Satellite Journal Itl. Vol 2 No 3 Ascii version
Gary Torrens (Sat Jrn)
International
A Fortnightly News Journal
February 3 1994
Volume 2 Issue 3
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In Vol. 2 No 3 Desk Top Published Version:
----Satellite Journal TV Transponder Listings (North America or
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SSE Telecom Inc. and privately held EchoStar Communications
Corp., Englewood, Colo., will combine the direct broadcast satellite
(DBS) licenses held by their subsidiaries.
The parties will promptly seek approval from the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), which is required to finalize the
proposed business combination.
DirectSat Corp., an 80 percent-owned subsidiary of SSE Telecom,
and EchoStar Satellite Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar
Communications each hold FCC satellite construction permits and
orbital slot assignments at 119 degrees West.
Under the agreement, DirectSat's shareholders will receive a
minority equity interest in EchoStar Communications in exchange for
all of DirectSat's outstanding stock.
"By mid-1996, EchoStar will have invested close to $500 million
in DBS and expects to be operating two satellites providing over 100
channels of video and audio programming accessible to every
household in the continental United States," said Charlie Ergen,
chairman of EchoStar Communications.
He said that EchoStar's first high-power DBS satellite, currently
under construction by Martin Marietta Corp., is scheduled for launch
in the summer of 1995.
Frank Trumbower, chairman of SSE Telecom, said, "We chose to work
with EchoStar because of the tremendous upside potential we see in
combining the DBS capabilities of the two companies.
"With a nationwide satellite programming and equipment
distribution system already in place and revenue in excess of $200
million annually, EchoStar is a leader in satellite communications
and the most exciting opportunity in DBS."
The EchoStar high-power DBS satellites will enable consumers to
receive more than 100 digital-quality video and audio channels, as
well as a wide variety of data, directly in their homes via an
18-inch satellite dish.
The home receiver and antenna systems will incorporate the latest
digital compression technology for delivering programming such as
movies on demand, sports, popular cable services, databases,
educational services, HDTV, and more.
EchoStar chairman Ergen added, "The DBS licenses are by no means
the only area of synergy between our two companies. We plan to work
closely with SSE Telecom on a variety of projects that will
contribute to America's emerging information superhighway, and we
will provide SSET with financing of up to $8,750,000 to fund some of
these programs."
"The satellite communications market is EchoStar's core business
and strategic focus, and we believe that working closely with SSE
Telecom will accelerate our growth."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
American Telecasting Inc. said it plans to buy wireless cable
television systems and channel rights for $20.75 million from Family
Entertainment Network Inc. and Wireless Entertainment Network Inc.
The Colorado Springs-based company will purchase operating systems
currently serving about 13,000 customers in St. James, Minn.,
Greenbay, Wis., Grand Island, Neb., Fargo, N.D., and three other
markets. American also acquired significant wireless cable
positions in Sheboygon, Wis., and Sioux Falls, S.D. As of Oct. 31,
American served approximately 29,000 customers through its wireless
cable systems.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
National Public Radio, undertaking a complete refurbishment of
the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) it operates, announced that
it will use new satellite digital audio equipment from ComStream to
enhance its transmission system.
ComStream's digital equipment will replace the analog program
distribution components in place since 1979 when NPR inaugurated the
nation's first satellite delivery of radio programs. Installation
of the new customized digital audio equipment is scheduled to begin
in December 1994, with completion expected by June 1995.
Funding for upgrading the space and ground segments of the PRSS
is being provided through a special Congressional appropriation
distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
"This contract is the culmination of extensive technical
fact-finding and testing," said NPR's Future Interconnection System
project director Burnham Morse. "With ComStream's customized
digital radio gear, we've found the best way to upgrade audio
quality and assure that the public radio system has
industry-standard technology for its next generation satellite
system."
The PRSS, which interconnects more than 350 noncommercial radio
stations in the United States and Puerto Rico, is the pipeline for
distributing thousands of hours of programming from nearly 250
producers. It is managed by the Distribution Division of National
Public Radio on behalf of participating interconnected stations
which pay annual fees to support the satellite system.
"By combining expertise in satellite transmission technology with
the ISO/MPEG international audio compression standard, ComStream has
become the recognized world leader in low-cost, high-quality single
channel per carrier (SCPC) digital audio by satellite," said John
Puetz, ComStream director of marketing for audio products.
ComStream will develop a new ABR700 audio broadcast receiver
designed specifically for NPR. The ABR700 will be integrated with a
comprehensive computer-based network management and control system,
the Satellite Operating Support System (SOSS), developed by IBM
under contract to NPR.
The system will allow producers to release their programs on a
"subscription" basis. Unique in-band "digital signatures" or
subscriber codes, assigned at the producer's option, will direct
programs to individual subscribing stations. Otherwise, producers
may continue distributing programs to all stations, as they do now.
The ABR700 receives data at multiple rates; contributing to the
efficiency of the system by allowing adjustment of satellite
bandwidth based on the type of radio show being transmitted. Stereo
signals up to 256 kbps are available to provide CD-quality audio if
programming requires it, yet broadcasts using only a single 64 kbps
mono channel can also be accommodated.
The public radio system will rely extensively on the 256 kbps
rate for high-quality stereo and a 128 kbps rate for excellent sound
quality for mono programming.
Nearly 3,000 of the receivers will be delivered under the terms
of the contract. Also included are ComStream digital satellite
modems and ISO/MPEG audio encoder/multiplexers for uplinking signals
at 23 PRSS transmission sites.
The PRSS will transmit programming using C-band operating
frequencies on two transponders on the Hughes Galaxy IV satellite.
The number of channels for distributing scheduled public radio
programming will be double the previous capacity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
San Francisco-based Dolby said they have made the first shipment of
stereo AC-3 encoders, to be used with the company's new DMX for
Business, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system.
First employed in the digital film sound format, Dolby Digital
AC-3 was recently chosen as the audio format for future U.S. HDTV
systems. The AC-3 process can encode up to six separate audio
channels, all in less than half the space required for a single
channel on a CD.(+)
"The stereo version of AC-3 gives us the opportunity to provide
up to 120 DBS channels of stereo audio on a single transponder while
maintaining CD quality, " said Jerry Rubinstein, ICT's chairman and
chief executive officer.
"It also gives us audio compatibility with emerging video cable
compression technology and dovetails nicely with our existing
Scientific-Atlanta cable delivery system by providing more DMX music
at the headend."
Satellite transmission testing of the DMX DBS service will begin
this month, with the commercial rollout scheduled for June.
"The DP521 encoder selected by ICT is the first in a family of
AC-3 systems for the broadcast, cable and telecommunications
markets," commented Dick Bell, general manager of the Dolby
Communications Products Group. "The combination of high audio
quality and spectral efficiency that AC-3 provides will dramatically
expand the market for perceptual coding technology."
Bell added that, significantly, stereo AC-3 will allow
manufacturers and service providers in the cable and satellite
arenas to prepare for the multichannel world of the future. "Stereo
decoders can be designed," he explained, "so that they readily adapt
to the multichannel data stream available from both HDTV broadcasts
and new cable consumer delivery formats."
San Diego-based ComStream will be supplying satellite receivers
with built-in AC-3 decoders for the new DMX DBS programming service.
The 120-channel receiver will accept signals from a mid-power,
KU-band transponder utilizing a small 29-inch antenna dish.
"We're proud of this technological achievement," noted John
Puetz, ComStream's director of marketing for Audio Broadcast
Products. "It's a testament to our technical and engineering staff
expertise and their ability to meet and conquer the growing demands
and challenges facing the telecommunications industry today."
Launched in early 1992, DMX for Business currently offers 30
channels of uninterrupted, commercial-free, CD-quality stereo music
programming delivered via cable to businesses and commercial
establishments.
(+) The DP521 provides two composite channels of coded audio at a
net data rate of 192 kilobits per second, while maintaining
extremely high audio quality. A companion DP522 professional
digital audio decoder will be available in March of 1994.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IDB Communications Group Inc. announced that the company's
private line and international long distance telephone unit, IDB
WORLDCOM, has signed an operating agreement with Optus Networks PTY
Limited ("Optus") of Australia.
IDB WORLDCOM's agreement with Optus signed on Jan. 17, 1994, by
Michael Sauer, vice president of international relations and David
J. Lawrence, director - International for Optus, enables IDB
WORLDCOM to provide additional international telephone services to
Australia. Telephone service is expected to begin on April 1, 1994.
"Our agreement with Optus demonstrates IDB WORLDCOM's
responsiveness to our customers' needs in Australia," said Sauer.
"It also enables us to provide enhanced telephone services to our
customers with our newest telephone partner in Australia."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TV Bingo Network, Inc. announced that it has signed an
agreement-in-principle with Fox 23/Oklahoma 41 of Tulsa, Okla., to
launch an interactive home- viewer participation TV bingo game show
in April. A definitive agreement is expected to be signed shortly.
Gordon Graves, chairman of TV Bingo Network, said, "The 30-minute
game show, which will be produced at the Fox 23/Oklahoma 41
production facility in Tulsa and broadcast on Oklahoma 41, will also
be transmitted by courier and satellite to television stations and
cable companies in other major television markets."
The planned show will include a number of traditionally exciting
game show-type games. However, the show's highlight will be the
transmission of a 10-minute, high-stakes bingo game conducted on an
Indian reservation in Oklahoma. Home viewers will be able to
participate in the game by using free promotional bingo cards
distributed at a number of convenient retail locations. Viewers
will also be able to retain a surrogate player at the reservation to
purchase and play a bingo card on their behalf, and watch the action
at home when the game is aired on TV. The purchased card, costing
$5, will allow an opportunity for the viewer at home to win as much
as $1 million in cash and other "high-ticket" prizes.
The surrogate player service will be offered as a home TV
shopping service, using both Oklahoma 41 and Fox 23, the Tulsa Fox
Network affiliate, and will utilize 800 and 900 telephone numbers.
"The benefits of the TV Bingo show extend beyond mere
entertainment, allowing members of the audience to participate in
the excitement of both a promotional game and high-stakes game,
giving them the opportunity to win cash and other major prizes in
the comfort of their own living room," added Graves.
TV Bingo Network, which was established in 1991 and went public
in July 1993, has been organized to participate in the rapidly
expanding gaming industry and, utilizing computer technology, is
devoted to the development of interactive bingo games, the results
of which are intended to be televised for home-viewer participation.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One-year-old Australia Television (AT), which leases a transponder
on Indonesia's Palapa satellite is looking for satellite carriers in
North Asia. Australia Television has a potential viewership of
20-30 million in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Laos
and the Philippines. Last month AT signed an agreement with Chinese
television stations, including China Central Television, for
terrestrial broadcast throughout China.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BellSouth announced it is building a VSAT hub in Chile.
Construction began last month and should be finished this summer.
BellSouth is one of only a few long-distance carriers in Chile.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
French Aerospatiale will speed up construction of the second
satellite for Turkey Turksat 1B after the loss of Turksat 1A.
Turksat 1B, built by Aerospatiale and Alcatel of
France and Germany's MBB will be able to relay 22 television
channels through its 16 transponders.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Turner Broadcasting System plans to begin service of its TNT
movie service and Cartoon Network to Asia 24 hours a day via
Apstar 1 starting in the fourth quarter of 1994. Apstar 1 will be
launched in mid-1994 and will have a footprint from
Indonesia to Japan.
Segments of the English-language programs would be subtitled
and dubbed in Mandarin and Thai, and these Asian-language segments
would increase and other languages added as the service
progressed.
"The success of our entertainment networks in the U.S., Europe
and Latin America have prompted us to bring TNT and Cartoon Network
to the Asia Pacific region. The launch of this service is the next
step in our plan to provide viewers worldwide with Turner's quality
entertainment programming 24 hours a day," said Ted Turner.
The Cartoon Network would air 14 hours of cartoons daily,
followed by 10 hours of Hollywood films from TNT.
Turner has over 8,500 cartoons -- MGM, Warner Bros. and
Hanna-Barbera productions, including the Flintstones, the Jetsons,
Yogi Bear, and Tom and Jerry -- and about 2,500 Hollywood feature
films in its library.
Other Apstar 1 broadcasters include a number of U.S. based
channels. HBO, ESPN and The Discovery Channel all plan at least one
service on the satellite. Apstar 2 due for launch later this year
(see related story) will also include Viacom (MTV) and Turner plans
to move to that satellite due to its wider footprint. U.S.
companies have leased 16 transponders on Apstar 2.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What appears to be the first lane of the "Trans-Canada
Information Highway", Universal Bidirectional Interactive (UBI), is in the
formation stage in Canada. Hearst Publishing and a group of five
Canadian companies plan to offer an interactive multimedia cable
network.
The service will be available via a multimedia terminal wired
into the cable network. It will offer 24-hour-a-day access to
financial services from the National Bank of Canada; home
automation and energy management services by Hydro-Quebec; lottery
products from Loto-Quebec; electronic mail and addressing services
from the Canada Post Corp.; classified ad services by Videoway
Communications Inc.; and electronic directory services from the
Hearst New Media & Technology Division.
Le Groupe Videotron will build the UBI terminals and provide
them free to cable subscribers. UBI will start with 34,000 home
terminals in the Saguenay region of Quebec starting in the spring of
1995.In 1996, the service will be available to 1.44 million homes in
metro Quebec City and Montreal.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Telemundo Group Inc. and Reuters Television Ltd. still plan
to create a Spanish language TV news network despite the fact the
BBC decided to drop out of the venture. The other partners are
Artear, S.A. of Argentina, Antena 3-Intercional of Spain, and
Productora y Comercializadora de Television, S.A. de C.V. of
Mexico.
TeleNoticias, will be transmitted via either PamAmSat or
Solaridad to cable and broadcast viewers in Latin America, Spain and
the United States.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The U.S. Senate has agreed to continue funding Radio Free Europe
and Radio Liberty but scale back their funds. The Senate also
approved the creation of Radio Free Asia, which will beam news and
other programs to China and other non-democratic Asian states.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Singapore Broadcasting Corp (SBC) launched a regional shortwave
news and entertainment service on February 1.
Readers of SJI in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia should be able to
receive the service for nine hours a day, three hours each in
English, Malay and Chinese.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sony Corp and Time Warner Inc are looking at starting a music
video television service that would compete with Viacom's MTV and
VH1. Others interested companies in the venture include Thorn EMI
Plc and PolyGram NV.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CanWest Global has petitioned the CRTC to license four stations
in the province of Alberta, has applied to buy independent
Maritime network MITV and is seeking a station in Montreal.
Also CanWest is looking for approval this spring for three cable
specialty stations, a 24-hour news channel and channels for women
and the elderly.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Asia-Pacific Satellite Telecommunications announced that China
Great Wall Industry Corp is to launch its U.S.-made Apstar-2 earlier
than planned.
The HS601 satellite made by GM Hughes Electronics Corp will be
launched using a Long March rocket between October and December at
Xichang launch centre in Sichuan.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
U.S. West Inc said it is testing satellite-based phone service
in rural Wyoming with the idea of using satellites to
improve rural service.
They are using a transponder on Galaxy VII and expect this method
to be cheaper than laying transmission lines and switching stations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hughes Network Systems has signed a contract with the Hawaiian
company <ITTI> to install a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) hub
on the island of Oahu, effectively providing a high-speed satellite
link between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oracle Corp., announced an alliance with Capital Cities/ABC,
Inc. that seeks to develop a new video service, including an
interactive customized news service. The jointly developed service
will combine the expertise of Capital Cities/ABC, a premiere
producer and distributor of news, information and entertainment
programs, and Oracle, a leading information management software and
services company, to build a multimedia news-on-demand application.
These jointly developed services are aimed for use in the
upcoming interactive information service trials this year.
Specifically, the new video service will use the Oracle Media
Server, which was unveiled in a worldwide launch event on Jan.18.
The first joint effort will be with ABC News for the further
development of its customized newscast prototype.
"Technological developments will change the way consumers and
businesses receive information, for every thing from the day's
headlines to highly specialized financial data," said Stephen A.
Weiswasser, president of Capital Cities/ABC's Multimedia Group.
"Our alliance with Oracle, whom we consider to be a software leader
in the new information age, will allow us to learn how these
technologies can be applied to create a range of interactive media
applications, including news and information-on-demand services."
"We are excited to pioneer with Capital Cities/ABC to develop a
consumer-based, multimedia news service," said Terence Garnett,
senior vice president of Oracle's New Media Division. "Freedom of
choice in programming -- information when you want it and how you
want it -- is what the Information Age is all about."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As part of an aggressive plan to significantly lower the OEM
cost of its patented StarSight on-screen, interactive television
program guide with one-button VCR record technology, StarSight
Telecast Inc. signed an agreement with Zilog Inc.
to have StarSight technology incorporated into Zilog's
new Z89300 digital television controller (DTC) series,
Michael Faber, StarSight Telecast's chairman and CEO, said,
"This new Zilog chip series is a design breakthrough that will not
only allow consumer electronics manufacturers to incorporate
StarSight into their products at a much lower cost, but also will
open the door to many more manufacturers who want to produce
StarSight-equipped products. This increase, in turn, will translate
into faster household penetration greatly boosting the number of
consumers able to access StarSight in their homes."
"The chips also give OEMs the option of manufacturing products
that are either fully StarSight-integrated or than can be made
StarSight- equipped later with the addition of a simple add-on
module. Most importantly, such flexibility today will pave the way
for additional StarSight applications in the future."
Consumers who purchase StarSight-equipped televisions will be
able to take advantage of StarSight's powerful features, including
seven days of updated program schedule information, direct tuning by
title, theme and channel number and easy, one-button recording of
selected programs.
"We were impressed with the capabilities of the StarSight
technology and service from the first day we saw it demonstrated,"
commented Sack. "And this view has been steadily reinforced and
strengthened by joint marketing presentations to many of the world's
leading television, VCR and cable converter manufacturers."
The Z89300 series offers OEMs a programmable on-screen display
(OSD), which has been designed to accommodate the sophisticate
StarSight interactive technology. The Z89300 also provides the
integrated circuit technology to access the advanced on-screen
facilities of StarSight.
Eurowatch by Martyn Williams
- What's making news across Europe's skies ....
63rd ARIANE FAILS - SATELLITES LOST
Arianespace suffered their first launch failure for nearly four
years on the night on January 25. The 63rd rocket, carrying two
communications satellites, fell into the Atlantic Ocean 1,200km of
the coast of French Guiana. Engineers at the European Space Agency
in Paris said Tuesday that initial inquiries suggest that an oxygen
turbo-pump in the third stage failed causing the loss. Arianespace
officials, including president Charles Bigot, at the Kourou space
centre said that first indications of a problem came five minutes
into the flight when the rocket started to loose height, just over a
minute into the third stage, at an altitude of 125 miles. Bigot
said "After correct functioning of the first stage, second stage,
strap on boosters and ignition of the third stage the oxygen
turbo-pump stopped 80 seconds after the ignition of the rocket's
third stage". Bigot was quick to calm any fears about the
reliability of the rocket and said "The Ariane rocket series has
proved its reliability, and to compare third stage failures of the
past with that of flight 63 would be to ignore that our success rate
is about 97 percent." The previous failures that he referred to have
not occurred since flight 18 in 1986. The payload consisted of
Turkey's first satellite, Turksat, and the Eutelsat 2F5M, the latest
of Eutelsat's communications satellites. The exact cost of the loss
has not been revealed but the satellites were believed to be insured
for $356 million. Turksat was the first of two new communications
satellites. Turksat 2 is due to launched later this year by another
Ariane rocket. Eutelsat 2F5M was the second of Eutelsat's
satellites designed for improved coverage of Eastern Europe and the
CIS. Ariane has dominated the world's commercial satellite launch
business since their first launch in 1979, taking more than 70% of
the worlds orders. Currently they have over 30 launches in their
order books. The last time the European rocket failed was on 23
February 1990 when two Japanese satellites were lost, this was
blamed on human error. Arianespace had scheduled 30 flights this
year but after this loss there are expected to be no launches for at
least three of four months. The full enquiry will take around two
months.
QEFM CLOSES
One of the UK's leading satellite broadcasters, Quality Europe
FM, has closed suddenly. The station went silent on 24 January.
QEFM broadcast a mix of music and information aimed at upmarket
listeners across Europe. The station was available by cable and
satellite all over the continent. The station recently hit the
headlines after snapping up leading BBC Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis
when he quit the BBC. The Astra subcarrier is currently carrying
the following announcement : "QEFM is not operating at present".
NEW MD FOR SKY
News International announced Friday 21 January that Kelvin
Mackenzie is to be the new managing director of BSkyB. Mr
Mackenzie, 47, is the editor of The Sun, the most popular newspaper
in the UK. He has been one of Fleet Street's longest running
editors and worked at The Sun from 1981. Along with a 50% stake in
BSkyB, News International own The Sun and several other daily UK
titles.
POLSAT WINS NATIONAL TERRESTRIAL LICENSE
Polish satellite station Polsat has won the license to operate
the countries first national private TV service. Polsat currently
broadcasts via Eutelsat 2F3 from an uplink in the Netherlands. The
new license will make the station available to 40 million TV viewers
in most areas of Poland. Previously the station was only available
to dish or cable owners. Polsat has recently introduced a new
Teletext service. Poland currently has two state run networks.
BBC TESTS NEW SATELLITE CHANNELS
The BBC has begun testing four new audio channels on the UK
Living transponder on Astra. The BBC had been expected to use two
channels for mono services with London's Capital Radio taking the
two others. The four channels will now carry BBC Radio One in
stereo on 7.38 and 7.56 MHz and BBC Radio Three on 7.74 and 7.92
MHz. Radio One is currently using a mono channel via UK Gold. This
is expected to be taken by BBC Radio Two. UK Living and UK Gold are
both part owned by the BBC. The plans of Capital Radio via
satellite are now uncertain.
RAI CREW KILLED IN HERZEGOVINA
Three members of a television crew from Italian state run TV
network RAI were killed on January 28 when a mortar exploded near
them. Also killed was a local woman working as an interpreter for
them. They were leaving a hospital in the Muslim controlled section
of Mostar. The crew were in Herzegovina working on a feature about
hospitals in the republic.
MORE NEW CHANNELS FOR EUROPE !
Europeans can expect to see more new TV stations coming on air
during February. The first day of the month should see the
launch of Europe's first Travel TV service, Travel One. Also
close to launching are German based Centre Of Music TV, COM TV.
The service will be aimed at viewers in the 35 - 55 age group.
Two new Swedish channels, both called TV 6, are also about to
hit the airwaves. The first of these two will be a private
channel hoping to attract the Swedish audience with a mixture of
soap operas, movies and religion. The primary language will be
Swedish. The expected home for this will be on Intelsat 601.
Major Swedish media company Kinnevick have also announced plans
to launch a service called TV 6. They are trying to appeal to a
mainly female audience and want to provide an alternative to
other daytime TV services. They will still have the soap operas
but the difference is in the country of origin. TV 6 will show
programmes from the UK, Germany, Italy and Brazil. They will
not show any American soaps. The channel hopes to launch on
March 26. Kinnevick already operate three TV 3 channels for
different Scandinavian countries, two movie channels, TV 1000
and Filmmax and cable shopping and music channels in Sweden.
Other channels expected on air in the next couple of months are
NEN, Nashville Europe Now - a country music channel, TV69 - a
Danish based pan European porn channel, VH1 and Nick at Nite -
both as part of Sky Multi Channels on Astra, Reise TV - a German
travel channel and Lifestyle Plus - an English language daytime
woman's service.
CNN INTERNATIONAL SIGNS FOR BULGARIA
CNN International has signed a deal that will make its TV news
service available terrestrially in Bulgaria. The new service will
be broadcast from a sender in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, on
channel 41.
DUNA TESTS TELETEXT
Budapest based broadcaster, Duna TV, has begun testing a
teletext service. Currently the service provides two day TV
listings and subtitles for selected programming.
EUROPEAN NETWORKS RACE FOR 'QUAKE COVERAGE
Europe's satellite news channels proved they were well ahead of
the national broadcasters when the Los Angeles earthquake struck.
Live pictures were fed from almost all of the major US networks
straight into European homes. CNN International took a direct feed
from the domestic US service for most of the day and evening,
cancelling many of the regular International news bulletins. Sky
News used their connections with sister network Fox and CBS, whose
news bulletins feature on the channel. NBC Super Channel naturally
took parent network NBC's coverage. German news network n-tv,
which is partly owned by CNN took that network's coverage. The
Atlantic feeds were also very busy. At one point Intelsat K was
relaying four separate network feeds to Europe. In summary - CNNI
used CNN, KTLA and KTTV; Super Channel used NBC News; Sky News used
CBS News, NBC News, KTLA and KTTV / Fox TV; n-tv used CNNI. The
only major US network that didn't see any live use was ABC.
Martyn Williams 1994
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Satellite Journal
International
Volume 2 Issue 3
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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the issue date.
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Satellite Journal (electronic version) may be found on:
Compuserve: CEFORUM Lib 8 Satellites
UKFORUM Lib 17 Entertainment
Nifty-Serve: TVFORUM Lib 2 Satellite TV
Internet: Homesat news group
Internet users with access to a World-Wide Web
client such as Mosaic or Lynx can retrieve back
issues of SJI using the following URL:
http://itre.uncecs.edu/misc/sj/sj.html
To retrieve back issues of SJI via ftp, ftp to
itre.uncecs.edu and look in the directory
/pub/satellite/sj
Minitel (France) 3615 SURPIN
(French/English versions)
Genie: Satellite RoundTable
Fidonet: TVRO Echo
CIX Skyguide/Journal
Transworld BBS Bristol U.K.
GWN TVRO BBS Marquette MI (bird)
Direct-Line
Online System London U.K.
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-----If you wish to post Satellite Journal International (EV) to any
other electronic medium please do, however, please advise me of
where you are posting Satellite Journal International.
-----Satellite Journal may be distributed freely as long as the file
remains whole.
-----Minitel [French and English] versions are edited versions of
the DTP version.