16/01/04

Sorry about no update today...back Saturday

15/01/04

Nothing to say up here. News is quiet as well.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Jason

B1 Basketball Feed

12380 H 6625 3/4
704x576 4:3 1002kbps
NUNYA FB - B1 Default Provider

From Spookie

Maori TV website
http://www.maoritv.co.nz/

From the Dish

Agila 2 146E 12661 H "Animax has replaced CNN Financial Network" , Nagravision,PIDs 169/116.(Dream mux)

Palapa C2 113E 4080 H "Ar-Rahman Channel" is still Fta.

Telkom 1 108E 3500 H "Ar-Rahman Channel" has started on , Irdeto 2, PIDs 659/658.

Insat 3A 93.5E 4140 V Occasional NSTPL feeds on , SR 3030, FEC 3/4.

ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the TV Star mux are encrypted again, except Da Ai TV.

Yamal 202 49E Strong test carriers on 3730 L and 3890 L.(Can anyone in W.A go down that low?)

NEWS

Battle for TV racing rights all a bit ritzy

From http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8390646%255E10389,00.html

THE racing industry would have complete ownership of a personality and entertainment driven channel if Ten Tendigital wins one of Australian television broadcasting's most intriguing battles.

The UK-based television production company was one of four suitors yesterday to court ThoroughVisioN (TVN) – which has secured the broadcast rights for the Sydney and Melbourne race clubs – and promised to revolutionise racing with the advent of a second channel.

Perrin Legal, comprised of former Billabong surfwear chief executive Matthew Perrin, his brother Scott Perrin and Gary Burns, is understood to have offered to create an alternative channel for TVN which would allow them to retain up to 30 per cent ownership in the new channel.

Also making presentations were Telstra and Sky Channel, the TAB-owned entity which has the NSW racing rights until March 4 and is widely considered likely to retain them.

Advertising executive John Singleton and Fox Sports had also been flagged as potential bidders but they did not attend the Sydney meeting. Foxtel said in a statement yesterday that it would not provide interactive betting when it kicked off new cable and satellite services later this year and had no agreements with Sky.

TVN said a fifth un-named party had sought talks over the next 10 days.

"We have been impressed with the parties that we have met today and the talks have been most productive," TVN chairman Harold Mitchell said. "There have been no undertakings. We expect to continue discussions over the next few days."

The battle over the television rights comes as the market awaits a counter-bid from Victorian wagering giant Tabcorp, which is locked in a bidding war with Queensland's UNiTAB to acquire TAB Ltd.

Ten Tendigital chairman Andrew Carnegie said yesterday that his firm would provide the know-how for an industry-owned channel for a fee, allowing all future revenue to filter back to the raceclubs to be pumped back into racing.

"We supply to TVN so our approach has always been to continue that relationship and supply ThoroughVisioN with the expertise to create their own channel," Mr Carniege said. "So the difference between our proposal and (the rival) proposals is that ours is, as I called it in the presentation, the 'Industry's Proposal'.

"So we are not looking to own any part of this channel, we are looking to provide the expertise to get the industry channel up."

Ten Tendigital's proposal included a financial investment option which would see the company own a stake in the channel.

The program model presented to TVN yesterday was similar to the UK's attheraces, which varies markedly from Sky Channel's current product which broadcasts an estimated 5500 race meets a year.

Attheraces draws on racing's energy and it abounds with personalities, balancing entertainment and punting.

"When you look at attheraces, it is television. It is about using that medium to build knowledge, excitement and personality," Mr Carnegie said.

Ten Tendigital may well prove to be the strongest rival to Sky Channel, which has last refusal rights on updating its current contract.

TV bid under starter's orders

From http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=748127

A FIELD of five will face the starter at 9am today at Randwick when one of Australian racing's most important contests in its 194-year history is decided.

After 10 hours of wheeling and dealing at the Australian Jockey Club's offices in Alison Road, a company should emerge with control of the broadcasting rights for Sydney and Melbourne racing.

The hot favourite is Sky Channel, the current rights controller, but there is no such thing as a certainty in racing.

The five starters are: Sky, Telstra, Tentendigital – a British-based company, a cashed-up syndicate headed by young Gold Coast businessmen Matthew and Scott Perrin and a John Singleton-Gerry Harvey combine.

Thorough Vision (TVN), a television rights company formed to control the broadcasting and television rights of the Sydney and Melbourne race clubs, will hear two-hour submissions from each of the five starters.

The Perrin group is first out of the barrier at 9am and it is said to have a highly professional and detailed proposal, which promises a lot of money to the race clubs.

The other four groups have been notified of their barrier times which will stretch into the early evening.

Australia's wealthiest and most highly feared businessman Kerry Packer is nowhere to be seen.

"So is Packer out?" I asked a dealmaker yesterday.

"Packer is never out," the negotiator said.

The obvious possibility is the Packer money could be waiting in the wings to join one of the syndicates.

For the race clubs the pot of gold is to get the maximum worth for their rights.

A successful syndicate could also put itself in a position to capitalise on the about-to-be-launched interactive television gambling and other associated products to be launched via telephone and the Internet.

Whether they share in the gambling turnover or simply receive a product fee has to be thrashed out.

As disclosed in The Sunday Telegraph, the Perrin group has enlisted the aid of former Channel 9 sports supremo Gary Burns and has linked with Global Television which not only has a film library of the last 20 years of Australian racing, but also has great expertise in the racing field.

The Perrins have not come into this on a whim. Insiders say they are the best prepared of the bidders and are prepared for losses of up to $50 million.

Rivals claim the Perrins will hit a hurdle in finding a way to televise the Sydney races from March, when the current Sydney deal with Sky expires, until August when Government legislation will enable them to gain access to a Foxtel channel. Although it won't be cheap and will partly entail all hotels and clubs being given a new satellite dish, I am told the Perrins have this under control. If they win the contract you would be forced to watch Sydney races on a different channel to Melbourne until the Victorian clubs join the new set-up in 2005. A tip is one of Australia's best known broadcasters is the likely No. 1 caller for the Sydney races if the Perrin group is successful. He is a bigger name than the two Sky Sydney callers, Ian Craig and Terry Bailey, and it is not Bruce McAvaney.

Telstra has the advantage of having its own massive infrastructure should it win the bid. I would not be surprised though if Telstra was not more interested in the mobile phone and broadband rights and could possibly on-sell the television rights.

Watching the horse you backed on your mobile phone while the race is being run is definitely a thing of the future.

Tentendigital could be in a similar situation. Its expertise is in the interactive gambling side of the business and it could also on-sell the Australian television rights.

Not much is known of the Gerry Harvey-John Singleton bid. They are said to have missed the jump and are a little behind the other groups although, as in everything these two do, they are leaving no stone unturned to make a major play. Their television is being organised by a former Melbourne Channel 9 executive.

The one thing Sky cannot offer the race clubs that the other syndicates can is total control of their product and the major share of the profits. This could be the straw that brings the favourite down.

Race for new TV channel

From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8394403%255E462,00.html

THE racing industry would have complete ownership of a personality and entertainment-driven channel if Ten Tendigital wins one of Australian television broadcasting's most intriguing battles.

The UK-based operation was one of four suitors to court ThoroughVisioN - representing the Sydney and Melbourne race clubs - at the Australian Jockey Club's Randwick headquarters and promised to revolutionise racing as we know it.

Chairman Andrew Carnegie said yesterday that Ten Tendigital would provide the know-how for an industry-owned channel for a fee, allowing all future revenue to filter back to the race clubs to be pumped back into racing.

"We supply to ThoroughVisioN so our approach has always been to continue that relationship and supply ThoroughVisioN with the expertise to create their own channel," Mr Carnegie said.

"So the difference between our proposal and (the rival) proposals is that ours is, as I called it in the presentation, the 'Industry's Proposal'. So we are not looking to own any part of this channel, we are looking to provide the expertise to get the industry channel up."

Ten Tendigital's proposal includes a financial investment option which would see the company own a stake in the channel.

The program model presented to TVN yesterday was similar to the UK's attheraces which varies markedly from Sky Channel's current product, which broadcasts an estimated 5000 races a year. The attheraces program draws on racing's vibrance and energy and it abounds with personalities and balances entertainment and punting.

"When you look at attheraces, it is television. It is about using that medium to build knowledge, excitement and personality," Mr Carnegie said.

"You have pundits, you have tipsters, it is entertainment with a strong betting theme running through it obviously because that is what horse racing is all about.

"It is more akin to sports programming than showing one race after another."

Mr Carnegie said he had already approached some pubs and clubs and had received an "overwhelming response".

The Ten Tendigital proposal includes operating an interactive betting site. The site it currently operates for attheraces earns half of the channel's racing revenue.

Ten Tendigital may well prove to be the strongest rival to Sky Channel, which has last refusal on updating its current contract.

With its racing pedigree through attheraces and having set up TVN's interactive strategy, which includes its website and mobile services, it is seen by some insiders as a viable alternative to the TAB-owned channel.

Watch link to satellites offers athletes an edge

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

Satellites are set to play an increasing role in the lives of athletes, with the help of an Auckland company.

Electronics maker Navman is adapting its technology to bring global positioning to the common wrist-watch.

The company has built a worldwide business developing global positioning system (GPS) units for the marine and automobile industries, and has struck a deal with US watch-maker Timex to use the technology to feed data to watches.

Athletes ranging from runners to rowers will be able to record their performances by wearing a small receiver on a belt or arm band.

It helps Earth-orbiting satellites constantly feed grid references to the watch via a low-frequency FM radio link.

A digital odometer tells the watch-wearer how far he or she has travelled and at what speed and pace, crucial information for serious athletes. The GPS unit has a 28-hour battery life.

Timex has also developed a heart-rate sensor which straps onto the arm and sends information to the watch screen.

Watches with built-in GPS already exist, but Mark Bowman, vice-president of Navman's manufacturing division, said the external receiver was needed to ensure a reliable feed from the satellite and to adequately power the device.

"When I walk along, my watch is generally facing down, not pointing at the sky," he said.

"The watch itself isn't a good vehicle for the GPS unit. It needs to be able to see the satellite to get a signal."

Navman designed the GPS modules for Timex in Christchurch and is assembling them in Auckland.

In its laboratories, Navman is working on miniaturising GPS receivers, opening the prospect of their being built into a wide range of consumer electronics.

The Timex deal could become a lucrative revenue-spinner for Navman. It has already filled a substantial order and expects to supply tens of thousands of the GPS units each year.

US marine company Brunswick Group last year bought 70 per cent of Navman for $56 million, but the company has stated its intention to keep Navman based in New Zealand. It is currently looking to fill a number of jobs locally.

Bowman said that as long as volumes were relatively low, New Zealand was a cost-effective place to manufacture electronics.

"When you get into very high volumes it's difficult for New Zealand to compete. We shouldn't be afraid of that as long as the design, research and the intellectual property stay here."

Timex's New Zealand distributor said it expected good local demand for the watches and GPS units, which will go on sale as a package for $650.

How it works

* A small box on a belt or arm band feeds grid references from satellites to the watch.
* The watch's digital odometer tells the wearer how far he or she has travelled and at what speed and pace.

Sab news channel in April

From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/150104/detECO03.shtml

Adhikari brothers — Gautam and Markand — promoters of SAB TV, are all set to launch a 24 X 7 current affairs and news channel Sab Samachar this April. The cluttered news channel market will thus have yet another player. In order to differentiate itself in a market with as many as ten players, the new channel will focus on current affairs, rather than news.

Vice chairman and MD Markand Adhikari said the channel will have a magazine format compared to the newspaper format of rivals. The channel would broadcast current affairs programmes in Hindi and English, with news headlines at half-hour intervals. The emphasis would be on news analysis rather than breaking news stories.

The Adhikari brothers will initially hold 100 per cent equity in the new channel, but will look at equity dilution over the next six months. “The government has strict policy about news channel equity and unlinking, and we plan to adhere to it,” said Adhikari.

(Craigs comment, another Indian News channel? gee such a shortage of them around...)

14/01/04

Foxtel new channels seen testing some unconfirmed, E!, Biography Channel,Wine TV?, Vh1, Lifestyle Food?, Boomerang, Extreme Sports, Discovery Science, Discovery Travel & Adventure, Tech TV, TV1+2hours, The Travel Channel? Adventure 1? Sky News U.K, Nick Jr? Various Footy test with multiple cam views.

Big Foxtel media announcement happening on Wed the 21st. Channels and other details to be anounced to the public.

New Zee religious channel starting Thursday in the Zee mux on Asiasat 3. FTA perhaps?

From my Emails & ICQ

From Aragorn

These look like Foxtel/Austar are testing out a whole lot of NEW channels.

From looking at the EPG, the ones I THINK I can identify are:

642 Biography Channel (ex USA)
122 Some form of documentary channel
118 Some local lifestyle channel (NOT "Lifestyle:")
508 A new sports channels
809 VH1 music channel
116 The Food Channel (It looks like it from the EPG and I'm praying it is!)
704 A new family/kds channel of some sort
646 Could be Adventure One
648 Tech TV (Yes it IS!)
640 Looks like a travel Channel
708 Another kids channel

(Craigs comment, any more confirmations? these below are confirmed as currently testing)

118 Unknown
122 E!
508 Extreme Sports
640 Discovery Travel & Adventure
642 Biography Channel
646 Discovery Science
648 Tech TV
704 Nick Jr
708 Boomerang
809 VH1 Music Channel

From David Ackroyd

DA Ai and Mac TV are now advertising for all Aust and NZ
veiwers to change from C1 to B3 and that this must be
completed by 31 Jan 04. They are also advertising an 0800
number for assistance to change dish alingnment. The NZ
number is 0800 000 885 and the Aust one is 10800 000 885. I
am aware most readers of this site wont need this but I am
sure there are one or two of us novices who may need some
assistance.

David

From the Dish

Telkom 1 108E 3995 H "Occasional feeds" on , SR 6000, FEC 3/4.

ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the Star TV mux on are Fta (even the porn?).

Yamal 102 90E 3532 L GTRK Altai is still on , Fta, SR 4275, FEC 3/4, PIDs 307/256.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3920 H An Animax test card has started, Fta, PIDs 910/900.(Manga style animation channel from AXN starts on the 19th)

NEWS

Test time for Foxtel's digital delights

From

PAY-TV group Foxtel has begun internal testing of its new $600 million digital service as it prepares for the official launch in the first half of this year.

Foxtel is believed to have started broadcasting digital pay-TV channels to the homes of senior executives as it seeks to iron out bugs ahead of the official launch.
Internal testing is believed to be focusing on the new interactive services Foxtel will be able to offer through its upgraded service.

These are expected to include interactive news, sport and games in the early stages of the roll-out.

The Australian under stands many of the services will be modelled on those already provided in the UK by its sister company, BSkyB.

BSkyB, which like Foxtel is part-owned by The Australian's owner News Corporation, owns a third of Australia's Sky News channel and its NewsActive system will be replicated locally.

That enables viewers to vote, gain information on news stories or comment on stories with their remote control.

Another BSkyB service, SportsActive, will also be available on Foxtel's AFL and rugby union channels.

That will provide viewers with more statistics and other information through the remote control.

It is understood the Nine Network, owned by Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd which is also a Foxtel shareholder, will offer a similar interactive SportsActive service. On Monday, Foxtel gained the $550 million from its banks to fund its digital conversion, meaning it can now order the more sophisticated set-top boxes it needs to install in most subscribers' homes.

After internal testing is completed, Foxtel is expected to move into a "soft launch" phase. That will see it provide digital pay-TV services to a limited number of external customers for further testing before the full public launch and marketing campaign.

The official launch date is yet to be revealed.

Interactive TV: is it Still Dead?

From http://www.tvweek.com/technology/011204interactive.html

In 1975, comedian Chevy Chase mocked the lingering deathwatch of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco during his mock newscast on the debut season of "Saturday Night Live." Looking into the camera each episode, Chase would deadpan: "This just in. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead." Chase would occasionally spice up the bit by adding: "We have an update on that story. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is now critically dead."

I was reminded of that routine last week after reading a new Ipsos-Insight study on the state of interactive TV in the United States. To put it tersely, the report concludes that ITV is still dead, perhaps critically so.

Interactive TV, the two-way technology that permits viewers to order products and play along with game shows, has yet to capture an audience, a decade after it was first called "the next big thing." Whether it's WebTV or Wink, viewers have shown little or no interest in interacting with their sets. In fact, the rejection has been so overwhelming that cable and satellite TV operators have moved ITV to the back burner to concentrate on other new technologies such as video-on-demand, digital video recorders and high-definition TV. And like the generalissimo, ITV has been the subject of a periodic deathwatch in the media.

However, the ITV industry has more lives than Freddy Krueger. Refusing to give up, ITV enthusiasts say this will be the year. Rupert Murdoch, a longtime ITV supporter whose News Corp. now controls DirecTV, is expected to make two-way interactivity a top priority in the satcaster's lineup. DirecTV sources say Murdoch will likely add everything from an interactive horse racing channel to multiple camera angles for sporting events to features that will permit viewers to play along with shows on his Fox Network.

As a longtime observer of interactive TV, and an author of a book on the subject, I agree that Murdoch is the industry's best hope. The media mogul has an unerring sense of what motivates the masses, whether he's launching a news channel, a newspaper or a satellite TV service.

However, before ITV fans get too cocky, they should read the Ipsos-Insight study. According to its authors, the technology may be beyond rescuing. For instance, despite a decade of hype, only 50 percent of Americans have even heard of interactive TV, and only 11 percent of U.S. adults say they are "somewhat familiar" or "very familiar" with it.

"There has been so much industry hype about ITV, we expected higher levels of consumer awareness," said Lynne Bartos, who works in Ipsos' Cable, Media and Entertainment research division. "Only 11 percent familiarity is a surprisingly low percentage."

The numbers get worse. Asked how interested they are in ITV activities (regardless of their level of awareness), the most popular response was the ability to control camera angles, which was cited by just 26 percent of adults. Only 15 percent of respondents said they like the idea of playing games against other viewers, a feature often cited as a sure thing by the ITV crowd.

"ITV programmers and content providers still have some work to do to raise awareness levels, improve consumer understanding and get consumers excited about the features and benefits of interactive TV," said Bartos.

Agreed. But after 10 years, don't you think consumers should be excited by now?#

Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He can be reached at [email protected].

Zee's religious channel Jagran launches 14 Jan

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/jan/jan91.htm

NEW DELHI: As reported by indiantelevision.com earlier, Zee Telefilms is launching its religious channel, Jagran, tomorrow. In the Hindu calendar, the day is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, a day which heralds the arrival of autumn.

According to an official statement from Zee, Jagran will be the first religious channel in the country that attempts to entertain the audience with mythological movies, serials, alternate living and alternate healing programs, interactive astro solutions, spiritual content etc.

At the same time religious discourses of various religious gurus will also be aired on the channel during prime.

The statement quoting channel head Anil Anand said, "Jagran will give an overall experience that extends the currently restricted 'prime time' viewer-ship of religious channels from early morning hours, to nearly any time of the day."

He further added, "We aim to broaden the market within this genre from only the 55+ age group to anyone who is 35+. This can be achieved by a slight inclination towards spiritualism as compared to any particular religion."

The brand name Jagran is an off take from one of the most successful early morning program on Zee TV, called "Jagran." This program has been on air for nearly five years now.

Indian Government's DTH service from April 2

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

State-owned broadcaster Prasar Bharati's direct-to-home venture will be launched on April 2, becoming the second company after Agrani Satellite Communication (ASC) Enterprises‚ Dish TV to introduce the service. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), has already sanctioned $105 million to be used over a five-year period to Prasar Bharati's direct-to-home (DTH) services using KU band.

According to Prasar Bharati CEO, KS Sarma, the transponders are being made available by the Indian Space Research Organisation for the proposed DTH service. Prasar Bharati is considering the launch of the DTH service with about 30 channels - including 20 Prasar Bharati channels and 10 private channels.

"The biggest advantage of Doordarshan's (DD - terrestrial channel from state-owned broadcaster Prasar Bharati) DTH platform is that it is a free service, in the sense that DD would be distributing the boxes free of cost. In the case of most other DTH projects, subscribers would have to pay for the hardware too, apart from a monthly subscription fee," Sarma said.

Screwvala plans kids channel

From http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=32044

Ronnie Screwvala, the chief executive officer of UTV Software Communications, is floating a new company — United Home Entertainment — to launch the first localised Indian kids channel in the next 6-9 months.

While UTV will be a strategic investor in the company, Screwvala is planning private placement of equity to the extent of 24 per cent.

The investment envisaged for the proposed project is around Rs 100 crore over one year. The company will also have a substantial content output and air-time sales agreement with UTV.

While the UK has 20 channels to cater to 11 million kids, the US airs 306 shows per week for 61 million children across 17 networks.

In contrast, India does not have a single localised channel for its 315 million kids, who represent one-third of the country’s population under the age of 15 years. This is a segment as big as all Western European countries put together.

Screwvala is betting big on these numbers. “There is a strong potential for kids channel in today’s scenario. With an addressable audience of over 47 million kids spread over 44 million cable and satellite homes, whose number is growing at a rapid pace, children’s television represents a market with a huge growth potential that is just waiting to be tapped,” Screwvala said.

Advertisers have recognised the power of children in influencing key household purchase decisions, he added.

Screwvala’s unnamed channel, which will target the age groups within the 4-18 years, plans to provide content with multi-genre programmes acquired, outsourced as well as produced inhouse.

UTV already has an experience in content creation for children programmes — be it animation or fiction. Its relationship with the genre dates back to 1987 when it made ‘Mathemagic’ for Doordarshan and ‘Snakes & Ladders’ in 1992 for Zee TV. Other programmes made by the channel UTV include Junglee Toofan, Tyre Puncture, Hip Hip Hurray, Shararat. Its Shakalaka Boom Boom is currently being aired in Star Plus.

13/01/04

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

Foxtel seen testing new channels!! C1 12687 H Sr 27812 Fec 3/4

Biography
Video Hits (Vh1???)
Tech TV
Lifestyle Food
Discovery Science
Discovery Travel & Adventure

Fairly predictable stuff.

A bit of media "Digital interactive" hype in the news but not a lot else of interest.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Steve Hume

ST1 88E FTA
3632 mux on ST1 is currently FTA

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume

From RC256

From the 2004 Winter CES in Las Vegas, NV, USA.

In car satellite tv

http://www6.tomshardware.com/business/20040108/ces_2004_1-02.html

From the Dish

Optus B1 160E 12456 V "A Maori TV promo and DW TV" have started, Fta, PIDs 512/650 and 514/652. (Yikes this ones weeks old!)

Palapa C2 113E 4080 H "Ar-Rahman Channel" is now encrypted.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 3763 V "The Macau Satellite TV" mux has left .

Yamal 201 90E Yamal 201 has arrived at 90 East.(someone with BIG dish take a look?)

NEWS

Foxtel clears interactive TV hurdle

From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/12/1073877762546.html

The next revolution in Australian television is almost here. Just over a decade after the launch of pay TV, plans for Australia's first digital and interactive TV services are being finalised.

More than a million Foxtel pay TV subscribers will be offered a digital service within months after the company announced yesterday it had secured finance for the project.

In a development Foxtel says will "absolutely change the way Australians view TV", subscribers will be able to choose from more than 100 digital channels and personalise screen settings to create their own news, sport and film viewing experiences.

But Foxtel will not have the interactive TV revolution entirely to itself. It was separately announced yesterday that independent subscription channel Sky Racing would soon offer interactive betting services, allowing punters to gamble from home with a television remote control button.

Foxtel has so far declined to name a launch date for digital TV, saying only it is planning to offer the service by the middle of the year. But some industry insiders believe it could strive to launch it in time for the AFL football season in March.

"Fundamentally, this gives Australians more choice and more control over their viewing than they've ever had before," a Foxtel spokesman said yesterday. "We will have enhanced services that will enable all sports subscribers to direct their own coverage. That is, they can choose their own camera angles, commentary and statistics as they watch the match."

Foxtel will also run interactive news, enabling viewers to select the stories they want on topics of their choice.

Foxtel will begin swapping analogue set-top box receivers in all subscriber homes with digital ones in the next few months. It will also install "return paths" through subscribers' phone lines to allow them to interact via their remote controls.

Foxtel will continue to run its analogue signal along with the new digital service.

The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association estimates that the digital TV launch will boost the number of Australian homes connected to pay TV from the current 23 per cent to between 35 and 40 per cent by 2008.

Punters to get a new remote chance of winning

From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/12/1073877763429.html

One in four Australians will be able to put their house on a horse from the comfort of their loungeroom when an interactive television wagering service is launched later this year.

All the punter will need is a remote control to place unlimited bets on thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing through Sky Racing.

The technology, developed by Two Way TV Australia, NSW TAB and Sky Channel, will be available on Foxtel's new digital pay TV service, to be launched before the middle of the year.

The betting service is expected to bolster the NSW TAB-owned Sky Channel's chances of keeping the rights to broadcast Australian thoroughbred racing. The rights are under threat with Telstra, the former managing director of Billabong, Matthew Perrin, and Ten Ten Digital considering launching a rival broadcaster.

Foxtel chairman and Telstra director Sam Chisholm is chairman and a major shareholder of Two Way TV Australia.

The managing director of Two Way, Jim McKay, said he expects the interactive service to increase the wagering pool when it is launched as early as September.

The announcement was made after Foxtel said yesterday that it had secured the $550 million needed to roll out the digital pay TV services.

Foxtel said the digital upgrade will offer more than 100 channels and interactive services, including the betting system. It has yet to reveal details of the services on offer, or how much it will cost, but the entry-level price will remain the same as that for its satellite service, $47.95 a month.

Foxtel users can upgrade to digital by replacing the present analog set-top box with a digital unit. Customers can expect a better quality picture and much more content.

However, users will still need their local video store because the service will only offer a select range of popular movies running on a continuous loop across the 30 channels.

Interactive services will allow viewers to select which game at Wimbledon they want to watch, for example, or follow their favourite player around the football field during a game. They can also call up a player's match statistics at the click of a button.

The Rev Chester Carter, manager of the Wesley Gambling Counselling Services, criticised the interactive gambling plan, saying it would "put gambling into the living room".

It would rob households of family time and could also teach children about gambling and introduce them to behaviour they would later copy.

Asia-Pac C&S growth slows to 9%: MPA

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/jan/jan87.htm

NEW DELHI: The overall basic cable & satellite TV subscriber growth rate slowed down to 9 per cent year on year (Y/Y) in 2003 in the Asia-Pacific region, but India, along with Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand registered a double-digit subscriber growth, according to an international research report.

The rate of growth of C&S subscribers may shown signs of flagging in 2003 (178.8 million subscribers by yearend 2003, signifying 32 per cent penetration of TV households), the leading markets by penetration were Taiwan (83%), Korea (73%) and India (54%).

The total number of C&S subscribers is expected to grow to 234 million by 2008 and 283 million by 2015, the soon-to-be released report , Asia-Pacific Cable & Satellite Markets 2004 (ACSM), prepared by the Hong Kong-based Media Partners Asia Ltd. (MPA) stated.

However, MPA feels that the slow down in the growth rate is a sign of "maturity" of the industries after almost a decade and a half in Asia with deployment of digital set-top boxes (STBs) and tiered services gradually increasing. These trends could accelerate over the next decade, the report has indicated.

Commenting on the report's findings, MPA director of content & research, Vivek Couto, said, "As basic subscriber growth slows, operators need to build up new revenue streams through an economic tiering of expanded basic and premium programming services and the rollout of video-on-demand, high definition TV and personal video recorder-type services."

According to Couto, most major pay TV markets and operators have begun to overcome the burden of network, programming and technology costs, boosted by consolidation, stronger regional currencies and greater access to capital. "However, regional markets and cable operators, in particular (as opposed to digital satellite and ADSL video platforms), remain restricted by the effects of regulation, which continues to impact the development of a viable digital pay TV franchise, an increase in tiered service penetration, and the rollout of set-top boxes to combat piracy, build addressability and reduce profit leakage," he added.

Some of the highlights of the ACSM 2004 are as follows:

- Taiwan, Korea and India remain highest penetrated C&S markets.
- Digital C&S subscribers reach 7.9 million, signifying, 25 per cent Y/Y growth, driven by DTH satellite.
- Digital cable subscribers reach 756,000 as regulatory roadblocks impact volume-led deployment.
- Broadband penetration increases as cable modem subscribers top 9 million, signifying a 27 per cent Y/Y growth.
- Total industry revenues grow by 17 per cent to reach US$15.9 billion.
- C&S TV subscription revenues up 18 per cent to reach US$11.2 billion.
- Net (local) C&S TV advertising up 12 per cent to US$2.2 billion.

Couto added, "Critical to ACSM 2004's revenue and subscriber forecasts is greater deregulation, which may occur in the long term. In the medium term, MPA believes that the inevitability of market demand will drive digital and tiered service subscriber penetration in the region, particularly as equipment prices continue to decline and consumer demand continues to increase."

The development of tiers and new services along with growth (albeit, at a reduced rate) in basic tier subscribers could increase total C&S industry revenues (video, voice and data subscription and advertising) from US$15.9 billion in 2003 to US$26.8 billion by 2008 and US$37.2 billion by 2015, according to forecasts from MPA.

Doing a crystal ball gazing, MPA predicts that tiered service subscribers and digital penetration are poised to grow exponentially as market demand would increase, equipment prices fall, premium and pay TV content availability becomes greater, and regulatory roadblocks ease.

The MPA reports further states that digital C&S subscribers is estimated to touch the 29.5 million mark by 2008 and over 54 million by 2015.

However, the overall regional trend in 2003 was that basic subscriber additions were trending downward, while tiered service subscriber additions were gradually increasing and on the cusp of exponential future growth, driven by greater digital deployment.

Here are some other highlights of the MPA research report.

By subscribers, the leading markets were:
1. China (100 mil.)
2. India (47.7 mil.)
3. Korea (11.9 mil.)
4. Japan (8.1 mil.)
5. Taiwan (5.3 mil.)
6. Australia (1.5 mil.)
7. Malaysia (1.2 mil.)

In terms of year-on-year growth, leading performers included digital DTH satellite platforms in:

1. Korea (109%)
2. Malaysia (26%)
3. New Zealand (16%)

Cable TV platforms in:
1. Korea (45%)
2. India (11%)

Digital satellite deployment remains robust, with DTH subscribers growing by 20 per cent in 2003 to reach 7.1 million, driven by platforms in:

1. Japan (3.1 mil.)
2. Malaysia (1.2 mil.)
3. Korea (1.1 mil.)
4. Australia (807,000)
5. New Zealand (453,000)
6. Thailand (298,000)

Digital cable deployment remains slow, largely held up by regulatory issues. Total digital cable subscribers grew by 123 per cent in 2003 to reach 756,000 subscribers, driven by Hong Kong (400,000) and China (201,000).

Broadband cable penetration continues to gradually increase as consumer prices and equipment costs decline. Cable modem subscribers still heavily trail ADSL in the region and saw annualized growth almost halved from 52 per cent in 2002 to 27 per cent in 2003 with total subscribers reaching 9.1 million, driven by Korea (4.6 mil.) and Japan (2.5 mil.)

Total industry revenues grew by 17 per cent in 2003 to reach US$15.9 billion, led by Japan (US$5 bn.), China (US$2.9 bn.) and India (US$2.5 bn.)

In 2003, video or TV-based services (subscription and advertising) contributed US$13.4 billion (17 per cent growth) in revenues; cable modem subscription US$2.4 billion (21 per cent growth); and cable telephony subscription US$171 million (24 per cent growth).

Cable & satellite TV subscription revenue grew by 18 per cent in 2003 to reach US$11.2 billion, while net (local) cable & satellite TV advertising grew by 12 per cent in 2003 to reach US$2.2 billion. C&S advertising remains driven by increasing viewership and high penetration in major markets such as Taiwan, India and China.

In terms of revenue generation, the top 10 leading cable & satellite related (distribution and content-focused) companies in FY 2003 (all estimates to fiscal year ended Dec. 2003) included J-COM Broadband/Japan (US$1,210 mil.), Sky Perfect Communications/Japan (US$687 mil.), Foxtel/Australia (US$466 mil.) and Star Group/Regional (US$ 292 mil), which was mainly derived from India, Taiwan and China. India's home grown Zee Telefilms occupied the No. 8 slot with revenues of US$ 267 million.

The voluminous ACSM 2004 is a 400-page report in its entirety with profiles of six industry sectors, 12 segments, 13 markets and up to 50 cable, DTH & ADSL operators, together with comprehensive data and forecasts from 2000 - 2015, plus detailed listings of leading industry players.

Based in Hong Kong, MPA is a leading publishing and research company dedicated to comprehensive and independent analysis of Asia's media & communications industries through a variety of platforms. MPA publishes a fortnightly newsletter (Media Route 26) and a quarterly magazine (The Asia Media Journal).

Shin Sat shifts iPSTAR's focus

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=106420&usrsess=1

The operator of multimedia satellite iPSTAR has changed its customer target from Internet users to regional telecom carriers, the firm's chief executive said recently.

Dumrong Kasemseth, chief executive of Shin Satellite Plc (SATTEL), told The Nation that iPSTAR would now serve mainly telecom carriers in China, India and Australia.

"This [decision] is to cater to demands for low-cost telecom satellite services in rural areas," he said.

He claimed that the cost of providing rural telecom services via satellite was 80-per-cent lower than the cost of fixed-line networks.

"End-users need only a satellite dish to receive the signal, while providers don't have [to make] costly wireless or cable installations to the target areas," he added.

Shin Satellite hopes that the US$400-million (Bt15.5-billion) iPSTAR project, set to take off in the middle of the year, will be a new revenue source that will offset ebbing incomes from the Thaicom 1, 2 and 3 conventional satellites.

"The new customer target also reflects a shift from the original plan to tap the uncertain regional broadband Internet market," a telecom analyst from a foreign brokerage in Bangkok said.

While broadband Internet demand is exploding in some countries, the high cost of setting up such networks is hitting providers in others countries, he said.

The biggest potential customers of iPSTAR are in overseas markets, such as China, India and Australia, Dumrong said.

Shin Satellite claims to have adjusted its sales strategies to suit each market.

"We have to be more flexible. In some countries, they allow us to set up branches to provide services. But some places, such as China and India, require us to sell the bulk of our signal to local telecom operators, which will use our connections to provide their services," he said.

Furthermore, Shin Satellite plans to sell iPSTAR services to many Chinese telecom firms in search of more clients, a change from the original plan of selling only to China's state-run telecoms operator, China Railway Communications, with which it had already signed a sales memorandum of understanding, Dumrong said.

He added that Shin Satellite would continue to evaluate the broadband market.

Group calls in feng shui master

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=106420&usrsess=1

Shin Satellite (ShinSat) hopes a blend of the old and the new will arrest a series of setbacks.

After splashing out more than Bt10 million to renovate its Rattanatibet Road headquarters, which includes a satellite-technology museum to showcase the company's progress, ShinSat went decidedly low-tech by recently hiring a Feng Shui master to inspect its office.

ShinSat, founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was plagued by problems last year.

In January, the office of its Cambodia-based mobile-phone operator CamShin was plundered during anti-Thai riots.

The following month, its Thaicom 3 satellite suffered a glitch in its power system. The problem has still not been completely fixed.

In July, satellite manufacturer Loreal Space and Communications, which won ShinSat's contract to build its iPSTAR satellite, went bankrupt.

The company has not yet finished building iPSTAR, a high-speed satellite capable of supporting broadband services, which is scheduled to be launched this year.

In the third quarter, ShinSat posted a lower net profit due to declining revenues from its transponder business and mounting sales and service costs.

The third-quarter net profit of Bt205 million represented a 21-per-cent drop on the second quarter and a 42-per-cent decline on the corresponding period of the previous year. Meanwhile, sales and service costs skyrocketed from Bt93 million to Bt918 million in the same period.

A source close to ShinSat's parent company, Shin Corp, said the setbacks prompted top executives to bring in a Feng Shui master in to improve its luck.

As a result, ShinSat is considering shifting the company's main gate to another part of the compound because its current position is opposite the Garuda statue at Nonthaburi City Hall.

According to the Feng Shui master, the bearer of the god Vishnu overpowers whatever good fortune may come to the company.

ShinSat will be hoping the Feng Shui master's recommendations will lead to more good news like last year's signing of a long-awaited deal with Hong Kong rival AsiaSat to collaborate on solving possible frequency jams between iPSTAR and its AsiaSat4 satellite.

The problem arose two years ago when AsiaSat and ShinSat positioned their satellites on adjacent orbital slots - 122 degrees east for AsiaSat 4 and 120 degrees east for iPSTAR.

The close proximity raised concerns that the signals might jam each other. AsiaSat 4 is already in orbit.

ShinSat's shares yesterday closed at Bt41, down Bt1 from the previous day.

MotoSAT Moblile Satellite Creates Buzz At Consumer Electronics Show

From press release

LAS VEGAS/EWORLDWIRE/Jan. 12, 2004 --- As guests of MotoSAT board the new GMC Yukon Denali demonstration vehicle here on display at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, they don't notice it at first. It's not until they sit down, put on their seatbelts, get comfortable, and begin a drive down the infamous Las Vegas Boulevard that they become aware that what they are enjoying is crystal clear, live satellite television reception. And, as their excitement builds, they can't resist exploring the offerings, as they click between real-time broadcasts from CNN, the Disney Channel, ESPN, and countless other stations. It's then that, without exception, they ask: "How's it possible?"

It is MotoSAT's new, super-low profile TMotion(TM)1500 in-motion, hybrid phased array satellite television antenna that has consumer electronics buyers, manufacturers, and reporters buzzing. MotoSAT Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah has unveiled the TMotion(TM)1500 to critical acclaim here at CES this week. According to MotoSAT Vice President of Business Development, Chuck Uhl, who sat on the mobile satellite technology expert panel Friday at CES, "The response we are receiving at CES from buyers and consumers alike is they are wildly excited about our products, particularly the TMotion(TM)1500."

The TMotion(TM)1500, which stands a scarce four-inches tall, is sleek and slender enough to attach to most automobile roof racks, yet is rugged enough to perform capably in all types of conditions, including snow and freezing temperatures.

Uhl continues: "Part of the excitement for our products and technology comes not only from the durability but also the fact that they will work in international markets too. We are providing a superior delivery system that will work with any platform and that gives us tremendous room for growth."

These days, consumers are looking for ways to enjoy more freedom and flexibility in their lives and MotoSAT is making that possible at a level never before thought possible. As one interested buyer elatedly asked: "You mean I can have my kids in the back of my SUV watching television, any channel, while I drive around the city and run errands -- and it can get DirecTV(TM), Dish Network(TM), as well as other providers -- and this will work anywhere, anytime? Now that's technology I can use."

Working to make our lives better, simpler, and more enjoyable is what the 2004 CES is all about. And, MotoSAT has delivered; putting consumers into the driver's seat of mobile satellite technology is their credo.

MotoSAT is displaying its full product lines this week at CES, including its Ocean Motion(TM) marine antenna; its TMotion(TM)1000 12-inch high, in-motion satellite antenna; and its new Datastorm(TM)F3 mobile satellite dish that delivers high-speed, two-way Internet connectivity anytime, anywhere.

HTML: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/wr/011204/2045.htm
PDF: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/pdf/011204/2045.pdf
ONLINE NEWSROOM: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/2030.htm
LOGO: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/2030.htm

CONTACT:
Bruce Matheson
Joshua Tree Communications
1730 Ramona Ave.
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
PHONE. 801-231-8151
FAX. 801-942-9702
EMAIL: [email protected]

Darin Anderson
MotoSAT
2343 S. 2300 S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
PHONE. 800-247-7486
FAX. 801-972-5407
EMAIL: [email protected]: [email protected]
http://www.motosat.com

Filipino Expats Lament Lack of Free TV Channels From Home

From http://www.arabnews.com/

RIYADH, 13 January 2004 — It has taken a non-Filipino expat to point out that the hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia enjoy no free satellite transmission of news or information from the Philippines.

“Jordanians, Thais, Bangladeshis and even Indians, to a certain extent, and other expatriate communities in the Kingdom enjoy free satellite transmission of news or information from their respective countries. But not overseas Filipinos who number 800,000 in the Kingdom,” said Omar Abu Hassan, operations manager of the construction firm Philipp Holzmann.

A check of Abu Hassan’s claim that other expats enjoy free satellite transmission services from their respective countries bore him out. “We don’t pay for the satellite transmission from home,” said Bun Yi, a Thai national who has been working in the Kingdom for the last 20 years. An Indian said: “I pay for our satellite transmission services but there are transmissions from India that are free.” Abu Hassan said “the number of OFWs in the Kingdom is big by any stretch of the imagination. The government, through the Philippine Embassy, could arrange a free or inexpensive satellite transmission of news through Hotbird or any other satellite service provider to Asian countries. Each of them could pay SR10 or SR20 to be kept at the embassy account,” he said.

The Philippine Embassy could not be contacted for comment but Nonoy Velo, the TFC country manager in Saudi Arabia, told Arab News Sunday night that it would be all right to provide a free satellite transmission without collecting fees from OFWs but the government has to pay instead for the services rendered.

At present, OFWs receive information or news from the Philippines through ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC), which uses the services of Martin Lockheed. For a family it charges a cash out of SR1,490 and after that, a yearly fee of SR760. It has different rates for groups. For a group of ten, it charges SR200 per head or a total of SR2,000, plus SR730 for equipment.

With the large number of OFWs in the Kingdom and considering their willingness to avail of amenities they can afford it is not far-fetched to think that most of them are TFC subscribers. That means the Filipino channel is a cash cow for the Lopezes who own ABS-CBN.

At present ABS-CBN is lording in the field being the only player at present but a competitor — GMA or Channel 7 — may soon start satellite transmission to OFWs in various parts of the world, including Saudi Arabia. If and when this happens, observers believe, it would redound to the benefits of OFWs with satellite transmission subscriptions.

“It would force ABS-CBN and the new player to provide quality newscasts and programs to their viewers so that they could attract more subscribers. As it is, some TFC programs have affected school children in a negative way,” a teacher at a Filipino community school told Arab News. She said the TFC popularized the “mag-otso-otso tayo,” which is being imitated by schoolchildren.

“Children don’t look good as they dance it. Nakakatawa sila (They are laughable). And what makes the heart sink is we pay TFC to make our children laughable, if not laughingstocks. At their age, they should learn something that will make them good and responsible citizens,” the teacher said.

12/01/04

Al_Manar is back on B3 Globecast mux. Brought in via I701 not sure how they can screen it and Tarb's can't. Hmm politics eh

There seems to be a bit of debate as to the new adult channels that are suppose to be starting on NSS6. They seem to be arguing amongst themselves via various forums. I think keep your credit card in your wallet until BOTH new services have been up and running for at least 1 month and see what the feedback is like as to which service is the better one.

From my Emails & ICQ

Nothing to report.

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Pili Satellite TV" has started on , Viaccess 2, PIDs 470/471.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 4106 V "Radio Shanghai TG News Station has replaced East Radio Shanghai" Fta, APID 1213.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3846 V "Radio Shanghai TG News Station has replaced East Radio Shanghai" Fta on , APID 1213.

NSS 6 95E 12593 V "TV Polonia and ESC 1" have left .

NSS 6 95E 11677 V A test card has started , Fta, SR 1850, FEC 2/3, PIDs 4194/4195, Middle East beam.

Measat 1 91.5E 11168 V "Astro Box Office Sports 28" has started, enc., PIDs 172/128, Astro ch 28.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3840 V "Occasional feeds" on , SR 3800, FEC 3/4.
Insat 3A 93.5E 3898 V "Occasional Sanskar TV" feeds on , SR 3500, FEC 3/4.
Insat 3A 93.5E 3912 V "Channel Guide" has started , Fta, SR 5900, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.

Insat 2E 83E 3603 V "Jaya TV" has left (PAL).

Thaicom 2 78.5E 3764 H "Occasional BBTV Channel 7" feeds on , SR 4420, FEC 3/4.

NEWS

Foxtel completes $550 million financing

From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/12/1073769492765.html

Foxtel announced it had secured a $550 million bank facility which would fund its full digital conversion and launch of new digital services, expected in the first half of this calendar year.

One-quarter shareholder Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd said that as a result of the finance package, it did not expect to be required to contribute further funds to finance the roll-out.

Foxtel said in a release it had secured the $550 million bank facility from ABN Amro and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

"The facility has been fully underwritten by ABN Amro and the CBA, which signed a mandate with Foxtel in October 2003, to raise the funds," Foxtel said.

"The banks will syndicate the loan."

Foxtel said it would use the funds to launch new digital interactive cable and satellite services and would provide further details of its roll-out plans shortly.

"This financing completes another landmark step along Foxtel's path to digital launch," Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said.

"We are extremely pleased that ABN Amro and the Commonwealth Bank have supported our vision and our plans to take Australia television into an exciting new era for consumers."

ABN Amro head of financial markets in Australia Col McKeith said Foxtel's digital launch would lead subscription television into a "fresh growth period".

CBA head of technology industries Scott Hawker said the Commonwealth Bank "greatly looked forward to participating in the digital future of subscription television through Foxtel".

Foxtel is Australia's largest subscription television provider, connected to more than one million homes on cable and satellite through retail and wholesale distribution.

It is 50 per cent owned by Telstra Corp Ltd, with one-quarter shares held by PBL and News Corp Ltd.

At 1024 AEDT, Telstra shares were down five cents at $4.93, PBL was also down five cents at $12.27 and News Corp was up five cents at $11.80 in a broadly weaker market.

Interaction for punters

From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8360798%5E15388%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

IF you had been sitting in your lounge room in Invercargill on the far southern tip of New Zealand's South Island on November 4 last year you could have made a bet on the Melbourne Cup - using your TV remote control.

In the UK, too, interactive betting became available on digital pay TV giant BSkyB last year.

No such luck in Australia.

The local pay TV industry - still smarting from the cash-sapping $7 billion cable wars of the mid-1990s - has dragged its feet on interactive services.

While they have been available in the UK and New Zealand since 1998, only in the middle of this year - when Foxtel makes the switch to digital - will Australians finally be able to become the ultimate couch potatoes.

But racing is unlikely to figure on the main menu immediately.

Foxtel has a contract with Sky which is understood to run into the next decade. Foxtel sources have said that racing is not among its initial group of interactive TV sports. Football codes are the main focus.

In the UK a fierce battle for racing rights in 2001 resulted in a consortium of broadcasters - Channel 4, BSkyB and Arena Interactive - paying pound stg. 320 million ($750 million) over 10 years with another pound stg. 80 million for advertising and promotion of the industry.

Interactive horse racing began in New Zealand five months ago on the service provided to Sky by the New Zealand TAB.

"We are already seeing $NZ500,000 ($440,000) in bets per month," Sky Television NZ chief executive John Fallett said.

But until now, viewers have had to have an existing account with the NZ TAB. Mr Fallett believes a new service which allows viewers to set up an account on the TV will tap into "middle New Zealand".

He said Sky might account for 10 per cent of New Zealand's $NZ1 billion a year industry within the next few years.

Leading Australian bookmaker Con Kafataris, whose privately owned company SportOdds bought rival Centrebet last year, said TV-based betting is still " a bit clunky".

"I've tried it in the UK," he said. "But I think it will get there."

While Mr Kafataris was cautious on interactive betting, online betting has proven a bonanza for him and for other off-course bookmakers.

He estimates the market in Australia for betting on all sports is now close to $3 billion a year.

"Two-thirds of that would be on the internet," Mr Kafataris said.

TAB spokesman Graham Cassidy said there was exponential growth in internet betting.

"It has gone from 1 per cent four years ago to more than 6 per cent of a total of $4.6 billion in bets last year," he said.

Also on the rise is the use of mobile phone data services for betting.

Mr Kafataris has a mobile application available for his customers. So, too, does the racing industry's ThoroughVisioN (TVN).

The rise of online betting, through the web, phones and soon the television, spells bad news for local betting shops.

As more bets move to the net, the cost to serve shrinking numbers of punters using retail outlets will rise - to a point, one day in the not too distant future, where local TABs will start to close down.

Russia Extends Lease of Space-Launch Site

From http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/7671944.htm

ASTANA, Kazakhstan - Russia on Friday extended its lease to use a space-launch site in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan through 2050, after agreeing to let this Central Asian nation play a role in future space projects.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev agreed to extend Russia's use of the Baikonur cosmodrome, Russia's sole launch facility for manned space missions. Financial details were not released. Under the previous lease signed in 1994, Russia paid $115 million annually.

Russian launches from Baikonur are the only links to the international space station since the U.S. shuttle fleet was grounded after the Columbia disintegrated during its return to Earth in February, killing all seven astronauts on board.

The space station's current inhabitants - American Michael Foale and Russia's Alexander Kaleri - blasted off from the cosmodrome on the Kazakh steppe in October.

Earlier media reports said Kazakhstan wanted more rent money or a share of profits from commercial launches at Baikonur. The Central Asian country has frequently complained that the $115 million fee is inadequate and does not compensate for ecological damage caused by launches.

But the main concession won by Nazarbayev appeared to be an increase in Kazakh participation in the facility - including the training of Kazakh cosmonauts.

Further negotiations regarding the Soviet-era facility, which Kazakhstan inherited after the 1991 collapse of the former Soviet Union, were expected to continue.

The new agreement also envisions Kazakhstan's involvement in space exploration projects.

"We think that Kazakhstan has not only Baikonur to offer, it has a good intellectual potential," Putin said.

The two countries also agreed that Russia would help launch a communications satellite for Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan will pay the costs of that launch.

Kazakhstan, the wealthiest of Central Asia's former Soviet republics, is eager to cooperate with Russia, which owns the main available oil pipeline routes linking the landlocked region with world markets.

Putin, who arrived in Kazakhstan on Friday, made the Central Asian nation his first foreign destination this year as Moscow steps up efforts to regain influence in the strategic, energy-rich region.

TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 02/2004 - 11 January 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

PERRINS JOINS GLOBAL TV IN RACING BID

The former managing director of surfwear retailer Billabong, Matthew Perrin, and his brothers are rumoured to have joined forces with Global Television in their attempt to launch a rival broadcaster of thoroughbred racing. Rights to broadcast racing have been held by TAB Ltd's Sky Channel for almost 20 years. Global Television, which is owned by Television and Media Services, is a sub-contractor telecasting sports and special events to free-to-air television stations and pay TV channels, including Foxtel and OptusTV. The Perrins are believed to be one of four parties interested in bidding for the NSW and Victorian racing industries' media rights. The others include Sky Channel, English television production house Ten Ten Digital and Telstra. Rival bidders for the rights to broadcast Australian racing surfaced after the Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club agreed to pool their media rights with Racing Victoria. The racing clubs hope this will strengthen their bargaining power with Sky Channel. Sky Channel's distribution agreement with the AJC and STC expires in early March, while its contract with Racing Victoria still has 12 months to run.

CHINA - HONG KONG

SHANGAI CITIZENS IGNORE SATELLITE DISH BAN

Although most residential buildings in Shanghai have been banned from installing satellite dishes since 1993, the dishes continue to pop up all over the city, according to a report by the Xinhua news agency. Local residents often receive flyers in their mailboxes, advertising installation of the dishes with prices ranging from 3,000 yuan (US$361) to 20,000 yuan (US$2,419.26). The fliers guarantee users will have access to more than 100 overseas TV channels. The State Council issued a decree in 1993 saying only hotels, media outlets, and apartment buildings housing foreigners are allowed to use satellite dishes. Producing, selling or installing satellite television-receiving equipment without a permit is banned, and violators will face a fine of up to 5,000 yuan (US$604.81).

I-CABLE TO LAUNCH DIGITAL TV AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Hong Kong's dominant pay-TV operator, i-Cable Communications, will complete the digitalisation of its network in May, one year ahead of schedule, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The early completion - due to a reduction in the cost of set-top boxes from $800 to $600 - would help the pay-TV operator cut its estimated expenditure of $450 million for the network upgrade, cable subscription services executive director Eric Lo said. But he did not disclose how much i-Cable would save with the early completion. Digitalisation supports the compression of frequencies, thus increasing the capacity of channels per frequency band from one to six or more. With the allocation of 20 frequency bands by the government, i-Cable can now provide up to 120 television channels. I-Cable has doubled the number of its channels to more than 70 over the past year. I-Cable will switch off most of its analogue broadcasting network from June 1, and on January 13 will relaunch its programme line-up by grouping channels under eight blocks in accordance with their genre. It also plans to provide data services such as football betting, stock information and interactive gaming on the new platform.

GLOBAL CHANNELS FOR PAY-TV PLATFORM

Viewers of Hong Kong's new direct-to-home pay-TV operation, exTV, will benefit from international channels including BBC World, Bloomberg, CNBC Asia and Nickelodeon Asia. exTV is due on the air in February, joining another five pay-TV platforms available in the SAR of

Hong Kong.

TAIWANESE TV CHANNELS SWITCHED OFF CABLE

China is continuing to shut down Taiwanese TV channels carried on cable systems as tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue to simmer over political differences. Dongsen TV, owned by Taiwan's powerful media company Eastern Multimedia Group, has been pulled off a number of housing complexes serviced by cable TV systems and satellite master antenna TV in and around Beijing by state security officials in the last three months. Other foreign channels that have been switched off during the raids have since returned to the air while Dongsen remains blacked out. China has issued licences to more than 30 foreign TV channel providers to distribute their channels, although all are limited to specified cable TV systems, or operators serving housing compounds for foreigners or hotels. Taiwan-originated channels are among those in the so-called grey market that have managed to slip on air because of lax policing. But during the periodic crackdowns on unlicensed channel reception, Taiwanese channels have been particularly targeted. Eastern Multimedia had two applications to distribute its channels to Chinese cable systems rejected in September 2003, although it continues to supply programmes to Chinese terrestrials and also claims to have 200,000 subscribers in China.

INDIA

ZEE TV TO LAUNCH RELIGIOUS CHANNEL

The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms wants to add a religious channel to the stable. The proposed religious channel, to be called Jaagaran, is slated for a launch some time this month via Asiasat 3S and INSAT satellites. The stable already boasts of about 15 channel brands, including the ones that are part of the DTH [direct to home] package.

STAR NEWS GETS INDIAN RIGHTS

Star News has been given permission to uplink from India, bringing the channel to viewers of cable systems and direct-to-home installations across the sub-continent. The Indian government had initially refused to give permission for the channel to be broadcast but has now relented, apparently changing the rules to allow the News Corporation-owned service to begin operations.

CABLE OPERATORS WON'T RELAY NEWS CHANNELS

Cable TV operators have turned down the request of the state government to relay news channels as well as other channels for which they do not have to pay any charge, according to The Times of India. PRD secretary A K Biswas is reported to have assured a delegation of the Patna Cable TV Operators' Association that he has written to the Union ministry of information and broadcasting about the blackout by cable TV operators due to the hike in the rates of pay channels. However, a government pressnote said Biswas told the delegation that not showing the three national channels of Doordarshan was a violation of the Cable Television Network Regulation Act. Association president Amit Prakash said they were forced to effect a blackout on TV screens in the state capital to protest against the hike in the subscription rates of pay channels and the imposition of an entertainment tax of Rs 50 per month by the Bihar government.

TV3 AND 8TV BUY BUENA VISTA PROGRAMMING

Malaysian free-to-air networks TV3 and 8TV have signed a multi-year programme and feature film deal with Buena Vista International Television­Asia Pacific, which brings reality show The Family to local audiences for the first time. The deal, signed by TV3 Malaysia's holding company Media Prima Berhad, includes features such as Pearl Harbor and Unbreakable, along with TV series Alias, Scrubs, Extreme Makeover, My Wife & Kids and Hope & Faith. Under the new agreement, TV3 viewers will also be able to tune into reality format The Family, which follows one family's attempts to win a million dollar prize. Younger viewers will be able to watch an additional weekend half-hour animation block titled Disney Time. This new window joins a weekly Disney club and two existing branded blocks.

8TV STARTS BROADCASTING

Malaysia's newest free-to-air terrestrial television station, 8TV, started transmitting on January 8. The channel will be seen initially on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, the country's main population belt. 8TV is owned by Media Prima Berhad, which also owns another terrestrial station, TV3, and the New Straits Times newspaper. The new station's chief operating officer, Ahmad Izham Omar, said its target audience would be mainly young urban people and the Chinese community. 8TV's programmes will include music shows, Chinese-language variety programmes and an English-language prime time news bulletin aimed at younger viewers. 8TV is Malaysia's fourth private free-to-air station.

PILAT GLOBAL MEDIA GETS ASTRO CONTRACT

Pilat Global Media, which provides business management software to has announced a new contract for the supply of IBMS (Integrated Broadcast Management System) to Measat Broadcast Network Systems of Malaysia, known by its trade name "Astro". The contract, which includes licenses and implementation and support services, is worth $1.7 million. Work on the project began in October 2003, under an interim consultancy agreement, to enable go-live in the first quarter of 2004. Pilat said that Astro was the seventh pay-TV platform to join its client-base. IBMS is intended to streamline content acquisition, program scheduling and media preparations for over 40 subscription channels as well as on demand and interactive services and emerging advertising sales operations. As part of the implementation, it will be integrated with the conditional access system of Canal+. According to Pilat, Astro, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks, is the largest multi-channel TV platform outside Japan in Asia, and has one million subscribers

NEW ZEALAND

MTS TO START BROADCASTING IN MARCH

The Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, is promising that the Maori Television Service will begin its full broadcasting schedule in March. Last month the channel began broadcasting a promotional trailer that repeats every half hour. The Maori Television Service says it expects to announce the date it will officially start full broadcasts shortly. The publicly-funded service was founded under an Act of parliament last year with the aim of helping revitalise the Maori language and culture.

THE PHILIPINES

ABS-CBN EXPECTS GOOD YEAR

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is optimistic that 2004 will be another banner year for the company in terms of profitability and market share. ABS-CBN officials said profits this year would be in line with revenue growth, with international operations and advertising revenues as the main drivers of growth. For 2003, the company expects profits to hit the P1-billion mark. International operations currently account for 15 per cent of the company's total revenues. ABS-CBN Global, whose subscribers grew to 176,830 worldwide as of end-September last year, is expected to post another double-digit growth, ABS-CBN senior vice-president for international operations Rene Encarnacion said. With a strong operating income and a decline in interest expense, ABS-CBN posted a net profit of P888.83 million in the first nine months of 2003, compared with only P65 million the same period a year earlier. ABS-CBN Global's net sales, which accounted for 70 per cent of total net sales and services, increased by 38 per cent to P1.92 billion due to an increase in direct-to-home fees from $20 to $23 per month with the addition of PinoyCentral TV to its channel line-up. Set to be launched this year is The Filipino Channel (TFC) in Milan, Italy, which is the base of operations of ABS-CBN in Europe. TFC will be commercially available via direct-to-home (DTH) satellite service.

SOUTH KOREA

GOVERNMENT PUSHES AHEAD WITH US DIGITAL TV STANDARD

Putting an end to mounting disputes over the government's preferred digital TV transmission format, the top information official reaffirmed the government's determination to use the U.S. standard instead of the European one. Speaking on January 9, Information-Communication Minister, Chin Dae-je said: "For the sake of policy consistency, we will maintain the U.S. standard. We must consider the huge cost in of switching over to the European system." Chin added the government cannot ignore a number of consumers who snapped up digital TVs, customized to the U.S. standard, and local digital TV makers, which invested large amounts of money following the U.S. technology in line with government's policy. South Korea selected the U.S. system in 1997 and pushed for the commercial launch of digital broadcasting four year later in Seoul. The services were supposed to expand to the provincial cities starting this year. However, the government put it off indefinitely under the pressure of local broadcasters, which favor the European standard.

THAILAND

MCOT JOINS ASIAVISION

The Mass Communication Organization of Thailand, MCOT, has joined the ABU's daily news exchange, Asiavision. The move brings AVN's membership to 13. It is the first time a Thai broadcaster has joined the news exchange. MCOT operates Thailand's TV Channel 9, two radio networks and the Thai News Agency. Its membership of Asiavision took effect on January 1. Asiavision now has members in Bangladesh, Brunei, the People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Members exchange news material by satellite every day.

11/01/04

No update Sunday go away