***SATELLITE JOURNAL ITL V2 N15 ***
Gary Torrens
Volume 2 Number 15
21 July 1994
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ABS-CBN International to Introduce Filipino Satellite Services
The company that brought the leading Filipino newscast, "TV Patrol"
and the first pay cable channel, "The Filipino Channel" is
introducing yet another innovative kind of programming that will
make more and more Filipinos tune in on the Philippines, regardless
of where they are in the continental United States.
ABS-CBN International, a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting
Corporation, the Philippine network giant and Asia's most admired
media company, launches ABS-CBN Direct Home Satellite Network.
This exclusive service is for the growing satellite dish market in
the United States, and aims to give programming access to over
100,000 Filipino homes not reached by regular cable systems.
The satellite service, set to begin in the fall of 1994, will
provide Filipino Homes with three video and two audio channels.
Using a DigiCipher 1 provided IRD, satellite dish owners will be
able to watch ABS-CBN Star, the domestic channel in the Philippines;
The Filipino Channel (TFC), 24 hours of selected top-rated movies
and entertainment programs currently available in Northern
California; TFC2, 24 hours of movies and public affairs programs;
all fed live via satellite from Manila. The two audio channels will
enable dish owners to listen to ABS-CBN's top-rated stations, DZMM
Radio Patrol (AM) and DWRR Radio Romance (FM).
"ABS-CBN International's bold move into satellite programming is an
affirmation of its leadership in Philippine broadcasting" states
Managing Director Jose Ramon Olivares, "and we will continue to
stand by our commitment to provide quality programming to viewer
world-wide."
TV Guide On Screen
TV viewing has just become more fun and less guess work as TV Guide
On Screen joins forces with the tv! Network to clue cable viewers
into the newest viewing options.
Beginning Friday, tv! Network -- featuring a customised version
of TV Guide On Screen's electronic guide, the On Screen Channel --
will begin testing a new basic service on several TCI owned and
operated cable systems across the country.
Offering samples of programs airing on a wide range of cable
networks, the tv! Network encourages viewers to try out new
speciality channels like Cable Health Club, Americana and The
Learning Channel, as well as learn more about the programs that air
on premium channels such as Starz!, Disney and Encore.
Created to make television viewing a more engaging experience,
the tv! Network will air selected programs 24 hours a day. Some of
the advantages offered to tv! Network viewers are the opportunity
to see networks they had previously been unable to view due to cable
operators' channel capacity limitations, as well as to experience
premium-channel programming before making their buying decisions.
TV Guide On Screen will help viewers locate programs they want to
watch via a customised version of its On Screen Channel electronic
program guide. This version features a 28-second schedule rotation
to show listings for five selected program networks for all four
U.S. time zones.
"The tv! Network's exciting line-up of selected cable programs
provides a great venue for introducing our On Screen Channel
electronic program guide," stated Bruce Davis, president of TV Guide
On Screen.
"Just as the introduction of cable television in the 1970s
dramatically changed viewing habits, the coming 500-channel era will
significantly increase viewers' need for more advanced program
information.
"TV Guide On Screen's family of electronic guides and the tv!
Network's program samplings are both important tools to help viewers
gain awareness of and access to the growing options on today's cable
systems."
Bob Thompson, president of tv! Network, which is owned by
Liberty Media, noted that he is delighted to have the On Screen
Channel on board, stating, "The tv! Network is committed to
providing viewers with the latest ways to use - not just view -
television.
"We are especially excited about showcasing the On Screen Channel
as a key part of our network launch since we believe there is a
strong, natural harmony between our sample programming and TV Guide
On Screen's leading edge electronic program guides.
"This joint debut of the tv! Network and the On Screen Channel
will give cable subscribers a sample of new technologies, as well as
programming that will help them make the right choices for their
families' entertainment and informational needs."
Avid Technology
Avid Technology Inc. announced that its Film Composer digital
nonlinear editing system was used to edit "Angels in the Outfield,"
Disney's summer baseball fantasy motion picture starring Danny
Glover, Tony Danza and Christopher Lloyd.
"Angels in the Outfield" was directed by William Dear,
produced by Irby Smith and edited by Bruce Green, with Paul
Cichocki, Mark Levine and James Brewer serving as assistant editors.
Director William Dear chose to use Film Composer on "Angels" even
though he was not used to computer technology because he expected to
benefit from using the system to experiment with different
variations and versions. "Other people in the industry had told me
that Film Composer was very easy to learn, even for those not
familiar with computers," Dear commented. "This proved true for us
in every way."
Dear approached Editor Bruce Green with the prospect of editing
the film electronically using Film Composer and Green accepted,
based on Avid's reputation in the industry and Film Composer's
superior editing, effects and sound capabilities. "For the director
who likes to try out different combinations, Film Composer is a
godsend," Green said. "You can imagine what an asset such a system
is to the editor challenged with readying multiple versions for a
director's instant viewing. It's a luxury we haven't had before and
one that helps me be more effective."
Film Composer is a film-optimised version of Avid's Media
Composer, the world's most popular digital nonlinear editing system.
Film Composer is the first editing system that supports digitising,
editing and playback of images of 24 frames-per-second (fps),
eliminating the technical problems traditionally associated with
editing a film using a nonlinear editing system.
"Angels in the Outfield" continues the trend among filmmakers who
are realising significant economic and creative advantages by using
Film Composer instead of traditional editing equipment. "True
Lies," "Wolf," "Naked Gun 33-1/3" and "The Fugitive" are only a few
movies on the Hollywood roster of motion pictures edited on the
system. Film Composer is also used on shows such as "Northern
Exposure," "NYPD Blue" and "Late Show with David Letterman" and
other current television programs.
The On Screen Channel, which is compatible with all current cable
converters, is a non-interactive program guide channel from TV Guide
On Screen. The On Screen Channel intelligently switches from a full
screen of listings to a promotional half screen format.
Its listings, drawn from TV Guide, the most respected source of
television information, are enhanced by picturesque backgrounds and
digital mood music. Presented in convenient, up-to-date half hour
time blocks that gently fade from one screen to the next, the
program guide provides information for every channel, colour-coded
for movies and sports.
In addition to the On Screen Channel, TV Guide on Screen is
developing interactive electronic program guides for the
Scientific-Atlanta 8600X and GI DigiCable Series set tops, and
broadband networks.
Singapore CableVision
Singapore CableVision announced it has taken on three new partners
for a cable television project. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore
Technologies Ventures and Continental Cablevision, the third largest
cable company in the U.S., will invest around $333 million in the
project. SCV currently offers three pay-TV channels over the air
and the project is to wire Singapore for cable and incorporate the
three channels into a cable offering. SCV is hoping to have some
areas wired by next year and have the whole country wired by the end
of the decade.
International Broadcasting
Thailand's International Broadcasting Corp Ltd has signed a
three-year renewal agreement with CNN International, CNN reported.
The agreement allows IBC to rebroadcast CNNI on its basic cable
package through May 1997.
"The current agreement is a comprehensive one which will allow
IBC to use CNNI as they expand in other market places in Thailand
and beyond, including Shinawatra international ventures in
Cambodia, Laos and potentially Vietnam and Burma," CNN said. IBC
is part of Thailand's Shinawatra Group. CNN International is
offered on IBC's basic cable package to over 100,000 households in
Bangkok.
STAR TV
STAR TV will start digital television broadcasting in the first
quarter of next year, following an agreement to lease eight
transponders on the Asiasat 2 satellite.
AsiaSat's planned launch of Asiasat 2 satellite is the first
quarter of 1995. The 12-year agreement Asiasat, will enable STAR
to transmit up to 32 channels of digitally compressed television in
addition to the seven analogue channels already broadcast from
Asiasat 1.
Liberty Media Corp
tv! the new preview network from Liberty Media Corp., has finalised
its list of programmers that will be carried during the network's
test phase that began July 15.
"This initial group of agreements will provide tv! with a wide
range of basic and premium services from which to program its
schedule," said acting tv! President Bob Thompson.
Services that have agreed to have portions of their programming
aired on tv! are:
Americana Television Network, Cable Health Club, Cartoon Network,
Country Music Television, The Disney Channel, Encore, The Game
Channel, The Learning Channel, The Military Channel, National
Empowerment Television, NewSport, Outdoors Motorsports Collectibles
Network, Starz!, The Talk Channel, and Turner Classic Movies.
In addition, TV Guide on Screen will be providing tv! with a
customised version of the "On Screen Channel."
"We have a number of other agreements in various stages of
completion," said Thompson. "I expect that we will be announcing
several during the next few weeks."
tv! will began its test phase July 15, on a number of
Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) systems. Substantial roll-out of
the network will begin in September. tv! was designed to offer
viewers an opportunity to preview cable services not widely
distributed due to channel capacity constraints or their designation
as an a la carte service.
Stanford Telecommunications
Stanford Telecommunications, Inc. announced that its ASIC and
Custom Products Division has received a new contract from Mainstream
Data for 6,000 VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) receiver modules.
The receiver module, designated the STEL-9236, provides Mainstream
Data with a complete "L-band to data stream" receiver board for
Direct Broadcast Data applications providing background music and
digital information to businesses world-wide via satellite.
Chuck Frank, Director of the ASIC & Custom Products Division
stated that, "We are gratified by the enthusiastic acceptance of the
STEL-9236, and are pleased that Mainstream Data has selected us as a
key supplier. The introduction of this receiver module maintains
the high performance required by VSAT satellite communications
systems while significantly reducing the costs normally associated
with this type of product."
The STEL-9236 VSAT receiver module performs the signal processing
functions required to receive the VSAT signal in the L-band
frequency range and translates it into a stream of decoded data - a
required function in VSAT equipment.
The receiver module's Bit Error Rate performance is within 3/4 dB
from the theoretical optimum. To accomplish the nearly theoretical
performance at a cost significantly lower than current industry
trends, Stanford Telecom has developed a new high performance VLSI
circuit that performs all of the complex receiver functions
digitally, such as symbol timing, carrier tracking, down conversion,
etc. Comparable designs traditionally require a significant number
of expensive and complex components to operate at a similar
performance level.
The STEL-9236 is also being used by other VSAT equipment
suppliers in a variety of commercial satellite applications such as
the distribution of stock market data, and rural telephony.
Mainstream Data, Salt Lake City, Utah produces several SCPC audio
and data receivers designed to support business music and in-store
advertising services and point-to-multipoint data distribution
networks.
Flight 64
On Friday night, July 8, just three weeks after Flight 64,
Arianespace successfully launched two satellites: PAS-2, the first
new-generation satellite for the American company PanAmSat, and
BS-3N, a Japanese direct TV broadcast satellite for the Nippon Hoso
Kyokal (NHK) network and Japan Satellite Broadcasting(JSB). PAS-2
will cover the Asia-Pacific region and BS-3N will cover Japan.
The launch vehicle for Flight 65 was Ariane 44L, the most
powerful version of the European launcher, equipped with four
liquid-propellant strap-on boosters. Lift-off from the Space Centre
in Kourou, French Guiana, took place on Friday, July 8, 1994, at
8:05:32 p.m. local time (7:05:32 p.m. in Washington; 11:05:32 p.m.
GMT, and on July 9 at 1:05:32 a.m. in Paris and 8:05:32 a.m. in
Tokyo).
Commenting on the success of Flight 65, Arianespace Chairman and
CEO Charles Bigot said: "Following yesterday's signing of the launch
contract for Malaysia's first satellite, Arianespace is proud to
play a role in implementing new telecommunications systems for the
booming Asia-Pacific market: the privately-owned PanAmSat system and
a direct TV broadcast satellite for Japan."
Provisional parameters at third stage injection into
geostationary transfer orbit were:
Perigee: 199.6 km for a target of 199.7 km
Apogee: 35,977 km for a target of 35,993 km
Inclination: 7 degrees for a target of 7 degrees
PAS-2 is the first of the second generation of satellites
operated by the American company PanAmSat. Weighing 2,290 kg (5,038
lb.) at lift-off, it was designed and built by Hughes Space and
Communications, based in El Segundo, California. Positioned above
the Marshall Islands, and equipped with 16 Ku-band and 16 C-band
transponders, PAS-2 will provide telecommunications services for the
Asia-Pacific region.
BS-3N is a Japanese direct TV broadcast satellite weighing, 1,210
kg (2, 662 lb.) at lift-off. It was built by Martin Marietta Astro
Space of the United States for Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) and Japan
Satellite Broadcasting Inc. (JSB). Positioned above the island of
Borneo, it will broadcast television programs for all of Japan.
The next launch, Flight 66, is now scheduled for July 30, 1994.
An Ariane 44LP launch vehicle will be used to place two
telecommunications satellites into geostationary orbit: Turksat 1B,
built by Aerospatiale for the Turkish Ministry of post and
Telecommunications, and Brasilsat B1, built by Hughes Space and
Communications for Embratel of Brazil.
Encore Media
Denver-based Encore Media Corporation will launch "WAM! AMERICA'S
YOUTH NETWORK (Encore-7)," a 24-hour-a-day, entertainment and
educational children's channel nationally, on Sept. 12 in
Washington. The channel and its globally produced programming
line-up is specifically designed to meet immediately the needs of
President Clinton's much-anticipated "Goals 2000," it was announced
by John J. Sie, Encore's chairman and CEO.
"To successfully reach our audience of 8- to 16-year-olds," said
Sie, "we knew we had to listen to them to find out what they wanted
in a channel, including its name. With 'Tweens' as a working title,
we began the exhaustive process of a nation-wide search, and three
months later, with hundreds of qualified entries submitted, two
clear winners emerged."
"Our goal for the new channel is to capture and enhance the
vitality, spirit and energy of America's youth. We believe the new
name, 'WAM! AMERICA'S YOUTH NETWORK,' achieves this goal."
The winning ideas came from 12-year-old Tom Jovanovich ("WAM!")
from St. Cloud, Minn. and 11-year-old Brian Roy ("America's Youth
Network"), from Morgan City, La.
"We feel that the concerns now being voiced by government,
educators and parents will be met head-on with the wonderful
diversity of multi-cultural programs we have acquired ranging from
time-tested series produced in the U.S. and abroad to wholesome
feature films and richly produced documentaries. Also included are
eight hours each week dedicated to parenting skills and teacher
development," said Jane Lynn, director of Encore's Multiplex.
Programmed in dayparts, the schedule opens with "Reel Learning,"
from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and will offer shows that capture some of the
world's wonders in nature, space exploration, science, history,
geography and literature.
"Reel Learning," representing a television first in its mission
and content, is designed to be a curriculum-enrichment tool, not a
teacher-replacement.
The 3 p.m.-7 p.m. time period is aimed at an after-school
audience and will include kids-magazine series, classic series,
sports shows such as "Hot Shots, " featuring kids from all over the
world doing their favourite pastimes, sci-fi and adventure series.
The time period between 7 p.m.-10 p.m. will be packed with a
variety of internationally produced shows for kids and their
families to watch together including wholesome, popular feature
films such as "Grease" and "The Karate Kid."
Zenith
Zenith Electronics Corporation announced the first international
license of its unique 16-VSB digital transmission technology -- to
Japan's XING Inc. for an innovative karaoke multimedia network in
Japan.
A joint venture of Brother Group, Japan, and Intec Inc., Japan,
XING plans to use Zenith's 16-VSB (16-level vestigial sideband)
digital modulation and transmission technology to deliver a huge
number of on- demand karaoke music videos via coaxial cable or
hybrid fiber/coax networks.
XING operates a nation-wide multimedia network in Japan offering
services such as on-line music-on-demand karaoke and
software-on-demand vending services. The karaoke multimedia network
currently transmits the sing-along programs using the ISDN
(Integrated Service Digital Network) standard and low band-width
telephone lines to local business establishments.
With Zenith's high-bandwidth 16-VSB technology, XING plans to
provide real-time interaction with a digital video "server" to
deliver the music video programming via cable.
Because of the large amount of data that can be delivered on the
16-VSB system, the program choices from the distant server will be
virtually limitless. XING also will have significantly increased
flexibility in downloading karaoke digital programming from the
server to local digital storage devices.
Beyond karaoke, XING plans to expand its use of 16-VSB technology
to include delivery of other multimedia services including
movies-on- demand. Its long-term plans include using 16-VSB for
delivery of interactive digital services to residential customers in
Japan and other parts of the world.
Zenith's VSB system, expected to be the standard for delivery of
digital high-definition television (HDTV) signals on cable TV
systems in the United States, is ideal for any application requiring
the delivery of large amounts of digital data on cable systems. It
transmits 43 megabits per second in a single 6-MHz cable channel,
one-third more data and at lower cost than competing 64-QAM
proposals.
Terms of the XING license agreement, Zenith's fourth 16-VSB
license, were not disclosed. Earlier this year, Zenith licensed 16
VSB technology to General Instrument Corporation, Philips Consumer
Electronics Company and Compression Labs Inc.
Philips
In the first step of a January 1994 agreement, Philips Consumer
Electronics Co. and Compression Labs Inc. announced that they
received a contract from Bell Atlantic for the first interactive
Digital Entertainment Terminals.
The Terminals will be used in the first commercial market digital
television and information services which will be transported over
Bell Atlantic's video dialtone network in New Jersey.
Under the terms of the contract, the Philips/CLI team will
deliver the interactive Terminals, also known as digital set-top
decoders, that will receive, decode, and control a wide range of
video entertainment services to be offered by program providers,
including Futurevision.
The initial multi-million-dollar order to Philips and CLI will be
for installations in Bell Atlantic's Dover Township, New Jersey
service area beginning later this year. Bell Atlantic received
approval from the STX Communications Commission on July 6 to begin
construction of an interactive digital network serving 38,000 lines.
Service is expected to begin in early 1995.
"This deployment is a major first for the telecommunications and
consumer electronics industries in bringing the Information Highway
into peoples' homes by way of the television," explained Bill
Kennedy, senior vice president, Philips Digital Videocommunications
Systems (DVS). "We're proud to work with Bell Atlantic and CLI in
leading the interactive digital TV revolution with our new
products."
"This agreement takes the industry and consumer beyond trials and
into real-world deployment of digital programming technology,"
explained John E. Tyson, president, chief executive officer and
chairman of CLI. "It's exciting to see the power of digital
compression technology used to make TV programming more innovative
and versatile than ever."
The Philips/CLI Terminals will use the MPEG-2 (Moving Picture
Experts Group) international standard for digital video compression,
as well as the MPEG-specified Musicam audio system. They will
contain microprocessing capabilities equivalent to a powerful
personal computer and more than 5 Megabytes of random access memory.
The Terminals will be easy to hook up to the video dialtone
network. An easy-to-use yet sophisticated graphic user interface is
based on Philips' Compact Disc-interactive (CD-1) system. A
wireless remote control guides viewers through intuitive
(menu/option) on-screen selection of a new world of television
choices.
Some of those choices could include ordering movies and other
video programming (health care, educational and children's shows),
paying bills, shopping, and much more -- all by pointing and
clicking an on-screen cursor at symbols and menus on the TV screen.
Eurowatch
What's making news across Europe's skies
c Martyn Williams 1994
VOX - latest news
CLT want "RTL Super"
Late last Saturday night the German news magazine Der Spiegal broke
the news that CLT will not take up their 24.9% share in failing
German TV channel VOX. Instead CLT announced that they wanted to
start another new channel, RTL Super. According to the magazine,
CLT and Ufa had differing opinions on the future of VOX. CLT want a
general entertainment channel along the lines of their RTL or RTL 2
networks. Ufa, who also have a 24.9% share, said they wanted the
focus of the channel to remain on information.
The proposed new RTL Super channel will be based on a movies and
series programmes concept.
The remaining 25.2 % in VOX has since been purchased by publishing
group Burda joining Ufa (24.9%) and News International (49.9%) as
the owners of VOX.
Filmnet to launch in Poland via Astra
European pay TV sender Filmnet has announced a new channel for
Poland to be carried via the Astra satellite. The launch date for
the new channel will be October 1st and it will be specially
customised for the Polish market with all movies being broadcast in
Polish via either dubbing or subtitles.
The new channel comes just a few weeks after the establishment of
Multichoice Poland, a joint venture between FilmNet's parent company
Nethold and News Datacom, a subsidiary of News International PLC.
The new FilmNet channel will be broadcast via the Astra satellite
system and will be encrypted in VideoCrypt II. In addition to
Poland, other Central European countries could benefit from this new
channel in the future.
At the launch of the new channel Hans Klok, Managing Director of
FilmNet Television Europe, explained: "I am delighted that the
proven expertise of FilmNet is to be used to develop a unique
channel that is tailor-made for the Polish viewer. FilmNet is
recognised by satellite and cable subscribers as offering a superior
service and will maintain its exclusivity and high quality
standards, yet at an affordable price, in the new channel for the
Polish market."
The home of the new channel is still a secret. In response to the
question of what channel would be used a Filmnet spokesman said
"Sorry, it is definitely great news, but the transponder on Astra is
still kept confidential at this stage."
For some time Filmnet have been trying to move users off the D2-MAC
Scandinavian service on Astra's channel 11 and get them to watch the
service on the Thor DBS satellite. The Astra channel is expected to
be vacated soon and it would then seem the natural position for
Filmnet Poland however a look at the Astra footprint reveals that
channel 63, currently used by Filmnet's Movie Channel, covers Poland
with a stronger signal. We expect Filmnet to move The Complete
Movie Channel from transponder 63 to transponder 11 and place the
Polish service on the Astra 1C channel.
August 19 launch for Sky Sports 2
Sky have finally announced a launch date for the much delayed Sky
Sports 2 channel. Friday August 19th will see the start of
transmissions on Astra channel 47. The new service is being
launched to allow Sky to cover two sports events live and
simultaneously without the need to disrupt programming on Sky One or
any other channel as was done in the past.
Initially the service will broadcast at weekends only with an
expansion to a full seven days a week schedule being a possibility
according to a Sky spokesman. Live golf and rugby union will fill
the majority of the schedule for the first couple of months with
expanded coverage of sports already carried on the Sky Sports
filling out the rest of the day.
All sports subscribers will enjoy the new channel for no extra
charge. As for using the new channel as a launching pad for future
pay per view sporting events Sky would only comment that these are
rumours at the present time and there are no plans to introduce PPV
in the immediate future.
Russia joins Eutelsat
Russia has joined other CIS nations in becoming a member of the
European Satellite Organisation, Eutelsat. The contract, to become
a full member, was signed in the Paris headquarters of Eutlesat on
July 5. Russia becomes the 41st member.
UK government plans TV future
In a UK government statement on July 14th, Heritage secretary Peter
Brooke gave the go-ahead for the advertisement of the channel 5
licence and also digital TV.
The Channel 5 licence was advertised before but only a handful of
consortiums ended up submitting a firm bid. The main problem with
the new network is that it will only cover around two thirds of the
country due to shortages of broadcast channels in the UK. The
channel will have to cover the country using just one channel - that
already used by most of the nations VCRs. The licence includes a
clause stipulating that the successful bidder must provide free
re-tuning of any VCRs that require. This alone is expected to cost
around GBP20m. Brooke added that if the new network adopted digital
technology to send their signal they would reach almost 90% of the
UK. The government is keen to see the launch of digital TV, using
the MPEG 2 system, as UK companies such as NTL and Pace were heavily
involved in the development of the system and consumer technology.
Brooke also unveiled a plan which calls for 12 digitally compressed
channels being available nation-wide by the year 2000.
The announcement by the Heritage secretary doesn't mean that the
channel will be launched though. The ITC can now decide whether it
is worth advertising the licence.
Ariane V65 launch latest news
PanAmSat announced this week that they had already signed several
contracts for use of the new satellite. The companies involved
include Japanese telephone company KDD, Philippine TV station
ABS-CBN, Discovery Channel, ESPN, Turner Network TV and US Viacom.
The new satellite is expected to become a primary path for TV
traffic between Japan and the USA using 16 Ku band transponders and
16 on C band.
The next Ariane launch will be flight V66 and will take place on
30th July. An Ariane 44LP will carry Turksat 1B and Brasilsat 1B
into orbit.
UKTV International
Bob Phillis, deputy director general and chairman of BBC Worldwide,
the division responsible for BBC WSTV, said at a British Labour
Party conference last week that the corporation will actively look
for more programme input from ITV and Channel 4 in the new BBC World
Service TV stations that are starting around the world.
He said "We would not rule out wider co-operation with major ITV
companies either in particular regions or on particular kinds of
channels." The BBC are keen to take on board some of the award
winning documentary output from stations such as Central TV and
Anglia.
Ariane wins MEASAT-1 contract
Ariane has been chosen as the launch vehicle of the first MEASAT due
for launch later this year. The Malaysian telecommunications
satellite will provide telephone, telex, data and digital television
for Malaysia, the Philippines and nearby countries.
Scharf next Eurovision president
The Bayerischen Rundfunk (BR) chief, Professor Albert Scharf is to
become the next president of the European Broadcasting Union. He
will take up his post from 1995.
Cable Plus back on 11 West
Czech movie channel, Cable Plus, has returned to it's original
position on Gorizont at 11 degrees West. A few weeks ago the
channel moved suddenly. At the same time the Reuters Moscow feed
moved over from 14 degrees West to 11. The Reuters feed is now back
in place although the bird at 14 degrees West is in an inclined
orbit.
Russia launches maritime watch satellite
A new satellite to pin point ships in distress was put into orbit by
the Russian military on July 14th. The launch, from the Plesetsk
Cosmodrome, took place at 0913 Moscow time. The satellite, named
"Nadyeshda" will link up with an existing US / Canadian / French
network.
Russia wins Mexican launch contract
The new Mexican space authority has switched launch contracts from
China to Russia after Long March launch failures. The countries
first domestically made satellite will be used for geographical
study and will be launched by a Russian vehicle.
TV news in brief ....
Where is WTT ? After briefly transmitting a caption on the Dutch
PTT's transponder on Eutelsat 2F3 stating their intention to start a
service shortly nothing has been seen of World Tamil Television.
Italian state TV, RAI, has a new president, Letizia Moratti.
France may be planning their own Parliamentary Channel
The International Shopping Channel has begun broadcasting during the
night hours on TRT International on Eutelsat 2 F1.
Radio news in brief ....
Ambitious plans from Holland FM. News this week suggests that they
may move their studios to a ship anchored just off the Dutch coast.
The move is expected to take place during August.
There is speculation that Holland FM may merge with Happy RTL.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is now broadcasting from a new
base in Prague after closing and moving from their Munich
headquarters.
Goodbye "Armee sender" - AFN and BFBS radio have ended broadcasts in
Berlin.
Listen out for SDR 3 radio via ZDF on Astra from 25 July.
More rumours on a Caroline comeback. The latest talk places them on
the up coming World Radio Network German channel during the off
hours.
Radio Montmarte has returned to satellite via NBC Super Channel
after loosing their home on Eutelsat 2 F3. Find them on 6.30 MHz.
RNE Radio 2 on Hispasat. Check the Canal Classico channel, 7.38 /
7.56 MHz on Hispasat for Spain's second network.
After missing the end date of April 1st for analogue radio on
Telecom, the revised end date is September 1st. The remaining
analogue stations should be transferred to France Telecom's MVR-128
digital system by then.
Teletext news in brief ....
New teletext on Pro 7 - Pro 7 started a new teletext on 12th July
called Express TV. The service aims to be Germany's best text TV
guide carrying listings for around 30 channels. So far we have
counted around 12 channels being carried but regional ARD stations
are expected to be added soon with more satellite listings.
The main index is on page 100 with the hour by hour guide starting
on p400.
SHOW TV has launched a teletext service, including programme guide.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Satellite Journal
International
Volume 2 Issue 15
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