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SATELLITE NEWS NA V1.5
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From: Satellite Journal <71165.2032@CompuServe.COM>
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Date: 06 Sep 96 14:05:36 EDT
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Fri Sep 6 14: 08:18 1996
Satellite News
from America
V1.5 1 September 1996
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
WORLD NEWS
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First Satellite-Debris Collision Detected
The first ever collision between a satellite and space
debris has been detected in low earth orbit.
A British-built French spy satellite was damaged when
it was hit by a fragment from one of the European Ariane
rockets travelling at 31,000 mph. The fragment, the size of
a briefcase, was travelling 20 times faster than a rifle
bullet and caused part of the Cerise satellite to vaporise.
The Cerise satellite began rapidly tumbling end over
end on July 24. Subsequent observations and analysis
confirmed Cerise was hit by debris from an Ariane booster
used in 1986 to launch France's Spot-1 satellite.
The six-yard long, rod-like "boom" that keeps the
spacecraft stable was vaporised. Had it hit the main part of
the spacecraft, there would have been nothing left. After
four decades of space activity 7,500 observable space
objects (larger than four inches) are still in orbit.
Brazil, Malaysia to Develop Satellite
Brazil and Malaysia will jointly develop a remote-sense
satellite ready to be put into orbit in 1998. The cost, 37
million U.S. dollars, will be shared by the two countries.
The "Amazonico" satellite, to cover the whole Amazonian
region, the north-eastern part of Brazil as well as parts of
Asia and Africa, is expected to monitor the preservation of
natural resources and facilitate weather forecasts.
MTV Networks and Abril Group
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc., has agreed to
acquire from the Abril Group 50% of MTV Brasil Ltda., the
production company which programs MTV Brasil.
Launched in 1990 through a licensing agreement with the
Abril Group, MTV Brasil is a 24-hour Portuguese language
music television programming service that reaches more than
15 million television households. The service features
video music by both Brazilian and international artists and
is tailored to the musical tastes, lifestyle and
sensibilities of young people in Brazil. Hosted by
Brazilian VJs, the service is distributed mainly through
Abril's UHF and VHF broadcast networks as well as cable,
MMDS and DTH.
Under the new agreement, MTV Brasil's existing
management team will remain in place and handle the day to
day operations of the network. The service will continue to
be run by this team which has been with MTV Brasil since its
launch and has been instrumental in building MTV's brand in
the territory.
Hughes to build new Mexican satellite
Hughes Space and Communications International Inc. and
Telecomunicaciones de Mexico (Telecomm) have signed a
contract for a high-power satellite, Morelos III, that
Hughes will deliver in 1998.
Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and
Transportation, of which Telecomm is a part, judged Hughes'
offering as technically best and lowest-priced in a three-
way competition. Los Angeles-based Hughes thus continues as
the sole builder of Mexico's satellites.
The previous spacecraft are Morelos I and II, launched
in 1985, and Solidaridad I and II, launched in 1993 and
1994, respectively. Morelos I has been taken out of
service, and Morelos II is due for retirement in 1998.
The new satellite, an HS 601HP model, will be one of
the most powerful Hughes has built. By using gallium
arsenide solar cells, Morelos III will offer nearly 8
kilowatts of payload power. The satellite will reach not
only all of Mexico, but also most of North and South
America, from its orbital position of 116.8 West longitude.
Morelos III doubles the available communications
capacity at that location, now occupied by Morelos II. The
new satellite will carry 24 active transponders in both C-
band and Ku-band, delivering such general communications
services as voice, fax, business communications, television
distribution and educational programming. Telecomm plans to
equip all schools in Mexico with satellite dishes. Morelos
III is to operate for 15 years. Telecomm will make its own
arrangements for launch.
Morelos III will carry three reflectors, one for C-band
and one for each of two Ku-band beams. The 24 C-band
transponders are powered by 36-watt travelling-wave tube
amplifiers (TWTAs). Twelve Ku-band transponders will use
110-watt TWTAs, and the other 12 will have 132-watt TWTAs.
Morelos III is the latest order in the body-stabilised
HS 601 line, which is the world's best-selling spacecraft
model, with more than 60 ordered by customers around the
world. Morelos I and II were the smaller, spinning HS 376
models, and Solidaridad I and II are 3-kilowatt versions of
the HS 601.
Embratel, Nahuelsat Sign Satellite Agreement
Telebras' subsidiary Embratel (Brazil) and Nahuelsat
(Argentina) have signed a telecoms satellite agreement for
joint operations in the Mercosur trade block. Embratel
Brasilsat satellites are used with full capacity, and the
satellite services sector will be opened for private
operators in 1996. Nahuelsat, which teams Daimler Benz,
Aerospatiale, Alenia Spazio, Publicom, IFC, and Lampebank,
will launch its satellite in the last quarter of 1996 with
18 transponders band Ku for television, voice, and data
transmission. Embratel will operate Nahuelsat satellite,
expanding the uses of the band Ku, so far provided only by
Intelsat.
Loral Announces New Service
Loral Space announced a commercial, space-based
navigation and positioning service_scheduled to be
operational in 1998 -- that will provide customers world-
wide with nearly pinpoint accuracy. The service, called
Loral Integrated Navigation and Communications Satellite
Services (LINCSS), will use the Globalstar
telecommunications service and the Global Positioning System
(GPS) satellite network to provide customers with position
accuracy ranging down to a few inches anywhere in the world.
GPS now enables non-military users to establish a
location within about 100 meters by comparing data from four
GPS satellites. By combining conventional GPS receivers
with Globalstar handsets, gateways and other reference
stations, LINCSS will provide a improvement over the 20
meters that may ultimately be available to the market from
GPS alone.
Impsat Outlines Investment Plans
Impsat, the telecommunications company from Pescarmona
group (Argentina) is extending its operations in Brazil
planning a US$300mil turnover within five years. Plans are
to invest US$200mil in Brazil during this period including
to set up two teleports at Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and
antennas for its customers, estimated to reach 5 - 6,000 up
to 2001. The first contract has been signed with Shell for
the Dataplus point to point communications service based on
Impsat's satellites capacity. Impsat has also signed an
agreement with Embratel for VSAT satellite services.
GOES Will Be No GOES For Six Hours
NOAA is experimenting with its GOES-9 weather satellite
hoping to prevent overheating. During the months of August,
October, February and April, the sun is shining directly at
the satellite and it can cause overheating. To reduce the
temperature swing, the satellite will be turned slightly, to
avoid the direct sunlight, for six hours a day during the
test. If it works, it could become a regular practice.
New Company Formed To Offer Globalstar
A joint venture company to provide Globalstar satellite-
based telephony service in India was announced by Crompton
Greaves Ltd. (CG) and Pertech Computers Limited (PCL) of
India and the Korean consortium of Hyundai Electronics
Industries Co., Ltd., DACOM Corporation and Hyundai
Corporation (Hyundai/DACOM).
CG and PCL will own 51 percent and Hyundai/DACOM 49
percent of the joint venture company, Globalstar India
Satellite Service Pvt. Ltd. Globalstar India has actively
solicited the collaboration of India's telecom agencies,
including VSNL and MTNL. The new company has applied for,
and anticipates obtaining, all necessary government
approvals and licenses by the end of 1996. Crompton Greaves
(CG), a Rs. 19 billion (US$550 million) group, is India's
largest private sector enterprise in electrical and
electronic engineering, and is among India's largest
manufacturers of telecom products.
Itochu Corp. To Join Thai-Led Asia Satellite Broadcast
Itochu Corp. said it will take a 5% stake in M. Group
Public Co. of Thailand.
Asia Broadcasting & Communications Network, has secured
the rights to use two broadcasting satellites allocated to
Laos which won't have resources to utilise them. They are
scheduled for launch in December 1997 and in July 1998.
ABCN's `L-STAR' satellites will cover a broad area of
Asia, including India, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan and part of
China. Itochu's other partners include Telesat of Canada,
Loral Space & Communications Inc. and Echostar
Communications Corp.
US and Canadian News
United Video Satellite Group Invests in Canada
UVSG has agreed to acquire a 50% economic interest,
which includes a 29.9% voting interest in Pelmorex Inc.
Pelmorex is a privately owned Canadian company focused on
the distribution of multimedia weather information services.
Pelmorex operates The Weather Network (TWN) and
MeteoMedia, all-weather specialty television services in
English and French respectively, which are distributed to 8
million cable subscribers, or 95% of the Canadian cable
market. Additionally, Pelmorex International is expanding
international operations and currently has weather
programming joint ventures in France (La Chaine Meteo), the
United Kingdom (The Weather Network UK) and Italy (The
Weather Network Italy) representing about 1.5 million cable
and satellite direct-to-home subscribers.
Rogers Communications Announces Alliance With QVC
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. and QVC, Inc. have entered
into an agreement in principle to form a strategic alliance
to pursue the television shopping business in Canada, which
is currently being carried on by Rogers Broadcasting under
the name of The Shopping Channel. The agreement is subject
to the approval of the respective boards which is expected
to occur by September 30.
This new entity will be called QVC Company and will be
licensed exclusively by QVC, Inc. to use the QVC trademarks
in Canada for the televised home shopping business. The
parties will also cooperate to take advantage of further
economies of scale and to secure volume purchasing
discounts. RCI will maintain management and voting control
of the new enterprise.
General Instrument Consumer Financing Program
General Instrument Corporation announced a consumer
credit financing program offered by MultiMedia Instant
Credit. This program will be available through qualifying
dealers for consumer purchases of C-band receivers including
decoder modules. The program will also encompass GI's new
line of 4Dtv Digital Satellite Receivers.
The MMIC program is designed to assist dealers in
selling all brands of C-band systems. Consumers may be pre-
approved via telephone, and may apply the purchase price of
a new C-band satellite system to their approved line of
credit. Additionally, consumers may utilise their line of
credit for the purchase of equipment listed on an approved
product list.
Dealers may apply to carry the financing program for a
one-time, non- refundable processing fee of $100. This
processing fee will be waived today through September 13,
1996.
Strong Retail Sales Spur RCA DSS System Growth
With retail sales of the DSS 18-inch satellite system
running 50 percent ahead of last year, Thomson Consumer
Electronics expects to end 1996 with sales of more than
three million digital satellite systems since RCA DSS was
first introduced in June, 1994.
Thomson also plans to expand its manufacturing capacity
for DSS systems with the addition of a fifth production line
later this year. The company began the RCA DSS system
business in 1994 with only two production lines.
Thomson_which manufactures and markets the RCA, GE and
ProScan brands of consumer electronics products_co-developed
the DSS system with DirecTv, Inc.
Another area of growth for the DSS system, is the
potential customers who live in apartment houses and
condominiums. Satellite operators can now serve this large
untapped market with a choice of system approaches that can
take advantage of existing TV transmission capabilities in
the multiple dwelling (MDU) buildings.
Expected are eight new brands to support the DSS sales
growth this year, bringing the total number of DSS system
brands to 12 and assuring a broad retail presence for the
system.
TCI Board Approves Time Warner Agreement
TCI confirmed that its Board of Directors approved
amendments to its agreements with Time Warner for the sale
of its interests in Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. TCI
confirmed it has signed a Consent Order with the staff of
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the matter of the
proposed merger between TBS and Time Warner. The agreement
with the FTC staff is being submitted to the full Commission
and is subject to approval by the Commission. Upon entry of
a final Order, TCI will spin off to shareholders of its
Liberty Media Group, a separate entity that will contain the
company's Time Warner shares (acquired in the proposed
merger with TBS) and its interest in Southern Satellite
Systems, Inc. Terms of the spin-off, including the exchange
ratio and the capitalisation structure of the new entity,
have not yet been finalised, and the spin-off is subject to
receipt of a favourable tax ruling as to the tax-free nature
of the distribution to the Liberty Media Group shareholders.
In addition, the Board reaffirmed its intent to spin
off its satellite company, TCI Satellite Entertainment,
Inc., to the holders of the company's TCI Group common
stock. The spin-off, which is subject to regulatory and
legal approvals, is expected to occur sometime in the fourth
quarter of this year. Terms of the spin-off, including the
exchange ratio and the capitalisation structure, have not
yet been finalised.
Orbital's Pegasus XL Completes Successful Launch
Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL air launched
booster successfully carried NASA's Fast Auroral Snapshot
(FAST) Explorer spacecraft into a near-perfect low-Earth
orbit. NASA's preliminary tests indicate that the
spacecraft's main operating systems are functioning as
planned. The FAST spacecraft is designed to investigate the
processes that produce auroras, or the northern and southern
lights, and will assist in understanding the effects of the
near-Earth environment.
After flying from Vandenberg Air Force Base to a
predetermined launch point approximately sixty miles west of
the California coast, Orbital's L-1O11 carrier aircraft
released the Pegasus XL launch vehicle, which experienced a
five second horizontal free fall and ignited its first stage
rocket motor. Approximately 8 minutes and 30 seconds later,
Pegasus deployed NASA's FAST satellite into a 350 km by 4180
km low-Earth orbit, inclined at 82.97 degrees. The FAST
launch marks Orbital's 13th successful Pegasus launch and
the company's 79th space mission since January 1990.
Battle for Education Via Direct Satellite
The battle to bring a new form of education directly,
efficiently and cheaply into U.S. classrooms and homes by
direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television is being taken
to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Two entities are involved: the Foundation for
Educational Advancement Today (FEAT) and Advanced
Communications Corp. (ACC).
ACC had its DBS license extension request denied last
year by the Federal Communications Commission and then had
its appeal rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Citing
that no other DBS license has ever had extension requests
denied_before or since_ACC now will present its case to the
U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC. in September.
The commitment from ACC and FEAT was to provide
educational programming through this medium, making it
universally accessible to schools, homes, businesses and
anyone with appropriate receiving equipment. To make this
possible, ACC donated four high-powered transponders,
capable of delivering up to 100 channels each of state-of-
the-art technology to classrooms.
When ACC's license extension request was revoked, it
was put up for auction. The purchaser was MCI and EchoStar.
The price: $735 million.
Telesat Renews Support for TCI, TelQuest DBS
Telesat Canada officially signalled its strong support
for new petitions filed with the Federal Communications
Commission by TeleCommunications Inc. (TCI) and TelQuest
Ventures. TCI and TelQuest are Telesat's U.S. partners in
ventures that will enable the launch of four new direct
broadcast satellites (DBS) and expand competition and choice
on television screens in both countries.
On July 15, the FCC indicated that it was uncertain of
the Canadian government's approval of the plan to use two of
Canada's six orbital positions for the new satellites.
Based on this technicality, the FCC dismissed the original
TCI and TelQuest applications "without prejudice," and left
the door open for the parties to re-file. The new petitions
include documentation that clearly establishes that Canada
has issued a commitment of approval_thus clearing the path
for the FCC to consider the applications on their merits.
In Canada, recent months have seen growing concern
about the lack of a viable direct-to-home television
service, as well as a clear consensus among opinion leaders
that the future of the satellite business is international.
StarSight Telecast Licenses Electronic Program
StarSight Telecast, Inc. has signed a licensing
agreement with Uniden America Corporation which authorizes
the incorporation of certain StarSight electronic program
guide features into the new Uniden digital satellite system
(DSS) product line. The licensed StarSight features will be
initially incorporated into two Uniden DSS models UDS100/200
available this autumn. A sampling of the StarSight
features licensed to Uniden America Corporation include one-
button VCR recording and programming, one-touch tuning,
theme search, customisation of favourite channels,
information pop-ups, grid guide and browse.
Cycle Sat's Conversion to Digital Transmission
Cycle Sat, Inc. has now completed the first two phases
of their plan to begin delivering television spot
commercials using MPEG-2 technology.
Cycle Sat has installed GI MPEG-2 digital satellite
encoders and GI's DSR-4400 digital satellite receivers and
tested at a transmission data rate of 19.5 Mbs for initial
transmissions. In the future, this data rate will be the
benchmark for transmission to the Cycle Sat network
affiliate stations. In addition to digital video and audio,
Cycle Sat will also implement high speed digital data rates
up to 9 Mbs. Cycle Sat has moved forward with the digital
transmission conversion of their technical service centre in
Burbank, California.
Fox News Channel selects JVC's Digital-S
Fox Television has chosen JVC's Digital-S as the house
videotape format for its new 24-hour cable service; Fox News
Channel.
Under an agreement announced between JVC Professional
Products Co. and Fox News, Digital-S will be installed as
the primary format for all in-house recording and editing
undertaken in the Fox News Channel's new all-digital studio.
The Fox News Channel, a 24-hour all news network, will
debut on Oct. 7, 1996. Presently, construction of the Fox
News Channel's primary studio on 6th Avenue at 48th Street
in Manhattan, is being completed. As a part of this
installation, Fox has purchased and taken delivery of its
first shipment of JVC Digital-S recorders and editing
controllers. "Digital-S operates at 50 megabits per second
(mbps), which is an optimal data transmission rate for our
purposes," noted Richard M. Friedel, vice president of
operations and engineering for Fox News. "Additionally,
since Digital-S offers 4:2:2 digital signal processing we
are able to do the kinds of layering effects and keying that
our producers demand. This increases their flexibility, and
enhances their creativity."
Another consideration in making the selection of a
digital studio format is concatenation. In basic terms,
concatenation problems create visible artifacts that occur
as a digital signal is compressed and re-compressed using
different compression systems. Concatenation problems are
exacerbated when greater compression ratios are utilised.
With Digital-S, the compression ratio of 3.3:1, which is
considered mild, helps to minimise these problems.
JVC claims that the introduction of its Digital-S line
will revolutionise the broadcast and industrial video
industries. "Digital-S represents a dramatic breakthrough
in both quality and price. Its 4:2:2 8-bit component
digital signal processing and very mild 3.3:1 compression
combine to produce an astounding picture quality_better than
any analogue system, any 4:1:1 digital system, and rivalling
that of even the most expensive digital systems."
General Instrument and TCI's Head End in the Sky
General Instrument Corporation announced that TCI's
Head End in the Sky (HITS) has agreed in principle to
support distribution and digital programming to the consumer
C-Band market when HITS begins transmitting at the end of
this year. HITS is a national television distribution
system providing program transmission utilising GI's MPEG-2
digital video compression technology.
Consumers with new digital C-band receivers will be
able to access HITS programming primarily off G7. Utilising
12 transponders on Ku-band satellite G7, HITS anticipates
providing over 80 video and 40 audio channels, including new
networks, expanded pay-per-view data services and premium
movie services.
`EYE ON PEOPLE'
Westinghouse/CBS announced the creation of a new
entertainment and information channel for the multichannel
marketplace, EYE ON PEOPLE.
The new network will focus on the entire range of
individual human experience, people caught up in the events
that have shaped our lives. Original reality-based
programming will focus on people, contemporary and
historical, in and out of the headlines_heroes and villains,
creators and thinkers, innovators and discoverers; those who
have achieved stardom and those struggling toward it;
ordinary people whose stories move, inspire or instruct us.
EYE ON PEOPLE, which will launch on March 31, 1997, will
call on the programming and production resources of CBS
News, CBS Sports, CBS Entertainment, EYEMARK Entertainment,
the CBS Owned Television stations and CBS Television Network
affiliated stations, as well as the extensive CBS and Group
W archives.
In addition, Westinghouse/CBS has formed a program
alliance with Discovery Communications Inc., a leader in
cable programming, for production of program series.
EYE ON PEOPLE will be offered exclusively to
multichannel distributors in their markets by Group W
Satellite Communications. CBS is offering its affiliates
who have assignable retransmission rights an opportunity to
participate in EYE ON PEOPLE through a retransmission
consent plan.
EYE ON PEOPLE will be transmitted via a digitally
compressed channel on Galaxy 7, transponder 9. Production
and satellite distribution services will be handled by Group
W Network Services.
ValueVision, TCI Reach Affiliation Accord
ValueVision International, Inc., the nation's third
largest television home shopping network, announced the
signing of a cable affiliation agreement with Tele-
Communications, Inc. (TCI), the nation's largest cable
operator, under which TCI will provide ValueVision with some
340,000 "must-carry-equivalent" homes in Seattle and other
markets, as well as a minimum of 4.0 million part-time homes
in other TCI markets.
Under the agreement, TCI may provide "must-carry"
equivalent homes for ValueVision's Seattle broadcast station
in other markets while it completes previously-scheduled
rebuilds of its Seattle system. Head ends serving
approximately 70,000 Seattle homes will begin airing
ValueVision's broadcast station (KBGE-TV, Channel 33) as
soon as possible. Another approximately 270,000 ValueVision
replacement homes and markets may be selected at TCI's
discretion, and will launch within 6 months.
CRTC Makes Sound Decision for Canadians
After an extensive review prompted by a request from
the federal cabinet, the CRTC has given Digital Music
Express Canada (DMX Canada) the green light to introduce a
subscription based music programming service to homes across
the country. The decision means the Company's licence
conditions will remain unchanged from the application
approved late last year.
During hearings held last fall, DMX Canada proposed a
comprehensive music service for the Canadian residential
market. The new service, which will be available across the
country later this year, highlights Canadian artists and
international talent. "We are averaging a minimum of 30
percent Canadian content on our locally produced channels.
We plan to program 18 out of 35 channels in Canada," said
Shaw. "That's an unprecedented opportunity for home grown
music talent, especially for those performers in niche music
genres. We will also contribute 4 percent of our gross
annual revenue to the development of Canadian talent."
Disney/ABC International TV Sign Agreement
Disney/ABC International Television and the Kirch Group
have entered into an exclusive 10-year pay television
agreement. Disney/ABC will license pay television and pay-
per-view rights to the Kirch Group for Disney Studio live
action feature films, including Disney, Hollywood,
Touchstone and Miramax Pictures output for a 10-year period.
The overall agreement includes an arrangement for DF1
to carry a premium Disney Channel specifically developed for
Germany. DF1 successfully launched on July 28, 1996 as
Germany's first digital platform. The new premium Disney
Channel will be wholly owned by Disney/ABC International
Television.
Russia To Provide Euro-Siberian Satellite Link.
Russia's Space Agency (RKA) plans to use a Proton
booster rocket to put into orbit a satellite which will
provide telecommunications services for Europe, Siberia and
the Middle East in 1998. The project is being implemented
jointly with France within the framework of a Eutelsat
programme. Russia joined the organisation in 1994. SESAT is
expected to provide a broad range of services, including
high-quality television broadcasting and mainline telephone
communications.
AP Signs BBC
The Associated Press has signed a long-term contract
with the BBC to develop and implement an Electronic News
Production System (ENPS), which combines text, audio and
video at the desktop of each BBC journalist. When completed,
it will be the largest broadcast newsroom system
installation in the world and replace the BBC's current
Basys newsroom system.
Ultimately ENPS will link BBC radio and television
journalists, production areas and archives throughout the
United Kingdom and world-wide. In development for the past
year, it manages all phases of newsroom production, from
story assignments to on-air broadcasts. The service offers
retrieval of text, pictures, sound and video and tools for
content analysis. Users can search quickly for data and
material, from both inside the BBC and out in the field.
Washington Watch
AT&T: AT&T applied for authority to construct, launch,
and operate three hybrid C-/Ku-band satellites, Telstars 5,
6, and 7. Telstar 5 is intended to be a partial replacement
for the C-band Telstar 303 satellite, which is nearing
retirement. AT&T also applied to construct a ground spare,
Telstar 8. We grant AT&T authority for its Telstar 6
satellite under our rule affording existing operators one
additional orbit location in each frequency band. We also
grant AT&T authority for Telstar 5. The C-band portion of
Telstar 5 is a replacement for Telstar 303. We routinely
grant applications for replacement satellites. We further
recognize the cost efficiencies inherent in operating a
hybrid satellite. Consequently, we grant AT&T a waiver of
our satellite expansion rule by allowing it to include Ku-
band capacity on its proposed hybrid Telstar 5 satellite.
We also grant AT&T authority to construct a ground spare.
We deny AT&T's request for a second expansion satellite,
Telstar 7, as contrary to our expansion rule.
EchoStar: EchoStar applied for authority to construct,
launch, and operate two Ku-band satellites, EchoStar FSS-1
and FSS-2. EchoStar, as a new entrant in the fixed-
satellite service, would be afforded two orbit locations if
it is found qualified to hold a space station license.
EchoStar, however, has not adequately demonstrated its
financial qualifications. We will grant EchoStar licenses
conditioned on it submitting additional financial
documentation, or documentation justifying a waiver of our
financial requirements, within 30 days of the release of its
individual order.
GE: GE applied for authority to construct, launch, and
operate three hybrid C-/Ku-band satellites, GE-5, 6, and 7.
In addition, GE filed, outside this processing round, an
application to construct, launch, and operate a hybrid C-/Ku-
band satellite, GE-3, as a partial replacement for Satcom K-
2, which is nearing retirement. We grant GE authority for
its GE-5 satellite under our expansion policy. We also
grant GE authority for GE-3. The Ku-band portion of GE-3 is
a replacement for Satcom K-2. As with AT&T, we grant GE a
waiver of our satellite expansion rule by allowing it to
include C-band capacity on its proposed hybrid GE-3
replacement satellite. We deny GE's request for two
additional expansion satellites as contrary to our expansion
rule.
Hughes: Hughes applied to construct, launch, and
operate one hybrid C-/Ku-band satellite, Galaxy X, and one C-
band satellite, Galaxy IX. The Ku-band portion of Galaxy X
is intended to replace Hughes's Ku-band SBS-5 satellite,
which is nearing retirement. We grant Hughes authority for
its Galaxy IX satellite under our expansion policy. We also
grant authority for Galaxy X. The Ku-band portion of Galaxy
X is a replacement for SBS-5. As with AT&T and GE, we grant
Hughes a waiver of our satellite expansion rule by allowing
it to include C-band capacity on its proposed hybrid Galaxy
X satellite.
Loral: Loral applied to construct, launch, and operate
two hybrid C-/Ku-band satellites. We find Loral qualified
to hold a space station license and grant it authority for
its two proposed satellites consistent with our policy for
new entrants.
Orion: Orion applied for authority to construct,
launch, and operate a Ku-band satellite, O-F4. Orion has
not, however, adequately demonstrated its financial
qualifications. We will grant Orion a license conditioned
upon it submitting additional financial documentation, or
documentation justifying a waiver of our financial
requirements, within 30 days of the release of its
individual order.
NEWS IN BRIEF
-------------
-- The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) has invited
international bidding for the launch of an observation
satellite. The Data Gathering Satellite-2 (SCD-2) is
scheduled for a 1998 launch replacing SCD-1 launched in
1993. The SCD-2, built by the National Institute of Space
Research, will be in a 750 kilometres orbit.
-- The BBC may launch a British pay television service to
screen rapid repeats of shows aired on its two other
channels. Catch Up TV would give viewers a second chance to
see programs shown on BBC1 and BBC2 in the previous three
weeks. Also as previously reported the BBC is talking to a
range of organisations about new commercial ventures.
Flextech Plc has confirmed it is in preliminary talks with
the BBC for up to six new cable and satellite channels.
Flextech's relationship with TCI could benefit the BBC. TCI
is the largest cable operator in the United States and could
offer the BBC a wide U.S. distribution.
-- Hungarian Broadcasting Corp. has received contracts
from or signed letters of intent with 85 cable television
operators in Hungary. Its channel A3 begins broadcasting
today.
-- BSkyB plans to offer access to the Internet via
conventional TV sets when it introduces its digital
satellite TV service in 1997.
-- CHCH-TV has received approval from the Canadian Radio-
television and Telecommunications Commission to establish
rebroadcast transmitters in seven Ontario markets: Ottawa,
London, Muskoka, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and
Timmins.
-- The CRTC will announce Sept. 4 its decision on the
granting of licences for new specialty television services.
A news conference is scheduled at 12 p.m. (EDT).
NEXT LAUNCH
Sep 10: Echostar 2 Ariane 4 Launch
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