30/9/01

NRL final on tonight, I think a 16x9 feed will might be on Mediasat 6.30pm Syd time. As usual a message will go out on the mailing list if its sited FTA anywhere. Lots of interesting items in the News section today.

Tony Drexal from FTA Sat services, South Australia has sent some Digital pictures of the South Pacific Region Satellite and Cable Show that was held in Melbourne last week. He also adds that he has had over 70 phone calls from customers about Antenna switching off on Pas 2. SPRSCS Photos


From the Dish


Sinosat 1 110.5E 4106 V "Shanghai People's Radio" has started, Sid 3, Apid 1214.

Express 6A 80E 4125 R7 TV has replaced RTM, Sid 5, Vpid 164 Apid 96.

LMI 1 75E 3433 H "The TV Lanka tests and test card have left".


NEWS


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 39/2001 September 30 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic


Edited Apsattv.com Edition


Internet - www.idp.fr

GERMANY


ARD AND ZDF PREPARE GLOBAL TV SERVICE

German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are launching a satellite channel for
German viewers based outside the country. The channel will begin broadcasting
during the first quarter of 2002 and will air general entertainment, news and
current affairs with additional programming supplied by state run Deutsche
Welle. The channel will be called German Television, will have a budget of DM60
million and is expected to breakeven by 2007.



A S I A



ARAB LANGUAGE BROADCASTERS IN COMMON PROJECT

Four Arabic satellite television stations have united in an attempt to make the
Arab voice heard abroad and balance what Arabic countries regard as reporting
with an Israel bias. The four stations, Middle East Broadcasting Corporation,
Arab Radio and Television, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International and
Future Television, will launch the Arab Media Research Centre (AMCR) from Cairo
later this week. AMRC's goal is to co-operate with Western media to clarify the
Arab point of view on international developments, according to LBCI Chairman
Pierre Daher. Daher has also said this is a private sector venture separated
from efforts by the Arab League Information Ministers to launch a joint media
campaign to counter the perceived Western bias towards Israel. The AMCR will
feature documentaries and television programmes, which would be financed by the
centre and sold to international media outlets. Moreover, there are discussions
going on regarding a launch of a satellite channel in English and possibly
other foreign languages to better explain to the world the Arab point of view
in international events.


AUSTRALIA


CHANNEL 7 COULD JOIN OPTUS PAY-TV

Seven Network’s pay-TV arm C7 is reportedly close to securing carriage on the
Cable & Wireless Optus pay-TV platform. The two parties have been struggling to
reach agreement over the renegotiation of a 10-year A$30-40 million per year
deal signed in 1997. However, Optus has denied a long-term deal has been agreed
although it confirmed it will carry the channel for the short term.


BANGLADESH


EKUSHEY TV STOPS BROADCASTING

The Bangladesh high court has ruled that the country’s only independent
terrestrial TV broadcaster, Ekushey Television, must temporarily stop
operating. The court said the station did not have proper documentation to
broadcast. The ruling comes at a sensitive time, because general elections in
Bangladesh are due to be held on Monday amid rising political tension
throughout the country. It means that state run Bangladesh television will be
the first to broadcast the results of Monday’s general election, because only
it has access to the central vote counting centre in Dhaka.


BURMA


MRTV-3 IN ENGLISH THREE DAYS A WEEK

The MRTV-3 English Programmes for foreign countries will be telecast three days
a week - Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday - as of the first week of October.
There will be no change of broadcasting time and technical data. The MRTV-3
English-language television service began test transmissions on August 1, and
commenced regular broadcasts on August 19. It is carried on the domestic
Burmese terrestrial TV network as well as on satellite. According to a report
in the Burmese New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the new TV service is aimed at
?projecting Myanmar’s true image abroad more distinctly and more attractively”.


Craigs comment this one on Thaicom 3, global beam



CHINA - HONG KONG


GOLD TV AGREES TO ASSET AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT DEAL

GOLD TV, a leading home shopping and general entertainment broadcaster in Asia,
announced on September 28 it has entered into an agreement for an share -equity
investment based upon the injection from Sun TV. Sun TV will acquire
approximately 23 per cent of GTMM under this agreement. In this agreement Sun
TV will inject equity with an estimated value of $4 million dollars. The
investment includes: Airtime on their Premier channel which holds the
distribution rights for A&E, History Channel for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
and reaches 20 million homes. Sun will inject around 30,000 hours of a film
library along with the rights to broadcast. Gold TV will rebroadcast using its
own format that will enfold home shopping merchandising with the programs.
Additionally under this agreement GOLD TV will have access to utilise the state
of the art broadcasting studio owned and operated by Sun TV for the production
of the company's home shopping and general entertainment programs. Under this
agreement, GOLD TV® will add to its current home shopping programs a bouquet of
general entertainment and educational programs to attract and maintain the
interest of the current home shopping format. Sun TV has the rights to operate
two satellite TV channels China wide and broadcasts additionally to 500,000
households in Hong Kong via (iCable TV) and 4 million households in Taiwan
through the (Knowledge Cable Channel).


INDIA


NEW RULES FOR DIGITAL BOXES COULD DELAY LAUNCH OF TV SERVICES

According to a report in the Electronic Engineering Times, government broadcast
rules that require the use of set-top boxes based on “open architectures” will
delay broadcasters and satellite providers in launching digital TV services
here. The rules mean broadcasters like News Corp.’s Star TV network and
satellite carriers like EuropeStar, Americom Asia Pacific and Eutelsat must
change their proprietary encryption and conditional access features in order to
comply. As a result, interest in providing direct-to-home satellite services in
India has diminished. Citing consumer protection and technical issues, the
government issued the rules to ensure that subscribers are not tied through
boxes to just a few channels and that they would have access to as many
satellite broadcasts as possible.


NEW ZEALAND


TVNZ REPORTS FIRST HALF RESULTS

State-owned broadcaster and market leader Television New Zealand has declared
an after-tax profit for the year ending June 30 of almost NZ$30 million, down
from NZ$43.1 million a year earlier. Revenue edged higher to NZ$481.1 million
from NZ$473.4 million, but increased programming costs, both for foreign fare
and increased local content, pushed expenditures to NZ$435.5 million from
NZ$385.4 million. Declining advertising revenue cut TV and media income by
almost NZ$22 million to NZ$335.6 million but was offset by increased revenue
from transmission arms TVNZ Australia and Satellite Services.


PAKISTAN


INDIAN CHANNELS BANNED

Pakistan on September 24 banned telecast of all India-based TV channels in the
country, Radio Pakistan reported. The decision was taken by the cable operators
of Pakistan because of “anti-Pakistani propaganda’’ by these channels. All
cable operators have been directed to suitably adhere to the ban. Following the
ban, Asian DTH broadcaster Star TV has been forced to alter its Pakistani feed
and replace Indian content with general entertainment. Indian broadcasters
Doordarshan and Zee have also had to pull channels.


SOLOMON ISLANDS


BBC WORLD TO REMAIN FREE FOR HONIARA CITIZENS

Television viewers in Honiara will continue to enjoy the free-to-air BBC World
television service being provided by Solomon Telekom. British High Commissioner
to Solomon Islands Brian Baldwin says a temporary television licence will be
issued to Solomon Telekom to enable the company continue broadcasting the
service. This follows consultations he has had with the minister for transport,
works and communications and the general manager of Solomon Telekom.
Mr Baldwin says there are issues over licence which need not affect the
broadcast of BBC World Service, and he is grateful to both parties for reaching
an agreement. The British High Commission in Honiara is financing the provision
of the BBC World Service to Solomon Islands.


SOUTH KOREA


TARIFFS FOR DIGITAL TV EQUIPMENT EASED

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) on September 18 decided to
ease import tariffs on digital television equipment to help broadcasters cope
with high initial investment costs. The move comes in conjunction with the
commercial launch of land-based digital television. Under cooperation with the
Ministry of Finance and Economy, the MIC will designate 87 items that are
technically difficult to manufacture here, and they will then enjoy lower
tariffs. “Three terrestrial broadcasters plans to import a total of 466.3
billion won worth of digital broadcasting equipment over the next three years,
said an MIC spokesman, adding that those companies could save 37.1 billion won
in tariff exemption. The country’s major television stations will officially
launch digital TV in November, ending the test-run period in the capital. Last
month, the MIC finally granted licenses to four broadcasters - KBS, EBS, MBC
and SBS - for five digital TV channels. State-run KBS has two channels. The
government plans to expand the service to six metropolitan cities by 2003,
provincial capitals by 2004, and all cities and counties by 2005.


TAIWAN


LORAL SKYNET SIGNS EASTERN DTH

Loral Skynet, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, on September 27
announced that it has signed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement with
Eastern DTH, a leading direct-to-home television service provider in Taiwan.
Eastern DTH will increase its current Ku-band capacity on Loral’s Telstar 10
satellite in order to distribute additional family entertainment, movies, news,
music, and documentary programming. Based in Taipei, Eastern DTH is a leading
provider of Chinese and English language programming via satellite, carrying
over 30 programmers including Taiwan Television, China Television, Formosa TV,
Chinese TV System, Power TV (formerly the Chinese Television Network), HBO, the
Golf Channel, and Cinemax. Its recent merger with Pacific Digital Media Corp.
increased Eastern DTH’s customer base by approximately 40 per cent to over
80,000 subscribers. Telstar 10, located at 76.5 degrees East, is equipped with
28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders. The C-band payload provides coverage of
Asia, Australia, parts of Europe and Africa. The Ku-band payload covers Korea
and China, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.


Craigs comment Telstar 10??? Apstar 2R they must mean.




29/9/01

Antenna on Pas 2 has now gone, what are the odds on Alpha on Thaicom 3 being next? I think some dealers will be getting a lot of phone calls Monday morning about it.

Complaints about the loss of Antenna should be sent to [email protected]?Subject=Feedback

Some more activity on B3, this time on 12313 H

Tony Drexal from FTA satellite services has sent in some pictures of the SPRSCS show in Melbourne, I will put them up Sunday.If anyone else took some pictures you are welcome to send them to my email address.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Me 29/9/01

2.20pm Syd time "Ocassional 2" on B3, has the AFl grand final.


From Dave

On B1,12397 H Sr 7200, Fec 3/4 Has a AFL feed comming from a crowd somewhere in
brisbane watching the AFL on a large screen.


From Chris Pickstock 29/9/01

11.30pm Sa time

B3 12313 H, Sr 30000, 3 channels load

FYI Vpid 37, Apid 38
aDemo Vpid 45, Apid 48
aHome Vpid41, Apid 42

All are encrypted, so can not say what is showing.

12658 v is back to a test card again. Can anybody check 12489 V on B3. My unit is showing 20 - 24% signal strength but needs 50% to lock. SR was anywhere between 5600 and 8000

Chris


From John Kahler

I reloaded this package. It loads 21 channels. Most are Open TV interactive programs.
You need a receiver capable of running Open TV programs to see them.


John


From John Harrison

I loaded up this freq (12313H) and inserted my austar card in to the humax, it comes
up with an Austar channel with competitions and other stuff, tech talk etc.
this channel does not load on the austar decoder so must be testing it


From Roy Pangallo

g`day Craig,

I just want to let you know
that there`s teletext on the Dubai channels on Asiasat 2 with tv schedule on all channels
including the dubay sport channels all in english,

I use a nokia receiver.

Roy.


Craigs comment, thanks for the tip Roy.


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3836 V "Antenna Pacific" has left, replaced by "JSC - Al Jazeera Satellite Channel"Complaints to the address listed up the top of the page. Sid 1 Vpid 512 Apid 650

Optus B3 156E 12658 V "An Optus test card" has started, Sr 30000, Vpid 2560.(other test happening also here)

Palapa C2 113E 3621 H "News Radio 68H Jakarta" Sr 6000, 3/4 Apid 1211

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H "A PCM test card" has started, Sid 2, Vpid 1020 Apid 1021.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3960 H "TCM Asia" has left
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4065 H "This being listed now in Stars NIT, with Sr 20000 may be new freq they will use."
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3980 V "The 2 Espn's that were listed in here, have gone. Fox News still FTA here

PAS 10 68.5E 3836 H "B4U Movies India has replaced B4U Entertainment",Sid 105, Vpid 2560 Apid 2520.


NEWS


Turner ends pact with SABe TV


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010929/news2.html

Turner International is terminating its distribution contract with SABe TV for non payment of dues.

Sources said Turner has served a termination notice as it has not received payment from SABe TV for the last six months. According to the agreement, Turner was to receive payment every month from SABe TV for distributing the Hindi entertainment channel. “It was a monthly payment contract,” the source added.

Friction between the two companies, sources said, started a few months back. Turner was not aggressively pushing the distribution of the free-to-air Hindi channel because of the uncertainty over payments and treating it as an appendage in its distribution business. Though no formal notice was communicated, the feeling was that the two partners would separate.

Nobody in Turner International was willing to speak on the issue. When contacted, the company’s spokesperson refused to deny or affirm the report. “No comment,” he said.

Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network vice chairman Markand Adhikari denied the report. “Nothing has gone wrong with us. Turner International is distributing our channel,” he said.

Though Turner is distributing the channel as of now, sources confirmed that the company had sent the termination notice. Turner was responsible for seeding the boxes and increasing the reach of the channel in the country. The agreement between Turner International and Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network for distributing SABe TV was for a period of two years. But there was a clause for cancellation of the contract.

SABe TV had turned to Turner for enhancing the reach of the channel by 100 per cent. Besides, it added a brand value association. For Turner, it was an opportunity to get associated with a Hindi general entertainment channel. Turner distributes its own channels like CNN and Cartoon Network. SABe TV was the only channel in its bouquet which did not belong to it.

Sources said distributors had more incentives to distribute the Turner-owned channels than SABe TV boxes. With SABe TV being free-to-air, they could not get a share of the subscription revenue but a one-time commission.


Turner, Adhikari Brothers break off distribution deal for SABe TV?


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/sep/sep68.htm

Turner International India, which had a tie-up with Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network to distribute the Hindi entertainment channel SABe TV in the country, has broken off the alliance, sources say.

SABe was the first local channel in the Turner distribution bouquet which includes CNN, HBO and Cartoon Network.

The alliance included packaged advertising, trade promotion, distribution and marketing of SABe TV. SABTNL, however, had its own ad sales team.


Zee bouquet to see programme revamp


From http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1464243927

Zee TV channel's revamp programme, which kicked off in the end of August, will be followed by a restructuring of programmes on Zee News and Zee Music. Kanta Advani, director, Zee TV, said at a press conference here that in the next six months, programming on the Zee bouquet of channels will be revamped.

Among Zee TV's 24 new programmes are Aap Jo Bolein Haan To Haan.., Kohi Apna Sa, Sarhadein, Dollar Bahu and Niilaamghar, which cover the segments of interactive programming, game shows, serials and soap operas.

Zee TV, the flagship channel of the Zee network, unleashed a new ad campaign a few weeks ago, which tries to capture the young, fresh face of Zee, Advani said. The channel has attempted to have dedicated programming across all the time slots during the day, she added.




28/9/01

Some activity today on B3, 12658 V keep and eye on it. Perhaps ABC and ABC Kids will turn up. As of 4pm Syd time the test labled R.R Test had gone" I hope they don't switch to Australia only Beam.

The site www.digisatnz.tv is no longer offering satellite products, some of you may have read about there new Irdeto/nds box in the last Satfacts magazine or even enquired about one. this is what is up at their website.

"A notice to all DigiSat Limited customers.

We have decide to suspend business operations until TVNZ either launches
or cancels there free-to-air digital satellite TV service for New Zealand.

We once again apologise for this inconvenience."

Digisat were offering Offering Irdeto1/2 box upgradeable to also handle NDS, with internal HD etc. (Well it did sound to good to be true)



From my Emails & ICQ


From Mahmoud

Complete system for sale (Melbourne)

Complete system for sale - located in Melbourne

1- Paraclipse 2.6 mesh dish with manual
2- C-Band LNBF (15' bought last year)
3- SuperJack 24" heavy duty actuator (still in warranty) with box, manual
and receipt.
4- SuperJack positioner (still in warranty) with remote control, box,
manual and receipt.
5- Strong Analog receiver with remote control and manual.
6- Prosat digital receiver with remote control, box and manual.

The system is installed (and working). Buyer can see it working and has to
uninstall it and ship it. Price is $800 AUD for everything. Contact

[email protected]


Contact Mahmoud Hashish


From Chris Pickstock

On B3 an Optus Test Card has appeared at 12658 V, Sr 30000, Vpid 2560, no Apid loads. Channel is labelled "CH62" This is where "Zee was located, so maybe some more channels coming soon within Aurora. Test Card is FTA.

Craigs Comment, Some video on there now. 3 services..3.30pm Syd time


"CH 62" V 2560 A (None) PCR 2560 Sid 701 PMT 44
EPG says "No broadcast on this channel Optus Aurora B3 (156 E) Last TV Channel"
Service has video of ABC? but no Audio

"RR.Test" V 1537 A 1540 PCR 1537 Sid 6 PMT 1536

This one is encrypted..

"IP Pids" TXT 2401 Sid 777 PMT 44


From the Dish


Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Various test happening here see above"


NEWS


Pakistan blacks out Indian news channels


From http://www.adageglobal.com/cgi-bin/daily.pl?daily_id=5872

NEW DELHI - The All-Pakistan Cable Operators'Association is to impose a countrywide `ban' on the airing of the five Indian TV news channels, considered to be "propagating against Islam and Pakistan."

The blocked channels are Zee News, Rupert Murdoch-owned Star News and Star Plus, Jain TV and the Indian state-owned channel Doordarshan News.

In a strong statement, Tahir Ali Khan, general secretary of the All-Pakistan Cable Operators' Association in Karachi, says if any cable operator violates the decision, it will be considered as "anti-Pakistan and [an] Indian agent." Mr. Khan alleges that Indian channels have been "ruining" Pakistan's religious, cultural and social traditions.

The Indian Information & Broadcasting ministry has still to verify the existence of the ban and is not expected to give a formal reaction until it has a first-hand report from the Indian mission in Pakistan. Earlier, representatives of the Indian news media were denied visas by Pakistan.

The Pakistan government has also reacted strongly to the news coverage and analysis of foreign TV networks. It recently objected to CNN airing footage about terrorist camps run in Pakistan.

A report in Jang Group's Pakistan daily The News comments: "Stampeding foreign journalists, converged on Pakistan, are, at times, falling prey to rumor mongering, gossiping and sensationalism."


News channels ride on tech to catch action live


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010928/con7.html

Had it not been for the state-of-the-art technology, TV coverage of the terrorist attack on the US and its aftermath would not have been half as exciting. Particularly channels such as CNN and BBC, which have been giving us live reports from wherever their correspondents could reach, including in Pakistan and Afghanistan, have shown that it’s technology that has made it possible.

CNN, for instance, is using cutting-edge technology such as satellite, satellite flyaway dishes, videophones and phone beepers to transmit news, CNN managing editor Bruce Dover said. Remember CNN correspondent Nic Roberston’s reports from Afghanistan? He sent his reports around the world using a discreet videophone.

In the case of BBC coverage of the US attack, BBC Technology is playing a crucial role in backing the UK-based broadcaster for all its telecommunication and internet support services, according to a BBC spokesperson.

Talking about the recent changes in technology that’s helping CNN like never before, Mr Dover says: ‘‘We can transmit pictures without the need of a fixed feed point.’’ He adds: ‘‘Our coverage from Kabul in the last few days shows just how valuable these new developments are.’’

While CNN’s investment in technology is considerable, Mr Dover points out that the channel is not just buying new technology but is also developing it.

BBC, the spokesperson says, is drawing on its resources already in place around the world to cover the stories from wherever it’s happening. ‘‘Our budget has a contingency fund to take into account big news events and we are using that fund,’’ adds the BBC spokesperson.

Mr Dover says: ‘‘By using such equipment, our crews have a lot more flexibility. They can transmit live from just anywhere, for example we were able to get close to the devastation in New York and transmit live using a videophone.’’

And if you’re wondering how much CNN or BBC would have spent on transmitting a three-minute news, say from northern Afghanistan to the Atlanta or the London centre, respectively, here’s the answer. It costs around $8 a minute to use a satellite phone and because you need two lines to transmit the audio and video signals, it comes to about $16 a minute.


Bin Laden's TV choice


From http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,66-2001334364,00.html

The Arabic mouthpiece for Muslim radicals has broken a few taboos

Osama bin Laden’s reply to President George Bush’s “call to arms” against terrorism was sent by fax to Al-Jazeera, an Arabic satellite television channel that is favoured by Arab and Muslim radicals and can now be seen in Britain.

Thanks to the presence of a strong body of radical Palestinian and Syrian journalists working at the station, extremist groups such as Hamas and al-Qaeda always send their press releases to Al-Jazeera. The network was also the first to be given an exclusive video of the destruction of the two Buddha statues last year by the Taleban.

A picture of the fax message carrying bin Laden’s rare autograph, which called upon Muslims to fight America, was splashed on the front page of most of the world’s press. The Qatar-based network welcomed this scoop as much-desired free publicity. With the exception of one or two radical newspapers — which also receive frequent messages from bin Laden — Arab papers, whose readers are also potential Al-Jazeera viewers, did not print the picture, thanks to covert pressure from conservative Arab governments.

Exploiting the unexpected free coverage, Al-Jazeera re-transmitted an exclusive interview with bin Laden conducted in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan in 1998 by its correspondent in Pakistan, Gamal Ismail.

World television networks queued up, and paid handsomely, for pictures of bin Laden’s interview, according to Muftah Al-Suwaidan, the chief executive of the channel’s London bureau, one of 35 bureaux worldwide.

Arabic speakers in Britain and elsewhere in Europe can from this week watch Al-Jazeera free on BSkyB (in which News International, owner of The Times, has a 37.5 per cent stake) after a deal was struck this month. Viewers with analogue equipment can receive it, also free of charge, on the W2 satellite.

Al-Jazeera was launched in November 1996 from the small, independent, oil-rich Gulf state of Qatar after the 43-year-old Crown Prince, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995.

As part of Sheikh Hamad’s attempt to modernise his tiny nation and raise its international profile, he set up the network. Unlike other Arab TV stations, most of which are controlled by ministries of information, Al-Jazeera was innovative in broadcasting live talk shows.

The channel benefited from the misfortune of the BBC. Its disastrous venture of Arabic Service TV, financed by the privately owned Saudi Orbit channel, collapsed because of cultural differences over journalistic standards and practice. Al-Jazeera quickly recruited the experienced but jobless BBC Arabic staffers.

The staff — the majority of whom are Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese, with the occasional Egyptian — have tried hard to plant what they learnt at the BBC in a hostile Arabic soil. Some, such as the Egyptian-born Yousri Fouda, have emulated BBC programmes successfully. His version of Panorama, the investigative Top Secret, which appeals to Arab viewers’ firm belief in conspiracy theories, has become a household name.

Al-Jazeera’s claim to have 35 million viewers is hard to verify, since viewer surveys are virtually unknown in the government-controlled environment of Arab countries.

Its claim that “impartial news and current affairs — including controversial topics such as women’s rights and peace with Israel — has earned it a global reputation” can definitely be taken with a pinch of salt. The reporting of news about Israel’s clashes with Palestinians is always partial in Arab television, and Al-Jazeera is no exception, with its characterisation of Palestinian suicide bombers as “martyrs” and regular debates on how to defeat Israel.

So far, no reports have been broadcast on human rights abuses in Qatar or neighbouring friendly Gulf states, or the appalling conditions endured by “guest workers” and domestic staff from the Far East and the Indian subcontinent in Gulf states.

However, putting it in its historical context, Al-Jazeera represents an important milestone as it has broken a few taboos in Arab TV. As well as having live debates, it begins bulletins with real news rather than reporting what the head of the state did that day.

But it remains to be seen whether programmes such as Top Secret can succeed in truly tackling taboo subjects.


Craigs comment this channel is FTA on Pas 2, in the California Bouquet




27/9/01

The SPRSC show in Melbourne started today, I have not heard anything yet from anyone attending it. Maybe someone will check in later and say hows things are going. The freq mentioned yesterday that I found on Asiasat 3 is actually 4044 H not V, Sr 4997 Fec 2/3 is correct though just appears to be data. It loads 256 services on the Nokia so who knows what it could be? Something is also testing on 3760 H so keep an eye on Asiasat 3. The new Apsattv chatroom has now been set up and should be working.


From my Emails & ICQ


From George

Craig some more news from the far east!


-Insat 2E-3B

3615 V JayaTv
3525 V Vijay TV have started digital transmissions in with Sky Bangla

-Asiasat3s

3760H mux SR26000
CH-1 NOW TV
CH-6 Tech TV
CH-8 TAS TV

a new test card has been added comes up as CH-2 Bloomberg (but only color bars for now.)
this means Bloomberg on PAS-2 or Thaicom 3 could be switched up here.

-Pas2

3744 V SR 21800 "BBC World"

(increase in power of signal by 20%) very great signal before this sat as it is low in my area of reception could not get signals from it during rain downpours but now I can get BBC on 3744 V fime

3798 V SR 26470 "Fox mux"

very weak signal getting breaks in the picture my reciever can't lock on to the signal for but a few seconds.
surprisingly it is still on 3992 V SR 26470 which I already reported to lyngsat but haven't sen them correct it ?
and I will add a very strong signal also can lock on to it ina few seconds as strong as the BBC

3901 H SR 30800 "Californian Mux" losing its strength the past weak it would make sense if they are going to use the BBC world feed on 3744 V as with the increse in power. and move Bloomberg to Asiasat 3S and the TARBS channels (TV Chile and NITV to Thaicom 3) as the rest are just color bars and NAPA test cards.

Finally I thought CNN would finally relent their decision on scramling all their signals as FOX did but oh well that's that. By the way I wuld like to praise FOX for unscrambling they are great. I even wrote a Thank You E-mail to them.

Well thanks you again to read my mail and I hope Craig that you keep bringing great sat news to the Asia-Pacific
and hope for the WTC victims that justice and freedom will rise from the ashes

God Bless them
and you and Everyone
my the world live in peace.

George
THAILAND


From the Dish


Agila 2 146E 3736 H ESC 1 has left, replaced by a test card.

Bsat 2A 110E "not available in Asia Pacific region but unconfirmed reports that control over this satellite has been lost with Bsat1B that is co-located taking over the services that were using it"

Asiasat3 105.5 E 3760 H "Test on channel labled Bloomberg" Sr 26000, Fec 7/8


NEWS


Foxtel deal with Global


From http://www.theage.com.au/business/2001/09/27/FFXYQYQ02SC.html

Foxtel is sharpening its plans for AFL coverage next year, announcing a five-year deal with Global Television for outdoor broadcast services during the 2002 season.

Global, the production business of Television & Media Services, has already secured exclusive contracts with the Nine and Ten Networks to provide outdoor facilities for AFL matches.

Nine, Ten and Foxtel, which recently unveiled plans for a 24-hour AFL channel on its pay TV network, snatched the AFL rights from the clutches of the Seven Network earlier this year. Nine's parent, Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, and Ten are major TMS shareholders.

Overall, the contract for facilities for AFL coverage is believed to be worth about $7 million.

Global, which produces TV shows such as Rove Live and Neighbours at its Nunawading studios, signed an agreement earlier this year to supply outside broadcast services for Foxtel's National Rugby League coverage and indicated it would need to invest an additional extra $10 million if it won the AFL rights.

Chief executive Bruce Fink said TMS would beef up its equipment, adding two outside-broadcast vans to its current stable of nine. "What we really wanted was exclusive contracts with all AFL broadcasters so we could cover all of the games," he said.

TMS shares edged up three cents to 51 cents yesterday.


Austar tumbles on debt doubts


From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,2933802%5E442,00.html

REGIONAL pay-TV group Austar United's share price hit another record low yesterday, tumbling 21 per cent in its largest one-day drop in a month.

The share price closed 5c down, at 18.4c, having earlier hit 16.5c amid continuing market concern about the group's ability to renegotiate its debt facilities.

Austar has been trying to roll over $400 million in debt that is due by the end of the year, and raise a further $150 million to take it to break-even by 2004. It has enough cash to last it until June 2002.

The group has employed its former chief financial officer Rob Birrell as a consultant to facilitate negotiations with the banks.

Despite the company's confidence, the apparent lack of progress has plagued the share price. It has fallen from a high this year of $4.80, having peaked at $9.65 in March last year.

Austar's parent United-GlobalCom (UGC), which owns 81 per cent of the stock, earlier this year soaked up most of a $201 million rights issue to maintain the company's funding.

Analysts yesterday said such an option was unlikely this time because UGC's European cable subsidiary, United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), would this week list the telephony business Priority Telecom.

As part of that process, UPC has indicated it would contribute |150 million ($280 million) on top of |90 million already committed. If it doesn't list the business, UPC faces a $US200 million ($408 million) penalty to Priority's former owners.

US-based UGC's price last closed at $US2.20, from $US16.90 in May. Amster-dam-listed UPC's price is down from a year-high of |24.20 to close last at |27c.

On the positive side, UGC and major shareholder Liberty Media are planning to combine some of their cable systems.


Zee Telefilms calls off plans to acquire UTN channel


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010927/con4.html

Zee Telefilms has called off its plans to acquire Urdu Television Network (UTN) as it found the Urdu channel incompatible with its current business plan. “We won’t be acquiring UTN. We didn’t find the channel viable,” said Zee Telefilms chief executive officer (corporate) RK Singh.

Meanwhile, UTN has gone off transmission. The channel was moved to AsiaSat-3 to occupy transponder space vacated by Zee TV, when it converted from analogue to digital mode.

?We won’t be putting UTN on the Zee platform. The Urdu channel is supposed to pay us lease charges,” said Mr Singh. For carrying a single channel on the satellite, the cost is around Rs 10 crore a year. “UTN doesn’t have that kind of money to support the costs on AsiaSat,” said a source close to the company.

Zee’s move may be governed by the need to tighten its finances, as it comes in the wake of the company’s decision to streamline operations and shed off subsidiaries which have very few operations. For this purpose, ZTL’s subsidiary PATCO (Programme Asia Trading Company Ltd) is exploring ways to merge its operation with El Zee Television. Incidentally, El Zee is a subsidiary of PATCO. “ Zee didn’t want to burden itself further by acquiring a channel that would take time to provide revenue inflows and be profitable,” said a financial analyst.

ZTL’s plan was to bring UTN under the Alpha brand. The acquisition would have given Zee a channel, spread across states where the Urdu-speaking population was concentrated. It would have been the only language channel in the bouquet to have a wider reach across the northern, southern and western regions.


BSkyB forfeits 100,000 analogue subscribers


From http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,558574,00.html

BSkyB will cut off its analogue signal tomorrow, losing 100,000 subscribers in the process.

The satellite broadcaster has lost patience with the small group of consumers who refuse to convert to digital and will terminate their signal at midnight tomorrow.

A spokesman for BSkyB said it had tried everything possible - including a direct mail campaign and on-air promotions - to shift the analogue users to a digital platform.

"No matter how many inducements we make, some of the subscribers need the short, sharp shock of a switch-off to make them come over to digital," he said.

However, the stubbornness of BSkyB's 100,000 analogue subscribers suggests the government may encounter problems when it enforces the nationwide analogue switch-off, due to take place before 2010.

BSkyB now has 5.3m digital subscribers in the UK against ITV Digital's 1.14m and the cable industry's 1.5m.

The group has sunk £2bn into its digital service by subsiding the cost of its set-top boxes.

BSkyB has set a target of 7m subscribers by 2003 and hopes to generate £400 annually from each user by 2005.




26/9/01

Sorry about the chatroom last night. Nothing we can do about the chat server host going down. I checked www.ncbi.com who run the free chatroom, their site is down also. They may have gone offline for good as they were having financial trouble. In the meantime I have signed up with another chatroom provider that uses the same Parachat chat software. I am waiting on a email from them to send me the code to activate the room then we should be back in business.

I was planning on holding the chat again tonight, but the new chatroom isn't runnng yet either.

I found a signal on Asiasat 3 last night after setting the Nokia to 4060 V it locked onto a signal down on 4044V Sr 4997 Fec 2/3. It might be data I don't know yet as the signals to weak to get a proper lock on whatever is there. Let me know what you find there. It maybe on 4042V or try Sr 5000 as well


From the Dish


Asiasat 3 105.5E 4044 V " unknown service" Sr 4997 Fec 2/3 (Someone please tell me whats here, I found this one while playing with the Nokia last night)

Asiasat 2 100.5E 4028 H "Feeds reported" Sr 6110 Fec 3/4


NEWS


Ownership Shuffles In iTV Industry


From http://australia.internet.com/r/article/jsp/sid/11082

The past couple of weeks have been a busy time in the interactive television (iTV) industry with a number of key acquisitions and ownership shuffles.

This week, West Australian based New Tel announced a takeover bid for Cable & Telecoms (CAT), which has an 80% interest in interactive television provider Total Television.

Total Television is a joint venture company with Yes Television, a broadband solutions provider for interactive television based in the United Kingdom (UK). Total Television has a licence agreement exclusive to Australia and New Zealand to deploy the technology services and selected content of Yes Television. To date, Total Television's main business milestone has been the joint agreement with infrastructure provider TransACT to offer the company's customers video on demand (VOD).

The option has an exercise price of 50c and an expiry date of December 31, 2004. The offer is subject to a 90 per cent minimum acceptance and other standard conditions.

"This transaction is expected to deliver New Tel significant scope in the developing telecommunications and media convergence by enabling the company to immediately offer a comprehensive range of telephony, data and media services," New Tel outlined.

The company will strengthen their bundling strategy as a result of the acquisition. "With national, international, local, mobile, internet and data services currently provided by New Tel," CEO Peter Malone says, "the company will now offer customers the innovative and unique Total Television product, as well as the use of video teleconferencing facilities available via the Yes platform, through New Tel's national telecommunications carrier network facilities."

New Tel's acquisition follows a number of key changes for fellow WA company, Burdekin Pacific. The former mining company has lifted it's 40 percent stake in ICE Interactive to full ownership and has upped their stake in Two Way TV Australia to 34.5 percent. Sam Chisholm, former managing director of UK's BSkyB is a major shareholder and chairman of Two Way in addition to being a director and chairman of Foxtel.

Two Way TV has the rights to interactive TV (iTV) games, sporting and betting applications from another of its major shareholders, Two Way TV UK. The games are already seen on the Austar and Optus pay TV services.

Under the agreement, Burdekin will acquire an initial 20% of the company for $3.25 million payable by 30 September 2001, and a further 7.5% for $1.75 million payable in installments between 28 February and 30 April 2002. In addition, Burdekin has agreed to provide a $1 million loan, convertible to Two Way equity at Burdekin's election. Burdekin will become the company's largest shareholder.

Two Way and ICE Interactive have agreed in principle to enter into a services agreement under which ICE is required to make available technical and other personnel to assist Two Way with the roll-out of its applications under present and anticipated contracts with pay TV operators in Australia. Under the agreement, ICE would receive a minimum of $500,000 in fees per annum for a minimum of two years and be a preferred supplier of support services to Two Way.

The key customers of Two Way TV in the UK are BSkyB, the UK market leader in digital satellite pay and interactive TV, NTL and Telewest, the two principal cable operators and On- Digital, the UK's digital terrestrial operator.

According to Burdekin, the acquisition allows the company to control many aspects of the iTV production chain. Chief Executive, Gino Vitale, says, "Two Way TV has built a powerful suite of technologies that can be operated across any television delivery platform and interactive TV middleware. The core components consist of patented production, scheduling and monitoring tools, transmission management and game/score processing systems, and an engine for handling real-time messaging and score process management."

Additionally, Two Way has a portfolio of game forms and relationships with content providers, as well as distribution contracts in place with Austar and Optus Vision Interactive.

ICE will remain an approved, but independent developer on the Liberate platform, and a customer and re-seller of Oracle software. Oracle and Liberate were co-shareholders in the ICE Interactive venture. Burdekin details, "the company will also continue to develop interactive TV applications on multiple middleware platforms including OpenTV and Multimedia Home Platform, the standard platform for Australia's free-to-air broadcasters.


Reminiscent India Television to offload 20% equity


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010926/efetop1.html

Reminiscent India Television, which runs the Lashkara and Gurjari channels in the country, plans to offload a 20 per cent equity stake through private placement. For this purpose, the company has appointed Ernst & Young to value its television software, brands, distribution and business proposition for three years. Ernst & Young is expected to submit the valuation report by October-end.

&#ter Ernst & Young’s valuation, we plan to dilute our stake by 20 per cent,” said RITV managing director Subhash Menon.

RITV’s estimated valuation of its assets is Rs 50 crore. “The brand of Lashkara, Gurjari, Miss Lashkara and Lashkara Music Awards is estimated to be valued at Rs 25 crore. The 2,000 hours of TV software will be worth Rs 10 crore. The property assets will account for the balance of Rs 15 crore,” said Mr Menon.

RITV is also going in for private placement of preference shares to raise Rs 10 crore. The shares, which will carry 12 per cent interest rate, will be bought back by the company after 3 years. “We are in the final stages of raising the funds. We have tied up the individuals and should be able to complete the process by December 15,” said Mr Menon.

Of the total funds, Rs 2 crore will be utilised to set up post production facilities, Rs 3 crore for additional software, Rs 3.5 crore for uplinking expansion and Rs 1.5 crore for interior location. RITV will pump in another Rs 5 crore. The company is constructing an additional 25,000 sq ft of office space in Andheri, Mumbai.

RITV will start supplying 30 per cent content for the urdu channel Anjuman, which is run by the UK-based Reminiscent TV.

Plans are also on to launch the channel in India. “We will start the software supply from December,” said Mr Menon. RTV has licensed its brands to RITV to market and distribute in India for 25 years.


B4U Movies launches 2 October; plans to go pay in January at Rs6.50 sticker price


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/sep/sep56.htm

Sticking to a schedule laid out at the end of July, B4U Entertainment Channel becomes B4U Movies on 2 October 2001, it was announced today.

In a new avatar 13 months after B4U Entertainment was launched on 3 September 2000, CEO Ravi Gupta and his team will be hoping to leverage what is B4U's main strength - its library of movies (over 2,000 films) that it holds the rights to, both current hits and blockbusters and old classics.

And wasting no time, the plan is to encrypt B4U Movies by November, Debashis Dey, chief distribution officer, B4U Television Network Ltd, says. According to Dey: "The proposed date for going pay is sometime in January '02. We feel that two months will be a reasonably good period for viewers to sample the channel." However, sister channel B4U Music will remain free-to-air a la MTV.

"After going pay in January the average rate per subscriber per month is proposed at Rs. 6.50p. We also feel that our channel will be a refreshing change, as it is not clustered by a bouquet of unwanted content, which currently the operators are forced to subscribe to," says Dey.

As for the programme line-up, current titles include - Lajja, Devdas, Suno Sasurji, Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai, Baas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, Daraar, Silsila Hai Pyaar Ka, Mohabbat, Beti No 1, among others, apart from hit films like Taal, Josh, Jungle, etc and old classics.

B4U Movies will telecast three hits per week - a Friday premiere, a Saturday blockbuster and a Sunday classic. In addition a super-hit 'Movie Of The Month' will be screened, says Dey.

"In between films we intend to showcase a host of Bollywood based shows, highlighting film shooting, the studios and the classic films attached with them, Bollywood masala, gossip, behind the scenes, raw cuts, countdowns, market, flops, hits, comedies, super stars, and many more unique programmes in innovative formats," Says Dey.

Among the shows that are planned are:

Lehren - A Bollywood video magazine. The long running and popular 'Lehren', will provide updates on Bollywood and the stars.

Studio Beat - A weekly round up from the studios in Mumbai. Using archival footage and interviews with old timers, stories around the studios that made the industry what it is today.

Superhit Hungama - A weekly countdown show set in exotic locations. Money Talkies - An update of the industry that throws light on the losers and the winners.

Box Office - A weekly update on collections and performance, reviews and analyses from trade pundits.

Shot Cut - Full length films cut down to half an hour, keeping only key scenes intact.

Director's Cut - Interviews with directors.

Stardom - profiles the stars.

Riot - The show presents some of the most hilarious scenes in Hindi movies. Countdown Café - The Indipop countdown that brings to you the best 10 tracks of the week. Ghazals, Punjabi Pop, Remixes and more.

South Side Story - Film update and news from southern India.

The Preview - Previews of the movies to be telecast on B4U.

Rushes - Daily updates on recent events in Bollywood.

The B4U Network is promoted by steel magnate L M Mittal, Kishore Lulla and Gokul Binani, all based in the UK. Lulla is also the promoter of Eros International LTD, the largest overseas film distributor and the first to take Hindi movies to the UK and the US.


Craigs comment, B4u is currently FTA on Pas 10




25/9/01 9.39 NZT

It seems the chatroom Parachat server is down, will have to give the chatroom a miss for tonight perhaps try again Wednesday night.

25/9/01

Live chat tonight in the chatroom, 8.30pm Syd time and from about 9pm NZ onwards. Might be a chance to arrange to meet some other Apsattv readers at the show this weekend in Melbourne. There isn't a lot else to report today.

There is a newer beta version of DVB2000 beta, listed in ULI's "Hardcore" ftp directory, this file is 20k bigger than the last release, its only minor changes, bug fixes and new scssi stuff thats been added so no need to get it unless you are having troubles with the current release. http://home.t-online.de/home/ulli.herrmann/hardcore/



From my Emails & ICQ


Screenshots added for Fox News and Bharathi on Asiasat 3



From the Dish


LMI 1 75E 3433 H NID/TID and SIDs for the Lankese mux,: 102/12 and 2-3.

Intelsat 902 58.5E Test carriers seen on 3665 L, 3745 L and 3905 L, NW zone beam.(any Australian reports of this one?)


NEWS


Pakistan bans India-based TV channels


From http://www.news.sify.com

Pakistan today banned telecast of all India-based TV channels in the country, Radio Pakistan reported.

The decision was taken by the cable operators of Pakistan because of ''anti-Pakistani propoganda'' by these channels.

The operators said it is in the best interest of the country to stop telecasting programmes of India-based channels in view of the fluid political and security situation in the region.

All cable operators have been directed to suitably adhere to the ban.


Reuters launches web TV channel


From http://www.netimperative.com/media/newsarticle.asp?ArticleID=12430&ChannelID=2&ArticleType=1

International news agency Reuters is to launch a new streaming video service carrying its news reports online.

The RTV service, which will operate via Reuters website, will aim for the financial and business sector, carrying information from the floor of the main trading markets, interviews and a full schedule of daily programmes.

The news service hopes to use its network of business contacts to secure exclusive interviews with major figures in world markets, alongside broadcasts of keynote speeches and addresses.

A global network of studios, camera crews, and trading room cameras will also cover the events from the trading floors around the world.

The move will put it in even more direct competition with news service Bloomberg which runs its own TV channel focusing on business issues.

The RTV stream will be available using both Real Player and Windows Media, and on offer for 56k, 128k and 300k speed modems.

The service is being rolled out in two phases with the first – launched this week – will see the video stream running on the site, while the second, which will be implemented later this year, will include the addition of a multimedia box in which Reuters journalists will provide running summaries of live content.


Craigs comment go here and check it out, http://www.reuters.co.uk


CNBC takes a ride on Hong Kong buses


From http://www.adageglobal.com/cgi-bin/daily.pl?daily_id=5834

HONG KONG - Business news network CNBC Asia/Pacific has extended its reach in Hong Kong by broadcasting programs on public buses. A densely-packed urban area with limited parking facilities, Hong Kong is home to an extensive public transport network widely used by the territory's white collar workers.

Those commuters can now watch five-to-eight minute executive lifestyle segments from CNBC shows such as "Lo & Company" and "Generation E" on 2,600 buses and 200 public light buses that are equipped with a multi-media on-board system managed by RoadShow Holdings, a Hong Kong-based out-of-home media sales company.

While CNBC's dedicated Hong Kong channel reaches more than 420,000 homes, mostly via Hong Kong Cable TV, "globally, we've noticed an increase of viewers watching CNBC outside of the home, at the office, the gym or even at pubs, which is no surprise given the unique nature of our programming. With RoadShow, we've come up with an innovative way to reach our viewers in Hong Kong as they commute to and from work," explains Alan Hodges, CNBC Asia/Pacific's VP-distribution in Singapore.

CNBC Asia/Pacific is jointly managed by Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co. and NBC, the broadcasting unit of General Electric Co.




24/9/01

Not much to say up here today other than NZ beat Australia in the Basketball...In other sports news the Davis Cup Tennis is on Pas 2 Adhoc 2.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Scott Bare 23/9/01

Davis Cup tennis, Pas 2, Adhoc 2, 3901, 10 pm nz time (8pm Syd) ...

cheers Scott Bare
Puhoi , NZ


From the Dish


Apstar 1A 134E 4072 V "Shandong TV" has left..

JCSAT 3 128E 4160 V "The Japanese mux has left" Can someone confirm?
JCSAT 3 128E 4180 H "The Japanese mux has left" Can someone confirm?

ST 1 88E 3550 V "The C Sky Net mux has left again."

Insat 2E 83E 3525 V "Vijay TV" has started regular transmissions, Sid 24613,Vpid 273 Apid 274, zone beam.
Insat 2E 83E 3615 V "Jaya TV "has started regular transmissions, Sr 3255, Fec 3/4, Vpid 4194 Apid 4195, zone beam.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3515 V "Occasional PTV feeds", Sr 3333, Fec 3/4.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "A test card has started" Vpid 522 Apid 650.

LMI 1 75E 3433 H "TV Lanka tests and a test card have started" Sr 5750 Fec 3/4, Vpid 1160 Apid 1120, Vpid 1260 Apid 1220


NEWS


CSIRO: Aussie Satellite Dishes Set Up in Europe


From satnewsasia.com

Three Australian designed MultiBeam earth station antennas have been installed at the satellite control center of SES-Astra in Luxembourg.

SES operates Astra, the leading satellite system for direct-to-home reception in Europe.

The antennas were designed by CSIRO especially for this contract and were produced by an Australian company, Sydney Engineering (Sales) Pty Ltd. The new design is based on an earlier prototype that was successfully demonstrated almost 10 years ago.

Unlike existing antenna systems, each MultiBeam antenna can receive and transmit from up to 19 satellites at one time.

One antenna will replace many other systems, so that fewer antennas are required. This will also reduce the amount of space necessary for satellite teleports.

SES-ASTRA selected the CSIRO antenna because it is a smaller, more compact and flexible antenna solution than others currently available, and especially because of its high performance. The MultiBeam antenna provides a unique capability of combining a wide field of view with a transmit and receive capability.


Nickelodeon, Austar to Launch Interactive Channel


From satnewsasia.com

The world famous children’s TV channel, Nickelodeon, and Austar will provide interactive children's television to Austar subscribers beginning late October.

At no additional cost, 300,000 Austar satellite subscribers will have access to the interactive children’s service. Another 100,000, who have a telephone line connection, will be able to send messages and their own ideas to Nickelodeon.

Since Austar's network is closed and is not linked to the Internet, subscribers can only access family friendly content.

*ustar's children's viewing channels, like Nickelodeon, offer a world of fun and learning in a safe environment,” said Dana Strong, Managing Director of Austar United Broadband.

She said that interactive TV (iTV) adds a new dimension to pay TV, and helps increases take up and improves retention of the service.

?This is especially so on channels such as Nickelodeon where parents see their kids discovering a whole new way to learn and have fun,” said Strong.

The iTV service will allow children to send messages to friends, family and Nickelodeon via the TV and learn more about their favourite Nickelodeon characters, among other advantages.

Austar's interactive services include T-Mail (e-mail on your television), HOME (an interactive guide and services menu), QuickShop (shopping while watching the Lifestyle channel) and GameSpace (free and subscription games).


APT Satellite Announces 2001 Interim Results


From satnewsasia.com

APT Satellite Holdings Ltd, one of Asia’s leading satellite services providers, said both its revenues and net profit for the first half of 2001 improved compared to the same period in 2000.

Revenues grew 15 percent to US$23.7 million while net profit improved 79 percent to US$6.7 million.

APT Group Chairman Liu Ji Yuan said the company was pleased to see growth in turnover and net profit “amidst unfavorable external economic conditions.”

?The average lease out rate for both Apstar I and Apstar IA satellites was approximately 62.65%, and 100% for Apstar IIR. Though we foresee a continued slow down of economy, we endeavor to achieve our objectives for this year,” said Liu.

APT intends to launch a fourth satellite, Apstar V, in mid-2003. The satellite will cost about US$230 million and will replace Apstar I, whose design life ends in mid-2004. Apstar V will be built with 38 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders.

APT began accepting tender offers for a fifth satellite, Apstar VB, last July to hedge against possible failure by Apstar V.

The company has also begun construction of a US$25 million Satellite Control Center Phase 2 for the operation and control of Apstar V.

In its satellite television broadcasting business, APT has added four more TV channels to its single channel. An APT subsidiary, APT Satellite Telecommunications Ltd (APT Telecom), will begin providing bandwidth to clients via the C2C and APCN2 submarine cable projects by the second quarter of 2002.

Group President Chen Zhaobin said APT’s plans call for establishing a “Hotbird” effect by strengthening its core transponder leasing business through service expansion and developing its satellite TV broadcasting services.

Hong Kong-based APT will also target new satellite-related businesses such as Internet backbone and data broadcast to beef up its value-added services and shift towards end users.

Chan said the Group was very sound financially with cash in hand of over US$200 million for future development plans.

It sees tremendous business opportunities in China’s membership in the WTO and the 2008 Olympic Games hosted by Beijing.

APT currently operates three in-orbit geostationary satellites with a total capacity of 76 C-band transponders and 16 Ku-band transponders. The Group expanded into the telecommunication services business in June 2000.


Government Ruling Seen to Delay Indian Satellite TV Services


From satnewsasia.com

Controversial government broadcast rules that require the use of “open architectures” set-top boxes will delay the launch of digital TV in India.

Critics said the rules will force broadcasters like Star TV network and satellite carriers like EuropeStar and Americom Asia Pacific to change their proprietary encryption and conditional access features to comply with the rules. This may diminish investor and customer interest in DTH.

The rules also require broadcasters to provide the set-top boxes, which cost about US$400 each, at a lower cost. Broadcasters would have to absorb the initial loss and recover their losses from subscribers over time.

Since broadcasters must bear part of the cost of the boxes to gain viewership, they do not want competitors to have access to those subscribers through their set-tops and are thus against open architecture.

The government's open architecture requirement and a decision allowing limited foreign equity ownership in satellite broadcasters has effectively stopped DTH service offerings in India.

Government officials have, however, hinted that the open-architecture policy may be reviewed, prompting broadcasters such as Star TV to remain optimistic.


China Plans to Boost Use of Satellites in Telecom Sector; Calls For Liberalization Aired


From satnewsasia.com

China intends to increase its use of communications satellites to provide better telecom services to its poor interior provinces.

This welcome move will expand telecom services in China's west, which is much poorer than its southern and eastern coast. The focus on western China is part of a huge government push to increase public and private investment in the region.

Vice-Minister Lou Qinjian of the Ministry of Information Industry said the government would make full use of satellite communications and construct and improve the satellite communications network. He also said China will develop satellite phones to reduce access costs in rural areas.

Satellite communications are appropriate for isolated rural areas where the cost of laying a phone line is very high.

Government's plans for the satellite industry also include developing new businesses such as direct-to-home satellite broadcasting.

China plans to put in place a common platform for satellite communications that will develop high-capacity DTH satellites and related applications.

The planned satellites will weigh between 600 and 800 kilograms and will have a life cycle of 15 years.

Despite China’s push for satellite telecommunications, both Chinese and foreign businessmen agree that only widespread liberalization will make this industry profitable.

China’s satellite industry is effectively a government monopoly and reforms are desperately needed.

Qi Caiyun, general manager of privately-owned China Eastern Satellite Network Corporation said that because of this government monopoly, China’s satellite market is still lagging behind that of Europe and America.

?We don't have our own direct broadcasting satellite in China yet after so many years, that shows that we have to have reforms in terms of the national policies from the central government,” Qi said.

She urged the government to lower the entry threshold, allowing more players to come in as competitors so that China’s satellite industry can develop faster.

China's satellite companies are protected from foreign competition by government restrictions on investment. These restrictions, however, will gradually be lifted with China’s membership in the World Trade Organization.

Compared with foreign satellite companies, Chinese operators are small, with just a few satellites each, and have high capital costs. They do, however, have a cost advantage: China's transponder costs are typically 60-70 percent of average world prices.

China launched 30 satellites from 1991-2000, more than any other Asian country except Japan, which launched 31.

This impressive number, however, has not led to a corresponding boom in the fortunes of China’s satellite communications firms.

Satellite services make up less than one percent of China's telecom industry revenue, compared to three to four percent in the U.S,

Analysts said tight government control were part of the industry's problems, and made it difficult for Chinese satellite companies to respond quickly to market conditions.




23/9/01

Not much for today, I have updated a few of the satellite pages, Intelsat 902 is testing at 58.5E it should be visable in Western Australia let me know if you see the test signals.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Chris Pickstock 23/9/01

10.30 am SA time

C7 Sport is currently showing on the ABC feed freq on B!. (12326 H, sr 6980) NZ v Aus Basketball on now.
CNN is showing on B1, 12397 H sr 7200


Chris


From Brian

Hi Craig


I appreciate receiving 'From the Dish' type info from the apsattv site

For Golf Lovers

Last 2 mornings ESPN feed to Foxsports Australia? on
[Channel 3] PAS 2 169E 3798 V Sr 26470 Vpid 1360 Apid 1320
approx. 4.30am to 7.30am Pennsylvania USPGA


Regards
Brian


From the Dish


Asiasat 3 105.5E 12595 H "Macau Five Star Satellite TV" has left, replaced by a testcard.(this one can be received in Australia)

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3951 H "Macau Five Star Satellite TV" has left, replaced by a testcard.

Intelsat 902 58.5E Test carriers seen on 4135 R, 4166 R and 4189 R, global beam (This one is NEW reports please).


NEWS


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 38/2001 September 23 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

Editor: Branislav Pekic


A S I A


AUSTRALIA


SEVEN NETWORK TO BOOST FOOTBALL COVERAGE

Seven Network has announced it will broadcast more football, in a bid to tempt
sports fans away from rival Nine and Ten Networks’ coverage of Australian rules
football, won from Seven earlier this year. Seven plans to air certain National
Soccer League games in full a day after they are played and will produce a new
highlights show. The network also plans to cover games featuring the Australian
national team.


CHINA - HONG KONG


PROFITS DOWN AT PHOENIX SATELLITE TV

Heavy start-up costs for two new channels cut profits at Phoenix Satellite
Television Holdings to HK$53.98 million for its fiscal year ending in June
2001. The company, which is 37.6 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch’s Star TV DTH
platform, reported earnings of HK$97.6 million for the first half of the year.
But the launch of the Phoenix InfoNews Channel and the North American Chinese
Channel produced heavy loses in the second half of the year. Revenues increased
39.6 percent to HK713.68 million. Advertising revenue fell 12 percent in the
second half of the year compared to a 44 percent decline in the first half of
the year. Phoenix invested $13 million in its last fiscal year in the two new
services and expects to pour another $25 million into the channel next year.
Phoenix is one of the few foreign channels allowed in China, where it is
received in about 40 million cable homes.


INDIA


DOORDARSHAN DROPS NEWS CHANNEL

Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan is dropping its 24-hour news channel as
part of its current rebranding. The channel will now be split between kids
programming, health and the arts. However, Doordarshan pointed out that
flagship channel DD National will feature eight hours of news coverage daily.



THAILAND


BANGKOK TV GETS READY FOR LAUNCH

Shin Satellite Plc, Siew-National Co Ltd, Samart Corp and TPI Polene Plc have
joined forces to support a new free TV channel, “Bangkok Television” (BTV),
which will target viewers in Bangkok. BTV, to be operated by PL Television Co
Ltd, is one of three free TV channels to be set up with concessions awarded by
the Public Relations Department. Of the four main backers, Shin Satellite will
support BTV through its Thaicom satellite while Samart will supply antennae.
The new channel is scheduled to begin transmission on 1 October on a 24-hour
basis. To attract viewers, the new channel will allocate 20 per cent of its
viewing time to police-related activities covering crime and drug problems as
well as traffic information. The remaining 80 per cent will be allocated to
independent TV programme producers including Grammy Television, JSL, RS
Promotion (1992) Co Ltd, Kantana Group, Ror Sor 219, Matching Studio and Work
Point Entertainment. However, unlike the programmes that the producers produce
for existing free TV channels, the programmes to be aired on BTV will be
re-runs.




22/9/01

The U.S Government has appropriated an Australian ISP's frequency on Pas 2. This will shut down the providers regional ISP operation from Oct 15th for the ISP concerned. It might be worth keeping an eye on Pas 2 for increased activity. Especially on the data tranponders.

I will have a tidy up on the satellites pages later tonight.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Me

4pm Syd B3 12363 V "AFL" is on..


From Chris Pickstock

10.35 am SA time


B1, 12397 H, Sr 7200, on now. "America: A Tribute to Heroes" This is a two hour telethon style show with lots of top performers. It will be rebroadcast on Network 7 on Sunday night.

Chris


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3812 V "Lakbay TV has left", moved to 3880 V.

Optus B1 160E 12305 V "Mystery signal here" let me know if you can latch onto the settings.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "SCT" has left again.(Like I said this freq tends to be a short term test one)

LMI 1 75E 3410 H "The TV Lanka tests and test card have left"


NEWS



Sorry nothing for today




21/9/01

There should be feeds of the "AMERICA: A TRIBUTE TO HEROES " Telethon on Saturday, 11a.m Syd time probably on the Adhoc Pas 2 channels, also on Fox News (Asiasat 3 and Panamsat 2). Also screening with a 1 hour delay on ABC Australia. I have found out the trouble connecting to the Asian satellite related sites is due to another cable being cut.

According to some a few naughty viewers have managed to decrypt the SCT channel on Thaicom 3


From my Emails & ICQ


From Nick

Hello Craig,

Brisbane 7am EST.I'm watching
Intelsat 701 180*W (new French ch.M6) 11610H SR 30000 3/4 Vpid179 Apid156

Regards to all your readers
Nick


From the Dish


Intelsat 701 180E 11610 H "M6" Sr 30000 Fec 3/4 Vpid 170 Apid 156

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3430 H "Alpha News" (Radio) has started on , Apid 257.


NEWS


SET expects to reach full subscriber base within a month


From indiantelevision.com

Sony Entertainment Television, which joined Star India and Zee TV as a completely pay-driven bouquet when its flagship channel became fully encrypted on 1 September, expects to reach a subscriber base of 26 million viewing homes within the next 30 days.

According to Shantonu Aditya, senior V-P franchise channels and distribution, Sony has already achieved a subscriber base of 20 million after the rollout of over 4,500 set top boxes in the A and B centres across the country. Distribution was going on across other centres at a fast clip, Aditya said.

Aditya said that due to the improved yield that had been achieved (yield is defined by the average number of subscribers that the cable operator declares per box) SET had significantly reduced estimates on the number of boxes that would be required to reach a subscriber base (26 million) equal to that existing pre-encryption. Aditya said he hoped to achieve his target with the rollout of 6,000 boxes but added that at the end of it all that figure might reach as high as 7,000.

That is still far lower than the original estimate of a 10,000 box requirement for full rollout.




20/9/01

The nets still running slowly due to the Nimda Virus, I have already had 1 copy sent to me which my virus scanner picked up. I suggest updating your virus scanner every time you log on. It was also the reason why the site was down the host server was being attacked. Many of the overseas satellite sites I check for news are not working that is why there is a lack of news.

VOA / Worldnet on Asiasat 2 will be moving to digital on Oct 10th new parameters will be 3880H Sr 20400 Fec 1/2, services currently on 3765 H will also move to 3880 H. That is the last Analogue channel to leave Asiasat 2. But it means more higher quality audio services on the new digital service!


From my Emails & ICQ


From George (Thailand)

Dear Craig

Some intersting news from up here in Thailand

last night around 22:00 Bangkok time CNN put up their CNN Headline News channel 3940 H SR 27690 mux wonder did anyone see it besides me?

headlinenews.cnn.com

(very intersting since I was telling you about how many people up here aren't very happy about the encryption of CNN International.) they were testing for about 6 hours and they weren't feeds.

NHK New York, CBS New York seen in the 3901 H SR 30800 mux on PAS 2 on the Adhoc Channels

The religion channels are also unencrypting like Maharishi Veda Vision does that mean a war is near?


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3960 H "Feed" Sr 1724 Fec 2/3

PAS 2 169E 4044 V The TVB mux with TVBS Asia and TVBS Newsnet is back/still on, Sr 6620, Fec 3/4, SIDs 1-2, PIDs 33/34-35/36.
PAS 2 169E 4148 V "Power TV" and the occasional feeds have left. There are now test cards on PIDs 1160/1120-1460/1420.

PAS 8 166E 12686 H "JET TV" has started regular transmissions on Vpid 2010 Apid 2020

Optus B1 160E 12349 V "Occasional feeds" Sr 6110 Fec 3/4.

Optus B3 156E 12313 H "The Austar promo" has left

Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "TVRI" has started,Vpid 512 Apid 650.

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H "Nile Drama and ESC 2" are encrypted again.

Insat 2E 83E 3979 V "DD 8 - Andhra Pradesh" has started regular transmissions, Sr 5000, Fec 3/4, Vpid 512 Apid 640, zone beam.


NEWS


CNN asked to leave Afghanistan


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/20tech05.htm

AFGHANISTAN'S ruling Taliban has asked CNN to leave the country, the US television news channel said on Wednesday.

Nic Robertson, reporting from the Taliban headquarters of Kandahar, is one of the last remaining western journalists in Afghanistan which is braced for possible strikes from the United States after last week's attacks on New York and Washington.

'We understand now that the ruling has come from the supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar, that absolutely no exception can be made at this time...our time has come,' Robertson said.

The station said it was petitioning the Taliban for permission to stay. (Reuters)


DD to wind up News Channel


From http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep20/n2.htm

Just over two years after it was launched with great fanfare, Doordarshan’s 24-hour news channel - DD News - is being wound up and the news and current affairs programmes are to be moved to the national channel, DD One, in fulfilment of its mandate of being a public service broadcaster.

Prasar Bharati sources admitted to UNI that the decision to merge the news channel and DD One was related in part to the fact that DD News had failed to garner adequate commercial revenue since it commenced on August 15, 1999.

However, a new niche channel will take place of DD News with telecast of programmes for children, adolescents, and lovers of dance, music and culture. This still-to-be-named channel will have about six hours of programming for children, four hours based on health care, fitness, diet, nutrition and different systems of medicine, and about six hours based on good quality music, dance and fine arts.

With an almost total reach over the country, DD One will thus increase its public service broadcasting content from the present ten per cent to just over 33 per cent.

The sources said this channel would thus become the main face of Doordarshan for discharging the role of a public service broadcaster as it had the highest reach in rural areas. However, it will continue to devote one-third of its time to programmes for the family in the entertainment genre which will be taken on normal commercial considerations.

Although Prasar Bharati formally came into existence when the Prasar Bharati Act was implemented from September 1997, Doordarshan has been accused of failing to live up to its role as a public service broadcaster.

The problem for Prasar Bharati to become self-supporting was further compounded when the Government announced in February 2000 that it was to be funded as a full-fledged autonomous body with effect from April that year and was to receive a grant-in-aid to cover the gap in its resources in meeting its revenue expenditure.

DD Two (DD Metro) will thus become a totally entertainment-based channel with operations to be run purely on commercial considerations. Prasar Bharati sources said that about 93 different programmes were in the offing for this channel which will provide complete and wholesome entertainment.


Sing & dance with DD news


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/19tech07.htm

GOOD news for culture vultures. The recently launched 24-hour DD news channel will soon take on a new avataar. To be renamed and revamped to serve lovers of dance, music and fine arts, the Channel would also target children and adolescents — with 6-hour windows devoted to their needs.

The channel would also offer four hours of programmes on health care, fitness, diet, nutrition and holistic medicine.

Doordarshan is being restructured in line with the mandate for Prasar Bharati Corporation to engage in public service broadcasting to inform, educate, and entertain public in a balanced manner.

Accordingly, the DD-National Channel would be re-positioned as a the main face of Doordarshan, with a substantial increase in news and current affairs content.

About one-third of the programmes will now be based on news and current affairs. It will have a sizeable chunk of public service programmes, addressing social issues and other public concerns. Special terms and conditions are being framed to identify programmes that fall into the category of 'public service broadcasting.'

Consequent to this, the more recently launched 24-hour DD news channel would be revamped with content that would serve 'unaddressed but felt needs of society', according to an official release from Prasar Bharati Corporation.

The channel seems to be Prasar Bharati's answer to the lacuna in infotainment channels and overkill of news and entertainment channels. Judging by the treasure trove of cultural programmes Doordarshan has, the cultural slant is a welcome change.

The Prasar Bharati Board which met recently has given an in-principle approval to suggestions made by the management to restructure and reposition various channels of DD to give each one of them a distinct brand identity.


Low revenues to see DD News winding up


From http://www.rediff.com/money/2001/sep/19dd.htm

Just over two years after it was launched with great fanfare, Doordarshan's 24-hour news channel - DD News - is being wound up and the news and current affairs programmes are to be moved to the national channel, DD1, in fulfilment of its mandate of being a public service broadcaster.

Prasar Bharati sources admitted to that the decision to merge the news channel and DD1 one was related in part to the fact that DD News had failed to garner adequate commercial revenue since it commenced on August 15, 1999.

However, a new niche channel will take the place of DD News and will telecast programmes for children, adolescents, and lovers of dance, music and culture.

This still-to-be-named channel will have about six hours of programming for children, four hours will be kept for health care, fitness, diet, nutrition and different types of medicine, and about six hours for quality music, dance and fine arts.

With an almost total reach over the country, DD1 will thus increase its public service broadcasting content from the present ten per cent to just over 33 per cent.

Sources said this channel will thus become the main face of Doordarshan for discharging the role of a public service broadcaster as it had the highest reach in rural areas. However, it will continue to devote one-third of its time to programmes for the family in the entertainment genre, which will be taken on normal commercial considerations.

Although Prasar Bharati formally came into existence when the Prasar Bharati Act - which had been passed in 1990 - was implemented in September 1997, Doordarshan has been accused of failing to live up to its role as a public service broadcaster.

The problem for Prasar Bharati to become self-supporting was further compounded when the government announced in February 2000 that it was to be funded as a full-fledged autonomous body with effect from April 1 (of the same year) and was to receive a grant-in-aid to cover the gap in its resources in meeting its revenue expenditure.

DD2 (DD Metro) will thus become a totally entertainment-based channel with operations to be run purely on commercial considerations.

Prasar Bharati sources said that about 93 different programmes were in the offing for this channel, which will provide complete and wholesome entertainment.

DD Sports will continue to air international and domestic sporting events including rural and traditional sports.

DD world will be the window to the international community, particularly the Indian diaspora.


Broadband service via foreign satellite


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/20tech02.htm

FOR the first time in the country, broadband very small aperture satellite communications will be offered through a foreign satellite.

Hughes Escorts Communications is offering services in Ku band frequency via GE-1A (GE Americom) satellite. This is not only expected to lower costs of satellite communications by 20-25 per cent, but open a new gamut of services too.

While HCL Comnet has already launched Ku-band Vsat offering in India, it is using Insat satellite. GE –1A is two and a half times more expensive but four times more powerful and is more reliable, according to the company.

"GE-1A satellite is more than four times powerful than the present INSAT series and hence promises very high reliability and low cost satellite communication," says K Krishna, director, networking services, HECL.

With this, the company claims to be ready to launch features like always on, wherever presence, mobility, Turbo Internet, Multimedia services, broadcast of video and Interactive distance education and that too at lower costs.

Access to broadband Internet on KU band will increase speed in megabits through small satellite dishes. Cost and the size of terrestrial dishes are going to come down too.

These dishes can be easily moved and will help small and large enterprises in remote locations to get access to the Internet and other web-enabled applications.

The company claims to be ready with its studio for interactive distance learning, but has been waiting to get bandwidth for the Ku-band.

The delay in approvals is believed to be because of company's insistence on using foreign satellites, which it maintained would lower the costs and hence pack more VSATs (very small aperture terminals) into the same bandwidth, compared to INSAT.

The difference, according to the company, could run into millions of rupees.


Kingston inmedia and TANDBERG Television successfully complete world first trials of IP streams over 16QAM


From http://www.digitalbroadcasting.com/

British National Space Center co-funds Kingston inmedia trials of TANDBERG Television's PREKOR 'Dynamic Pre-Correction' technology for higher order modulation

Kingston inmedia, the satellite-centric broadband applications provider of Kingston Communications (KCOM.L), and TANDBERG Television, a leading supplier of open solutions for digital broadcasting, announced that they have completed trials to test the real-world performance of TANDBERG Television's 16QAM satellite systems, which saw their European launch at IBC 2001. In tests using TANDBERG Television's unique PREKOR 'Dynamic Pre-Correction' system and Kingston inmedia's satellite Teleport facility at Gerrards Cross in the UK, the two organizations completed a world first by delivering a number of different IP streams at rates in excess of 100Mbps, at full satellite transmission power, during tests using a 36MHz transponder.

TANDBERG Television's new modulation process addresses broadcasters' and service providers' needs to send much larger amounts of broadcast distribution and contribution material through existing satellite transponders. It is also well suited to other broadband applications such as Internet backbone, as transmission costs per bit are effectively halved.

Kingston inmedia's trials, co-funded by the British National Space Centre, have seen the company test IP streams to investigate potential applications throughout the company's business including broadcast services and in particular Internet & Carrier services where Kingston inmedia is providing solutions for voice, data and internet satellite delivery to developing regions such as Africa. The trials enabled Kingston inmedia to gain enhancements of the outbound satellite signal to achieve increased quality and stability previously unachievable with 16QAM modulation.

Moreover, Kingston inmedia was able to deploy remote antennae of only 3.7 meters, compared to the standard 6.5m/7.6m antennae, enabling large potential costs savings at remote sites in multicast satellite operations.

"The first stage of our 16QAM trials have been very exciting, and we are impressed with the potential cost savings and service improvements that the results herald. While many people are talking about 16QAM as the answer to increased bandwidth efficiency, TANDBERG Television is the only company that is able to provide a working deliverable system today," says Mark Cronin, Director of Technology and Development, at Kingston inmedia.

"These trials with Kingston inmedia have been particularly exciting as they have used real-world IP applications to test the 16QAM solution, rather than just test the signal. Kingston inmedia was keen to see how effective 16QAM could be in enabling it to provide enhanced services to its customers. The use of PREKOR marks a significant milestone in being able to practically operate 16QAM through a bent-pipe satellite at 'saturation'. However, the use of higher order modulation without PREKOR requires a significant increase in receiver dish size and earth station uplink power. This, coupled with distortions through the satellite and earth station uplink equipment, have previously made 16QAM largely impractical," says Khalid Butt, Product Manager of Modulation for TANDBERG Television.

What makes TANDBERG Television's modulator unique, is its ability to be enhanced with award winning*, optional PREKOR. The use of higher order modulation schemes brings with it increased susceptibility to distortion in the satellite and earth station, which in turn means that transmitted signal levels very often have to be 'backed off' from full power, or 'saturation'. PREKOR is a modulator-based technology that corrects for both earth station uplink and satellite-based distortions and allows the system to actually operate at full power. The TANDBERG Television PREKOR system is integrated into the SM5600 modulator and allows significantly smaller receiver dish sizes and smaller, cheaper earth station amplifiers to be used. This paves the way for facilitating the very high bit rates that operators and broadcasters are now demanding.

"Our business is based on providing enhanced satellite services to our customers. Therefore, we are constantly searching for new innovations that enable us to provide our customers with the quality of service they expect, combined with the cost-efficiencies of operation they need," added Mark Cronin. "Working with an innovative organization such as TANDBERG Television is an important part of our strategic deployment of new technologies to meet our customers' growing bandwidth and service needs."

The DVB-compliant SM5600 modulator is interoperable with any DVB-S/DVB-DSNG compliant receiver in the field that supports QPSK, 8PSK or 16QAM and is shipping and available today.

*The Royal Television Society 'Best Engineering Innovation 2000' award. *Cable & Satellite International' Editor's Pick of Show' NAB 2001

About Kingston inmedia Kingston inmedia is a leading provider of global satellite-centric broadband applications, offering consultancy, products and services that enable organizations in the enterprise, broadcast and internet/carrier sectors to create, manipulate, store and distribute multi-media solutions. A strong commitment to investment in technology and facilities supports Kingston inmedia's team of experts, placing the company in a unique position to offer end-to-end solutions for content owners, program makers, broadcasters, corporations, carriers and Internet service providers.

Headquartered in Gerrards Cross, Kingston inmedia serves a growing list of international customers such as BBC, Boeing, CNBC, Energis, Global Crossing, ITN, Lucent, MCI Worldcom, P&O, Reuters, Virgin and Xerox.

Kingston inmedia is an operating division of Kingston Communications. For more information visit: http://www.kingstoninmedia.com.

About TANDBERG Television TANDBERG Television (Oslo, Norway, Stock Exchange: TAT) is a market leader in the provision of open solutions for the digital broadcasting of audio, data and video across various networks including cable, satellite, terrestrial, IP and telecom. The company is an innovator in digital broadcasting and its broad offering includes professional receivers, MPEG encoders, modulators, multiplexers, a range of solutions for transport stream processing, easy to use control and monitoring solutions, as well as market leading digital Satellite News Gathering (SNG) and digital ENG.

TANDBERG Television has proven systems integration and global support capabilities. Committed to open systems, the company's solutions are based on international standards and it plays a major part in developing standards such as MPEG-2, DVB, ATSC, SMPTE and DTTV. Headquartered in Norway, TANDBERG Television has sales and 24-hour support and monitoring operations in Asia, Australia, Europe and the US. TANDBERG Television's customers include major broadcasters, network operators and convergence players around the world including Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), BBC, BSKYB, FOX Television Stations, Kingston inmedia, NTL, StarTV, Telenor and Warner Brothers. For more information visit: www.tandbergtv.com




19/9/01

Lots of activity in the last day or so Mega encrypting, TVBS leaving Pas 2 etc. I will have to have a cleanup on the weekend and do some updating of the satellite pages. My internets bad today so I can't get through to a number of the usual websites to find news. Hopefully it will improve tommorow


From my Emails & ICQ


From Tony Drexal (FTA Satellite Services)

Hello Craig,

Mega Cosmos was encrypted as at 9.15am CST Tuesday the 18th Sept 2001, after being free for all Greeks for a couple of years.

This is probably part of the TxxxS buy it and make people pay plan.

The list of channels that have been free for years and suddenly turning into money making ventures for a few, is growing.

I wonder if this 'trend' was to continue that one day SBS, the ABC, and all currently free networks may require a "fee" to be able to watch them.

My guess is that as greed takes over mankind, we may also find one day that having a wind mill or a solar panel is not fair on the electricity companies, and a tax payment required before you can 'take a walk in the park'.

Who is next on the list of "acquisitions"?

BTW. The contact number to voice your opinions about the encryption of LBC on pas 2 is Sydney 1800 700 506.

They are adopting a 'wait and see' approach, to find out the number of people who a) have a domestic dish, and b) would those people be willing to pay to have it back.

Money is so important in this society, pity that happiness is starting to take a back seat.


Kind regards,
Tony Drexel
Free to Air Satellite Services


Craigs comment, It's very disapointing to see a popular channel encrypt, I suggest people send their complaints to the following email addresses for Mega, let them know they have lost a viewer also let them know the outrageous price Tarbs will be charging.

[email protected]
[email protected]


From Chris Pickstock 18/9/01

1.30 pm SA time
On B1, 12349 V Sr 6108, "ASTRALINKS SNG For SKY Bundaberg Races"

Colour Bars at the moment. As Craig reported the other day this frequency comes through with the strongest signal I have ever had. Does anyone else receive it as such a strong signal, and if so where are you?


From David Nolan, in Northern Australia

Apstar 2R Report

Channel News Asia 3705 V Sr 6111 4 channels
strong up here. Good to hear Aussie commentary.

3720 H Sr 29265 Adventure 1 channel or National Geographic in clear.
3823 V 3570 Channel 1 strong signal.
3846 H Sr 10200 5 Chinese channels.
3976 V Sr 5000 Chinese.

Solar Outage this arvo for 20mins.

3705 the best on current affairs I have found for this region.


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 4044 V "TVBS Asia and TVBS Newsnet" have left.
PAS 2 169E 3744 V "BBC mux increased power?"
PAS 2 169E 3872 H "Soccer feeds seen here" Sr 6620 Fec 2/3 (reports please if you see anything)

Optus B3 156E Zee TV Australia, Zee Cinema Australia, Zee Music, SET Asia, Alpha TV
Punjabi and Asianet Bharathi have moved from 12658 V to 12532 V, Sids 505-510, Vpids 2048/2049-Apids 2128/2129.

Yamal 102 90E 3645 L"TV 6 Moskva" still on , Vpid 201 Apid 202
(G Hermosa)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H "Mega Cosmos" is now encrypted.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3796 V "DD North-East" has new pids Vpid 4096 Apid 4100.

LMI 1 75E 3410 H "A test card has started" , Sid 3, Vpid 1260 Apid 1220.

PAS 10 68.5E 3932 V "Maharishi Veda Vision" is now fta


NEWS


Nickelodeon & Austar to launch interactive channel


From http://www.austarunited.com.au/press.asp?action=show&record=1

Nickelodeon and Austar to launch Australia’s first interactive children’s channel

Children in Austar homes in regional Australia will be first to experience the excitement of interactive children’s television thanks to an agreement between Nickelodeon and Austar to turn Nickelodeon interactive on Austar’s digital satellite service.

From late October, while watching Nickelodeon, kids will be able to:

- send messages to friends, family and Nickelodeon via the TV;
- find out about Nickelodeon events, promotions and programs;
- learn more about their favourite Nickelodeon characters; and
- find out about other things to do like fun ways to recycle.

Later in the year viewers will be able to click through to a special Nickelodeon game in Austar’s Gamespace.

For no additional cost, 300,000 Austar satellite households will have access to the service, while just over 100,000, who have a telephone line connection, will be able to send messages and their own ideas to Nickelodeon with the chance for them to appear in the enhancement.

Austar's networks is closed and not linked to the internet so parents can be sure that Kids will only get access to the high quality family friendly content that has made Nickelodeon one of the most trusted children's brands in the world.

"Austar's children's viewing channels, like Nickelodeon, offer a world of fun and learning in a safe environment," said Dana Strong, Managing Director of Austar United Broadband. "Interactivity adds a whole new dimension to that experience.

"Kids love to interact when they are playing or learning. They know about it from the computer in the classroom, library or at home and from playing electronic games. Now they can further interact with their favourite TV programs on Nickelodeon.

?iTV adds a new dimension to pay TV, which we know from international experience increases take up and improves retention of the service. This is especially so on channels such as Nickelodeon where parents see their kids discovering a whole new way to learn and have fun,” said Ms Strong.

?The Austar Nickelodeon experience will give kids the opportunity to further interact with the channel they love. Our philosophy is to connect to kids with entertaining experiences. Therefore, the Nickelodeon channel enhancement will give kids new interactive experiences whilst watching Nickelodeon, like communicating with each other and with Nick, or finding out more about the Channel,” said Ian Fairweather, Nickelodeon’s General Manager.

Austar's interactive services include T-Mail (e-mail on your television), HOME (the interactive guide and services menu), QuickShop (shopping while watching the Lifestyle channel), GameSpace (free and subscription games) and channel enhancements on the Weather Channel, Channel V and now Nickelodeon. More services and channel enhancements will be launched in the coming months.

Austar has been investing in digital technology from the day it launched its satellite service making iTV available quickly and easily to most of its customers. Services such as the Nickelodeon channel enhancement will come as part of the basic service at no cost to customers.

The Nickelodeon channel enhancement is the result of work being done by the channel with leading digital media companies Massive Television and Victoria Real, coordinated by Austar Interactive TV.

Massive and Austar provided the template channel enhancement application that Austar is adapting to suit various channels on its service. Victoria Real is providing creative direction and production for the Nickelodeon channel enhancement, and completing production of the Nickelodeon games.


News rivals CNN, Fox offer different styles on crisis


From http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/monday/features_b35ad91371c520940072.html

His voice quickening as file footage of Osama bin Laden played on-screen, Fox News Channel commentator Bill O'Reilly made clear his thoughts about the suspected World Trade Center terrorism mastermind Friday night.

"I'm telling you my feelings right now," O'Reilly stated vehemently. "I think the man does not deserve to live."

The next morning, bin Laden was also the dominant topic on CNN. But location was key. Reporter Tom Mintier, live in Pakistan, handed off to reporter Nic Robertson, live in Afghanistan.

Tuesday's terrorist attacks set off a week in which it sometimes felt as if the same horrific images and anguished commentary were playing on a continual loop on every available TV channel. Yet for Fox and CNN --- already locked in a struggle for 24-hour news channel supremacy --- covering a real (if undeclared) war has further underscored the differences between them.

Neither network's reporting has been error-free, especially in the earliest hours of the crisis, when numerous events were unfolding on many fronts. (Shelling of Afghanistan's capital shown live Tuesday on CNN turned out to be unrelated to the American crisis; Fox reported a hijacked plane headed for the U.S. Capitol that never materialized, although Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday that that may have been the goal of the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.) CNN and Fox joined most networks in carrying a false report --- initially confirmed by New York police, CNN said --- of five people pulled from the WTC rubble in a sport-utility vehicle.

Generally, though, media experts say that both networks have done well at covering an unprecedented, constantly developing story. Yet early ratings suggest that when it comes to viewers, CNN's deep reporting bench and somewhat more straightforward approach to the news seems to be winning out over Fox's big-hitter personalities and more gut-level delivery.

According to Nielsen figures, CNN's average rating for the period between 8:45 a.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Friday was 3.7, or some 3.1 million households tuned in. Fox achieved a 2.2 rating (1.5 million households). Both networks' ratings soared during prime time, when CNN averaged 4.7 and Fox 3.3.

"People all over the world know that CNN is going to be there," Eason Jordan, president of newsgathering for the CNN newsgroups, said Saturday. "So CNN is held to a different standard. We have to be where the news is, in potential hot spots."

Neither Jordan nor Fox News Channel's network executive producer, Bill Shine, wanted to discuss ratings over the weekend.

"I've gotta be honest, I watch the competition some," Shine said Friday night from New York. "But when you've got the president coming in for a memorial service, planes crashing into buildings and whatever else, it's not what I'm focusing on."

With so much going on and with the networks sharing footage Tuesday, much of the initial coverage could seem virtually indistinguishable.

"What we were seeing was not a lot of jockeying for future position, but a bunch of news organizations trying to stay on the air and do good journalism," said Robert Thompson, head of Syracuse University's Center for the Study of Popular Television.

But the differences between CNN and Fox have become more apparent as the sense of immediate crisis has gradually given way to watchful waiting for war, and as the broadcast networks have begun to return to regular programming.

"Fox has staked its newfound success in personality programming," notes Matthew Felling of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. That means comprehensive news reporting, as well as anchors and reporters who can veer into commentary during broadcasts. (Shepard Smith concluded a report on people who would consider it "un-American" to sell stock today with a fervent "Let's hope so!")

It also meant two live broadcasts (up from the usual one) of Fox's wildly popular "The O'Reilly Factor" on Friday night. A skilled interviewer, O'Reilly extracted interesting details from Rudi Dekkers, whose flight school two of the suspected hijackers attended, as well as Dekkers' vow to fax information on any such future applicants to the FBI. A vocal conservative commentator as well, O'Reilly also promised that he'd "blast anyone" who tried to push President Bush to act prematurely.

Larry King, arguably CNN's best-known personality, has been in his usual 9 p.m. spot. Meanwhile, Aaron Brown has anchored so much coverage on a New York rooftop alongside ex-Foxer Paula Zahn that Felling predicts "Brown will be this war's Arthur Kent," a reference to NBC's "Scud Stud" during the Gulf War.

Yet to Jordan, what matters most is being wherever the story developments are before they happen. CNN, which now has more than 30 foreign bureaus (to Fox's three), was the only network in Iraq when the Persian Gulf War started in 1991.

"And now it's 2001 and we're the only ones in Afghanistan," said Jordan, who thinks CNN's "unparalleled" international presence will pay off even more. "If we take President Bush at his word, and we certainly do, there is going to be very strong, fierce retaliation. Clearly, we're going to have more focus there."


New Thai Television Channel to Carry Public Service Programmes


From http://hoovnews.hoovers.com

While an investigation continues into the legality of its concession, World Thai Star TV Co plans to launch a new channel officially next month.

However, the channel has been subcontracted to P.L. Television Co, which will broadcast under the name of Bangkok TV or BTV.

It will introduce itself to media and advertising agencies on Wednesday with a plan to start transmission on Oct 8, said Jaisingh Narula, an executive of Thai Television (TTV), the station name of World Thai Star TV.

Mr Jaisingh said BTV would initially carry public-service programmes made by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the National Police Office.

An informed source at TTV said the company would not charge the subcontractor for airtime. Instead, it would pay it 30 percent of the revenue.

The source conceded that the ratio was high, compared with the 50/50 basis of established free-to-air stations.

Some potential investors in the project, including entertainment celebrities Thoon Hiranyasap, and former Thai Airways International president Dhamnoon Wanglee, decided to cancel their plans after failing to negotiate better terms, the source said.

Aside from the sub-contractor receiving 30 percent of the revenue, which observers said was a low figure, uncertainty about the concession is a major deterrent to investors.

The Public Relations Department granted a concession to Thai Star TV Co on May 30, 1996 although the only two bidders were from the same business group.

The concession fee offered by Thai Star TV was also low by industry standards as it amounted to 400 million baht throughout the 25-year contract.

In October 1999, the Public Relations Department allowed the company to rename itself as World Thai Star TV Co, even though the new firm had different shareholders and management from its predecessor.

Information from the Commercial Registration Department shows that World Thai Star TV and Thai Star TV are different entities. Therefore, the concession was in effect re-granted to a new firm, although the Public Relations Department insists otherwise.

Another anomaly is that the concession was originally granted to a pay-TV station, but World Star TV intended to operate a free-to-air service and run commercials which are not allowed on pay channels.

Somsak Thepsuthin, the Prime Minister's Office minister who oversees the Public Relations Department, appointed a committee on Aug 30 to investigate the case, demanding the findings within 30 days. The move prompted World Thai Star TV to ask BTV to handle the launch.

P.L. Television was established on March 29 this year with registered capital of five million baht. According to the Commercial Registration Department, its stated business objectives are to provide services in music, entertainment, shows, plays and recording.

The company's chairman is Pol Gen Yongyuth Thepjumnong, a retired police officer. The company's board consists of Suphavadee Thaptimthongchai, Napong Kamolsilp and Vice-Admiral Narong Kamolsilp.

A company spokesman refused to disclose any details of the station's programmes, saying the information would be announced on Wednesday.


Zee News inks content-sharing deal with CNN


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/18tech03.htm

ZEE News has entered into a strategic alliance with CNN for content sharing, which will give the former access to all newsbreaks from CNN, and provide reciprocal benefits to the US media major.

The alliance is initially valid for a year and could be extended up to three years, said senior Zee News officials, adding the arrangement envisaged royalty payment by Zee to CNN.

When contacted, Zee News CEO Sanjay Pugulia declined to comment on the deal. CNN's distributor in India Turner International's Anshuman Mishra was also not available for comments.

The deal, signed late last week, comes at a time when American networks, including CNN, have launched blanket 24-hour coverage after the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington and the possibility of US retaliation on Afghanistan. (PTI)


N.Y. High-Definition Future Unclear


From http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/daily_news/print/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1056550

Not only did New York television stations lose their antennas when the World Trade Center crumbled after last week's gruesome terrorist act, but five outlets -- WABC, WNBC, WPIX, WWOR and WNET -- also lost millions of dollars' worth of digital broadcast equipment. The catastrophe sets New York back months, if not years, in the transition to high-definition TV broadcasts. The May 2002 deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission for commercial stations to have HDTV offerings up and running will now be difficult for the effected stations to meet (noncommercial stations like WNET have until 2003). Only three New York stations -- WCBS, WNYW and WNYE -- have their digital transmission facilities on the Empire State Building.

"If this isn't an extenuating circumstance for making the deadline, I don't know what is," said one Washington lobbyist, who requested anonymity.

Deadline aside, it won't be easy or cheap for the stations to replace their digital signals. Most insurance companies do not cover losses from terrorist acts. Then there is the challenge of finding another location that is high and strong enough to support the heavier digital equipment. Station deals to lease space on the World Trade Center took months. WABC and WNBC had completed construction only late last year.

Now the process has to start all over again. Choices are severely limited. With the Empire State Building at full capacity, one option stations are looking at is the Armstrong Tower in Alpine, N.J., the site of the first experimental FM radio station. Named after Edwin Armstrong, the inventor of FM radio who eventually committed suicide after a protracted fight with RCA's David Sarnoff (who wanted to prevent FM from encroaching on AM), the tower sits atop the Palisades, one of the highest points in New Jersey.

All that pales, however, in comparison to the deaths of five engineers from WCBS, WNBC, WABC and WPIX, who were monitoring their stations' transmitters at the top of the WTC when the attacks came last week.


Channel V to exclusively air Jackson’s new video


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010918/news6.html

STAR India will focus on Channel V this year and is going to premiere Michael Jackson’s new video exclusively on the music channel.

The King of Pop will rock on Channel V for the first two days of his launch of his new video on September 21 and September 22. Mr Jackson’s single ‘You Rock My World’ from the album that took almost six years in the making - Invincible - will be premiered exclusively on the channel simultaneously with the global launch of the video.

Technology arrangements are being done by Channel V’s Hong Kong telecast centre who will take in the feed direct from the US, when Mr Jackson gives his first video for airing. Sony Music Entertainment and Epic Records have announced the worldwide release. The album will arrive in-store internationally on October 29 and in the US and Canada on October 30. Sony has associated with Channel V for the premier of the new single.




18/9/01

Live chat tonight in the chatroom 8.30pm Syd time onwards and from about 9.15pm NZ. Dwelle and TV5 Asie have been relabled on Mediasat Msat 6/7. Good to see Fox News back FTA hopefully CNN will follow.

Has anyone checked for Pas 5 at 155 W? yes this one may be visable in the Asia Pacific region.

Can someone with a Nokia check around 12305 V on B1, i think there is a signal there, maybe Data but my Nokia can't get a lock onto it to get the SR and Fec and pids off it


From my Emails & ICQ


From George (Thailand)

Can anyone help me confirm if TVB mux (4044V SR 6620 / with TVBS Newsnetwork and TVBS Asia) transponder 11 on PAS 2 has ceased or changed symbol rates? And confirm ifthe Fox Mux on 3798V is still there? Cant seem to get it up here, while all other transponders are coming in fine from PAS 2.

Fashion TV will be encrypting on Asiasat 2 on the first of November says on their channel yesterday what a sad lost just thought you would like to know.


From the Dish


Pas 8 166E 3850 H "New FTA services here???, labled music 1-22?, someone please check what loads" Sr 13240 Fec 3/4

Optus B3 156E 12336 V "Msat 6" on Vpid 1660 Apid 1620 Sid 6 (Encrypted)
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "Msat 7" on Vpid 1760 Apid 1720 Sid 7 (Encrypted)

Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Zee Mux", new Pids
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Zee Tv" Vpid 2048 Apid 2049 Sid 505
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Zee Cinema" Vpid 2064 Apid 2065 Sid 506
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Zee Music/News" Vpid 2080 Apid 2081 sid 507
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Sony TV" Vpid 2096 Apid 2097 Sid 508
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Alpha Punjabi " Vpid 2112 Apid 2113 Sid 509
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Asianet Bharathi " Vpid 2128 Apid 2129 Sid 510

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3980 V "Fox News Channel" has started on , Sid 1777, Vpid 513 Apid 644.(Interesting in with this MCR and 2 Espn channels could be for U.S troops when they invade that part of the world?)

Measat 1 91.5E The Astro package is encrypted in both Cryptoworks and Mediaguard.

Yamal 102 90E 3645 L "Yuzhniy Region" has replaced "TV 6 Moskva" on, SID 12,Vpid 201 Apid 202.


NEWS


Profit slimmer as TVNZ fights to cut losses


From http://onebusiness.nzoom.com/business_detail/0,1245,57207-3-13,00.html

Television New Zealand says it has stemmed the losses being made by its television channels, but it is working hard to identify how it can ensure they remain profitable in the following two financial years.

Chief Executive Rick Ellis revealed TVNZ has found $15 million in cost savings from everything from looking to sell advertising harder in the provinces, buying better to getting rid of staff cellphones, car parks and pot plants from the building.

The need to stop the bleed from the channels was evident from the release of TVNZ’s full year financials, when they were tabled in parliament on Tuesday.

TVNZ reported a net surplus after tax of $30 million for the year to June 30, compared with $43.1 million the previous year.

But it was blunt that its international operations, including satellite services, helped pull it to the right side of the balance sheet.

Group revenue increased by $7.7 million to $481 million and the operating surplus was $45.6 million.

But Ellis says transmission related revenues had offset increased costs and a decline in advertising revenue, which at $284.7 million for the year was a decrease of $11.1 million, or 3.7%.

He says the TV business faces significant challenges to reverse a nine year trend which had seen TV’s share of advertising revenue decrease by 6.3%.

But media companies worldwide have experienced similar contraction of revenues, increases in content costs and investment in the internet, Ellis says. In that context TVNZ's result compared favourably both in NZ and internationally.

He also points out that TV One screened 56% local content and TV2 21% during prime time - significantly more than its Statement of Corporate Intent target of 50%.

For the first time TVNZ broke down the group results into television and media (advertising, production, programme funding and internet services) and transmission (broadcasting services for TV and radio, satellite services and consultancy and operation services).

Ellis says the company was not directed to do so. It was more a matter of wanting to silence speculation by commentators and the media.

The figures show TV and media had a net surplus of $3.7 million, while transmission’s net surplus was $26.24 million.

The previous year TV and media’s net surplus was more than five times at $16.86 million, and transmission’s was $26.23 million.

The reduction in TV and media surplus was attributed in part to the added costs of programming due to the lower NZ dollar. Those costs increased from $174.1 million to $193.2 million. But the cost of the rights to screen the 2000 Olympics and an increase in local content costs including news and current affairs also contributed.

On what TVNZ is calling its third channel, nzoom.com, Ellis says it is on track when it came to its business plan to achieve profitability in three years and was providing huge benefits to existing services.

nzoom.com had established itself as one of the most visited and comprehensive local content internet sites in New Zealand with close to 10 million page views a month being recorded.

The internet portal had the company's absolute commitment and it represented an exciting platform as TVNZ rolled out new broadcasting services such as broadband wireless services to schools and communities, Ellis says.

"We are very happy with it," he said. "It is difficult to comprehend a state broadcaster not having a strong online presence. Can you imagine the BBC or ABC without it?"

TVNZ's financial report shows the government, as its shareholder, will get a dividend of $21 million compared with $30.2 million last year. That includes a $3.9 million final dividend still to be paid on September 28 and not provided for in the 2001 accounts because of the new financial reporting standards. It is to come out of operating cash flows.

With the drop in dividend was a message from Ellis and Chairman Ross Armstrong that TVNZ will be bargaining hard for a share of the Budget in May next year to assist in its transition from a state owned enterprise to a crown owned company working under a for the good of public broadcasting charter.

On top of the slimmer profit, this year’s result doesn’t include any write offs, whereas they were significant in the 2000 year, when TVNZ wrote off $12.87million for digital TV costs and $5,943,000 against the pay off of former presenter John Hawkesby.

Added to that, TVNZ increased its bank loans in the year to June 30. It has unsecured loans worth $82.6 million on a two to four year pay back at an average of 5.82%, compared with $46.83 million at 6.56% over the same time frames.

Interest costs jumped from $3.1 million to $5.4 million.





17/9/01

The latest Satfacts magazine just arrived in my mail, items in this month issue include,

25 Foot Dishes in the Tropics, SDS Translator Tests, Bobs Cable System hit by Lightening, interesting questions relating to Power Vu IRD Internal I.D codes, Asiasat 3 bandscan. Plus of course information on the SPRSCS 2001 Show in Melbourne being held Sept 27,28 and 29th.

TVB on Panamsat 8 is now known as Jadeworld.

Page Cleanup tommorow



From my Emails & ICQ


From John Harrison 17/9/01

Pas 8 12686 H "Jet T.V" is FTA Sr 28124 Fec 3/4
as of 8.50am aest.


From David Pemberton 16/9/01

The Reuters Singapore channel 3904V that I last sent to you as being on for two days now, has ceased.I thought they may have taken a lease on that transponder for a longer period.

On the FOX MUX 3798 V Channel 5 which is the FOX NEWS CHANNEL is in the clear(FTA) now.


DAVID PEMBERTON.


From Me 16/9/01

1pm Syd

B1, 12349 V Sr 6108 Vpid 308 Apid 256 Txt 273 Sid 1 Pmt 33

"Astralinks card SNG Halidon" then Horse racing feed
FULL SCALE on Nokia tuner here in NZ never seen such a strong signal!!!!
stronger than SKY NZ


From John Harrison 15/9/01

Mediasat 12336 is showing Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn on now 8.45pm aest


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3992 V "The Fox mux" has left again, now only on 3798 V.
PAS 2 169E 3798 V "Fox mux" is back , Sr 26470, Fec 7/8, Pids 1160/1120-1660/1620, line-up: Fox News Channel (FTA) and occasional Fox feeds.
PAS 2 169E 3768 V "CBS Feeds", Sr 6620, Fec 2/3

PAS 8 166E 3829 H "China Radio International" has started on, Sid 3, Apid 1321.

Optus B3 156E 12336 V "ABS Radio (Arabic)" now transmitting here on Apid 1122 (Rather low quality audio)

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H "Nile Drama and ESC 2" are now in the clear.

Yamal 102 90E 3587 L "TV Nord" has started, Sr 4285, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256.

Insat 2E 83E 3580 V "Aaj Tak" has started, Sr 3255, Fec 3/4, Vpid 513 Apid 256 zone beam.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3470 V "The ETC info card" has left (PAL).
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3515 V "PTV 1" has started, Sr 3333, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256, Asian beam.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "SCT - Satisfaction Channel TV" has started, Vpid 1537 Apid 1540 (Viaccess Encrypted),Global beam!, before you get to excited by this news, stations come and go all the time off this transponder, nothing ever stays here
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H"Anjuman TV" is only a promo, not regular transmissions.


NEWS


Sina to Acquire 29% of Sun TV; Set to Extend Premier Programming to Millions of Households in Greater China


From satnewsasia.com

Chinese Internet portal Sina.com has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 29 percent of Hong Kong-based Sun Television Cybernetworks Holdings Ltd.

Sina will acquire 29% of Sun TV's outstanding shares for US$ 8 million in cash and some 4.6 million in newly issued Sina shares, representing 10% of Sina shares on a fully diluted basis. Sina’s holdings will come from Chairperson Yang Lan, who will continue to serve in her post.

The acquisition will enable Sina to extend its programming to over 30 million households in Greater China. Program syndication will allow Sun TV's programs to be viewed by an additional 40 million households..

Sun TV is a major satellite TV broadcaster and a cable TV program syndicator. It operates two satellite TV channels with restricted landing rights issued by the Chinese government. Sun TV also produces cultural and information-related thematic programs.

It has an exclusive license from A&E Channels for Greater China and the exclusive management rights to pay-TV licenses for China from major TV content providers such as Discovery, MTV and others.

Sun TV produces a popular talk show series, Yang Lan Studio, which is hosted by Yang Lan, one of the most widely respected TV journalists in China.

Sina and Sun TV will initiate joint marketing and promotion, cross-selling to respective advertisers of Sina and Sun TV, syndication and promotion of respective programs in each other's networks.

They will also create interactive online and TV programming and will cooperate to further advance Sun TV's already significant progress in Interactive TV/ broadband programming technology

Sina CEO Daniel Mao said that by combining Internet portal with TV, the two companies will leverage significant synergies and shorten the path to profitability.

Yang Lan believes the impending entry of China into WTO will compel multinationals to dramatically increase their spending for brand building in China.

?Sun TV and Sina together will be a leading media to take advantage of the oncoming advertising and media revolution in Greater China,” she pointed out.

Sina is now in an advantageous financial position with cash and short-term investments worth US$110 million from its April 2000 initial public offering.

Sina and China's two other Nasdaq-listed portals, however, are suffering from meager advertising revenue. The other two, NetEase.com and Sohu.com, are being hounded by rumors of consolidation, which analysts see as essential to their survival.

In August, Sina posted a smaller net loss for its fourth fiscal quarter of US$8.2 million on revenue of US$5.8 million. The results marked a slight quarter-on-quarter decline for Sina. Last month, Sina announced it would cut 80 jobs, bringing its staff to 450.

Sun TV, on the other hand, lost US$16.1 million on revenue of US$13 million for its fiscal year ended March 31.


Zee News, CNN may form alliance for content sharing


From http://www.business-standard.com/ice/news1.asp?menu=1

With an aim to take on the competition —specially from Aaj Tak — Zee News is close to signing a mega deal with CNN for sharing content which would give the Indian channel access to almost all the global stories on CNN, including news breaks, for airing on Zee News.

As part of the agreement, details of which are still being hammered out, CNN too will have access to Zee News stories and will also be extended off-air help by Zee News.

The alliance, which would initially be for a period of one year and is extendible to three years, is likely to be announced over the next few days, according to cable and satellite TV industry sources.

The sources said, Zee News would downlink CNN feeds at its studios in Noida and would send the tapes of recorded stories via VSNL to its Singapore uplinking centre from where it would be uplinked for airing on Zee News. Special stories may also be telecast simultaneously on Zee News and CNN, the sources added.

Although Anshuman Misra, country head of Turner International India, which oversees the marketing and distribution of CNN and Cartoon Network in the country was not available for comment, media sources pointed out that CNN already has about 800 affiliates across the world, including Doordarshan and Eenadu TV in India.

The content sharing agreement is expected to spruce up international news content on Zee News, especially in the event of a major breaking news like the recent attacks on World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US and would give it a major advantage over arch rival Aaj Tak, media analysts said.

Globally, CNN has tie-ups with regional broadcasters which are known as its affiliates, but the relationship with Zee is a step away from this.

Though the Zee-CNN alliance does not envisage any equity participation from CNN, media analysts indicated equity participation by CNN’s parent company, AOL Time Warner, in Zee Telefilms Ltd cannot be ruled out at a future stage.

In the recent past, Subhash Chandra-controlled Zee Telefilms Ltd has said that it is looking for a foreign strategic partner which can take an equity stake in ZTL, but has not yet decided on the quantum of promoters’ shareholding which may be offloaded to the partner.


GE Americom Contracts with L-3 Communications for Trans-Pacific Service on Spacenet 4


From satnewsasia.com

GE American Communications (GE Americom) and Communication Systems-West, a division of L-3 Communications, have signed an agreement to provide high data rate communications transmissions between Hawaii and Korea.

L-3 will provide an 8 Mbps data service on GE Americom's Spacenet 4 satellite located at 172 degrees east longitude. GE Americom will also provide uplink/downlink service via its Sunset Beach Teleport on the north coast of Oahu, Hawaii.

The C-band transponders on Spacenet 4 provide intercontinental satellite service across the Pacific Ocean. Various teleports in major gateway locations in the Northern Pacific Rim and East Asia make trans-Pacific service readily available on Spacenet 4.

GE Americom also operates TDRS-5, a second POR satellite located at 174(Degree)W.L. Spacenet 4 will be replaced by GE-2i, GE Americom's next-generation satellite for the Pacific Ocean Region, in 2003.

GE Americom's Sunset Beach Teleport currently offers commercial third-party services, including video, data, telephony, and Internet connectivity, through an array of C-band and Ku-band antennas.

Communication Systems-West, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, provides wideband communications for the defense industry. In addition, the company provides a wide range of commercial wireless products and satellite communication systems.

GE Americom is a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. GE Americom is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world through a fleet of 20 satellites.

GE Americom's key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, British Telecom, Cidera, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, Fox, TV Guide/Gemstar, Gannett, ICG, Merlin, NBC, The New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, TELE Greenland, TV Europa, Viacom and TimeWarner/Turner Broadcasting.

Last March, GE Capital announced with SES ASTRA that they plan to combine the assets of GE Americom and SES ASTRA to form a new premier global satellite company, SES Global. The new company will have a fleet of 29 satellites and be able to deliver broadband satellites services to more than 90% of the world's population.

In addition, SES Global's strategic partnerships and participations in AsiaSat, NSAB, Star One, Americom Asia-Pacific and Nahuelsat will combine to give entertainment, Internet, news and enterprise customers access to a fleet of 42 satellites. When the transaction is finalized, GE Capital will hold a 25.1% economic interest and 20.1% voting interest in SES Global S.A.


South Korea Plans EastSat


From satnewsasia.com

South Korea’s Ministry of Information and Communication has announced plans to launch a communications satellite in 2003.

Korea Telecom is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with High Gain Antenna Co. in October 2001 on cooperation in the project, estimated at US$194 million. The ministry issued a license for the satellite's operation to High Gain in 1998.

The satellite, to be called Eastsat, will transmit television programs and deliver ultra-high speed Internet access, multimedia services and communication lines to the Asia-Pacific region.

High Gain has long been planning to operate EastSat since 1996. EastSat is to be located at 164 degrees East.


HK Rejects Pacific Digital Request To Delay Pay-TV Launch


The Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority has rejected Pacific Digital Media’s application for a one-year delay in rolling out its pay-TV services.

Pacific Digital Media (PDMHK), one of three pay-TV license holders in Hong Kong, was to have launched its pay-TV services last August 23. The other two license holders are Television Broadcasts Ltd. (TVB), a unit of Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, and Yes Television Asia, now part of CLP Holdings.

Two other companies, News Corporation’s Star TV and Hong Kong Network TV, pulled out of the market last December and March, respectively.

A PDMHK officer said changes in the shareholding structure of Pacific Digital Media Taiwan, its parent company, were causing the roll-out delay.

Pacific Digital Media Taiwan, which holds 100% of PDMHK, is merging with cable service and uplink service provider Eastern DTH, a unit of pay-TV operator Eastern Multimedia Group. The merger is ongoing and was not completed by the end of August.

The Broadcasting Authority said it will accept PDMHK's application to change its corporate and shareholding structures but not its application to defer the launch of pay-TV services.


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 37/2001 September 16 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic


Edited Apsattv.com Edition

TSI Channel News would like to extend condolences to all those touched by
Tuesday’s tragic events in the U.S.; to the victims and those who mourn the
loss of loved ones and friends.


also to launch TV Land Canada.

A S I A



CHINA - HONG KONG


SINA TO BUY SUN TV STAKE

SINA.com, a leading Chinese media and Internet services company on September 12
announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 29% of Sun Television
Cybernetworks Holdings Limited. The acquisition will allow SINA to extend its
premier brand and programming to over 30 million households in Greater China.
Under the terms of the agreement, SINA will acquire 29% of Sun TV's outstanding
shares from Yang Lan, Chairperson of Sun TV, who will continue to serve in her
post. Sun TV is a leading Greater China-wide Satellite TV broadcaster and a
Cable TV program syndicator. It has the right to operate two satellite TV
channels with restricted landing rights issued by the Government of the
People's Republic of China. Its programs reach over 30 million households in
Greater China. Additionally, through program syndication, Sun TV's programs can
be viewed in over 70 million households in Greater China.


TVB SEEKS BUYER FOR GALAXY

Television Broadcasts Ltd, (TVB) Hong Kong's dominant broadcaster says that it
is close to finding a buyer for parts of its pay-TV business, Galaxy Satellite
Broadcasting. Galaxy was awarded a licence by the Hong Kong government in July
2000 to run a pay-TV operation in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of
China. But because its overwhelming dominance domestically over its sole
terrestrial rival, Asia Television, regulators have insisted that TVB's share
of Galaxy must be cut to 50 per cent by June 2002. TVB wants to sell its stake
before it is asked to cut the price as the deadline for the sale approaches.
The company is estimating that it is worth up to $64 million, although other
valuations place it closer to $26 million. Ronald Jones, TVB's Senior Manager
of Business Development said that the company was in, "advanced discussions"
with would-be investors that included two US media players.


INDIA


STAR IN SEARCH FOR PARTNERS FOR DTH SERVICE

Star India is on the look out for partners for its direct-to-home service due
to launch as early as March next year. Talks in this regard are currently on
with prospective partners that include several consumer electronics majors,
financial institutions and merchant bankers. Senior company executives said
that the service would be available in the price range of Rs 250 to Rs 450 per
month. Apart from regular bouquet of channels, the service would include other
facilities such as e-mail, interactive sports and news, TV games, pay-per-view
and video-on-demand. Speaking to ‘Times News Network’, Jagdish Kumar, executive
vice president, digital platform group, STAR said that the platform would be
neutral and would be open to all broadcasters including Zee and Sony. It has
estimated a subscriber base of around 8 million over a ten-year period with
break-even at the 3.5 million mark. Apart from metro cities, plans are afoot to
make the service available in smaller cities that have low cable TV
penetration. In keeping with present regulations of a 20 per cent cap on
broadcasters and on foreign direct investment, STAR plans to have three to four
strategic partners for the project. According to government guidelines, each
DTH service provider has to set up its own earth station to uplink services. If
the government allows third-party uplinking, Star executives expect the service
to be up and running by March next year, but if the group has to set up its own
earth station, the service is likely to go on air by October-November next
year.


DISCOVERY TALKING WITH SONY

Discovery India is in talks with broadcasters for a distribution platform pact.
The channel is considering a link with the Sony platform, though nothing
concrete has emerged out of the talks as yet.


ZEE EXPECTS PROFITS FROM EUROPEAN OPERATIONS

Indian broadcaster Zee Telefilms says it expects to generate profits of $1
million from its European operations this year. Zee’s European interests have
never turned a profit before, but the company is confident the repositioning of
its three European channels and an increase in the subscriber base to 126,000
will change this. Zee Bangla has been rebranded Zee Cinema and Music Asia is
now Zee Music.


BANGALORE CABLERS BLACK OUT STAR TV

Leading cable operators in Bangalore on September 13 blacked out Star TV. The
Star channels - Star Plus, Star News, Star Movies, Star World and National
Geographic -- have been switched off indefinitely in Bangalore by nearly a
thousand cable operators as a mark of protest against the alleged arbitrary
hike in the Star subscription fee.




16/9/01

Taking a break today back Monday.




15/9/01

Sky NZ on B1, 12671 V is running the TAB race channel in the clear for some reason or some kind of test. I find I have to manually add the following pids on the Nokia to get it to play FTA, Vpid 516 Apid 654 (not working?) TXT 580 Sid 1045 PMT 273 the Nokia dosn't load them as fta, I don't think they are transmitting pids. Could be some of Skys "internal" hidden channels. I would shift my dish and hook the Nokia to the PC except for the fact that its raining. Perhaps tommorow, I will hook it up for a Pids scan.


From my Emails & ICQ


From: David Pemberton

Reuters Singapore has started on PAS 2 3904 5632 3/4.Basically same that is on 3907H on ASIASAT 2.(same pids etc.)
Has been running for the last few days.

About the FOX Mux changes that I last reported , they are still on 3798V and have not gone back to 3992V.Haven't seen the Herbal Life feeds this week.They sometimes go into recess periods.


DAVID PEMBERTON.


Dear Craig.


I have just written this petition in French to Mrs Isabelle Renou from TV5 Asie in Bangkok .Members of our group can join me by adding their names and location and e-mail to : [email protected]



Regards.
Salah.


Pétition de la part des Amis Australiens et Néo-Zélandais de TV5 Asie.

Chère Madame Renou.


Nous sommes tres tristes de voir vos émissions à destination de l' Australie cryptèes depuis plusieurs jours. J' ai contacté Mr Mark Lobwien des services techniques de Mediasat à Sydney , il m' a retorqué que TV5 a ordonné que vos transmissions soient cryptèes.

Croyez, chère Madame, que les amis de TV5 Asie ici en Australie et en Nouvelle Zèlande sont tres affligés par le brouillage de ces émissions. Nous avons l' impression que le lien culturel que

TV5 a tissé depuis son apparition sur le bouquet de Médiasat avec la petite communauté francophone
d' Australie et de Nouvelle Zélande a été coupé. Nous avons ressenti une perte immense.

TV5 est meme tres appréciée par les anglophones. Vos séries et films sous-titrés en anglais sont regardés par beaucoup de familles et quel plaisir d' entendre le français .

Les journaux des diverses chaines suisse, belge, quèbéquoise et française nous apportent quotidiennement une autre perspective et le traitement de l' information est d' un excellent calibre.


30.000 foyers en Australie et en Nouvelle Zélande recoivent TV5 par le biais de Mediasat sur le satellite Optus B3; ce satellite comporte aussi toutes les émissions étrangères dont Thai tv , la chaine Turque Nationale TRT et 5 chaines provenant du sous-continent Indien.Toutes ces chaines sont "FTA". Nous ne comprenons pas pourquoi notre fenètre sur le monde francophone est fermée.


Nous tenons à vous ècrire et vous faire part de notre tristesse.


Cordialement.
S Romane.
Merimbula . NSW Australie.


From Mahmoud Hashish

Hi,

Currently on AsiaSat 2 (at 100.5 East) two channels the ERTU (TARBS Bouq.) are Free-To-Air.

Freq 3640 H Sr 27850, Fec 3/4

These are Nile Drama (NDM, VPID 0514, Audio 0642, PCR 8190) and Egyptian Satellite Channel 2 (ESC2, VPID 0518, Audio 0646, PCR 8190)


Regards,
Mahmoud Hashish


From John Harrison 15/9/01

2pm Syd

Carlton vs Richmond AFL on Mediasat 12336v
unusual for a Saturday


From the Dish


Optus B1 160E 12671 V "SKY NZ, Tab Trackside service test?" Vpid 516 Apid 654 TXT 580 PCR 8190 PMT 273 Sid 1045

Palapa C2 113E 3728 V "NBN (Philippines)" has started, Digicipher 1/clear, Sr 4800.(Sounds interesting screenshot anyone?)

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "SAF Radio" has started on , Sid 29, Apid 1223.


NEWS


Satellite operator PanAmSat adds fibre capacity


From [sat-index] 14 Sep 2001

Current fibre optic cables only use a fraction of their
theoretical capacity, yet they offer more capacity than dozens
of communications satellites. PanAmSat's answer to the question,
satellite or fibre?, obviously is "Both." The company said it
added trans-Atlantic fibre capacity to its global satellite-
based communications network. The new fibre connectivity will
support fully integrated, hybrid video, data and Internet
services between the United States, Europe and Asia.

The terrestrial link, combined with PanAmSat's satellite
network, will enable the company to offer customers an added
transmission choice, increased service options and the ability
to transmit between New York and Tokyo via a single satellite hop
in London.

Spanning from New York to London, the broadband pipe will link
PanAmSat's Spring Creek teleport outside New York City with a
London gateway. The high-speed link will enable the delivery of
full-time and ad hoc transmissions from anywhere in the United
States to London for uplink to PanAmSat's Indian Ocean Region
fleet. The PAS-4 and PAS-7 satellites as well as the new and
more advanced PAS-10 spacecraft offer coverage of Europe, Africa,
the Middle East and Asia. Customers throughout these regions
will also be able to beam signals to the United States with equal
ease and efficiency, the company said.

"PanAmSat builds communications networks, and while satellites
are our traditional medium, we will continue to pursue
opportunities and strategies that enable us to offer the most
versatile and value-added services," stated Tom Eaton,
PanAmSat's executive vice president, global sales.


PanAmSat launches new bidirectional SPOTbytes service


From [sat-index] 14 Sep 2001

PanAmSat Corporation said it had launched its new SPOTbytes
two-way service, offering flexible, cost-effective Internet
access over the company's global satellite network. The new
service offers PanAmSat customers a digital video broadcast
(DVB) outbound satellite link, a single-channel-per-carrier
(SCPC) return satellite link, a teleport uplink and a direct
connection to a Tier One backbone provider.

The company also announced that Nigeria's COSMOS is the first
Internet service provider (ISP) to take advantage of the two-way
SPOTbytes platform. The high-speed, two-way service consists of
an asymmetric satellite link to the U.S. Internet backbone
employing the company's PAS-1R Atlantic Ocean Region spacecraft
and Atlanta teleport as well as Radyne ComStream's IPSat
Internet Satellite Terminal.

Radyne ComStream's IPSat products provide broadband two-way
TCP/IP communication over satellite. A compact single indoor box
provides users with up to 72 Mbps of DVB compliant downstream
data and up to 2 Mbps of return data. IPSat also includes built-
in MPEG audio and video decoding.

[In case you wonder: The SPOTbytes name (as well as PanAmSat's
ticker symbol SPOT) is based on the cartoon character "My Dog
Spot," an opinionated [i.e. anti-Intelsat] dog created by
PanAmSat's late founder Rene Anselmo.]


South Indian music channel Southern Spice launched in Mumbai


From indiantelevision.com

Southern Spice, a South Indian languages-based film and pop music channel, was officially launched in Mumbai today. The channel has been "on air" for the last three months and plays the music of all the four regional languages in the south.

Southern Spice is headquartered in Chennai and beams a mix of Tamil (40 per cent), Telugu (30 per cent), Kannada (10 per cent), Malayalam (10 per cent) and English (10 per cent) - in a random mix. Anil Shetty of ARMD Media (the firm managing all aspects of the channel - including programming and promotion) explains the reasoning thus: "Music channels are not about about appointment television. It's all about frequency of viewing."

'As to why the channel is packaged in English, Shetty says that is the only way to bridge all four languages.

On the programming front there are nine daily shows currently running ans two weeklies. This number will eventually go up to seven, according to Shetty.

Among the shows on air are Phone-Tastic, Say To Play, Reach Out (all three interactive), FIR, I-Me-Myself, Time-Out, Hot Hotter Hottest, South Full, Reach Out, Loaded and Fast Forward.

Southern Spice is promoted by Fortune Media Private Limited, a company floated by the Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd, one of the largest bulk distributors of lotteries in the country. Santiago Martin is chairman and managing director of the company. Martin Lottery is associated with the state lotteries of Bhutan, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

With an initial capital expenditure of Rs 50 million, and running costs of just under Rs 10 million a month, the money sunk into the project so far is roughly Rs 90 million.

When queried as to when they expected to break even, Shetty says the channel is looking at a 30-month gestation period.

On the distribution front, Shetty says 95 per cent of the cable & satellite universe in the southern states have been covered, 80 per cent of Mumbai, 75 per cent of Delhi and 100 per cent of Calcutta. So far 3,000 set top boxes have been distributed across the country, he adds.

Simply Spice is beaming off NSS -703 as a free-to-air service. The channel is being uplinked from Singapore.

Technical Specifications:
Satellite : NSS - 703 57° E
Downlink Frequency : 3888 MHz
FEC : 3/4
Downlink Polarisation : Horizontal
Symbol rate : 09766 Kg Symbol/sec
Free-To-Air


Craigs comment, this one available if you live in Western Australia


Cricket greats to figure on DD chat show


From indiantelevision.com

"Bat Chat", a new cricket talk show with many firsts to its credit, is being produced for national broadcaster Doordarshan.

It brings well-known cricket commentator Tony Greig to Indian television in a new avatar. He plays anchor on "Bat Chat" that has a panel that includes Arjuna Ranatunga, former captain of Sri Lankan and Rameez Raja, former captain of Pakistan, speaking his mind not only on Indo-Pak cricket but also on other aspects of the game. And India is represented by the irrepressible Bishen Singh Bedi and former opening bat Sanjay Manjrekar, now a commentator.

"Bat Chat" is unlike any other show as it brings these talented experts together to talk about issues confronting cricket in a very direct manner. It is a no-holds barred conversation where the panelists often take on each other on topics like match fixing, the chucking controversy, whether India should play Pakistan, why India has not been producing top quality spinners like before and many more in a 26-episode series.

"Bat Chat" is presented by Sporting Ambition, one of India’s leading sports marketing companies. Sporting Ambition has tied up with Network 1 who have done the production and content for the show.

The show was conceived with the idea of making it a hard-hitting and honest show. So, there is an entire episode where Arjuna Ranatunga talks about how he battled enormous pressures after he was named for match fixing and then cleared. Rameez Raja speaks about the great need for India playing Pakistan or else the game might just die out in the sub-continent. Sanjay Manjrekar speaks of what is required to create a solid opening pair for India. Bishen Bedi trashes the concept of going in for foreign coaches, while Tony Greig keeps the show moving at a terrific pace with his very neutral but provocative comments.





14/9/01

All is quiet still, B3 12363v and 12336 "ocassional 2" were in use at 4pm Syd time with feeds for Tv3 NZ.Hopefully there will be some feeds on this weekend on the local satellites. I just noticed the counter ticked over to 100000! a minor milestone in the progress of the site.


From my Emails & ICQ


Nothing to report


From the Dish


Optus B3 156E 12336 V "TV 5 Asie and Deutsche Welle TV" have left

Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "Metro TV" has left

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Suprabhat and Prabhat" have left again, replaced by test cards.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3440 V "A test card has started", Sr 3333, Vpid 512 Apid 640, Asian beam.


NEWS


Ethnic TV in proactive push for tomorrow


From http://www.bandt.com.au/articles/d2/0c006dd2.asp

With 1.2 million ethnic homes speaking up to 150 languages, there is a significant market for commercial and subscription-based broadcasters. Or is there?

.thnic broadcasting is still a bit of a mystery to many advertisers,” maging director of Zenith Media Sydney, Peter Cornelius says. “It is such a large category and there isn’t a lot of data around on which to base a campaign. For many, it is too hard. And I think deciding which ethnic group to target without alienating others is a constant challenge for organisations.”

Cornelius believes that a major issue with advertising is that the results are difficult to measure, which makes campaigns and those designing and delivering them unaccountable.

He says advertisers are active in ethnic media, but on a small scale, based predominantly on personal relationships. “A lot of national advertisers, other than government, don’t have alliances within the multicultural environment,” he says.

Regardless of the advertising challenges, all the major ethnic broadcasters claim a commitment to delivering local and overseas content to their subscribers, with some expanding their services over the next 12 months.

Optus Television has eight ethnic channels in Cantonese, Chinese, Greek, Lebanese, Arabic, Italian and Japanese languages. While reluctant to divulge details of future plans based on its own research, the organisation claims strong growth on all channels and is bullish about advertising.

Paddy Conroy, head of programming and acquisitions, says that the company has successfully attracted advertisers. “If and when we do have space available, such as on our Greek channel, GaTV, we will proactively target market leaders in travel, banking and specialist services.”

Foxtel provides several channels that provide non-English news and entertainment programs, including Antenna direct from Greece, and RAI direct from Italy.

?Should we move to a new phase of digital services in the future, there will be scope to introduce new non-English language programming,” Foxtel’s director of corporate affairs Mark Furness says.

However, the organisation to watch is TARBS. This privately-owned company has introduced 39 ethnic channels to its stable since its launch two years ago. By first quarter 2002, this will be increased to 52 channels.

According to CEO Regina Boulos, TARBS is the largest ethnic broadcasting company in Australia and potentially the world because it carries the largest amount of ethnic programming on any given day.

TARBS has just launched ‘The Greekest Package’ which is a combination of the top three commercial stations in Greece Alpha, Mega and Antennaeand the major government station, ERT.

This is the first time that all four leading channels are being offered collectively by one broadcaster. “There is no Greek package that can beat this,” Boulos says.

She is quietly confident about advertising support. While none currently exists, she says most of the company’s efforts to date have focused on establishing infrastructure and its own marketing and promotional efforts.

?We believe advertising will be a natural flow of things. If you are a dominant player in the ethnic community you will get advertising particularly from government. We are already getting requests.”

While advertising is clearly a challenging area for all ethnic broadcasters, perhaps an even greater challenge is attracting the youth market.

Many ethnic families are now in their second or third generation, and have become firmly entrenched in Australian mainstream culture. So how do broadcasters stitch up this market and therefore consolidate their longevity?

"We believe it is important to cover as many of the generations as possible,” Boulos says. “It is a matter of programming based on understanding what it is that turns on the younger generation.

"We are doing our own market studies and we have groups within the organisation that are language-specific. The head of these groups are firmly entrenched in their respective communities so they are gaining insight at a grass-roots level. We don’t think it should be that hard.”

Boulos believes music is the platform that will attract the younger generation. However, while it is a key area, TARBS is focused on attracting advertisers that just want to get into ethnic homes. It will look at segmenting later.

Greek journalist with newspaper Kosmos and presenter with AlphaTV, George Tserdanis, says that the future of ethnic broadcasting could be threatened if serious consideration is not given to catering to the younger generation.

?While ethnic broadcasting is currently in a growth phase, we are still a long way off its potential,” says Tserdanis. “And I don’t know how many years this market will last, particularly if we are not sure if the younger generation will replace the first generation.”

While the Greek community is seen as highly responsive to ethnic television and passionate about preserving its culture, Tserdanis claims that a very small percentage of young people are prepared to pay for access to Greek programs, preferring to watch it in their parents’ home. He suggests that Asian communities, which are still in the first generation phase, could offer more immediate opportunity.

AlphaTV has introduced some locally produced programs to attract the younger generation, but with minimal success. However, with a continuing large percentage of children of Greek families staying at home until they get married, there is at least a captive audience for a period of time.

He agrees with Boulos that music is probably the best platform to target the younger generation, adding that comedy and sports should also help secure a market with one foot clearly in two camps.


SINA to acquire 29 percent of Sun TV


From [sat-index] 13 Sep 2001

Chinese media and Internet services company SINA.com has
signed a definitive agreement to acquire 29 percent of Sun
Television Cybernetworks Holdings Limited, a Greater China-wide
satellite TV broadcaster and a cable TV programme syndicator.

Under the terms of the agreement, SINA will acquire 29 percent
of Sun TV's outstanding shares from Yang Lan, Chairperson of Sun
TV, who will continue to serve in her post.

Sun TV has the right to operate two satellite TV channels with
restricted landing rights issued by the Government of the
People's Republic of China ("PRC"). Its programs reach over 30
million households in Greater China. Additionally, through
program syndication, Sun TV's programs can be viewed in over 70
million households in Greater China.

Separate from this transaction, SINA and Sun TV will initiate
joint marketing and promotion, cross-selling to respective
advertisers of SINA and Sun TV, syndication and promotion of
respective programs in each other's networks, as well as jointly
creating interactive online and TV programming.


Channel Nine sells part of software library to Star


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010914/efetop1.html

Channel Nine is selling a portion of its television software library to Star, even as its contract for the three-hour prime time slot with Doordarshan has just ended. This will reduce Kerry Packer’s loss in the country, which was substantial, after paying Rs 121 crore to DD and spending on programming and promoting the shows.

?We will manage to reduce the loss,” said HFCL-Nine Broadcasting India chief executive officer Ravina Kohli. She, however, declined to disclose the price at which the content was sold to Star.

Star is buying three of Channel Nine’s top-rated shows and all the events including the Helen concert. The remaining content is being reviewed by Zee TV and Sony Entertainment Television for purchase.

Confirming the development, Ms Kohli said: “We are in the process of finalising the deal and transferring the rights of some of our shows with Star. We are also in talks with Zee and Sony for disposing off the rest of our library,” she said. Sony TV programming head Rekha Nigam admitted the negotiations were on with HFCL-Nine to buy the content.

Doordarshan had approached some individual producers in June to continue their shows on the Metro channel after HFCL-Nine’s one-year contract ended. “But we had the rights to those shows. They couldn’t have done anything. If they would have contacted us, we would have sold them the rights at the right price. We had nothing against them,” said Ms Kohli.

HFCL-Nine left Doordarshan on a sour note as Prasar Bharati refused to extend their contract for the three-hour slot beyond 18 months. HFCL-Nine wanted a long-term deal.

Doordarshan may have decided not to approach HFCL-Nine to get the rights, as the national network does not have a policy of owning a library. The rights to these programmes belong to the production houses, after being aired on Doordarshan.

Getting new content on the Metro channel after Nine Gold ended on September 10 received a setback as production houses bid abysmally low to obtain the three-hour slot. Doordarshan had to change its decision and go for a half-hour sale of slots to private producers.

Star has bought the rights to Kabhi Sauten Kabhi Saheli, Kundali and Janat. The events include the series ‘Celebrate with Music’ and thye Madhuri Concert.




13/9/01

Very quiet not much happening. New issue of Scat India (see above) mentions "Splash" Kids channel will also be on Asiasat 3. It is currently testing on NSS at 57E. It will be a FTA Kids channel in English!


From my Emails & ICQ


From John Kahler


Hi all,
Today I received the following reply from Mark Lobwein at MediaSat regarding the encryption of TV5 asie and DW on the MediaSat package on Optus B3.

He has asked that all people interested in seeing either of these channels back FTA on MediaSat or any other channels added to the package to please contact the channel directly and express your desire to see it continued or added to the MediaSat package. (See below for full text of his message)


Here are contact addresses that I have found for TV5 and DW TV -
TV5 http://www.tv5.org/contact/
DW [email protected] http://www.dwelle.de/tv/Wel-eng.html


OK everyone - lets get them back FTA and maybe see some suggestions on other channels to be added to the package.


Regards,
John.


Craigs comment, for station email addresses try here http://www.sat-address.com

A Russian channel and Japanese channel are my suggestions, perhaps one of the Encrypted Japanese channels off of Jcsat 3 at 128E. Quite a few would be keen on GMA Network off Agila 2. Lets hear your suggestions.!


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3769 H "MBC (South Korea)" has started..Encrypted , SID 1, Vpid 3601 Apid 3605.

PAS 8 166E 3945 H "Abc News" Sr 27682 Fec 7/8 Vpid 2260 Apid 2220

Optus B3 156E 12336 V "TV 5 Asie and Deutsche Welle TV" both are now encrypted.


NEWS



Spacenet 4 to link Hawaii, South Korea


From satnews.com

GE American Communications (GE Americom) said that
Communication Systems-West, a division of L-3 Communications,
has signed an agreement to provide high data rate communications
transmissions between Hawaii and South Korea. Under the
agreement, L-3 will provide an 8 Mbps data service on GE
Americom's Spacenet 4 satellite located at 172 degrees East.
Spacenet 4 will be replaced by GE-2i in 2003.

In addition to the satellite bandwidth, GE Americom will
provide uplink/downlink service via its Sunset Beach Teleport on
the north coast of Oahu, Hawaii.

The C-band transponders on Spacenet 4 provide intercontinental
satellite service across the Pacific Ocean. U.S. access to the
satellite is also possible from GE Americom's teleport in South
Mountain, California, in addition to a number of third party
locations along the U.S. West Coast. Various teleports in major
gateway locations in the Northern Pacific Rim and East Asia make
trans-Pacific service readily available on Spacenet 4, GE
Americom said.




12/9/01

Not much to put up today, like most of you I have spent half the night and day watching the Terrorist drama unfold. I watched most of it on FTA, TVNZ runs BBCworld overnight, I did plug the 60cm in and took a look on Mediasat, Dwelle and TRT were running live coverage. Speaking of Dwelle they have encrypted that as well. But over on B1 TVNZ Test, they are broadcasting TV1 now not sure if they will switch off once the crisis is over or leave it running. Thanks to "Blake 7" in the chatroom last night he modified some digital pics of my dish mount and wrote instructions onto the pics I actually understand it all now, hopefully get things moving this weekend. Hopefully I will have thegear to move the dish as well by then. I have been trying to tweak up my new 90cm dish, it should give 1/3rd more signal than the 60cm ? but it's not even after swapping the LNBF over to it. Its not giving me much more than about %10 more signal.

Arthur Lim down in Christchurch is looking for a local satellite enthusiast to help him, If you can help him his email is [email protected]


From my Emails & ICQ


From David Knight

Mediasat B3. Looks like DW has followed TV5 and has gone encrypted.


Craigs comment, not sure what's going on there has anyone emailed Mediasat?


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3836 V "LBC Australia" is now encrypted in Irdeto.

PAS 8 166E 12686 H "JET TV test card has started", Vpid 2010 Apid 2020.

Palapa C2 113E 4125 V "Sea Games Kuala Lumpur" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256
Palapa C2 113E 4135 V "Sea Games Kuala Lumpur" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256
Palapa C2 113E 4140 V "Sea Games Kuala Lumpur" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256
Palapa C2 113E 4145 V "Sea Games Kuala Lumpur" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256

ST 1 88E 3550 V New FEC for the C Sky Net mux : 2/3.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "3ABN has left", now only on Vpid 2049 Apid 2050.


NEWS


U.S. TV Broadcast, Cable Networks to Share All Pictures, Feeds


From blomberg.com

U.S. television networks and cable channels agreed to share pictures and satellite feeds as they cover developments after attacks on buildings in New York and Washington.

The networks, including Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, Viacom Inc.'s CBS, News Corp.'s Fox News Channel, General Electric Co.'s NBC and AOL Time Warner Inc.'s CNN reached the agreement three hours after two airplanes plowed into New York's World Trade Center, ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said.

The three biggest networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC -- dropped all regular daytime programming and planed to continue broadcasting the story until further notice. ABC and CBS said they are using all resources, in the U.S. and internationally, to cover events.

``It's all hands on deck,'' said CBS News spokeswoman Sandy Genelius. ``Everyone who works for CBS News is being called in.''


Networks Follow Terrorism Chaos


From http://www.tvinsite.com

News networks scrambled Tuesday morning to cover the crashes of hijacked airliners into both towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in what authorities are calling the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

After the initial crash, the networks captured video of an airliner crashing into one of the World Trade Center towers, and about one hour later, they watched both towers fall to the ground.

In Washington, fighter jets flew over the Capitol after the Pentagon was attacked, and national and local news outlets reported that another hijacked plane was in route to Washington. That plane was later reported to have crashed outside of Pittsburgh.

Reporters for Fox News Channel, MSNBC and Cable News Network captured live, surreal images of injured commuters in New York, covered in dust, running from the World Trade Center.

FNC reporter Rick Leventhal interviewed victims just five blocks from the WTC, telling one Emergency Medical Technician, 'This guy needs help,' before the EMT took the victim from the scene.

On MSNBC, reporter Ashleigh Bedengfield described how she and an MSNBC crew broke the window of a street-level apartment as they sought shelter from an overwhelming dust cloud near the World Trade Center.

In New York, transmissions from The WB Television Network affiliate and several other stations that used a broadcast tower located on the top of the World Trade Center were knocked out Tuesday morning.

'How can you ever restore a sense of normalcy to the country? Will it ever be the same?' retired General Wesley Clarke said on CNN at 11:30 a.m. Turner Network Television, TBS Superstation and Headline News all simulcast the CNN feed.

By noon, content on the news networks went from not only covering the chaos, but asking how such an atrocity could occur. 'Where did we fail with our counterterrorism efforts?' an MSNBC guest said.




11/9/01

Livechat tonight in the chatroom 8.30pm Syd time and 9.15pm NZT onwards. A big news issue today since I was to busy yesterday to do a site update. TV5 Asie on Mediasat has encrypted the picture, hopefully just a test. I can't see many wanting to pay for it.

August 2001 added to the history section.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Keith Browning

It looks like the French have encripted their TV5 Asia program on B1.

Hope it's temporary.
KB


Craigs comment, not sure what they are up to Video is encrypted but Audio is still clear.


From Steve Johnson, 11/9/2001 7.15 AM

Hi Craig. TV5 Asia on Optus B3 (12336 Vt) pics now encrypted, audio still present. TVNZ test on Optus B1 (12456 Vt) no pics/audio due to severe glitching.

Steve Johnson
NZ


Craigs comment, TVNZ fine here on the 60cm


From David Pemberton 10/9/01

The FOX MUX on PAS 2 3992V seems to have been transferred AGAIN to 3798V.

Not sure what is going on here, but usually there are feeds out tonight 0900 - 1100UTC using 3804V(HERBAL LIFE ) so it might be moved back today sometime.Will let you know.

3992 V still is active on my spectro meter.


Best regards,
DAVID PEMBERTON.


From George (Thailand)

Dear Craig;

Hello from the far east some new sat news

Thaicom 3
3600 H 26667 - DD World has left - ETC Channel Punjabi has replaced DD World
3585 V 26666 - Distance Learning Channel Thailand (tests)

Pas 2
3901 H 30800 -Adhoc III has replaced Channel 8 (formerly MTA International running Panamsat NAPA Test card.

Palapa C2
3976 H 2061 -ABC Triple J - ABC NewsRadio- Radio Australia
3880 H 28125 -TVRI has left again
4089 H 14062 -Metro TV back testing (comes up as JKT Tests)

Asiasat 3S

3760 H 26000 Fec 7/8 "H&W TV"


From the Dish


Optus B1 160E 12339 V "IAAF Athletics Feed" , Sr 6617, Fec 3/4.

Optus B3 156E 12532 V Rhythm FM is now encrypted.
Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Zee channels, Zeelink 1-6" have moved here

Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Metro Business" has started, Vpid 514 Apid 652
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "TVRI" has left replaced by feeds
Palapa C2 113E 3926 H "PTV 4" has left
Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "Metro TV" has started, Sr 14062, Fec 3/4, Vpid 160 Apid 80.
Palapa C2 113E 3935 H "Star Sports" reported here with 250cc and 500cc racing! on Satelindo Feed, Sr 5632 Fec 3/4

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H "HaiHua Satellite TV" has started (Taiwanese?), Vpid 1080 Apid 1081.


Asiasat 3 105.5E 4060 V "Indus Vision" has left (Analogue).Another one bites the dust, gone digital

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3907 H "CCTV 1" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 replaced Reuters feeds?

ST 1 88E 3550 V The C Sky Net mux has left.is still here , Sr 30000, Fec 7/8.(FEC uncertain try 2/3)
ST 1 88E 3619 H The occasional feeds have ceased.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "ETC Channel Punjabi has replaced DD World" , SID 8, Vpid 522 Apid 750, global beam.

PAS 10 68.5E 4034 V "All India Radio" has started here , SID 3, Apid 671.

NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Surya TV",Vpid 1660 Apid 1620, East hemi beam.


NEWS


Sky's interactive service almost ready for guinea pigs


From http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,931442a1896,FF.html

The first Sky TV digital customers will be able to lie back on the couch and order pizza, play video games and send e-mails in two weeks.

They're the guinea pigs as Sky TV, fresh from a $42 million annual loss, begins spreading around what it hopes will be a big future money-spinner - interactive TV.

Sky TV chief executive John Fellet said today that while getting full interactive TV services to the company's nearly 270,000 digital customers would take eight to 10 weeks, thousands of customers would have it in a fortnight.

Provided some "bugs" were eliminated, 1000 randomly-chosen households would get the new service one night, 2000 the next night and all the digital customers within weeks.

The interactive service is being eased in after last year's big launch of Sky digital saw the company flooded with up to 13,000 calls a day.

Those that go interactive first will notice a different coloured screen and new options on existing menus.

"There's no big launch, customers will just all of a sudden have the new services," Mr Fellet said.

Some interactive services will be free - sports statistics updated live during games, one video game and a weather channel.

Others you'll pay for - e-mail, on-line shopping and a range of pay-to-view options.

Extra video games - rudimentary ones made by a company called Ludi - were likely to cost $4 or $5 a month. A new infrared keyboard would allow e-mail. Pricing was still being worked out.

As for shopping by remote, Pizza Hut was "on deck", Mr Fellet said, but no contract had been signed. There'd also been high-level talks with Sony about the use of PlayStation games, but no arrangement had been reached.

At the moment Sky is testing the services to identify teething problems.

"The frustrating part of it was that every time we fixed five bugs, two new ones appeared," Mr Fellet said.


AOL Time Warner, Star TV on Verge of China Deal


From satnewsasia.com

American media giant AOL Time Warner Inc and Australia’s News Corp have made separate announcements that they are on the brink of increasing their broadcast access in that country, the largest cable market in the world.

The Chinese government has confirmed the near breakthrough, and said that both companies would be allowed to make cable broadcasts in limited parts of Guangdong in exchange for broadcasting China’s state-run China Central Television (CCTV) channel in the United States.

Some analysts, however, believe that bringing CCTV to the U.S. would be a tough regulatory and political challenge considering the tensions between China and the U.S.

China's huge but heavily regulated TV market is believed capable of generating potential advertising revenues of some US$2.5 billion annually. China has 90 million cable subscribers, the largest in the world.

Star Group, a subsidiary of News Corp, said its talks with China were well advanced. Star wants broadcasting rights in southern China's booming Guangdong province, the country’s richest. Guangdong’s TV ad market is estimated at US$200 to 400 million.

News Corp already has substantial operations in China. Star chairman and CEO James Murdoch said his company is hopeful that it can reach a positive conclusion soon and launch a new service that complements its existing China operations.

News Corp is well established in China. In 2000, it invested US$60 million in broadband telecoms carrier China Netcom, which is backed by the son of President Jiang Zemin.

AOL Time Warner is looking for increased access to its CETV (China Entertainment Television) in China. It described its talks with Beijing as “constructive”.

CETV is a 24-hour Mandarin language channel bought by AOL Time Warner in 2000. It can be viewed by anyone licensed to receive foreign broadcast signals within the footprint of its satellite.

CETV, however, is not among 20 plus channels permitted to be shown in luxury hotels and other special venues, a group that includes its sister channel CNN, and Star TV.

Despite the progress made by AOL Time Warner and News Corp, analysts warn that considerable financial benefits for foreign broadcasters in China are years away considering the country’s tightly regulated telecoms and broadcasting market.

China's rules governing foreign TV are also complicated and selectively enforced. Many cable systems “illegally” carry the signals of foreign broadcasters such as Hong Kong's TVB.


India Gov't Considers Mandatory Conditional Access


From satnewsasia.com

The Indian government is again mulling over making conditional access systems (CAS) mandatory for viewing pay channels.

If CAS is implemented, an Indian TV home will only be allowed access to channels it has subscribed to. It will also act as a platform for a reliable record of TV viewing in homes. If it finally comes through, satellite TV broadcasters would either have to turn their pay channels free-to-air or invest in putting in place conditional access systems, according to industry sources.

The issue of CAS has long been debated in a series of meeting last year between Indian telecoms and broadcasting officials and cable operators. Most cable operators were seen to be in favor of market forces deciding the price of premium pay services, but ministry officials said that a final call on the issue would be taken only after consultation with broadcasters.

Cable operators, however, have been made to understand that CAS could be introduced even without going through a parliamentary procedure. However, subsequent Parliamentary Committee meetings concluded that CAS may be introduced only through a fresh legislation. A draft on CAS has already been passed on to the Law Ministry.

The government needs to amend the existing Cable TV Regulation Act if it plans to make addressability mandatory, according to cable TV operators. Cable operators may be allowed to show movies on their channels only when an addressable system has been put in place in order to curb movie piracy.

India has been considering CAS due to two reasons. First, under the current cable TV system, a household pays for all the pay channels even though it may or may not have watched all of them. The second reason is the under-declaration of the number of subscribers by cable TV operators.


Channel Guide makes formal launch


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/sep/sep18.htm

Channel Guide, which started beaming its test signals four months ago, was formally launched earlier this week at the Club in the northern Mumbai suburb of Andheri.

Channel Guide India managing director Rajesh Jain says that loads of research has gone into the channel before its launch.

'We are spending more on state-of-art technology and distribution, but the programming cost is almost nil for us. All the data is provided by the advertising channels themselves. I feel this will help us to break even in fourteen months,' says a visibly relaxed and confident Jain.

The television channel is an innovation for the Indian market as it is hoping to serve as a promotional platform for the entire entertainment industry - namely, television, films, music and events.

'It also provides programming info to viewers in a simple format. Any person will get to know maximum within six minutes what is going on on any of the channels,' he points out.

At present, Channel Guide is not charging advertisers and partners for placing their promos. Channel Guide COO Ravi Deshmukh says that advertisers will be provided prime and non-prime time slots with rates for the former being on a par with the prevailing commercial market rates.

'We will start charging from mid-October when our channel will be reaching 3 million homes,' says Deshmukh. As of now the reach, is 2.1 million.

Deshmukh reveals that that three channels have already confirmed their partnership status with Channel Guide.

From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, time slots will be sold to advertisers - be they channels or event creators or producers - for shows/events that each of them wants to promote. The rest of the time will be allocated to promos of various channels in a format designed by Channel Guide programming executives themselves.

Each screen can have a maximum of 16 small windows, showing what is going on 16 channels at any point of time along with a live programming schedule which will change every few minutes. The management is planning to reduce the number of channels visible to four at a time.

Programming blocks in Hindi and English have been set aside. "In the near future we are going to dedicate separate time slots for regional languages," says Deshmukh. "Marathi, Gujarathi, Bengali and Punjabi are the four languages on the cards."

One of the shows that Deshmukh is extremely kicked about is Meet the Telebrity featuring a popular TV personality. The first episode features Amar (Mihir) Upadhayay.

Channel Guide is beaming off Thaicom-3 as a free-to-air service. The channel is looking forward to getting an Indian uplinking from either Delhi or Hyderabad.

Technical Specifications:
Satellite : Thaicom - 3
Downlink Frequency : 3554 MHz
FEC : 2/3
Downlink Polarisation : Vertical
Symbol rate : 13333 Kg Symbol/sec

Free-To-Air


Craigs comment, anyone in Australia receiving it?


Zee to mount Pak offensive


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010911/efetop4.html

The Zee Network is planning to strengthen its broadcasting business in Pakistan. Towards this end, a Zee delegation was in Pakistan recently. Even as the Zee delegation to Pakistan was part of an initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the channel has confirmed that this was an opportunity to strengthen its distribution network in that country.

The Zee delegation to the neighbouring country included group CEO (broadcasting) Sandeep Goyal and director (marketing) Partha Pratim Sinha. As part of the CII International delegation, a 19-member high-powered business team visited Pakistan last week, to coincide with the Saarc Trade Fair in Karachi.

On being asked about Zee’s interest and plans in Pakistan, Mr Sinha told The Financial Express: “We are interested in the Pakistan market. We already have a distributor in place and have a strong presence there.” He, however, admitted that during the recent visit, the channel tried to understand the consumers’ taste and get a fair idea of the market, to be able to better cater to that audience.

Zee is primarily focussing on three channels in Pakistan, said Mr Sinha. These are Zee TV, Zee Movies and Zee MGM. These are very strongly distributed channels there. But the recent meetings with the distributor community is aimed at strengthening its market further.

A few years ago, Zee chairman Subhash Chandra led a delegation to Pakistan. “Of course, there’s a definite continuity,” said Mr Sinha, when asked if there was a continuity of objective on the part of Zee.

Although Zee is upbeat about its strong presence in Pakistan, there have been reports in Pak press recently indicating that digitalisation of the channel would affect its viewership.

According to one such report, its entertainment channel Zee TV was the most viewed free-to-air foreign TV channel in Pakistan, since its launch via Asiasat. However, with the channel going digital and pay, it would get viewership only in urban areas, the report added.


Discovery in talks with broadcasters for distribution platform pact


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010910/con1.html

Discovery India is in talks with broadcasters for a distribution platform. Even as earlier it was believed that Discovery had shown interest to join the Sony Entertainment Television (SET) bouquet, nothing concrete has emerged till now. But, Discovery managing director Deepak Shourie told The Financial Express that the channel is talking to several broadcasters for a distribution platform alliance.

?It’s a very good idea,” said Mr Shourie, referring to joining a broadcaster’s bouquet. However, “speaking of resolution of this idea”, no decision has been taken yet, he added. “Discovery is still on its own,” he said.

Discovery’s foray into another distribution platform is being tracked with interest as National Geographic Channel (NGC), a channel with somewhat similar objectives as Discovery, is distributed as part of the Star bouquet in India.

If Discovery comes on the Sony platform, the arrangement will be mutually beneficial, according to industry watchers. Discovery would benefit as it would get a distribution push from Sony. On the other hand, Sony, once it’s armed with a variety of channels on its bouquet, would be able to compete with Star better.

At present, the Sony bouquet consists of SET Max, CNBC and AXN. On being asked whether he considers NGC as a competition to Discovery, Mr Shourie said: “Partially.”

Discovery, it may be recalled, recently announced various blocks on its channel for appointment viewing. The move was aimed at increasing the popularity of the channel. NGC too is aggressively eyeing big ratings by bringing in innovative programmes. After the much talked about ‘Pearl Harbor’, NGC is ready with a series on ‘Africa’.

On new channel plans, Mr Shourie said: “If it’s strategically important to bring in another channel, we would do it.” At present, Discovery and Animal Planet are the two the group has. “We are working on ideas constantly,” he said, adding that there’s no timeframe by which another channel would be introduced in the Indian market.

NGC, meanwhile, has more or less firmed up plans to launch another channel ‘Adventure One’ by July 2002. To that, Mr Shourie said that even Discovery could launch an adventure channel, if it wanted. But financial viability is a very crucial factor that one must take into account, he said. Moreover, Discovery is offering a varied content already, he said.


B4U terminates distribution contract with MEN


From http://www.business-standard.com/ice/news1.asp?menu=1

B4U Television Network has terminated its 10-year distribution contract with Modi Entertainment Network (MEN) as a retaliatory move after Fashion TV severed its distribution tie-up with B4U and decided to ally with MEN.

Last April, FTV had entered into a five-year distribution and marketing contract with B4U, which in turn sought distribution company MEN’s help to market FTV, along with its own channels, B4U Entertainment and B4U Music.

B4U also had similar arrangement with the French music channel MCM, which too was being executed by MEN.

However, last month FTV decided to enter into a direct contract with MEN. FTV, according to senior B4U officials, did not send any official termination letter.

B4U, in retaliation, has now terminated its contract with MEN for distributing its group of channels in India and also served a legal notice on FTV and MEN for breach of contract.

B4U has decided to go alone for the time being as far as the distribution of its own channels and that of MCM is concerned.

?We have a valid, conclusive and binding contract with Fashion TV for five years. Modi Entertainment has no right to enter into a direct contract as they were distributing Fashion TV through us. They cannot just sign up with anybody,” B4U’s chief distribution officer Debashis Dey said.

?It is an unethical business practice. And, in any case, we were reviewing whether to continue with MEN as our distribution agent or not,” Dey added.

Modi Entertainment Network CEO Rajan Kaicker admitted that MEN had received a legal notice from B4U. “B4U may want to terminate the distribution agreement, but we have a legally binding contract. In fact, we are still distributing B4U,” Kaicker told Business Standard.

B4U has four well-staffed regional offices across the country capable of taking up distribution responsibilities, B4U’s Dey said. The company could also look at strategic alliances and being a part of a big bouquet.

B4U has already initiated talks with Star India, Sony Entertainment Television and Zee Telefilms to be a part of these large bouquets. “These channels have also approached us on their own. We are yet to zero in on one of them,” said Dey.


Boeing to Build New Satellite for PanAmSat, JSAT Joint Venture


From satnewsasia.com

Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), the world's largest satellite manufacturer, has been selected to build the new satellite for Horizons, the joint venture between Japan's JSAT Corporation and the American PanAmSat Corporation.

The Horizons satellite will be a Boeing 601HP spacecraft with coverage over North America, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii. The spacecraft will carry a total of 48 active transponders, 24 in Ku-band and 24 in C-band.

The spacecraft will be launched in late 2002 aboard a Sea Launch booster. Its orbital slot will be at 127 degrees west longitude, between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. West Coast.

The spacecraft's Ku-band payload, to be called Horizons 1, will be jointly owned by PanAmSat and JSAT. It will be used to offer a variety of digital video, Internet and data services. Using a Hawaii-based relay station, the satellite's Ku-band payload also will be able to deliver content and services between the United States and Asia.

The C-band portion of the new spacecraft will be known as Galaxy XIII and will be operated separately as part of PanAmSat's Galaxy cable network, which serves the domestic U.S. cable industry.

Galaxy XIII will replace capacity on Galaxy IX, which is a Boeing 376 model that will move to a new orbital position and continue to provide services.

Horizons 1's 24 Ku-band transponders will each be powered by 108-watt linear traveling wave tube amplifiers (LTWTAs). Galaxy XIII's 24 C-band transponders will each be powered by 40-watt LTWTAs.

The spacecraft's solar wings will feature dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells manufactured by Spectrolab, Inc., a Boeing subsidiary. These cells will deliver 9.9 kW of power at the beginning of the satellite's 15-year design life.

PanAmSat is a provider of global video and data broadcasting services via satellite. Operating a global network of 21 in-orbit spacecraft and seven technical facilities, the company delivers entertainment and information to cable television systems, TV broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home TV operators, Internet service providers, telecommunications companies and corporations worldwide.

JSAT is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The company owns and operates eight satellites in seven orbital slots. JSAT provides communications and broadcasting services that offer a range of unique features made possible by satellite communications which is well suited to support the high-volume, wide-distribution, high-speed networks.

Boeing is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, and is also a major provider of space systems, satellites, and payloads for national defense, science and environmental applications


South Korea plans Eastsat


From [sat-index] 10 Sep 2001

South Korea plans to launch a communications satellite in 2003,
the Ministry of Information and Communication said according to
Yonhap news agency.

Under the plan submitted to the National Assembly, Korea
Telecom is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with
High Gain Antenna Co. in October 2001 on co-operation in the
project, estimated at 250 billion won (US$194 million). The
ministry issued a license for the satellite's operation to High
Gain in 1998.

The satellite is to transmit television programmes as well as
deliver ultra-high speed Internet access , multimedia services
and communication lines to the Asia-Pacific region.


T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 36/2001 September 9 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition


ESPN INTERNATIONAL EXTENDS NFL CONTRACT

ESPN International has extended its contract to handle worldwide distribution
for the National Football League (NFL) through the 2002 season. ESPN has held
those rights for more than a decade. The deal gives ESPN International
exclusive rights to televise the NFL primetime schedule of 35 regular season,
Sunday and Monday night, games as well as several pre- and post-season games,
to more than 115 countries and territories around the world. ESPN will air the
games on its networks and will have rights to sell NFL programming to
terrestrial broadcasters in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, New Zealand,
Latin America (excluding Mexico and the Bahamas), and parts of the Middle East
and Africa. ESPN will also be the exclusive international cable and satellite
distributor for the January 2003 Superbowl.


A S I A



SHOWTIME LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE SERVICE

SmartTV is the brand name of the new interactive TV service for the Middle East
from Showtime, launching in its first test market, Kuwait, next week with full
launch in October. Initially the system will rely on downloading software to
the set top hard drive - which will provide the interactive service - and the
system will not use a return path. However, both existing and future boxes are
modem-enabled for future upgrade. The technology partners for the project are:
OpenTV, Irdeto Access, Agency.com and UEC technologies. Services at launch
include an EPG ('SmartTV guide'), which will cover a combined total of more
than 100 channels from Showtime and Nilesat; there will also be a Mosaic
preview channel ('SmartTV quickview) which will allow previewing of 16 channels
on a single screen, then there is the addition of interactive games six at
launch - developed by Agency.com. Future developments include Pay Per View with
two channels to launch by the end of this year, and at least ten in 2002. News
and information services, horoscopes, enhanced TV applications and Arabic
versions of applications will all be added. Later, when a two-way channel is
added, interactive applications such as email will be included. Current
Showtime customers with Eurostar and Galaxis 600 and 700 series box versions
will receive a free over the air upgrade to Open TV EN2 middleware in October
and November enabling them to receive SmartTV. Full system launch of SmartTV is
due for October when the STB upgrades and distribution of new boxes will
commence.


AUSTRALIA


FOXTEL MAY LAUNCH ITS OWN SATELLITE

Pay-TV operator Foxtel is expected to bid for a satellite license when the
Australian government auctions two slots next month. Currently, Foxtel uses
Telstra’s broadband cable to service most of its 750,000 subscribers. Foxtel
will reportedly have to pay A$250-350 million to secure a license and
satellite. The Telstra, News Corp. and Kerry Packer backed pay-TV platform has
added 50,000 subscribers since the beginning of the year. A new sports channel
- The Fox Footy Channel - will air coverage of the Australian Football League
24 hours a day from February 2002. Subscribers will have to pay an additional
A$6.40, on top of the standard A$37.95, for the new channel.


SHOWTIME SUES AUSTAR

Austar United Communications faces a court battle against channel supplier
Showtime which accuses Australia's second-ranked pay-TV provider of promoting
its rival Movie Network ahead of it. Austar carries both Showtime and Movie
Network and in a circular sent out by the country’s second-ranked platform it
allegedly encouraged its 420,000 subscribers to sign up to the latter,
according to papers filed with a Federal court in Australia. Austar admits that
it makes more money from subscribers who opt for Showtime. Austar is also under
pressure to cut costs as it nears an end of year deadline to renegotiate a $200
million loan and because of falling rates of customer sign ups.


CHINA - HONG KONG


AOL TIME WARNER AND NEWS CORP TO ENTER CHINESE MARKET

News Corporation and AOL Time Warner look set to win access to a section of
China’s huge domestic audiences, in return for agreeing to distribute a Chinese
government-sponsored channel in the US. UK’S Financial Times reports that
Chinese communications minister Xu Guangchun said that the two Western media
outfits would be able to broadcast to cable subscribers in the lucrative
Guangdong province of southern China. The only remaining issue, the FT quoted
Guangchun as saying, was whether News Corp and AOL-Time Warner could ensure
China Central Television’s CCTV-9 TV channel could get as wide US distribution
as possible. News Corp-owned entertainment channel Star TV is likely to get
Guangdong carriage, seven years after Murdoch dropped BBC News from the channel
for reporting unbiased news about the Tianenmen Square massacre. A spokesman
from AOL Time Warner was quoted as saying: “We’ve been in positive and
constructive discussions with the Chinese government to get increased access
for China Entertainment Television in China.” Another Western broadcaster, MTV
has been broadcasting into China since 1995, reaching 54 million homes on 37
cable networks including CCTV and BCTV. Furthermore, MTV-owned Nickelodeon has
announced that it has inked a deal with BCTV to carry a Nickelodeon
Chinese-language block on some 100 Chinese cable and terrestrial networks.


NEW ZEALAND


SKY NZ REPORTS 1Q RESULTS

Leading pay-TV operator Sky NZ posted revenues of NZ$300 million for the year
to June 30. Pre-tax losses rose to NZ$42.34 million, a NZ$15.34 million year on
year increase. EBITDA operating cashflow earnings was up slightly on last
year’s NZ$74.1 million at NZ$75.7 million The DTH operator blamed the heavier
losses on the cost of converting its subscribers to digital and the weak NZ$,
which has added to program costs. Subscriber numbers were up 14% to 430,436
with digital customers accounting for 68% of these. Churn was down from 26.4%
to 22.7%.




10/9/01

Sorry no time for a update today busy. Back tommorow




9/9/01

Not much going on I found a signal on B1 12339 V, will monitor it over the next few days see what shows up. I have done a bit more work on the FAQ.Its still a month or so away from being suitable to post. Thank you to all who have contributed to it so far.


From my Emails & ICQ


From me 9/9/01

3pm Syd

Optus B1, 12339 V Sr 6617 Fec 3/4 Vpid 4194 Apid 4195
Some Espn games feed from Melbourne?

HEY I found this one, just above threshold on my 60 here..maybe Goodwill
games related..

But I am happy with a new feed freq :-)


From John Harrison 9/9/01

B1 12367 V Sr 5632 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256

V8 Supercars,
on now @ 0832Hrs


From the Dish


Optus B1 160E 12339 V "Goodwill games feed?" Sr 6617 Fec 3/4 Vpid 4194 Apid 4195

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "FEBC" has started, Sid 7, Apid 1622.

Palapa C2 113E 3976 H "ABC Triple J and ABC NewsRadio" have started, Apid 257. APID for Radio Australia: 256.
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "TVRI" is back Vpid 512 Apid 650
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Metro Tv" is back Vpid 513 Apid 651
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Testcard" is back Vpid 514 Apid 652
Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "Metro TV has left".

Yamal 102 90E 3702 L "MTV Russia is still on", Sr 4285, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256.

Insat 2E 83E 3525 V "Vijay TV" is again testing, Vpid 273 Apid 274.
Insat 2E 83E 3615 V "Jaya TV" has started testing, Sr 3255, Fec 3/4, Vpid 4194 Apid 4195, zone beam.

PAS 10 68.5E 3863 V SuperSport 5 has started ,Irdeto2 Encrypted Vpid 521 Apid 649, time
sharing with Big Brother South Africa.


NEWS


Nothing for today




8/9/01

Not much happening, apart from the usual weekend feeds. Has anyone seen a feed of the 2 games on at the moment Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka and South Africa vs Zimbabwe.

Palapa C2 page updated, Dead links removed and new P3 program links added


From my Emails & ICQ


From John Harrison 8/9/01

1356 hrs Aest

B1 12367 V "Supercars ,Channel 10" Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256, epg globecast


From Chris Pickstock 8/9/01

B1 12397 H Sr 7200 Vpid 308, Apid 256, "Astralinks"
Now says "Astralinks SNG for Seven. Mount Buller Ski Jumps"


From David Knight 7/9/01

Friday Night

B3, 12363 V "Afl" usual settings, Sr 6110


From the Dish


Nothing received!


NEWS


STAR may launch DTH service by Mar '02


From

RUPERT Murdoch’s STAR India is scouting for partners in order to kick-start its direct-to-home service in the country as early as March next year. Senior company executives said the service would be available in the price range of Rs 250 to Rs 450 per month.

Talks in this regard are on with prospective partners that include several consumer electronics majors, financial institutions and merchant bankers. Plans include setting up a separate company with ISP and call centre facilities under its fold.

As per government guidelines, each DTH service provider has to set up its own earth station to uplink services. However, if the government allows third-party uplinking, STAR executives expect the service to be up and running by March next year.

Apart from regular bouquet of channels, the service would include other facilities such as e-mail, interactive sports and news, TV games, pay-per-view and video-on-demand.

Speaking to Times News Network, Jagdish Kumar, executive vice-president (digital platform group), STAR, said the platform would be neutral and would be open to all broadcasters including Zee and Sony.

It has estimated a subscriber-base of around 8 million over a 10-year period with break-even at the 3.5-million mark. Apart from the metros, plans are afoot to make the service available in smaller cities that have low cable TV penetration.

In keeping with present regulations of a 20 per cent sectoral cap on broadcasters and on foreign direct investment, STAR plans to have three to four strategic partners for the project. Also in the offing is raising debt from the market.

Kumar said the total project cost would be in the region of $450-$500 million. While STAR being a foreign-owned company would bring in around 20 per cent of the equity, it is not averse to offering 26 per cent stake and a place in the board to the strategic partners.

If the group has to set up its own earth station, the service is likely to go on air by October-November next year, executives said.

Kumar said STAR has sought clarifications from the ministry of information & broadcasting on certain issues, including go-ahead for third-party uplinking and technology-requirements for the set-top box.

STAR has recently initiated talks with consumer electronics majors for manufacture of DTH hardware such as set-top box and DTH-enabled television.

NDS, NewsCorp’s digital pay-TV solutions company, which has already set up an R&D facility at Bangalore, is expected to work closely with STAR in the roll-out of its DTH and broadband services.

Rupert Murdoch’s BskyB direct-to-home service in UK has over 5.5 million subscribers.




7/9/01

Just had a good look at B3 today, found a few changes to send to Lyngsat. See the From the Dish section for details.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Rolly Whitehead

Hi Craig !


To balance the argument perhaps you might see fit to publish this on your WEB pages ?

I thought I should register my point of view in the recent iHUG dishes for sale etc performance debate.

1) I have installed dishes for ihug in NZ since they first began DBS internet in late '98. Yes iHUG retain ownership of both the dishes and the card -the same as Sky TV NZ do with their kit.

2) I am a 30 year plus Computer Systems (Technical) Programmer as well as a Dish installer for iHUG NZ & Sky TV NZ.

3) In every case of "iHUG performance failure" the client's PC has been at fault. It is not at all unreasonable to expect that upon the "unstoppable" arrival of a very large and fast datastream that the PC will answer it instantly. In most cases it is simply not answered - and the modem in the PC asks for a "please re-send". This is because the PC "must" have a unique IRQ number assigned to the iHUG card. In most cases it is not. In today's PC's the PCI sharing protocol is a very poor design. Many "cheap" PC's only have three PCI slots to choose from !

4) The PC is at fault not iHUG. iHUG only provides a bloody great empty pipe for a small portion of the journey (San Francisco to NZ - OZ user) . True many sites are on Fibre optic link to SFO.

5) While there are various internet systems offered such as iHUG's ULTRA to give a user "high speed access" the sender site must be able to send at the speed, plus free from traffic congestion, so that iHUG can transmit. Otherwise a tourist - during international travel - would blame the airline he used mid-journey, for delays now, while he sits on the back of a donkey which is also a required part of his end to end journey.

Craig - A balanced view here please if even to show that someone understands how the internet works.

6) As I tell my (iHUG) clients "Just dial up so as to use the modem again to compare performance". $1 a day surcharge is cheap !


Rolly Whitehead


From Chris Pickstock

3.35pm SA time

B1, 12367 V Sr 5632, "V8 Supercar feed from Winton Victoria". On now

Chris


From Chris Martin

G'Day,

Currently on Mediasat occasional feed (Ch4 of Mediasat bouquet) 12336 B3 the CEO of Virgin Blue with press conference on Virgin's eleventh hour bid to join with Air NZ and have them divest Ansett. Also on this interview the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, with the Govt position on an Ansett 'bail out'.

Cheers
Chris Martin
SEQld


From "Sungadi Of Love" our Indonesian reporter, a Satellite Football update

As ussual RCTI, will always transmitting the seri A Italy, 1 match for
Saturday match -(Jakarta time 1:30 am) and 2 match for Sunday match
(begining, Jakarta Time - 20:00 pm and 1:30 am Monday).
RCTI also transmitting every Tuesday/Wednesday match for UEFA Champion Cup.

For Premiere League (- SCTV will not transmitting now but change by the TPI)
For FA Cup will be transmitted by SCTV.

Another Premiere League can be seen on GuanDong TV (confirm) every Saturday
matches in Asiasat or in MWD TV (Myanmar TV) (this one i need confirmation).

RAI International - Ausie Beam (Pas 2?) will always transmitting the Italian
National Team and Under 21 Team matches.

The UEFA Cup (not the Champion Cup) for Italian club (hope they will go
until final match, cause the ussually stop transmitting if there are no
Italian Club).

TVE on Asiasat - ussually Spanish National Team and Under 21 National Team
RTPI on Asiasat - for Portugal League on Saturday and National Team and
Under 21 Team.

TV5 on Asiasat - for France League on Saturday and sometimes the UEFA Cup
match for any France Club.


I will check for what match will be transmitted by Indonesian TV.
For RAI International u can check on RAI sites for Ausie/American Beam.


Craigs comment thanks for that Update I am sure the football fans will pleased.


From the Dish


Pas 8 166E 12410 H "Venus Eye TV" seen here? Possibly N.E asia beam, sorry no other details known

Optus B3 156E 12532 V "Rythm FM" has encrypted

Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Zee Tv" is moving to "channel 50 September 10th"
Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Zee Cinema" is moving to "channel 51 September 10th"
Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Zee Music/News" is moving to "channel 52 September 10th"
Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Sony TV" is moving to "channel 53 September 10th"
Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Alpha Punjabi " is moving to "channel 54 September 10th"
Optus B3 156E 12658 V "Asianet Bharathi " is moving to "channel 55 September 10th"

All moving to 12532 V I think.

Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "TVRI and Metro TV" have left.

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3660 V Urdu TV Network has left.

Yamal 102 90E 3702 L "MTV Russia has left, replaced by a test card.

ST 1 88E 3550 V New FEC for C Sky Net 2/3.

Intelsat 902 at 56-57E: Intelsat 902 is now geostationary at 56-57 East.


NEWS


STAR India mulls tieups for DTH hardware


From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=2080746768

Rupert Murdoch’s STAR is exploring opportunities for tieup with consumer electronics majors for manufacture of direct-to-home hardware in the country.

Talks in this regard have been initiated with several electronic good manufacturers including Bangalore-based BPL group and Korean electronics major Samsung.

STAR chairman James Murdoch, who is currently in the country to take stock of India business, recently met the top brass from BPL in Bangalore.

Although senior STAR executives said that the meeting was part of Murdoch junior’s itinerary of visiting key advertisers in the country, sources close to the group said that it is looking at manufacture of set-top-box and DTH-enabled television.

When contacted, STAR India CEO Peter Mukherjea said that there were no immediate plans of launching DTH service in the country. He said that the group has not yet taken a call on whether to launch the service. “We are studying the regulatory issues,” he added.

Issues such as the 20 per cent sectoral cap on broadcasters for launch of DTH service and having an open architecture set-top box have been major concerns for the industry. Information & Broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj in a recent meeting with broadcasters has reiterated the government stand that it would not go back on the issue of sectoral cap.

NDS, NewsCorp’s digital pay-TV solutions company, which has already set up an R&D facility at Bangalore, also plans to enter into alliances with consumer electronic companies to manufacture set-top box and conditional access devices. NDS is expected to work closely with STAR in the roll-out of its DTH and broadband services.

Several broadcasters including STAR, Zee and Sony had earlier expressed interest in setting up a DTH platform. However, policy guidelines restricting ownership of broadcasters put the plans on the hold.

State-owned VSNL had also jumped into the fray by announcing the launch of their DTH platform before the year-end. However, VSNL too is reportedly going slow on start of the service.







6/9/01

I just read this nonsense in one of Ihugs newsgroups, I did post an offer in there the other day offering to buy any unwanted Ihug Dishes but made no mention of buying any other gear such as the card (which must be returned to Ihug) Perhaps they read my site yesterday.

"It has been brought to the attention of The Internet Group Limited ("ihug")
that some persons have been approached to both sell and purchase the ihug
satellite dish and related equipment. Both parties should be aware of their
legal obligations prior to engaging in such transactions and they are hereby
placed on notice that if they genuinely are unaware, or remain in any doubt
or misapprehension as to those obligations and rights; they must immediately
contact ihug at the following address" :

Ihug Legal Department,
The Internet
Group Limited, PO Box 7281, Wellesley Street, Auckland.
All inquires must be made in writing to the above address.


From my Emails & ICQ


From David Pemberton

The FOX NEWS CHANNEL that has been stated to be on PAS 8 has been on there fore a few months now.It is only a special feed channel.

I reported it to LYNGESAT back then but was not recorded for some reason.Others are probably now just noticing it.My guess is that they are not worried about encrypting this one.

Best regards,
DAVID PEMBERTON.


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3940 H "Fox News Channel" has NOT started. It's still occasional feeds.

ST 1 88E 3550 V "CSkyNet" mux has started, Sr 30000, Fec 7/8,same line-up and parameters as on JCSAT 3: 3960 V.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "3ABN has replaced TRT International" on, SID 6, Vpid 1537 Apid 1538.

NSS 703 57E The Sun TV mux is back on 3980 R (MPEG-2) again, SR 28000, FEC 3/4,
East hemi beam, line-up: Sun TV, Sun News Channel, Sun Cable Vision,Gemini TV, Teja TV, Ushe TV, Udaya News and Surya News.


NEWS


NZ Sky TV Loses $42.34 Million


Pay television network Sky reported an increase in its loss, for the year to June.
Owned by Independed Newspapers Limited, Sky Television Network’s loss increased from $26.97 million to $42.34 million.
However, Chief Executive John Fellet said said Sky recorded the largest net subscriber gain in the company's history.

The pay-TV company said total subscriptions at June 30 were 430,436, up 53,864 on June 30, 2000.

Sky is now 31.5 percent of New Zealand household, with 266,585 (62%) digital subscribers and 161,903 (38%) analogue subscribers.


Foxtel after its own satellite


From www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

WHILE most of the recent media attention has been focused on the landscape down here, there have been those quietly busying themselves in preparation for another communications stoush – this time up there, in space.
Two satellite slots are about to be auctioned by the Australian Government early next month, and this time we can expect some hands to go up. The last time Canberra announced an auction for spectrum space, nobody bothered to turn up.

The surprise in the satellite licence auction lies primarily in one of the proposed bidders – Foxtel. This is a pay TV company which offers its services via the Telstra broadband cable. Why would it be in the hunt for a satellite licence?

There are two main reasons: cost, and the security of knowing you're not in the hands of your competitors. While two-thirds of Foxtel's 750,000 customers are hooked up to the cable laid past 2.5 million homes in much of suburban Australia, one third have their pay TV services delivered by satellite.

As well, all of Austar's pay TV channels (most of which are also carried by Foxtel) are delivered to its 400,000 regional customers by satellite.

That means half of the nation's 1.35 million pay TV customers get their services via a satellite owned and operated by Cable and Wireless Optus – the third-ranking pay TV player. Foxtel believes Optus charges too much for the use of its bird, and complains that in recent times, as the company has been going through a protracted sale and takeover process at the hands of Singapore Telecom, the level of service being offered to customers has been well below par.

Given the volume of traffic it provides, and the costs involved in buying the 24-hour/7-day transponder space required to handle it, Foxtel has been doing its sums about the cost of going it alone. We're looking at big bucks.

Satellite slots are decided on by the International Telecommunication Union. Optus currently holds four slots, the first two of which it inherited when it took over the assets of Aussat when telecommunications deregulation began. These have now been pensioned off and replaced with Optus A3 and B2.

The Optus B3 satellite, which carries the bulk of TV traffic, was launched in 1994, and the first of its latest series, C1, is due to be launched next year. All these slots are designated as "fixed" satellites – jargon that means they are designed to be used for point-to-point delivery, such as the Nine network uplinking A Current Affair from its Sydney studios to its Perth studios, where it is then rebroadcast terrestrially.

But because of a special clause inserted in the ITU rules back in the 70s when satellites were being touted as a way to provide TV to outback Australia, the "fixed" satellites can be used for direct to home "broadcasts".

The two new satellite slots about to be auctioned are both for "broadcast", or DTH services. One will be positioned in geostationary orbit 76,000km above the Equator at longitude 164 East – a line that runs through the Pacific half-way between Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island – and the other at longitude 152 East, which, roughly, runs through Brisbane.

Both are capable of delivering a national footprint. Current proposals call for each bird to have 21 channels of 27MHz each, with three on each configured for a national footprint. The 152E bird also currently allows for six channels to be beamed into Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, while the 164E bird would provide similar services to Queensland, NSW and Victoria/Tasmania.

But as the auction draws near, final modifications to those specifications are under discussion so as to allow for more nationwide footprints and fewer lower-powered state beams.

The position of the satellites is of vital importance. Because Foxtel and Austar transmissions come from Optus B3 at longitude 156 East, a change to use either 152E or 164E would mean receiving dishes would have to be repositioned for optimum reception. As well, the receiving equipment that picks up the signals reflected from the dish would have to be retuned.

This would seem to be a prohibitive task. On-site visits to 700,000 locations from the 'burbs to the Back of Bourke would be very costly. So, too, would be the planned replacement of Foxtel set-top boxes to allow for digital interactive services which could cost up to $500 million.

But perhaps that is an indication of what the Foxtel number-crunchers think can be saved by bringing their satellite distribution business in-house. The all-up cost of Foxtel's contract with Optus is dealt with as if it were a state secret, but it has to be very big if the in-house option is considered a worthwhile pursuit.

No one knows what the two slots will cost at auction. The closest I could get to an estimate was: "Tens of millions." Add to that the cost of a bird, and its launch, and you're looking at a figure between $250 million and $350 million.

Oddly, the cost of hardware is coming down. When satellites are ordered, they are usually made in pairs, just in case a rocket blows up. While there have been a few of those, there have been more successful launches, and a number of DTH-configured satellites are available "off the shelf" at present.

Competition between companies offering launch vehicles is also bringing prices down. Australia could choose Chinese, French or American rockets for the job.

When the Australian Communi cations Authority called for expressions of interest in the satellite slots in May, it received four responses from Optus, PanAm Sat, Foxtel and a company called Electronic Media Services Pty Ltd, which is no longer considered a player.

This level of response was enough for the ACA to decide on an auction, which is expected early in October. But final details of specifications and contract conditions were being worked on as late as Monday this week.

One condition is likely to set a time limit – of between two and five years – for the successful bidder to "use it or lose it". This is aimed to guard against the hoarding of the slot as a defensive move by Optus or another regional satellite player.

Another pro-competition condition is to ensure that different companies buy the slots. Foxtel would not have the option of buying both, or bidding for one while shareholder Telstra bid for the other.


Christmas Island launch centre gains momentum


From http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010904/0980235.html

Investors are gaining confidence in the Asia Pacific Space Centre (APSC) on Australia's Christmas Island, despite their wariness in backing new space enterprises, project officials said on Tuesday.

The centre aims to launch commercial satellites aboard Aurora, a modified version of Russia's Soyuz rocket, from the remote equatorial island, currently the scene of an international row over a boatload of Afghan refugees.

Investors have been nervous about backing new space projects because of the global economic slowdown and several high profile space bankruptcies.

But Phillip Spector, a Washington-based space lawyer representing the APSC, told a satellite conference in Paris that there was money around.

``There is money available for the right kind of satellite projects and the right kinds of satellite deals still can get done in this environment we face today,'' he said.

APSC officials said the Australian government had announced last June a $52 million investment grant for the $400 million project.

They said they also had backing from private Korean and Australian investors and that construction on Christmas Island was slated to begin before the end of the year.

A maiden launch is scheduled for late in 2003.

Aurora would attempt to compete head-on with established commercial launch companies dominated by Europe's Arianespace consortium and International Launch Services (ILS), a joint U.S.-Russian venture headed by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - news) that launches American Atlas rockets and Russian Proton rockets.

Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) has also become an aggressive player in the launch market with its Delta rocket series and its participation in Sea Launch, a floating platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean that launches Ukrainian Zenit rockets

Equatorial launch sites give an advantage to launching communications satellites into geostationary orbit (GEO) by reducing the rocket's fuel needs, enabling the same rocket to launch heavier satellites than it could from locations further from the equator.

Most launch companies charge at least $20,000 for each kilogram launched.

The GEO launch market is already crowded, but APSC Vice-President Richard Waterman told Reuters: "We can easily compete with $15,000 if not lower.

``We think we can displace some of the more expensive launch suppliers.''

Waterman said Aurora would be capable of launching up to 4.5 metric tonnes, a mass that would satisfy the needs of 85 percent of the commercial satellites currently on the market.

CHALLENGE TO FRANCE

The APSC project competes head-on with French plans to launch modified Soyuz rockets from their equatorial launch site in Kourou, French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America.

The proposals have been under discussion since 1998 and specialists said Russian partners had grown impatient with French delays on a decision.

A European Space Agency (ESA) ministerial conference in November is set to decide whether to go ahead with the Kourou project and its required $200 million minimum funding.

The project has begun to cause an open rift within Arianespace.

Opponents argue that Soyuz would compete with the new generation Ariane-5 launcher that was only recently put into service.

Supporters say Soyuz will fill part of the gap left by the older generation Ariane-4 rocket scheduled to be removed from service after 11 more launches.

In the last few months France seems to have renewed its enthusiasm for Soyuz following talks between French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a surprise move last week, Arianespace replaced its chief operating officer, Jacques Rossignol, a vocal Soyuz opponent, with Jean-Yves Le Gall.

Le Gall heads the Franco-Russian marketing venture Starsem that launches Soyuz from Kazakhstan and is seen as a strong supporter of Soyuz.


DTH still a distant dream for Indian viewers


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/06tech09.htm

ALMOST a year after government gave its nod to Direct-To-Home broadcasting, the services are yet to be launched, leave alone reaching homes of viewers.

But the government is apparently not open as of now to suggestions by broadcasters to remove the 20 per cent equity restrictions on them set under the DTH guidelines.

At a dinner meeting with information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj, attended by around 50 members of the Indian Broadcasting Federation, broadcasters suggested raising the 20 per cent cap.

The minister did not appear to be in favour of reviewing the DTH guidelines saying government has taken a conscious decision in this regard and its credibility should be respected, IBF sources said. They said putting a 20 per cent equity restriction on broadcasters was unreasonable as they understood the broadcasting business better than other players.

With the cost of setting up a DTH platform amounting to Rs 2000 crore, it looked unlikely that the services would take off very soon in the country, they said.

However, sources in the I&B ministry said the broadcasters have not given any concrete alternative proposal to the ministry so far though they have been persistently been demanding removal of the cap.

About DTH guidelines, they said the intention of the government was to ensure that only serious players get into the field and vertical monopoly is not allowed to enable fair competition.

The government is also of the view that government proposals of such a big nature take time to materialise.

Showing hopelessness of DTH taking off under the present guidelines, sources in STAR TV and Zee said there was no forward movement because broadcasters and other companies do not see it as a viable proposition.

The Union cabinet had in last November cleared commencement of DTH services, which allows distribution of multichannel TV programmes in KU-band through a small dish antenna by using a satellite system and does away with cable operators.

Five months later, it issued guidelines which limit broadcasting companies' equity participation in the venture to 20 per cent and make uplinking from India mandatory setting up earth stations within 12 months.

Along with the sectoral cap for broadcasting companies, the foreign equity participation has been limited to 49 per cent, and FDI in this would be further subjected to a ceiling of 20 per cent while the rest could come from NRIs, foreign institutional investors and overseas corporate bodies.

The guidelines stated that DTH players can only use open architecture set-top boxes, specification for which would be laid down by the I&B ministry later.

The licence fee was fixed at Rs 10 crore and the licencee would have to give a bank guarantee of Rs 40 crore valid for the duration of licence in addition to which 10 per cent of the revenue collected by the platform owner shall be payable to the government as an annual fee.

The question the broadcasters pose is - Why should they provide content and allow distribution to be done by others?

Government sources said the viability of the proposal should be seen in the perspective worldwide and if it is working in other countries then why will it not in India.

But as these questions get debated, broadcasters are hopeful that the government will open up to its suggestion to review the guidelines while the consumer waits for the DTH dream to come true and this might be a long wait. (PTI)




5/9/01

The chatroom went well last night, very quiet to start with but later on there were plenty of people in it. I have another satellite dish on its way a 90cm Ex Ihug, with LNBF not bad for $40 NZ. These dish's are not hard to find in the NZ market. Many on Ihugs "Ultra" service via Pas 2, get a crappy service so they cancel the service, the dish used really should be 1.2M but they use 90cm ones as anything over 1M needs a resource consent permit. There is nothing to use the dish for once people cancel their Ihug account. Sky has its own dish that they install and TVNZ FTA isn't running its service yet, Saturn if it ever gets up and running will use its own dish or perhaps Skys's. So that leaves a BIG UGLY 90cm dish which I kindly offer them cash for :-) I am doing alright so far my 60cm with LNBF Ex Sky $25 NZ and now a 90cm with LNBF Ex Ihug $40 NZ + postage.


From my Emails & ICQ


From John Harrison 5/9/01 Also Reported by Chris Pickstock

10.30am aest

B1 12317 H, "Fox Sports Live Tennis, Davenport V Williams" Sr 6980, Fec 3/4
EPG reports as DV2


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3940 H "Fox News Channel" has started here FTA but expected to encrypt, Sid 19, Vpid 2660 Apid 2620.

Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "TVRI and Metro Business" have left, moved to 3880 H.
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "TVRI" has started here , Vpid 512 Apid 650. New PIDs for Metro TV: Vpid 513 Apid 651.

ST1 88E 3550 V "This sat active again with C-sky services??" Sr 30000, please report!! this sat visable in parts of Australia

PAS 10 68.5E 3799 V Animal Planet India and Discovery Channel India have left, moved to 3776 V.

NSS 703 57E The Sun TV mux with Sun TV, Sun News Channel, Gemini TV and Surya TV has left 4016 R (MPEG-2) again.


NEWS


AOL Time Warner in Chinese TV market talks


From http://news.excite.com/news/r/010904/19/media-aoltimewarner-china

NEW YORK (Reuters) - AOL Time Warner Inc. said Tuesday it was in discussions with the Chinese government to increase the audience for the U.S. media titan's China Entertainment Television based in Hong Kong.

"We have had positive and constructive discussions with the Chinese government to get increased access for CETV in China," an AOL spokeswoman told Reuters. CETV is part of AOL's Turner Broadcasting Group, which also holds the CNN, TBS and TNT channels.

She declined to comment further.

But a source familiar with the matter said that the Chinese government was looking for broad distribution in the U.S. market for the China Central Television channel.

"It's certainly part of the discussions," the source said. "The talks include making the channel available on AOL Time Warner's cable systems." The source said the channel would be a part of the expanded channels made possible by digital cable.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd.is also reportedly in talks with the Chinese government to gain access to the Chinese TV audience, according to a story on the Financial Times web site. News Corp. declined to comment, however.


Craigs comment this is CETV on Asiasat 3


China offers access deal to News Corp and AOL


From http://news.ft.com

China is set to allow News Corporation and AOL Time Warner access to its domestic television audiences in return for their agreeing to distribute a Chinese government-sponsored channel in the US.

International broadcasters have fought for more than two decades to gain access to the Chinese market. Approval would be a particular triumph for Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of News Corp.

Xu Guangchun, the Chinese minister responsible for radio, film and television, said that it was his intention to allow both companies access to cable viewers in southern China. "We should say that [broadcasting by News Corp and AOL Time Warner] in a restricted area in Guangdong province would be fine," Mr Xu said.

He said the only outstanding issue was whether News Corp and AOL Time Warner would ensure that a China Central Television channel would be widely available in the US.

It is understood negotiations are far advanced for a general entertainment channel from News Corp's Star TV network to be carried in Guangdong, China's most prosperous province, which neighbours Hong Kong. Permission to broadcast in China will be particularly sweet for Mr Murdoch, who has spent the past eight years repairing a reputation damaged by his 1993 statement that satellite TV represents "an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes".

He dropped the BBC from the Star network in 1994 after a series of unflattering documentaries on China's politics and social problems invoked the government's wrath. Earlier this year, James Murdoch, his younger son and head of operations for News Corp in Asia, pleased the Chinese authorities with strong criticism of the outlawed mystic movement, Falun Gong.

Foreign companies have been banned from directly broadcasting into China, apart from in some tourist hotels and foreign residential compounds.

China's intention to allow News Corp and AOL Time Warner access to the domestic television market represents an unprecedented liberalisation in one of its most closed industries.

AOL Time Warner said: "We've been in positive and constructive discussions with the Chinese government to get increased access for China Entertainment Television in China."


China takes aim at foreign stakes in cable TV


From http://news.ft.com

China said on Tuesday that it planned to tackle the problem of irregular and unauthorised foreign involvement in its closed cable-TV market and singled out Citic Pacific, a listed Hong Kong concern, as an example of a company that would have to be dealt with.

Xu Guangchun, minister at the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (Sarft), the industry regulator, said overseas companies - including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan - were forbidden from taking direct equity stakes in mainland cable-TV concerns.

He added that Citic Pacific, a Hong Kong-registered company with a mainland parent, was considered a "genuine Hong Kong company". Citic Pacific took a 34.9 per cent stake in the mainland cable TV network Citic Guoan Information Industry Co in November last year.

He did not elaborate on what steps would be taken to deal with Citic Pacific's anomalous investment in Citic Guoan, but his remarks contrasted with recent reassurances from senior Citic Pacific executives that the company's cable TV investments in the mainland were safe.

Citic Guoan has recently been attracting adverse attention within the mainland's cable TV industry by appearing to challenge some provincial cable companies, such as those owned by the Hunan provincial branch of Sarft.

Sarft has ambitions to build up a nationwide cable TV network of its own and therefore is concerned by the prospect of competition from companies as substantial as Citic Pacific.

Mr Xu added that Citic Pacific was just one of several overseas companies that had employed unauthorised means to invest in the cable TV industry. "Now we are meeting a lot of new problems - we have to deal with them on an individual basis," he said. "It is going to be a gradual process."

He mentioned the case of a Taiwanese businessman who put $3m into a cable company in the south-eastern province of Fujian. He said the businessman, whom he declined to name, would have to divest but would have his investment returned to him.

However, one creative foreign investment model that aims to circumvent the ban on direct investment and secure a share of cable companies' revenues was not illegal, Mr Xu said. The model, being employed by DVN, a Hong Kong-listed company, is to lease equipment to local cable TV companies in return for a share of the subscription revenue. DVN has so far signed contracts with local cable TV stations that give it access to over 30m subscribers. There are believed to be some 90m-100m cable TV subscribers in China. "The general spirit is that any operations [between foreign and domestic entities] should be mutually beneficial," Mr Xu said.


Sony Goes Down Under


From indiantelevisiion.com

The Hindi entertainment television channel looks at capturing a new diaspora market

Amidst fanfare and with a host of dignitaries in attendance, Sony Entertainment Television made its entry into Australia and New Zealand at a glittering function in Sydney on 16 August. It became part of Zee Link's South Asian Pay TV Bouquet, which already had arch rival Zee TV's four channels on it.

The high commissioner of India in Australia, R.S. Rathore, lit the traditional lamp. Rathore said that Indians (in the Antipodes) needed this kind of entertainment. "… Sony and Zee play a vital role in our cultural and emotional links…" he said.

"…Here we are working together with our arch rival Zee television. We have set the example."
---Kunal Dasgupta, CEO of Sony India.

Philip Ruddock, Australian minister for immigration and multicultural affairs, who formally launched the channel, agreed with Rathore. He spoke about the importance of having a media linkage with one's mother country. He was optimistic about a rich relationship developing between India and Australia, saying: "Maintain your linkages, but commit to Australia and this will go a long way in sustaining a rich and enduring relationship between our two countries.

The CEO of Sony Entertainment Television Kunal Dasgupta said: "This is a small niche market which cannot be divided. Bringing entertainment together makes commercial sense." He also talked about sports coverage rights which Sony had but said that it was not viable to relay the matches when Australia is playing in India.

Jackie Shroff, one of the directors of Sony India, spoke about the importance of strong family ties and cultural-value packed programmes on television.He was visibly impressed by the hospitality and beauty of Sydney city

The other directors of Sony Entertainment, Sudesh Iyer, Sushil Shergill and Rakesh Aggarwal were also present on the occasion. Traditional Indian dance complemented the evening.

Zee Television was launched last year in August with their four channels i.e. Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Music and Zee News.

Sony's launch was a three-day long celebration. After the launch, the celebrations moved to Melbourne on 17 August and was followed by screening of the film Lagaan in Sydney on 18 August. Jackie Shroff cancelled his USA tour to live up to his role as 'The Face of Sony'. He made himself available to fans throughout the evening by signing autographs and posing for photographs.

Welcoming the guests at the screening of Lagaan in Sydney, Saba Abdi, director of Zee Link Pty Ltd recalled when she first arrived in Australia 12 years ago and felt the need for a connection back home. She started working to bring at least a part of the Indian TV world "Down Under".

"We remained committed in our determination and looked upon the time ahead with great expectation," Saba said. "The strong South Asian community in Australia & New Zealand is what Zee Link hoped to hook with the launch of Zee television channel and now Sony Entertainment Channel."


"Coming independently to Australia didn't make sense; hence the Zee TV linkup"


From indiantelevision.com

The bearded CEO of Sony Entertainment Television Kunal Dasgupta has a burning desire to take Indian television programming and entertainment globally. As CEO of a company which is part of one of the largest global entertainment groups, Sony of Japan, he is ideally positioned to do so. He has gradually been spreading his lead channel Sony Entertainment Television to various pockets where the Indian diaspora can be found. Rather successully.

And in recent times he has been focusing on replicating that with Hindi cinema entertainment. Dasgupta took time out in Sydney to speak with Anita Barar in an exclusive interview on his channel's challenges and plans, the Ozland foray, and its programming efforts, both in India and Australia. Excerpts:

Why did you link with Zee and what took you so long to come here?

The size of market determines the whole scenario. We already have our presence in the US, UK and Africa. Australia was always on our mind but economically it didn't seem right to come independently to a market this size. Remember, it is not a mainstream market, so marketing in a team was needed otherwise you end up dividing the viewers.

In the UK, there are 100,000 subscribers for Zee TV and about 80,000 for Sony Entertainment. With our teaming up, the viewers benefit. This is what I want. Our main aim is to be affordable to viewers. Here, we are now working together with our arch rival Zee TV. We have set the example.

Taking care of all the aspects and details, does take time, hence it took us this long to come to you.

What are the challenges you face as CEO of Sony Entertainment Television? And how do you achieve that?

"Continue to grow to help our shareholders' needs. We have taken up theatrical distribution and production of films. This is one of the revenue streams. Mission Kashmir was the first to be launched and distributed internationally.

I want to take business to a different level… at a world level. Our subcontinent's entertainment is least exposed. I want to create a worldwide market for it. We have IT people, actors, directors, fashion models, … you name it and we have their strong presence in the global market but we don't have our entertainment on a global scale. It is yet to happen. I want Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon happening to us too. I'm very optimistic about Lagaan. It should be nominated for the Oscars.

One has to be continuously creative. I believe the core to any television channel's survival is the creative edge and knowledge.

I also would like to provide commercial-free entertainment. People are forced to watch commercials. In India, the cable operator is not paying us. So our source of revenue is commercials. That has to be changed. Our revenue should come by subscription. But to get there, I will have to change the economy. Yes, It is a big task, a big challenge but I'm ready to take it.

See here in Australia and New Zealand, you get our telecast without commercials.

How is your programming structured?

We have a team of very bright, talented people. We have built up a strong management team on top. Our selection process is very rigorous. We believe in quality. There is no compromise on quality. We carry the brand name so it has to be perfect. Our programs carry assurance of a quality production.

We continuously work on innovative programming. We were the first to launch programmes like Boogie Woogie and Movers & Shakers. Boogie Woogie has youthfulness. We made dreams come true with the Miss India contest. We made them exclusive. We even brought the great Lata (Mangeshkar) and Asha (Bhosale) to the small screen. We have shows focusing on filmstars like Hrithik Roshan, India's current heart throb…, famous actresses etc. We do the best events including international awards.

We have a team of very bright, talented people. We have built up a strong management team on top. Our selection process is very rigorous. We believe in quality. There is no compromise on quality. We carry the brand name so it has to be perfect.

We also care about the emotional factor. Lagaan was premiered in South Africa for the reason that Gandhiji started our freedom struggle there. Lagaan has the same struggle in the same non-violent way. It had this emotional factor and we recognised that.

We have a variety of programs… sitcoms, dramas, gameshows and films. We show the best of films, old and new. Since we take the release rights of films we can show new films too.

So we provide well-packaged programming and thrive on quality, variety, youthfulness, innovation and emotion.

Would you involve local talent and use Australian locations for your programmes?

Why not? But it all depends on the numbers of subscribers we get here. We once did a half-hour show based in the UK which was very popular.

And what about local proposals? And at what stage should they approach Sony?

Yes, we would look for that too. We want strong concepts. If we find a worthy project, we would make sure that it is rolling. I would encourage people to approach us at the "idea" stage. There is always a risk factor with a finished product, because in that case we don't have any control on broadcast quality. Well whatever stage one is in, they should let us know and we would definitely like to look at it.




4/9/01

Live chat tonight in the chatroom 8.30pm Syd time onwards, and I am in there from 9.15pm NZ. Scaffolding is up alongside my dish made some minor improvements to my Asiasat 3 signals by playing with the feedhorn, have now got Arriang with plenty of signal but only flashes of pic same with Digital Indus Vision/music. Started raining so I couldn't experiment with it much more. Pas 5 is in location at 155.5W Might be worth a look when they put a signal up. Perhaps it has a beacon? Check the Panamsat site for details. Not sure what the footprint will cover.

P.S Mundine fight what a fix...



From my Emails & ICQ


From Keith Browning 4/09/01

12336 V MS Occas. #1 TXing ATN7 Sydney(As it airs) still running 8:00am NZST


From Chris Martin 3/09/01

G'Day Folks,

Seven using Mediasat bouquet, Ch3 on B3 - 12336 tonight for Roy &HG's 'Monday Dump' This is live from Brisbane - 'Good Will Games' at 1230z.

Cheers
Chris Martin
S.E.Qld


From David Pemberton

The FOX MUX on PAS 2 is now only on 3992V.3798V has been switched off.
Also I now see that CCTV on PAS 2 3716V has now gone and is only on PAS 8.

Best regards,
DAVID PEMBERTON.


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3905 V "Occasional feeds" Sr 6620, Fec 3/4.

PAS 2 169E 3798 V"The Fox mux has left , moved back to 3992 V.

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "Kusan TV" has started on , Sis 7, Vpid 1660 Apid 1620.

Palapa C2 113E 4089 H "TVRI" has started (Digital), Vpid 512 Apid 650.
Palapa C2 113E 3707 H "Myawaddy TV Testcard" Sr 5920 Fec 3/4

Telekom 1 108E 3995 H "TV channel testing here" Sr 5920 Fec 3/4 (Yes this one makes in to Australia)

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "National Geographic Adventure 1" is fta again.

NSS 703 57E 4016 R Sun TV mux has started, Sr 13000, Fec 3/4, East hemi beam, line-up: Sun TV, Sun News Channel, Gemini TV and Surya TV.


NEWS


Sky tipped to eat into INL profits


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

New Zealand's largest media company, Independent Newspapers (INL), is expected to post a lower net tax-paid profit for the year to June, as losses from subsidiary Sky Network grow.

The forecasts are for a net tax-paid profit of around $30.8 million for INL and a loss of around $43 million for Sky, says a Datex survey of seven analysts.

INL owns 66.3 per cent of pay television operator Sky Network. Both companies are due to report on Thursday.

In turn, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp holds around 44.5 per cent of INL.

INL made a net profit of $14 million in the six months to December and Sky made a net loss of $19.6 million in the same period.

In the year to June 2000, Sky's net loss of $27 million helped push the net profit of INL - then half owner of the television company - down to $34.6 million.

INL shares last traded steady at $3.65 and Sky Network shares were also steady at $3.55.

Although the signs were that the large and important Auckland economy remained flat and costs from the company's stuff.co.nz internet web site would have to be absorbed, a recovery in regional markets would help to offset those factors, says Forsyth Barr head of research Rob Mercer.

"The platform is there for a recovering New Zealand economy but it's going to be more a 2002 story, plus they've got to bring in the equity on the Sky TV position so it does get a bit messy."

Mr Mercer is picking a net tax-paid profit of $36 million for INL.

ABN Amro head of research Malcolm Davie agreed the mixed economic outlook in the first half would affect INL's advertising income.

"In terms of economic conditions in New Zealand, we had a pretty subdued first quarter and that will have an impact and also the Australian [community newspaper] part of the business has suffered in the first half and that's likely to continue in the second half."

A large factor on the Sky result - as well as the high depreciation costs associated with moving customers to its satellite digital platform - was the weak New Zealand dollar.

"They have been out of favour for a large part of the year because the kiwi has been plummeting but there's cause for optimism looking ahead," Mr Davie said, referring to the appreciation of the kiwi in recent weeks. The dollar hit a record low around 38.95USc in October and was still as low as 40USc in July, down from around 50USc 18 months ago. Since July, the kiwi has climbed around 10 per cent to 44USc.

Each 1c climb in the kiwi adds $3.5 million to Sky's earnings before interest and tax.

Mr Davie said another positive was Sky's digital TV plans.

"They have managed to ... invest wisely in a digital platform which looks like it will be the only one in the country and will also be adding sentiment to the stock - there's a little bit of value in both [INL and Sky]."

Cable TV and telephony company TelstraSaturn pulled out of a planned digital television joint venture with state-owned Television New Zealand last month.

Mr Mercer expects Sky to post earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of around $70 million and a net tax-paid loss of around $30 million.

"The market is going to be interested to hear how they've pushed through some costs, putting prices up and how they have been able to re-negotiate some of their US dollar costs," Mr Mercer said, adding that the company's recently introduced pay-per-view services were also of interest.


Taiwan in satellite deal with Russia


From sat-index.com

Taiwanese officials confirmed that a a memorandum of
understanding regarding a research satellite project was
recently signed with Russia. The spacecraft would be placed in
orbit by a Russian launch vehicle.

"The satellite launch is mainly designed for research and
experiment," an official at Taiwan's National Space Programme
Office (NSPO) was quoted as saying. He denied it had any
connection with the Russian military and declined to give any
other details, notably how much Taiwan would contribute to the
project.

The low-Earth orbit satellite is to be launched in co-
operation with several research institutes based in St. Petersburg.


WorldSpace's Indian service to become pay radio


From sat-index.com

Satellite radio WorldSpace becomes pay satellite radio, at
least partially, at least in India. "Subscription-based services
are one of the revenue streams we are looking to tap in the
Indian market," The Economic Times quotes Noah Samara,
WorldSpace chairman and chief executive officer, as saying.

Other WorldSpace plans include leasing satellite capacity to
closed user groups in order to increase revenues. According to
Samara the company plans to increasingly move from broadcasting
to narrowcasting into niche markets. [Where have his noble plans
to enlighten and entertain impoverished continents with
satellite radio gone?]

WorldSpace has sold only around 22,000 receivers in India, and
hopes to sell some 50,000 more units until the end of 2001 — in
a country with a population of well above one billion.

The Indian service comprises some 22 channels with an
assortment of music and news in several Indian languages
including Hindi, Tamil and Bangla.

In general, privately-held WorldSpace hopes to sell a total of
2 million receivers and break even by 2004. Receivers got
cheaper in the past, although not dramatically: in India, they're
sold at Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 (US$127 to US$250, or €140 to
⊁). Talks are underway with Indian companies to produce
receivers locally, according to the report.




3/9/01

Mundine fight tonight? Its a pay-perview here in NZ on Sky, perhaps a feed may be up there fta? Mundine has been seen on B3 12336 V and 12363 V previously though his last fight was encrypted. I got my Scaffolding gear yesterday but just have not had time to assemble it yet. I still DON'T have suitable Analogue unit to control polar rotar on the Adl feed yet. So when I do get the feed lined up I will be limited to one Pol. Let me know if you know of a cheap suitable unit available somewhere, I can't afford new equipment at this stage. Plenty in the news section today.

Page to be trimmed tommorow


From my Emails & ICQ


From David Pemberton

The FOX BOUQUET of channels has returned to 3992V, however the new one on 3798V is still there too.

Not sure what is going on however both are still running.Will keep you posted.

Best regards,
DAVID PEMBERTON.


From Chris Pickstock 2/9/01

Christmas Island feeds
9.05 pm SA time

Pas 8 12490 H Sr 7200 and 12500 H Sr 6875
Two different News feeds from Christmas Island about the refugee ship. On now.


From the Dish


Pas 2 169E 3716 V "The CCTV mux with CCTV 4 and CCTV 9" has left, moved to PAS 8.
Pas 2 169E 3992 V "The Fox mux is back", Sr 26470, Fec 7/8.
Pas 2 169E 3960 H "Occasional feeds" , Sr 1764, Fec 2/3.(someone check and report whats here)
Pas 2 169E 4060 H "Occasional feeds" , Sr 13238, Fec 3/4.(someone check and report whats here)

Pas 8 166E 12557 H New frequency for Ihug , Sr 13333.

Apstar 1A 134E 4072 V "Shandong TV" has started regular transmissionsm, Sr 7500, Fec 2/3, Vpid 32 Apid 33.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 4088 V "A test card has started" on, SID 2, Vpid 350 Apid 351.
Sinosat 1 110.5E 3706 V "The MTV tests" have left

Yamal 102 90E 3524 L "Yuzhniy Region" has started , Sr 4285, Fec 3/4,Vpid 308 Apid 256.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3420 V "PTV World and PTV News" have started, Vpid 308 Apid 256, time sharing with PTV Channel 3.


NEWS


AsiaSat Net Profit Falls; Expects Year of Consolidation


From Satnewsasia.com

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd (AsiaSat) has announced a seven percent drop in turnover for the first half of 2001. AsiaSat said that turnover fell to US$61 million from US$66 million for the same period last year.

Net profit was lower at US$35 million as against US$36 million for the same period in 2000.

AsiaSat said the leaner results reflected a weaker market for its services. It added that overall demand in the Asian transponder market was disappointing in the first half of the year.

It pointed to the global economic downturn as the main culprit for the fall in its operating figures.

Chairman Romain Bausch said the year 2001 will be one of consolidation for AsiaSat after a year of rapid growth in 2000.

?The group anticipates that in 2001 it will be very difficult to achieve growth, or even maintain the same levels achieved in 2000."

The group believes that with the prevailing uncertainty continuing, existing broadcast and telecommunications operators are either contracting, or are reluctant to expand, their businesses until they see clear signs of recovery. New entrants are also hesitant to invest as they await a turnaround.

AsiaSat, however, expects strong potential growth to return as confidence in the region's economies picks-up.

AsiaSat provides two main services—telecommunications (including VSAT) and broadcasting—on all its three in-orbit satellites.

AsiaSat 1, launched in April 1990, provides satellite transponder capacity in Asia. AsiaSat 2 was launched in November 1995 and started commercial operation in January 1996. Located at 100.5 degrees East, it covers 53 Asian countries and some two-thirds of the world's population.

AsiaSat 3S, the company’s newest satellite, was launched in March 1999 and started commercial operations two months later. It replaced AsiaSat 1 at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East.

AsiaSat 3S has a C-band footprint similar to that of AsiaSat 2, two Ku-band fixed beams covering East and South Asia and a steerable Ku beam.

As of 30 June 2001, 59 percent of transponder capacity on AsiaSat 2 and 71 percent on AsiaSat 3S were being used and generating revenue.

With AsiaSat 3S in service, AsiaSat 1 was relocated to the orbital location of 122 degrees East. The satellite is now operating in an inclined orbit but will continue to serve Asia until the launch of AsiaSat 4 in the first half of 2002.

Construction of AsiaSat 4, to be positioned at 122 degrees East, is on schedule, said AsiaSat. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, AsiaSat 4 will be the payload of an Atlas 3B rocket to be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.


Shin Satellite Details Broadband Internet Plans


From satnewsasia.com

Shin Satellite Plc (SSA) said its soon to be launched iPSTAR 1 broadband satellite will focus on business and high-end Internet customers.

The Thai satellite operator will launch iPSTAR 1 during this fourth quarter and expects the satellite to become operational before the end of the year. The satellite will benefit clients who want fast Internet access and who live in remote areas.

An installation package will cost from US$700-900 and the monthly service charge will range from US$30-60.

Potential applications will include games, video broadcasting, distance learning, e-commerce and e-government.

The company also established Shin Broadband Internet (SBI), a content aggregator with an initial focus on education and entertainment.

The first-generation of SSA satellites, Thaicom 1A and Thaicom 2, are two Hughes HS-376 spacecraft. Thaicom 1A carries 12 C-Band transponders and 3 Ku-Band transponders. Thaicom 2 has 10 C-Band transponders and 3 Ku-Band transponders.

Thaicom 3 is SSA’s second-generation satellite and is one of the most powerful and technologically advanced satellites ever built. Thaicom 3 has 25 C-Band transponders and 14 Ku-Band transponders.

The C-Band footprints of Thaicom 1A and Thaicom 2 cover Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea, Japan and the east coast of China.

Thaicom 1A and Thaicom 2 provide a high Ku-Band spot beam over Thailand and Indochina.

Thaicom 3 is a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. Seven C-Band transponders cover Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa, or more than 120 countries and three billion people.

iPSTAR 1 will provide telecommunications and multimedia services to households, business and public organizations. Individual households will have access to a wide variety of pay TV and VOD services, IP voice telephony and high-speed Internet connections.

iPSTAR will provide up to 40 gigabits per second of capacity to 14 gateways in the Asia-Pacific covering China, Japan, India and Australia.

SSA expects that iPSTAR to become its flagship satellite with 13 million users by 2008, of which 600,000 customers will be in Thailand. Its biggest market, however, is expected to be China.


China and India Remain Asia’s Top Emerging Markets for Satellite Services


From satnewsasia.com

If the amount of news about space activities is an accurate indication, then China and India are indeed Asia’s top emerging markets for satellite services and will remain so for the remainder of this decade.

Besides Japan, only China and India have successful homegrown space programs among all Asian countries. Japan, the world’s second largest capitalist economy, recently re-entered the exclusive club of countries with a heavy lift capability with the launch of its H-IIA launch vehicle. The H-IIA can loft a four-ton payload into geosynchronous orbit.

India last April became only the fourth member of this “club” with the successful launch of its Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The GSLV launch placed India in the exclusive company of the United States, Russia, China, Japan and the European Space Agency as providers of geosynchronous-capable launch vehicles.

GSLV’s next mission will carry a 4,800-pound Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) payload, and a German and a Belgian satellite. Launch is scheduled for the third or fourth quarter of 2002.

A third GSLV launch, probably in 2003, is expected to carry a 5,348-pound satellite. ISRO said that GSLV must accomplish two successful launches before being declared operational.

The 10-year GSLV project, which cost India US$305 million, had the objective of acquiring launch capability for geosynchronous satellites. In its present configuration, GSLV is a three-stage vehicle powered by four Russian-made liquid propellant strap-on rockets and one solid propellant motor.

Russia, India’s traditional technological ally, is its chief partner in its race to space. Russia’s Khrunichev State Space Science and Production Center will supply five new booster units for India’s GSLV rockets until 2004.

The cryogenic boosters will be used for placing Indian communication satellites in geostationary orbit. The boosters use ecologically friendly and highly powerful oxygen-and-hydrogen fuel, according to Khrunichev.

The successful first launch of GSLV last April 18 was the first test space flight of the Russian cryogenic booster unit. India plans one or two GSLV launches each year. Russia has been involved in India’s space program since the 1970s.

China’s space thrust is geared towards entering the commercial space launch business after 2005.China’s 10th Five-year Plan (2001-2005) provides details of its program for commercial space flights.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said that China would develop new-generation launch vehicles with geostationary orbit capability. CNSA revealed that investments in China’s commercial space program would surpass previous space investments although it did not give an amount.

CNSA deputy director Guo Baozhu said China would develop more powerful broadcasting and telecommunications satellites; do research on new-generation launch vehicles; establish an oceanic satellite monitoring system and implement a “double satellite” space exploration program.

China will also increase investments in new broadcasting and telecommunications satellites to begin creating China’s satellite telecom industry. Apart from carrying out research on new-generation launch vehicles, China will also improve the performance and reliability of its three decades old "Long March" launch vehicles.

China said its new-generation launch vehicles would be non-toxic, non-polluting, high-performance and low-cost to make them more marketable to Western customers.

CNSA explained that a “double-satellite” space exploration program meant situating the orbit of one satellite in the direction of the magnetic pole of the earth; another near the equatorial plane and harmonizing the two satellites to conduct large scale space exploration.

China’s more vigorous push into space complements an equally massive commitment to expand its IT sector. China will invest more than US$500 billion in its IT sector from 2001 to 2005 to increase the sectgor’s contribution to the gross domestic product.

China expects its IT sector to contribute seven percent to its GDP by 2005, up from the current 4.5 percent.

The investment is also expected to boost China’s telephone density from the current 35 percent to 70 percent by 2005. TV broadcasting service will be expanded to cover 95 percent of the country. The number of satellite TV customers should exceed 150 million and the information service business should grow by 30 percent.

The Chinese government, however, must further improve relevant laws and regulations and one of the government’s primary tasks should be improving the transparency of the market rules. China’s business climate should improve significantly when it finally becomes a member of the World Trade Organization in early 2002, a year behind schedule.

Liberalization, however, does not mean a total loosening of state control over strategic industries such as satellite services and telecommunications. China’s State Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT) announced its intention to place foreign satellite TV channels under centralized administration for unified release by one central platform.

The central platform would use passwords to eliminate illegal ground reception. This change could help cut costs and improve economic benefits, according to SARFT.

Under the plan, licensed foreign satellite channels will transmit signals to the ground for unified reception and encryption by the platform before the signals are transmitted to designated luxury hotels and foreign communities via satellites.

Foreign satellite channels that violate the rules can be punished immediately. If signals are sent to undesignated areas, the broadcast can be discontinued and the license cancelled.

China has 22 foreign-encrypted channels with limited ground transmission licenses. This number should increase to about 30 by 2002.

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 35/2001 September 2 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited apsattv.com Edition


A S I A


UEFA FOOTBALL ON SHOWTIME

Live coverage of UEFA Champions League football will be carried exclusively on
the Showtime television network this season. Starting September 12, the network
will broadcast one match live each Wednesday during the group stages, with
Arabic commentary available on Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and English audio on
Showtime Sport. Other Wednesday night fixtures will be recorded for later
telecast. The two sports channels coverage also includes exclusive rights to
the finals. Matches will be shown simultaneously on both channels, offering
fans a choice of English or Arabic commentary, complete with pre- and
post-match analysis from studio guests, while a weekly Champions League
magazine programme rounds out the coverage.


CHINA - HONG KONG


GALAXY SUBMITS WINNING BID

Television Broadcasts Ltd's satellite arm Galaxy has won a bidding process for
the exclusive rights to its parent company's five satellite channels. The
process was ordered by the Hong Kong government due to TVB's dominance of the
local free to air market ahead of the territory's second broadcaster, Asia
Television. Galaxy was allowed to bid for a pay-TV licence only on the
understanding that it would not be able to start operations until 18 months
after their rivals. TVB operates a Cantonese and an English-language channel
serving Hong Kong but up for sale are the TVB8 and Xing He channels, plus three
more satellite channels offering news, family/children's entertainment and
general entertainment in a package said to be costing $10 million a year.
Galaxy is still to announce a partner after the collapse of a plan to sell 29
per cent of the company to Malaysian direct to home satellite TV platform
Astro.


INDIA


GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS MANDATORY CONDITIONAL ACCESS

The government is mulling over making conditional access systems mandatory for
viewing pay channels. If the move comes through, satellite TV broadcasters
would either have to turn their pay channels free-to-air or invest in putting
in place conditional access systems. Most cable operators are in favour of
market forces deciding the price of premium pay services, but ministry
officials said that a final call on the issue would be taken only after
consultation with broadcasters. The government needs to amend the existing
Cable TV Regulation Act if addressability has to be made mandatory. It was also
mooted that in a bid to curb movie piracy, cable operators may be allowed to
show movies on their channels only when an addressable system has been put in
place.



NEW ZEALAND


SKY TV PREPARES INTERACTIVE SPORTS SERVICE

Sky TV has reached an agreement with Holotype New Media to develop the
country's first interactive sports service. The service has been developed over
the last three months and will be available to Sky's iTV-ready subscribers,
around 246,000 of the 415,000 total. The service will initially be available
for rugby union, then rugby league and football coverage carried on Sky. The
functions will include live match statistics that can be pulled up on demand,
match results and team standings. There are plans for adding interactive
features and applications including, personalised camera angle selection,
game-playing, t-commerce sales of sporting merchandise and ordering fast food
for delivery. The service is set to launch in October of this year.


THE PHILLIPINES


RPN9 SIGNS OUTPUT DEAL WITH PARAMOUNT

Paramount International Television has partnered with terrestrial broadcaster
RPN 9 in a unique deal that will see Paramount programs dominating valuable
primetime and access real estate on the influential Asian broadcast entity.
Under the deal, Paramount International Television will provide a programming
block of 15 hours weekly to RPN that will be scheduled only in primetime and
access slots.


SOUTH KOREA


KBC AND MBC BUY WORLD CUP RIGHTS

German media giant Kirch Group has sold the Korean broadcasting rights to the
2002 and 2006 World Cup football championships to a consortium of broadcasters.
The deal was struck between Kirch subsidiary KirchSport and Korean pubcasters
KBS and MBC and commercial web SBS, who will broadcast all 64 of the matches of
the 2002 World Cup, to be held in Korea and Japan, and the 2006 World Cup to be
held in Germany.




2/9/01

BUGGER! 29-26 to Australia, A great classic clash with the Aussies stealing it from Nz in the last minute. Thank you to all those supplying feed reports.

Heaps of feeds reported this weekend. Want them when they happen? you need to join the mailing list see above. The mailing list is spam free and filters out file attachments so fairly virus safe.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Dave 2/09/01

On PAS 2 3798V Sr 26470 Fec 7/8 two new "MetroMux" channels have appeared in the
lineup, I suspect that they are two more feeds. All channels in this boquet
seem to be encrypted, is anyone able to determine if the MetroMux channels are
feeds or something else?


Channel Name SID VPID APID PMT PID

Fox Feeds 1 1 1160 1120 5001
Fox Feeds 2 2 1260 1220 5002
Fox Feeds 3 3 1360 1320 5003
Fox Feeds 4 4 1460 1420 5004
Fox News Channel 5 1560 1520 5005
Fox Feeds 5 6 1660 1620 5006
MetroMux Channel 7 7 1760 1720 5007
MetroMux Channel 8 8 1860 1820 5008


Regards,
Dave.


From Bill Richards 2/09/01

B1, 12420 H "Globecast, Goodwill games feed from Brisbane" Sr 11250 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256

Pas 8, 12490 H "ATN SNG2, Occ Christmas Island Feeds" Sr 7200 Fec 3/4 Vpid 4194 Apid 4195

2255 UTC

Pas 8, 12500 H "TCN SNG, Occ Christmas Island Feeds" Sr 6875 Fec 2/3 Vpid 512 Apid 256

From John Harrison 2/09/01 2pm Syd

B3 12363 V "NRL, Wests vs Sharks" Sr 6110 Fec 3/4

3pm Syd

B1 12336 H "Essendon v Carlton VFL" Sr 6980 Fec 3/4



From Dave Keller 2/09/01 3pm Syd

The court case in Melbourne regarding the court case over the "refugees"
stuck outside xmas island, is currently on ATN7 DIGITAL 2 on B1, 12397 H Sr 7200 Fec 3/4.
Also via B1 12326 H "Abc Feed"


Regards,
Dave.


From Chris Pickstock 2/09/01 1.45pm S.A

1.45 pm SA time

B1, 12385 V Sr 6620, Goodwill games Feed for TNT on now.

2.30 pm SA time

B1, 12317 H "Brisbane Club Rugby Grand Final, Canberra v Gold Coast" Sr 6980, ABC feed

2.45 pm SA time

Pas 8, 12500 H Sr 6980 Footage of Helicopter carrying cargo to Warship. Most likely from Christmas Island like last nights feed



From John Harrison 1/09/01 5.30pm Syd

B1 12367 V Sr 5632 Fec 3/4 Signal but no pic
Humax is "Showing Service Not Running Or Scrambled"


Craigs comment this is a NRL feed, Encrypted NTL "Globecast LF8"


From "Brownie" 1/09/01 6pm Syd

NZ vs Australia Test Rugby, Live from Stadium Australia on Mediasat right now.
The weird thing was, it didn't appear to be for Seven Sports.


Craigs comment, it was for TV3 in NZ, it was clean feed with no graphics (very painfull in the end as we couldn't tell how long there was to go!)


From Chris Pickstock 1/09/01 8.25 pm S.A

As I type, 8.25 pm SA time, Mediasat on B3, 12336V have Rugby, AUS v NZ, and their other channel has "The Bill". 12363V has a Fox feed of NRL. No feed of AFL was found.

10.40 pm SA time,On Pas 8, 12500 H, Sr 7028, "TCN SNG"
Colour Bars at the moment with the words "TCN SNG, wrong line standard"


Chris


From Me 1/09/01 9.30pm Syd

B3, 12363 V "NRL Raiders vs Storm" usual settings


From the Dish


Optus B1 12383 V "Occasional feeds" SR 6110, Fec 3/4.(note some find this on 12385 V)

Express 6A 80E 4125 R TV XXI is back on, SID 4, Vpid163 Apid 92. (anyone get this in Australia?)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3554 V TMG Enter TV has left, replaced by an info card.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3424 V Radio Pakistan has started on, APID 256.

PAS 10 68.5E 3905 H SET Middle East has left (analogue).

NSS 703 57E 3980 R The Sun TV mux with Sun TV, Sun News Channel, Sun Cable Vision, Gemini TV,
Teja TV, Ushe TV, Udaya News and Surya News has left (Can someone in Perth please confirm?)


NEWS


Singapore fury at TV spy stories


From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0109/01/world/world1.html

Singapore has protested strongly to Australian authorities over ABC television reports claiming it has been spying on Australian defence facilities and operations for years.

Singapore's concern at the allegations has prompted a series of meetings between government officials and the Australian High Commission in Singapore and led to the High Commissioner, Mr Gary Quinlan, flying back to Canberra for consultations.

In a statement released late on Thursday, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said Australian officials had given assurances that they did not regard Singapore as a threat to Australia's security.

"On the contrary, the Australian Government took the opportunity to reaffirm the closeness and strength of Singapore-Australia relations, including defence relations," the ministry spokesman said.

In a series of programs over the past month, ABC-TV's Lateline has reported claims by Australian intelligence analysts and former Defence Department officials that Singapore has been spying on Australia for decades and that one Singapore spy had been identified.

A spokesman for the Australian High Commission yesterday refused to comment but confirmed that Singaporean Foreign Ministry and Defence Department officials had met the High Commissioner and the Australian Defence Adviser to register their concerns.

The spokesman also confirmed that Mr Quinlan had flown to Canberra for briefings.

It is understood Australia refused requests by the Singaporean authorities to publicly repudiate the spying claims, based on Australia's long-standing policy of refusing to comment on security-related issues.

Singaporean officials are believed to regard the ABC reports as politically-motivated and part of a broader campaign to block increased Singaporean investment in Australia - particularly the takeover by the Government-owned Singtel of Cable and Wireless Optus, which last week won Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

There were also concerns that the publicity could upset expanding defence co-operation, under which thousands of Singaporean troops train in Australia and the Singapore Air Force exercises at bases in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW.

In its statement, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said it was surprised and disappointed that Lateline had repeated the "baseless" spying allegations last week in a program that also interviewed the exiled former Singapore Opposition leader, Francis Seow.

"There is no reason for Singapore and Australia to regard each other as threats. On the contrary, both our countries have much to gain by working together," the statement said.


Sony signs deals for distribution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/sep/sep1.htm

Sony Entertainment Television is on the move. It was on 4 August that the channel started beaming in Australia on the South Asia Television platform along with Zee TV and two other channels off the Optus B3 satellite.

Before the end of the month, Sony will also be available in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives, says Shantonu Aditya, senior V-P, franchise channels & distribution.

In Pakistan, Sony is being distributed by Leo Communications, in Bangladesh, through Nationwide Communications and in Maldives it is JSat Communications.

The channel is being beamed off the PAS 10 satellite as is the case in India.




1/9/01

Big Rugby match tonight NZ vs Australia (NZ 24 Aus 16) live on Star Sports, also hopefully via B3 12336 V. My scaffolding gear has arrived and I will be picking it up tommorow so maybe no site update tommorow I may be tweaking the dish. I have started on a F.A.Q if you don't know what that is it's a document of Frequently asked questions about satellite tv. A who, why, what, where guide to Asia Pacific region satellite tv. The more help with this the better. The work will be a on-going document that will be "Public Domain" Free to be published on any website or newsgroup.Please email me your suggestions!

Germany vs England soccer match is on RCTI, Live I think



From my Emails & ICQ


From Bill Richards

0320 UTC

B1 12397 H "Gillete World Sports Special" Sr 7200

0547 UTC

B1 12383 V "Astralinks, Melbourne rally feed " Sr 6110 Fec 3-4




From Mike 1/09/01

Early Saturday morning

Intelsat 701 3769 Rhc, Sr 20000 Fec 7/8 "Wigan Vs Bradford league game"


From John Kahler 1/09/01

11.20 a.m AEST

B1 12385 V, "TNT Feed, TNT Feed Channel" Sr 6620 Fec 3/4
Beach Scene with people at a B-B-Q. - No audio (Tone at the moment)


From Chris Pickstock 31/08/01

B3, 12336 V "AFL Essendon Vs Richmond" on Ocassional 2


From Martin Mills Friday Night, 31/8/01

B1, 12318 H "ABC digital inter Netball Final feed" Sr 6980 Fec 3/4


From the Dish


Apstar 1A 134E 3737 H "Hunan Life Channel" is encrypted again.
Apstar 1A 134E 4072 V "Shandong TV" is testing, Sr 7500, Fec 2/3.
Apstar 1A 134E 4060 V "Test card" has a new SR and FEC, Sr 5800 and Fec 1/2.(This one might be likely from Australia with such a low Fec)

Thaicom 1A 120E 3768 V "Bayon TV is back" testing on , Sr 1860, Fec 7/8

Sinosat 1 110.5E 4088 V "Macau TV Asia" promo has left
Sinosat 1 110.5E 3720 V "A test card has started" , Sr 5700, Fec 3/4, Vpid 4194 Apid 4195.

Yamal 102 90E 3645 LHC "ORT International" has left.
Yamal 102 90E 3645 LHC "Darial TV" Sid 16 and Vpid 601 Apid 602.
Yamal 102 90E 3645 LHC "A test card has started" on Sid15, Vpid 501 Apid 502.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "National Geographic Adventure 1" is now encrypted.


NEWS


No news section today