31/10/04

No update Sundays




30/10/04

No update Saturday




29/10/04

Sorry for the LATE update, Fridays are like that.....

BKTV , BNTV and Pink TV are Coming to PAS8 KU Pan Global tranponder in a couple of days.

Central 7 started in Irdeto1 on Optus C1 12407V details are
Vpid 1280 Apid 1281 PCR 1280

A copy of SBS S.E also started in Irdeto1 on Vpid 528 Apid 520 PCR 518

Wanting to do installs for Assyriasat channel on B3? send email to [email protected]


From my Emails & ICQ


From Sky_satt

Hi all new test channel up on Aurora C1 not (fta)

Tp 12407 v
Vpid 0528
Apid 0529
PPid 0518
Encripted ( Irdeto )

(current name) . looks like something new to come currently
showing SBS SE.

sky_satt comment: good to see some xtra use of this Tp would be
better if it were fta thou!.

Cheers
sky_satt


From Jsat.tv (Thailand)

Alpha Telu on NSS 703 - new

A new channel found today by the team and does not appear to be listed anywhere.
Satellite: NSS703 Name: Alpha Telu
FREQ: 3791 S/R: 3333 POL: R Crypt: FTA


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 4080 V "SET News" is now encrypted.

PAS 8 166E 12366 H "Fox News Channel" has started testing on , Viaccess, PIDs 513/514.(N.E Asia beam)
PAS 8 166E 12726 H "The PanGlobal TV" mux is still on , Fta, SR 28066, FEC 3/4.
PAS 8 166E 12646 H "NourSat, Future TV USA, ART Australia, Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and LBC Australia" have started on , Fta, PIDs 512/640-516/644.

Superbird C 144E 12692 V "CTS" is still on , Fta, SR 1777, FEC 7/8, PIDs 33/34.It's still occasional CTS feeds on 12682 V, SR 3400, FEC 7/8.

AsiaSat 3 3760 H "G Channel" has started testing on , Fta Punjabi?, PIDs 1040/1041.

NSS 6 95E 12729 H Occasional feeds on , PIDs 513/660.

ST 1 88E 3582 H "All channels in the TBL TV" mux are now encrypted, except the info card.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V "GreatSports Channel" is now encrypted, new PIDs: 308/256.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V "Star News International and Star News India" are Fta again.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3660 V "TRT International, Nojoom, BN Sat, Infinity, Heya TV, TSR, TRT FM and Voice of Turkey" have started on , Fta, SR 28066, FEC 3/4,PIDs 258/260-1281/1282 and 259-264.

Intelsat 902 62E 4177 L "Manchester United TV" on , PIDs 516/690, is now encrypted.

NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Sun TV (India)" has started testing on , fta, PIDs 73/72.



NEWS


Foxtel dangles ABC carrot to consumers


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/28/1098667908958.html?oneclick=true

Foxtel has signed three free-to-air broadcasters to its digital service.

Foxtel has added another of the missing pieces to its digital offering, announcing yesterday it would retransmit ABC television and radio services into all its satellite and cable-subscriber homes from January.

Foxtel's digital cable platform carries ABC's analog signal but not its digital services.

With the agreement, the pay TV provider has signed up three of the five free-to-air broadcasters to its new digital service. Only the Seven and Ten networks have yet to agree terms.

"Foxtel is delighted to have formed this important relationship with the nation's pre-eminent broadcaster," Foxtel chief Kim Williams said yesterday. "We are very keen to explore interactive programming innovations with the ABC."

ABC managing director Russell Balding said it was important for the national broadcasters to be available on all transmission platforms.

"The fact is you cannot hope to properly develop digital television plans without participation in the Foxtel digital platform," he said.

SBS and the Nine Network, whose parent Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd owns 25 per cent of Foxtel, already have their signals retransmitted into pay TV homes.

The Seven and Ten networks are believed to have held back because of the price Foxtel is asking for the rental of space on Foxtel's C1 satellite.

Seven spokesman Simon Francis said yesterday: "We're more than happy to enter into negotiations in good faith on Seven's delivery over the Foxtel digital platform, but only on the terms and conditions that exist for the Nine Network."

Likewise, Ten spokeswoman Margaret Fearn said serious consideration was being given to the ongoing cost of having its signal retransmitted. "Once we sign, it will essentially be forever. So we're still working on some issues," she said.

Securing all five free-to-air signals would be a big help to Foxtel in its push to sign up more than 800,000 new subscribers by 2008.

Three weeks ago Foxtel began offering free standard digital installations to customers who took any of the Foxtel digital packages - which start at $12 a week - on a 24-month direct-debit plan.

That push is believed to have already attracted 50,000 new digital subscribers - the highest levels of sales achieved since digital was launched in March.

As at June 30 this year, Foxtel had 310,000 homes that were either already watching or waiting to be hooked up to the digital service.

About 91,000 of these were first-time customers to Foxtel.


Vietnam satellite project delayed over frequency problems: state media


From http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041029044215.ygiujvyj.html

The launch of Vietnam's first telecommunications satellite, which had been planned for late 2005, has been delayed as a result of problems over the coordination of frequencies, state media said Friday.

"Negotiations ... for the coordination of frequencies to avoid transmission jamming have not yet been finalized," the Tuoi Tre newspaper said quoting a source at Vinasat.

"In the absence of agreement on these questions, the selection of a partner for the Vinasat project is not possible," the daily added. No new date was given for launch.

Vietnamese authorities refused to comment. "This project is continuing to be studied, we have nothing to say," a project official said.

Vietnam has reserved several orbital positions with the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The position 132E had been selected for the launch but according to sources, Hanoi has had problems negotiating the coordination of frequencies with Japan, which also uses the same position, and with Tonga, which owns 130E and 134E.

Russian state company NPOPM, the European consortium of Astrium (EADS)-Alcatel Espace, Lockheed-Martin of the United States and the Japanese-American consortium of Nec-Toshiba-Orbital Science Corporationare competing for the contract to build, launch and maintain the satellite in orbit.

Sources say that Vietnam had earlier this year asked the candidates to guarantee the coordination of the frequencies, a demand they have all refused.

"The manufacturers cannot guarantee the coordination of frequencies. That is a government-to-government problem," said a foreign expert, requesting anonymity.

The position 132E is reserved for Vietnam until February 2006, at which point it will theoretically be withdrawn by the ITU if it is not used.

Vinasat will be of average size, with 20-28 communication modules each capable of carrying four-six television channels and will be in operation for 15 years.

The project is expected to cost more than 200 million dollars.


New Skies Sale to Affiliates of the Blackstone Group Receives FCC Approval; Transaction Expected to Close on November 2, 2004


From http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Oct/1088693.htm

THE HAGUE, Netherlands --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 29, 2004 -- New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, today announced that the sale of the company to affiliates of The Blackstone Group, a leading private investment firm, has been approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

New Skies now expects that the transaction will close on November 2, 2004.

Assuming the transaction closes on this date, New Skies' shares on Euronext Amsterdam will be de-listed and trading in New Skies' American Depository Shares on the New York Stock Exchange will be suspended as of the close of trading on November 2, 2004.

Following the closing, the corporate entity that presently holds the company's assets will go into liquidation and the company's business and operations will be continued by the acquiring company, New Skies Satellites B.V. Holders of New Skies' ordinary shares in book-entry form and holders of American Depository Shares as of the close of trading on the date of the closing will be entitled to receive payment of the sale distributions.

Dan Goldberg, New Skies' chief executive officer, said: "We are delighted that we successfully completed the FCC approval process sooner than originally anticipated and are now poised to close the transaction with Blackstone next week. We were pleased with the overwhelming support of our shareholders for the transaction and are focused on ensuring that the sale proceeds are distributed as quickly as possible."

New Skies expects to make an initial distribution of the sale proceeds to its current shareholders within two weeks after the closing of the transaction. We anticipate that the initial distribution will constitute approximately 95 percent of the sale proceeds. Following this initial distribution, shareholders in New Skies Satellites N.V. will be entitled to a second and final distribution. This final distribution will constitute the remaining sale proceeds and will be made following the expiration of the statutory two-month opposition period in connection with the company's liquidation and provided that any potential opposition has been taken into account.

Further information on the two distributions to shareholders will be provided when the relevant dates have been determined.

About the transaction

New Skies signed a definitive agreement for the sale of the company to affiliates of The Blackstone Group, a leading private investment firm, for $956 million in cash, equivalent to approximately $7.96 per fully diluted share on June 5, 2004. Subsequently, New Skies and The Blackstone Group announced certain regulatory and shareholder approvals necessary for the completion of the transaction, including:

-- On July 2, 2004, New Skies and The Blackstone Group received early termination of the required waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 for Blackstone's acquisition of New Skies.

-- On July 19, 2004, New Skies' shareholders overwhelmingly approved the sale of the company, with 92.4 percent of shares in attendance voting for the acquisition.

-- The Netherlands' Ministry of Economic Affairs formally approved the transaction on July 28, 2004.

-- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission formally approved the transaction on October 27, 2004.

About New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK)

New Skies Satellites is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, data, voice and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations, Internet service providers and government entities around the world. New Skies has five satellites in orbit and ground facilities around the world. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C.

Russia To Launch New Telecommunications Satellite


From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-04zz.html

A Russian Proton-M rocket will lift off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Saturday to deliver a telecommunications satellite into space, the Federal Space Agency said on Thursday.

The launch is scheduled for 2:11 a.m. Moscow time (2211 GMT Friday), the Interfax News Agency here quoted a spokesman of the space agency as saying.

The Express-AM1 telecommunications satellite made by Russia's Reshetnyov research and production institute is designed to provide a wide range of telecommunications services, including digital TV and radio broadcasting, video-conference and wide-band Internet access.

In August, a Proton-M rocket had carried Spain's Amonzonas telecommunications satellite into orbit.


Asia's pay-TV market booms as new channels attract more subscribers


From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/corporatenews/view/114059/1/.html

Asia's pay-TV market is rapidly growing with new channels being launched.

According to the Cable and Satellite Association of Asia, it is already a US$14 billion industry despite some 7 percent of revenues lost to piracy.

Asia's pay-TV market is booming, with subscribers now more inclined to pay for content than before.

As advertising revenues rise, more broadcasters are adding channels.

Arabic satellite TV broadcaster Al Jazeera is launching a global 24-hour English-language news service.

While British broadcasting giant, the BBC, is bringing a new entertainment channel to Asia, BBC Prime.

It will dig into the "Beeb's" vaults of classic shows like Black Adder and Top of the Pops and beam them into markets like Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Wayne Dunsford, Director of Channels, BBC, said: "The market in Asia is growing in terms of pay-TV, multi-channel homes are growing in numbers. The economies are improving dramatically, so there's more willingness to pay for TV services."

China is also being touted as a key growth market for the region.

With more than 300 million wireless subscribers, prospects are promising.

Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia recently won broadcast rights to be seen in China's hotels and foreign housing compounds and will progressively roll out new content.

It is a huge market many broadcasters are watching closely.

Simon Twiston Davies, Chief Executive, Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia, said: "Piracy at the moment is not a critical issue in China because there is not a genuine pay-TV industry which is paying premium pricing for content. What we are seeing in China is the roll-out of the digital platform which is just beginning."

India has turned out to be the worst offender when it comes to piracy - a mature grey market means legal pay-TV operators struggle to collect subscription fees.

While piracy across Asia is up 11 percent from the year before, experts say the rise is more indicative of better methods of measurement as opposed to an actual increase in numbers. - CNA


Frontage TV Goes to NSE


From http://allafrica.com/stories/200410280921.html

Frontage Satellite Television (FSTV), the first indigenous Digital Satellite Television operator in West Africa of Direct To Home (DTH) technology will soon be quoted on the Stock Exchange.

Chief Executive Officer, Otunba Reuben Famuyibo, who disclosed this at dealership/vendors forum the company hosted in Lagos, said this is to make all stakeholders full partners in the business in future.

"FSTV is for all, let us build the business together. We should not allow ourselves to go back to second slavery. The imperialist did this to us about five decades ago. We should not allow foreigners to cast our wealth away with playing back to our system. The fight to make every home enjoy satellite television service at affordable price should be fought by everybody," he stated.

The Forum, first of its kind since FSTV started business five months ago, was geared towards the re-engineering, unifying bond of relationship between the dealers and FSTV, and also to explore the way forward for the history making outfit - FSTV, who was the first to introduce flexible means of payment through scratch cards to watch all channels

The Forum, which is an interactive forum, got a good result for the dealers and FSTV management. Otunba Famuyibo promised a free demonstration card to all its dealers. Price of FSTV system would be brought down next year as soon as the assembly plant starts work in Nigeria. A promotion "while the reality show", where named Celebrity house from FSTV stable will be beamed live to all its audience.

In addition, FSTV will be appointing super dealership based on the performances of each dealer, while it would not hesitate in drop non-performing dealers.

The forum was attended by dealers from various parts of the country.




28/10/04

Da AI channel is confirmed as leaving B3 Globecast at the end of the month. Moving to Asiasat 4 KU.

All Telkomvision PAY channels were fta this afternoon

Vh1 Asia is new in the MTV mux Pas8 3740 H sr 27500 (ENCRYPTED) MTV NA also new there.

Zee S.E Asia Feed on Asiasat 3 3700V sr 27500 is now back to SECA1 encryption

The mux with BBC, Nicklodeon and CNBC has left Telstar 10


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

Some changes on Asiasat 3 3920H, SR 26850

ESPN Hong Kong: VID 512 - AUD 650 - PCR 128
Star Sports Hong Kong: VID 513 - AUD 660 - PCR 129
Star Sports Asia: VID 514 - AUD 670 - PCR 130 (FTA)
ESS Contribution: VID 515 - AUD 680 - PCR 131
ESPN CHINA: VID 516 - AUD 690 - PCR 132
ESS Contribution2: VID 517 - AUD 700 - PCR 133 (FTA)
ESS Contribution3: VID 518 - AUD 710 - PCR 134 (FTA)

Also Think I've found the Uplink for this afternoons trial. All news services
are saying it will turn ugly. Might be worth a look.

Palapa C2 3777H SR: 5632 VID: 33, AUD: 36 PCR: 33
Loads as TVRI SNG, and has PAL bars withTVRI SAT FLYAWAY.

Steve Hume


From Billo

There was another service running for a couple of minutes..
Palapa C2 3755H 6000 DSNG_TV7tw was the ChId Vpid 33 Apid 36 PCR 33

and just for interest I see a TP on VERTICAL - most unusual for me !
3630V 3667 (Powtek) No ChId


From Puzhakkara Satheesan

Sir,
5 new tv channels started as fta on TELSTAR10/APSTAR2R.The
details-fre-3660 vertical,SR-28066.channels-1)TRT
INTERNATIONAL(258,260),NOJOOM(513,514),BN(769,770),INFINITY(1025,1026),HEYA
TV(1281,1282).

no programme from MADTV only strong signal on 3780/28066 vertical 514,642


(Craigs comment, Infinity is from UAE, and Heya is an Arab Womans channel.


From Santosh

Dear All

Telstar 10 76.5E
UBI started few more channels Frequency details are 3660V Symbol Rate 28066
Channels are TRT international, Noojom TV , BN TV.


From the Dish


Nothing in from Lyngsat


NEWS


ABC to be retransmitted on Foxtel


From http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=21106

ABC television and radio services are to be retransmitted on the Foxtel Digital satellite and cable platform, the national public broadcaster announced.

The agreement with Foxtel would significantly increase the reach of ABC's television and radio audience and enable all Foxtel Digital subscribers to view ABC programs with digital quality pictures and sound on their existing television sets, the ABC said in a media release.

The ABC service would be available on Foxtel Digital from early 2005 and would include audio channels Triple J, ABC Classic FM, Radio National, ABC NewsRadio, DIG Internet radio and some metropolitan and regional radio stations.

The ABC's new television digital multichannel would also be retransmitted on the Foxtel platform.

In addition, the agreement raised the possibility of interactive ABC television to be carried on Foxtel Digital for select programs in the near future, the ABC said.

"This outcome is of strategic importance to the ABC and is a matter we have been pursuing for some time, as we believe that as the national public broadcaster all ABC services should be available on all platforms," ABC managing director Russell Balding said.

"This agreement is an extremely positive outcome for the ABC as it sees the growing subscription television sector as a primary element of its digital television aspirations.

"The fact is you cannot hope to properly develop digital television plans without participation in the Foxtel Digital platform."

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said Foxtel already had existing digital retransmission agreements with SBS and the Nine network, and the company was extremely pleased the ABC had joined.

The ABC has separately secured agreement with Optus for satellite-transponder capacity on the Optus C1 satellite, to enable retransmission of its digital television and radio services on the Foxtel Digital platform.

Foxtel also leases capacity on the C1 satellite to distribute its satellite services.


(Craigs comment, One would hope it will be FTA via Foxtel. What are the chances of that? ...yeah right)


Sky in rental pact with Blockbuster


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3604616&thesection=business&thesubsection=media&thesecondsubsection=television

Sky TV has formed a pact with video rental chain Blockbuster that is likely to smooth Sky's debut in the online DVD rental business.

Sky launched its DVD rental service over the weekend with a revamped website as the new public face of DVD Unlimited, the Nelson start-up Sky purchased earlier this month for an undisclosed sum.

Members pay $38 a month and, in return, are mailed up to three DVDs at a time. They place their movie orders through the website. The pay TV operator's move is designed to put it on an even-footing with the video rental chains who get movie releases before Sky is allowed to broadcast them via its pay TV channels.

That was likely to raise the hackles of the video rental chains, but Blockbuster looks set to cash in on the arrangement, which will see it procure DVDs to build the library for Sky's online service.

Its master franchisee, Steve Dods, said the deal would be "mutually beneficial" to both companies.

Other video rental chains say the online model has its place but cannot replace the experience of popping up to the video store to browse.

United Video general manager Lindsay Hall said relying on the mail system took the spontaneity out of choosing movies. "For country people, it's excellent but for the average renter, they're within three to five kilometres of a store anyway." United Video had no plans to enter the online DVD rental business. Sky has at least two local opponents here, including Fatso.co.nz which is backed by the likes of businessmen Stephen Tindall and Bryan Mogridge.

Fatso defiantly labelled Sky's entry into the market as an endorsement of its business model, which is borrowed from US operator Netflix.

Hall said the movie rental market had grown 20 per cent each year for the past three years, with much of the growth put down to the popularity of DVDs.

Sky's annual meeting, to be held in Auckland tomorrow, is likely to be a calm affair for chief executive John Fellet. The company turned a profit of $35.3 million for the year to June 30 with increased subscriber numbers, revenue and viewership.


Al Jazeera to launch English channel


From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3078853a1860,00.html

HONG KONG: Arabic satellite TV network Al Jazeera says it plans to hire more than 300 people globally in a bid to launch an English-language news channel before the end of next year.

The network said last month it planned to launch an English-language news channel to counteract what it says is unbalanced reporting from Western networks such as CNN and the BBC.

The new station, to be called Al Jazeera International, will operate out of four regional centres, including its home base of Qatar. It has begun recruiting staff.

"The channel expects to create more than 300 jobs worldwide," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Nigel Parsons, managing director of the new channel, said he was confident the channel would find an audience.

"Our target audience is everyone who speaks English. We will have a slightly different agenda than the Arabic speaking channel," Parsons told a briefing on the sidelines of an Asian broadcasting conference.

"I think we might have a ready audience there, but it is not going to be an anti-Western or anti-American channel. Absolutely not," he said.

The network, which has been heavily criticised by the US government for its coverage of the war in Iraq, plans to build a broadcast studio in Asia, but has yet to choose between Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Parsons said the group planned to make a decision on its Asia hub by the end of next week.

"We will be establishing an Asia studio broadcasting three to four hours a day," he said.

"There will be four major news centres including Doha, London, Washington and one Far East centre which will have about 30 journalists and 20 technical people," he said.

The channel plans to distinguish itself from other English-language channels by emphasising news stories from the developing world.

Al Jazeera would not disclose the budget for the channel, but said it hoped to be self-funding in three to five years.

But the Qatar-based broadcaster has yet to seal distribution deals.

Al Jazeera won over millions of Arab viewers before and during the US-led war against Afghanistan, and aired exclusive footage of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Parsons said the English-language station would be launched as part of a package of channels being rolled out by the Qatar government funded network.

An Arabic sports channel is already broadcasting under the Al Jazeera banner and a children's channel and documentary channel will launch next year.

Al Jazeera said it planned to promote objective and balanced reporting of global issues along with chat shows, analysis and some documentaries also running on the channel.


BBC to launch entertainment channel in Asia


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1076030,00050004.htm

BBC will launch its entertainment TV channel in Asia in December, the British broadcaster announced on Wednesday. BBC Prime will air popular programs such as the sitcom "The Office" and the detective series "Miss Marple," BBC Worldwide Ltd., a subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corp., said in a statement issued in Hong Kong.

Most of the shows will be subtitled in major markets. The channel will debut in Asia on December 1, but the statement did not identify the Asian countries where BBC Prime will be seen. BBC Prime already is available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.


BBC to launch Prime in Asia


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html#enet

The BBC's commercial arm is launching its mainstream English-language entertainment channel across Asia. The subscription channel, BBC Prime, will be launched in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines from December 1, Wayne Dunsford, BBC Worldwide director of channels, announced at CASBAA, the Asian cable and satellite television conference in Hong Kong.

The channel, which will be a direct competitor to Rupert Murdoch's Star World TV channel, will complement BBC Worldwide's news channel, BBC World, which is already offered in the region. Versions of BBC Prime are already offered in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, repackaging British shows with subtitles in local languages.

Earlier this month BBC Worldwide launched BBC Japan, a commercial channel it hopes will attract 100,000 subscribers in one year. It is considering a similar channel in China.


MGM subsidiary launches television channel in Taiwan


From http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/detail.asp?GRP=E&id=53830

A subsidiary of a major Hollywood studio has introduced a version of its own television channel on the island.

MGM Networks, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. has launched the MGM channel, which will feature many of the more than 4,000 film titles they have in their modern film library, which is also the world's largest.

MGM Network officials said in a recent press release that they also signed an agreement to launch the channel in Malaysia in coming months.

The MGM channel is produced and distributed in the region by MGM Networks through a strategic alliance with CNBC Asia Pacific. When the customized MGM-branded channel debuted last year a year in Hong Kong for the Greater China and Southeast Asia market, the company said the channel had extended its reach into seven of the region's most important countries and territories.

"Distributors across Greater China and Southeast Asia have greeted the MGM channel with a level of enthusiasm far beyond our original expectations," said Bruce Tuchman, executive vice president of MGM Networks. "We are so pleased to add the key markets of Taiwan and Malaysia to the channel's current reach in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Macau and Thailand."

Here in Taiwan, the MGM channel can now be seen via Taiwan Broadband Communications, one of the market's cable operators.

"CNBC Asia Pacific could not be happier about our strategic alliance with MGM and the success we are having in the marketplace," said Alexander P. Brown, president and CEO of CNBC Asia Pacific. "It's gratifying to see that the marriage of our two organizations' complementary commercial strengths and creative capabilities have been so well-received in the region."

"As we arrive later this month at CASBAA (Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia Convention) we are very honored to have earned the support of so many of the region's leading distribution platforms," said Courtney Williams, MGM Networks' vice president of international sales and marketing.

"At CASBAA, and as we move forward, we are looking forward to taking these relationships to even greater heights, as well as forging new distribution partnerships all across the region." "The MGM channel's first year of operations is a great story about reaching out to our viewers and distributors," said Shawn Galey, CNBC Asia Pacific's vice president of business and legal affairs. "With even more exciting MGM movie titles coming to the channel, we look forward to building upon the strong foundation that we have formed in the past 12 months."

Separately, MGM Networks holds interests in MGM-branded and other channels in numerous countries and territories worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region, these interests include two branded channels in Korea and one in New Zealand. In addition, branded MGM Channels reach millions of subscribers across Europe, Latin America and Africa. Among MGM Networks' latest channel launches are the MGM channel in Spain, which launched this summer, and a Russian-language version of the MGM channel, which is scheduled to launch to subscribers in Russia later this fall.


E! Networks expands in Asia


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html#enet

E! Networks has signed a licensing deal with The Times of India to create branded programming blocks to air on Zoom Television, Kevin MacLellan, senior vice president, international, E! Networks announced.

The company is also set to sign a deal in Japan with Jupiter Entertainment's Movie Plus, delivering E!'s signature live red carpet coverage and topline celebrity and fashion-themed series to the region


CNBC's international channel titled South Asia World


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct265.htm

NEW DELHI: Publicly traded Television Eighteen's proposed international channel is to be called South Asia World (SAW). It would be formally launched sometime in December, around the time when a Hindi business news channel too would debut.

According to broadcasting industry sources, the name SAW, which is undergoing test beaming at the moment, was coined, as the target audience would mostly comprise people of South Asian origin.

The proposed international channel will be uplinked from Delhi, while the uplinking base of the on-air business channel, CNBC TV18, would now be shifted to Mumbai.

The international channel's programming and packaging, according to the sources, would be different as it would contain lot of entertainment-based news and some lifestyle shows too.

The channel would also have a fairly sizeable amount of news originating from the UK and the US, which would be done out of the New York studio, at present being readied. The name of the Hindi business news channel, however, hasn't been decided yet as the chosen advertising agency, Lowe, is to get back to the company with a branding plan for the channel.

It has also not been decided what would be the modality for the involvement of CNBC Asia, the current partner of Television Eighteen Ltd.

"Television Eighteen is awaiting announcements of amendments to the uplinking norms for news channels that the government had said is being looked into," an industry source says.

Earlier, the government had said that the information and broadcasting ministry is contemplating some changes in the uplink norms for news channel, which were likely to be completed by 31 October.

With two proposed channels from the Television Eighteen stable slated for a December launch, it's action time for the company that has been registering steady growth. The company's stock closed the day on the Bombay Stock Exchange at Rs 154.30, gaining 1.65 per cent.

The TV-18 group clocked revenues of Rs 169.42 million in the first quarter of FY 2005 ended 30 June 2004. The operating profit stood at Rs 86.37 million, while net profit recorded Rs 62.09 million (excluding forex gains/losses and deferred tax adjustment).


Discovery launches its first intl lifestyle channel in India


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct264.htm

MUMBAI: After weeks of test runs, Discovery Networks India today announced the formal launch of Discovery Travel & Living, India's first 24-hour international lifestyle channel. Aimed at the upper and upper-middle class audiences, the channel also marks the global launch of the company's lifestyle portfolio. After India, the idea of Discovery's lifestyle portfolio would be incubated for replication in other global markets in the coming years.

Inspiring viewers to 'get more out of life', this stylish, premium, niche international lifestyle channel is targeted at savvy viewers with a 'global outlook'.

Speaking on the occasion, Discovery Communications India director marketing Aditya Tripathi said, "With the launch of Discovery Travel & Living we hope to provide the highest quality of 'factual entertainment' for Indians with a global outlook. The treatment of the content will be stylish, smart and aspirational."

Targeted at Indians with high disposable incomes and who 'don't live to work but work to live' (Tripathi's description); the channel hopes to fill a need-gap in terms of enriching their lives. Says Tripathi, "Our market research has revealed that the size of this target audience is 75 million. Our programmes will help this target audience in terms of planning their world tours, cultivating hobbies, planning beach parties and shopping for the latest designer wear, gadgets etc."

To further support their theory, making a presentation on how the Indian consumer has changed today, Discovery officials said that consumption no longer is just a function of income as there are 10 million credit card holders; disposable income has risen by over 270 per cent since 1990; dual income families are now a widespread urban phenomenon and there is a fundamental shift in consumption patterns of the Indian consumer.

The channel believes that 'Lifestyle entertainment' is the next big trend and the channel is committed to putting in millions of dollars to develop it. The programming genres will include travel, health and well-being, food and cuisine, automotive and motoring, home design and décor, hobbies and outdoor leisure.

Queried on whether Travel & Living would be adding on Indian programming on board in the coming months, vice-president, programming Pankaj Saxena says, "Indian programming will be introduced in 2005, which would be acquired. But our focus is on the best that the world can offer, so it's not really just India. So, if there are things of that level happening in India those will be covered and those will also be telecast in other countries."

Refusing to divulge further details on the kind of programmes or production houses, Saxena says, "We are in the process of talking to some production houses."

Some of the programmes that are already being seen on the new channel include Celebrity Travelogues, Globetrekker, Floyd's India, Cooking for Love (a blind date show blended with cookery), Date Patrol, Biker Build-Off, He's Gotta Have It, Great Vacation Homes, Superhomes, Other Peoples' Homes, While You Were Out, The Chris Lowell Show, Tim Brooke-Taylor's Golf Clubs.

The company expects the channel to provide a new and unique platform for advertisers by targeting an audience comprising upscale and young adults with active interests in the age group of 18-45. It is also likely to expand Discovery's ability to attract new audiences and advertisers who have traditionally been advertising only in the print medium due to a lack of a focused platform. The channel claims that some of the largest advertisers have already signed on.

As of now, Discovery reaches out to 35 million people in India and Discovery Travel & Living hopes to reach a subscriber base of 15-to 17 million people in a year's time. The channel will be distributed in India by One Alliance along with the company's two existing channels, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Though the channel will be a pay channel the subscriber price has not been announced for now.

Preeti Vyas Giannetti has bagged the Discovery Travel & Living creative account. A high-decible marketing and promo campaign has been planned a week from now. Though Discovery officials refused to divulge more details of the campaign, it definitely promises to be one of the most high budget campaigns revolving around the punchline 'get a life'.


Efforts on to launch national science channel: ISRO


From http://www.123bharath.com/news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=32711

Technology India > Bangalore, Oct 27 : Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair said today efforts were on to launch a national science channel and favoured a dedicated satellite for health services when telemedicine projects in India "attain critical mass."

Speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day Asia Pacific meet on science education here, Nair said the Department of Science and Technology had taken a decision in principle to launch the channel.

"We want a national science channel. But how to go about it and also in matters of content generation...There is a question mark. We are just having a dialogue with concerned agencies and see how best we can launch such a television channel for the country," he said.

"Content generation is key", Nair said.

Noting that the telemedicine projects were picking momentum in the country, Nair, who is also Secretary in the Department of Space, said "as and when there is sufficient load, we will think of a separate satellite for health services." At present, 60 district hospitals were connected to superspeciality hospitals and the plan was to cover all districts in course of time. PTI




27/10/04

Not much for todays update.



From my Emails & ICQ


From George

New Channels on PAS8 12646 H 28067
WMI ( World Media International ) (MYsat)
Tele Lumiere
Future TV
ART Australia
Al Jazeera
LBC Australia

All Arabic channels


From jsat.tv (Thailand)

Telstar10

1. The CNBC channel is ex CNBC HongKong

2. The BBC channel is from PAS 8 C band - Japanese [right audio channel] / English [left audio channel]

3. The Nick channel is playing around with the EPG as follows; "Dec 12, 07:00:00 23:59:59 Default Event Default Event"

Wonder which cable network this will be for?


From Steve Hume

Possible cricket feed
PAS 2 3956V SR 6111
DSNG Chennai = DDK CHENNAI Provider.

Says its encrypted. Checked with PC, and there is currently no video or audio.

Steve Hume (Cameraman)


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3940 H "The Golf Channel" has left .
PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Videoland ONTV and Gala TV Comprehensive" are now encrypted.

PAS 8 166E 12726 H "The PanGlobal TV mux" has left .

Agila 2 146E 12541 V "ACQ Broadcasting Network" has started on , Fta, PIDs 42/43. New PIDs for Karaoke Channel and The God Channel Asia: 44/45 and 48/49.

Superbird C 144E CTS has moved from 12692 V to 12682 V, Fta, SR 3400, FEC 7/8, PIDs 33/34.

AsiaSat 4 122E 12430 V "Da-Ai TV (Fta) and VTV 2 (Viaccess) have started on , SR 20000,FEC 3/4, PIDs 168/1112 and 203/103, Australasian beam.(great he listed it ..)

Yamal 201 90E 4033 R "The REN TV" mux has left .

ST 1 88E 3427 H The test cards have left .
ST 1 88E 3520 V "Channel 8" has left again.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3734 H Myawady TV has started testing on , FTa, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, PIDs 3601/3604.
ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V "GreatSports Channel" is still fta, but new PIDs: 288/291.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V "Star News International" is now encrypted.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "RVI 2" has left .
Thaicom 3 78.5E 4162 V "Ek Noor TV" has started on , Fta, SR 2021, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195, Asian beam.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3846 H "CNBC Hong Kong, Nickelodeon Asia and BBC World Japan" Fta , SR 9100, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1110/1120-1310/1320.

PAS 10 68.5E 4075 V "Hungama TV" is encrypted again.



NEWS


Foxtel launches crime network


From http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,11199749%255E911,00.html

FOXTEL has announced it will become the first platform in the world to launch a newly-created Crime & Investigation Network, from January 1.

The network will investigate the drama of real-life crime, from how forensic scientists solve crimes using cutting edge technology to what makes serial killers tick and meeting the men and women who put criminals behind bars.

The channel will replace TechTV, which will cease to be broadcast on Foxtel Digital after December 31.

This is after the acquisition of TechTV by US company Comcast and its decision to withdraw the international feed of TechTV to areas including Australia.

The Crime & Investigation Network will be managed, programmed and broadcast by Foxtel in Australia, but will draw on the programming library and resources of AETN (A&E Television Networks).

The Crime & Investigation Network will be available exclusively to subscribers across Foxtel's new digital cable and satellite platforms (broadcast in 16:9 widescreen) and will feature real crime and drama, from high-quality documentaries, docu-dramas and a broad range of crime-related dramas


ABA investigation into Al Manar programming on TARBS

From News Release NR 135/2004
22 October 2004


The Australian Broadcasting Authority has been conducting an investigation into the broadcast of the Lebanon-based satellite television channel Al Manar by subscription narrowcast television licensee, Television & Radio Broadcasting Services Australia Pty Ltd (TARBS).

During the investigation, the ABA considered whether certain material in programs provided by Al Manar was in breach of Federal anti-terrorism laws, including material that appeared to solicit funds for organisations linked with terrorism. It concluded that if such material were broadcast with the intent to solicit funds and the broadcaster was reckless as to whether or not the funds would be used for terrorism purposes, it could constitute use of the broadcasting service in the commission of an offence. This would be a breach of the conditions of the subscription narrowcast television class licence, however, intent must be established in order to find a breach.

The ABA found no evidence that TARBS had broadcast the material with the requisite intention. Accordingly, there is no suggestion of a breach of the conditions of the subscription narrowcast television class licence.

The ABA believes this discloses a deficiency in the rules governing subscription narrowcasters.

The ABA proposes to examine use of its powers to ensure that there are appropriate community safeguards in respect of programming of the type provided on the Al Manar channel. The range of powers available to the ABA in this instance is broad, and includes the power to specify an additional condition on class licences and the power to determine a program standard.

The ABA reviewed a significant amount of Al Manar programming during its investigation. The ABA is concerned that some material was of a type that could breach the provisions of the codes of practice for subscription narrowcast television. The codes say that narowcasters will present accurate and fair news and current affairs programs and will not broadcast programs that are likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or gratuitously vilify any person or group on the basis of their ethnicity, nationality, race or religion.

The ABA is also concerned that some broadcasters of services provided under class licences appear not to be retaining records of relevant matter broadcast (as required by subclauses 5(2) and 5(3) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992). The ABA reminds subscription and open narrowcast television services that if they broadcast matter relating to a political subject or current affairs, being matter that is in the form of news, an address, a statement, a commentary or a discussion, they are required to cause a record of the matter to be made and retained in their custody for the periods set out in Schedule 2.

The ABA's investigation into the TARBS service began on 23 October 2003. The ABA recently decided not to finalise the investigation, noting that TARBS has gone into receivership. TARBS ceased to provide the Al Manar service on 5 November 2003. The ABA is aware of media reports that the Al Manar channel was available through satellite broadcaster Globecast Australia. However, Globecast Australia is not currently providing the service.

Media contact Donald Robertson, ABA Manager Media and PR on (02) 9334 7980.


(Craigs comment, It may come back to Globecast or UBI??)


Irdeto Access Secures Pay TV for Philippine Broadcasting Giant, ABS-CBN; Irdeto PIsys Supports High Subscriber Growth Rate and Satellite Platform Requirement


From Press Release

SATCON 2004

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2004--Irdeto Access, a world leader in content security, a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers (NASDAQ:NPSN) (JSE:NPN), today announced that ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation ("ABS-CBN"), the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with operations worldwide, has selected Irdeto PIsys to secure Pay TV content to over 150,000 set top boxes in North America and Australia.

Designed for large operators, Irdeto PIsys is a large-scale modular content security system that will allow ABS-CBN to deliver its Pay TV offering to customers securely by satellite. ABS-CBN will receive delivery of the first shipment of 50,000 smart cards before the end of 2004.

In addition to using Irdeto PIsys to secure its distribution in North America, ABS-CBN has transitioned its Northern California uplink to become its international satellite platform. As a result, it has migrated its direct-to-home platform in Australia across to Irdeto Access, meaning Irdeto PIsys will also protect content for over 20,000 of ABS-CBN's subscribers in Australia.

ABS-CBN selected Irdeto PIsys as it gives the media giant the scalability it requires to allow for substantial user growth, as well as the introduction of additional Pay TV revenue generating services throughout North America and Australasia.

"We've been using Irdeto M-Crypt since 1999 and it has performed perfectly for our needs," said Mr. Raffy Lopez, President ABS-CBN International. "Because our subscriber base has been growing so rapidly, we needed to move to a high-end solution which would be able to handle this dramatic increase in viewers in both the U.S. and Australia. It was a simple decision to renew our strong relationship with Irdeto Access. The company has a proven track record in delivering solutions that best meet our customers' needs, while helping us achieve our own business goals."

"Irdeto Access has a long history in successfully providing content security solutions to ABS-CBN. The seamless transition from Irdeto M-Crypt to Irdeto PIsys supports customers, like ABS-CBN, that require the highest level of security and scalability to manage their growth," said Bo Ferm, General Manager of Irdeto Access' Americas region. "When they invest in Irdeto Access, they have the peace of mind knowing that our technology guarantees the security of their content and enables them to profitably manage complex, global operations."

In addition to 24/7 technical support, Irdeto Access offers the following services: on-site customer training, support in set top box selection, as well as a thorough testing of the security system's functionality and overall quality of the set top boxes during design verification testing. The company also provides consultancy to operators on how to set up a sound security management program in cooperation with partners, and on how to create additional content revenue streams.

Irdeto Access will be exhibiting at Satcon, October 26-27 in New York, booth #507.

About Irdeto Access

Irdeto Access, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a subsidiary of a multinational media group, Naspers (NASDAQ:NPSN) (JSE:NPN). Irdeto Access specializes in designing, developing and marketing end-to-end solutions to manage and protect content from unauthorized access in the television broadcast, mobile and broadband environments. With nearly 40 years of providing encryption technology and proven success in deploying security solutions across the globe, Irdeto Access continues to offer innovative product offerings to its customers. To contact your regional office or retrieve further information on the company, please visit www.irdetoaccess.com.

About ABS-CBN

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation ("ABS-CBN" or the "Company") is the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines. The Company is principally involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as the production of television programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses. For further information please visit www.abs-cbn.com.

Contacts
Irdeto Access
Ellie Sanchez, (858) 668-4878
[email protected]


Irdeto Access secures Philippines broadcaster deal


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

Irdeto Access announced that ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (ABS-CBN), the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with operations worldwide, has selected Irdeto PIsys, to secure Pay TV content to over 150,000 set top boxes in North America and Australia.

Designed for large operators, Irdeto PIsys is a large-scale modular content security system that will allow ABS-CBN to deliver its Pay TV offering to customers securely by satellite. ABS-CBN will receive delivery of the first shipment of 50,000 smart cards before the end of 2004.

In addition to using Irdeto PIsys to secure its distribution in North America, ABS-CBN has transitioned its Northern California uplink to become its international satellite platform. As a result, it has migrated its direct-to-home platform in Australia across to Irdeto Access, meaning Irdeto PIsys will also protect content for over 20,000 of ABS-CBN's subscribers in Australia.


(Craigs comment, Does anyone really believe ABS-cbn have 20000 subscribers in Australia? considering their DTH mux has only been up for a few months)


India tops in pay TV piracy in Asia


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1074840,0003.htm

Asia's pay TV industry is expected to lose $970 million to piracy in 2004, with India's fragmented system of grey market operators accounting for more than half the total, according to a Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) survey released on Tuesday.

The 2004 figure compares with $874 million in lost revenue last year, the first year CASBAA conducted its survey.

But while the figure is up 11 per cent year-on-year, the rise is more indicative of better measurement methods and less of an actual increase, said CLSA's media and entertainment investment banking head, Simon Dewhurst.

"The message is ... we're getting better at detecting where this piracy problem is," Dewhurst said at a media briefing to discuss the study. "Across the region, (losses due to pay TV piracy) are quite static. It's getting better in some markets, worse in others."

Within the region, India accounted for 58 per cent of total revenue leakage, or $565 million worth.

The lion's share of that is a direct result of the country's highly fragmented industry, where many major operators are unable to monitor the activities of smaller companies that control much of the so-called "last mile" access to homes.

Pay TV piracy comes in many forms, but often involves the illegal installation of decoders and set-top boxes to receive cable or satellite service, or the sale of service by companies that obtained signals illegally.

Thailand was the second worst, with $141 million in lost revenue, followed by Taiwan ($114 million lost), the Philippines ($70.4 million lost) and Vietnam ($26.4 million lost).

Those markets are characterised by better-known problems, such as signal theft from local cable or satellite operators.

Dewhurst said the situation is improving in India as the market consolidates, while it is getting worse in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

"Market by market, the situation is slightly different," he said, adding that piracy will cost local governments $152 million in lost tax revenues this year.

Dewhurst said that pay TV piracy in Asia, while a problem, is still relatively small compared with the estimated $14 billion in revenues that regional operators collect each year.

"Piracy is a direct attack on a Government's ability to be able to argue they have a robust approach to intellectual property protection in the market. The pay TV industry is not facing a crisis as far as piracy is concerned."

Some of the region's biggest pay TV providers include Singapore's StarHub , Hong Kong's I-Cable Communications , Malaysia's Astro and News Corp's Star Group, which has a major presence in India.

The magnitude of the pay TV theft is roughly comparable in dollar terms to movie piracy, which is also a major problem in many Asian markets.

Pirated movies cost the world's major studios an estimated $718 million last year, according to the Motion Picture Association. Within that figure, China was the biggest culprit accounting for about a quarter of the losses.


Star TV to join Zee DTH platform


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1075770,0006.htm

Star India chief executive Peter Mukerjea said Star might soon be on the Zee’s DTH platform Dish TV. “There are commercial issues between us and Zee. Once these are sorted out our channels can join the platform,” he said.

He was in Kolkata for a programming preview of the company’s forthcoming channel Star One. Mukerjea said the issues were not just the payments to be made but were also concerning piracy. “Piracy is a big issue with us. Now there is no way to authenticate how many people are receiving Dish TV signals,” he said.


More new channels lead to distribution problems


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/27/stories/2004102702120500.htm

BROADCASTERS may be planning to launch new channels with increasing frequency but ensuring wide distribution has become a tricky affair.

So even as the Star India readies itself for the launch of StarOne, Walt Disney brings in its new channels and others such as CNBC, NDTV and the Times Group unleash new offerings, getting these channels into the homes has become a challenge.

The tug-of-war between the broadcasting industry and the cable service provider remains unresolved with each blaming the other for poor availability of the channels. And along with this, is the issue of carriage fee that broadcasters have to pay cable operators. According to officials in the broadcasting industry, "The cable industry has only limited capacity and most of the cable service providers have started demanding heavy fees to carry the new channels. Only after paying carriage fee, does a new channel get a good placement." In fact, the recently launched lifestyle channel, Zoom (Monthly subscription fee of Rs 7), and kids channel, Hungama (Rs 6), have found the going tough and have been asked to cough up carriage fee said industry sources.

The cable industry while conceding that carriage fee is accepted when a particular channel requires good placement, it also concedes that some of the major broadcasters use the bouquet approach to ensure that signals of new channels are made available to homes. "Some channels such as NDTV or the God Channel have been paying carriage fees for better placement. However, some big broadcasters even threaten cutting off signals of popular channels if the new ones are not carried," said a Delhi-based cable operator.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) freezing cable rates in December also hampers the launch of new pay channels by existing broadcasters. The TRAI, in its recommendations on the Conditional Access System (CAS), has suggested various options such as allowing new channels to come through a set-top box. It has also suggested that new pay channels could be offered to the cable operator individually or as a new bouquet of pay channels.

TRAI clarification

The TRAI today clarified that the ceiling charges to the consumer would be reduced if a broadcaster brings down the number of channels in a bouquet. This has been done through an amendment to the Tariff Order "The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff Order 2004'' of October 1, which had laid out a framework for regulation of prices of new pay and converted free-to-air to pay channels which came after December 26.

The order had also specified reduction in ceiling charges for multi-system operators and cable operators. The new order has been issued as a number of representations had been received seeking clarification on the manner in which new pay channels can be priced and the impact on retail prices.

Similarly, clarifications had also been sought on the impact of channels that were free-to-air on December 26 last and having later converted to pay.




26/10/04

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

Bluekiss on NSS6 has bowed to pressure from the ABA and removed their NSS6 Adult service. I wonder if they could still get around things by selling the cards for cband via dealers in NZ?

The info below has been posted on a number of forums.

BLUEKISS GONE

We regret to announce that Bluekiss and Bluekiss Express will be suspending broadcast on NSS6 with immediate effect.

The reason for this has been continued pressure from the Australian
Broadcasting Authority who have been subjecting the service to continued harassment.The ABA has gone so far as to use assume identities to pose as a genuine customers in order to get a list of Bluekiss distributors in Australia with the assumed intention of taking legal action against them.

It is the view of the ABA that the broadcast of Bluekiss on NSS6 is clearly
aimed at the Australian market (owing to the footprint) and an attempt
to bypass Australian regulations relating to the broadcast of adult
entertainment.

The ABA has also threatened legal action against associated companies
of Bluekiss in Australia.This has made it impossible for us to continue
broadcasting.

We will also try to find a substitute for the Blue Kiss channels on
NSS6 to give access to our viewers to other adult TV channels. We will keep you posted on the progress of those discussions.

Bluekiss will continue to be broadcast on Asiasat 3 because this is a
regional service targeted at customers all over Asia.All Australian
customers may continue to view Bluekiss with their existing cards on
Asiasat 3.

We invite customers currently viewing Bluekiss on NSS6 who have no
access to Asiasat 3 to contact us with details of their cards so we can provide continued access to Bluekisss via the internet for the duration of
their existing subscription


(Craigs comment, [email protected] 09 4320973 is listed as an NZ agent for Bluekiss in this months Satfacts issue...)


From my Emails & ICQ


From Billo

Telstar10 76.5E - 3845H 9100 -
Nickelodeon Vpid 1110, Apid 1120
CNBC Vpid 1210, Apid 1220
BBC Vpid 1310, Apid 1320

....all FTA - these may be old news but found first time for me with
Powtek......


From the Dish


Pas 8 166E 12366 H "Fox news" is FTA Sr 28860 (Asian beam)


NEWS


Optus to manage DFAT satellite links


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,11190613%5E15442%5E%5Enbv%5E15306-15320,00.html

OPTUS has signed a three-year, $5 million agreement with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to manage satellite connections with Australian embassies around the world.

The new agreement, which expires in September 2007, replaces DFAT's arrangements with Optus rival New Skies Satellite. Optus will manage connections to 48 sites in 47 countries provided by Intelsat's fleet of 20 satellites.

Optus has provided a flexible solution which will allow DFAT to make qick changes to service provisioning and increase bandwidth at short notice," Optus wholesale and satellite managing director Warren Hardy said.

Optus will use Intelsat's teleport facilities in the US and its own in Australia.


Murdoch Wins Vote to Shift News Corp.


From

ADELAIDE (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch won shareholder approval on Tuesday to move the corporate headquarters of his $48 billion News Corp. Ltd. media empire to the United States and sever its Australian roots.

The 73-year old media baron, who has U.S. citizenship and has lived there since the 1970s, also said the company was sticking with its earnings forecasts, helping to spur a 4 percent rally in News Corp. shares.

Investors voted more than 90 percent in favor of Murdoch's plan to reincorporate News Corp. in the United States, where it generates more than 75 percent of its earnings. The vote followed months of wrangling over the deal, which will see Australia's biggest company leave the benchmark stock exchange index.

"Very good reaction from shareholders on the move there and also Rupert reiterating growth forecasts. That's all very positive for the stock," said Bruce Budd, a dealer with Perpetual Investments.

Murdoch had argued that shifting News Corp's primary share listing to the New York Stock Exchange would attract more institutional investors and boost access to U.S. capital markets.

FROM ADELAIDE TO THE WORLD

Built by Murdoch from a single newspaper in the sleepy Australian city of Adelaide, News Corp. now ranks as one of the world's biggest media empires and owns the Fox network, 20th Century Fox film studios and a host of newspaper and satellite assets.

Murdoch was forced to bow to investor opposition to get the move over the line, striking a deal to enhance minority shareholder rights.

"News Corporation will always be defined by an Australian spirit, and for entirely selfish reasons as it is from Australia this company derives its entrepreneurial spirit, our energy, our brashness," Murdoch said.

News Corp. defended itself against questioning by small shareholders about the move's financial merits, saying its share price would gain once U.S. investors started increasing their holdings.

"There's a considerable amount of headroom still between what the major institutions have in the index funds versus what their potential is when News Corp. is included in the S&P 500," News Corp. director Geoffrey Bible told shareholders.

ROSY FORECAST, HOPES FOR S&P

News Corp. maintained its forecasts for operating income growth in the mid-to-high teen range in 2004/05, with its Sky Italia pay TV business expected to reach profitability in the first half of 2005 and strong earnings improvement forecast for its pan-Asian Star network.

"With our first quarter already behind us, those estimates remain achievable," Murdoch said. His media empire is due to report quarterly earnings on November 4, Sydney time.

Shares in News Corp. rose 4.1 percent in afternoon trade to A$10.87, while its preferred stock rose 5.8 percent to A$10.65, following a 3 percent rise in its ADRs overnight.

The gains followed recent falls as fund managers sold in anticipation of the stock exiting the Australian stock exchange, and the FTSE and MSCI Asian indices.

News Corp. will gradually exit Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index, making it ineligible for many Australian fund managers to hold. The company now needs to win entry to the U.S. S&P 500 index.

"Australian fund managers can think about restructuring their portfolios and will be waiting on Standard & Poor's to let us know what they're going to do," said Scott Maddock, analyst at fund manager BT Financial Group, which voted for the deal. "As far as investors in the stock are concerned, the company is the same."

Investors have sent shares in the media group down about 17 percent since late June when S&P first confirmed the stock could not feature in both the main Australian and U.S. indices, pouring some of the A$15 billion they once held in News Corp. into other heavyweight stocks in the local index, such as major banks, resources and telecoms.


GlobeCast adds Tokyo to its global fiber network


From http://lw.pennnet.com

October 25, 2004 Paris -- GlobeCast, a satellite services provider and subsidiary of France Telecom, extended its global fiber network to Japan as a result of a deal struck with Japanese telecommunications operator KDDI. Japanese and international broadcasters can now backhaul their ad-hoc or permanent video feeds to Japan, or distribute them from Tokyo to the rest of the world, via GlobeCast's global fiber network.

The Tokyo point-of-presence (PoP) is linked via a fully redundant fiber-optic link from Tokyo directly to GlobeCast's Los Angeles teleport, the West Coast access to GlobeCast's global fiber network. In addition to Tokyo and Los Angeles, GlobeCast's fiber network includes nine other PoPs: New York, Washington, DC, Miami, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Singapore, and Sydney. The interconnection between the PoPs and GlobeCast's 15 teleports and technical operations centers allows the operator to offer customers hybrid satellite/fiber solutions for video and multimedia transmission requirements

The new circuit can move video between Tokyo and the rest of the world using dedicated 8- and 18-Mbit/sec routes. Higher bandwidth circuits can also be provided.

KDDI supplies GlobeCast with the Tokyo PoP, the Tokyo-Los Angeles link, as well as connectivity with all Japanese broadcasters and international bureaus installed in Tokyo.

Other Globecast services offered with this new link include 24/7 booking and monitoring, video standards conversion, and HDTV transmissions


China's Hunan Satellite TV Mulls Listing In Hong Kong


From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/041025/15/3o03d.html

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--China's Hunan Satellite Television is considering listing part of its operations on the Hong Kong stock exchange, said Hunan TV Channel Controller Ou Yang Changlin Monday.

"We don't have a fixed timetable or any detailed plan, but we're studying the possibility of Hong Kong listing," said Ou Yang.

"We have no plan to list the whole company because of China's regulations barrier, but we're thinking to list part of our businesses, like program production," he added.

Ou Yang said Hunan TV's advertising revenue in 2003 was about 500 million yuan ($1=CNY8.28) while expenses were about CNY200 million.

Hunan TV opened a Hong Kong representative office Monday to capture advertising revenue from the city's businesses.

Hunan Satellite has already listed its advertising unit, Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co. (000917.SZ), on the Shenzhen stock exchange a few years ago.

"We're the first TV company to list in Shenzhen and we target to be the first one to list on Hong Kong," said the company's Chief Financial Officer Liu Xiang Qun.

China is gradually opening up the TV market.


PEMRA to grant 10 new licences


From http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_26-10-2004_pg7_28

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) will grant 10 new licences to satellite television channels and FM radio stations after Ramazan.

PEMRA had adopted a transparent system of awarding the licences and the authority had conducted three public hearings in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar to grant licences, said an official on Monday.

He said the authority did not believe in pre-censorship, but it had provided broad outlines to licences in the form of code of conduct for self-regulation.

The official said that amendments to PEMRA ordinance had been tabled in the National Assembly. “If these amendments are passed by the parliament, the newspapers’ owners who have applied for broadcast licences will also become eligible for a licence,” he added. online


TELE-satellite News - Number 43/2004 ­ 24 October 2004

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

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A & P A C I F I C


CHINA - HONG KONG

NEC TO SUPPLY DIGITAL TV TRANSMITTERS

NEC Corporation announced on October 19 that it has
received orders for Digital TV transmitters from
Chinese broadcasting companies, through its affiliated
company NEC Solutions (China) Ltd. This is the first
time that NEC's Digital TV transmitter will be
installed and operated in China. The orders were
awarded by Shanghai Technology Development Co and
Shanghai Oriental Pearl Transmission Co. In Shanghai,
commercial digital TV broadcasting services such as
the delivery of PR and advertising information to
buses, taxis and ferries have begun, and NEC's digital
TV transmitters will be also utilized for the service.
In addition, NEC had agreed to cooperate in digital TV
broadcasting area with Shanghai Oriental Pearl
Transmission Co.,Ltd., to prepare for the future
business acceleration.

DIGITAL TV ON AIR IN BEIJING

Residents in Beijing will soon be able to enjoy
digital TV programs and receive free digital set-top
boxes. Officials from Beijing Broadcast and Media TV
Company made the announcement at a forum on digital
technologies at the 4th World Summit on Internet and
Multimedia held in Beijing. They said finance of the
Digital TV service in Beijing will be backed by the
local government and enterprises, reported China Radio
International. Chaoyang district in the city will be
the first place to broadcast the digital TV programs.

HBO SIGNS LOCAL DEAL

China Digital Television Production has signed a
contract with HBO Asia, in a move aimed at improving
the quality of Chinese cable TV. The company
previously signed an agreement with National
Geographic. China DTV is currently the country's sole
digital cable TV package supplier. Beginning January
1st next year, three HBO movies will be broadcast to
cable TV subscribers each day. HBO Asia will also
provide original programming, enjoying broadcast
rights for films made by Columbia/TriStar, Paramount
Pictures, Universal, Warner Bros, amongst others. HBO
currently offers more than 120 commercial-free movies
every month in Asia. CDP began commercial operation on
September 1 of this year. To date, more than 80
Chinese cable TV network operators have signed up to
air programming broadcast over CCTV's digital pay TV
platform, which currently covers more than 60 mln
analog cable TV subscribers and 500,000 digital TV
set-top-box users. CDP has also partnered with
National Geography for content provision.

PHOENIX IN CONTENT DEAL WITH GALAXY

Hong Kong-listed TV content provider Phoenix Satellite
Television will beam its InfoNews and Chinese channels
over pay-TV rookie Galaxy Satellite's network to
expand its coverage in Hong Kong. Phoenix currently
broadcasts its InfoNews and Chinese channels over the
cable networks of i-Cable Communications' Cable TV,
PCCW's NOW Broadband TV and Star TV under the basic
channel package, with coverage of about 900,000
households. Phoenix, 37.6 per cent owned by Rupert
Murdoch's News Corp, is expanding its reach in the
Chinese-speaking communities to Singapore on November
15 and Malaysia early next year. Phoenix's sources of
income come from the advertising income in the
mainland, where it broadcasts its flagship Chinese
Channel and fledging InfoNews Channel to selected
spots, ranging from three-star or higher-ranked
mainland hotels, to education-related organisations
and diplomatic compounds, reaching as many as 50
million households across the country, who hunger for
international news.

INDIA

STAR LAUNCHES NEW HINDI CHANNEL

Following the success of its top-rated Indian
entertainment channel Star Plus, STAR has announced
the launch of a new Hindi-language channel, Star One,
with a view to targeting "urban and upscale" viewers.
Set to launch November 1, Star One will offer a range
of entertainment programs, including original
made-for-TV movies, game show formats, dramas, youth
programming and lifestyle titles.

TV CHANNELS WANT ADULT FILMS

Channels such as Star TV, Sony TV, Zee TV, Udaya TV,
AXN and Surya have submitted a new plan to the Bombay
High Court that adult films be screened on television
between 9 pm and 6 am. The channels have submitted the
proposal following a public interest litigation filed
by Pratibha Naithani, a lecturer from St Xavier’s
college. Naithani has opposed the screening of films
rated ‘A’ by the Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) on TV. The channels said that they were in the
business of entertainment and adult movies were also a
form of entertainment.

40 TV CHANNELS ON PRASAR BHARATI DTH SERVICE

State-run Prasar Bharati has got the Indian
government's nod to carry 23 private channels,
increasing the offering from 13, on its direct-to-home
platform DD (Doordarshan) Direct Plus. The private
channels which have signed up with Prasar Bharati are
Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, BBC, Zee Music, Zee News,
Smile, Surya TV, Star Utsav, ETC, Akash Bangla and
talks are on with others including CNN. In all, the
DTH service will offer 40 channels including 17
Doordarshan network channels. Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh is expected to formally inaugurate the
service next month. In addition All India Radio (AIR),
will provide its programmes through TV with its DTH
satellite service benefiting linguistic groups
residing outside their home state. The spokesperson
said that with a ten channel service would commencing
in March next year.

NEWS UPLINK GUIDELINES TO BE REVISED

The Indian government said on October 15 it would
revise the guidelines related to eligibility criteria
for uplinking of news and current affairs TV channels
from India, Business India has reported. The cabinet
said the deadline for adhering to the prescribed
guidelines/eligibility criteria would be extended to
October 31. "The extension of the deadline will give
time to the ministry to examine various issues related
to the revised eligibility criteria for uplinking of
news and current affairs TV channels from India,"
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. The minister said
proposals to amend the existing guidelines were being
processed and would be submitted to the cabinet soon.


INDONESIA

PRIVATE TV STATIONS FLOUT STANDARDS

Almost all private sector broadcasters in the country
are failing to comply with the Indonesian Broadcasting
Commission (KPI)'s standards, which entered into
effect late in August, claims a report published in
The Jakarta Post. This failure was marked by "programs
that are unethical, not in line with professional
journalistic standards, and prejudicial to children,
teenagers and women", the commission said on October
20. "Based on our monitoring and input received from
the public, the commission has concluded that nearly
all national private sector broadcasters have yet to
show a commitment to implementing the standards.
Violations of the standards occur every day," KPI
member Ade Armando told a press conference. The KPI
standards ban television stations from airing footage
of the act of kissing based on sexual desire, sexual
intercourse and sensual acts, explicit violence and
complete crime reconstructions. It permits television
broadcasters to air programs for adults only after 10
p.m. There are 11 television broadcasters operating in
Indonesia, including state broadcaster TVRI.

IRAN

SATELLITE TV FROM THE U.S. PROVOKES A STORM

A combination of light entertainment, talk shows and
politics beamed into Iran by a dozen or so satellite
stations set up by Iranian exiles in the United States
is proving to be explosive in the Islamic country.
Iranian hardliners have denounced foreign satellite
broadcasts for trampling on Islamic values and say
they are used increasingly by exiled opposition
groups, especially those based in Los Angeles,
California, to stir anti-government unrest. According
to official estimates about three million households
have access to satellite television, while security
forces have in recent years only managed to seize
70,000 sets. A couple of these TV stations are also
the mouthpieces of new self-styled 'prophets',
including a man called Mostafa Makkei in his early
sixties who claims ''I am the reincarnation of
Mohammed, the holy prophet of Islam.''

IRAQ

ZAGROS TV TO LAUNCH NOVEMBER 1

Kurdistan Democratic Party is planning to launch
another satellite TV channel in Iraqi Kurdistan. The
new station, which preliminarily is called Zagros TV,
will start its broadcasting programs November 1 this
year. According to a memo issued by the KDP
Information Office, the new station will have three
separate studios in three different Kurdish cities,
Sulaimania, Dohuk and Irbil and its focus will be on
domestic issues of Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurdistan TV(KDP)
and Kurd Sat(PUK) are the two satellite channels based
in Iraqi Kurdistan that Kurdish TV viewers so far have
been able to enjoy.

ALHURRA ATTRACTS MILLIONS OF ARAB VIEWERS

After only six months on the air, Alhurra TV, the new
Arabic-language satellite channel, has quickly
attracted a large audience in the Middle East with a
diverse schedule of news, talk shows, debates,
documentaries and entertaining information programs on
a wide variety of subjects from sports to fashion to
technology. These are among the findings of a series
of just released surveys conducted across the Middle
East by ACNielsen in July and August of 2004. Alhurra
began broadcasting on February 14. Weekly viewing
rates among adults 15 and over residing in satellite
TV households were: Egypt 12 per cent, Jordan 29 per
cent, Kuwait 33 per cent, Lebanon 20 per
cent, Morocco 22 per cent, Saudi Arabia 24 per cent
and UAE 20 per cent. Alhurra has also proven itself to
be a credible source of news and information. In all
the countries surveyed, the majority of Alhurra's
regular viewers ranked Alhurra's news either "very
reliable" or "somewhat reliable." The 24-hour channel
broadcasts across the region in Arabic and can be seen
in 22 countries via Arabsat and Nilesat which reach
approximately 120 million satellite viewers.

ISRAEL

KAN TV TO BID FOR JEWISH HERITAGE CHANNEL

Techelet, the Jewish content cable television channel,
co-owner Shlomo Ben-Tzvi has announced his intention
of participating in the tender. Taya Communications
subsidiary Kan Television, which is participating in
the Channel 2 tender, is wasting no time. Taya
announced on October 17 that it would participate in
the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting
tender for operating the Jewish Heritage Channel. The
tender is scheduled to be published shortly. Kat
Television chairman Oren Most said, "There is strong
synergy between the content aired by Channel 2 and the
Jewish heritage and history channel. There is a severe
shortage of Jewish identity and heritage content that
Kan Television will fill with the new heritage
channel. Kan Television will invest about NIS 2.5
million in the Jewish Heritage Channel tender.
Techelet, the Jewish content cable television channel,
co-owner Shlomo Ben-Tzvi has also announced his
intention of participating in the Jewish Heritage
Channel tender, which he would also operate under the
Techelet name. Techelet co-owners Ben-Tzvi and Ron
Lauder are also shareholders in Channel 10 franchisee
Israel 10. Techelet and Kan Television are the only
two groups that have so far announced their intention
of participating in the Jewish Heritage Channel
tender.

HOT OPTS FOR SEACHANGE FOR TV ON-DEMAND SERVICE

HOT, the Israeli cable consortium comprised of Golden
Channels, Matav and Tevel, is rolling out on-demand
television in November 2004 and has selected SeaChange
International to provide the platform and integration
services for this advanced new television service.
SeaChange's VOD Systems will enable the three cable
operators to provide over one million subscribers with
an array of television programming - such as movies,
time-shifted broadcast television, subscription
services and localized content - to view at their
convenience with fast-forward, rewind and pause
capabilities. The SeaChange VOD System supports a wide
array of third-party software and network components,
and will be deployed with HOT's settop boxes from ADB
(Advanced Digital Broadcast), Samsung, and Thomson;
middleware from OpenTV; and conditional access systems
from NDS and Nagra.

KUWAIT

NEW SATELLITE TV CHANNEL FOCUSES ON REAL ESTATE AND
TOURISM

The new satellite channel, Al-Mishkat, based in
Kuwait, is to be launched soon as a channel
specialized in real estate and tourism covering the
Arab world. Board Chairman of the channel, Khalid
Ashur, said on October 9, that in light of the
continued accusations against the Arab and Islamic
world, the channel aims to acquaint the world with
tourism in the region, as well as its history and
culture. He said that in this age, tourism has become
branched [as received] and this channel will
accommodate for all of this, adding that it will also
provide up-to-date information on real estate and
related laws for the different locations. For his
part, the Deputy Director and Managing Director of the
channel, Husayn Hamzah, said that the idea is to use
the channel to market Arabs and Muslims as those
possessing deep-rooted culture and history. Al-Mishkat
had commenced its trial broadcast on Nilesat and is
scheduled to officially start broadcasting in
December.

QATAR

MEGAHERTZ WINS AL JAZEERA SPORTS CHANNEL CONTRACT

Megahertz Broadcast Systems, in conjunction with its
partner company, Mideast Data Ltd, Doha, has won a
major contract to build three turnkey Master Control
areas and satellite upgrades for the Al Jazeera Sports
Channel in Doha, Qatar. Megahertz beat strong
international competition to win the Al Jazeera
contract, which was officially put out to tender
earlier this year. Each of the three Master Control
areas will be equipped with sophisticated systems that
incorporate a Thomson GVG Saturn, Pinnacle Thunder,
DecoCast and Miranda Imagestore. The outputs from each
area will be connected via fibre optic cables to an
encoding area, where they will be encoded using
Tandberg equipment. The Al Jazeera Sports Channel, a
division of Al Jazeera News, was launched last year
and has exclusive rights to a range of major
international events, including the French Open Tennis
Tournament. It also has broadcast rights to next
year's Australian Tennis Open.

SINGAPORE

STARHUB RAISES CALBE TV PRICES

StarHub, Singapore's monopoly cable-television
operator, said on October 21 it will raise prices from
next month, a week after investors panned the
loss-making company's initial public offering. StarHub
will from November 3 charge S$15.75 per month for
three sports channels, nearly double the current
S$8.40 price. Because of this, various StarHub
packages that include the sports channels will cost
more - some as much as 17%. StarHub offers some 50
channels. Satellite receivers, with which households
could access global channels cheaply, are banned in
Singapore for public use.

THAILAND

CHANNEL 5 SCRAPS LISTING PLANS

The Royal Thai Army has officially dropped all plans
to partially privatise and list its Channel 5, bowing
to an earlier cabinet decision that the broadcasting
agency, as a public medium, should not be exploited
primarily for profits. The Bangkok Post quoted
Director of Channel 5 Lt-Gen Lertrit Wechsawarn as
saying Channel 5 would from now focus on its primary
objective of promoting public services, arts,
entertainment and culture. The company plans to focus
more on family content and will officially announce
its annual programming revamp next month.


A F R I C A


NIGERIA

TREND TV EXTENDS FREE OFFER

Indigenous cable satellite television operator,
Communication Trends Limited (CTL), owners of TrendTv
has extended its free services till the end of this
month. Subscribers of TrendTV, offering more than 30
channels of news and entertainment and will compete
including BBC World, Fox News, MBC, Parliamentary Tre,
Court TV and MTV Base and Discovery Civilisation would
begin to pay by scratch card from the end of October.

SOUTH AFRICA

SABC TO INVEST IN NEW TV CHANNELS

The SABC says an amount of R200 million has been
budgeted for the two regional TV channels which the
broadcaster plans to launch next year. The channels,
to be called SABC 4 and SABC 5, will supplement the
existing channels in terms of the language spread.
SABC 5 will serve mostly Nguni languages, while SABC 4
will accommodate Sesotho language groups. The
application for the SABC 5 licence was also heard. The
two channels are part of the broadcaster's plan to
split its services into public and commercial.

SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE TV LEARNING CHANNEL

The country's primary school learners and educators
are set to benefit from a new satellite television
channel set to help improve their access to quality
education. Mindset Network will receive a R22 million
towards the designing of technology and content based
on the needs of young learners between ages of five
and 13. The United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) will make this donation over the
next three years, following an agreement signed with
Mindset Network this week. Mindset Network is a
non-profit organisation aimed at the personal, social
and economic upliftment of South Africans by
delivering free education materials via satellite
broadcasts with supporting multimedia materials in
print and Internet. The network has developed,
launched and managed a number of channels aimed at the
needs of different target markets such as Mindset
Learn and Health Channel launched in August. The
concept of the channel was tested in 50
underprivileged primary schools and programming could
possibly be expanded to other African countries,
starting in Kenya.




25/10/04

I have advised Lyngsat of Asiasat 4 12430 V sr 20000 Fec 3/4 mux ..and his responce was
"12430 V with this SR is impossible.It must be another frequency, polarity or SR."

With that kind of attitude you have to wonder how much other stuff is missing from his charts. I advise you to take a look at Satcodx. While the layout isn't as clean as Lyngsat they have monitors with satellite cards scanning and logging all services not just the ones Mr Lyngsat "thinks" are right.

ABC Asia Pacific is back on NSS6 12678 V 6510

Indy Car feeds were seen on
B3 In car feed. 12452 H 6670 3/4
B3 No ads feed. 12443 H 6670 3/4

Satfacts section has been updated


From my Emails & ICQ


From Herb Gardiner

Changes in AS4 Ku mux...
Da-ai has replaced Mac TV, and is currently running clear.
VTV3 is still encrypted using Viaccess.
12430V, s/r 20000.

Must still be playing with it. Hope Da-ai won't be one of their
permanent 'free' channels!!

Herb.


From Chris Pickstock

Pas 2, 3958V, sr 6620
Madrid Masters Tennis Feed

Chris P


From Steve Hume

Telstar 18
Bremen v Nurnberg Soccer (LIGA)
VSAT 3866H @ 4289 VID: 161 AUD: 84 PCR: 161

Asiasat 2 - Tennis feed - 4.2.2.
Cyasa4 4094V - 6666 VID 512 PCR 8190
Remember 4.2.2.


From the Dish


Intelsat 701 180E 11500 H The test card has left .

PAS 8 166E 3940 H "The Golf Channel UK" is now encrypted.
PAS 8 166E 3987 V "TVT Channel 11 has replaced TVT Channel 11 News 1" on , enc., SR 3253,FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Videoland Drama and SET Metro" are now encrypted.
PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Videoland Western Movie" is now encrypted.

PAS 8 166E 12366 H "Seven test cards" have started on , Fta, SR 28860, FEC 3/4, PIDs 513/514-2049/2050.
Palapa C2 113E 4120 H "MTV Indonesia" is still on , NTSC.

Optus B3 152E 12525 V "AssyriaSat "has started on , Fta, PIDs 1260/1220.

Measat 2 148E 11540 H "CVTV, Perviy kanal Vsemirnaya setj and ABC Asia Pacific" have started on, Viaccess, PIDs 206/106, 212/112 and 216/116.

Telstar 18 138E 12354 V "It's Asia TV" on , Conax, PIDs 51/52.
Telstar 18 138E 12354 V "TVBS Golden" has started on , Conax, PIDs 68/69.

Palapa C2 113E 11472 V "CCTV 5 and SuperSport 3 have replaced Sky News International" on ,Viaccess, PIDs 2401/2402.
Palapa C2 113E 11472 V "MAC TV has started on , Viaccess,PIDs 2301/2302-2401/2402.CCTV 5, SuperSport 3 and J Wave Satellite TV 1-3 have left. New PIDs for Candy TV: 2501/2502.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 12622 V "A test card has started" on , Fta, PIDs 65/66.

Telkom 1 108E 3580 H "I-Music Channel" has started on , Irdeto, PIDs 592/593.
Telkom 1 108E 3580 H "HBO Asia" has left .

NSS 6 95E 10977 H "Onnuri TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 48/49.
NSS 6 95E 11172 H "QTV has replaced DD National" on , Conax, PIDs 169/98.
NSS 6 95E 12729 V "LoveWorld" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2593/2594.BlueKiss, BlueKiss Express, Realitatea TV and Radio Vocea Sperantei have left

Measat 1 91.5E 11044 V "Astro SuperSport 2" has left , replaced by a test card.

ST 1 88E 3582 H "TBL Sport 3 has replaced Star Sports Asia" on , fta, PIDs 36/37.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "Star Winged has replaced Rainbow Channel (Taiwan)" on , Viaccess,PIDs 1585/1569.
ST 1 88E All Hakka TV have left 3427 H and 3550 V, replaced by test cards.
ST 1 88E 3520 V "Channel 8 has replaced Channel 5 (Singapore)" on , fta, SR 2222,FEC 1/2, PIDs 4450/4451.

ST 1 88E 12642 H "CTV has replaced FTV News Channel" on , Conax, PIDs 49/52. Several PID updates in this mux.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3734 H A Philips promo has started on , Fta, SR 6111, FEC 3/4,PIDs 3601/3604.
ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V "GreatSports Channel" is now encrypted.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V "Star News India" is now encrypted.
Thaicom 2 78.5E 12666 V "DLTV 1-14" have left .

Telstar 10 76.5E 4060 V "Dhamma Channel" is still on ,Fta SR 1760, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195.

Edusat at 74E Edusat has arrived at 74 East.

Eutelsat W5 70.5E 11338 V "EuroNews" is back on , fta, SR 4770, FEC 1/2, PIDs 920/930.

PAS 10 68.5E 4070 V "Dubai Sports Channel" has left .
PAS 10 68.5E 4075 V "Hungama TV" is Fta.

NSS 703 57E "ETV (Ethiopia)" has moved from 3919 L to 3910 L, Fta, SR 2894, FEC 3/4,PIDs 100/110, NW zone beam.



NEWS


Foxtel puts its rates up


From http://afr.com/articles/2004/10/25/1098556328324.html

Pay television company Foxtel will increase its subscriber fees from December 1 following a review of its pricing structure for digital and analog cable as well as satellite services.

The price rises of up to $4 a month follow the introduction of digital service earlier this year. At the launch in January, chief executive Kim Williams said Foxtel expected to be posting sustainable profits by 2006 as it reaped the benefits of the digital platform.

Foxtel, which boasts Telstra as its biggest shareholder with a 50 per cent stake, said "the changes reflect our ongoing intention to provide a service that is constantly evolving and which continues to offer great value to our subscribers".

"These changes reflect no more than a dollar increase per week," Foxtel's television and marketing executive director, Brian Walsh, said in a letter to subscribers.

Foxtel wasn't immediately available to comment. Media companies News and Publishing & Broadcasting each own 25 per cent of Foxtel.


Free-to-air TV faces digital video threat


From Transcript http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/content/2004/s1226676.htm

ALAN KOHLER: The commercial TV industry has enjoyed a heady few weeks. The prospect of more relaxed media ownership laws has lifted share prices, but there may be trouble looming for the networks in a new technology that's nestling up beside the nation's TVs. It's a little box that promises to do to ads what Liquid Paper did to typing mistakes. Andrew Geoghegan reports.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: This is the technology that Rupert Murdoch calls the future of television. A future he wants to control in Australia.

NIGEL TRINCA, FUTURE TENSE SOLUTIONS: I think it is going to revolutionise what television is in our lives.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: With a 25 per cent stake in Foxtel's monopoly of the capital city pay TV market, Rupert Murdoch wants Australians to watch TV via Foxtel's set-top box and this is the device he thinks will lure subscribers in droves.

PETER SHORTHOUSE, ABN AMRO: The evidence to date shows that once people get a DVR, they stay with the pay TV service for a long time, it's almost impossible to overstate how valuable that is to the pay TV operator. It can make the customer worth two or three times one that doesn't stay for quite as long. That is why Rupert Murdoch is so keen on the DVR.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: The DVR or digital video recorder, alternatively known as a personal video recorder, enables a viewer to watch anything at any time.

NIGEL TRINCA: With these machines, they have a hard drive in them so that you just tell the machine your favourite programs - I want to watch this on Tuesday's and this on Friday's and this on Saturday's - and it remembers it every week and just records it to an enormous hard drive for you to watch when you're ready to watch.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Americans have had access to this technology for five years. Australians, however, are still waiting. Foxtel is expected to start selling the service next year. But the Seven, Nine and Ten networks are showing no signs of accommodating the technology and for good reason. Interactive DVRs threaten free-to-air televisions very livelihood.

NIGEL TRINCA: So the ads are irritating me and here's an ad, so I can just merely skip these ads in 30-second segments by pressing the ad-skip button. And I don't like that ad either and I'm back to the show.

PETER SHORTHOUSE: Look, there is a doomsday scenario which says free-to-air TV will end up with no adverts on it. That's not a solution because advertisers pay for the programs so if there's no advertising, there will be no free-to-air TV, full stop.

HAROLD MITCHELL, MITCHELL & PARTNERS: That's what is possible - that could happen. But it won't, It means that the free-to-air system that we now have in Australia, leaving out the rest of the world, wouldn't be strong enough to hold the position it has. My belief is that it will. People are quite happy with the system that they have got.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: DVRs rely on electronic program guides for their information. The problem is Australia's three free-to-air networks don't broadcast their guides and copyright restrictions prevent others from doing so. Effectively making DVRs here little more than long-play video recorders.

NIGEL TRINCA: The big players, namely Seven and Nine, don't want to release that information just yet. So they would like people to be on pay TV as well as free-to-air TV. I think the free-to-air TV networks need to understand that the competition for them is pay TV. And a box like this which makes the free-to-air TV experience much better is really what they need to embrace.

PETER VOGEL, FAULCONBRIDGE: Obviously we can't just copy the program guide from TV Week or from the TV stations' websites but we can gather bits of information about the programs that are on on the various channels and assemble them in unique way and create our own copywritable work.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Enter Peter Vogel, the man who invented the Fairlight Computer Synthesizer which revolutionised the music industry. He now plans to revolutionise the way we watch TV.

PETER VOGEL: I had this idea that it would be good to have a TV which would turn itself off when unsuitable programs came on. And I developed that system to work in prototype stage and I showed it to a few potential investors and they said "Oh, it's a really great system "but could you do the same thing with ads?" And I thought, "Yeah, it's not such a big step."

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Fast forward 14 years and Peter Vogel's ad-free TV service is prime to hit your television.

TV ADVERTISEMENT: When you go back to watch your selected programs, ICE can automatically delete the ads.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Peter Vogel says he has already successfully negotiated with three or four DVR manufacturers to have their recorders made compatible with his Intelligent Content Engine or ICE link.

PETER VOGEL: Our business plan only calls for 3 per cent of householders to be subscribing to our service and we're making very good revenue out of that, because our business model is to charge a couple of dollars a week per subscription.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: But Peter Vogel thinks he is underestimating likely demand. With the Government looking to faze out analogue TV by 2008, Australians will have no choice but to buy either a new digital TV or a set-top box which converts a digital signal. America's conversion to digital TV has so far prompted around 4 per cent of US households to buy a digital video recorder. Global media agency OMD has found that even with that low level of penetration, $1.2 billion or 2 per cent of the US advertising market has been completely ignored thanks to ad-skipping technology. With one in five US households expected to have a DVR by 2006, it is no wonder some sections of the TV advertising industry are worried.

JAMES GREET, OMD: Between 65 per cent and 70 per cent of advertising is actually deleted or skipped, forecasts for the UK suggest that it will be in something like 50 per cent of homes by 2010 and they estimate something like 60 per cent of commercials will be skipped.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: James Greet, head of OMD'S Australia media buying business is already working with advertiser to combat changing consumer behaviour. Integral to the new strategy is more product placement in television shows.

JAMES GREET: The media that are likely to win are those who own media properties, the publishers who own content. Obviously TV stations are owners either directly or indirectly of some very powerful content.

HAROLD MITCHELL: I don't think that the people are going to want to use digital TV to do things like cutting out ads, people actually like ads.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: Harold Mitchell owns Australia's largest media buying company. He is adamant TV networks will continue to see ad revenue grow on the back of the traditional 30 second advertising spot.

HAROLD MITCHELL: We are a market, we have big target markets, big target audiences and free-to-air television will always deliver en masse to all those people.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: But media analyst Peter Shorthouse thinks the free-to-air networks could find their ad revenue eroded over a four or five-year period.

PETER SHORTHOUSE: There is a risk, there is a hiatus period where advertisers see that viewers are watching less adverts or more of them are going to pay TV. Therefore they want to pay less for the free-to-air time that they are getting to advertise. Meanwhile the free-to-air industry is still paying as much as it ever was for the Olympics or AFL or other sports and program rights.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: If Australia's free-to-air networks are concerned about the emerging technology which allows viewers to edit their product as it goes to air, they are not letting on. Inside Business asked the networks what strategies they have in place to deal with this threat to their advertising revenue. Most, including the industry's peak body - free TV - refused to make any comment. But we did get a response from PBL's John Alexander. His network, Channel Nine, captured 40 per cent of the $1.5 billion spent on TV advertising last year.

JOHN ALEXANDER, CEO, MANAGING DIRECTOR: I think it's too early to speculate about the impact it is going to have on our business. I think as a company... but we're, whatever happens with DVRs in the future, we are very well positioned.

PETER SHORTHOUSE: Well, the program that people still have to watch live are news and sport - that is where Nine has its strengths as well. So I believe they are very well positioned for the impact of DVRs.

ANDREW GEOGHEGAN: And unlike the other networks, Nine's parent has a fallback option - with a 25 per cent stake in Foxtel, PBL has hedged its bets. The industry will now be watching carefully to see if DVR prompt viewers to switch off the free-to-air networks.


Loral Skynet to Provide Hawaii Pacific Teleport with Enhanced Satellite Connectivity to Asia


From http://www.satnews.com/frames.html

BEDMINSTER, NJ, Oct. 21/Satnews Daily/ — Loral Skynet has signed an agreement with Hawaii Pacific Teleport (HPT), a provider of teleport services between North America and Asia, to provide capacity on Loral's recently launched Telstar 18 satellite.

Vince Waterson, HPT vice president of business development said the broad reach and power of Telstar 18 makes it a premier satellite to offer HPT customers with feeds coming into or out of Asia.

"In addition to our regular digital and analog turnaround services, HPT plans to use Telstar 18 for its public switched videophone network (PSVN) to provide low-cost videoconferencing services throughout Asia for a new customer," he added.

Patrick K. Brant, Loral Skynet president said with Telstar 18 and the already orbiting Telstar 10 at 76.5 East, customers around the world can now choose from two satellites that offer excellent coverage of Asia and links to the Americas and Europe through Skynet's global network.

Telstar 18, located at 138 degrees East longitude has extensive coverage that stretches from Central Asia through the Indian sub-continent, China, Korea, Japan, South East Asia, Australia and Hawaii. In addition to hosting intra-regional applications, Telstar 18 offers low cost connectivity to and from the US mainland via the satellite's Hawaiian coverage and Skynet's fiber network that connects Hawaii with North America.

HPT is located on the southwest shore of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, from where it connects global businesses through a network of satellites and fiber optic cables reaching from North America as far west as the Indian subcontinent. Unlike American mainland teleports, HPT can 'see' all the Asia-Pacific orbital slots between 128 degrees East and 165 degrees East. According to HPT, this coverage enables the company to serve customers located as far West as Pakistan and in all countries eastward to Hawaii plus customers in Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific Islands.


BT Developes New Technology Tripling Satellite Communication Links Capacity


From http://www.wi-fitechnology.com/displayarticle1562.html

Development by BT of satellite modulation technology with more power to maximise the use of expensive bandwidth

/25 Oct, 2004 - The Wi-Fi Technology Forum/-BT has developed new technology that can triple the capacity of existing satellite communication links. The technology only has to be deployed in the ground stations, hence upgrading existing systems is both straightforward and efficient.

Satellite communication now accounts for around 10 per cent of global telecommunications revenues [1] and global demand for satellite-based Internet circuits is predicted to approximately double between 2005 to 2010 [2] therefore the technology is poised to enable significant cost reductions in this fast-growing global market.

Development of the system was prompted by the relative high costs involved in leasing satellite bandwidth capacity. This is an issue affecting any organisation that delivers data over a satellite link. By putting more data over the same amount of bandwidth, the new modulation technique invented ensures a two to three times greater efficiency, thus enabling more information to be delivered at the same cost.

The new modulation scheme draws on similar principles to those used in the signal transmitted by GSM phones - which delivers data over a modulation scheme consisting of two states - this new method uses multiple states, combined with partial response signalling. Its unique innovation lies in the design of the detection mechanism in the demodulator, which is based on symbol pattern recognition.

The system has been designed for use over large-scale satellite links operating from earth stations, which typically carry high bandwidth data. These include ISP backbone connections, satellite newsgathering, video links and corporate use, military satellite communications and international trunk traffic being transmitted across continents.

Mike Carr, director of research and venturing, BT Group CTO said: "Seeing the big growth in ISP backbone connection by satellite some two years ago, especially from the UK and USA to Middle and Far Eastern countries, we were prompted to develop a technology to help maximise the use of bandwidth, and so reduce cost. Satellite is a particularly useful delivery method for asymmetrically delivered data, whereby more data is needed to be delivered than received from a given destination. As such, the new modulation scheme has a particularly significant role to play in this market."

Further development of the technology for delivering data to 'small dish' services, such as home-based satellite TV is under consideration.
Ends

[1] Telecommunications Fixed Satellite Services US Equity Research, Credit Lyonnais Securities
[2] Mark Williamson, Internet-over-satellite: backbone or spare rib? Telecommunications International, November 2002.

About BT: http://www.btplc.com


BSkyb faces threat to monopoly from ITV free satellite link with BBC


From http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/story.jsp?story=575691

ITV is considering joining the BBC in a new non-subscription venture which will seek to break BSkyB's monopoly on satellite broadcasting and could lead to the end of ITV's payments for having its services included on the Sky platform.

The BBC is determined to press ahead with its own free satellite (FreeSat) offering despite the fact that Sky launched such a product last week. Free satellite gives consumers access to dozens of channels, such as CNN and the BBC stations, which are broadcast free-to-air and unencrypted with just a dish and a digital decoder box.

In what could amount to a double blow for James Murdoch, the chief executive of Sky, the development of FreeSat comes at a time when ITV is renegotiating the £17m annual payment to have its satellite broadcasts encrypted by Sky. Encryption gives Sky the ability to stop the ITV signal bleeding over into other countries and ensures the right regional programmes reach the right homes.

However, the BBC went "in the clear" - unencrypted - two years ago and it believes other public service broadcasters should follow. The channels are still available to Sky users. It is understood that ITV is carefully examining this possibility, attracted by the prospect of a £17m saving which would boost profits by 5 per cent.

Sky had hoped that by providing its own free satellite product - which costs £150, including installation - it would stop the BBC or other broadcasters moving into the satellite territory. Mr Murdoch has set an ambitious target of 10 million subscribers by 2010, from the current 7.4 million. Attracting customers with a free service could be a useful stepping stone from which to persuade them to pay for subscription channels.

The BBC-backed satellite offer would seek to undercut Sky on price and would involve a one-off payment. It would endorse cheaper decoder boxes which do not have a smart-card slot for conversion to pay-TV.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the BBC's director of strategy, said: "A plurality of distribution systems is better. It's about consumer choice. Outside Freeview and cable areas, at the moment the only choice consumers have [for digital TV] is Sky."

The analogue television signal will be switched off altogether by 2012, leaving only digital broadcasting. Some areas of the country will go digital-only from 2007. Freeview, the free digital terrestrial service, does not reach 25 per cent of the country - more than 6 million households.

Ms Fairbairn said it was unlikely that the BBC could launch its FreeSat until early next year. She said if ITV also broadcast unencrypted, it would make it a "much better" proposition - otherwise households taking the BBC-endorsed FreeSat would not be able to receive ITV.


(Craigs comment, while not really local news we could see similar happening in the NZ market soon. Once TVNZ get their new "freeview" type service up and running.)


Pakistan ; Permission sought for STAR telecast in Pakistan


From http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=58362

Pakistan News, Islamabad: Pakistan's information ministry has sought permission from the prime minister's office for telecast of non-Indian but "pro-India" STAR TV satellite channels in the country.

Some in the ministry, however, feel this "would have an extremely adverse impact on the religious and cultural values" of Pakistani society but this view is not likely to prevail, The News reported Saturday.

"A formal (request) has been forwarded by the ministry for the prime minister's approval to grant permission to non-Indian multinational media groups to distribute and market satellite television channels in Pakistan," it added.

The request follows the permission sought by SATSTAR Media (Pvt) Ltd. for distributing and marketing STAR TV satellite channels in Pakistan.

"The ministry has sought the required permission to be granted to the channel by changing the existing policy.

"STAR TV, though a non-Indian channel, mainly targets the Indian market and promotes Indian culture. There are some dissenting voices in the information ministry, which apprehend that the opening up of the international channels and particularly the pro-Indians, would have an extremely adverse impact on the religious and cultural values of our society.

"But such viewpoints have not been conveyed to the prime minister," The News said.

"Pro-STAR TV sources in the government argue that the company has assured the authorities that it would move to 100 percent Pakistani programme content over a period of time," it added.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which operates under the information ministry and is presently without any chairman, has also endorsed the ministry's viewpoint, adding that it would help the authority to earn more revenue.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Secretariat said the ministry and the regulator had argued for revising the existing policy to avoid piracy and loss of revenue to the government.

"The ministry, while pressing for the continued ban on Indian-owned channels like Zee TV, Aaj Tak and Doordarshan, said the policy needs to be redefined to differentiate between Indian TV channels and non-Indian multinational TV channels showing Indian programmes," the newspaper said. Indo-Asian News Service




24/10/04

No update Sunday




23/10/04

No update Saturday




22/10/04

The Zee mux on Asiasat 3 cband has changed to SECA 2 encryption. Which has shut down viewers watching via "superfta" decoders.

The new channel on Optus B3 Globecast is Assyriansat not Syriasat and is now broadcasting.
assyrian sat web www.betnahrain.org/assyriasat/assyriasat.htm

EX TVNZ SAT services equipment up for grabs on Ebay. Includes 2 13m dishes in W.A
http://stores.ebay.com/TVNZ-Satellite-Services

Bluekiss is still missing from NSS6



From my Emails & ICQ


From Alex W.A

Contry to common opinion, I tested a couple of Dialectic plates in my Cal
Amp C Band LNBF on some Circular Intelsat and Express Satellites viewable
on the West Coast

Before and after results-

Int 704 66 Deg E 4055 R Standard 25% Plate 50%
Int 906 64 Deg E 4080 L Standard 55% Plate 78%
Int 902 62 Deg E 4177 L Standard 24% Plate 35%
Nss 703 57Deg E 3980 R Standard 35% Plate 50%
Nss 6 4055 R Standard No Signal Plate 23%

Numerous Express/Gorz analog services were tested with improvements in
picture quality.

Unfortunately Int 701 is now obscured in my location by over grown trees,
so no tests could be done in this direction, but given the above results I
would think that the same improvements would occur.

The dialectic plate may not be the most efficient tool but is a cheap
alternative to a circular feed when only fortuitous services are required
and not used on a full time bases.

Swapping the 13/18v Horz and Vert Pol gave the desired Left and Right polarity.

INT 704 66Deg E 4055 R 27500 3/4 Terlemedia Test bars started Mpeg FTA VID 420 AUD 430

Alek


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Gala TV Variety and SET Taiwan" are now encrypted.

Measat 2 146E 11538 H VTV 1-5 (clear), DW-TV, EuroSport News, Star Movies International, Star World, Phoenix Chinese, MTV Southeast Asia and Arirang TV World 1 have started on , Viaccess, SR 35500, PIDs 201/101-216/116.

Koreasat 2 113 12617 H All channels in the Mirsat mux are Fta.

Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2655 H "TPI, Trans TV, SCTV, Fashion TV and Metro TV have started on ,Videoguard, SR 15000, FEC 7/8, PIDs 515/643-519/647.

NSS 6 95E 12729 V "Realitatea TV and Radio Vocea Sperantei" have started on , Fta, PIDs 1160/1120 and 1122.

Yamal 201 90E 4084 R Voice of Russia has replaced Radio Mayak on , Fta, APID 4152.

Express 6A 80E 3694 R Radio Mayak has started on , Fta, APID 4197.

Telstar 10 76.5E 4060 V "Dhamma Channel" has left .

PAS 10 68.5E 3808 VA Taj TV test card has started on , Fta, PIDs 39/42.


NEWS


UBI WORLD TV LAUNCHES IT’S MULTI-LINGUAL DIGITAL TV SERVICE ACROSS AUSTRALIA


From Press Release (un-noficial?? came via auscity forums)

United Broadcasting International Pty Ltd (UBI WORLD TV) has announced the launch of it’s new direct-to-home digital TV service in Australia.

UBI WORLD TV specialises in providing ethnic Australians with the highest rating and most respected TV channels from their homeland, showing news, current affairs, sport, drama series, movies and general entertainment in their own language. By subscribing to UBI WORLD TV people can stay in contact with their homeland and cultural heritage at an affordable price.

UBI WORLD TV is offering 44 multi-lingual digital TV channels from the worlds leading broadcasters. Arabic, Filipino, Greek, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish and Turkish TV channels will all be broadcast on UBI WORLD TV.

UBI WORLD TV is currently available free-to-air on the Optus B3 Satellite, with phased encryption of the service planned to occur over the coming months. Viewers wanting to receive the service after encryption will need to subscribe to a UBI World TV package from $49.95 per month.

People can find out more about UBI WORLD TV and the channels available on it by calling 02 9776 2727 between 09:00 and 18:00 AEST.


(Craigs comment, this came via Auscity website forum and I can't find any OFFICIAL Press Release elsewhere so who knows??)


Teleport Operators Basks On DTH, Internet


From http://allafrica.com/stories/200410210867.html

Teleport operators, like satellite operators, have weathered the general downturn affecting the commercial satellite industry much better than other segments thanks largely to Direct to home (DTH) and the Internet, satnews.com has reported.

And it now seems that teleport operators might just be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel ahead of the rest.

Teleport operators are optimistic the worst of the dotcom bust of 2001-2002 is behind them.

A survey taken last year by the World Teleport Association (WTA) showed that 92 per cent of its members who responded said business in the next 12 months (or until mid-2004) would be good to fair.

For the next three years, all respondents said business would also be good to fair. Over 60 per cent rated business in 2002 from poor to bad.

Also indicative of the new optimism among teleport operators is the belief among 64 per cent that the number of teleport operators should increase in the next three years. Only 18 per cent thought their number would decrease.

Operators said government, enterprises, DTH, traditional broadcasting and cable and the Internet were driving their business and were expected to continue doing so.

They were particularly optimistic about Internet growth. Despite the dotcom meltdown, teleport operators reported spikes in their Internet and IP transport businesses, with the average operator generating 16 per cent of revenues from IP in 2002 compared to three per cent in 1998.

And of course, DTH continued as a reliable core business for teleport operators, which is also the case for satellite operators. Video generally accounts for 60 per cent to 75 per cent of the commercial satellite market in the major world regions such as North and Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. DTH/DBS, which is part of the video market, account for one-quarter to one-third of total market and is growing.

The video market remains the mainstay of the commercial satellite industry, which is good news for teleport operators.

Analysts said locking in the video market is more important for the long-term success of satellite operators than overstressing the networking market.

Despite significant transponder overcapacity, the satellite transponder leasing market remains quite strong and profitable when compared to the telecommunications industry as a whole.

Analysts believe the main driver for mergers and acquisitions within the commercial satellite industry must be the need to reduce transponder overcapacity and to develop more rational replacement plans for future satellites.

Teleport operators appear more than happy to consign the immediate past to oblivion, and with good reason. Average revenues dropped five percent from 2001 to 2002 among operators who responded to the WTA survey. Nearly 45per cent saw revenues rise year-on-year while 55 per cent saw declines.

Nearly 60 per cent of teleport operators fired people in 2002. About 15percent , however, hired more people while 25per cent retained headcount.

One important result from the telecom downturn was that large teleport operators did much better than smaller ones.

Large operators generated $1.5 million in revenue from each antenna they operated in 2002 and $258,000 from each employee, significantly higher than small companies.

The continuing evolution of teleports from something more than relay stations into "superPOPs" that seamlessly integrate the satellite and terrestrial fiber technologies required for a truly wired world makes teleports a key strategic resource.

The WTA some years ago announced the birth of superPOPs, which it described as integrated or end-to-end telecom hubs that support a vast array of technologies and services, including the bridging of fiber-optic network and satellite connectivity.

Teleports are continuing to expand service offerings to include Internet backbone access, server collocation and video streaming with the ongoing domination of telecoms by Internet and IP traffic.

Despite dramatic growth in the use of satellites for Internet-related services, the big money still lies in providing backbone connectivity. The maturing of the teleport Internet industry in the future might change this, and probably will


StarHub hikes rates by 17%


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

Singapore's monopoly cable TV operator StarHub has decided to raise the prices of its pay-TV packages by 17 per cent. The new rates will be applicable from November 3.

With the increase, subscribers to its package containing sports channels like ESPN and Star Sports, which broadcast live English Premier League matches, will have to pay US$21.4 a month, up from US$18.3 currently.

StarHub said that the rate adjustment was "inevitable as the costs of sports programmes have skyrocketed in recent years." No details pertaining to the higher cost of packages excluding sports channels were disclosed.

Earlier this year, ESPN and Star Sports threatened to stop the live broadcast of English Premier League in Singapore, due to a disagreement with StarHub over pricing. The dispute was eventually resolved although neither party gave details of the settlement.

StarHub has over 393,000 cable TV subscribers, equivalent to around one-third of Singapore households. The company also sells broadband Internet and mobile and fixed-line services to Singapore's 4 million inhabitants. According to analysts, StarHub's capital-intensive cable-TV business isn't generating enough revenue to be profitable, placing more pressure on its profitable mobile-phone business to deliver revenue growth in a saturated market.


BSKYB launches Freesat digital TV


From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3762910.stm

Sky's subscription figures have been slowing

BSkyB has launched a free digital satellite TV service which offers 140 channels for a one-off fee of £150.

The service, Freesat from Sky, is being seen by many as an attempt to rival the success of Freeview, the equivalent service for digital terrestrial TV.

Freesat has been launched with little fanfare by Sky, as the company continues to focus on pay-TV.

Viewers will get a digital set-top box, satellite dish, with free installation and a remote control in the deal.

Freesat will initially be only available directly from BSkyB.

The company hopes that the absence of a subscription fee will lure new customers who may eventually switch to a pay-TV package when analogue TV is phased out.

SKY'S FREE-TO-AIR PACKAGE
140 TV channels
80 radio channels
13 interactive services
All BBC digital services

All other terrestrial channels
Others include BBC regional channels on BBC One and Two

What Sky's free digital deal means

A spokesman for BSkyB said: "We think it is a really good offer for customers.

"It is not our core business. We will continue to focus our marketing efforts on the promotion of our pay-TV services."

Freeview has attracted nearly 4 million users since its launch in 2002 and has helped drive take up of digital television.

BSkyB says it does not see Freeview as a threat but will have been un-nerved by the recent slowdown in the numbers of subscribers to its pay-TV services.

Viewers can also buy a Sky Plus box - which contains a hard disc-based video recorder - without the need for a subscription to programme packages.

BSkyB charges £199 for the more advanced box, a further £120 for installation and £10 a month for subscription to Sky Plus.


(Craigs comment, Bskyb are pulling a fast one here. Most of the "FREE" stuff they are offering access to are channels that are beamed FTA to anyone with a suitable setup on the Astra satellties)


TV channels seek HC nod for adult films


From http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/october/95301.htm

Television channels today banded together for the right to screen adult films.

The channels which include Star TV, Sony TV, Zee TV, Udaya TV, AXN and Surya have submitted a new plan to the Bombay High Court that adult films be screened on television between 9 pm and 6 am.

The channels have submitted the proposal following a public interest litigation filed by Pratibha Naithani, a lecturer from St Xavier’s college.

Naithani has opposed the screening of films rated ‘A’ by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on TV.

The channels said that they were in the business of entertainment and adult movies were also a form of entertainment.

The proposals were however opposed by Naithani’s counsel M M Vashi who has pitched for a panel that will pass films that can be shown on TV.

Vashi said that there was no agency that was monitoring the content of movies and programmes on TV and suggested that the panel should be constituted comprising a police officer, a channel representative and educationists. The panel would be on the lines of the CBFC.

Earlier, the division bench of Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari had restrained satellite television channels from broadcasting movies or programmes which did not have a certificate from the CBFC.

Naithani in her petition said that TV channels were screening movies like Kamasutra and Bandit Queen during the day.

The Cable TV Regulations specify that such programmes can be screened only after the watershed time of 11 pm. Serials and shows with explicit contents like Wild On, Sex And The City, explicit trailers and songs were also being aired without any permission from the CBFC, the petition alleged.

The petition also claimed that such programmes had an adverse effect on children.

Why Pratibha Naithani filed a PIL

• There was no agency monitoring the content of movies and programmes on TV
• A panel should be set up comprising a police officer, a channel representative and educationists on the lines of the CBFC.
• Adult films were screened during the day
• Adult programmes had an adverse effect on children




21/10/04

BlueKiss is missing in action on NSS6. No news yet as to why. They're still on Asiasat 3 Cband though.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Sky_SATT

Hi all new Test signal on Globecast b3 channel name is(Assyriasat)

Tp 12525 v Vpid 1260 Apid 1220 Ppid 1260 Showing colour Test Bars.

Cheers
Sky_satt


(Craigs comment, Syria satellite channel I think. Same as via Asiasat 3)


From Terry Collins

Palapa C2 Kablevision (Smart tv)
Currently free to air is disney and family channels on a 2.3 mesh in Townsville


From Jsat.tv (Thailand)

The Golf U.K channel on PAS8 has encrypted

Measat 2 Ku Band S.E.A beam 16 Channels

New VTV MUX, Measat 2 Ku Band 148East
FREQ: 11537 S/R: 35500 POL: H

Channel - 16 channels

VTV 01 ------ PID AUD: 101 PID AUD1: 501 PID VID: 201 PID PCR: 201
VTV 02 ------ PID AUD: 102 PID VID: 202 PID PCR: 202
VTV 03 ------ PID AUD: 103 PID VID: 203 PID PCR: 203
VTV 04 ------ PID AUD: 104 PID VID: 204 PID PCR: 204
VTV 05 ------ PID AUD: 105 PID VID: 205 PID PCR: 205
VTV 06-VCTV1-----------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 106 PID VID: 206 PID PCR: 206
VTV 07-VCTV2 (DW)-----Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 107 PID VID: 207 PID PCR: 207
VTV 08-Euro Sport News--Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 108 PID VID: 208 PID PCR: 208
VTV 09-Star Movies -------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 109 PID VID: 209 PID PCR: 209
VTV 10-Star World --------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 110 PID VID: 210 PID PCR: 210
VTV 11-Phoenix------------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 111 PID VID: 211 PID PCR: 211
VTV 12-OPT1-----------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 112 PID VID: 212 PID PCR: 212
VTV 13-TVB----------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 113 PID VID: 213 PID PCR: 213
VTV 14-MTV Asia----Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 114 PID VID: 214 PID PCR: 214
VTV 15 ABC--------- Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 256 PID VID: 308 PID PCR: 8190
VTV 16-Ariang--------Crypt: Viacess [0x500] PID AUD: 116 PID VID: 216 PID PCR: 216

Regards,
The JSAT tv team in Bangkok
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (02) 714.3594
Fax: : (02) 390.2589
WEB : www.jsat.tv


From the Dish


No Lyngsat AGAIN :-(

I701 180E 3846 RHC Sr 12203 Fec 2/3 ?


NEWS


Digital Satellite Set Top Box Market Growing and Evolving, Says In-Stat/MDR


From http://www.tekrati.com/T2/Analyst_Research/ResearchAnnouncementsDetails.asp?Newsid=3890

In-Stat/MDR - October 20, 2004

According to In-Stat/MDR, the market for digital satellite set top boxes continues to expand on a worldwide basis in 2004, primarily due to increases in satellite pay-TV subscribers. While the analysts' 5-year forecast puts overall digital satellite set top box shipments at 71 million in 2008, their market analysis predicts significant changes ahead in market conditions and drivers.

In addition to growth among satellite pay-TV subscribers, key market drivers include an increasing number of boxes per household in North America, the swapping out of boxes due to conditional access changes in Europe, new service launches in India, declining prices, and demand for digital Free To Air (FTA) satellite receivers.

“Today, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) or Direct To Home (DTH) is the most popular way to receive digital TV signals in most of the world,” said Michelle Abraham, a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. “And, in order to receive and watch the digital content transmitted via satellite on a TV, a consumer must have a digital satellite set-top box.”

The first boxes were shipped in 1994 and since then, millions have been shipped around the world, and millions more will continue to be shipped each year.

“While the growth of new subscribers to DTH services is slowing down for the entrenched providers that have been operating for a few years, there are still areas in the world without DTH pay-TV services,” said Ms. Abraham. “These areas, in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Mid-East, will provide new opportunities for DTH set-top boxes. The FTA box segment, which is not aligned with a particular service provider, has also been growing at a rapid pace and will overtake the pay-TV box segment in shipments in 2004.”

In-Stat/MDR has also found that:

Two important technology changes that will be coming to digital satellite set top boxes are the improved modulation of the DVB-S2 standard and advanced video compression in the form of H.264.

Demand for FTA boxes is due to price declines in all regions, making it possible for more households to buy them. The World Cup and the Olympics are major sporting events that always have consumers thinking about better equipment for TV viewing. In 2004, FTA/CI boxes to reach a new high of 36 million units.

Reductions in component prices continue to enable declines in digital satellite set top box Average Selling Prices (ASPs).

The report, Digital Satellite Set Top Boxes (#IN0401233ME), discusses the events influencing digital satellite set top boxes, new features being added, and how reductions in component costs are enabling less expensive boxes. Five-year forecasts of unit shipments, ASPs, revenues, and bill of materials are provided by region. In-Stat/MDR also looks at the expected growth of HDTV and PVR boxes and provides 2003 market share data for digital satellite set top box suppliers in a section on digital satellite set top box manufacturers.


'Free-to-air' powering growth of satellite TV boxes


From http://news.com.com/Free-to-air+powering+growth+of+satellite+TV+boxes/2100-1041_3-5419470.html

Shipments of set-top boxes that receive signals from digital satellites will continue to grow worldwide through 2008, fueled by increasing demand for "free-to-air" boxes, according to a new report.

In a survey released Wednesday, researcher In-Stat/MDR said the popularity of FTA boxes, which pick up free programming as opposed to subscription fare such as that offered by DirecTV, will carry overall shipments of set-top boxes to 65 million this year and to 71 million units by 2008.

FTA receivers are largely used in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, where there are more free channels broadcast than in North America, In-Stat/MDR Senior Analyst Michelle Abraham said. The content on these unencrypted channels ranges from newscasts and local programming to sports and movies.

"The growth in free-to-air set-top boxes has to do with the pricing of the boxes coming down and becoming more affordable for more homes, especially in Asia, Africa and the Middle East," Abraham said. Falling component prices have led to price drops.

Shipments of FTA boxes will outpace those of pay-TV boxes this year, the survey said, hitting 36 million units, compared with 29 million. FTA boxes won the shipment race last year as well.

Europe, Asia and the Middle East also have pay-TV satellite systems, Abraham said, but they're not as pervasive as in North America. Some North Americans, however, also go the FTA route.

In the United States, large satellite dishes that are hooked up to FTA boxes can pick up some free, unencrypted programming and beam it down to the head-end of a cable network, Abraham said. These large dishes, which aren't aligned with any particular digital-satellite subscriber service, can also pick up programming from foreign countries.

FTA boxes aside, overall growth in shipments of all digital satellite receivers is also being driven by other factors, including a rise in the number of boxes per household in North America, users swapping out their set-top boxes in Europe due to a consolidation of the technology in that region, and new satellite services in India, the survey said. In addition, improved video compression will have an effect, and lower component prices are bringing down the cost of pay-TV boxes as well.


Japan arrests four over satellite porn


From http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20041021-014922-2317r.htm

Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Japanese police have arrested four people for allegedly using overseas satellite broadcasts to beam pornography into the country.

The suspects include the 38-year-old president of a firm selling satellite broadcast reception devices, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Thursday. He and three associates were arrested for displaying obscene images and for violating a law on the safe use of electrical goods.

This is reportedly Japan's first arrest over satellite broadcast pornography.

According to investigators, between March 2003 and June 2004 the four sold foreign satellite reception devices and parabolic antennas that were not certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Between March and July this year, they broadcast pornographic images from a Philippine broadcasting facility to a private communications satellite in Indonesia, the report said.

The group had signed up about 52 users in Japan to view the images, police said.


Intelsat Shareholders Approve Proposed Acquisition by Zeus Holdings


From Press Release

Pembroke, Bermuda, 20 October 2004 – Intelsat announced that at an annual general meeting held in Paris earlier today its shareholders approved the proposed acquisition of the company by Zeus Holdings Limited. Over 99 percent of the votes cast on the matter, representing nearly 85 percent of Intelsat’s total issued and outstanding ordinary shares, voted in favor of the transaction. The approval of shareholders representing not less than 60 percent of the voting power of Intelsat’s total issued and outstanding ordinary shares was required in order to approve the transaction.

On August 16, 2004, Intelsat, Ltd. and one of its subsidiaries entered into a transaction agreement with Zeus Holdings Limited and two of its subsidiaries pursuant to which Zeus Holdings will acquire 100% of Intelsat for total cash consideration of approximately $3 billion, or $18.75 per ordinary share, plus the assumption of nearly $2 billion in existing debt. Zeus Holdings is a Bermuda company formed by investors advised by Apax Partners Worldwide, LLP and Apax Partners, Inc., Apollo Management V, L.P., MDP Global Investors Limited and Permira Advisers LLC.

Intelsat, Ltd. CEO Conny Kullman said, “The transaction with Zeus represents a strong proposition and attractive valuation for our shareholders who, upon closing, will receive cash in exchange for their shares. This is a major milestone and we are pleased with our progress on the transaction to date. We look forward to obtaining the required regulatory approvals and meeting the other conditions to closing in an expeditious manner.”

About Intelsat

Building on 40 Years of Leadership. As a global communications leader with 40 years of experience, Intelsat helps service providers, broadcasters, corporations and governments deliver information and entertainment anywhere in the world, instantly, securely and reliably. Intelsat's global reach and expanding solutions portfolio enable customers to enhance their communications networks, venture into new markets and grow their businesses with confidence. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.

Intelsat Contact:
Dianne VanBeber
[email protected]
+1 202 944 7406


HC upholds centre's order revoking licence to Raj TV


From http://www.123bharath.com/tamilnadu-india-news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=30594

Tamil Nadu, India > Chennai,Oct 19 : The Madras High Court today dismissed a petition filed by Raj TV Network seeking to quash an August last order by the Communication Ministry terminating its telecasting licence for "breach of licence conditions."

Upholding the Ministry's order revoking/terminating the licence granted to Raj TV, Justice K Raviraja Pandian, however, stayed operation of his order till Octber 29, after considering a plea by Raj TV to stay the order in view of the coming 'pooja' holidays.

The Judge held that the Communication Ministry was the competent authority to revoke the licence. 'The order is passed in conformity of natural justice,' they held.

The network contended that the August 25 last order by the Communication Ministry was without jurisdiction as the I&B Ministry alone, which had granted the licence to it, had the power to revoke an existing licence.

Besides, the TV Channel said it was not afforded an opportunity to explain its stand and the punishment too was disproportionate to the breach of licence conditions.

Counsel for the Centre Addl Solicitor General V T Gopalan contended that the network, which had been granted licence to telecast/uplink two channels--Raj TV and Raj Digital Plus--telecast two more channels--Vissa and Raj Musix for over a year.

Besides, the network's licence had expired in September 2003 and without renewing the licence the channel continued unauthorised telecast, Gopalan said. PTI


Star India to launch 'Star One'


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/893978.cms

NEW DELHI: Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star India on Wednesday said it expected a 20-30 per cent growth in the Indian market by the middle of next year on the back of a reported growth in demand for its entertainment channels, including the soon-to-be launched 'Star One'.

"We are bullish on the Indian television entertainment industry and expect a growth of 20-30 per cent, well over the industry rate of 8-10 per cent," Star India chief operating officer (COO) Sameer Nair told here.

Launched in 1990, Star is said to be currently the market leader in the Indian television market, especially due to the popularity of its general entertainment Hindi channel 'Star Plus'. It offers more than a dozen channels ranging from the English movie channel 'Star Movies' to Hindi movie channel 'Star Gold' to sports channel ESPN-Star, the latter in partnership with Disney.

The company has recently started a new free-to-air channel 'Star Utsav' which primarily offers hit programmes of yesteryears telecast on 'Star Plus'. "We are looking at attracting newer audiences in the rural and other markets through this new channel," Nair said.

To further consolidate its position in the market, Star India will be launching a new channel Star One' from November 1 this year.

The channel, which will launch with an array of 21 original programmes across a range of entertainment genres like action, comedy, lifestyle, youth and original movies, is targeted at the urban, upwardly mobile Indian audiences.

Nair said the wide array of channel the company offered today helped it gather advertising from a variety of companies.

"For Star One, we are looking for companies which have the urban population as their target. We have been selling the ad spots for the last two weeks now and have got a good response," he said.

The company is following a different advertising strategy for the new channel. "We will have not more than two sponsorships per programme and will have product exclusivity, which means that two different companies having the same product will not sponsor the same programme," he said.

Currently, 50-60 per cent of Star India's revenue is contributed by the flagship 'Star Plus' channel. "We expect 'Star One' to chip in around 10-15 per cent to overall revenues of this fiscal," Nair said.

The pay-channel will be available across all markets in the country for Rs 10 per month


STAR's new channel wants to create niche audience


From http://www.teamindia.net/index.php?action=fullnews&id=30913

New Delhi, Oct 20 : Satellite TV major STAR wants to create a new genre of viewers in the 25-34 years age group for its new channel, One.

"We believe there is a whole segment waiting to be tapped," said Star India COO Sameer Nair. "These are people who are in their first, or maybe second job, who have just got married or are about to get married."

One would be the third soap-based channel from the STAR stable, including STAR Plus and STAR Utsav. Star is trying to break Hindi-speaking viewers into broad sub categories.

It figures that with the addition of this pay channel, priced at Rs.10 per household, it would be able to provide an entire bouquet of audiences to advertisers from only Hindi-speaking to people who are equally comfortable with Hindi and English.

This would help advertisers place all their products - from the low-end to the top-line - on the STAR platform.

Among the programmes scheduled for One are "Remix", a schooldays love and angst tale and "Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai", a comedy based a quarrels between a high-flying socialite and her distinctly middle class daughter-in-law.

There's also "He Man", where each episode would have 10 men vying for the votes of 150 women, a show on gadgets and gizmos called "Men Mange More" and a cooking for dummies sort of show called "Cook Na Naho".

"The programming is for people, young men and women, who are Indian at heart but with a global outlook," said Nair.

There's even a show, claimed to be the first to be entirely shot on a cruise ship, called "Pyar Ki Kashti Mein".


Schools in the Sky


From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/893627.cms

Indian education goes into orbit

The launch of India's first satellite dedicated exclusively to education services holds out immense potential for the country. Not only was the spectacular success of the indigenously developed GSLV rocket, which sent EDUSAT into space, a first for India, it has also catapulted the country into an elite club that previously boasted only five other member countries. These nations are capable of successfully launching and placing satellites in geostationary orbit. The wholly indigenous EDUSAT could revolutionise education in this country. Indeed, few other countries can claim such an achievement. At present, only the first of its three phases has become operational. When fully deployed, it's designed to last at least seven years while transmitting five spot beams covering almost all regions in the country. According to ISRO, since these beams are more powerful than those of the earlier Insat 3B, its signals can be received with a smaller dish.

Consequently, the reception terminals become cheaper. In fact, the satellite's success will greatly hinge on this. ISRO maintains that EDUSAT is primarily meant to provide connectivity to school, college and higher education, and to support non-formal education includ-ing developmental communication. This is, of course, encouraging for a country where the primary education system is in a shambles. The real test of EDUSAT will be to give that segment a boost. For these ends, ISRO has tied up with three universities which will develop the content to be beamed down. A focused campaign to appraise educational institutions of the benefits of using EDUSAT must be initiated. The potential to network the leading hubs of technical education in the country must also be actively utilised. Further, with the satellite, literacy levels could well take a quantum leap forward. The arithmetic is easy. In the fully operational phase, the EDUSAT network is expected to support up to 1.5 lakh reception terminals. With 50 students per terminal, that works out to a figure of 7.5 million. If five such satellites can be sent up, then a staggering 37 million children in remote areas could benefit at a fraction of the cost it takes the government to set up primary schools.

Obviously, there will be several hurdles in the implementation process. But here at last is an opportunity provided by technology for a complete paradigm shift in our approach to education. Education for all is no longer a pie in the sky. The answer is actually up there.




20/10/04

The Chatroom was very quiet last night.

VTV Asiasat 4 Ku remains Via Encrypted.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Lizard

Reuters World News Service is FTA.
AS 2, 3905 H, S/R 4000, FEC 3/4


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Videoland Movie" is now encrypted.

Optus B3 152E 12613 H "Tele Liban" is back on , Fta, PIDs 521/649.
Optus B3 152E 12674 H "Almajd Space Channel" has started on , fta, PIDs 518/646.

Telstar 18 138E 12402 V "ETTV Shopping has replaced AXN Taiwan" on , Viaccess, PIDs 39/38.

Asiasat 4 122E 12580 H UNKNOWN Sr 3000

Koreasat 2 113E 12530 H All channels in the Mirsat mux are Fta. Life Info TV has replaced HKN on PIDs 145/146.
Koreasat 2 113E 12617 H "DBN has replaced Korea Deaf TV" on , enc., PIDs 7411/3315.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 12622 V "CCTV 9 and CEBsat Info Channel" have left , replaced by test cards.(China beam)

NSS 6 95E 12729 V "Inter + and Moskva - Otkrytyj Mir" have started on , Fta, PIDs 2561/2562 and 2577/2578.

ST 1 88E 3484 V "ABTV 3" has left , replaced by a Biz Channel test card.
ST 1 88E 3582 HAll channels in the TBL TV mux on are Ftar, except TBL Xxx.

ST 1 88E 12645 V "Police Radio Station" has left .New PIDs for all channels in this mux.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12493 H "ETTV Shopping has replaced AXN Taiwan" on , Viaccess, PIDs 39/38.



NEWS


Paul Norris: TVNZ profit grab reeks of state control


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3602064

Strange doings at Television New Zealand. In the bad old days, when TVNZ was a state-owned enterprise, it was charged with acting like a business and returning profits to the Government.

Indeed, it paid hundreds of millions of dollars to various governments during its time as an SOE.

Cut to this year. TVNZ has been reformed and refocused on behaving more like a public broadcaster. It has been given a charter and some direct Government funding to help to deliver charter programmes.

Yet last week we found TVNZ paying the Government the astonishing sum of $38 million, historically one of the highest dividends ever.

Should not TVNZ be using this money to make more and better New Zealand programmes? TVNZ thinks so; the Minister of Broadcasting, Steve Maharey, says there will be negotiations.

This is an extraordinary situation, requiring answers to some important questions. Why is the dividend some $10 million more than TVNZ's profits for the year of $28 million?

Only once before has TVNZ ever paid out more in dividend than its profit figure - in 1996 when the National Government sought a special additional dividend of $20 million from several SOEs.

Why is the figure twice the $19 million projected in the statement of intent for this year (effectively TVNZ's contract with the Government)?

And why is a dividend being paid at all by a company whose status has been changed from SOE to Crown-owned company and whose objectives are no longer mainly to make money?

The chairman of TVNZ, Craig Boyce, said a year ago that the new TVNZ was not required to pay a dividend but allowed to retain its profits to reduce borrowings and to meet its charter obligations.

Obviously things changed. The statement of intent for 2004, hammered out in negotiation between TVNZ and Government, laid down a new formula for dealing with what it calls "surplus funds" to be paid to the Government. Surplus funds are defined as "net operating cashflow less funds invested in and required for the continuity of business activities".

It is this clause, in the context of TVNZ's performance, which has led to the calculation that TVNZ must pay the Government $38 million.

Part of the problem is that, commercially, TVNZ has over-performed. It is awash with cash. The golden weather of advertising revenue has exceeded the most optimistic expectations. Over the past few years, TVNZ had built up substantial cash reserves - a fact of some interest to the Treasury. With the benefit of hindsight it may be argued that it would have been prudent for TVNZ to have invested more of its cash back into the business, thus avoiding the problem of having to return surplus funds to the Government.

Belatedly, having had its bulging piggy-bank whisked away to the Treasury storehouse, TVNZ is calling for the system to be changed to enable it to keep more of its cash to reinvest in programmes.

There are strong arguments for TVNZ retaining its profits. The money could be used for making more indigenous programmes. These are inevitably more expensive and often more risky than popular imported ones.

Some 38 per cent of the programmes on TV One and TV2 are made locally. The TVNZ chief executive, Ian Fraser, has set an ambitious target of 50 per cent. This would be a significant increase, costing tens of millions of dollars.

Certainly the list of charter-funded programmes in the annual report reveals gaps. What about more quality New Zealand drama, of a standard comparable to Spooks, State of Play or the best of Lexus Sunday Theatre (mostly from the BBC)? Has the industry not matured enough to rise to such challenges?

TVNZ also has plans for expanding its range of children's programmes. And let's not forget sport; it would be no surprise to find TVNZ bidding for the forthcoming rights to Super 12 and Tri-Nations rugby.

Then there is the transition to digital, which will require huge investment from the industry.

TVNZ, which claims to be taking a leadership role, may soon announce plans for a suite of digital channels delivered by satellite. Whether there will be any new channels to entice viewers to go digital will depend on the level of investment. Possibilities include a news channel, or an educational channel, or a selection of regional programmes blended into one channel.

The Government concedes that there should be changes. Negotiations are under way on the dispersing of the dividend, suggesting that TVNZ may get back some of the $38 million it has paid, providing it can put up a strong enough business case.

There is also the Minister of Broadcasting's wider review of public broadcasting, due to be made public soon. It will have something to say on the funding arrangements for TVNZ and could even increase the level of direct Government funding from $15 million a year.

But it should also address the issue of the dividend and whether the reformed TVNZ should be paying a dividend at all. No other public broadcaster does so, not even those in countries such as Canada or Ireland which are funded partly from advertising.

Nor do other major cultural institutions in New Zealand, such as the symphony orchestra or Te Papa, both of which depend on substantial commercial revenues. TVNZ can argue that, like these institutions, it is delivering a social and cultural dividend.

The challenge is to find an arrangement that balances several requirements. Certainly, institutions such as TVNZ must be accountable for all financial dealings, especially those involving public money. Transparency is all-important; the public should be able to see where money, resources and investment are going.

But, equally, TVNZ needs to be able to engage in strategic financial planning over the longer term. It cannot do this on a hand-to-mouth basis from year to year, feeling that it must spend its cash reserves before they are snapped up by the Treasury. There may need to be clearer guidelines on what investment from cash reserves is allowable.

What is distinctly unhealthy is the prospect of the Government maintaining political control over TVNZ through its close command of the purse-strings. Ideally, TVNZ should be financially independent of Government. Since this is not possible, there should be an agreed financial framework covering at least five years.

TVNZ should not have to be going back to the Government each year to reclaim part of its profits. This gives the Government too much scope to bend TVNZ to its will. We need a system with safeguards against any such potential abuse of power.

* Paul Norris is head of the broadcasting school at Christchurch Polytechnic


JAPANESE GANGSTER NABBED FOR CROSS-BORDER PORNO BROADCASTS

From http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=3493

Taipei, Oct. 20 (CNA) A Japanese yakuza gangster was arrested Tuesday in Taipei on charges of beaming pirated pornographic movies around Asia, using Taiwan as his operating base, according to the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). Shuichi Mogi, a member of the Japanese yakuza gang Yamaguchi-Gumi, who is the president of two Taiwan companies, has been operating pornographic movie broadcasts by first transporting porno DVDs from Japan to Taiwan and then beaming them from Taiwan via the satellite channel Jwave to places around Asia, CIB officials said Wednesday. Mogi's Jwave porno broadcasts -- operated through his Taiwan companies Yixinhui and Oriental Digital -- have reached "clients" in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Guam and many Southeast Asian countries, CIB investigators said. In raids on Yixinhui and Oriental Digital Tuesday, the police busted Mogi and his Taiwanese vice president, Huang Wei-chin, and confiscated a large number of porno DVDs, as well as a satellite antennae, receivers, IC cards, account books, and website materials. The investigators are also trying to track down Mogi's Taiwanese partner, surnamed Yen, and other accomplices who remain at large. The police have learned that the Yamaguchi-Gumi gang has been broadcasting porno via satellite for quite a long time. In Taiwan, "clients" spend NT$20,000 for equipment, including an antenna, a receiver and cable, to get access to the 24-hour porno broadcasts, with extra fees for a decoding IC card and monthly payments of NT$2,000. The Yamaguchi-Gumi beam the porno movies to clients throughout Asia by up-linking to the Palapa C2 channel in Indonesia and another channel in the Philippines, the police said. This new kind of cross-border pornography operation has become a "grey area" for law enforcement authorities to deal with, CIB investigators said. (By Deborah Kuo) ENDITEM/Li?


China launches new satellite to monitor natural disasters


From http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041020033734.9tmmt5bb.html

Fledgling space power China has launched a meteorological satellite capable of monitoring natural disasters, state media reported Wednesday.

The No. 2 Fengyun C satellite, atop a Long March 3-A carrier rocket, entered its orbit 24 minutes after take-off Tuesday from the Xichang Satellite launch centre in southwestern Sichuan province, the Liberation Daily reported.

"The satellite has successfully entered the orbit in synchronisation with the Earth's orbit. The launch was very successful," the newspaper said.

The No. 2 Fengyun C satellite, developed and manufactured by China, has an observation scope that can cover one-third of the Earth's surface.

The 1.38-ton satellite, which has better resolution and observation capacity than its predecessors, will collect meteorological data, monitor ocean temperatures and measure solar and space radiation.

It is also expected to help track natural disasters like hailstorms, while monitoring forest and grassland fires, fog and sandstorms.

China has launched seven weather satellites since 1988 and the report said more such weather satellites were planned over the next few years.


THAILAND: Channel 5 scraps its listing plans


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=16027

The Royal Thai Army radio and television stations announce its decision to lift the listing plan of its subsidiary, RTA Entertainment Plc, ending a month-long controversy marring the channel

The Royal Thai Army has officially dropped all plans to partially privatise and list TV Channel 5, bowing to an earlier cabinet decision that the broadcasting agency, as a public medium, should not be exploited primarily for profits.

The Royal Thai Army radio and television stations made the announcement yesterday of its decision to lift the listing plan of its subsidiary, RTA Entertainment Plc, ending a month-long controversy marring the channel.

The 660-million-baht company, set up to handle Channel 5's marketing and non-news airtime sales for 30 years once it becomes a listed public company, was owned equally by the RTA and 83 private investors who were asked by Asia Plus Securities Plc, the company's financial adviser, to buy into the company. Among them are Paiboon Damrongchaitham, the CEO of GMM Grammy Plc, Thawatchai Vilailuck, the managing director of Samart Corp Plc; and Chaiyan Chakarakul, the CEO of Lalin Property Plc.

Under the contract, RTA would pay the channel 150 million baht a year, compared with more than one billion baht the channel had made by itself from airtime sales.

The low payment and extraordinarily long term of the contract sparked a major political uproar in July, with media observers describing it as a thinly veiled plot to allow business groups with political connections to reap benefits at the expense of the state and the public.

Lt-Gen Lertrit Wechsawarn, the new director of the 26-year-old channel, said Channel 5 would from now focus on its primary objective of promoting public services, arts, entertainment and culture, not on making money.

With the listing plan scrapped, the capital of 330 million baht committed to RTA by the private investors would be returned.

As well, the channel sold news airtime to RTA, which in turn hired the channel for three years to produce news for it for 100 million baht annually, an amount seen as far below cost by industry experts.

Lt-Gen Lertrit, who took the helm of the channel on Oct 1, said the cabinet decision would end all the controversies and bring a new life to the channel next year.

The fifth director of the channel so far this year, Lt-Gen Lertrit is also facing internal friction. The Media Co had entered into a one-year contract to pay the channel 160 million baht a year in exchange for the sales of advertising airtime during short news programmes throughout the day. However, the company has paid 114 million baht so far to the channel.

He said the channel was considering suing the company for more payment and also to end the contract, as it planned to assign its marketing subsidiary to take over the job.

Next year, the company will focus more on family content in the annual programming revamp to be announced officially next month. About 1.2 billion baht in total commercial sales are estimated, up slightly from this year. Next year, the station's net profit is projected at between 400 million and 500 million baht.

To earn more profit, the company will try to save investment costs in equipment by 700-800 million baht, especially in the much-hyped digital broadcasting.

Meanwhile, Thai TV Global Network (TGN), the channel's 24-hour satellite broadcasting service with coverage in more than 170 countries, is moving ahead with its plan, despite a loss of 800 million baht since 1997.

Channel 5 signed a 15-year agreement with Top En Co in recent months to operate the TGN airtime, with an option to renew the contract.

Lt-Gen Lertrit said the agreement also broke the current legislation that allowed for maximum terms of two years for airtime concessions.

Therefore, he said, the channel would revise the contract and likely end it.


Efficient Channel Coding Delivers DVB-S2 Evaluation Platforms Incorporating Adaptive Coding & Modulation


From Press Release

CLEVELAND, Oct. 19, 2004 -- Efficient Channel Coding (ECC) announced today that it has starting shipping DVB-S2 based receiver evaluation platforms to key customers.

DVB-S2 is a new satellite communication standard that is in the final stages of publication. DVB-S2 enables unprecedented bandwidth and power efficiency and incorporates many advanced features optimized for satellite communications. DVB-S2 technology developed by ECC is the first to support the optional interactive services (IS) modes defined by the DVB-S2 standard. One of the most important IS features is adaptive coding and modulation (ACM). In many applications, ACM enables operators to increase bandwidth efficiencies by a factor of 2 to 4 or more relative to non-ACM capable systems.

"We are pleased to be able to offer ACM-capable DVB-S2 technology to key early customers," said Mark Vanderaar, CEO of ECC. "Our complete evaluation platforms will allow early DVB-S2 adopters the ability to fully characterize the benefits of ACM-capable DVB-S2 systems, and enable them to start integrating S2 technology into their satellite communication solutions immediately."

Newtec Corporation has promoted DVB-S2 from the beginning of the standards process, and has taken delivery of an evaluation platform from ECC. Dirk Breynaert, CEO of Newtec noted: "We have selected ECC as a partner for our DVB-S2 products because they have one of the strongest expertise in this field and because they share our technical and commercial vision for the future of satellite telecommunications. From the beginning of our cooperation ECC has shown a total commitment to develop a solution that fulfill our specific needs with the highest level of performance."

About Efficient Channel Coding:

ECC provides real world digital communications solutions for some of the world's most advanced networks. We design and deliver satellite communication systems, broadband communication ICs, and customized commercial and government solutions. Our technology innovations increase the efficiency of today's most advanced satellite, wireless and wire-line communications systems. More information on ECC is available on the Internet at http://www.efficientchannelcoding.com.

About Newtec:

Newtec is a Belgium based Satellite Communications Equipment Manufacturer & Total Solution Provider, offering highly reliable products and services throughout the entire world. The Company provides satellite equipment for a wide variety of applications, including:

- Video & Audio Exchange Networks,
- High-Rate IP-Backbone Links,
- One-Way (business TV) and Two-Way Access Networks,
- Broadcast Uplink Stations (DTV & IP-Broadcast), and
- Primary TV Distribution Networks.

ECC Contact:
Dr. Mark Dale
VP of Business Development
1-216-635-1610
[email protected]


Inventor Rejoices as TVs Go Dark


From http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,65392,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2

Sanders Li's paper plate held nothing but a crumpled napkin. His meal finished, he lingered. His unblinking eyes gazed at Sex and the City on a 15-inch color TV over the counter at Nizario's Pizza on 18th Street in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood Sunday evening.

In the middle of a scene, the TV turned off.

For 10 seconds, Li kept looking, waiting, not blinking through his glasses. At last, he left his stool, trashed his plate and emerged into the cool autumn night.

Leaving, he passed 48-year-old Mitch Altman, who was twiddling a matte-black plastic fob on his key chain. Altman's blue and purple hair reflected the pizza shop's neon, and he was smiling excitedly.

"We just saved him several minutes of his life," he said.

Li agreed. He said he didn't care that the TV was gone, even though he had been watching the show.

Altman's key-chain fob was a TV-B-Gone, a new universal remote that turns off almost any television. The device, which looks like an automobile remote, has just one button. When activated, it spends over a minute flashing out 209 different codes to turn off televisions, the most popular brands first.

For Altman, founder of Silicon Valley data-storage maker 3ware, the TV-B-Gone is all about freeing people from the attention-sapping hold of omnipresent television programming. The device is also providing hours of entertainment for its inventor.

At a Laundromat and cafe down the street, a lone man sorted clothes in the glow of larger-than-life bikini babes on a 60-inch Sony HDTV. A punch of the button and the screen instantly went dark. He went on folding his T-shirts, seemingly unaware of the change.

"It's always like that," Altman said. "It's so much part of the environment in the U.S. that people don't even notice when it disappears."

It is different in Hong Kong, Altman said. There, when he clicked off store TVs, everyone looked around to see who did it.

At Best Buy, neither customers nor staff responded as one set after another turned off -- Sony TVs first, then a JVC and an Apex, all from a single click. The interview was easier without competition from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Improved conversation was the motivation behind TV-B-Gone, and it's why Altman calls it the most helpful tool he's worked on. He said it compares well to the Apple video game he wrote in 1977 (which became a military training module), virtual-reality systems he helped build at VPL in 1986 (used for military research despite his and the company's explicit pacifist policies), and the hard-drive controllers he patented after starting up 3ware.

Since he left 3ware, he has spent most of his time finishing up TV-B-Gone. His equity from that firm provided the capital for the first run of 20,000 remotes.

"I was always squandering my time, energy and creativity on something that was at best benign," he said, in the suddenly quiet aisle at Best Buy. "I was always trying to get people to do something good. Some people do something for the disabled or something. But that's not really my thing, so I did this."

The idea for TV-B-Gone was born at a restaurant in the early 1990s, when Altman and his friends kept paying attention to a TV in the corner, not to one another. They chatted about how to turn off all televisions, and he wondered if it would be possible to string together a series of "power" commands.

After that, the project would have disappeared, but Altman's friends wanted the tools. He said about 50 people volunteered to help design, package and even name the TV-B-Gone. Cartoonist Nina Paley, he said, has begged for over a decade to work on the packaging.

The devices don't always work. At a pizza restaurant, a giant Samsung HDTV turned off only after a couple of tries. After a kitchen worker turned it back on, TV-B-Gone had become impotent against the blaring football game. Altman said manufacturers periodically add new codes, though he said he had never seen the device work once and then lose its effect.

Altman said he prefers to ask people to turn off TVs. The problem is places where there's a captive audience and no one is available to respond to requests, like the Laundromat or the airport. Altman said he has turned off sets at his local laundries and at airports around the Pacific Rim.

The European model, which uses different codes from the American-Asian one, was field-tested at EuroDisney, where anti-TV activist and computer programmer David Burke was waiting with his 6-year-old daughter to get on a ride called Honey I Shrunk the Kids. A wall of TVs in the waiting room showed a loop of constant Kodak ads. Burke had prototypes in his bag and made a bank of screens go off with one click.

"It fills you with naughty laughter to know you did this and other people have no idea what happened," Burke said. People around him noticed that the screens had turned off, but no one raised a fuss.

Responding to the accusation that it sounded like unaccountable power, Burke said, "You've heard about the battle for eyeballs. They're your eyeballs. You should not have your consciousness constantly invaded. Television people are getting better and better at finding ways of roping us into TV where we can't get away."

With the spread of TiVo and downloadable movies, he said, the traditional 30-second spot is dying. Now, advertisers want waiting rooms, elevators and urinals -- and they don't want anyone to be able to turn the screens off.

Representatives from Channel One and CNN's airport and waiting room networks could not be reached for comment by press time.

Altman said people who hear about TV-B-Gone start thinking about other nuisances. Friends have asked for ways to jam cell phones, shut down vehicle subwoofers and kill car alarms.

Standing on the corner of 18th and Castro, watching people staring past their beers in bars, spacing out behind the wheel at red lights and ignoring one another on the bus, it was clear that it would take more than a gadget to snap people entirely back to reality.

"What I really want," Altman said, "Is Life-B-Here."

TV-B-Gone can lead to awkward interactions. At the hipster video rental shop Lost Weekend, a clerk was watching the Yankees play the Red Sox. She faced the screen, glancing away only momentarily to help a customer as she waited for the ads to end and the ninth inning to begin. When the screen turned off, she said, "You'd better turn that back on." She said she'd like a universal remote that could change the channel at the gym, but didn't understand why anyone would want to turn a set off entirely. "I love my TV," she said.

Her co-worker, shelving DVDs in the corner, saw the key chain. A sly smile crept through his goatee. "You got any more of those?" he asked.

At Fenway Park, Derek Jeter warmed up to lead off the ninth. The TV-lover had an angry set in her jaw. And TV-B-Gone served its less-publicized purpose -- it also turns on any TV.


(Craigs comment, Hours of fun! you can get one from http://www.tvbgone.com/ )




19/10/04

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

VTV mux Asiasat 4 Ku seen testing in Viaccess this afternoon.

Tarb's / UBI reportedly suffering from T.I Unwired internet service at their H.Q

In Satfacts latest issue, 7 meter dish U.S domestics received in American Samoa, more on 3.5 GHZ T.I, 3.4 GHZ law breakers?, Fiji TV update



From my Emails & ICQ


From Alex (W.A)

NSS6 updates 95deg E
12728 H 27500 7/8
ALL MPEG FTA

Moscow Open World TV VID 2577AUD 2578 PCR 2577
Realitaea TV VID 1160 AUD 1120 PCR 1160
Vocea Sperantei AUD 1122 PCR 1122
Inter VID 2661 AUD 2562 TEXT 2564 PCR 2561


From George

OPTUS B3
Almajd Space Channel CH46
replaced ESC2 on 12674 H 22500


From Steve Hume

Palapa C2 "Kabelvision" mux
Was FTA, Also, now loads as "Smart TV Satellite Network"

AXN, Cartoon Network, Cinemax, CNNI, Disney, E! Entertainment, ESPN,
HBO, National Geographic, Star Sport, Star World, The Family Channel.

Data Channel as well - HDT OTA


From Dave Creek

Aus Idol feed seen B3 12552V


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3813 V Occasional feeds on , SR 6620, FEC 3/4.

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "The Soundtrack Channel Pacific" is Ftar.

Optus B3 152E 12613 H "Tele Liban" has left .

Telstar 18 138E 12354 V "ATV (Hong Kong)" has started on , enc., PIDs 51/52.

JCSAT 3 128E 12658 V "BBC World Japan" has started on , Videoguard, PIDs 2096/2100.

Palapa C2 113E 4120 H MTV Indonesia has left (PAL) (another analog leaves)

Telkom 1 108E 3786 H "TV Edukasi" has started on , Fta, SR 4000, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.

ST 1 88E 3550 V "Hakka TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 641/639.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V New PIDs for GreatSports Channel on : 265/267, Fta.

Intelsat 709 85.2E Updates in the ExTV mux on 11486 V, Videoguard:Guangdong TV has started on PIDs 516/654.SZTV 1 has replaced G4 Tech TV International on PIDs 521/749.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3780 V "Almajd Space Channel" has started on , Fta, PIDs 518/646.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12680 V "CSN, MAC TV, Hwazan Satellite TV, Taiwan Money Network and 32 radio channels" have started on , clear, SR 15000, FEC 5/6.



NEWS


CanWest finally in black


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

A buoyant advertising market, cheaper programming costs and some crowd-pulling TV shows has helped CanWest MediaWorks to its first annual profit as a listed company.

But its $60.9 million operating profit for the year to August, despite beating its listing prospectus forecast, failed to excite the market, with CanWest's share price closing down 5c at $1.72.

The operating profit was an increase of 55 per cent, with the two divisions of CanWest, TV Works and RadioWorks dramatically improving their operating performance.

Revenue increased 8 per cent to $228.7 million.

James Lindsay, domestic equity manager at Guardian Trust, which holds CanWest shares among its managed funds, said there had been some "overexcitement" around industry advertising rates that were expected to boost revenue further.

"Those expectations were built up from some of the rate card rises you've seen at TVNZ," he said.

Lindsay said CanWest's performance was good considering investors in the initial public offering had got in at $1.53 a share.

CanWest did not report a bottom-line result. Chief financial officer Peter Crossan said to do so would be like comparing "apples with cucumbers" because the separate Canwest and MediaWorks companies had different tax and goodwill positions before the merger and were owned through different structures. CanWest would report its bottom-line when it had a full year to compare against.

A free-to-air TV broadcaster with TV3 and the youth-oriented C4 channels forming its TVWorks division, CanWest managed to turn around C4 thanks to cheaper programming costs.

The channel, which has a strong focus on local music videos from artists like Scribe and Goodshirt, went from a $7.1 million operating loss to a $519,000 operating profit.

"The budgeted plan for C4 for year one was to achieve break even, but we did better than that by being able to reduce the cost going from TV4 to C4 by between $6 million and $7 million," chief executive Brent Impey said.

C4, which celebrated its first birthday on Saturday, is subsidised by NZ on Air funding. However, Impey said a shift from foreign-bought drama programming had cut most of the cost.

NZ on Air's deputy chief executive Bernard Duncan was unable to provide C4 funding details by press time.

The popular CSI crime shows had held up TV3's ratings. Impey said TV3 held 24 per cent of the 18 to 49 age group in viewership.

Sky's claim that it now rivalled TV3 in viewership did not mean Sky was as attractive to advertisers.

"Sky refers to the whole 50 channels in total, whereas we're running one channel only. Media buyers make decisions on the number of eyeballs watching," Impey said.

A slate of new programming for TV3 was planned, with CSI: New York and the Australian comedy series Kath & Kim screening next year.

RadioWorks - which has More FM, Solid Gold, Radio Pacific and The Rock among its stable of 17 radio stations - increased revenue 10 per cent and operating profit 25 per cent to $29.2 million.

On the agenda is a new Auckland FM station to start next year using a spectrum licence CanWest picked up for $6.3 million in December.

Impey expected the advertising market to remain strong.

"We've certainly started the first quarter strongly. At this stage, there's no indication of the slowdown some economists are forecasting."

He would not comment on TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser's publicly held desire to plough TVNZ dividends back into programming rather than handing the cash over to the Government.


Telstra chooses Asia Sat as supplier of satellite capacity


From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-10/19/content_2107576.htm

HONG KONG, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Australia's Telstra Corporation Ltd. and Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications CompanyLimited (AsiaSat) Monday announced the signing of a master relationship agreement that further expands the existing partnership between the two companies on the provision of rural broadband services in Australia.

The agreement confirms AsiaSat as integral to Telstra's transponder capacity in Australia. It also establishes a frameworkfor Telstra to take up additional transponder capacity on AsiaSat's satellite fleet in the future.

Telstra is currently using AsiaSat 3S's Ku-band capacity for the provision of two-way BigPond via satellite broadband services across Australia, serving particularly the remote outback and rural areas.

"This agreement further strengthens our partnership with Telstra and affirms AsiaSat's long track record of high quality service across the Asia Pacific region and demonstrates our willingness to provide flexible satellite solution that meets our customers' expansion requirement," said Peter Jackson, chief executive officer of AsiaSat.

"AsiaSat's exceptional Ku-band coverage complements and enhances Telstra's broadband solutions, allowing services to be available almost anywhere, anyone in Australia. We look forward toproviding more support to Telstra's expanding broadband services across the country," said Jackson


CCTV primetime ad revenue to touch US$667 million in 2005


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

China Central Television (CCTV) could net a record 5.5 billion yuan (US$667 million) from prime-time advertising in 2005, an annual increase of 25 per cent, according to director of advertising Guo Zhenxi.

The local media says the annual auctions of CCTV's prime-time slots create quite a stir as they bring in about 70 per cent of the network's ad revenue. The beverage, fashion, home appliance and car industries are expected to be among the big ad spenders next year given CCTV's new 10-second slots during prime-time hours from January 1.

Guo said competition at the auction for 2005 airtime, to be held on November 18, was likely to be fierce among both overseas and domestic bidders despite reserve prices as much as 20 per cent higher, driven by rising broadcasting costs. The reserve price for 15-second commercials during talk shows after 1950 hours will be US$24000.

10-second slots are targeted at smaller companies with less money to spend, produced in conjunction with China Minsheng Banking Corporation and China Merchants Bank, the first financiers to provide advertising loans, Guo said. CCTV will also provide 30-second prime-time slots targeted at overseas companies or those with new products to promote and are willing to invest more.


Prasar Bharati DTH to air 23 private channels


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=71834

NEW DELHI, OCT 18: Prasar Bharati has finally got the government nod to carry up to 23 private channels (from 13 earlier) on its direct-to-home (DTH) platform. The private channels which have signed up with Prasar Bharati are Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, BBC, Zee Music, Zee News, Smile, Surya TV, Star Utsav, ETC, Akash Bangla.

Those in talks include Raj TV for two channels and CNN. Expressions of interest have also come from Sahara, Jaya TV, and some spiritual channels. According to Prasar Bharati officials, the government has decided to increase the number of private channels in its bid to make the pubcaster’s DTH bouquet attractive.

To access Prasar Bharati DTH, a subscriber needs to make a one-time investment of around Rs 3,000 for set-top box and a dish antenna. There’s no monthly subscription cost attached to it. After Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises’ Dish TV, Prasar Bharati’s offering will be the second DTH project of the country. Star-Tata DTH venture is yet to get clearance.

Homing In

• 40 channels allowed on Prasar Bharati DTH
• Up to 23 free-to-air private channels permitted to join in
• Neither Prasar Bharati nor private channels to make any payment
• BBC has agreed to come on board, talks on with CNN

With DD’s 17 channels, the DTH platform will now show 40 channels, instead of 30 earlier. There were apprehensions that even the 13 private channels coming on board looked unlikely last week, said a source.

“Two schools of thought were doing the rounds. One, that Prasar Bharati should not allow its competition to be known in regions where they have failed to reach so far. Another was that Prasar Bharati DTH should be attractive,” a Prasar Bharati official said.

In the new arrangement, private channels don’t have to make any payment to Prasar Bharati for a year, sources told FE. The system would come up for review after a year. Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma was not available for comment.

Earlier, the pubcaster was understood to be negotiating commercial terms for carrying private channels on its DTH platform for a period of two years. “Now, private broadcasters have to pay only towards incidental charges,” said a Prasar Bharati official. Prasar Bharati’s Rs 500-crore DTH venture is still awaiting a formal launch though. After several delays, officials claim that it would be launched before the end of this month. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is yet to give a date for inauguration.

Information and broadcasting minister S Jaipal Reddy is keen on channels like Discovery and National Geographic Channel (NGC) being part of Prasar Bharati DTH, but these are pay channels and beyond the scope of the venture. NGC officials had earlier indicated to FE that the channel is open to talks with the national broadcaster.


Pace Develops Full-Featured MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 IPTV Set-Top Box Using The Equator BSP-15 Processor & Dicas Codec Software


From Press Release

SALTAIRE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2004--
Combined IPTV Solution Supports MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Decoding at a Reasonable Cost

Pace Micro Technology (pic.l), the world's largest dedicated developer of digital set-top box technology, is working with Equator Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance, programmable and power-efficient system-on-a-chip (SoC) processors for video streaming and image processing applications, and Dicas, the leading provider of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVC) software codecs, to develop a new IP based set top box for operators implementing AVC audio visual services. The Pace DB680, will provide access to a full range of digital TV services such as pay-per-view, video-on-demand and streaming applications.

"Many operators are keen to implement services based on the recent AVC standard. The quickest route to market is with high performance field programmable set-top boxes coupled with software decoding, which can be upgraded easily in the field as the standard evolves," says David Gillies, Director of Technology at Pace Micro Technology. "In the development of our DB680 platform, Pace is leveraging Equator's extensive experience in programmable devices coupled with the highly optimised AVC decoding software from Dicas to deliver digital solutions at a realistic cost of investment."

"Pace is one of the largest global set top box companies, supporting operators on a range of delivery platforms - cable, satellite, terrestrial and digital broadband media (IPTV)," says John O'Donnell, co-founder and CTO of Equator Technologies. "Pace has recognised that Equator's BSP-15 processor, optimized from the outset for video processing, is the ideal solution for a quick time to market at a reasonable cost. We are excited to support Pace and Dicas in evolving the DB680 AVC solution to market."

Sebastian Moritz, CEO of Dicas says: "We are delighted to work with market leaders such as Pace and Equator in integrating our AVC decoding software into this product. We believe the soft codec approach offers a rapid time to market with flexibility as the standard evolves, and consider the Dicas AVC decoder to be the most sophisticated available in the world today."

The DB680 is derived from Pace's common hardware platform, which can support multiple software architectures. It is targeted at network operators looking to rollout real AVC services quickly, without paying a large price premium for the programmable approach while maintaining the option of upgrading as the standard evolves. The DB680 is part of Pace's Digital Broadband Media (DBM) range that is already being used by telcos and broadband IP operators to launch advanced television and multimedia services over existing telecommunications networks.

The Equator BSP-15 chip is a cost-effective, high performance, fully C/C++ programmable processor developed specifically for digital media applications. Unlike a conventional processor or DSP, the BSP-15 processor is a complete system-on-a-chip (SoC) device for video-centric applications in consumer electronics, security and surveillance, video-conferencing, and digital imaging. BSP-15 processors are capable of running video and image processing algorithms, as well as operating systems, network stacks, middleware, virtual machines for Java and Internet browsers, meeting all the system software needs of today's media applications without an additional microprocessor. With its rich set of on-chip I/O, the BSP-15 video-centric SoC eliminates the need for external components, reducing overall system cost. Equator and software partners provide the widest range of codecs supporting standard and high-definition video with multi-codec, low-bit rate compression technology, making the BSP0-15 SoC the processing platform of choice for multi-format video over IP.

The Dicas MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 decoder software is a high-performance MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 software component, extremely error resilient, easy to integrate and compliant with the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Main Profile, Level 3.It is part of the full Dicas software set for MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, components of which include encoder/decoder software which is also available for Windows, Linux, Sun Solaris, OS X and other specific platforms.

About the Pace DB680

The DB680 is a fully optimised IP-based set-top box that offers outstanding performance and value for money and is primarily targeted at operators looking to enter new IPTV markets. The DB680 supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/AVC (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) coding, and can be used to deliver services that include multichannel TV, true and near video-on-demand, advanced graphics and games, email, enhanced Internet browser services and karaoke-on-demand. The DB680 is fully interoperable with all other products in Pace's Digital Broadband Media set-top box range.

Contacts
Pace Micro Technology
Amanda Duffield, +44 1274 537093
[email protected]

or

Helen Kettleborough, +44 1274 538005
[email protected]

or

Equator Technologies, Inc.
Ying Sosic, +1 (408) 369-5457
Director of Marketing
[email protected]

or

Shelton - PR
Helen Garrett/ Chris Hansard
+1 (972) 239-5119, x201/x137
[email protected]
[email protected]

or

Dicas
Sebastian Moeritz, +49 30 850 743 04
[email protected]




18/10/04

A change in power or footprint with Asiasat 4 ku? I'm now getting %46 quality on the Innovia receiver compared to %39 last week (on 76cm dish)

The Links page has been updated, if you have any good links please email them to me.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards

0245 UTC Pas8 12726 Horz S/R 28066 FEC 3/4 "HTB America" has started FTA
Vpid516 Apid644 SID 5

0250 UTC Pas8 12575 Horz S/R 13845 FEC 2/3
Vpid 2831 Apid 2832 SID7 "GDTV" FTA

Vpid 3087 Apid 3088 SID8 Da-Ai TV FTA

Vpid66 Apid69 SID9 TFC FTA

Regards
Bill Richards
South Australia


From Hans

Nasa feed ,space station docking
Asiasat-2 3704 vert sr 4167 fec 5/6
sl 40% sq27%
humax receiver
2.2 m china made dish


From Puzhakkara

india aus test match is available on insat2e at 4071/5000 vertical.also available on pas 10 at 4033/19565 vertical.

also hakkatv started with 6 tv channels on ST-1 on 3550/26800 vertical

indiavision news has replaced indiavision entertainment on 3686/3333 horizontal on thaicom3


From Blackcrusader

Panamsat 10 4134 V 5695 3/4 English football feed seen


From Simmo

Pas 8 NBA CHINA GAME Feed found
3994V 13235 in 4:2:2


From Herb Gardiner (Wgtn, NZ)

VTV AS4 Ku...Found.
Wellington, NZ
Atlanta 1m dish, Innovia blind search
58% Sig, 48% Qual. mm... might try NSS6. Clear view south from here.

Herb.


From Bill Richards

Pas2
2330 UTC
Pas 2 3813 Vert S/R 6620 FEC 3/4 Vpid309 Apid258 TBS feed from Beijing marathon FTA

Regards
Bill Richards
South Australia


From Chrisglobal

Moto GP feed from Phillip Island on Palapa C2, 3935H, sr 5632


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3940 H "The Golf Channel UK" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2760/2720.
PAS 8 166E 3949 V "MBC (South Korea)" has started on , enc., SR 4613, FEC 3/4,PIDs 4194/4195.
PAS 8 166E 4080 V "Z Channel" is now encrypted.

PAS 8 166E 12575 H "Guangdong TV and Da-Ai TV" have started on , clear, PIDs 2831/2832 and 3087/3088. TFC Asia-Pacific and ABS-CBN News Channel are fta.
PAS 8 166E 12726 H "NTV America" has started on , Fta, PIDs 516/644-518/646.

(N Kawano)

Optus B3 152E Updates in UBI World TV:New Sat, Lig TV, TVE Internacional Asia-Africa and Tele Liban have started on 12613 H, clear, PIDs 518/646-521/649. Tele Liban has left 12674 H. TVE Internacional Asia-Africa has left 12701 H.

Optus B3 152E 12674 H "ESC 2" has left , replaced by a test card.

(V Melnicenko)

Measat 2 148E 4085 V New SR for the GMA Network mux on : 6718.
Measat 2 148E 11522 H The VTV mux has left .

Telstar 18 138E 12354 V "CCTV 4, TVB Xing He Channel, TVBS, MATV and TVB 8" have started on ,Conax..
Telstar 18 138E 12720 V "CNBC Hong Kong" has left , replaced by a test card.

Thaicom 1A 120E 3854 V "CTN International" has started on , Fta, PIDs 1160/1120.
Thaicom 1A 120E 3854 V New SR and FEC for CTN on : 5926 and 3/4.

Koreasat 3 116E 12550 V "SBS has replaced MBC" on , fta, PIDs 1360/1320.
Koreasat 3 116E 12630 V "KTV (South Korea), TV Shopping, MBN-CNBC, a test card, SBS Golf, Q Channel (South Korea) and TV Shopping" have started on , Fta, SR 26687,FEC 3/4, PIDs 1901/1902-1961/1962.
Koreasat 3 116E 12630 V "SBS and two test cards" have started on , Fta,PIDs 1971/1972-1991/1992. The History Channel Korea and BTN have replaced TV Shopping on PIDs 1911/1912 and 1961/1962, Fta.

N-Sat 110 110E 12411 R The Sky PerfecTV 110 mux has left .

Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2565 H "Metro TV" has left , replaced by a test card.

NSS 6 95E 12729 V "BN Sat" has left .

Insat 3A 93.5E 3943 V "DD Shimla and occasional DD Shimla feeds" have started on , Fta, SR 6250, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4520/4720-4521/4721.

(N Stanislav)

ST 1 88E 3550 V "Hakka TV" has started on ,Fta, SR 26800, FEC 3/4, PIDs 650/648.
ST 1 88E 3550 V "Hakka TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 634/633-647/645.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "BBC World" is now encrypted.
ST 1 88E 3632 V "CTS, FTV Enterainment, CTV and TTV" are now encrypted.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V "GreatSports Channel" is now encrypted.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V "Star News International" has started on , Fta, PIDs 258/259.New PIDs for Star News India: 322/323.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "The God Channel Africa" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2561/2562.

Thaicom 2 78.5E 4137 H "Dhamma Channel" has started on , Fta, SR 1365, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3780 V "ESC 2" has left , replaced by a test card.

Eutelsat W5 70.5E 11338 V "EuroNews" has left .

PAS 10 68.5E 4099 V "Pulse" has started regualr transmissions on , Fta, PIDs 513/641.


NEWS


Coonan predicts third media mogul


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/17/1097951541682.html?oneclick=true

A major shake-up of Australia's media laws could help a third force emerge alongside industry moguls Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch, Communications Minister Helen Coonan said.

The federal government is hoping to finally have its planned changes to cross and foreign media ownership laws passed by the Senate now it looks likely to win control of the upper house.

Senator Coonan said if the Senate passed the government's new media laws there would be room for more players, including foreign media companies, to operate in Australia.

"I think it would be good to see a third force emerge and indeed some of the speculation suggests that that is in fact the way in which some of ... the negotiations (between media companies) are proceeding," she told ABC TV.

"But obviously we do want to make sure that there is diversity, that's always been what we've said is a critical point in the whole of media deregulation."

The government's planned media law changes were blocked by the Senate in June last year.

If it succeeds this time around, the limits on the foreign ownership of Australian media companies would be eased and restrictions lifted on proprietors owning only one newspaper, radio or TV station in the same city.

As a result, News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch could buy a commercial TV network such as Ten or Seven, while Kerry Packer's Nine network might buy newspaper group Fairfax.

Fairfax would also be free to buy a TV or radio station.

Senator Coonan said while she did not want to pre-empt what mergers or sales would be allowed, the changes would not mean open slather for media companies.

"But the government has of course clearly signalled the fact that we want to have a robust deregulation of the media...," she said.

"I think that more foreign ownership is obviously something that we can anticipate.

"But obviously we need to do all this together so that our local companies aren't actually hampered by the fact that there's foreign investment and not also movement locally so there can be proper competition because it is now truly a global business."

Senator Coonan said she would have talks with the outgoing minor party senators, who previously blocked the government's changes, before newly elected senators replaced them in July.

However, she believed legislation covering the changes would not be introduced to the Senate until July, when the government is expected to have majority control.

Senator Coonan also ruled out putting any plans forward to sell the multicultural broadcaster SBS.

"Certainly no. The government has no current plans to do anything of that kind with SBS," she said.

"We've obviously very keen to ensure that the funding for SBS is maintained. SBS I think is doing very well."


Media market's in a froth


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

John Howard's emphatic election victory sparked frenzied buying this week in media stocks and feverish speculation among commentators about who would do what to whom in the media game.

The Australian media sector generates about A$10 billion a year in revenues from advertising, but there is much more at stake than just the ads.

Sentiment for media is back in favour of deriving efficiencies and synergies from owning different media platforms - radio, print and TV for instance. That idea in the early 1990s was very much on the nose.

The market's drooling this week started because the conservatives have the real chance of controlling the Senate from next July, or, in the worst case, requiring the support of one independent.

The Coalition has tried twice to push through changes to media ownership laws but has been blocked by a hostile Senate, where the Greens, Democrats and independents have held the balance of power.

The real possibility of the Coalition controlling both houses won't be known for weeks, but it won't stop conjecture in Australian media or the markets remaining rife with takeover speculation.

The 250 scenarios already painted this week for Kerry Packer's listed Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL), makes him both a seller and a buyer while Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is firming exclusively as a buyer.

The share price for two of the three commercial TV networks (Ten and Seven) rocketed this week - Packer's Nine Network, which sits inside PBL's gambling and media operation, was an exception - on speculation they could be takeover targets.

Newspaper publisher John Fairfax is being seen as a possible buyer of a TV station or a radio network, as is APN News & Media if a TV network was to be broken up. Austereo, owner of the top two national FM radio networks, is viewed as a ripe takeover target.

Much of this week's fever has come about because the media industry has been held back by restrictions on owning newspaper and television assets simultaneously for many years, providing a check on the growth ambitions of the barons such as Packer and Murdoch.

Murdoch has said in the past that he would be interested in creating a fourth free-to-air television network in Australia, but his more likely path these days is to buy a network outright if the rules are freed up.

It could all change, but Packer's Nine Network and Kerry Stokes' Seven are considered frontrunners.

It was shares in the Ten Network, however, which hit a record high this week, boosting the market value of the company by A$300 million. Chief executive Nick Falloon announced that majority Canadian shareholder CanWest would be prepared to partly sell down its 55.6 per cent stake if there was a major deal on the table.

Shares in a range of other smaller media companies also surged.

In turn, groups such as Fairfax could view the potential new environment as an opportunity to move back into broadcast media and stump up for a stake in one of the television networks - it once owned metropolitan TV stations now in Seven's camp.

The only caveat at this stage is that media stocks are already trading at generous earnings multiples, so some of the big media players may have to pay top prices in order to realise long-held ambitions.

The other wild card is the potential entry of overseas investment groups that view Australia as a safe and stable market in which to place funds.

They could add to any bidding wars that eventuate in the second half of next year and into 2006.

While many of these scenarios are only speculation until new laws are passed, it does represent a once-in-an-era opportunity for the big guns of Australian media to stake their claim in the new world of digital communications.

Indeed, Foxtel (the No 1 pay-TV operator, owned by Telstra, Packer and Murdoch) has recently begun trials of personal video recorder technology in advance of a commercial launch before June next year.

The PVR technology allows viewers to record programmes at the push of a button, record video-on-demand films, and pause live broadcast television.

At the same time, Telstra is secretly testing an internet-based television technology that will allow consumers to watch high-quality video content in the home. These so-called disruptive technologies are likely to continue the trend of more diverse entertainment and content offerings for consumers in Australia, who are buying DVDs and surfing the internet in record numbers.

And although there is significant concern in the US about increasing media concentration as the Federal Communications Commission looks to push through a similar relaxation of ownership rules, no one in Australia has been too vocal about the rising dominance of larger players.

This may be because consumers now believe they can get enough diversity from a variety of content delivery platforms, or it may be that people are now sharing their own personal digital content with their friends and families.

Or possibly the public is simply not as interested in the politics of the media industry as the media. After all, John Howard won the election on the platform of individual choice.

If you don't like what's on the telly, you can simply switch off, or rent a DVD. Whatever the case, we're in for a wild media ride over the next year.


Multiemedia's satellite vision finally pays off


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/15/1097784048157.html?oneclick=true

Shares in technology group Multiemedia rocketed 60 per cent on Friday after the loss-making company forecast a $12.8 million profit by 2006, largely driven by its successful bet on broadband via satellite services.

Multiemedia shares jumped 1.4c to close at 3.8c on Friday, with more than 37 per cent of its issued stock traded, following the company's two-year forecast, which it said was underpinned by the recurring nature of its satellite revenues.

The company said its broadband satellite division, NewSat, was "now living up to initial expectations" and it expected strong growth from its majority stake in advertising content provider, Airworks.

But as part of a broader turnaround that includes Multiemedia's technology distribution business, the company has forecast that all of its divisions will report positive underlying earnings for the six months to June 30 next year.

Revenues are expected to more than double over each of the next two years, as the company engineers what will be a massive turnaround from $60 million worth of accumulated losses over the past four years.

Multiemedia has forecast a loss of $1.7 million on revenues totalling $51.6 million for the year to June 30, 2005, which will turn around to a $12.8 million profit on revenues of $110.8 million the following year.

This compares with a loss of $10.2 million on revenues of just $18.8 million last financial year.

Multiemedia chief executive Adrian Ballintine attributed the loss to the start-up costs of the satellite business.

At the annual meeting last month, he said the satellite venture was the "jewel in Multiemedia's crown" after signing up more than 1000 customers in its first year of operation.

The business has access to markets across Australia, Asia and the Middle East and has made sales in a number of these markets, including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

Mr Ballintine said the company was planning for a US listing "when directors believe the company is sufficiently mature to attract American investor support".


HONG KONG: News chief and top aides quit TVB


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=15879

Widespread speculation forces troubled station to confirm resignations

TVB's news chief and two of his top aides have resigned, the station confirmed last night.

Loh Chan, controller of news and information services, Cheung Chi-kong, assistant controller of the news department, and Daphne Tse Choi-wan, manager of the news channel department, quit last week, citing personal reasons.

They will stay until the end of next month.

Manager of public affairs Yuen Chi-wai will be appointed assistant news controller. No other appointments have been announced.

"I can confirm that they have just resigned of their own accord and we respect their decisions," TVB's senior corporate and community relations manager, Winnie Ho Wai-sheung, said last night.

She added that seven other members of the station's news team were dismissed on October 9.

"These seven colleagues were backroom members of the news department," she said. "Among them, one or two were cameramen."

Ms Ho said the resignation of the three veteran journalists and other employees had nothing to do with the company's financial situation.

But sources revealed the news department has been under pressure to get rid of staff.

"The department has already lost 29 staff in recent weeks," one source said.

"Further downsizing will make the operation very difficult. It's impossible to carry on."

TVB, which started in 1967, has come under financial pressure recently, mainly due to the loss-making Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, its pay-television arm. The news department has hired dozens of anchors, reporters and sub-editors in preparation for the round-the-clock news service, but a lower-than-expected number of subscribers is putting a strain on its budget.

Intelsat, its original partner in Galaxy, pulled out and transferred its 51 per cent stake back to TVB last month.

The free-to-air broadcaster still needs government approval to hold more than 49 per cent of its pay-television arm.

Mr Loh, Mr Cheung and Ms Tse are veteran journalists with more than 20 years' experience each. Mr Loh joined TVB in the early 1980s but left in 1992 to help launch Cable TV's 24-hour news service. He later joined Apple Daily and was publisher until 1999, when he returned to TVB to head its newsroom.

The three agreed with management not to announce their resignation until a later date.

But speculation about a change of the newsroom leadership was widespread after Mr Yuen, instead of Mr Loh, represented the department at the station's annual ceremony to mark its anniversary on Tuesday.


Phoenix in content deal with Galaxy


From http://www.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=51553&intcatid=1

Hong Kong-listed Putonghua television content provider Phoenix Satellite Television will beam its InfoNews and Chinese channels over pay-TV rookie Galaxy Satellite's network to expand its coverage in Hong Kong.

Phoenix currently broadcasts its InfoNews and Chinese channels over the cable networks of i-Cable Communications' Cable TV, PCCW's NOW Broadband TV and Star TV under the basic channel package, with coverage of about 900,000 households.

``Lately, Galaxy [the pay-TV arm of TVB] told us that it wants to carry Phoenix's InfoNews and Chinese channels ... and the management has no objection,'' Phoenix's chairman and chief executive Liu Changle said.

``Apart from that, as the exclusivity agreement with i-Cable has ended this year, we can also extend our coverage to hotels, and some other real estate, on the influx of individual mainland tourists to Hong Kong, boosting the demand for our InfoNews Channel,'' Liu said.

Phoenix, 37.6 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, is expanding its reach in the Chinese-speaking communities to Singapore on November 15 and Malaysia early next year, Liu said.

Phoenix's sources of income come from the advertising income in the mainland, where it broadcasts its flagship Chinese Channel and fledging InfoNews Channel to selected spots, ranging from three-star or higher-ranked mainland hotels, to education-related organisations and diplomatic compounds, reaching as many as 50 million households across the country, who hunger for international news.

Advertising revenue from Chinese Channel is still the cash cow of Phoenix. In the first half, operating profit at its Chinese Channel surged to HK$180.4 million from HK$101.4 million, while the loss at InfoNews Channel shrank to HK$5.9 million from HK$58.7 million.

Liu said the company is confident that InfoNews Channel will reach break-even for the year to December, and the company is studying the feasibility of splitting InfoNews into two separate channels when the operations are ripe.

Satellite part returns with a bang


From http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=604279&section=news

BEIJING (Reuters) - The retrievable chamber of China's 20th recoverable satellite returned to Earth with a bang, crashing through the roof of a house, the Beijing News says.

"The capsule returned back to Earth safely on Friday, but unfortunately it hit a four-storey civilian house," the newspaper said, showing a photograph of a house in Penglai in southwestern Sichuan province that looked as if it had been all but destroyed, with wooden rafters, bricks and tiles scattered around.

No one was injured.

The newspaper on Sunday gave no details but China regularly sends research satellites into orbit and last October became the third nation successfully to put a man in space when a single astronaut orbited the Earth 14 times.

In August, China launched a satellite that carried out land and mapping surveys for several days before returning to Earth.


China's 20th recoverable satellite returns to earth


From http://www.sunnetwork.org/news/world/world.asp?id=14165

Beijing, Oct 16 - China's 20th recoverable scientific research satellite, which was launched on September 27 has successfully completed its mission and returned on yesterday, the state media reported today.

All the apparatus and instruments aboard the satellite worked normally when it was orbiting the Earth. It accomplished all the jobs for scientific research, land surveying and mapping, space officials said.

The Xi'an Satellite Measuring and Control Centre had monitored the movements of the satellite continuously over the past 18 days, and recovered its return capsule yesterday morning, while its apparatus capsule will continue to stay on orbit.

The 20t recoverable satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwest China desert on September 27.

China launched its first return satellite for science and technological experiments in 1975.


China to launch 3 satellites


From http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/node20676/userobject1ai585270.html

China and Brazil plan to launch three satellites over the next several years to gather information on the Earth's environment, agriculture, urban development and water pollution.

The launches include satellite 02B, 03 and 04 of Sino-Brazilian Earth Resource Satellite series, Sun Laiyan, director general of the China National Space Administration, said yesterday.

Satellite 02B will be similar to the two satellites the two countries have developed over the past 17 years, Sun said.

China launched the two satellites, or satellite 01 and 02, into preset orbits in 1999 and 2003 atop Chinese-made Long March 4B rockets.

Satellite 01 was in orbit for approximately four years, nearly double its designed life span of two years. It has been replaced with Satellite 02.

Space administrators from the two countries agreed yesterday to launch an extra satellite, or Satellite 02B, in 2006 to replace Satellite O2, which also has a designed life span of two years.

The plan for Satellite 02B is expected to be approved by top leaders of the two countries who are scheduled to meet in Brazil next month, said a Chinese space official.

The success of the development of the Earth resources satellites 01 and 02 was lauded by the two countries as a milestone.

Prior to this, the two countries did not have their own transmission-type resource satellites and had to rely on a third country for satellite images of the Earth's environment, agriculture and water pollution, noted Sun.

Luis Manuel Rabelo Fernandez, Brazilian vice-minister of science and technology, said the satellite cooperation program is of "strategic importance" for the Brazilian government.

"It is an example to the world of what can be achieved by two developing countries through active and long-term cooperation in a frontier field of high and complex technology, " Fernandez told reporters.

Guo Jianning, director general of the China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application, acknowledged that satellite images from the two satellites China and Brazil launched are being used to learn about agriculture, forestry, mineral sources, water conservation, mapping, environmental protection, disaster monitoring and urban planning.

Organizations and firms from other countries, including Iran, Egypt, Malaysia, Canada and Nigeria, have expressed their intention to buy satellite images from China or Brazil in the future, Guo said.

Chinese and Brazilian space officials have reached a consensus on sales of their satellite images to third countries, and are awaiting approval from their government leaders.

Shortly after the two countries produced images via satellites, similar products marketed by overseas companies dropped by half on the Chinese market.

Brazil put about 30,000 satellite images on the Internet free of charge for domestic users, capturing almost the whole domestic market that used to be dominated by overseas products.


Mystery signal traced to TV


From http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2004/10/17/news/local/dhsunloc00.txt

CORVALLIS — When Chris van Rossman moved into his downtown apartment about a year ago, his parents bought him a new 20-inch color TV with all the bells and whistles.

The flat-screen Toshiba came with its own set of stereo speakers, a 181-channel tuner, built-in VCR, DVD and CD players, a V-chip for parental control over content and, of course, a remote control.

Van Rossman, unfortunately, does not have cable and can only get four channels in his apartment. He mostly watches Oregon Public Broadcasting, which comes in clearest, and he's acquired a taste for OPB children's programming.

Maybe the television suffered an identity crisis. Maybe it aspired to higher things.

Whatever the reason, van Rossman's TV set sent out a cry for help. It began emitting the international distress signal on the night of Oct. 2.

The 121.5 MHz frequency signal was picked up by an orbiting search and rescue satellite, which informed the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Such signals usually come from electronic locator transponders that help search and rescue workers find overturned boats or crashed airplanes. It is said that more than 90 percent of ELT signals are false alarms, but each and every one is checked out.

Langley got on the horn to the Civil Air Patrol, an all-volunteer auxiliary to the Air Force, and the CAP got ahold of Benton County Search and Rescue Deputy Mike Bamberger for assistance in locating the source of the signal.

"My initial thought was, ‘Oh, it's the airport again,'" Bamberger said. "We've had the signals from the airport go up the Willamette River all the way through Albany and into Lebanon."

The radio-wave signals can bounce off metal structures and rocky hillsides. From time to time Bamberger is dispatched to the airport to locate a transponder in a plane that has been bumped by a mechanic or set off by a rough landing.

But this case was different.

Armed with small receiving devices, Bamberger and a group of Civil Air Patrol volunteers determined the distress signal was coming from an apartment building on the corner of Fourth Street and Jackson Avenue, narrowing the possible sources down to a couple of upstairs units.

On the morning of Oct. 3, van Rossman opened his front door to find CAP personnel in Air Force uniforms, a Corvallis police officer and a Benton County Search and Rescue deputy looking at him expectantly. To his credit, he did not stress out.

"I have a pretty spotless record, so I wasn't overly concerned — just a little confused," van Rossman said. "The police officer asked if I was a pilot or had a boat or anything. I said no, and they moved on."

After checking in with van Rossman, the group continued the search.

"We narrowed it down to a spot on the wall in the hallway," Bamberger said. "Whatever was behind that spot is what it was."

They knocked on van Rossman's door again, and the signal abruptly stopped.

"When he answered the door he turned off the TV, and the guy in the hall said, ‘It just stopped,'" Bamberger recalled.

An inspection of the television confirmed it was the source of the signal. "Their equipment was just bouncing everywhere as they turned it on and off," van Rossman said.

Van Rossman was instructed to keep his TV turned off or face fines of up to $10,000 per day for emitting a false distress signal.

He's not taking any chances. He's keeping the television unplugged just in case he forgets one morning, groggy with sleep.

Unfortunately, the warranty on the TV had run out 16 days before it started freaking out. It had already tried to escape the van Rossman household by refusing to play DVDs a few months back, but that didn't bother van Rossman. He has a DVD player on his computer, and besides, he mostly just likes to watch OPB — especially "Arthur."

"I find other stuff to do," van Rossman said. "It's not too important. It's changed my morning routine."

Alas, "Arthur" will have to wait.

Not for too long, though. Maria Repole, director of public relations at Toshiba, is going to get van Rossman a new TV.

"We have never experienced anything like this before at Toshiba," Repole said. "We really value customer satisfaction, and we will replace the television set free of charge."

Repole told Toshiba's technicians about the TV in distress, and they'll be on the lookout in case it happens again, she said.

"They've never heard of that before," Repole said. "They don't really have a technical explanation available. It's just very strange."

David Mandrell, squad leader for the CAP team that responded to the TV's distress call, attempted an explanation.

"All electronic equipment creates a frequency called a tempest," he said. "Sometimes these frequencies emit low-level signals that are close to the 121.5 MHz signal."

Mandrell has heard of this sort of thing happening with customized computer gear. Sometimes CAP equipment will pick up these signals, he said, but they are usually weak enough to ignore.

"This was really strong," Mandrell said. "This was abnormally strong. It kind of surprised us."


TELE-satellite News - Number 42/2004 ­ 17 October 2004

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by

TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A & P A C I F I C


ESPN STAR RENEWS SYNDICATION DEALS

Pan-Asian sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports has
renewed multi-year terrestrial syndication deals in
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar with six
broadcasters ­ Channel 3 and BBTV7, VTV-3, TV5, CTN
and Myawaddy TV. The deals give viewers in these
countries terrestrial access to the English Premier
League, FA Cup matches, England Home Team matches,
World Pool Championship, San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour
and the Asian X Games, among others. ESPN STAR Sports
is a 50/50 joint venture between ESPN Inc. and STAR.

ASIASAT AND SATLINK LAUNCH DIGITAL TV PLATFORM

AsiaSat and Satlink Communications have announced the
launch of an MCPC (Multiple Channels per Carrier)
digital platform on AsiaSat 2. The launch of this new
platform will enable European broadcasters to expand
their potential coverage to the Asia-Pacific region
through Satlink's turnaround and transmission
facilities in Israel. AsiaSat 2, one of AsiaSat’s high
power satellites orbiting at 100.5ºE, offers wide
C-band coverage stretching from Turkey and Egypt to
Australia and New Zealand. Satlink will provide
broadcasters with a single-hop transmission solution
to distribute their channels in the region. The
enormous footprint also allows European corporations
to establish connectivity with their offices in Asia
and Australasia.

AFGHANISTAN

AFGHAN TV ON INSAT

India has provided Afghanistan an INSAT satellite
channel to establish the national TV network,
according to an AIR report. The Indian Ambassador to
Afghanistan handed over the project in Kabul to the
Afghan Information and Culture Minister Dr Rahim. The
Public Sector Broadcasting Engineering Consultants
Indian Limited set up an earth station in Kabul and
provided facilities at ten regional stations in the
provinces. AIR reports that people all over the
Afghanistan will have the benefit to witness four
major events live on TV.

AUSTRALIA

DISNEY RENEWS AUSTAR DEAL

Walt Disney Television Australia/New Zealand has
renewed its distribution deal with AUSTAR, keeping the
Disney Channel on the platform’s basic digital
package, Essentials. The agreement continues a
relationship inked in 2000, and paves the way for the
launch of additional launches from the Disney
portfolio.

INCREASED EARNINGS FOR CANWEST

Canadian broadcaster CanWest Global Communications
Corp. on October 13 forecast expansion in Australia
and surrounding markets as the TEN Group, its
Australian TV network, posted sharply higher pre-tax
earnings on higher TV ad revenue. The TEN Group has
posted fiscal 2004 revenues of A$836.3 million, 14 per
cent up on last year’s results. TEN, 56.6-per cent
owned by CanWest, recorded EBITDA of A$287.2 million,
33 per cent up on last year. TEN’s television revenues
were up 14 per cent, with A$756.1 million, thanks to
hits like Australian Idol and Big Brother, plus big
event programs such as Australian Football League.

ABC2 TO LAUNCH IN 2005

Australian public network ABC will launch a second
channel, ABC2, in March 2005. ABC2 will feature a mix
of children's, documentary, arts, international and
regional news programming, and will be available to
Australians with digital television receivers, or as a
free channel through subscription television. The main
aim of the new digital service is to expand the reach
of ABC children's programming. The move comes one year
after ABC closed its two digital channels, ABC Kids
and Fly because the government refused financial
support to subsidise the fledgling nets.

CHINA - HONG KONG

DISNEY CHANNEL FACES HURDLES

Walt Disney Co. President Robert Iger, said the
company faces regulatory hurdles to starting a channel
in China's southern province of Guangdong. Disney, the
second-largest U.S. media company, is vying with
Viacom Inc. and News Corp. to expand in a country with
more than 1 billion potential viewers. China, which
restricts what news organizations can report, eased
some curbs on overseas broadcasters this year,
including dropping a ban on foreign investment in film
and television. Iger announced on September 29 that
Disney plans to expand its television presence in
China, India and Europe as part of an effort to extend
the Disney brand and drive growth in its movie, DVD,
theme park and other businesses.

INDIA

ZOOM INDIA TO LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER

Times India's Zoom channel is to launch in November.
Zoom is a cross between E! Entertainment and Fine
Living, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of
celebrity lifestyles and 'the finer things in their
lives.'

NEW TV GUIDELINES COULD HIT STAR

The government's Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
has announced that a ban on exclusive programming on
cable TV also applies to direct-to-home (DTH)
satellite. The ban is meant to ensure customers can
see any channel they choose regardless of the
satellite or cable TV supplier they subscribe to. "The
DTH platform has to be seen as a carrier of TV
channels and its vertical integration with the
broadcaster cannot be the reason for content denial to
other distributors," Trai said. "The DTH platforms
would have to compete on the strength of the quality
of service, tariffs and packaging of the TV channels,
and not on content." Analysts say the authority's
proposal to enforce the ban on exclusive satellite
content would blunt plans by Star to offer unique
programmes on its planned premium satellite venture
with the Tata Group, Space TV. Space, which has yet to
get regulatory approval, will compete with Zee's Dish
TV, launched last year and broadcasting 100 channels
via satellite to 150,000 subscribers.

POWER VISION TV TO LAUNCH APRIL 2005

A new private TV channel which will help people to
develop their spiritual values is to be launched in
Kerala next year. Power Vision TV will be launched by
the Word Telecasting Company by April, said chairman
Pastor K C John, adding the public limited company is
now in the process of issuing shares to prospective
investors. Pastor John said negotiations are currently
under way with Asianet Television to use their
satellite space on a rental basis. The channel will be
broadcast initially in Malayalam, but later be
extended to English and Hindi.

PUNJABI MUSIC CHANNEL "BALLE BALLE" TO EXPAND TO EUROPE

Balle Balle, the popular Punjabi Music Channel from
Punjab Today Group is all set to go global. The
channel has tied up with a new satellite and will be
available across the Europe in a month’s time. In this
moment the channel is beamed to 32 countries through
Thaicom 2 satellite at 78.5°E - at 3585 V (26667 -
3/4, PIDs 516/ 644) with covering Asia and Middle
East. Balle Balle is in 20 million Indian homes in
just two years.

DTH SERVICE TO LAUNCH NEXT MONTH

Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal
Reddy says that the Direct-to-Home (DTH) service of
national TV broadcaster Doordarshan will be formally
launched by the end of November this year, according
to a report by Radio Netherlands. The Minister says
the DTH service, comprising a set-top box and an
antenna, would be available for a one-time payment of
3000 Rupees, and will receive 40 channels including
all Doordarshan channels and 25 private ones. Among
the channels offered will be Zee TV, Aajtak, Headlines
Today and the BBC. The Minister said that the BBC has
agreed to provide the channel feed to Doordarshan for
the purpose.

MALAYALA MANORAMA TO LAUNCH TV CHANNEL

Kerala's leading daily Malayala Manorama is all set to
launch a 24-hour entertainment Malayalam TV channel.
The company has also got in touch with leading foreign
channels to share content. There are five full-fledged
Malayalam channels at the moment, apart from
Doordarshan and some local channels that air news and
entertainment programmes. Amritha Vision, a channel of
spiritual guru Mata Amrithanandamayi, is expected to
be launched early next year.

INDONESIA

LARGEST MUSLIM GROUP TO SET UP TV STATION

Indonesia`s largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU), will set up a TV station, its general
chairman, Hasyim Muzadi, said on October 15. He said
the TV station will air programs on health, education
and religious matters.

NEW EDUCATIONAL TV STATION LAUNCHED

The Indonesian government has launched its second
educational television station, Televisi Edukasi
(TVE), with the aim of educating students through
on-air programmes, the Jakarta Post has reported.
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar said
the programmes were expected to increase the quality
of education and learning processes in the country. As
a pilot project, the government has cooperated with
state-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) and
10 local TV stations to make the programmes available
for 100 state and privately-run schools across the
country. The first educational television station,
Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI), was launched in
1991, but went into commercial operations three years
later, reportedly because of losses.

JAPAN

NEW SKIES AUTHORISED TO PROVIDE SATELLITE SERVICES

Satellite operator New Skies Satellites on October 8
announced that it has been awarded a Radio Station
License by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications. This license, in combination with
the Telecom Business Registration granted to New Skies
in July of this year, enables New Skies to offer
international and domestic satellite services directly
to both Japanese and non-Japanese companies for links
to, from and within Japan.

J-COM TO LAUNCH HD MOVIE SERVICE

Broadband and cable service provider Jupiter
Telecommunications (J-COM Broadband) is launching a
high-definition version of its Star Channel movie
service this November. Star Channel Hi-Vision will
initially be offered in the Kanto and Sapporo regions
on November 1, with Kansai and Kyushu beginning the
service on December 1.

KUWAIT

FIRST PRIVATE TV STATION ON AIR

A Kuwaiti publisher launched the country's first
privately owned television station on October 15,
ending decades of government monopoly of broadcast
news media. AlraiTV, which broadcasts by satellite,
features news, dramas and movies as well as religious
programs. Its name translates as "Opinion TV."
Kuwait’s government of Kuwait has four channels,
including a satellite station, an English-language
station and a sports station. AlRai TV can be received
via the NileSat (frequency 11,766 GHz/H) and ArabSat
(frequency 11,662 GHz/V) satellites.

LEBANON

FUTURE TV SIGNS TELCAST DEAL

Germany's Telcast Media Group has signed a 3-D deal
with Middle East broadcaster Future TV which will see
a new campaign roll out across the region. A first for
the Arab world, Future will launch a cross-regional
3-D campaign with Telcast's 3-D TV glasses and
integrated 3-D programming segments within the
broadcaster's existing programmes. The company intends
to concentrate on the Middle East in the expansion of
its camera network and broadcast clients.

AL-SUMARIYA ON AIR FROM BEIRUT

A satellite TV channel dominated by Iraqi shareholders
plans to start broadcasting from Beirut on October 15
because of insecurity in Iraq, an official from the
broadcaster, Al-Sumariya, told AFP. May Kahhaleh, head
of the news bulletin, said Al-Sumariya "operates under
the licence of the Iraqi government" but would start
its broadcast from the Lebanese capital for security
reasons." "We are going to start the broadcast on
Friday - the first day of the (Muslim holy fasting)
month of Ramadan - with series and entertainment
programmes for the occasion," she said. The news
bulletin would only start after the end of Ramadan in
mid-November, she said. Al-Sumariya's chairman is
Lebanese Jean Claude Boulos, one of the founders of
the state channel Tele-Liban - the Arab world's first
television station, founded in 1958.

MALAYSIA

ASTRO GETS $300 MILLION LOAN

Pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks on October 13
said it has obtained a $300 million syndicated term
loan and revolving credit facility from a group of
banks. The facility will be used to refinance debt and
for working capital and funding needs, the company
said. This will enable "Astro to achieve lower cost of
borrowings and improved financing terms," it said.
"With this facility, Astro will be well positioned to
grow its market share domestically and execute its
investment plans to extend its regional presence," it
added. Citibank Malaysia (Labuan) Ltd. and DBS Bank
Ltd. are the coordinating arrangers of the facility,
Astro said.

PAKISTAN

PEHLA LAUNCHES GEO TV

Pehla - Premium Asian Entertainment Television brings
has launched Pakistan's premier news and entertainment
channel 'GEO TV' on its platform. The Urdu language
channel mainly targeted for the Pakistani viewers will
be available to all subscribers at no additional cost.
This is yet another step in Pehla's commitment to
provide With its thought- provoking historical
documentaries, soaps and serials, sitcoms, religious
programs and empowering news, GEO TV has always been
identified as one of the Premier entertainment
channels of Pakistan.
Internet - http://www.adduniverse.com

THE PHILIPPINES

GOVERNMENT COULD SELL TV STATIONS

The Department of Finance is reviving plans to sell
state-owned television stations RPN Channel 9, IBC
Channel 13, and NBN Channel 4 to help the government
raise more revenue and relieve itself of the financial
burden caused by these loss-making media
organizations, a department official said on October
12.

SINGAPORE

TOP MANAGERS CHOOSE CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Channel NewsAsia is the most-watched TV channel
amongst top management in Singapore, according to the
latest Pan Asia-Pacific Cross Media Survey by market
research firm, Synovate. The survey showed that among
Singapore viewers in top management positions, Channel
NewsAsia was their number one choice with some 67 per
cent share, followed by MediaCorp's Channel 5 with 65
per cent and Channel 8 with 62 per cent. In the same
survey, the three MediaCorp channels beat several
prominent foreign players in the rankings. CNN was
ranked sixth in the survey, with 20.7 per cent; BBC
World took 10th spot, with 13.5 per cent while CNBC
came in at 15th position, with 9.6 per cent.



A F R I C A


EGYPT

NOGOOM BANS AIRING OF CERTAIN SONGS

The censorship committee at the new Arab satellite
music channel Nogoom has decided to ban the airing of
songs that are classified as inappropriate for the
average viewers and which contain seductive scenes and
females wearing revealing outfits. Officials at the
network revealed that broadcasting such demeaning
songs goes against Arab social and traditional values
and should not be allowed to be aired. The management
of the channel has also decided to go over all the
songs it broadcasts on its different channels, Nogoom
TV and Nogoom Al Khaleeg, to ensure that no
inappropriate material is being aired. The channel has
made it a point since it began its broadcast six
months ago to refrain from broadcasting English and
Western music, due to the scenes in most of the clips.
The channel is owned by Suhail Abdoul’s, husband of
Lebanese singer Diana Haddad, Production Company. The
cost of the channel is $2 million, and it broadcasts
different kinds of music from all around the Arab
world. Diana’s husband has presented his wife the new
channel as his way of showing her his love, and will
be registered in both Suhail and Diana’s names.

NIGERIA

TRENDTV STARTS EXPANDING IN AFRICA

Since commencing service in Nigeria a few weeks ago,
pay-TV operator TrendTV has been invited to operate in
Ghana by the government of that country while its
technical partner; Intelsat is making more facilities
available. According to the company’s vice president,
Mehret Ghebreyesus, after Ghana Trend TV will seek to
cover most of West Africa and then move on. “We are
getting all kinds of enquiries from East Africa -
Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Central Africa and a host of
other places” he said.

FSTV INTRODUCES NEW CHANNELS

Subscribers to the first satellite television provider
in the West African sub-region and Nigeria in
particular, Frontage Satellite Television (FSTV) are
again in for a big treat through the newly created Big
Screen Africa. Big Screen Africa is a self-created
channel dedicated to African movies. FSTV, a
multi-channel satellite television organisation
launched in May, has over 20 channels with more still
expected.




17/10/04

No update Sundays




16/10/04

No update Saturday




15/10/04

New channels have started on Pas8 KU. Keep an eye on it for new activity next week.

Pas 8 MBC (Encrypted) is new on 3949V sr 4613 (not sure if this is the Arab MBC channel or the Korean one)

TVN Horse Racing channel has left B3


From my Emails & ICQ


From George

PAS8 12726 H 28066

New Channels
Noursat - Arab Channel
HTB - Russian
Future TV - Arab Channel


From the Dish


No Lyngsat update (gee he's getting slack)


NEWS


Sky News to move to new Foxtel HQ


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/15/1097784033620.html?oneclick=true

Pay television network Foxtel has announced news channel Sky News will move its operations to the new Foxtel digital TV centre under construction at North Ryde.

The facility is part of a $600 million investment in digital broadcasting which will house Foxtel owned and operated channels, as well as a variety of other independent pay TV providers, due for completion and occupation by the end of 2005.

Foxtel launched its digital cable and satellite service in March this year.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said the relocation and consequent service capability upgrade of Sky's 24-hour-news coverage would add dynamism to the channel and the new centre.

"Our vision is for a campus-style facility that will stimulate innovation and provide unity for the subscription television industry in Australia," Mr Williams said.

"We are creating a dynamic environment that will live and breathe television around the clock, and Sky News will fit perfectly into the place and culture."

Sky News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos the move was an important development, not just for the channel, but for the pay TV industry.

"The building of a brand new digital news centre is a major commitment to 24 hour news in Australia and will allow us to further expand and develop all aspects of the channel, including Sky News Active," Mr Frangopoulos said.

"Sky News Australia will continue to be an independent operation whilst benefiting from collocation with Australia's best broadcast engineering and information services resource which will provide 24 hour backup to all that we do."

Sky News Australia is a joint venture of the Seven and Nine Networks and the UK's BSkyB network, and is available to 2 million pay TV viewers across Australia.


STMicroelectronics Adds Single-Chip DVB-S2 Silicon Tuner to Its Satellite Set-top Box IC Family


From Press Release (Edited)

Satellite Receiver Front-End is Compatible With DVB-S and DVB-S2 Standards,and Will Simplify Design and Minimize Costs for STB Manufacturers Supporting the Latest Specification

GENEVA, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM)
has announced the availability of a new Set-Top Box (STB) silicon tuner -- the
STB6100 -- complying with the stringent requirements of the new DVB-S2
specification for satellite broadcasts. DVB-S2 increases the capacity of
satellite communications links by 30% compared to the original DVB-S standard
-- close to the theoretical performance limit - enabling the most effective
deployment of high data-rate applications such as HDTV (High Definition TV)
and broadband Internet.

ST is the world's largest supplier of silicon chips for set-top boxes* --
across satellite, cable, and terrestrial services - and was closely involved
with the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) technical groups working to optimize
the DVB-S2 specification. In May 2004 the company announced the development of
a modulator design compliant with the new standard, which it is making
available to broadcast equipment manufacturers to enable them to introduce
equipment capable of broadcasting DVB-S2 signals to 'kick-start' the market
for DVB-S2 receivers. The introduction of the STB6100 tuner, developed in
cooperation with RF Magic Inc., an expert in broadband RF silicon solutions,
builds on ST's initiative.

The STB6100 is backwards compatible with current DVB-S broadcasts and can
be used today as part of a DVB-S2-ready receiver. With price an overriding
concern for STB consumers, the new device allows manufacturers to minimize
their costs by using a single 32-lead package, with few supporting components,
in place of the complex traditional discrete tuner circuitry. In addition, it
eliminates the need for specialist RF expertise as the RF processing circuitry
is integrated onto the chip. The STB6100 is programmed through a simple two-
wire serial interface, and is intended for use with an 8PSK demodulator chip.

In combination with other new coding and satellite technologies, DVB-S2
has the potential to provide a significant increase in the number of standard
or HDTV channels that can be broadcast in a conventional transponder, as well
as to dramatically reduce the price of satellite capacity.

"The availability of the STB6100 confirms ST's commitment to develop and
promote products that support the DVB-S2 standard," said Christos Lagomichos,
General Manager of ST's Home Entertainment Group. "The new device allows our
customers to design simpler and more cost effective products while benefitting
from the increased capacity offered by DVB-S2 broadcasts."

The DVB-S specification now used by satellite operators worldwide for
television broadcasting and data transmission was introduced ten years ago.
DVB-S2 benefits from more recent developments in channel coding and
modulation, and provides significantly increased capacity; with capacity very
close to the so-called 'Shannon Limit' which describes the maximum possible
efficiency of error-correcting methods. As well as the normal QPSK
(quadrature-phase-shift-keying) modulation of DVB-S, the DVB-S2 specification
allows for 3 bits per symbol, using 8PSK modulation, at approximately 80-
Mbit/s information rate, with Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) as the Forward
Error Correction code.

The STB6100 will be available in production volumes in January 2005 at a
price of $3 when purchased in high volumes.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering
semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications.
An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing
strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners
positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and
its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The
Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris
and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2003, the Company's net revenues were
$7.24 billion and net earnings were $253 million. Further information on ST
can be found at http://www.st.com.


Russian rocket launches US telecom satellite


From http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041014231335.qqmpws2g.html

A Russian Proton-M booster rocket early Friday launched into orbit a US telecommunications satellite, after blasting off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur space base, Russian news agencies quoted Russian space officials as saying.

The four-tonne satellite, belonging to US telecom company SES Americom and manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, will transmit television and radio broadcasts.

It will also establish Internet and telephone links over North and South America, as well as the Caribbeans Islands, and will reinforce SES Americom's already existing satellite network


ISRO project to link 6 lakh villages via satellite


From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/885795.cms

CHENNAI: More than 6 lakh villages across India will be linked through a programme launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would inaugurate the Village Resource Centre programme in New Delhi on Oct 18, a joint venture of ISRO and the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), an MSSRF press release here said.

The network would use one of the C-band transponders of the INSAT-3A satellite. It would be a completely interactive VSAT-based network.

A satellite link provided by ISRO would provide villages with local specific information. The VRCs would use not only communication satellites like INSAT but also remote sensing satellites to provide information on a range of subjects like natural resources, sites for drinking water and ground water recharging, water harvesting and wasteland reclaiming. Community-based risk reports could be generated, MSSRF officials said.


India announces new broadband policy


From http://www.123bharath.com/news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=29066

Technology India > New Delhi, Oct 14 : Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran Thursday announced here a new policy that targets three million broadband subscribers and six million Internet users in India by December 2005.

The policy aims at expanding the communications infrastructure by encouraging the optimum use of optical fibre network, digital lines, cable television network, satellite technology and wireless.

"We want to ensure that the last mile copper loop is not a bottleneck for broadband. The service providers can freely enter into commercial arrangements for utilising available copper loop for the expansion of broadband," Maran told reporters.

The government has targeted 20 million broadband subscribers and 40 million Internet subscribers by the end of 2010, the minister added.

The service providers, the new policy says, can enter into franchisee agreement with cable television network operators, but shall be responsible for the compliance of the terms and conditions of the broadband licence.

In the case of direct-to-home services, the broadband service providers can only provide what is called receive-only net service after obtaining an Internet service provider (ISP) licence from the government.

But the direct-to-home service providers can provide bi-directional Internet service after obtaining VSAT (very small aperture terminal) and ISP licences from the government.

The new policy also intends to make available satellite transponder capacity for VSAT-based communications services at competitive rates, after taking security issues into consideration.

The open sky policy for VSAT services will be announced soon by the Department of Telecommunications, in consultation with ministries and departments concerned, Maran said.

The policy also de-licenses the frequency band of 2.40-2.48 GHz for low power, outdoor communications on a non-protection, non-interference and non-exclusive basis and the 5.15-5.35 GHz band for the indoor use of low power systems.

It also promises a separate scheme for time-bound allocation of frequencies and the removal of cumbersome procedures by computerising the operations and setting predetermined standards.


PEMRA takes stern action against operators showing obscene channels


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has initiated a drive against Cable TV Operators relying obscene channels as an enforcement team conducted surprise checks of CTV operators in various areas of the country. The media report say that equipment and over two hundred DVDs/CDs of CTV operators violating PEMRA rules and regulation were confiscated.

"During the raids two head ends and two loop holders were also seized Cable Operators are warned that in future sporadic raids would be made if pornographic contents relayed on their networks. PEMRA Sindh has directed CTV operators to stop forthwith relaying obscene channels like MM, MM2, Mnet, and Series Channels etc," said a report.

Apart from seizure of equipment used, PEMRA would take legal course of action against the violators, which would lead to imprisonment for the term, which may extend to four years and fine up to one million rupees or US$17500.

PEMRA recently announced that would soon award licences for 12 new television channels. The spokesperson said that ten licences had also been awarded to satellite TV channels and two had been awarded to virtual universities that would air their transmissions soon.




14/10/04

Keep an eye on Pas 8 KU next week for WMI testing their new Ku mux

VTV4 Thaicom 3 is Encrypting some time in early November

Australia vs India Cricket is on Insat 2E and Pas10 DD sports

Sorry not much else for todays update



From my Emails & ICQ


From Simmo

Asiasat 4 Ku VTV2 screenshot


From Jason Wu

Asiasat 4 KU
very strong here Melbourne.
85% quality on 65cm.
dealer recommend using a 60cm dish for installation here, but 45cm also working very well.


From Albymangled

For any who may fancy a look...the golf ch. playing FTA on pas8 adhoc ch.20
3940H 27690 7/8


From the Dish


No Lyngsat received


NEWS


TVNZ Wants Surplus For Local Content


From http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3762-3772214,00.html

TVNZ executives are not convinced by what appears to be a money merry-go-round arrangement with the Government.

The public broadcaster's dividend to the Government last year was $37.6 million, which is more than the company's net surplus.

TVNZ will have to return to Parliament to request money for the next year of operations.

Chairman Craig Boyce says that instead, TVNZ would prefer to reinvest the surplus back into the company to help the overall objective of boosting local content.

Meanwhile, a commentator says that New Zealanders should not hold their breath waiting for a commercial-free state TV channel, despite an acknowledgement from TVNZ boss Ian Fraser that the broadcaster is heavy on ads.

Head of the New Zealand Broadcasting School Paul Norris says the bill for a commercial-free channel would be huge. Even then, there is no guarantee it would attract a big enough audience to justify its existence.

Mr Norris says New Zealand does not have a tradition of commercial-free broadcasting.


PanAmSat Expands Contracts With Integral Systems to Add G16 and PAS 7&8 to Their EPOCH IPS Satellite Control System


From Press Release

In Addition to Three Star 2 Bus and Three 702 Satellites Already Contracted for, FS1300 and FS1300/Omega Bus Satellites Will Be Controlled by EPOCH IPS

LANHAM, Md., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Integral Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ISYS) today announced a contract with PanAmSat Corporation to expand
their existing EPOCH IPS satellite control system to take over operations of
their two Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) FS1300 satellites (PAS 7&8) and for the
operations of their new SS/L FS1300 Omega bus satellite (G16). This contract
is another step in PanAmSat's program to improve efficiency by consolidating
satellite operations onto a single EPOCH IPS satellite control system. By
doing so, PanAmSat will reduce their recurring long-term operations and
maintenance costs, and future procurement costs.

PanAmSat currently uses Integral Systems' EPOCH IPS to operate their
Orbital Starbus satellites and Integral Systems is under contract to replace
PanAmSat's satellite control system used to operate their three Boeing 702
satellites. PanAmSat, one of the world's largest and most experienced
commercial satellite operators, made their selection of Integral's EPOCH IPS
system after an extensive evaluation and analysis of systems available in the
marketplace and their direct operational experience with the EPOCH IPS product
line.

EPOCH IPS is the only COTS (commercial-off the shelf) satellite control
system with a proven capability to operate diverse fleets of satellites
(satellites from different satellite manufacturers in the same fleet) from a
single satellite control system. Integral Systems is the only company that
provides systems that operate satellites from every major commercial
geosynchronous communications satellite manufacturer in the world, including
Alcatel, Astrium, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital and Space Systems/Loral.
"We are extremely pleased to continue to expand our relationship with
PanAmSat," said Stuart Daughtridge, Executive Vice President of the Commercial
Division at Integral Systems. "PanAmSat is one of the world's leading
satellite operations companies. They have used systems from almost all of the
major satellite ground system suppliers, so we are excited to have earned
their repeat business," he added.

"PanAmSat is excited to be continuing on with the next phase of its ground
control system evolution," states Bridget Neville, SVP of Engineering and
Operations. "The satellite control products from Integral will provide us the
tools we need to continue to be the most efficient satellite operator in the
world, benefiting our customers as well as ourselves."

Integral Systems also has supplied satellite ground systems to NASA
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration), NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration), the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Loral Skynet, NEWskies
Satellites, Echostar, Sirius Satellite Radio, Binariang Satellite Systems,
Shin Satellite Public Company Ltd., SATMEX, GE Americom, Optus, Orbital,
ChinaSat, EOSAT, Alcatel, TRW, ROCSAT (Republic of China), among others.

About Integral Systems:

Founded in 1982, Integral Systems is a leading provider of satellite
ground systems and has supported over 190 different satellite missions for
communications, science, meteorological, and earth resource applications. The
Company was the first to offer an integrated suite of COTS (Commercial Off The
Shelf) software products for satellite command and control, the EPOCH IPS
product line. EPOCH has become a world market leader in commercial
applications with successful installations on 5 continents. The company also
offers products and services for satellite integration and test and payload
data processing as well as full motion tracking antennas.

The Company's subsidiary, SAT Corporation, provides satellite and
terrestrial communications signal monitoring systems to satellite operators
and users throughout the world. Through its Newpoint Technologies, Inc.
subsidiary, the Company also provides software for equipment monitoring and
control to satellite operators and telecommunications firms. The Company's RT
Logic subsidiary builds telemetry processing systems for military applications
including tracking stations, control centers and range operations. Integral
Systems has approximately 380 employees working at Company headquarters in
Lanham, Maryland, and at other locations in both the U.S. and Europe.

Except for statements of historical facts, this news release may contain
forward-looking statements about the Company. The forward-looking statements
appearing in this news release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, including the
Company's reliance on contracts and subcontracts funded by the U.S.
government, intense competition in the ground systems industry, the
competitive bidding process to which the Company's government and commercial
contracts are subject, the Company's dependence on the satellite industry for
most of its revenues, rapid technological changes in the satellite industry,
the Company's acquisition strategy and those other risks noted in the
Company's SEC filings. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements appearing in this news release.


NDS To Provide Synamedia IPTV Content Protection System To Intelsat


From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-04zzzzzzzt.html

NDS, a News Corporation company, announced Tuesday that it is providing Intelsat with its Synamedia system in order to evaluate the latest IPTV technology. The NDS solution will enable Intelsat to test the operational and performance aspects of IPTV technology.

IPTV enables cable and telecommunications operators to offer improved and next-generation TV services over existing broadband networks. NDS Synamedia is a complete solution for the secure delivery of TV and VOD content over broadband IP networks.

Based on NDS's proven VideoGuard encryption technology, Synamedia provides operators with a trusted security solution that meets the high demands of content providers for high value premium content.

The system supplied to Intelsat includes Alcatel's Open Media Suite (OMS) and set-top boxes from Amino. Alcatel's OMS enables service providers to create, deliver and manage broadcast TV, VOD, personal video recording, electronic program guides, web browsing and email as part of a comprehensive triple play offering.

The Amino range of set-top box products provides a truly cost effective means for the telco or internet service provider to deploy a broadband TV service.

The Synamedia system will provide set-top box authentication, real-time encryption of multicast TV content and pre-encryption of VOD content.

The system is compliant with international interoperable standards allowing for simultaneous operation of similar systems. The complete system to be supplied provides Intelsat with an integrated end-to-end implementation of secure broadband TV services delivered to an IPTV set-top box.

"As IPTV in North America begins to gain momentum, telecommunications operators must ensure that they can protect content against piracy while delivering the high quality entertainment that customers demand," said Dr. Dov Rubin, VP and General Manager, NDS Americas.

"NDS is excited that Intelsat has chosen to test this application using our technology."

Synamedia and VideoGuard

Synamedia provides operators with a proven solution that meets the high level of protection demanded by premium content providers and movie studios by protecting content at all stages of delivery, from the broadband access point through the last mile to the IP set-top box in the home.

Within the home, VideoGuard protects digital content from piracy - whether it is stored locally or routed through a home network. VideoGuard uses content encryption and a highly secure key management system that allows IP set-top boxes to be used for viewing content on a TV screen.

NDS VideoGuard technology is recognized as one of the most advanced and secure technologies available, protecting more than $15 billion in customer revenues while enabling pay-TV and providing a much broader feature set to enrich the viewing experience.


Malaysians explain MEASAT-3:A satellite


YANGON, 12 Oct — A presentation of MEASAT-3:A satellite beaming 70 per cent of global population took place at the Sedona Hotel here this morning.

The satellite will be launched by Malaysia in July 2005. Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan attended the presentation of the satellite held at the hotel under the title ‘MEASAT-3: A Global Beam for Myanmar’, at which Malaysian officials explained in detail its marketability and satellite communication techniques.

The Malaysian speakers were Adviser Dato’ Aimuddin Noordin, officials of Myanma Economic Cooperation, Myanma Post and Telecommunications, Myanma Radio and TV and Myawady TV and guest attending the ceremony, and Chief Executive Officer (Sales and Marketing) Mr Paul Brown-Kenyon and Senior Vice-President of Apace and Technology Dr Ali R Ebadi, who presented the market condition and technical matters.


ESPN STAR SPORTS Makes Further Inroads Into Thailand, Indo-China


From Press Release

SINGAPORE, Oct 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ - Broadcaster Renews Syndication Agreements In Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

ESPN STAR Sports, Asia's number one sports broadcaster recently renewed multi-year syndication deals in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar with terrestrial broadcasters Channel 3, BBTV7, VTV-3, TV5, CTN and Myawaddy TV respectively.

The deals will give viewers in these countries access to some of the biggest sporting events in the world including the English Premier League, FA Cup matches, England Home Team matches, World Pool Championship, San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour and the Asian X Games among others.

In Indo-China, ESPN STAR Sports has been bringing world class sporting coverage since 2001, expanding its distribution strategy in that region, particularly in the area of syndication.

ESPN STAR Sports Senior Vice-President of Affiliate Sales Adam Zecha said, "We are pleased to conclude syndication agreements with the six broadcasters - Channel 3 and BBTV7, VTV-3, TV5, CTN and Myawaddy TV. It signifies two things - a strong partnership with these channels and continued distribution growth particularly in Indo-China. We have built a strong line-up of world-class sports programming and are delighted that fans in all of these territories will be able to experience the best in sports television, including Asia's most-watched sports programming, the English Premier League. The syndication activity complements our extended sports coverage available on the 24-hour ESPN and STAR Sports channels, which are available in each of these countries."

The syndication agreements mean that viewers are able to catch 'live' matches of the English Premier League, which kicked off its 2004/2005 season on August 14, accompanied by a line-up of programming which covers predictions, highlights, news and information. Examples of these programmes are the EPL 'Weekly Highlights', 'Weekly Goals Show' and 'Weekly Preview Show'.

The agreements take ESPN STAR Sports' distribution to a total of 128 million households for ESPN and over 54 million households for STAR SPORTS.

ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world's leading cable and satellite broadcasters, ESPN Inc. and STAR.

We are Asia's complete sports provider reaching over 128 million households for ESPN and over 54 million households for STAR Sports (as of June 2004). We have 13 networks --ESPN Asia, ESPN India, ESPN Taiwan, ESPN Philippines, MBC-ESPN (Korea), ESPN Singapore, ESPN Hong Kong, STAR Sports Asia, STAR Sports India, STAR Sports Taiwan, STAR Sports Singapore, STAR Sports S.E.A and STAR Sports Hong Kong. We bring the world's premier live sports and leading regional events to viewers 24 hours a day.

On the ground, the ESPN STAR Sports Event Management Group manages and promotes premier sporting events around Asia, including the Asian X Games, Futsal World 5's and the San Miguel Asian 9Ball Tour.

On-line, espnstar.com, espnstar.com.cn and espnstar.com.tw interact with millions of users providing them with in-depth sports news, results and competitions.

This multilingual, online platform which is closely integrated with ESPN and STAR Sports on air networks, has established the sites as the number one on-line sports destination in their respective markets.

For further information, please contact:
Stephenie Vasko

ESPN STAR Sports
Tel: (65) 6488-6126

email: [email protected]
Cheryl Sim
ESPN STAR Sports
Tel: (65) 6488-6134
email: [email protected]
SOURCE: ESPN STAR Sports




13/10/04

Good news some activity to report Asiasat 4 KU Australasia beam has a new service 12428 V Sr 20000 Fec 3/4. 2 Channels are loading VTV2 (Vietnam) and Mac TV Taiwan (I believe is just there as a test signal "ntsc video").

This is the new Vietnamese Pay TV service I heard about a couple of months ago. I hope to have more info about it tomorrow.

My signal report 76cm dish, and Innovia and Nokia 9500. Nelson, NZ with clear skys
12428 V sr 20000 Fec 3/4 (nokia freq reading)
%37 (Innovia)
3E (Nokia)

Some ISP's in Adelaide and South Australia will still be having problems getting through to www.apsattv.com due to one of the isp's involved still be a major problem in getting things done.

Nasa TV on 701 is still up and down like yoyo in power levels.

Some nice new receivers with Blindscan
http://www.technomate.com/products2.php?view=New%20Products


From my Emails & ICQ


From vk4bkp

VTV mux Asiasat 4

12430V 20000 3/4. Definitely vertical. Loads VTV_2 and MAC. 100% ID
Digital, 90% Powtek on a 2.3m solid. Must move something smaller over to take a look.

12430V 20000 3/4 VTV_2 and MAC TV 97% ID Digital, 84% Powtek using a
1.2m 15 segment wood dish. Very strong.


From George

UBI channels LIG TV CH30 Turkish Soccer channel is new on
12614 H


From Simmo

Feed seen last night

Pas8 4007 V 6111 (fortec numbers) 4.2.2 "News" report


From the Dish


AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3980 V A Star One promo has started on , Videoguard, SID 1777.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "HornAfrik Radio" has started on , fta, APID 771.



NEWS


TVNZ wants to keep its millions


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=1162646

TVNZ wants to keep the millions of dollars it pays to the Government and spend the money instead on programmes required by its charter.

The broadcaster's dividend to the Government last year was $37.6 million, more than its net surplus and more than the $28.3 million it got from various forms of state funding.

Chief executive Ian Fraser said no other state broadcaster in the world paid such high dividends. The money would be better reinvested into programming to meet the charter, he said.

The Government's TVNZ charter requires the broadcaster to balance commercial performance against social responsibility and make a more significant contribution to the country's cultural and national identity through programming.

Issuing the Crown company's annual report yesterday, Mr Fraser said TVNZ was on a money-go-round, paying the Government more in dividends than it was getting for charter obligations.

But the suggestion TVNZ might keep the money met varying degrees of stonewalling by shareholding ministers.

Treasurer Michael Cullen said Mr Fraser's suggestion "does not represent the Government's view".

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said the Government was reviewing the dividend but was not going to waive it altogether.

"The Government has made it clear to TVNZ that it wants a dividend, but how that dividend is handled and dispersed is being discussed."

TVNZ's annual report for the year to June showed it got $335 million in advertising revenue - up 10 per cent on last year - and increased total revenue to $420 million.

Mr Fraser was blunt about the flak TVNZ had taken over the charter's implementation, but said TVNZ had been changed to reshape it "as a true public broadcaster".

"Being a good public broadcaster, a good charter broadcaster ... is a long and challenging road, and every now and then it's not a bad thing to have a kick in the bum. So we will take it as a kick in the bum."

Mr Fraser said that despite debate over the rapid changes in the news and current affairs services under Bill Ralston, ratings for One News had risen 2.4 per cent nationally within the target 25- to 55-year-old age group, and 10.4 per cent within Auckland for the same group.

Locally produced shows were 38 per cent of the programming broadcast on TVOne and TV2, the report showed.

This included reality shows such as Hot Auctions, the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games.

TVNZ chairman Craig Boyce said the network had a "stretch" target of 50 per cent local programming across both channels.

The report also revealed TVNZ had received 546 formal complaints from viewers - 209 on grounds of taste and decency - of which 64 were upheld.

The head of the Christchurch Polytechnic broadcasting school, Paul Norris, said that if TVNZ wanted to stop paying dividends, it had to prove it was worth it.

He said the broadcaster had done well at striking a balance between the charter and maintaining commercial viability.

Mr Fraser said if TVNZ did keep its dividend, the priority would be to increase local content and not reduce levels of advertising.

TVNZ has high advertising levels compared with other state-owned broadcasters.

Mr Fraser said he did not expect a quick decision, but it was "testing the minds" of ministers.

* The annual results for the CanWest-owned free-to-air channels TV3 and C4 are expected next week.


(Craigs comment, come on TVNZ spend some money on B1 "freeview"....


Govt launches educational TV


From http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20041013.C08&irec=17

JAKARTA: The government launched on Tuesday its second educational television station, Televisi Edukasi (TVE), which aims at educating students through on-air programs.

Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar said the programs were expected to increase the quality of the country's education and learning processes.

As a pilot project, the government has cooperated with state-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) and 10 local TV stations to make the programs available for 100 state and privately run schools across the country.

Because TVE uses satellite, each school needs to have a parabolic satellite and receiver to be able to view the programs.

The first educational television station, Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI) was launched in 1991, but went into commercial operations three years later allegedly due to loss. -- JP


(Craigs comment, anyone found this yet? Palapa C2? or Telkom 1?)


SKT reconfirms satellite TV initiatives


From http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/10/13/200410130023.asp

SK Telecom Co. President Kim Shin-bae criticized regulators for deciding to block local TV programming on wireless receivers, but denied the possibility of his company pulling out of the satellite-based mobile broadcasting business.

The Korean Broadcasting Commission announced last week that it would not allow the retransmission of ground-based broadcasts on satellite-based mobile television, preventing mobile-phone operators from accessing programs from the country's main television stations KBS, MBC and SBS. "With terrestrial television programs already marketed on third-generation mobile services such as 'June' or 'Fimm,' there is no logic in blocking them from satellite-based DMB," said Kim, in a Seoul news conference yesterday.

"Regulators should mint policies that support the latest changes and trends in information-technology. We will find a common ground with other sides regarding the retransmission issue," he added.

The broadcasting commission regulator left open the possibility of reversing directions in the future, however, saying it would discuss the satellite retransmission issue again when they grant business licenses for ground-based mobile television projects early next year.

The retransmission of ground broadcasts on satellite-enabled handsets has been an issue of debate, with media unionists fearing the wireless services could hurt regional television networks.

Kim said there is no possibility of its satellite broadcasting affiliate, TU Media Corp., pulling out of the mobile television business.

TU Media officials had said it will reconsider its mobile television initiatives should it be blocked from airing ground-based TV programs.

"TU Media will spearhead our innovation in developing services that combine telecommunication with broadcasting" Kim said.

Satellite-based mobile television, dubbed here as satellite-based digital multimedia broadcasting, or DMB, is designed to relay television, radio and data via satellite directly to mobile receivers such as mobile-phones.

TU Media Corp., 30 percent owned by SK Telecom, expects to handle the services and provide them to the Korea's three mobile-phone operators. TU Media is currently the only Korean company to have applied for a license for satellite-based mobile television business. The license allocation is expected to be completed in December.

During the news conference, Kim revealed a draft version of SK Telecom's growth strategy for the next decade, including plans to support the activities of its business partners and equipment suppliers.

Kim also said the company will speed the development of new revenue sources and seek more to expand overseas, with the domestic voice communication market nearing saturation.

"Our affiliates, including TU Media, Internet affiliate SK Communications and handset affiliate SK Teletech will play a larger role in the future in introducing advanced media service such as WiBro, BcN and radio frequency identification services," said Kim.

"We have earned $60 million overseas through exporting our mobile telephony technologies and platforms, with China and Vietnam growing into potent markets. We plan to strengthen our overseas business throughout expanding our partnership with local companies," he added.

However, Kim said SK Telecom will not over-invest in portable Internet technologies such as WiBro (wireless broadband) and third-generation mobile standard wideband-CDMA, saying that the company plans to find ways to utilize its current transmission equipment and backbone network for the new services.

Kim also hinted that he might limit the scope of SK Teletech's handset businesses, saying that the mobile-phone manufacturing unit will focus on the high-end niche market.

Under pressure by local handset manufacturers, the Ministry of Information and Communication is reportedly considering the placement of further limitations on SK Telecom Co.'s handset business.

According to a draft plan revealed last month, the Communication Ministry is discussing a revision to the current telecommunications law to ban mobile carriers from manufacturing and selling handsets through affiliate companies.

"SK Teletech is expected to produce just around 2 million units this year. This is not to be compared with Samsung Electronics, which is looking to provide 850 million handsets worldwide," said Kim.

"We are currently reviewing SK Teletech's marketing strategy and we plan to target the domestic high-end market to gain profitability," he added.

SK Telecom saw its local-currency debt rating raised one level by Standard & Poor's, which cited the company's strong and stable earnings and cash flow.

SK Telecom had its rating raised to A, the sixth-highest level, from A-, S&P said. The foreign-currency rating of A- was affirmed with a stable outlook, reflecting Korea's sovereign rating.




12/10/04

Live chat 9p.m NZ onwards, note NZ is on daylight savings time

Nasa TV power is up on I701 which is good news for those of you without circular feeds. But power does tend to fluctuate according to reports.

Mysat Arab ethnic tv service coming via KU soon? nice channel line-up for Arab viewers. They should take a good share of the ex Tarb's viewers.
http://www.worldmedia.com.au/mysat.phtml


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

Telstar 18 3866H SR: 4289
VSAT (Vision Channel) - VID: 161 AUD: 84 PCR: 161
DATA - VID: 8192 AUD: 0 PCR: 8190

Both loading as encrypted, but showing as FTA.

Also on Palapa c2 thePower level on Kablevision at 1.15pm today, is the highest I have seen.
Still on 3580H @ SR 27000 & The Family Channel only one FTA still.


From the Dish


NSS 6 95E 11172 H "NE TV has replaced DD Sports" on , Conax, 167/94 (India beam).

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V New PIDs for GreatSports Channel on : 277/279.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3695 H "Sky International" and the test card are now encrypted.

PAS 10 68.5E 4075 V "Hungama TV" is now encrypted. (Irdeto, 1??)
PAS 10 68.5E 4193 V "The New Delhi TV" mux is back on , Fta, SR 8680, FEC 2/3, line-up and PIDs identical to 3897 V.


NEWS


Island presses for broadband


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11045105%255E15318,00.html

KANGAROO Island residents have stepped up their campaign for broadband access, with 400 people registering on the Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) demand register following a demand aggregation project to rally support.

Kangaroo Island Development Board chief executive David Furniss said Telstra should respond within weeks to determine whether the island had reached the threshold required to justify the upgrade to ADSL for four communities.

"We believe we have surpassed the threshold," Mr Furniss said.

"We will be pursuing Telstra to confirm the timeframes for the implementation of ADSL within Kingscote and to set the registration threshold required to implement broadband within Penneshaw, Parndana and American River."

Telstra CountryWide area general manager Lawrie Mortimer said there had been no official announcement, but Kingscote had reached the threshold, although the other communities were still in doubt.

"We should have ADSL equipment at Kingscote within a few months," he said.

The federal election result has sent a tremor though the island, with concern that it will bring Telstra privatisation closer.

"We are a bit more anxious because we want to make sure that before the government sells off Telstra, regional and remote areas have the level of telecoms services they're entitled to, compared with the rest of the nation," Mr Furniss said.

"Broadband is becoming critical for regions and we don't even have complete mobile telephone coverage," he said. The Kangaroo Island demand aggregation project was partly funded by the South Australian government through the Broadband SA project, Mr Furniss said.

"What has happened on Kangaroo Island demonstrates the value of community commitment," said Trevor May, South Australia's newly appointed broadband demand aggregator.

"This is an extremely good example of what the community can achieve, but every region is unique and in the next situation the same rules may not apply."

Community clusters outside of the 4km ADSL range, such as Emu Bay and Island Beach, will still need to explore other options for broadband access.

On the Kangaroo Island website, resident Mal Ellson wrote: "many Kangaroo Island residents will be too far from their telephone exchange to receive ADSL broadband service, even if the exchange becomes enabled in the near future".

"The most likely option for those people will be two-way satellite broadband."

A hybrid satellite/dial-up solution is also being considered.

The HiBIS program is a $107 million federal government initiative to help provide affordable high-bandwidth and broadband services to regional Australia.


AsiaSat and Satlink announce the launch of a digital platform on AsiaSat 2


From Press Release

Hong Kong, Israel-5th October, 2004...Asia's leading satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and Satlink Communications, a leading provider of end-to-end solutions for content transmissions over satellite platforms, announced today the launch of a MCPC (Multiple Channels per Carrier) digital platform on AsiaSat 2 satellite's C-band coverage beam offering connectivity from Europe to Asia and Australasia.

The launch of this new platform will enable European broadcasters to expand their potential coverage to the Asia Pacific region through Satlink's turnaround and transmission facilities in Israel. AsiaSat 2, one of AsiaSat's high power satellites orbiting at 100.5oE, offers wide C-band coverage stretching from Turkey and Egypt to Australia and New Zealand. Satlink will provide broadcasters with a single-hop transmission solution to distribute their channels to cable head-ends, rebroadcasters and individual home viewers in the region. The enormous footprint also allows European corporations to establish connectivity with their offices in Asia and Australasia.

"With the addition of this powerful and popular satellite, we are well positioned to support the transmission needs of European broadcasters to head-ends in Asia and Australasia," said Avital Alshech, Director of Marketing and Sales for Satlink Communications. "The Asian region remains a very important market for us and the addition of a full transponder platform on AsiaSat 2 satellite will help us provide the connectivity and power that broadcasters and corporations are asking for."

"This partnership supports our strategy to further develop neighbourhood and penetration," said Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. "We anticipate that the addition of this cost effective platform will attract more broadcasters and corporate users to enjoy the exceptional power, coverage and access offered by AsiaSat 2."

About Satlink Communications

Satlink Communications Ltd is the leading provider of end-to-end solutions for content transmissions over satellite platforms. Satlink is a key player in the transmission of European broadcasters into Asia and the Pacific. Satlink's value proposition is designed to satisfy all broadcasting needs from uplink, downlink and turnaround to conditional access, channel management and transmission delay services. Satlink's geographic location in Israel is a strategic point for the delivery of satellite transmissions to all five continents. For more information, please visit www.satlink.tv

About AsiaSat 2

AsiaSat 2, launched in November 1995, has a 13-year operational life. The satellite is a Lockheed Martin Series 7000 model and carries twenty 36 MHz and four 72 MHz C-band, as well as nine 54 MHz Ku-band linearised transponders. Its C-band footprint covers 53 countries embracing Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the C.I.S. AsiaSat 2 also has a high-power Ku beam serving the Greater China region, Korea and Japan.

About AsiaSat

AsiaSat, the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world's population with its three satellites, AsiaSat 2, AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat 4. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 130 analogue and digital television channels and 130 radio channels are now delivered by the Company's satellites, reaching over 80 million households, with more than 300 million viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Many telecommunications customers use AsiaSat for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks and high speed Internet and multimedia services. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, listed on both the Hong Kong (SEHK: 1135HK) and New York (NYSE: SAT) stock exchanges. For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com

- end -

Media inquiries:
Sabrina Cubbon
General Manager Marketing
AsiaSat
Tel: (852) 2500 0899
Fax: (852) 2500 0895
Mobile: (852) 9097 1210
email: [email protected] Avital Alshech

Director of Marketing and Sales
Satlink Communications
Tel: (972) 2 5349086
Fax: (972) 2 5795186
email: [email protected]

Winnie Pang
Corporate Affair Manager
AsiaSat
Tel: (852) 2500 0880
Fax: (852) 2500 0895
Email: [email protected]


Conexant Introduces Single-Chip Set-Top Box Solution


From http://www.chinatechnews.com/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=1934

Conexant Systems (NASDAQ:CNXT), a provider of semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today announced a digital video broadcast satellite (DVB-S) compliant set-top box (STB) system solution for the basic, entry-level free-to-air (FTA) market.

The FTA market includes basic STBs that can receive unencrypted content from international satellite broadcasters at no charge, and STBs which allow users to view additional premium content for a small incremental cost. The CX24138 builds upon the technology of the company's CX2414X/5X interactive direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system solution, and introduces a new feature-set and package required by manufacturers and operators in China and other Asia-Pacific regions.

Conexant's CX24138 combines an MP@ML MPEG-2 video decoder, a digital audio decoder, a programmable transport stream de-multiplexer, an on-screen graphics display controller, a QPSK demodulator/forward error correction unit, TV encoder, and an embedded 32-bit ARM920T RISC processor with integrated peripheral I/O ports. The reference design package includes samples, schematics, layout, STB software drivers, tuning auto-scan function, user interfaces with Chinese and English language support, and complete hardware and software documentation.

The reference design is produced in Conexant's Shanghai Design Center, which was established in August 2000, providing regional manufacturers and operators with a localized design and sales support.


Indian PM backs state-run DTH service


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

State-run direct-to-home service DD Direct Plus is being scheduled for November-end launch, India's Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy announced. "Doordarshan's (DD) DTH will be launched by the end of November by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh confirmed.

The service is expected to be available for a one-time US$65 charge for a set-top box and an antenna. It will initially offer 40 channels, including all DD channels and 25 private ones, including Zee TV, TV Today's news channels Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, and the BBC.

The main reason for the Doordarshan to launch DTH is to help families who could not afford cable subscription fees and to reach out to people living in remote areas. Nearly 90 per cent of people of the country were covered by Doordarshan coverage. DD Direct Plus will be the second DTH service after Zee's Dish TV, launched in October last year.

Meanwhile, broadcasting regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested a complete review of the existing foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in the cable and DTH services. TRAI said against 74 per cent FDI allowed for internet service providers, it is 49 per cent for cable services. In the case of DTH, total foreign equity up to 49 per cent is allowed, of which FDI can be only 20 per cent. The remaining 29 per cent can be held by foreign institutional investors, overseas corporate bodies and non-resident Indians.


TV channel honchos discuss woes with govt


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=71168

NEW DELHI: Representatives of television channels, both pay and free to air, Indian and foreign, met information and broadcasting secretary Navin Chawla here on Monday, to talk about issues related to the industry. Their concerns ranged anything from level-playing field in taxes to customs duty on equipment, piracy to digitisation of cable TV, news channel content to downlinking policy, according to sources.

Broadcasters have been split over the recent recommendations on direct-to-home, issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As per TRAI recommendations, channels must provide their content to all distribution platforms, including cable and DTH. But, some broadcasters point out that mandatory-sharing of content is not a practical solution and is rare in the global market.

But TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal had made it clear that there was no place for ‘exclusivity’. Consumer interest is of utmost importance, he had said last week.

The I&B secreatry indicated to top officials of the channels on Monday that Trai had done a good job and that government was scrutinising the recommendations para by para, sources told FE.

Another interface between Mr Chawla and broadcasters is expected in the next six weeks or so.

Mr Chawla is learnt to have told broadacsters that a downlinking policy was being readied.

Also, he sought the assistance of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) for information on digitisation of cable TV. TRAI is already working on the digitisation project.

Among the channels represented at the meeting were Star, Zee, Sony, ESPN, BBC, Sahara and Discovery.




11/10/04

Well it was a good weekend for feeds if motorsports and football or Elections are your cup of tea.

UBI on B3 are still testing channels on and off.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Mike Hammond (NZ)

Signals coming from the Sky Tower in Auckland

12068 H Sr 10421 "The Arts Channel" FTA vpid 0512 audio pid 0650 pcr 8190
11967 H Sr 20609 "TV 1"
11992 H Sr 20609 "TV 2"


(Craigs comment, These are feeds to SKY. Quite interesting Terrestrial useage of the 11/12ghz bands. Point a dish at your local Tower and have a blindscan you never know what you may find!)


From Joe Goe

Motor GP feed found now at Palapa 3935H sr 5632


(Craigs comment, also seen on B3 adhoc)


From Dave Creek

B3 12552V sr 6670 Idol feed


From the Dish


Intelsat 804 174E 3890 R Occasional feeds on , SR 6111, FEC 3/4, West hemi beam.

PAS 8 166E 12575 H "All TV channels in the ABS-CBN" mux are now encrypted.(Australia beam service)

PAS 2 169E 12317 V "Itv" feed sr 5632
PAS 2 169E 12344 V "rtl feed" sr 6620

Optus C1 156E 12638 H "The Bubble TV info card" has left .

Optus B3 152E 12674 H "Al Arabiya" is Fta again.
Optus B3 152E 12701 H "Pink Plus has replaced Nojoom" on , Fta, PIDs 516/644.

AsiaSat 4 122E 4000 H "SpeedCast" has left .

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3669 V The BlueKiss promo has replaced the Casino TV promo on , Fta, PIDs 4129/4131.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 12690 H Sr 6930 "Feed" beam unknown

NSS 6 95E 11635 H "Onnuri TV" has started on , Fta, SR 27500, PIDs 309/256, SE Asian beam.

ST 1 88E 3632 V "Mega Movie Channel, Savoir Knowledge, Rainbow Channel, FTV News Channel,PTS and Da-Ai TV" on are now encrypted.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "Panjab Radio" has left .

Telstar 10 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka Channel 3" is now encrypted.

PAS 10 68.5E 3836 V "TV 5 Afrique" is encrypted again.



NEWS


Foxtel tests 'killer' PVR


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11033418%255E15306,00.html

FOXTEL is conducting a 300-person trial of its new "personal video recorder" ahead of a launch before June next year.

Chief executive Kim Williams said the company was ironing out software bugs, billing and front-of-house processes as it prepared to launch what many believe may the "killer application" for digital video services.

PVRs allow viewers to record programs off an electronic program guide at the push of button, program a recording of an entire season of a television show, record near-video-on-demand films and even pause live broadcast television.

The first of the units, manufactured by Pace, began trials four months ago. The silver set-top box has a hard drive of more than 100 gigabytes - more than double most standard desktop computers. This would allow them to hold about 40 movies.

While Foxtel has not given any guidance on PVR pricing, other pay-TV companies such as BSkyB in Britain have priced them as a premium service. Foxtel's boxes do not have the advertisement-skipping function available on some PVRs.

At the weekend, Australia's biggest pay-TV company launched its Christmas advertising push, promising free installation for its digital service until November 30. "It's always our heaviest selling period from now until Christmas so we are really going for it," Mr Williams told The Australian. "It's a huge selling period - it absolutely swamps the rest of the year."

For the first time, the free standard installation offer applies to customers who take any of the Foxtel digital packages, including the basic service, when they sign up to a 24-month direct debit plan.

Mr Williams said the percentage of customers taking the basic package had fallen from 20 per cent for the analog service to less than 5 per cent on its digital service.

Foxtel launched its digital service in March and at June 30, 26 per cent of subscribers had moved across to the new service.

Foxtel is currently installing 12,000 to 15,000 digital connection each week but is unclear how many of these are new subscribers. "We will pass 50 per cent by Christmas," Mr Williams said


Greg Dixon: Sky's high is Ground Zero for viewers


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

09.10.2004 COMMENT Well, I'm terribly happy for Sky TV. After years of spending, spending, spending to buy up the rights to all the sports that matter in this country and then making sports fans pay, pay, pay through the snout to watch it live, the pay-TV company is reportedly in rude health and worth about $2 billion.

Yes, that's right, your or your family's addiction to rugby and cricket has helped this far-flung outpost of Rupert Murdoch's media hegemony grow into a very handy little earner.

If you've got money in Sky - rather than spending money on Sky - you'll be rubbing your hands in the knowledge that the network's clout in the market has grown considerably since its birth in 1990.

So much so that around 38 per cent of New Zealand homes now have one of its ugly black boxes - in total it has nearly 600,000 subscribers.

It's gained some 33,000 new subscribers in the 2003-04 financial year and the revenue during that period zipped up 12.6 per cent to $440 million.

And its customers - you and me - are watching more of it. While news and sports viewing numbers have been static, overall viewing figures have apparently reached an all-time high on the back of new channels like Disney, UKTV and the History Channel. Its 84 channels have just under 20 per cent of the share of the viewing market these days.

Nice fat sums for those with a buck invested in the thing, but what about those of us forming the cash cow that's being milked?

I was interested to read a comment from Sky TV boss John Fellet in this paper last weekend. Said Fellet: "What you learn in this job is that there's no such thing as bad programming."

Translation: "We can play any old crap we want to and you saps will watch it."

In mitigation, Fellet was reacting to a sniffy comment made by a bloke from the Television Broadcasters Council, which represent the free-to-air lot, who sneered in the same story that trying to find something [to watch] on those 84 channels can be a pretty thankless task. Well, yes. But as I said in this column a month or so ago, more choice is better than less even if you still can't find something to watch during any given hour.

But really there is no defence for such blatant condescension from Fellet. While pay-TV, particularly digital pay-TV, is about having a plethora of channels to cater to a plethora of audiences, it should also be about quality.

To believe that anything - presumably outside All Black and Super 12 games - will do to fill those 84 channels is to treat your paying customers with contempt. To openly say it: beyond understanding.

Of course Fellet is not a programmer. But if he had his way?

"I can't stand the reality TV revolution," he told the Herald last week. "If it was up to me, we'd just show John Wayne movies and baseball games." Swell.

The sky may seem to be the limit for making money from Sky. However, with Fellet's attitude, things are looking rather limited for its ever-growing number of paying viewers.


(Craigs comment, So Sky claim to have 84 channels? Let's break it down

Mosaic (This is nothing more than promo hardly counts)

TV1, 2, 3, UKTV, Sky1, Prime, E!, Living Channel, Sky Sport1, Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport 3, ESPN, Trackside, Rugby Channel, Sky movies 1, Sky Movies 2, MGM, Rialto channel, TCM, Juice, Juice 2, C4, Maori TV, Disney, Cartoon Network, Nicklodeon, Discovery, National Geographic, Animal Planet, History channel, Sky News, BBC World, CNN, Arts channel, Southland TV, Shine TV, Wtv 80,81,82,83,84,85,86 (7 asian channels)

adds up to 43. Out of these 43, Trackside, Maori TV, C4, and Arts channel are all only part time. Another 7 are niche Asian channels only available as a fulL package)

And now the PPV Stuff (in reality PPV services, as you can't sub to them as fulltime channels)

Sky Box Office channel number 60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67
Playboy TV
Spice
Spice 2

Total 11
So 11 "ppv services"

Radio & audio services

WTV 88, 89 (2 radios)
ChannelZ
National Radio
Concert Fm
Niu FM
George FM
Tahu Fm
Up FM
Calvery Chappel
Mai
Apna FM

Total 12
So 12 "radio stations"

Audio Services

NZ Chart
POP
Smooth
Grooves
JAZZ
House
50's & 60
Party
Rock
Country
Classical
KIDS
Blues
Fashion Forward

Total 14 other Audio Services

43 TV (if you include the special 7 channel Asian TV service)
11 PPV TV services
12 Radio Stations
14 "Audio" Services

let's not even bother listing the "interactive" services

If you consider most get Tv1,2,3,4,Prime, Trackside the entire Sky Package looks very poor in Value and quality.

It's about time Sky started spending money and adding NEW channels such as the full range of Discovery channels and other genres such as Comedy and retro programing.)


Sea Launch Completes Investigation of In-Flight Anomaly Preparations for Return to Flight Underway


From Press Release

LONG BEACH, Calif., October 7, 2004 - The Sea Launch Independent Review Board (IRB) has concluded its review of the Telstar 18 mission on June 28, which released the satellite short of its intended target apogee. Sea Launch is now ready to return to flight.

Immediately following the mission, Sea Launch partner RSC Energia appointed a commission in Moscow to investigate a premature shutdown of the Block DM-SL upper stage. RSC Energia was able to recreate the anomaly on the ground in full scope, matching the flight telemetry data from the Telstar 18 mission.

The commission identified the most probable cause as a short in the onboard cable network. This short introduced electrical interference in the circuits that transmit liquid oxygen and fuel flow rate data to the main engine control system. The main engine control system performed nominally, given the distorted data it received from the flow rate sensors. As a result of the main engine control system acting upon the distorted data, the Block DM-SL consumed more fuel than planned and prematurely shut down due to fuel depletion. The shutdown was performed nominally based on the ability of the robust Block DM-SL control system to handle contingency situations.

The IRB unanimously approved the commission's findings and recommended corrective actions. Kirk Pysher, vice president and chief systems engineer for Sea Launch, chaired the IRB, which included the Sea Launch partners, independent reviewers, subject matter experts and customer representatives.

The required corrective actions were developed and verified through test to prevent a similar anomaly from occurring in future flights. The IRB has confirmed the corrective actions are appropriate and will increase the overall Block DM-SL reliability through increased fault tolerance during flight and pre-launch screening for defects. It also confirmed the Block DM-SL is ready for return to flight. Sea Launch remains highly confident in the robust capability of the Zenit-3SL system, including the upper stage. The Block DM-SL is one of the premiere upper stages in the industry, with more than 220 successful flights and an overall reliability of approximately 97%.

Despite the early shutdown of the upper stage engine, spacecraft manufacturer Space Systems/Loral raised the Telstar 18 satellite to its final orbital position, where it is now fully operational. Loral says it expects the spacecraft to meet or exceed its 13-year specified life.

Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and marketed through Boeing Launch Services, is the world leader in providing heavy-lift commercial launch services. The international partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, providing best value plus schedule assurance. For additional information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com

Contact:
Paula Korn
562.499.4729 or 562.254.5684 (mobile)
[email protected]


New Skies Granted Authorization to Provide International and Domestic Satellite Services in Japan


From Press Release

New Skies' First Transmissions from Japan Will Deliver Live Coverage of Formula One Grand Prix Auto Racing to Audiences Throughout Europe

New Skies Satellites N.V. (NYSE:NSK) (AEX:NSK), the global satellite communications company, today announced that it has been awarded a Radio Station License by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. This license, in combination with the Telecom Business Registration granted to New Skies in July of this year, enables New Skies to offer international and domestic satellite services directly to both Japanese and non-Japanese companies for links to, from and within Japan.

Concurrently, New Skies announced that it has been chosen by The Wire & Wireless Group to provide several European broadcasters with live digital coverage of Formula One racing from the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan. The service, which will take place between October 8 - 10, 2004, will employ the NSS-6 and NSS-7 satellites to deliver the entire event, including the practice, qualifying and race sessions, to audiences throughout Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Scott Sprague, New Skies' senior vice president of global sales, said: "The authorization to provide satellite services from Japan is a major milestone for New Skies because it enables our customers to access our global network directly from Japan for domestic and international transmissions.

"This opens up a highly developed market and a world leader in digital video and high-definition television to New Skies' high-powered Ku-band video contribution and distribution network, as well as to our advanced portfolio of Internet and data services."

Samantha McCloskey, New Skies' vice president, special event services, said: "Since we brought our ad hoc bookings in-house two years ago, business from special events transmissions has more than doubled, while we have broadcast countless digital and high-definition occasional-use feeds from prominent sporting and news events.

"With this authorization to access the Japanese market, we plan to use this experience to target one of the world's most advanced broadcasting markets with one of the world's only all Ku-band digital transmission networks, starting with this service for the Japanese Grand Prix."

For the Japanese Grand Prix, live feeds of the practice, qualifying and race sessions will uplink to the NSS-6 satellite directly from the Suzuka International Racing Course using a Ku-band satellite newsgathering vehicle provided by Moubic, Inc, who has been instrumental in making this first transmission possible. New Skies will then beam the signals via NSS-6 to one of the company's partner teleport facilities in the Middle East, where they will be retransmitted over NSS-7's European coverage beam.

New Skies provided a similar service using the NSS-6 and NSS-7 satellites for the Chinese Grand Prix from September 24 - 26, 2004, supporting the Formula One race from Shanghai.

About New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK)

New Skies Satellites is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, data, voice and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations, Internet service providers and government entities around the world. New Skies has five satellites in orbit, ground facilities around the world and one additional spacecraft under construction. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C.

Contacts
New Skies Satellites
Jeff Bothwell
Tel: +31 70 306 4239
Mobile: + 31 6 1131 0183
[email protected]


New BBC channel for Japan


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html#globecast

BBC Worldwide announced the creation of BBC Japan. The new BBC wholly owned entertainment channel will bring the best of BBC programming to TV audiences in Japan.

BBC Japan will offer viewers a mix of top comedy, drama, factual entertainment, children's and learning programming, as well as talk shows and documentaries. Set to launch in Japan on December, 1st 2004, the channel will offer a selection of programmes subtitled in Japanese.


New TV Rule May Hurt Star, Help Zee


From http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=70876

MUMBAI, OCT 8: A proposal to force Indian satellite TV broadcasters to share programmes is a blow to the plans of News Corp's Star and a mixed blessing for Zee Telefilms Ltd, analysts say.

The government's Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said a ban on exclusive programming on cable TV also applies to direct-to-home (DTH) satellite.

The ban is meant to ensure customers can see any channel they choose regardless of the satellite or cable TV supplier they subscribe to.

"The DTH platform has to be seen as a carrier of TV channels and its vertical integration with the broadcaster cannot be the reason for content denial to other distributors," TRAI said.

"The DTH platforms would have to compete on the strength of the quality of service, tariffs and packaging of the TV channels, and not on content."

India is the world's third-largest cable TV market, with revenues of $3.3 billion a year and reaching 48 million homes, but satellite is a relatively new service.

Analysts say the authority's proposal to enforce the ban on exclusive satellite content, issued last week, would blunt plans by Star to offer unique programmes on its planned premium satellite venture with the Tata Group, Space TV.

Space, which has yet to get regulatory approval, will compete with Zee's Dish TV, launched last year and broadcasting 100 channels via satellite to 150,000 subscribers.

FIRST-MOVER ADVANTAGE

"Star obviously wants to bring in subscribers with its exclusive content," said Amol Dhariya at Karvy Stock Broking. "But it's marginally positive for Zee, as it can get access to Star and Sony content, and it has a first-mover advantage."

Star offered only its free-to-air channel to Dish TV and another, state-owned satellite venture, arguing that the ban on exclusive content applied only to cable TV. Sony Entertainment has also kept its channels away from Dish.

"Broadcasters cannot gain an advantage by denying content," said Jawahar Goel, a vice chairman at Zee Telefilms. "The government obviously does not want vertical monopolies."

But channel-sharing could also work against Zee, which is locked in a legal battle over TV rights for Indian home cricket matches for the next four years.

Zee bid $308 million for the cricket rights, with the aim of using exclusive broadcasts in India to win customers for Dish. The regulator's recommendations would make its coverage available to other services.

India's cable market has grown in fits and starts since 1991, and now reaps 150 billion rupees in annual revenues.

The regulator, whose guidelines will form the framework for policy changes expected by the end of the year, argues that the pay-TV market will never grow to its potential unless Indians can choose where they get their programmes.

"Increasing pay-outs to broadcasters, the lack of competition in the last mile and inability to choose between platforms and channels has led to (higher) bills and growing consumer dissatisfaction," the authority said in its 125-page report.




10/10/04

No update Sunday




9/10/04

No update Saturday




8/10/04

Not much to end the week with. Keep an eye on B1 and B3 for possible Bathurst race feeds this weekend

If you can't find the cricket on Insat2E in Digital try Analog.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Several people

Bathurst feeds

B3 12451H 6670 3/4
B3 12441H 6670 3/4


From the Dish


Intelsat 804 174E 3882 R Occasional feeds on , SR 6111, FEC 3/4.

Optus B3 152E 12674 H "Al Arabiya" is now encrypted.

JCSAT 3 128E 12523 H "EX Sports and EX Entertainment have replaced Enjoy TV and Travelers TV"on , Videoguard, PIDs 2112/2116 and 2144/2148.

Palapa C2 113E 3580 H The Kabelvision mux is back on , Nagravision, SR 27000.
Palapa C2 113E 3580 H "ESPN Asia" has started on , Nagravision, PIDs 181/182. Family Channel has replaced RCTI on PIDs 201/202, Fta.

Palapa C2 113E 11472 V "Candy TV has replaced J Wave Satellite TV 4" on , Viaccess,PIDs 2401/2402.

Measat 1 91.5E 11168 V All radio channels in the Astro mux are now encrypted.

ST 1 88E 3582 H "TBL Drama has replaced Phoenix Chinese" on , Viaccess, PIDs 33/34.
ST 1 88E 3632 V all channel are Fta

Intelsat 709 85.2E 11486 V "Four ExTV info cards" have started on , Fta, PIDs 513/651-516/654.

Telstar 10 76.5E 4060 V "Dhamma Channel" has started on , Fta, SR 1760, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12613 V A test card has started on , Fta, PIDs 2176/2177.

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "ARY Digital UK, ARY Digital Mideast and ARY Digital USA" are encrypted again.
PAS 10 68.5E 4075 V "Hungama TV" has started regular transmissions on , Fta, SR 4000,FEC 2/3, PIDs 500/600.


NEWS


Fight for sore eyes


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/07/1097089485499.html?oneclick=true

We have the technology but not the programs. Cosima Marriner wonders who will fill the many channels of the digital age.

A Sydneysider with 100 TV sets could watch almost 2500 hours of programming a day.

Those of us with just one or two sets, a plain old antenna and five free-to-air channels may wonder how TV bosses find enough shows to fill all those airwaves.

A quick check of Foxtel's pay TV guide reveals there is just enough dross to go around. Foxtel Digital subscribers taking a sickie will today be entertained by Greenacres, MASH, Police Woman, The Benny Hill Show, The Drew Carey Show, The Cosby Show, The Lucy Show, The Nanny, The Simpsons, The Waltons, The Munsters, The Golden Girls, Dad's Army, McHale's Navy and Hogan's Heroes, among other 20th century gems.

Then there are Foxtel's 10 movie channels, seven sports channels, seven news channels, six music channels, 11 documentary channels, five children's channels, eight lifestyle channels plus, of course, the five free-to-air networks.

The TV bosses don't plan to stop there. Another free-to-air network is on the cards. Existing networks plan to launch multi-channel technology - another couple of channels each. Then there may be another 100 or more Foxtel channels when the pay TV broadcaster switches off its analog signal in 2006, allowing more content to be stuffed down the cable.

But do more channels actually make for better TV? Just what will viewers be treated to in coming years?

Foxtel already operates 10 "timeshift" channels which broadcast exactly the same shows as other channels - only two hours later "giving you more chances to see your favourites". Last month the network announced deals to broadcast yet more US shows, including "all nine seasons" of Everybody Loves Raymond, Sex and the City "at multiple viewing times throughout the day" and "one of the hits of the new US season ... an Australian television exclusive of My Roommate is a Big Fat Slut".

SOME entrepreneurs believe there are still opportunities to offer new channels with compelling content. The ad man John Singleton fired the public's imagination in June when he revealed his plans for an all-Australian fourth free network. The federal government has an option to issue a new TV licence in 2007. (The Coalition is not keen, but the ALP is leaning towards the idea.)

Singleton envisages a channel broadcasting 100 per cent local content, including kids programming, extreme sports, short films, drama, plus the usual news, current affairs and chat shows. He would enlist film, TV and acting schools such as the National Institute of Dramatic Art and AFTRS the Australian Film, Television and Radio School to produce original programming to keep costs down.

The Aussie channel would be aimed at a broad demographic but Singleton insists he's not trying to muscle in on the turf of the existing commercial networks. Instead he's looking for an SBS-size audience of 7 per cent of TV viewers, which he claims exists for an all-Aussie station and will attract enough advertisers to make money out of the venture.

But it is nearly impossible to find anyone outside the Singleton camp who believes his bona fides.

"There is no way in a market the size of Australia you can provide 100 per cent Australian content and maintain the same level of quality," UTS media professor Liz Jacka says. "If you're going to get people to switch over you need good drama, sitcoms, sport, alternative news and current affairs. That's going to cost a lot of money."

Mikael Borglund, who heads TV producer Beyond International, admits an all-Aussie network would be "a great opportunity" for his production house, but remains sceptical. "No TV station in the world would make a decision to only show programs made in its own country."

While Singleton has been lobbying the Government for one channel, Channel Seven owner Kerry Stokes has been lobbying for many. After axing his fledgling C7 sports pay TV channel two years ago, Stokes has decided multi-channelling is an easier route to realise his TV ambitions.

Both sides of politics are considering Seven and other free to air networks to use excess digital spectrum to broadcast extra channels, known as "multichannelling". ABC and SBS are already permitted to multichannel.

Enhanced coverage of major sports events like the Olympics, breaking news and genre-specific channels exploiting the network's program archives are all earmarked for Seven's multichannels.

But unless the Government allows Seven, Nine and Ten to charge for extra channels, viewers can expect more re-runs of A Country Practice, Home and Away and Hey Dad.

It's a tough ask for the free to air networks to commission television shows without a revenue boost. Some industry players believe the multichannels will simply split the existing advertising pie further, not grow it.

"More and more channels don't necessarily provide more and more revenue flows, so the ability to generate new and original programming is very limited," Jacka points out.

But a recent report commissioned by the ad industry found advertisers in the US and Britain were prepared to pay more to reach the niche audiences watching multichannels.

The ABC has already discovered how difficult it is to fund multichannels out of existing budgets. It shut down ABC Kids and the Fly youth channel last year, claiming it could no longer afford their $7.5 million cost. It recently decided to resurrect one multichannel - on a tiny $2 million budget.

ABC's planned second channel will rely on repeats of popular ABC shows like Australian Story, Four Corners and Glass House, plus broadband internet content (which is cheaper to produce). Children will benefit most - the ABC intends to make 100 hours of original kids programming specifically for the second channel, which will go to air next March.

Jock Given, the author of Turning off the Television: Broadcasting's Uncertain Future, believes future viewing choices will depend on our willingness to pay for TV.

"If people are offered a wider range of affordable choices they will take them. The question is in what numbers and how much will it cost to deliver these extra choices?"

Foxtel boss Kim Williams knows first hand the challenges of charging for choice.

Although we've had pay TV for nearly a decade now, less than a quarter of the population has found it appealing enough to stump up the minimum $48.95 a month for Foxtel. In comparison pay TV is in 85 per cent of American homes and more than half of British homes.

"It's the most truthful form of television," Williams says. "If you don't like it you stop paying for it." And it seems a lot of viewers aren't enamoured of Foxtel's line-up.

If the Packer and Murdoch-backed Foxtel is to get into 40 per cent of homes by its targetted 2008, it has to offer audiences programming they can't get anywhere else. "Pay will be looking for breakthrough product," says Neil Balnaves, chairman of production house Southern Star.

This means more niche channels (Williams likes the idea of a crime channel) and plenty more original drama.

The HBO cable network in the US has thrived on the success of its original productions like Sex and the City, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under.

In the past Foxtel has re-run local shows which debuted on free to air TV (such as The Secret Life of Us) to meet its 10 per cent Australian drama quota, but it has now turned its attention to commissioning exclusive programming.

Southern Star is producing Love My Way, a Secret Life of Us-style drama starring Claudia Karvan, and Kennedy Miller is making a mini-series on the Bali bombings for Foxtel.

The catch-22 is whether Foxtel spends up now on original production to attract viewers, or waits until it has enough subscribers to be able to afford commissioning a slab of programs.

Although Fox and E! Entertainment are planning competing 24-7 reality TV channels in the US, Williams downplays the prospect of a Foxtel channel devoted to reality TV.

He says he's only interested in "innovative" reality shows, like Channel V's Band in the Bubble in which Brisbane band Regurgitator spent spending 21 days recording their album live in a glass-walled studio in Melbourne's Federation Square. Foxtel last month broadcast the marathon recording session live, 24 hours a day, on a dedicated channel called BUBBLE T[V].

Foxtel will also try to tempt subscribers with more interactivity - on-screen messaging, "choose your own" camera angle and audio feed for sports telecasts, and postcode-specific weather forecasts.

The one thing that may save us from TV hell is Personal Video Recorder (PVR) technology.

Already popular in the US - and lauded by Rupert Murdoch as the next media revolution - a PVR is a digital set-top box that can automatically scan hundreds of TV channels, recording only the shows that conform to its owner's pre-programmed tastes. The shows can be watched later without TV ads. Foxtel will launch its PVR in Australia next year.

Charles Britton from the Consumers' Association suggests the PVR could be the "accidental hero" of digital TV, just as SMS was for mobile phones. "It plays into the way people really want to watch TV," he says.

The free to air networks are terrified of the PVR because it threatens their lifeblood - advertising. The arrival of the PVR in the US has sparked a trend towards product placement in shows rather than the traditional ad breaks.

The free to air networks here are already incorporating product placements into reality shows like The Block on Nine and My Restaurant Rules on Seven.

Despite all the bleating from the commercial networks, more competition will not spell the end of free to air TV in Australia. Instead the networks will rely more on "king hit" event television to draw the mass audience sought by advertisers.

Given says the record ratings for sports events like the Olympics and the rugby World Cup, and finales of reality shows like Big Brother and Australian Idol prove "the durability of mass media experiences ... Event television is one of the largest trends of the last few years."

But even if the number of channels mushrooms over the next decade, Britton says some viewers won't notice much difference. "It really seems like they're going to get more choice of the same. TV will probably look disconcertingly like it does now."


France To Launch 50 Nanosatellites


From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/microsat-04o.html

The French company Arianespace said it will launch a cluster of 50 tiny satellites in 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sputnik. Each nanosatellite will weigh only about 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and contain a scientific package developed by a single country.

All 50 of the nanosats will be launched at the same time, on one rocket, from the launch facility in French Guyana. The nanosats will last in orbit for about 2 years, company officials said Wednesday.

The company announced the proposed launch during this year's International Astronautical Federation Congress. The project will be conducted in partnership with the Russian Space Agency, which will be commemorating Sputnik's launch in October 1957.

Arianespace is very proud to be participating in this commemoration, said Jean-Yves Le Gall, the company's chief executive officer. We have already orbited some 40 auxiliary payloads of the same type we will launch in 2007. Just like 50 years ago, when the first man-made Earth satellite was launched, these nanosatellites will signal a new era for scientists worldwide.


KOREA: Satellite-basedmobile TV project suffers setback


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=15646

SK Telecom Co.'s initiative toward satellite-based mobile broadcasting has suffered another setback, with the country's broadcast regulator blocking the airing of terrestrial televised content on wireless receivers

The Korean Broadcasting Commission announced Wednesday that it would not allow the retransmission of terrestrial broadcasts on satellite-based mobile television, keeping mobile-phone operators from accessing programs from the country's main television stations KBS, MBC and SBS.

The broadcast regulator left open the possibility of reversing directions in the future, however, saying it will discuss the satellite retransmission issue again when they grant business licenses for ground-based mobile television projects early next year.

"We concluded that it would be better for us to come up with a comprehensive principle that covers larger segments of new media, with the boundaries between telecommunication and broadcasting becoming irrelevant," said Joh Kyu-sang, director of commission's media policy division.

"With the allocation of business licenses for ground-based DMB expected in February or March next year, we will come up with a policy that will cover both ground-based and satellite-based DMB and its relationship with traditional broadcasting," he added.

Satellite-based mobile television, dubbed here as satellite-based digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), has been among the more ambitious attempts to keep growth alive in the domestic telecommunications sector where the wireless and wired penetration is among the highest in the world.

The system is designed to relay television, radio and data via satellite directly to mobile receivers such as mobile-phones.

SK Telecom and its Japanese partner Mobile Broadcasting Corp., backed by electronics giant Toshiba Corp., launched the world's first satellite for mobile television use in March. MBCo plans to start satellite-based mobile broadcast services late this month.

TU Media Corp., 30 percent owned by SK Telecom, expects to handle the services and provide them to the country's three mobile-phone operators. TU Media is currently the only Korean company to have applied for a license for satellite-based mobile television business. The license allocation is expected to be completed in December.

SK Telecom had expected satellite-based digital multimedia broadcasting to attract 1.5 million subscribers by 2006, break even in 2008 and have 8 million customers by 2010 with $1 billion in revenue.

The retransmission of terrestrial broadcasts on satellite-enabled handsets has been an issue of debate, with media unionists fearing the wireless services could hurt the regional television networks.

In a statement released Monday, the National Union of Media Workers threatened to go on general strike if the Korean Broadcasting Commission allows satellite retransmission of terrestrial broadcasts.

TU Media said it would consider pulling out of the satellite-based mobile television business if the company is not allowed to broadcast terrestrial television programs. The company claims it has already invested 220 billion won ($191 million) to install DMB equipment and is spending 160 million won per month operating the unused satellite.

"We are disappointed by the decision and will reconsider our future in the satellite-based DMB business on 'zero base,' discussing the issue with our shareholders and equipment manufacturers," TU Media corporate strategy director Park Ki-hwan told reporters Wednesday.

The retransmission issue of terrestrial broadcasts is expected to remain an issue of debate among telecom companies and television broadcasters, since current regulations do not cover emerging converged services such as digital multimedia broadcasts and Internet protocol-based television.

There would be no business interest in satellite-based DMB whatsoever if the operator is not allowed to use terrestrial television content. The chances of the Korean Broadcasting Commission sticking with its decision next year are slim, said LG Securities Co. analyst Stan Jung.

"With ground-based DMB and satellite-based DMB competing for a similar consumer market in mobile-phone users, the commission ended up refusing to give SK Telecom an early edge," he said.

TU Media announced a strategic alliance with local terrestrial broadcasters SBS and MBC in August to market satellite-based mobile television services. However, MBC backed away after meeting opposition from its labor union.

Public broadcaster KBS, which is partnered with fixed-line carrier KT Corp. for its ground-based digital multimedia broadcast aspirations, opposes the retransmission of terrestrial broadcasts for satellite-based mobile television.




7/10/04

Sorry about todays update things a bit quiet


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

Intelsat 804 feed
3873R, SR: 6109, ¾ was up at 5.55pm again


From Simmo (Cairns)

Some Chinastar1 screenshots 87.5E




From the Dish


NSS 6 95E 12535 V "CNN Financial Network" is Fta (India beam)
NSS 6 95E 12729 V "Onnuri TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2050/2051.

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "ARY Digital UK, ARY Digital Mideast and ARY Digital USA" are Fta
PAS 10 68.5E 4178 V "Zoom" has started on , Conax, SR 4000, FEC 2/3, PIDs 300/350.


NEWS


Austar's STARS offer oversubscribed


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/06/1096949575338.html

Regional pay TV provider Austar United Communications Ltd said that its up to $115 million debt restructuring securities offer had closed oversubscribed.

The Subordinated Transferable Adjustable Redeemable Securities (STARS) offer forms part of Austar's refinancing arrangements, which also include $290 million of new senior debt facilities aimed at capitalising on its recent financial and operational improvements.

Austar chief executive officer John Porter said the level of interest in STARS has been significant and indicated great support from both the public and professional investment communities.

He said the senior debt process has similarly been oversubscribed.

"These new arrangements will benefit everyone involved in Austar, customers, staff and investors, and will give more flexibility for the company to grow," he said.

Austar said it expects to announce the allocation and scale-back policy on October 14, 2004.

Austar intends to allot STARS on October 13, 2004 with trading on the Australian Stock Exchange to commence the next day on a deferred settlement basis.

Austar is the second largest pay TV provider behind Foxtel, predominantly using satellites to service its regional subscriber base of 467,000 across all states and territories except for Western Australia.


Rural satellite internet is here to stay.


From Press Release: Aorere Internet

Rural satellite internet is here to stay.

Timaru based and family owned business Aorangi Group Limited (AGL) has a nationwide satellite internet service ready to go.

“Rural users have been left in the dust for too long and that’s not good enough!

We have worked hard to put together a unique internet package for RURAL or remote users”, say’s director Bruce Raines.

Aorangi Group has secured a reliable service that has been around for a while and is ready to connect customers now.

The basic service offered is a 256k type connection which is up to 6 times faster than standard urban dial-up internet, other plans area available.

The “Aorangi Wireless” service is more reliable than “sky”, works New Zealand Wide and does not rely on a phoneline..

The initial average cost of setting up is around $2500 and finance is available to approved customers.

“The more support we get, the better the prices” said AGL director Bruce Raines.

General Enquires are welcome on Phone 03 686 9213 or visit our website www.aorangiwireless.co.nz

Aorangi Wireless is a product/service of Aorangi Group Limited


Mobile Broadcasting to Launch Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcast Service This Month


From http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=8456

Tokyo (JCNN) - On October 20, Mobile Broadcasting will begin MobaHO!, a satellite digital multimedia broadcast service for mobile devices. The service will initially feature seven video channels, including NHK and MTV, 30 audio channels, including usen and FM Tokyo, and about 60 data broadcast programs. The programs will initially be received along major highways and in JR commuter trains in the Tokyo area. The service will later be expanded to cover other JR and private train lines in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. The monthly subscription fee is set at 400 yen ($3.64), and monthly fees for optional channels range from 300 yen to 2,080 yen ($2.73-18.91). The company estimates that the break-even point for the service is 1.5 million users, and is aiming to sign up 2 million users in three years.

Users will need a dedicated terminal to receive the service. Toshiba (TSE: 6502)will release the MTV-S10 on November 1. Likely to retail for 60,000 yen ($545), the terminal features a 3.5-inch 320x240-pixel QVGA TFT active matrix LCD, speakers, AV and stereo headphone jacks. It can record video for 20 hours on a 512MB SD Card. Powered by a lithium rechargeable battery, the MTV-S10 remains operational for 1.75 hours. The 99.8x113.5x35.5mm unit weighs 320g.

Sharp (TSE: 6753) will also introduce a dedicated terminal. The 4E-MB1, which is likely to sell for 70,000 yen ($636), has a rotatable 3.6-inch QVGA TFT active matrix LCD, and can play video recorded on Sharp's AQUOS LCD TV as well as e-books in XMDF and text format. The product measures 86.8x27.5x152mm and weighs 335. It runs 105 minutes on a single recharge.


FSTV Signs Pact With Korea's BS Media to Assemble Decoders in Nigeria


From http://allafrica.com/stories/200410060378.html

SOUTH-Korean-based BS Media Soft Limited has entered into a strategic agreement with Nigeria's Frontage Satellite Television (FSTV) to establish a state- of -the-art decoder assembly plant in Nigeria.

Business Champion notes that this development was sequel to the recent working visit to South Korea by the chairman of FSTV, Otunba Reuben Famuyibo.

Essentially, the visit to BS Media Soft Limited, makers of the high quality portable and durable decoder system afforded the FSTV boss a first hand opportunity to appraise the quality claims of the manufacturing company.

It was, also, meant to strengthen the already existing business relationship between the two companies which started in 2003.

According to the President of BS Media Soft Limited, Mr. Daam Hawang, "the relationship between BS media soft and FSTV which started last year has built on marketing principle and unprecedented acceptance of the elegantly and portable design of the decoders which has sold more than expected in just two months of its introduction into Nigeria's Satellite television market.

Business Champion notes that the agreement, signed at the factory site of BS Media Soft by the two top executives of the affected companies has concretised the multi-million Naira Project billed to take off mid 2005.

According to FSTV's Famuyibo, the siting of the assembly plant, to be funded by the two companies will provide job opportunities for Nigerians.

He stated that the spirit and determination to serve and put smiles on faces of the masses are the desires to make Satellite direct to home receiving through FSTV decoder system to reach across a wide spectrum of Nigerians.

According to him, this is expected to be possible through mass production which will beat down prices thereby making it available and affordable to everyone.


Zee DTH viewers get cricket, anyway


From http://financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=70693

NEW DELHI: Although ASC Enterprises, promoted by Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra, switched off Doordarshan channels on its direct-to-home (DTH) platform on Wednesday, India-Australia cricket is still available to Dish TV subscribers. Dish TV, which was launched last year, is the DTH platform of ASC Enterprises. According to a company official, Dish TV subscribers are getting to watch the current cricket series on DD’s DTH. Reason: Both Dish TV and DD’s DTH are operating on the same satellite—NSS-6. Incidentally, DD DTH is yet to be launched formally.

The public broadcaster had earlier threatened to black out DD, which holds the exclusive telecast rights to the India-Australia and India-South Africa series, on Dish TV, citing Indian cricket board’s copyright norms.

But, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma told FE: “Dish TV switched off DD1 and DD Sports at our request.”

The pubcaster is aware that Dish TV subscribers are watching the ongoing cricket match on DD’s DTH. “My subscribers can access DD DTH by tuning the remote control of Dish TV,” according to an ASC official. To that, Prasar Bharati’s Mr Sarma said: “Yes, of course. We are on the same satellite.” Mr Sarma didn’t see any legal hassle in the issue.

Interestingly, while Dish TV subscribers can access DD DTH using the same dish and set-top box, the reverse is not possible. DD DTH subscribers cannot access Dish TV because of decoders used, a Zee official explained. “While Dish TV is a pay platform, DD DTH is free-to-air,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati officials remained tight-lipped about the ad revenues earned for the series. Mr Sarma said: “I don’t want to reveal the figure yet. It’s too early in the day.” It is learnt that response to the series has been good from advertisers, and that three-fourth of the bookings have been done by day one itself. Traditionally, Test matches are not very popular with advertisers, as against one-day international. In fact, the ad bookings for the friendly ODI between India and Pakistan have already been closed, a Prasar Bharati official said.


11th hour challenge for Ten


From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/874863.cms

NEW DELHI: When you switch on Doordarshan in the morning, and see Sehwag tear apart McGrath or Pathan beat Hayden (!), spare a thought for all the men (and women) who have actually made it possible.

Ten Sports, who eventually got the rights to produce the live telecast had virtually no time to get their act together. Or to be more precise, to get their crew and equipment together. It was an impossible task, their head of production, Steve Norris told TOI.

"I've seen a few challenges in my life, this beats all of them," he said. "While the country was sleeping last night, our team was working through the night to ensure that the first ball is beamed live across the world."

The television channel had barely four days to organise everything thanks to the series of controversies and court cases that BCCI found itself embroiled in. But it still had to wait till Tuesday to get the all clear from the Supreme Court.

"Somehow we have managed to get close to 52 crew members from across the world (including about 25 from India itself) and 14 tons of equipment from Singapore, England and Australia," Ten's managing director Sharmista Rijhwani said. "We just couldn't compromise on the quality for this high profile series."

"Our head of programming (Peter Hutton) hasn't slept for almost 48 hours, coordinating and making every small bit fall into place," she said.

"Getting visas for all the members and clearing all the equipment from the customs was the biggest problem we had to surmount," Norris added.

Incidentally, the channel will be using 27 cameras for the telecast. Michael Atherton, Sanjay Manjrekar, Michael Slater, Dean Jones and Laxman Sivaramakirshnan will be on the commentary panel. Ravi Shastri will join the team after the second Test





6/10/04

Good news the www.apsattv.com site address is working again.

Satcom Australia conference details here
http://www.carriersworld.com/2004/satcom_AU/index.asp?&T1=19/7/2004&T1=19/7/2004

Read below for Aus vs India Cricket details

From my Emails & ICQ


From David Leach

Dear apsattv

cricket is on Insat2e english speaking

freq 3832v sr 6250 fec 3/4
vpid 513, apid 660 pcr 513 pmt 259 ,

thanks david leach
nsw aus


From Blackcrusader

Hi Craig,

Just to let you know Multichoice SS6 has the India Australia games, But DD Sports PAS 10 also has it live FTA

Regards
BC

From Steve Hume

Telstar 18 new
3747H - SR: 6203
Doesn't load anything as yet.

On 3590V, the SR: was 37500, now 44656. Guessing that will be data for sure.

St1 88E
Space TV Mux
3632V SR: 26656
Are All, fta, Including Rainbow Channel most likely encrypted again by the time you read this.


From Vk4nkl

AVESCO Oct 4 2004

V8 Supercar Championship extends China TV coverage
The V8 Supercar Championship Series will be shown live on Shanghai and
Chinese television, starting with the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst this
weekend.

Shanghai free to air television reaches audiences of 130 million across the
country and will broadcast the entire V8 Supercar Championship ahead of the
series debut in the Chinese city next year.

The Grandsports Channel will host the coverage while Dragon Star TV will
take the V8 Supercar Series to a nationwide audience across China and other
parts of Asia. Dragon Star covers 27 capital and 100 other cities across
China. Network 10 is providing the coverage.

"This is an extremely significant announcement for our championship,"
Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) Chief Executive Wayne Cattach
said today.

"We recognise that our series is a largely unknown quantity in China and the
need to bring it to the people. Raising awareness of our series is an
integral key to our success in June next year.

"The championship was warmly welcomed by the people of China at our official
sanction signing agreement in Shanghai earlier this year and has certainly
captured the interest of the media.

"We had an on-track presence during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at
the Shanghai International Circuit where we will race next year and it was
highly popular during the F1 weekend.

"Building our brand in the region is certainly a challenge that we are
excited about."

Grandsports and Dragon Star TV will start their broadcast at Bathurst this
Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2.30pm Chinese time.

China has already accessed the series through CCTV where several hundred
million people watch every round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

The Bathurst 1000 will be live on Network Ten on Friday (1300-1600),
Saturday (1200-1700) and Sunday (0700-1700). Stay tuned to Network Ten news
and Sport's Tonight for daily updates.

The V8 Supercar Championship Series also reaches North America (Speed
Channel), throughout Europe (MotorsTV), U.K. (Five), China (CCTV), Shanghai
(Grandsports, Shanghai Television Station - LIVE) New Zealand (TV One -
LIVE) South Africa (SABC), Argentina (TyC Sports) and Asia Pacific (ABCAP).


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E Asia FM has replaced Giordano on 3860 H and 12360 V, Fta, APID 651.
PAS 8 166E 4080 V All channels in the TAS mux on are Fta.

Palapa C2 113E 10971 V "Brazil Mix TV" has left , replaced by a test card.
Palapa C2 113E 11472 V "J Wave Satellite TV 4" has started on , Viaccess, PIDs 2401/2402.



NEWS


Fiji TV Feedback


From Fijitimes website

I respond to your front page (ST 3/10) article concerning the use of transponders by Fiji Television Limited.

Remembering that it is not the reporter who chooses the headline, this time the headline was almost right.

We are not in search of a satellite system.

In a sense of reasonableness and considering the effect on all parties involved, we are considering two options.

The discussion on the options is expected to be completed very soon, so the implication that the process might be extended unreasonably is incorrect.

I told your reporter that. Now to the article.

We had been testing our new equipment, as previously reported, on an Intelsat Ku Band transponder. We stopped it because we had completed our tests and because Intelsat asked us to.

There is no relationship between our ceasing to use the space and our discussions about other transponder use.

It is incorrect for your reporter to suggest that there was. If we decide to use C Band, we will not have to buy eight to ten-inch dishes. The dishes we buy will not cost customers thousands of dollars.

If we do, in the best interest of our customers, decide to use another frequency, it will cost our valued customers no more than it would for the original service.

That is exactly the crux of our discussions.

The court decision did not award us 50,000 euros per day but provided a penalty of that amount if the satellite company did not deliver on time.

Satisfactory discussions to date have allowed the process to move ahead with responsible compensation to Fiji TV in the meantime.

The Stock Exchange has been fully informed of any relevant information.

Fiji TV continues to take a responsible and prudent path in this activity and we are in no doubt that Sky Pacific will be a very popular service, reasonably priced and delivered with confidence, soon.

Ken Clark
Chief Executive


Summer price rise to hit pay television


From http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,10981471%255E953,00.html

AUSTRALIAN television audiences will pay more for pay-TV services this year as Foxtel and Optus slug customers with price hikes before Christmas.

The decision follows Foxtel's $600 million move into digital services this year and comes despite warnings from media analysts that price rises "would definitely shake off some subscribers".

Optus will raise the price of its pay-TV packages by $9 a month to $100.80 in November. The changes include a $5 rise in the cost of its basic service.

Optus spokeswoman Sheila Dillon said Optus was forced into the decision when Foxtel raised the wholesale price of content provided to Optus.

"We've got 195,000 subscribers and basically they'll be hit with an increase from November 1 because Foxtel have increased wholesale prices by that much," she said.

"What else can we do? We've got a content-sharing agreement so if they put up their prices we've got to make that up somehow and $5 is not a small increase."

Foxtel (part-owned by News Limited, publisher of The Courier-Mail), will raise the price of its digital and analogue services on December 1, though the pay-TV operator has not confirmed the extent of the price increase.

It is understood the price of Foxtel Digital's basic service will only rise by $1 per month to $49.95 in the new plans, as part of a commitment to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Additional packages are likely to be more substantially affected by price rises.

Foxtel corporate affairs director Mark Furness said the company decided to raise prices to meet the cost of advances in pay-TV services, such as digital broadcasts, and to bring the company closer to profit.

"We're a loss-making business. We're investing a lot of money in growing the business and we're going to have price rises from time to time," he said. "They'll be modest and Foxtel is still great value, particularly with the new digital service."

More than a quarter of Foxtel's 904,000 subscribers now use the digital service.

Mr Furness said those who signed a 24-month contract when joining the digital service, in return for an installation discount, would also be subject to the price changes, to be announced later this month.

Fusion Strategy media analyst Steve Allen said the price rises would work against the pay-TV providers as many customers were already sensitive to the price of subscription television.

"I would think a change in prices would definitely shake off some subscribers and I'd nearly bank on the fact that subscribers will drop off," he said.

"A lot of subscribers only have the basic package and research suggests that there's a reasonable number who are very price sensitive."

He said the introduction of Foxtel Digital had improved the retention of subscribers, but price increases could undo those gains.


Style Network set for global roll out


From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

After successfully rolling out the E! International Network in every major market of Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East, E! Networks is planning to launch The Style Network globally. Kabelvision Indonesia will be the first international partner for the channel, carrying the service on its new digital cable platform in the first quarter of 2005. Kabelvision has licensed both The Style Network brand and programming in the three year deal.

The operator will also create original programming for the channel, using formats provided by The Style Network."The Style Network has experienced an explosive growth over the past few years in the US and is one of the most promising brand propositions available today," claimed Kevin MacLellan, Senior Vice President, International, E! Networks. "The appetite for lifestyle programming in the Asia Pacific is huge, and we believe this first deal with Kabelvision will anchor the Style brand in this important region, putting us into an excellent position to extend the brand worldwide."

"Kabelvision was one of the first to carry the E! Entertainment channel in the region. We are pleased to announce that The Style Network will be on Kabelvision Digital Cable platform once it launches in the 1st quarter of 2005," said Marshall Cooper, CEO, Kabelvision.


Human error in satellite mishap


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10988554%255E1702,00.html

A $US239 million ($330 million) satellite toppled to a factory floor because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap.

The 113-page document criticised both Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co, which was assembling the weather satellite, and NASA, which was overseeing the project on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The NOAA N-Prime satellite fell about 1m as it was being moved from a vertical to a horizontal position on September 6 last year to remove an instrument at a facility in Sunnyvale, California. Nobody noticed that the 24 bolts that should have secured the spacecraft were missing.

Investigators were especially critical of the Lockheed Martin operations team for its "lack of discipline in following procedures", a problem that evolved from "complacent attitudes toward routine spacecraft handling, poor communication and co-ordination".

Buddy Nelson, a Lockheed Martin spokesman, said NASA's final report was consistent with the findings of the company's internal investigators.

"Lockheed Martin has implemented improvements to company policies, procedures and practices that ensure such an incident will not occur again," he said today.

It will cost an estimated $US135 million ($187 million) to rebuild the spacecraft's main section and two damaged instruments. No one was injured in the incident.

The NASA board, which was led by Christopher Scolese of the agency's Science Mission Directorate, faulted an unidentified engineer who did not look at the cart's configuration but instead relied on paperwork from a previous operation.

"Had he followed procedures, the unbolted (cart) adapter plate would have been discovered and the mishap averted," the report said.

"Errors were also made by other team members, who were narrowly focused on their individual tasks and did not notice or consider the state of the hardware or the operation outside those tasks."

NASA investigators also said planning for the manoeuvre was "hurried" and the operations team was "hastily formed". Overall, the contractor's system safety program was found to be "very ineffective."

Mr Nelson said appropriate disciplinary action has been taken, though he would not say whether anyone had been fired.


SC clears decks for cricket telecast on DD


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct61.htm

NEW DELHI: As it had happened in the recent past with the historic India-Pakistan cricket series, the Supreme Court today stepped in to untangle the telecast rights issue through an interim order.

The court deferred the hearing of an interim application by Zee Telefilms Ltd questioning the award of rights by the cricket board to Prasar Bharati and Sony Entertainment Television India.

This means that the cricket matches against Australia, South Africa and a one-dayer against Pakistan can be seen on Doordarshan channels within India.

The apex court, however, made it clear that this interim order would be operative till December 2 only, while it continues with its third umpire role on the original petition filed by Zee Telefilms contesting cancellation of a tender process relating to the telecast rights by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Justices N Santosh Hegde, SN Variava, BP Singh, HK Sema and SB Singh cleared the deck for the telecast of the upcoming cricket matches after hearing Zee's counsel Harish Salve and BCCI counsel KK Venugopal this morning.

Still, the bench directed the BCCI, pubcaster Prasar Bharati and SET Satellite Pvt Ltd Singapore (which has the international telecast rights) to maintain separate accounts of the earnings they would make from the advertisement and sale of rights overseas (as in Sony's case) during the telecast of these matches.

This directive was given to take care of any compensation claims in future relating to the original petition of Zee Telefilms, which issued a statement later in the day stating, the apex court's ruling has been given "so that if the final decision is in favour of Zee, then its commercial interests could be protected on the basis of the revenue accounts filed by the parties (concerned)."

As per deals struck by BCCI, live package of the cricket telecast will be prepared by Dubai-based Ten Sports and international syndication would be done by Sony. Doordarshan has been awarded exclusive rights for the domestic coverage of the cricket matches.

In the court today, when Salve pressed for an immediate order to protect Zee's rights, the bench said that it would not be possible to do so immediately.

However, Hegde told Salve that ''supposing we hold that the BCCI is not a state within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, the BCCI shall be free to do anything they like. But, supposing we hold otherwise, we will protect your (Zee's) rights and nothing will happen to you.''

The court observed, ''It would be in the fitness of things that the hearing on your interim application questioning the grant of telecast rights by the BCCI to Prasar Bharti and Sony is put off till the writ petition filed by you (Zee), challenging cancellation of your bid for domestic telecast rights for the next four years, is decided.''

It was last Thursday that the Indian board announced that live feeds would be produced by Ten Sports network for BCCI, while "telecast, distribution and marketing" would be done by Sony Entertainment Network on a "revenue sharing basis".

The arrangement was done for three events, the India-Australia four-test series, the India-Pakistan Platinum Jubilee match on 13 November and two-test series between India and South Africa in November-December.

Two days later, following national broadcaster Doordarshan's threat to go to court, the Indian cricket board chose to go along with DD in place of Sony, thereby ensuring the removal of government interference.

DD COMMUNICATION TO DISH TV

If the bad news from the apex court were not enough for Zee to digest, another controversy is brewing as the Indian pubcaster, reportedly, has conveyed to Dish TV to discontinue DD National and DD Sports on its platform till cricket is being aired.

Though it is not clear what exactly is the nature of the content, Prasar Bharati officials say a letter has been written to Dish TV management on the availability of DD channels (showing cricket) on the DTH platform.

While pleading ignorance about any DD letter, a Zee Telefilms source did admit that "verbally" Dish TV has been told to discontinue airing DD National and DD Sports for the duration of the cricket matches.

Pointing out that "negotiations are on with DD to resolve this crisis, which may affect Dish TV susbcribers," the source, however, said that technically, it was not feasible for Dish TV to blank out two DD channels on a temporary basis.

If DD channels continue to be on the Dish TV platform (for which no revenue share arrangement is in place till now), subscribers of Dish TV would also get to see the cricket matches - albeit by default.

Technical experts opine that even if DD channels, notably DD Sports and DD National, are not carried on the Dish TV platform, its subscribers could watch the matches as they are likely to be on DD's yet-to-be-formally-launched KU-band service, which can be accessed by Dish TV subscribers too.

Experts further explained that since Dish TV and DD's Ku-band service, at present on a trial run, are on the same satellite, Dish TV's pizza-sized dish antennas would be automatically tuned to the satellite for receiving DD's free-to-air DTH service.

If DD is really serious about choking subscribers of Dish TV --- promoted by Zee Telefilms and ASC Enterprise Ltd --- of cricket , then it would have to ensure that DD National and DD Sports are not carried on its DTH service, a highly unlikely scenario.


BCCI, Ten Sports sign production deal


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/874870.cms

MUMBAI: The Taj Television-owned Ten Sports channel has inked a deal with the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) for the set of three cricket encounters, where India will play Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, respectively.

BCCI will be paying Ten Sports the actuals for the production effort, which industry sources estimate to be close to Rs 10 crore.

Equipment and crew have been flown in just two days ago, when normal production schedules require at least a week of preparation.

Ten Sports India’s CEO Sarmistha Rijwani told ET that the network had flown in 20 tonnes of equipment from Singapore and England to Bangalore and a large team of 50 technicians and crew from South Africa and Australia were in place for the first India-Australia series starting in Bangalore on Wednesday.

“We will give a high-quality digital broadcast as seen in the India-Pakistan series. Ten Sports is the largest independent producer of live cricket,” Ms Rijwani said. Other cricket production groups include Octogon, M-Net, SABC and Channel 9.

As part of the production effort, Ten Sports has lined up a team of anchors that includes former cricketers Dean Jones, Michael Slater, Ravi Shastri and Michael Atherton.




5/10/04

Live satellite chat tonight 9p.m NZ and 8.30p.m Syd time onwards. NZ switched to Daylight savings time last weekend so we are 3 hours ahead of Syd time.

The world of Asian copys and clones, take a look and pay close attention to the spelling on the box.
http://www.dynasat.com/english/e_silverbox2_comp1.htm

The October issue of satmagazine is out download it from satmagazine.com


From my Emails & ICQ


From Various

A gory live operation feed was seen on B3 12552V


From the Dish


Lyngsat is on a break, back tomorrow I think


NEWS


PanGlobal TV Launches 4-channel Russian Bouquet on PAS 8


From Press Release

SYDNEY, 5 October 2004 - GlobeCast Australia announced today that it is has signed an agreement with Horizon World Plus TV Pty Ltd to distribute a bouquet of 4 Russian channels on the PanGlobal TV direct-to-home satellite platform in Australia hosted on PAS 8 Pacific Ocean Region satellite. The Channels are RTVi, Teleklub/Detski Mir, Nashe Kino and RTRPlaneta.

The Russian service is the first bouquet to be launched by GlobeCast Australia on the PanGlobal TV DTH platform with significant numbers of other channels currently under negotiations. The service will be available Free to Air with a view to being encrypted by the end of the year. The 4-channel bouquet aims to keep the Russian speaking community in touch with their homeland as well as promote and service the interests of the community living in Australia.

PanGlobal TV, a joint venture agreement between PanAmSat Corporation and GlobeCast Australia was launched in September this year to target international broadcasters wanting to reach Australia's 5 million multicultural viewers. With an established neighbourhood of more than 56,000 homes the platform is an ideal opportunity for channels to reach a growing market quickly.

Viewers wishing to access the Russian bouquet of channels can contact Horizon World Plus TV Pty Ltd on 1300 733 302.

About GlobeCast Australia (www.globecast.com) - a joint venture partnership with France Telecom is one of Australia's leading providers of satellite and fibre transmission and production services for professional broadcast, enterprise and Internet content delivery. The company is present on five continents, accessible through 15 teleports and technical operation centres in the world's leading media hubs.

Press Contacts:
Christine Holman [email protected] +612 8258 7900

Sales Contact:
Mark Lobwein [email protected] +612 8258 7900


BVITV-AP announces agreement between TVNZ & ABC News


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct44.htm

MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television - Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has concluded a multi-year licensing agreement with free-to-air government broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ) for special access to ABC News programming at MIPCOM.

The announcement was made by BVITV-AP vice president and general manager Steve Macallister and TVNZ head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston and ABC News senior vice president/general manager Bernard Gershon.

This unique arrangement will allow TVNZ to cooperate with ABC News on breaking news stories, to draw on the production facilities at the ABC News bureau in Washington, D.C. and to access the latest ABC News services and features ensuring that TVNZ provides up to the minute news on world events to the people of New Zealand, informs an official release.

The multi-year agreement will also include the full range of award winning ABC News programming including 20/20, Nightline, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Primetime Live, Good Morning America, and World News Now.

"The partnership with ABC not only strengthens TVNZ's international coverage but it gives TVNZ the chance to considerably expand its news and current affairs output nationally," said Bill Ralston. "We are delighted and excited to have the opportunity to work so closely with one of the world's top broadcasters."

"The ABC News portfolio offers broadcasters a constantly updated resource of live, in-depth, quality news and interviews with some of the most sought after individuals on the planet," commented Macallister. "Viewers in New Zealand will now have immediate access to the full range of ABC's enviable news programming. We are incredibly pleased about our new partnership with TVNZ News."

"We are delighted to be working with TVNZ, its commitment to international news is recognized worldwide. Strong journalistic relationships with world class broadcasters like the BBC, NHK Japan, ARD Germany, and now TVNZ, expand the global reach of ABC News and enhance our coverage of global events," said Gershon.

For BVITV-AP the agreement was negotiated by director of sales, Australia and New Zealand, Greg Johnson adds the release.


OpenTV and AUSTAR Extend License Agreement


From Press Release (Edited)

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 4, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- OpenTV Corp. ("OpenTV"; Nasdaq: OPTV), one of the world's leading interactive television companies, and Austar United Communications ("AUSTAR"; ASX: AUN), a leading subscription television provider in Australia, have signed a network license agreement allowing OpenTV to continue to supply its broad range of interactive television applications and products, and in addition, will develop and license a suite of broadcast associated applications. The agreement was announced by James A. (Jim) Chiddix, OpenTV's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and John Porter, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AUSTAR.

The deal extends OpenTV's core license agreement with AUSTAR for five years, and includes the delivery of up to six enhanced broadcast applications for Sports Active, the company's latest offering in its lineup of interactive services. OpenTV and AUSTAR have also agreed to deploy an updated interactive weather application in association with The Weather Channel that will offer significantly increased information and functionality. The new iTV services will provide AUSTAR's subscribers with greater control over how they view the programming, allowing them to watch what they want, when they want, and eschewing traditional linear television.

"We are excited to expand our relationship with AUSTAR and support their commitment and successful exploitation of interactive television services," said Chiddix. "They have concentrated on using the technology to improve their business, and because of that have a strong, consumer-friendly service. We look forward to exploring the opportunity to further leverage our relationship to provide AUSTAR with compelling new interactive applications that will help to further differentiate the viewing experience for their subscribers."

"With this long-term agreement, AUSTAR has assured itself of fully benefiting from the quality support, sophisticated and turn-key application developments originating from OpenTV," said Porter. "Subscribers are the ultimate benefactors, as our lineup of interactive services will be fortified with even more great products and applications. We are pleased to be extending this mutually beneficial relationship."

SOURCE OpenTV Corp.

Maureen Zeljak, +1-415-962-5151, or [email protected], or
Marc McCarthy, +1-415-962-5111, or [email protected], both of OpenTV; or
Emma Rackley of AUSTAR, 0422 823 000, or [email protected]


Buena Vista Intl TV renews features package to China's CCTV-6


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct27.htm

MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television – Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has renewed its features package with China’s CCTV-6. This was announced today by BVITV-AP vice president and general manager Steve Macallister.

Commenting on the announcement Macallister said, "We are thrilled to continue our alliance with CCTV-6, China’s premiere movie channel." Audiences of CCTV-6 will be able to enjoy the best international box office successes such as Signs, Shanghai Knights and Princess Diaries.

Netting $ 410 million worldwide, Signs is written, directed and produced by M Night Shyamalan and stars Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix in this riveting mystery-suspense about an alien invasion.

Shanghai Knights is the much anticipated sequel to Shanghai Noon that brings together again Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson in this hilarious follow up to the original hit.

In Princess Diaries, Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews feature in this delightful modern day fairy tale about an ordinary teenager who learns that she’s a real-life princess and the comical challenges she must overcome with her grandmother as she journeys to her throne.

For BVITV-AP, the agreement was negotiated by Annie Lee, director of sales, China.


Cricket matches not to be available on Zee's DTH


From http://www.123bharath.com/news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=25513

New Delhi, Oct 4 : Prasar Bharati today decided to block the cricket match signals on Zee's DTH arm Dish TV for India's Test series against Australia and South Africa and the ODI against Pakistan.

"We have informed Zee that it will not be proper for them to carry the signals of the matches on Dish TV," Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma told PTI here tonight.

Earlier in the day, he had stated that the public broadcaster, whom the BCCI has awarded rights for 31 days for Rs 100 crore, was considering the pros and cons of allowing the signals to be passed on to Zee's DTH platform.

"We are studying the matter, including ascertaining whether the copyright we have with BCCI affects that arrangement," he had said. PTI


Digital service delay prompts TU Media's ire


From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200410/04/200410042203401679900090609061.html

Korea lost out in its competition with Japan to provide the first satellite digital multimedia broadcasting service because of administrative delays, SK Telecom affiliate TU Media, which has been developing the service, said yesterday.

The service allows users to view television programs on mobile handheld devices, via satellite.

Although TU Media and Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBCo) of Japan have been preparing for the service over a similar timeframe and even jointly launched a satellite into space in March, the Japanese service provider now has the lead.

MBCo said yesterday that it would begin providing 40 channels on mobile phones starting Oct. 20.

Its Korean counterpart, however, is still struggling due to friction with an association of local television networks.

All of the related laws have been passed which would permit it to start operations, the company said. But the association of local networks has been opposing the participation of major networks, including KBS, MBC and SBS, insisting that it would reduce the local networks' profits.

TU Media has said the service could only be viable if the major networks are included in the service, and that the local networks would not be harmed.

The Korean Broadcasting Commission debated the issue last month, but failed to reach a consensus amid the strong objection of the local network association.

The commission will hold another meeting today, but many experts expect no agreement since both sides are holding firmly to their positions.

TU Media, which invested approximately 200 billion won ($174 million) on the preparation of the digital multimedia broadcasting service, however, complained that the delay in the service is damaging the company since it has to spend 1.6 billion won every month to maintain the satellite.

TU Media said it plans to offer the service at a monthly charge of 12,000 won to 14,000 won.


Thai CHANNEL 5: No listing planned, says boss


From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=3&id=122012&usrsess=1

New director will meet Army chief following Cabinet rebuke of RTA deal

The newly appointed director of Channel 5, LtGeneral Lertrit Wechsawarn, said there was no need to list the station on the stock exchange at present as the Army is still in a position to financially support it.

Lertrit denied speculation that Channel 5 would be privatised to benefit a certain group of investors, which has been a source of controversy over the past few months.

Moreover, he said he would meet with Army commanderinchief Prawit Wongsuwan today and Thursday to ask him about the Army’s policy towards Channel 5 following the Cabinet’s decision late last month to order the station to return a capital payment to private investors who had held shares in RTA Entertainment.

The Cabinet cited nontransparent dealings between Channel 5 and RTA Entertainment, which was established to become the station’s marketing arm, as the reason for its decision.

Speaking on his first day in the job, Lertrit said he would try to end the controversy surrounding RTA.

A 30year concession deal granted to RTA by Channel 5 sparked a major political uproar in July, with media observers describing it as a thinly veiled plot to allow business groups with political connections to reap benefits at the expense of the state and the public.

RTA Entertainment has Bt10 million in paidup capital, 50 per cent of which is held by the Army and the remainder by 83 private investors. After the return of the capital payment, the Army will be the only RTA shareholder.

Lertrit replaced LtGeneral Chatree Pattanaphan, who was appointed acting director for a few months pending investigations into the RTA controversy.

The new director has worked with the station since 1993, holding positions in the operations, programming and news divisions. Given his experience at Channel 5, he said he was familiar with the station’s producers and would ask them for their support in rejigging the programme lineup. “I expect a cooperative response from them,” he said.

“We will focus on familyoriented programmes because I think the family institution is the basic foundation of society,” he added. “For instance, I’ll want programmes that show family problems such as child drug abuse and conflicts among students.”

He said Channel 5 was originally founded to serve the public and not be profit driven. Therefore, entertainment programmes would be created to help stimulate family stability.

However, he said it was still his job to increase revenue. One way of doing that would be to turn Thai TV Global Network, the station’s satellite broadcaster which beams programmes to more than 150 countries, into a profitable business. The satellite channel is partially subsidised by the government.

He said the satellite channel must be more commercially oriented, and should be seeking advertising revenue from Thai companies that want to export products and government agencies planning to launch international campaigns.


Zee scouts for partner for English movie channel


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1041447,0002.htm

After the end of its arrangement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor (MGM), Zee said on Monday it was open to rope in a new partner for its English movie channel, currently telecast under a new name 'Zee Movie Zone' (ZMZ).

"Options on bringing in a new partner are open and we are at the moment in talks with various companies," Essel corporate head (corporate strategy and finance) Rajiv Garg told PTI from Mumbai.

After almost four years of existence in the Indian market as 'Zee MGM', the two partners decided to part ways following the buy-out of the latter by a group headed by Sony Corp.

Zee is currently sourcing movies for the channel from various media houses, which includes Paramount, Miramax, Universal and Time Warner.

Asked whether Zee had short-listed any particular groups before making a final call, Garg refused comment. "We cannot speak specifically on the companies we are talking to currently," he said.

He did not rule out the possibility of Zee going it alone. "That is also one of the options before us."

He said a final decision on the matter would be taken "soon".

In the segment dominated by HBO and Star Movies, Zee roughly has about 17 per cent market share. Garg said Zee was chalking out a strategy to upgrade the channel's profile in the coming months.


Edusat to be operational by Oct 24 : VSCC, Kerala :


From http://www.123bharath.com/kerala-india-news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=25462

Kerala, India > Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 4 : India's exclusive satellite for educational services, Edusat, would be declared operational after completing all tests on October 24, a top official with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre said here today.

Addressing a media workshop held in connection with the World Space Week celebrations which began at the VSSC, Director (Projects), R V Perumal, said the testing of `C' band transponders of the satellite, launched from Sriharkota on September 20, was already over.

The remaining tests would be carried out in the coming days and the satellite would be operational by October 24, he said.

All educational institutions in the country would be able to receive information through EDUSAT, using a small antenna.

"Edusat offers a lot of opportunities to institutions. For example, self-financing colleges can chalk out a collaborative programme by which an eminent professor could address all the colleges in their network," he said.

It could be put to commercial use also as new software could be developed for entertainment and education. Adult education could also be served in a big way using Edusat and information packages could be made available to villages.

"The Edusat will bring about a very successful social revolution. The satellite has a designed life of seven years, but we hope that it will be there for use for 10 years," he said. PTI


TELE-satellite News - Number 40/2004 ­ 3 October 2004

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by

TELE-satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A & P A C I F I C


AUSTRALIA

PAY-TV PRICES TO INCREASE

The country’s 1.1 million pay-TV customers will be
stung by a price rise of up to 9 per cent on their
monthly bills by December. The move comes as Foxtel
attempts to accelerate the migration of pay-TV
customers to its new digital platform, launched
earlier this year. The price hikes are a result of a
comprehensive pricing review by loss-making Foxtel.
First to be hit will be the 195,000 customers who
receive their traditional analogue pay-TV service from
number two telecommunications company Optus. In a
letter to customers, Optus has outlined the price
rises from November that will see a total package rise
by $9 a month to $100.80. The basic package will jump
$5 a month to $46.95 The 900,000 Foxtel-managed
customers will be hit by a price rise in December.

INTERACTIVE TV IN TAXI CABS

From September 28, 100 Yellow Cabs in Brisbane are on
the roads with the TV screen built into the headrest
at the back of the front passenger seat and a printer
and telephone in the headrest behind the driver. The
screens will carry advertising while a scrolling bar
across the bottom would have news headlines, sports
scores and weather details, updated "on the road" via
the Optus mobile network. Yellow Cabs planned to have
the new technology, known as iTV (Interactive Taxi
Vision) fitted to its 1000 cabs in southeast
Queensland within about six months. Taxi passengers
could use buttons associated with the screens to
scroll through the information provided, print out
details they wanted to save or use the phone to make a
reverse charge call to any of the advertisers
featured, such as restaurants.

SEVEN NETWORK WINS LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST TELSTRA

Seven Network has won a victory in its battle to gain
access to Foxtel and Telstra's $600 million digital
pay-TV network. The Australian Competition Tribunal
upheld Seven's appeal against the exemption orders
that the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission granted when it approved the
content-sharing deal between Foxtel and Optus, The
Australian Financial Review reported. The deal gave
Foxtel an effective monopoly on pay TV in capital city
markets. Neither Seven nor Foxtel would comment in
detail on the decision until they had seen the reasons
for the decision, which will be released in about two
weeks.

INDIA

SAHARA TV TO LAUNCH MOVIE CHANNEL

As part of its massive expansion drive, Sahara India
Pariwar' will launch an exclusive movie channel from
January 1 under its newly formed brand SaharaOne.
SaharaOne is the umbrella brand of the Sahara Group
under which four businesses of movies, television,
radio and special feature have been brought together.
SaharaOne Television -- the television arm -- will
enter into exclusive long-term tie-ups with leading
artistes, producers and technicians to develop
original entertainment content for television, a
company statement said. While the channel has already
made an entry into producing movies, it plans to
release 70 films in the coming one year and has
invested Rs 185 crore for the venture. The channel is
also launching a host of new programmes in its
entertainment and news channels.

ZEE AND ESPN SEEK AUSTRALIAN SERIES TV RIGHTS

Both Zee Telefilms and ESPN Software are trying to net
the TV rights of the Australian tour of India
commencing on October 6 and have made separate
proposals to the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI). Zee Telefilms, in a letter dated September 23,
said that besides agreeing to give signals to the
Third Umpire, the broadcaster would be fully ready to
cover and telecast the cricket matches. It said that
it has already tied up with international producers
who have experience in cricket. On September 27, Rik
Dovey, Managing Director, ESPN-Star Sports (ESS),
Asia, proposed to the BCCI that ESPN-Star Sports is
willing to produce and telecast the forthcoming
India-Australia series. It has further proposed that
it will pass the net advertising revenues earned on
ESPN and Star Sports, as well its net share of the DD
revenue, net of costs, to the BCCI.

NO PRICE REGULATION FOR PAY-TV CHANNELS

Telecom regulator Trai has said there would be no
price regulation on pay/premium channels except the
limited regulation of 20 per cent as the ‘maximum
discount’ on a bouquet of premium channels in the
conditional access system (CAS) areas. It has also
recommended an 8 per cent annual licence fee for
direct-to-home operations. In order to promote growth
of Internet and broadband in the country and to make
DTH services affordable, the authority said, “the
annual licence fee of 8 per cent should be applied on
adjusted gross revenue.” According to draft
recommendations, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India has said that for CAS (conditional access
system), in areas like Chennai, the existing price
regulation would be withdrawn. For the non-CAS areas,
the authority has recommended ceiling rates prevailing
on December 26, 2003, plus 5 per cent.

FOREIGNERS MAY BE ALLOWED TV NEWS INVESTMENTS

India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry is
considering allowing foreign institutional investors
(FII) to invest in TV news channels within the overall
26 per cent limit set for foreign direct investment
(FDI), the Times of India newspaper has reported. The
ministry will seek cabinet approval before the October
31 deadline. Ministry officials said the proposal will
give flexibility to TV news channels, but the combined
FDI and FII share must not exceed 26 per cent. At
present, FII’s are barred. Meanwhile, Zee Telefilms
(Zee) has received government approval to launch a
sports channel. Zee will launch test signals for the
channel in the next couple of days. Zee Chairman
Subhash Chandra told shareholders that the company had
received the necessary regulatory approval for
uplinking its sports channel.

JAPAN

NHK EXTENDS DTT BROADCASTS

Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, extended its
terrestrial digital broadcasts to two districts
outside the metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Osaka and
Nagoya, where the service was already available. The
broadcaster’s Mito station began a digital service for
local viewers in Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo,
and its Toyama station started serving Toyama
prefecture in central Honshu. NHK estimates that about
520,000 households will be able to receive the digital
service in Ibaraki prefecture, and 280,000 households
in Toyama prefecture. The two local NHK stations
intend to provide news and information specially
prepared for local audiences. In November, terrestrial
digital broadcasts will start in Gifu prefecture in
central Honshu. They will go into operation in Kobe in
Hyogo prefecture the following month. All areas of
Japan will be able to receive similar local digital
services by 2006.

JORDAN

EURONEWS SIGNS CABLE DEAL

EuroNews strengthens its presence in the Middle East
being broadcast this month for the first time in
Jordan. EuroNews will begin broadcasting in Jordan via
distribution on analogue cable in the capital city of
Amman. The subscribers of Jordan Cable will have
access to EuroNews in English. Jordan Cable already
broadcasts 30 channels in Arabic and 20 in English on
its basic offer. Jordan Cable will reach 30,000
subscribers at the end of 2004. Philippe Cayla,
President and CEO of EuroNews said: " The channel is
already present in 812,000 homes and we are sure
viewers in Jordan will be attracted by EuroNews'
editorial concept: ‘World News from a European
Perspective’. " EuroNews in Middle East: distributed
by satellite on Arabsat 2D and Nilesat, by cable in
Lebanon and United Arab Emirates.

QATAR

NEW SATELLITE YOUTH TV CHANNEL ON THE CARDS

The Qatar Foundation, a government institution
primarily focused on education, is to launch the Pan
Arabian Youth Channel (PAYC) in March next year.
Targeted at 5-15-year olds, this Doha-based satellite
TV channel will reach audiences in the Middle East,
North Africa and Europe, and will hit America either
at the same time or later. It will offer a mix of
news, soaps, magazine shows and movies.

TAIWAN

ARIANESPACE SAYS BROADCASTERS MUST EXPAND IN ASIA

Taiwan's broadcasters should take advantage of
satellite technology in order to bolster the nation's
cultural influence in Asia where there is a market for
Mandarin-language programs, satellite launcher
Arianespace said on September 29. At a press
conference, Richard Bowles, Arianespace's
representative director for ASEAN countries, said that
Taiwan has potential to make significant headway into
the greater Mandarin-language television market. By
taking advantage of satellite broadcasting technology,
Southeast Asia should be a profitable region for
Taiwan's Mandarin-language programs development,
Bowles said. "We are free and happy to share our
launch service with any Taiwanese operator in the
future," Bowles added.


A F R I C A


SCOPUS SIGNS MULTICHOICE AFRICA DEAL

Scopus Network Technologies, a leading supplier of
digital compression technology to the broadcasting
industry, has announced that Multichoice Africa has
selected its digital broadcast platforms for digital
DTH services. Using Scopus' platforms, MultiChoice
transmits 54 digitally compressed TV channels on the
Eutelsat W4 platform to viewers throughout the African
continent. In 2001, Scopus provided MultiChoice with a
"one-stop-shop" solution including integration of
head-end architecture, engineering and the supply of
digital video compression equipment. This new contract
expands and upgrades the current systems with new
platforms as well technologies to push MultiChoice's
digital broadcast abilities into the future. In
addition, the upgraded system enables the pay-TV giant
to increase its market presence in a wide swath of
French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

NAMIBIA

NAMIBIA AND ZIMBABWE TO LAUNCH SATELLITE NEWS CHANNEL

According to a report by Radio Netherlands, Namibia
and Zimbabwe are planning to launch a 24-hour regional
TV news and current affairs satellite channel. A
memorandum of understanding between the two countries
"to share information" was signed in February. The
report quotes Gerry Munyama, Director General of the
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, as saying that a
report on the viability of the project is yet to be
finalised. He said the report, coupled with
recommendations, will be tabled at the end of October.
At statement by Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH)
and NBC says the planned satellite channel "will tell
the African story in its proper context, from an
African perspective and by Africans to help counter
the negative and degrading perspective currently being
projected by the dominant Western and Euro-centric
media."




4/10/04

It looks like the Cricket rights dispute in India is near to being settled. DD SPORTS and DD National will broadcast the first 2 tests. Sony tv will provide the overseas feed.

Pas 8 4080 V mux is all fta at the moment.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards

0415 UTC
NSS6 12729 Vert S/R 27500 FEC 7/8
Vpid2050 Apid2051 SID8 "onnuri TV" has started FTA Korean.


Regards
Bill Richards
South Australia


From FishingFishing

Feed Reported
Thailand Tennis Open is on now on AS2 on 3886v 6111


From AlbyMangled

Feed reported
motogp is in its usual spot on palapa.
Palapa C2 3765 H 5632.

China vs Malaysia Soccer
Asiasat3 4068 V 5632 3/4


From ChrisGlobe

Feed reported
Telstar 18 138E , 3866H sr 4289 currently showing a match from the German Soccer league.


From Dharmesh Bamrolia

Hey everybody,

ZEE SPORTS has started testing FTA on PAS 10 on freq.3768 H and s.r.6500.

Best regards,
Dharmesh


From the Dish


Intelsat 701 180E The PBS mux has moved from 12729 H to 12648 H, SR 28066, FEC 3/4.BBC World is encrypted again.

Telkom 1 108E 3580 H "HBO Asia" has started on , Irdeto, PIDs 592/593.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4129 H "CCTV E&F" has started on , Fta, PIDs 1360/1320.

NSS 6 95E 12535 V "CNN Financial Network" has replaced Vissa on , Conax, PIDs 161/82.

Measat 1 91.5E 11106 V "8TV" has started regular transmissions on , Mediaguard, PIDs 161/84.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3695 H "Sky International and the test card" are Fta.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka Channel 3" is Fta.


NEWS


Smoke, mirrors, success

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3596810&thesection=business&thesubsection=technology&thesecondsubsection=general

The New Zealand branch of Rupert Murdoch's pay TV empire is run from a large, ageing shed set back from a suburban Auckland road.

But the building's shabby exterior belies its place at the the heart of a $2 billion listed company that beams the All Blacks, TV soaps and blockbuster movies to just under 600,000 households, about 40 per cent of New Zealand's total.

It is a company, which in the year to June, generated $187 million in underlying profits and a bottom line profit of $35.3 million.

The building is a rabbit warren of well-worn, multi-coloured corridors and windowless offices.

The broadcaster's modest studios say it all - a collection of flimsy sets designed to come to life with lighting and editing.

"It's smoke and mirrors," Sky communications director Tony O'Brien says.

This is Sky - all of it. As the frugal company points out in its annual report, if the building was lost in some disaster, there would be no Sky for six months, a fact that is pushing it to build a back-up.

Sky's affable American chief executive, John Fellet, arrived on an 18-month contract. He's been there 13 years.

"It's funny, my career has all been in turn-arounds, but I got here early in Sky's evolution," Fellet says.

Senior managers were out in the early days selling pay TV to pubs or working in the call centre.

Sky has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on building its subscriber base and is now in a solid position.

It has 84 channels and a growing share of the TV viewing market - up to just under 20 per cent of TV viewing, says the Neilsen TV ratings company.

The network last week secured exclusive rights to New Zealand cricket cover for five years and has a near monopoly on top live sports events.

And its share price has risen from $3.50 a year ago to around $5.40.

But Fellet is not complacent.

Growth in subscriber numbers is expected to slow to an average of about 3 per cent in the next few years, so Sky will have to work much harder to keep revenue growing.

It is also in the middle of negotiating a merger with its listed majority-owner, INL, due to take place early next year.

What does Sky have in its favour?

Choice and sport, says Bob Wallace, executive director of the Television Broadcasters' Council which represents the free-to-air channels - Sky's competitors.

"It's why Sky is so determined to get the major sporting events, it's what subscriber television is all about."

Wallace says New Zealand is virtually alone in letting a pay TV operator have such a hold on live sport.

And Sky has plenty of choice, these days, even if it's mainly overseas programmes.

"Trying to find something [to watch] on those 84 channels can be a pretty thankless task," Wallace snipes

Fellet rejects the criticism.

"What you learn in this job is that there's no such thing as bad programming," says Fellet who in the past year has introduced UKTV, the History Channel and the Disney channel.

"I can't stand the reality TV revolution. If it was up to me, we'd just show John Wayne movies and baseball games."

Sky's satellite service offers a cost-effective method of distributing content such as TV programming.

But the company knows that advancements such as those in high-speed internet technology could erode its advantage.

That is why it last month accepted an approach from the owners of DVD Unlimited and bought their small Nelson business, which mails DVDs to customers for a monthly fee.

It will give Sky a customer base that could eventually swap postal delivery for a high-speed internet connection.

"It's terribly ironic in this day and age that the most economical way to get a movie to your home is with a first class stamp," says Fellet.

"We know it will cannibalise some of our business, but not unlike pay-per-view movies cannibalised our movie channel.

"When you look at both of them, revenue per subscriber is much bigger."

Pay TV operators worldwide are doing the same.

Telstra owns 50 per cent of Australia's dominant pay TV operator Foxtel and has set up its own DVD rental operation, Fetchmemovies. Media mogul Kerry Packer has a rival service in Homescreen. Both are understood to be losing money.

Fellet doesn't rule out one day offering high-speed internet services to customers via satellite, by Sky. It has a contract allowing it to send programming through Telecom's phone lines, when the technology enables it.

Technology will continue to change Sky's game.

"I remember them saying, 'Sky is screwed, they're a three-channel UHF operation'," says Fellet of the pre-satellite period.

"It was the most effective way of delivering pay TV at the time. Satellite's the most effective way of delivering pay TV now."

But there are also alternatives to keep the business humming.

In a cluttered room in the bowels of Sky, a wall is stacked with various models of Sky decoders.

In pride of place is a shiny new box, a PVR or personal video recorder which includes a decoder - the box that sits on top of the TV and unscrambles Sky's signal.

It carries the Foxtel badge but, by the end of next year, Sky will have its own box.

It will feature a 160 gigabyte computer hard drive and will integrate with Sky's electronic programming guide.

Viewers will be able to "time-shift" through programmes - watching recordings not when they are broadcast but when they have the time.

But Fellet isn't expecting the PVR to trigger an explosion in subscriber numbers. It's more aimed at keeping subscribers, cutting down on churn - the annual turnover of customers. Churn is down for Sky but still at a sizeable 17 per cent.

He says the changes required to support the PVRs will cost "a couple of million dollars at the head end no matter what".

And for subscribers, he says a PVR will cost "$200 to $250 above whatever your normal Sky installation is."

Another project is to increase viewer interaction. Sky will deliver online voting via the Sky remote for the People Choice Sports Awards.

There is always more programming. Sky has a reservation on the Optus D1 satellite which will be launched next year and will give Sky more capacity.

Subscribers paying an average of $55 each a month are Sky's bread and butter, but advertising on 18 Sky channels has grown 3.75 per cent to around $26.6 million.

It's a small but growing part of the TV advertising pie which hit a record $592 million last year.

As Sky's audience grows, advertisers are spending more to reach them.

"Each digital subscriber spends 50 per cent of their time watching Sky channels," says Fellet.

"For every additional subscriber we pick up there's more eyeballs watching CNN or the movie channel."

But he is realistic about pay TV's place in the advertising market.

"TVNZ is the price maker. Advertisers queue up there if they want to go long. If you want to increase your spend you go to Sky."

Martin Gillman, head of Total Media, which buys advertising time and space, says the free-to-air channels face little substantial threat from Sky.

"Free-to-air will dominate the advertising market for a long time. Sky's revenue will always be driven by subscriptions, advertising's just the cream."

Gillman believes his clients would spend more on advertising with Sky "if we could get more supporting evidence to help sell it".

Much of the advertising was placed around big sports events, but Sky was trying to lessen its reliance on the big games to bring in ad revenue.

Says Gillman: "And Sky are doing well. They're starting to get slightly better ratings on non-sport channels."

Wallace and Gillman agree that the attractiveness of good, locally produced programmes will always sideline Sky in the TV advertising market.

The bulk of Sky's locally produced content consists of live sport studio sport shows. Fellet would like to do more, but it is expensive.

Sky doesn't seek any of the New Zealand On Air money which props up most of TVNZ's and CanWest's locally produced programmes.

"It comes with strings attached," says Fellet "And it's more about support of the local television industry as opposed to what the consumer wants. We're just about what the consumers want."

Fellet believes that in a small market, it makes better sense to partner with a free-to-air network and run programmes that an independent producer may have won public money to make.

Sky has a number of regulatory and legal hoops to jump through before the INL merger can take place, but the deal makes sense.

INL holds about 78 per cent of Sky and has $310 million in cash sitting on its books.

The merger will boost Sky's equity, allowing it to pay out a larger share of its cashflow.

Says Fellet: "INL is widely publicly traded but all its assets are in Sky. Sky has the assets but it's not widely publicly traded."

"There's an awkward situation where you get into arbitrage."

Fellet will not be involved in the merger negotiations.

"I'll be conflicted out because INL directly determines my salary."

He says he has never discussed with News Corp what its shareholding goals for Sky are. It holds about 43.6 per cent of INL, but there is potential for it to be diluted.

"My only guide is Direct TV and BSkyB, something in that 40 per cent to 45 per cent range. Rupert could stop it from going to 35 per cent, he wouldn't have to call me."

As far as the merger is concerned, Fellet believes it will be good for Sky, as the investment index is reweighted in favour of the merged organisation.

"Some of our biggest fans of Sky were sellers. Their mandate was that they couldn't have more than twice the weighting index."

Sky in numbers

Market capitalisation: $2 billion.
Customers: nearly 600,000 households.
Subscribers pay: an average of $55 a month.
Bottom line profit: $35.3 million last year.
Share of TV viewership: nearly 20 per cent.
Channels: 84.

Major shareholder: INL, 78 per cent.


(Craigs comment, 84 channels? who are they trying to kid? I make it 36 actual tv channels and the rest are PPV, radio, music services, Interactive services)


Sky recorder promises hours of TV watching


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3596925&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general

SKY TV will release a digital video recorder next year that will see the standard Sky decoder transformed into a device capable of storing hours of programming.

The personal video recorder (PVR) will work with Sky's electronic programming guide, allowing recordings to be pre-set with the Sky remote control unit.

PVRs are gaining popularity in the US and Europe but their use is limited to less than three per cent of viewing households in most countries.

Sky will ride on the coat-tails of Australian pay TV operator Foxtel to release a similar type of PVR here.

Sky chief executive John Fellet said the device would add $200 to $250 to the cost of a typical Sky installation.

PVRs feature "time-shifting", letting viewers begin watching a programme they are still recording, and therefore skip ads.

But the advertising industry is not living in fear of the PVR.

"People see commercials as a trade-off for the price they pay for their viewing," said Martin Gillman, the head of Total Media, which buys media advertising and space.

"There's no evil empire that you can get a box to eliminate."

Sky says it will release its electronic programming guide to third-party PVR vendors "eventually". TV viewers can already buy hard disk drive-based recorders for about $500, but their usefulness is limited without an integrated programming guide.

Sky would likely place an order for 25,000 PVRs towards the end of next year.


Television is search of satellite system


From http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=9355

FIJI Television is negotiating for a new transponder satellite system because the Intelsat 701 system is no longer available.

As of yesterday Lyngsat, which monitors all global satellite movement did not record Sky Pacific, which used Intelsat 701's transponder to beam programmes.

September 30 was the last time it recorded that Sky Pacific had 12 channels tested on the Intelsat 701.

Yesterday, the only people taking up that site were New Caledonia and Tahiti's telecom and television services.

Pacific Broadcasting Service, a venture of the Ba Provincial Council, which had taken up its space before Fiji Television secured a temporary agreement, was still there and Cabinet is negotiating a package with its directors.

Fiji Television chief executive Ken Clark said they were not going to use the transponder forever and were only using it while in a legal battle with New Skies Satellite service for the NSS5 transponder which they had secured when they first announced an intention to provide a 12-channel pay television service.

"The original plan was to use KU band but we have yet to decide whether we will continue to do this or use something else," Mr Clark said.

"Whether we can launch as scheduled at the end of October will depend on the equipment we use.

"We will decide later which frequency we will use and this will decide what equipment we will buy.

If Fiji Television uses a C-band frequency it will have to buy eight to 10-inch satellite dishes, which would cost customers thousands of dollars.

Satellite Pay TV companies use KU band satellite frequencies because they provide high power signal into the areas allowing them to use small size satellite dishes (65cm to 95cm).

If it now wants to continue to use similar frequency it may have to fork out more but this is what Mr Clark is contemplating.

While Fiji Television lost the first round of the legal battle it won an appeal recently, which awarded them 50,000 euros a day.

Mr Clark declined to comment on why he did not inform the stock exchange about this and whether it would have boosted the share price of Fiji Television on the stock exchange.

Mr Clark said in September they were expecting to deliver the package of signals on schedule in September - probably towards the later part of the month."

However, Mr Clark admitted even an October deadline "seems to be far off".

"We are running out of time and we need to move faster as we have made promises to people that we aim to keep," he said.


(Craigs comment, oh dear obviously written by someone who had no idea what they were doing! Fiji TV should be on-air via NSS5 (KU BAND) hopefully by late October.)


BCCI asks DD to beam first two Test series


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=70477

NEW DELHI, OCT 3 : Just two days after public broadcaster Prasar Bharati threatened to take legal action against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has been roped in as part of the contingency plan. Now, Doordarshan will telecast the first two Test series - against Australia and South Africa, sources close to the development said.

DD will also show the platinum jubilee game in Kolkata on November 13.

Under the new arrangement, Ten Sports will take charge of production.

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) will distribute these matches, it is learnt.

That is, Sony would sell the rights outside India, as an industry insider put it. A revenue-sharing formula between the various parties is being worked out.

This arrangement has been made to stave off any legal problems, a senior official with a private channel said. As things stand now, all three broadcasters, which had bid lower than Zee and ESPN-Star Sports in the original tender process, have a role in the two-series contingency plan of BCCI. In the original tender Zee had bid the highest, followed by ESPN-Star, Prasar Bharati, Sony and Ten Sports.

Although BCCI had announced last week that Ten would produce and Sony would telecast the two series against Australia and South Africa, DD’s entry has altered the gameplan. Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma had told reporters last Friday that the public broadcaster was an ‘aggrieved party’ as it had been denied the chance of telecasting the Australia and South Africa series. Mr Sarma had threatened to move court. Zee has already filed a writ against the BCCI decision to award the first two series to Sony.

The India-Australia series will consist of four Test matches and India-South Africa series will have two Test matches. The Australia series begins on October 6. The rights issue has assumed tremendous significance because live telecast of matches is mandatory as per international norms.

The cricket telecast rights war began in August, when Zee outbid established sport channel, ESPN-Star, to in-principle acquire the four-year rights to cricket matches in India between October 2004 and 2008. That triggered ESPN-Star to move Bombay High Court against the Indian cricket board.

Subsequently, BCCI cancelled the original tender, leading to another bout of legal tussle. Zee challenged BCCI’s move to cancel the tender. ESPN-Star was made a party to the case. The case is currently being heard in the Supreme Court.


DD bags rights to telecast series


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/htcricket/14_1039842.htm

In a significant move, public broadcaster, Doordarshan, has managed to bag the domestic rights for the cricket home series against Australia and South Africa.

Confirming this, Prasar Bharati CEO, KS Sarma, said the deal was finalised on Sunday evening. In addition, the public broadcaster has also been given the rights for the BCCI platinum jubilee matches against Pakistan next year.

With this deal the uncertainty over the TV coverage of Australia and South Africa series has ended.

Earlier, the Prasar Bharati had threatened to move Supreme Court against BCCI's decision to give the domestic rights to Sony despite a commitment to DD.

Sources said that under the arrangement Prasar Bharati will pay Rs 3 crore per day for each day of the Test match. For one-dayers this amount will be Rs 7 crore.

However, there will be no revenue sharing arrangement between BCCI and Prasar Bharati.

Interestingly, in the original bid Zee was willing to pay around Rs 9 cr per day. "So whatever revenue we get by marketing go directly to DD,'' an official said.

The series will also be shown on DD Sports. Interestingly, the AIR has been given the radio rights free of cost for the same series.

Sources said the international TV rights are expected to go to Sony now.


Zee delays launch of Sports channel


From http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/03/stories/2004100304131700.htm

NEW DELHI, OCT. 2. Caught in court battles, Zee Telefilms failed to launch its sports channel, Zee Sports, which was slated to go on air from today, its anniversary day.

The broadcaster has deferred the launch by a few days, pending its litigation over cricket telecast rights in the Supreme Court, a senior official said. However, Zee insisted that it would go ahead with the sports channel's launch, even if the court verdict was not in its favour. ``We are hopeful that the Supreme Court would rule in our favour. However, the launch of the channel is not contingent upon our getting the cricket telecast rights,'' Essel Group vice-president (Corporate Brand Development), Ashish Kaul, told PTI from Mumbai.

Test signals for the channel have already started and the company is currently in the process of gathering content of sports programmes, other than cricket. — PTI


Zee, MGM part ways; new channel called ZMZ


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/872522.cms

NEW DELHI: Zee Network and MGM have finally parted ways in their joint venture English movie channel, Zee-MGM. Zee has now rebranded its channel as Zee Movie Zone or ZMZ and is expected to have a commercial launch shortly.

With that, Zee-MGM has ceased to exist as an entity. There has not been any official word on this, though.

While Zee is going ahead solo as of now, it has not ruled out roping in an international partner in the new channel. Till now, the majority of titles with Zee-MGM were from classic hits or old movie library. In the new avatar, ZMZ will also pitch for bagging new titles.

The parting of ways for Zee and MGM appeared imminent ever since Sony Corp bought MGM in a $4.8-billion deal last month. However, there were still speculations that the two might continue with their tie-up in India for sometime.

Interestingly, highly placed sources said that the tie-up between Zee and MGM got over much before the MGM-Sony deal was announced. “Our tie-up with MGM expired in the early part of 2004.

Yet, we continued the partnership out of goodwill,” said the sources. The two formally parted ways only last week.

ZMZ has already tied up with a couple of Hollywood studios for their roster of titles. However, these are purely sourcing arrangements as against the alliance Zee had with MGM. The names of the studios could not be ascertained, but it is learnt that ZMZ will source content from all possible vendors in the Hollywood market, including Paramount and Universal.

When contacted on the proposed alliance for the new channel, Rajiv Garg, head, corporate strategy and finance, Zee Telefilms, said, “Except for Hindi content, which is core to our existence, we wouldn’t mind partnering with any reputable entity in the international or domestic market in any genre.”

With respect to the movie library sourcing from Hollywood studios, he added, “We have tied-up with a central Hollywood content agency to source movies. We also hope that MGM’s doors won’t be completely shut on us. Their non-exclusive stuff would still be available to us.”

It may be recalled that the MGM and Zee alliance didn’t bring exclusive rights for all MGM titles to the Zee-MGM channel. So, for instance, new titles from the James Bond series, part of the MGM catalogue, were telecast by rival channel Star Movies instead of Zee MGM.

The Zee, MGM tie-up, which, despite having the formidable software library of MGM, was a distant third player in the English movie space in the country. However, with broader tie-ups with several production houses in Hollywood, it hopes to rock the boat for HBO and Star Movies.


Star One launch on November 1


From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1040052,0015002200000198.htm

Star India's latest launch to strengthen its bouquet of offerings — Star One — will be unveiled on November 1. The channel with 24-hour Hindi programming targets the urban agglomerates and is ready to roll out.

CEO Peter Mukerjea told the Hindustan Times: “It will have completely original programming. There is a need-based gap which we want to plug. As such we have designed a Star World in Hindi. We are spending $30 million in the first year on programming." Prime time on Star One will start at 10 pm for the discerning viewer.

A slew of production houses will be creating the programming for the new channel including ones like Balaji, UTV and Miditech. Mukerjea said a lot of premium advertisers were not advertising on the saas bahu programmes because they felt they were not connecting with their target audience. That is why a spanking new channel has been designed and this will also, along with Star Utsav, provide flanking cover for the flagship channel Star Plus.




3/10/04

No Update Sundays




2/10/04

No update Saturday




1/10/04

Zee Sports testing on Pas10 as rumored. But it seems Sony will be doing the cricket broadcast. It should be on DD National as well so check Insat2E


From my Emails & ICQ

From B.C (Taiwan)

My favourite other satellite PAS 10 now has Zee Sports 3768 H 6500


From vk4bkp

Intelsat 701 PBS mux have moved to 12648H 28093 3/4 all channels
are encrypted.


From the Dish


Intelsat 701 180E 3886 R "Alhurra" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2560/2520.(Not new been there for months)
New PIDs for the WorldNet channels: 2160/2120-2360/2320.

Intelsat 701 180E 11074 H "The Sky Pacific" mux has left .

PAS 8 166E 3829 H "CCTV E&F" has started on , Fta, PIDs 1360/1320.(Asiasat 3 as well)

Optus B3 152E 12525 V "The God Channel Asia" has started Fta, PIDs 2081/2082.

Agila 2 146E 4088 H "The Solar Entertainment mux" has left (Digicipher 2), moved to Measat 1.

JCSAT 3 128E 4120 V "Super TV" is now encrypted.

Telkom 1 108E 4097 H "SCTV Jawatimur" is back on , Fta, PIDs 1160/1120.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4140 V "Alpha Telugu" has left .

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 4020 V "EuroSport News" has left .

NSS 6 95E 11083 H "Antenna Pacific" is still on , Fta, SR 2171, FEC 3/4, PIDs 34/35.
NSS 6 95E 12595 V "NTV (Bangladesh)" has left .

Measat 1 91.5E 4120 H "Solar USA, Solar Sports, Solar ETV, Solar Sports Plus and a test card" have started on , Digicipher 2/enc., SR 14630, FEC 7/8, VCs 200-205.

Yamal 201 90E 4084 R "Radio Mayak" has started on , Fta, APID 4152.

Intelsat 709 85.2E 11542 V "EuroSport News" has left .

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "Apna Channel" has started regular transmissions on , Fta, PIDs 521/740.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H "The God Channel Asia" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2561/2562.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" Channel 3 is encrypted again.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3760 H "Pink Plus has replaced Nojoom" on , Fta, PIDs 260/516.

PAS 10 68.5E 3768 H "Zee Sports" has started testing on , Fta, SR 6500, FEC 3/4, PIDs 257/258.
PAS 10 68.5E 4090 H "CCTV E&F" has started on , Fta, PIDs 1360/1320.



NEWS


Pay TV ruling in Seven's favour


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/30/1096527866271.html

Seven Network struck a blow in one of its legal battles with Foxtel, the Australian Competition Tribunal stripping the pay television operator of a key exemption relating to third-party access to its platforms.

The decision, which overturns an original exemption made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last December, means that Foxtel may now face tighter regulations on how it allows third parties to gain access to its digital platform.

Though Foxtel already has an ACCC-approved digital access agreement in place, yesterday's ruling gives third parties the right to challenge for better terms.

Seven's head of corporate development, Simon Francis, said yesterday's result was a victory for all smaller pay TV aspirants.

"Prior to the ruling today, [third party access] was almost a commercially unviable proposition," he said. "It's several million dollars a year per channel just to lease the space, let alone creating the content, marketing and then managing the set-top boxes."

But Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams hit back, arguing that the tribunal's decision would make no difference to the company's commitment to allow others to gain access to its digital platform.

"Foxtel has made the largest single digital broadcasting investment in Australia, of approximately $600 million. If others want to use and benefit from that investment by independently accessing our customers, we will enable that to happen on fair terms."

Mr Williams also said the implications of yesterday's ruling were far from clear because the tribunal had not yet given the reasons for its decisions. It is expected to do so within the next three to four weeks.

Foxtel is 50 per cent owned by Telstra and 25 per cent each by News Corp and PBL.

In December last year, Foxtel was granted an exemption from the Trade Practices Act that meant the ACCC could not regulate how it opened its digital platform to third parties until 2015. At the same time, the ACCC approved an access and pricing regime that Foxtel put forward itself.

Part of that undertaking was that Telstra would initially provide space on its fibre-optic cable for up to 24 new digital channels. Several more digital channels were to be made available once its analog signal was switched off.

Foxtel said several interested third parties had approached it to discuss the access arrangements.

Seven launched its appeal against the ACCC's exemption in January.


Final Project PROBE contract signed, cost revealed


Press Release NZ Govt

Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced the final cost of Project Probe - the government's rollout of high speed internet access to regions around New Zealand - following the signing of the final PROBE contract.

"Today the final contract was signed meaning high speed internet is on its way to 63 remote schools and their communities. ICONZ is the provider of broadband for this satellite region which includes the Chatham Islands," Trevor Mallard told the Navcon Learning for the Future conference in Christchurch today.

"Project PROBE (Provincial Broadband Extension) signifies our government's commitment to investing in critical infrastructure, with a total investment of $48.3 million. Details of the investment have not been able to be released previously because of commercial sensitivity during negotiations.

"Under the contract with ICONZ , schools will be provided with a 64kbps service which is burstable to higher speeds, and capable of supporting additional bandwidth to support a 512 kbps video conferencing service. Schools will pay a monthly rental of $150 for this, with the government providing a subsidy of $300 per month.

"This investment demonstrates our commitment to ensuring our very isolated and rural communities do not miss out on services that are taken for granted in urban areas.

"We will also be using the ICONZ combined satellite and wireless solution to solve some other particularly difficult-to-serve areas around the country including Canterbury's Waiau Valley and Haast on the West Coast.

"This is an investment that will boost education and economic development across New Zealand and it is an important part of our strategy to grow a more innovative economy.

"Broadband means students and their families, business people and communities will have opportunities in education and economic development regardless of where they live and work. High-speed internet means our industries can take world-class ideas to the international arena and our students can share teachers and resources with students elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas.

"We are set to see broadband coverage to most schools by the end of this year. The 63 schools and communities on the satellite option can expect to receive service progressively from now through to the middle of next year.


(Craigs comment, WHAT??????????? when did 64kbps become broadband?)


TAIWAN: Broadcasters must reach out to Asia, firm urges


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=15316

Advertising Taiwan's broadcasters should take advantage of satellite technology in order to bolster the nation's cultural influence in Asia where there is a market for Mandarin-language programs

Advertising Taiwan's broadcasters should take advantage of satellite technology in order to bolster the nation's cultural influence in Asia where there is a market for Mandarin-language programs, satellite launcher Arianespace said yesterday.

At a press conference held yesterday, Richard Bowles, Arianespace's representative director for ASEAN countries, said that Taiwan has potential to make significant headway into the greater Mandarin-language television market. By taking advantage of satellite broadcasting technology, Southeast Asia should be a profitable region for Taiwan's Mandarin-language programs development, Bowles said. Created in 1980, Arianespace is an influential European commercial launch service supported by 44 European shareholders from 12 countries, was contracted to provide launch services for several commercial satellites.

"We are free and happy to share our launch service with any Taiwanese operator in the future," Bowles said. Bowles also said that his firm has been gradually shifting its focus from the telecommunication satellites to the satellite broadcasting industry. Arianespace has launched 134 telecommunication satellites of the 236 in orbit today, accounting for 60 percent. Arianespace's rockets take off from French Guiana, whose location is just 5 degrees north of the equator, which is ideal for a geostationary satellite launch.

In Asia, the firm provided sent 49 satellites into space for 16 operators. However, Arianespace has never done business with China, which has its own service. In 1998, Arianespace provided the launch service for a commercial telecommunications satellite, the ST-1, whose project was a joint venture between Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom Co and Singapore Telecom.

Representatives of Arianespace yesterday also met with Taiwanese officials from the National Science Program Office (NSPO), exchanging up-to-date information on the feasibility of such a project.

Most satellite projects developed by Taiwan are scientific research. Such satellites are relatively smaller than telecommunications satellites and circle the Earth at a lower orbit. For example, the mission orbit for ROCSAT-2 launched in May this year is 891km above the planet.

NSPO director Lance Wu yesterday told the Taipei Times that it was too early to discuss the possible cooperation between his office and Arianespace.

One of NSPO's processing projects, called the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) will begin with the launch of the ROCSAT-3 satellite at the end of next year. The international collaboration between Taiwan and the US will use an integration of six remote sensing microsatellites to collect atmospheric data to monitor weather patterns, the ionosphere and climate and gravity research. It will be launched by US Orbital Sciences Corp from a launch pad California.


First space tug deal 'on cards'


From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3700764.stm

The tug will help extend the lifetimes of telecommunications satellites

The UK firm behind the so-called space tug, designed to extend the lifetimes of satellites, says it is confident of closing a deal on a commercial flight.

A deal to launch the first orbital tugboat in 2007 has already been signed with European rocket firm Arianespace.

But the vehicle needs a target and the chief executive of Orbital Recovery - the company behind the tug - says the first flight will be a commercial one.

Phil Braden said an announcement could be made early next year.

It's not a difficult value proposition to understand. When you say to a satellite operator: 'Do you want to make a lot more money out of your asset?' They say: 'Sure'

Phil Braden, Orbital Recovery Limited

"We are in very protracted discussions with a number of satellite operators," Phil Braden, chief executive officer of Orbital Recovery Limited, told BBC News Online.

The tugboat, called the ConeXpress Orbital Life Extension Vehicle (CX-OLEV) is designed to prolong the operating lifetimes of telecommunications satellites, perhaps by as much as 10 years and a minimum of five.

ConeXpress is designed to launch with the same platform used to carry regular satellites into space aboard an Ariane 5. Once in space, the tugboat prepares for a rendezvous with the satellite, approaching it from from below and docking with it.

The tug's ion propulsion engine uses electricity from its solar panels to charge xenon gas, then spits ionized particles through a nozzle to provide thrust.

Docking procedure

It links up using a docking device designed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) that connects to the satellite's apogee kick motor.

This motor is a common feature on nearly all telecommunications satellites and provides a convenient interface point that is always within the satellite's centre of gravity.

ConeXpress then provides the satellite with the propulsion, navigation and guidance required to maintain it in its proper orbit beyond the normal lifetime.

ConeXpress will use a feature common to all satellites as its 'docking port'

Once a telecommunications satellite runs out of propellant, it is boosted into a "disposal orbit" and decommissioned, meeting a fiery end as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.

But in many cases, their communications payloads could continue to function long past the decommissioning date.

"There are actually 73 satellites that are commercially viable and technically viable for life extension before the end of 2011. That's our defined market," said Mr Braden.

"We went into our marketing campaign only about three months ago when the European Space Agency mid-term review was done. Clearly, when you speak to the satellite operators, you need more than a great idea."

Easy pitch

Telecommunications satellites that Orbital Recovery is looking at typically cost around $250m and have a lifespan of about 12 years.

"It's not a difficult value proposition to understand. When you say to a satellite operator: 'Do you want to make a lot more money out of your asset?' They say: 'Sure'," said Mr Braden.

The tug could boost the lifetime of some satellites by 10 years or more

"But it all comes down to convincing them you can do it and convincing them you can manage the risk."

Orbital Recovery's technology can also rescue satellites placed in the wrong orbit by their launch vehicles, or those that have become stranded in an incorrect orbit during positioning manoeuvres.

The firm has joined up with Arianespace to cover the risk and with PriceWaterhouseCoopers on project financing.

It has also been involved in continuing talks with the US space agency about possible missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope.


Korea Needs Overseas PR Overhaul


From http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200410/kt2004100116311210440.htm

President Roh Moo-hyun is making great efforts to accomplish his administration’s vision of building South Korea into the economic hub of Northeast Asia with a series of upcoming overseas ``sales diplomacy’’ tours.

But according to government officials in charge of promoting the nation’s international profile, Roh’s photo opportunities with foreign leaders won’t achieve much in the long-term unless he chooses to invest more in providing information about South Korea to the international community.

``With more financial support from the government, we can do a lot more to improve Korea’s image abroad,’’ an official from the Government Information Agency told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. ``We have just 900 million won for overseas advertising. With such a tiny amount of money, we can hardly think of advertising Korea through influential worldwide broadcasters like the CNN or BBC.’’

According to government budget statistics, only 53 billion won was allotted to the Government Information Agency, accounting for 0.04 percent of the total state budget. This figure represents the tip of the iceberg compared to Samsung Electronics Company’s vast investment of 1.5 trillion won, 3.5% of its total sales profits, into its overseas promotion last year alone. The Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS), responsible for overseas promotion under the agency, is given just 15 billion won.

``We have kept demanding more financial support. However, the government has seldom taken an interest in promoting the national image abroad. It is only engrossed in domestic affairs,’’ the official said. Right after the 2002 World Cup in Seoul, a governmental committee to improve the nation’s image abroad was set up, promising further practical support for the agency, but the government’s focus on public relations has gradually been losing steam as the World Cup fever diminishes.

The official also expressed concerns that many foreign media outlets still paint only a negative picture of South Korea, highlighting issues relating to the ongoing nuclear standoff with North Korea and labor strikes, mainly due to a lack activities promoting the nation.

The ``Arirang TV,’’ the nation’s leading public broadcasting agency mainly targeting foreign viewers, has also reportedly been in financial difficulty despite continual efforts to deliver Korea to the world.

The broadcaster is currently providing satellite programs to about 47 million houses and facilities across the world, but still has much difficulty in further expanding its influence in the international community largely owing to financial issues, according to Lee Seo-jin, policy director for the company.

``Hundreds of public broadcasters from advanced and developing countries around the world are fiercely competing to win a contract to provide their programs to other countries,’’ Lee said. ``Winning the competition hinges solely on how much money they invest in marketing and content. It’s a money game.’’

`` Unlike a commercial station supported by advertising revenue, a government’s financial assistance is essential for a nation’s public broadcaster,’’ said Lee citing the ``Deutsche Welle’’, a German public broadcaster, as a case in point for the Seoul government.

After reunification, Berlin decided to give full support to the Deutsche Welle, once a broadcaster for East Germany before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, providing it with about $300 billion.

``Now it has grown to become a top international TV broadcaster delivering programs to about 100 million households around the world.

``More importantly, the Deutsche Welle played a significant role in improving the country’s deteriorated image after World War II.’’

Lee went on to say that in this era of the global market, brand value depends on how much better an image is presented through public relations, including TV advertising and Internet, and Japan understands that. He stressed the importance of overseas public information, saying, ``The South Korean government needs to take a strategic and long-term approach to the public relations service and provide sufficient support.’’

``We are doing well now, but will be much better with more financial support as we can produce our own quality contents,’’ Lee added. ``Telling the world of Korea’s uniqueness through broadcasting services would be one of the most effective ways to improve Korea’s image in the international community.’’


(Craigs comment, they could start by providing a DECENT signal on the Pas2 KU service)


Sony to telecast India-Aus series


From http://sify.com/sports/cricket/fullstory.php?id=13579293

Kolkata: The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Thursday it will arrange for live telecast of the India-Australia series, beginning on October 6, through Sony TV channel.

"The Board has decided to produce the live telecast of the series itself and distribution will be done by Sony TV," newly-elected BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said in Kolkata.

Mahendra said, based on the recommendations of its Marketing Committee, the Board decided to produce the live telecast itself.

He also said the live feeds would be produced by Ten Sports, while "telecast, distribution and marketing" would be done by Sony Entertainment Network on a "revenue sharing basis."

The telecast of India-Pakistan Platinum Jubilee match on November 13 and two-Test series between India and South Africa in November-December would be done under the same arrangement, Mahendra added.

He said the live telecast would be subject to any order passed by the Supreme Court, where a matter is pending in this regard.


Howzatt! Test series to be telecast on DD and cable


From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/869728.cms

NEW DELHI: Millions of Indian cricket fans need not chew their nails with anxiety. The first Test series between India and Australia starting on home turf on October 6 will be beamed into all cable-connected and antennaed homes after all.

With the Supreme Court on Thursday adjourning to October 5 the hearing on the legal intricacies over the "public status" of BCCI, there is no legal impediment to ensuring that the matches are telecast on Doordarshan nationally and on a private channel otherwise.

As the merits of petitioner Zee Telefilms' plea over what it claims as unfair cancellation of its rights can be settled only after the court decides the constitutional point over the Board's status, no judicial view seems likely before the India-Australia test series begins on October 6.

BCCI has decided to give the satellite honour to Sony to keep out of any further controversy by picking either ESPN-Star Sports or Zee Telefilms. Ironically, the telecast rights are going to one of the lowest bidders, said observers.

Given the bitterness between BCCI patron-in-chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and Zee boss Subhash Chandra, it is unlikely that the TV firm would get any consideration from the Board for the immediate series. Zee's only hope lies in a judicial intervention in its favour.

Legal experts noted that there was no stay on the cancellation of the bidding process for the four-year domestic cricket telecast rights so far and thus nothing prevented BCCI from signing up with Sony. Zee Telefilms too has not pressed for any interim relief.

A revenue-sharing formula will be worked out between the Board and Sony for now. Ten Sports would be producing the series said BCCI, adding that the decision would be executed subject to the court's approval.

A five-judge constitution bench has called for written submissions from the parties to the contentious issue regarding the public duty concept of the board. It will conclude hearing the legal craftsmen just a day before the battle begins on other greener pitches.


Zee MGM to be re-christened Zee Movie Zone


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/sep/sep340.htm

Whether Zee group is contemplating the launch of a new English movie channel, following the buy-out of its current partner Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by a group headed by Sony Corp, is not forthcoming. But the latest is that starting 1 October, Zee MGM is being renamed as Zee Movie Zone (ZMZ). The network has also unveiled a sparkling new golden logo.

When contacted, a company spokesperson refused comment on the current status of Zee and MGM's content sourcing contract in India. What was offered instead is that the channel - touted as a complete Hollywood movie channel - will now be making extra efforts to air new titles, which had not been the case earlier. The perception Zee-MGM has in the market is that of a movie channel that is not strong on big blockbusters, though it does air some interesting movies.

In addition to sporting new titles, ZMZ will have weekly bands like Family Zone, Comedy Zone, Action Zone, Oscar Zone etc. First up is a 'James Bond' series that will air Sunday nights at 8 pm.

Earlier, the business head for Zee's English channels Ajay Trigunayat had been quoted in media reports as saying that the group is contemplating starting its own English movie channel, either on its own or in partnership with some other media company.

"Even as we had the partnership with MGM, many of the movies on the channel were being sourced from other players like Paramount and Miramax. Thus we can go solo, taking the content from various partners," he was quoted as saying in the report.