29/02/04

No update Sunday




28/02/04

No update Saturday




27/02/04

New radio service found on Optus B3 globecast mux on 12658V "Vietnamese radio" Fta on Apid 1223 PCR 1223 Sid 35

Since things are so quiet there might not be a weekend update, it does give me time to catch up on other matters.

Feeds Hunter plugin for the Dreambox.

http://www.procomservice.it/--OFFERTE--offertasoftware.php3


From my Emails & ICQ


Nothing to report


From the Dish


Palapa C2 113E 3733 H New VPID for RTB International on : 1200.

NSS 6 95E 12688 H TV Polonia has started, Fta PIDs 401/402.Mazzika and Al Mehwer TV have left.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3902 V Sr 2000 fec? (note the low SR, may need manually loading on some receivers)

Yamal 102 90E 3719 L "Rambler TeleSet (+2h)" has left .

Insat 2E 83E 3830 V New SR for the DD Bangla mux: 6250.


SatcoDX Update #16/2004

0765 APSTAR 2R (76.5E)

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

Feeds on 3.473 (V, 4000):


Feeds on 3.680 (H, 27096):


Feeds on 3.933 (V, 9304):



0830 INSAT 2E, 3B (83.0E)

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

DD Calcutta on 3.830 (V, 6250, 512, 650, 8190): New SR

Kolkata Feed on 3.830 (V, 6250, 513, 660, 8190): New SR

Data service on 3.830 (V, 6250): New SR



0880 ST 1 (88.0E)

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

CTS on 3.632 (V, 26666, 2097, 2081, 2097): It's clear now

Formosa TV on 3.632 (V, 26666, 3121, 3105, 3121): It's clear now

CTV - China TV on 3.632 (V, 26666, 4145, 4129, 4145): It's clear now

TTV on 3.632 (V, 26666, 7217, 7201, 7217): It's clear now


Data Service on 3.657 (H, 2400):

Data Service on 3.657 (H, 2400):

Data Service on 3.657 (H, 2400):

Data Service on 3.657 (H, 2400):



1005 ASIASAT 2 (100.5E)

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

Henan Radio1 on 3.707 (H, 4420, 160, 81, 160):

Henan Radio2 on 3.707 (H, 4420, 160, 82, 160):

Henan Radio3 on 3.707 (H, 4420, 160, 160): Language correction

Henan Radio4 on 3.707 (H, 4420, 160, 84, 160): Language correction

Henan Radio5 on 3.707 (H, 4420, 160, 160): Language correction


Hubei TV1 on 3.713 (H, 4420, 160, 80, 160): Language correction

Hubei TV2 on 3.713 (H, 4420, 160, 81, 160): Language correction


Fujian TV on 3.720 (H, 4420, 160, 80, 160): New PIDs

Fujian TV2 on 3.720 (H, 4420, 160, 81, 160): Language correction


Jiangxi TV on 3.727 (H, 4420, 160, 80, 160): New PIDs

Jiangxi TV2 on 3.727 (H, 4420, 160, 81, 160): Language correction

Jiangxi TV3 on 3.727 (H, 4420, 160, 82, 160): Language correction

Jiangxi TV4 on 3.727 (H, 4420, 160, 83, 160): Language correction


Liaoning TV on 3.734 (H, 4420, 255, 256, 255): New PIDs


TVSN on 3.764 (V, 4300, 1160, 1120, 1160): New PID


Guangxi TV on 3.806 (V, 4420, 308, 256, 8189): New PID


Hunan TV on 3.847 (H, 4420, 160, 80, 8190): New PIDs



1055 ASIASAT 3S (105.5E)

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

Boomerang on 3.960 (H, 27500, 1860, 1780, 1860): It has started



1080 TELKOM 1 (108.0E)

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

Indosiar on 3.500 (H, 28000, 80, 81, 80): It's encrypted now

Metro TV on 3.500 (H, 28000, 100, 101, 100): It's encrypted now

Hallmark on 3.500 (H, 28000, 528, 529, 528): It's encrypted now

CNBC on 3.500 (H, 28000, 592, 593, 592): It's encrypted now

RCTI on 3.500 (H, 28000, 633, 632, 633): It's encrypted now

TPI on 3.500 (H, 28000, 649, 636, 649): It's encrypted now

Ar-Rahman on 3.500 (H, 28000, 659, 568, 659): It's encrypted now

SCTV on 3.500 (H, 28000, 661, 660, 661): It's encrypted now

antv on 3.500 (H, 28000, 672, 671, 672): It's encrypted now

BBC World on 3.500 (H, 28000, 720, 721, 720): It's encrypted now

Sky 101.6 FM on 3.500 (H, 28000, 62, 61): It's encrypted now



1130 PALAPA C2 (113.0E)

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

Feeds on 3.977 (H, 2539): New NID



1160 KOREASAT 3 (116.0E)

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

TV Service on 12.530 (H, 27490, 2320, 2321, 2320):

TV Service on 12.530 (H, 27490, 2336, 2337, 2336):

TV Servive on 12.530 (H, 27490, 2384, 2385, 2384):

TV Service on 12.530 (H, 27490, 2432, 2433, 2432):



1220 ASIASAT 4 (122.0E)

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

CBN on 3.880 (H, 26500, 560, 563, 560): It has started



1520 OPTUS B3 (152.0E)

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

Sigaram on 12.525 (V, 30000, 1160, 1120, 1160): Occasional Feeds



NEWS


SingTel Extends Broadband IP Backbone Via Satellite to Bangladesh


From http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?cid=2&id=14385

This is part of SingTel’s efforts in building a broadband IP backbone via satellite in the region. In Bangladesh, SingTel is working with Advance Technology Computers Limited (ATCL) to market this broadband IP service.

Known as Digital Video Broadcasting-Internet Protocol (DVB-IP), the network packages IP traffic (including voice, video, Internet-based applications and other online content) into a DVB stream before transmission via satellite to multiple sites in the Asia Pacific simultaneously. It supports broadband Internet connectivity, videoconferences, multimedia video streaming, high-speed file transfer, interactive distance learning and content distribution.

DVB-IP combines the best of Internet technology with the simultaneous global reach of satellites to deliver instant access to an Internet backbone. Service providers enjoy significant cost savings on satellite bandwidth compared to the traditional point-to-point technology via terrestrial network where links have to be dedicated and repeated for each remote site.

SingTel’s Broadband DVB-IP network operates via the ST-1 and APSTAR satellites with a footprint covering the Asia Pacific region, supporting all its broadband users especially in South Asia. It connects to SingTel Internet Exchange, SingTel’s Internet hubbing business which provides Internet systems and network management solutions to web-centric companies looking to outsource the hosting of their Internet operations.

Mr Tay Chek Khoon, SingTel’s Vice President (Regional Satellite Business), said: “Broadband DVB-IP opens up a whole new horizon for traditional broadcasters to deliver more than just television signals and programming. The service provides an opportunity for broadcasters, ISPs and corporations to collaborate and deliver premium Internet content and applications such as interactive streaming media, long distance e-learning, online banking and even e-mail, to audiences in the region that do not have easy access to the Internet.”

He added: “SingTel sees a huge growth potential in the Bangladeshi telecommunications market and is well-positioned to tap this new development.”

SingTel offers a wide range of satellite-based services in the Asia Pacific region, such as VSAT, broadcast uplink/downlink as well as satellite bandwidth leasing services.


Tandberg Scores Exclusive Deal With GlobeCast For 2004 Olympic Games


From Satellite Today

Southampton, U.K.-based GlobeCast, a satellite services company, has chosen Tandberg Television as its broadcast equipment provider of choice for this summer's Olympic games in Athens.

Tandberg, a provider of open solutions for digital broadcasting and broadband, will deploy multiplexers, MPEG-2 encoders, modulators and network adapters. The equipment will be at the heart of GlobeCast's compression and satellite/fiber distribution services for the duration of the games.

GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom, operates a global network of satellite distribution platforms for broadcast and advanced content delivery.


Thai Shin Satellite Public Offer To Take Place Early June


From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040226/15/3ibwi.html

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL (SATTEL.TH) is expected to launch its public offering of up to 208 million new shares in early June, according to the company's financial adviser SCB Securities Ltd. Thursday.

"Bookbuilding will take place around end-May followed by the subscription in early June. The new shares should be able to trade on the bourse in mid-June," said Kittikorn Danpoonkij, vice president for investment banking at SCB Securities.

Shin Satellite Wednesday announced its recapitalization plan to raise around $90 million via a public offering.

The satellite operator said it would boost its capital by 1.07 billion baht ($1=THB39.265) to THB5.57 billion by issuing new shares.

Shin will issue a total of 213.9 million new shares, with 208 million shares to be sold via the public offering. The remainder will be reserved for the exercise of its warrants.

However, the amount of shares to be sold to the public may be less than 208 million if the pricing is favorable.


DD keen to hit six with Indo-Pak series


From http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13414143

With just a couple of weeks left for the Indian cricket team to tour Pakistan, the national broadcaster Prasar Bharati, on behalf of Doordarshan, has stepped up efforts to acquire terrestrial broadcasting rights for the series.

The Prasar Bharati CEO, K S Sarma, on Thursday met Pradip Baijal, the Chairman of the broadcast regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and said the broadcaster was willing to pay $4 million for the rights to the three test and five one-day international matches.

Prasar Bharati sources said Sarma made a case for Doordarshan by stating that while Ten Sports has given the terrestrial rights to PTV free (as mandated under the Pakistan law), the Indian national broadcaster was willing to pay for the rights. Ten Sports is believed to have paid about $10 million for the exclusive cable-and-satellite rights for the series.

TRAI is likely to meet officials of Ten Sports and Prasar Bharati shortly to sort out the issue.

Earlier, Prasar Bharati had written to TRAI stating that in several Western countries, such as the UK, specified sporting events are to be made available on free terrestrial mode. "In the absence of a definitive broadcasting law, Prasar Bharati feels that TRAI has the responsibility and the powers to frame guidelines to ensure that public interest is upheld," said the sources.

The national broadcaster has already acquired the live radio rights from Ten Sports for $40,000 while it has negotiated for a one-hour daily highlights package of the cricket matches for $200,000. Prasar Bharati is expecting to generate ad revenues of at least Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore for the live cricket aired on All India Radio.

The total revenue at stake for the series is estimated to be at over Rs 200 crore. Some of the top corporates such as Samsung, which is the title sponsor, is believed to have paid Rs 15 crore, while others such as LG and Hero Honda, the associate sponsors, have spent Rs 8 crore each. The ad rates also zoomed to a whopping $10,000 (Rs 4.5 lakh) for a 10-second spot.




26/02/04

Vetruns FTA forum is back up and running! with a few glitches.

If you wish to help with creating Tutorials for anything relating to satellite tv (except piracy) send me an email or head over to Vetruns Forum. Tw turoials being worked on at the moment are the F.A.Q (Frequently asked questions abou satellite tv in our region) and a guide as to setting up a Moteck/Motor mount setup.

Things still quiet not sure where the last 2 days worth of Lyngsat have go to his sites not been updated.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

NSS 5 @ 177W has a few carriers on it. 2 large, and 2 to 3 smaller ones. One is definatly data, the other larger one does not seem to lock on the Coship.

On RHC pol (vertical if you don't have a circ pol capable feed) The 2 smaller ones are to low to lock from North QLD.


From Siamglobal

RE: NEW BOUQUET

Thai 7 and CNN, BOTH CHANNELS NOW GONE, AS IS ANY SIGNAL FROM THE TRANSPONDER (Thaicom) ( 1800HRS GMT 25/2 )


From the Dish


No Lyngsat received


NEWS


New Arts Channel(Sky NZ) gives viewers some mental viagra


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

Hmmm. What's on the box tonight? A "documentary" on auctions? A house makeover show? A person makeover show? A reality series where bores compete to run a resort? Or what about DoC staff trying to catch nitwits with too many shellfish?

No? Have you had your fill of these wastes of space? Perhaps you might be more interested in real documentaries tracing the lives of Van Gogh, Picasso and Monet. Or you might like to see the magnificent Jessye Norman singing Carmen, the Berliner Philharmoniker playing Beethoven symphonies or marvel at jazz genius Miles Davis' career in Europe. Add in the Bolshoi Ballet, Martin Amis, James Brown, BB King, Cecilia Bartoli, Cassandra Wilson, Placido Domingo, a bit of architecture, some poetry, a touch of ballet...

And, if you listen carefully, you might hear a sound -- the poor old brain creaking back into action after years of less-than-sophisticated standards on our mainstream channels.

Mental viagra is on the way in the form of the Arts Channel, a digital service rented from Sky but not administered or programmed by Sky. Launching on March 1, it is dedicated to the arts in the broadest sense: from opera to jazz, ballet to contemporary dance, blues to literature -- and some programmes which simply defy genre-definition.

Director and programmer Nick Samitz, who has previously purchased programming for TV One and has considerable international experience, says understatedly, "We looked at the bouquet of programming in this market and we identified the Arts Channel as one area that's not been serviced for the past 15 years or so."

Fifteen years? Outrageous. But neither Samitz nor John Green (both directors of Niche Media Ltd, which has set up the Arts Channel) want to lob criticism at other channels. Says Green, "They programme how they see their audience and I wouldn't like to speculate on how they see their audience.

"Our view is that there is demand for this kind of programming in New Zealand, we have been very focused in what we see as our audience and servicing those needs."

The Arts Channel team -- its directors also include former Auckland Philharmonia director Lloyd Williams, arts philanthropist James Wallace and Rialto cinema chain co-founder David Ross -- has been working towards opening day on March 1 for the past four years.

First, they had to secure access to an audience through a deal with Sky. They had to get investors, and they had to get access to programmes, a path smoothed by Samitz's previous work with TVNZ, Bloomberg International Television in New York, BSkyB in London, and Sky when it was first set up here.

Most of the programmes will come from Britain (Granada, Reiner Moritz, Poor House, the BBC), Berlin (Euro Arts), Arte in Paris, REI in Rome, and from the PBS channel and CS Associates in the United States.

"There is a huge amount available, especially for us because not much has been broadcast for some time," says Samitz, who agrees that his job -- viewing the material before buying -- is akin to being a kid in a candy store. "But there's a lot of material that is not that great either. You have to sift through."

With a subscription rate of $12 a month, the Arts Channel is probably not going to make much from viewer-numbers. But there is a cunning plan. "Through Sky's co-operation, we will use the daytime part of the transponder [the channel] for another business we will roll out which will help to subsidise the Arts Channel," says Green, who adds the content of the second channel will be announced "shortly".

Initially, Samitz is scheduling one new title a day, with major works screening in 8.30pm primetime, then rolling over to other timeslots so viewers won't miss out if they don't catch it first time around.

"Initially, we will follow formats which have been used offshore," he explains. "Once it goes to air one night, we will rotate it. As we go down the track we will mix them up more, and then we'll get thematic and start things like a Vivaldi month. We will also get responses from our viewers and ask them what they'd like to see."

The pair say the intent is to offer "high-quality programmes with good production values with as much variety as possible". There will be no presenter linking the shows, and only limited advertising.

Refreshingly, there will be no "artificial" breaks, or ads every 12 minutes no matter how inappropriate -- although some operas may be broken into halves because of length.

"The key thing is if something starts as an hour-long programme, it runs as an hour-long programme," says Green.

Although most of the scheduling will be international, the channel will be driven by the New Zealand audience unlike, say, Sky channels such as Discovery.

"Because it's a New Zealand company putting the channel together, we have the ability to reflect audience tastes by researching it," says Green. "We can be flexible and respond to our audience requirement."

Upcoming highlights on the Arts Channel

BACH AROUND THE WORLD

A documentary celebrating the 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's death, featuring performances from around the globe by Yehudi Menuhin, Bobby McFerrin, Ton Koopman and many more.

JESSYE NORMAN SINGS CARMEN

A behind-the-scenes look at the Orchestre National de France recording of the Bizet opera, with interviews with the renowned (and beautiful) soprano.

BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 1-3

With the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of renowned Italian conductor Claudio Abbado.

ECHOES OF A GENIUS: MILES DAVIS IN EUROPE

A montage of archival footage and rare interviews showing the charismatic trumpeter in the context of his European career; also featuring John McLaughlin, Mitch Mitchell, Marilyn Mazur.

CHAGALL: THE POET OF PAINTING

Made just before the great French artist's death in 1985, this film looks at Chagall through the curious eyes of a young English painter.

JAMES BROWN: THE GODFATHER OF SOUL

Canny timing, given the singer's visit late next month. All the highs, many of the lows, stunning concert footage, and interviews with BB King and Stevie Wonder. Family members also offer insights into why he's got into so much trouble through the years.

ALL THE RUSSIAS

A stunning sweep through Russia's musical history, from the ancient chants and peasant music to composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Shostakovich.

DEGENERATE ART

A fascinating production about Hitler's campaign against so-called degenerate avant-garde artists and the Nazis' campaign to ridicule and destroy them. Later, there will also be a feature on Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer.

WRITERS' PROFILES

Now this is something we don't see anywhere else: well-made, thought-provoking documentaries on the likes of Paul Coelho, Norman Mailer, Elie Wiesel and Martin Amis.

COSI FAN TUTTE

The divine Cecilia Bartoli in Mozart's highly ironic opera about codes of conduct and tests of morality. Aside from looking gorgeous, the production's music is dazzling.

PICASSO

A winner at the Montreal International Festival of Films on Art, this reappraisal of his life was made at the time of the opening of the Musee Picasso in Paris. With French and English versions, this one is narrated by British actor Bob Peck.


(Craigs comment, I wonder what the daytime service will be? Sky's lacking a comedy channel...)


Optus fights for Territory


From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8790254%255E15306,00.html

OPTUS is facing a challenge as the Northern Territory Government's main telecommunications supplier.
The Territory is preparing to renew supply arrangements for services worth $25 million a year.

The five-year fixed, mobile and data service outsourcing agreement the NT Government signed with Optus in 2000 expires in June next year.

The Territory's Department of Corporate and Information Services has begun the process of renewing its service supply arrangements, issuing a request for information (RFI).

The RFI covers services including the Territory's 18,255 fixed-line telephones, worth $13.4 million a year, its 2700 handset mobile fleet, worth about $1.83 million a year, as well as $9.6 million of data services across the government's wide area network.

The RFI includes about $1 million a year of interactive learning and internet services to the Territory's schools, provided to most sites by one-way 5.5Mbps satellite downlinks and fixed and dial-up uplinks.

All services are provided by Optus, apart from some mobile services provided by Telstra.

According to the RFI, the territory's voice communication requirements are not expected to grow greatly over the next five years.

However, demand for data services is expected to grow substantially.


New channel fuels action


From http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8794369%255E23218,00.html

THE enormous popularity of extreme sports and the world-beating exploits of Australian motocross riders is an enormous turn-on for young sports fans.

Now they can turn on any time they like for all the adrenalin they can handle.

Such is the enthusiasm extreme sports fans have for everything high, fast and fearless that Foxtel Digital has zoomed in to exploit the mushrooming market among males 12-29.

From March 14 the telecaster will offer the Fuel Channel, dedicated to skateboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

"Australia finally has a dedicated channel to satisfy the most obsessed freestyle fan - 24/7 action sports television," said Angela Wade, channel manager for Fuel.

"The channel is really going to strike a chord in the youth lifestyle market through an alternative outlook. People have been screaming out for this channel for years."

Fuel was one of two new sports channels unveiled by Foxtel yesterday. The other is the Eurosportnews, providing 24-hour sports highlights from around the globe.

The launch of Fuel comes in the same week as Round 6 of the Supercross Nationals at Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium on Saturday, followed by subsequent rounds at Wollongong on March 6 and Newcastle on March 13.

Brothers Jay and Ryan Marmont from the Motorex KTM team are dominating the competition.

Jay, 20, is set to follow long-time Aussie rival Chad Reed as Australia's next major supercross export.

He has been a professional moto- cross rider since he was in Year 10 at Corrimal High and last year took out the Australian Supercross Masters, winning 10 out of the possible 12 rounds over the season.

He survived a crash two years ago in which he suffered a broken arm, leg and hip and has also undergone an operation to cut the sheath surrounding his muscles to minimise lactic acid build-up in his forearms.


CASBAA applauds progress in Thailand


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

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) today gave a limited endorsement of a new commitment made by the Thai authorities to reduce pay-TV piracy within Thailand.

Last week, during a public briefing in Bangkok, the Royal Thai Police, with the Public Relations Department and other bodies, outlined ten points to improve the pay-TV piracy environment within Thailand. Among the ten points were commitments that must be undertaken by all cable operators to respect the Intellectual Property Rights of pay television networks, including those of local broadcasters and international channels such as HBO Asia, STAR TV, ESPN STAR Sports, MTV Asia, Discovery Asia, CNN International and BBC World.

After the briefing Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of CASBAA, said: "This is a step in the right direction. We are encouraged by the announcement stating that cable operators of any kind must supply, in advance, proof of a right to broadcast pay-TV services. We also applaud the concept of a focused official monitoring body and the requirement for detailed accountability on the number of subscribers. "But what we now need is a genuine commitment to enforce this new regime. The new guidelines for pay-TV service providers must be introduced quickly and they must be adhered to." CASBAA noted that Thailand is currently on the United States Government's Intellectual Property Rights USTR 301 Watch List (which is now under review) but because of the pay-TV piracy issue, Thailand could be placed on the Priority Watch List, a more severe status that will damage Thailand's reputation and potentially expose it to retaliatory measures.

CASBAA estimates there were US$370 million in gross losses to pay-TV piracy within Thailand in 2003. CASBAA and its member companies also conservatively estimate that there are in excess of 1 million unauthorised subscribers to pay-TV services in Thailand. It is estimated that Baht 1.5 billion (US$38.5 million) was lost tothe Royal Thai Government in 2003 from foregone tax revenues such aspay-TV licensing fees, corporate taxes and VAT.


Stock market: ShinSat’s share-sale plan spooks investors


From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=7&id=108927&usrsess=1

Shares of Shin Satellite Plc plunged 13.91 per cent yesterday as investors fretted about the dilution effect of its surprise announcement of a plan to sell new shares to raise at least Bt3.5 billion.

ShinSat closed at Bt32.50, down Bt5.25 from Tuesday, after it had reached a four-year high of Bt44.5 last month.

Asia’s second-largest satellite operator said it would issue 213.89 million new shares with a par value of Bt5 each to raise its registered capital to Bt5.57 billion from Bt4.49 billion.

Some 208 million shares will be offered next quarter to the public and the rest reserved for the exercise of warrants. Prices have not been decided, it said in a statement.

Par value is now Bt10 but would be cut to Bt5, doubling shares to 899.8 million from 449.9 million.

The offering proceeds would be used to expand its iPSTAR multimedia satellite services in key markets such as Australia, New Zealand and China, and to repay some debts.

The company planned to pay a dividend of Bt0.25 per share on May 20, its first since 1997.

The plans were subject to approval from shareholders at their meeting on April 22.

ShinSat is preparing to launch its fourth broadband satellite, iPSTAR, this year to compete against major rivals such as Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co Ltd.

But a telecom analyst at a foreign brokerage said doubts about iPSTAR’s future success have helped drag down ShinSat.

“Why doesn’t ShinSat wait until it sends the satellite into orbit before raising funds so it can offer a higher public offering price? People suspect that ShinSat knows that iPSTAR may not have good prospects like it has been saying,” he said.

The SET index also closed down 2.17 per cent to 704.65.

ShinSat, 51-per-cent-owned by Shin Corp, the flagship of the telecoms empire built up by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, already has three satellites covering Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe.

Shin Corp also reported a 84-per-cent rise in net profit last year, chiefly from mobile affiliate Advanced Info Service.

Shin posted a net profit of Bt9.72 billion, or Bt3.31 per share, slightly better than market expectations of Bt9.6 billion.

Profit at AIS, Shin’s top earnings contributor, rose 62 per cent to Bt7.97 billion last year, Shin said in a statement.

Shin, a holding company realising proportional earnings from its subsidiaries and affiliates, has more than 20 companies under its umbrella in the wireless, satellite, Internet and media industries.

It owns 43 per cent of AIS and has an interest in iTV, which operates the country’s third most popular television channel.

Singapore Telecommunica-tions Ltd owns 5 per cent of Shin and 19.35 per cent of AIS, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of Shin’s profits.

Analysts are largely bullish on Shin’s outlook after the company diversified into the budget airline and consumer finance businesses late last year.

The transportation, consumer finance and entertainment ventures will be new engines for earnings growth this year and make Shin less dependent on its mobile business as growth in the domestic cellular market slows, they said.


KTF to offer digital TV service for cell phones


From http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/FB26Dg03.html

SEOUL - KTF Co, the second largest of South Korea's three mobile phone operators, said on Tuesday that it will provide a digital television service for its high-speed cell phone subscribers.

Under an alliance with Skylife Co, the nation's satellite-based digital broadcast provider, the new digital TV service will be available starting in April and will cost a flat fee, KTF said in a statement.

KTF, the mobile unit of fixed-line giant KT Corp, is now offering a wide range of flat-fee services to promote the use of wireless data and applications. For example, a user can download an unlimited amount of data for five months at 24,000 won (US$20) a month.

The satellite-based digital broadcasting service will be the first of its kind in South Korea, which has 34 million mobile phone users - equivalent to about 70 percent of its population.

Subscribers to KTF's high-speed cell phone service, First in Mobile Multimedia, or FIMM, will be able to access some 40 digital TV channels at no additional cost, KTF spokesman Park Sang-ho said. As of last December, about 1.2 million of KTF's 10.5 million customers had signed up for its FIMM service.

Albeit somewhat choppy, the digital TV service for cell phones is expected to bring a new experience to high-speed mobile network users, Park said.

As part of the alliance, KTF and Skylife have agreed to jointly promote each other's services.

Skylife is the country's first foray into the realm of interactive digital information exchange, providing satellite broadcasting services via 74 video, 10 pay-per-view and 60 audio channels across the nation.

KT, the former state telephone monopoly, is the largest shareholder in Skylife with a 15 percent stake.


Sony permitted to acquire SET Satellite Singapore


From http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/FB26Ae02.html

NEW DELHI - Sony Entertainment Television has been permitted by the Singaporean government to acquire SET Satellite Singapore and consequently will hike its total foreign shareholding to about 90 percent.

SET India, in which Sony Entertainment Pictures holds a 64.5-percent stake, plans to acquire 100 percent of SET Satellite Singapore through a share swap deal, sources said. The acquisition will not involve outflow of foreign exchange from India, they added.

On its part, Singapore's Information and Broadcasting Ministry raised no objections to SET India's plan except asking it to adhere to broadcasting laws, not undertake broadcasting from Indian soil unless specifically permitted and observing equity limits as prescribed for electronic media.

"The company wants to develop into an international center for entertainment and media designed to popularize Indian culture, language and traditions to the Indian diaspora located around the world. To achieve this objective the company has sought approval for an internal restructuring," sources said.


It’s Murdoch+Tata v/s Zee Now


From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=53454

NEW DELHI: Rupert Murdoch’s direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting venture with the Tatas is beginning to shape up. That’s just when the controversial cable TV distribution system—CAS—is all set to fade out. Space TV Pvt Ltd (Tata-STAR joint venture) has filed its DTH application with the government. This coincides with the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to put the conditional access system (CAS) on hold.

In Mr Murdoch’s application, which was submitted on Tuesday, Tata Sons holds 80 per cent. STAR officials Jagdish Kumar and Ajay Sharma have the remaining 20 per cent in the Space TV DTH venture. In an earlier avataar of Space TV, Mr Kumar and Sharma had controlling stake. That plan didn’t get past regulatory norms. STAR announced a revamped version last month.

Space TV has paid the entry fee of Rs 10 crore, said sources. Also, the application has mentioned that there would be four directors—three from Tata Sons, besides Mr Jagdish Kumar of STAR. The initial investment for the project is estimated to be around Rs 400 crore.

When contacted, officials in the information and broadcasting ministry did not divulge the financial details about the applicant company or the project. “We’re still looking at the application,” said a senior I&B official.

Government would now examine the equity structure of the company, before granting other clearances including those for frequency allocation and satellite platform.

Rival Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises soft-launched its DTH project last year. It is claiming brisk offtake of DTH dishes in Punjab hinterland, but remains weak on content. Sony and the bulk of Star channels remain out of bounds though ESPN and Star Sports have finally joined in. Reacting to Star’s entry into DTH at this point, Zee group vice-chairman Jawahar Goel said: “I salute Mr Peter Mukerjea (Star India CEO) for his foresightedness. At a broadcasters’ meeting way back in June 2003, he was of the opinion that CAS should be introduced in July 2004, instead of July 2003. And it has actually come true!”

State broadcaster Prasar Bharati is also expected to enter the DTH market soon.

STAR has always been wary of CAS rollout in India, and keen on DTH. Former STAR CEO James Murdoch had said that “CAS is not a magic bullet....” According to industry insiders, if CAS had been a success in India, there may have been very few takers for STAR DTH. This is more so because CAS was mandated only for the four metros to begin with, and Murdoch’s DTH is eyeing a similar market. In contrast, ASC’s Dish TV is targeting remote areas of the country. However, now, with CAS out of the way, DTH is a different game altogether.

Post-Trai recommendation, government is gearing up to put CAS on hold, ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Law minister Arun Jaitley met I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday to discuss CAS.

Mr Jaitley, sources said, has okayed putting CAS on hold. But I&B officials said that consultation with the law ministry is still on.




25/02/04

Pretty quiet today not much news

To all those asking about it, Vetruns FTA forum has been down a few days he hopes to have it working again soon, possibly tonight.

Aurora FTA? 12527 v30k boquet seen FTA last night
ABCWA, GWN,WLK,WIN,ABC NT, IMP etc

A very strong signal seen testing on cband Asiasat 4 Vertical last night, sorry no freq available. Keep blindsearching something may be testing.


From my Emails & ICQ


From SiamGLOBAL

NEW BOUQUET
GOOD NEWS FOR BOTH THAI AND ENGLISH SPEAKERS IN S E.ASIA AND BEYOND.
A NEW TWO CHANNEL "BOUQUET" HAS APPEARED ON THAICOM 2/3 (NOT SURE WHICH BEAM ) AT 3764 Hz sr 4700 .

IT HAS THAI TV CH 7 (ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CHANNELS IN THAILAND) WHICH HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FTA IN DIGITAL UP TO NOW AND .....WAIT FOR IT , CNN..

PLSE NOTE CNN HAS NO SOUND CHANNEL. HOWEVER APSATTERS WITH TWO RECEIVERS CAN FIND CNN TV FTA AUDIO ONLY ON ASIASAT 3 AT 3960H sr 27500 AND CAN WATCH AND LISTEN SIMULTANEOUSLY !

SIAMGLOBAL BKK


From Jon Clarke


New eMetabox software

There is another new 3.16 [version 4] release today [2 releases in one week] for eMetaBox 1
If you own a metabox this is a must UPGRADE.. After the upgrade its like a whole brand new box.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emetabox/files/eMETABOX1_040116.zip

What a great upgrade, I am totally impressed.

Everyone who has a metabox upgrade to this version.

Now supports OTA as well ..

All the old bugs like;
1. EPG freezing
2. low signal problems
3. freezing

all gone - like buying a brand new box ... Well done to the programmers in France!


From the Dish


Lyngsat hasn't arrived my mail


NEWS


exTV: immediate price cuts?


From http://www.advanced-television.com/

Hong Kong's newest pay TV provider, Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, has hinted that it is prepared to drop the price of its exTV service to sign up customers, the week after it went on air.

Galaxy, a joint venture between dominant Hong Kong broadcaster Television Broadcasts (TVB) and Intelsat, currently charges $22 a month for 23 channels. This compares to market leader i-Cable that offers 38 channels for $38 a month and niche service provider Hong Kong Broadband Network which offers 17 channels for $11 a month.

Galaxy chief executive Jackey Chan said it was "Too early" say if the price of his service would be adjusted, however, the company would closely monitor how many customers it was signing up and re-assess its pricing after three months. He added that exTV could be seen by 250,000 of Hong Kong's 1.8 million households and that coverage would expand to 400,000 homes mid-way through the year of whom up to 40,000 would sign up as customers.

Chan added that Galaxy was in talks with the government's Housing Authority and several private developers about installing receiving equipment for the satellite-delivered platform in homes in order to kickstart customer sign ups.




24/02/04

Live satellite related chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd onwards in the chatroom. Those moaning about card being switched off will be shot or fed to the dog.

Pretty much all the Foxtel pirate cards have been turned off, there would be very few still running after todays switch off.

New channel on Asiasat 3 "Bangladesh World TV", you might recall a previous Bangladeshi channel there called Ekushey tv that was shut down due to licensing issues.


From my Emails & ICQ


From T.D

RE:Fiji TV via I701 (unconfirmed)

Craig,

This footprint is full 72Mhz full power saturated , I would say that they after saying 6 channels would be taking a 36MHZ 1/2 tpr the bore site Eirp would drop by Approx 4 DB , meaning large dishes in the areas they said they would cover . the over spill is my work . should'nt be to far off but dropping by 4 DB OUCH!!!!


Tony


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 3850 H The test cards have left .

Optus C1 156E 12638 H "EuroSport News" has started on enc., PIDs 1041/1042.

Optus B3 152E 12525 V "EWTN Asia" has left.

Optus B3 152E 12501 H "TRT International, Thai TV Global Network, TCT World, The God Channel,SET Asia, 3ABN, BVN TV and Daystar TV have started Fta, SR 30800. (Might only be temp)

Optus B3 152E 12720 V "ABC TV Northern and Win TV" have started, Fta, SR 30000,PIDs 832/833 and 1536/1537.(might only be temp)



NEWS


Austar to launch new digital service


From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/23/1077497501946.html

Regional pay TV operator Austar United Communications Ltd has issued an updated list of content and pricing for its new digital service, which will launch on March 14.

The company said its new Austar Digital package, to be known as "Essentials", would cost $44.95 per month, one dollar more than its existing basic digital price.

New channel options would give the viewer greater choice within more clearly defined tiers, Austar said, while subscribers would be able to engage its near video-on-demand service sometime later this year.

Essentials will showcase a comprehensive range of entertainment, music, sport, documentary, news and childrens channels, as well as access to pay-per-view and the Main Event channel, Austar said.

Extra channels will include W and Fashion TV, along with new offerings Eurosportnews, Fox Classics and Fox News.

The 24-hour-a-day AFL channel, the Fox Footy Channel, was added to Austar's current basic package from February in preparation for the 2004 football season and will stay in the Essentials package.

Austar will also launch a new range of options channels, including the Laughter & Living, Fun & Entertainment, and Quest & Adventure tiers.

Foxtel recently launched its digital package, with the basic deal for cable and satellite costing $48.95 a month, plus installation.

At 1349 AEDT, Austar shares were steady at 80 cents


BTV World Joins AsiaSat 3S


From Press Release

Hong Kong - 23rd February, 2004... Asia's leading satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and the People's Republic of Bangladesh's national broadcaster Bangladesh Television (BTV) announced today the signing of a lease agreement for the use of C-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S to broadcast BTV World, a television channel for overseas service across the Asia Pacific region.

This Bangla-language satellite channel will commence broadcasting on AsiaSat 3S from early March, providing daily broadcasts of news and current affairs, drama, entertainment, cultural and educational programs from Bangladesh that serve overseas audiences in the region.

"We are excited to announce the launch of our overseas television services on AsiaSat 3S. We chose AsiaSat 3S because of its excellent channel neighbourhood and strong audience penetration. AsiaSat 3S offers the region's most attractive platform for South Asian channels, as well as numerous other regional and international channels. In addition, the region-wide coverage of AsiaSat 3S enables us to extend our reach to whole of Asia and Australasia with the latest news from our country, to introduce our culture and economy, trade and tourism to the rest of the world," said Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of BTV.

"We welcome BTV World onboard AsiaSat 3S. The introduction of this Bangla-language channel on AsiaSat 3S further strengthens our television bouquet for South Asia. We are pleased that the variety of television services on AsiaSat satellites continues to grow, allowing audience within our extensive C-band footprint to enjoy a wider choice of programming," said Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

BTV World is available on AsiaSat 3S in C-band with the following reception parameters:

Transponder: 3V
Frequency: 3725 MHz
Polarisation: Vertical
Modulation: QPSK
Symbol Rate: 4.45 Msym/sec
FEC: 3/4

About AsiaSat 3S

AsiaSat 3S is a Boeing 601HP satellite launched in 1999, with 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders. The C-band footprint of AsiaSat 3S covers over 50 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Ku-band coverage consists of two high powered fixed beams serving East Asia and South Asia, as well as an in-orbit steerable beam now positioned over Australia. AsiaSat 3S currently broadcasts over 70 television channels, including those from Arirang TV, Asia Plus, Bloomberg TV, Cartoon Network, CCTV, CETV, Channel NewsAsia, CNBC, CNN International, ESPN, Fox News, Indus Vision, Muslim TV Ahmadiyya, National Geographic, NOW, Pakistan TV, Phoenix Satellite TV, MATV, SAB TV, Sahara TV, Sky News, Smile TV, Star, Sun TV, TCM, Tech TV, TVB and ZEE.

About AsiaSat

AsiaSat, the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world's population with its satellites. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 120 analogue and digital television channels and 90 radio channels are now delivered by the Company's satellites, reaching over 80 million households, with more than 300 million viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Many telecommunications customers use AsiaSat for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks and high speed Internet and multimedia services. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, listed on both the Hong Kong (SEHK: 1135HK) and New York (NYSE: SAT) stock exchanges. For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com


IPSTAR: ShinSat lands China terminal deal


From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=108844&usrsess=1

Satellite firm to sell 12,000 broadband units to national operator

Shin Satellite Plc (ShinSat) has bagged a deal with China’s national satellite operator to supply iPSTAR broadband satellite terminals.

ShinSat will supply around 12,000 terminals, each worth between US$1,200 and $1,500 (Bt48,000-Bt60,000) to China Satellite Communications Corp (ChinaSat), which will use them with its own satellites to provide broadband Internet access in China.

ShinSat will supply 2,000 terminals this year and another 10,000 next year.

ShinSat’s executive vice president Yongsit Rojsrivichaikul said recently that the company was projecting revenue of about Bt1 billion for the iPSTAR service this year. Most of this would be from the sale of terminals and relevant equipment.

But revenue is expected to surge within the next two years following the launch of its state-of-the-art broadband satellite iPSTAR.

ShinSat has already rescheduled the launch of iPSTAR to the next quarter from late last year, but Yongsit declined to specify the exact date.

To date, ShinSat has provided iPSTAR service from its less advanced Thaicom 3 satellite.

Yongsit added that the iPSTAR satellite was completely built and tested.

China and India are the two largest markets for the satellite, whose footprint covers the Asia-Pacific region.

Currently in China alone there are around 80 million Internet users and 8 million broadband Internet users.

Yongsit said that iPSTAR satellite could make Bt20 billion in revenue from the Chinese market and Bt10 billion in India if its capacities allocated for the two countries were fully subscribed.

Today only 20 per cent of the iPSTAR satellite’s total capacity is booked, but Yongsit said that full subscription was expected within three years, given the huge demand in the region.

ShinSat’s deal with China is hot on the heels of the contract-signing with Internet service provider Broadband Pacenet (India) to supply 1,000 iPSTAR terminals for the latter to provide high-speed broadband Internet service across India.

Yongsit added that iPSTAR was soon expected to secure a deal to supply terminals to Burma, but he declined to elaborate.

He said that if the first iPSTAR satellite is successful, ShinSat was likely to launch a second satellite to capture the European market.

A local telecom industry observer said it was too early to say if the first iPSTAR satellite would easily secure its market as most potential customers are still cautious of its unproven technology.

“Don’t forget that it is the first of its kind and uses the newest technology in the world,” the observer said.

Yongsit also said ShinSat would soon also list its British Virgin Island-based iPSTAR Co, which operates the iPSTAR satellite, on a foreign stock market.


Thai Shin Satellite Expects Modest Rev From iPSTAR In '04


From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040223/15/3i8fw.html

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL (SATTEL.TH) expects its upcoming broadband satellite iPSTAR to generate modest revenue of less than 1 billion baht ($1=THB39.153) this year, the company's top executive said Monday.

"We don't expect much revenue from iPSTAR this year. Most of it would come from terminals (satellite dishes) and other equipment to support the launch of iPSTAR," Yongsit Rojsrivichaikul, Shin Satellite's executive vice president told reporters.

However, Yongsit didn't commit on the specific timing of the iPSTAR's launch, which has been rescheduled for the second quarter. The launch was previously targeted for late last year.

"Our other satellites saw some delays before they were launched. If (iPSTAR) hit some delays, I think it's normal, and that won't effect the company's outlook," Yongsit said.

"We have overcome major hurdles on iPSTAR. The rest of the glitches are just technical. We will be able to sort them out," he said.

The delay since late last year was due mainly to financial woes at Loral Space & Communications Ltd., a developer of iPSTAR, Yongsit said.

Yongsit said Shin Satellite, which currently operates three satellites, will likely start collecting leasing fees on services from iPSTAR this year.

Going forward, the satellite's contribution to the company's revenues is expected to rise sharply.

"We will see a strong jump in contributions from iPSTAR in 2005 and 2006," Yongsit said.

He said iPSTAR could reap around THB20 billion in the China market and more than THB10 billion in India in the future, given their huge populations.

To build up its customer base before the launch of iPSTAR, Shin Satellite currently offers broadband satellite services in India, Australia, and Taiwan, besides Thailand.

The preliminary broadband services are offered from the company's less advanced satellites and through competitors' satellites partly leased by Shin Satellite.

The company also sells ground satellite equipment to China and Myanmar, he said.

Shin Satellite aims to sell 10,000 satellite terminals this year, which cost around $1,200-$1,500 each. The terminals can be used to receive signals from the company's satellites as well as from its competitors', Yongsit.

He said around 20% of iPSTAR's capacity is being booked by potential customers.

Yongsit said subscription growth will likely jump after iPSTAR is launched, noting chances of an unsuccessful launch are less than 10%.

"After the launch, we need around three years of marketing campaigns to have the satellite fully occupied," Yongsit said.

He said iPSTAR currently has 14 potential customer countries, eight of which haven't been fully equipped with ground stations and other facilities.

"We prefer to run ground facilities and marketing operations with partners in those countries in order to save our investment costs," Yongsit said.

In 2002, the company reported revenue of THB5 billion and a net profit of THB1.41 billion.




23/02/04

Daystar on Globecast B3 , is trialing for 1 month. If you would like to encourage them to stay (I think you will agree the more channels the better) send an email to them via [email protected]

Speaking of Globecast there is a job available

JOB available / Technical Operator

GlobeCast Australia is a leader in professional broadcast services and enterprise television. The broadcast centre located in the Sydney CBD is seeking the services of a freelance Technical Operator on a part time basis. You will be responsible for the day-to-day transmission operations and related services. You will ideally have a background in satellite and/or terrestrial television broadcasting with experience gained in either Broadcast Control or Outside Broadcasting coupled with a comprehensive knowledge of television operations disciplines. Master Control Room experience and relevant qualifications essential.

To apply please submit your application by fax or email to the Engineering and Operations Manager- Broadcast Centre.

Fax: 8258 7994
Email: [email protected]


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume


Team McLaren Mercedes Pre-Australian Grand Prix - Free access for all broadcasters
APTN Corporate Services will be distributing the following video news release on behalf of BHP on Monday, 23 February 2004 - the material is free for all broadcasters.

The footage is free of charge and available as listed below:

Monday, 23 February 2004:
1230 - 1245 GMT:
APTN's Global Video Wire and Local Ends to BT Tower: OWTV3 S3 A and B

For non-APTN clients:

Europe: Satellite: Eutelsat W1 F6 Ch2, downlink frequency: 12740.3 vertical, FEC rate: 3/4, symbol rate: 5632
Asia: Satellite: Asiasat 2 TXP 2 A Ch2, downlink frequency: 3696 MHz vertical, FEC rate: 3/4, symbol rate: 5632

1830 - 1845 GMT (Replay):
APTN's Global Video Wire and Local Ends to BT Tower: OWTV3 S3 A and B


From Steve Hume


Panamsat 2 Feed seen, 3901H SR30800 Fec 3/4 "Basketball Feed MD v Duke"


From David Knight


PAS 2 Feed seen
Screen Actors Guild Awards.
PAS2 3901H 30800 Adhoc 2.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Vk4bkp 21/02

B1, 12380H 6625 3/4 golf feed




From Bill Richards

NSS6
0140 UTC
11078 H Sr 5010, FEC 2/3
Vpid 49 Apid 50 SID3 Blue Kiss
Vpid 65 Apid 66 SID4 Blue Kiss Express

Both Encrypted in Viaccess

Regards
Bill Richards


From the Dish


Optus B3 156E 12438 H,Occasional Foxtel feeds on SR 21600, FEC 5/6.(Maybe that's where the Footy feed was?)

Optus B3 152E 12525 V "Daystar TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 5169/5170.

AsiaSat 4 122E 3880 H "CBN" has started, Fta, SR 26500, FEC 3/4, PIDs 560/563.

Telkom 1 108E 3500 H All channels in the TelkomVision mux are encrypted again.
Telkom 1 108E 3580 H KTV has left .

NSS 6 95E 11078 H "BlueKiss and BlueKiss Express" have started on , Viaccess, SR 5010,FEC 2/3, PIDs 49/50 and 65/66, Australian beam.
NSS 6 95E 11543 V "MAC TV" has left .
NSS 6 95E 12594 H "Onnuri TV and CM TV" have started , fTA SR 8970, FEC 3/4,PIDs 640/641 and 720/721, NE Asian beam.

Insat 3A 93.5e Red 93.5 FM has moved from 11670 H to 11510 H, Fta, APID 1304. (India beam)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V The test card has left .



SatcoDX Update #14/2004

0740 INSAT 3C (74.0E)

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

DDK RANCHI on 4.174 (V, 5000, 308, 256, 8190): New Timings 6-8PM IST



0765 APSTAR 2R (76.5E)

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

MTA International on 4.098 (V, 3100, 3001, 3011, 130): It Has Left



0785 THAICOM 2,3 (78.5E)

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

MKTV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 512, 640, 1024): TARB NEW LINE UP WITH CHANGE OF NID

KDTV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 513, 529, 513): Language Added

BKTV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 514, 642, 514):

TGRT on 3.520 (H, 28059, 515, 643, 515): Has Started

Show TV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 516, 644, 516):

Nile TV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 517, 645, 517):

ALMW on 3.520 (H, 28059, 520, 648, 520):

PINK PLUS on 3.520 (H, 28059, 518, 646, 518):

RTS on 3.520 (H, 28059, 519, 647, 519):

BVN on 3.520 (H, 28059, 521, 649, 521):

ATV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 522, 650, 522): Has Started

CH25 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 523, 651, 522):

RTS on 3.520 (H, 28059, 520, 648, 1032):


AJK TV on 3.520 (V, 3333, 308, 256, 8190): It Has Started


)PTV THAICOM 3 QUETTA on 3.614 (V, 3333, 308, 256, 8190):


ATN Bangla on 4.107 (V, 6664, 101, 102, 101): It Has Started

Feeds on 4.107 (V, 6664, 201, 202, 201): It Has Started

DATA on 4.107 (V, 6664):

DATA on 4.107 (V, 6664):

DATA on 4.107 (V, 6664):



0800 EXPRESS 6A (80.0E)

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

TV Centr Ural (+2h) on 4.125 (R, 27500, 165, 100, 165): It has started regular programmes, clear now


Radio 2 (test) on 4.125 (V, 27500, 102, 102): It has started

CTV Plus on 4.125 (V, 27500, 103, 103): It has started

Radio 4 (test) on 4.125 (V, 27500, 104, 104): It has started

Radio 5 (test) on 4.125 (V, 27500, 105, 105): It has started



0950 NSS 6 (95.0E)

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

Mazzika on 12.688 (H, 21000, 337, 338, 337): It has started

Telepace on 12.688 (H, 21000, 417, 418, 417): It has started



1080 TELKOM 1 (108.0E)

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

News Feeds on 3.990 (H, 6000, 308, 256, 8190): It has started



1105 SINOSAT 1 (110.5E)

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

CNR 1 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 80, 80): New NID

CNR 2 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 84, 84): New NID

CNR 3 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 88, 88): New NID

CNR 7 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 92, 92): New NID

SW 1 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 96, 96): New NID

SW 2 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 100, 100): New NID

CNR7 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 108, 108): New NID

GW 5(L) / 6(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 112, 112): New NID

GW 8 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 116, 116): New NID

GW 11 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 120, 120): New NID

GW 13(L) / 14(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 124, 124): New NID

GW 15(L) / 16(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 128, 128): New NID

GW 17(L) / 18(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 132, 132): New NID

GW 19(L) / 20(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 136, 136): New NID

GW 21(L) / 22(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 140, 140): New NID

GW 23(L) / 24(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 144, 144): New NID

GW 25(L) / 26(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 148, 148): New NID

GW 27(L) / 28(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 152, 152): New NID

GW 29(L) / 30(R) on 4.067 (V, 5990, 156, 156): New NID

GW L29R30 on 4.067 (V, 5990, 156, 156):



1520 OPTUS B3 (152.0E)

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

Optus Business TV3 on 12.407 (V, 30000, 34, 33): It's encrypted now


Test Card on 12.525 (V, 30000, 1160, 1120, 1160): It has replaced Sigaram TV

Test Card on 12.525 (V, 30000, 1660, 1620, 1660): It has replaced EWTN Asia



1560 OPTUS C1 (156.0E)

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

Expo on 12.305 (H, 30000, 1091, 1092, 1091): It has started


Foxtel Box Office on 12.438 (H, 27800, 1021, 1022, 1021): It's clear now


How To on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1031, 1032, 1031): It has started

Fuel on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1041, 1042, 1041): It has started

VH1 on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1051, 1052, 1051): It has started

Lifestyle on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1061, 1062, 1061): It has started



1660 PANAMSAT 8 (166.0E)

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

TVBS on 3.836 (V, 22000, 160, 80, 160): It's encrypted now

TVBS Newsnet on 3.836 (V, 22000, 161, 84, 161): It's encrypted now

TVBS Golden on 3.836 (V, 22000, 162, 88, 162): It's endrypted now

Much TV on 3.836 (V, 22000, 163, 92, 163): It's encrypted now

ERA News on 3.836 (V, 22000, 164, 96, 164): It's encrypted now

TVBS Asia on 3.836 (V, 22000, 165, 100, 165): It's encrypted now

Asia Plus on 3.836 (V, 22000, 167, 108, 167): It's encrypted now



SatcoDX Update #15/2004

0685 PANAMSAT 7, 10 (68.5E)

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

DATA on 11.554 (V, 27500): Has Started on India Ku Beam



0720 PANAMSAT 4 (72.0E)

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

Parliamentary Service on 3.709 (V, 6000, 309, 258, 8189): It has replaced Feeds



0740 INSAT 3C (74.0E)

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

DDK HISSAR on 4.150 (V, 5000, 512, 650, 128): New Timings 6-8PM IST



0935 INSAT 3A (93.5E)

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

CINE WORLD on 3.912 (V, 5898, 308, 256, 8190): Cine World Replaced Channel Guide



0950 NSS 6 (95.0E)

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

TV Moda on 12.688 (H, 21000, 257, 258, 257): It has started

Playlist on 12.688 (H, 21000, 273, 274, 273): It has started

Nojoom on 12.688 (H, 21000, 289, 290, 289): It has started

Public TV on 12.688 (H, 21000, 305, 306, 305): It has started

AL-Arabiyah on 12.688 (H, 21000, 401, 402, 401): It has started

SIC on 12.688 (H, 21000, 770, 771, 770): It has started

Nile TV on 12.688 (H, 21000, 849, 850, 849): It has started

Radio Italia Anni '60 on 12.688 (H, 21000, 353, 354): It has started

Radio Italia on 12.688 (H, 21000, 369, 370): It has started

Kanal Melodia on 12.688 (H, 21000, 385, 386): It has started


NTD TV on 12.729 (V, 27500, 257, 258, 257): It has started

FreeX TV on 12.729 (V, 27500, 513, 514, 513): It has started

New Skies Promo on 12.729 (V, 27500, 1025, 1026, 1025): It has started

Sexz TV Promo on 12.729 (V, 27500, 1281, 1282, 1281): It has started

Back Room Promo on 12.729 (V, 27500, 1537, 1538, 1537): It has started



1055 ASIASAT 3S (105.5E)

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

PTV News Feeds on 4.111 (V, 3333, 308, 256, 8190): It's clear now



1660 PANAMSAT 8 (166.0E)

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

Thai TV Channel on 12.391 (H, 5000, 4194, 4195, 4194): It has started


Feeds on 3.860 (H, 28000, 430, 431, 430): It has replaced Hallmark


OS Download Channel on 3.880 (V, 28700, 1160, 1222, 1160): It has started

TFC for Baguio on 3.880 (V, 28700, 1560, 1520, 1560): It has started


NEWS


Sky Television Reports Continued Growth In 2004 Half Year Results


From Press Release: Sky Television

SKY Television announced today a significant improvement in financial performance with a net profit after tax of $12.4 million for the six months to 31 December 2003, an increase of $16.8 million on the previous half year period.

Total revenue increased by 13.9% to $212.1 million compared to the same period last year. The average monthly revenue per subscriber increased by 7.4% and advertising revenue continued to grow, up 34.8% to $11.6 million over the same period.

Operating costs increased by 8.6% to $122.1 million and earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) increased by $16.3 million to $90.0 million.

Free cash flow, the difference between operating and investing cash flows, was $70.1 million during this period, a $59.0 million increase on the comparative period’s result.

SKY’s subscriber base continued to grow, with an increase of 5,150 subscribers since 30 June 2003. This is a reduction on the 13,482 net gain reported in the same period last year. However, it is important to note that in the latest period, SKY’s performance was tested with the Rugby World Cup being shown on a competitive network.

Churn, a measure of subscribers who disconnect their service, remained low with gross churn remaining at the same level as in the previous interim period, at 18.4%.

There were a number of new programming initiatives launched in the interim period, including a daily sports news show, Sport 365, coverage of the New Zealand Breakers basketball, and introduction of the UKTV, History and Disney channels on the basic satellite service. Programming costs as a percentage of revenue fell to an all time low of 39.4%, down from 42.4% in the last period.


Foxtel "Digital" launches March 14th


From MEDIA RELEASE

FOXTEL today announced that its revolutionary new FOXTEL Digital service
will officially launch on Sunday, March 14.

New subscribers can arrange to connect to FOXTEL Digital by calling FOXTEL
on 131 787 from Monday, March 1, while existing FOXTEL subscribers can
arrange to upgrade to the new service by calling 1300 721 977.

FOXTEL Digital is set to change Australian television forever, offering
subscribers a totally new experience and giving them unparalleled choice,
convenience and control over their viewing.
“Consumers have shown enormous and growing interest in FOXTEL Digital since
we unveiled the revolutionary content and features that we will deliver –
and the great value and choice for subscribers that our pricing and
packaging offers,” FOXTEL Chief Executive Kim Williams said.

“From March 14, consumers will be able to experience liberating choice and
a completely new way to watch television when they switch on FOXTEL
Digital. “With key features never seen before in Australia, FOXTEL Digital
will deliver cable and satellite subscribers enhanced viewing through an
exciting range of more than 130 channels, interactive services and expanded
viewing options, all with DVD quality pictures and CD quality sound.”
To view FOXTEL Digital, consumers do not need to purchase a new TV. FOXTEL
will supply the necessary in-home receiving technology which will include a
new digital set-top-unit and remote control as part of the service.
FOXTEL has already confirmed that the basic FOXTEL Digital package will
cost $48.95, the same price as the existing satellite basic service, and
will feature 66 channels including access to Sports Active on FOX Sports
and FOX Footy Channels, Sky News Active’s eight-screen interactive news
service, the FOXTEL Digital Guide and 30 audio channels.
FOXTEL has committed to maintain this price cap on the basic digital
service until at least the end of 2005 (subject only to Consumer Price
Index adjustments).

From the fundamental 66 channel basic service, FOXTEL Digital opens up into
a vast new landscape of more than 130 channels, catering to diverse viewing
tastes with more than 20 different purchasing options for consumers.

Subscribers who choose the top FOXTEL Digital package will see an even
greater increase in value and savings. For just $3.12 a day ($94.95 per
month) – FOXTEL Digital subscribers will receive 99 channels presenting all
premium movie channels and sports channels, plus the inclusion of two
FOXTEL Box Office pay-per-view movies (valued at $5.95 each), and the
FOXTEL Digital Magazine.

Existing FOXTEL subscribers will be able to upgrade to FOXTEL Digital for a
one-off fee from $49.95 which relates to the cost of installing the new
digital set-top-unit, a return path (and satellite receiving equipment
where required) in subscribers’ homes.

New subscribers will also pay from as little as $55.00 for installation,
depending upon the package and contract length.

“This is only the start of the FOXTEL Digital revolution. We will build the
packaging options, channel services, interactive features and choices
dramatically over the coming years,” Mr Williams said.

FOXTEL Digital’s channel line-up will give subscribers:

• Ten movie services (including FOXTEL Box Office)
• Twenty Seven FOXTEL Box Office channels
• Eight sports channels (including the Main Event channel featuring pay-perview boxing, wrestling and special events)
• Five kids channels
• Seven news channels
• Six music video channels and 30 audio music channels
• Eleven documentary channels
• Eight lifestyle channels
• Fourteen general entertainment channels
• Three adult services including pay-per-view channels
• Two foreign language channels with more to follow very soon
• Two games channels (with 10 separate and regularly changing games) and
• One Digital Help Channel
• One FOXTEL Box Office pre-view channel

Also new to FOXTEL Digital will be FOXTEL Air with 30 digital-quality
stereo audio channels that cater to all music tastes and moods – from Light
Classical, New Age and Top 100 to old fashioned Rock, and signature
channels such as Café, Rock, Groove, Dance, Blues, Home Grown, Today’s
Country, Soul, New Wave and Easy. FOXTEL Digital will also feature ten
TimeShift channels that have been selected based on their popularity with
subscribers. TimeShifts broadcast a single service on two different
channels with a two-hour time difference doubling subscribers’ viewing
choices and providing further opportunities to view favourite programs.
These channels are highly popular with subscribers in other more
established digital television markets such as the UK.

The key features of the new FOXTEL Digital service include:
• Dramatically expanded programming choice, more than 130 channels and services.
• The FOXTEL Digital Guide, an electronic program guide that allows subscribers to intuitively and easily navigate and plan viewing through

FOXTEL Digital’s expanded range of choice. The simple comprehensive on
screen guide (current day and the next seven days) details all programs and
allied synopsis information according to time, genre or channel. It even
has a memory/reminder function to recall and indicate what you have
selected in advance to watch (up to seven days in advance).

• FOXTEL Box Office, a 24-hour-day near-video-on-demand service screening a
range of blockbuster movie titles each starting every 15-30 minutes.

• Sky News Active, an interactive service allowing viewers to control and
choose the news they want to view from eight live video and five live text
screens.

• Sports Active, an interactive sports application which enables viewers to
select multiple camera angles and match replays together with game
statistics, player profiles and even different audio feeds on special
selected sports broadcasts.

• FOXTEL Gamesworld, offering subscribers two games channels and 10
different games with easy to play titles and games that test the mind.

• Digital quality pictures and CD quality sound are a given with FOXTEL
digital on each and every service.

• Widescreen and AC3 Surround Sound: FOXTEL Digital will include more than
45 channels that will broadcast in 16:9 widescreen at launch and 13
channels with enhanced surround sound.

Further information:
Brendon Moo
Publicity and PR Manager – FOXTEL Digital
(02) 9200 1057
or
Mark Furness
FOXTEL Director of Corporate Affairs
(02) 9200 1733


Ten Sports says 'no' to DD


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/509586.cms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2004 02:16:15 AM ]
NEW DELHI: Will Doordarshan get the terrestrial rights for the India-Pakistan cricket series? If one goes purely by commercial considerations and business practices, the decision is entirely in the hands of the Dubai-based Ten Sports, which holds exclusive satellite TV rights for the event and it’s answer is NO.

But, if one goes by the prevailing law in other countries, including that of Pakistan, it is but natural to wonder if India has been left with a duck in its hands.

Our own neighbour and series rival, Pakistan has adequate safeguards in its law to ensure that its people are not deprived of watching the historic sporting event.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has not only empowered the government or itself to notify certain events, including cricket matches to be carried on national broadcasters’ networks and on free-to-air channels. It also stipulates that if a broadcaster or pay channel acquires rights to telecast the event, it would be “obliged” to part with the distribution rights to the national broadcaster who could in turn re-telecast the event in free-to-air mode.

In Australia, the Broadcasting Services Act of 1992 empowers the government (minister) to “protect the free availability of certain types of programmes”.

The government can not only notify events that it thinks should be accessible to the general public by publishing it in the gazette, but can also notify such events, if it is convinced a commercial or national broadcaster has not adequate opportunity “to acquire the rights”.

In fact the country has gone a step further and introduced an anti-siphoning provision in amendments to the Act to prevent pay channels from acquiring exclusive rights to sporting events that have been traditionally available on free-to-air mode.


TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 08/2004 22 February 2004 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com Edition

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


MTV FORECASTS INCREASE IN AD SALES

MTV Networks, which is owned by the third-largest US media company, will probably have a 20 per cent increase in Asian advertising sales this year, MTV Networks Chief Executive Officer Tom Freston said. MTV advertising sales in Asia last year rose 24 per cent, twice the pace of the rest of the world for the company, which is owned by the cable-network unit of Viacom Inc. About 150 million homes in Asia have MTV channels, which include Nickelodeon. Advertising expenditure will rise 5.1 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region this year to US$68.41 billion, the fastest growth of the world's regions, according to ZenithOptimedia, a U.S.-based media services company. MTV plans to dub about half of Nickelodeon's programming into Hindi this year and may set up a south Indian music channel, Freston said.

ASIASAT TO OFFER BACKUP SERVICES FOR STAR

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) announced on February 16 that it is providing back up facilities and services to Star at AsiaSat’s new Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong. Under the terms of agreement, AsiaSat will provide facilities to house Star’s back up broadcast and RF equipment for downlinking and emergency uplinking to AsiaSat 3S and other related services. AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station is designed for tracking and monitoring AsiaSat’s satellites as well as for providing additional value-added services to AsiaSat’s customers such as C-band and Ku-band traffic uplinking and back up services.

Internet http://www.asiasat.com

AUSTRALIA

BIOGRAPHY JOINS FOXTEL PAY-TV OFFER

The Telstra/New Corp/P&B joint-venture Foxtel has added a widescreen factual channel from AETN International to its new digital TV bouquet. The new Australian feed of The Biography Channel will be broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio, a first for the channel, when Foxtel Digital launches in the first half of 2004. It will sit alongside the Aussie feed of AETN's flagship network, The History Channel. The signal for The Biography Channel in Australia will draw upon AETN's programme library, but will be operated and programmed locally by the Australian pay-TV broadcaster. Foxtel has over 1 million subscribers through Australia.

AZERBAIJAN

ARMENIAN TV CHANNELS OCCUPY TV AIRSPACE

Six Armenian television channels have expanded occupying Azerbaijani broadcasting space, said Olaylar News Agency on February 17. The TV channels that have been broadcasting in Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia have now begun stepping far from the space of Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijanis have expressed their concern about the issue, as they said, they do not want to watch and hear anti- Azerbaijani information on the Armenian televisions.

FIJI

FIJI TV TO EXTEND SATELLITE COVERAGE

Fiji Television plans to invest F$6 million in extending satellite coverage to the outer islands of the archipelago and to nearby countries, according to a report by Pacific Media Watch. Speaking at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) conference in Nadi, Fiji TV chief executive officer Ken Clark said the new service was expected to begin from July 1. The satellite transmission will beam the free-to-air channel Fiji One and six pay-TV channels. For the first time, Fiji's outer islands and other countries within the region will receive Fiji Television broadcasts. The pay-TV service will be increased to six or more channels, said Clark. The satellite broadcast will cover Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Niue and parts of New Zealand and Australia. However, Fiji TV expects some transmission problems, particularly during poor weather. "Using KU Band (satellite feed) there's always something called Œrain-fade' and while we expect to be 99.6 per cent efficient, during some periods of the year, the signal will disappear for a little while," Clark said. Fiji TV expects to recover the set-up costs through revenue from the existing TV service, the expanded pay-TV service and an expected modest return on the rent and sale of the satellite receivers and set-ups to customers. The satellite dishes customers will need for receiving the new signal are expected to cost around F$1000.

IRAQ

AL-HURRA TV STARTS BROADCASTING

Alhurra ("The Free One" in Arabic), the US government-funded Arabic-language television network, started broadcasting across the Middle East on February 14. The channel will compete with Al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya, which broadcast out of Qatar and Dubai respectively. Both are accused by Washington of inflaming tensions in the region. Alhurra, available to viewers on the region's two major satellite systems: Arabsat and Nilesat, is on air with 14 hours of programming a day and is to expand to 24 hours within weeks. Critics say the station will find it hard to establish independent credibility as it is being set up with funding from the US Congress, which has given al-Hurra a $62 million budget for its first year.

ISRAEL

FOUR BIDDERS FOR KNESSET TV CHANNEL

Four groups are expected to submit bids today for a license to broadcast from the Knesset. The news companies of Channel Two, the news company of Channel 10, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), and the Hadashot Hayom company that produces regional news broadcasts for the cable firms are all vying for the tender. Legislation to establish the new Knesset channel was passed just two months ago. A selection committee will choose the licensee from among the bidders. The Knesset channel will be modeled on the C-SPAN networks in the United States and will replace Channel 33, which currently operates from the Knesset under the auspices of the IBA. The recipient of the license for the Knesset channel will receive an annual budget of about NIS 13 million, as well as a NIS 2 million allocation during its initial year. The channel will not broadcast commercials or sponsorship messages; it will be solely financed by the Knesset. It is scheduled to broadcast from 7 A.M. through to midnight. The licensee will be required to broadcast live from the Knesset plenum and from one of the committees, provide taped footage of another committee and present a morning program. The bidders will also propose other programming and these proposals are expected to play an important role in the selection process. The bidders will make presentations to the selection panel during the coming days. The winner is expected to be announced within two weeks, with broadcasts slated to commence within two months.

PAKISTAN

INDIAN TV CHANNELS TO RETURN TO PAKISTAN

Pakistan might permit cable operators to resume showing Indian satellite channels as a goodwill gesture to mark the resumption of their dialogue process. The Daily Times on February 19 quoted officials in Islamabad as saying that the Pakistani government had no objection to initially permitting the relay of entertainment channels. In the second phase, cable operators could even relay Indian news channels. "The growing ties between the two neighbours have convinced the government that the Indian news channels will not be hurling propaganda against Pakistan, as they did a couple of years ago," the official said. "The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority will be announcing fresh guidelines for the cable operators pretty soon. "Pakistan and India have restored their traditional communication links and the two want to go even further in this direction," the official added. The Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (COAP) confirmed the move. More than 20 channels were affected, including the Star, Zee and Sony networks. Cable operators say TV subscriptions have fallen almost 40 per cent during the 26-month ban. Pakistan had 972 cable TV operators in December 2001. The number fell to 110 because of the ban.

SOUTH KOREA

EDUCATION CHANNEL PLANNED

Seoul has unveiled a package of measures, including a 24-hour education channel, to try to curb soaring spending by parents on private after-school education, according to the South China Morning Post. Under the proposals, the state-run satellite channel EBS will be transformed into a round-the-clock video classroom.

SRI LANKA

ABC LICENCE CANCELLED

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Information and Daily Communication, which is controlled by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, on February 16 cancelled the TV operating licence of Asian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a successful private media group that runs five FM radio stations. According to Radio Netherlands, no official reason was given for the sudden move to stop ABC from starting its TV channel. ABC will challenge the decision in courts, sources said. ABC obtained a licence for starting a TV station in November 1995. Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the Sri Lankan Information and Communication Minister's decision to cancel the TV broadcast licence. Reporters Without Borders said it feared that the decision could be a prelude to further tough measures against the privately-owned media by President Chandrika Kumaratunga's administration during the parliamentary election campaign that starts in a few days. Sri Lanka currently has three privately-owned broadcast television channels and one cable television channel, in addition to the state TV broadcaster.

THAILAND

ITV TO REVAMP PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Television station iTV will move ahead with a major programming restructuring plan despite warnings from authorities that doing so would violate its concession contract, according to the Bangkok Post. Executives of the station announced that starting in April, iTV would introduce a new programme schedule with an increased focus on entertainment-related content during prime-time hours. While the station would continue to offer a ratio of news and documentaries to entertainment of around 70:30, as required under its 30-year concession, the shift of entertainment programmes into more favourable slots could be seen as a potential violation of its contract. iTV is 43% owned by Shin Corp, the telecom giant founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. iTV, which ranks fourth in viewership after channels 7, 3, and 5, has posted regular losses since opening in 1995. Analysts say the station's programme restrictions and high concession fees are the main factors behind its losses. The company posted a loss of 178 million baht for the third quarter of 2003, with nine-month losses of 570.2 million.

UBC REPORTS FIRST PROFITS

United Broadcasting Corporation Group (UBC), the country's largest pay-TV operator, saw its balance sheet in the black for the first time last year, reporting a net profit of 131.05 million baht. The accumulated losses for the company amount to 12.8 billion. UBC, which posted a net loss of 258.91 million baht in 2002, said that its 2003 revenue grow by 5.9% year-on-year to 7.17 billion baht. The increased revenue came partly from last year's 160-baht increase in monthly subscription fees, as well as from the stronger baht, which helped reduce the cost of foreign programmes. The subscription fee for UBC's Gold package, which includes 29 channels, stands at 1,412 baht per month. This year, the company projects sales revenue will grow about 9%, driven by rising subscriptions. The company, which has 434,815 subscribers, expects to hook up about 35,000 new customers by the end of the year. UBC will spend between US$2 million and $4 million on acquiring programming, mainly foreign shows. A new focus will be on the low-end market as UBC joins forces with local cable operators in the provinces, offering 10 channels for 150 baht a month. More new channels will be launched in conjunction with local producers if the government gives UBC permission to carry advertising on them, he said. At the same time, the company will assist the government in its crackdown on illegal cable operators.




22/02/04

Sunday no updates




21/02/04

No update this weekend, I'm going to have another crack at finding NSS6




20/02/04

Fiji TV coming via satellite July 1st. I have emailed them to get the info as to which satellite they will use and as to if Fiji 1 will be fta there or not. Interesting the coverage mentions Australia and parts of NZ. Might Be I701 same beam as canal+ ? A lot of NZ installers might like to plan winter Holidays in that region.

Changes on Sky NZ (B1)

12608 V "Eng 9" (sky test channel?) Vpid 517 Apid 655 Sid 1060
12644 V "New Supreme" Apid 666 Sid 1069 (Radio/Audio EPG says Love Songs)

See through satellite dish, http://www.fmelettronica.it/

UCAS Software for Strong receivers, use at your own risk.(Let me know if it works?)
http://www.geocities.com/smartpatch03/


From my Emails & ICQ


From Herb Gardiner

Daystar TV just started on Globecast mux, B3 12525 s/r30000.

Herb.


From Jason

B1 Feeds
12397 H 7203 - Seven Network
12370 H 6671 - Channel V

Jason


From vk4bkp

B3 12500H
Kenny from Vetrun's forum has found on Optus B3 12500H sr 30812 3/4.
Daystar, TRT, SET, TCT, GOD Channel, 3ABN, TGN, BVN.


From Jason

Blue Kiss on NSS6!
Just noticed Blue Kiss have started on NSS6 with 2 channels...details are:

11078 V 5011 S/R? (Coz the Powtek doesnt tell me)VPID: 49 APID: 50 PCRPID: 49
11078 V 5011 S/R? VPID: 65 APID: 66 PCRPID: 65


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Videoland WMovie Channel" has left , replaced by occasional feeds.

(T Kameda)
Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2535 H "KBS World has replaced TVBS Asia" on , Videoguard, PIDs 514/642.

NSS 6 95E 12688 H "Al Mehwar TV" has started, Fta, PIDs 417/418.Al-Arabiyah has left.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H New PIDs for Daystar TV on : 5169/5170.

Thaicom 2 78.5E 4086 H New PIDs for TVT Channel 11 on : 308/256.

PAS 10 68.5E 3744 V "TV 5 Afrique" has left , moved to 3836 V.
PAS 10 68.5E 3836 V "TV 5 Afrique and an Activation promo" have started on , Fta, PIDs 1636/1635 and 1639/1638.


(N Schlammer)

NEWS

Fiji TV spends $6m to extend satellite coverage


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=7891

Fiji Television Ltd plans to invest F$6 million in extending satellite coverage to the outer islands of the archipelago and to nearby countries

NADI (Wansolwara Online/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji Television Ltd plans to invest F$6 million in extending satellite coverage to the outer islands of the archipelago and to nearby countries.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) conference in Nadi, Fiji TV chief executive officer Ken Clark said the new service was expected to begin from July 1.

The satellite transmission will beam the free-to-air channel Fiji One and six pay-TV channels.

For the first time, Fiji¹s outer islands and other countries within the region will receive Fiji Television broadcasts.

"The main objective is to make sure that people who have never had television in this country have it," Clark said.

"Secondly there are people, particularly in Vanua Levu, who have never had pay-TV and we are aware that they want it ­ so this will solve that problem."

The pay-TV service will be increased to six or more channels, said Clark.

The satellite broadcast will cover Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Niue and parts of New Zealand and Australia.

However, Fiji TV expects some transmission problems, particularly during poor weather.

"Using KU Band (satellite feed) there¹s always something called ‘rain-fade’ and while we expect to be 99.6 per cent efficient, during some periods of the year, the signal will disappear for a little while," Clark said.

Fiji TV expects to recover the set-up costs through revenue from the existing TV service, the expanded pay-TV service and an expected modest return on the rent and sale of the satellite receivers and set-ups to customers.

The satellite dishes customers will need for receiving the new signal are expected to cost around F$1000.

The new service will provide an avenue for locally produced programming to be beamed further afield.

Fiji TV also distributes and dubs overseas content and viewing rights to smaller countries within the region.


(Craigs comment, I would assume an Intelsat spotbeam? or perhaps Nss5 @177W. Asiasat 4 could be another possibilty.)


Thai Ipstar Signs Deal With India's STPI


From Press Release

Following is a press release from Shin Satellite PCL (SATTEL.TH)

Nonthaburi, Thailand, Feb. 18, 2004--Ipstar Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Shin Satellite PCL, has signed an Ipstar bandwidth agreement with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).

Under the agreement signed with STPI in February 2004, STPI will be Ipstar's strategic partner by means of the purchase of up to 400 mbps of bandwidth on the Ipstar satellite. This bandwidth will be used to provide a broad range of broadband applications and services such as high speed internet access for business and consumers, rural telephony, e-government, and e-education.

Mr. S.N. Zindal Director General of STPI said, "STPI has been handling several projects which require very high-speed data transmission that can be rolled out anywhere in India. We believe that Ipstar technology is the best solution, that allows us not only to deploy high-speed broadband services cost effectively, but it is also possible to provide various kinds of broadband applications on a national scale. Given the commercial and technological advantages of the Ipstar technology, we are confident to participate as a gateway operator, for which we signed an agreement a few months back. This capacity will be fully deployed along with thousands of user terminals within the first 12 months of the launch of the satellite. This is a very important selling point in deploying a comprehensive broadband service and we believe that Ipstar will help STPI increase the gamut of services offered by it tremendously."

Mr. Pradeep Unni, vice president of Ipstar Co. Ltd. added, "The Indian market has enormous potential so we are honored to work with such a very capable partner like STPI to deploy the first Ipstar gateway and service for the Indian market. India is one of the biggest markets in Asia-pacific for broadband services and for Ipstar, given the size of country and population, and its leadership as the world's largest it and software developer. This Ipstar service deployment in India is a major step forward in the progress of our Ipstar program." STPI is an organization under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India and was set up in 1991, with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting software exports from India. There are more than 6,000 software developer units registered with STPI and these have been playing a crucial and significant role in placing India prominently on the world it map.

The Ipstar system provides high-speed satellite based broadband services at a better cost-structure than any other alternative solutions. It supplies massive capacity that allows its partners to build a very large application platform to serve hundreds of thousands of users in each country, while still enjoying the advantages unique to satellites, such as nationwide coverage and deployment flexibility.

The Ipstar broadband satellite project is one of the world's earliest satellite broadband systems to commence its commercial service with its first generation deployment since 2002. When launched in 2004, ipstar will be capable of providing broadband access service to millions of users in some 20 countries throughout Asia pacific, complementing other terrestrial broadband solutions such as DSL and cable modem.


HK consumers welcome Galaxy's exTV


From satellite today

A new survey carried out by market information group TNS show that 25 per cent of Hong Kong consumers are already expressing interest in signing up for exTV, the new pay-TV service launched today by Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, a joint venture between Intelsat and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB).

exTV's access to TVB programming will be a key attraction of the new service. The survey found one in every three survey respondents (35 per cent) reporting that the availability of TVB programmes would be "quite" or "extremely" attractive to them when selecting a pay-TV provider.

Stephen Yap, Associate Director at TNS Hong Kong, commented: "With 7 per cent of consumers already expressing strong interest in exTV, these survey findings make encouraging reading for Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting especially given that the full-scale marketing push for exTV has still yet to commence. In terms of number of households, 7 per cent represents almost double the 80,000 targeted by Galaxy for the first year of operations, although of course not all geographical areas will have access to the service right away.

"As expected, exTV's secret weapon will be its exclusive access to TVB's extensive archive of programming. We will continue to observe with interest how the market develops and how existing pay-TV operators respond to the entrance of this formidable new competitor."




19/02/04

WinTV and ABC NT are on B3 12720V sr 30000 fec 2/3 (only expected to be there temp, remember these showed up on C1 a few weeks back could be something wrong with old Optus A3?)

More Porno? Bluekiss adult channels supposedly testing on Nss6? 11078 V sr 5006

Videoland movies channel on Pas 8 gone??

If your looking for a good forum for FTA satellite don't forget to checkout Vetruns FTA satellite forum. Link on the left "message forum"


From my Emails & ICQ


From Me

B3 12552V Horse racing feed seen yesterday

If your B3 12525V signals down in strength its a good indicator that there is a feed on 12552V


From Vk4bkp

Win TV and ABC NT, Temp signals on B3 12720V sr 30000 Fec 2/3 (AUS beam)

From "MRX"

Some shots of the new Foxtel "Digital" service sorry about the quality of the images they are taken off a TV screen with digital camera

From the Dish


Optus C1 156E 12438 H The Foxtel Box Office Preview is now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 4164 V New SR and FEC for Familyland TV Network on : 3735 and 7/8.

NSS 6 95E 12688 H "Al-Arabiyah and Nile TV International" have started , Fta,PIDs 401/402 and 849/850. Several PID updates. TGRT FNSS 6 95E 12729 V "Free-XTV and Back Room" have started regular transmissions
M has left.

Yamal 102 90E 3588 L "Nord TV and Nord FM" are back on , Fta, SR 4285, FEC 3/4,PIDs 308/256 and 257.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H A Satmedia promo has started, Fta, PIDs 6177/6195.


NEWS


NZ Sky TV To Post Modest 1H Profit; Small Chance Of Div


From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040219/15/3i51d.html

WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--Sky Network Television Ltd. (SKY.NZ), New Zealand's only pay TV operator, will return a small first half profit Monday, helped by more people subscribing to the service and fewer people canceling their subscriptions.

Sky will report a net profit in the six months to Dec. 30 of NZ$12.7 million, according to a Dow Jones Newswires poll of five analysts. Estimates ranged from NZ$11.2 million to NZ$14.6 million.

The result will better the previous first half's loss of NZ$4.4 million and continues Sky's recent return to profit with a full year profit last year of NZ$671,000 - the first since Sky launched its digital satellite network in 1998.

Expectations for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ranged from NZ$86.2 million to NZ$88.6 million with a median of NZ$88.2 million.

Citigroup is forecasting Sky to pay a maiden dividend of 2 cents NZ a share, according to a research note, but that isn't a widely held view. There is also the chance that Sky might comment on when it expects to start paying dividends.

Analysts said the return to profit has been driven primarily by solid subscriber growth, especially to the digital service and lower programming costs as a proportion of revenue.

Also, churn - a measure of subscribers who disconnect - is down, meaning that Sky TV is holding onto more viewers, which is attributed to better marketing and programming.

"If you look at the programming content they had three years ago and what they've got now, it's quite a bit better," said one analyst who didn't want to be named.

At the last full year results release in August, Sky chief executive John Fellet said the company will continue to return profits and predicted a net profit in the financial year ending June 30 of NZ$28 million to NZ$35 million.

Sky TV is 78.3% owned by Independent Newspapers Ltd. (INL.NZ) after a takeover bid that closed in December with the publisher failing to get the 90% shareholding it needed to compulsorily acquire the whole company.

INL sold all of its publishing assets last year and used part of the NZ$818 million net proceeds for the Sky takeover. It plans to return the remaining NZ$340 million to shareholders.

Another analyst, who also asked not to be named, said Sky TV's first half result might surpass analysts' expectations.

Depreciation from buying and installing set-top boxes into subscribers' homes might be less than expected because of lower costs in U.S. dollars being even lower when converted into New Zealand dollars.

Interest payments might also be lower if Sky has repaid more debt that expected, said the analyst.

"In general I'm feeling like there's plenty of scope for them to beat our number," he said.


Hughes examines sale of Panamsat


From http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4301329/

Sale by Murdoch unit would free up cash for DirecTV

Updated: 8:40 a.m. ET Feb. 18, 2004Hughes Electronics, the broadcasting group controlled by Rupert Murdoch, is exploring a sale of Panamsat, its US-listed satellite subsidiary.

According to bankers and lawyers familiar with the situation, Hughes Electronics has hired Credit Suisse First Boston to advise it on the strategic options for its 81 per cent stake in Panamsat.

Although the discussions are still at an early stage, the most likely outcome is expected to be a sale of Panamsat, possibly to a private equity buyer.

The decision follows the acquisition late last year of a 34 per cent stake in Hughes by News Corporation, Mr Murdoch's global media group. News Corp's main interest in pursuing Hughes was to get its hands on DirecTV, the largest US satellite broadcaster.

Panamsat, which operates a fleet of 22 satellites around the world, is not seen as central to Mr Murdoch's ambitions and a sale could release cash which Hughes could reinvest in building up DirecTV's subscriber base.

Panamsat, which is separately listed on the Nasdaq stock market, has seen its market value almost double to $3.3bn over the past year as investors reassessed the prospects for the global satellite industry.

People familiar with the matter said strategic players such as Intelsat and SES were unlikely purchasers because of the regulatory concerns they would face in acquiring a rival satellite operator.

But private equity groups are increasingly interested in satellite businesses. In the past 12 months, two satellite companies - Eutelsat and Inmarsat - have fallen into the hands of private equity consortia. In an apparent attempt to boost Panamsat's value, News Corp earlier this month awarded the group a 15-year contract to transmit all the programming for its Fox television unit.

Panamsat and CSFB declined to comment. But last week Chase Carey, Hughes' president and chief executive, said on a conference call that the company had "begun to evaluate" how Panamsat fit into a "DirecTV-driven strategic vision


Kosmos 2405 military payload launched by Russia


From http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0402/18molniya/

With President Vladimir Putin looking on, Russia's largest military exercise in over two decades took to the high frontier Wednesday with the launch of a clandestine payload from the nation's northern space base near the Arctic Circle.

The Molniya booster took flight at approximately 0705 GMT (2:05 a.m. EST) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in far northern Russia. It marked the first launch from that site this year and Russia's first orbital military mission of 2004.

As part of the Soyuz rocket family, the Molniya flight was the second of 10 Soyuz missions expected this year.

Putin arrived at Plesetsk and was to have toured the Molniya launch pad prior to liftoff, various news reports said. After observing the blastoff, Putin was to have observed another launch via television -- this time of a ballistic missile with a dummy warhead from the faraway Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The payload was identified by the RIA Novosti news organization as a Kosmos military communications satellite likely bound for an elliptical orbit with a high inclination.

The four-stage Molniya rocket has the capability to place payloads of up to about 4,500 pounds into such orbits, reports indicate.

Under the official Russian military satellite identification matrix, the newly launched craft will assume the name Kosmos 2405.

The mission was part of a high profile military training drill underway this week that includes thousands of soldiers, sailors, and other forces in a number of tests of equipment such as space vehicles, missiles, aircraft, and naval vessels.

The exercise has been deemed the largest and most extensive since the former Soviet Union startled the world with an immense series of tests in 1982.


Indian channels may be back soon


From http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_19-2-2004_pg7_7

KARACHI: Pakistan may soon permit cable operators to show Indian satellite channels again as a goodwill gesture marking the current secretary-level talks between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours.

“We have indications from some official channels and are still waiting for a formal announcement on the ban being lifted,” said Tahir Khan, vice president of the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (COAP), on Wednesday. He said Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had not told them when it was going to lift the ban.

The Indian satellite channels were banned in Pakistan after the two countries closed their diplomatic offices and cut rail, road and air links after an attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001. More than 20 channels were affected, including Star, Zee and Sony networks. Some officials in Islamabad, who asked not to be named, told Daily Times the government had no objection to lifting the ban on Indian channels dedicated to family entertainment. In the second phase, they added, the cable operators could even relay Indian news channels.

“The growing ties between the two neighbours have convinced the government that the Indian news channels will not be hurling propaganda against Pakistan, as they did a couple of years ago,” the official said. “PEMRA will be announcing fresh guidelines for the cable operators pretty soon,” another official said. “Pakistan and India have restored their traditional communication links and the two want to go even further in this direction,” the official said.

Cable operators say they suffered badly during the 26-month ban. “We won’t broadcast Indian news and propaganda channels but the government should lift the ban on entertainment channels. They are popular with Pakistanis and can help the cable operators continue their business,” Mr Khan said.

“Most of our clients do not understand English and other foreign languages,” he said. Subscriptions to cable TV was falling rapidly for lack of Indian channels, he complained. According to Mr Khan, the cable operators’ business had dropped 40 percent. Since the ban was imposed on December 30, 2001, cable operators had been pleading for permission to relay Indian “no-news” channels. Last year, cable operators across Pakistan stopped showing five news channels — CNN, BBC, ARY, Geo and Indus News — in protest.

Mr Khan said there were at least 400 cable operators in businesses in Karachi before the ban, but now because of the sharp decline in their clientele, high business costs, taxes and police harassment, their number had decreased to 273. Of the 972 in the rest of Pakistan, the number had plummeted to 110, he added. Most cable operators had to merge their businesses to reduce costs, while others switched over to more profitable businesses, Mr Khan said.

Many foreign channels and new Urdu channels replaced the banned channels and the cable operators were hoping that these channels had the potential to become popular in Pakistan. But this did not happen. “Banning TV channels is not a good precedent,” said Mustafa, a newspaper vendor in downtown Saddar.




18/02/04

Things very quiet today, New channel on I701 in the Worldnet mux Al Hurra U.S Govt channel for the middle east.

CNN live video stream http://wwitv.com/tvtv/cnn.asx


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Draper

TVNZ Digital

Ric Carlyon, TVNZ's Digital TV Manager, agreed to
write a few words for this group about what TVNZ is
doing on B1:


TVNZ is quietly trialling content on its 3 digital channels ex Optus B1. Over the next months technical
processes will be tested, resulting in changes to the content across the channels. Most of this will be
pass-through programming from various overseas broadcasters.

But gradually there will be enhancements and from time to time local specials and one-offs will be
broadcast, some of which will be exclusive to TVNZ's fledgling digital service, like the coverage of last
Saturday's memorial service for Janet Frame.

We will find ways, like this Group, to alert digital DTH viewers in advance of these events. The trialling
is also to help judge what might be popular with viewers when, eventually, the digital bouquet is being
decided. Thus we welcome feedback'.

email [email protected]


From Vk4bkp

Three new channels on NSS6. Mazzika a music channel and Arbia on 12687H, Nile TV on 12647V.

Arbia and Mazzika screenshots


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3836 V All channels in the Era Bouquet are encrypted again, except TVBS Newsnet USA.

NSS 6 95E 11543 V "MAC TV (clear) and NTD TV (BISS)" are back on , PIDs 769/770 and 1025/1026.(South Asia beam)
NSS 6 95E 12688 H "Mazzika" has started on , cFta, PIDs 337/338.New PIDs for Telepace: 417/418. All channels are Fta.
NSS 6 95E 12729 V New PIDs for the Free-XTV promo and Sexz TV promo on : 513/514 and 1281.

Yamal 102 90E 3588 L Nord TV and Nord FM have left .
Yamal 201 90E 3918 L "GTRK Altai" is back on , Fta, SR 4275, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 4107 V "ATN Bangla and occasional feeds" have started, Fta, SR 6664,FEC 3/4, PIDs 101/102 and 201/202, Asian beam.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" is Fta again.Radio Lanka has left.

Insat 3C 74E 4139 H "DD North-East" has started , Fta, SR 5000, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.(DX Target?)

PAS 4 72E 3707 V "Parliamentary Service" has started, Fta, SR 6000, FEC 3/4,PIDs 309/258.


NEWS


New Arabic Language Channel Carried Via Satellite


Fron Satellite Today

Alhurra, a new Arabic-language satellite television network, began broadcasting to millions of viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East last weekend.

Alhurra, an Arabic word for "the free one," primarily will be devoted to news and information. The channel will broadcast discussion programs, current affairs magazines and features on a variety of subjects including health and personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion, and science and technology.

Dedicated to presenting accurate, balanced and comprehensive news, the channel is operated by The Middle East Television Network, a non-profit corporation funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The BBG is a federal agency that supervises all U.S. non-military international broadcasting. The channel is broadcast from studios in Springfield, Va., and bureaus throughout the Middle East.


ABS-CBN in talks with Canadian cable firm


From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/FlashNewsStory.aspx?FlashOID=15092

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. said it was negotiating with a Canadian cable company on its plan to offer 24-hour all-Filipino cable services in Canada.

The Canadian government has required ABS-CBN to partner with a Canadian cable company and "we are pursuing it already," Maloli Espinosa-Manalastas, ABS-CBN vice president for corporate and government affairs, was quoted by news reports.

"We are in negotiation with a Canadian partner."

No further details were provided.

ABS-CBN also plans to expand its cable services in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

The company launched its cable and direct-to-home satellite in Europe in December.

North America remains as its major cable market with at least 130,000 subscribers. It offers the same service in Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Asia Pacific countries.


NDS' Videoguard certified by SARFT


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/tec/y2k4/feb/febtec7.htm

NDS' conditional access system Videoguard has been certified by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in its ongoing evaluation of foreign and local conditional access systems to ensure they meet stringent functionality requirements for the China market.

According to a company release, NDS Beijing engineers successfully demonstrated the advanced performance of Videoguard, passing the test in only four days. NDS VideoGuard was granted approved foreign conditional access status in China by SARFT in 2000, when an evaluation was done to recommend a select number of conditional access systems for use by provincial cable TV operators in the transition to digital.

Chongqing Broadcast and TV Network Transmission Co Ltd, a cable television provider to 3.5 million subscribers, uses NDS VideoGuard and a local conditional access to simulcrypt their network, says the release.


DD makes last ditch attempt for Indo-Pak cricket


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/feb/feb148.htm

NEW DELHI: All is fair in love and war, they say. In case of a cricket series between India and Pakistan not only both the emotions are involved, but India's pubcaster Doordarshan invokes the law, trying to whip up public passion.

In a letter to broadcast regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), Prasar Bharati Corporation, while seeking its intervention in the matter, has said that a public broadcaster cannot be held to "ransom" by telecast rights holder over commercial considerations.

"It is our firm view that the right holders cannot hold us to ransom by not giving access to terrestrial rights merely on commercial considerations," Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma has stated in a letter --- a copy of which is available with indiantelevision.com --- to Trai chairman Pradip Baijal.

Prasar Bharati is an autonomous body that looks after the affairs of pubcasters DD and All India Radio.

The letter, dated 13 February, 2004, further goes on to add that DD is not looking at getting the terrestrial rights free. "We are prepared to pay a reasonable rights fee to be determined by any Authority or through mutual negotiations based on precedence for such fees in the past when the events are telecast simultaneously on private satellite channels as well as the public broadcaster," it points out.

Trai's Baijal, who met information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad last week, could not be contacted today for comments on the letter.

Dubai-based Taj Sports, which manages Ten Sports channel, had bagged last year the TV telecast rights of all cricket matches to be organised under the aegis of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for five years. Later, it also bought the global radio broadcast rights too.

According to figures being bandied around, Ten Sports bought the Pakistan cricket rights for over $ 40 million. This was done at a time when even the most optimistic wouldn't have thought that resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan would become a reality. Now, when such a scenario has become a reality with the Indian government too clearing the Pakistan tour, DD wants a share of the windfall such a series can generate.

The letter from Prasar Bharati seeks Trai's "intervention" and tries to justify the demand by stating while Ten Sports' viewership base in India would not exceed 15 million cable and satellite homes, DD's viewership is about 80 million homes.

Pointing out that these figures would "signify deprivation to the public" of the entertainment they would derive from this "huge event happening after 14 years", Sarma has conveyed to Trai that regulations in this regard, favouring the pubcaster to get access to the telecast rights, would not be out of place.

"Indeed such provisions do exist in few enlightened countries where, even if a private satellite operator obtains the rights to such event, they are under obligation to give the signal to the public broadcaster also," Sarma has pleaded, enumerating instances of such laws in other countries in annexures attached with the letter.

As things stand today, Ten Sports has agreed to give DD only highlight packages of the Tests and one-dayers of the Indo-Pak series, which may be broken up into Test matches being played before the general elections are held in India, while the one-dayers being held after the elections.

Though admitting that it is not an established norm for Prasar Bharati to bid for telecast rights of events outside the country, the letter adds, "However, they (Ten Sports) have consistently denied this opportunity (for the matches to be shown on terrestrial network) on the ground that they would be adversely affected commercially."

Sarma, a seasoned bureaucrat, also does not let go of this chance to take a swipe at various sports bodies in India and abroad. "It is a matter of great dismay that various cricket boards, including ours, sell the rights to agencies who have no access to terrestrial transmission whatsoever, not only in India, but elsewhere too," the letter sarcastically states.

The letter also goes on to underline the fact that various Bills, pending in the Indian Parliament, had envisaged bringing in a law that would make it mandatory for telecast rights holders to share terrestrial rights with the Indian pubcaster(s) of events that are of national importance. This, irrespective of the fact whether such events are held in India or outside India.




17/02/04

Live satellite chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards

All quiet today it seems

In my daily scan, I found the following changes on B1 Sky NZ

12544 V "Real good life" on Apid 666 Sid 1068 nothing playing as yet. New radio??
12581 V "The arts Channel" on Vpid 515 Apid 653 Sid 1029. Encrypted



From my Emails & ICQ


From Johnz

Sigiram on B3 is FTA



From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 3836 V All channels in the Era Bouquet on are Fta.(Have not been FTA in ages)

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3886 V "Dongguang News Radio has replaced East Radio Shanghai" , Fta APID 1213.

ST 1 88E 12647 V The occasional feeds are back on , PIDs 41/42. New APID for Police Radio Station: 43.

Express 6A 80E 4125 R "TV Centr Ural" has started on , Fta PIDs 165/100.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 V "AJK" has started on ,Fta, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/259, Asian beam.
Thaicom 3 78.5E Updates in TARBS World TV, MDS:
TGRT and ATV Avrupa have started on 3520 H, PIDs 515/643 and 522/650.
Kanal D Fun has replaced Telepace on 3520 H, PIDs 513/641.
Future TV USA and Mega Cosmos have started on 3640 H, PIDs 513/641 and 520/648.

(Craigs comment, thats where they went to from NSS6)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H The RR Sat promo and both VIC-TV Turkiye are back on , Fta.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" is now encrypted.

PAS 4 72E 3709 V Occasional feeds on , SR 6000, FEC 3/4.


NEWS


Gilat Expands Relationship with Optus with Additional 2,500 Skystar 360E VSATs


From Press Release

Feb 16, 2004

Petah Tikva, Israel, 16, 2004 – Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILTF) announced today an agreement to supply Australia’s second largest telecommunications company, SingTel –Optus, with an additional 2,500 Skystar 360E Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and hub expansion equipment. The addition of VSATs to Optus’ network reflects its plans to grow broadband services in Australia and New Zealand, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Optus operates two-way satellite services throughout Australia and New Zealand based predominantly on Gilat’s 360 and 360E systems. The Skystar 360E, for example, is already being used by Optus to deliver distance learning services to small rural towns and isolated homesteads in New South Wales (NSW) and across the Northern Territory (NT).

Warren Hardy, Managing Director of Optus Wholesale & Satellite, said the large order of VSATs will help Optus bring down equipment costs which in turn will pass the savings onto its customers. “This deal is a win/win situation for Optus and our customers. We have been investing heavily in VSAT technology in recent years due to the ever-increasing demand for Internet and data delivery for rural and remote Australia.

“VSATs are well suited in areas where there is no Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) coverage or terrestrial infrastructure. For example, our SatWeb service, which utilises Gilat’s hardware, is proving to be very successful due to the small size and extensive capabilities of the terminals”, Mr. Hardy said.

Oded Sheshinski, Gilat’s Manager for Australia-Pacific, said “This agreement with Optus demonstrates the increasingly strong relationship between our two companies. Gilat is excited to play an active role through its technology and equipment in assisting Optus expand its broadband services throughout the region.”

About SingTel Optus Satellite

SingTel Optus has more than 20 years experience as a satellite owner and operator combined with Australia’s largest fleet of domestic satellites. The SingTel Group’s fleet includes five satellites in orbit covering Australia, Tasmania, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, China and India, as well as limited coverage to Papua New Guinea, Cocos Island, Christmas Island, Lord Howe Island, Solomon Islands and East Timor. Following the successful launch of the C1 satellite in June 2003, Optus plans to launch two new satellites for Australia/New Zealand over the next few years. This expansion of the Optus fleet underpins Optus’ satellite business and secures its leadership position in the television broadcasting markets of Australia and New Zealand.

For further information about Optus satellite services visit www.optusbusiness.com.au

About Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., with its global subsidiaries Spacenet Inc., Gilat Latin America and rStar Corporation (RSTRC), is a leading provider of telecommunications solutions based on Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite network technology – with nearly 400,000 VSATs shipped worldwide. Gilat, headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel, markets the SkyEdge ™ Product Family which includes the SkyEdge™ Pro, SkyEdge™ IP, SkyEdge™ Call, SkyEdge™ DVB-RCS and SkyEdge™ Gateway. In addition the Company markets the Skystar Advantage®, DialAw@y IP™, FaraWay™, Skystar 360E™ and SkyBlaster* 360 VSAT products in more than 70 countries around the world. Gilat provides satellite-based, end-to-end enterprise networking and rural telephony solutions to customers across six continents, and markets interactive broadband data services. Skystar Advantage, Skystar 360E, DialAw@y IP and FaraWay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. or its subsidiaries. (*SkyBlaster is marketed in the United States by StarBand Communications Inc. under its own brand name.) Visit Gilat at www.gilat.com.

Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, inability to maintain market acceptance to Gilat’s products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, rapid changes in the market for Gilat’s products, loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition, introduction of competing products by other companies, inability to manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners, inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the Company’s proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat’s international operations and its location in Israel. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with Gilat’s business, reference is made to Gilat’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Inquiries:
Tim Perrott
Tel: +1703-848-1515

Gilat Media Contact:
Barry Spielman,
Senior Director, Corporate Marketing
tel: +(972)3-925-2201
[email protected]


AsiaSat to Offer Back up Services to Star


From Press Release

16th Feb, 2004

Hong Kong, 16th February, 2004 - Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) announced today it is providing back up facilities and services to Star at AsiaSat's new Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.

Under the terms of agreement, AsiaSat will provide facilities to house Star's back up broadcast and RF equipment for downlinking and emergency uplinking to AsiaSat 3S and other related services.

AsiaSat's Tai Po Earth Station is a new facility located at the Tai Po Industrial Estate in the New Territories of Hong Kong. This new earth station is built on a 139,932 sq.ft. site comprising a 52,743 sq.ft. two-level building and five antennas, four 7.3 metre and one 11.3 metre. The station is designed for tracking and monitoring AsiaSat's satellites as well as for providing additional value-added services to AsiaSat's customers such as C-band and Ku-band traffic uplinking and back up services.

Steve Askew, Star's Chief Operating Officer, said, "AsiaSat has been a reliable partner for Star since our launch more than a decade ago. This agreement further expands our existing collaboration in ensuring total reliability and quality control in the playout and broadcast of our services to viewers across the region."

"We are very pleased to have this opportunity to provide additional support to Star, AsiaSat's long-term partner, by providing this comprehensive package. In addition to the important role it plays to back up our Stanley Earth Station to ensure service integrity and reliability, this new earth station also allows AsiaSat to deliver a wider range of services to address the needs of customers in the future," said Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

About Star

Star, a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation, is Asia's leading multi-platform content and service provider. Star's over 40 distributed services in seven languages reach more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. Star television channels include Star Chinese Channel, Star Plus, Star World, Xing Kong, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese Channel, Channel [V], ESPN, Star Sports, Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Mandarin Movies, Star Movies, Phoenix Movies Channel, Star News, Phoenix InfoNews Channel, in addition to distributed channels National Geographic Channel, A1, The History Channel, Fox News and Sky News. Star has interests in cable systems in India and Taiwan. It also powers the launch of Total TV in Taiwan, Asia's first interactive digital cable TV services. In addition, it provides advertising sales and marketing services and is a key source of programming expertise for Radio City, the first FM radio network to launch in India. For more information, please visit www.startv.com.

About AsiaSat

AsiaSat, the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world's population with its satellites. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 120 analogue and digital television channels and 90 radio channels are now delivered by the Company's satellites, reaching over 80 million households, with more than 300 million viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Many telecommunications customers use AsiaSat for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks and high speed Internet and multimedia services. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, listed on both the Hong Kong (SEHK: 1135HK) and New York (NYSE: SAT) stock exchanges. For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com




16/02/04

Is there anyone who recognises the LNBF shown in the letter I had about Sky's new LNBF? brand and model number?

Asiasat 4 122E 12478H ? signal seen in W.A for a short time on Aus/NZ beam

Interesting link, Big dish used for Solar Heating. The guys mad he wants to have it dual purpose for Satellite tv and water heating. Umm how would he stop the LNBF from Melting!

http://www.pluggedin.ca/heater.html


From my Emails & ICQ


From R

Hello Craig -
This just in from Sky:

"Shortly all new Sky NZ dish installs and all NZ Sky dish service calls to old dishes - will fit a dual lnbf to all dishes"

Is this a for runner for a move to combine all NZ+OZ - Sky+Fox off one Satellite ?


(Craigs comment, a bit of digging around and I have come up with a pic! not sure of the brand)




From Extradry

B3 12525V Feed seen Sat/Sunday night
UK Soccer.

Also seen Via Asiasat 2 4081H 5700


From Steve Hume

Telkom 1 108E 3500H channels are currently fta
Metro
SCTV
TPI
TVG MTV Asia
Anteve
CNBC
Indosair
BBC
Hallmark
RCTI
Ar-Rahman
CNBC

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From me 15/02

3.55pm Syd

B1 12367V sr 6620 Church service feed
B1 12358V sr 6620 Church service feed


From Bill Richards

Subject: Asiasat4

0130 UTC
Asiasat4 128E 4162H SR 3100, FEC7/8,"MTA INTERNATIONAL"FTA Vpid 3001 Apid 3011 SID 1601 PCR130 PMT262

Regards
Bill Richards


From the Dish


Intelsat 804 176E 12681 V All channels in the Best TV mux are now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 4166 V "Familyland TV Network" has started, Fta, SR 2239, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120.

Agila 2 146E 12581 H "Living Asia Channel" has replaced Juice and Isla on , Fta, PIDs 165/100. JC-TV is FTA (this one has the cricket).

AsiaSat 4 122E 4162 H New FEC for MTA International on : 7/8.

Worldsat 1 108.2E 12491 VA HKC Sat mux has started on , Nagravision, SR 23333, FEC 3/4,PIDs 528/530-608/610, NE Asian beam, line-up: Movie 3, Children,Movie 2, News 2, CNN International Asia, Sun TV (China) and MTV China. (Any reception reports of this one?)

Telkom 1 108E 3500 H All channels in the TelkomVision mux are Fta.

NSS 6 95E 11543 V "Free-XTV" is back on , Neotion SHL, PIDs 5021/5034.MAC TV and NTD TV have left.

NSS 6 95E 12729 V The Free-XTV promo" is now encrypted.
NSS 6 95E 12729 V "The Back Room promo" is now encrypted.

Updates in TARBS World TV:
Kanal D Fun has left 12646 V.
TGRT and ATV Avrupa have left 12688 H.
Playlist Italia, TV Moda and SIC Internacional on 12688 H are now encrypted.

Yamal 201 90E 3918 L "GTRK Altai" has left .

ST 1 88E 3657 H "Golden TV" has started, Fta, SR 2400, FEC 3/4, PIDs 2385/2386.

Insat 2E 83E 3432 V The test card has left .
Insat 2E 83E 3525 V "Tamilan TV" is back on , Fta, PIDs 353/354.
Insat 2E 83E 3550 V New SR for TV 9 on : 3255.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H The test card, RR Sat promo and both VIC-TV Turkiye have left .

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" is still on , Fta, PIDs 1160/1122.TV Lanka 2 is encrypted again.
Apstar 2R 76.5E 4098 V "MTA International" has left .(Now via Asiasat 4?)

NSS 703 57E 4055 R "Alhurra" has started, Fta, PIDs 1260/1220.


SatcoDX Update #13/2004

Latest satellite updates for the period February 12 to February 14, 2004.

All channels are MPEG-2 Free-to-Air unless otherwise noted:


0685 PANAMSAT 7, 10 (68.5E)

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

MM on 3.716 (V, 20600, 3002, 4002, 3002):


NOT USED on 3.730 (H, 26470):


IPEW4 on 3.863 (V, 20600, 7301):

DATA on 3.863 (V, 20600, 1029):

DATA on 3.863 (V, 20600, 1031):


CHANNEL ONE on 4.154 (H, 20500):

Nick Hungary on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1160, 1121, 1160):

Romanian Subtitle on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1160, 1120, 1160):

MC 5 Core on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1160, 1120, 1160):

MC5 Region1 on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1260, 1220, 1260):

MC 6 Region 2 on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1360, 1320, 1360):

Korean Subtitle on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1460, 1420, 1460):

MC6 Core on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1460, 1420, 1460):

MC 5 Region 2 on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1560, 1521, 1560):

MC 6 Region 3 on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1660, 1620, 1660):

MTV India on 4.154 (H, 20500, 1860, 1820, 1860):

metromux on 4.154 (H, 20500):

BSR Download on 4.154 (H, 20500):

DCP Download on 4.154 (H, 20500):

CCP Download on 4.154 (H, 20500):



0720 PANAMSAT 4 (72.0E)

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

Test card on 3.709 (V, 6000, 309, 258, 8190): It has started



0765 APSTAR 2R (76.5E)

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

Daystar TV on 12.615 (V, 22425, 1760, 1761, 1760): It's replaced Test Card



0785 THAICOM 2,3 (78.5E)

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

ELK on 3.520 (H, 28059, 771, 8190): It Is Clear Again



0950 NSS 6 (95.0E)

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

Free Skies Promo on 12.523 (H, 2170, 4194, 4195, 4194): It Has Started



1080 TELKOM 1 (108.0E)

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

RRI Pro 2 on 4.130 (V, 2100, 308, 256, 8190): It has started



1105 SINOSAT 1 (110.5E)

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

Data Broadcast on 4.016 (V, 2170, 66): It has started



1220 ASIASAT 4 (122.0E)

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

MTA International on 4.162 (H, 3100, 3001, 3011, 130): It has started



1560 OPTUS C1 (156.0E)

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

Foxtel Box Office on 12.438 (H, 27800, 1021, 1022, 1021): It has started

Sky News on 12.438 (H, 27800, 1031, 1032, 1031): It has started


Adventure1 on 12.638 (H, 27800, 1031, 1032, 8190): It has replaced Expo

EuroSport News on 12.638 (H, 27800, 1041, 1042, 8190): It has replaced Fox8

Discovery Health on 12.638 (H, 27800, 1051, 1052, 8190): It has replaced SBS South East


E! on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1021, 1022, 1021): It has started

Nick Junior on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1071, 1072, 1071): It has started

Discovery Science on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1081, 1082, 1081): It has started

Tech TV on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1091, 1092, 1091): It has started

Discovery Travel & Adventure on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1101, 1102, 1101): It has started

Boomerang on 12.689 (H, 27800, 1111, 1112, 1111): It has started



1800 INTELSAT 701 (180.0E)

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

NBC Solar 1 on 3.803 (R, 6109, 516, 256, 308): It has started


NBA Feeds on 3.815 (R, 6109, 1160, 1120, 1160): It has started


DSNG 2 on 3.821 (R, 6109, 516, 256, 308): It has started


DSNG 3 on 3.830 (R, 6109, 516, 256, 308): It has started


NEWS


No Foxtel sale, Telstra tells ALP


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8674598%5E15347%5E%5Enbv%5E15306-15319,00.html

TELSTRA chief executive Ziggy Switkowski has declared that his company's 50 per cent shareholding in Foxtel is "not negotiable".

His comments come in the wake of moves by the Australian Labor Party to examine ways of getting Telstra to divest its 50 per cent stake in the pay-TV company if Labor wins office at the next election.

Dr Switkowski told The Australian: "We have spent a lot of time and effort developing the business and it is important to our overall strategy. Our investment in Foxtel is not negotiable,"

The balance of Foxtel, which this week revealed the price structure for its new digital service, is owned by The News Corporation Ltd (publisher of The Australian) with 25 per cent and Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd with 25 per cent.

Commenting on how he would deal with a more interventionist majority shareholding, foreshadowed this week by opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner, Dr Switkowski said there were "a few steps to go to get there yet".

"I am sure we would find a way to get along with a Labor government," he said.

But he said Telstra would do "nothing differently ... We have always run the company in a commercial way. There would be no change in our behaviour."

Mr Tanner promised that Labor would be a more hands-on shareholder in Telstra.

As well as trying to prise its Foxtel stake from Telstra's grasp, he indicated a Labor government would stop Telstra from raising line rental charges. Labor would also make Telstra be more transparent about how its network services divisions sells to its retail arms.

Mr Tanner accused the Howard Government of letting Telstra behave as if it was already a fully privatised company rather than one that was 50.1 per cent owned by the Commonwealth.

Telstra's board and management is required under the Corporations Act to manage the company in the best interests of its shareholders.

Mr Tanner's remarks drew predictable ridicule from government ministers.

In a joint statement communications minister Daryl Williams and finance minister Nick Minchin said: "Labor's plan would be to have the minister second-guessing the commercial decisions of the Telstra board and using the government's majority shareholding to engage in ad hoc interference according to the whim of the minister."


TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 07/2004 - 15 February 2004 -

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

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

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

GULF DTH TO MOVE TO DUBAI

Gulf DTH which owns and operates the Showtime pay-TV platform in the Middle East, is relocating its headquarters and broadcast centre operations from London and Cairo to Dubai,

United Arab Emirates. The company claims that the move will consolidate the network's broadcast operations which are currently split between a purpose built facility at the MTV/Viacom studios in Hawley Crescent, London, and a complementary uplink centre at 6th October City, Cairo. Sony Professional Services has been selected as the system integrator for the network operations centre, with Digital Video Broadcast systems from Harmonic and Omneon providing central server and ingest operations hardware and Pebble Beach Systems supplying play out automation equipment. Showtime broadcasts 50 pay-TV channels to the Middle East and North Africa from the NileSat satellite at 7 degrees West. The network also has customer contact centres located in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.

SATELLITE TV BOOM

Arab satellite channels have increased in recent years, amounting to over 100 channels, despite the fact that 98 per cent keep operating in the red, according to Nadim Al Mounla, the chairman and general manager of Future Television based in Beirut. "The three pay-TV channels, ARTE, ORBIT and SHOWTIME, have already lost their initial $4 billion capital investments," said Mounla during a conference entitled Audiovisual media sustainability challenges, at the Lebanese Management Association (LMA) headquarters in Beirut on February 11. "The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) and Future Television are the only Arab satellite broadcasters that are making a profit or breaking even," he added. According to Mounla ­ and because of unfair competition and price cutting ­ the Pan Arab satellite advertising market stands at a mere $200 million, which is well below its projected $1 billion mark. The net income, after deducting middlemen commissions, comes to a paltry $120 million. The lion's share is primarily aimed at the Saudi viewers, followed by other Gulf countries.

AUSTRALIA

SEVEN DROPS SUPER 12 COVERAGE

Channel Seven has decided to cut its coverage of Super 12 matches just two weeks before the season starts. The ARU says Seven has opted out of the arrangement because there is insufficient interest in its late night replays to make the screening cost worthwhile. Under an agreement with the rights holder Foxtel, Seven cannot show games until after they have gone to air live on pay-TV. A spokeswoman for the Communications Minister said anti-siphoning rules were introduced to ensure major sporting events would continue to be shown on free-to-air television despite the introduction of pay-TV. But she said that if the anti-siphoning scheme was to include events created for pay-TV such as the Super 12, it would discourage investment by pay-TV companies in those sports.

SEVEN NETWORK CHALLENGES DIGITAL LAUNCH

Kerry Stokes's Seven Network has launched a new legal challenge to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's open access rules for pay-TV in a move seen as an attempt to delay the launch of Foxtel's $550 million digital conversion. An appeal was lodged with the Australian Competition Tribunal on December 30 last year - two weeks after the conditions of third-party access to the Foxtel cable were approved by the ACCC after more than a year of inquiry. Seven's move comes on top of its $2 billion claim against Foxtel partners Telstra (50 per cent), Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting (25 per cent) and The Australian's publisher, News Limited (25 per cent). In that action, Seven claims the parties colluded and acted anti-competitively in acquiring the rights to AFL matches in 2002, which resulted in the closure of Seven's pay-TV sports channel C7. The matter is expected to be the subject of a three-month court case starting in February 2005. Seven's appeal against the ACCC determinations is seen as a further attempt by Stokes to find a way for his network to share ownership of pay-TV in Australia. Negotiators for Seven offered to drop the legal actions and pay $500 million for 20 per cent of Foxtel. When that was rejected, he reportedly offered to drop the legal actions for 5 per cent - an offer that was also rejected. The ACCC decision to approve the access regime for the Foxtel cable came after an exhaustive two-part examination.

FOXTEL UNVEILS PRICING DETAILS FOR PAY-TV SERVICE

Television viewers will be able to order blockbuster movies on demand for $5.95 and view them several times over a 24-hour period under plans revealed by Foxtel on February 13. Films will be available on the pay-TV network six months after video stores and 18 months before the free-to-air networks. Movies on demand are just one of dozens of new offerings on Foxtel's $600 million digital service, to be launched in coming months. In all, subscribers will be offered 28 different packages ranging from 66 to 99 channels - including 30 commercial/announcer-free digital radio stations. The cost of a basic cable package will rise $6 to $48.95 per month. The current basic satellite fee (also $48.95) will stay the same. Existing customers will pay a $49.95 upgrade fee, while new customers will be charged $55.95. The basic package will increase from 25 to 66 channels, including 30 music channels. Five special packages have also been developed to attract viewers to the digital system, which offers interactive viewing, games, better sound and picture quality and more. The top platinum package price will rise $1.15 to $94.95 per month, but channel numbers will rise from 42 to 99.

SINGTEL WANTS TO FOCUS ON PAY-TV

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) wants to focus on revenue from its Australian pay-TV interests as it attempts to increase the average revenue per user. SingTel bought Optus in 2001 for $7 billion in 2001 in a deal which included the Australian company's fixed line, mobile and pay-TV services. SingTel generated 69 per cent of its profit before taxes from Optus' 5.37 million subscribers and in Singapore dollar values. Cross-selling services like pay-TV and Internet access meant that by the end of October 2003, 63 per cent of customers using residential phone services were also accessing the Internet or pay TV, a year-on-year increase of four per cent. The take up of pay-TV was also helped by the increased interest in the Optus platform thanks to a programme-sharing agreement with rival platform Foxtel that is estimated to have saved Optus $23 million a year. Optus is also pressing ahead with plans to build two satellites that will supply programming to customers like Sky Network Television in New Zealand.

CHINA - HONG KONG

CHINA ENDS BAN ON TV INVESTMENTS

China is lifting its ban on foreign investment in television and film production companies, as part of a package of landmark reforms intended to revitalize the country's sprawling state-dominated media industry, according to a report in the Financial Times. The move underlines Beijing's determination to commercialize media organizations ranging from newspapers to television stations. Under the new policy, "strong and influential" foreign companies will be able to hold minority stakes in Chinese production companies, said Zhu Hong of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). Local private companies will also be allowed jointly to develop pay channels, a reform that is intended to help attract the investment needed to fund China's ambitious plans for the expansion of pay-TV and digital television services. Overseas media companies can also expect to benefit from increasing demand for their content, with Zhu saying restrictions on the amount of foreign films and television that could be broadcast would be raised. Currently Beijing permits 31 foreign channels to broadcast - only to approved housing compounds and hotels of three stars or above.

GALAXY LAUNCHES PAY-TV SERVICE

NDS Group on February 12 announced that Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited has commenced trial launch of its digital pay-TV service six months after signing a contract with NDS. The exTV service will provide more than thirty channels that cater particularly to the tastes and interests of the Hong Kong TV audience. Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting commenced the exTV technical pilot on December 18, 2003, and the full service is scheduled to commence on February 18, 2004. NDS supplied conditional access, middleware, set top box integration, a customized electronic program guide (EPG) and two interactive games for the Galaxy service. The new-look NDS EPG provided for exTV allows up to seven days of program schedules for all channels. Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited (GSB) is a joint venture of Intelsat, a leading global communications provider, and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), Hong Kong's prominent premium content provider and broadcaster. GSB has been providing uplink/downlink and broadcasting services for channel providers and telecommunication companies in the Asia Pacific region since 2000. It was awarded a license to operate a new television subscription service for Hong Kong in the same year.

Internet - http://www.extv.com.hk

INDIA

ZEE SEEKS FINANCING FOR CAS AND DTH

Indian private broadcaster Zee Telefilms is planning to raise up to $90 million funds, through a bonds issue in the international market to finance its new ventures including the conditional

access system equipment and direct-to-home platform. Zee, which had launched its DTH service in the last quarter 2003, is the first company to introduce DTH service in India. The funds would also be used for producing feature films made by the Zee Telefilms films division. The Zee group has

reported consolidated revenues of $81 million in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. The

group managed a 21.8 per cent growth over the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal.

DD SEEKS LIVE COVERAGE OF CRICKET SERIES

India-Pakistan cricket telecast hopes are still alive for public broadcaster Doordarshan. Dubai-based Ten Sports holds the satellite TV rights to the India-Pakistan cricket series, but latecomer DD wants to show it live as well. The penetration level of Ten Sports is much lower than that of DD, and therefore the demand in "national interest," according to the management of Doordarshan.

ISRAEL

INTERNET RIVALS SEEK TO BLOCK BEZEQ OFFER

Israel's Internet service providers (ISPs) plan to apply for a court order next week to stop Bezeq, the domestic telecommunications monopoly, from marketing packages that include both fast Internet service and satellite television. Bezeq, which is a co-owner of Israel's only satellite television company, Yes, announced the new package deal this week. It offers subscribers access to several satellite channels, a fast Internet connection and other Internet services for one year at a price of NIS 279 a month. Technically, the deal is being offered by Bezeq's fully-owned subsidiary, Bezeq International, which will act as the ISP, and Bezeq claims that it is not involved, since as a monopoly, it is forbidden to embark on joint ventures with its subsidiaries that other companies cannot match. Bezeq International - which also is an overseas long-distance provider - and Yes can join forces, since neither of them are monopolies (Yes competes against the cable companies). However, it is Bezeq that supplies that fast Internet component of the package, and this raises questions about the deal. Apparently in response to this problem, Bezeq has offered four other ISPs - Golden Lines, Barak, Netvision and Internet Zahav - the right to join the deal should customers prefer them to Bezeq International. But their share in the package would be only NIS 59 a month, which is 40 per cent less than they would charge an ordinary customer.

MYANMAR

NEW ENGLISH TV CHANNEL TO LAUNCH

The state-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) will launch another new channel to telecast its English programs to help facilitate tourism business, according to the Ministry of Information. The new TV programs will be telecast in two sectors, the first is to promote international interest in Myanmar, while the other is to develop tourism through advertisements from tourism-related enterprises, according to sources. The new channel not only highlights special education programs on agriculture, livestock breeding, health, social and economic fields, but also cover entertainment programs including Myanmar films and video plays, dailies and periodicals. The existing MRTV-3 English program has reached as far as Eastern Europe and the American continent. The country has two TV stations -- the state-operated MRTV and the military-run Myawaddy TV. The MRTV Myanmar language programs and the MRTV-3 English programs are being telecast through the Thaicom-3 satellite. Meanwhile, the country is also making efforts to enhance its radio and TV services, arranging to upgrade its radio and TV machine and equipment by changing its present TV system to digital one. The MRTV is now making satellite news available with the cooperation of the China's CCTV, CNN and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

NEW ZEALAND

MAORI TV TO LAUNCH IN MARCH

New Zealand's new Maori Television network will launch on March 28, 2004, according to a report by Radio Netherlands. Maori Television recently announced that it had reached an arrangement with Sky Television that will see it broadcast free-to-air from an existing Sky analogue (UHF) network channel. This arrangement will allow Maori Television to broadcast to an estimated 82 per cent of the New Zealand population. This includes 78 per cent of the Maori population.




15/02/04

No update Sunday




14/02/04

No update this weekend, Back on Monday




13/02/04

Sorry things are a bit messy today. Friday the 13th Black Friday and I have the New Foxtel pricing info, if you logged onto Apsattv last night you may even have seen the Press Release. I had it up before Foxtel had put it on their own website! They have updated their site link below. They don't list the $48.95 basic package so I added it. No mention of ABC, SBS, Channel 9, Ten etc


http://www.foxtel.com.au/digital/channel_upg.jsp

Foxtel Pricing is out prices are as below, all have initial connection fee of $49.95 for those existing customer upgrading to the "Digital" service.and based on 24 month contract. Those NEW subscribers will pay $149.95 which also include 1st months subscription

1 Platinum $94.95 per month

The best value way to enjoy FOXTEL Digital. Enjoy all Foxtel's movie channels, the best in sport and general entertainment plus 2 Foxtel Box Office (FBO) Movies included per month

2 Movies & Value $79.85 per month

A mix of general entertainment, sports and some movie channels, includes digital basic, movies and your choice of two of either Laughter & Living, Fun & Entertainment or Quest & Adventure.

3 Movie Lovers $73.90 per month

All movie lovers will enjoy the best of Foxtel's digital movie offering with the Movie Lovers package. Includes Digital Basic plus Movies Deluxe and access to Foxtel Box Office.

4 Big Value $68.90 per month

Love entertainment and sport but only watch movies occasionally? Includes Digital basic and all three of Laughter and Living, Fun & Entertainment and Quest and Adventure pluss access to Foxtel Box Office.

5 Basic $48.95 per month

Optional Special interest:

You can choose to add one or more of these channels to your package: Antenna, Rai, Adults only, World Movies, Disney, Mindgames, The Arcade, Monthly prices vary depending on the channel you choose.

Packages:

Digital Basic

Lifestyle, Lifestyle+2, Fox8, Fox8+2, Fox Classics, Fox Classic+2, Arena, Arena+2, Sky Racing, TV1, Tv1+2, W, FTV, UKTV, UKTV+2, TVSN, Cartoon Network, Nat Geo, Discovery, CMC, The Weather channel, CNBC Aus, Fox News, CNN, Eurosports news, BBC world, Bloomberg, Nickleodeon, Channel V, Music Max, Sky News (include Sky news active) Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Fox Footy (both include Sports active)

24 audio channels,(hits,Pop,Groove,Rock, New Wave, Home grown, Urban, Dance, Anthem?, Soul, Easy, Lounge, cafe, Spa, Blues, Light Classical, Soundtracks, Crooners, Today's Country, Classic Country, BBC, Jukebox, Radio 2

Other packs

Foxtel Box Office: (Included in all the Package Options)
27 PPV channels plus Main Event and Adult.

Movies:

Showtime, Showtime+2, TCM, World Movies, Showtime Greats

Movies Deluxe:

Showtime, Showtime+2, TCM, World Movies, Movie1, Movie1+2, Movie Extra, Showtime Greats, Movie Greats

Quest and Adventure:

History, History+2, Biography, Ovation, Discovery Science,Tech TV, Animal Planet, Discovery Travel and Adventure,Adventure 1

Fun and Entertainment:

Fuel, Disney, Club V, Boomerang, Nick Jr, MTV, Animal Planet, ESPN

Laughter and Living:

Lifestyle Food, Comedy Channel, Comedy Channel+2, E!, VH1, How To, Hallmark, ESPN, Discovery Health


From my Emails & ICQ


From Vk4bkp

NSS6 changes
The three Turkish channels Euro D, TGRT and ATV have left.

There's also some changes on 12709V. NTD is now UCN, FreeX has
scrambled and I think Sexz.tv is using different PIDS.


From the Dish


Asiasat 4 122E 4162 H sr 3100 "MTA, muslim channel is new"

NSS 6 95E 11687 V "CM TV" has started , Fta, PIDs 720/721.(N.E Asia beam)

Insat 2E 83E 3525 V "Tamilan TV" has left .
Insat 2E 83E 3550 V "TV 9" has started, Fta, SR 3523, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256,zone beam.(Any reports from Australia?)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 H "El-Quran El-Karim" is Fta again.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3626 V A test card has started, Fta, PIDs 4145/4146.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3652 H It's TV Lanka 2 on , PIDs 1260/1220, now in clear. TV Lanka has left PIDs 1160/1122, replaced by a TV Lanka promo.


SatcoDX Update #12/2004

0765 APSTAR 2R (76.5E)

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

TV Lanka - 2 on 3.652 (H, 6500, 1260, 1222, 1260): It's encrypted now



0785 THAICOM 2,3 (78.5E)

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

MKTV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 512, 640, 1024): It is encrypted Again

TeleSpace on 3.520 (H, 28059, 513, 529, 513): It is encrypted Again

BKTV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 514, 642, 514): It is encrypted Again

Test Bar on 3.520 (H, 28059, 515, 643, 515): It is encrypted Again

Show TV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 516, 644, 516): It is encrypted Again

Nile TV on 3.520 (H, 28059, 517, 645, 517): It is encrypted Again

RTS Sat on 3.520 (H, 28059, 520, 648, 520): It is encrypted Again

Al Mehwar on 3.520 (H, 28059, 518, 646, 518): It is encrypted Again

Pink Plus on 3.520 (H, 28059, 519, 647, 519): It is encrypted Again

BVN on 3.520 (H, 28059, 521, 649, 521): It is encrypted Again

CH24 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 522, 650, 522): It is encrypted Again

CH25 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 523, 651, 522): It is encrypted Again

Data on 3.520 (H, 28059, 8190):

Data on 3.520 (H, 28059, 8190):

Data on 3.520 (H, 28059, 8190):

Data on 3.520 (H, 28059, 8190):

Data on 3.520 (H, 28059, 8190):

Radio Greece on 3.520 (H, 28059, 660, 768):

ELB on 3.520 (H, 28059, 769, 769):

EQK on 3.520 (H, 28059, 770, 770):

ELK on 3.520 (H, 28059, 771, 8190):

SAA on 3.520 (H, 28059, 772, 772):

RA19 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 665, 773):

R120 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 666, 774):

R121 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 667, 775):

R122 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 668, 776):

R123 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 669, 777):

R124 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 670, 778):

R125 on 3.520 (H, 28059, 671, 779):


MH1-MUSIC on 3.626 (V, 15552, 4145, 4146, 4145):


Overcomer Radio on 3.671 (H, 13333, 7202, 7201):



0880 ST 1 (88.0E)

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

Golden TV on 3.657 (H, 2400, 2385, 2386, 2385): It has started



0950 NSS 6 (95.0E)

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

Global Christian Network on 11.687 (V, 8970, 640, 641, 640): It has started

CM Shopping on 11.687 (V, 8970, 720, 721, 720): It has started



1005 ASIASAT 2 (100.5E)

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

TEST DEMO on 3.734 (H, 4420, 255, 256, 255):


)Auto 4 Mbit/s on 3.820 (V, 4420, 308, 256, 8190):



1105 SINOSAT 1 (110.5E)

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

CETV1 on 12.622 (V, 32550, 41, 42, 41): SID/TID/NID added

CETV2 on 12.622 (V, 32550, 45, 46, 45): SID/TID/NID added

CETV Sky Classroom on 12.622 (V, 32550, 49, 50, 49): SID/TID/NID added

CETV-SD on 12.622 (V, 32550, 53, 54, 53): SID/TID/NID added

CCTV9 on 12.622 (V, 32550, 57, 58, 57): SID/TID/NID added

CETV Info Channel on 12.622 (V, 32550, 61, 62, 61): SID/TID/NID added

Radio 1 on 12.622 (V, 32550, 66, 66): SID/TID/NID added

Radio 2 on 12.622 (V, 32550, 80, 80):



1340 APSTAR 1A (134.0E)

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

CETV SD-China Education TV on 3.836 (V, 3290, 32, 33, 32): New NID

Shang Dong Radio 101.1 FM on 3.836 (V, 3290, 34, 34): New NID



1560 OPTUS C1 (156.0E)

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

Test Card on 12.487 (V, 27800, 308, 256, 8190): It has started



1600 OPTUS B1 (160.0E)

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

CCTV 9 on 12.456 (V, 22500, 651, 513, 139): It has started

DW tv on 12.456 (V, 22500, 652, 514, 140): It has started



NEWS


FOXTEL Digital Delivers More Value and Choice - Entry Price Stays Capped

From Press Release 13/02/04

FOXTEL today announced a massive increase in the value and choice for subscribers across the entire breadth of the new FOXTEL Digital service.

FOXTEL's entry level, or basic, service will increase from 25 channels to 66 digital channels including new interactive sports and news services and audio channels - but the price will stay the same as the existing satellite basic service of just $1.61 a day ($48.95 per month).

FOXTEL has committed to the price cap on its greatly expanded basic digital service until at least the end of 2005 (subject only to Consumer Price Index adjustments).

FOXTEL Digital's new 66-channel basic service will include premium sport such as AFL and NRL, news, documentaries, children's programming, music, general entertainment and audio channels. FOXTEL's 24-hour-a-day AFL channel, the Fox Footy Channel, was moved from a premium tier into FOXTEL basic from February in preparation for the 2004 football season and will continue in basic in the comprehensive FOXTEL Digital package. The W channel for women will move from its current Entertainment Plus tier into FOXTEL Digital basic. New channels Eurosportnews and Country Music Channel will join FOXTEL Digital basic.

All subscribers will receive FOXTEL Digital's unique interactive features including Sports Active on selected AFL and NRL games and Sky News Active's 8-screen interactive news service at no additional charge.

To view FOXTEL Digital, consumers do not need to purchase a new TV. FOXTEL will supply the necessary in-home receiving technology which will include a new digital set-top-box and remote control as part of the service. All FOXTEL Digital channels are of course delivered with CD quality sound and DVD quality pictures.

FOXTEL is ensuring future technology neutrality. Digital cable subscribers will now have pricing parity with FOXTEL Satellite subscribers. All customers will be offered the planned new 66-channel basic service at $1.61 a day ($48.95 per month). FOXTEL's existing basic cable service is $42.95 per month for the current 25 channels (from 1 March) - and with the addition of digital pictures and sound together with the expanded channel choice and new interactive features it represents outstanding value.

"This is a huge increase in the value and choice for subscribers," FOXTEL Chief Executive Kim Williams said.

"Our customers will receive more channels for greater value with all the digital technology for reception provided, together with an amazing array of enhanced program and service features that will transform the viewing experience. The choice we are making available is beyond what was conceivable only a few years ago," Mr Williams added.

From the fundamental 66 channel basic service, FOXTEL Digital opens up into a vast new landscape of more than 130 channels, catering to diverse viewing tastes with more than 20 different purchasing options for consumers. However for simplicity, FOXTEL has created four key packaging options from the basic service through the complete package of English language services.

Subscribers who choose the top FOXTEL Digital package will see an even greater increase in value and savings. For just $3.12 a day ($94.95 per month) - FOXTEL Digital subscribers will receive 99 channels presenting all premium movie channels and sports channels, plus the inclusion of two FOXTEL Box Office pay-per-view movies (valued at $5.95 each), and the FOXTEL Digital Magazine.

This compares with the current top FOXTEL package of 42 channels (based on a satellite subscription) of $93.80 per month.

"For the same price as our old basic satellite package of 25 channels, FOXTEL Digital subscribers will receive 66 channels - or another 41 channels for no additional charge - and direct access off that basic service to all of our new interactive features and services, including FOXTEL Box Office and FOXTEL GamesWorld," Mr Williams said.

"Subscribers to our top digital package will receive 99 channels compared with 42 channels in the current comparable package. In value terms, digital subscribers will pay just $1.15 per month to receive an additional 57 channels. It is a pleasure to announce such value and service extension for present and future customers," he said.

"FOXTEL Digital is not simply about providing more channels - it is about dramatically improving the value equation for consumers and ensuring expanded high-quality programming choices. We aim to put our viewers in charge so that the options available ensure maximum choice and the possibility of viewing satisfaction whenever subscribers choose to access FOXTEL Digital."

FOXTEL Digital basic subscribers can select from the full suite of FOXTEL Digital channel options that are available in separate group packages with many channels available on a stand-alone basis.

"We are offering tremendous value and reward incentives to subscribers who choose to enjoy more of our service's possibilities," Mr Williams said.

Existing FOXTEL subscribers will be able to upgrade to FOXTEL Digital for a one-off fee from $49.95 which relates to the cost of installing the new digital set-top-unit (STU), a return path (and satellite receiving equipment where required) in subscribers' homes.

New subscribers will also pay from as little as $55.00 for installation, depending upon the package and contract length.

"This is only the start of the FOXTEL Digital revolution. We will build the packaging options, channel services, interactive features and choices dramatically over the coming years," Mr Williams said.

FOXTEL will announce the launch date for FOXTEL Digital shortly.

Subscribers can choose from a range of new tiers in FOXTEL Digital.

First the movie tiers:

Movies and Movies Deluxe;

Then the new information and entertainment options:

Laughter and Living;

Fun and Entertainment; and

Quest and Adventure;

Followed by an extensive range of a-la-carte specialist foreign language and other possibilities.

This packaging enables customers to select the channel package types most suited to their personal tastes and the opportunity to build personally appropriate packages. Full package details are attached to this announcement.

FOXTEL Digital's channel line-up will give subscribers:

* Ten movie services (including FOXTEL Box Office)

* Twenty Seven FOXTEL Box Office channels

* Eight sports channels (including the Main Event channel featuring pay-per-view boxing, wrestling and special events)

* Five kids channels

* Seven news channels

* Six music video channels and 30 (24 at launch) audio music channels

* Eleven documentary channels

* Eight lifestyle channels

* Fourteen general entertainment channels

* Three adult services including pay-per-view channels

* Two foreign language channels with more to follow very soon

* Two games channels (with 10 separate and regularly changing games) and

* One Digital Help Channel

* One FOXTEL Box Office pre-view channel

Also new to FOXTEL Digital will be FOXTEL Air with 30 (24 at launch) digital-quality stereo audio channels that cater to all music tastes and moods - from Light Classical, New Age and Top 100 to old fashioned Rock, and signature channels such as Smooth Café, Retro Beat, Latin Heat and Soul Train.

FOXTEL Digital will also feature ten TimeShift channels that have been selected based on their popularity with subscribers. TimeShifts broadcast a single service on two different channels with a two-hour time difference doubling subscribers' viewing choices and providing further opportunities to view favourite programs. These channels are highly popular with subscribers in other more established digital television markets such as the UK.

The key features of the new FOXTEL Digital service include:

* Dramatically expanded programming choice, more than 130 channels and services.

* The FOXTEL Digital Guide, an electronic program guide that allows subscribers to intuitively and easily navigate and plan viewing through FOXTEL Digital's expanded range of choice. The simple comprehensive on screen guide (current day and the next seven) details all programs and allied synopsis information according to time, genre or channel. It even has a memory/reminder function to recall and indicate what you have selected in advance to watch (up to seven days in advance).

* FOXTEL Box Office, a 24-hour-day near-video-on-demand service screening a range of blockbuster movie titles each starting every 15-30 minutes.

* Sky News Active, an interactive service allowing viewers to control and choose the news they want to view from eight live video and five live text screens.

* Sports Active, an interactive sports application which enables viewers to select multiple camera angles and match replays together with game statistics, player profiles and even different audio feeds on special selected sports broadcasts.

* FOXTEL Gamesworld, offering subscribers two games channels and 10 different games with easy to play titles and games that test the mind.

* Digital quality pictures and CD quality sound are a given with FOXTEL digital on each and every service.

* Widescreen and AC3 Surround Sound: FOXTEL Digital will include more than 45 channels that will broadcast in 16:9 widescreen at launch and 13 channels with enhanced surround sound.

Consumers who are interested in subscribing to FOXTEL Digital should register their interest by phoning 1800 151 697 to become one of the first to experience the new service.

Further information:

Brendon Moo

Publicity and PR Manager - FOXTEL Digital

(02) 9200 1057

or

Mark Furness

FOXTEL Director of Corporate Affairs

(02) 9200 1733


Foxtel $2 saving to hit video hire stores

From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8663749%255E7582,00.html

PAY-TV group Foxtel is taking on the nation's video stores by charging $5.95 for its new Foxtel Box Office movie service, undercutting the average video rental cost by $2.

Video stores have the benefit of getting movies six months before Foxtel Box Office, but Foxtel's viewers do not need to leave home to get the movie and are not charged late fees.

The FBO video-on-demand service is one of the centrepieces of the new Foxtel Digital pricing package unveiled yesterday.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said the $5.95 "all-day movie pass" gives access to between four and seven movies at any time.

"Every time you take a movie from FBO you get an all-day ticket, so you can watch the movies as many times as you want," he said.

The Foxtel Digital service, due to launch in the next four months, is the most significant upgrade to Foxtel's customer offering since it launched in 1995.

But despite offering dozens of new channels, new interactive services, widescreen TV channels, 30 new radio channels and an upgraded electronic program guide, Foxtel has not significantly increased its prices.

Viewers who get Foxtel's basic entry level package via satellite will pay the same price from today of $48.95 a month, and will receive 41 extra channels from Foxtel Digital. Viewers who get the package through cable will also pay $48.95, which is $6 a month more than today.

"If you are a satellite subscriber converting to the digital service is a no-brainer, as this price is guaranteed until the end of 2005, subject to inflation, but in any case it's in our interest to keep the price down," Mr Williams said.

A range of new optional tiers has also been introduced, and subscribers gain larger discounts as the number of channels bought increases.

For example, people who subscribe to all the Foxtel Digital services will pay $94.95 a month, which is $31.80 less than if they bought the channels individually.

But that is only $1.15 a month more than what is now paid by subscribers who buy all of today's total of 42 channels.

And Foxtel Digital will have 15 new channels in its entertainment offering, in addition to today's nine.

(Craigs comment, who are they kidding new release DVD/Video are anywhere between $1.50-$6 to rent, usually $3-$4 or specials such as 5 for $10)

Foxtel's rule of contentment: if you double it, they will come

From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/12/1076548163983.html

Foxtel has released the pricing for its promised digital revolution in pay TV - and the deal means roughly twice the volume of programs, but higher bills for all.

Instead of offering a cheaper monthly package to suck in some of the 78 per cent of homes that remain unconvinced by pay TV, Foxtel is instead hoping to reach them with better value - even if it costs extra.

Entry-level cable pricing will jump from $43 per month to $49 on digital, while entry level satellite will remain at $49 per month. The number of channels will jump from 25 to 66, although 30 of those are audio-only channels.

Under a mandate by the consumer watchdog, that basic price is fixed for two years.

Existing top-tier pricing of $94 for satellite and $88 for cable both jump to $95 for digital. The number of channels jumps from 42 to 99, again including 30 audio channels.

Satellite users already had digital-quality pictures and sound - now those with a wide-screen TV will get wide-screen images where available and digital sound. Digital subscribers will also get interactive news - a choice of following any of eight stories - and sports with a choice of camera angles.


"What consumers want is value; pricing is secondary," said Foxtel spokesman Mark Furness.

Aside from the small increase in monthly fees for cable customers, all existing subscribers will also have to foot part of the bill for their new set-top box and remote. For those willing to commit to digital for two years, the upgrade cost will be $50.

But even satellite customers may find their monthly bills jump if they get into the much-touted movies-on-demand. Those on the basic package will have to pay for all movies at $6.95 each.

Subscribers to the most expensive deal will get two free movies-on-demand a month, then will also have to pay $6 per film.

Depending on the length of the films, a choice of between three and six movies will be available at half-hour intervals. Films will only be available six months after they are released to rental stores.

Foxtel claims it has spent months researching the packaging options with consumer groups and has come up with five start-up packages: Basic, Movies, Movies de Luxe, Laughter & Living, Fun & Entertainment, and Quest & Adventure.

Experts say the pricing strategy may succeed in persuading existing subscribers to migrate to digital, but will not have much impact on the vast majority of pay-TV sceptics.

Media analyst Paul Budde has predicted that without a cheap $15 to $25 entry level option, Foxtel is unlikely to meet its goal of persuading 35 per cent to 40 per cent of homes to take digital pay TV by 2008.

Based on his analysis of the US and British pay TV markets, he claims "high level penetration is driven by price, not content. If they don't cut the entry level price they won't pick up the masses."


(Craigs comment, WAKE UP FOXTEL, the key is the PRICE and $48.95 per month isn't it.)

AsiaSat Buys a Fully Integrated Satellite Control System From Integral Systems


From Press Release

Integral's EPOCH Integrated Product Suite to Fly AsiaSat'sLockheed Martin and Boeing Satellites

LANHAM, Md., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Integral Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ISYS), the leading provider of satellite ground systems and Asia
Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited ("AsiaSat") (NYSE: SAT)
(SEHK: 1135), Asia's leading satellite operator, today jointly announced the
signing of a contract for Integral to provide a single, consolidated primary
satellite control system to AsiaSat for its AsiaSat 2, AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat
4 satellites. The AsiaSat 2 satellite is based on the Lockheed Martin Series
7000 platform, while the AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat 4 satellites are based on the
Boeing 601HP platform.

The system will be based upon Integral Systems' EPOCH IPS (Integrated
Product Suite) that has become the industry standard for consolidated
operations of mixed fleets of satellites. This contract will deliver AsiaSat
an easy-to-use, fully integrated multi-satellite control center using a single
platform that provides complete real-time command and control, orbital
analysis and maneuver planning as well as offline trending/analysis functions
for all three satellites of the AsiaSat fleet. The new system will simplify
AsiaSat's satellite operation, and in turn reduce operating cost.
Mr. Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat said, "This contract
underlines our commitment to quality satellite service. With this new
satellite control system, we are able to consolidate our satellite operation
under one single platform and offer further redundancy in monitoring and
command, thus strengthen our service efficiency and reliability."
"We are extremely pleased by this new contract in Asia," said Steve
Chamberlain, Chairman and CEO of Integral Systems. "The opportunity to
deliver a control system to AsiaSat, Asia's first privately owned regional
satellite operator, and one of the premier commercial satellite operators in
the world, is particularly exciting for us," he added.
Integral Systems has also supplied satellite ground systems to National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Loral Skynet,
Newskies Satellites, Echostar, Sirius Satellite Radio, Binariang Satellite
Systems, Shin Satellite Public Company Ltd., SES Americom, Optus, ChinaSat,
EOSAT, Alcatel, TRW, ROCSAT, EUMETSAT and Orbital Sciences, among others.


About AsiaSat
Formed in 1988, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited
(AsiaSat), the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-
thirds of the world's population with its satellites, AsiaSat 2, AsiaSat 3S
and AsiaSat 4. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the
broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 120 analogue and digital
television channels and 90 radio channels are now delivered by the Company's
satellites, reaching over 80 million households, with more than 300 million
viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Many telecommunications customers use
AsiaSat for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks
and high speed Internet and multimedia services.
AsiaSat is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications
Holdings Limited; a company listed on both the Hong Kong (SEHK: 1135HK) and
New York (NYSE: SAT) stock exchanges. AsiaSat's two major shareholders are
CITIC Group and SES GLOBAL, the world's premier satellite group based in
Luxembourg.

About Integral Systems:

Founded in 1982, Integral Systems is a leading provider of satellite
ground systems and has supported over 190 different satellite missions for
communications, science, meteorological, and earth resource applications. The
Company was the first to offer an integrated suite of COTS (Commercial Off The
Shelf) software products for satellite command and control, the EPOCH IPS
product line. EPOCH has become a world market leader in commercial
applications with successful installations on 5 continents. The Company also
offers products and services for satellite integration and test and payload
data processing.

The Company's subsidiary, SAT Corporation, provides satellite and
terrestrial communications signal monitoring systems to satellite operators
and users throughout the world. Through its Newpoint Technologies, Inc.
subsidiary, the Company also provides software for equipment monitoring and
control to satellite operators and telecommunications firms. The Company's RT
Logic subsidiary builds telemetry processing systems for military applications
including tracking stations, control centers and range operations. Integral
Systems has approximately 360 employees working at Company headquarters in
Lanham, Maryland, and at other locations in both the U.S. and Europe.

Except for statements of historical facts, this news release contains
forward-looking statements about the Company, including but not necessarily
limited to financial projections, all of which are based on the Company's
current expectations. There is no assurance that the Company's projections
will in fact be achieved. The forward-looking statements appearing in this
news release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from such statements, including the Company's
reliance on contracts and subcontracts funded by the U.S. government, intense
competition in the ground systems industry, the competitive bidding process to
which the Company's government and commercial contracts are subject, the
Company's dependence on the satellite industry for most of its revenues, rapid
technological changes in the satellite industry, the Company's acquisition
strategy and those other risks noted in the Company's SEC filings. The
Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements appearing in this news release.


SK to Launch Digital Satellite


From http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200402/kt2004021219141511780.htm

SK Telecom, the nation's biggest mobile operator, on Thursday said a satellite for digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), nicknamed ``Hanbyol'' or big star, was completed on Wednesday.

The satellite will be moved to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States on Friday with the launch date slated for March 12.

The satellite was produced by the U.S.-based Space System Loral, with Japanese DMB operator Multimedia Broadcasting Corporation (MBCo) and SK Telecom joining hands to funding it.

For the rollout of the satellite, MBCo invested 178 billion won for a 65.34 percent stake, while SK Telecom outlaid 95 billion won for the remaining 34.66 percent.

With the advent of digital DMB, customers can enjoy broadcasting through handheld terminals like mobile phone and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

For commercial satellite DMB services in South Korea, SK Telecom spearheaded a consortium consisting of around 200 local companies and developed TU Media from this year.

TU Media, of which a 30 percent stake is owned by SK Telecom, seeks to start the mobility-specific broadcasting from May with the aim of turning a profit as early as 2006.

However, regulations regarding the satellite DMB should be streamlined as the National Assembly failed to modify the related laws due to inter-party bickering.

Without the revision of relevant laws, the schedule will not be met as the operator for the lucrative business has yet to be decided, a TU Media official said.

Japan fixed MBCo as the lone digital multimedia broadcaster early last year and the company will be given a business license as soon as the satellite is in orbit.

MBCo is scheduled to begin a pilot run of the digital DMB this May and will kick off commercial services two months later.


Zee's Dish signs deal with ESPN for DTH relay


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

MUMBAI: Zee’s direct to home (DTH) service, Dish TV, which had a soft launch recently, has made a breakthrough of sorts by signing an agreement with ESPN Star Sports to carry the two sports channel on the DTH bouquet.

Earlier, some major broadcasting networks — Star’s nine channels as well as Sony-Discovery’s five channels — were not on the Zee platform, being competitors. With the agreement with ESPN, Dish TV can now push ahead with a larger bouquet.

However, the deal with ESPN Star Sports is a short-term trial agreement, which is required to be finally cleared by the ESS board in Singapore. ESPN Star Sports reportedly is also worried about piracy problems.

Dish TV chief Jawahar Goel told ET that the company was close to a deal with Sony to launch its ‘One alliance’ bouquet on the DTH service. He said Turner Broadcasting’s new kids’ channel ‘Pogo’ had also come on board, but STAR was still keeping away. There had been rumours that STAR might be distancing itself from Zee’s DTH platform as it has its own DTH plans in alliance with the Tatas.

Star’s COO, Sameer Nair, however, said the broadcaster was in negotiations with Dish TV’s CEO, Puneet Goenka, and there were no basic “philosophical differences”. “Ultimately we want clarity on the commercial terms, and an assurance that our signals will not be pirated,” Mr Nair said. The commercial terms include a guarantee on the number of subscribers, and inclusion of Star’s channels alongside other channels of the same genre.

So far Dish TV’s menu for the DTH subscriber consists of around 48 channels. These are mainly from the Zee-Turner stable and includes the business channel CNBC. In the recent past, the Zee bouquet has added several new niche cinema channels such as ‘Premium Cinema’, ‘Action Cinema’, ‘Classic Cinema’ and ‘FX’.

Dish TV claims to have developed signed up around 80,000 subscribers, mostly in areas not connected by cable. Dish TV promises better clarity and audio reception. However, the small dish antenna which facilitates reception requires a clear line of vision to the sky, and may have limitations in crowded or clustered areas.


Talks with Ten Sports fail — DD may not play Indo-Pak cricket


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/02/13/stories/2004021302160500.htm

THERE is a question mark surrounding the Indo-Pak series as well as over national broadcaster Doordarshan getting the terrestrial rights to the series.

Talks between officials of Prasar Bharati and Ten Sports have not been fruitful with the latter not willing to share its rights with the former. However, All India Radio (AIR) has managed to bag the radio rights for the series.

Sources in Prasar Bharati said that Ten Sports had sold the cricket series to its advertisers on the premise that this was "exclusive" to the channel and hence could not share the feed with any other broadcaster. "Our efforts will continue," officials said. Doordarshan may eventually have to settle for a highlights package from Ten Sports.

On the radio front too Ten Sports had bagged the rights, which has been offered to AIR. AIR had earlier bid for the rights at $25,000, but lost out as it was not the highest bidder. Sources said that AIR has now got the radio rights from Ten Sports for a similar amount.

Early this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked Prasar Bharati to negotiate the rights directly with Ten Sports as the bids would not be reopened. Prasar Bharati's contention has been that with terrestrial rights being given to (Pakistan's state-run channel) PTV to telecast the series live in Pakistan, DD should also be accorded the same.

Meanwhile, agency reports suggest that the Home Ministry has favoured rescheduling the tour of Pakistan till after the Lok Sabha elections. India is scheduled to play three Tests and five one-day internationals besides a three-day warm up match on their first full-fledged tour of Pakistan. The tour was to take off after 14 years and was to commence from March 11.

If the tour does not happen, Ten Sports could stand to lose over Rs 400 crore in advertising. The channel had managed to sell its ads at a whopping $3,000 for 10-second spots and had managed to rope in big advertisers. Corporates such as Samsung which is the title sponsor, Bajaj -- presenting sponsor, LG, Glaxo Smithkline, IOC, Hutch, Hero Honda and Maruti (who are associate sponsors) have invested heavily in the series.




12/02/04 10pm NEWS FLASH 

Foxtel pricing now available here

LINK REMOVED--

Please if reposting elsewhere include where you sourced it from


12/02/04

No luck with NSS6 yesterday at my place. I think I need to run some more co-ax and try a different site for the dish as the house across the road might beblocking the look angle. C1 12367V loaded up some service yesterday that were running FTA , Mostly SBS, SBS News, SBS EPG etc. Was on Dual beam until they switched it to Aus only beam today. That leaves very little for small ku dish viewers in NZ off C1!

Sky tv has a new website www.skytv.co.nz

Foxtel Pricing to be announced tomorrow, Tune into Apsattv and see what the damage will be tomorrow!

Dish for sale ideal for KU dx
http://suniwug.no-ip.com/luke/

New issue of satmagazine out at http://www.satmagazine.com/


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

New one - Telkom 1
Yet another find on Telkom 1 C-Band
"RRI Jakarta II" 4130 Vertical (Yes vertical) SR 2099 VID 308 AUD 256 PCR 8190

Looks like a feed channel Red Color Bars up currently

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From the Dish


Optus B1 160E 12456 V "CCTV 9 has replaced NHK World TV" , Fta, PIDs 513/651.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 4106 V "DongGuang News Radio has replaced Radio Shanghai TG News Station" on ,Fta, APID 1213.

Telkom 1 108E 4130 V "Occasional feeds" on, SR 2099.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4020 V "Sahara Manoranjan" has left , PIDs 514/670, replaced by a test card.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3846 V "DongGuang News Radio has replaced Radio Shanghai TG News Station" on ,Fta, APID 1213.

NSS 6 95E 11687 V "Onnuri TV" has started , Fta, SR 8970, FEC 3/4, PIDs 640/641. (N.E Asia beam)
NSS 6 95E 12688 H "Telepace" has started, Fta, PIDs 3027/3097.(Australia Beam)

Insat 3A 93.5E 11670 H Pogo has started on , Conax, PIDs 166/92.

Yamal 201 90E 3552 R "Kultura Telekanal" has started , Fta, SR 4285, FEC 3/4,PIDs 307/256.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 H "El-Quran El-Karim" is now encrypted.

PAS 4 72E 3709 VA test card has started , Fta SR 6000, PIDs 309/258. (Africa beam)

PAS 10 68.5E 3501 V Occasional feeds on , SR 4000, FEC 3/4.
PAS 10 68.5E 3974 H "Pogo" has started, PowerVu, PIDs 1360/1320.

(T Kameda)

Express AM 22 at 53E 11606 V Very strong test carriers .

(W Zaremba with 180 cm in Poland)


NEWS


Optus puts new satellites on order


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8650420%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

AUSTRALIA'S second-largest telco Optus came one step closer to the launch of its two new satellites when it signed off on construction with the contractor.

Optus announced plans last December to launch the new satellites to service the Australian and New Zealand markets, following on from the successful launch of its C1 satellite in June.

Optus, which is owned by Singapore Telecom, struck a deal with United States-based Orbital Sciences for it to build the two new D-series satellites.

Orbital president Dr Ali Atia is currently in Australia with SingTel's network division executive vice-president Bill Hope to sign off on the multi-million dollar deal.

The decision to commission the new satellites follows higher than anticipated demand for access to the C1.

The D-series satellites will eventually replace two Optus B-series satellites which are nearing the end of their useful life.

Mr Hope said the new D-series satellites gave Optus the capacity to provide a better service to its customers.

While the $500 million C1 satellite, which is co-owned by the Australian Department of Defence, would remain the dominant satellite through its 15-year lifespan, the D-series satellites would improve on that service.

"It's providing a higher performance, but (also) it is more continuity of service," Mr Hope said.

"A continuous improved development on what we have today."

For customers experiencing service problems because of cloud cover, the D-series satellites would eliminate the problem by providing a clearer service, he said.

The D-series satellites will also act as a backup in the event the other satellite fails.

Mr Hope said there had already been strong demand from its existing customer base to sign up for the D1 and D2 satellites.

Pay TV partner Foxtel pays $40 million a year to rent transponder capacity on C1, allowing it to deliver its interactive television services.

Regional pay TV operator Austar also uses C1, enabling more than 200,000 new homes across Tasmania, North Queensland and Western NSW to access its satellite television service using a standard satellite dish.

The new D-series satellites will also provide capacity for Foxtel and Austar to expand if demand increases.

"We'll be able to lock in revenue for the next decade," Optus Wholesale managing director Warren Hardy said.

"The more that the customer base grows the more difficult it is for competitors to come into the market place."


ALP to push Telstra to quit Foxtel


From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8655003%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

A FUTURE Labor government would pressure Telstra to sell its 50 per cent stake in Foxtel as part of a risky hands-on plan to refocus the telecommunications company on its core business.

Signalling a more interventionist approach, Labor would curb Telstra's ability to charge families more for access to its network, which could threaten its revenue growth.

Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner told The Australian yesterday: "We would be a more hands-on shareholder."

In a bold move, Labor will target Telstra's Foxtel shareholding as the pay-TV company spends $600 million on a new digital network.

"We have serious concerns about Telstra's shareholding in Foxtel. We have a range of options available," Mr Tanner said.

Those alternatives range from a ministerial direction, enforcement by the regulator or the more subtle approach of advice to the Telstra board.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last July recommended the Government inquire into the possible sale of its Foxtel stake by Telstra.

But despite commissioning the advice, former communications minister Richard Alston dismissed the recommendations.

"We fully support the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission," Mr Tanner said. "We think the ACCC does a good job.

"We are concerned about the content business, not the cables."

Telstra owns the fibre optic cable network that passes more than 2 million Australian homes, and Foxtel provides the pay-TV service.

While there have been occasional discussions between Telstra's partners in Foxtel -- News Limited (publisher of The Australian) and Publishing and Broadcasting -- about equalising their shareholdings, Mr Tanner said for Telstra it was "all or nothing".

But Mr Tanner warned that if Telstra decided to make a "more exotic" purchase in the media sector between now and the federal election, it would be more forceful in its direction towards Foxtel.

An ALP government would also remove Telstra's power to continue its controversial program of raising monthly line rentals, putting Telstra's profits at risk for its 1.8 million shareholders. Analysts said this could wipe about $500 million from the company's revenues over the next two years.

The moves would be part of a broader program by Labor to refocus Telstra's business on its Australian voice and data network. "A majority shareholder has that shareholding for a reason: to ensure high-quality telecommunications services for all Australians," Mr Tanner said. "In the wake of that it would seem that the elaborate and very large overseas investments by Telstra have been questionable."

Another major policy move by a Labor government would be to force Telstra to further separate its retail divisions and the division that sells network services to its competitors.


No sounds of dissent as Foxtel reveals radio package


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8653878%255E12280,00.html

THE guessing game in the radio industry this year centres around the prices new FM radio licences will fetch in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They are almost certainly the last analogue licences to be issued.

A hundred million dollars? That's a given in Sydney, possible in Melbourne, and a maybe even in the smaller Brisbane market, as the industry's major players jostle for market share and some cashed-up outsiders weigh their chances.

But while the radio heavies jockey for position consider this: in April, audiences will be able to tune into 30 new audio signals, all in clear, crisp digital stereo quality. They will be able to choose between music genres ranging from classical, through Latin, soul, rock, dance, country, adult contemporary – you name it; it'll be there in non-stop formats, mostly without advertising.

Suddenly, the digital cornucopia of choice is upon us. But it's Foxtel we'll have to thank for this world of plenty, not the radio industry. The 30 radio channels, grouped under the banner of Foxtel Air, are a surprise add-on to the Foxtel digital platform announced three weeks ago.

Technically, it's subscription radio, because to access the 30 new channels, you'll need to be a pay-TV subscriber. At present there are 1.5 million people hooked up to Foxtel or the regional provider, Austar. Those receiving their pay-TV signals by satellite currently get six channels of radio; those who get their signals by cable get none – a disparity which has hobbled Foxtel's marketing of the audio services.

But when digital gets going in April, the music channels will be there for all subscribers. They are being programmed by Satellite Music Australia, a Sydney-based company controlled by Greg Solomon, which has provided satellite-delivered music formats for clients ranging from hotels to retail shops. In comparison with conventional radio, the SMA formats sound a lot like muzak. Confrontational it is not. It is very much background, not foreground. But it will be there, and it has happened without so much as a whimper from the incumbent broadcast industry.

It is not unusual for radio's peak body, Commercial Radio Australia – formerly known as the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters – to be silent on matters of change in the industry, but it has a history of fighting tenaciously and lobbying effectively when it is threatened by outsiders.

Yet CRA has made no protest about the Foxtel service. It either sees no threat or is asleep at the wheel. CRA has adopted a go-slow policy over the introduction of digital radio, which will allow a huge increase in the number of stations which can fit into the available spectrum.

I once asked former communications minister Richard Alston – who retired from the Senate this week – why there was no action on the digital front. He replied: "We'll move when the radio industry tells us what they want."

The incumbents were in no mood to do that. They were too busy complaining about market fragmentation caused by the last round of new licence auctions, and putting off the evil day that they would be called on to invest in a new technology.

This is the same approach the industry used before the introduction of FM services in 1979. By resisting a new technology, FARB effectively ensured the new licences went to new operators.

Since 1992 the number of radio services in Australia has doubled. Most new signals are provided by community and narrowcast operators, but there has also been a large increase in the number of high-powered commercial signals.

This expansion program will be complete when the new licences are sold to the highest bidder. DMG Radio, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust of the UK, has invested more than $250 million in new licences for its Nova brand in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and will shortly launch in Adelaide. It also has a half-share (with the Australian radio network) of Brisbane's 97.3 FM. While DMG is Australia's largest radio operator, it does not match its rivals Austereo and ARN by holding two licences in the major capital city markets. It will therefore want to snare the new Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane licences.

Despite rumours US interests are eyeing the new opportunities, so far none have broken cover, which leaves the usual suspects – DMG, RG Capital, Southern Cross Broadcasting (Sydney and Brisbane only) and the Gold Coast independent group headed by Jaan Torv, Hot Tomato.

As soon as the new licences are auctioned the focus of radio regulators will switch to the implementation of digital services. That means much more choice for audiences – something the incumbents had better get used to. If they continue to drag their feet they'll leave the door wide open for new services and new competitors like Foxtel.


Moving Picture to launch TV channel in Delhi


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/02/11/stories/2004021102511700.htm

MOVING Picture Company is planning to launch a satellite channel in New Delhi shortly and has applied for uplinking.

Ms Uma Gajapathi Raju, Vice-President, said that the channel, to be called Dilli Channel, would focus on political, social and cultural activities in the Capital and Rs 30-35 crore might have to be spent on the project.

"We are into 3-D animation in a big way. Our company produced Panchatantra in 3-D and is in negotiations with Doordarshan, Cartoon Network and others,'' said Mr Ramesh Sharma, President. He added that 3-D animation would take off in South-East Asia. "Globally it is $27-billion industry. We want to focus on it and we would like to take up Indian themes."

He added: "There are several companies in Europe and elsewhere producing animation films on alien themes. Even the western audiences want Indian animation films of quality.''

Mr Sharma said that the company had recently produced two feature films for the international market. A picture on Daniel Pearl, the American journalist killed in Pakistan, was in progress.

"Ours are medium-budget films, each costing Rs 15 crore or so,'' he said.

The company had an equity base of Rs. 8.3 crore and the market capitalisation was of the order of Rs 40 crore.




11/02/04

Sorry no update been having a play with the dish day. Looking for Nss6....




10/02/04

Live satellite chat tonight in the chatroom usual time 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd onwards

Not much stuff for today.



From my Emails & ICQ


From Henry T

Hi Craig,

Do you know if there is much teletext on the various sats I.E Asiasat 3?
I don't have a teletext TV and am curious if there is anything on NOW-TV as I saw some of the teletext "bars" at the top of the NOW-TV picture last night.

Regards From,
Henry.

(Craigs comment, Try some of the Chinese channels http://www.lyngsat.com/asia3s.shtml French Tv5 and Dubai TV on Asiasat 2 have TXT)


From Steve Hume

Pas 8 3718v 3260 3/4 "ABS-CBN Zambuanga" feed. Only bug up at the moment.

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From David Knight

Ch V Music Bus.
B1. 12380 H 6670 3/4
Rodney Rude "On the road again. Gonna sniff some a...holes with my friends."


From Jon Clarke (Thailand)

Have put up a site about satellite tv in Thailand
http://www.jsat.tv


From the Dish


PAS 8 166E 12360 V "CSN" has left , replaced by occasional feeds.(asian beam)

Sinosat 1 110.5E 3775 V "Chinese Sat Network TV" has left .

NSS 6 95E 12509 H "Free-XTV" has started on , SR 2441, FEC 3/4,PIDs 5021/5034, Indian beam.
NSS 6 95E 12523 H A New Skies promo has started on , Fta, SR 2170, FEC 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195, Indian beam.

Yamal 201 90E 4084 R Piter Russian Shanson has started on , Fta, APID 4214.

Insat 2E 83E 3931 V "AIR Rainbow FM" has started, Fta, APID 651.
Insat 2E 83E 3979 V New SR for DD News on : 6250.

(N Schlammer)


NEWS


Film, TV fear the worst for the future


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/09/1076175102089.html

Despite the Federal Government's assurances that it has retained the right to protect the Australian film and television industry from the onslaught of US product under the new trade deal, local screen producers and directors are not convinced.

"We are very disappointed," said the national director of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Simon Whipp.

"On the information we have so far, Australian audiences of the future will not enjoy anywhere near the same access to Australian programs as today's Australian public does," he said, referring to pay TV, digital TV and new media.

While the details are still emerging, several developments are causing concern. Now at least 55 per cent of the programs shown on free-to-air TV must be Australian. Under the new agreement, the Australian content quota cannot be increased beyond 55 per cent.

On new media, it remains unclear exactly how the Federal Government will regulate Australian content. The Government has stated it will "be able to take measures to ensure that Australian content on new media platforms is not unreasonably denied to Australian consumers".

But this ambiguous wording has many in the industry fearing the worst. In digital television, it is believed that only up to 20 per cent of multi-channels will have local content requirements.

The executive director of the Screen Producers Association of Australia, Geoff Brown, said: "That means that a minimum of 80 per cent of these new services will have no requirements to show Australian programs."

Another disappointment for the industry is the cap on the amount pay TV channels must spend on new Australian drama. Pay TV channels that screen drama must now spend 10 per cent of their total program budget on new Australian drama. Under the deal, this is expected to be capped at 20 per cent. The industry believes this is a short-sighted decision at a time when pay TV is beginning to grow.

The industry is worried the Government has made no provisions to regulate "e-cinema". In the future, films will be beamed directly into cinemas via satellite. With US films already taking 90 per cent of the Australian box office, there are fears that under a centralised digital delivery of film, Australian product could be locked out entirely.


Beijing to Liberalize TV Market


From http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/02/10/259.html

Reuters BEIJING -- China has eased its ban on foreign investment in television programming as part of reforms intended to revitalize the country's sprawling state-dominated media, regulatory officials said Monday.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television regulations, in effect since Dec. 30, allow foreign media firms to hold minority stakes in joint venture production companies, officials said.

"Now we allow foreign companies and domestic companies to set up joint ventures to produce all kinds of television programs, except for news programs," Zhu Hong, an official with SARFT, said by telephone.

Permitting television programming joint ventures is part of a raft of reforms aimed at bringing foreign production expertise to China's often stodgy and programmatic state broadcasting arena.

Chinese television is heavy on patriotic fare, and Beijing has long used the medium as a propaganda organ.

"It is an important step of opening to the outside," Zhu said.

SARFT in early December announced reforms allowing foreign investors to buy minority stakes in once-strictly controlled film studios. Those regulations took effect on Dec. 1.

Local private companies would also be allowed to jointly develop pay channels and to help fund plans to expand pay television and digital television services, Zhu said. Direct stakes by foreign firms in Chinese media firms remained forbidden, as did foreign investment in news programs, the officials said. China currently allows six foreign firms to broadcast in the wealthy southern province of Guangdong, next to Hong Kong, but the officials said there were no immediate plans to expand beyond that.

China has restricted access by foreign broadcasters to its potentially lucrative television market, approving expansions at a snail's pace, although last spring saw a brief flurry of deals. They included U.S. media giant Time Warner's Mandarin-language China Entertainment Television Broadcast, which won rights in April to be carried nationwide in China, making it the latest foreign broadcaster to expand its reach in the country.

Viacom unit MTV agreed a deal with the major cable carrier in southern China's wealthy Guangdong province to launch a 24-hour cable music channel. The Star TV arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp as well as News Corp's 38 percent-owned Phoenix Satellite TV also have rights to broadcast channels via cable operators in Guangdong.

Hong Kong's dominant free-to-air broadcaster, Television Broadcasts, has said it expects to win rights within months to broadcast in Guangdong, where its signal is already widely pirated.


DD seeks live telecast rights to Indo-Pak cricket series


From http://www.agencyfaqs.com/news/stories/2004/02/10/8324.html

India-Pakistan cricket telecast hopes are still alive for public broadcaster Doordarshan. After his meeting with a sacked official of the Pakistan Cricket Board a few days ago to negotiate the TV rights deal for the series, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma sent a letter to the PCB on Monday. Mr Sarma’s plea in the letter: Allow DD the terrestrial rights to cover the India-Pakistan cricket series slated for next month. And, allow it live!

PCB chief executive Rameez Raja has already assured Mr Sarma that he would speak to Ten Sports on the issue, according to the Prasar Bharati CEO. Dubai-based Ten Sports holds the satellite TV rights to the India-Pakistan cricket series, but latecomer DD wants to show it live as well.

The increasingly improving good relations between India and Pakistan is the reason behind Prasar Bharati’s interest in getting the telecast rights to the series, claimed Mr Sarma. The penetration level of Ten Sports is much lower than that of DD, and therefore the demand in “national interest,” according to him.

Interestingly, now DD is requesting for live terrestrial telecast rights to the series. Earlier, it was asking for deferred telecast only. And the commercial terms and conditions? That is yet to be decided, said the Prasar Bharati chief. But, it could be similar to the deal worked out between Sony Entertainment Television and DD at the time of the World Cup, he indicated.

All this, when a BCCI team is in Pakistan to inspect the security arrangements for the forthcoming series. Also, some top Indian cricketers have expressed their security concerns about going to Pakistan to play the series. Surprisingly, a few days ago, Mr Sarma had met the former PCB marketing director, who was sacked recently, to negotiate the deal!




9/02/04

Back online after my windows registry decided to use some ancient backup from 2001 argggggggggh that was fun to fix.

NHK in the TVNZ mux on B1 has been replaced by CCTV9, the audio is a little low in volume compared to others in mux. Hope they will adjust it, at least the programing is in english.

Tarbs will be adding Disney and some other english channels soon.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Ralph

Dear Mr Sutton

I am an satellite dish installer in north west Queensland.

I can demonstrate to any one who has installed dishes the ease of assembling Autosat/Jonsa dishes compared to Hills and Hills would be out of business if they weren't mixed up with certain installation companies..

I can assemble the Autosat and Jonsa dishes in 8minutes but with theirs,Hills, the first one, it took 30 minutes but maybe I will get it down to 20 minutes.

Plus I find the Jonsa quality and strength of its components is more than far superior than others.

The signal strength and C/N with Autosat/Jonsa is slightly better but not enough to brag about.

Regards,
Ralph


(Craigs comment, an extra 15 or 20 minutes per job adds up quickly and by the end of the day your one complete install job down. Not good at all! especially those installers contracted to do X jobs per day)


From Steve Hume

Awards on Intelsat 701
Looks like the Grammy awards are being feed on Intelsat 701.
There is currently bars up with AMV (All Mobile Video)on 3769R, where the NBC News Feeds usually are.

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From Vk4bkp

Telepace Nss6 screenshot



From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 4090 V "Al-Manar TV and MBC Europe" have left , replaced by test cards.

PAS 8 166E 3740 H "MTV Southeast Asia" is encrypted again.

Optus A3 164E 12340 V "Win TV" has left .

Optus C1 156E 12487 V A test card has started on , Fta, SR 27800, PIDs 308/256.

Measat 2 148E 11602 H "Da-Ai TV" has left .

NSS 6 95E 11543 V "MAC TV" has started, Fta, PIDs 769/770.

Yamal 102/201 90E The Oblastnoe TV Chelyabinsk test card has moved from Yamal 102: 3493 R to Yamal 201: 3552 R, clear, SR 4285, FEC 3/4, PIDs 307/256.

Thaicom 2 78.5E 3770 H "BBTV Channel 7" has left .

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3920 H New PIDs for AXN East Asia on : 1260/1220.

Apstar 2R 76.5E A C-Sky-Net mux has started on 12462 V, Viaccess 2, SR 22425, FEC 3/4, identical to 12553 H.(Asian beam)
Apstar 2R 76.5E 12584 V "ETTV Asia has replaced ETTV Life" on , Viaccess 2, PIDs 1600/1601.

NSS 703 57E 4055 R An Alhurra info card has started on , Fta, PIDs 1260/1232.(This is an American govt run FTA english channel that will broadcast music, movies and sports targetting the middle east)

Express AM 22 53E Strong test carriers on 11043 V.
(U Maurer in Germany)


NEWS


Major cable and satellite expo opens


From http://www.tradearabia.com/routes/sections/News.asp?Article=64159&Sn=IT

Dubai, The 10th Middle East International Cable, Satellite, Broadcast and Communications Exhibition (CABSAT 2004), the largest and most representative edition of the show, opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) Complex today.

UAE Minister of Transportation and Communications Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer inaugurated the event, which will run up to February 10.

"Already the most comprehensive and leading event of its kind in the Middle East region, CABSAT 2004 has broken all sorts of records in size, scope, exhibition profile, exhibitors' presence and quality of visitors attracted," said DWTC Director General, Mubarak bin Fahad.

"The show which has been registering an upward trend and the scope of the exhibition has expanded significantly to include key areas of broadcasting, production and telecommunications, to make it a far more representative platform that takes in all aspects of the industry," Bin Fahad said.

"There has been a marked increase in exhibitor numbers - almost 6 per cent, with an even more considerable increase in overseas representation. Nett space taken up - over 4,800 sq. m., is also significantly greater as are the number of countries taking part at the show," he said.

CABSAT is acknowledged in the industry as the premier platform in the burgeoning Middle East market for the latest technologies and business strategies and provides an unmatched avenue for the exploration of new business opportunities. This fact is reflected in the number of launches and presentations planned during the exhibition by leading players in the worldwide and regional industry.

"The growth of the regional technology and media industry has spurred a range of new business opportunities in the broadcast, communications and media technology fields and these developments along with V-SAT, new satellites, digital compression and continued competition among pay TV and free-to-air channels has created a wealth of new business opportunities in the region, Bin Fahad said.

CABSAT 2004 features group pavilions from China, Korea, Germany, Taiwan and the UK with over over 70 local and 170 overseas exhibitors - a considerable jump from the last edition's figures of 58 local and 143 overseas exhibitors.

A large hosted buyer delegation comprising over 20 industry professionals from India are also visiting the event to network at the show and conduct business. -


New Skies hub links Mideast, Europe


From http://www.tradearabia.com/routes/sections/News.asp?Article=64184&Sn=IT

New Skies Satellites, a global satellite communications company, has announced a new teleport, which will serve as a major Middle East gateway to Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, relaying broadband Internet, voice and data traffic, as well as digital video transmissions via the NSS-6 satellite.

The hub will be provided by Greece's UNITEL Hellas S.A., the latest partner in New Skies' growing global mediaport network.

The new Mediterranean mediaport, located outside of Athens, features Ku-band uplink facilities accessing New Skies' NSS-6 satellite. By offering existing and potential customers high-powered and complete coverage of the entire region with access to a global communications infrastructure, the mediaport will significantly enhance communications between the Middle East and other regions of the world, said Hussein Oteifa, New Skies' senior director of sales for the Middle East.

'The new mediaport will serve as a major hub for voice, video, Internet and data communications to and from the Middle East,' he said. 'Taking advantage of the new gateway and NSS-6's vast footprint, ISPs and other Internet customers in the region can connect to the global Internet backbone at blazing speeds using low-cost Ku-band equipment; telecommunications carriers and GSM operators can terminate voice minutes at major call centers throughout Europe and Asia; and newsgatherers can contribute video feeds to broadcasters around the world.'

New Skies also announced the launch of a new IPsys IP transmission platform at the mediaport, which will be capable of providing a direct link to the global Internet backbone for Internet services providers, telecommunications carriers, government agencies and businesses throughout the Middle East. The expansion is in response to strong demand in the region for the New Skies' IPsys branded Internet connectivity services and powerful Ku-band capacity on the NSS-6 satellite.

Including the new NSS-6 Ku-band service at the Athens gateway, New Skies operates 20 platforms that collectively transmit over a gigabyte of Internet traffic for more than 100 customers throughout the world. With the addition of the new platform, New Skies solidifies its position as the world's leading provider of satellite-delivered IP traffic.

'The new Ku-band IPsys platform on NSS-6 will expand the delivery of many value-added services to prospective customers across the Middle East, and will allow for higher throughput and lower delay Internet transmissions to the region. IPsys customers will be able to employ small Ku-band receive equipment and benefit from low start-up costs and the higher transmission rates enabled by NSS-6's high-power coverage over the region,' Oteifa said.

In addition to Unitel, New Skies has agreements with Hong-Kong's Reach, Singapore-based ST Teleport and the United Kingdom's Kingston inmedia, as well as mediaport partners in the United States for international gateway services to the Pacific Ocean region. The company also operates its wholly owned mediaports in Washington D.C. and in Perth and Adelaide, Australia. Together, these facilities compose a worldwide mediaport network providing first-class connectivity to New Skies' global satellite fleet, one of the industry's youngest and most reliable networks, he said.


(Craigs comment, Tarbs owns %49 of Unitel. So look for more Tarb's use of NSS6)


China ends ban on foreign TV groups


From http://news.ft.com/

China is lifting its ban on foreign investment in television and film production companies, as part of a package of landmark reforms intended to revitalise its state-dominated media industry.

The prospect of direct involvement in TV and film production will interest overseas media groups, which hope for a greater role in the rapidly growing Chinese market.

The move also underlines Beijing's determination to commercialise media organisations from newspapers to TV stations - all of which have long been run as arms of the state and its ruling Communist party. Under the new policy, "strong and influential" foreign companies will be able to hold minority stakes in Chinese production companies.

Zhu Hong of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television told the Financial Times it was a "major liberalisation". He said: "In the past we only allowed foreign and domestic companies to work together on films and television programmes. Now we have . .. issued clear permission for overseas and domestic companies jointly to create companies to make films and television programmes."

Beijing is hoping a dramatic increase in private sector involvement will raise the quality and quantity of the content produced for the local market.

Local private companies will also be allowed jointly to develop pay channels, a reform that is intended to help attract the investment needed to fund China's ambitious plans for the expansion of pay television and digital TV services.

Overseas media companies can also expect to see increasing demand, with Mr Zhu saying restrictions on the amount of foreign films and other content would be raised. But foreign opportunities in actual broadcasting are likely to be limited.


TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 06/2004 8 February 2004 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

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


AUSTRALIA

E! EXPANDS TO AUSTRALIA

E! International Network expands its reach in the Australian market later this year, when it launches on the new digital platforms from FOXTEL and Austar. The E! International Network is carried to about 20 markets in Europe, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, including the U.K., New Zealand and Indonesia. It features shows from E! Entertainment Television in the U.S., including Celebrities Uncensored and Love Chain.


CHINA - HONG KONG

GALAXY TO CHARGE $22 A MONTH

ExTV, the new pay-television venture between Televison Limited Broadcasts (TVB) and its US partner Intelsat, will charge customers US$22 a month when the service launches on February 18, the South China Morning Post has reported. The newspaper said the basic tariff would include 23 channels, with five offered by TVB. Subscribers to exTV, also known as Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, would also have to pay a one-off fee of US$19 to have the system installed and US$2 a month to rent the set-top box. People who want to watch the HBO film channel will have to pay an extra US$9 a month and Playboy TV will cost an extra US$6. ExTV plans to add up to 10 new channels by the end of the year. It may also introduce other services - including interactive services - in the next two years and raise the US$22 price tag. The pay-TV operator hopes to attract 70-80,000 subscribers in its first year and to break even in three to four years, with 300-400,000 customers. Meanwhile, Hong Kong pay-TV operator i-Cable Communications on February 3 said it has no plans to cut its monthly fees despite the lower rates being offered by new entrant exTV. Currently, i-Cable, the dominant player in Hong Kong's pay-TV market with about 600,000 users, is charging a basic monthly fee of HK$298.

LAUNCH OF DIGITAL TV STANDARD POSTPONED

China has postponed the launch of a national digital television (DTV) standard for an indefinite period, as officials have still not decided which standard is superior. According to Radio Netherlands, the government was supposed to announce a draft DTV standard by the end of last year, but is still undecided on whether to adopt US, European or home-grown standards, the Economic Observer reports. The adoption of existing foreign DTV standards means Chinese enterprises paying high royalties, while standards developed in China have technical defects, the newspaper says. China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has already set an ambitious target of signing up 30 million digital TV subscribers by 2005 and launching nationwide digital programming by 2010. A pilot digital TV service is currently available in several major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, but responses from subscribers have been lukewarm so far.

INDIA

DOORDARSHAN SET FOR DOUBLE INCOME

According to a report by the PTI news agency, the revenue through Doordarshan, now around 15,000 rupees crore ($3.3 billion), was likely to double in the next five years, Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Addressing the media, he said that the viewership of Doordarshan was growing at the rate of 31 per cent annually, adding that AIR will launch a 24-hour news channel from April this year and that DD programmes would soon be available in the USA and the UK.

ESPN STAR JOINS ASC DTH PLATFORM

The DTH service from ASC Enterprises has reportedly signed a carriage deal with sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), which is a 50:50 joint venture between ESPN and STAR. The development is significant considering the fact that ESS is the first broadcasting network other than Zee Telefilms (sister concern of ASC) to join the platform. STAR India bouquet and Alliance One (Sony and Discovery distribution alliance) are yet to join ASC. Another sports broadcaster, TEN Sports, owned by Dubai-based Taj Television, is also yet to sign with ASC Enterprises.

DOORDARSHAN CHANNELS TO GO DIGITAL IN JUNE

India’s Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Ravi Shankar Prasad, says all channels of the state television network, Doordarshan (DD) will be fully digitised by June this year, the Hindu newspaper has reported. Addressing the Broadcast Engineering Society’s 10th International Conference on Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting in New Delhi today, the minister said consumer satisfaction should be the driving force in broadcast technology development. On the issue of pay channels and free-to-air channels (FTA) in the country, he said the FTAs would continue to dominate and it was now time to deliberate on whether the pay channels should continue to drive the satellite television industry.

INDONESIA

NICKELODEON PROGRAMMING ON LATIVI

Indonesian terrestrial Lativi began carrying branded programming blocks from Nickelodeon, featuring signature shows like Blue's Clues, SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats. Reaching 17 million homes across Indonesia, Lativi will air one Nickelodeon block in the morning, from 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., featuring preschool series; and another from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for slightly older children. The blocks will air Monday to Friday. Nickelodeon Asia reaches almost 110 million households in the region via programming blocks and 24-hour channels.

IRAQ

BAN ON AL-ARABIYA LIFTED

The Al-Arabiya satellite television channel outlawed by the Iraqi Governing Council has been allowed to reopen its Baghdad office, BBC News has reported. The company said the US-appointed body let it resume operations after it agreed to obey Iraqi laws. Al-Arabiya's office was shut down in November after coalition forces accused it of inciting violence. It had broadcast a message allegedly from Saddam Hussein urging resistance against US-led forces in the country. At the time the Dubai-based satellite station defended its decision to broadcast the tape, saying it was dedicated to impartiality.

ISRAEL

TV LICENSE FEE TO BE CUT

Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reports that the government has worked out a plan to cut the TV licence fee by half and raise the car radio fee by 75 percent, which would enable the treasury to cancel the cut in the budget of the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The newspaper says the plan has been worked out by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Communications Minister Ehud Olmert, and is based on the very high collection rate - nearly 100 per cent - of the car radio fee, compared to the much lower 70 per cent collection rate for television licenses. Under the proposal, the current NIS 515 (US$115) a year for a TV licence would drop to NIS 265 (US$59), and the radio licence fee would be increased from NIS 151 (US$33) to NIS 265 (US$59). The changes would settle the row between the treasury and the IBA, which has refused to accept the treasury's budget.

BEZEQ SEEKS FOREIGN INVESTORS FOR YES PAY-TV PLATFORM

The “Yediot Ahronot” daily reports that Bezeq and Eurocom Communications, the main shareholders in the YES satellite TV broadcasting company, are currently negotiating the entry of a strategic investor into YES. The new partner will inject capital into YES in return for shares, which will ease YES’s financial situation, and reduce its dependence on Bezeq. YES recruited 3,500 new subscribers in January 2004, and 48,000 in all of 2003. The company recently predicted similar growth for 2004. YES has yet to publish its results for the fourth quarter of 2003, but the company had an operating loss of NIS 85 million and a net loss of NIS 132 million in the third quarter of 2003.YES owes NIS 1.2 billion to the banks and NIS 2.2 billion to Bezeq, which currently owns half of YES.

JAPAN

FOUR TV NETWORKS GET BASEBALL RIGHTS

Major league baseball games will be carried on four Japanese television networks this year. NHK (Japan Broadcasting), Sky PerfecTV!, TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System), and Fuji TV acquired rights in a license from Dentsu, which owns television and radio rights in Japan. All have previously broadcast major league games. The major league season begins with a two-game series between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Tokyo on March 30-31. It will be the second time regular-season games will be played in Japan - the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs played two games in Tokyo to start the 2000 season. Sky Perfect said its main MLB coverage for this year will begin with preseason games in March and culminate in the World Series in October, featuring a total of 400 to 500 games involving all 30 teams. Sky Perfect launched Japan's first digital satellite broadcasting services in 1996 using a communications satellite. It has broadcast select MLB games over the last seven years. MLB has grown into a coveted sports program in Japan as an increasing number of Japanese players ply their trade in the world's toughest league.

TV ASAHI REPORTS PROFITS

TV Asahi Corporation said on February 6 that its group net profit for the nine months until 31 December came to Y1.96 billion ($18.5 million). The broadcaster, which changed its name from Asahi National Broadcasting Co. on October 1, did not release year-before figures for comparison as this is the first time for it to disclose nine-month earnings. TV Asahi's group pretax profit for the April-December period was Y5.36 billion while group revenues amounted to Y163.99 billion. For the 2002 business year to 31 March 2003, the broadcaster earlier reported a group net profit of Y1.91 billion and a group pre-tax profit of Y6.93 billion on group revenues of Y209.04 billion.

MALAYSIA

PROFITS UP AT MEDIA PRIMA

Malaysian media company Media Prima Berhad reported a net profit of US$43.6 million on revenue of US$ 94 million for the 15-month period ended Nov 30, 2003, the Business Times has reported. In a statement released on January 29, Media Prima attributed the strong performance to improved operational results at its wholly-owned subsidiary Sistem Televisyen Malaysia (TV3), arising from strong growth in advertising revenue and lower overhead costs due to stringent cost-control measures. Last November, Media Prima completed its acquisition of an 80 per cent stake in Merit Idea, which owns 99.5 per cent of Metropolitan TV, owner and operator of Malaysia’s newly launched TV station, 8TV. Media Prima owns 100 percent of TV3, 80 per cent interest in Metropolitan TV and a 43 per cent stake in NSTP, one of Malaysia’s largest publishing groups.

PAKISTAN

AJK TV STARTS BROADCASTING

President General Perevz Musharraf on February 5 inaugurated the first independent AJK TV channel and hoped it will play an important role in creating solidarity among the Kashmiri people and would reflect their true aspirations. The government has allocated and released Rs.430 million for the project which consists of a TV center and seven transmitters.

SOUTH KOREA

STILL NO DECISION ON DIGITAL TV STANDARD

The long-awaited report on the digital TV standard was announced on February 2. But instead of resolving the debate on the transmission method, it is expected to generate more heat due to its dubious conclusion. The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) released the joint report on the digital TV standard with the Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC), based on the field study, but leaves undecided whether to use the U.S. or European standard. Late last year, a fact-finding team composed of bureaucrats, technicians and professors went on a month-long tour of eight advanced countries to compare the two systems. However, the team failed to reach a conclusion even after wrapping up the task and have delayed the release of the final report due to opposing viewpoints from both sides. The much-hyped report confirmed that the world is moving fast toward adopting high-definition (HD) digital TVs but didn't establish use of any specific format. Experts said it reflected the MIC's favour for the U.S.-based system and the KBC's for the European one. Korea opted for the U.S. format in 1997 and pushed for the commercial launch of digital broadcasting four years later in Seoul. The HD services were set to be offered in five provincial cities by the end of last year under the government initiative. Encouraged by MBC's field test in 2001, however, some broadcasters and experts raised concerns over the U.S. standard's inability to supply quality services to people or vehicles on the move and insisted the government should switch to the European system.

THAILAND

ITV WINS CONCESSION PAYMENT BATTLE

Independent Television (iTV), in part owned by Shin Corp, has won a six-year battle to reduce its 25.2-billion-baht concession fee to the state. According to the Bangkok Post, an arbitration panel voted in favour of iTV, to amend the 25-year contract it signed in 1995 with the Prime Minister's Office to reduce the hefty fee. Government sources said the PM's Office has one year to appeal against the resolution with the Civil Court if it disagrees. iTV was awarded the contract after offering the highest concession fee to the state. However, since 1998 it has sought to reduce the fee, arguing it was too high compared to fees the state charged Channels 3 and 7. TV Channels 3 and 7 each paid between 150-160 million baht a year plus an annual 10% increase. The station also claimed in its petition that its business had been hurt by a new cable TV channel, World Star TV, which is carrying out operations under a concession awarded by the Public Relations Department.


A F R I C A


SOUTH AFRICA

TELCAST LAUNCHES BE ON AIR CHANNEL

Germany's Telcast Media Group has begun rolling its Be On Air! channels, in which programming is entirely based on audience interaction and participation, with a deal in place in South Africa, and more to come throughout the year. South Africa's M-Net is the first to launch a Be On Air channel, which it has dubbed B on MNET. The channel utilizes mini television studios set up in various locations. Participants can enter these facilities and dial the number that appears on screen, thereby becoming part of the programming. The channel is planning to feature a search for swimsuit models, plus a dating show and a talent showcase, among others. MNET cable affiliates in Greece and Thailand are also planning to add Be On Air to their services later this year. Be On Air! was first used in Germany to find contestants for Sat.1 talent show Star Search. Telcast's CEO and Be On Air! inventor, Thomas Hohenacker, confirmed that talks are also underway with pay-TV and free-TV broadcasters in Germany. In the UK the BBC has already signed up to use the technology for live broadcasts from Speakers Corner in London's Hyde Park, where members of the public traditionally stand on a soap box and speak on any subject.




8/02/04

No update Sunday




7/02/04

New Signal on C1 12367V sr 27800 fec ? Very strong here in NZ, nothing loading though



From my Emails & ICQ


From Various People

MTV Asia on as 8 has encrypted


From Steve Hume

NSS-5 C-Band
Can someone with a C-Band dish take a look at NSS5 for me.

I know there is data on 3745R/V, at 44995 symbol rate. (Guessing 3/4)

I think I've found a set of bars in analog on there as well. The older
style vertical bars like the ones I've seen on Thaicom 3.

If someone has an old analog laying around, might be worth a look.

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From Simmo

C1 12287 V 28218 (powtek) TEST foxtel epg. FTA
Plus a couple of new encrypted ch's on 12637 27812 H

Simmo


From Vk4bkp

NSS6 12687H 21000 3/4 "Telepace". Looks like an Italian Catholic channel.


From Ranime 6/2

B1 12371 H 6625 3/4 looks like golf for Fox.
B1 12398 H 7200 3/4 Ch7 promo feed
B1 12523 H 6111 3/4 Ch9 news feeds


From the Dish


Agila 2 146E 3895 H "Familyland Network" has left .

Yamal 201 90E

* Reception reports:
Signals are normal. Some channels are good.
(D Bamrolia with 240 cm in Gujarat, India)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3614 V "PTV National" has left again, replaced by a test card.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3920 H "AXN Asia" has left .

Insat 3C 74E 3901 V "DD Malayalam" has left Analog (PAL).

Express AM 22 53E 10981 V Strong test carriers on . (Jonali in UK)


NEWS


Gencom Technology Partners with Helius to Deliver Satellite IP Solutions to Austral-Asia Helius Strategic Alliance Program Drives Into the Asian Market


From Press Release

LINDON, UT—February 5, 2004—Helius, Inc., the worldwide leader in business class data broadcasting solutions, today announced that Gencom Technology, Ltd. of New Zealand, has joined its Strategic Alliance Program. Gencom’s entrance into the program marks the first official Austral-Asian Partner for Helius, and demonstrates the acceleration of satellite and broadband usage to corporate networks via Helius IP networking technologies.

Combining the end-to-end service, broadcast and technology expertise of Gencom with the innovation of Helius products customers in Asia will have access to unique solutions. Solutions focused on the interactive distance learning, business television and digital signage markets.

“ We’re delighted to have Gencom as a partner,” said Nathan Hatch, sr. vice president of marketing & corporate development of Helius. “Together we will deliver cutting edge business television and digital signage solutions that provide real value.”

“ Helius products extend what our customers can do with their networks by adding IP connectivity to the mix,” said Ray Sanders, managing director of Gencom Technology Ltd. “Not only will the Helius solution save our leading accounts money but allow us to pursue many new opportunities that need the flexibility of an IP-based delivery.”

The Helius Strategic Alliance Program

The Helius Strategic Alliance Program (SAP) fully integrates products and services from satellite technology companies worldwide, providing partners with a complete platform of business solutions to decrease distribution costs and increase service efficiency for end-user enterprise customers.

The two companies will work together to offer comprehensive sales, customer service and support options. As a member of the Helius Strategic Alliance Program, Gencom Technology becomes an authorized Helius reseller and will provide customers with the full line of Helius products.

About Helius, Inc.

Helius provides efficient, secure, and reliable delivery of broadband IP over satellites and local area networks. Helius products include satellite IP routers, software and custom engineered solutions that enable efficient, secure and reliable delivery of broadband content over satellites and local area networks.

Helius is a privately held company based in Lindon, Utah. For more information, visit http://www.helius.com or call (801) 764-9020.

About Gencom Technology Ltd.

Gencom Technology Ltd was started in Wellington in 1969 and at 32 years old is the oldest supplier of Television technology in the country. The company grew up with the television business in New Zealand and has continued to supply equipment and build systems ever since. Gencom is also involved in the supply and integration of technology into the multimedia, audio visual and telecommunications markets.

Over the years Gencom has been involved either as an equipment supplier or system integrator in virtually all of NZ’s television and production facilities. This includes TVNZ, TV3, HPTV, Prime, Digital Post, Images Post, TelstraClear, Sky Network and OSB among others. Gencom has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Sydney, Australia.


Sam's World (digital pay-TV story)


From http://afr.com/premium/articles/2004/02/06/1075854061557.html

Here we go again. All the big boys are in there, kicking and shoving as hard as ever. Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer, Ziggy Switkowski, Sam Chisholm, Kerry Stokes. The battleground is pay TV versus the rest. The new weapon is digital. The prize is cash - with plenty of credit and ego to go round.

Sam Chisholm has already played an earlier very successful bout in Britain when he pushed Murdoch's BSkyB service into the digital world more than five years ago. He's been relentlessly pushing the Packers and Murdochs and Telstra at Foxtel in the same direction for the past few years. Finally, they've all decided to pay up and play. At a cost of $550million, Foxtel is due to start offering its digital service early next month.

Chisholm - now Foxtel's chairman and a Telstra director - has never been a man prone to understatement.

"We're going through a technological revolution at the turn of the century," he insists. "It's the equivalent of the industrial revolution at the end of the last century."

So will it really be a revolution - or a more sophisticated version of the same old stuff? Will a lot more Australians be willing to pay for the difference? Will digital pay TV, with 130 channels and more to come, finally challenge the dominance of the free-to-air networks? And will the confused consumer be able at last to use just one remote control to easily record and watch whatever they want?

That leads directly to a more fundamental issue for the future. Foxtel will also be trying to use this new service to try to transform itself into the gatekeeper of the digital era for everyone else. Given the shareholders involved - with Telstra at 50 per cent and News Ltd and PBL at 25 per cent each - this tactic hardly comes as a shock. But it would certainly mean that for all the talk about new media, it still features the same old players in firm control. It's the seemingly immutable law of media in Australia.

"Foxtel will be the gatekeeper," says Chisholm confidently. "It has all these channels, it has all this technological capability and it's in digital, and the networks can't match it."

Perhaps not. Yet for all the hoopla about the brave new world of interactive TV, many of the ideas that have caught the imagination are likely to remain marginal. Yes, viewers may soon be able to order their pizzas or their cars while they watch the screen or play video games and quizzes or vote on issues or performances. But based on the British experience, most won't spend too much time or money doing that, certainly for the first few years at least. Nor, unlike the British, are Australians allowed to gamble via their television sets.

Chisholm, however, is convinced that "sports active" will be a significant draw - allowing viewers to switch camera angles and games and call up sports statistics at the press of a button. Imagine, for example, having the eight games of the Australian open on the screen at once and switching to the most exciting at will. News junkies will be able to flick between screens and order up the big news stories on screen or in print.

Others are far more sceptical about how much that capability will be used by most viewers after the expiry of the "wow factor" - the initial excitement at what's possible.

But what is clear is that most of the audience will also be very interested in the greater range of passive entertainment - just watching a whole lot more sport and movies which will be available at constantly changing times or on a pay-per-view basis. Or pursuing their individual interests whether they're historical biographies or kids' science shows.

From Foxtel's point of view, the particular division of viewers doesn't really matter in the end - as long as there are enough people spread over all those channels to add up to a profitable mass.

Chisholm, who spent the 1970s and '80s helping cement Nine's network dominance, says the real difference with digital comes down to consumers being able to make their own choices.

"With TV networks, your life is spent trying to work out what the viewer wants and that denotes your success or failure,"he says. "Your reputation rides and falls on your ratings. In subscription TV, the measurement is your subscribers and you attract those by offering more and more choice."

Which means that no one thing needs to get particularly high ratings. It is the antithesis of mass marketing fuelled by advertising dollars.

"What people want is the ability to choose themselves," Chisholm says. "This is the big difference between network TV and Foxtel. We allow you, the customer, to decide what you like to look at. That means recalibrating the whole approach.

"If you like movies, you'll have a choice of over 30 movie channels to look at - more importantly, all commercial free. On Sunday night, on network TV, you have the choice of three."

That all sounds good in theory. But, of course, the catch is that customers will have to pay for that choice. And the more choice they want, the more they will have to pay. Certainly, a lot of Foxtel customers who signed up to the more limited analogue service were not persuaded to keep shelling out every month for what they got on the 44 channels. Complaints that there is too little worth watching are common.

The churn rate - those who sign up and quit - is back under 20 per cent but that is still a very expensive hole to have to keep filling. It means one big underlying aim of the digital launch is to drastically reduce the churn rate - just as BSkyB did - by making customers more reluctant to give up all the extras digital provides.

Exactly how much they will have to pay for those extras is still unclear. The Foxtel commitment is that the basic digital package won't be any more than the basic satellite package - $48.95 - with a greatly expanded range of channels. What are tactfully known as premium services, however, will easily push the monthly bill way over that. The other device expected to be popular - a personal video recorder designed for the digital system - will be introduced later and also cost extra.

Chisholm's firm view is that "price is not a consideration", citing the success of BSkyB in a country that doesn't have the same degree of affluence as Australia. Sure, he says, people might have initially said the washing machine was expensive - but there aren't too many coppers still in use. Going to the movies is hardly a cheap excursion by comparison either.

But right now, pay TV is stalled at the level of about 23 per cent of Australian homes. Foxtel's ambition is to use the appeal of digital to get that percentage up to 35 to 40 by 2008. That certainly doesn't sound an unreasonable ambition, given the British experience. Since going digital in 1998, BSkyB's subscriber numbers have roughly doubled from about 3.5 million to 7 million. It's also on track to take close to £400 in revenue per subscriber per year by the end of 2005. Multiply those two figures and that's an awful lot of money.

"When it's launched and people have an understanding of the choice that's available," Chisholm says, "the proposition is irresistible."

Certainly, Chisholm has more experience with the various forces at work than just about anyone. From top to bottom. As part of assuring Nine's free-to-air dominance in the 1970s and 1980s and then masterminding BSkyB's transition to digital in the 1990s, he has worked closely with Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch over the decades. He knows Telstra intimately. His former deputies include Nick Falloon, now chief executive of Ten and David Leckie at Seven. He was key to engineering the Foxtel Optus programming merger with Chris Anderson. His fellow board members at Foxtel include James Packer, Lachlan Murdoch and Ziggy Switkowski.

From the other side, he's chairman of Two Way TV which is providing the Mind Games channel for the digital launch.

In addition, as chairman of Macquarie Network, he's been involved with John Singleton's recent attempt to create a new channel with broader appeal for thoroughbred racing.

A lot of other players argue Foxtel will remain extremely resistible at those prices - no matter how persuasive Sam Chisholm is and no matter how inevitable the world's steady march to digital. So far, Foxtel has lost close to $1 billion - though PBL and News have made a lot of that back due to their joint ownership of Foxsports which sells its highly profitable programs to Foxtel in a neat game of round robin. With the strengthening in the value of the Australian dollar, Foxtel's incredibly expensive movie deals with Hollywood studios are also far less onerous than a year ago.

But unlike BSkyB with its ownership of Premier League Soccer, Foxtel doesn't have exclusive rights to a major sport. In fact, it's just the opposite. This is due to strict anti-siphoning laws to ensure Australian voters can't complain about being deprived unless they pay. The government is examining these laws at the moment and is expected to relax them at the edges so that Foxtel no longer has to wait for the free-to-air networks to decline even the most minor sports before it can bid for them. It is also targeting "hoarding" - where the free-to-air stations often play only a small proportion of the sports they own.

Everyone's in there lobbying hard. Particularly in an election year, however, no one expects a radical reversal from the Howard government. Chisholm still sounds sanguine about the direction if not the time frame.

"It's impossible for them to get any stricter," he says "so therefore it follows that if there is going to be any change, it can only get better ... there'll be more sport available on Foxtel rather than less."

That still leaves Foxtel fighting its other major battle of the moment. It's whether Seven, Ten and the ABC will sign up to the Foxtel digital platform in time for the launch. Time - and tempers - are running out.

Nine, of course, has the advantage of being in both camps, with the Packers managing to split their loyalties and their risks between their free-to-air station and their investment in Foxtel. At Foxtel, Kerry Packer was always reluctant to spend the money to go digital, especially because of the impact it could have had on Nine's audience. But he's been persuaded.

That means Nine has already signed up to be on the Foxtel digital platform, including meeting Foxtel's prerequisite of paying over $2 million a year for the cost of the satellite. The benefit is that consumers will just use the one Foxtel remote control to click onto it as well. Seeing the digital future, SBS has also signed up.

At this stage, though, Seven, Ten won't be there at all- at least at the beginning. The ABC will only be on the cable service, not on satellite.

To rising mutual irritation, they are still arguing with Foxtel over terms. Yet the actual differences between the parties are relatively minor despite the game of bluff and the level of mistrust on all sides. It's more a case of egos at 40 paces. Foxtel has belatedly agreed to give Seven and Ten the same financial deal as it provided to Nine. It will just never agree to cut them in on a stake in Foxtel itself.

The impact for consumers is that they would have to use a separate remote - a clear disadvantage for all sides, with both sides claiming the other needs them more.

For now, though, the momentum is with Foxtel. The others already offer some limited digital programming themselves - but customers have to buy the box themselves. These won't connect with Foxtel and have so far proven spectacularly unsuccessful given the cost involved and their extremely restricted offering.

In the meantime, Kerry Stokes is, as usual, using Seven's lawyers to appeal the rules of access to Foxtel's platform.

"It really is time for Seven to wake up to the fact you can't sue your way to success," Chisholm snaps. He maintains the result is that the reluctant partners will just be left further behind Nine and the digital revolution. "Technology is what dictates change. All this entertainment - a range of services - will be delivered to your home. Foxtel will give it to you. This is what digital is doing."

Over to you. Click.


Lockheed Martin-Built AMC-10 Satellite Launched Successfully from Cape Canaveral


From Press Release

Thursday February 5, 8:20 pm ET

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The AMC-10 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) for SES AMERICOM, was successfully launched today from Cape Canaveral aboard a Lockheed Martin-built Atlas IIAS rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

Initial contact with the satellite, called acquisition of signal, was confirmed at 7:53 p.m. EST from the Lockheed Martin satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia.

"We are extremely proud to deliver mission success for such a loyal, long-standing customer as SES AMERICOM," said Ted Gavrilis, president, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS). "AMC-10 is the ninth A2100 that Lockheed Martin has built for SES AMERICOM as part of a successful association that spans 25 years."

AMC-10 features 24, 36 MHz C-band transponders that will be used to provide cable television services to the 50 United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. AMC-10 will take the place of the retiring Lockheed Martin-built Satcom C-4 at orbital location 135 degrees West Longitude and will enhance SES AMERICOM's world-wide fleet of satellites, which provide global distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services, business television and broadband data.

Based on the award-winning A2100 satellite series manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, Newtown, Pa., AMC-10 has a predicted service life of 15 years and represents the 23rd straight successful launch of an A2100 spacecraft for customers worldwide.

"AMC-10's C-band payload is fully committed to the top tier cable programmers who are depending on us to distribute dozens of channels and new high definition services to (over 80 million) American TV households, and we're depending on this Lockheed Martin A2100 to perform brilliantly for the next 15 years," said SES AMERICOM President Dean Olmstead. "Since 1996, AMERICOM has added nine A2100 satellites to our fleet, and we look forward to adding the tenth when we launch AMC-11 in May."

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs ranging from Ka-band/broadband services, fixed satellite services in a C-band and Ku-band payload configuration, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts, simplifying construction, increasing on-orbit reliability and reducing weight and cost.

In recognition of the A2100's reliability, Lockheed Martin received a 2003 award for "Product of the Year," by Frost & Sullivan. Calling it "the most reliable and efficient of its class," Frost & Sullivan recognized the LMCSS-built A2100 satellite platform for its "outstanding on-orbit reliability record since it was first offered in 1996."

About SES AMERICOM

The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Armed Forces, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in orbital positions providing service throughout the Americas, across Europe, over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and throughout Asia. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. SES AMERICOM's key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, AOL Time Warner, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, EchoStar, Fox, TV Guide/Gemstar, Gannett, HBO, Hughes Network Systems, NBC, The New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, TELE Greenland, TV Europa, Verestar, Viacom and, through AMERICOM Government Services, various agencies of the U.S. government.

About International Launch Services (ILS)

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. in the United States, manufacturer of the Atlas rocket, and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, builder of the Proton rocket. ILS provides launch services on the Atlas and Proton vehicles to customers worldwide.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

For more information about Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, see our web site at http://www.lmcommercialspace.com

CONTACT: Media, Dee Valleras of Lockheed Martin Corp., +1-215-275-1874, or [email protected].




6/02/04

Waitangi Day Holiday no update




5/02/04

Taiwan Btv 2-6 on I804 have encrypted well they were this afternoon. Scrolling message on the TTV channel (BTV1) to phone Besttv the rest of the info is in Chinese

NO UPDATE FRIDAY, its Waitangi Day a national Holiday here


From my Emails & ICQ


From Matt Farington

Hi Craig,

Great online resources you maintain there. They're much appreciated.

I'm not sure how often you like to update the apsattv site, but I had a quick
scan of NSS6 FTA using my 65cm dish in Adelaide just now and came up with a
slightly different set of channels than you list.

Tarbs fiddle with them frequently? If so then I understand why there's a
difference... and is it worth updating?

If you change one thing, then it should be that SIC is in Portugese not
Italian.

12729MHz (V) SR27500 7/8
NTD TV
SexZ.TV
NEW SKIES PROMO
Free X TV
Back Room

12647MHz (V) SR21000 3/4

FUTURE TV
ESC 2
TeleLiban
LEONARDO INT
Euro D
Nile Culture

12688MHz (H) SR21000 3/4

TV Moda
SIC Internacional
Playlist Italia
NOJOOM
ARM 1
atv


Mat Farrington


From the Dish

Intelsat 804 176E 12681 V "Phoenix Chinese" has started , Fta, PIDs 267/268. New PIDs for Dragon TV and CCTV 1: 263/264 and 265/266.

PAS 2 169E "Ultra" (Internet) has moved from 12610 H to 12577 H, SR 20000, FEC 3/4.

Optus C1 156E See lyngsat charts

Major changes in Austar and Foxtel.
Minor updates in Optus Aurora.

TVSN has left 12447 V and 12607 V.

Optus B3 152E 12407 V "Radio Akashwani" has replaced Sport 927, Fta, APID 272.

Agila 2 146E 12541 V "TBN has replaced TCT World" on , Fta, PIDs 48/49.

NSS 6 95E 12688 H "Nojoom" has started, Fta, PIDs 289/290.

Yamal 102/201 90E SGU TV, Shkolnik TV and Satnet have moved from Yamal 102: 3489 L to Yamal 201: 3989 L, Fta, SR 28000, FEC 3/4.
STS Yuzhniy Region has left Yamal 102: 3521 L, moved to Yamal 201: 3902 L. Rambler TeleSet (+0h) has left Yamal 102: 3606 L, moved to Yamal 201: 3908 L.

Express 6A 80E 3642 R "Telekanal Rossiya (+6h)" is still on, Fta, SR 3620, FEC 1/2.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3610 V "PTV 1" has started, Fta, SR 3333, PIDs 308/256.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3614 V "PTV National" has started , Fta, SR 3333, PIDs 308/256.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 H All channels in the TARBS World TV mux on are now encrypted, except BVN TV and RNW 1-3.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 H "Cyprus Sat" has left , replaced by a test card.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" has started, Viaccess 2, PIDs 1260/1222.

Express AM 22 53E

Strong test carriers on 11043 H and 11106 H.

(L Stouten in Belgium)

Strong test carriers on 11481 H, 11606 H and 12531 H.

(Jonali with 220 cm in central UK)

Strong test carriers on 12531 H.
(U Maurer with 120 cm in Germany)

Test carriers on 12719 V.
(D Shimoni in Israel)

Test carriers on 12531 V and 12594 V.
(Jonali in UK)


NEWS


Bid to delay digital launch


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8584758%255E7582,00.html

KERRY Stokes's Seven Network has launched a new legal challenge to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's open access rules for pay TV in a move seen as an attempt to delay the launch of Foxtel's $550 million digital conversion.

An appeal was lodged with the Australian Competition Tribunal on December 30 last year – two weeks after the conditions of third-party access to the Foxtel cable were approved by the ACCC after more than a year of inquiry.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said yesterday: "Seven seems more interested in litigation than ratings, but it won't stop Foxtel from leading Australia into the digital era."

Seven's move comes on top of its $2 billion claim against Foxtel partners Telstra (50 per cent), Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting (25 per cent) and The Australian's publisher, News Limited (25 per cent). In that action, Seven claims the parties colluded and acted anti-competitively in acquiring the rights to AFL matches in 2002, which resulted in the closure of Seven's pay TV sports channel C7. The matter is expected to be the subject of a three-month court case starting in February 2005.

Seven's appeal against the ACCC determinations is seen as a further attempt by Stokes to find a way for his network to share ownership of pay TV in Australia. Negotiators for Seven offered to drop the legal actions and pay $500 million for 20 per cent of Foxtel. When that was rejected, he reportedly offered to drop the legal actions for 5 per cent – an offer that was also rejected.

The ACCC decision to approve the access regime for the Foxtel cable came after an exhaustive two-part examination. The content-sharing deal, which saw Foxtel become, in effect, the common carrier for subscription TV, was approved in November 2002.

That decision was conditional on the approval of undertakings given by Foxtel and Telstra to provide access to third parties on defined price and non-price conditions.

"Foxtel's undertakings have been subjected to a most comprehensive and transparent public inquiry process," Williams said. "The Seven Network had three separate opportunities to assess and comment on the access regime – in September 2002, in February 2003, and October 2003.

" Seven's appeal to the Australian Competition Tribunal can hear only the same evidence already tested by the ACCC."

Williams said Foxtel was open for third party business from Seven. "They can come and endeavour to negotiate an access agreement with us; if they are unable to get terms which appeal to them, they have the default provisions of absolute, firm conditions which have been vetted and approved by the ACCC.

"I draw no conclusions, but I do think it is peculiar."

The ACCC's determination of the access rules announced on December 12 last year was described by commissioner Graeme Samuel as "fair and reasonable". He said the agreement "ensures that we will get a very effective digital pay-TV networking system in Australia, and that it will be available to others at a fair and reasonable price".

The Australian Competition Tribunal, comprising Federal Court Justice Alan Goldberg, economist Rod Shogren and businessman Grant Latta, will hold a directions hearing on Seven's appeal on February 16.

A Seven spokesman described the appeal as "a procedural matter", unrelated to the C7-AFL action. He said Seven had made no offical offers to settle the action, but was aware of reports of offers to settle that had been made by independent people in the hope they could broker a deal.


Foxtel punts on digital drawcard


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8584760%255E7582,00.html

IMAGINE standing at a precipice, looking down a black hole into which almost $10 billion dollars has been poured. You're asked to tip in another half billion in the hope that, one day, you might get something back. Wouldn't you want to know the risks?

Foxtel's imminent conversion to digital is another throw of the dice for its owners – another big investment in search of a profit.

It is a move with plenty of risks. But it is a move that the main pay-TV provider in Australia believes will finally open the door to riches a decade after its launch.

Foxtel unveiled its digital conversion plans two weeks ago. At the centre were its plans for new content – 130 channels initially, up from the current 44 on the analogue cable. There will be near video on demand for first-run movies, widescreen and surround sound, interactive news and sport, suites of music video channels and radio services, games, and an electronic program guide (EPG) that is described as "the pulsating heart" of the system.

An announcement on pricing is expected later this month, and the digital service is expected to be available to the public in March. In a little more than two years the roll-out will be complete.

That's 2006 – the year Foxtel expects to turn a maiden profit. It's something to look forward to after a decade of losses that exceed $1 billion. That's more than peanuts, even for its owners, Telstra (50 per cent), Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (25 per cent) and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation (25 per cent).

If Foxtel can reach the target it has set itself for subscriber numbers; if the customers it attracts stay with the service; and if the interactive services yield more revenue per customer, then Foxtel's profits by 2008 should reach $500 million a year.

That's a lot of ifs. But Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams is confident his team has got it right. Pay TV has had a bleak history in Australia. Competing telephone companies Telstra and Optus spent $5 billion through the 1990s cabling Australia's suburbs with broadband optic fibre. Telstra set out to pass 4 million homes, but stopped its roll-out at 2.5 million. Optus passed 2.1 million homes – duplicating in parallel with Telstra for 1.6 million of them.

The first pay-TV provider, Australis, which offered the Galaxy service, went broke after burning $1.5 billion. Regional provider Austral went to the brink with losses of $1.25 billion before being rescued and restructured, leading to a profit of $3.8 million after tax last year. Optus abandoned its own pay-TV channels in favour of a content-sharing deal with Foxtel, after losing about $1 billion.

The cost of converting all of Foxtel's subscribers will be about $600 million. A funding package of $550 million put together by the Commonwealth Bank and ABN AMRO was announced before Christmas. That will take the total investment in the sector above $10 billion. But Foxtel is betting it will also unlock subscriber growth from the current (and static) 22 per cent of Australia's 6.9 million homes, to a target of between 35 and 40 per cent by 2008.

Currently, 1.5 million homes subscribe to Foxtel (1,070,000 homes) and the regional provider, Austar, (427,000). A move to 35 per cent would add a million, and at 40 per cent 2.75 million homes would be connected.

Williams insists these are conservative estimates – "a considered business judgment in terms of the combined impact of growth, churn reduction and customer consumption levels". He says: "It is built on what we hope are well-informed, conservative estimates of the most likely outcomes from the deployment of the new service, based on our experience and the experience of a large mix of operations ranging from New Zealand, through four or five of the most representative American examples, to Britain's BSkyB."

Williams says Foxtel undertook exhaustive market research before settling on its digital model. That process not only gave clues as to what people wanted – but showed up past failures.

"We have done an insufficiently effective job in telling people about our service," Williams says. "This goes right to the fundamentals – what it offers, how you get it, what it costs, and what are its benefits. People tell us, for instance, the movies are better on free-to-air television. Yet we know that to be untrue because every single movie premiere on Australian TV takes place on Foxtel. Not a few movies – every movie. But clearly, we haven't told people well enough.

"We have to position our product differently. We are all about choice. We have to get people to know that with Foxtel, when they want to watch TV, they can watch what they want; that they can extract from that moment the rewards they deserve, or their kids deserve.

"Digital liberates a whole panoply of choice, and changes the way we use the television medium. It transforms the transactional basis of television. Terrestrial (free-to-air) television tends to confine and narrow your expectations. You get news at 6 o'clock; movies start at 8.30, whether or not it's convenient to you. Today people work harder and longer than they did 20 years ago, so when they come home they look for rewards.

"One of them is the ability with our EPG's bookmarking system to review what's on, say, for the next seven days, mark it, and know the system will remember them all." It makes TV programmers of us all.

Williams is enthusiastic about the digital product. He believes the content offering will drive subscriber growth simply because "it is so amazing – so compelling".

"The great thing about Foxtel digital is that it provides a legitimate key for people to revisit the whole category," he says. "People can rationally say to themselves, 'I might have a look at that again,' and when they do they will find an amazingly good product."

He demonstrates the EPG, essential for navigating around 130 channels, showing its capabilities from bookmarking to zapping around a world of interactivity. Choose your own camera angles at the football, go to the top news story; find the closest start time for your movie selection.

This is digital whiz-bangery at its best. But is it enough? As we have seen with analogue cable services, an offer of more to watch doesn't guarantee subscriber interest.

But when more choice is packaged with digital advances, experience in other markets shows the growth can be explosive.

As the graph shows, the growth of analogue pay TV in Britain was very similar to Australia. A promising start in the early years reached a plateau by year six. The advent of digital led to a doubling of subscriptions in Britain from 1999 to 2003, when BSkyB met its target of 7 million subscribers.

If this graph were to be replicated in Australia, the sector could expect total subscriber numbers to reach 3 million households, or 44 per cent, by 2008. Foxtel's estimate is conservative – between 2.4 million (35 per cent) and 2.7 million (40 per cent). A 35 per cent penetration by 2008 imputes industry revenues of $1.8 billion a year at today's prices, up from $1.1 billion at present. At 44 per cent revenues would comfortably exceed $2.2 billion at today's prices.

But two other factors, both working for Foxtel, come into play. Digital reduces churn – people who take the service, then cancel. This has been rife in Australia, where churn rates have been significantly above industry average in other markets. Foxtel has itself to blame, in part. In its rush to sign up clients, at times it sold subscriptions on a very short-term basis. This meant it had to meet connection costs, which could be far in excess of the fees charged, only to have the service disconnected within a month. Now, connection fees are higher for short-term connections and lower for longer-term contracts.

Churn has been running at more than 20 per cent in Australia, but is now at a more manageable level of about 16 per cent. In Britain, the introduction of digital roughly halved BSkyB's churn to less than 10 per cent, where it stays. The combined reduction in churn and the consequent requirement to spend less on attracting the customer – acquisition costs are now about $500 per customer – after the initial conversion period, means margins for the operators will grow. The second factor is that digital encourages extra spending. The average return per customer at present is just above $60 per month, or $725 a year. While Foxtel's pricing policy has not yet been revealed, it is likely entry levels will stay low while extra tiers of programming will be offered, including pay-for-view movies.

The overseas experience is that the wider choice of digital offerings drives up returns. BSkyB saw its average return per customer rise 27 per cent with digital. This was assisted by BSkyB's carriage of gaming and betting services, which are not on Foxtel's horizon.

An analysis by ABN AMRO suggests Foxtel can expect an average return per customer of $84 a month – or $1008 a year – by 2010. Apply that to a customer base of 3 million, and the sector's revenues would grow to more than $3 billion. But wait, there's more. The sector currently writes about $80 million a year in advertising. As its customers grow, so, too, will advertising. Even allowing ad spending to remain at 5 per cent of total revenue, that means advertising should contribute $150 million-plus by 2008.

And also by 2008 contracts with US movie studios will have expired and negotiations are expected to result in more viable long-term arrangements. The studios were beneficiaries of an early war for programming rights when Australis agreed to pay over-the-top rates to secure a competitive advantage over Foxtel and Optus. Foxtel inherited the studio deals when Australis collapsed.

Williams makes it clear these changes are not central to the digital conversion business plan. "Our path to profitability is not built on assumptions of things like movie deals," he says. "It is a realistic appraisal of what the current operating environment is, rather than a whole lot of predictions about legislative, regulatory or contractual changes."

Against the surging revenues predicted to follow the digital conversion, there will be increased costs. But an increase in channel numbers from 44 to 130 – with more in the future – does not mean that program costs will triple. The many channels devoted to near video-on-demand movies represent no increased cost.

In the end, subscription TV is a numbers game. Foxtel's move into profitability will come through an increase in the number of subscribers who stay connected longer and pay more, thereby providing better margins on a larger base.

If Australians take to digital TV the way audiences have overseas, that black hole will be filled with annual profits. And Williams, at the helm for the past two years of regulatory restructure and digital planning, wants to be there when the red ink turns to black. "I love this job passionately," he says, "and I want to be here for the consolidation and success of it."


TV gives Hills good picture


From http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8584728%255E664,00.html

TELEVISION will play a key role in the profit story for Adelaide-based manufacturer Hills Industries in the next six months.

The company avoided fallout from a strong Australian dollar and made its target cheaper imports to deliver a strong interim profit and higher dividend yesterday.
Net profit increased 13.8 per cent to $15.9 million, on revenue which grew 4.4 per cent to $356 million.

Managing director David Simmons was pleased and forecast a "satisfactory" full-year result.

He said the introduction of digital television in Australia should see pay-TV take-up increase, benefiting Hills, which supplies Foxtel and Austar.

"We think the Foxtel digital story is a good story and we're supplying them with our locally made satellite dishes and associated products," Mr Simmons said.

Hills' electronics division, which had almost flat growth for 2002-03, lifted pre-tax profits 38.6 per cent in the six months to December 31.

Mr Simmons said the Hills Home Hub, which integrated home audio, video, security and other functions on one cable was being marketed to builders and product diversification was planned for the next six months.

The home and hardware products division performed well considering tough trading circumstances, he said, increasing pre-tax profit by 0.2 per cent, while revenue fell 3.8 per cent.

Hills will pay a fully franked 11 interim dividend on March 29, up from 10.5 previously.

Hills shares dropped 15c to $3.83.


(Craigs comment, hmm the installers I know all prefer to use Jonsa brand!)


Businessmen take punt on arts channel


From http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=8173&cid=6&cname=Arts

A group of well-known art-loving businessmen are risking their cash betting people will want to tune into culture, with a capital C.

David Ross, the co-founder of the Rialto Cinema chain and Rialto Channel, meat tycoon James Wallace and former Auckland Philharmonia manager Lloyd Williams, are bankrolling the new fine arts channel which starts next month on Sky.

It will be run by Nick Samtiz and John Green, who had been involved in TVNZ's ill-fated attempt to get into digital television, through their own company Niche Media International.

The Arts Channel's backers emphasise they see the venture as an investment rather than philanthropy and are forecasting it will attract 30,000 subscribers within the next 18 months.

"A typical evening's programme might start off with Orpheus in the Business World which is a very interesting documentary, then a programme on the Bauhaus and a visual art programme on Freda Kahlo.

"Then there would be the prime time slot ballet followed by a performance of Handel," Mr Green said.

The channel will be buying programming through 19 distributors.

"We are also negotiating for New Zealand content by acquiring product from local libraries.

"We want to present innovate New Zealand productions, material that hasn't really been shown widely."

"We also would like to have something regular about what was happening in New Zealand arts activities. We hope we can do interviews with overseas artists and edit those into short vignettes of five minutes. We could also screen material provided by arts groups and organisations if it is of good quality and they are able to provide sponsorship.

"At the moment, all the facilities we have are leased. We have leased capacity on Sky, so they do the uplifting (of incoming programming off the satellite). We are not going to mass market. We are marketing into arts various organisations as well as the Sky database at those upper levels."

The main revenue source will the weekly subscription with additional revenue coming from probably three major channel sponsors.

Mr Green said there may be moves later for specific companies to sponsor individual genres of arts coverage.

"We want to be very careful how we handle that because we are not going to have ad breaks or material which is irrelevant to them," he said.


Maori Television: A Unique Concept In Television


From Press Release

PANUI PAPAHO/MEDIA STATEMENT
05 February 2004
MAORI TELEVISION: A UNIQUE CONCEPT IN TELEVISION FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

The launch of Maori Television next month, Sunday 28 March 2004, will bring to Aotearoa New Zealand a fresh new way of making television that all New Zealanders can be part of.

Acting CEO Ani Waaka said in reality the launch of the channel will be achieved in a very short period of time.

“Maori Television will go to air within 10 months of becoming a legal entity. When the Maori Television Service Act was passed by Parliament in May 2003 this gave us full control of our own affairs. To achieve an on air date less than a year later is no small feat,” she said.

Ms Waaka said the concept that Maori Television has developed is cutting edge, broad reaching and inclusive.

“We have created a television station that we hope all New Zealanders will feel a part of. Our studio facility has been designed so that the public can view television being made at any time of the day or night. We will invite members of the public to participate as live audiences and conduct regular studio tours.

“With news, current affairs, sport, education, lifestyle, drama, rangatahi and tamariki programming just some of the programme genre people will see, and in a mix of Maori and English languages, there is something for all New Zealanders,” she said.

“Maori Television is for Maori and for all New Zealanders. We look forward to launching on March 28 and to making the richness of te reo me nga tikanga Maori (Maori language and culture) available to everyone,” Ms Waaka said.

Transmission

Maori Television recently announced that it had reached an arrangement with Sky Television that will see Maori Television broadcast free-to-air from an existing Sky analogue (UHF) network channel.

The Sky Television UHF channel allows Maori Television to broadcast to an estimated 82% of the New Zealand population. This includes 78% of the M?ori population.

The arrangement with Sky Television finalises the full range of transmission frequencies from which Maori Television will be available free-to-air nationwide. Those are:

1. Via the UHF frequency (for those viewers within the coverage area);
2. Via Satellite (for those viewers outside the coverage area);
3. As a Sky UHF subscriber (button #6 on the Sky Remote);
4. As a Sky Digital subscriber (channel 33 on the Sky Remote).

Maori Television is working with Sky Television to establish the transmission path for the UHF frequency. A test signal is expected to be available from 1 March 2004 and from this date viewers will be able to use to tune-in their television sets to the UHF frequency.


Irdeto debuts CA module with embedded smart card


From satellite today

The new Irdeto Chip On Board (ICOB) provides a cost-effective upgrade path from "Free Trial" promotions to full-scale subscriptions, according to the company.

ICOB is a secure, removable conditional access module with a built-in auto-expiring smart card. The new ICOB is one of the first devices on the market to combine the unique features and security functions of a standard common-interface conditional access module (CI-CAM) with an embedded smart card chip.

By integrating an auto-expiring Irdeto Access smart card with the ICOB, content providers gain the opportunity to cost-effectively distribute auto-expiring "teaser" promotional subscriptions with every CI-CAM purchased. Once the promotional subscription has expired, consumers can then easily upgrade to a normal subscription (either billed monthly or pre-paid) through the addition of a new smart card. This all-in-one solution operates in any compliant DVB set-top box (STB), enabling pay TV operators - or even free-to-air operators - to take advantage of the large existing installed base of STBs to offer their premium content.

The ICOB and other Irdeto Access content protection solutions will be on display at the NAB2004 exhibition, April 19-22 in Las Vegas.


Intelsat to raise up to $500 mn in IPO


From http://www.ndtv.com

Satellite operator Intelsat plans to sell $500 million stock in an initial public offering by the end of June.

The IPO, which will be used to repay debt and for general corporate purposes, has been scheduled to comply with a June 30 deadline established under a US law.

The law set conditions for Intelsat's privatization and expanded broadcast privileges in the United States.

Some of the shares sold in the IPO may come from existing Intelsat investors, which include Lockheed Martin Corp of the United States, VSNL of India and Telenor of Norway, the company said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin is the biggest shareholder with a 24 per cent stake.

Intelsat, based in Bermuda with its major operations in Washington operated as a cooperative venture among state-run telecommunications companies from its founding in 1964 until 2001, when it was privatized.

The company owns 23 satellites and leases capacity on two others, transmitting voice, data and video broadcast services for about 500 telecommunications service providers and TV broadcasters.

That network of satellites will grow if the Federal Communications Commission approves Intelsat's $1.1 billion purchase of assets from Loral Space & Communications, a deal already approved by the court overseeing Loral's bankruptcy.

The Loral assets include four satellites already in orbit, a fifth to be launched next year, and the orbit rights for a sixth. (AP)


US investigation against NDS closed


From http://www.jpost.com

A US federal investigation of Jerusalem-based NDS into allegations of hacking of digital TV signals has been closed, NDS said Wednesday.

The US Attorney's office in Los Angeles informed NDS that it has completed its investigation of the allegations against NDS and concluded that, based upon the information and evidence gathered, the claims against the company did not warrant further investigation or action.

The US Attorney's office in San Diego served the NDS Group's American subsidiary NDS Americas with 31 grand jury subpoenas in October 2002. The subpoenas sought documents in connection with an investigation of claims that NDS had caused the publication of computer code to enable third parties to compromise satellite pay television broadcast systems. NDS said it cooperated fully with the investigation.

In June 2002 Colorado-based EchoStar Communications, the second largest satellite provider in the US brought charges against NDS claiming it hacked into its systems and illegally deciphered and distributed coding for its smart cards, allowing users to access its pay TV programming for free. NDS called the allegations "baseless" and said that they were nothing more than an attempt by a competitor to harm the company.

This is the third time NDS has been accused of stealing pay TV access codes and the third time the charges were dropped. NDS was first sued by Canal Plus, which accused it of hacking its codes and distributing them in Italy where it owned Telepiu satellite services. That suit was dropped when NDS parent company, News Corp., owned by Rupert Murdoch, bought Telepiu from Vivendi Universal for $980 million. NDS said the charges were made to gain leverage in the negotiations with Canal Plus to buy out the company.

NDS was also accused by DirecTV, the US satellite unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, a subsidiary of General Motors, and one of NDS's main customers, of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of good faith, and misappropriation of trade secrets. NDS was exonerated then as well.


France: Drop Hizbullah broadcasts


From http://www.jpost.com

France's broadcasting authority, CSA, urged satellite operator Eutelsat on Wednesday to cease "as soon as possible" television transmissions to France by Lebanese-based Hizbullah's Al-Manar.

Paris-based Eutelsat said it would work with CSA on how to deal with broadcasts in France of television channels from outside the European Union that have not been officially licensed by EU member states.

Israel and the United States last year formally protested Al-Manar's broadcasting of a series they said was based on the The Protocols of the Elders' of Zion, a 19th-century, anti-Semitic tract.


Combined VCR-satellite receiver from LG


From http://www.tradearabia.com/routes/sections/News.asp?Article=63974&Sn=RET

LG Electronics has launched the world's first combined video cassette recorder and satellite receiver into the Middle East, marking the beginning of a new era in satellite decoding devices.

LG's ground-breaking LSV-700W can scan over 32 satellites at the same time and programme over 4,000 TV and radio channels. The receiver also has the ability to download software updates from satellite.

'Digital fusion is the way forward for many home electronics products,' said P C Choi, president, LG Electronics Gulf FZE (LGEGF).

'The simplicity of design and the saving of both space and energy, when combining two products into a single unit, make it a very attractive proposition.

'There is also the cost saving advantage of having a digital satellite receiver with built-in video recorder in one.

'With this in mind, LG will be aggressively marketing the DSR/VCR product to satellite broadcast providers as well as direct to the customer.'

The VCR element of the LSV-700W home-entertainment solution has a one-touch timer record function to tape satellite broadcasts to VCR tape, an auto-head cleaner and self-diagnostic 'video doctor' to detect any faults that may be developing and alert the viewer before they become a problem.

S S Lee, digital display product manager, LGEGF, said: 'It's less complicated to connect to the TV because there's only one box so there's only one cable and if you have an LG television, you only need the single remote to operate the satellite receiver, VCR functions and the TV.

'The DSR/VCR solution can also record while you are watching or indeed when the TV is switched off. In fact, the unit can record one channel whilst the viewer is watching another, something that cannot be achieved using separates.'

The introduction of LG's landmark DSR/VCR product is only the first of a number of similar fusion products the global and regional digital leader will bring to the Middle East this year.

Choi said 'LG has a number of fusion products in the home entertainment field as well as general consumer electronics that it will debut in the region this year.

'Many are world firsts' and will stamp LG's brand as a digital fusion leader.' -TradeArabia News Service


(Craigs comment, seems an unusual product but probably fills a niche)


DD channels to be digitised by June


From http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/00204183021.htm

New Delhi, Feb. 4. (UNI): Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad today said keeping pace with the technical advancements in broadcast media, all channels of Doordarshan (DD) would be fully digitised by June this year.

Addressing the Tenth Conference of the Broadcasting Engineers Association (BSE) here today, the Minister said the Government favoured a consumer-friendly technology infusion.

Consumer satisfaction should be the driving force in Broadcast Technology development, he added.

On the issue of pay channels and free-to-air channels (FTA) in the country, he observed that the FTAs would continue to dominate and it was now time to deliberate on whether the pay channels should continue to drive the satellite television industry.

Holding that inter-operability of good contents of various channels could be the recipe for success of broadcasting in the country, he said it could be achieved in a way similar to the one adopted to tackle the issue of inter-operability in the Indian cellular phone market.




4/02/04

The Chatroom was very busy lastnight I guess there was nothing worth watching on tv.

Some interesting Press Releases today, in the news section. It might be worth keeping an eye on the Panamsats to see what changes take place with the Fox services.

I804 "Besttv" Taiwan mux for NZ updated

BTV1 "TTV" Vpid 257 Apid 258
BTV2 "FTV Ent" Vpid 259 Apid 262
BTV3 "PTS" Vpid 261 Apid 262 (might be timesharing with CTS)
BTV4 "Dragon" Vpid 263 Apid 264
BTV5 "CCTV1" Vpid 265 Apid 266
BTV6 "Pheonix Chinese" Vpid 267 Apid 268 NEW


From my Emails & ICQ


From Warren Stone

Hi Craig

On Insat 3A reception using a 3.0m mesh dish in Brisbane, Qld is as follows:
DD Sahyadri - strong signal (also good with 2.3m mesh)
Ahimsaa - reasonable to good strength most days
Lashkara - reasonable strength some days
DD Punjab - OK for analog
DD Jammu & Kashmir - OK for analog
DD Gujurati - OK for analog

All above would be better received with a 3.7mesh dish in Brisbane (except DD Sahyadri)

I have signal from DD Jammu & Kashmir and Channel Guide but cannot load.
Tried these with Innovia and Magix receivers.

Regards
Warren Stone


From Mr Humax

B1 12380H 6670 3/4
Sky Channel feed, Horses from Tweed heads


From Woolly 3/02

Feed seen on B1.
If you like Navy Bands, B1 12327 H 6980 3/4.
Pacific 2004 opening ceremony


From the Dish


Intelsat 804 176E 12681 V "PTS" has left .(I think its timesharing with CTS as CTS was back there early this afternoon)

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "CTI TV International" is now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 12541 V "TCT World" has started, Fta, PIDs 48/49.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4091 V "PBC Larkana" has started , Fta, APID 671.

NSS 6 95E 12646 V "Tele Liban" is Fta.

Insat 3A 93E

Updates in DISH TV:
ESPN India and Star Sports India have replaced B4U Music and WorldNet
on 11670 H, Conax, PIDs 170/100 and 171/102.

Sahara Swar has started on 11630 H, Fta, APID 1311.

BBC World Service has started on 11670 H, Fta, APID 1316.

Express 6A 80E 3642 R "Telekanal Rossiya" (+6h) has left .

Insat 3C 74E 4165 H "UCG Agriculture TV, a test card and Kissan Channel" have started ,Fta, PIDs 513/514, 1281/1282 and 1537/1538.New PIDs for Gyandarshan and DD Technology: 257/258, 769/770 and 1025/1028.

Express AM 22 53E Reports

Very strong test carriers on 11106 V.
(L Stouten in Belgium)

Strong test carriers on 11043 V.
(A Kardos in Budapest, Hungary)

Test carriers on 11043 V, 11106 V and 11481 V.
(B Wall with 370 cm in Ostersund, Sweden)s


NEWS


FOX MOVES ALL U.S. PROGRAMMING TO THE PANAMSAT FLEET


From Press Release

Company Strikes Long-Term Agreements With Fox Entertainment Group For U.S. Cable, Broadcast and International Program Distribution

WILTON, CT, February 3, 2004 -- PanAmSat Corporation (NASDAQ: SPOT) today announced one of the largest deals in the Company’s 20-year history with a multi-year, multi-satellite, multi-transponder agreement with Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Fox will consolidate its entire suite of U.S. programming onto PanAmSat’s global fleet for 15 years and move a significant portion of its international traffic onto the fleet for the next decade. Fox will now be one of PanAmSat’s largest media customers and one of its top five global customers.

“This agreement with PanAmSat will provide Fox with unparalleled global coverage. By consolidating its distribution on our fleet, Fox is utilizing our satellites in every region of the world to broadcast its programming,” said Joe Wright, president and CEO, PanAmSat. “Expansion of our core video market is also key to our growth strategy. This contract strengthens our cable and broadcast neighborhoods worldwide. By providing flexibility, redundancy, connectivity and service, PanAmSat continues to attract the world’s top programmers to our global network.”

Because of this agreement, PanAmSat will be responsible for the distribution of some of the most popular programs in the U.S. including: 24, American Idol, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé, The O.C., The Simpsons, and That ‘70s Show. Internationally, PanAmSat will carry Fox’s news, sports and entertainment channels. PanAmSat will support Fox using 17 transponders located across seven satellites on its global fleet. Specifically, the domestic agreement calls for a 15-year cable contract for 10 transponders and a 15-year broadcast agreement for four transponders. Internationally, Fox has signed a 10-year agreement for three transponders. In addition, PanAmSat is now the provider of choice for Fox’s domestic and international satellite requirements.

Fox’s cable group currently has six channels on Galaxy 11 at 91 degrees west longitude and will migrate four additional channels to the satellite in the second and third quarter of 2004. The 10-channel programming bouquet includes its regional sports networks, news, movies and general entertainment programming, and will anchor and solidify the cable neighborhood at this prime orbital slot. Additionally, FOX Broadcasting will move in July to Galaxy 4R at 99 degrees west longitude and Galaxy 3C at 95 degrees west longitude, joining ABC, Buena Vista, NPR, Televisa and WB among others. Fox international channels will consolidate its programming on the PAS-2 and PAS-8 Pacific Ocean Region satellites and the PAS-3R and PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellites.

“PanAmSat has successfully offered us a comprehensive solution for our cable, broadcast and international program distribution,” said Andrew G. Setos, President of Engineering, Fox Group. “By concentrating our traffic on one constellation the efficiency of scale enabled PanAmSat to deliver a superior restoration plan that is essential to safeguarding FOX’s current operations and its future growth.”

About Fox Entertainment Group

Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 82% owned by The News Corporation Limited (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A), is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. The Company’s studios, production facilities and film and television library provide high-quality creative content, and the Company’s broadcasting and cable networks provide extensive distribution platforms for the Company’s programs. For more information on the Fox Entertainment Group visit www.Fox.com.

About PanAmSat

PanAmSat Corporation (NASDAQ: SPOT) is one of the world’s top three satellite operators managing a global fleet of 30 satellites, 25 of which are wholly-owned by the Company, for the delivery of news, sports and other television programming. In total, this fleet is capable of reaching more than 98 percent of the world’s population through cable television systems, broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers and telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat supports the largest concentration of satellite-based business networks in the US, as well as specialized communications services in remote areas throughout the world. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.panamsat.com.

About HUGHES

Hughes Electronics Corporation is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. Hughes is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd.


Telenor Satellite Services signs with New Skies for Pacific Ocean region coverage


From Press release

03 February 2004

NSS-5 satellite at 183 degrees east to deliver two-way communications services for cruise and commercial vessels

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Feb. 3, 2004 – New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, has signed a 10-year agreement with Telenor Satellite Services, a leader in providing satellite communications services, for Pacific Ocean region capacity.

Using NSS-5, Telenor will provide cruise liners and commercial vessels throughout the Pacific Ocean with access to Internet, voice and mission-critical data communications.

“New Skies’ NSS-5 satellite combines a high-powered C-band payload with single beam coverage of the entire Pacific Ocean region incorporating the western coastline of North America, from Alaska to Mexico, as well as Australia and Asia,” said Pål Jensen, vice president of Telenor Satellite Services. “This allows our customers to make more efficient use of the capacity to transmit more services to more locations.”

“This agreement with Telenor highlights the excellent coverage, connectivity and power we can offer from the 183 degrees east orbital slot,” said Nigel Gibson, New Skies’ vice president of sales for Europe. “We are delighted to have signed this long-term agreement with an industry leader like Telenor.”

NSS-5 offers both high-powered Ku- and C-Band frequencies for video, telecom and Internet transmissions services throughout the Pacific Rim as well as trans-oceanic connectivity to the West Coast of the United States. NSS-5, which was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and deployed to 338.5 degrees east longitude in 1997, was transitioned to183 degrees east longitude above the Pacific Ocean in December 2002.

About Telenor Satellite Services

Telenor Satellite Services is one of the world's preferred providers of global communications via satellite for customers on land, at sea, and in flight. Telenor delivers high-speed data, voice and video communications and offers an innovative portfolio of value-added services. Telenor Satellite Services owns and operates a global network of land earth stations located at Eik in Norway and Southbury, Connecticut and Santa Paula, California, in the United States, and uses among others, the satellite systems of Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, and now New Skies Satellites, for its services. For more information go to our Web site: www.telenor.com/satellite.

About New Skies Satellites

New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet service providers around the world. New Skies has six satellites in orbit and ground facilities around the world. The company has one additional spacecraft under construction. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.

--END--

For additional information, please contact:
Elizabeth Hess, New Skies Satellites
Tel: +31 70 306 4133 Mobile + 31 6 29062492
[email protected]

Tom Surface, Telenor Satellite Services
Tel: +1 301 838 7805
[email protected]


Announcement From NDS


From Press Release

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2004--NDS today announced that the federal investigation into allegations made by certain of the Company's competitors has been closed. The U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, California informed NDS today that it has completed its investigation of those allegations against the Company and has concluded that, based upon information and evidence gathered, the claims against the Company did not warrant further investigation or action.

As previously announced, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Diego, CA, served NDS Americas, Inc, with subpoenas in October 2002. The subpoenas sought documents in connection with an investigation of claims that NDS had caused the publication of computer code to enable third parties to compromise certain satellite pay television broadcast systems. The investigation was transferred to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, CA. NDS cooperated with the investigation.

About NDS

NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/Euronext Brussels:NNDS) is a leading supplier of open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes and IP devices. See http://www.nds.com/ for more information about NDS.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the plans, projections or future performance of NDS, which involve certain risks and uncertainties, including risk of market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, possible regulatory changes, technological developments, the impact of competitive pricing and the ability of NDS and its commercial partners to develop systems and solutions which meet the needs of the broadcasting industry in a timely and cost-efficient manner, as well as certain other risks and uncertainties which are detailed in NDS' filings with the SEC. Company or product names have been used for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.


PanAmSat Notches Profitable Year


From Satellite Today

PanAmSat [Nasdaq: SPOT] Tuesday reported positive fourth quarter and year-end 2003 financial results.

Total revenues for 2003 rose 2.3 percent to $831.0 million, up from $812.3 million in 2002. Earnings per share (EPS) increased 15.8 percent to 66 cents a share, compared to 57 cents a share for the same period in 2002.

In the fourth quarter of 2003, PanAmSat increased revenues by 10.6 percent to $217.6 million, compared to $196.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. The satellite operator generated lower fourth quarter 2003 earnings of 12 cents a share, compared to 16 cents a share during the same period of 2002, primarily due to accelerated depreciation of several satellites.


(Craigs comment, the full Press Release PDF document is here http://www.panamsat.com/press_pdfs/Q403earningsrelease.pdf )


Mobile, SK begin service in Japan, South Korea


From http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/FB04Dh03.html

TOKYO - Mobile Broadcasting Corp and South Korea's SK Telecom will both begin services in July broadcasting multiple channels of audio and video programming to mobile devices from a jointly owned communications satellite.

Mobile Broadcasting was set up in 1998 by Toshiba Corp, Toyota Motor Corp and other firms including SK Telecom to operate a business using the 2.6 Gigahertz S-band to broadcast content to cellular phones, car audio systems and portable televisions. The satellite for this service is scheduled for launch in February.

Once in orbit and ready for use, Mobile Broadcasting will broadcast content for audiences in Japan, and SK Telecom will lead a consortium to broadcast content for audiences in South Korea.

The plan is to offer a wide range of content, including sports, dramas, news and music. The broadcasts will be sent down to both countries using the same frequencies, but with a technology that prevents the mixing of signals.

For its audience in Japan, Mobile Broadcasting plans to start with a menu of around 40 channels of both television and radio broadcasts. The programming will include popular Korean music shows and dramas.

The service will be available free of charge for the first one or two months. But after that, Mobile Broadcasting plans to charge listeners and viewers a monthly fee of around 1,000 yen (US$9.48) to 2,000 yen.

Toshiba and other manufacturers will mass-produce the receivers needed to access the content from cell phones and other mobile devices.


KT to Start Satellite Project


From http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200402/kt2004020318540511810.htm

Dominant fixed-line carrier KT is scheduled to pilot satellite digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) as early as June through an existing telecom satellite, Koreasat 3.

The company said on Monday that it will take advantage of the Koreasat 3 to start a test run of satellite DMB with around 10 channels in Yoido, Seoul, midway through this year.

The satellite, also known as ``Mugunghwa,'' was launched in 1999 and is used for telecommunication purposes.

KT will use a gap-filler, or a ground relay device, to enable multimedia broadcasting through the telecom satellite, a breakthrough in facilitating the next-generation service.

The move is seen as an attempt to make up ground in the emerging satellite DMB market.

SK Telecom, the nation's largest wireless carrier, has been at the forefront of the race for satellite DMB by signing with Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corp. for a joint satellite blastoff, which is expected late this month in the United States.

KT has lagged behind in the competition as the company was scheduled to start its satellite DMB service only after it put a satellite into the orbit in 2006.

However, with the advent of the hybrid satellite DMB, KT could catch up with SK Telecom and offer the multimedia broadcastings before it gets its own satellite.




3/02/04

Live satelite chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd onwards

TV Masala started on Pas8 , FTA at the moment. This is a Cricket channel on N.E Asia beam.! see their website

http://www.tvmasala.com/



From my Emails & ICQ


From Paolo

Hi Craig,

I check your site quite regularly and I find it very informative.

There's a good TV guide on http://www.detikhot.com/tv/tv.shtml. It lists all the FTA sat channels on Palapa and Telkom and I thought it might be a good add-on for your site. BTW: SCTV and Lativi broadcast every sat and sun Italian Serie A soccer, RCTI german and Spanish (I think), Teve 7 english premier league. All FTA and all in english.

Cheers
Paolo

(Craigs comemnt, looks handy all the Indo channels on the one page, not much good for checking what's on the next day though)


From the Dish


PAS 2 169E 12568 V Occasional feeds on , SR 5425, FEC 1/2, NE Asian beam.

(D Shimoni in Israel)

PAS 8 166E 3740 H "MTV Southeast Asia" is now Fta.
PAS 8 166E 4133 V "CTS - Christian TV System" has left .
PAS 8 166E 12406 H "TV Masala" has started , Fta, SR 2206, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.(N.E Asia beam)

Optus C1 156E The GlobeCast Australia mux has left 12367 V, moved to Optus B3.

Apstar 1A 134E 3758 H The Nei Monggol TV mux is back on , Fta, SR 8400, FEC 3/4.
Apstar 1A 134E 4140 V The Chinese mux has left .
Apstar 1A 134E 4160 H "CCTV Kids" has started, enc., PIDs 516/690. New PIDs for CCTV News: 517/700.

Palapa C2 113E Asialink test cards have started on 3747 H and 3765 H, SR 5632, FEC 3/4.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3760 H "MTA International" is back on , Fta, PIDs 1080/1081.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4020 V "Sahara Manoranjan" has started , Fta, PIDs 514/670.

NSS 6 95E 11594 H A New Skies promo has started, Fta, PIDs 257/258.

Yamal 102/201 90E HeliosNet has moved from Yamal 102: 3796 L to Yamal 201: 3893 L, SR 5700, FEC 3/4.
Yamal 201 90E Telekanal Rossiya Tver, Radio Tver and Radio Unost have moved from Yamal 102: 3526 L to Yamal 201: 3923 L, Fta, SR 3570, FEC 3/4,PIDs 308/256, 256 and 257.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 4098 V FEC for MTA International : 1/2.

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "ARY Digital UK and ARY Digital Mideast" are encrypted again.

Express AM 22 53E Express AM 22 has arrived at 53 East. Ku band I think those in W.A take a look?.


NEWS


Seven drops rugby


From http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=840784

THE network that televised the best ever Rugby World Cup has turned its back on the game's premier provincial competition – Super 12.

Channel 7 – the self-titled "rugby channel" has stunned the Australian Rugby Union – and no doubt the rugby community – with its decision to cut coverage of the 2004 Super 12 season just two weeks before kickoff.

"This is very disappointing. It has certainly come out of the blue," said ARU managing director John O'Neill.
"The feedback we received from Channel 7 after the World Cup was overwhelmingly positive.

"So it is not hard to imagine why we are shocked at this decision.

"We will obviously begin to examine other avenues as we regard free-to-air coverage of Super 12 rugby as essential."

While the Super 12 rights are owned by Foxtel, the ARU will seek talks with Australia's other free-to-air networks to see if there is any interest in Super 12.

However, with the news coming so close to the February 20 kickoff, the chances of an alternative deal are slim.

The station has also scrapped the popular Sunday match review show Rugby Zone hosted by Gordon Bray.

A Seven spokesman said the decision on Super 12 was based on the restrictive replay arrangements with Foxtel, cost and low late-night viewer interest.

"We'd love to show Super 12 matches live but that's not possible because we don't hold the rights and the truth is too few people watch 11pm replays to make it financially responsible to cover the games," the spokesman said yesterday.

Foxtel will screen all 66 Super 12 games live but Channel 7 has baulked at the cost of paying for replay rights when the games can't be screened until 90 minutes later.

A Channel 7 source also indicated that the station's massive financial commitment to the Athens Olympics coverage put Super 12 on the endangered list.


Internet in the sky could rain broadband on NZ


From http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=8137&cid=3&cname=Technology

New Zealand's internet tether to the rest of the world, the Southern Cross cable, could lose its monopolist gateway status within the next two years if plans for a new trans-Pacific satellite go ahead.

Last month, SES Americom, an SES Global company (SESG: Luxembourg and Frankfurt Exchanges) announced in Tokyo the formation of a satellite telecommunications company, WorldSat LLC, that will launch and operate a trans-Pacific communications satellite, WorldSat 3.

The satellite, to be built by Alcatel subsidiary Alcatel Space, will provide "a customized Ku-band payload designed to address the unique requirements of broadband communications for the transpacific traveler" and is expected to launch in late 2005 -- although construction has yet to start.

WorldSat was actually organised in 2003, according to Americom, but the formal launch was timed to coincide with two other announcements: the contract with Alcatel Space for the construction of the satellite and a partnership with Connexion by Boeing to provide in-flight broadband -- hence the literal reference to WorldSat 3's ability to provide broadband to "the transpacific traveller."

But the satellite will provide far more bandwidth than Connexion can use and the company is positioning itself to wholesale broadband to other users, including "broadcasters, ISPs, private data networks, telecommunications companies and mobile and fixed broadband services providers."

With a North-South reach that extends from Alaska to New Zealand and an East-West reach from California to Malaysia, the satellite could provide direct internet connections between New Zealand and major international internet backbone points, by-passing the Southern Cross cable.

Southern Cross Cable is 50 per cent owned by Telecom New Zealand and the charges associated with moving internet traffic through the cable are the principal cost factor cited by broadband sellers in defending retail rates that are vastly higher than is the case in other developed countries.

According to ComputerWorld, the new satellite system has already bid for the government's Project Probe "15th region" contract, which is intended to provide satellite broadband access to very remote schools and communities with schools.

One other contender for that contract, Thai-based Shin Satellite (operated in partnership with Ericsson), would provide so-called "last mile" satellite coverage, a considerably different proposition than the point-to-point coverage envisioned by WorldSat 3.

Insiders suggest that the launch date for WorldSat 3 alone makes it an unlikely contender for the Probe tender -- and that other technical issues, such as antenna size and bandwidth cost, might also handicap the system for rural users.

WorldSat 3 will feature a combined Ku/C payload.

The Ku payload will provide 20 high-powered, 138 watt, channels, "uniquely arranged to cover all major airline corridors over the Pacific."

The C payload will provide "18 high-powered, 80 watt, channels permitting reception by sub-2m antennas."

The soon-to-be WorldSat 3 satellite had already been under construction as AMC-13 when the deal was announced, and Alcatel Space's ability to reconfigure that satellite to meet the new demands has been credited with making the Connexion deal possible.

Americom has obtained licencing for an earth station to be located in Yamaguchi, Japan, making that country the Pacific hub of the operation.

Dean Olmstead, president and CEO of Americom, said, "We are privileged and honored to join the highest ranks of telecommunications providers here in Japan. We have plans to be an active participant in the Japanese telecommunications industry through our newly-formed WorldSat business, supporting both Japanese and US-based customers with connectivity and bandwidth services."


International bandwidth to explode this year


From http://computerworld.co.nz/

The supply of international bandwidth to New Zealand is about to explode with two new satellites coming on-stream in the next year.

Swedish telecommunications manufacturer Ericsson's partnership with Thai-based Shin Satellite will see one of the earth stations for the new IPStar satellite based in Auckland. IPStar will provide up to 45GBit/s connectivity between New Zealand and South East Asia.

Meanwhile French telecomms manufacturer Alcatel is also launching a new satellite, Worldsat 3, which will operate over the Pacific.

Worldsat 3 covers an area stretching from the Bearing Strait in the north down to New Zealand and from South East Asia across to the west coast of the US and is expected to be launched by the end of 2005. Already Boeing has signed on as a customer to allow it to equip its aircraft with broadband internet access for passengers.

Currently the bulk of New Zealand's international bandwidth is provided by the Southern Cross Cable, which is a joint venture between Telecom, with 50% shareholding, Australian telco Optus, with 40% and MCI with 10%. The cable provides 240GBit/s between New Zealand, Fiji, Australia and the west coast of the US and can be boosted to 480GBit/s relatively easily. The cable cost US$1.3 billion while each of the two satellites is expected to cost around US$400 million each.

Ericsson and Shin have bid for the government's last Project Probe broadband region, the extremely remote satellite-service region. The government has yet to announce a winner for that tender.

Shin expects the local end of the operation to be operational by the end of Q1 this year with gateway to be built in New Zealand expected to be operational by the middle of this year.


Earnings growth signs spur Austar's shares


From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/02/1075570358949.html

Shares in Austar United Communications yesterday shot to their highest level since May 2001 after the regional pay TV provider reported an unaudited $3 million net profit for its December quarter, aided by a rising Australian dollar.

The shares gained 13.6 per cent, adding 9¢ to close at 75¢. In less than three weeks they have climbed more than 70 per cent, spurred by UBS heralding Austar's financial turnaround. UBS named the pay TV provider as a possible takeover target, tipping that the share price would hit 90¢.

Austar said it was ready to focus on growth this year, with the upgrade for its new digital services, due to be launched later this year, nearing completion.

"Management has delivered on the 2003 operational targets set by the board and successfully positioned the company for what should be a new growth phase," said Austar chairman Bill Ferris.

The fourth-quarter result is the first time that Austar's business has turned a profit, and is a turnaround from the $15.4 million loss for the previous fourth quarter. Austar reported a $3.8 million profit after tax for the full year, compared with a $131 million loss for 2002, but this was due to a one-off $25 million gain from the sale of its stake in TelstraClear in the first half last year.

Austar chief executive John Porter said the gross profit margin improved substantially with the rising Australian dollar and lower satellite costs after the company switched transmission across to the new Optus C1 satellite. Austar pays for its programs in US dollars.

Subscriber numbers rose to 427,296, up 5602 for the quarter, and 24,557 for the full year.

Revenue was up 6 per cent to $84.3 million, from $79.4 million in the December 2002 quarter.

The launch of more than 100 channels and new services via Foxtel's digital upgrade is expected to boost subscriber numbers further.

"We feel it will be a substantial catalyst for growth in our business," Mr Porter said.

But he cautioned against comparisons with Foxtel's expectation that pay TV penetration will quickly reach 35 per cent with digital services. "Penetration in regional areas will not be as high as the capital cities, based on our experience," Mr Porter said.


ESPN Star Sports comes aboard Zee's Dish DTH


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/feb/feb4.htm

NEW DELHI: The sceptics can gulp.

The ASC Enterprise and Zee combine promoted Dish TV direct-to-home (DTH) KU-band television service has signed a deal with ESPN Star Sports for carriage of the sports channels on the platform.

According to Zee Telefilms sources, the carriage deal was signed last week and the two sports channels have already made an appearance on the DTH platform that is marketed under the Dish TV brand name.

ESS' coming aboard could well pave the way for the Star Network and Sony-Discovery One Alliance channels to also join Dish.

Both ASC Enterprise, the DTH licence holder, and Zee Telefilms are companies promoted by Subhash Chandra.

However, at the moment, the full financial details are not known. What has been indicated is that the present carriage deal is valid for two years.

Contacted by indiantelevision.com, ESPN Software India MD R.C. Venkateish confirmed reaching a pact with Dish TV with a memorandum of understanding being signed on Saturday.

"As content providers, we are always looking out for platforms to have our content distributed. DTH is one such outlet and we expect that the (Zee/ASC) DTH platform would only add to our revenues and distribution reach," Venkateish explained.

Though Venkateish refused to spell out the commercial aspects of the deal in detail, he did admit that it would be valid for two years giving the managers of the DTH platform enough time to establish the service and increase penetration.

According to information available with indiantelevision.com, the complex DTH pact envisages, amongst other things, ESS being paid for the two sports channels a rate per subscriber that would be close to the price of Rs 32 announced by the broadcaster for CAS regions.

The deal also has provisions for ESS getting paid for a mutually agreed upon minimum number of DTH households after six months.

It is expected that with ESPN and Star Sports coming on board, Dish TV's saleability would increase, though, ideally, Dish TV management would also like to strike a deal with Ten Sports, which has the rights for the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket series to be played in Pakistan, for carriage of that channel too on the DTH platform.

Meanwhile, indiantelevision.com also learns that more third-party channels are expected to be added to the Dish TV bouquet soon, raising the total number of channels from the existing 48, which includes the newly-introduced ESPN and Star Sports channels.

Pointing out that some technical upgradation would be needed to accommodate more channels, which had been announced as part of a second phase expansion, Zee Telefilms vice-chairman and head of Zee's cable arm Siti Cable, Jawahar Goel, said, "Getting more third-party channels is an on-going process and we are poised to bring in some more channels."

The Dish TV-ESS deal comes close on the heels of the house of Tatas announcing a 80:20 joint venture agreement with the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group Pvt. Ltd. for a DTH service in India. The joint venture, however, is yet to submit a reworked application to the Indian government.


Integral Systems To Provide Satellite Control System for JCSAT-9


From Satellite today

Integral Systems [Nasdaq: ISYS] has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) to provide an EPOCH satellite control system for JSAT Corp.'s A2100-based JCSAT-9 satellite. The system will incorporate several elements of Integral Systems' EPOCH product to provide command and control as well as automated scheduling, procedure execution, and offline trending and analysis functions.

In addition to the EPOCH product, LMCSS has selected Integral's status and control (S&C) system for monitoring and controlling the JCSAT-9 ground station antenna and RF equipment. The S&C system will be provided through Integral's Newpoint Technology division of Salem, N.H., and it will be based on the COMPASS product.


HONG KONG: Galaxy TV to charge $168 a month


From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=7165

ExTV, the new pay-television venture between TVB and its US partner Intelsat, will charge customers $168 a month when the service launches on February 18

ExTV, the new pay-television venture between TVB and its US partner Intelsat, will charge customers $168 a month when the service launches on February 18.

The basic tariff includes 23 channels, with five offered by TVB. Subscribers to exTV, also known as Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, will also have to pay a one-off fee of $150 to have the system installed and $15 a month to rent the set-top box.

People who want to watch the HBO film channel will have to pay an extra $68 a month and Playboy TV will cost an extra $50.

Hong Kong Cable TV, the leading pay-television operator, charges a basic monthly fee of $298 for 38 channels. NOW Broadband TV allows viewers to subscribe to a range of channels at between $10 and $100 a month.

Niche player Hong Kong Broadband Network - which is controlled by telecommunications firm City Telecom - yesterday announced it had cut its monthly charge from $98 to $88 and has expanded from 11 channels to 17.

ExTV chief executive Jim Blomfield said: "I don't believe there will be a price war. We are not using our competitors as our benchmark. We have a viable business and a competitive position not necessarily based on our price charging."

A Cable TV spokeswoman said it had no plans to change its monthly charge. However, it is offering a Valentine promotion which will allow new members to pay $214 a month if they agree to sign up for a year.

Cable TV had about 652,000 viewers at the end of last year, with more than 80 per cent subscribing to the basic package.

ExTV plans to add up to 10 new channels by the end of the year. It may also introduce other services - including interactive services - in the next two years and raise the $168 price tag.

"If we add more channels in the basic plan, the price structure will change," Mr Blomfield said. "We will be adding new technology, new set-top boxes and new services through the already implemented system we have."

The pay-television operator hopes to attract 70,000 to 80,000 subscribers in its first year and to break even in three to four years, with 300,000 to 400,000 customers.

Cable TV still has an edge over new rivals in the form of its sport-rich content. It has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the Spanish Premier League, English Premier League, Italian Serie A, German League, English FA Cup, J-League and the popular ESPN.

Analysts believe ExTV will appeal more to a general audience.

"Hong Kong people like trying out new things," said Mona Chung at Core Pacific-Yamaichi, adding that sports lovers would probably wait until July to see which operator would secure the renewed broadcasting rights of ESPN.

"With the increasing number of operators, sport content won't be exclusively available to Cable TV anymore," Ms Chung said.


(Craigs comment, $1 H.K= $0.16 AUS or $0.19 NZ. $168 H.K is $28.50 Aus or $32.10 NZ per month)


Thai Ipstar Signs Supply Deal With Indian Co


From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040202/15/3hp7f.html

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL (SATTEL.TH) Monday said its affiliate Ipstar Co. has signed a contract with Broadband Pacenet (India) Ltd. to supply equipment for high-speed broadband Internet service in India.

Under the agreement, Ipstar will provide 1,100 Ipstar user terminals to Broadband Pacenet, Shin Satellite said.

Broadband Pacenet plans to roll out its high-speed Internet service throughout India over one year.

Shin Satellite didn't say how much the contract was worth.

Ipstar delivers broadband access to customers in Asia Pacific markets via satellite.


Thai Shin Sat signs supply deal with Indian firm


From http://www.reuters.com/

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL, Asia's second largest satellite operator, said on Monday its affiliate Ipstar Co signed a contract to supply an equipment for high-speed broadband Internet in India.

Shin Sat, founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said in a statement Ipstar would supply 1,100 terminals for Indian Internet service provider Broadband Pacenet (India) Pvt to roll out the services throughout India over the next 12 months.

Shin Sat did not disclose how much the deal was worth.

Along with China, Australia and New Zealand, India is one of the major foreign markets for Shin Sat's new broadband satellite, iPSTAR, which it plans to put into full commercial service in the second half of 2004.

Shin Sat, 51 percent-owned by Shin Corp, the flagship of a telecommunications group founded by Thaksin, operates three satellites covering Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe.

Its major rivals include Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co Ltd.

On Monday, Shin Sat shares closed down 11 percent at 32.25 baht, while the overall Thai stock market was down 4.52 percent.


MPEG-4 Video Appliances Deliver 'Taste of Home' to United States Troops in Iraq


From Press Release

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2004--

US Army Teams with VBrick Systems to Offer 24 Hour U.S. Television Broadcasts Including the Super Bowl, to the Desktop

Portable, reliable VBrick network video appliances are giving soldiers on the ground in Iraq an important link back home - the ability to view stateside network news, daily briefings, or even the Super Bowl from their own desktop or laptop. The United States Army 82nd Airborne and 1st Armored Divisions have both deployed VBricks to provide television and certain intelligence videos streamed to the desktops of more than 12,000 troops stationed in Baghdad and throughout Iraq.

"There was much rejoicing in the operations centers both here and at our Division Rear Ops center. The soldiers love being able to see news and sports like the Super Bowl from their desktops. The VBrick is a true morale boost," said Major Tom Biggerstaff of the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq.

The troops watched the Super Bowl via satellite broadcast from American Forces Network (AFN) television services. The feed is live from the states and many soldiers stayed awake late or woke up early to watch the game.

With bases around the world actively engaged in combat operations, the US Army stations troops thousands of miles from home, often in rugged conditions without the comforts of stateside life. Officials in the 82nd Airborne and 1st Armored Divisions set out to deliver taped news feeds, intelligence and satellite television entertainment to base populations of up to several thousand Army personnel. Local networks required a solution that harnessed state-of-the-art digital video technology and brought portability and simplicity to the mobile IP networks on-base.

Army officials chose the VBrick VBXcast because it uses MPEG-4 technology, which uses less bandwidth to deliver video over networks and also uses open standards to integrate instantly with existing IP networks and PC video capabilities. The simplicity of the VBrick solution allows deployed units to immediately provide live streaming video to any soldier that plugs into the base network, with minimal setup and administration.

How it Works

The VBrick solution brings simplicity and ease to the tremendous task of connecting the troops with personal television for base operations, intelligence and entertainment. Each portable VBrick appliance encodes analog video from satellite feeds, DVDs or any video source into high-quality MPEG video streams. Set up was completed in under an hour. Army communications troops simply connected the VBrick appliance to a video source and plug the VBrick into their high-capacity IP network. The VBrick appliances then broadcast the digital video stream throughout the base to any desktop on the network, where it is viewed as high-quality 30-frame-per second full-screen video.

Each VBrick appliance provides an additional video "channel," offering troops a virtual menu of television to choose from which they view with VBrick's StreamPlayer software or with standard desktop decoders. With several VBricks simultaneously broadcasting across the network, troops can choose between taped network news briefings, live AFN sports and entertainment programming from the states or any other video originating from a source on-base.

Because the VBrick appliances encode live video into digital streams using MPEG standards delivered with advanced networking technology, many channels of video can travel across the base networks without clogging bandwidth.

"We're proud of the fact that VBrick's technology is directly affecting the quality of life and intelligence levels of troops conducting missions in Iraq," said Michele Ferreira, Director of Federal Sales at VBrick Systems. "Like so many of the VBricks in use today in education, corporations and government, the US Army is taking advantage of the most advanced technology to improve lives, no matter where they are."

About VBrick Systems, Inc.

VBrick Systems, Inc. manufactures simple, reliable video solutions that enhance communications and reduce costs for organizations large and small. VBrick enables enterprises to benefit from high quality visual communications through networked video appliances. VBrick MPEG video solutions provide the simplest and most dependable visual communications to businesses, educational institutions and government agencies ranging in use from distributing news and information and distance learning to training and surveillance. Based in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, VBrick Systems' products are distributed through industry-leading value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. Find out more at www.VBrick.com.

Contacts
VBrick Systems
Mike Savic, 203-303-0101
[email protected]

or

Access Communications
Chris Loncto, 917-552-3524
[email protected]




2/02/04

Well more playing today, I now have I804, Pas2, B1, C1,B3 on the motor mount dish, still some minor tweaking to do as yet but I think I am on the arc now. Can't really tell on the lower sats as we can't get any lower than 152E on Ku. Yes I did try Nss6 at .5 of a degree...doubt its visable but a time waster to try another day.

Best TV on 804 has encrypted except for the one channel i see they have a website as well now. If you can call it that! http://www.besttv.co.nz/ it just seems to link to various tvguides.

MTV Asia is FTA on PAS 8,at the moment anyway.

New Indian FTA radio on B3, 12407V mux on Apid 272
website for them http://www.austral-asiacommunication.com


Celeb feed? Pas2 4018? 4020?? Sr 6111? reported on Taiwan sat site with pics.


From my Emails & ICQ


From Steve Hume

PAS 2 American Football Feed
PAS 2 3992v s/r 26470 3/4

also seen on

I701 3769R 20000 7/8
American Football Feed

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume


From Bill Richards

Subject: Optus C1

1Feb 2045 UTC Globecast have left C1 12367V , B3 12658 replaces it.

Palapa C2 0350 UTC 3747H and 3765H S/R 5632 FEC 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 SID2
Both frequencies carrying same ASIALINK test card

Regards
Bill Richards


From the Dish


Superbird A 158E 12526 H Occasional feeds on , SR 4095, FEC 3/4.(japan beam?)

Agila 2 146E 12541 V "TCT World" has started, Fta, PIDs 50/51.

Yamal 201 90E 3902 L "Yuzhniy Region" has started on , Fta, SR 4285, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Yamal 201 90E 3908 L "Rambler TeleSet (+0h)" has started, Fta, SR 4273, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Yamal 201 90E 3912 L "Komi RTK and Europa Plus Komi" have started, Fta, SR 4285, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256 and 257.
Yamal 201 90E 3918 L "GTRK Altai" has started, Fta, SR 4275, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
Yamal 201 90E 4084 R The NetService mux with 11 radio channels has started on , Fta, SR 2500, FEC 3/4, APIDs 4097-4210.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3520 H New PIDs for all channels in the TARBS World TV mux .

Apstar 2R 76.5E 4098 VMTA International has started on , clear, SR 3100, PIDs 3001/3011.

Insat 2E 83E 3912 V "DD Malayalam and occasional DD Malayalam feeds" have started on ,Fta, SR 6250, FEC 3/4, PIDs 512/650 and 513/660.
Insat 2E 83E 3931 V "DD Podhigai and occasional DD Podhigai" feeds have started on , fta SR 8600, FEC 3/4, PIDs 512/650 and 513/660.

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H New FEC for the ARY Digital mux on : 3/4.


NEWS


AUSTAR announces record EBITDA: Improvement of 150% to $56.6m


From press release

2 Feb 2004
Austar United Communications (“AUSTAR”), Australia’s regional subscription television provider, today released its fourth quarter statement of cash flows and unaudited results for the period ended 31 December 2003.

AUSTAR’s solid performance throughout the year was boosted by a number of highlights in the fourth quarter, setting a very strong foundation for new initiatives in 2004 including the launch of the New AUSTAR Digital service.

AUSTAR recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $56.6 million for the full year 2003, an increase of $34 million, or 150%, on the previous financial year. Q4 EBITDA totalled $19.5 million, and increase of some $10 million from the previous quarter.

The company recorded an operating profit after income tax of $3.0 million for Q4 in 2003, against a loss of $15.4 million for the same period the previous year. Even more significantly, over the twelve months to 31 December 2003 AUSTAR achieved an operating profit after income tax of $3.8 million, which represents a $135 million improvement on the previous year.

Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Porter said, "During the fourth quarter, AUSTAR was committed to building on the momentum that we had gained from significant events earlier in the year, keeping the focus on sustainable growth and operational improvement. Along with a continuing rise in subscriber figures, churn reached an historic low of 1.6% this quarter. As a result our revenue and gross margin lines continued to improve throughout the year."

Subscribers to AUSTAR's television business rose to 427,296, up 5,602 from the previous quarter and up 24,557 for the full year. Gross margin contribution continued to increase due to the depreciating US dollar and lower satellite costs, with $47.6 million recorded for the quarter (a 12% improvement over Q3). For the twelve months to December, AUSTAR achieved $170.8 million in gross margin, a 16% improvement from the same period in the previous year.

AUSTAR Chairman Mr Bill Ferris said "Management has delivered on the 2003 operational targets set by the Board and has successfully positioned the company for what should prove to be a new growth phase in subscription television in Australia."

Mr Porter said the AUSTAR product line-up for 2004 was evidence of how quickly the successes of the last financial year have been converted into better products and services for the company's customers. "We are delighted that our customers will reap the benefits of our restructuring efforts over the last year or so. New AUSTAR Digital is about more choice and more services for our customers, and our ability to offer this new service has been made possible by the company's performance in 2003."

As anticipated, significant capital expenditure continued during Q4, with $21.5 million spent compared with $20.0 million in Q3 2003. Expenditure was primarily due to the purchase of additional customer equipment given the extended satellite coverage area of the C1 satellite and the decision to bring forward the swapout of AUSTAR's smart cards. The smart card swap-out is a large-scale project continuing into Q1 2004 that will see the end of subscription television piracy by the end of February, ensuring that only legitimate customers will be able to receive the AUSTAR service going forward.

Total cash held by the company decreased slightly during the quarter ($62.0 million in Q4 against $64.3 million in Q3).

Highlights for the full year to 31 December 2003

Positive EBITDA of $56.6 million was achieved, a $34 million gain on the previous year's results.
Positive operating profit after income tax of $3.8 million (including profit on the sale of TelstraClear), a $135 million improvement on the previous year

Gross margin contribution increased by 16% to $170.8 million from $147.3 million in 2002.

Operating, general and administrative expenses totaled $105.9 million, a decrease of $12 million, or 10%, from the prior period.

Net gain of over 24,000 subscribers

Churn reduced to 1.80%, down from 2.68% the year before

Highlights for the three months to 31 December 2003

Positive EBITDA of $19.5 million was achieved for the quarter, representing a $10 million improvement from the third quarter 2003.

Gross margin contribution increased to $47.6 million in Q4 from $42.7 million in Q3.

Operating, general and administrative expenses were reduced by 14% to $25.4 million, from $29.7 million in Q3.

Net gain of over 5,000 subscribers

Churn reached a low of 1.62% compared to 1.64% in the previous quarter

AUSTAR's CEO, Mr John Porter said, "Measures implemented by AUSTAR throughout 2002 and 2003 improved the company's operational performance, which resulted in greatly improved financial results for the year. Other initiatives such as divesting our interest in TelstraClear, corporate restructuring and the addition of Telstra Country Wide as a sales channel have provided the basis for our continued evolution and improvement in 2004.

"Our television, mobile and data services each contributed positively to the business during the year, and we have seen the results reflected in the profit for the year. Looking forward, AUSTAR will seek to capitalize on these successes, with invigorated emphasis on products and services and by working with our industry partners to bring the subscription television industry to its true potential."


Express-AM22 satellite to go in operation on March 1, 2004


From http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=366271&PageNum=0

MOSCOW, January 29 (Itar-Tass) - The satellite of a new generation, Express-AM22, will go in operation on March 1, 2004, the press service of the Russian state enterprise “Space Communication” told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

The telecommunications satellite that was launched from the Baikonur space launch site on December 29, 2003 has been put in the geo-stationary orbit.

“Express-AM22” is one out of five spacecraft representing this family of satellites. They will be produced and put in the near-Earth orbit before 2005.

The “Express-AM22” is meant for digital television broadcasting and providing access to the Internet network.

Its time of service in the near-Earth orbit is 12 years. It is equipped with state-of-the-art aerial systems, which ensure the optimal distribution of signals in the entire service area.


TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 05/2004 1 February 2004 -

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

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

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


U.S. PREPARES ARABIC TV CHANNEL

The U.S. government will begin broadcasting the Alhurra satellite television network to the Middle East in the coming weeks. Alhurra will broadcast its 24/7 Arabic language news and information service over the Arabsat and Nilesat with what the network's creators hope will set a new standard for satellite news in the region. Many critics of the station maintain that the network will have a difficult time establishing independent credibility as it is being established with $32 million in funding from the U.S. Congress and is expected to receive an additional $30 million in congressional appropriations for its first year of operation. According to a fact sheet released by the BBG, the station will feature news and information on a variety of subjects including health, personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion and science and technology. Programming will include talk shows, current affairs magazines and roundtables. The base for the station's production and broadcasting will be in the United States, but the network will have bureaus in Dubai, Amman and Baghdad. In addition, it will use stringers and correspondents from all over the Middle East, Europe and the United States. The BBG fact sheet notes that more than 75 per cent of households in the Gulf States have satellite access as do 30 per cent of residents in Gaza and the West Bank and 10 to 20 per cent of homes in Egypt. The station will be available over terrestrial transmitters in Iraq.

AZERBAIJAN

FOREIGN TV CHANNELS OWE MONEY

Two Russian television channels are indebted to the Ministry of Communication of Azerbaijan for

using Azerbaijani broadcasting space, Olaylar News Agency reported. NTV, one of the channels, owes $171,000 to the Ministry. ORT, another Russian TV channel needs paying $326,000 for broadcasting. Turkish channels as well as the RTR, the another Russian TV channel are not on the list of debtors, according to the agency.

CHINA HONG KONG

GALAXY TO REACH ONLY 25% OF HOMES

Only a quarter of Hong Kong's 2.2 million households will be in the broadcast area of exTV, a new pay-TV service, when it debuts next month, the South China Morning Post has reported. Rivals Hong Kong Cable TV and PCCW's NOW Broadband TV, which offers pay-television content on an Internet platform, already boast coverage across 90 per cent of households. However, the limited coverage of exTV, run by Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, is in line with the company's expectations, according to Chief Executive Jim Blomfield. The newspaper said that the 25 per cent coverage would be across the city, including government and private housing estates, old buildings and village houses. Building owners need to install a satellite dish which costs about US$ 380. The new service has already started a full trial broadcast. The company said it would announce pricing details on February 2. Industry watchers expect the monthly charge will be between US$19 and US$26. The service will be formally launched on February 18. The rollout of 23 channels will include five provided by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), a part owner of Galaxy. Blomfield said exTV targeted a market penetration of 20 per cent, but declined to give a timetable. Hong Kong Cable TV dominates the pay-TV scene and secures a 30 per cent market share with a monthly fee of US$ 38.40.

INDIA

CONSUMER COUNCIL WANTS NO ADS ON PAY-TV CHANNELS

The Consumer Coordination Council, an all-India association of some leading consumer organisations, has already made a representation before the new regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) against airing of commercials on pay television channels. According to research firm Media Partners Asia, India's DTH satellite market could grow to 1.8 million subscribers by 2008, compared with a forecast 68 million on cable. The analysts feel that there would be two distinct markets: the rural areas, which lack cable and satellite infrastructure, and premium urban households which desire specialist content. The service costs about $2.25/ per month with equipment costing $87. Average monthly revenue per satellite user would rise to $7 as people sign up for more premium channels, from the current $3.

IRAQ

AL-ARABIYA BAN LIFTED

Iraq's U.S.-appointed government has lifted a ban against an Arab television network, two months after it ordered to cease broadcasting from Iraq for allegedly inciting violence, an official said on January 28. In a letter sent to the station, the Iraqi Governing Council said that the station would be allowed to resume broadcasting from Iraq "freely, like the other Arab and international media outlets." The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya had sent a letter to the council asking it to lift the ban, and vowing to "remain committed to our journalistic integrity and objectivity ... and look forward to opening a new chapter of cooperation between the station and the council." In November, the Iraqi security forces raided the offices of Al-Arabiya, banned its broadcasts from Iraq and threatened to imprison its journalists following airing of the tape, in which Saddam urged his followers to continue their resistance. Al-Arabiya has clashed with authorities before for its coverage of Iraq. In July, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said Al-Arabiya and another Arab news channel, Al- Jazeera, incited violence against American forces with slanted reports. Al-Arabiya was launched shortly before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The channel was started as a new venture of Middle East News, a Dubai-based production company that also runs the Middle East Broadcasting Center. It is owned by the brother-in-law of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd.

SATELLITE TV A HIT IN IRAQ

Since the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime last April, sales of digital satellite decoders to Iraq have been explosive. The once-information-starved populace now has access to signals from dozens of satellite channels in the Middle East, including Al Iraqiyah and Al-Jazeera. There are no official statistics, but STMicroelectronics says it sold more than 2.5 million chips between April and December to distributors that said they were building digital satellite decoders for shipment to Iraq. Based on interviews with digital set-top box manufacturers and pay-TV operators, IMS Research estimates that 7.4 million households in the Middle East and Africa received free-to-air analog and digital broadcasts in 2003 and predicts the figure will grow to more than 7.7 million in 2004. Michelle Abraham, senior analyst with research firm In-Stat/MDR, named almost a score of companies from China and South Korea that actively market their products in the Middle East. Satellite dishes were banned under Saddam Hussein, and surging demand for satellite TVs is said to be driving down the price of home digital receivers. Elimination of the 75 per cent import tax imposed under the former regime has further made electronics products more affordable, In-Stat's Abraham said.

JAPAN

SONY PROFITS DOWN 26%

Profits at the Sony Corporation dropped 26 per cent in the third quarter ended December 31, 2003, to $866 million, as a result of losses in the movie and video game divisions, and restructuring costs. Sony did however experience a small increase in sales and operating revenue, which rose 0.7 per cent to $21.7 billion, setting a new quarterly record for the company. At Sony Pictures Entertainment, revenues were down almost 30 per cent, to $1.7 billion. The quarter's results were attributed to lower home entertainment revenues.

MALAYSIA

MEDIA PRIMA POSTS PROFITS

Malaysian media company Media Prima Berhad reported a net profit of US$43.6 million on revenue of US$ 94 million for the 15-month period ended Nov 30, 2003, the Business Times has reported. In a statement released on January 27, Media Prima attributed the strong performance to improved operational results at its wholly-owned subsidiary Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd (TV3), arising from strong growth in advertising revenue and lower overhead costs due to stringent cost-control measures. Last November, Media Prima completed its acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Merit Idea Sdn Bhd, which owns 99.5 per cent of Metropolitan TV Sdn Bhd, owner and operator of Malaysia’s newly launched TV station, 8TV. Media Prima owns 100 per cent of TV3, 80 per cent interest in Metropolitan TV and a 43 per cent stake in NSTP, one of Malaysia’s largest publishing groups.

NEW ZEALAND

NZ TELEVISION AD REVENUE ON THE INCREASE

New Zealand television advertising revenue totalled NZ$ 592 million in calendar 2003, up 14.7% from a year earlier, according to the Television Broadcasters' Council. The council's executive director, Bruce Wallace, said in a statement on January 27 that 2003's result is a record for television advertising in New Zealand. The council's members are the New Zealand unit of Canada's Canwest Global Communications Corp., the New Zealand unit of Australia's Prime Television, pay-TV operator Sky Network Television, and government-owned Television New Zealand. In the fourth quarter of 2003, television advertising revenue was NZ$176 million, up 16.5% from a year earlier.

THE PHILIPINES

ABS-CBN INTERNATIONAL SEEK GROWTH IN 2004

The international unit of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is aiming for about 8,000 new subscribers of The Filipino Channel, or TFC, in Europe by year end to meet its 30% net profit growth target for the year. ABS-CBN is the largest media broadcast network in the Philippines. ABS-CBN Global Ltd. Managing Director Rene Encarnacion said on January 30 he expects an increase in subscription sales due to strong demand from Filipino communities in Europe, where it signed 400 new subscribers in December when it launched operations in Milan, Italy. There are about 100,000 Filipino households in Italy. Encarnacion said ABS-CBN Global registered a net profit growth of more than 20% in 2003 "primarily driven by the expansion in subscriber base." "We also had a nominal increase of subscription price in our U.S. market last year," he added. The estimated total sales for 2003 is more than $50 million, while subscription earnings reached more than $25 million, and advertising revenue stood at $3 million, said Encarnacion. The TFC is a 24-hour channel carrying all-Filipino programs through direct-to- home satellite services in the U.S., Asia and the Middle East. ABS-CBN said it expects TFC to be a significant revenue driver in 2004. North America remains the major market of TFC with at least 130,000 subscribers in the U.S. and its territories. TFC also has operations in Australia, Japan, Indonesia and other countries in the Asia Pacific. The company plans to expand its Asian operations to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Canada.


A F R I C A

SOUTH AFRICA

ICASA INVITES COMMENTS ON REGIONAL TV

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has invited comments on an application from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for two regional television services, namely SABC 4 and SABC 5. SABC 4 will broadcast in the Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Free State and Northern Cape Provinces in Setswana, Sesotho, Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, Afrikaans and English. SABC 5 will broadcast in Mpumalanga, Limpopo (eastern border), Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape in isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, isiSwati, Afrikaans and English. ICASA requested interested persons to lodge written representations by 9 February 2004.

SUPERSPORT LAUNCHES CHANNEL FOR EXPATRIATES

SuperSport, the pay-TV station, is trying to entice expatriate sports fans in the US to subscribe to its new broadband service in a bid to develop new revenue streams. The station covers major sporting events such as cricket and rugby. SuperSport-On-Demand is a broadband service run by KuduClub, a network of internet services provided by M-Web. Entriq, a US-based company that develops and manages pay media infrastructure, will provide content protection, end-user authorisation and billing for SuperSport. Entriq is a division of MIH, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Naspers.




01/02/04

Sunday no update of course