30/4/01
Fox News has returned to Pas 8. Hopefully it will stay FTA, maybe since CNN encrypted they saw a chance to gain viewers in our region? Fox Sports was there FTA as well but didn't hang around for long. Did anyone find a feed of the G.P last night? and if so details please? I saw the race here on FTA what an amazing finish!
Tokyo Rugby 7's is still on anyone seen it could be a feed in with NHK or Fuji tv on Pas 8?
Nobody has reported the very small I701 signal yet?
Page to be trimmed tommorow
From my Emails & ICQ
From: "siam global"
Subject: WORLDSTAR TV
THIS CO. CURRENTLY RUN AN MMDS SERVICE IN BKK. THE ADDRESS AND TEL NO. ON THEIR WEBSITE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF DATE . www.ws-tv.com. WAS MOST SURPRISED TO SEE THEIR APPEARANCE ON THAICOM AS THIS DOES NOT FIT INTO THEIR ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A DIGITAL MMDS SYSTEM FOR BKK BY JUNE TO COMPETE WITH MONOPOLY UBC. NOTICED THAT THE FILMS THEY ARE SHOWING HAVE SUDDENLY CHANGED FROM ENGLISH TO THAI DUBBED DIALOGUE. (PROBABLY FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS NOW THEY ARE ON A SATELLITE AND SEEN IN MANY COUNTRIES.) WILL CONTACT THEM TOMORROW AT THEIR NEW ADDRESS AT ITALIAN TOWER NEW PETCHBURI RD, BKK AND FIND OUT FOR YOUR SITE READERS WHY THE SAT. SERVICE AND ITS FUTURE PLANS. SIAMGLOBAL BKK
Stu Mcleod supplys a screenshot of RFO off I701 for the Gallery
From the Dish
Pas 8 166E 3852 H "Taiwanese channel" Sr 13240, Fec 3/4 (Anybody have a name for this channel?)
Pas 8 166E 3940 H "Fox News" Sr 27690, Fec 7/8
(screenshot by Keith)
Pas 8 166E 3940 H "Fox Sports Net" Sr 27690, Fec 7/8 (reported here but left??)
(screenshot by Keith)
BSAT 2A 110E has replaced BSAT 1B at 110 East.(dosn't cover Australia)
Sinosat 1 110.5E 3730 V "Feeds" Sr 6000 Fec 3/4 ( not sure if any one gets this in Australia)
Telekom 1 108E 4195 V "Feeds" Sr 4960 Fec 7/8}
NEWS
SingTel Discussing Optus Satellites; SingTel May Split Assets
From www.satnewsasia.com
Singapore Telecoms (SingTel), new owners of Cable & Wireless Optus (Australia’s second largest telecoms firm) and Australia’s Department of Defense are in talks about the future of Optus Satellite Systems and its fleet of four satellites.
Sing Tel bought C&W Optus, Australia’s second largest telecoms company after government owned Telstra Corporation, for US$ 8.4 billion this month. The sale, however, is subject to recommendations from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Sing Tel is 78 percent owned by the Singaporean government.
The Australian Defense Force (ADF) is concerned about the fate of Optus Satellite Systems that operates the in-orbit Optus B1 and B3 telecommunications satellites. Optus Satellites will launch its Optus C1 satellite in 2002.
Optus C1 will carry a classified military telecoms payload to be used for highly sensitive Australian military communications. Some of Australia’s nearest neighbors are in turmoil. Indonesia is beset by deadly ethnic tensions and East Timor, although relatively quiet, requires Australian and other United Nations troops to keep the peace.
ADF raised concerns about military information carried by the Optus satellites, which SingTel would own if its bid for Optus receives approval from the Australian government.
The main issue is the Singapore government's controlling stake in SingTel. SingTel was reported to be considering establishing a separate company to operate the satellites. No word on the talks were revealed by the Australian government.
The ADF’s objective in the talks is to compartmentalize data on both operational and traffic levels. The ADF also wants operation of Optus C1 to be based in Australia. It also wants the satellite’s control facility and buildings to be certified as secure facilities.
Telekom Malaysia Launches Satellite Communication-based Services
From www.satnewsasia.com
Telekom Malaysia, the state-owned telecoms monopoly, has gone into satellite-based voice, data and Internet services
Called TM VSAT, the service is now available throughout Malaysia and can provide access speeds from 9.6 kbps up to 2 Mbps. The company announced the launch of a satellite-based network providing voice, fax, data and Internet services via very small aperture terminal (VSAT) earth stations linked to communications satellites.
The services will be available to Malaysia’s more remote and rural businesses after a trial in the town of Bario in northeastern Sarawak.
Satellite services will be provided via the Measat (Malaysia East Asia Satellite) constellation that now has two satellites in orbit. A third and fourth satellite are scheduled for launch in 2002.
Measat-1, an advanced hybrid satellite with 12 36 MHz C and five 54 MHz Ku-band payload, was launched successfully in January 1996 from Kourou in French Guiana, South America.
Situated at 91.5 degrees east, Measat 1 covers a major part of East Asia (including Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Kampuchea, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, parts of southern China, Northern Australia and Guam) via its C-band footprint.
Measat 2 was launched successfully in November 1996 and carries four 72 MHz C-band and nine 48 MHz Ku-band transponders. At its orbital location of 148 degrees east, Measat 2 provides reliable C-band broadcasting and communications in East Asia, Eastern Australia and United States via Hawaii.
The Measat constellation’s Ku-band capacity offers Direct-to-User (DTU) broadcasting services over Malaysia, India, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java), the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and Eastern Australia.
29/4/01
Some interesting stuff for today, small signals and lots of sports.
There are a few sports events on on Sunday,
IRB World Rugby 7's from Tokyo (Try Pas 8)
Spanish G.P (Pas 2?)
V8 Supercars from NSW (B1 very likely)
World Superbikes from Japan (Pas 2 3901H, Confirmed)
Cricket Day 4 Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe (Ekushey tv? or channel i apstar 2r??)
From my Emails & ICQ
Victor Holubecki reports via the Mailing list, Sunday
I have Fox News and Fox sports net on Pas 8 3940 pol H SR 27690 FEC 7/8
This From Stu Mcleod (NZ)
Hi Craig ,
180 East LHC , 4030 Sr 0836 !!, Fec 2/3 !!
Yes only 836 for symbol rate .
Im picking its got to be the worlds smallest signal found by us so far ..
Also that I have no problems locking onto the
RFO service on 701 LHC 4086 , Sr 13334 , Fec 5/6
Stu
Craigs reply, Can anyone else manage to lock this, and if so state the IRD you used.
Logged by Me, Saturday night 28/4/01
B3, 7.30pm Syd 12336 V Super 12 Rugby "Reds vs Cats" from Brisbane
B1, 7.30pm Syd 12357 V "NRL Eagles vs Raiders" NOTE new freq, same pids 308 256
B1, 11.00pm Syd 12367 V "Super 12 from South Africa , Bulls vs Blues"
Sunday 29/4/01
B1, 2.00pm Syd 12367 V "NRL, Storm vs Penrith" 2.00pm Syd
Reported via the Mailing list
Sunday 29/04/01
Optus B1 160E 12675 H Analogue "Canberra v Perth , National Soccer League" 2pm Syd
From the Dish
Optus B1 160E 12675 H Analogue "Canberra v Perth , National Soccer League"
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "Zed TV, Asianet Bharathi, Zee News and Asianet Kaveri " THESE Still FTA, ignore Lyngsats incorect report.
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3846 H "MATV"new FTA here along with TVB Vpid 410 Apid 411.
NEWS
No news section today
28/4/01
Look for the usual Feeds tonight, NRL on B3 and on B1 11 pm Syd time, possibly Super 12 Bulls vs Blues from South Africa. As usual I will post any feeds I see into the mailing list. It would be nice if a few more did the same, especially sports events, I am sure there are a few sporting events up there people would be keen to view. I have people asking for NBA and Soccer feeds?
From my Emails & ICQ
From Stu
Hi craig ,
Not sure if this has been reported or not .
I havnt checked , but its new too me anyhow.
Pas 8 3852 H 13.237 3/4 5 channel FTA
1 = taiwanese
2 - 5 = colour bar test pattern
Stu
From Gino
is world star tv avaliabe in south australia adelaide
Craigs Reply, "World Star TV" looks to be a new service operating off Thaicom 3 KU band so that makes it unavailable in Australia, some checking reveals a planned internet and 12 channel paytv service for Thailand.
Hi Craig
Have you any idea (or do you know from any reports) if Pas2 can be seen
from Bali?
Thanks
Tony Anderson
Craigs Reply, Pas 2 is Strong in Bali, Pas 8 is Also, The Australia Pas 2 KU beam maybe also recievable there.
Logged by Me Saturday 28/04/01
Optus B3 2pm Syd 12336 V "Afl West vs Hawthorne"
Optus B3 2pm Syd 12363 V "Sydney Club Rugby"
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 11610 H "Canal promo" and "RFO Tele Nouvelle Caledonie" have started
Panamsat 8 166E 3852 H? "5 channels FTA here 1, Taiwanese 2-5 Colour Bars" Sr 13237, Fec 3/4
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3860 V"ESPN Philippines has started" NDS Encrypted
NEWS
News of encryption bad news for Zee ad sales in Gulf
From indiantelevision.com
The Zee bouquet of 14 channels, which will be fully encrypted by 1 June, is likely to witness a drop in revenues in the Middle East markets, according to sources within the network.
There has been a drop in ad sales in the Gulf region for the channel following the news that the Zee bouquet is going fully pay. Advertisers have been pulling out because they see a massive fall in subscriber base once the channel is no longer free to air, the sources say. The Gulf market is very sensitive to price because expatriates from the Indian subcontinent who largely make up the viewership of channels like Zee have comparitively low purchasing power.
With conditional access systems well in place, subcontinental subscribers mostly access free to air channels which is why even Star Plus, which is doing phenomenally well in India, cannot really claim viewership relative to population in the region.
Though Zee officials have not given an exact date as to when the network will be encrypted other than saying it will happen sometime in May, sources say it will be from 1 June.
Alpha Gujarati way ahead in its language segment: INTAM data
From indiantelevision.com
Zee's year-old niche Gujarati regional language channel Alpha Gujarati is giving Doorsharshan's DD11 and Reminiscent Television India's Gurjari a serious run for their money leaving them far behind in the viewership ratings race, a company release states.
According to ORG-MARG's INTAM reports commissioned by Zee Network and taking Ahmedabad city as a base measure, Alpha Gujarati has captured a whopping 60 per cent of the viewership pie.
The data is for all cable and satellite homes for the period between 4 March 2001 and 1 April 2001. Alpha Gujarati's 60 per cent relative viewership is more than twice that of DD11 which stands at 28 per cent, followed by Gurjari's 12 per cent.
As for the prime time 7:30 pm to 11 pm slot, Alpha Gujarati has a relative channel share of 62 per cent followed by DD 11 with 21 per cent and Gurjari with 15 per cent, the release states.
27/4/01
I just ordered a few items from Telsat, a crimping tool, an angle finder and a satfinder all usefull tools to have.
From the Dish
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V New Fec is 2/3
Thaicom 3 78.5E "Reminiscent TV Network" mux has started here as mentioned earlier this week
All Sr 13333, Fec 2/3 on Global Beam
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Gurjari Channel" Vpid 512 Apid 640
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Lashkara Channel" Vpid 513 Apid 641
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Anjuman TV" Vpid 514 Apid 642
NEWS
Keating criticises digital TV policy
From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1935080%5E442,00.html
FORMER prime minister Paul Keating has lambasted the Federal Government over its handling of digital television.
Mr Keating said the Government had botched the introduction of high definition and standard definition television by giving too much of the spectrum to the commercial free-to-air networks.
The Government's digital rules, announced in late 1999, protected the major networks by banning other media groups from broadcasting television style programs.
It also forced stations to transmit in both standard and high definition formats, leaving little room on the spectrum for datacasters.
Speaking at a consumer electronics convention in Sydney, Mr Keating said the rules restricted viewers' choice and offered little added benefits.
"In the information age decisions about spectrum are strategic decisions about the future of the economy," he said.
"But in this case a decision by the Government to buy off a couple of media friends has led to a terrible misallocation of spectrum.
"Seven megahertz has been given away at the expense of the Australian taxpayer.
"And for what? The capacity to watch the existing free-to-air dross more expensively in cinema style quality and perhaps order a take-away pizza at the push of a button."
Mr Keating said the market, not the Government, should have determined how the spectrum was divided.
Viewers were abandoning free-to-air television in droves and the Government was protecting a declining technology.
"The policy settings have got to be that these things can happen and that the market starts to sort out and choose the technology rather than the policy sorting out and choosing the technology," Mr Keating said.
"People are turning off free to air television in droves. They want something better."
Digital television began broadcasting in mainland state capitals on January 1, 2001. The existing analogue network will continue until 2008.
TV policy cops a lashing from Keating
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0104/27/bizcom/bizcom1.html
Former prime minister Mr Paul Keating yesterday opened the Consumer Electronics Show - the TV industry's best opportunity to demonstrate digital television to the masses since transmission began nearly four months ago - by slamming the Government's decision to protect "free-to-air dross".
"We've seen what happens when the Government doesn't know what it is doing in the fiasco of HDTV," he said.
"Decisions about spectrum are strategic decisions about the future of the economy. But in this case a decision by the Government to buy off a couple of media friends has led to a terrible misallocation of spectrum," he said, referring to the allocation of 7MHz channels to each of the free-to-air channels at no cost.
"And for what?" he said. "The capacity to watch the existing free-to-air dross more expensively in cinema-style quality and to order takeaway pizza at the push of a button. We could and should be using it for other purposes."
While he hesitated to offer advice on what a Labor government could do later this year to recover lost opportunities, Mr Keating did recommend an approach of "technology neutral" policy setting.
On the show floor at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, crystal-clear large-screen digital TVs dominate, but there is less competition in the digital decoder set-top boxes that allow consumers to benefit from the flashy new TVs.
Thomson, the manufacturer of the $699 set-top box that was underwritten by the three commercial channels, claims about 4,500 units have gone into retail stores.
Panasonic, one of the vendors expected to follow Thomson in delivering a basic set-top box, says it is now "not interested in participating at this stage". Instead it is showing a prototype that could also support interactive TV. The unit would make its debut about March 2002 and cost about $1,000.
A similar set-top box, from Philips, is being used by Network Ten to demonstrate prototype interactive TV programming. Both units are based on the multimedia home platform that looks likely to be agreed on as the industry standard for interactivity.
Network 10 is also demonstrating high-definition digital TV (HDTV), driven by a set-top box manufactured by DGTEC, due to go on sale in July for $700 to $770.
Mr Steve Rubie, technology development manager for Network Ten, said it was positive that "a few months after Thomson released its set-top box underwritten by the networks, another company is offering one at the same price, not underwritten, and with HDTV". Mr Rubie predicted Ten would be showing 20 hours of HDTV by late 2002.
Exhibitors push for digital TV
From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1935117%5E442,00.html
TELEVISION manufacturers and commercial networks are using Australia's first Consumer Electronics Show to spruik the wonders of digital television.
Companies such as Sony, Panasonic and Thomson Multi Media are among those demonstrating state-of-the-art digital television sets and set-top boxes at the inaugural show in Darling Harbour, Sydney.
On the content side, Network Ten and the Seven Network have both taken a display, while the Nine Network and the public broadcasters ABC and SBS are absent.
Ten's display dominates the centre aisle opposite the entrance and includes several curtained booths for private demonstrations of digital television's high reception quality and multi-viewing capacity.
Seven has even enlisted the help of the "colour bar people" - the rainbow-hued leotard-clad figures from its advertising campaign - for a public demonstration of the capabilities of digital television.
The Australian Communications Authority - the regulatory body behind the standards for most of the products at the show, including digital television - is also present.
Sony's product manager for television and home video, Alex Streeter, said it was hard to predict how consumers would react to the digital television products when the show opened to the public this weekend, but there had been a number of interested retailers.
Sony is using the show to publicise its high-definition and standard-definition widescreen televisions, which are slated for release later this year. Sony's HDTV set needs a set-top box to receive the digital signal, while the SDTV set is an integrated digital television.
Mr Streeter said there were no integrated digital television sets for sale in Australia at present. Viewers could receive the digital signal by using a set-top box from a manufacturer such as Thomson with any television set.
He recommended going for a set-top box rather than the integrated option because it allowed the set-top box to be upgraded for interactivity as the application programming interfaces (APIs) were determined.
Mr Streeter said specialised digital content was limited so far. The present benefits of digital television were improved reception, including the elimination of ghosting, and multi-viewing where available. Nine displayed an extra two channels for the cricket broadcast - one giving a bird's eye view of the pitch and one giving the view from the stump - while Seven did the same for the Melbourne Cup and the Bathurst car races.
Mr Streeter said the new television sets would let consumers who might be considering investing in a widescreen television to watch DVDs, to "future-proof" their purchase.
"This is the last television set you'll ever need," he said, pointing to the HDTV set.
But the high prices - $4999 for the Sony's SDTV integrated set, $7999 for Sony's HDTV set and an average $699 for the set-top box - coupled with the limited content, mean consumers would have to be very keen to adopt digital television now.
As one exhibitor said: "Everybody (at the show) is doing it, but I don't think they'll get very far - people can't afford it."
GSAT-1 satellite drifting 'out of sight'
From indiantelevision.com
India's dreams for its odyssey in space seem to be going askew somewhat after the GSAT-1 satellite, launched by the indigenous GSLV D-1 into orbit successfully, couldn't be placed in the correct geo-stationary orbit.
Scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have been watching helplessly as the GSAT-1 drifts at the rate of 13 degrees a day. It will probably go out of sight of ISRO's master control facility in Bangalore by the month-end, reports United News of India, quoting ISRO sources.
At the time of the last orbit raising event carried out on 23 April, the satellite was located at 53 degrees east.
Tests could be conducted only when the satellite became visible again, ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan had said on Tuesday.
At a press conference in Bangalore, capital of the southern state of Karnataka, Kasturirangam said a shortfall of 10 kg of propellant was the reason why orbital correction could not be made. It could only be placed in a 23 hour and two minute orbit instead of a 24 hour orbit.
He, however, added that the GSAT-1 was in excellent health. As the GSAT-1 was not meant to be an operational satellite, it would not affect any user, he claimed.
The next target would be to increase the GSAT payload to 1,750-1,800 kg. The target was to reach a two tonne payload by the third flight which will lead to changes in configuration.
The second GSLV launch will be held in the third or fourth quarter of 2002.
Meanwhile, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launch has been scheduled for August. It will carry a payload of two satellites - one from Poland (Probo) and another from Germany (Bird). ISRO has scheduled the launch of the Insat-3C satellite also in August.
The question remains how ISRO expects to get orders for its upcoming launches after this big setback to its space programme.
ZED TV screens Entrance Busters for students sitting for competitive exams
From indiantelevision.com
With the aim to spread knowledge and learning across the country, Zee Interactive Learning Systems has launched a comprehensive curriculum support programme for the benefit of students aspiring to compete for higher studies through competitive examinations like MH-CET, UPSC, MBA-CET, IIT- JEE. The programme is being delivered through ZED TV - a 24-hr learning channel, zeelearn.com - a learning portal and i-Cell an education broadband platform, all part of the Zee Group.
ZED TV's Entrance Busters was a preparatory programme for competitive examinations constructed around an innovative delivery method of integrating television, Internet & interactive platform.
From today, there will be programmes targeting MBA applicants. The programme, called MBA-CET, airs on Tuesday (today), Thursday and Saturday at 8 am to 10 am, 2 pm to 3 PM, 11 PM to 12 midnight. The MBA Entrance exam series has four segments of General Knowledge, English Comprehensive, and Word Power.
Entrance Busters began airing on ZED TV on 26 March and first covered MH-CET, aimed at preparing students for their medical entrance and covering Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, and Physics.
The UPSC series helped students revise General Studies papers and some optional papers. It had four segments comprising of General Studies, History, Economics, and General Knowledge.
The IIT-JEE series was meant for students seeking admission in the top engineering institutes of India and covered Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
All these competitive exams are complimented on zeelearn.com and to register for these courses log on to www.entrancebusters.com.
Zed TV is available via Asiasat 3
26/4/01
Sorry about the chatrooms flakey behaviour on Tuesday night, perhaps it was all those Australians logging onto the Big Brother site slowwing down the Aussie ISP's. Perhaps its Big Brother watching the chatroom :-( We have someone looking out for the chat software so we can install it on the hosts machine and solve a lot of problems.
Bill (Sydney) added to the userpages, the images on his page will be improved as soon as he supplies replacements. Anyone who wants one can have a userpage showwing off their system. It takes no more than an hour or so for me to create a users page. Just send me an email with as much info or as little info as you want me to put up. You can even use an alias if you wish. No Mosc or hacking stuff will be posted though.
The mystery signal Ku signal at 176E has been confirmed as internet data on 12691 H or 12689 H depending on your gear.If Interested in satellite internet streams have a look here at the current table.
Sat_isps
How about some sports via satellite Theres a table for that also underway, send additions to my email or via the mailing list. There is quite a few gaps in the list especially the Football one.
Sat_sports
From the Dish
Panamsat 8 166E 4130 V "Feeds" Sr 2650 Fec 3/4
Panamsat 8 166E 4148 V "Feeds" Sr 5875 Fec 3/4
Panamsat 8 166E 4156 V "Feeds" Sr 3075 Fec 3/4
Measat 2 148E 11164 H "Hallmark" FTA, Sr 30000 Fec 7/8 CONFIRMED
Measat 2 148E 11164 H "RPN" FTA, Sr 30000 Fec 7/8 CONFIRMED
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3700 V "Zee TV Asia" is now encrypted, in fact all channels in Zee's Mux are encrypted now.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 "Asianet Kaveri" ,Vpid 39 Apid 40, New FEC for this mux: 1/2.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H "TARBS mux" has encrypted again.(As expected)
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3424 V "PTV 2, Pakistan" is currently FTA, Asia beam
NEWS
Verestar's new antenna for Apstar 4
From [sat-nd] 26.04.2001
Verestar, Inc., a provider of integrated satellite and fibre
network access solutions world-wide, announced that it has
successfully installed a new 16.4 meter C-band antenna, Leuk-5,
at its satellite network access point (SNAP) in Leuk,
Switzerland. The antenna accesses the Apstar 4 spacecraft (also
known as Telstar 10 or Apstar IIR) at 76.5 degrees east.
The company said its Leuk-5 antenna offers U.S. and European
programmers a new vehicle to deliver programming to cable TV
markets in the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Rim. The
antenna also provides Apstar 4 customers with turnaround
facilities for European, North American and South American
distribution of their programming.
For Internet and data applications, the coverage provided by
Leuk-5 and Apstar 4 enhances Verestar's capacity between two
major traffic routes--Europe and Africa, as well as linking the
U.S. to the Indian Ocean countries.
Measat Global plans reverse takeover of MTC
From http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2001/4/25/business/25b01max&sec=business
MEASAT Global Network Systems Sdn Bhd has proposed to inject its satellite arm, Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, into Malaysian Tobacco Company Bhd (MTC) in a deal worth RM1.682bil.
The exercise will result in a reverse takeover of cash-rich shell company MTC by Measat Global. Binariang Satellite is the owner and operator of Measat-1 and Measat-2 satellites, which provide the transponders for Astro's services.
Measat Global Network and Measat Broadcast (which operates Astro) are companies linked to tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan.
In a two-pronged deal, MTC said Measat Global will buy British American Tobacco plc (BAT) unit Chelwood Trading & Investment Company's entire 54.7% stake in MTC for RM434.6mil cash or RM3.92 per share.
The price is based on MTC's net tangible assets as at June 30, 2002, after adding an agreed premium of RM20mil for the listing status of MTC.
At the same time, MTC will acquire the entire equity interest of Binariang Satellite from Measat Global for RM1.248bil which will be satisfied by RM574mil cash and 179.9 milion new MTC shares of RM1 each at an issue price of RM3.745 per share.
The two proposals are inter-conditional.
Pursuant to the proposed disposal, Measat Global will extend an unconditional mandatory general offer (GO) to acquire all the remaining shares of MTC at RM3.92 per share.
Subject to the outcome of the GO, Measat Global may offer for sale/placement of shares to the public and approved bumiputra investors at a price to be decided later. After the exercise, Measat Global will hold 76.02% stake in MTC, which will then have 100% of Binariang Satellite.
MTC said the deal, based on a willing-buyer willing-seller basis, is subject to approval from the relevant authorities. It will make a submission to the authorities and the Securities Commission within a 3-month period from the date of execution of the S&P agreement.
MTC has been cash rich since selling its tobacco business to BAT. It has been seeking a new business to be injected into it to retain its listing status. As at end Dec 31, 2000, it had a cash balance of RM758.31mil. Of this balance, RM574mil will be used to finance the purchase of Binariang Satellite, and the balance RM184.3mil as working capital for the new MTC group and estimated expenses for the exercise.
Last year, Tan Sri Hamid Pawanteh and his friend Datuk Lim Ah Bak proposed a reverse takeover of MTC via the injection of infrastructure and utilities assets. However, the deal fell through.
The MTC listing status expires on May 2. It has applied to the KLSE for a six-month extension to November to conclude this deal.
Binariang Satellite, a wholly owned subsidiary of Measat Global, has been in operation the last four years.
25/4/01
Sorry no update for today, back Thursday
24/4/01
Very little to report today, Live chat in the chatroom tonight from 8.30 pm Sydney time onwards. The Australian version of the Big Brother tv show starts tonight does anyone know if it will be live via satellite? In the U.K there version had its own channel on satellite! TVNZ is takeing the show and screening it the next day it could be off a satellite feed?
From my Emails & ICQ
Hi Craig.
A very strong KU signal at 176E 12691 H Sr 27694 3/4 it locks on my Dbox but will not load channels...
im in the lower south west of WA and signal is a boomer...
please check and report...
regards jeff bannister
Craigs reply, I couldn't find it at my location on my 60cm, but its very likely to be internet data. So run DVBIP2000 over it and see what it finds.
From the Dish
Nothing to report, Look for Anzac services / Dawn parade on B1 or B3 tommorow morning
NEWS
NHK HDTV on Intelsat
From [sat-nd] 24.04.2001
Intelsat, in co-operation with BT and Japan Telecom, announced
that Japanese broadcaster NHK has chosen Intelsat for
transmitting the first full-time satellite HDTV contribution
link from Europe to Japan.
The service, scheduled to start in October on the Intelsat 902
satellite at 62 degrees East, will initially include European
uplink sites in London and Paris, transmitting to Tokyo.
Intelsat 902 is scheduled for launch in August.
Nothing decided on DTH plans, says Star's Altaf Ali Mohammed
From indiantelevision.com
Altaf Ali Mohammed, in charge of Star's DTH and broadband operations in India, today rubbished reports in the press that Star had put together a $ 350 million war chest to vigorously pursue its DTH plans in India this year.
No decisions have been made regarding Star's DTH venture as there were still a number of issues to be clarified, Mohammed pointed out, while stating that he he had yet to get the full gist of the statement that information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj is reported to have made in parliament on Friday regarding uplinking from India.
Swaraj, in a written statement in Parliament, has been quoted as saying that since the convergence bill was still at the drafting stage, it was not possible to say whether it would have any provision for compulsory uplinking of foreign channels.
As per the DTH notification issued in March on the ground rules for companies wanting to enter DTH in India, any licensee will have to establish an uplink earth station in India within 12 months from the date of issue of license. All content provided by the DTH platform to the subscribers, irrespective of its source, will have to pass through the common encryption and conditional access system, located within the earth station, situated on Indian soil.
Asked for his reaction to strong rumours in the market that Star was the most likely partner in the DTH platform that government internet gateway provider Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) was planning to launch before the end of the year, Mohammed said he was in charge of the project and he was putting on record that nothing had been decided yet on the matter. "The fact that no one has applied for a DTH licence till now (the government notification was out in March) should indicate something," Mohammed stated.
There were still a number of issues which needed clarification before there could be any go-ahead on DTH, Mohammed said. An issue which needed further elaboration from the government was the one requiring a record of all that was aired for a period of 90 days after telecast, he said.
One of the clauses in the guidelines state: "The DTH operator will follow the advertising and programming code drawn up by the information and broadcasting ministry. And it should maintain a record of the advertising and programming for 90 days."
Mohammed also drew issue over the fixing of responsibility for the content of third party channels with the platform provider. He said that the same rules that applied to cable operators should apply here too because it was only the distribution methodology that was different in the two cases.
23/4/01
There are some Ku tests happening on Asiasat 3, Keep checking there maybe something will show up on the beams that cover Australia.
Some shots of yesterdays big upset in the Boxing, David Tua is next in line to fight Rahman, A guy he has demolished before, This could set up a Tyson vs Tua fight in December.
From my Emails & ICQ
Dear Mr Sutton,
I note you sometimes allow sat related questions to be posted on your site and ask to be allowed to post one myself.
I have a California Amplifier flat antenna which I use for MMDS reception beween 1450 and 1490 Mhz. It comes with a downconverter allowing UHF tv reception. I was recently in Singapore and saw and listened to the Worldspace radio service on Asiastar at 105 degrees East. I noticed this operates at an identical L band frequency . My question is : can I use my MMDS antenna and downconverter for Worldspace reception ? If so , how ? Do I just point my MMDS antenna upwards at Asiasat 3 on 105.5 degrees East ? I would appreciate some advice in this matter.
Sincerely Siamglobal , Bangkok
Craigs reply, good question I don't know much about the Digital radio service, but the antenna you have could be suitable for it. I am not sure though about the downconverter to your tv set, I think it will require a seperate Worldspace receiver the downconverter to uhf tv isn't likely to be compatible with the digital radio data format.
Here is a link for you to checkout
http://www.worldspace.com/
Optus B1 0215 UTC 22/04/01 12367 V Sr 5632, Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Boxing Feed"
Regards
Bill
From Me
Feeds logged on the weekend
22/4/01 B1, 1pm Syd 12367 V Sr 5630 fec 3/4 "Rahman vs Lewis" title fight
22/4/01 B3, 2pm Syd 12336 V "Geelong vs Kangaroos" Afl, a wet weather special :-)
23/4/01 B3, 2.30 Syd 12363 V "Horse raceing"
From Andrew Harrison
Saturday morning 8 a.m Sydney time, 2 feeds via I701, 3769 RHC
Also Sunday afternoon, SBK Race from Philips Island in same MUX
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 3767 H "MBC (South Korea)" started Vpid 3601 Apid 3605.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3700 V "Zee TV Asia" has replaced Asianet Kaveri, Vpid 167 Apid 108
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "Asianet Kaveri" has moved here
Asiasat 3 105.5E 12641 H "Test? MCPC" Sr 19540, Fec 3/4
Asiasat 3 105.5E 12446 H "Tests" Sr 19535, Fec 3/4, Vpid 1117 Apid 1118
ST 1 88E 3632 V "MusicCountry has replaced Bloomberg TV Asia"
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "New Mux Here" FTA, Sr 13333, Fec 2/3
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Gurjari" Vpid 512 Apid 640
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Lashkara" Vpid 513 Apid 641
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3472 H "Anjuman" vpid 514 Apid 642
NEWS
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 16/2001 - April 22 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com version
AUSTRALIA
BROADCASTERS SET UP DIGITAL TV STRATEGY GROUP
Australia’s public and commercial TV broadcasters are to team up and form a
Digital TV Strategy Group, to co-operate in developing a common strategy for
digital TV. The Strategy Group is made up of public broadcaster ABC, special
interest network SBS and members of the Federation of Australian Commercial
Television Stations. Its objectives include creating a standard operating
system, setting compliance rules for digital set-top boxes, and devising
protocols for the management of electronic programme guides.
CHINA - HONG KONG
TVB AND PCCW CONSIDER MERGER
Hong Kong’s new media sector looks set for a period of consolidation with two
of the biggest names in the territory, TVB and PCCW, rumoured to be in
partnership discussions. While TVB’s terrestrial stations dominant the Chinese
SAR, its Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting division is in trouble after failing to
agree carriage terms with Malaysian satellite operator, Measat. Richard Li’s
PCCW is equally up against the financial cosh having recently posted losses of
$886 million last year despite sharply higher revenues resulting from its
take-over of Cable & Wireless HKT. PCCW runs an iTV service in Hong Kong but
has so far signed up less than 100,000 subscribers and has scaled back plans
for its Network of the World (NOW) channel.
INDIA
VSNL TO LAUNCH DTH SATELLITE PLATFORM
The government-owned telecommunications firm Videsh Samchar Migam Ltd. (VSNL)
plans to launch a direct-to-home satellite-TV platform by December. “Our aim
will be to provide a platform on which any bouquet of channels can hop aboard.
It will not be specific to any broadcaster,” VSNL director of operations
Amitabh Kumar said. VSNL is optimistic about its chances in the DTH platform
arena, because it has most of the infrastructure in place already. “We
providing uplinking for 14 Indian channels. We also have an earth station and
video-uplinking facilities,” Kumar said. “These are a prerequisite, according
to government regulations, to set up a DTH service. Along with DTH, we will be
providing Internet broadband and expect to invest [$21.7 million] in setting up
this platform.” VSNL, Kumar said, isn’t worried about competition on the DTH
front from News Corp.’s Star TV, which is girding to launch its own service.
That’s primarily because, like other foreign-owned firms, Star TV must partner
with an Indian company that will front 70 per cent of the required investment.
Kumar added that he is confident VSNL will be able to meet any foreign
challenge.
SINGAPORE
SPH PLANS TO LAUNCH TWO CHANNELS
Publishing group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has confirmed reports that it
is working with the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) on a licence for its
broadcasting unit SPH Media Works. SPH applied for a licence after the
government decided to deregulate the domestic media industry last year. In the
meantime it will continue to ready for the launch of two channels once Media
Works gets the licence.
SOUTH KOREA
SONY PLANS CABLE TV SERVICE
Sony Pictures Television Japan (SPTJ), a unit of digital appliance giant Sony
Corp, said on April 16 it is in talks with a South Korean firm to start cable
television services there. A spokeswoman for the Sony unit said it aims to
start the service, which will distribute Japanese-made animation movies, in
early 2002 in response the popularity of Japanese animation in South Korea. The
Sony unit and the local South Korea broadcasting firm may form a joint venture
in South Korea to start cable television and satellite broadcasting services,
she said without other details.
Uplinking from India may not be made mandatory
From Indiantelevision.com
In a move that should provide a boost for serious players in the direct-to-home (DTH) telecast arena like Star, the government yesterday indicated that it might not press for making it mandatory for foreign television channels to uplink from India.
Information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj, in a written statement in Parliament on Friday, said since the convergence bill was still at the drafting stage, it was not possible to say whether it would have any provision for compulsory uplinking of foreign channels.
As per the DTH notification issued in March on the ground rules for companies wanting to enter DTH in India, any licensee will have to establish an uplink earth station in India within 12 months from the date of issue of license. All content provided by the DTH platform to the subscribers, irrespective of its source, will have to pass through the common encryption and conditional access system, located within the Earth Station, situated on Indian soil, the notification states.
PAS-10 Prepares For Launch From Baikonur Cosmodrome
From www.satnewsasia.com
PanAmSat Corporation’s new PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellite is now being prepped for a late April launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The satellite, built by Boeing Satellite Systems, will be launched into geosynchronous orbit by a Proton launch vehicle. PAS-10 will provide digital video, data and Internet services throughout a 30-million square mile footprint.
It will deliver broadcast, high-speed data and Internet services across Europe, Africa and Asia for PanAmSat, which has 20 in orbit geosynchronous satellites, the world’s largest number. It will succeed the PAS-4 Indian Ocean Region satellite at 68.5 degrees east longitude.
PAS-10 will carry 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. Its Ku-band payload, which offers 60 percent more Ku-band transmission power than that of the PAS-4 satellite, contains multiple high- powered beams focused on Africa, Europe, India, the Middle East, Central and Western Asia as well as Northeast Asia and Australia. It has a useful life of 15 years.
Many of these beams can be switched between the various regions, offering greater versatility and flexible service options for the creation of new platforms for the delivery of data and IP-based services.
It will broadcast some of the world's top international programming to audiences throughout its footprint, including the BBC, CNN, CCTV, Discovery, Doordarshan, ESPN, MTV, NHK, Nickelodeon, Sony and TNT.
PanAmSat will expand its global fleet to 24 spacecraft by the end of this year. The company is 81 percent owned by Hughes Electronics Corporation, a provider of digital TV entertainment, broadband services, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data broadcasting. It is a unit of General Motors Corporation.
Additional information on PanAmSat is available at www.panamsat.com
PT Telkom to launch Telkom 2
From [sat-nd] 23.04.2000
Indonesian state telecom operator PT Telkom plans to launch
its Telkom 2 satellite at the end of 2003 to accompany Telkom 1,
which is co-positioned with Palapa B4. Telkom2 is to be launched
in anticipation of Palapa B4's end of design life in 2004.
Telkom recently signed a contract for the leasing of Telkom 1
and Palapa B4 transponders with VSAT operators Radio Republic of
Indonesia, PT Indonusa Telemedia, PT Pratakom, PT Telesindo
Mulia, PT Infokom Elektrindo and PT Rintis Sejahtera. The
companies will rent a total of 6.6 transponders (3.6 C-band
standard transponders and 3 C-band extended transponders.)
Telkom plans to continue developing its satellite services
business after it was taken over by PT Satelindo some time ago.
PT. Telekomunikasi Selular rents 1.25 PSN transponders
From [sat-nd] 23.04.2000
PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and PT. Telekomunikasi Selular,
one of Indonesian wireless operators, announced the signing of a
Link Transmission Lease Agreement. The aggregate value of the
contract is approximately US$4.9 million.
The total link transmission usage of PSN transponder capacity
will be equal to 1.25 transponders with leased capacity being
used from the Palapa C1 and Agila II satellites. PSN controls 6
extended C-band transponders on the Palapa C1 satellite and 2
standard C-band transponders on the Agila II satellite. With the
deal, PSN will be utilising five of its eight transponders.
22/4/01
Back Tommorow
21/4/01
The big Boxxing match, I think will be on MBC Korea as well as SCTV. I think they also have the GP on as well.
Pas 2 Koreans added to Pas 2 page.
Try useing http://world.altavista.com/tr to convert the Korean Program guide into English
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
Pas 2 3769 H "MBC Korea", FTA Full time service, Sr 8320, Fec 3/4, Vpid 3601 Apid 3605 SID 1
Pas 2 3769 H "KBS Korea", FTA Full time service, Vpid 33 Apid 36 SID 2
Pas 2 3769 H "YTN Korea", FTA Full time service, Vpid 49 Apid 52 SID 3
Regards
Bill
From me
8.30 pm 20/4/01 Syd B3, 12363v "Netball Sand vs Kest" I saw this game again on ABC Saturday afternoon!
From [email protected]
Feeds
Can anyone confirm which satellite used to beam the soccer league?
Don't care either English League, Spain League or Italian League.
I don't want to depend on Indonesian, Guangdong and Thailand Tv to watch it.
Soccer Fever
Watch on Thai Tv 7 , SCTV and RCTI for fabulous football game
Monday, 22 April 2001, 10.00 Indo time SCTV,Palapa C2
NEWS
Networks join forces on digital TV
From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1912393%5E442,00.html
THE free-to-air TV stations have put aside individual differences to form a joint digital TV strategy group to drive the introduction of interactive TV.
National broadcasters ABC and SBS have joined members of the Federation of Australian Commercial TV Stations to jointly overcome the hurdles facing the new media.
They include development of a common operating system for the set-top boxes initially needed to receive digital signals, management of the channel sending requested information back to viewers, set-top box compliance and management of the electronic program guides.
FACTS will employ a project manager to oversee the progress of the Digital TV Strategy Group. FACTS chairman Judi Stack said the group's members had agreed they should work towards the adoption of Multimedia Home Platform as the common operating system for the boxes.
"While all of the commercial stations and the national broadcasters have separate strategies for digital TV, there is strong support across the industry for progressing management issues," she said. "That includes developing a common platform that will allow viewers to access different services regardless of which set-top box or integrated TV receiver they have purchased."
She said the group would work closely with manufacturers and retailers to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the rollout of next-generation TVs and set-top boxes.
Pay-TV plea: we want more sport
From http://australianit.news.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1912393%5E442,00.html
ALMOST all overseas cricket tours and up to five AFL matches a week could be shown on pay-TV under a proposal tabled yesterday.
Pay-TV network Fox Sports wants access to a range of sporting events currently offered to free-to-air stations first. It has called for many of these events to lose their protected status in a submission to a Federal Government review of the anti-siphoning list.
Along with football and cricket, Fox Sports wants access to:
ALL soccer matches except the World Cup final.
THE first three rounds of the golf majors, as well as the Australian Open and Masters.
ALL grand slam tennis matches bar the finals and semi-finals.
ALL Formula One grand prix, bar the Australian race.
Cable stations believe many of the sports on the protected list are not being shown by conventional broadcasters and should be available to them.
They also want both pay-TV and free-to-air TV to have the chance to simulcast events shown on each other's networks.
But free-to-air stations say the list ensures adequate sporting coverage for the 80 per cent of viewers without pay-TV. They want the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the National Swimming Championships added to the list.
The current list, which expires in 2004, is being reviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Authority on behalf of Communications Minister Richard Alston.
Lack of interest from conventional broadcasters has seen several cricket fixtures temporarily deleted from the list.
Free-to-air broadcasters have sometimes been reluctant to disrupt programming schedules for sporting events resulting in many "protected" events ending up on pay-TV. But the list has stopped Australia emulating Britain or New Zealand, where most major fixtures appear exclusively on pay-TV.
In its call for change, Fox Sports said the list should be scrapped if "sensible" reforms cannot be achieved.
"It is clearly exploited by the free-to-air networks as a protective measure against fair competition rather than a mechanism to ensure listed events are broadcast live and in full," its submission says.
But the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations warned of rising costs for sports fans if the list is altered.
"Reduction of the list would result in Australians being forced to pay significant amounts to watch events which they have been previously allowed to see free," its submission says.
Although sporting rights are often offered exclusively to either pay-TV or free-to-air TV, there have been joint broadcasts.
Under next season's AFL rights package, fans will see five games on free-to-air TV with the remainder shown on cable.
Both the government and the Opposition have said they do not want to see any reduction in the amount of AFL shown on free-to-air TV.
20/4/01
As well as the usual feeds of various sporting events this weekend be on the lookout for Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman this fight is being fought in South Africa and heres the strange part its at 5 a.m there time! not sure which satellite it will go via. Possibly via Pas 4 one of the Indo channels on Pal C2 might show it.
Page has been trimmed
Some shots of my 60cm dish. Looking at B3
Sophisticated Positioning device
A few Photos, (note the bad image is from the TV being stuffed, and digital cameras don't take good photos of tv's due to the scanrate) Channels are ABC Northern (B1), and Mediasat (B3) and Mediasat Feed (B3)
Few Shots from in the lounge image on screen is B3 Feed, horse raceing seen Thrusday
From my Emails & ICQ
Hi Craig,
TARBS have updated their channels and they have added a wide vareity of channels starting from today. These channels are
1- Sky Racing/nightmoves
2- ESPN
3- CNN
4- MCM Asia (heard is not free to air anymore???)
5- Cartoon Network/TMC
7- ESC 1 - Arabic
8- Nile Drama - Arabic
9- Future TV - Arabic
10- NTV - Russia
11- NTV PLUS - Russia
12- KDTV - Turkish
13- ATV - Turkish
14- TGRT - Turkish
15- TRT Int - Turkish
16- MKTV - Macedonian
18- TV Poland - Polish
19- ESC 2 (On may 1st it will be Tele liban) - Arabic
20- TV Chile - Spanish
21- TV Espania - Spanish
22- TI - Italian
24- TV Globo - Portugese
29- KOTV - Korean
31- Phoenix - Chinese
32- BTV - Chinese
33- The Filipino Channel - Filipino
34- Pinoy Blockbuster Channel - Filipino
35- Syrian Satellite Channel - Arabic
36- Pink Plus - Greek
37- Mega Cosmos - Greek
38- ERT - Greek
39- ALPHA - Greek
They are all the TV channels, However Channel 6,17,23,25,26,27,28 and 30 are going to broadcasted in the coming days. I will inform you of these channels when they arrive. They are also introducing an ample amount of Radio Channels as well.
Regards
Mike
Craigs reply, hmm I wonder just where they get the feeds for some of those channels. Perhaps some are off tape or via fibre.
From Tarek via the mailing list
Asiasat 2 3640H channels are free to air since this afternoon and Syria tv has been added
regard tarek
Craigs reply, Don't expect it to last long.
From the Dish
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H "reported FTA, new channel added Syria TV" Sr 27850 Fec 3/4
NEWS
Nothing to report
19/4/01
There is an interesting item in the new section about Tarbs, They are a big threat to home FTA satellite tv if you ask me. because as they grab each ethnic channel they will arrange for the current FTA satellite signal from each service to be switched off or encrypted. Just look at what happend with the Russian channels. I have borrowed a fairly useless digital camera and have taken some new pics of my setup. As usual to prevent the page taking a week to load just the thumbnails are on the mail page click on them for the fullsize images, they will take a while to load as I don't like to compress them furthur as they are already rather poor as the camera is a low quality one. Some pictures of the 60cm tommorow
From my Emails & ICQ
From A reader
the lyngmark link from your insat2b page is wrong - it takes you to optusb?
Craigs reply oops fixxed now. Anyone else finds some glitches let me know.
From Robert Anthony
Noticed that Panamsat has newer C and Ku coverage maps with detailed EIRP data. Take a look at:
http://www.panamsat.com/sat/beam/p2kuband.pdf
http://www.panamsat.com/sat/beam/p2cband.pdf
http://www.panamsat.com/sat/beam/p8kuband.pdf
http://www.panamsat.com/sat/beam/p8cband.pdf
I also note that there are four Ku transponders dedicated to Australia/New Zealand on PAS-2 which can not be switched to other regions (lack of flexibility there) so there could be some additional transponders here that are not identified by Lyngsat. Anyone with a Nokia up to the challenge?
From Thomas 'bacco007' Baxter
Australian Pay Television has a new address and a new look!
Currently there are some pages missing, but they will be added ASAP.
Please update bookmarks and links on your respective webpages with
Australian Pay Television
http://hosted.barrysworld.net/australianpaytv
Please note that the new address is -
http://hosted.barrysworld.net/australianpaytv
Thanks
Thomas 'bacco007' Baxter
[email protected]
ICQ: 33807875
From the Dish
Nothing to report
NEWS
Bold place to initiate ethnic pay TV
From http://www.theaustralian.com.au/extras/media/columns/day1904.html
THERE'S an old yarn about a lost tourist in Ireland asking how to get to Dublin, and the farmer scratching his head and saying: "Ooh, if you'd be wantin' to get to Dublin, you wouldn't want to be startin' from here."
I feel a bit that way about Mike Boulos's plans to take on the world as the ultimate niche-meister of subscription television and radio services. Australia is an odd place to start. So far, he says, he's sunk $250 million into his grand plan, but for most of us, and the rest of the world, it is a well-kept secret.
That should change locally in a couple of months when Boulos hits the marketing button for what he calls his "emotional TV" services. "We are offering migrants a way to keep in touch with the countries of their birth," he told me. "It's not just a foreign language service – it is an emotional attachment, for just $60 a month."
Boulos's company, Television and Radio Broadcasting Services Australia Pty Ltd (TARBS), has been a peripheral player in the pay TV business in Australia since the saga began amid political and regulatory turmoil in the early 1990s.
He made his first pile of money from the Computerland chain of stores, which he developed in Australia in the early 80s. He sold out within the decade, but became diverted from his road to retirement by helping build the studios and operational platforms of pay TV's first player, Australis Media.
When Australis went to the wall Boulos picked up the hardware for a song, and paid $60 million for Australis's suite of multi-point distribution system (MDS) microwave licences in Australia's capital cities. Last year, regional pay TV operator Austar paid $140 million for the licences to be used for its now-stalled broadband wireless internet service. For Boulos, it was a nice little earn, as they say.
While the pay TV participants have been slugging it out trying to build a viable mainstream business, Boulos has played the niche game. He reasons that there are 1.5 million homes in Australia where the occupants come from a non-English-speaking background, and he is confident he can attract 350,000 subscribers from this market in the next three years.
That sounds very optimistic, given that the three Pay TV operators, Foxtel (750,000) Optus (200,000) and Austar (400,000) have managed to capture just 1.3 million of Australia's 6.5 million homes in four years.
And it may be doubly difficult because most of Boulos's services require a separate, dedicated direct-to-home satellite dish, rather than being offered as an add-on to existing services, such as Foxtel. This means he needs his own subscriber call centre and subscriber management systems, two of the most expensive elements of any pay TV service.
But Boulos is confident. He already has 26 ethnic and English language video channels and 60 radio services in 14 languages broadcasting across Australia. That number of video channels will rise to 39 shortly, on its way to Boulos's target of 52 channels in 20 languages.
TARBS's initial services, which began in 1999, covered Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, Filipino, Arabic and Spanish languages. Since then Korean, German, Turkish, Russian and Macedonian have been added, and a new satellite deal recently completed will give capacity for three new channels from the Balkans, two Greek, a new Russian and Portuguese, and South Asian channels.
Boulos says he has 25,000 subscribers, paying $60 a month, and needs 70,000 to break even. That implies current revenues of $18 million a year and costs of $50 million a year.
It also implies super profits if he can reach his goal of 350,000 subscribers, which would yield subscription incomes of $250 million per annum.
And then there is the rest of the world. Boulos says he has agreements with program suppliers in all major languages, and accesses three satellites – PanAmSat, Thaicom 3 and AsiaSat 2 – via uplink and downlink portals in Greece and Egypt. This gives him the potential to deliver his pro gramming to all of Asia, Africa and the US west coast.
Which brings us back to the question: Why start here? The Australian market is tiny by comparison with Asia, or the US. The mainstream pay TV operators are still under water by billions of dollars, and if they can't make it work with all their marketing muscle, how can a niche operator expect to hit paydirt? Especially when every new subscriber costs TARBS $1200 to connect.
Boulos admits there's a time lag before he gets a return from each subscriber. The 60cm dish and set-top box required to access his services costs an average $1200 to supply and install, which means returns are in the red until the third year of connection.
The "churn" factor – people subscribing, then cancelling or changing supplier – has cost the mainstream pay TV players dearly but Boulos says his churn is a mere 1 per cent because of the emotional attachment people have to his services.
"They can have the radio on, listening live to the news, weather and traffic in their home towns," he says. "I know of some who have even taken part in radio talkback on the other side of the world."
Boulos believes his services will do a job in multicultural Australia that SBS was set up to do, but can't. He says SBS, being free-to-air, must try to be all things to all its ethnic groups, while his channels can specifically target large numbers of small groups.
If he is right, and he manages to sign up a fair proportion of non-English speaking homes, Boulos believes SBS will become more like Britain's Channel 4, a specialty broadcaster with a strong leaning towards educational services.
But he won't have the ethnic field to himself. Greek and Italian services are already provided as an add-on to Foxtel's services, and Boulos will soon be joining them with, he hopes, four "superstation" ethnic channels.
Boulos joined with the Seven network in a Federal Court challenge to Foxtel's refusal to allow access to the Telstra cable. They won, and in a Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruling last week, a fee of $2.3 million per annum per channel has been set for access to the cable and Foxtel set-top boxes.
This means Boulos will now be able to distribute his programming via a variety of platforms. It is a bold strategy which will work only if you believe the ethnic niche audiences will behave differently to those in the mainstream. If not, it will be a very costly experiment.
GSLV relaunch successful
From indiantelevision.com
The relaunch of the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle D1(GSLVD1) went off successfully today from the SHAR Centre, Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The GSLV was carried the G-Sat 1 communications satellite into orbit.
The countdown began at Sriharikota yesterday. The GSLV, using a cryogenic engine, blasted off at 3:43 pm with all systems go.
As the rocket lifted majestically into the clear blue skies, the scientists, engineers and technicians, led by Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Kasturirangan, who had been working on the project for several months, clapped for joy and shook hands with one another.
Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, in a televised address to the nation on national broadcaster Doordarshan, congratulated the team behind the effort and said it was an endorsement of India's efforts at self reliance in its space programme.
The first GSLV launch attempt was aborted one second before the lift-off on March 28 by the Automatic Launch Processing System (ALS) after it detected that one of the strap-on boosters did not develop the required thrust.
ISRO scientists say the reason for the strap-on booster not developing the required thrust was due to a defective plumbing in the oxidiser flow line of the engine, which had escaped detection during testing.
As a precautionary measure this time round additional flame protection for the insulation pads was provided.
Isro has been developing the GSLV for the past 10 years and has poured in some Rs 14 billion as investment.
The heaviest-ever spacecraft developed indigenously is powered by a Russian cryogenic engine in the third and final stage. The GSLV will be inducted into the country's regular satellite launch system after two more developmental flights.
The ambitious project launches India into the elite club of five space-faring nations - US, Russia, Japan, China and the European Union - that have already crossed the geostationary milestone.
The GSLV series are meant to carry payloads of 2000 kg and above into geosynchronous orbits. The success of the GSLV mission opens up immense commercial possibilities for the country in the lucrative multi-billion global satellite launch business.
18/4/01
Its good to see the good turnouts in the chatroom lately. I have added a lot more Avaters (picture images) you can use on your message forum posts. If you want to use an image of your own, email it to me and I will resize it etc and put it in the Avaters folder.
User "Bassett" added to the userpages
Feeds added to feed pages
From my Emails & ICQ
These Feeds details passed on to me by "DVB" in the chatroom last night
Some feeds logged by "Dvb"
Pas 8 166E 4171 H "Napa 3" Golf, Abc Sports seen here 11 a.m Syd 16/04/01
Pas 8 166E 4194 H "Napa 2" NHL, ESPN's NHL playoff coverage, 14/04/01
Optus B1 160E 12665 H "NRL" 15/04/01
From the Dish
Nothing to report, someone please check Measat 2 KU, the Astro service may be back there.
NEWS
Foreign language channels win access to pay cables
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0104/18/business/business4.html
Foxtel viewers may have a wider choice of ethnic programs later this year with emerging media player Mr Mike Boulos expected to gain access to four channels on the Telstra cable network, which carries the Foxtel pay TV service.
Mr Boulos's media group Television & Radio Broadcasting Services (TARBS) has 150,000 satellite TV customers for which it provides 39 channels in 20 languages and the adult channel, Nightmoves.
TARBS won conditional access to the four channels via an interim ruling by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which opened the Telstra cable to other pay TV content providers.
This is in addition to the two channels awarded to Seven Network's C7 service.
Seven has accepted the terms and conditions set out by the ACCC, and is looking to launch its service next month. Mr Boulos has until Monday to accept the ACCC's terms.
Mr Boulos said no decision had been made yet, but TARBS was discussing the details of a programming arrangement with Foxtel and Telstra lawyers.
"We did not spend the last three years fighting to then turn it down," he said.
Under the interim ruling, TARBS has access to the Telstra cable as well as the Foxtel set-top box - the device that sends the pay TV signal to the TV set. But TARBS will have to market its service separately because Foxtel has no obligation to market the TV services of TARBS or C7.
If no satisfactory agreement can be reached, Mr Boulos said he would consider legal action against Telstra and Foxtel for the cost of lost business.
But Mr Boulos said he had a good relationship with Foxtel chief executive Mr Jim Blomfield, and was keen for TARBS and Foxtel to work together.
TARBS has made no decision on the content for the channels.
Foxtel already provides the foreign language movie channel through the World Movies service together with 24-hour Greek and Italian language programming. Mr Boulos said TARBS and Seven could work together on marketing their new channels to Foxtel's 460,000 cable TV customers. Neither will have access to Foxtel's 260,000 satellite TV customers.
"We will look to work closely with Seven, as we have our own established network and customer service centre. So they could flick a switch tomorrow and we would be able to market and support our service on Foxtel," Mr Boulos said.
However, it is understood Seven will use the call centres of its B Digital mobile phone subsidiary to provide marketing and customer support for its pay TV service.
Tarbs on Foxtel too
From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1905385%255E462,00.html
MIKE Boulos's Television & Radio Broadcasting Services has become the second company to gain access to Foxtel's cable network, following on the heels of Channel Seven.
Mr Boulos received an interim determination on access charges for the cable from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last Wednesday.
The ACCC gave Tarbs access to four channels after providing Seven access to an initial two channels the previous week. But while Tarbs' main satellite business is focused on ethnic broadcasting, Mr Boulos said his cable-specific services might be styled as more general entertainment services.
That was because the determination, like Seven's, set a flat access fee per channel rather than per subscriber.
"I can't be definite (on the programming) given what the determination has been. It (ethnic programs) might make it financially suicidal," he said.
"Given the sort of dollars to be paid for access, it requires us to look closely at how we can most penetrate the existing subscribers on that network, so we are looking closely at all options."
They include a strong multicultural channel based on Tarbs' existing services and other English-based channels, such as ESPN.
But Mr Boulos maintained the channels would not be similar to Foxtel's, but would instead "enhance the existing Foxtel line-up".
He hoped the channels would be available through the Telstra cable in two to three months.
TSI CHANNEL NEWS - Number 15/2001 (15.04.2001)
Edited Apsattv edition
A S I A
CHINA - HONG KONG
BROADCASTERS ASK FOR DIGITAL TV POSTPONEMENT
Hong Kong’s free television operators - Television Broadcasts and Asia Television - have linked to ask the Government to hold back on a plan to develop Digital Terrestrial Television until the mainland decides on a system for its digital TV. In a 17-page supplementary response filed to the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau on the consultation of digital TV, the SAR’s two free TV operators said both Hong Kong’s audience and its economy would benefit if the Government waited ‘for a few months to see what the improved system being developed by the mainland has to offer.’ If Hong Kong operators adopted the same standard, it would make cross border frequency interference more manageable and enable a smoother transition to digital TV in Hong Kong. The mainland has set the end of the month as the deadline for digital TV systems proposals, and is expected to decide on national standards by the end of this year - meaning the SAR would postpone its digital TV plans till then. Consumers would also be able to enjoy a more cost-efficient and better variety of services, the two operators claimed. The local IT industry would also benefit as the China market would provide an incentive for development of multimedia services and software applications, the operators said. The operators warned that if Hong Kong went ahead and used a different standard it would make co-ordination with mainland authorities difficult and create problems in managing cross-border interference.
JAPAN
FOUR COMPANIES IN DIGITAL SATELLITE JOINT VENTURE
Four Japanese companies, including Asahi National Broadcasting Co Ltd, said on April 10 they had formed a joint venture to start providing satellite-based digital broadcasting services. The joint venture, tentatively named CS110 Co is owned 28 per cent by Hitachi Ltd, 18 per cent by TV Asahi, 14 per cent by Toppan Printing Co Ltd and 10 per cent by Asahi Shimbun. Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s top carmaker, is expected to take a 10 per cent stake in the new company by the end of April, a spokesman for TV Asahi said. The company, capitalised at Y2 billion, will provide various television programmes, including news from TV Asahi, Cable News Network (CNN) and the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC) from the spring of 2002. The company also plans to provide interactive and on-demand services.
17/4/01
Livechat tonight in the chatroom at least I have some stuff to post today not like the last few days. There is a firm advertising "Ethnic Pay TV (Australia and New Zealand) multiple Top Rung Opportunities" in the NZ Herald they are looking for a CRO, Broadcast and programming Controller and Finance Manager, with Fluency in Hindi.
A piece of the advert
"Our clients are a start-up company, shortly launching Indian language pay tv channels over DTH service. They intend setting up a highly professional technically competent team at their operational headquarters in Sydney, to begin with and offer very attractive carerr opportunities fo Senior Management positions"
They have an email address listed [email protected]
From my Emails & ICQ
hi craig,
im after some advice. when scanning with a nokia i dont have any trouble with KU band but when on Cband i dont seem to get very much...what aquisition bandwidth do you set it on and what freq increasements do you use, i hope some one can assist...
regards jsat
Craigs reply, I am unable to try cband yet (getting there eventually) but on Ku I was told use 10 mhz and aquisition 40. Make sure before you start go into the Nokias tuner menu and set Freq to 0, Sr to 0 and everything else to auto. Perhaps someone could explain it better in our new Nokia message forum?
From Gavin
Hello there,
I have been visiting your site for some time now, and find it very interesting.
So what do I have to do to get started into satellite tv.
I'm from Melbourne........It seems to me that if I get a dish, I can get all these channels.
Maybe you could point me in the right direction.
Thank you,
Gavin.
Craigs reply,
A common system for where you are would be a 2.4M or larger mesh dish with a analog/digital receiver (or digital only) with positioner.
Always start with the biggest dish you can afford! you can't make up for lack of dish size anywhere in the system!.
For Ku band a seperate dish is the best option a 1.2M should get you most signals off Optus B1, B3 Pas 8 and Pas 2.
In Melbourne should be able to get get from Thaicom 3 (78.5E) to Intelsat 701 (180E) providing you have a good clear view of the sky. Look in your phone book for local satellite dealers or the links page
Also for more info and help checkout the Chatroom at www.apsattv.com every tuesday night 8.30pm Sydney time onwards.
From Me, reported via the mailing list last night
Optus B3 12363 V "Mundine Fight" usual settings
The first fight checkout that Beer Gut!
The one they all came to see.
From the Dish
Measat 2 148E 11164 H "Hallmark" FTA, Sr 30000 Fec 7/8
Measat 2 148E 11164 H "RPN" FTA, Sr 30000 Fec 7/8
Reports needed? Anyone else see them? Are these on the beam that covers Australia? also check 11044, 11104
Pas 2 169E 12355 V "Global Vision upgrade Testcard" Sr 6620 Fec 2/3, I don't know which beam this is off
Pas 8 166E 4171 H "ESPN Ice Hockey" Sr 13200, Fec 2/3
Might be NHL Conference playoffs?
NEWS
Pacific Century Matrix Brings TechTV, World's Leading Technology Channel, to the Asia Pacific Region
Pacific Century Matrix (PCM) today announced the signing of an agreement with TechTV to broadcast its technology news, information and entertainment programming via PCM’s broadband satellite DVB platform.
TechTV channel joins a number of other television and data services being transmitted from Hong Kong by PCM, via its leased C-Band transponders on AsiaSat 3S satellite. Currently four transponders are used to support PCM’s services in analogue, digital DVB, free to air and encrypted formats servicing television broadcasters, Internet Services Providers, multinational corporations and content providers, across the Asia-Pacific region from the Russian Federation to Australia and from the Pacific Ocean to the Middle East.
Based on TechTV’s specific needs, PCM was able to provide a solution meeting its turn around and processing needs delivering its technology based programming to an audience of millions across Asia via powerful DVB/IP satellite platform reliably and quickly.
?TechTV is one of the most popular cable networks in the USA. We are very pleased to be helping to bring more technology news and information to people in Asia.” said Wendy Lui, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales. “Our end to end solution combines turnaround services, network operations and utilization of Asia’s most popular satellite platform. This unique combination provides tremendous benefits for TV broadcasters and content providers.”
Pacific Century Matrix Limited (PCM) was founded in April 1999 as a service provider for end-to-end broadband connectivity and network services. PCM is a joint venture between Pacific Century Group (PCG) and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). PCM is a facility-based telecommunications service provider offering DVB/IP broadcasting services for TV broadcasters, plus a range of one-way and interactive broadband services for multimedia businesses, major corporations and content providers. In February, 2000 PCM was granted the satellite-based External Fixed Telecommunications Network Services Licence in Hong Kong and in February, 2001, the PNETS licence for providing international value added services (IVANS) and ISP services.
Check out Pacific Century Matrix Limited website at www.pc-matrix.com
TechTV, the leading television channel covering technology news, information and entertainment from a consumer, industry and market perspective 24 hours a day. Offering everything from industry news to product reviews, updates on tech stocks to tech support, TechTV’s original programming keeps the wired world informed and entertained. TechTV is one of the fastest growing cable networks, currently available in more than 23.5 million US households and distributing content to 70 countries around the world. With nearly a million unique visitors per month, techtv.com is a community destination that encourages viewer interaction through e-mail, live chat and video mail. TechTV, formerly ZDTV, is owned by Vulcan Ventures, Inc., a Washington-based investment organization.
CyberWorks in Talks with TVB on Pay TV Service
From Satnewasia.com
Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd (PCCW) is on the march once again and, this time, is considering a pay TV joint venture with a subsidiary of Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), Hong Kong's dominant free-to-air broadcaster.
The subsidiary in question is Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting of which TVB owns about 70 percent. PCCW executive vice president Rebecca Leung confirmed the company was taking to TVB but gave no other details.
PCCW is Hong Kong’s largest telecoms provider and is headed by Richard Li. son of billionaire Li Ka- shing. TVB is controlled by filmmaker Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Ltd.
The proposed joint venture is expected to benefit both PCCW and TVB. For 2000, TVB's profit is expected to rise to US$86 million from US$65 million a year earlier, according to analysts. The company is expected to release its operating results within the month.
Its profit for 2000 was due largely to aUS$12.8 million one-time profit from the sale of 30 percent of Web unit, TVB.com Ltd, to Measat Broadcast Network Systems Bhd of Malaysia in November 1999. TVB's advertising sales are expected to increase by less than 10 percent this year and the joint proposed joint venture with PCCW may improve that number.
TVB sells more hours of programming to China’s government-owned stations than any other broadcaster. Its brand is one of the best known in the mainland and TVB enjoys a special relationship with China’s national regulator and with CCTV, China’s single network operator.
Indonesia's Telkom to Launch New Satellite Late 2003
From satnewsasia.com
Indonesia’s state-owned telecoms monopoly, PT Telkom, plans to launch its second satellite to replace Palapa B4 which has almost reached the end of its useful life.
The Telkom 2 satellite will be launched by the end of 2003 from the Kourou launch facility in French Guyana. Telkom 2 is expected to meet increasing demand for the Telkom satellite services throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
Telkom has just leased transponders on Telkom-1 and Palapa B-4 to six Indonesian VSAT operators. Rented out were 6.6 transponders consisting of 3.6 C-band standard transponders and three C-band extended transponders that can be used for Internet delivery and satellite broadcasting.
The six operators are Radio Republic of Indonesia, PT Indonusa Telemedia, PT Pratakom, PT Telesindo Mulia, PT Infokom Elektrindo and PT Rintis Sejahtera.
The Telkom 1 satellite, launched in 1999, replaced Palapa B2R which was retired that year. Telkom 1 supports a variety of telecommunication applications, including high-speed digital traffic compatible with Very Small Aperture Terminal applications.
The satellite's payload was built at the Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and is configured with 24 C-Band and 12 extended C-Band transponders.
Telkom 1 is positioned at 108 degrees East longitude, providing coverage to all of Indonesia, and potentially to parts of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. The satellite is optimized to provide a 15-year life span.
Meanwhile, following the MOU dated February 15, 2001 involving PT (Persero) Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. ("Telkom") and PT (Persero) Indonesian Satellite Corporation Tbk. ("Indosat"), the companies announced that they have signed sale and purchase agreements relating to a series of transactions that would eliminate the cross-shareholdings of Telkom and Indosat in the following companies: PT Telekomunikasi Selular ("Telkomsel"), PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia ("Satelindo") and PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta ("Lintasarta"). In addition, under the agreements, Telkom has agreed to sell to Indosat all the Telkom assets used in the joint operating scheme for the KSO Region IV (Central Java and DI Yogyakarta) ("KSO IV") with PT Mitra Global Telekomunikasi Indonesia ("MGTI") and to assign its rights and obligations under the KSO agreement with MGTI to Indosat.
The agreements call for the following transactions to occur between Indosat and Telkom:
1. Telkom will acquire Indosat's 35% interest in Telkomsel for a value equal to US$945 million.
2. Indosat will acquire the following from Telkom:
Telkom's 22.5% interest in Satelindo for a value equal to US$186 million.
Telkom's current 37.66% interest in Lintasarta for a value equal to US$38 million plus shares converted as at closing from the convertible bonds of Lintasarta owned by Telkom at their principal amount plus unpaid accrued interest (together 37.21% of the diluted share capital).
Telkom's assets in KSO IV for a value equal to US$375 million.
In addition, following the MOU dated March 15, 2001, Telkom also announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 90.32% of PT DayaMitra Telekomunikasi ("DayaMitra") which is Telkom's partner in the joint operating scheme ("KSO") for the KSO Region VI (Kalimantan) ("KSO VI").
The closing of each of the transactions, however, is still subject to certain conditions, including regulatory and corporate approvals. It is currently anticipated that Telkom will seek shareholder approval on May 10, 2001.
16/4/01
Back on Tuesday
15/4/01
Not much for today in fact a very quiet week sorry for the lack of stuff. Don't forget the new message forums are working see the frame on the left for the link to the message board. If you don't it try ctrl-refresh to reload the site. We need a few people to kickstart things by posting a few topics or questions. I will try and tidy it up and make it a bit nicer looking and user friendly to use. The Super 12 rugby did appear on B1 as Scheduled, my team the Crusaders lost. If you caught the very start of the feed of the first match you would seen interesting use of the zoom lens by the cameraman he or she paid very close attention to the cheerleaders.
Don't forget the Gp on Star Sports and RCTI tonight, check for RTL Feeds on Pas 2
From my Emails & ICQ
From Zor via the mailing list
He reports what could of been a 2 hour test of irdeto encryption on Pas 2 LBC and Art, either that or a glitch in his system.
From me, a few loggings of feeds
Saturday 5.30pm Syd B3 12363 V "Wests Tigers vs Bulldogs"
Saturday 7.30pm Syd B3 12363 V "ST George vs Eels"
(Usually 2 NRL matches run one after the other)
Saturday 10.55pm Syd B1 12365 V Sr 5630 vpid 308 apid 256
Bulls vs Reds then Stormers vs Crusaders (1 a.m Syd / 3 a.m NZT)
Sunday 2pm Syd B3 12363 V "C7 Sports Afl Hawthorn vs Fremantle"
From Robert Anthony
He supplies a great link http://www.superiorsatelliteusa.com/html/feeds.html
From the Dish
Pas 2 169E 12463 V "Abc News feed" Sr 6620 Fec 3/4 Vpid 2065 Apid 2067 (Note this N.E Asia beam)
NEWS
Nothing for today :-(
14/4/01
No work has been done on my dish today, to much other stuff happening. the latest Satfacts arrived in my mailbox today and its got a great article on shareing satellite signals so that the whole neighbourhood can watch. Looks like a good project with lots of earning potential. Neighbours complaining about you putting up another big ugly dish? Circulate a letter telling them you have X channels you are providing to the whole street at no cost to anyone who wants to point a suitable antenna at your house. With a bit of luck soon your neighbours will be asking you to put up more dishes :-) Anyway on with todays update, there might be a feed tonight of Super 12 rugby from South Africa on B1, same freq as last time, if its there I will post on the mailing list straight away, possibly there will be 2 games on there one after the other.
New Website launched www.satworld.com.au specializing in Nokias this is where I brought mine from.
From my Emails & ICQ
Hi Craig how are you today?
Craig I can't find Fashion Tv in Asiasat2 do you know the good satellite and the frequency for Melbourne ?
thank you
jamal@Melbourne
Craigs Reply, it should be on Asiasat 2 100.5E 3796 V Sr 2533 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 if your receiver can't find it but gets the other channels fine it may be your receiver cannot handle the low Symbol rate. This channels been in trouble recently with the Indian government due to the more adult programming they were going to be banned from Indian cable tv networks untill they agreed to keep the lingerie shows out of Indian primetime viewing hours
From the Dish
Nothing to report keep an eye out for the Usual B1, B3 feeds of sporting events also the GP could have the usual RTL feeds on Pas 2, The race is on RCTI and Star Sports (might be last grand Prix seen on Starsports before it closes)
NEWS
No news section today
13/4/01
NO update today takeing a break
12/4/01
Sorry if the news section appears a little dull recently, I can only post what I find. The new Scatindia online magazine is out its worth a read to keep up with the new Indian and asian channels that are always popping up.
A new feature is being tested the Apsattv message forums let me know what kind of message forums you want to see, topics etc and I will see about adding them. NO we won't be having any piracy related stuff you can get that other sites. See the Forums links to get to the message forums.I still have to sort out the look and design of them but its a start. I could of had them up and running months ago but I thought it was something only the site host could fix up. But turns out it was something easy enough that I could of fixxed.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Sal
Dear Craig.
Sorry about the delay, finally RFO New Caledonia sent me the following very good news about new channels on Intelsat 180 east CSAT Bouquet.
Tele Nouvelle-Caledonie.
TV5 .
Tempo (already present)
Radio Nouvelle-Caledonie will start on the 17/04/01 and will be FTA.
Regards
Sal.
From the Dish
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4135 V "Asianet Bharathi" started regular transmissions
NEWS
PBL fades out of India saga
From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1888894%255E462,00.html
PUBLISHING & Broadcasting is lowering expectations that its foray into India will continue, telling analysts its one-year contract with the national broadcaster Doordarshan is unlikely to be renewed in September.
PBL took a $15 million charge for its Indian TV foray in its half-year results, and analysts now expect a similar figure to be expensed in the second half.
Through its 49 per cent owned subsidiary Nine Broadcasting India, PBL has been supplying three hours of prime-time programming a night to the national broadcaster.
In return, the joint venture has gained all advertising revenues.
The programs, branded under Nine Gold, are reported to have rated well but the company has come under immense regulatory pressure.
In January, authorities blocked its attempt to buy other program slots on India's Metro TV network and are now said to view unfavourably an extension of the Doordarshan contract.
ABN Amro analyst Peter Shorthouse this week downgraded his earnings forecast for PBL in 2001 from a $310 million net profit to $285 million to reflect the added Indian expenses and the weaker Australian advertising market.
"They (PBL) are trying to negotiate a long-term replacement contract because that is the only way they can make it worth continuing to invest resources," Mr Shorthouse said.
"The Government and Doordarshan are saying 'You must be joking' but PBL are saying they can't afford to run it on a year-by-year basis."
Mr Shorthouse said that if the joint venture were closed the cost to PBL could be more than $15 million in the second half, though it hoped to reduce closure costs by selling assets generated in the country.
Other analysts agreed it was unlikely the contract would be renewed, with PBL privately indicating it was not confident of success.
But the analysts said the investment was minor and would not greatly affect earnings.
"Most people assume it (the renewal) is not going to happen," another media analyst said.
While the Doordarshan investment was made by the Packer family's listed company, its privately owned Consolidated Press Holdings has made larger investments in the market such as the $390 million purchase of 10 per cent of Himachal Futuristics Communications.
A PBL spokesperson could not be contacted.
CNN working to build India content
From indiantelevision.com
CNN International, which lags far behind other international news channels like CNBC and the BBC World in India, aims to expand its coverage of the subcontinent, Anshuman Mishra, managing director of Turner International India, has said.
He made his comments while attending the 'Eureka 2001' awards ceremony in Mumbai on Monday organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, in association with CNN and Avendus.
Responding to queries on why the ratings of CNN had failed to pick up in comparison to CNBC and BBC, he said he had yet to go through the details of the rating. "But we are working to built the Indian content. Other channels like TCM Cartoon Network are doing well," Mishra said, indicating that at this juncture the ratings issue was no paramount to CNN's opeartions.
Ranjita Menon, marketing communication manager, South Asia, while echoing Mishra on the rartings issue, said shows like Q & A at prime time were doing extremely well. "We get responses from all parts India. The special show for the Gujarat earthquake was well received. Other India related programes like CNN India dotcom and Style South Asia are also doing well. We are looking forward to more India related programmes," Menon said.
On the issue of outsourcing of content from Indian producers like Bharat Bala Productions, Menon said that for now they were providing fillers only.
"We reach around 5 million homes in India, while we are the leader in Asia", Menon said. Quoting figures from The Asian Target Market Survey 2000 (ATMS) conducted by AC Nielsen, Menon said CNN International reaches 38 per cent of upscale business people in Asia on a monthly basis compared to CNBC's 20 per cent and BBC World's 19 per cent.
The association with Eureka 2001 is the first major on-ground initiative by CNN in India. "We are looking forward to supporting budding entrepreneurs in India. These awards are just one step in that direction. The winners will be taken to Silicon Vally where they will actually be presenting their products to prospective investors," Menon said.
Series on corruption in the art world launches 24 April on DD1
From indiantelevision.com
Baazaar, a serial that paints a stark picture of exploitation and politicking in the world esoteric world of arts, is launching on 24 April on national broadcaster Doordarshan's main channel DD1.
In this new serial, director-producer Rakesh Chowdhary has taken upon himself to the task of removing the enigma that veils the drama, the human emotions and relationships that exist in the art world. Baazaar is scheduled for telecast at 9:00 PM every Tuesday on DD 1 from 24 April.
Chowdhary is a familiar name in the world of Indian Television serials. His work covers a wide variety of topics including serials based on classic literature, campus life and college politics. He has entertained audiences using fiction to focus on the burning topics that today's society faces.
Bante Bigadte, Chunauti, Mujrim Haazir, Virasat, Aashiana, Intezaar Aur Sahi make up a part of his impressive credits. He has always been conscious of his social commitment as a provider of clean family oriented quality entertainment. Baazaar is being produced under the Samvaad banner. Samvaad has been making serials for Doordarshan since 1984.
Discussing his forthcoming project, Chowdhary says: "This is the story of the art world. It is the story of a young talented painter. It is the story of how really talented individuals are prevented from entering the world of art. How established personages in the art world are inherently insecure about their abilities, and fearful that the identities that they have established for themselves will crumble.
11/4/01
The chat went well last night its a pity the chatroom some nights gets nasty and kicks people out. I will make a complaint to xoom about it. But don't expect anything to be done about it see report in the news section. We may need to start looking for a new chat room or else find a copy of the Parachat software. That the chatroom uses and run it on the hosts server. Nothing else to report today seems we are having a quiet week. Thats just the way it goes sometimes.
Tech TV added to Asiasat 3 page
From my Emails & ICQ
Robert Anthony reports 10/04/01
Slow day today, so I'll report numerous, simultaneous news feeds from
China on PAS-2 3717 MHz (V) SR 19850 FEC 3/4 on both feeds within the
CCTV mux.
also checkout this interesting page http://dvbwave.com/features/searching.php
From John
Subject: [Apsattv] Formula 1 Motor racing on RCTI
Can anyone confirm for me whether or not Formula 1 race weekends are shown on
RCTI (Palapa C2)?
If so, is it an English broadcast, and is it live, or tape delayed?
Craigs reply, the very best place to check for Formula 1 TV schedules is http://www.formula1.com/
It has a very handy tv schedule that list which channels its on and if it taped or live.
From the Dish
Measat 2 148E The Astro package has left , is now only on Measat 1. (Bad luck with this one Al..)
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "feeds" Vpid 1025 Apid 1026
NEWS
NBC Is Shutting Down NBC Internet
NBC is shutting down its loss-ridden Internet subsidiary, acknowledging that any hopes of it becoming profitable had vaporized along with the online advertising market. Many of the 300 jobs there will be eliminated as the unit's assets are integrated into NBC.
The announcement Monday marks the latest move by a major media company to drastically scale back its Internet ambitions. The Walt Disney Co. and News Corp. have also absorbed their online units, and other media players have pulled plans to sell shares in their online operations to the public.
Senior executives at NBC and NBC Internet told The Associated Press that they had been weighing alternatives for the subsidiary since the beginning of the year, including a sale, a merger with another company, or liquidation.
"The sharp declines in the Internet advertising market convinced us that it didn't make sense to pursue a portal strategy," NBC's chief financial officer Mark Begor said. "We wanted to find a way to maximize shareholder value and wind down the business in the best way possible."
Like many companies that rely on online advertising, NBC Internet has been losing a staggering amount of money. In the three-month period ending in December, it posted a net loss of $245 million on revenues of $31 million. Excluding asset write-downs or restructuring charges, it would have lost $47 million for the quarter.
NBC, a subsidiary of General Electric Co., will pay $2.19 in cash for each publicly held share of NBC Internet, a premium of 46 percent over the closing share price of $1.50 on Friday. NBC currently owns 39 percent of the company, which was formed in the fall of 1999 in a multipart deal with CNET and other Internet companies.
Shares of NBC Internet jumped 64 cents to $2.14 in early trading Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Shares of NBC's parent company GE rose $1.19 to $42.36 on the New York Stock Exchange.
NBC Internet's assets will be absorbed back into NBC, but it's not yet clear how they will be used. The NBC.com Web site will fall under the jurisdiction of Scott Sassa, the chief of NBC's West Coast operations.
Still to be determined are the fate of some dozen companies, such as Flyswat, GlobalBrain or AllBusiness, that NBC Internet acquired for stock over the course of a $500 million buying binge.
"There's no question that we'll dramatically reduce the scope of the operations and sell some assets," said NBC Internet's chief executive Will Lansing. "But first we'll see how it fits into the NBC strategy."
The purchase will cost NBC about $85 million in cash and places a value of about $150 million on the Internet subsidiary. That's a far cry from the roughly $5.7 billion value that investors assigned to NBC Internet back in January 2000, when its shares closed at a high of just above $100.
NBC has been trying to turn around its Internet subsidiary for some time. Last year it installed Lansing, a former GE executive, to implement fiscal discipline and revamp the company's blurred marketing strategy, which employed a number of different brands and Web sites such as Snap and Xoom.
NBC Internet has been trimming its payrolls over the past nine months from a high of 850 last August to 300 now. Begor said NBC would "significantly reduce" the head count as NBC Internet is integrated back into the network, but he declined to be more specific.
Despite backing from the NBC network, including $220 million in advertising credits, NBC Internet had always struggled and didn't get to share the success of NBC's strong cable brands MSNBC and CNBC.
MSNBC.com remains one of the top news sites on the Internet, but that site, like the cable channel it is associated with, is a 50-50 joint venture between NBC and Microsoft and was never part of NBC Internet. Likewise the Web site for CNBC, which has been a runaway hit on cable with its financial coverage, had only a minor participation in NBC Internet.
Lansing will leave the company after seeing it through a transition period. The deal is expected to close in the summer.
On the Net: http://www.nbci.com
10/4/01
Another quiet day not much news either, Don't forget livechat in the Chatroom tonight 8.30pm Syd time onwards, I am in there from 9.30pm NZ onwards. I have spent quite a bit time today outside trimming trees that might be in the way when the dish goes up. Its not looking good for putting the dish up this weekend, can you believe it we are supposed to be getting hit with a Cyclone from Thursday onwards.
Adults only TV Channel XXL TV off I701, interested in a subscription? try http://www.xxltvsouthpacific.com/
From my Emails & ICQ
From Jamoora
Wanted : Digitial satellite receiver
Price : $Negotiable
Place : Sydney/Canberra/Surrounding region in NSW
Email [email protected]
From the Dish
Nothing to report today
NEWS
CNN to broadcast in Korean too
From indiantelevision.com
CNN is to begin broadcasting eight of its news and feature programmes in Korean for the first time as part of the global news networks distribution agreement with CSTV.
These programmes will be subtitled in Korean for cable audiences in South Korea starting today, a CNN release states.
The programmes airing in Korean will initially include 'Larry King Live', 'BizAsia', 'World Beat', 'CNNhotspots', 'CNNdotCOM', 'ebizasia', 'Science and Technology Week', and 'Business Unusual'. Yernho Kim, CEO and Chairman of CSTV says: "We are very excited to be able to offer localised versions of CNN's world quality news and other programmes to Korean audiences. In future, we will continue to expand our localised services to deliver a wider range of CNN's programmes to a greater audience."
CSTV Korea (Cable and Satellite TV Korea) signed agreements with Turner International Asia Pacific Inc. (a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner) for exclusive distribution of CNN International to cable system operators in Korea in November 2000. This was a landmark agreement as it meant CNN was the first international news channel to be officially distributed in South Korea.
An Interview with SABe TV's Markand Adhikari
From indiantelevision.com '
We are now the Number Four C&S Entertainment Channel'
It was in 1985 that two Gujarati brothers set up Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd (SABTNL), making low budget serials for National broadcaster Doordarshan.
Twenty-one years on, they are counted among the most successful serial makers of India and have their own channel to boot.
The brothers, Markand and Gautam, launched their 24-hour Hindi entertainment channel, Sabe (Sri Adhikari Brothers Entertainment) TV, on April 23 2000 beaming digitally as a free-to-air channel on Asiasat 3 and immediately made a mark with melodramas like "Pratishodh" and "Lekin", comedies like "Yes Boss" and "Abhi To Mai Jawan Hoon" plus thrillers, horror shows and a special kids band.
On 1 November 2000 Sabe TV hopped onto the gameshow bandwagon following in the wake of the popularity of Star India's "Kaun Banega Crorepati" hosted by filmstar Amitabh Bachchan. Roping in India's king of the stand-up routine Shekhar Suman as its anchor, an estimated RS 80 million was sunk into "Jab Khelo Sab Khelo" (JKSK). The show didn't exactly set the air waves on fire but it did help build the channel's recognition levels. JKSK will go off air by month-end after Suman's decision not to renew his contract, but the show has served its purpose says Markand Adhikari, the company's vice-chairman and managing director.
SABTNL continues to produce content for national broadcaster Doordarshan and markets airtime for these related programmes. Currently, it provides about 10 hours of programming per week for Doordarshan's Hindi and Marathi language channels.
Sabe TV claims it now reaches over 15 million homes across India.
What is not so well known is that SABTNL has joint ventures in Sri Lanka and Indonesia for programming. Its Sri Lankan programmes are rated amongst the top five on the island, going by company assessments.
Sabe TV is a month shy of completing a year on air and indiantelevision.com caught up with Markand Adhikari for a lowdown on where the channel was headed.
Excerpts:
How is Sabe TV doing in terms of audience shares among C&S households?
We are now the number four channel in C&S homes with an 8.9 audience share, which is great going if you consider that we are less than a year old.
[TAM data covering 14 cities excluding the South for the prime time band 7:00 pm to 9:00 PM According to the figures provided, Star Plus leads with 28.4 followed by Zee (26.1), Sony (21.8) and Sabe TV (8.9). Then comes DD1 (7.7), DD2 (5.9) B4U Entertainment (0.9) and Sahara (0.4)]
The figures are rather confusing. Isn't Sony the number two channel?
Actually Zee is doing quite well now in the prime time slot. Its numbers have really picked up with some good shows on air.
Where have you reached in terms of advertising?
We have 25 companies advertising with us at this point. Our growth has been a steady one.
In which geographical markets has Sabe TV been successful?
We have been doing well in the Hindi belt in general but Uttar Pradesh in particular. Kanpur and Ludhiana to mention two cities where we are particularly strong. In the western region, in Gujarat and Maharashtra too, our growth has been satisfactory.
What time slots have notched up success for you?
As I mentioned earlier, our growth has been steady in the prime time band and we want to consolidate on that. The prime time afternoon band, 2 PM to 4 PM, is another area where we are doing well.
What of your gameshow "Jab Khelo Sab Khelo"? It is being wound up now with anchor Shekhar Suman leaving and all? Did it meet your objectives?
It certainly was successful in that it increased our visibility tremendously so it achieved its purpose. While the show ran we received a total of 12.5 million hits on phone and through the net. When the show started we had installed about 1,500 decoders across the country. We now have 3,000 installed. So we have certainly been successful with the show. And we have not lost that momentum either. Come April, we will be installing 500 more.
Did the show break even or was it a loss maker for you?
It was no loss for us because it increased our visibility as a channel. And at the stage where we are now that was required. We have not really looked at it in terms of how much money we sunk in and how much financial returns we got.
(Though Adhikari didn't provide any figures it is said that over RS 80 million was spent on the show)
Have you any other high profile show lined up to follow on what Jab Khelo Sab Khelo achieved?
We are working with film star Karishma Kapoor on a project which will kick off next month. We are planning road shows which will have high public interactivity. Again as a means to highlight our presence.
Have you anything bigger lined up with her. Like her on show for instance?
At this stage no. We'll have to see how this works out first and we'll take it from there.
What of new programming? Sony's next big thing which it hopes will rival Star's hit "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" is set for launch soon. They have lined up "Kusum" from the Balaji stable. (Balaji Productions has overtaken SABTNL as the top production house in the country). Do you have any such in the pipeline?
What we are showing on our 7 to 9 prime time band is all fresh programming. And even with a show like Alif Laila which has already had its run on Doordarshan we are commissioning 500 brand new episodes. Balaji is also doing programming for us.
Speaking of Balaji, isn't it a bit strange that you are outsourcing programming from your principal rival in the production business?
We don't look at it like that? We are quite clear that our channel should have good programming and we are ready to approach whoever will provide that?
Talking of Balaji, its CEO Sanjay Dosi was quite emphatic that Balaji wouldn't start a new channel because there might some conflict of interest. A perception that Balaji would devote their best creative efforts for their own channel. What is your opinion on this?
The very fact that we are taking programming from Balaji shows that we have separated Sabe TV and SABTNL as far as functioning goes. They are different entities with different requirements.
And as far as starting a new channel goes we went in for it because we wanted to grow beyond being just a production house. In this business you grow or you're dead.
How long do you think it will take for you to reach break-even point?
We are aiming for a three year break-even. That is mid 2003.
How much have you invested in Sabe TV?
We have factored Rs 125 crores (RS 1.25 billion) for this three year period.
You say that you are number four at present. Is that really enough if you consider all the channels that have cropped up? Except for the Big Three all the other channels appear to be scrapping for the crumbs. In this scenario how confident are you that Sabe TV will be able to create an identity of its own? Firstly keep in mind that we are less than a year old. And our strength which is programming is being reflected in the kind of shows on Sabe TV. We have a clear identity which is slowly coming through to the viewers. Anyone who comes to Sabe TV will see a clear trend in the way we organise our programming because we believe that the viewer should know what he can get from our channel. That is one reason we never went in for screening movies like the other channels have done. We are an entertainment channel and we are very clear on that.
But aren't the highest TRPs usually for blockbuster movies?
If people want to watch movies they are movie channels for that. As I said we are an entertainment channel and movies are not part of our script. People want something different and fresh and that will be our effort. To provide them that.
How is the distribution deal with Turner working out? Have the arrangements evolved to another level? There are some strong rumours that Turner is considering taking a stake in Sabe TV. Any comments?
The distribution deal is in place and we share a good relationship which is bound to grow. That is all I can say at this point. (Adhikari has been quoted as saying that the channel was open to "an alliance" involving the placement of 30 per cent stake with a strategic partner)
9/4/01
Not much for today. I note Sky NZ is testing its FTA Nell Willcox card again, perhaps they will try some fta programming soon. Read the first item in the news section, Skys takes potshots at the TVNZ/Telstra settop box. Expect to see more reports on this including some sensationalized reports about how insecure the Irdeto encryption system is.
From the Dish
Optus B1 160E 12367 V "Super 12 rugby, Crusaders vs Bulls" feed seen 8/4/01 11pm Syd
NEWS
TV set-top boxes outdated, say rivals
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=181921&thesection=business&thesubsection=
Rival broadcasters have questioned TelstraSaturn's plans to launch a nationwide pay TV service with TVNZ this year.
Industry figures said the company would be introducing outdated set-top boxes and going head-to-head with Sky TV's already well-established digital services.
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn announced last week details of a joint venture that will see TVNZ launch a digital free-to-air service on October 1 and TelstraSaturn a pay TV service in the third quarter of the year.
Both operators will deliver a digital version of TV One and TV2, offering better picture quality for viewers in outlying areas.
TelstraSaturn has also secured the rights to All Black games against Ireland and Scotland at the end of the year, challenging Sky's monopoly on sports content.
TVNZ has not yet decided what type of set-top box it will use for its free-to-air service. But TelstraSaturn is widely expected to use DGT400 set-top boxes from its Australian parent company, Austar United.
A source at Australian digital pay TV operator Foxtel, who did not want to be named, said the Austar boxes were rapidly being dropped in Australia because they did not meet emission standards, interfered with other TV and radio signals, and had been cracked by hackers trying to gain free access to services.
Wayne Wedderspoon, programme manager of standards at the Radio Spectrum Management Group, said TelstraSaturn had not yet been issued with a declaration of compliance for the DGT400 boxes.
The declaration was required under the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993 before the product could be supplied in this country, said Mr Wedderspoon.
TelstraSaturn executive Quentin Bright was unable to confirm that his company was planning to launch its services using the DGT400 box.
The company said last week that it saw no need to add interactive services to its initial offering, although competitor Sky had said it would begin services such as e-mail and interactive weather and programme guides over the next few months.
Brian Green, head of engineering at Sky, said reports from Australia indicated that the set-top boxes had significant problems.
"It is well known that this box interferes with the Channel Nine frequency in Australia.
"If one of these boxes turned up in a Sky subscriber's home and started to interfere with Sky transmissions, we would be less than silent on the matter," said Mr Green.
Technology commentator Bob Cooper questioned the lack of interactive services.
"People will find that what there is to do with it isn't worth their time for the most part. We are two full generations - seven to 10 years - away from a set-top box that does what is necessary to make interactivity a commercially viable service."
Mr Cooper said the Austar boxes provided TelstraSaturn with a cheap route into digital TV but little more.
While confusion surrounds TelstraSaturn's choice of technology, some have also asked whether the operator's belated arrival in the digital TV market would interest enough consumers.
Nick Wood, managing director of ihug, which also provides set-top boxes, said TelstraSaturn would be hard-pressed to serve up a viewing package that competed with Sky's digital services, which had about 235,000 subscribers.
"I don't understand the logic behind it at all, other than to aim at the sector outside urban areas. Sky has most of the good content wrapped up," he said.
TVNZ has announced that its set-top box will include the same Open TV software employed in Sky decoders. It has also said it will use TelstraSaturn's network of sales personnel, installers and call centres to market its boxes.
TVNZ's general manager of strategy, James Munro, said a single hardware vendor was initially expected to provide the boxes.
But the open-access nature of TVNZ's offering meant fully compatible set-top boxes were likely to be available from many retailers later.
A range of models, some including hard drives for digital video recording, would likely follow the initial set-top box launch.
SingTel, Optus: "outlook looks good"
From [sat-nd] 09.04.2001
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd chairman Lee Hsien Yang said
that he expected SingTel's bid for Australia's Cable & Wireless
Optus Ltd to proceed despite last minute complications, such as
security concerns over the planned Optus C1 dual-use satellite.
"We think right now the outlook looks good," Lee told Channel
Nine's Business Sunday television programme. "We think the deal
makes sense and we certainly hope that it will proceed."
SingTel has an A$17 billion take-over bid on the table for
Australia's number two telco Optus, 52.5 percent owned by
Britain's Cable & Wireless Plc, which remains subject to
approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB.)
"Many of the approvals are beyond our control, we need FIRB
approval, defence department has expressed some views, and we
will be happy to have a dialogue with them to make sure that
their concerns are allayed," Lee was quoted as saying.
8/4/01
A very short update today as I have had my brother here, yes the poles welded up and attached to the base and the plate bolted down (Bolts $34 each x 8, Lucky my brother got them for free) I will try and get some pics up of the progress next weekend a dish might be up in the air!
Be on the lookout for the Sharjah Cricket Tournament starting tonight , Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Try Asiasat 2 or else Pas 2) also check Super 12 feed on B1 reported last night, might be there tonight as well same time.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Robert Anthony via the mailing list 07/04/01
PAS-2 The "CCTV Info" card has been replaced by a "CNN Beijing" card on
3716 MHz V Sr 19850 Fec 3/4 Vpid 1260 Apid 1220
Image supplied by Bill Richards
PAS-2 3942 V "France vs England, 6 Nations rugby" Sr 7497 Vpid 1460 Apid 1420 Pcr 1460
and observed 08/04/01
I have observed Chinese language news feeds on Pas 2 3769 V "Unknown
Test Pattern" Sr 6620, Fec 3/4, Vpid 1110 Apid 1211 "12K-3C slot A"
From Bill Richards 08/04/01
0115 UTC
Asiasat3 3760 H Sr 26000 Fec 7/8
Asiasat3 3760 H "Channel 1" Vpid 1010 Apid 1011 SID1, Now TV
Asiasat3 3760 H "CH 3 PCC IP" Vpid 2101 Apid 2001 SID 3, No Video or Audio at present time
Asiasat3 3760 H "CH 4 PCC IP" Vpid 2995 Apid 2996 SID 4, No Video or Audio at present time
Asiasat3 3760 H "CH 5 DBN24 f" Vpid 4001 Apid 4008 SID 5
Asiasat3 3760 H "Tech TV" Vpid 1060 Apid 1061 SID6
Regards
Bill
From Me
07/04/01 11pm Syd, Optus B1 12367 V Sr 5630 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Super 12 Rugby from South Africa Reds vs Stormers"
08/04/01 2.00pm Syd, Optus B3 12363 V "AFL Lions vs Kangaroos" Sr 5632 Fec 3/4 Vpid 4160 Apid 4120
08/04/01 2.30pm Syd, Optus B3 12336 V "Raiders vs Knights NRL"
From the Dish
Pas 2 169E 3716 V, "CCTV Card" Sr 19850 Fec 3/4 Vpids 1460/1420 and Apids 1660/1620.
NEWS
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 14/2001 - April 8 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv Edition
A S I A
CHINA - HONG KONG
PROBLEMS FOR PAY-TV PROVIDERS
According to a report in Singapore's Business Times, the Hong Kong government's
plans to promote the pay-TV industry have been thrown into disarray as it
emerged another winner of the licence may have to abandon its bid as well. Run
Run Shaw's Television Broadcasting (TVB) said its partners, Malaysian-based
Astro Broadcasting and its wholly-owned subsidiary Measat Broadcast Network
Systems, which are linked to Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan, would not
proceed at the present time to complete the purchase of up to 40 per cent of
Galaxy for US$150 million. Galaxy, the satellite transmission unit of TVB, had
won the pay-TV licence last July.
CETV CHOSES VIACCESS
Viaccess SA, the France Telecom middleware subsidiary, is to provide the
Conditional Access system for China Educational Television's (CETV) digital
satellite project. This is an ambitious programme to provide satellite delivery
of educational programming to 680,000 schools and education facilities in
China. In 2000 the Ministry of Education launched the "Satellite TV Network
Restructuring Project", within the national action plan to promote education in
the 21st century. After assessment of a number of competing conditional access
options, a decision was taken in favour of the France Telecom's technology.
Viaccess boast more than 10 years of industrial experience, with more than 50
digital services currently operated in the world. CETV was launched in 1996 and
currently broadcasts and distributes six digital television programs, 24 IP
data channels, and three digital audio services.
MALAYSIA
TV2 WILL NOT BE PRIVATISED
The Government will not privatise TV2 and its four radio stations but will
include them in the RTM corporatisation package which is being worked out,
Deputy Information Minister Datuk Khalid Yunus said on April 1. He said the
question of privatising TV2 or other sections of RTM did not arise as the
corporatisation of the broadcasting station was being worked out. This was
aimed at making RTM more competitive and capable of providing a better service
to the people, he told reporters.
NEW ZEALAND
TVNZ AND TELSTRASATURN SIGN DIGITAL DEAL
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn have announced that they have finally signed the
agreement for their digital television alliance, originally outlined in
November. Under the deal, they will set up a joint venture to develop
interactive television content and services, and have reached an
interconnection agreement allowing open access to each other's transmission
networks and set-top boxes. The boxes will be capable of delivering services
such as e-mail, Internet, home shopping, games and radio once they come on
stream. TelstraSaturn will launch a pay-TV service of general entertainment and
pay per view channels using a basic set-top-box. The service to be
progressively rolled out in regional stages to a complete nationwide service by
December 31- will initially provide a high quality digital picture, but no
interactive features. TVNZ will launch a free-to-air digital broadcast service
on October 1, which TelstraSaturn set-top-boxes will be able to pick up, and
the state-owned broadcaster is currently developing a number of interactive
services for launch. TVNZ and TelstraSaturn executives said they hoped the
access agreement would eventually be extended to include SKY, and that they
were optimistic of reaching agreement soon with TV3 and TV4 owner, CanWest, to
include them in both the free-to-air and pay services.
MGM TO LAUNCH MOVIE CHANNEL
On April 4, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announced that it has forged a new alliance
with Sky Network Television Limited, New Zealand's leading pay-TV company, to
launch a digital, MGM-branded movie channel in the region. Expected to launch
in June 2001, the MGM Movie Channel initially will be available on Sky's basic
tier service via a digital satellite feed, reaching more than 235,000
households throughout the country. The channel will exclusively showcase
round-the-clock offerings from MGM's vast collection of modern films. SKY
Network Television was established in 1987 and as of 23 February 2001, SKY had
established a significant subscriber base with approximately 400,000
residential subscribers (representing approximately 30.7 per cent of total New
Zealand households) and over 5,000 commercial subscribers. In December 1998,
SKY launched its digital direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service; meaning that
virtually all of New Zealand's remaining 356,000 households can now receive up
to 34 channels. This multi-channel Digital service has approximately 235,000
subscribers, which represents around 56 per cent of the total.
7/4/01
Just a reminder about feeds reported then can be a 1 to 3 MHZ difference up or downwards from the frequencys published here due to lnb drift different tuners etc. There may or maynot be an update tommorow my brother is comming around to fix up the dish pole put the bolts in the ground etc. Not sure if we will have time to mesh and assemble the dish. Perhaps next weekend!
7/4/01
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Andy via the mailing list
Motor Racing multiview feed at Adelaide
Optus B1
12702 Horiz
19800
3/4
Will be on tomorrow as well
andy
This from Bill Richards
0822 UTC 6/04/01
Panamsat 2
Pas 2 3929 V "Motor Cycle Racing 500" Sr 11265, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256, Mediasat Feed ? "KDDI IBA E5410 "
0830 UTC
Pas 2 3769 V "Unknown Test Pattern" Sr 6620, Fec 3/4, Vpid 1110 Apid 1211 "12K-3C slot A"
(Craigs note this is TBS feed's reported yesterday, could be for Baseball and NBA)
0705 UTC 6/04/01
Optus B1
"Optus B1 Clipsal 500 Race Adelaide" seen on
Optus B1 12700 H "TEN MAIN2" Sr 19800, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 257, Mpg 4:2:2
Optus B1 12700 H "TEN D2" Sr 19800, Fec 3/4, Vpid 309 Apid 258, FTA Trackside Camera
Optus B1 12700 H "TEN D3" Sr 19800, Fec 3/4, Vpid 310 Apid 260, Unknown
Some screenshots from "Ten D2" taken Saturday 7/04/01
This one from "Ten D3"
Robert Anthony via the mailing list spotted the following on Pas 2 last night
PAS-2 Adhoc II 3901 MHz (H) SR 30800 FEC 3/4
Feed (possible) West Indies tour 2001 (cricket?). Just started the test card at 10.30 Syd 6 APR
The card says "BT TES 22 Antigua/UK 1055/TWI West Indies Tour 2001".
Craigs note after they were all setup, The signal went encrypted
Seen by me.
06/04/01 7pm Syd Optus B3 12363v "C7 Sports Soccer, Paramatta vs Kingz"
07/04/01 3pm Syd Optus B3 12363v "Newsforce Feed for C7 Sports,Sydney Club rugby"
07/04/01 6pm Syd Optus B3 12363v "C7 Sports Soccer, Sydney Olympic vs Wolves"
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 3880 V "ABS-CBN Channel 2-3" has encrypted.
(Craigs note, Studio 23 next??)
Optus B1 160E 12700/702 H "Clipsal 500 race Adelaide" Sr 19800 Fec 3/4 Vpids 308-310 Apids 257/258/260
Optus B3 156E 12363V "Various sports feeds includeing soccer" Sr 6108, Fec 3/4 Vpid 4160 Apid 4120
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H The Australia TV info card and the three radio channels are still on but weaker than before.
Sinosat 1 110.5E 3707 V "VTV 2" has started, Sr 4355, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3760 H "Tech TV" is new here, SID 6, Vpid 1060 Apid1020. The occasional NOW feeds have ceased.
Tech tv Website is http://www.techtv.com/
Programming Schedule is here http://www.techtv.com/showschedule/0,24005,,00.html
NEWS
Creative Eye to give a new look to 'Rangoli' on DD1
From indiantelevision.com
Rangoli, a musical programme on film songs airing on Doordarshan, will be donning a new look after the Dheeraj Kumar promoted Creative Eye struck a deal with the national broadcaster to produce and market the programme.
To begin airing from Sunday 15 April, the programme will be telecast in Hindi and Tamil on DD1. "As of now we are making only 26 episodes," says project coordinator Aroop Bhattacharya.
Elaborating on how the programme was different from earlier episodes, Bhattacharya says: "Earlier Rangoli was anchored by one person. This show will be hosted by two film actors.
"Mayuri Kango and Inder Kumar will be hosting each episode which will be thematically constructed around states of mind such as Intezaar (wait), Khayaal (thought)," Bhattacharya says.
"It too early to talk about the advertising response," Bhattacharya says, while declining to disclose who were the advertisers on board. However, the programme has got sufficient ad response, he asserts.
6/4/01
Nearly the weekend, be on the lookout for sports feeds on B1, B3, Sky NZ have released another press release hmm amazing what a bit of competition will do. In other news all the Zee Channels on Asiasat 3 will be going pay in May (see news section for details)
Nokia Hidden menus? here are the ones I know of anyone out there know of any more or what some of these menus actually do? Email me so I can add them
Nokia DVB 2000 Hidden menus for version 1.82.6
This file from www.apsattv.com
Some Nokia remotes different replace
Guide=menu (blue button)
Opt=Exit (green button)
Mark= (Yellow button)
I=(Red button)
9, menu, 6
9, menu, 7
9, menu, 9
9, menu, 0
9, menu, mark
9, menu, opt
9, menu, I "T on /off" other interesting things ecm ? ac3?
9, 1, 1 "Autosearch pids Video and Audio increase by 1+"
9, 1, 0 "autosearch Video pid only increase by 1+"
9, 3, 0
9, 2, 0 "Analyser"
9, mark, 0, "1 Test"
9, 4, 9,9 (Reset after audio loss when channel changeing)
8, 3, 0 "Monitor" on/off
6, 0 "Analyser"
Menu, mark "moveing globe" use tv or menu button to get out of
Menu, Opt "moving bar" tv button to escape
From my Emails & ICQ
This from Peter Berrett
Hi all
I was wondering whether someone could clear up a mystery for me please.
I am no longer receiving the ATV signal on 3880 Mhz on Palapa C2. I am
however receiving a weak (weaker than the old ATV signal used to be) signal
on 3870 Mhz.
The signal appears to be a vertical colour bar ie vertical stripes of
colour. As the signal is not strong I can only receive it in black and
white. The vertical stripes and darker on the left and get lighter as you
move to the right of screen. There does not appear to be any identifying
caption.
Does anyone know what this signal is?
Thanks Peter
From the Dish
Pas 2 169E 3767 V "TBS feeds" Sr 6620, Fec 3/4
Sinosat 110.5E 3707 V "ST test" Sr 5700 Fec 3/4
Sinosat 110.5E 3720 V "VTV 2" New here Sr 4355 Fec 3/4
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4065 H "Feeds" Sr 2200, Fec 3/4
NEWS
Media Release:
Thursday, 5 April, 2001
SKY CONFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR NEW ZEALAND RUGBY
SKY Television confirmed today its commitment to New Zealand Rugby, broadcasting over 180 live games throughout the 2001 season.
SKY’s exclusively live coverage includes every game played by the ALL Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies in their home countries, this includes the Tri-Nations Series, the Bledisloe Cup, plus the French, Argentinian and Manu Samoan tours of New Zealand.
SKY’s live coverage will also include the eagerly anticipated British Lions tour of Australia, all 69 Super 12 games, plus 70 NPC rugby games.
?SKY is and will remain the home of NZ Rugby and will continue to broadcast a host of live International, National and Provincial games for our subscribers,” said SKY Television’s Director of Sport, Kevin Cameron.
Each week SKY also broadcasts locally produced shows including: Re:Union, Offside, Friday Night Football, and Heartland Rugby.
Digital TV suffers from poor reception
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/0104/06/pageone/pageone6.html
Three months after transmissions began, only 2,500 customers have bought or rented the equipment needed to receive the sharper pictures and multiple views of digital television.
The $699 set-top boxes began arriving in department and electrical stores in mid-January, but sales have been slow.
A television sales consultant at Grace Bros in the Sydney CBD, Mr Razi Uddin, said that, despite being advertised in the Grace Bros catalogue twice, the store had sold only "eight or nine" set-top boxes. Two were returned after customers said they could not perceive any improvement in picture quality. The city department store has also had difficulty demonstrating the new digital service because its antennae requires a costly upgrade to receive digital signals.
David Jones's national buyer for audio visual, Mr Felix Langtheller, was more upbeat about early experiences with digital television. He declined to reveal sales figures, but he said David Jones "was not displeased with the early sales results".
At Dick Smith Powerhouse stores, a combination of early adopters and people with poor analog reception have bought the set-top boxes, the company's spokeswoman Ms Nicola Rutzou said. But she also refused to release sales figures, saying only that the company was "quite happy".
Uptake of new technology is often slow in the early years, but the Government's decision to restrict new datacasting services and ban multi-channelling means Australia is following the United States model and relying on better picture quality, rather than access to new channels, to drive digital conversion. By comparison, Australians bought 21,000 DVD players in the first 12 months of their introduction.
The head of Nine Network Digital, Ms Kim Anderson, said the company was "very pleased" with sales so far, with more than 4,000 boxes sold to retailers and about half of those now in homes.
She said that rental packages, which included wide-screen television sets with digital set-top boxes were popular.
" One issue seems to be the availability of wide-screen sets in the Australian market," she said.
Digital television is screened in 16:9 wide-screen format, instead of the more boxy 4:3 of standard television. Although a digital set-top box can be attached to a normal set, the full benefits of the improved picture are better appreciated on a good wide-screen set that costs more than $1,800.
Only one or two brands have been available in Australia so far, but more are expected to hit the market in the next three months.
Mr Scott Lorson, Thorn's general manager, whose businesses include Rentlo and Radio Rentals, said the experience so far was similar to DVD. Thorn had rented out about 200 wide-screen digital packages and anticipated being able to rent between 100 and 200 a month.
"It's really the wide screen that's impressive. We've had customers ringing us to say how good it is," he said.
While DVD uptake had been driven by the desire to see films in wide-screen format, the uptake of digital TV would be driven by a desire to view sports programs, he said.
The commercial television networks spent $6 million to underwrite the production of the first generation of digital set-top boxes made by Thomson Multimedia.
The broader picture
- Digital television offers sharper, clearer pictures free of ghosting and has CD quality sound. Most programs are broadcast in wide-screen format and coverage by multiple camera angles is offered for big sporting events.
- To receive digital broadcasts you need a set-top box costing $699.
- Transmission began on January 1. Analog broadcasts will continue until at least 2008 when the Government hopes most people will have bought digital sets.
Whole Zee network going pay from May
From indiantelevision.com
The whole Zee network is going pay from May, group corporate affairs head RK Singh confirmed today, adding that the rollout of set top boxes for Zee TV would begin from the beginning of next month.
Singh said the entire Zee network, including the four regional language Alpha channels and Nickelodeon, would be included in the package which would cost between Rs 20 and 30.
While Singh would not give an exact figure on the price, a Mumbai-based cable operator revealed that Zee was selling their bouquet at RS 25 and the cost of the set top box for Zee TV was RS 14,000.
Singh wouldn't reveal when the switchover to pay would take place but didn't exclude the possibility of it going through some time in the middle of May.
Cable operators would be offered a la carte as well as network rates, Singh says.
The Zee Network includes, Zee TV, Zee News, Zee Cinema, Zee MGM, Zee English and Zee Music. The Alpha channels are Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Bengali. Zee distributes Nickelodeon in India and hosts two one hour programming slots for the children's channel, mornings and evenings, on Zee TV.
5/4/01
A bit of New Zealand News today, re TVNZ, Telstra Saturn its going to be good that Sky NZ will have a bit of competition. I wouldn't be surprised if in a week or two if Sky was to offer their NDS box and a FTA package of channels at very low cost or with no weekly rental fee. This would rapidly increase the amount of homes they are in, because that is what it will come down to, a war with the box thats's in the most homes possibly becomming the standard for digital tv in NZ. Sky has reacted to the announcement by releasing their own Press Release (See below, News section). In other news Sky NZ has done a deal with Metro-Goldwyn and announced a new movies channel starting in June. They also plan to start downloading the Open TV software upgrade to Sky receivers sometime this month.
From the Dish
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Australia TV info card and the three radio channels have left" can someone confirm?
Asiasat 3 105.5E 4065 H "Feeds here have stopped.
Thaicom 3 78. 5E 3554 V "A Channel Guide info card" has started Vpid 512 Apid 640
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3846 H "TVB 8" is fta
NEWS
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 4 April 2001
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn finalise Digital Television Alliance
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn today announced the signing of the detailed agreements that form their digital television alliance, originally outlined in November 2000.
"This is the beginning of the national transition to digital broadcast in New Zealand. TVNZ is delighted to be making this significant step towards bringing these benefits to the country," TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis said.
"Today signals the beginning of greater choice and competition for quality convergent services, and that is great news for all New Zealanders, not just TelstraSaturn customers." TelstraSaturn CEO Jack Matthews said.
The partners have signed an interconnection agreement that provides for open access to each other’s transmission networks and set-top boxes. The alliance also includes a satellite services agreement that sub-leases satellite capacity on the Optus B1 satellite to TelstraSaturn. The partners have also agreed to set up a joint venture to develop interactive television content and services.
Mr Ellis said "Both TelstraSaturn and TVNZ have talked previously with SKY in the hope of achieving a true open access approach to the New Zealand market. Now that TelstraSaturn and TVNZ have agreed an open access approach, we are hopeful that SKY will join us." Mr Matthews noted that the parties were in discussions with CanWest and were optimistic of reaching agreement soon to include TV3 and TV4 in both the free-to-air and pay services.
TelstraSaturn will launch a pay television service using a basic set-top-box provided by one of TelstraSaturn’s parent companies, Austar Communications. The service will provide a highly competitive television content offering including a wide range of general entertainment and pay per view channels.
The service will not initially provide for any interactivity or other broadcast enhancements but will provide a high quality digital picture. The TelstraSaturn satellite pay television service will be available in the third quarter, well in advance of the All Black tours later in the year. The service will be launched in regional stages and progressively rolled out to a complete nationwide service by December 31st.
TVNZ will launch a free-to-air digital broadcast service on October 1st 2001. This service will use an interactive capable set-top-box operating on well-established international standards for software and hardware. The set-top-box adopted by TVNZ will be capable of interoperability with both TelstraSaturn and Sky, although initially only TelstraSaturn interoperability will be enabled as Sky has yet to conclude an open access agreement.
The TVNZ box will be capable of delivering an increasing number of non-traditional services such as e-mail, Internet, home shopping, games and radio to enhance the viewer/user experience. Enhancements and interactivity around traditional television content will also be introduced. TVNZ is currently developing a number of these new services for launch. The service will follow the same pattern of regional rollout as TelstraSaturn and will be completed nationwide by December 31st.
Mr Matthews said that pricing details would be revealed closer to launch and that the TelstraSaturn service and bundled service extensions would be very competitive. The free-to-air service requires the consumer/viewer to purchase an unsubsidised set-top-box but does not require any ongoing subscription for free-to-air services (existing and new). TVNZ will make these boxes available for purchase at cost. The free-to-air service will also be available with TelstraSaturn bundled service extensions.
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn have also provided within the agreements the ability for government departments and agencies to access and deploy set-top-boxes to utilise the potential of the digital service. This will greatly assist initiatives such as government on-line, closing the digital divide and enabling a communication infrastructure for the knowledge economy.
The partners are also committed to developing their relationship in a number of other areas, particularly in the acquisition of programming as already evidenced by the joint acquisition of the end of year international All Blacks test matches.
For further information please contact:
TelstraSaturn
Deanne Weir
Director Corporate Development
Ph: 029 650 166
TVNZ
Glen Sowry
General Manager Public Affairs
Ph: 09 916 7565
Mob: 021-461 775
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 4 April, 2001
SKY CONFIRMS ITS OFFER TO CARRY TV1 AND TV2 AT NO COST
In response to the announcement today by TVNZ to launch a free-to-air digital broadcast service later this year. SKY's Director of Communications, Tony O'Brien said, "We can but reiterate our long standing offer to carry the state owned broadcaster's free-to-air channels, TV1 and TV2, on our digital satellite network at no cost to the New Zealand taxpayer."
For further information please contact:
Tony O'Brien
Director of Communications
email [email protected]
Telephone 09 5799999
Mobile 025 978309
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 5 April 2001
SKY LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE NEW
24-HOUR MGM MOVIE CHANNEL ON ITS DIGITAL SERVICE
SKY Television and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (NYSE: MGM) have forged a new alliance to launch a 24-hour MGM-branded movie channel on SKY’s growing Digital platform, starting 8.30pm, Sunday, June 3.
The channel will exclusively showcase round-the-clock offerings from MGM’s vast collection of films – arguably the greatest and most expansive modern film library in the world.
Titles span such Oscar winning favourites as; The Best Years of Our Lives, Marty, Tom Jones, In The Heat Of The Night, Midnight Cowboy, Rocky and Annie Hall to perennial favourites such as Wuthering Heights, Some Like It Hot, The Sweet Smell Of Success, The Train, The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Magnificent Seven and Sunday Bloody Sunday. The channel will also feature complete series of films including, The James Bond collection, The Pink Panther series, 70’s European cinema, Blaxploitation and more modern titles such as City Slickers, Robocop and Silence of the Lambs.
The MGM Movie Channel will initially be available on the basic tier of SKY’s Digital satellite service, which currently reaches more than 235,000 homes. The main movie of the night will play at 8.30pm and all movies will be uncut and uninterrupted.
“MGM is arguably the greatest movie studio of all time, so to be able to join forces with them to add this superb and exclusive channel to the SKY Digital package is quite a coup,” says SKY Television’s Chief Executive Officer, John Fellet.
“We look forward to building on our already successful relationship with SKY and to the opportunities for the MGM Movie Channel in this market and other potential neighbouring territories,” adds Jim Griffiths, President, MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
TVNZ going digital October
From http://onebusiness.nzoom.com/business_detail/0,1245,35285,00.html
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn have formalised an alliance covering their roll-out of digital television from October and now want Sky TV to join them.
Rick Ellis, TVNZ's chief executive, says the parties have talked to Sky TV before.
"Now TelstraSaturn and TVNZ have agreed to an open access approach, we are hopeful Sky will join us," Ellis says.
The pair are also talking with TV3 and TV4's owner, Canadian communications company CanWest.
Jack Matthews, TelstraSaturn's chief executive, says they are optimistic of reaching an agreement with CanWest soon, which would see TV3 and TV4 included in both the free-to-air and pay services.
The interconnection agreement will allow TVNZ and TelstraSaturn open access to each others' transmission networks and set-top-boxes. TelstraSaturn also gets to sub-lease some of TVNZ's satellite capacity on the Optus B1 satellite.
A further joint venture will develop interactive television content and services.
The agreement actually creates two digital services - TVNZ's free-to-air and TelstraSaturn's subscription service.
TVNZ plans to kick off its free-to-air digital broadcasts on October 1. Ellis says this will be through an interactive capable set-top-box operating on international standards for software and hardware.
The box will be sold "at cost", Ellis says. It will be capable of delivering an increasing number of non-traditonal TV services such as e-mail, internet, home shopping, games and radio.
TVNZ is also working towards delivering interactivity around its traditional content.
For viewers who meantime just want the better quality picture digital broadcasting provides, it means buying the set-top box and a small dish antenna to pick up the signal from the satellite.The set-top-box makes the digital signals compatible with existing analogue sets. It will also be able to be tuned into Sky if that broadcaster decides to join the alliance.
TelstraSaturn says its satellite pay TV service will be available in the third quarter (of the year) and before the All Black tour it has rights to later in the year.
"The service will be launched in regional stages and progressively rolled out to a complete nationwide service by December 31," Matthews says.
While the TelstraSaturn digital service won't initially offer interactivity, Matthews says it will have competitive TV content and general entertainment and pay-per-view channels.
Matthews isn't revealing the cost of his company's service yet, but says it will be competitive.
TVNZ digital just six months off
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=181247&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn are going ahead with their digital satellite television joint venture, which will be kicked off in time for All Black internationals at the end of the year.
The duo announced yesterday that they had finalised an alliance, outlined last November, in which TVNZ would launch a digital free-to-air service on October 1, and TelstraSaturn a pay TV satellite service in the third quarter of this year.
The partnership is a major challenge to Sky Television, and TelstraSaturn has already signalled its intent by outbidding Sky for rights to All Black internationals against Ireland and Scotland at the end of the year.
As part of the deal, TelstraSaturn has sub-leased a space from TVNZ on its satellite transponders that has the capacity to provide up to 23 digital channels.
But although the arrangement appears to bring more viewing choice to the consumer, it is fraught with complications.
To view any of the new services will require a TV set-top box and dish antenna, a setup much the same as for Sky's digital service. Viewers who want both Sky and the TVNZ or TelstraSaturn services will need two set-top boxes. TVNZ general manager of strategy James Munro said ideally TVNZ wanted "a one box and one antenna world," and that the only reason two were required "was commercial, not technical."
TVNZ and TelstraSaturn are hoping Sky will join the "open access" system it proposes, and that free-to-air providers other than TVNZ would join as well. Discussions are already taking place with CanWest about including TV3 and TV4 in the digital service.
Sky's director of communications, Tony O'Brien, reiterated the company's enthusiasm for the partnership when it was announced in November. He said it would be welcomed as long as the free-to-air signals complied with international MPEG2 DVB standards that would enable Sky to pick them up for its own satellite service.
"We can but reiterate our long-standing offer to carry the state-owned broadcaster's free-to-air channels, TV One and TV2, on our digital satellite network at no cost to the New Zealand taxpayer," said Mr O'Brien.
The stumbling block however appears to be differing encryption standards.
News of the deal came as TelstraSaturn announced that it had won the rights to this year's FA Cup final, to be played on May 13, depriving New Zealand soccer fans outside Wellington of coverage.
Wellington-based TelstraSaturn will show it only to their cable subscribers in and around the capital.
The final has been shown live throughout New Zealand since 1973 when, in one of the biggest upsets in cup history, second division Sunderland beat first division Leeds United 1-0.
VIEWER OPTIONS
* Do nothing. Keep your existing TV and the free-to-air channels it receives at present. Eventually everyone will need a digital TV.
* Buy a digital set-top box for your existing TV. These are not yet being sold in New Zealand but are likely to cost between $600 and $700 installed. You will need one of these and a dish antenna to get TVNZ's new digital free-to-air service starting in October. The box is likely to have the ability to make your TV interactive and provide e-mail and internet access.
* Subscribe to TelstraSaturn's service. Prices have not been worked out yet, but the service will include a subsidised TV set-box and antenna - probably for a monthly subscription cost similar to Sky.
* Subscribe to both TelstraSaturn and Sky. That is likely to mean you have two set-top boxes perched on your TV.
You will probably get away with one antenna, but only if Sky allows the installer to put a "splitter" box on the aerial wire running from your dish to the TV.
Digital deal declares TV war
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=181221&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general
All-out war between the two pay television providers, Sky and TelstraSaturn, looks set to break out with the conclusion of a long-awaited digital television partnership between TVNZ and TelstraSaturn.
Initially expected to be operational before the middle of the year, the partnership - foreshadowed in November - will now be transmitting by October at the latest.
The precise terms of the agreement reached yesterday have not been detailed, but in general terms it is about sharing costs and exploiting the capabilities of the two companies.
TelstraSaturn will lease satellite capacity on the Optus B1 satellite from TVNZ and the partners will work together on the acquisition of programming - an alliance that has already won them the broadcast rights to the All Black tour at the end of the year.
For TVNZ, the partnership involves huge savings, compared with the $200 million mentioned for its abandoned joint venture with British cable giant NTL.
In November, TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis suggested the digital partnership with TelstraSaturn might cost somewhere between $3 million and $10 million.
The benefits for TelstraSaturn are that it gets national reach at a moderate cost and is freed from the geographic confines of its cable networks, which so far work only in Wellington and Christchurch.
TelstraSaturn will now compete head to head with Sky in digital satellite broadcasting, although its sport offering will not initially be as comprehensive.
It will use the joint venture to project a broader range of services, including mobile telephones and internet access, as well as long-distance calling, to a national audience previously difficult to reach.
As customers grow, it says, the economic justification for extending its fixed wire network will improve.
What is less clear is the extent to which TVNZ and TelstraSaturn will cooperate over the set-top boxes that enable users to receive the signal and order interactive services.
While the partners are dedicated to a common system, thus saving subscribers having to purchase multiple boxes for each service, customers wanting TVNZ's free-to-air service will simply buy a box and no further payments will be made.
Despite fierce lobbying by Sky, previous negotiations between it and TVNZ fell apart over the latter's refusal to allow TVNZ interactive services, although it was prepared to carry its two channels free of charge.
TelstraSaturn's corporate development manager, Deanne Weir, said the company saw little need to go straight to interactivity for its pay television service, and would be satisfied with one-way transmissions for the time being.
It plans to launch its pay television service using a refurbished set-top box provided by one of its parents, Austar United, which has replaced its subscribers' equipment in Australia with interactive-capable boxes. Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said the deal was "welcome progress" towards TVNZ's being able to offer a digital television service to the public.
Optus deal gives Singapore control of Australian defence satellites
From http://www.smh.com.au/breaking/0104/05/A34423-2001Apr5.shtml
The federal government is investigating the foreign-owned Cable and Wireless Optus Ltd's $500 million satellite joint venture with the Australian Defence Force.
The sale of C&W Optus to Singapore Telecommunications could give the majority Singapore government-owned carrier control over the C1 satellite, to be used for highly-sensitive Australian military communications.
A spokesman for Federal Defence Minister Peter Reith said the government was aware a change in C&W Optus' ownership could have security implications.
"The government recognises that satellite communications are an important component of defence communications, and is aware that a change of ownership has implications for security," the spokesman told AAP.
"As such, the government is exploring a variety of options to protect its investments and national security interests."
The spokesman noted that the planned $17.2 billion sale of C&W Optus to SingTel remained subject to recommendations from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
The $500 million C1 satellite, which has a 15-year lifespan, is scheduled for launch early in 2002.
When it announced the deal in 1999, C&W Optus said the Department of Defence would utilise half of the satellite's capacity for high bandwidth, long-range communications to support the ADF.
The remaining half would be used for civilian commercial business.
A C&W Optus spokesperson said the sale of C&W Optus would not have any impact on the satellite joint venture.
She said talks were being held with the Department of Defence to ensure it was comfortable with security arrangements.
"I believe there are talks going on at the moment just making sure that they're comfortable with security arrangements and so on," the spokesperson said.
"But there always has been security arrangements. It's just making sure that they are full briefed and fully comfortable, which we think that they are."
Industry experts said the satellite deal raised security concerns as the Singapore government had a long history of controlling SingTel's operations.
"I would think there would be alarm bells ringing left, right and centre," independent telco analyst Paul Budde said.
"You have to be very careful about diplomatic links, and Singapore is a friendly country, but at the same time we all know the link between the (Singapore) government and SingTel is such that the government can basically access to every single thing that SingTel is doing."
The Singapore government has a 78 per cent stake in SingTel, but has indicated it may reduce its share.
SingTel last week announced its $17 billion bid for C&W Optus, Australia's second largest phone company, following a drawn-out bidding process.
The deal remains subject to shareholder approval and FIRB approval. The federal government has indicated it supports the sale.
Intelsat looks to buy broadband satellite system
From indiantelevision.com
Intelsat has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of a next-generation broadband satellite system as a key component of the organisation's initiative to address growing IP market demands worldwide, Ramu Potarazu, chief technology officer, announced on Monday, according to a company news release.
The RFP includes one geostationary Ku/Ka-band satellite operating in a bent pipe configuration, with options for up to four more spacecraft. The system is expected to support last-mile access for small and affordable user terminals as well as customers who target small and medium enterprises and small office-home office users. The organisation's goal is for the contract to be awarded by the fall, with deployment expected to occur in 2004.
Along with the RFP, Intelsat is looking at other opportunities to address broadband business issues. Included are current and upcoming services on its existing satellite fleet, as well as a continuing investigation of new system alternatives, Potarazu says.
"Responses to the RFP will help us to further solidify our strategy for acquiring next-generation broadband infrastructure, so this is an important step in Intelsat's plan to build on our communications industry experience to meet evolving market needs," says Potarazu. "The combination of the next-generation equipment and the new services being developed on our existing fleet is expected to ensure the company's long-term ability to not only meet those needs, but also do it in ways that will give users a leg up on the competition."
Intelsat already has 10 satellites on order, representing a total investment of more than $3.2 billion for launches planned from this year through 2003.
Intelsat presently offers Internet, broadcast, telephony and corporate network solutions around the globe through a fleet of 19 satellites.
4/4/01
Thanks to those who turned up in the chatroom it was a great turnout! Not much else to say other than the Champions Cup Cricket will be on tonight B3 12363v. Western Australia playing Natala Zulu. I have added a I702 page. Has anyone managed to get the RFO Polynesie signal there?
From my Emails & ICQ
Hi, Craig
Could you help me? I have looking for to view RFO Polynesie here in New Zealand. If, I can get RFO, what size the dish?
Best Regards
[email protected]
Craigs reply, Where in NZ?
RFO is on Intelsat 701 and 702, for reception of these in NZ you need a 3.7M+ dish as minimum with circular feed. RFO Polynesie has moved to I702 recently. I have not had any reports of anyone who is receiveing it from the new location.
CSAT bouquet RFO New Caledonia on 701 E.
Bonjour Graig.
Just had confirmation from RFO Head office in Paris France that RFO New Caledonia will start
on April 17th 2001. CSAT Bouquet RFO Nouvelle caledonie .
Au Revoir.
Sal.
Merimbula NSW Australia
Craigs reply, But will it be FTA?
From the Dish
LMI 75E 3960 ? "mystery" Sr 27500 Fec 2/3
NEWS
Big players need to get interactive on TV front
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=180996&thesection=technology&thesubsection=general
High-tech TV might mean a clutter of hardware, writes PETER GRIFFIN.
It has been greeted with much hype overseas, but interactive TV - the technology that will allow you to e-mail your friends, pay your mortgage and watch re-runs of Coronation Street, all through your TV - could struggle to get off the ground because of a lack of common standards.
Overseas, several companies - from big-league players such as Microsoft and America Online through to start-ups including TiVo and Replay - are scrambling to sign up subscribers. But they are overlooking the need for global standards allowing each operators' equipment and applications to talk to each other.
Viewers who have bravely ventured into interactive TV have so far been chained to a particular operator, using a particular set-top box, and can view only certain content.
Locally, you can subscribe to Sky's 40-odd digital channels and receive one set-top box. Want greater interactivity? Add ihug's SurfBoard, a set-top box offering that allows users to surf the web and send e-mails via their TV. A TelstraSaturn/TVNZ set-top box will also soon join the mix.
The amount of equipment you can adorn your TV with is significant, but a standard letting the devices work together is elusive.
Hardware manufacturers, in particular, are campaigning for open, non-proprietary standards. Consumer electronics giant Philips is pushing for interactive TV to be set up on the PC model, so that consumers can buy a set-top box and choose which platform, broadcaster and ISP they want to subscribe to.
Philips, which has 24.3 per cent of the New Zealand consumer electronics market, is among 200 companies which have pledged support for a platform known as the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), a generic interface that allows interactive digital applications to communicate with hardware devices. It would be an extension of digital video broadcasting (DVB), the standard widely recognised by digital broadcasters.
According to Philips, MHP would extend the existing, successful DVB platform to all transmission networks, including satellite, cable, terrestrial and microwave systems, as well as the full range of interactive TV content.
Christian Lake, the company's European head of business development for consumer electronics, believes that the emergence of interactive TV means "prime-time will be any time" as viewers choose when to receive programming.
But speaking last week at Philips' annual media conference in Bali, the Amsterdam-based executive warned that existing interactive TV systems such as TiVo, which Philips has invested in, and the Microsoft-backed Web TV, would continue to struggle unless there were common, non-proprietary standards.
The likes of TiVo and arch-rival Replay let you add interactivity to your TV with the addition of digital recording devices. Both allow you to record hours of programming, search and record content and pause live TV shows.
But TiVo has attracted only 150,000 users since its US launch 18 months ago. Philips attributes the lacklustre response to bad marketing and a complex subscription model.
Similar problems have struck Microsoft's interactive TV platform, Web TV. The service initially experienced good sales in the US, but up to 40 per cent of users discontinue their subscription after one year, said Mr Lake.
"Compared with DVB, TiVo is not a success. You could say it's a disappointment.
"There are a lot of services available but they are all isolated. They all require different devices and service providers. Without an open standard, interactive TV will not be a success."
David Plummer, general manager of business development at TelstraSaturn, said the company had not yet settled on the standard that would underpin its interactive TV venture with TVNZ, but "definitive" details of the partnership would be announced this month.
"It's a fairly confused picture at the moment," he said.
"It's likely that where we can, we will go for acknowledged industry standards rather than highly proprietary systems."
Whatever standard TelstraSaturn and TVNZ go for, it is unlikely to be compatible with Sky TV's Open TV standard, a situation that would see customers need two set-top boxes to access programming from both operators.
Sky's director of communications, Tony O'Brien, said that was already the situation for many customers in Wellington.
Sky begins downloading Open TV software to customers' digital decoders this month and a staggered release of interactive services will follow, starting with an interactive programming guide.
An interactive games package and an interactive weather channel allowing Sky customers to view forecast information for particular regions will be available next month.
E-mail access via the tube will be possibly in July, when wireless keyboards will be issued to users. Set-top decoders that incorporate hard drives, allowing the digital storage of programmes, are also on the cards for late 2002, based on a system called XTV being employed by the Rupert Murdoch-owned European satellite operator, BSkyB.
But, ultimately, there must be more to interactive TV than digital video recorders, e-mail access and limited web browsing.
While Sky will look to introduce "t-commerce" early next year, allowing the convenience of buying certain products via your TV, don't expect to be surfing the web from your couch any time soon.
"Full internet access via the TV is not Sky's intention," said Mr O'Brien.
Viewers will increasingly expect to be able to access programme-related content, hang out in chatrooms and play games using the TV. But the features that will serve to lure consumers away from the PC screen are still a long way off.
And while Sky is unclear how users will be charged for the services, early adopters in New Zealand might face hefty set-up costs and continuing charges if overseas examples are anything to go by.
At present most interactive TV services require a payment of up to $US300 ($750) for a set-top box plus monthly fees that can come on top of existing pay-TV subscriptions.
SKY Racing changing the rules?
Pay-tv subscribers may have to pay $14.95 a month for the SKY Racing channel from August 1.
SKY Racing is the only channel supplied free to Foxtel, Optus and Austar but that arrangement will come to an end on July 21.
Punters might be dirty on the charges but SKY Racing and the racing industry believe they should be compensated for their services just as the NRL. AFL or Walt Disney are for providing product for a cable channel.
If Foxtel and Optus are not prepared to charge subscribers a fee to pass on to SKY, SKY may look at another distribution system.
If that situation eventuates. which is unlikely, SKY may establish their own cable network.
The original push to give the home racing service free to consumers came from the Victorian racing industry, which expected racing in the lounge room to ignite a huge rise in TAB turnover.
Although there has been a significent rise in turnover, it has not been as large as anticipated and now Victoria, along with the other states, sees charging subscribers as an obvious way to generate additional revenue.
Austar have already indicated they do not see a charge for the service an option and have issued the following press release
Austar to keep Sky Racing in Basic Package
Austar Communications today affirmed that Sky Racing would remain a key channel of its “basic” television package and that customers would not be forced to pay extra to receive the service.
?We know that many of our customers love Sky Racing,” said Bruce Mann, Managing Director of Austar. “Therefore, we are determined that they will continue to receive it in the most convenient form and at no extra cost.”
Every Austar residential subscriber receives the “Basic” package of channels.
Sky Racing has been trying to force Austar and other pay TV operators to place the channel in a separate tier, which would have been charged as an additional fee for customers wishing to watch racing.
?We launched Sky Racing in 1998 as part of our basic residential service, pursuant to a long term agreement that we signed with Sky. Over the past few months, Sky Racing and its parent, the TAB, have been pressing us to change that agreement,” Mr Mann said.
?Sky Racing and the TAB now want to charge significant subscription fees, in addition to maximising the phone betting and on-air advertising revenues they get by making the channel available to our entire customer base. They want to have a bet Each Way, but expect to collect for a Win. They can’t have it both ways. Our agreement is clear and any change to it would be unfair to our customers.”
"At Austar we are committed to growing our business by improving content and introducing new services. Our success will benefit our programme suppliers and we are confident that Sky Racing will see the real up side for them in assisting us in that growth," Mr Mann concluded.
C7 ready to play on Foxtel
From http://www.theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,4511,1862852%255E643,00.html
THE Seven Network could be broadcasting its C7 sports channels on Foxtel by Monday after a critical decision on access by the competition watchdog.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued its interim determination on the price and terms of access last Friday and gave Seven a week to respond.
If Seven agrees with the ACCC's stance, Foxtel – which is owned by Telstra, The News Corporation Ltd and Publishing & Broadcasting – must provide it with immediate access to its cable, subscriber management system and set-top boxes.
One source last night expected Seven to make an announcement on the ACCC's ruling today. Another said the need to resolve technical issues could see C7's launch on Foxtel pushed back by up to three weeks.
If Seven disagrees with the ACCC's ruling on the terms of access it must wait for a final determination. No deadline for that decision has been set but sources expected the ACCC to act swiftly.
Seven, which has been battling for four years to gain access to Foxtel, is now expected to pay between $5 million and $10 million a year for access to the nation's biggest pay TV network.
But in return its sports channels would become the most widely available in Australia, accessible on each of the three pay TV services – Foxtel, Austar and Optus. Foxtel's pay TV sports channel, Fox Sports, is only on Foxtel and Austar.
Specific agreement terms, such as whether charges are to be based on subscriber numbers or a flat fee, is not known.
The chief executive of Foxtel's 50 per cent shareholder Telstra, Ziggy Switkowski, recently said Foxtel was waiting to learn whether the ACCC would allow access on commercial terms before deciding whether to digitise the Foxtel service.
"We are a little bit concerned that if the regulator requires and declares access on non-commercial terms then it may make the business case harder to justify," he said.
Seven had asked for access for eight pay TV channels and, as the interim determination does not specifically relate to sports channels, Seven is expected to quickly roll out other services.
It has previously suggested it may launch an AFL channel and an entertainment channel based on its access to the MGM film library.
Foxtel and Seven have been in arbitration with the ACCC to determine the terms of Seven's access since the full bench of the Federal Court upheld a decision to force Foxtel to carry Seven's pay TV channels in October.
Foxtel has now sought leave to appeal the Federal Court's ruling to the High Court but it is not yet known when that decision will be made.
Foxtel argues it is not a "carriage service provider" and therefore the ACCC does not have the ability to provide access to its set-top boxes.
The court actions stem from the ACCC's 1996 declaration of Telstra's cable for analogue pay TV services. But Foxtel denied access to Seven and the ethnic pay TV company Television and Radio Broadcasting Services, arguing it had a protected contractual right to the cable owned by Telstra.
However, the court said Telstra and Foxtel had not finalised the agreement before the declaration.
Both Seven's and Foxtel's spokespeople declined to comment last night, saying the interim declaration was subject to privacy agreements.
3/4/01
LIVECHAT tonight in the chatroom. As you can see a big catchup update from when I was away on Holiday. I hope I didn't leave out anything, everything on the page today is new from a clean page!
Odds and ends
March, added to History
Various feeds added and alterations to some satellite pages.
Australian pay tv website http://australianpaytelevision.cjb.net/
From my Emails & ICQ
Received while I was away,
From Bill Richards
Optus B1 0930 UTC 29/3/01
12678 H Sr 13280 Fec 7/8 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "TCN 9 18Mhz" Swimming Sports Feed in 4:2:2 Audio in the clear but Video looks blocky.
Bill also sends this screenshot of RFO Tempo (I701 KU)
Pas 2 0655 UTC 31/3/01
3992 V Sr 26470 Fec 7/8 Vpid 1360 Apid 1320 SID3 "Australia vs India Cricket feed" NTSC, U.S Feed I think
Pas 2 0727 UTC
3864 H Sr 6110 3/4
Vpid 2160 Apid 2120 SID 21 PMT 5021 "PAS-2 TV 1" Mediasat Test Card
Vpid 2560 Apid 2520 SID 23 PMT 5023 "PAS-2 SNG MUX" Blank no V or A
Vpid 2160 Apid 2122 SID 24 PMT 5012 "Ch 3+4 Audio" Blank no V or A
Asiasat 2 0700 UTC
3735 V Sr 6250 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Sports Feed"
Optus B1
0337 UTC 01/04/01
12405 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 Vpid 1160 Apid 1120 "National Rugby League Weekend Feeds"
0341 UTC
12424 H Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 "Astralinks SNG" Test Card
Regards
Bill
Hi from Vanuatu
I am trying to find some info on the sat system we have and what
channels should be able to receive,
new at this and would appreciate any assistance.
Currently we get Star Sports - would like a web site giving
programming info.
Studio 23 - from the Philippines, I think. Have a web site for
there programming.
BBC world - need web site if possible.
CNN - not watched much.
Could you help are there any other channels I may be able to get
Free to Air.
regards
Peter Thomas Vanuatu
Long live Australia TV, you are sadly missed.........
Craigs reply, Have you actually visited my website www.apsattv.com
From what you wrote you can get Asiasat 3 , Palapa C2, Pas 8, Pas 2 at least.
If you look at those satellites on my website you will see the channels listed and if you select the P1 link or P2 link etc it should take you straight to the programing pages for each of them.
Hi,
Can you advise of any FTA Philippine Channels still available to view in Australia. I have been recently advised that none are now available. Is this so?
Many Thanks
Garry
Alice Springs
Central Australia
Craigs reply, You should able to get GMA Network off Agila 2 146E
http://www.gmanetwork.com/
It weak but its analog and is better the furthur north you go. A 3.7M should produce watchable pictures in Alice Springs. We do have another reader in your location they may be able to check up on it.
Hi:
I wish to watch Russia TV progams in TARB, is it possible? I live in New Zealand?
paul
Craigs Reply, no I am sure you can't subscribe to Tarbs in NZ, you should get the signal ok with a good quality dish but they probably won't let you subscribe. Try sending them an email
From the Dish
Happenings between 30/3/01-3/4/01
NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Udaya News" started Vpid 1860 Apid 1820
NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Surya News" started Vpid 1960 Apid 1920
NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Feeds" Vpid 1060 Apid 1020
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3660 V "Zee TV Asia" has new audio frequencys 6.30:6.48 and 6.80 MHz
Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Australia TV info card is still on includeing 3 radio channels"
Optus B1 160E 12404 V "Mediasat package" has left here
Optus B1 160E 12405 V "Occasional feeds" Sr 6110 Fec 3/4
Optus B1 160E 12678 H "TC9 18 MHZ Swimming Feed" Sr 13280 Fec 7/8 Vpid 308 Apid 256 4:2:2 mpg ,clear audio
Intelsat 702 176E 4027 L "RFO Polynesie" new here, Sr 4566 Fec 3/4
Intelsat 701 180E 3772 R "RFO Polynesie" has left, moved to Intelsat 702.
TDRS 5 174.3W 3727 H "Mckibben test card" Sr 4500 Fec 2/3 Vpid 200 Apid 210
TDRS 5 174.3W 3727 H "Mckibben test card" Sr 4500 Fec 2/3 Vpid 300 Apid 310
(Anyone recieve the above?)
NEWS
SingTel Wins C&W Optus for Up to US$9.5 Billion
From www.satnewsasia.com
Singapore Telecommunications (Sing Tel) has taken control of Cable & Wireless Optus in the largest deal crafted by a Singaporean company.
Sing Tel paid a generous US$9.5 billion for C&W Optus, Australia’s second largest telephone company. The price was also some US$1.5 billion more than what Optus’ owners, UK-based Cable & Wireless plc, had been expecting.
SingTel plans to fund its acquisition of Optus through a combination of cash, bonds and an issue of up to US$3.1 billion in new shares.
At this stage, however, it is unclear whether the deal will give Sing Tel full control of Optus’ constellation of four satellites, two of which are operational. The Australian military is a major client of Optus Satellite Systems, an Optus subsidiary.
The Optus B1 and Optus B3 satellites are used mainly for TV broadcasting, mobile satellite services, telecommunications and government work. Both are expected to continue in service until 2005 when they will gradually be replaced by the “C” series satellites now under construction. Australia’s Department of Defense has an A$500 million joint venture with Optus Satellite to launch the Optus C1 satellite in 2002.
Sing Tel chairman Koh Boon Hwee said their offer for Optus would not eat up the company’s considerable resources; the company’s cash on hand amounted to US$3.3 billion in March.
The acquisition is part of SingTel’s drive for an expanded Asian presence given Singapore’s small and saturated telecoms market.
Koh added that the acquisition would give SingTel “significant capacity for expansion in the region.”
SingTel will not stop at Optus “if the opportunities present themselves,” Koh said. SingTel is determined to become a leading Asian player and is targeting more Asian telecoms firms as European carriers like British Telecom and Deutsche Telekom continue to reassess their telecoms investments in Asia.
SingTel won Optus in competition against Vodafone, Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and a number of other competitors. Its victory was made certain when Vodafone withdrew its revised bid for Optus.
Shares of both SingTel and Optus, however, fell as news of the acquisition was confirmed.
Chris Anderson, Chief Executive of Optus, said SingTel's entry would help drive increasing competition and quality in Australia’s already mature telecoms market.
Optus, he said, “will grow from being a successful, highly competitive Australian entity to becoming part of a formidable regional player of stature, significance and strength.”
He added that SingTel's powerful position in the region will assist growth in Optus’ major lines of business and enhance its status as a potent competitor to Telstra, Australia’s largest telecoms provider.
"SingTel's financial strength and track record complement Optus' growth, increasing market share and enhanced profitability," he said.
SingTel also offers broad opportunities throughout the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the high growth wireless and data services sectors. Optus' business will form a vital part of an extensive Asia-Pacific telecommunications network.
U.S. Satellite Makers Losing Out to European Makers but Still Tops Asian Market
From satnewsasia.com
After dominating the world’s geostationary commercial telecommunications satellite manufacturing industry for nearly four decades, the Americans are beginning to lose out to European competitors.
A recent report last month of U.S. Satellite Industry Association has revealed California’s commercial satellite industry, which dominated the world market for years, lost $1.2 billion in revenue and more than 1,200 jobs last year. The report said U.S. satellite companies’ share of the global market declined by 30 percent in 2000 to an all-time low of 45 percent. Except for the last two years, U.S. satellite makers have accounted for an average of 75 percent of all commercial satellites in orbit for the last ten years.
The study revealed the losses were results of stiffer export controls imposed by the U.S. Congress. Under a March 1999 law enacted by Congress, the oversight for export of commercial satellites was moved from the Commerce Department to the State Department, and commercial satellites, along with related components were reclassified as munitions. But classifying commercial satellites with tanks, missiles and bombs has resulted in time-consuming and expensive licensing delays and denials, causing some customers, ironically including U.S.-based companies, to turn to overseas suppliers.
The U.S. satellite industry hopes to use the study to pressure the Congress to amend the law or find significant remedy. Congress has earlier imposed the restrictions after allegations arose that China had stolen U.S. secrets in launching commercial U.S. spacecraft. But subsequent reports concluded that the information did not significantly help China’s nuclear weapons strength.
The most dramatic effect of the restrictions could be easily seen in California, which serves as the headquarters of two of the world’s leading satellite manufacturers – Boeing Satellite Systems and Loral Space and Communications. California is home to four of the world’s six largest satellite makers, where 75 percent of all communications satellites that have been or are in orbit were built. These companies employ 25,000 people but last year, they lost out on US$1.2 billion in contracts, many which went to European competitors, the study says. The loss or orders is estimated to have cost at least 1,000 jobs.
A satellite can cost as much as US$250 million and takes 18 months to build.
The study notes that last year, California makers got only 13 orders of the most popular geostationary commercial satellite in 2000, compared to 16 in 1998, the year before the new export restrictions took effect. At the same time, orders for European made satellites increased to 16 from 6.
Another reason, which could have caused the decline in order to US makers is the strength of dollar, which made U.S. made goods relatively more expensive than European products. Another reason cited is European government’s continued investment in commercial satellite technologies. In addition, European makers, as underdogs, have been more willing to accept even onerous customer terms and conditions.
Other U.S. satellite groups share the conclusions of the report. The Satellite Industry Association of Alexandria, Va., firmly insists the U.S. government’s strict export-control policy for satellites is the main culprit behind U.S. firm’s losing out to the Europeans.
Based on industry reports, Europe’s two makers, Alcatel Space and Astrium, won 15 orders for 2000. The three big American competitors – Beoing, Space Systems/Loral and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Co. – got only 14 orders during the same period. These figures, however, do not include orders of companies who do not yet wish to be identified.
Not considering the experience with the China satellite, the Asian market is still with mostly U.S. makers, however.
Thailand’s Shin Satellite Plc. awarded a contract in August last year to Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) for the design and construction of iPSTAR-1, a high-powered geostationary satellite to be used for broadband communications applications. The contract includes training and support services, as well as an option for a second satellite.
Shin Sat will use iPSTAR-1, a spacecraft with a hybrid Ka-/Ku-band communications payload, to provide direct-to-desktop, last-mile services, including new multi-media and data services to customers in Asia, India, and Australia. The iPSTAR-1 satellite is scheduled to begin service in early 2003.
With total satellite power of approximately 14 kW, iPSTAR-1 will provide 100 beams in the Ku-band and the Ka-band -- to deliver broad coverage from its orbital location at 120 East longitude. iPSTAR-1 is designed to provide 12 years of uninterrupted service life. iPSTAR-1 will be a 1300S, a variation of SS/L's successful 1300 satellite product line that supports power requirements between 6 and 18 kW. The 1300S satellite bus uses advanced technologies to enable satellite operators to support their customers with a wider range of services, and to deliver them with greater reliability.
In March last year, Space Systems/Loral won another contract to build MTSAT-1R, an advanced multi-functional satellite for air traffic control and weather observation, for Japan's Ministry of Transport (MOT). When delivered in 2002, the MTSAT-1R satellite will provide communications and navigational services for aircraft, and will gather weather data for users throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region -- as far south as Australia/New Zealand.
SS/L is a significant provider of both environmental and telecommunications satellites for the Japanese market. The company has built 14 satellites for Japan, including the first two SUPERBIRD telecommunications satellites and two N-STAR communications satellites for Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT), one of the world's largest telephone companies.
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) of Hong Kong last year also tapped Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc (Hughes) for the construction of AsiaSat 4.
AsiaSat 4 will be the company's fourth satellite, scheduled for launch in the first half of 2002. This new satellite will be positioned at the orbital slot of 122 degrees East.
AsiaSat 4, a Hughes HS601HP satellite, will carry 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders and has an operational life of 15 years. The C-band payload is designed to offer pan-Asian coverage, similar to that of the Company's two other satellites, AsiaSat 2 and AsiaSat 3S. The Ku-band payload, offering high power and spot beams for selected areas, will consist of 16 Ku-band transponders operating in the FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) frequency band and four designed to operate in the BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service) frequency band. Assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to Hong Kong at 122 degrees East, these BSS frequencies allow broadcasters to offer Direct-to-Home (DTH) service in Hong Kong on AsiaSat 4.
Ironically, some American firms are choosing European makers for their satellite needs. GE Americom’s order for GE-1i and GE-2i satellites are with Alcatel Space. Planned for launch in 2003 at 47º West over the Atlantic and 172º East over the Pacific respectively, GE-1i and GE-2i will connect GE Americom's prime landmass-based satellites serving Asia, Europe and the Americas. The two large C-band satellites are under construction are based on the Spacebus 4000 platform. The satellites are scheduled for launch by International.
Inmarsat Ventures has also recently placed a US$700 million order with Astrium. Intelsat also has a pending order with Astrium and has options for five more.
American firms choosing European makers insist they make their choices free of political influence and were not based on concerns about U.S. government export regulations. They said their choice of suppliers was made on purely commercial terms. Most of them, however, agree that European makers tend to give them a real sense of commitment.
But just last week, Eutelsat, the first European satellite operator, awarded the e-Bird satellite contract to Boeing Satellite. Due for launch in the second quarter of 2002, e-BIRD will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 25.5 degrees East and will provide 20 active Ku-band transponders connected to four spot beams over the European region. Breaking with traditional design, the satellite's payload has been designed to accommodate the essentially asymmetric nature of Internet access. The satellite will have a contracted service life of 10 years and is a spin-stabilized Boeing 376 HP.
With the signature of the e-BIRD contract Eutelsat is securing capacity on seven new satellites, of which the first, EUROBIRD, is due for launch by Arianespace on an Ariane 5 rocket on March 8. Also programmed for launch this year are ATLANTIC BIRD 1 and 2 that will enable EUTELSAT to provide a satellite infrastructure that connects North and South America with Europe and Africa.
Boeing Signs Indonesian Commercial Launch Customer for Delta IV
From www.satnewsasia.com
Boeing Space Systems (BSS) has announced that Indonesian satellite operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) has come to a principal agreement with BSS to launch PSN’s M2A satellite aboard a Delta IV expendable launch vehicle in mid-2003.
PSN’s M2A is a Loral-built FS1300 communications satellite that will be placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) by a Delta IV Medium 5.4 variant rocket to be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The satellite will provide a wide variety of telecommunication services throughout the Asia-Pacific.
Boeing’s Delta Launch Services said it was pleased that PSN has selected Delta IV to deploy the M2A. “We have a successful history in launching satellites for Indonesia, and this launch will extend our relationship to the Delta IV family of launch vehicles,” according to David Schweikle, vice president of Boeing Delta Launch Services.
Adi Adiwoso, CEO and president director of PSN said that providing increasingly complex telecommunications services to PSN customers requires that PSN maintain a satellite systems capable of handling diverse broadband requirements.
+oeing provided us with the right solution to our proposal. The Delta IV assures us access to space, enabling us to deliver this service and maintain our presence as Indonesia’s leading satellite telecommunications company,” said Adiwoso.
The Delta IV Medium 5.4 is a commercial variant of the Delta IV family of launch vehicles that are capable of lifting 4,000 kg to 13,000 kg payloads to GTO, and are designed to meet the needs of the commercial market and the U.S. government.
The Delta IV family is capable of launching virtually any size medium or heavy payload into space. It is composed of five vehicles based on a common booster core (CBC) first stage. Delta IV second stages are derived from the Delta III second stage, using the same RL10B-2 engine, but with two sizes of expanded fuel and oxidizer tanks, depending on the mode
Delta IV uses the new and controversial Boeing Rocketdyne-built RS-68 liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine that produces 2,891 kN (650,000 lb) of thrust. This engine is mounted on a CBC first-stage structure
Performance problems with the RS-68 are jeopardizing Boeing’s participation in the EELV or the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle of the U.S. Air Force. EELV is expected to reduce the cost of launching by at least 25 percent over current Delta (Boeing), Atlas (Lockheed Martin) and Titan (Lockheed Martin) launch systems.
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 13/2001 - April 1 2001 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
(Edited Apsattv.com Edition)
A S I A
SCRIPPS SIGNS DISTRIBUTION DEALS
Lifestyle programmes from Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and Food Network have
sealed distribution deals in Asia. The Food Network’s Extreme Cuisine will be
shown in May 2001 on Hong Kong Cable Channel. The deal in Thailand is an
extension of an existing deal, HGTV and Food Network programming launched in
2000 on United Broadcasting Corporation’s X-ZYTE pay-TV channel. The line-up
will expand this spring, with 90 hours of additional content to begin airing in
April 2001.
AUSTRALIA
SINGTEL BUYS C&W OPTUS
After weeks of speculation, Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) confirmed on
March 25 it has launched a AUS$17 billion take-over bid of Australia’s second
biggest carrier, Cable & Wireless Optus. Its move on the British-based Cable &
Wireless’ Australian assets, which include the third-ranking pay-TV service
Optus Television, is seen as part of strategy to build a pan-Asian
communications empire. The SingTel bid, which offers Optus shareholders three
options a mix of cash, shares and bondshas bested an offer by its main
competitor, Vodaphone Pacific. SingTel, Southeast Asia’s largest phone company,
is 78 per cent owned by the Singapore government and is run by Lee Hsien Yang,
the second son of Singapore’s elder statesman, Lee Kuan Yew. However, a cloud
hangs over pay-TV operator Optus Vision, after SingTel refused to guarantee it
would keep the money-losing business. Optus has fallen well behind Foxtel in
the pay-TV battle in metropolitan areas. Foxtel’s 700,000 customer base is more
than 2.5 times Optus’s 200,000 customers.
HILL TRIES TO SAVE ATV
David Hill, formerly of the ABC, will be enlisted to save Australian Television
International (ATV), according to Australian Business Intelligence. ATV
broadcasts television to the Asia Pacific region. In August 2000, Australia’s
Seven Network, which had run ATV since 1997, announced that the venture was not
,ommercially viable”. The Australian Government set up a $A50 million subsidy
to be paid over 5 years to the group it nominated to run ATV. The Australian
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade awarded the subsidy to Seven in late
December 2000. ATV ceased operations in the week ending 24 March 2001.
Negotiations between Hill and the Department of Foreign Affairs continue in
late March 2001. Hill previously managed ATV’s operations, with more success
than attained by Seven.
CHINA - HONG KONG
CCTV CHALLENGES ESPN
China’s Central Television (CCTV) is challenging the right of sport’s channel
ESPN to broadcast live games from the country’s premier football league to
cable stations across China and to millions of viewers in Asia, according to a
report in the South China Morning Post. China’s professional soccer league has
14 teams, with 7 games played each Sunday. CCTV broadcasts one of the games
nationwide and ESPN a second one. The newspaper quoted Ma Guoli, director of
sports for CCTV, that ESPN live broadcasts were illegal because CCTV had the
exclusive contract for such games for 3 years from 1999 under an agreement with
the China Soccer Association. ESPN’s David Cantalupo in China said his company
had signed a 10-year contract in 1994 with International Management Group,
giving it the right to broadcast one game on satellite and cable in Asia.
VIACOM TO LAUNCH NICKELODEON
U.S. media giant Viacom will launch programming from its popular children’s
cable television channel Nickelodeon in China on May 1. In an interview with
Reuters, William Roedy, president of MTV Networks International, said: “We have
now just completed our agreement to launch May 1 a Nickelodeon half-hour block
on 100 different cable systems throughout China, which will give us exposure of
the Nickelodeon brand to 40 million households.” Content would initially be
?live action” produced by Nickelodeon but would eventually expand to
co-produced programming, including animation, he said. MTV Networks
International had linked up with China’s Tanglong Culture Development Co Ltd as
a distributor and would earn revenue from advertising and subscription fees.
MTV Networks aimed to offer more programming under the Nickelodeon brand in
China and expand delivery beyond cable to terrestrial, Roedy said. MTV shows
for six hours through four programmes co-produced with local television
stations in mainland China and the company hoped to expand to 24-hours soon,
Roedy said. Programming for the popular music television channel was already
available 24 hours a day through broadband access in China, but the scale was
small, Roedy said. MTV also distributes programming in the Mandarin Chinese
language, MTV Mandarin, in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. MTV reaches five
million households in Taiwan, 51 million in mainland China and more than
330,000 in Hong Kong, the company estimates.
CHINA PLANS DTT TRIALS
China plans to conduct tests of its own digital television broadcast standard
in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen this year. China has developed the key
digital television broadcasting technology on its own and the three cities have
been designated as experimental areas for the TV broadcasting, according to
officials attending a national conference on the matter. Shenzhen plans to make
the digital television broadcasting service available to 10,000 households.
China has patented 26 technologies concerning digital TV broadcasting and
transmission systems since May 1999, and the figure is expected to exceed 40
within this year, sources said. China has formulated seven technical standards
on digital TV broadcasting and standards on related receivers are being
formulated. However, no timetable has been made to replace analogue TV sets
with digital ones.
REVENUES UP FOR REMAINING PAY-TV OPERATORS
Pay-TV channels in Hong Kong can expect subscriber revenues to rise by as much
as 10 per cent following a second successive pay-TV licence drop-out. Rupert
Murdoch’s Star Media satellite broadcaster pulled out of the pay-TV running in
December 2000, and Hong Kong Network TV (NETV) pulled out last week, blaming
overcharging by network operators. Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, a unit of
free-to-air broadcaster Television Broadcasts (TVB), revised its revenue and
subscriber projections by 10 per cent following NETV’s withdrawal. Galaxy,
together with its two remaining pay-TV competitors Pacific Digital Media and
Cable TV, can now expect lower content cost and an increased share of the HK$1
billion advertising expenditure.
JAPAN
TOYOTA TO BUY STAKE IN SATELLITE BROADCASTER
Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. has announced it will take a 10 per cent stake in an
advanced communications satellite digital broadcasting company to be
established next month by companies including Hitachi, Ltd. and Asahi
Broadcasting Corp. Digital broadcasting via advanced communications satellite
is scheduled to start in Japan during the fiscal year ending March 2002. Toyota
said that through the investment worth ¥200 million in the new broadcaster, it
would consider ways to link the broadcasting services to auto-based terminals,
such as car navigation systems.
QVC JAPAN LAUNCHES APRIL 1
QVC Japan, the 24-hour shopping channel, will go live at 08:00 on April 1 to
1.2 million cable households and 2.5 million SkyPerfecTV! subscribers. QVC
Japan is 60 per cent owned by a subsidiary of QVC, Inc. and 40 per cent by
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan. QVC, Inc. is an e-commerce leader, marketing a
wide variety of brand name products in such categories as home furnishing,
licensed products, fashion, beauty, electronics and fine jewelry. QVC reaches
over 77 million homes in the United States.
2/4/01
Away on Holiday
1//4/01
Away on Holiday
