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SAT-NA V1.3.2
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From: Gary Torrens <71165.2032@CompuServe.COM>
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Date: 31 Jul 96 14:34:39 EDT
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Wed Jul 31 14: 40:52 1996
Satellite News
from America
V1.3 1 August 1996
PART TWO
---------
This news is co-sponsored by TELE-satellit and Satellite Journal Itl.
The information contained MAY NOT be republished or redistributed
without the prior written authority of Satellite Journal
International
US and Canadian News
HyperCubed
----------
SpaceCom Systems has unveiled the company's newest
satellite technology, HyperCubed, for point-to- multipoint
distribution of high-speed data. HyperCubed will be
implemented by October, 1996 utilising Galaxy IV.
The HyperCubed service will feature an eight-channel
satellite receiver with extensive diagnostics and reporting
capabilities. This "smart" receiver also enables customers
to receive up to eight unique satellite data channels
simultaneously.
The receivers allow the user to customise alarm
settings, access extensive logging records, remotely upgrade
software and perform group addressing; the receivers also
enable users to monitor power, internal temperature, LNB
current and signal quality. These features allow for easy
troubleshooting in the event of an interruption in service.
SpaceCom will also offer its HyperCubed customers
redundant transmission schemes and disaster avoidance by
providing geographically diverse uplinking facilities and an
in-orbit spare satellite (SBS-6).
SpaceCom Vice President and General Manager Al Stem
says HyperCubed will provide customers with highly reliable
bandwidth at reduced prices. Data speeds ranging from 19.2
kilobits per second up to 512 kilobits per second will be
available during the first phase of the HyperCubed roll-
out.
EchoStar
--------
EchoStar Communications Corp. reported the successful
completion of construction and testing of the EchoStar II
spacecraft, its second direct broadcast satellite.
The Lockheed Martin Series 7000 satellite, with 16
transponders capable of transmitting in excess of 100
additional channels, is scheduled to launch on top of an
Ariane 4 launch vehicle on September 10, 1996.
Westinghouse to launch new cable channel
----------------------------------------
Westinghouse plans to launch a news-related cable
television channel as it accelerates its expansion into
broadcasting.
Targeting cable as the new top priority following the
1995 take-over of the CBS television network and last
month's agreement to buy out the huge radio group Infinity
Broadcasting Corp., Jordan said Westinghouse has already
begun its next move.
TV Guide Plus+ to launch in Canada
----------------------------------
Gemstar International Group Ltd. has entered into an
agreement with Telemedia Communications Inc., publisher of
the Canadian magazine TV Guide, to co-market Gemstar's
newest technology in Canada, TV Guide Plus+.
TV Guide Plus+ system is an interactive on-screen
television guide, to be built into new televisions and VCRs.
The system has the capability of enabling participating
broadcasters to update program information in real time, as
events occur. TV Guide Plus+ also has the feature of one-
touch recording based on Gemstar's VCR Plus+ technology, and
the ability to sort programs by theme or category.
Users will not be charged any subscription fees or set-
up charges for this service. Consumers need only purchase a
television or VCR equipped with the TV Guide Plus+ feature,
and the program-guide information will be provided and
updated daily free of charge.
TV Guide Plus+ television-program data will be
broadcast in Canada by the CBC Network, CBC Newsworld, RDI
and CTV, and by ABC, FOX and CBS in the United States.
Gemstar and Telemedia will also co-operate to develop and
offer a number of enhanced content services to which owners
of TV Guide Plus+-equipped sets can choose to subscribe.
BET On Jazz
-----------
BET On Jazz: The Cable Jazz Channel has signed an
agreement to secure broadcast of BET On Jazz over the TCI
network through the year 2007.
In addition, the nation's only all-jazz format channel
stated that based on its affiliate reports, the 24-hour jazz
channel is now the choice of more than one million domestic
cable subscribers through more than 28 cable systems nation-
wide, including recent launches in Washington D.C. and
Detroit.
JONES DIGITAL SATELLITE RADIO
-----------------------------
In the three months since the company announced it
would use SpaceCom Systems to convert its 24-hour radio
formats to MPEG-II digital satellite delivery, Jones
Satellite Networks (JSN) has been leading the fray (and its
affiliates) into the digital domain.
Within the next three months, JSN will complete digital
conversion of two more formats_Soft Hits will convert to
digital delivery in August, and Good Time Oldies will go
digital in September. Both will be uplinked by SpaceCom.
In the past two months, JSN has added two formats with
SpaceCom Systems, including The New Music Of Your Life in
June, and Rock Alternative in May. During that same time
frame, JSN also retrofitted the CD Country and Adult Hit
Radio formats from analogue to digital delivery.
Harris To Establish Digital Television Research
And Development Center
-----------------------
Harris Corporation plans to establish a new research
and development facility to speed the introduction of
equipment for the emerging digital television
market_formerly known as HDTV.
Harris' Broadcast Division, Quincy, Illinois, announced
plans to establish the Harris Digital Television Center of
Excellence in the greater Cincinnati/northern Kentucky area
to serve as the hub for the company's development of digital
television transmission equipment and systems.
All of the company's resources related to digital
television, including key product management, engineering,
sales and marketing, and selected senior administration
staff will be based at the centre. Manufacturing for
television and radio transmitters, development and
production of the companies radio RF product line, and
general administration support for the division will remain
in the company's Illinois operation.
Along with relocating some of its current staff, the
company plans to recruit additional digital technology
specialists and others to research and develop future
advanced products and systems.
( see related story below )
Canadian DBS
------------
Telesat Canada claims the FCC has left the door open
for a project by Telesat and two U.S. partners to beam
television programs to U.S. and Canadian households from
satellites in Canadian orbital slots. According to Telesat,
the FCC dismissed a Tele-Communciations Inc. bid saying the
application was premature since the venture had not received
final approval from the Canadian government.
Canada has given Telesat approval in principle, subject
to certain conditions, one of which is receiving an FCC
license. Now Telesat and its partners will try to get final
Canadian approval.
(The FCC ruling is available at our WebStand in the
library area.)
Digital HDTV Moves One Step Closer
-----------------------------------
The FCC has proposed a channel allocation plan to
transition to the next generation of television. This
action follows a 408 to 16 vote by the House of
Representatives rejecting an anti-HDTV proposal; and recent
letters to the FCC from the Clinton Administration
supporting the unanimous multi-industry proposal before the
FCC to accept the Grand Alliance system.
Galaxy X To Be First Delta III payload
--------------------------------------
Hughes Communications, Inc., and McDonnell Douglas
announced Galaxy X will ride aboard the inaugural Delta III
launch, scheduled for 1998. Hughes also exercised an option
for an additional Delta III launch in 1998. This brings to
11 the total number of firm launches in the long-term Hughes
Electronics/McDonnell Douglas agreement.
Galaxy X as previously reported will be an HS 601HP
built by Hughes Space and Communications Company. A dual-
payload satellite with both C-band and Ku-band capacity,
Galaxy X will take the orbital position of Galaxy IX at
123 degrees west longitude. Galaxy IX will then move to 127
degrees. Galaxy IX customers migrating to Galaxy X after
launch include Viacom, with the west coast feeds of
Showtime, Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel and MTV; and the
national feed of the Sundance Channel.
Payload capacity for Delta III is 8,400 pounds to
geosynchronous transfer orbit, more than twice the
capability of the Delta II. The most significant
differences in a Delta III from the existing Delta II are a
new single-engine, cryogenically propelled upper stage and a
larger fairing to house the payload. Despite the launch
latitude, the Delta III will be capable of launching Hughes'
largest satellites, including the HS 601 and the HS 702.
Vyvx to furnish over 8,200 hours of satellite time
--------------------------------------------------
Vyvx Inc. will furnish over 5,500 hours of long-haul
fibre service and over 2,700 hours of Ku- and C-band
satellite time for the Democratic and Republican National
Conventions.
Vyvx will co-ordinate approximately 700 hours of C-band
and 150 hours of Ku-band satellite time during the
Republican National Convention, which will take place in San
Diego, Calif. from August 12-16. Vyvx will also furnish
approximately 1,225 hours of C-band and 635 hours of Ku-band
satellite time during the Democratic National Convention,
which will take place in Chicago, Ill. from August 26-29.
Vyvx will provide over 4,000 hours of video transmission at
45 Megabits per second (Mbps) over optical fibre cable from
the United Centre in Chicago and over 1,500 hours from the
San Diego Convention Centre.
Vyvx will utilise satellites SBS6, Galaxy K4, Galaxy
C4, Galaxy VI, Galaxy IX, Telstar 401R and Telstar 402 for
the conventions, and will be co-ordinating transmission from
Chicago and San Diego over its own 11,000 mile fibre optic
network.
Norsat named in suit to prevent sale of DirecTV
-----------------------------------------------
NII Norsat International Inc. has been named in a
Statement of Claim against it and a number of satellite and
consumer distribution organisations in the sale of DirecTV
equipment in Canada.
The Plaintiffs, ExpressVu Inc., Allarcom Pay Television
Limited, The Family Channel Inc. and TMN Networks Inc., aim
to prevent the Defendants, or anyone else for that matter,
from selling DirecTV equipment in Canada.
ExpressVu, a venture between Bell Canada and TeeComm
Electronics, has been attempting to launch a Direct
Broadcast Satellite service in Canada over the past two
years without success, but clearly are envious of the huge
success of DirecTV in the United States, with a reported 3
million plus subscribers to date.
Commenting on the legal action, John C. Anderson,
President and Chief Executive Officer of NII Norsat
International Inc., said:
"Clearly we have a case of envy on one hand of the huge
success of DirecTV and the overwhelming demand for this
product in Canada with close to 200,000 subscribers to
date, and ineptitude on the other hand of an organisation
which has been promising Canada a Direct Broadcast
Satellite service for two years and so far has delivered
nothing. From our perspective, the Plaintiffs surely
should know that the purchase and use of large and small
satellite dishes is far from illegal provided
subscriber's programming is authorised and a regular
subscription fee is paid. The issue of illegality arises
when satellite dishes are purchased, used and modified to
receive any programming without subscription fees.
Besides, no one selling RCA DSS equipment in Canada is
broadcasting or, in fact, in control of the television
signals available across Canada.
Plainly, this is a case of legal and regulatory
harassment aimed at protecting established Canadian
monopolies against the expanding satellite industry in
Canada. The old cable and telco cabal have a "Berlin
Wall" mentality when it comes to what we Canadians should
and shouldn't be viewing and obviously don't accept that
Canada is a free country where tax paying consumers have
a right to purchase whatever consumer electronic
equipment they like. The logical conclusion would lead
us to believe a move to ban "short wave radios" is
imminent on the basis of their being able to receive
foreign broadcasts! Equally, the persistent "policy
vacuum" created by the CRTC in its protection and
procrastination of cable and telco interests has not been
diminished with the new responsibility of the Department
of Trade and Industry to come forth with a fair and
expeditious policy allowing Canadian Direct Broadcast
Satellite services to begin in Canada any time soon!
DirecTV equipment is being sold in Canada by close to
1,000 businesses and outlets, together with consumers
buying directly in the United States and bringing
merchandise across the border. The Plaintiffs in this
case, if successful, will only succeed in driving DirecTV
equipment sales underground whereby consumers, the least
thought about people in this whole process, will pay more
for the equipment, taxes and import duties will be
avoided and the proliferation of "chipped" receivers will
continue and expand. This would be a re-enactment of the
situation 12 years ago when large dish systems began to
sell in Canada. The same arguments, the same objections
and the same obstacles were created by similar
protectionist forces".
Norsat, as a satellite pioneer in Canada, has been
selling satellite equipment for 17 years, long before
some of the Plaintiffs even existed. Interesting to
note, in a recent CBC program where Pamela Wallin was
interviewing Keith Spicer, former Chairman of the CRTC,
when asked the question about DirecTV equipment in
Canada, he responded "Canada is not Russia. People here
are free to buy whatever they like". Mr. David
Collenette, currently Minister of Defence, has written
similar sentiments.
Faith & Values Channel to Become Odyssey
----------------------------------------
The Faith & Values Channel announced that it will have
a new name, ODYSSEY, along with a new logo and on-air look
beginning Sept. 29, the start of its fall season. The
changes are designed to insure the continued growth of the
channel by making it attractive to the broadest audience
possible, while maintaining its core audience.
Over the last six months, Faith & Values has introduced
new faith-related programs such as the religious quiz show
Inspiration, Please! ; the mix of cuisine and religious
history of Jeff Smith's The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast;
and the "Crossfire"-like evangelical debate program Hashing
It Out. Also rounding out the schedule is uplifting family
dramas like Father Murphy, Brooklyn Bridge, Our House,
Palmerstown and a Family Weekend Movie series.
SHAW TO LAUNCH DIGITAL TV SERVICES
----------------------------------
Shaw Communications Inc. announced that Calgary will be
the first Canadian market to have digital cable television
services when Shaw begins its roll-out of GI's digital video
compression (DVC) technology this fall. Shaw also announced
that it will purchase up to 200,000 DCT-1000 home terminals
and related technology and software for deployment in all of
its cable systems.
Shaw intends to introduce end-to-end MPEG-2 DVC
technology in its cable systems across the country, as part
of the company's overall strategic plan for positioning its
cable operations to compete successfully with satellite,
telephone and other distributors. The company's strategy
includes an ongoing program to install fibre optic and two-
way technology throughout its cable networks.
ATLAS II Successful Launch
--------------------------
A Lockheed Martin Atlas II rocket successfully launched
the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UHF F/O) F7
communications satellite into intermediate transfer orbit.
This seventh satellite in the UHF F/O Program
incorporates extremely-high frequency (EHF) capability,
which began with the fourth spacecraft in the series
launched by Atlas in January of 1995. The fourth through
the tenth satellites are being launched on Atlas II and IIA,
which offer added performance over the Atlas I used to
launch the first three satellites. At a total of 10
missions, the UHF F/O Program is Lockheed Martin's largest
single commercial launch services program.
Harris Transmits First Commercial HDTV
--------------------------------------
CBS-affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina has
tested a digital transmitter developed by Harris Corporation
broadcasting the first commercial digital television images
in the United States. Using a high-power Sigma CD
transmitter, WRAL-TV began broadcasting a special collection
of short subjects with movie-quality images and compact disc-
type sound.
The station, which recently became the first in the
nation to receive an experimental digital license, is
transmitting the new signal under the call letters WRAL-HD.
In the near future, the station plans to broadcast its own
programs, along with programming from the CBS television
network and the Public Broadcasting Service's soon-to-be-
developed national HDTV satellite digital feed.
"This is an historic event," said Peter Schruth, vice
president of affiliate relations at CBS. "This represents a
major first step in making the transition from analogue to
digital HDTV terrestrial broadcasting."
Harris has been heavily involved in digital television
since 1990, when it developed the RF Test Bed for the
Advanced Television Test Centre in Alexandria, Virginia.
The RF Test Bed was used to evaluate all digital television
systems proposed for the U.S.
Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., in June, signed an agreement
with Harris to provide digital television transmitters for
its group-owned stations.
EUROPEAN NEWS
Most European TV Stations Meet Programming Quota
------------------------------------------------
Ninty-one out of 148 European stations are complying
with the European Union's 1989 "Television Without
Frontiers" directive, which requires stations to air a
majority of European programs "where practicable." As a
percentage this less than in 1992, when 70 out of 105
channels surveyed met the test. Those who fell short were
new or satellite channels, often providing pay-TV specialist
programming.
Radio AAHS May Air In London
----------------------------
Children's Broadcasting Corporation is developing a
Radio AAHS based children's format to the London airwaves.
The British Radio Authority recently opened the
application process for an FM license in the London market.
Children's Radio Broadcast Co. Ltd., a corporation organised
by British entertainment, publishing, broadcasting and
advertising executives, filed an application after CBC
consented to have its Radio AAHS format replicated and to
participate in the application. It is expected that the
license will be awarded by year's end, although there is no
assurance that it will be awarded to Children's Radio
Broadcast Co. Ltd.
Radio AAHS is the only live, 24-hour radio network for
children and their families in the United States providing
programming that includes shows from Disneyland, Walt Disney
World and "What's Up? with Evan Roberts" from Long Island,
NY.
VLSI's Integrated Set-Top Architecture
--------------------------------------
Canal+ has approved VLSI Technology as a compliant,
primary silicon supplier for set-top box designs using its
high-quality, DVB -compliant direct-to-home (DTH) satellite
TV service. Four of the five Canal+ DVB system's set-top
box providers have designed their set-top boxes implementing
off-the-shelf components from VLSI. Their digital satellite
TV system, CANALSATELLITE, formally debuted in April serving
viewers in France with planned expansion to Spain and
through the MMBG consortium, into Germany.
CANALSATELLITE will provide up to 40 channels of MPEG 2-
coded digital TV programming by the end of 1996. Based on
its integrated set-top architecture, VLSI is providing a
number of devices to the Canal+ set-tops, including its QPSK
demodulators (VES4123 and VES4143), FEC (forward-error
correction) decoders (VES5453 and VES5453X), heart of the
set-top MPEG 2 transport demultiplexers (VES2020) and DVB
descramblers (VES0010). All VLSI devices used in the Canal+
program are fully DVB-compliant.
VLSI's VES2020 provides a fully micro-programmable
architecture to ensure compatibility and flexibility even
after the hardware design has been finalised in silicon, and
has been implemented by the set-top manufacturer at the
system level. VLSI maintains dedicated software resources
to support and customise code that is provided with the
VES2020. VLSI's MPEG 2 transport chip provides for a
powerful, cost-effective means to rapidly deploy a complex
set-top design into a new DTH service, such as Canal+.
AMOS Now Operational
--------------------
Mabat announced that Amos is ready for commercial
operation in Ku-Band from orbital slot location of 4 West,
according to plans. The satellite has two transmission
beams. One over the Middle East, centred on Israel and the
other over Europe, centred on Hungary.
According to several reports received during the
operational tests, the transmissions are very well received
all over Europe with 85 cm to 250 cm Dishes size.
The first test transmissions were performed from four
different locations in Israel to the satellite. The
following companies took part in this test:
* "Mabat" Company - the operators of the satellite
* "Afikey Tikshoret" Company - controlling operation of
transponders.
* "Chalal" Company - in charge of marketing the
satellite's transponders.
* "R.R. Satellites Communication-Israel" Company - owns
transportable and Flyaway systems for direct transmission to
the satellite.
* The Israeli Educational TV Channel
* The News Company of the Israeli Channel Two.
The Israeli Educational TV Channel was transmitted via
one transponder of the satellite. This transmission was
received through the Middle-East beam, all around the
region's countries.
At the same time a downlink system was operated at the
transmission centre and MCR of Channel Two's News Company
with capability to receive four transponders simultaneous.
This test was performed in order to check the all
systems that are going to provide services to the
broadcasters in Israel around the world.
Washington Watch
* EchoStar Satellite Corporation filed a Request for an
Extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue
operating the odd-numbered channels (numbers 1-31) of its
Direct Broadcast Satellite systems at 119 W.L.
* Directsat Corporation filed a Request for Special
Temporary Authority to operate the eastern satellite of its
Direct Broadcast Satellite systems on channels 2-32 (even-
numbered) at 119 W.L.
* GE American Communications, Inc. filed an application
seeking modification of the milestone schedule for its GE-1
satellite. GE Americom requests an extension, until
November 1996, to complete construction of the GE-1
satellite and an extension until December 1996 to launch GE-
1.
* COMSAT General Corporation has requested an extension
of special temporary authority to continue to provide
service via the COMSTAR D-4 satellite to and from ships in
U.S. coastal waters and the Caribbean region.
* Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. filed an amendment
to its pending application for authority to operate the
Brasilsat A1 satellite to provide U.S. service. By this
amendment, Hughes seeks authority to operate the Brasilsat
A1 satellite at 79 W.L. location rather than 63 W.L.
* GE Americom filed a request for an extension of Special
Temporary Authority to continue operating its Satcom K-1
satellite beyond its ten-year license term. Satcom K-1 was
placed into service January 29, 1986. GE Americom is
seeking an extension for the maximum statutory period of six
months to continue to provide service over Satcom K-1,
through January 29, 1997.
* COMSAT General Corporation filed a request for an
extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue
operating its COMSTAR D-4 satellite using the Comsat
Manoeuvre.
* GE Americom filed a request for an extension of Special
Temporary Authority to continue operating its Satcom K-2
satellite beyond its ten-year license term. Satcom K-2 was
placed into service December 19, 1985. GE Americom is
seeking an extension for the maximum statutory period of six
months to continue to provide service over Satcom K-2,
through December 19, 1996.
* Loral Space & Communications, Ltd. filed applications
to modify its Loral 1 and Loral 2 space station
authorisations. On May 7, 1996, Loral Space was authorised
to construct, launch and operate two satellite space
stations to be located at 79 W.L. and 128 W.L.. Loral
Space proposes to modify the mass and power budgets, service
area coverage and antenna configuration in order to provide
domestic and international services on these satellites.
* Columbia Communications Corporation filed amendments to
its pending applications for authority to construct, launch
and operate communications satellites at 172 E.L. and 47
W.L.
* QUALCOMM Incorporated has received approval to
increase its OmniTRACS system license from 150,600 to
250,600 OmniTRACS mobile communications units. QUALCOMM's
request to increase its licensing capacity is attributed to
the sales success and widespread use of the OmniTRACS
system, which has grown from 5,515 units installed in fiscal
year 1989 to more than 165, 000 units sold world-wide today.
FCC allocates spectrum
----------------------
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a
band-sharing plan that includes a designation of spectrum
for non-geostationary fixed satellite service.
The FCC's 28 GHz, or Ka-band, plan includes a 500 MHz
allocation for primary use by NGSO FSS systems. The plan
also provides spectrum for other services, including a
terrestrial "wireless cable" technology known as local
multipoint distribution service (LMDS); gateway links for
mobile satellite systems such as Motorola's Iridium project;
and traditional geostationary fixed satellite services.
The FCC band plan largely mirrors an international
spectrum allocation that the United States successfully
advocated at the World Radio Conference in November last
year. At WRC-95, the 184 member nations of the
International Telecommunications Union, an arm of the United
Nations, adopted a resolution identifying the same
frequencies contained in the FCC band plan for use by NGSO
FSS systems.
The WRC-95 resolution made 400 MHz available for
immediate use by these NGSO FSS systems. Another 100 MHz
was frozen until the next conference in 1997, with action
identified for that conference that would open up the
additional spectrum for NGSO FSS use.
Industry Reports
Hughes
------
Revenues for the quarter were $951.9 million, an
increase of 27.4% over revenues of $747.4 million reported
in the prior year's second quarter. The growth was
principally due to increased commercial satellite
manufacturing and cellular communications equipment sales as
well as continued DIRECTV subscriber growth, which were
partially offset by reduced Galaxy satellite transponder
sales.
Operating profit in the second quarter increased 24.2%
to $57.0 million compared with $45.9 million reported in the
same period in 1995. This increase was primarily the result
of higher satellite manufacturing and cellular
communications equipment sales, in part offset by reduced
Galaxy satellite transponder sales and increased DIRECTV
marketing expenses. Second quarter operating profit margin
of 6.0% was comparable to the 6.1% reported in 1995.
Wegener
-------
Bookings for the third quarter were led by orders for
DV2000 MPEG-2 digital video encoders and receivers from LNR
Communications, located in Hauppaugue, New York. LNR
ordered the Wegener systems which they will integrate into
digital "fly-away", or portable, satellite systems. Also
during the third quarter, Turner Broadcasting purchased the
DV2000 system to transmit daily news programming from their
Hong Kong studios. The equipment was installed and has been
in use for several months."
Orders for Wegener's MPEG-1 and low bit rate MPEG-2
digital video products were received from Nynex, Foundation
Telecommunications, Inc., Group W Satellite Services,
Reuters America, Skyline Communications, and Vanstar
Corporation. The equipment is being used in a variety of
satellite and terrestrial applications including the Dow
Jones Investor Network and Reuters Financial Television
Network.
Trans World Radio, Radio Guaiba S/A, and the Louisiana
Network all placed orders for Wegener digital audio
equipment to distribute radio programming. Wegener
digital radio networks include: ABC Radio Network, BBC World
Service, Bible Broadcast Network, Jones Satellite Network,
Kikker Radio, Louisiana Network, Mississippi Radio Network,
Moody Broadcasting Network, Morningstar Radio Network, Now
Dance Radio, Pia Sociedade de Sao Paulo, Radio Excelsior
Ltda., Radio Guaiba S/A, Radio Gaucha, Radio Itatiaia, Radio
Rocks Moscow, Radiotelevisione Itatiana Ltda, Reach
Satellite Network, SW Networks, USA Radio Network, Arkansas
Radio Network and Virgin Radio.
Arch Communications and USA Mobile Communications,
Inc., are expanding their data broadcasting networks using
Wegener's DR186 satellite data receivers. Stox Broadcast
Corporation placed an order for Wegener's series 2010 cable
data modem. The 2010 modem is used to transmit data at 9.6
kbps to cable television subscribers.
General Instrument
------------------
Building on its installed base of 179 DigiCipher I
satellite systems with the cumulative capacity to transmit
512 channels of digital programming, GI recorded increased
orders and shipments of its new MPEG- 2 digital satellite
systems in the second quarter of 1996. Through June 30,
1996, GI has installed and received customer commitments to
ship 459 MPEG-2 and DSS satellite systems with the
cumulative capacity to transmit 1,749 digital channels for
programmers and service providers world-wide.
New files and documents at our WebStand
- DVB News International Vol. 1 No 7 now available
- Advanced Television Systems and Their Impact
- Telequest Ventures ruling from the FCC
Next month in DVBNI
- LSI Logic Corporation announced the reference design
for a PC add-on module based on its MPEG-2 decoder chip
(L64002) already widely used in digital TV set-top boxes.
- The DISH Network has reached 100,000 customers in a
record seven months since the launch of EchoStar I, on Dec.
28, 1995. EchoStar, on this record-setting pace, is the
fastest growing Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) provider.
- CBS TeleNoticias will enter the DTH satellite
television market with the launch of the 24-hour Spanish
language news network on the DIRECTV service provided by
Galaxy Latin America.
- DTH Transponder Charts....and more...
More information on these and other stories upcoming
in the August issue of DVB News Itl.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Editora Grafica Burti (Brazil) has signed a contract
with the telecommunications company Embratel to operate a Ku
band channel in the Intelsat satellite. With the move
Burti plans to extend the operations of its subsidiary
Transburti, a data and digital radio network.
Iraq has been turned down for access to ArabSat. Iraqi
still owes millions of dollars to ArabSat for services
received before the 1991 Gulf war.
Hughes Communications International Ltd. won with a
$225 million bid to build a new satellite to replace the
Morelos II, scheduled to be mothballed in late 1998. The new
satellite will have increased power and double the
communications capacity of Morelos II.
Spar Aerospace Ltd, expects to build two satellites for
China. The two Radarsats, at a cost of US$ 600 million, are
being built for China Aerospace Industry Corp. and the State
Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National
Defence.
Globo group (80%) and RBS (20%) have created in
Uruguay the subsidiary Ivens, which will control 60% of the
satellite television NetSat, on which News DTH (Rupert
Murdoch) has 40%. Ivens' operations in a fiscal haven is not
contrary to the Brazilian legislation, but allows Globo to
handle a soft taxation under the umbrella of the Mercosur
trade block.
Australia's new conservative government is planning on
selling the Asian satellite television channel currently
operated by the state-owned broadcaster (ABC). Australia
Television has broadcast ABC news, current affairs, drama
and comedy programmes to 15 Asian nations via satellite
since 1993.
LAUNCHES THIS MONTH
Aug. 7: ITALSAT F2 for Telecom Italia
and TELECOM 2D for France Telecom.
Visit our WebStand
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/satellite_journal/
Comments or news items may be sent to:
Internet E-mail: 71165.2032@Compuserve.com
or
Satjournal@aol.com
or
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Copyright 1996 Satellite Journal International
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