appeared on both Nine News and 60 Minutes on Sunday night.

The scene on the ground was deeply upsetting. Says Gawenda of his team: "Even though some of them are very experienced reporters they haven't seen the sort of things they are seeing in Bali: body parts, makeshift morgues not even properly fenced off, no refrigeration . . . It's pretty horrific. Most reporters in Kuta are having a pretty tough time." Gawenda says Fairfax will offer debriefing and counselling to its journalists.

There were technical difficulties, as well. On Sunday, with diplomatic missions closed, the networks were not able to import their portable satellite dishes, called Satellite News Gathering systems. As of Monday afternoon Nine was still trying to get its SNGs through customs. "In Indonesia, or any country, you don't just turn up at the airport and say 'we have excess baggage'," says Nine news director Paul Fenn.

And, unlike New York, the epicentre of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bali itself is "not wired up to the world", says Walter Hamilton, head of national coverage for ABC news and current affairs.

"Whereas there are infinite numbers of feed points and an infinite number of circuits for satellite coverage out of New York, there is one place that can send out of Bali and one booking at a time," Hamilton says. "Until about 11.30 [Sunday night] . . . there was a bottleneck right through the day to get additional coverage out. We, like the other [networks], were relying for pictures on the agencies and our correspondents were using mobile phones and landlines to add their voice to these reports."

The commercial networks had to rely on a Telkom Indonesia playout point in Denpasar, which uploaded material to Jakarta for transmission to Australia. The company AsiaWorks later supplied the ABC with satellite equipment, enabling it to do live crosses.

As a result, the humble telephone was all-important. "In this age of satellite links and video, the phone is without a doubt still the most powerful tool we have in a breaking news environment," says Sky TV managing editor Angelos Frangopoulos. Sky TV used the phone to take its viewers to DFAT and hospitals standing by for survivors in Perth and Darwin.

The story was also highly complex, with many angles needing to be covered. To take one typical example: Nine's coverage on Sunday included Christine Spiteri in Darwin reporting on the victims who had already been airlifted out; Adrian Brown in Bali (after flying in from Hong Kong) reporting via video satellite phone on who may have been responsible for the attack; Hugh Riminton on one particular suspect group, the Islamic militants Jemaah Islamiyah; Mark Burrows with the Bali victims; Laurie Oakes with the Canberra response; Los Angeles-based correspondent Michael Usher with the US response; London-based correspondent Damian Ryan with the British response; and local reporters in cities across Australia doing stories on missing and injured locals.

Sunday night ratings showed people were eager for news. The top-rated show of the night – and the highest rating news show of the year so far was Network Ten's 5pm bulletin, which drew almost 2.5 million viewers. Second was Nine's 60 Minutes special on the attack and third was its 6pm nightly news.

On Monday night Seven and Nine ran hour-long editions of their nightly news programs, devoting the extra time to the Bali blasts. Seven also ran a special edition of Today Tonight, entitled "Bali's Aussie Heroes", while Nine's A Current Affair had a report on "Terror in Bali".

However, in contrast to the September 11 aftermath, none of the networks did blanket coverage – principally because of the lack of fresh footage. "You couldn't really sustain it," says Uechtritz, although he points out that usually the ABC has one TV news bulletin on Sunday, the 7pm news, while last Sunday it had seven, as well as three radio specials.

However, there was criticism that, especially compared with the wall-to-wall coverage of September 11, the free-to-air TV coverage was scanty. For hours on Sunday, Australians got better coverage of the chaos from the BBC or CNN than on domestic TV.

"Everyone was way too cautious on the scale of it," says Stephen Mayne of media watch website crikey.com.au. "I would have thought . . . that within 12 hours you would have had more comprehensive TV coverage."

As a web publisher, Mayne says he also found the internet coverage "woeful". He says that nearly 20 hours after the attack the websites of newspapers including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Hobart's The Mercury, The Northern Territory News and The Advertiser had all failed to mention "the biggest breaking Australian disaster story in a generation", while the website for The Sunday Times in Western Australia appeared to be down.

"It was very disappointing, particularly from the newspapers . . . All the resources go into the papers and little into the internet sites," he says. "The resourcing on Australian websites has been cut back substantially in the last two years and there was full evidence of that [on Sunday]."

The blast occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, too late to make it into any of the Sunday papers, except for late editions of Perth's Sunday Times. However, come Monday, with all day Sunday to prepare, newspapers delivered extensive coverage, most devoting at least a dozen pages to the disaster.

A lot of the papers also boosted their Monday print runs and Melbourne's The Age put out an extra noon edition of 20,000 copies, updating the morning paper for afternoon buyers. Gawenda says the paper has put out a noon edition only occasionally, for very big stories, such as September 11 and the September 11 anniversary.

Newspapers packaged their coverage under variations on a theme: "Terror on our Doorstep" for Sydney's The Daily Telegraph and The Canberra Times; "Terrorism Strikes Home" for The Sydney Morning Herald; "Terror Hits Home" for The Australian. The Courier-Mail break the mould with "Bali Attacked."

The most sensitive issue that all news editors, print or television, had to tussle with was what images to run.

On Monday, The Australian's editor, Michael Stutchbury, showed Media examples of wire service photos which he had decided were too gruesome to print in the paper. In one, a tangled pile of blackened bodies lies amid the ruins of a building. In another, a single leg protrudes brokenly from rubble. A third shows one body, so badly burned it is unidentifiable as black or white, male or female. Most shocking of all are the photos in which the charred faces would be identifiable by someone who knew them.

"There have been some really gruesome ones pictures of people horrifically burned, including at the morgue – that we wouldn't show," Stutchbury says. Between editions of Monday's The Australian a page five photo of bodies in a morgue was replaced with another photo, still of the morgue, but with the bodies covered. Stutchbury says the replacement photo was a better one and also not so "raw".

"Certainly there's more of an issue if [the victims] are from your own community," he says. "But we do have a responsibility to show what the nature of the death of Australians in this situation is like."

Gawenda says The Age has also been careful over what images to reproduce. "Some of the pictures have been absolutely horrific," he says. "As much as we can, we don't run dead bodies in the paper, especially where they could be recognised by family and friends in Australia."

TV news editors do not always have the luxury of such reflection. Some errors were made. Sky TV took a live feed that showed several graphic images of the carnage, including an uncovered body on a stretcher and a charred body being pulled from the deep puddle created by the bomb in front of the Sari Club.

"We put some of that footage to air and some of that was unacceptable," says Frangopoulos, explaining that the footage had to be cut on the run. "The story is unfolding before our viewers' eyes and before ours as well. With a breaking news story you deliver everything you can get your hands on." The delicacy, Frangopoulos says, lies in satisfying the public's need and desire for information without causing undue distress for viewers.

Nine's Fenn says his approach has been cautious, although he believes Australian camera people tend to be sensitive about what scenes they film in the first place, whereas "Americans and Third World cameramen in particular tend to shoot everything".

"You have got to feel for families sitting at home wondering what's happened to their son and daughter and [their body] pops up on a picture," Fenn says. "Being a parent, I can't imagine how much that would hurt."

The issue was also on Hamilton's mind this week, given that some of the ABC's news shows, such as World at Noon, go to air during the daytime, when the network knows its audience includes some children.

"We don't exclude any images of injured people, because obviously they're a compelling component to the story, but we have to be careful about it," he says. "Sometimes, because of editorial reasons, there is a compelling need to show images which are somewhat graphic. We don't dwell on those images or show excessive close-ups and we carry a warning to that audience in those circumstances."

The aftermath of any tragedy also entails another ethically, psychologically and emotionally treacherous job, what journalists call the "death knock" – literally, knocking on the doors of the families of the dead.

However, many media bosses say the response to September 11 showed that the Australian public has a limit to how much intensive coverage it wishes to absorb.

By Monday's close there were due to be no Australians left in hospital in Bali and Nine, for one, was planning to scale down its resources on the island from Tuesday.

"Everyone's broken-hearted about what's happened up there and they want to know more about it," says Fenn.

"But within a couple of days they will say, 'we have seen enough of that'. That's the judgment: when will we have had enough?"


Theatres plan movie boycott as Zee snaps up rights


From http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?article_oid=12037855&page_no=1

The sale of satellite rights of 25 blockbuster movies to media group Zee has angered movie distributors and exhibitors, who warn it could finish off those already struggling to survive a crippling string of industry flops.

Now they are plannng to strike back, warning they are considering boycotting movies from producers who sold out to Zee.

In a bid to rein in shrinking advertising revenues, last month the channel snapped up the satellite rights to newly released movies from producers for a total of around Rs 400 million.

The movies, some of which are still to be released in theatres, are being screened every Thursday night in a prime slot on Zee's flagship channel, Zee Television.

Among the fare snared by Zee are "Humraaz", "Road", "Ek Chhoti si Love Story" and "Gunnah".

"This sale of rights will finish off our distributors and exhibitors, especially in the small towns and cities, as the movies bought by Zee are not even six months old," said Santosh Singh Jain, president of the Cine Central Circuit Association representing more than 2,000 Indian movie distributors.

"The distributors and exhibitors in towns stand to lose millions if Zee continues with this strategy," Singh told AFP.

He did not, however, hold the channel responsible. "It is the producer who has to be blamed," he said.

Distributors have incurred heavy losses because they are obliged to pay a huge fee for distribution rights.

"The producers have played a smart game. Not only are they making money from us but they have also made millions now by selling the rights to Zee, while we incur losses. This just cannot be done," said Singh.

Singh said the industry used to sell such rights to TV channels after a year by which time most had already screened them. "But now Zee has bought even those movies which are not even released yet. This is ridiculous," said Singh.

Unreleased movies in the Zee line-up include 'Hathiyar' starring Sanjay Dutt and 'Jeena Sirf Mere Liye'.

Producers defended the sales to Zee, saying the deals were prompted by the current critical phase being endured by the industry.

The business cycle of a new release, they added, has been reduced to just two months.

"You take any film and you will see it does not run successfully for a long time. Even the biggest grosser of recent times 'Gadar' had the bulk of its business in the first 65 days," said producer Vashu Bhagnani, in an interview with film magazine, Screen.

"Also, no one has four hours to watch a movie in theatres. I think there will be an audience for re-runs in cinemas and also more people will buy the films DVDs, VCDs and audio casettes."

Bhagnani has sold rights of four of his movies to Zee. Zee hopes to lure audiences back to its channels as they get hooked on the movies, then move on to other programmes.

"The power will be in the hands of consumers in terms of viewership as well as revenue," says Zee founder Subhash Chandra.




16/10/02

The shuffling of Transponders and services continues on Optus B3 preparing things for the move to C1.

Still very little news around even after trying all my usual sources



From my Emails & ICQ


From Optus Satellite Services

Dear All,

we wish to advise the following upcoming changes on the Aurora platform.
For retransmission sites utilising professional decoders (including some Self Help sites):

1. From 17/10/02 to 7/11/02, the Aurora TV & Radio services of ABC WA,
ABC NT, IMPARJA and WIN will be dual fed on their current B3/T6 frequency
of 12594.9MHz and their new B3/T5 freq of 12527MHz. There will be no
change to the service ids. Professional decoders tuned to the above
services need retuning to the new B3/T5 frequency.

2. On 8/11/02 0345-0400AEDT the above services and other B3/T6 services
will be interrupted and the uplink frequency retuned to the new B3/T5
frequency. Following this 15 minute interruption, the services will be
restored onto the new B3/T5 frequency, to which the professional decoders
have already been tuned.

Please call us on 1300 301681 or email [email protected] if you have any
further queries.

Regards,
Satellite Support Services.
"Yes" Optus
Service Out of this World!


From "MR X"

"I am sure that ethnic pay tv in Australia must, after the recent broadcasts on Middle Eastern channels showing people congratulating themselves and saying 'lets have more', be in breach of content laws laid done by our government, designed to protect us from enciting violence and chaos."

Is the government monitoring these channels that are be sold on a subscription basis in Australia?

Who is ensuring that because of the time differences between us and other countries, that programs rated "unsuitable for broadcast", during our daytime are not being shown here?

Or is it alright for ethnic pay tv to show anything they want, but as soon as a commercial tv station shows it they get fined. Heavily.

http://www.aba.gov.au/tv/content/codes/payTV/index.htm

Mr X.


(Craigs comment, Does anyone know how the law works in regard to this?)


From Andy Mac in China

Found this on one of the Chinese forums.
Agila 2 146E 4070 H 10450 "Solar Sports", "CNtv", "Zoom TV" All Fta.

Andy Mac


From Dave Knight 15/10/02

B1, 12428V 6110 3/4 Looks like an awards night. Jabba's on so it must be a feed for Channel V.


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "SET Taiwan, SET Metro and SET News" have started, Fta,PIDs 410/411, 420/421 and 440/441.

Optus B3 156E 12527 V "ABC TV National and Rhythm FM" are now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 3834 H "CNTV and the test card" have left , moved to 4072 H.
Agila 2 146E 3940 V The A-Sky-Net mux has left again.
Agila 2 146E 4072 H A new mux has started , Fta, Sr 10500, Fec 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120-1460/1420, line-up: Solar Sports Network, CNTV and two test cards.

ST 1 88E 3582 H This mux is encrypted in Viaccess 1 again.

PAS 10 68.5E 3836 V "Big Brother South Africa" has left .
PAS 10 68.5E 4034 H "MTV India" is encrypted in Cryptoworks.
PAS 10 68.5E 4064 H "EWTN Global Catholic Radio and EWTN Radio Catolica" have left .


NEWS


Russia Satellite Fails Orbit Entry


From http://www.tuscaloosanews.com

MOSCOW (AP) - A satellite carrying scientific experiments from several countries failed to reach orbit after being launched from northern Russia on a booster rocket Tuesday night, officials said. The Interfax news agency reported that the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff.

A Soyuz-U rocket carrying the Foton-M satellite blasted off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at 10:20 p.m. The rocket suffered an emergency 20 to 30 seconds into the flight and the satellite failed to enter orbit, a duty officer at Russian mission control outside Moscow said. The Interfax news agency, citing officials at the center, said the rocket exploded 29 seconds after liftoff.

The launch was conducted by the Russian Space Forces, a branch of the military that operates the launch facility in the Arkhangelsk region about 800 miles north of Moscow. All Russian manned launches take place at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Designed to be an orbital laboratory, the Foton-M contained technological and research experiments from Russia, and countries in the European Space agency as well as the United States, Canada, Indonesia and Japan, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

The satellite, made in the Russian city of Samara, was to operate in orbit for about 15 days, sending information to reception stations in Russia and Sweden, with a capsule returning to a soft landing on Earth, ITAR-Tass said.

Satellite launches are an important source of revenue for Russia, but there have been problems. Russia lost six communications in December 2000 when a booster rocket carrying them to space from Plesetsk failed shortly after launch.

That failure came a month after an American communications satellite was lost soon after blasting off from Plesetsk. Several years earlier, a Russian-Israeli satellite launched from the same facility failed to enter orbit.


The code makers get cracking


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/16/1034561163717.html

Wars have been won and lost by the cracking of secret codes. Now Australian scientists are involved in an international race to develop the ultimate secret weapon, an uncrackable code. Deborah Smith reports.

IT'S been the goal of spies and mathematicians for thousands of years - an uncrackable code that can be used to send top-secret information around the globe with perfect security. And it's needed now more than ever. As information becomes an increasingly valuable commodity, the future stability of the world will depend on its development.

There is still a way to go. But this goal is closer than many people realise, particularly those living in Canberra.

Just such an unbreakable code was recently flashed more than four kilometres through the skies above the national capital, from the Telstra Tower to the University of Canberra. It was an Australian first, and a significant step towards a time when the new codes, known as quantum cryptographic keys, will be beamed around the world via satellites.

The codes are transmitted as little packages of light, called photons, and are absolutely unbreakable because the behaviour of the photons depends on the quantum laws of physics.

"These laws ensure that any attempt to intercept them alerts the users to the presence of the eavesdropper and the potential loss of security," says Professor Paul Edwards, of the University of Canberra Centre for Advanced Telecommunications and Quantum Electronics.

Given the importance of quantum cryptography to international security, Edwards thinks some military agencies may have already developed it and be secretly using it over short distances.

As with code making and code-breaking efforts during the world wars, such as Germany's Enigma encryption machine, the truth will not be known for many years.

But among the code makers who do talk about their work and publish their results, including Edwards's team, competition is fierce.

"What a blow. You've ruined my day," he says, on being told that a British team has just transmitted quantum codes almost 24 kilometres between two mountain tops in Germany.

The Australians knew when they announced their successful 4.2-kilometre test last month that they had already been beaten to the world record. Earlier this year an American team transmitted a quantum key 10 kilometres across the desert.

But the Australians were about to hit back, with an attempt at 14 kilometres. Now the British team from QinetiQ, the public arm of Britain's defence research agency, has extended the record, with its 23.4-kilometre effort, published this month in the journal Nature. The Australians have another card up their sleeve, however. Before the end of the year they plan to send light signals from a satellite to Earth.

While it will not be a test of a quantum code, the experiment will determine whether the team can detect single photons of light across long distances. "If we can, we will have taken things one step further along the track," Edwards says.

From the time that people learnt to write, they have been developing secret codes and ciphers to disguise messages. "They have decided the outcomes of battles and led to the deaths of kings and queens," writes Simon Singh in his bestseller, The Code Book.

Mary Queen of Scots was put to death by her cousin, Elizabeth I, in the 16th century, after a coded letter she wrote authorising an assassination attempt on Elizabeth was deciphered.

She might have been more discreet about her intentions if she had not been using code, says Singh: "The Mary Queen of Scots cipher clearly demonstrates that a weak encryption can be worse than no encryption at all."

During World War II the scientists and mathematicians working at Bletchley Park north-west of London, who deciphered messages from Germany's sophisticated Enigma machines, helped determine the course of the war.

The enemy never twigged to their success. "The breaking of Enigma was considered impossible and inconceivable [by the Germans]," says Singh.

Even Britain's allies were kept in the dark after the war. The British gave them Enigma machines they had captured to use and then deciphered their secret communications for years afterwards.

The one problem that is central to all encryption attempts is that both the sender and the receiver of the encrypted message have to know the secret key that unlocks the code.

Historically, the key was carried from one to the other by a trusty courier - a method that risks interception or corruption. The British success in cracking Enigma was partly due to the fact that they stole code books from German ships in daring raids without being detected.

Since the 1970s, and the advent of computers, the most secure codes used to protect internet commerce and political and military secrets have relied on a complex mathematical problem as the key.

While it is easy to multiply two prime numbers together, it is almost impossible to start with the answer and work backwards. (A prime number is a number which can only be divided by one and itself.)

When talking about encryption, the two people, or computers, sending information are traditionally referred to as Alice and Bob. The evil eavesdropper is called Eve. Put simply, under the present system Bob chooses two secret prime numbers, for example, three and seven. He multiplies them together and then makes it known that this number, 21, is his public key.

Alice then enters this number into a special mathematical formula to encrypt any message she wants to send to Bob. He decodes the message by using his two prime numbers.

The only way Eve can read any message she intercepts is if she can work backwards from 21 and get three and seven. Obviously, that would be very easy in this case. But if Bob's key number was extremely large, it would take her thousands of years using today's very best computers.

This means that for now, most people can rest assured their privacy is protected. Unfortunately, this will not always be the case. It's possible a clever mathematician could come up with a short cut for working out Bob's secret numbers. Scientists are also using quantum physics to try to build incredibly fast new computers. They have a long way to go. But if they succeed they will jeopardise commercial, political and military security around the globe. It would take the quantum computers only minutes to crack Bob's code.

That's where quantum keys come in.

Quantum physics, which explains the behaviour of light and matter at subatomic levels, has been an incredibly successful theory, leading to the development of lasers and computer chips. But even Einstein described it as spooky. In the quantum world it is impossible to know everything about a subatomic particle - a rule known as Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

For example, it is possible to measure the speed or the position of an electron. But not both at once. This is because in trying to measure, say, the velocity, the observer interacts with the electron and changes its position. "It's the person who makes the measurement who determines the measurement," says Edwards (see box).

Quantum keys such as those transmitted across Canberra are made up of lots of single photons, or packages of light, that have been polarised in different directions. If Eve tried to intercept them, and then resend them on to Bob, she would alter their characteristics and her snooping would be very obvious.

The idea of quantum cryptography was thought up by American and Canadian researchers, Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard, in 1984.

Five years later they were first to show the system could work, exchanging a quantum key between two computers 30 centimetres apart in the laboratory.

It is easier to send quantum keys over an optical fibre, rather than through the air. And in 1995 a Swiss team transmitted a quantum key 23 kilometres through an optical fibre stretching from Geneva to Nyon.

The US team, at Los Alamos National Physical Laboratory, achieved 48 kilometres in 1999. And earlier this year a Swiss company, id Quantique, launched a commercial product aimed at banks and insurance companies for exchanging quantum keys along 60 kilometres of optical fibre.

Optical fibres are fine for short distances, says Edwards. But for global coverage, quantum keys will have to be exchanged between Earth stations and satellites.

Edwards's team includes university researchers from Macquarie, Monash, Wollongong, the University of New South Wales, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Canberra Institute of Technology, as well as colleagues in the US, UK and Japan.

They succeeded with the first Australian demonstration of a quantum key exchange in the laboratory in 1999. For their 4.2-kilometre experiment from Telstra Tower they transmitted short pulses of polarised infrared light, and showed most of them contained just one photon.

There are still big technical problems to be overcome before a global satellite system of quantum cryptography is achieved, says Edwards. But the imminent attempt at 14 kilometres at low altitudes will be technically similar to exchanging a code to a satellite 300 kilometres above Earth, because of the extra perturbing effects of the lower atmosphere on the polarised photons.

"What we are all trying to do is to prove that a satellite link is feasible."


(Craigs comment, Hmmm Irdeto 3 perhaps ?)




15/10/02

Livechat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time in the chatroom.

Seems quiet today not much news around but plenty of emails from readers which is good. One thing I must comment on the Picture quality of Star Plus is very good considering the very low 1.99 Mbits its using! I also note they have the audio set at 256kbit.

Just a reminder NZ has already shifted to Daylights savings time.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards

Star Plus , Optus B3 and Kisb3 (Korean Pas 2)


From Claz

Wanted : a 65cm - 120cm KU-Band dish with LNB(Canberra or
surrounding areas). Second-hand preferred although not crucial. Will
dismantle and remove as required. Please contact claz on

[email protected]

Thanks,
Claz


From "SiamGlobal"

Subject: the ban on sat dishes

Further to your report on sat dishes being banned in China and Singapore , I can add to the list the two Central London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and City of Westminster. Both these boroughs have a total aversion to satellite dishes, and should anyone in their area be bold enough to put up a dish which is visible from the street, they are likely to have an enforcement notice served on them ordering the dish be taken down. The way they achieve this is by declaring 85% of their respective boroughs "conservation areas" (even when some streets and buildings are newly built and have nothing to conserve .) However this pemits them to ban all visible dishes. Tourists visiting the West End of London therefore get the impression that there are no sat dishes in the UK !

Recently however , to their chagrin, the European Union published a communique which emphasised the rights of people to view sat tv and indeed stressed this was a basic human right protected by article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as stressing rights under the internal market.

In view of similar problems regarding dishes one reads about in certain towns in NZ and Australia and the fact that all three countries have a similar legal system , it may be worth raising these legal rights issues with the authorities in these countries. The rights are set out in the website below

http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/media/satdish/antenna_en.htm

Siamglobal, Bangkok ( where anything goes with the erection of satellite dishes ! )


From Doug 14/10/02

Hi all

Feed B1, 12372 h 6110 3/4 " Channel 10 news feeds" seen in Ballarat and sig is only 19 on 1.6 metre


From Harinder, this reply to his email to ETC Channel

Subject: Re: when will u come to New Zealand? etc punjab

Dear Mr. Harinder

We shall be on Asiasat 3 Satellite in during current financial year i.e. on or before 31st March 2003.
We thank you for taking a keen interest in ETC channel.

Regards
Neelam Gupta
Sr. Manager
ETC Networks Ltd.


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "SET International and PTS" have started, Fta, PIDs 410/411 and 460/461.

Optus B3 156E 12336 V New PIDs for Star Plus on : 1460/1420.Occasional GlobeCast feeds on PIDs 501/540.

Agila 2 146E 3940 V "ETTV Movie, PTS, MAC TV a test card and a promo" have started Fta, PIDs 560/561, 576/577, 640/641, 672/673, 704/705 and 720/721.

Superbird C 144E 12443 V "Occasional feeds", Sr 5275, Fec 3/4.

JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "ETTV Life, JET TV, SET International, Hollywood Movie Channel, ETTV Movie and BNE TV Network" are Fta.

Thaicom 1A 120E 3768 V "The Bayon TV" tests have left .

Intelsat 906 64E Intelsat 906 has arrived at 64 East.


NEWS


Star Plus launched in Australia, NZ


From http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/television/2002/october/33850.htm

After ruling the popularity charts in the Indian sub-continent, 'Star Plus' channel was launched in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend.

The Hindi channel was launched by Indian High Commissioner to Australia R S Rathore here on Saturday.

"Star Plus will provide a fuller insight into developments in India through its news and programmes, besides bringing quality Bollywood films to a larger Australian audience. It will also give us the opportunity to watch Indian cricket matches," he said.

The channel will carry programmes of 'Star News' channel and will be available on Vision Asia's South Asian Pay TV Direct-to-Home satellite platform which earlier brought Zee and Sony TV channels down under.

Vision Asia CEO Saba Zaidi-Abdi said the new channel would provide greater access to news and programmes from South Asia in Australia and New Zealand.

The bouquet of South Asian channels is downlinked in Sydney, digitised and encrypted for uplinking onto the Globecast platform of Optus B3 Australia and New Zealand beam.

The 'Star News' portions will be broadcast live on the new channel, said Senior vice-president of Star India Shantanu Nalavadi.

"We will be beginning with telecast in Hindi and then moving to south Indian and other north Indian languages. We will also be picking up talent from here and showing it in India," he said.




14/10/02

Sorry about the lack of site update last week my PC decided to badly crash causing quite a few problems, so I decided to take a week away from it. But I also happend to be sick so didn't feel much like doing anything, I wasn't even online much.

Star+ arrived on Optus B3, I think it will be Fta until next month to attract viewers. It loads as Vision Asia 4.in the Globecast mux

B3 12532 V Aurora transponder, moved to 12527 V and changed beam (no longer available in NZ)

Feeds seen over the last week, reported via various people

Bathurst

B1, 12420 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4
B1, 12430 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4

Saturday, B1, 12410 V Sr 6980 Fec 3/4 "some kind of religous thing"
Saturday, B1, 12370 H Sr 6110, News feeds for Channel 10


From my Emails & ICQ


From Mark Fahey

Hi Craig,


FYI from Reuters:

ADVISORY

MOD-DATE: 10/09/02 04:24:57

TECH-ASIASAT2-URGENT
IMPORTANT - TECHNICAL ADVISORY

==================================

Please on pass this advisory to your technical department.

ADVISORY TO ALL CLIENTS WHO RECEIVE REUTERS WORLD NEWS SERVICE VIA ASIASAT2

A number of clients have indicated problems with reception of the WNS
service in the new channel in transponder 8B on Asiasat 2. Following
investigation we have found that the cause appears to be external satellite
interference into the new channel. Whilst we are resolving the problem with
Asiasat, we would advise you to continue to receive the service from the
original channel in transponder 4B.

The parameters for the new 8B channel and the old 4B channel were provided
to you but are repeated below:

The old channel in transponder 4B is at:

Centre Frequency: 3774MHz Symbol Rate: 5.632Msym/s

The new channel in transponder 8b is at:

Centre Frequency: 3922.75MHz Symbol Rate: 4.000MSym/s.

To return to the old channel you only need to change the frequency and symbol rate as per the above.

We are in contact with Asiasat concerning the interference we are
experiencing in the new channel, and will advise you when the problem has been
resolved. In the meantime please remain on the old channel in transponder 4B
until further notice.

A further advisory will be issued at this time.
Our apologies for the problems being experienced.

Best Regards
Reuters, London

Any queries please contact:
Reuters Television HelpDesk
Tel: 44 20 7542 2244
Fax: 44 20 7542 2620
email [email protected]


From "eye-ma-bird Andsingh"

Hi all. I phoned up globecast in Sydney this morning (Wednesday) at 9.00 am est and
spoke to a programming bloke. he said that the Zee tv channels will be
encrypted again tomorrow when the new channels are orgnised.He also told me
that there will be another indian channel,croation channel and a medical
channel. Globe cast address is 86 Dickson Avenue,Artarmon NSW Australia 2064
phone number is ( 02 ) 82587990 I hope this helps regards

Eye ma-bird-andsingh


From "Fishinggg"

Palapa C2, A new channel loads on 3604H 2900. Not sure what it is.

Fishinggg


From the Dish


Optus B3 156E 12336 V "Star Plus" has started , Fta, PIDs 501/540.
Optus B3 156E 12438 H The Soundtrack Channel Pacific has started on , Irdeto 1,PIDs 521/649.
Optus B3 156E 12532 V moved to 12527 V, new FEC 3/4 and National beam. Both channels in this mux are now Fta

Agila 2 146E 3866 H "One TV" has started Fta, Sr 3355, Fec 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120.

Palapa C2 113E 10970 HA Satelindo mux has started on , Sr 28125, Fec 3/4, PIDs,512/650-515/653, south beam, line-up: TV 5 Asie, Metro TV, MTV Indonesia and Ar-Rahman TV.

Thaicom 2 78.5E 3751 H "IMN Radio" has left : 7.56 MHz.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "Thai TV Global Network" has left , PIDs 514/670, again, replaced by a test card.

PAS 10 68.5E 3808 V "KTN" has started regular transmissions , Fta, PIDs 39/42.

Intelsat 906 has left 58.5 East, moving east.


NEWS


Boeing revises proposal for Measat 3


From http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/10/8/business/bsboe4&sec=business

THE Boeing Co has submitted to Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd a revised proposal for the manufacture and launch of Measat 3, a larger satellite than the Measat 1 and 2.

?We have a 50:50 chance (of winning the contract) … we are the incumbent and the customer (Binariang Satellite) has been happy with what we had done for Measat 1 and 2. They know we can work together with them,’’ Boeing’s vice-president for international relations and regional vice-president, South-East Asia, Paul T. Walters, told Star Business.

?Our proposal is for delivery and order with an option for a sea launch. The industry is hungry (for contracts) and everyone is competing for the launch business. We are sure Malaysia will get a good deal,” he added.

For Measat 1 and 2, Hughes Space and Communications was the satellite manufacturer while Arianespace was the launch operator. Hughes has since been bought by Boeing.

The advantage of a sea launch is that it offers value and cost-efficiencies. Boeing is a 40% partner in a joint venture – Sea Launch – which has a launch platform in the Pacific Ocean along the equator. The first commercial launch was made in October 1999 and thus far the success rate for sea launches has been good.

Although Boeing has been short-listed for the manufacture of Measat-3 and is prepared to provide launch facilities as well, it faces keen competition from other companies said to include France’s Alcatel and Astrium and US-based Loral Space.

Much larger that Measat 1 and 2, the proposed Measat 3 is expected to have about 48 transponders, 50:50 Ku and C-band transponders and a life span of 15 years.

And it is expected to cost about US$200mil and would have footprints covering Asia, Hawaii and Eastern Australia while the C-band transponders would provide global coverage.

It was reported earlier that Binariang Satellite had tapped the bond market, raising about RM1.2bil to refinance its loans for Measat 1 and 2 and to finance Measat 3.

According to Walters, vendor financing is part of the deal, but he feels that Binariang Satellite would have no problems raising funds from the global markets.

?This is a bigger satellite and it will take Binariang Satellite from a regional space company to an international company. With more capacity, Binariang Satellite would also be able to reach more markets,” he added.


Banning satellite dishes makes no sense now


From http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/bizit/story/0,2276,60414,00.html

If information that comes through satellite communications hardly differs from what the Net offers, why continue with the ban on the dishes?

THIS is not a trick question: In which area of IT is Afghanistan ahead of Singapore?

The answer should be obvious to anyone who's been keeping up with news in Central Asia for the last few months: satellite communications dishes.

For the last five years under Taleban rule, Afghans, like Singaporeans, were not allowed to own satellite dishes. This of course changed after George W Bush bombed the Taleban out of power.

Almost immediately, home-made satellite dishes, crudely constructed from recycled aerosol or soft drink cans, flooded the streets. Today, from Kabul to Kandahar (in the south), satellite dishes have mushroomed on rooftops, providing Afghans with up to 170 channels of news, entertainment and, of course, pornography.

But in Singapore, satellite dishes are still unavailable to most, a glaring contradiction for a country that aspires to be on the forefront of IT and a major 'knowledge economy'.

Generally, only businesses are allowed to own satellite dishes in Singapore. A rare exception are yacht owners, many of whom have installed dishes on their vessels. So while yacht owners are not allowed to watch satellite programmes at home, they can view them in their yachts docked at the various marinas.

Even today, satellite dishes are a touchy topic here. Many residents may seem to want it, but the government is reluctant to allow it. Two years ago, a statement from Mita (Ministry of Information and The Arts) said it would review in 2002 the satellite dish ban - as well as the pay-TV monopoly enjoyed by SCV (Singapore Cable Vision).

This promise was repeated last year by Koh Tin Fook, deputy CEO of SBA (Singapore Broadcasting Authority), who said the government was looking into the pros and cons of allowing families to own satellite dishes.

We are now into the last quarter of 2002. In the interim, SCV has been absorbed by StarHub. But there's still no official word on the review of the satellite dish ban. Both SBA and Mita have not responded to repeated queries on the subject by BT on this issue.

Some government officials might argue that it's not necessary for Singaporeans to own satellite dishes; that this is the first country in the world where almost the entire population has access to broadband. Any information one needs is readily available on the Internet.

Those are quite valid arguments. However, if information that comes through satellites hardly differs from what the Internet offers, then why continue with the ban on the dishes? After all, information is information, no matter from where it comes.

The only crucial difference between the Net and satellite dishes is probably control, or the lack of it. It is possible to stop people accessing certain content on the Internet, but there is no practical way to block the signals that beam down into satellite dishes.

Whatever the intent, banning satellite dishes seems like a wasted effort. That's because there already exists technology to offer satellite access without using dishes. One of them is 'Talking Head', a laptop-sized video system that beams and receives satellite signals from the ground. Talking Head is a popular disguise that journalists use while travelling to countries which ban satellite signals, such as China.

In a few years, smaller systems - some the size of a large handphone - would be available. By then, the ban on satellite dishes would be meaningless.

Technology is not the only reason to lift the ban. Singapore is proud of its achie vements in IT. We like to talk about the number of computers in our schools, homes and offices. It's about time the authorities realise that hardware is but a minor aspect of IT. The major aspect is information. Without free access to information, there's no way we can turn our society into a knowledge economy, no matter how many billions of dollars are spent on computers and telecommunications.

A former colleague, Toh Han Shih, sent this amusing anecdote from Beijing, where he works as a journalist. China's government recently banned access to the search engine, Google. It did this in the run-up to the Chinese leadership change, where President Jiang Zemin was rumoured to be reluctant to step down.

Mr Toh said if one typed 'Jiang Zemin' or 'Evil Jiang Zemin' in the search field in Google, access was denied. But if one typed 'Glorious Jiang Zemin', then access was allowed. Which means any article which was critical of the President could still be accessed, as long as the writer was clever enough to add the word 'Glorious' to the search.

The bottomline: banning information only encourages people to find ways around it. The authorities here should bear that in mind the next time they plan a review on restricting ownership of satellite dishes in Singapore.


Shin Satellite gets $390m iPSTAR loan


From http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/09Oct2002_biz73.html

Funds from US Exim Bank, Coface Group

Shin Satellite Plc has secured $390.2 million in loans for its fourth satellite, iPSTAR, which will be the world's first broadband satellite.

In a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the company said its board on Monday had approved the signing of loan agreements to finance satellite construction and launch late next year.

Of the total, $184.5 million will be borrowed from the US Export-Import Bank, with an eight-year repayment term, and $80.7 million from the French export-credit guarantee company Coface, also repayable in eight years.

The funding from the US Exim Bank will cover the cost of satellite construction by the California-based manufacturer Space Systems/Loral, an affiliate of Loral Space & Communications Ltd. The funds from the French lender were linked to Shin Satellite's selection of France's Arianespace to launch iPSTAR.

The remaining $125 million will take the form of a commercial syndicated loan, repayable in 412 years.

Shin Satellite said earlier that it was working with a group of commercial lenders led by Citibank and BNP Paribas.

The company plans to launch iPSTAR in late 2003. The satellite will offer high-speed data transmission for Internet and multimedia applications. It is expected to become the mainstay of the company's revenue.

Shin Satellite is affiliated with Shin Corp, the country's largest telecommunications group, controlled by the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Shin Satellite received approval in March for its request for an export credit guarantee from the US Export Import Bank of up to $250 million, which was estimated to cover 85% of the US content of the project.

The company agreed to allow the Coface Group to participate in the complete package by providing export credits for 85% of the French and German content required for the project, notably the launch costs, which are estimated to be about $90 million.

The footprint of the iPSTAR satellite will cover China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Oceania and India.

In the first half of this year, Shin Satellite reported a net profit of 803.6 million baht, an increase of 25.1% from the same period last year. Its shares closed yesterday on the SET at 17.90 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 3.73 million baht.


New Skies links Beijing and Busan for China Central Television’s coverage of the 2002


From http://www.newskies.com/PBNews/NewsTemplateNew.asp?cont_id=1341

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, October 8, 2002 – New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, has been selected to support China Central Television’s (CCTV) coverage of the 2002 Asian Games, taking place between September 29 and October 14, with high-power capacity on the NSS-703 satellite.

NSS-703 offers some of the best coverage of the Korean peninsula and China available, and will provide a full-time contribution link between Busan, South Korea and Beijing, China for the transmission of dozens of live sporting events.

?We at CCTV require highly reliable satellite transmissions and comprehensive coverage,” said He Zongjiu, CCTV’s vice president of engineering. “We are confident in New Skies’ satellite resources as well as their technical expertise, which adds tremendous value to this service. In addition to being the largest Asian Games ever, there is tremendous interest in this year’s games in China because of the country’s strong performance since 1978, leading the world in medals for five consecutive games.”

&#TV is clearly one of the world’s premier broadcasters, so we were delighted at the opportunity to build on our extensive experience in providing contribution links for the broadcast community to offer CCTV a fully integrated service for backhaul of live feeds,” said Rudo Jockin, New Skies’ executive vice president of global sales and marketing. “We look forward to strengthening this relationship and hope to collaborate with CCTV on future events.”

New Skies is providing CCTV with a full 36 MHz transponder on the C-band spot beam of NSS-703, which delivers high-power coverage of Western, Central, Southern and Southeast Asia in addition to China and the Korean Peninsula. The live video feeds will be routed from the venues throughout South Korea back to the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) in Busan. The IBC is digitally linked to Korea Telecom’s teleport gateway where the signals will be uplinked to NSS-703 and transmitted to CCTV’s broadcast facility in Beijing.

The Asian Games first appeared in 1951 in New Delhi, with just 11 countries and 500 athletes competing in six events. This year, nearly 10,000 athletes from 44 countries, including North Korea and Afhganistan, will compete in 38 events, such as badminton, baseball, equestrian, football, Judo, sailing, table tennis and Taekwondo.


Exodus Of Channels From Thaicom Hits VSNL’s Plans


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=19088

Mumbai: Several Indian broadcasters are migrating from the Bangkok-based Thaicom satellite, upsetting VSNL’s (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd) plans to rope in clients for uplinking facilities from its centres in India.

VSNL has an agreement with Thaicom to provide uplinking of local channels from Mumbai and New Delhi.

CMM Ltd, which operates CMM Music and Aastha channels, has shifted from the Thaicom satellite to PAS-10. The company has plans to go global with these channels. PAS-10 would provide it with a wider coverage in Europe.

?We will be able to cover a much larger territory, than we are currently. The channel will be accessible in UK, which is home to the largest number of non resident Indians,” said a senior official in CMM, on conditions of anonymity.

CMM has also shifted its uplinking from Thaicom’s facility in Bangkok to SingTel in Singapore. If CMM had stayed on with Thaicom’s satellite, it would have uplinked from VSNL’s teleport in Mumbai.

?We shifted, mainly because Thaicom wanted us to shift from the 5G transponder to another one. This was not agreeable to us as it would have de-stabilised the channels and cable operators would have had to retune the decoders. We believe Thaicom wanted to give the entire transponder to an Australian company, which runs a group of channels,” the official alleged.

But by shifting to another satellite, CMM had to face problems in the distribution of its channels as cable operators had to shift the position of the dish antenna.

?PAS-10 gives us a decent coverage, since it also airs channels like Sony TV. It is helping us get back our distribution,” said the official.

Reminiscent India Television (RITV), which operates the Lashkara and Gurjari channels, has also shifted from Thaicom. The Punjabi and Gujarati language channels have moved to NSS-703, the same satellite which Sun TV uses, and the channels are being uplinked from SingTel.

?We were asked to change the transponder in one month. This would have meant changing the frequency. So we decided to change the satellite itself,” said a source at RTV.

When asked if they defaulted on paying transponder fees to Thaicom, the two broadcasters said that no legal case was filed against them. Thaicom did not want to officially comment on any issue which involved their clients.

ATN World has also shifted from Thaicom, but for different reasons.

The Bangla language channel has decided to move to Intelsat but will be uplinking from VSNL in Calcutta for coverage of live news.

SNTV, a shopping and comedy channel, was on Thaicom, but has shut shop. Tara Marathi intends to uplink from VSNL in Mumbai but is officially off air for two months. Its resurrection will only be possible if Eternal Dreams manages to arrange finances to fund its operations. Eternal Dreams entered into a contract with the Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide in March, 2002, to manage the channel.

TARA Gujarati and Punjabi have also downed their shutters, though TARA Bangla will continue to be on Thaicom and will shift its uplinking from Bangkok to VSNL’s facility in Mumbai.


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 41/2002 14 October 2002 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A


AUSTRALIA

PAY-TV PROVIDERS CALL FOR FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF SPORTS EVENTS

Australia's leading pay-TV providers have appealed for fairer distribution
of sporting events. Optus and Foxtel called have called for a review of
anti-siphoning laws, which restrict pay-TV operators from buying up large
broadcast contracts. Fox Sports' Jon Marquard said there is no reason why
rights could not be granted to both free-to-air and pay-TV networks so
sporting events could be broadcast by both. Optus's Paul Fletcher said
anti-siphoning measures are an unfair move to protect free-to-air networks.

PRIMUS TELECOM AGAINST FOXTEL-OPTUS PAY-TV MERGER

A Foxtel-Singtel Optus pay-TV merger deal would destroy telecom
competition, Primus Telecom contends. In it submission to the Australian
Competition & Consumer Commission, Primus said Telstra's arguments in
favour of the deal were irrelevant and weak. The merger proposal was the
biggest threat to telecommunications and Internet service competition in
Australia. The deal would promote a duopoly regime for the supply of telco
services and would allow Telstra to bundle telco and media services, which
competitors would not be able to do.

AAPT SAYS FOXTEL SHOULD OFFER PAY-TV TO OTHER PROVIDERS

The country’s third largest telecommunications provider AAPT said on
October 8 Foxtel should be forced to offer its pay-TV service on
competitive terms to all telecommunications providers for resale. AAPT said
without such an offer, Australia's competition watchdog should not
authorise proposed Telstra bundling and Foxtel-Optus content-sharing
arrangements. AAPT is owned by Telecom Corp of New Zealand, which is a
direct competitor to Australian telco giant Telstra Corp which has a 50 per
cent stake in Foxtel. The remainder of Foxtel is split between News Corp
and Publishing & Broadcasting; while Optus - the number two telco - is
owned by Singapore Telecommunications. Free-to-air broadcasters - including
the Seven Network, Network Ten, ABC and SBS, also have concerns with the
Foxtel-Optus proposal and want the federal government to "enact a
legislative retransmission framework" to ensures all viewers have access to
free-to-air services. Nick Falloon, the Ten Network's chairman, says
regional television advertising will suffer if the deal is approved. He
dismisses Foxtel's claims that it cannot incorporate terrestrial tuners in
its set-top boxes. The tuners are needed for pay-TV operators to be able to
retransmit regional advertisements to free-to-air stations.

FOOTBALL CLUBS ADVISED TO REJECT TV DEAL

Seven Network's push to drop coverage of Australian National Soccer League
(NSL) games has been criticised. The 13 NSL clubs have been urged not to
agree to a new $A2.5 million-a-year television deal. South Melbourne
president, Peter Mitrakis, said on 10 October 2002 that the deal was not in
the best interests of the NSL, and if it went ahead, it would destroy any
hopes of new investment. Seven wants to end its telecasts of NSL games and
focus instead on the Socceroos national team. Cash-strapped Soccer
Australia wants to sign the agreement and may not be able to survive
without it.

CHINA HONG KONG

CCTV AND OPENTV TO AIR INTERACTIVE ASIAN GAMES

OpenTV on October 8 announced it is powering the interactive TV features
for CCTV's broadcast of the Asian Games. On 29 September, an interactive
version of the largest sporting event in Asia became available to CCTVsi
(CCTV Sports Interactive) viewers in 18 provinces and 66 cities across
China. The enhanced, multi-screen, multi-angle interactive TV sports
application was co-developed by OpenTV and CCTV to broadcast the Asian
Games. The interactive broadcast is expected to run through 14 October 2002
with complete coverage of the Games taking place in Busan, Korea. Following
the successful broadcast of the first interactive FIFA World Cup 2002 in
May, the new application expands OpenTV's relationship with CCTV for the
delivery of iTV content to cable networks in the country.

DELAY FOR DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL SERVICE

The launch of digital terrestrial TV in Hong Kong is to face further delay,
with the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau preparing a second round
of industry consultation in early-2003. The original consultation,
completed in December 2000, considered three foreign broadcasting standards
but ignored developments in mainland China. National broadcasters TVB and
ATV want to adopt a mainland standard, where five local DTT systems are
being tested, with a decision on which will be adopted expected late-2003.
During the previous consultation, Japanese (ISDB), U.S. (ATSC) and European
(DVB) solutions were considered.

INDIA

ZEE SEEKS GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR HEADEND IN THE SKY

Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms has sought permission of the Indian
government to "turnaround" satellite channels in a digital format from its
uplink base on the outskirts of Delhi for, what Zee calls, a headend in the
sky project. Government officials confirmed that the information and
broadcasting ministry has received a detailed proposal from Zee for putting
a headend in the sky that will substantially lower investments on cable
headends by cable operators and multi-system operators as and when
conditional access system (CAS) is implemented. According to Zee
executives, the proposal, prepared by its cable subsidiary Siti Cable, is
being examined by the government and talks also have been initiated at both
formal and informal levels with other broadcasters like Sony Entertainment
Television India and Star India for inclusion of their respective channels
in the common encrypted signal. The Zee executives also pointed out that
this way investment in a post-CAS era would come down substantially as the
headend in the sky project is likely to cost between Rs 150 and Rs 180
million.

JAPAN

NHK AND PBS SIGN HDTV PARTNERSHIP

Japanese state broadcaster NHK and US broadcaster PBS have formed a
partnership to bring US and Japanese audiences five high-definition shows
per year in a new three-year agreement, signed on October 8. Programme
production will include a variety of genres with costs and rights to be
shared by the two companies on a programme-by- programme basis. No

programme details were available at this stage.

KOREA

KBS LAUNCHES JAPANESE FEED

Korean Broadcast Systems, the license fee and ad supported terrestrial and
DTH broadcaster is now beaming its international feed to Japan. The TV
Korea service is relayed through KNTV on the SkyPerfect digital DTH
service. KBS said that following the Japanese and recent New Zealand
launches it plans to relay TV Korea to Australia this month and South East
Asia in 2003.

THAILAND

BBTV SIGNS UP FOR WALT DISNEY PROGRAMMING

Buena Vista International Television (BVI-TV) Asia Pacific has signed a
multi-year volume deal with Bangkok Broadcasting & Television (BBTV) in
Thailand. The deal covers a wide range of BVI programming including
features, animated series, network series, mini-series and other top
quality programs. The multi-year volume deal includes the branded Disney
block, Disney Club, which is a locally hosted show that tailors to specific
viewing preference of Thailand kids and features the best in contemporary
and classic Disney animation. Disney Club has been expanded from 1 hour to
1.5 hours since earlier this year and is constantly the leading show in its
timeslot.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

CHANNEL 33 TO EXPAND REACH

Dubai TV's English-language station Channel 33 is attempting to expand its
reach. The channel has been beaming test satellite transmissions since
October 7 hoping to reach out to the 20-million expatriate community in the
Arab world, the Dubai-based Gulf News has reported. The test signal on
Nilesat will run for four hours daily, with full-scale broadcasting
expected to begin on 2 December, UAE's National Day. Channel 33 is
reportedly targeting English-speaking audiences on both terrestrial and
satellite transmissions. The channel's programming will include news,
documentaries, drama series and movies, in addition to a number of local
and outsourced productions.




6/10/02

Sunday, no update actually I am going to take a break from the site, the next update will be Saturday. Chatnight on Tuesday will happen as usual. Hope you guys appreciate the amount of time it takes to update 6 days a week, I need a little break while things are quiet.




5/10/02

Not a lot to report today, Tarbs is adding more channels to its Pas 2 mux so keep an eye on that one. Also don't forget the NRL final live on ABC Asia Pacific


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Harpley

Hi Craig

I understand you have a 3.7m Orbitron dish.
Is there any chance that you could take a picture of the centre plates and email it to me.


I'm pretty sure that mine is an orbitron but I am having trouble identifying it.
I have lost the 2 round centre plates and need to know what brand of dish it is to try and get some measurements and get new ones made.

Thanks in advance.
Steve


(Craigs comment, I can't sorry my dish is in the attic packed away since I can't put it up at my new place, so no pics, perhaps someone else can help?)


From Telsat

Hi all

Press Release from:

Hon Steve Maharey - Minister of Broadcasting:

"Broadcasters contribution to nation building crucial" - News
Release Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey has released
post-election briefing papers from the Ministry for Culture and
Heritage, New Zealand on Air and the Broadcasting
Standards Authority today.

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/Portfolio.cfm?PortfolioID=59

Regards


From Zapara

Panamsat 10 "Eurosportnews" screenshot


From the Dish


Pas 2 169E 4090 V "Tarbs mux, several new services testing here including KISB3 Korean" Sr 21000 Fec 3/4


NEWS


Foxtel causes PBL to pull Nine off free-to-air team


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/04/1033538777465.html

PBL's conflicting interests as both the owner of the Nine free-to-air TV network and a shareholder in pay TV group Foxtel has prompted Nine to pull out of a joint submission from free-to-air broadcasters on Foxtel's proposed undertakings.

Seven Network, Network Ten, ABC, SBS, and regional broadcasters NBN, Prime, Southern Cross Broadcasting and Imparja Television joined forces yesterday to voice their concerns that Foxtel's undertakings fail to address the carriage and access requirements of the free-to-air broadcasters.

In a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the broadcasters called for pay TV operators to be required to provide their subscribers with all free-to-air services available in that subscriber's licence area. They also want access to pay TV digital infrastructure so they can provide interactive services in the future.

Until earlier this week, it was intended Nine would be a co-signatory to the joint submission. But the letter accompanying the submission lodged yesterday revealed "the Nine Network has elected to withdraw from the proposed joint submission".

Nine's decision to pull out at the last minute sparked speculation PBL's Foxtel partners Telstra and News pressured PBL to put Foxtel's interests ahead of Nine's.

Nine has concerns about Foxtel's undertakings similar to its free-to-air peers. It claims, however, that these concerns are "outside the ambit" of the ACCC's consideration, as Foxtel's proposed undertakings relate only to access for other pay TV players. To allay fears that its program sharing deal with rival Optus would create a pay TV monopoly, Foxtel has promised to provide third party access to its pay TV infrastructure and content.

"Nine strongly supports the retransmission of free-to-air services and access to pay TV infrastructure, but does not consider it appropriate to pursue it through this forum," said its manager of regulatory and corporate affairs, Creina Chapman.

It is believed irreconcilable differences with Seven over multichannelling - Nine is opposed to multichannelling, Seven supports it - also made it difficult for Nine to put its name to the joint ACCC submission.

Foxtel dimissed the free-to-air networks' submission as "the self-interested bleating of a cosseted industry sector trying to stop competition strengthening from subscription television". A spokesman said it was the free-to-air broadcasters' responsibility to deliver their digital signal to viewers.


Networks want to see the big picture


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5228680%255E15306,00.html

AUSTRALIA'S major TV networks have called for a new layer of media legislation to guarantee them access to pay-TV set-top boxes and all their back-end support systems.

All the TV networks except Nine – whose parent Publishing & Broadcasting is a 25 per cent owner of pay-TV group Foxtel – want extra regulation to ensure any future services they offer are available in the 22 per cent of Australian homes with pay-TV.

Seven, Ten, the ABC, SBS and the regional TV networks Southern Cross, Prime and WIN believe that the Government should legislate a "must carry" retransmission regime for all their digital channels on pay-TV.

They also want any extra TV services they may offer provided on pay-TV at no cost to them. They are also demanding all pay-TV ratings information at no cost.

Finally, they want access to all of pay-TV's back-end support services – needed to provide future interactive services – on "reasonable commercial terms".

Their comments came in a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on the Foxtel-Optus content sharing deal.

The TV networks said the deal remained anti-competitive without a legislated "retransmission" regime that would ensure their channels were carried on pay-TV.

The submission relates only to the common concern about retransmission, and they said individual networks might have other concerns.

But Mark Furness, a spokesman for Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams, said the networks' submission was based on self-interest.

"Pay-TV already retransmits their signals where it is economical to do so, but that is not our business and simply piggy-backing on subscription TV is not a solution," he said.

He said Foxtel would retransmit a network's primary digital TV signal but the network would have to pay a commercial rate to have extra services broadcast.

"They were given free spectrum to deliver digital services but are not using it, and now want to use the spectrum we built," he said.

In a submission to another inquiry – on whether to unite the pay and free-to-air TV digital boxes – all the networks (including Nine) said they wanted that system legislated.

Options to ensure a common platform include retransmission through cable pay-TV boxes or mandating common or "dual tuner" set-top boxes.

But the Australian Subscription TV and Radio Association executive director Deb Richards said the common box idea was "a lemon".

"Its development would be incredibly complicated and expensive, delay the uptake and digitisation of Australian broadcasting and isolate our consumers from international technology," she said.


Robert Chua plans HK English channel


From http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,1870,147250,00.html

Singaporean says it will cater to viewers in Hongkong and the mainland keen to learn English

HONGKONG - Singaporean television entrepreneur Robert Chua intends to launch an all-English-language free-to-air channel in predominantly Cantonese-speaking Hongkong.

His plan comes amid moves by the territory's two free-to-air television stations to slash their airtime for English-language programmes.

Mr Chua said the new channel would cater to foreigners, emigrants who have returned to Hongkong and viewers in the territory and the mainland keen to learn English.

'The mission is to promote the learning of English here and on the mainland, and to help Hongkong maintain its status as an international city.

'With many choices available on satellite or cable TV, such as HBO and Disney, the new channel must localise the majority of its programmes to succeed,' he said.

He plans to offer localised and interactive programmes, and sees opportunities for the channel when Hongkong introduces digital terrestrial broadcasting within the next few years.

The authorities are now studying digital broadcasting which allows spectrum efficiency and thus a wider programme choice, including multimedia services.

In contrast to Mr Chua's bullishness about the English-language television market in the territory, Television Broadcast (TVB) and Asia Television (ATV) have been lobbying the authorities for years to let them beam more non-English-language programmes, particularly Putonghua shows.

Under current rules, shows between 7 pm and 11 pm on the stations' two non-Cantonese channels must be in English. Outside these slots, only 20 per cent of airtime is allowed in other languages.

The two channels, which are loss-making, attract a mere 160,000 viewers each night, compared to more than two million for the Cantonese channels.

In a territory where 98 per cent people speak Cantonese, advertisers who shoot commercials in Cantonese refuse to dub the advertisements into English even when these are aired on the English channels.

Last year, according to the ACNeilson monitoring agency, the non-Cantonese channels attracted 4.3 per cent of the local television advertising revenue.

Except for the news, ATV and TVB produce scant programmes in English.

Associate Professor Cheuk Pak Tong of Baptist University said: 'There is no market for English-language channels. Even Putonghua is not popular here.'

But Dr Lau Tuen Yu, who teaches communications at the University of Washington in Seattle and has worked in the industry, said: 'English-language TV channels can claim to reach the market segment that has higher purchasing power.'

But he said that the China market might be difficult for an English-language TV channel owned and operated by a non-mainland company because China Central Television has aggressive global expansion plans for CCTV 9, an all-English channel.

'So, Chua or other foreign TV channels can only benefit from the China market, either because of signal spillover or landing rights within the existing cable TV systems.'

The government is reviewing the broadcasting licences granted to ATV and TVB that are up for renewal in December next year.

The review has sparked off the latest debate on the amount of English-language programming provided by the two stations.


Maxis, ST Telemedia and Telstra 'to bid for Indosat stake'


From http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,147200,00.html

JAKARTA - Maxis Communications, Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) and Telstra have joined the list of suitors interested in a 42 per cent stake in Indonesian Satellite Corp (Indosat), bankers involved in the bidding said yesterday.

Indosat is Indonesia's dominant international call operator. The government's sale of a stake worth about US$408 million (S$729.5 million) has already drawn interest from Telekom Malaysia, the largest phone company in Malaysia.

Indosat's value lies in 'its monopoly on international calls and control of the No.2 mobile company'. The government, which owns 56.9 per cent of Indosat, is selling the stake to help plug a US$4 billion Budget deficit and meet pledges made to the International Monetary Fund.

Telstra, Australia's biggest telco, is seeking to reverse its first profit drop in five years, in part by expanding in Asia. It said on Sept 20 that it may bid for a stake in Indosat.

Maxis, Malaysia's biggest mobile phone company, has hired JP Morgan Chase & Co as adviser and ST Telemedia, part of government-owned Singapore Technologies, has hired Goldman Sachs Group as its adviser, bankers said.

Maxis chief executive officer Jamaludin Ibrahim and Singapore Technologies president Peter Seah could not be reached for comment.

Bidders must submit non-binding offers by this month. The government will shortlist the bidders and final bids will be submitted by the fourth week of next month.--Bloomberg News




4/10/02

Viruses, First up I don't have any on my machine, I run the very latest Nortons Antivirus 2003 updated DAILY. I don't use any buggy Microsoft email clients either. Also I update any security patches weekly. This new Bugbear virus is causing a lot of confusion, part of a new breed of viruses that falsify the sender info. I urge everyone to UPDATE your virus checker DAILY. When the KLEZ.E virus came out I received over 300 copys due to my email address being in a lot of address books. I expect a similar amount of this one in fact I have had 15 copys so far. A reminder though the mailing list does NOT accept attachments so don't unsubscribe thinking you will get a lot of viruses from being on it.

New activity on Optus B3, 4 new service (Cards/Test patterns) are loading. 2 are likely to be Star Plus and a Croatian channel but its not known what the other 2 are for.

NRL Final on Abc Asia Pacific Pas 8 live? Go the Warriors!


From my Emails & ICQ


From David

Hi Craig... with regards to your letter from abdul... I receive asiasat2
with a 3.6m dish from Toowoomba, near Brisbane, and while Dubai mux is
ok.... I dont often get the Macau mux very well... sometimes not at
all.... mind you... haven't tried for at least 2 weeks... and my dish is
probably not aligned spot on.

cheers
David


From Joe

Hi Craig,

It might be the alignment of the dish that is troubling Abdul. The Dubai mux in Melbourne I'm currently receiving (on a 2.3 m dish) a signal quality of around 30% and it's a miserable day.

regards
Joe


From NastyLop

Craig, might be worth mentioning that ABC Asia Pacific is scheduled to
have the rugby league final on live this Sunday. For South Australian
viewers, and possibly people in other regions of Australia, this will
be the ONLY way to see the game live. Foxtel has it at 6.30am the
following morning, while Channel 9 shows its usual contempt for South
Australian league fans by broadcasting the game at 11.45pm.

ABC does include a disclaimer though, saying the scheduling of the
event is subject to change.


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 4026 V The Era Bouquet has left , moved to PAS 8.

Optus B3 156E 12336V "Some changes in Globecast mux" reload it

ST 1 88E 3582 H The mux is now only in Nagravision.
ST 1 88E 3632 V The MMBN mux is still in both Viaccess 1 and Nagravision.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "BBC World and Taiwan Music Channel" are now encrypted.


NEWS


Ten brands Foxtel deal 'unworkable'


From AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW - (Premium subscription service)

The Ten Network has formally opposed Foxtel's proposed pay-TV content alliance with Optus.

Documents sent to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission branded the proposed Foxtel access regime "unworkable" because the pay-TV operator had not granted access to its customer service infrastructure.

Foxtel proposed 12 undertakings designed to address ACCC concerns that the deal - which will see Optus and Foxtel share programming in a move aimed to make the industry sustainable - was uncompetitive.

"Their proposed undertakings clearly do not overcome the anti-competitive effects of the proposal," Ten said in a submission, a copy of which was obtained by The Australian Financial Review.

Ten also expressed concern over Foxtel's potential dominance of interactive digital services.

"That Foxtel is not prepared to give third parties access to its monopoly platform for interactive digital services enables Foxtel and its partners, the largest media and telecommunications companies in Australia, to entrench a monopoly over all new interactive digital services that become available in the future," Ten said.

Ten's stance follows that of multicultural pay-TV operator TARBS, which criticised Foxtel's undertakings in its own submission to the ACCC. But Neighbourhood Cable, the regional Victorian operator, has come out in support of the undertakings after it signed a content supply deal with Foxtel.

The ACCC, which knocked back Foxtel's original proposal, is expected to rule on the Foxtel undertakings soon after viewing submissions from industry players.

Ten's submission said Foxtel's undertakings excluded access to back-end systems and service components, such as billing services and customer management systems.

"The access regime is unworkable. No third party will be able to rely on it to provide new pay-TV channels or content, and no-one will find it commercially viable to seek access to Foxtel's monopoly platform," Ten said.

Ten also wants the free-to-air network services to be provided through Foxtel's digital set-top box.


Choice of views for grand final


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Sky Digital subscribers will be able choose between three options for the commentary to Sunday's NRL Grand Final between the Warriors and the Sydney City Roosters.

Viewers can choose from the Sky commentary team of Jason Costigan, Daryl Halligan and Tea Ropati, who are both ex-Kiwi internationals, as is guest commentator, Tawera Nikau (who played for the Melbourne Storm when they won the Grand Final in 2000).

This option, called the English option, will be the default commentary on Sky Sport Digital and the only commentary available on Sky Sport UHF.

Or Digital subscribers can use their remote to select the "English ALT option" by entering the + key, scrolling down from English (Sky commentary) and pressing the select button.

This will get the Australian Channel 9 commentary team featuring veteran NRL commentator Ray Warren, plus Peter Stirling, Phil Gould, Paul Vautin and Andrew Voss.

It was controversial comments from this team during the semifinal between the Warriors and the Sharks last Sunday that sparked an outcry from some New Zealanders.

The third option is a Maori commentary provided by Hohepa McClean and Charlie Waka.


New Skies, Data Access in deal for satellite use


From http://www.hinduonnet.com/bline/stories/2002100401740700.htm

GLOBAL satellite communications company New Skies Satellite (NSS) and international long-distance operator Data Access (India) Pvt Ltd have signed a $100-million contract for capacity on two of its satellites — NSS 6, scheduled to be launched by end-November this year and NSS-703, which operates in the Indian Ocean region.

Announcing this at a press conference, Mr Daniel S. Goldberg, CEO, NSS, stated that the agreement would provide Data Access with multiple high-powered transponders on NSS-6 satellite for a 10-year period and on existing NSS-703 satellite primarily for the transmission of international voice traffic between India and the Middle East, North East Asia, South East Asia, Australia and Europe.

"NSS-6, with the best inter-regional connectivity in the industry and high-power performance, is ideally-suited for voice, data, and video transmissions in and among the Middle East, India, North and Southeast Asia, China and Australia. In short, it is an ideal vehicle for Data Access' dynamic business,'' Mr Goldberg stated.

He noted that NSS-6 would offer high-powered Ku- and Ka-band services to more than 60 per cent of the world's population with its six interconnected beams covering India, China, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East and South Africa. A number of technical features on the satellite, such as built-in flexibility for dynamic allocation of capacity among the coverage regions, make it ideally suited to offer first class connectivity for Asian carriers, broadcasters and Internet service providers.

``With the Government liberalising the international voice market by issuing three new licenses to offer international long distance voice and data carrier service on April 1 this year, the market for these services is expected to grow exponentially. With NSS-6 offering high-power broadband connectivity throughout India as well as the entire region, it will serve as a major catalyst for this growth,'' he said.

Mr Goldberg said NSS was also talking to other ILD operators including Reliance for capacity. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Siddhartha Ray, Managing Director, Data Access, stated that it would allow the company to improve the performance of its networks by giving greater flexibility in the management of traffic between various voice gateways in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

"Our selection of NSS-6 will give us a real competitive advantage in the market. With our voice and data business currently growing at a rapid pace, we needed to procure a large amount of bandwidth that can be flexibly deployed without sacrificing our high standards for Quality of Service,'' he stated.

Mr Ray noted that since the rollout of its ILD operations on July 24, the company is already carrying over two million minutes of voice traffic to India everyday through its interconnect with more than 65 leading tier-1 and tier-2 carriers throughout the world.

The international data carrier business of Data Access already services over 60 per cent of the Internet capacity of India by deploying over 300 mbps of data circuits, he noted.


Murdoch firm ordered to hand over documents in TV piracy row


From http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,803949,00.html

Rupert Murdoch's pay TV technology company has been served with 31 grand jury subpoenas in the US as allegations of a worldwide hacking campaign refuse to go away.

NDS Group makes smart cards that allow pay TV viewers to decode the encrypted signals picked by their set-top boxes.

However, pay TV broadcasters in Europe and the US have accused the News Corporation subsidiary of hacking competitors' cards, triggering widespread piracy.

The Middlesex-based company has already seen off a lawsuit from Vivendi Universal after News Corp agreed to take over the French media giant's Italian pay TV unit. One condition of the deal was that the legal case was dropped.

Canal Plus Technologies, a Vivendi subsidiary, accused News Corp of hacking its smart cards and publishing details of its pay TV technology on the internet, costing it £630m in lost revenues.

But two US broadcasters have joined the fray, with EchoStar and NagraStar filing lawsuits in San Francisco last week and ending Mr Murdoch's hopes of drawing a line under an embarrassing affair.

The subpoenas ordering NDS to hand over documents are part of a federal criminal investigation into the allegations.

A spokeswoman for NDS, which denies the allegations, said the company would co-operate fully with the government's investigation.

Abe Peled, the chief executive of NDS, said earlier this week that the fresh allegations by EchoStar and NagraStar were a repetition of Canal Plus' "groundless lawsuit" and "an attempt to harm NDS and thwart legitimate competition".

The NDS lawsuits and federal investigations reflect a growing concern about intellectual property theft.

Loss, destruction and theft of intellectual property cost companies up to £36bn last year, according to the Trends in Proprietary Information Loss survey.

The television industry is more vulnerable to this trend than most, because its embrace of digital technology makes it a target for potential hackers and high-tech sabotage.

Smart cards were introduced to minimise pirating, but counterfeit versions are flooding the US and European markets. It is estimated there are 18m satellite TV subscribers in the US and 1m pirates, while in Italy there are an estimated 5m satellite homes but only 2m of them receive broadcasts legally.

Federal investigators were first alerted to NDS in late 2000 when one of the company's engineers, Christopher Tarnovsky, was informed by police that he had received two packages at a commercial mailbox he rented in San Marcos, Texas.

Court documents allege that one package contained a DVD player that had $20,000 hidden inside; the other contained a CD player that concealed $20,100. The packages were mailed from Canada.

Tarnovsky's lawyer claims he was set up and no charges have been filed against Mr Tarnovsky.

But Mr Tarnovsky is a key figure in the civil case brought by EchoStar and NagraStar, who allege he broke into their encryption systems and then transmitted the top-secret codes to a Canadian website used by digital pirates.

NDS has denied in court that Tarnovsky transmitted the codes, and his lawyer said there was "no proof" that he hacked rivals' codes.

The plaintiffs in the civil case claim NDS wanted to hobble rivals. According to papers filed on behalf of the plaintif, NDS was on the verge of losing a contract to NagraStar, so it hacked the NagraStar system and encouraged pirates to use it, discouraging customers from switching services.

NDS is also the defendant in another suit filed last month by DirecTV, which hired NDS in 1999 to provide smart card technology for its 11m-strong customer base.

The sealed lawsuit accuses NDS of breach of contract, fraud, breach of warranty and misappropriation of trade secrets, DirecTV said. NDS denies the charges.


Happy Birthday Sputnik


From http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021003-112920-4581r

Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite, weighed only 184 pounds and at about 23 inches wide was about the size of a beach ball, but 45 years ago Friday, on Oct. 4, 1957, it changed the course of history by ushering in the Space Age.

The satellite, whose name in Russian means little traveler was followed by fleets of satellites, robots to the planets, humans in orbit and eventually footsteps on the moon. The peaceful competition between the Soviet Union and the United States fostered by Sputnik continues today, with mature space industries in both countries continually creating advanced technology, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in income.

The tiny sphere blasted into low Earth orbit atop a Soviet ballistic missile from the country's secret Star City. The launched was a U.S.S.R. offering to the International Geophysical Year, an effort of global scientific research that began in July 1957 and actually ran 18 months, to December 1958. But the fact that the first orbiting spacecraft was launched by the Soviet Union and not the United States stunned the world.

"Sputnik represented the first instance where man was able to move beyond the atmosphere in any serious way and stay up there," said Roger Launius, former head of NASA's History Office and a space historian at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

The development of a space satellite was high on the agendas of the governments of both the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1950s because of the possible military implications. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had announced U.S. plans to orbit a satellite sometime during the IGY. Likewise, during the summer of 1957 the Soviet government also announced plans to loft a spacecraft, even releasing the radio frequency that the tiny craft would transmit.

Few in the West took the Soviet boast seriously, however. "It should not have really shocked anybody, but what it did send a signal to the public. For the first time in our history our two great oceans could not protect us," Launius recalled.

When Sputnik's launched was revealed, the public outcry that the U.S. had been beaten into space spilled into Congressional hearings and fueled political debates. Then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson held hours of public testimony seeking to blame Republicans and the Eisenhower administration for not giving space a high enough priority. He warned the Russians had reached the "high ground" of space and someday might be able to rain down nuclear bombs on America.

As a result, the Eisenhower administration accelerated its space and missile programs. The first U.S. response to Sputnik, however, was another embarrassment. Some eight weeks after the Soviet craft was launched, on Dec. 6, 1957, America made its first attempt at orbiting a satellite -- the Navy's Vanguard 1.

Live nationwide television broadcasts showed the rocket's blastoff -- and its explosion seconds later in a dramatic failure. The United States would not succeed in launching a satellite until Jan. 31, 1958. But by then, a global competition between the two super space powers was in full development.

The Soviets would score another first on April 12, 1961 by launching Yuri Gagarin into orbit as the first man in space and continued a string of achievements, with America playing catch-up for several more years. Eventually the U.S. space program would achieve the first space rendezvous, the first successful Mars probes and, on July 20, 1969, would win the race to land the first humans on the moon.

Today, the Russian government is a U.S. partner aboard the International Space Station. Both Boeing and Lockheed Martin sell Russian space boosters on the commercial market. An evolved version of the rocket that lofted Sputnik is also for sale-by a Russian and French commercial rocket consortium. The space "race" continues, but this time, for commercial profits and jobs, not international political prestige.

"Sputnik ushered in the effort to use the basic sciences to push the basic technologies for our national economy," said Charles Vick, a Space Policy analyst in Washington.

"The criticality of the basic sciences to push the development of technology as U.S. government policy is the greatest legacy of Sputnik today," he adds.


Punjab Today promoters to launch more channels


From indiantelevision.com

NEW DELHI: STV Enterprises Ltd, managers of Punjab Today, a predominantly Punjabi language satellite channel, has drawn up big plans to launch some more channels during this financial year, including a Kashmiri news channel.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com, STV Enterprises chairman-cum- managing director JK Jain (not to be confused with Dr JK Jain of Jain Studios) said: "We do have plans to launch more channels this year. The first off the block will be Balle Balle, a music channel, which is slated to go on air later this month."

According to Jain, "We have realised that there is money to be made through small advertisers on regional language Indian channels and that is why we have charted a path to make forays into this area."

Pointing out that Punjab Today, launched in January earlier this year, has "already broken even", Jain said that in the pipeline are J&K Today (a predominantly Kashmiri language channel) and Haryana Today.

Upinder Nayar, the chief executive of the up and coming Balle Balle channel feels that the experience of Punjab Today has shown that there is a market for such channels even in states like Maharashtra and Goa where Punjab Today is available as a digital free-to-air channel.

Nayar, the youthful and exuberant CEO heads the overall operations of Balle Balle and Punjab Today and has been associated with a number of big media events. "In the coming months, I want that Punjab Today and Balle Balle become a household name," he said.

Balle Balle, to be beamed through Thaicom-3 satellite, will have 60-70 per cent Punjabi language music videos, while the rest will comprise Hindi music videos and programmes.

Explaining the rationale behind small but efficiently managed regional language channels, Jain feels that the Indian rural market is huge and no advertiser can ignore it. "If we offer them a package targeting niche and focussed audience they'll come on board," he added.

Sounds strange? Jain throws up some facts: big time ad spenders like Samsung, Emami, Coca-Cola and even Hindustan Lever all advertise on Punjab Today to target the rural market. "If you can offer a focussed and niche market to advertisers, they'll come on board, Jain explains.

He also said that talks are on with foreign cable companies to take the existing and future channels to the UK and Canada to tap the huge ethnic market there and the presence of Zee, Sony and even Star Plus doesn't deter Jain.

STV Enterprises started off as a video post-production house in Delhi and now has facilities in the Capital as well as in Mumbai where Jain claims that his company manages Asia's first digital special effects film and video studio.

Punjab Today, a 24 hour news channel, is an attempt to bring Punjabis across India and those settled abroad closer by bringing them news and events occurring in their home state in their mother tongue.

Launched in January 2002, Punjab Today is the only regional channel to achieve nearly 100 per cent penetration in urban as well as rural areas across Punjab, Haryana, J&K, and Himachal Pradesh right down to the smallest tehsils and towns, Jain says.




3/10/02

B1, 12532 V has now been cleared only Abc National and RFM remaining there


From my Emails & ICQ


Hi how are you, i live in melbourne and i have a 2.3 metre mesh dish with c-band lnb. I am currently recieving asiasat 2 channels. The last week the Dubai mux has had a very weak signal (i cant watch any of the channels, i get the signal but pic comesand goes same with audio), same with Hunan channel, this channel i cant get the signal between about 4am-4pm, but at about 6pm till midnight its perfect. One more channel i cant recive is the Macau mux, i have never ever got a signal which will lock on to my reciever which means i have never watched these channels.

What is wrong, can it be my reciever? (Coship DVB 2000 reciever)

Please answer,
thankyou
Abdul


(Craigs comment, the 2.3 meter dish should be large enough to recieve these channels, could it be an alignment problem with your dish? is there anyone else reading the site who could check and report signal levels from the above channels? I think the Dubai mux had some problems when they first went up relating to power levels.)



From the Dish


Optus B1 160E New PIDs for ABC TV Victoria, ABC TV Queensland and the test cards on12688 H and 12706 H: 2309/2310 and 2317/2318.

Agila 2 146E 3834 H "PN TV" has left , replaced by a test card.

Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H "FTV" is Fta again.

ST 1 88E All channels in the MMBN mux are encrypyed again, only in Nagravision, except BBC World, Tzu Chi TV and Taiwan Music Channel.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "3ABN and 3ABN Radio" are still on ,Fta, PIDs 2049/2050 and 2051.

PAS 10 68.5E 4064 V "EuroSport News" has started, Fta, SID 9, PIDs 520/648.


NEWS


Foxtel offer slammed by rival


From AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW - (Premium subscription service)

Independent pay-TV operator TARBS has slammed Foxtel's undertakings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, labelling the proposals unworkable and anti-competitive.

The pay-TV operator - which sells subscribers a suite of multicultural channels - lodged a submission to the ACCC saying Foxtel's undertakings on its proposed content sharing agreement with Optus did not remove competition issues.

"The undertakings are illusory and fail to address any of our concerns in either the provision or purchase of programming, or delivery of pay-TV to the public," the chairman of TARBS, Mike Boulos, said.

TARBS said if the deal was approved its content supply would be put at risk because Foxtel would be able to wield unfettered influence. It also said it would not be able to broadcast using Telstra's platform due to prohibitive costs.

"The offer to other operators like TARBS of access to the Telstra cable network is set at an excessive flagfall of $750,000 per annum per channel (for both digital and analog channels), plus other costs," it said.

"Meanwhile, the charge for shared access to the Foxtel set-top box is totally unreasonable at $325 a year - as boxes can now be bought outright for much less than this amount and consumers are constrained to take the basic Foxtel package at a flagfall of around $50 per month before being able to access programming from cable access seekers."

TARBS claimed it could not afford Foxtel's content because of restrictions such as requiring subscribers to buy Foxtel's basic package before other services.

"This sort of restriction is ludicrous, as it will mean that Foxtel subscribers, who are attracted to TARBS language services, will be forced to purchase both services at a cost of more than $100 per month."

Another operator, Neighborhood Cable said the pricing was "competitive" and allowed it to operate a sustainable business model.

Foxtel said yesterday: "TARBS needs to go to back to basics at subscription TV school. TARBS' suggestion that access seekers will be charged $325 a year for access to each Foxtel set-top box is simply wrong. That notional charge is the total cost pool that would be shared across every channel on the Foxtel platform, including Foxtel's channels. Access seekers will pay as little as 80¢ per year per subscriber for access to set-top-boxes."


TABs facing blackout of TV racing pictures


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/02/1033538673616.html

The ongoing Pubtab issue that has threatened to disrupt TAB operations during the spring carnival is about to be overtaken by an even more serious dispute - Sky Channel is set to withdraw its pictures from Victorian TAB agencies on October 16, three days before the Caulfield Cup.

Tabcorp has made it clear it will not be paying the $10 million on behalf of the agencies that Sky Channel is demanding for the continuation of its racing service beyond that date.

All efforts to reach some agreement between Tabcorp and Sky Channel on the new contract have come to a halt and Racing Victoria, which is believed to have had some contractual arrangements with Tabcorp under the joint venture to offset the Sky Channel fees, has distanced itself from the dispute.

To comply with the Sky Channel demands, TAB agencies will each have pay $100,000 a year for the racing service.

The most recent crisis involving a blackout of TAB agencies was in September, 1996, when they were without the Sky Channel service for several days before the then Premier Jeff Kennett stepped in to help negotiate a new deal.

This time TAB agents and Tabcorp are concerned with Racing Victoria's apparent lack of interest in the situation while its chief executive, Neville Fielke, is devoting his efforts in trying to find solution to the Pubtab dispute.

Fielke released a statement last Friday to the effect he was confident that something could be done to ease the Pubtab dispute, which also involves Tabcorp and Sky Channel, but warned there was no easy fix to the situation.

Although Pubtabs now make up the bulk of Tabcorp's wagering network in Victoria, there are still more than 100 agencies operating, including the increasing number of Super TAB's around the state.

It is believed Tabcorp has been concerned with Fielke's dealings with Sky Channel since he took over the negotiations for the TV-rights agreement on behalf of all Victorian race clubs in March, soon after he joined Racing Victoria Ltd.

Fielke signed off on a new two-year deal under which the Victorian clubs will receive about $7 million less than the previous contract.

While the significant loss in rights' fees was expected, Tabcorp, as part of the joint venture formed when the TAB was privatised in 1996, was disappointed that no effort was made to include its Sky Channel deal in the mix, considering it was also up for renewal this year.

The Tabcorp view is that Racing Victoria has effectively handed over a monopoly to Sky Channel in all negotiations involving TV rights and its racing service, which it is now exploiting to the fullest.

Sky Channel's justification for charging what are seen to be exorbitant fees for its racing services has been the money paid to the Victorian clubs in rights' fees.

With the lower fees negotiated under the new contract with Racing Victoria, part of the deal was that Sky Channel would lower its costs to Pubtabs, but the amount coming back to Victoria is only about $400,000. At the same time, Tabcorp believes it has a legally binding arrangement for Racing Victoria, under the joint venture agreement, to help offset the costs involved in providing the Sky Channel service at a reasonable level.

It seems Racing Victoria is no longer recognising any such arrangement or simply unable to provide the necessary help while it is still trying to settle the Pubtab dispute.

Racing Victoria has called a meeting for next Monday of all parties involved.


Thailand's Shin in talks with SingTel over ST-1 satellite use


From http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,2276,59318,00.html

Satellite operator wants to tap capacity to sell high-speed Net services

SHIN Satellite plc, owned by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family, is in talks to use Singapore Telecommunications' (SingTel's) ST-1 satellite to sell high-speed Internet services. Thailand's only satellite operator is also seeking spare capacity from other rivals to sell services using iPSTAR technology, which cuts the cost of providing high-speed Internet services. Shin uses ku-band transponders, which operate in the 11.7 gigahertz and 12.2 gigahertz frequency band.

Shin wants to hire transponders so it can start selling high-speed Internet services before it launches its iPSTAR satellite by the end of next year. The company will move customers to the new orbiter after the launch.

'Transponders at satellite operators have been sitting idle for the last few years,' Yongsit Rojsrivichaikul, Shin Satellite's chief commercial officer, said in an interview. 'They will make money from the otherwise idle capacity' by tying up with Shin.

Shin Satellite will continue to share sales with rivals after it transfers them to iPSTAR because the 'customers will be owned by them', Mr Yongsit said.

SingTel spokeswoman Jesmine Ong refused to comment, saying 'we are constantly in talks with other operators on various business arrangements'.

ST-1 is jointly owned by SingTel, South-east Asia's biggest phone company, and Chunghwa Telecom Co, Taiwan's biggest phone company. Shin is also talking to Indonesian satellite operator PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia.

'It's quite good for Shin Satellite,' said Chirasit Vuttigrai, an analyst with DBS Vickers Securities (Thailand) Ltd. The company's own 'satellites don't cover south of Asia, while ST-1 does, so it means more customers'.

The company, which previously expected to sell 10,000 iPSTAR terminals by the end of 2002, cut its target to 7,000 in August because of technical problems, analysts said. The company in a note to investors yesterday said it sold 1,000 terminals by Sept 30.

Shin, which gets a quarter of sales from India, plans to operate Internet services in the country in a venture with Software Technology Parks of India, which leases offices and communication links to computer programmers. In April, the company signed an agreement with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, India's biggest overseas phone company, to provide Internet services. - Bloomberg


Breakthrough made in satellites


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,5216865%5E15321%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html

SATELLITES are increasingly relied upon for military and intelligence use but securely transmitting voice, image and other communications remains troublesome.

In June, for instance, European satellite TV viewers could watch surveillance video of American military bases in Bosnia that was being broadcast in an unencrypted stream, via satellite.

Now, British military researchers have improved an emerging method of secure transmission for the encryption keys used to unscramble such data.

In a demonstration reported in this week's issue of the journal Nature, the researchers say they successfully exchanged encryption keys transmitted on a beam of invisible light.

The researchers completed the exchange from the summits of mountaintops in southern Germany that are 14 miles apart.

Within seven years, the technique ought to be able to transmit encryption keys to any receiving point on the planet, via low-orbiting satellite, said John Rarity, a scientist with QinetiQ, the commercial arm of Britain's defense research lab.

Current encryption technology uses mathematical 'keys' that are exchanged between trusting users. The keys are used to unscramble messages, video and other data.

Such keys, made of random strings of digits, can be intercepted on conventional networks. So they are routinely sent by less efficient means.

"At the moment, highly secure encryption keys are typically sent by a man on a motorbike or a guy with a diplomatic bag," Mr Rarity said.

Mr Rarity and other researchers believe keys can be more reliably exchanged using methods of physics, rather than mathematics.

QinetiQ's experiment involved attaching the key's digits to individual light particles, or photons, which are sent as a weak beam of light.

The practice is believed to be safe because intercepting and reading the key noticeably alters the state of the photons, tipping off the intended recipient that the key has been compromised.

QinetiQ isn't the only group researching the concept.

Mr Rarity said his team and a similar outfit at the US Department of Energy's lab, have been leapfrogging each other in the distances they've been able to send and receive their encryption key-toting light beams. Fourteen miles is the longest-yet transmission, he said.

Only the keys used to unscramble the data must be sent via the light beams. The actual data could be sent in scrambled form via satellite or any sort of conveyance, Mr Rarity said.

"Once you've got your key, you can use your mobile phone or any other method," he said.

In order to send light streams to low-orbiting satellites, Mr Rarity said scientists need to improve the system's tolerance to loss of some of the data-carrying light particles, which 'leak' in increasing amounts the farther the beam travels.

No current satellite can handle such transmissions.

Mr Rarity said the practice, known as "quantum cryptography," would require construction and launch of new satellites.


Taiwan gains attention from satellite TV


From http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2002/10/03/1033607921.htm

Taiwan is attracting increasing attention from international satellite channels, industry sources said yesterday.

Among others, the Discovery channel, which boasts a subscription of 500 million in 155 countries around the world, has sent a production team to Taiwan to shoot a program introducing the advanced construction technologies being used to build the "Taipei 101" financial center, which is expected to become a new landmark in the Asia-Pacific region upon its completion in 2004.

The "Taipei 101" is part of a Discovery series of programs featuring new construction and engineering technology. The production crew began shooting the program Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the National Geographic channel is broadcasting a program introducing advances in Taiwan's scientific and technological research. The program, produced by Taiwan's Public Television Service at the request of National Geographic, introduces Taiwan's progress in many fields, including geology, nanotechnology, nero-rebirth technology and orchid cultivation.

A National Geographic Taiwan executive said that as Taiwan has a large number of cable TV subscribers, major international satellite TV channels have made producing more programs featuring Taiwan themes their "main marketing strategy" here this year.

According to a recent survey, the number of Taiwan's cable TV subscribers has shot up rapidly in the past five years and is expected to break the 5 million mark soon. Moreover, Taiwan ranks first in the world in terms of subscription density.


Russia Seeking To Keep Kazakh Cosmodrome Until 2044


From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-02n.html

Russia is negotiating with Kazakhstan to continue to use that country's Baikonur cosmodrome as a satellite launch site through to 2044, Russia's space agency said on Wednesday.

Nearly three-quarters of all Russian satellites and more than half of its military satellites are launched from Baikonur, which became part of a foreign country when the Soviet Union split up.

The Russian defence ministry had earlier announced plans to transfer all launches to the Plesetsk cosmodrome, under development in Russia's far north, from 2005 onwards.

But a senior space official said last Spring it was unlikely Russia would manage to transfer its military satellite launches to its own territory during this decade, mainly for cost reasons.

"We are also developing Plesetsk," the head of Russia's space agency, Yuri Koptev, told reporters at a space congress in Moscow on Wednesday.

"But to meet our needs and fulfil our obligations to international space programs, we will need to use both cosmodromes," he said.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed a 1994 agreement recognising the Central Asian republic's territorial claim on Baikonur, but leasing the cosmodrome, which was built in the Soviet Union in the 1950's, to Moscow for 115 million dollars (euros) a year.




2/10/02

Not much to report today, thank you to those who turned up in the chatroom last night.

If there is anyone in Sydney who can get Panamsat 10 (yes I know it would be near 0 degrees) please let me know.

SBS SE has left B3, 12532 V As planned. Now on B3, 12407 V


From my Emails & ICQ


From Sherif

HELLO CRAIG

NOT SURE WHY I CAN NOT RECIEVE A SIGNEL ATALL FOR THE FOLLOWING CHANNELS:
THANKS

Pas 2
4090 V Sr 21000 Fec 3/4
Vpid512 Apid640 SID1 NITV
Vpid513 Apid641 SID2 TVC Chile

SHERIF FROM NEW ZEALAND (CHRISTCHURCH )


(Craigs comment, I expect Tarbs has knocked the power back very low to prevent cband viewers tuning in.When the mux is completed they will encrypt and probably up the power.)


From the Dish


Koreasat 3 116E 12410 H "RTV has replaced Citizen TV" , enc., PIDs 1728/1729.

Palapa C2 113E 3926 H "Bali TV" New PIDs: 33/36.
Palapa C2 113E 4040 H "Both Metro TV, TBN and the test cards" have left .

Yamal 102 90E 3645 L "Kultura Telekanal (+2h) and Kultura Telekanal (+4h)" have started , Fta, PIDs 101/102 and 201/202.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "3ABN and 3ABN Radio" have left .

PAS 10 68.5E 4182 V "BBC World India and BBC World Service" have left (PAL), moved to 3974 V.

Intelsat 906 58.5E Test carriers on 3665 L, 3825 L, 3905 L, 3995 L and 4055 L, NW zone beam.


NEWS


Ten accuses Foxtel of interactive TV lock-out


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/01/1033283488562.html

Network Ten believes the undertakings preclude a viable business model, as rivals could not use Foxtel's customer management and billing systems.

The Ten Network has accused Foxtel of framing the conditions of its revised content deal with Optus in a way that discourages competition and locks rivals out of interactive television.

In a submission lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Ten said: "The undertakings have been constructed to avoid Foxtel gaining competitors - they are not designed to encourage new entrants."

The free-to-air broadcaster believes the agreement does not provide access-seekers with a viable business model, in that they could not use Foxtel's customer management and billing systems. The cost of establishing these systems from scratch would be prohibitive, according to the network.

Ten's general manager of business affairs, Susan Oddie, said: "No matter how whiz-bang and comprehensive these things are, if they are put in a framework that makes them commercially unpalatable to other parties, then that's not going to change their anti-competitive nature.

"If you look at it just as a pay TV channel provider, the undertakings won't encourage people to use the platform, because of the cost and because they make you set up systems yourself."

Foxtel spokesman Mark Furness repeated that access-seekers would pay the same rate as Foxtel, making for an equitable access regime.

"Saying that this doesn't promote competition is a predictable line from someone with no subscription TV strategy other than to spoil it," he said.

Ten also said digital interactive TV services were not covered by the undertakings and would be the sole domain of Foxtel.

Ms Oddie said: "The access undertakings only relate to pay TV and one-way enhancements . . . not two-way enhancements, which means it excludes banking or shopping services."

Ten attacked the fact that the content alliance overlooked the retransmission of free-to-air services, again pushing its proposal for a dual tuner on Foxtel's digital set-top box to transmit pay TV and free-to-air signals.

Mr Furness said: "Ten has to take responsibility for getting its own signal to its viewers - what does the network plan to do to deliver its signal to the 78 per cent of viewers without subscription services?"

Ten used the argument that Optus would become a mere reseller of Foxtel, thereby diminishing industry competition, to support its view that the undertakings failed to rectify the anti-competition effect of the deal.

It said consumers ultimately would be disadvantaged by Foxtel's ownership structure, which brings together Telstra, Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and News Corporation.

Ms Oddie said that if anti-competitive things were done, retrospective legislation would not be able to fix them.


Colourful Satellite Streaks Through Sky


From http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3762-1808097,00.html

Astronomers believe a bright light seen blazing across the lower North Island skies at about eight o'clock last night was probably a satellite burning up in earth's atmosphere.

Richard Hall from Carter Observatory says the height, angle and range of colours of the light suggest it was probably not a meteor.

But Mr Hall says some derelict satellites still plummet to earth occasionally, although most space junk burns up before it hits the surface.

Napier Senior Sergeant Bruce Greathead saw the sky show and initially thought it was a fireworks display. He says the bright white light was followed by a tail of blue, green and orange colours.

The light was seen from as far north as Mahia Peninsula in Hawke's Bay and as far south as Wellington.


BT AND PANAMSAT EXTEND GLOBAL ALLIANCE


From Press release

LONDON, ENGLAND, October 1, 2002 -- BT Broadcast Services (BT) today announces the signing of a new occasional-use agreement with PanAmSat, enabling its customers to use PanAmSat抯 global fleet as a platform for major sporting event broadcasts.

This agreement was a natural next step for us, said Paul Claydon, head of occasional services for BT. We are already working with PanAmSat on a number of different fronts. By coupling our rich heritage and expertise with PanAmSat. powerful modern fleet, our customers will have the best solution in the market. With sport being so important to viewers, we were keen to add extra capacity to our service offering in this area.

The new multi-year deal means that BT's customers will now be able to book occasional-use satellite services on PanAmSat's high quality global network. This agreement provides BT customers with a turn-key solution for the delivery of breaking news and special events broadcasting around the globe.

"We are excited to be able to build on our relationship with BT",said Catherine Palaia, vice president of broadcast services for PanAmSat. This agreement offers BT customers access to the world's pre-eminent platform for special events broadcasting. BT customers will be able to leverage the power of our global fleet and the expertise of our team to broadcast special events to viewers around the world. For customers, the BT-PanAmSat solution will be one of the most flexible propositions in the market.


Channel 33 widening its footprint


From http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=64526

Channel 33, Dubai TV's English-language station, has taken the first step to becoming a globe-spanning satellite TV station.

Yesterday, the channel started test satellite transmissions to reach out to the 20-million expatriate community in the Arab world with family-friendly, free-to-air programmes.

The tests over Nilesat will run for four hours daily, but full-scale broadcasting is planned to start on December 2, the UAE National Day, said Ahmed Saeed Algaoud, Director General, Dubai Radio and TV.

"Channel 33 has always respected the culture, thoughts and values of expatriates and that earned us viewers in many neighbouring countries. But it was limited by the terrestrial scope of our transmission. The test satellite transmission is our way of telling the English-speaking audience in the Arab world of our presence," he said.

With Nilesat's wide "footprint", Channel 33 will be initially seen in nearly one-third of the globe covering an area from the Maghreb (North Africa) to the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, the entire Gulf and southern Europe. At present, Channel 33 cannot even be seen by viewers in some parts of the UAE.

"We see the start of Channel 33 satellite transmission as a new milestone on the way to a leading and prosperous Arab Media," said Algaoud. He projected that the channel will break even in five years, within time which they will also test the waters as a global broadcaster by leasing satellite transponders that cover East Asia and the Americas.

Algaoud also explained that this move is not to pre-empt the reported launch of an English-language version of Qatar-based Arabic news channel, Al Jazeera.

"We are different, in terms of programming format and content. But we will be strengthening our news gathering team as well," Algaoud told Gulf News.

The decision to go via satellite was based on research which pointed to the need to reach out to multi-million viewers.

Nasib Bitar, director of programmes of Channel 33, said: "We are targetting English-speaking families on both terrestrial and satellite transmissions. The Nilesat platform means that people do not have to pay in order to receive the channel," said Bitar.

Channel 33's satellite broadcast will include news, documentaries, drama series and a blend of movies, in addition to a number of local and outsourced productions.

"Though we are not a news channel, we will raise the number of news bulletins to two and apply the breaking news approach. The news will feature more local elements," said Bitar.


(Craigs comment, While we don't get Nilesat, maybe this one will appear in the Dubai mux on Asiasat 2? they have a website at http://www.dubaitv.gov.ae/ch33/ also and an email address listed as [email protected] )




1/10/02

Livechat tonight in the chatroom 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards

No changes in the Aurora or Globecast muxes on B3 yet. The new Indian Star Plus channel has been delayed until later this month.

A lot of news in the news section thanks to Google news!! also I want to hear your thoughts on what you want to see on the site as to reference info or articles. I am thinking to start with small items about the individual components that make up a satellite system. E.g KU lnbf basics, stuff about cables, Ku pay tv type dishes etc. Suggestions welcome more advanced stuff like dish alignment will follow once the basics are out of the way.

Those with Humaxes read the item about them in the news section DON'T PANIC, nobodys going to come banging on your door demanding you hand it back to them.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Salah Romane

Dear Craig and All.

TNC (Tele Nouvelle Caledonie) on Int 701 has been crypted since friday.
Hope it is only a technical problem, I contacted RFO to day and I do hope we
get a reassuring answer soon.

Regards.
Salah.


From the Dish


Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H "FTV" is now encrypted.
Koreasat 2 113E 12731 H "Medi TV" is now encrypted.

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3774 H "Reuters World News Service" is still on , Fta, Sr 5632, Fec 3/4,PIDs 512/640.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3799 H "APTN Asia" is encrypted again.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3923 H "Reuters World News Service" is now Fta, PIDs 512/640.

Express 6A 80E 4125 R "TV XXI" is in Fta again.


NEWS


D-day delay on Foxtel merger


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/30/1033283437084.html

The competition watchdog has pushed back the timing for handing down its decision on the Foxtel/Optus programming deal until the end of October.

This gives rival players such as Kerry Stokes' Seven Network more time to prepare objections to the content-sharing proposal.

Several organisations have asked for an extension to this Friday, including the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations, which represents the three free-to-air networks.

Ten Network was among the few to meet the original September 27 deadline with its own submission, and has argued that consolidation of pay TV content would create a powerful monopoly and disadvantage consumers.

It has also lobbied intensely for a dual tuner digital set-top box that transmits both pay TV and free-to-air digital signals.

A spokesman for Seven said the network would put in its submission at the end of this week or early next week.

Meanwhile, Foxtel yesterday attempted to improve the chances of its $1.3 billion content deal gaining regulatory approval by striking an agreement with regional infrastructure provider Neighbourhood Cable over carriage and content access.

The agreement is contingent on the Foxtel/Optus content alliance being blessed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. If it is rejected, Foxtel and Neighbourhood Cable will have to renegotiate terms of their supply contract.

Talks between the two companies stalled earlier this year over pricing disputes despite Foxtel's promise to guarantee regional broadband operators access to its programming.

Neighbourhood Cable, which offers pay TV and broadband to three regional hubs in Victoria - Mildura, Ballarat and eventually Geelong - insisted that equitable pricing rather than just access was a key issue.

Last month, Foxtel reached a deal with cable operator TransACT in Canberra, giving extensive undertakings to placate the ACCC's competition concerns.

Neighbourhood Cable already has access to the Fox Footy and Showtime channels. "We entered into negotiations with Foxtel to look at both carriage and content in the new environment," chief operating officer Fred Grossman said.

"We'll have access to more channels on both the content and carriage side of it at commercially acceptable rates. It gives us a sustainable business model, independence on packaging and price, and means regional customers won't pay more."

Mr Grossman said Neighbourhood Cable wanted the flexibility to choose which channels it provided instead of being forced to take on a prescribed package put together by Foxtel.

"We will have the choice of either taking the packages as put out by Foxtel or creating a mixture of our own which meets the need of regional Australians," he said.

"If the content deal doesn't go ahead, we will lose some of our independence, there will have to be some renegotiation, and regional Australians will be worse off."

Neighbourhood Cable is also seeking access to Austar's satellite and content. The network passes over 40,000 commercial and residential premises, increasing to 75,000 locations when it finishes its Geelong network.


Cable deal boosts Foxtel campaign


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/01/1033283445916.html

Foxtel yesterday scored a minor victory in its campaign to convince the ACCC its pay TV deal with rival Optus is not anti-competitive, striking an agreement to sell its programming to Neighbourhood Cable.

A fledgling regional Victorian broadband cable company, Neighbourhood Cable was originally concerned it would suffer if Foxtel and Optus were allowed to share pay TV content and Telstra was allowed to sell combined packages of telephony and pay TV services.

Having come to a commercial agreement to resell the Foxtel service to its own broadband customers in Mildura and Ballarat, Neighbourhood Cable is now convinced the pay TV proposals awaiting Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval won't have a negative impact on its business.

"This pulls all the parties together and enables us to maintain our commercial independence," chief operating officer Fred Grossman said.

Neighbourhood Cable now supports the restructure of the pay TV industry.

This is the second deal Foxtel has struck allowing third parties to resell its programming. It reached agreement with Canberra broadband company TransACT in early September.

Foxtel cites the Neighbourhood Cable and TransACT agreements as evidence its deal with Optus is not anti-competitive. "These agreements will underpin infrastructure investment in Australia and bring more competitive services to Australian consumers," Foxtel said yesterday.

The ACCC rejected the original Foxtel/Optus deal, claiming it could substantially lessen competition in a number of markets. In a bid to allay concerns the Optus deal would create a pay TV monopoly, Foxtel has promised to provide third party access to its content and infrastructure.

It is believed Foxtel was extremely eager to strike a deal with Neighbourhood Cable to prove the bona fides of its proposed undertakings.

Neighbourhood Cable has been negotiating with Foxtel for "a long, long time", according to Mr Grossman.

The terms of the Foxtel deal are confidential. Mr Grossman would not say whether the agreement was conditional on the ACCC approving the Foxtel/Optus deal and sanctioning the sale of combined Telstra telephony/Foxtel pay TV packages to consumers.

Meanwhile, the ACCC has extended the deadline for recalcitrants to lodge their submissions on Foxtel's proposed undertakings. Submissions were originally due last Friday. Key opponents to the deal, including Seven Network and Fairfax, now have until this Friday to make their submissions. The ACCC expects to make a decision by the end of this month.


Humax Recalls 40.000 Set-Top Boxes Worldwide


From http://www.korealink.co.kr/kt_tech/200209/t2002093017054745110.htm

The technological superiority of leading set-top box maker Humax has been knocked by a product recall.

On Friday afternoon, Humax announced the recall of some 40,000 units distributed to retailers in 70 countries found to contain security flaws, its first mass recall.

``The recall applies to our IRCI set-top box and we are going to replace all the units that have been distributed around the world,’’ said a Humax official on condition of anonymity.

There have been a growing number of reports of hacking through the IRCI boxes, the official said, but products already sold to customers will not be subject to the recall.

Enabling a television to perform some of the functions of a computer, set-top boxes turn an ordinary TV set into an Internet interface and also enables users to receive and decode digital television broadcasts.

Humax said the recall was a voluntary move in response to complaints about the security flaws.

However, experts said the recall is related to a massive problem that occurred last June when Humax’s contract with Viaccess expired. The French telecom company holds the patent technology for Internet content protection.

Viaccess reportedly canceled the contract over security concerns with Humax’s products.

Making the matter worse was Humax’s alleged attempts to cover up the flaws. After that incident, Humax shares plunged to the 16,000 won-level.

``This move can be interpreted as a ploy by Humax discount a growing security concerns over the set-top boxes,’’ said one analyst at a local brokerage.

He added, if the recall is later revealed not to have been a voluntary act by the company, it could have serious consequences.

Citing slow demand for set-top boxes, Humax recently cut its sales forecast for this year to 420-450 billion won from an original target of 500 billion won.

The digital set-top box manufacturer has also cut its operating profit forecast to 117-128 billion won for this year, down from its initial prediction of 135 billion won.


NDS must repel fresh charges of piracy


From http://news.ft.com/

NDS Group, the pay-TV technology company controlled by News Corporation, on Monday found itself at the centre of fresh allegations of piracy and unfair competition.

The company, whose encryption technology and smart cards are used by 30m digital pay-TV subscribers, is facing claims of industrial espionage and copyright infringement linked to piracy of rival satellite TV systems.

Last week, EchoStar, the US satellite television group, joined a $3bn lawsuit against NDS, claiming it had been defrauded by the London-based company.

EchoStar has filed an "intervention" to join an existing action by Canal Plus, the pay-TV arm of Vivendi Universal. The claim alleges "acts of sabotage" by NDS in an effort to destroy EchoStar's competitiveness.

NDS, which fiercely denies the allegations, is fighting a separate lawsuit by Hughes's DirecTV subsidiary over breach of contract and fraud. NDS is a long-term supplier of encryption technology to DirecTV - ultimately controlled by General Motors, Hughes's parent company - which prevents illegal access and piracy of satellite programming.

The claims centre on allegations that NDS laboratories were used to break the access codes of rival satellite systems. They were made available on the internet, and used illegally by pirate organisations. Speaking before the latest lawsuit, Abe Peled, NDS president and chief executive, said the actions were groundless.

News Corp, which owns 79 per cent of NDS, also expects the original lawsuit to be abandoned as part of its long-awaited agreement to acquire Telepiù, the Italian pay-TV arm of Canal Plus.

Aware of a possible settlement, EchoStar has intervened to prevent either side from destroying evidence connected to the litigation.

But some analysts believe there is another motive behind the legal action: that both EchoStar and DirecTV may be trying to discredit News Corp, which has been lobbying the US Justice Department to block the proposed EchoStar-DirecTV merger.

Amid the claims and counter-claims lies a tussle over leadership in the satellite access technology industry. Without such systems, the revenue stream of digital subscription TV could be jeopardised.

"We have the most sophisticated digital integration business in the world," says Mr Peled. "It is basically copyright protection for the digital age."

Mr Peled says NDS was founded because Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp, saw the need to protect the content on British Satellite Broadcasting.

The systems used by BSkyB, 36.3 per cent owned by News Corp, have never been hacked or decoded. Those systems were largely developed at NDS's laboratories in Haifa, Israel. "Rupert said in 1987 when he hired me that he had gone round the world and found the best encryption scientists in Israel," says Mr Peled.

The NDS president attributes that expertise to the rapid development of Israeli defence systems and encryption codes in the 1950s. "The result is that you had several generations of people with expertise in this kind of electronics," he adds.

EchoStar now claims the Haifa laboratories were used to hack access codes used by its Dish Network in the US.

Whether or not this technology has been abused - vehemently denied by NDS - the legal furore has proved a management distraction.

Announcing fourth-quarter figures in August, NDS said: "A significant amount of expense and management effort was expended in the quarter on the litigation with Canal Plus." In the last three months of its financial year, NDS set aside £1.6m ($2.5m) to cover exceptional costs relating to the lawsuit.

Before such costs and amortisation expenses, the company saw fourth-quarter operating income jump 14 per cent to £13.5m on sales of £65m. Quite apart from any legal action, that turnover could be threatened by the decision at DirecTV, one of NDS's largest customers, to take their conditional access technology in house from next year. If the merger of DirecTV and EchoStar is approved, it could further dent NDS's potential customer base.

But Mr Peled says the company can compensate for any loss of revenue by developing access services for the cable TV industry and new interactive technologies.

"The next stage for us is turning the set-top box into a hub for a broadband home network," he adds. "It's much more than smart cards and controlled access; we've developed a system integration business."


EchoStar sues NDS for technology piracy


From http://www.haaretzdaily.com

EchoStar Communications, America's second-biggest satellite communications provider, has joined the legal charge against Israeli-British company NDS, a TV smart-card maker that stands accused of piracy, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

Vivendi Universal's Canal Plus Group was first to accuse NDS of breaking the computer code of rival TV smart-card makers, and delivering it to satellite-TV pirates. (Subscribers get smart cards with their television set-top boxes to gain access to coded digital TV broadcasts. Buyers of pirated cards can therefore get TV signals free.)

EchoStar, which claims that NDS broke its code in its Israeli labs, says its lawsuit can stand alone, but has filed its complaint as an intervention, joining the suit registered by Canal Plus. It also filed suit in the name of NagraStar, its joint venture with Switzerland's Kudelski Group, which makes the smart cards used with EchoStar's Dish system.

NDS called the claims baseless, and accused EchoStar of trying to divert attention from its acquisition of DirecTV from Hughes Electronics, which is expected to meet with regulatory objections.

Canal Plus filed its suit against NDS in March 2002. It claimed, among other things, that NDS had disseminated the smart card cracking code over Internet, in order to hurt its business.

However, as a subsidiary of Vivendi, Canal Plus is reportedly considering suspending its legal actions against NDS, because NDS is a subsidiary of News Corp, which is angling to buy Vivendi's Italian pay-TV division, Telepiu.


Source of satellite TV hijacking by Falun Gong proven accurate


From http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/678/class000100004/hwz88444.htm

A senior radio expert said here on Sunday that television signals illegally transmitted by Falun Gong cult followers originated in the Taipei area, (in the province of Taiwan), noting that the source of satellite TV hijacking was precise and irrefutable.

The source was traced through the use of internationally-accredited technologies and advanced monitoring equipment, said the official in charge of the national radio monitoring center, during an interview with Xinhua reporters.

From Sept. 8 through the early morning of Sept. 22, signals sent by Falun Gong cult members, repeatedly jammed transmissions of the Sino Satellite (SINOSAT) system.

The center's experts traced the source of interference of the broadcasts while they were in progress, and it has been confirmed that their point of origin is in the area of Taipei city in Taiwan province, at the geographical location of 121 degrees, 30 minutes, 33 seconds east longitude, and 24 degrees, 51 minutes, 04 seconds north latitude, according to the official.

The center traced the interference source of the broadcasts while they were in progress numerous times to determine the site of the broadcasts, and the relevant departments in Taiwan were informed on the outcome of the above tests via non-governmental channels, and the outcome of tests was subsequently publicized on Sept. 26.

Acknowledging that the relevant Taiwan departments have been reportedly begun searching for the source of interference for signals, the spokesman said, stressing that the illegal TV hijacking is a serious violation of the basic norms in civil communications.

It is expected that the relevant Taiwan departments will take effective measures to locate the source of the illegal signals as soon as possible and will have them put an end to, the official said.


Fight terror by satellite:


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,5198750%5E15321%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html

SATELLITES should be used more aggressively to detect, identify, thwart and defeat terrorists, a Datacomm Research report suggests.

Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites are suited to the task, the report suggests, nominating three networks: Iridium developed by Motorola; Globalstar operated by Qualcomm, and Orbcomm, a joint venture of Orbital Sciences and Teleglobe that uses geosynchronous satellites.

These three satellite networks are poised to play key roles in the war against terror, both in attack and defence, the report says.

The report advises the US departments of defence and Homeland Security to create affirmative-action programs for LEO satellite services, routing as much business to them as possible.

The report gives examples of how satellites can be effective at home and abroad.

Rescue workers in New York used Globalstar phones after the terrorist attacks knocked out most cellular and landline services,

The US military uses Iridium phones in Afghanistan.

Iridium, the report says, is developing other uses.

Two potential applications include equipping air marshals with phones and two-way cockpit communications for planes beyond the reach of ground controllers.

Rather than using intersatellite links as Iridium does, Globalstar employs a bent-pipe architecture that relays signals from the mobile user to the nearest ground station.

Orbcomm, the report says, is well placed to monitor fuel tanker trucks, cruise ships and reservoirs.

Orbcomm's biggest advantage is its inconspicuous and inexpensive devices that can be installed on anything from pipelines to vehicles to freight containers, the report says.

Satellites have demonstrated their utility in the war against terrorism, it says.

The report's author, Ira Brodsky, says the US could seize an overwhelming advantage if it mobilised the hi-tech industry.

"I'm talking about technologies to discover terrorist cells, to eavesdrop on planning sessions, to thwart attacks, to lessen the impact of attacks that do take place, and to put terrorists on the run."

Brodsky says the three LEO networks should be considered essential infrastructure for national and international security.


BBC switches off analogue feed


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k2/sep/sep146.htm

NEW DELHI: From today, BBC World will switch off its analogue signal on PAS 10 in South Asia and the Middle East. This is part of BBC World's ongoing process of digitalisation across the region, which began last October with the introduction of a digital signal on PAS 10.

The free-to-air digital signal on PAS 10 will now fully replace the former analogue signal.

Jeff Hazel, BBC World's director of sales and distribution, in an official statement said: "This is the final reminder to any viewers who haven't already made the change. Fully replacing the analogue signal with the digital signal is part of BBC World's dedication to bringing viewers the highest quality signal with which to enjoy and appreciate BBC World's quality news."

The downlink frequency for the digital signal is: 3974 Mhz. No decoder cards are needed. Distributors and viewers will require a Digital Satellite Receiver to continue watching BBC World.