****Satellite Journal Intl. Vol 2 No 9 (ASCII)
Gary Torrens
International
A Fortnightly News Journal
April 28 1994
Volume 2 Issue 9
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
------------------
EXTRA
-----
A cross between MOR music and MTV debuted May 1 in North America.
Located on G1/05 L6.2/6.8R (HBO's old transponder) Classic Arts
Moments is an advertisement free 24 hour channel airing classical
art video clips.
Each clip comes with the now standard information at the head and
tail of each video, including the appropriate telephone number should
you wish to order from the publisher.
The channel is underwritten by a grant from the Rigler Foundation
with a purpose of promoting the arts.
Late word from China.....
------------------------
A massive explosion at the space launching
centre April 2 killed one person, injured 20 and destroyed a $75
million weather satellite. Due to this accident all future launches
by Long March Rockets will be delayed. This includes both Apstar
satellites due to be launched this year. No word when launches will
resume. Early reports point to the on-board fuel in the satellite
as the cause for the explosion.
WEGENER CORPORATION
-------------------
Wegener Corporation announced the signing of a multi-year, multi-
million dollar contract to supply several thousand addressable
digital audio satellite receivers to Buenos Aires-based Hilo
Musical, S.A., to deliver business music via satellite. Multiple
program channels will be encoded, multiplexed with control data, and
transmitted from Hilo Musical's studio in Buenos Aires to locations
throughout Argentina. Until now, Hilo's programming was distributed
by telephone lines.
In announcing receipt of the Hilo Musical contract, Wegener
Chairman, Robert A. Placek, said, "Selection by Hilo is a strong win
for Wegener and is a further confirmation of our leadership in
satellite delivered business music. By selecting Wegener, Hilo
Musical is leap- frogging from telephone line transmission to the
latest digitised satellite communications signal delivery.
Wegener's DR95 addressable receivers, to be used by Hilo, feature
state-of-the-art MPEG II digital encoding and extensive real-time
diagnostics."
Continuing, Mr. Placek elaborated, "Wegener's Addressable Network
Control System (ANCS) computer will allow manual and scheduled
control over the addressable receivers in the Hilo network. The
system will be used to automatically route programming to
appropriate sites and will provide the capability to deliver E-mail
in the future. 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."
INTEL AND CNN
------------
Intel Corp. and Cable News Network announced they have formed an
alliance to test a new technology to deliver television over
personal computer networks at businesses.
The companies will start testing the service, which will include
CNN and Headline News, next month at several locations.
Intel and CNN, one of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s six cable
networks, plan to try out a system that allows PC users to view news
broadcasts in a small window on their screens. The technology will
also allow companies to make video announcements or distribute
training materials.
Analysts have said the Intel technology, based on a computer
software program rather than a piece of equipment, is significant
because it uses local area networks rather than using specialized
wiring or switching devices. Users will be able to record programs
on hard disks and pull them at a later point.
The tests will enable the companies to see what sort of
information business people want, their reaction to advertising and
how much they might be willing to pay. For Intel, the service may
help boost demand for PCs powered by Intel chips.
Tom Johnson, president of CNN/Headline News, said, "CNN is
constantly looking to expand delivery of live news and information
to new and diverse audiences. This is our first venture aimed
directly at business PC users."
Analysts have projected that more than 29 million PCs with Intel
486 or Pentium microprocessors will be linked to local area networks
by the end of next year. The first customers for the still-unpriced
service are most likely to be stock traders and financial services
companies.
The technologies relies on an Intel compression technology called
Indeo that can squeeze video images from 30 pictures a second to 10
to 15 pictures a second.
CABLE AND WIRELESS SHOW REPORT
BY MARTYN WILLIAMS IN LONDON
Pace NTL formed to sell MPEG equipment
--------------------------------------
One of the world's leading satellite receiving equipment
manufacturers has teamed up with the developers of the MPEG 2
digital system to produce and market a range of MPEG compatible
satellite receivers. Pace Microtechnology and NTL announced the new
venture on day one of the Cable and Satellite show at London's
Olympia. The two companies announced an alliance at the end of last
year.
NTL and Pace had already been working together to produce digital
DTH products for the North African and Chinese markets. The
Pace-NTL digital broadcast system has just been chosen for satellite
distribution in Thailand and Pace NTL equipment is already in use in
Europe. Pace NTL were showing a demonstration model of a new MPEG 2
satellite receiver that will be available early next year. Pace NTL
Director, Alan Watson, told SJI that the prototype was already down
to a single board and the arrival of new chips in the next few weeks
would enable the company to reduce the size further. He went on the
reveal that the price of the unit would be around .400. This is a
projected price and without any equipment subsidy that may or may
not be applied by the broadcasters.
"Broadcasters are very interested" said Watson. "There are around
60 units in use in the United States and European users include
Filmnet, RTL and DBP Telekom plus three others which I can't name".
NTL have sold 150 of their System 2000 encoders in the last 18
months. System 2000 is the original name given to MPEG 1+. At one
time both NTL and Scientific Atlanta were working on systems
designed around the MPEG standard. When the NTL System 2000 and
Scientific Atlanta equipment was integrated, "which took just one
weekend because they both worked so well" said Watson proudly, the
MPEG 1+ system was born.
Pace NTL demonstrate MPEG live !
--------------------------------
The new Pace NTL alliance was demonstrating the system live at the
show. A crew from Reuters were hired and a channel on Eutelsat 2F1
was used for the show relay. A camera on the Pace stand was sending
signals via a microwave link to the NTL base in Croydon where the
signal was digitised. From here it was sent via a second microwave
link to the NTL uplink station in Winchester and from there onto
transponder 33 of Eutelsat 2F1.
The signal was being carried over the 36MHz transponder in addition
to a conventional analogue relay of The Cartoon Network, proving
that broadcasters could use MPEG 2 and PAL on a single transponder.
The Cartoon Network occupied 27Mhz of bandwidth with the MPEG signal
using the remaining 9MHz. Applications for this use were the
simulcasting of services using both systems and a second circuit for
the broadcasters SNG units.
According to Jim Beveridge, General Manager of the Pace NTL
Professional Division "95% of the data in a TV signal can be thrown
away". The MPEG system enables one conventional 27MHz satellite
transponder to carry 16 digitally compressed TV channels. The
system in use at Cable & Satellite was MPEG 1++ which compressed
used a 2.9Mbits/s data rate. The full MPEG 2 system, which was not
being used across the satellite, was capable of an equal quality
picture at around 1.6Mbits/s.
The new MPEG 2 system was being demonstrated at the NTL stand over a
conventional wire. The picture was sourced from a standard Betacam
SP machine and when digitised this resulted in a signal of around
216Mbits/s. The MPEG 1+ unit was displaying a picture at 2.9Mbits/s
and the MPEG 2 system was taken to 1.6Mbits/s. Both pictures were
of equal quality and similar to that of conventional broadcast TV or
S-VHS tape.
The MPEG 2 system introduces countless applications including :
The same movie spread across 16 channels so you're never more than
10 minutes away from the start time of the next showing. 16 cameras
at sports events enabling the viewer to choose what he sees.
Minority interest channels will only pay 1/16th the current
transponder time enabling more to start.
DMX and MC Europe sign with Sky for Astra
------------------------------------------
Europe's two battling digital music services have both signed
contracts with BSkyB for space on Astra, promotion of the services
and subscriber management. The two rivals, MC Europe and DMX Music
Express, both plan to launch multi channel CD quality audio services
late this year or early next.
DMX currently broadcast a package of 30 channels via Intelsat 601 to
cable networks across Europe. R. Lance Thomas, Managing Director
and Chief Executive of DMX talked to SJI and said that when the
service launches in late 1994 they will offer a package of 86
channels to listeners all over Europe. Initially the service will
be available to listeners in the UK. It will spread to other
European countries as the subscription management centres are set
up. Thomas said that the agreement for subscriber management had
been signed in July 1993 but the transponder and promotion deal was
concluded in March 1994. Sky has agreed to lease DMX owners, ICT
Europe, up to 40 digital audio subcarriers on the Astra system. ICT
is currently talking to other groups with a view to getting more
space.
DMX was originally launched in Europe in the spring of last year and
has been available on cable in the UK, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and
the Czech Republic. The service will be marketed towards both
residential and commercial premises.
The MC Europe stand was busily displaying their service, also
available on cable currently. The system uses Intelsat K to reach
systems in France, Belgium and Germany and will appear on networks
in the UK, Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Switzerland soon.
Stefan Heller, Director of Programming, was quick to point out that
MC Europe would be a "European music service, produced in Europe by
Europeans and not an American system". The MC Europe Astra service
will consist of around 56 channels of digital, commercial and DJ
free music. The current cable service is produced and uplinked from
the Staten Island Teleport in New York but the production centre and
uplink will move to London in early 1995. A unique feature of MC
Europe will be special event programming. Heller explained that
this could take the form of a concert of celebrity presenting their
favourite music. He also stressed that MC Europe was keen to add
national channels in every market it enters. Currently these number
channels such as Golden Oldies Nederland, Holland Muziekland,
Kinderkanal, Norske Rotter and Volks Musik. The new national
channels would be added and not take the place of other services.
Both systems are talking about monthly subscriptions around the .7
mark and both will require a different, digital receiver to hear
them.
Chinese Channel chooses Cryptovision
------------------------------------
New Astra broadcaster, Chinese Channel, has chosen Cryptovision as
their encryption system. The service, currently broadcasting from
0000-0300UK on Astra channel 34, has announced plans to encrypt from
the summer. Explaining the decision, Chris Quinan of the Chinese
Channel, told SJI that they had an audience that was mainly new to
satellite TV and not all tied to Videocrypt with existing channels.
This enabled the channel to look at the full range of encryption
technology on the market and choose the one that best suited their
needs. After testing and considerations of all needs Tanberg's
Cryptovision was chosen. The Cryptovision system will enable the
service to individually address decoders and provide certain
programming in open key mode, where a decoder but no subscription is
required, if desired. The subscriber management side of the
business will probably be handled by agents but the Chinese Channel
is anxious to retain contact with the public and so they will remain
the initial customer service contact point.
The service holds exclusive rights to programming from TVB, one of
Hong Kong's leading broadcasters, and draws from the channels
Cantonese language Jade Network. This is the most popular TV
service in Hong Kong. A network of service agents will be built up
throughout the country soon who will be able to advise on equipment
and costs. Pace manufacture a Cryptovision IRD and stand alone
decoder. The Chinese Channel hope that most dealers will be able to
provide a Cantonese language contact with customers.
The service plans to increase to five hours a night from May and
introduce encryption during the summer. The likely cost will be
.13.99 a month which will rise as the channels approaches a full
10-12 hour service as transponder space becomes available, possibly
on Astra 1D. The channel are now keen to get the message across now
that to continue watching after the summer, viewers will need a
Cryptovision decoder and Astra 1D compatible receiver. A spokesman
for Cryptovision was very pleased with the deal and added proudly
that the system has never been hacked despite extensive use across
Europe on UK armed forces television SSVC and the Norwegian cable
network. The system sends scrambling codes in the VBI and can be
operated with a smart card if required although each decoder is
uniquely addressable.
Sci-Fi Channel exhibit with Eutelsat
------------------------------------
The much talked about and wanted Sci Fi Channel had a display on the
Eutelsat stand. Information was thin on the ground though. When
SJI dropped by all that was available was a press pack from the
channels US launch last year. The service will start in late 1994
on Eutelsat 2F1 at 13 degrees east.
Thanks ....
Being the polite guests that we are !, SJI would like to thank The
Childrens Channel for providing the press facilities this year.
(C)1994 Martyn Williams
SONY AND PBS
------------
For the millions of Americans who are unable to set the clocks on
their VCRs, and the comedians who joke about them, Sony and PBS
unveiled a technology that will put the vision of the "flashing
12:00" to rest forever.
Two new Sony VCRs will be the first to set automatically the
clock from a time signal broadcast by television stations. The
nation's public television stations will be the first to transmit
date and time signals that will automatically set the VCR clock.
PBS member stations this month will begin broadcasting the signal
in six cities -- New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Dallas and Miami -- and by June of 1994 via the total public
television system, which covers virtually the entire United States.
The automatic clock-set feature available on the new VCRs will
enable more viewers to enjoy the benefits of timeshifting --
videotaping programs to watch later -- which requires an accurate
clock setting. The time and date are automatically updated each
time the VCR is turned off and, since the signal is provided by the
local public TV station, it adjusts automatically for daylight
saving time.
The feature works through "Extended Data Services" -- a portion
of the same signal that delivers "CaptionVision (CC)" (closed
captioning for the hearing impaired) to the TV. Public television
developed the closed captioning technology. Sony will provide
support to public television stations for equipment that will enable
them to send the clock-setting signal to the VCR.
"We're delighted to collaborate with Sony to develop a method by
which important data can be delivered directly to consumers through
a product as universal as the VCR," said Ervin S. Duggan, president
and CEO of PBS. "Be it a satellite transmission, closed captioning
or on-line computer service, PBS and the nation's public television
stations always have been at the forefront of emerging technology."
According to James Bonan, vice president of Sony's Home Video
Division, "Today's expanding number of viewing choices, and the
limited time consumers have available for viewing, makes
timeshifting with a VCR essential to remain up-to-date, informed and
entertained. By removing what has been a well-publicised stumbling
block for consumers, this technology enhances access to today's
flood of programming. In fact, this technology may end up making
the VCR the most accurate clock in the house."
"Extended Data Services" is a voluntary technical standard
established by the Electronics Industries Association (EIA-608) for
the transmission of program-related data by television broadcasters.
It also allows for broadcast of station and network identification,
program names and descriptions, weather alerts, and other
programming information. The FCC granted authority for stations to
broadcast this information in May 1993.
According to Bonan, the two new Sony VCRs -- the SLV-770HF and
SLV-920HF -- add the auto clock set feature to a VCR that already
has made timeshifting and playback easier for the consumer. The two
new VCRs will be available at retailers nation-wide in June.
General Instrument
-----------------
General Instrument Corporation reported strong financial results for
the first quarter ended March 31, 1994. Sales in the quarter were
up 43%, to $433 million, from $303 million in the first quarter of
1993. Operating income was up 112%, to $78 million, from $37
million in the comparable 1993 period.
"Sales of the company's cable television products, including
coaxial cable, distribution electronics and addressable converters,
continue to reflect increasing investment in cable television
infrastructure in the U.S. and abroad," said Daniel F. Akerson,
chairman and chief executive officer. "Sales of VideoCipher RS(TM)
satellite receiver modules into the C-Band backyard satellite market
were strong."
During the quarter, GI began deployment of its DigiCipher(R)
digital compression system to PRIMESTAR PARTNERS and accelerated
production plans for the PRIMESTAR DigiCipher terminals in response
to an increase in orders from several of the PRIMESTAR PARTNERS.
GI has committed to incorporate an MPEG-2 video option and MPEG-2
transport standards into its feature-enhanced DigiCipher II system
for satellite and cable. Shifting MPEG requirements and
finalisation of DigiCipher II features will likely result in product
deployment in the spring of 1995.
General Instrument Corporation and DSC Communications Corporation
announced the signing of a definitive agreement to jointly create
Cablespan(TM), a next-generation broadband telecommunications system
capable of providing video, telephony and data services.
The Cablespan system combines DSC's Litespan(R)-2000/Starspan(R)
solution, a SONET-based, fiber optic access system, with GI's
Broadband Telecommunications Architecture (BTA) for hybrid
fiber/coax. To date, more than 2.5 million lines of DSC's Litespan
have been deployed into local exchange access networks. By
integrating the telephony switching and operation system (OS)
interface capabilities of DSC's Litespan with GI's BTA, Cablespan
will enable service providers to expand their range of services to
both homes and businesses over hybrid/coax networks.
COMSAT Technology
-----------------
COMSAT Technology Services plans to offer an independent satellite
communications system In-Orbit Test (IOT) capability from its
Clarksburg satellite control centre, beginning this fall, COMSAT
said. This capability will allow satellite users, owners and the
insurance industry to perform an IOT on a satellite to verify
performance. CTS will perform the tests or will allow others access
to the IOT system at the satellite control centre.
American Mobile Satellite Corporation has contracted with CTS to
use the IOT facility after the launch of its first satellite later
this year.
After launch, a communications satellite undergoes a battery of
complex communications system tests to certify that the satellite
survived the launch environment, meets performance specifications
and can be put into commercial operation. In addition, IOT services
are also used throughout the satellite's operational lifetime to
periodically measure communications subsystem performance and
investigate anomalies.
"The availability of an independent state-of-the-art, highly
reliable IOT facility such as ours will allow satellite owners to
avoid a high-cost permanent investment in a limited use facility,"
said Paul Schrantz, CTS vice president of satellite systems and
consulting. The facility will also be available for independent
verification of satellite performance to support the increased use
of commercial satellites by the Department of Defence.
The COMSAT facility will utilise a hardware/software measurement
system developed by COMSAT Laboratories. This system includes a
selectable list of more than 25 critical communications performance
measurements including EIRP and G/T (satellite radiated power and
receiver sensitivity, respectively), in-band and out-of-band
frequency response and stability, along with spacecraft transmit and
receive antenna patterns. The software is fully automated and will
allow rapid verification of the in-orbit performance of a satellite,
allowing the owner/operator to place the satellite into revenue
generating service with minimum delay. As noted earlier, the
facility will also be available for periodic checkout as well as for
anomaly investigations.
SHOWTIME NETWORKS
-----------------
Showtime Networks (SNI) is planning to introduce five new
added-value services and to test monthly subscriptions to
weekends-only of THE MOVIE CHANNEL.
The package will consist of niche services which can be offered
in conjunction with SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX to add
value to consumers' premium subscriptions. In addition, the
services will also be available to operators on an a' la carte
basis, and will also be available to use as anchors for tiers. The
first group of the new services are SHOWTIME En Espanol, SHOWTIME
Family Television, SHOWTIME Action Television and SHOWTIME Comedy
Television. A SHOWTIME Film Festival service is expected to join
this initial group of niche services.
Scheduled to premiere in September 1994, SHOWTIME En Espanol is
designed to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic marketplace and
to assist operators in their market segmentation efforts. The
service will present a majority of SHOWTIME's prime time schedule
dubbed in Spanish and will offer operators the opportunity to target
a new source of revenue.
SHOWTIME Family Television, a 24-hour/day service featuring
award-winning family programming including original programs, series
and movies, will provide a safe haven of reliable quality viewing
choices appropriate for family audiences. Scheduled to launch in
the first quarter 1995, the service will be commercial-free and will
feature only programming with an MPAA rating of G or PG or the
equivalent.
Targeted at a more adult audience, SHOWTIME Action Television
will feature 24-hour/day all movie entertainment. Consumer research
has consistently shown action to be the most popular movie genre.
As with all of Showtime Networks' services, consumers will be
provided with program content advisories preceding each movie.
There will be no R-rated programming scheduled before 8 p.m.
(Eastern/Pacific) and no NC-17 or X-rated programming at any time on
SHOWTIME Action Television, which is also slated for a first quarter
1995 launch.
SHOWTIME Comedy Television, a 24-hour/day "comedy lovers" movie
service, will feature comedy movies back to back, uncensored, uncut
and commercial free.
This service will offer regularly scheduled comedic double features
and movie marathons featuring top actors and directors. A launch
date has not been finalised.
Featuring art and independent films, documentaries, foreign
films, film shorts, and animation, SHOWTIME Film Festival will cover
the most innovative film makers in the field today. The 24-hour/day
service will also offer viewers behind the scenes visits to major
film festivals. The launch date has not been finalised.
The 1994, SNI will test THE MOVIE CHANNEL WEEKENDS service for
those consumers who have resisted existing premium services. This
service allows operators to offer monthly subscriptions to
weekends-only of THE MOVIE CHANNEL. The service, which would be
available to subscribers from Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 6
a.m., would be offered on a monthly subscription basis. THE MOVIE
CHANNEL WEEKENDS service will offer subscribers more than 20 titles
per weekend.
DIGITAL CABLE RADIO
------------------
Digital Cable Radio Associates L.P. (DCR) providers of the national
music subscription service Music Choice, announced that EMI Music,
one of the world's leading recording companies, has become an equity
partner.
EMI's primary goal, as an investor, -- along with other DCR
partners such as Sony Software Corp. and the Warner Music Group
Inc. -- is to provide programming support to Music Choice, DCR's 30
station multi-format digital music service.
EMI's equity investment will help fund an aggressive expansion of
Music Choice programming and distribution. In the next few years,
DCR's Music Choice service will expand its distribution beyond cable
and satellite delivery and will offer up to 250 stations of audio
programming, including additional music, information/news, sports,
talk, foreign language and pay-per-listen stations.
"We believe Music Choice is an important music distribution
vehicle with strong growth potential," said James G. Fifield,
president and CEO of EMI Music. "Digital transmission of CD-quality
music into homes and businesses is clearly the wave of the future
and Music Choice is leading the way. It has the potential to
revolutionise the way people listen to music and the way that we
promote artists. Our involvement with Music Choice is consistent
with EMI's support for the most promising digital, multimedia and
interactive technologies."
"The fact that three of the world's top music companies now back
Music Choice is a solid affirmation of the recording industry's
commitment to the development of our business. We are proud to have
some of the world's most well respected entertainment companies as
our partners," said DCR President David Del Beccaro.
Record company involvement has helped fuel aggressive
international expansion. Music Choice has won most major
distribution deals in Europe. Recently, DCR signed a carriage
agreement with DirecTv(TM), a direct broadcast satellite service
serving North America, which will offer Music Choice as part of its
basic service package, beginning this fall. DirecTv is expected to
increase Music Choice's growth rate by one million subscribers
annually, while giving the service national exposure through joint
marketing campaigns.
BEST BUY
--------
Best Buy has signed a distribution agreement with DirecTV, Inc., a
unit of GM Hughes Electronics, USSB, a division of Hubbard
Broadcasting, and Thomson Consumer Electronics, to retail the
RCA-brand DSS(TM) (Digital Satellite System) equipment and
programming .
"DBS is another example of Best Buy at the forefront with the latest
consumer electronics offerings," said Tom Mills, vice president-
merchandising. "We feel DBS is the technology of the nineties that
consumers have been waiting for."
IDB COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT TO MERGE WITH PEOPLES
---------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE COMPANY
-----------------
IDB Communications Group, Inc. and Peoples Telephone Company, Inc.
jointly announced they have signed a letter of intent under which
IDB will merge with Peoples.
The proposed acquisition is subject to satisfaction of customary
conditions, including completion of due diligence by both parties,
execution of a definitive agreement, approval by the shareholders of
both companies and certain regulatory filings, and is expected to be
completed by the end of 1994.
Jeffrey P. Sudikoff, chairman and CEO of IDB, stated, "One of our
key goals in 1994 is to expand IDB's presence in the domestic
telecommunications marketplace. The merger with Peoples will
accomplish this objective. Jeff Hanft and his team have built
Peoples into the largest independent operator of public pay
telephones in the United States. Combined with the company's
related telecommunications services, Peoples currently generates
more than 500 million minutes of long distance traffic a year. As a
result, Peoples and IDB will have the foundation for a highly
profitable domestic public switched network.
"We fully expect this combination to have a positive impact on 1994
IDB earnings per share. By applying many of the principles we have
successfully used in acquisitions during the past few years we
expect to significantly enhance the operating strengths of Peoples
while vastly expanding our domestic marketing capabilities," Mr.
Sudikoff added.
Jeff Hanft, CEO of Peoples, stated, "IDB has emerged as the most
innovative, rapidly growing telecommunications company in the world.
We at Peoples share many of the same visions and strategic
approaches of IDB's management team. We look forward to working
with IDB and believe that all of our customers, employees and
shareholders will benefit from the combination of the two
companies."
GLOBO TO LAUNCH A NEW PAY TV PARTNERSHIP WITH HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
----------------------------------------------------------------
Four major Hollywood studios have signed a Letter of Intent with
Brazilian television powerhouse Globo to launch a new Pay TV
partnership.
The new movie service will be rolled out to cable, MMDS and
satellite homes in Brazil this summer, with exclusive rights to
movies from Twentieth Century Fox and United International Pictures
in London, jointly owned by MGM, Paramount Pictures and Universal
Pictures. Local partner GloboSat will program the channels and
package them to cable through distribution company Net Brazil.
In announcing the new venture, Andrew Kaza, president of United
International Pictures Pay Television Group, said, "We are confident
this new alliance will be a major boost to pay TV in Brazil.
Combining Globo, which is one of the premiere broadcasters in the
world, with four major studios' film product ensures this will be
one of the strongest pay movie services in the world for years to
come."
The new services will launch to approximately 100,000 subscribers
this July, with numbers expected to grow quickly in the developing
Brazilian market to nearly 500,000 customers by 1995.
"This partnership combines the strength of the Fox and UIP current
feature production and libraries," said Jim Gianopulos, president of
Twentieth Century Fox International and Pay Television. "With the
enormous market strength of Globo, it will create powerful, widely
distributed programming services." "GloboSat is excited to join the
studios in this new venture," said Luiz Gleiser, director general of
Programming for GloboSat. "Our customers will now be treated to the
best possible offering of movies as soon as they are available to
television."
"The new services will enhance penetration and help us develop the
extremely promising Brazilian market," said Alberto Pecegueiro,
marketing director for Net Brazil.
DCX INC. ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF SUBSIDIARY
-------------------------------------------
DCX Inc. announced the formation of a subsidiary, GeoStar
International Inc., that will provide high-resolution satellite
imagery solutions world-wide. In addition to contract services, the
subsidiary will offer a line of laser optic products and
environmentally secure computers manufactured by DCX.
GeoStar International will utilise technology that digitally
combines high-definition satellite images, geological information
software and ground-based laser optic technology to perform a
variety of services for government and private sector customers.
System applications include land and property appraisal mapping,
waterway mapping and management, forestry assessment, and various
agriculture, mining and natural resource industry applications.
HBO Brazil
----------
TVA, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. International
Television Distribution, Home Box Office and OLE Communications Inc.
have entered into an agreement to launch HBO Brazil, a new premium
entertainment service throughout Brazil, beginning July 1, 1994.
The announcement was made jointly Tuesday by Walter Longo,
president and chief executive officer, TVA Brazil; Michael Grindon,
executive vice president, Columbia TriStar International Television,
a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment; Jeff Schlesinger,
president of Warner Bros. International Television Distribution;
Lee deBoer, president, HBO International; and Enrique Cusco,
managing director, OLE Communications.
Modelled after the highly successful pay-TV network HBO OLE,
which is available throughout all of Spanish-speaking Latin America,
HBO Brazil will feature top-quality movies, sports and specials 24
hours a day, with all programming dubbed or subtitled in Portuguese.
In making the announcement, Longo commented, "There is huge
growth potential for pay television in Brazil.
"By combining TVA's assets with the unique resources brought to
the new venture by Home Box Office, with its 20 years of unmatched
success in pay-TV development; Warner Bros., with its vast filmed
entertainment library; Sony Pictures, with its extensive programming
resources and knowledge of the Brazilian marketplace; and OLE, with
its expertise in local marketing, HBO Brazil will be well positioned
for outstanding future growth."
Grindon noted: "The launch of HBO Brazil reflects the growing
momentum of our HBO OLE alliance and continued strengthening of our
presence in the important, fast-growing Latin American marketplace.
This represents a superb outlet for SPE's extensive filmed
entertainment library, as well as our current and future product."
Schlesinger stated, "As part of Warner Bros.' international
strategy to be a program supplier and an equity participant in the
increasing array of television programming services, we see the
launching of HBO Brazil as a great opportunity to maximise our
strategic objectives in this area."
"We are confident that by adopting the extraordinarily successful
HBO OLE concept for our new service, we will establish the
foundation for a popular and dynamic pay-TV venture in Brazil," said
deBoer.
"The launch of HBO Brazil will not only reinforce HBO OLE's
position as Latin America's pre-eminent cable programmer, but will
also have a profound impact on the expansion and development of the
MMDS and cable industries in Brazil. We are pleased to extend HBO's
considerable experience and expertise to this exciting new venture."
The newly created venture will be supported by TVA's unparalleled
local marketing expertise, media experience and publishing
resources. In addition, HBO OLE will provide far-reaching marketing
and sales expertise for HBO Brazil, with a special focus on
substantially increasing subscriber growth throughout the region.
The HBO Brazil partners expect to launch additional premium and
advertiser-supported channels in the near future.
Slated for development are an all-movie premium channel similar
to the enormously successful Cinemax services that are currently
available in the United States and Spanish-speaking Latin America; a
family entertainment channel; and a broad-based entertainment
service composed primarily of U.S. television series, miniseries
and movies.
These new channels will draw upon the combined entertainment
resources of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment and HBO, as
well as other programming sources.
DIRECTV LICENSES WARNER BROS.
----------------------------
DIRECTV Inc.(TM), a unit of GM Hughes Electronics, announced the
signing of a pay per view distribution agreement with Warner Bros.
Pay-TV.
Under the agreement, DIRECTV will offer major motion pictures from
Warner Bros. plus the many independent productions Warner
distributes, on its Direct Ticket(TM) Pay Per View service. This
brings to five the number of major Hollywood studios committed to
providing movies and special events for Direct Ticket. In addition
to Warner Bros., DIRECTV previously entered into agreements with
Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment,
which includes TriStar Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures
Classics, and Walt Disney Television, including Touchstone Pictures,
Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films.
Direct Ticket will offer approximately 40 channels of pay per view
movies with start times beginning as often as every 30 minutes. Hit
movies will appear on Direct Ticket in the traditional pay per view
window before they are seen on premium cable services. These
features, combined with impulse ordering through an on-screen
program guide, will provide consumers with the convenience of a
video store in their own living rooms.
"We are very pleased to include feature films from one of the most
successful names in film production and distribution," said Eddy
Hartenstein, DIRECTV president. "Warner Bros. is one of the
leaders in developing the pay per view industry, and we believe that
its great selection of hit, quality films will add even greater
marquee value to the Direct Ticket offerings."
RIMSAT, LTD., FILLS SATELLITE
------------------------------
Rimsat, Ltd., announced that it has completely leased its Gorizont
communications satellite at 130 degrees East. The company also has
its first customer for the Gorizont that will be launched to 142.5
degrees East in May, according to James Simon, Rimsat's managing
director.
Rimsat Chief Operating Officer Michael Sternberg said multi-year
contracts signed by Sun TV and AsiaNet, both of Madras, India, and
InterSputnik, Moscow, fill the satellite at 130 degrees East. Sun
and AsiaNet are using the satellite for video transmission.
InterSputnik employs satellite for general communications. "AllAsia
Sat, Manila, will use the 142.5 degree satellite for video
transmission," Sternberg said.
"I can think of no better way to celebrate Rimsat's second
anniversary than by filling the satellite we launched last
November," Simon said. "We are equally pleased that AllAsia is
first in line to utilise the 142.5 degree satellite scheduled for
launch in May."
Produced and launched from Russia, each Rimsat Gorizont (i.e.
"Horizon") carries seven devices called transponders which can
receive and rebroadcast telephone, television and data signals over
an area ranging from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, and from
the Arctic Circle to New Zealand.
Specific antennas and transponders onboard the satellite also can
focus on specific regions, providing users with the ability to reach
receivers with small satellite antennas.
fx
--
fx, Fox Inc.'s new basic cable network, will launch to 18 million
cable households on June 1, it was announced by Anne Sweeney,
chairman and chief executive officer, fx.
With the launch, fx will introduce a fresh new approach to
television, combining seven hours of live original programming with
contemporary television classics.
fx is supporting the June 1 launch with a $12 million consumer
advertising campaign, including five weeks of national spots on Fox,
TV Guide ads and a special effort in fx's top 20 markets that will
include local spot buys, outdoor and radio.
The new general entertainment cable network will open the doors to
its apartment-like set, located in New York's historic Flat Iron
district, and welcome viewers and passers-by into the fx family from
6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.
Program and channel hosts will interact with the outside world via
remote trucks that will spend a week at a time in communities across
the country as well as with viewer phone-calls and faxes, celebrity
and real people drop-in guests and man-on-the-street camera
excursions.
As part of fx's open door policy, viewers will be able to see behind
the scenes, meet the people behind the cameras and experience the
exciting and unexpected things that happen on live television.
fx viewers will wake up to "Breakfast Time" at 6:30 a.m. (ET/PT),
enjoy morning coffee with Tom Bergeron, Laurie Hibberd, Gwen McGee
and Patricia Moreno, exercise, meet fx's family of experts and
celebrity guest and catch up on what's happening across the country.
At the top of each hour, channel hosts will update viewers on the
news and get viewer comments.
From 10 a.m. to noon (ET/PT), fx viewers can escape through the
fantasy escapades of the Carrington clan on "Dynasty," Jonathan and
Jennifer Hart on "Hart to Hart" and Mr. Rourke and Tatoo on
"Fantasy Island."
At noon, fx goes live across the country with "Personal fx: The
Collectibles Show," a one-hour show that takes an inside look at the
world of collectors, collecting and collectibles.
A pair of family shows, "Eight is Enough" and "Family Affair,"
follow at 1 p.m. (ET/PT).
fx returns to original live programming at 2:30 p.m. (ET/PT) with
"The Pet Department," a look at America's fascination with their
pets. A show designed for pet lovers everywhere, hosted by Steve
Walker and his dog, Jack, "The Pet Department" will visit the world
of pets from bulldogs to bees.
It's an all action/adventure afternoon on fx, beginning at 3 p.m.
(ET/PT) with "The Greatest American Hero" followed by "Wonder Woman"
and "Batman," segueing into primetime with "Mission: Impossible" and
"Hart to Hart."
Veteran newscaster and commentator Jane Wallace takes an in-depth
look at the day's events on "Under Scrutiny with Jane Wallace" at 8
p.m. (ET/PT). The topic-driven half hour will examine issues from
the perspective of the people they affect and will invite viewer
participation via remote town hall meetings, phone and faxes.
Next, fx imports Australia's No. 1 series, "Home & Away," about a
couple who adopts kids from broken homes and raises them in the
country, and follows that with the No. 1 series of the 80s,
"Dynasty," and FBC's big hit, "In Living Colour."
fx rocks into late night with "Sound fx," a live, interactive music
video show that not only plays what's hot and what's new but allows
viewers to talk about the artists and their music. New and local
bands will also be presented via the travelling remote crew.
There's "Batman" at midnight, and then the evening ends at 12:30
a.m. (ET/PT) with "Back Chat," fx's half hour viewer response and
comment forum.
Weekends will feature "best of" broadcasts of "Breakfast Time" along
with such classic series as "The Green Hornet," "Nanny & The
Professor" and "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir."
Morning Studios will produce the seven hours of live original
programming that will emanate from the channel's New York "home
base." At launch, fx will have more live programming than any other
general entertainment cable service.
Around the World
----------------
......Michael Fuchs, chairman of HBO, at a panel discussion said the
new government- ordered reductions in cable subscriber fees are
having a chilling effect on new programming initiatives. "This has
an unbelievable effect on programming," Fuchs said.
......A proposal put forward by Christian Democratic Party (KDS)
deputies Vladimir Korothaly and Marek Benda, and Eva Matouskova of
the Assembly for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party
(SPR-RSC) to privitse CT2 was rejected by the Czech government.
Premier Vaclav Klaus said he did not see the solution in the
privatization of one of the public channels, nor did it see the need
to eliminate the advertising.
......Telesat Canada told SJI it will lose about C$22 million in
revenues due to the failure of the Anik E-2 satellite. "We are
fixing it and will have it working again by July or August,"
spokesman Jim Spendlove said. Telesat is working to restore the
C$325 million satellite that spun out of control in January by
setting up a complex system of firing its thrusters to keep it
pointed at Earth. In the interim, Telsat is using Telstar 301,
moved to E2's orbital slot. Telstar 301 will be used by CTV for
transmission of their network to its affiliates.
......The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
signed its first aerospace deal to provide a $10.3 million, to
guarantee rocket manufacturer Khrunichev, which is providing the
Proton rocket for a satellite launch for Inmarsat.
......Ford Motor Co. plans to invest $100 million in an advanced
satellite communication network to provide its 6,000 North American
dealers with video and interactive communications capability. Ford
expects to begin installing satellite dishes and other system
components in the fourth quarter of 1994 and expects to be completed
by the end of 1995.
......Fifty U.S., European and Asian companies have agreed on
standards for digital video cassette recorders . Two sizes have
been decided . The regular size would be about two-thirds as big as
a VHS cassette and would record for 4 1/2 hours, while a smaller
version would be about half the regular size and tape for one hour.
Initial VCR are expected to be priced in the $2500 to $3000 range.
.......The BBC launched its first FM service in Africa this
fortnight in the Ivorian capital Abidjan. BBC Afrique (94.3MHz)
operates 24 hours and in stereo, with a mix of music, hourly news,
and two hours a day of BBC English programmes. The service is fed
by satellite from London and shares an antenna and transmitter
installations in Abidjan with RFI and Africa Number One. .
......Turner Broadcasting System Inc has formed Turner Pay-Per-View,
a division through which all Turner Pictures and Castle Rock
Entertainment movie products will be distributed to pay-per-view
outlets.
......Children's Broadcasting Corporation latest affiliate is
Cincinnati's AM 1360. AM 1360, formerly WSAI-AM brings the Radio
AAHS affiliate count to 17, reaching approximately 19 percent of
the country.
......Turner Classic Movies, launched April 14, started with one
million subscribers and should break even within six months. This
based on a projection of three million subscribers by the end of
1994.
.......Home Shopping Network Inc. disclosed that the federal grand
jury investigating alleged financial misconduct at the cable network
has closed its probe without issuing any indictments.
........Polygram Film International has agreed to a five-year deal
with British Sky Broadcasting. It is to supply BSkyB with an
average of 20 films a year until 1999, of which most will have had a
previous theatrical release.
......McDonnell Douglas Corp has signed a contract for $400 million
with Motorola's Satellite Communications Division to launch a number
of satellites needed for their wireless telecommunications system.
.......The head of the FCC's cable television division plans to
resign from the agency in Mid-May. Sandra Wilson, played a key role
in the cable reregulation law passed by Congress in 1992.
......In preparation for the formal launch of StarSight on Viacom
Cable's Castro Valley, Calif. system, Starsight Telecast Inc. is
testing the on-screen, interactive television program guide with
one-button VCR record feature in selected households. Castro Valley
households are currently using and evaluating Jerrold CFT 2900 cable
converters, which decode Starsight's patented, on-screen,
interactive television program guide with one-button VCR record
feature.
.....CELSAT has filed an application with the FCC for nationwide
access to 40 MHz of new spectrum being released within the FCC's
Emerging Technologies bands, between 1,970 to 1,990 megahertz (Mhz)
and 2,160 to 2,180 MHz. CELSAT said that it plans to use the
spectrum for a new service it calls a Hybrid Personal Communications
System, combining patented mobile satellite and ground digital
technology.
......Satellite Technology Management Inc. announced that it has
received an order valued at approximately $1.2 million from El
Tiempo for a private VSAT network.El Tiempo, with headquarters in
Bogota, is Colombia's leading daily newspaper, with circulation
exceeding 600,000. The STM-provided network, consisting of a hub
and remote VSATs, will supplement existing point-to-point satellite
links that connect the newspaper's plants in Bogota, Barranquilla
and Cali.
The VSAT network will operate in C-band, using the PanAmSat
satellite. The TDM/TDMA network will support data and other digital
transmissions. STM's integrated LAN router and digital boards will
support all of El Tiempo's interconnect requirements without the
need for additional equipment external to the VSATs and hub.
Shipment and installation of the equipment will take place in 1994.
....Telecom Australia's cable contract, awarded recently to the
Dutch-owned Philips Electronics Australia, will initially deliver up
to 67 channels, including the latest run movies, news, sports and
education programs to the major cities in the southwest. The cable
TV network is in a head-on competition with Australis Media which
plans to deliver programming via satellite pay television.
......Comcast UK Cable Partners Ltd has filed to issue 11.75 million
shares of Class A common stock. The initial public offering price
will be between $16 and $18 per share. Proceeds will pay for
capital expansion, acquisitions and other purposes. .
......Viacom Inc is looking to sell Madison Square Garden, the New
York Knicks and Rangers sports teams according to the Wall Street
Journal. NYNEX, already a partner, is tipped to be the favourite in
any contest.
.....COSMOS-2275, COSMOS-2276, and COSMOS-2277 were launched by a
Proton rocket on April 11th. The Sputniks are part of Glonass
Navigation System and are in a near circular orbit.(Initial rotation
period 11 hours 15 minutes,distance from earth 19,124 Km,orbital
inclination 64.8 deg.
Eurowatch What's making news across Europe's
skies By Martyn Williams in London
WSTV announce future plans
---------------------------
The BBC's World Service Television has recently announced several
plans for new networks world-wide. A WSTV spokeswoman gave details
of the new networks to SJI :
North Asia : The service has recently lost it's place as part of the
Star TV multi channel packet on Asiasat and with it, an audience of
several million people in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and other
countries in the region. "We aren't close to signing a new deal"
SJI were told. "Currently there are all sorts of options
available".
North America : The service is presently available as part of the
CBC Newsworld channel in Canada but a US service is not far away.
The provisional start date was given as Early 1995 but there are
still many details to be finalised. Although the service would be
news and information based there has been no definite plans drawn up
for the schedule yet.
Europe : The BBC currently run an entertainment service in Europe
that consists of a mix of programming from BBC 1 and 2. This is
primarily for cable operators who used to distribute the terrestrial
signals on their networks. A new news service is planned but this
is "in the very early stages". As with WSTV around the world, it
will be news based but no plans have been made as to whether it will
be free to air or scrambled.
Japan : The new Japanese service was due to have launched by now but
it has been delayed until the Summer. The spokeswoman told SJI it
should be on air "anytime".
Arabic : Plans have recently been announced for an Arabic language
version of WSTV. This is to be part of a digital multi channel
package on Arabsat and will initially be 6 hours a day running up to
24 hours a day by the end of 1994.
BSkyB pays GBP500m to shareholders
--------------------------------
BSkyB will pay out GBP500m to it's owners after refinancing loans
taken out by the company. Shareholders will get back some of the
money that was poured into the company in its earlier days to keep
it afloat. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, BSkyB's principle
shareholder, will get GBP225m. Other shareholders include Pearson PLC
and Chargeurs SA, who will get GBP81m, and UK TV group Granada who get
GBP64m. The refinancing package was arranged through two
international banks and indicates the financial markets change of
opinion for the satellite group. After it's very encouraging
figures earlier this year the group was no longer seen as a money
loser.
SIS choose NTL for digital links
--------------------------------
NTL has been chosen by Satellite Information Services to uplink
horse and dog racing coverage to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Africa
and the Middle East using MPEG technology. SIS currently provides a
subscription B-MAC service to UK betting shops via Intelsat 601.
The new service will use the Intelsat at 57.0E. NTL's recently
installed 13 metre dish at their Winchester Teleport will uplink the
service. The same dish currently provides digitally compressed
circuits that carry BBC Television to New Zealand. NTL also uplinks
several Astra 1C channels from Winchester.
Russia wins Inmarsat contract
-----------------------------
The international satellite organisation, Inmarsat, has awarded the
Khrunichev Space Centre a contract to launch a new Inmarsat 3
satellite in 1995. The launch will be aboard a Proton rocket. The
contract has been backed up with a loan from the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development.
CMT networks reach 35 million world-wide
----------------------------------------
Country Music Television, CMT and CMT Europe, have announced that
their networks now reach over 35 million homes world-wide. In the
US CMT is seen in 24.8 million homes and an additional 1.8 million
homes in Canada bring the North American total to over 26 million.
In Europe, where CMT Europe launched direct to home last year, the
service counts 8.4 million households.
New VideoCrypt cards from Sky
-----------------------------
Sky have begun mailing out new cards to all subscribers replacing
the current issue 07 cards. The new issue 09 cards have a
redesigned front featuring a blue and gold Sky logo on a black
background.
USA'94 live on MBC
------------------
London based Middle East Broadcasting Centre, MBC, will show the
World Cup 1994 games, many of which will be shown live. All games
will be shown with every game from the second stage onwards getting
live coverage.
TV Independente to close ?
--------------------------
There is speculation that Portuguese private channel TV Independente
will loose it's transmission licence after it was uncovered that 45%
of the channel is owned by foreigners. Portuguese law prohibits
more than 15% of any channel being in foreign hands. The channel
contends that most of the shareholders are from other EU countries
and so should be regarded as domestic shareholders.
(C) 1994 Martyn Williams
AsiaWatch
-----------
from Tokyo
------------
.....Ku satellite dishes will be allowed in Malaysia starting in
1996 when MEASAT 1 is launched. Acording to Energy,
Telecommunications and Post Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu the
dishes will be legalised about three months after the launching of
MEASAT in September next year. "The use of the parabolic dishes
will be allowed because after the launching of MEASAT, all radio and
television broadcasts will be transmitted from the satellite." With
MESAT's Asia-wide footprint it is likely that CNN, Sky and the BBC
would be interested in the satellite, however, the Malaysian
government has not decided if they will allow foreign news
broadcasts beamed into Malaysia.
......STAR TV said it is confident that it will exceed its target of
400 million viewers in Asia by 1996 from the current 170 million.
STAR TV chief executive Gary Davey via a satellite link from Hong
Kong said the company plans to launch a hybrid pay movie service in
India in September or October.
......Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications submitted a
bill to parliament which if passed would let foreign operators run
international telecommunications services in Japan using foreign
satellites. However, foreign operators would have to maintain an
office in Japan.
......Taiwan awarded a US$61 million contract to TRW Inc of the
United States to design and make the island's first satellite.
Plans call for a launch in 1997.
......BBC's World Service Television, dropped from Star TV this
fortnight hopes to find new partners to broadcast to China, Hong
Kong and Taiwan within a few months.
......The Philippines' largest television network, ABS-CBN
Broadcasting Corp., saw a 48 percent rise in net income in 1993 due
to major increases in its audience share and advertising revenues
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Satellite Journal
International
Volume 2 Issue 9
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------The DTP version is mailed via air or First Class and has product
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