***Satellite Journal Itl. Vol 2 No 17***
Gary Torrens
Volume 2 Number 17
18 August 1994
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Country Music Television will expand its 24-hour country music
video programming channel to Asia-Pacific region by mid-September
1994 and to Latin America by January 1995 via PanAmSat satellites,
announced E.W. Wendell, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Gaylord Entertainment Company and Donald H. Mitzner, President,
Group W Satellite Communications.
The rapid growth of CMT in Europe as well as the growing popularity
of American country music around the world have resulted in CMT's
commitment to make its service available throughout the Asia-Pacific
region and Latin America via the new high-powered PanAmSat
satellites. CMT is jointly owned by Gaylord Entertainment and Group
W Satellite Communications.
"We believe the launch of CMT on these two new satellites truly
makes us a global service and the missionaries of country music to
the entire world," said Wendell. "CMT continues to grow faster and
stronger than our initial expectations. We feel it's important to
get CMT's signal to the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, where
we recognise there is already a great deal of interest in American
country music as well as great potential to introduce country music
to new audiences."
Mitzner added, "Over the past year, we've experienced strong
interest from cable operators and satellite program packagers who
want to distribute CMT in Asian and Latin American countries. We're
delighted we will be able to offer CMT to distributors in these
countries on the 'hot bird' for U.S. and foreign program
networks."
According to the terms of a ten-year agreement, CMT has leased a
transponder on PanAmSat's PAS-2, which launched last month and will
be operational later this month. By mid-September, a customised
version of CMT will be available in the Asia-Pacific region. PAS-2
provides coverage of the Asia-Pacific region including China, Japan,
Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Pacific Islands.
CMT has already signed its first affiliate to launch the service via
PanAmSat: Cable Television PTY Limited of Sydney, Australia. Cable
operators in New Zealand and the Mariannas Islands who have been
carrying CMT on a tape-delay basis will begin relaying the signal
from PanAmSat once the satellite service is operational.
In addition, CMT has agreed to lease a transponder on PanAmSat's
PAS-3 for coverage throughout Latin America. PAS-3 is scheduled to
launch in November 1994 and will be operational in late 1994. CMT
Latin America will begin telecasting in January 1995.
Wendell noted that American country artists and their music are
already popular in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, and
these international markets are also developing their own country
music talent. For example, Japan has a full-time country music
radio station and Vince Gill and other artists have been received
with tremendous enthusiasm and are selling albums in Asian
countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia
and Taiwan.
CMT's domestic feed already has limited distribution in Latin
America via SATCOM C-4 to subscribers in Venezuela, Mexico,
Honduras, and parts of the Caribbean, where it has been
enthusiastically received by cable operators and viewers.
Distribution via PanAmSat's PAS-3 will further increase CMT's
distribution area throughout Latin America.
CMT and CMT Europe currently reach over 34 million households
world-wide.
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) launched an
H-2 rocket from the Tanega Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture on
August 17th with a "two ton technology experiment satellite 6-type"
(ETS-6) payload. In a bid to prepare Japan for the multimedia era,
NASDA plans to use the ETS-6 to undertake a variety of
telecommunications experiments which include an experiment in
highspeed and mass-capacity telecommunications and an experiment in
intersatellite telecommunications. NASDA also plans to investigate
to what extent telecommunications technology will be able to use
satellite in the future.
The ETS-6 adopts a multibeam system that makes it possible for the
ETS-6 to simultaneously use several micro beam-shaped radio waves
when it communicates with ground telecommunications stations.
Compared to the single-beam system used by communications satellites
including the CS-3, the multibeam system can develop high-speed and
mass-capacity telecommunications because of its capacity to
concentrate radio waves in a narrow beam.
The single-beam system covers the entire Japanese archipelago with a
single beam-shaped radio wave. The Nippon Telegram and Telephone
Corporation (NTT) will undertake telecommunications experiments, in
the Ka band, between the ETS-6 and fixed ground telecommunications
stations in four service regions including Kanto and Kansai after
dividing the entire Japanese archipelago into 13 service regions
from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
The multibeam system will bolster the radio wave strength of the
ETS-6 to about 30 times that of the CS-3. The multibeam system will
make it possible for the ETS-6 to send 156-megabits per second.
The United States used a similar multibeam system to experiment with
telecommunications between ground stations and the ACTS satellite,
launched in September 1993.
GI ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITATE BROAD
USAGE OF DIGICIPHER(R) II
General Instrument has licensed its MPEG-2 compatible
DigiCipher II digital television technology to leading domestic and
international communications equipment manufacturers such as
Scientific Atlanta, Hewlett-Packard Company and Zenith Electronics
Corporation, and is in discussions with various other manufacturers.
GI has also licensed portions of its technology to chip
manufacturers, including Motorola, LSI Logic and C-Cube
Microsystems.
"With the recent addition of Scientific Atlanta to our growing
number of licensees -- and the momentum created by the decisions of
major programming services, cable television operators, and telcos
to adopt GI's DigiCipher II technology -- it's clear that GI's
system has been accepted as a broadbased technology for digital
satellite, cable and terrestrial systems providing entertainment and
interactive multimedia services," said Hal Krisbergh, president of
the GI Communications Division.
General Instrument has taken three major actions to facilitate and
support access to the DigiCipher II access control, encryption,
dual-mode compression (MPEG-2, DigiCipher II), transport and
transmission technologies.
First, GI has established a DigiCipher Licensing Business Unit
responsible for the administration of all of GI's activities
relating to the licensing and support of DigiCipher II technology.
The unit will enter into license agreements with prospective
licensees and manage related activities to facilitate the DigiCipher
licensing process. This will include the transfer of licensed
technology, the co-ordination of technical support and documentation
to licensees, the dissemination of technology improvement
information among DigiCipher licensees, and the establishment and
support of independent certification/compliance laboratories to
ensure the compatibility of licensee products.
Second, GI announced its plan to establish relationships,
domestically and internationally, with one or more laboratories.
These laboratories will be available to verify that products
manufactured by GI's DigiCipher licensees are compatible with all
aspects of the DigiCipher II system.
Finally, GI will establish an international DigiCipher II Users
Group, comprised of licensees, programmers and network providers to
share ideas regarding the evolution and development of the system.
GI said it anticipates that the ideas generated by this group will
benefit users of the technology world-wide.
KDD To Launch Satellite-Based TV Transmission Service
KDD plans to launch an international Intelsat satellite-based TV
transmission service called Global Skyline in December. The service
will be offered in co-operation with Keystone of Washington, D.C.,
Hong Kong Telecom, and Korea Telecom. KDD and Keystone have been
providing a service called K2 Skylink between the US and Japan, and
the service area will now be expanded to cover Korea and Hong Kong
as well. Transmissions from Japan will also be possible. The
service will mainly be targeted at TV stations for transmission of
news.
Arianespace successfully launched Flight 66 with two satellites:
Brasilsat B1, the first of Brazil's second-generation satellite
system, and Turksat 1B, Turkey's first telecommunications
satellite.
The launch vehicle used for was an Ariane 44LP, the version of the
European launcher equipped with two liquid-propellant and two
solid-propellant strap-on boosters. Lift-off from the Space Centre
in Kourou, French Guiana, took place on Wednesday, August 10, 1994
at 8:05 p.m. (23:05 GMT)
Commenting on the third successful flight this summer, Arianespace
Chairman and CEO Charles Bigot, said: "We are pleased and proud that
this launch will contribute to the expansion of telecommunications
services for our faithful customer, EMBRATEL, and to the
implementation of a satellite telecommunications system by Turkey, a
newcomer in satellite operations. Flight 66 was a challenge to the
professional skills of all Ariane Industrial teams. Thanks to the
rigorous quality controls carried out here in Kourou, the accuracy
of a sensitive diagnosis concerning an unexpected incident, and work
that was both fast and efficient, we have been able to carry out
three launches in less than two months."
Provisional parameters at third stage injection into
geostationary transfer orbit were:
Perigee: 199.3 km (+/- 3 km) for a target of 199.5 km,
Apogee: 35,094 km (+/- 160 km) for a target of 36,020 km,
Inclination: 7.00 degree (+/- 0.06 degrees) for a target of
7 degrees.
Brasilsat B1 is the first model of the second-generation satellites
built by HUGHES SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS at El Segundo, California, on
behalf of EMBRATEL of Brazil. Weighing 1,765 kg at launch (3,883
lb.), it is equipped with 28 C-band transponders. It will be
positioned over Brazil and provide telecommunications services for
this country.
Turksat 1B, Turkey's first telecommunications satellite, was
designed and will be delivered in orbit by AEROSPATIALE. Built in
Cannes (southern France), it weighs 1,779 kg (3,914 lb.) and is
equipped with 16 Ku-band transponders. Positioned in orbit over
Somalia, it will provide telecommunications, television, and data
transmission for Turkey and the Turkish-speaking communities in
Europe and Asia.
The next launch, Flight 67, is now scheduled for September 8, 1994.
An Ariane 42L launch vehicle will be used to place into orbit the
Telstar 402 telecommunications satellite for AT&T of the United
States.
Following Flight 66, and the signature of the contracts for BSAT-1a
and 1b, Arianespace's backlog now stands at 39 satellites to be
launched.
Viewers of Australian television who live in parts of remote
Australia will have to pay an additional A$150 to receive
Australia's national signals. Viewers in these remote areas use
satellite dishes to receive the programming. Both Australian
broadcasters (ABC and SBS) plan to digitally compress these channels
and dishowners will be required to pay the extra fee for a decoder.
"It is disgraceful that some of our most information-deprived
communities are being told that they effectively must pay a 'toll'
to access their national broadcasters," Senator Alston said in a
statement.
PPC Communications Ltd has entered into a joint venture with
Columbia Communications Corp of the United States to provide
international voice data and video telecommuncations services. PPC
said the services are planned to carried on the POR and AOR TDRS
satellites.
The realisation of personalised television was completed
tonight with the successful launch of DBS-2, the nation's second
direct broadcast satellite (DBS). DIRECTV Inc., a unit of GM Hughes
Electronics, will now be able to deliver up to 150 channels of
entertainment and informational programming -- including hit
Hollywood movies, sports special interest channels and America's
favourite subscription services -- to homes across the United States
equipped with the RCA-brand DSS(TM) (Digital Satellite System),
which features an 18-inch satellite dish.
DBS-2 was launched successfully at 7:57 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time (EDT) on a Martin Marietta Atlas IIA rocket from Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station in Florida. DBS-2 separated from the booster
approximately 30 minutes later. Nearly two hours after lift-off,
satellite controllers at Hughes Aircraft Co. facilities in Los
Angeles acquired the first signals from the satellite and confirmed
that all systems were operating properly.
"The era personalised television is finally upon us, thanks to the
successful launch of DBS-2," said Eddy Hartenstein, president of
DIRECTV. "DIRECTV(TM) is proud to be on the cutting edge of the
home entertainment revolution, and the first to deliver 150 channels
of digital entertainment. To consumers all across America, DIRECTV
is delivering on the promise of choice, value and convenience."
The launch of DBS-2 enables DIRECTV to expand its channel line-up
and offer the new Total Choice(TM) programming package. Total
Choice includes more than 40 channels of popular cable subscription
services and access to up to 50 channels of Direct Ticket(TM) Pay
Per View movies and events, showing hit movies as often as every 30
minutes for just $2.99 each. Another 30-50 channels will deliver
sports and a la carte program choices.
Wegener Corporation announced that it has received an order to
supply Wegener addressable digital video products to the State of
South Dakota for the state's Rural Development Telecommunications
network based in Pierre, South Dakota. The Wegener equipment will
be used to build a satellite-based "distance learning" network for
college level education and will incorporate Wegener's addressable
network control system (ANCS). The size of the order was not
disclosed.
In announcing receipt of this order, Wegener Chairman, Robert A.
Placek, said, "Selection by the State of South Dakota is further
evidence of our leadership in satellite delivered digital
audio/video programming. Mitchell Vocational Institute in Mitchell,
South Dakota will transmit the satellite portion of the network.
Significantly, Wegener addressability capability (ANCS) enables our
customer to combine the precision of point-to-point communications
with the economies of a point-to-multipoint broadcast. ANCS
controls the receivers individually, in groups, or all at once
providing maximum network flexibility. Wegener already has more
than 100,000 addressable receivers in operation throughout the world
delivering a variety of programming."
Arianespace has signed a contract to launch two television
satellites for Japanese broadcasters early in 1997 and 1998. Hughes
Communications International Inc selected Arianespace to launch
direct television broadcast satellites, BSAT-1a and BSAT-1b. The
satellites will provide services for state-owned NHK and Japan
Satellite Broadcasting Inc among others.
The US Air Force used a Pegasus rocket to launch an APEX
satellite that will study the effects of radiation and charged
particles on the solar panels that power it. The Pegasus rocket was
launched from a B-52 aircraft .
C-Cube Microsystems Inc. has been selected by DiviCom Inc. to
supply digital video compression chips for its DMC-2 program
encoder.
The C-Cube compression chips implement the Motion Picture Experts
Group (MPEG) standards for compressing digital video. C-Cube
supplies DiviCom with both encoder chips, which compress digital
video, and decoder chips, which reconstitute compressed video for
viewing. DiviCom's DMC-2 program encoder was recently selected by
Bell Atlantic, which will use over 100 DMC-2s to implement a major
digital cable television network in New Jersey.
"By combining C-Cube's video compression algorithm and semiconductor
expertise with our system algorithm and integration prowess, we've
been able to produce digital video delivery systems that set new
price and performance standards for the industry," said Nolan
Daines, president and chief executive officer of DiviCom Inc.
DiviCom uses C-Cube's VideoRISC Processor in their DMC-2 program
encoder to compress digital video into MPEG 2 syntax in real time,
and C-Cube's CL450 MPEG Video decoder in the Bell-Atlantic set top
terminals.
C-Cube's Video RISC Processor and associated MPEG encoding
algorithms are the most broadly used MPEG video encoding systems in
the market. These chips are the foundation of the real-time
encoders used in Hughes Electronics' DirecTV system and are being
used to encode all of the program content for the Omaha and Orlando
full-service networks. The VideoRISC Processor is also used in
equipment supplied by Scientific-Atlanta in the Orbit Communications
direct broadcast satellite system being deployed in the Middle East.
The CL450 MPEG 1 Video Decoder was the world's first single-chip
MPEG video decoder when introduced in 1992. It is widely used in
consumer electronics products such as VideoCD players and game
consoles from companies like JVC, 3DO and DVS, and in MPEG add-in
cards for the PC, such as Sigma Design's Reel Magic. The CL450 has
also been widely used in video-on-demand trials, such as the one
being conducted by Bell Atlantic in Virginia.
Zilog's announced that it has licensed QD Technology Inc.'s
video enhancement technology and will jointly develop and market a
video enhancement chipset that will be manufactured by Zilog.
These products use advanced digital signal processing techniques to
improve the picture quality of a conventional television signal to a
quality that approaches HDTV.
Previously marketed for the professional video industry, QD's
technology will now be available for the consumer television market.
Ed Sack, chief executive officer of Zilog, said: "We are all eagerly
awaiting the day when we can have HDTV in our homes at a reasonable
price. In the meantime, the QD technology offers improved video on
larger screen TVs to enhance the enjoyment of programs where picture
quality is an important part of the presentation."
QD Technology converts standard NTSC composite video to near HDTV
quality by conditioning incoming signals. Image processing
compress- eliminates dot-crawl and cross colour to produce a much
sharper image. Unlike HDTV, this system does not require a change
in broadcast equipment, is available now, and is cost-effective.
Lowell Noble, president of QD Technology added, "We recognise that
Zilog is a leading semiconductor manufacturer for the mass consumer
market and we are pleased that they are teaming with us to bring
near quality HDTV into the commercial TV arena."
BE Aerospace Inc. announced that it has been selected by Air
France to supply interactive in-seat video systems for the premium
class sections of the Air France long-haul widebody aircraft fleet.
This initial phase in the equipping of the Air France fleet with
interactive video is valued at $10 million in revenues.
BEA will supply 29 Air France Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft with its
premier video system, the B/E 4000 Multimedia Digital Distribution
System (MDDS). The first aircraft installation is scheduled for the
Spring of 1995, with deliveries to be completed by the end of the
year.
The B/E MDDS in-seat video system provides up to 24 video channels,
as well as a variety of interactive features such as video games,
pay-per-view, shopping, information menus, and in-cabin phone
distribution, as well as regular video programming, including
"Video-on-Demand," which allows passengers to start and stop the
video program of their choice whenever they want.
BEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Amin J. Khoury stated, "The
Air France selection is only the first example of the follow-on
orders we expect to receive from other carriers as a result of our
selection in late May by British Airways.
THE COMMISSION CLEARS THE JOINT ACQUISITION OF TELEPIU BY RICHEMONT
AND KIRCH
Merger Regulation
Compagnie Financiere Richemont, a Swiss-based holding company,
has acquired a 25% shareholding in the Italian pay-TV operator
Telepiu S.r.l. As a result of this operation, Richemont and the
other principal shareholder, the Kirch group, will have joint
control of Telepiu.
The Richemont group, through its shareholding in FilmNet, is
active in the pay-TV business in Belgium, the Netherlands and
Scandinavia. The Kirch group is an important distributor of films
in the German language and in the field of broadcasting it has
interests in two commercial and one pay-TV channel in Germany.
Telepiu is a holding company which operates two pay-TV channels and
one free-access channel in Italy.
The operation concerns the television broadcasting market in
Italy, the only country where Telepiu operates and has subscribers.
Telepiu is currently the only pay-TV operator in Italy, but its
household penetration is limited as compared to the three public and
the three commercial channels which together account for around 90%
of the audience in Italy.
Neither Richemont nor Kirch are present in the television
broadcasting market in Italy. Given that the television market
remains mainly national (despite the strong process of development
and geographical expansion), this operation does not lead to an
addition of market share.
As a result, it is not expected that the proposed concentration
will create or strengthen a dominant position in the television
market in Italy. Therefore, the Commission has decided not to
oppose it and to declare it compatible with the common market and
the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Wegener Corporation announced that it has signed an agreement
to supply Mississippi Network, a division of TeleSouth
Communications, Inc., of Jackson, Mississippi, with addressable
digital audio receivers to replace an existing analogue network.
Mississippi Network produces and/or distributes popular radio
broadcasts of football, basketball and baseball games for
Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and the
University of Southern Mississippi. The initial phase of the switch
to Wegener equipment was completed August 1, 1994.
In announcing receipt of the TeleSouth Communications order, Wegener
Chairman, Robert A. Placek, said, "A further confirmation of our
leadership position in digital audio, selection by TeleSouth is
significant because the agreement is not only for audio receivers
ordered but also for the order for Wegener's Addressable Network
Control System (ANCS) software and hardware, into which the receiver
network will be incorporated. Significantly, Wegener addressability
capability (ANCS) will enable TeleSouth Communications to control
the receivers individually, in large groups, or all at once
providing maximum network flexibility. Wegener already has more
than 100,000 addressable receivers in operation throughout the world
delivering a variety of programming."
"Wegener receivers were chosen because of hardware and space segment
economies involved," stated TeleSouth Communications President Steve
Davenport, commenting on the Wegener order. "Product quality and
fast delivery made the decision to go with the Wegener equipment
very easy," he added.
EuroWatch
by Martyn Williams
PolSat looses broadcasting licence
----------------------------------
Poland's Supreme Administrative Court, the NSA, has suspended the
terrestrial broadcasting licence of privately owned TV station
PolSat. The suspension on the licence, gained in January, was in
response to complaints lodged by companies who lost out in the
competition to win the first private licence in Poland, among them
Polonia 1.
The ban seems to have been made against the wishes of the National
Broadcasting Council, the KRRit, as they immediately criticised the
action of the court. In a swiftly issued statement the council
expressed surprise at the court decision. They also suggested that
their authority had been breached by the court. PolSat said they
would continue terrestrial broadcasting until an explicit order to
shut down the network was received.
The ban covers the terrestrial broadcasting licence and the
additional satellite broadcasting licence is not affected. The
terrestrial ban stands until a court decision in mid August.
Murdoch - VOX profit in three years
-----------------------------------
In an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegal Rupert Murdoch
said that he aims to bring VOX into profit within three years. His
plan included introducing new strands of programming onto the
channel including children's programming, documentaries and game
shows. He also revealed that he is considering starting new
channels for sport and children's TV onto the German satellite and
cable market.
Bertlesmann reveals complaint to EC
-----------------------------------
German multi media giant Bertlesmann has revealed it complained to
the European Commission earlier this year about MTV Europe. The
subject of the complaint was an MTV ban on new Bertlesmann videos.
The statement alleged that MTV Europe refused to play any
Bertlesmann videos during a dispute between the two over MTV Latino.
The ban was lifted when the MTV Latino issue was resolved.
GOTCHA ! MacKenzie quits Sky after clash
----------------------------------------
Kelvin MacKenzie, managing director of BSkyB, has quit after just
seven months at the head of the satellite TV network. MacKenzie's
departure comes after "a personality clash". Many observers noted
that relationships between MacKenzie and Sky's chief executive Sam
Chisholm were awful. Insiders report that the two often argued in
the corridors of Sky's West London headquarters.
MacKenzie was offered the BSkyB job by Rupert Murdoch after
successfully editing The Sun newspaper for several years. MacKenzie
was best known in the newspaper business for never underestimating
the public's appetite sensational news stories. He is well known
for his insensitive headlines including "Gotcha!" after the
Argentinean warship, The General Belgrano, was sunk during the
Falklands was and the infamous "Freddy Star ate my hamster".
MacKenzie had certainly started to take Sky News down market with
the rest of the network. His most public attempts at mass appeal
included a less than successful advertisement campaign featuring
losing UK skaters Torvil and Dean, and an interview with mistress
Lady Bienvenida Buck. It was that interview that caused the most
friction with the news department head Ian Frykberg after Frykberg
refused point blank to air the programme on Sky News. Frykberg
later left Sky News and the programme aired on Sky One.
Most Sky staffers were said to be relieved that he had left and the
upcoming talk show with Sun columnist Richard Littlejohn now seems
unlikely to run.
Successful launch for Ariane
----------------------------
An Ariane rocket successfully placed in orbit two new satellites
last Wednesday from the Ariane base in French Guiana. The 66th
launch took place at 2305 UTC Wednesday, delayed from July 31st due
to technical problems.
The Ariane 44LP rocket carried Brasilsat B1, the first of Brazil's
second-generation satellite system, and Turksat 1B, Turkey's first
telecommunications satellite.
After the launch Arianespace Chairman and CEO Charles Bigot, said
"We are pleased and proud that this launch will contribute to the
expansion of telecommunications services for our faithful customer,
EMBRATEL, and to the implementation of a satellite
telecommunications system by Turkey, a newcomer in satellite
operations. Flight 66 was a challenge to the professional skills of
all ARIANE Industrial teams. Thanks to the rigorous quality
controls carried out here in Kourou, the accuracy of a sensitive
diagnosis concerning an unexpected incident, and work that was both
fast and efficient, we have been able to carry out three launches in
less than two months." The next launch, flight 67, is scheduled for
September 8 and should carry Telstar 402.
Algerian TV on Eutelsat 2F3
---------------------------
A testcard on 11.678 GHz on Eutelsat's 2F3 satellite at 16 degrees
East is announcing the arrival of Algerian TV soon. The start date
isn't given. Eutelsat 2F3 is becoming the European home to Arabic
and gulf region satellite channels. Algerian TV broadcasts mainly
in French and Arabic.
Italian Radio on Show TV
------------------------
Radio Maria, the catholic radio station in Italy is now broadcasting
via Show TV on 7.74 MHz. The station broadcasts round the clock
religion on the Show TV transponder. Eutelsat 2F2, 11.575 GHz
Vertical.
Japan threatens China over satellite slot
-----------------------------------------
China is risking causing harmful interference to two satellites
above Asia with the positioning of it's new Apstar 1 satellite.
China has announced intentions to park Apstar 1 at 131 degrees East.
Just one degree each side of this slot are the new Rimsat 1 and a
Japanese CS bird. Rimsat carries TV to the Indian subcontinent and
the Japanese satellite is mainly used for telephone traffic.
China appears to have side stepped all International agreements and
launched the satellite without informing the ITU in Geneva. An ITU
spokesperson confirmed that they had received to notification of the
launch from China but that they were also powerless to do anything
about it. Japanese and Rimsat officials visited Beijing last week
to protest the Chinese move and try to find a solution to the
problem but were unsuccessful.
Apstar 1 has leased transponders to several US clients including
Turner Broadcasting, ESPN International, Discovery, and HBO. Turner
Broadcasting announced this week that The Cartoon Network / TNT
International programme will begin from Apstar on October 6th.
Astra - new home for radio stations
-----------------------------------
Two Astra radio stations have moved home. Supergold radio and Asda
FM are now both broadcasting on Sky's transponder 47. Supergold
radio, from the Chiltern Radio Network, has also switched to Panda 1
noise reduction. Previously the station used Panda 2 which better
suited the stations that carried Supergold as a sustaining service.
Supermarket radio station Asda FM has also made the move from their
previous home on Sky Movies. The two moves free up two sets of
subcarriers. Sky are planning to make use of all spare audio
frequencies for the coming digital radio services, MC Europe and DMX
Audio Express.
TV69 - another missed launch
----------------------------
Even though our common sense told us the launch was unlikely we were
actually beginning to believe that TV69 would launch last Friday
night on Eutelsat 2 F3. The launch looked more definite this time
after a rush of coverage in the main stream newspapers and
interviews given to, amongst others, the Press Association. The
channel failed to launch as advertised for, as yet, unspecified
reasons. A new launch date has been announced at 15 August .....
ZDF wins ratings war
--------------------
For the second time ZDF has beaten out it's competitors to win the
monthly German ratings war. GfK July statistics reveal : ZDF 18.9%;
ARD 17.9%; RTL Television 16.2%; SAT 1 13.5%; PRO 7 9.1%; RTL 2
3.7%; VOX 2.0%; KabelKanal 1.9%; DSF 1.3%; n-tv 0.3%
CMT expands world-wide
-----------------------
Nashville based Country Music Television has announced plans to
expand it's service into Asia and Latin America. A new Asian
service should be transmitting to Asia by mid-September and into
Latin America by January next year. The service will be varied
slightly for each market, just as the European version is separate
from the US network.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Satellite Journal
International
Volume 2 Issue 17
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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