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From: "Gary Torrens (SATJRN)" <71165.2032@CompuServe.COM>
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Date: 21 Sep 96 21:43:31 EDT
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Sat Sep 21 21: 46:45 1996
DVB News International
Volume One
Issue Nine
September 1996
..."Anyone who enjoys the privilege of publishing and
broadcasting in open societies should demonstrate their
unshakeable belief in the universality of free speech should
they ever seek to broadcast in societies that are closed."
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UKFORUM Section 7 Satellites
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For general satellite news:
Satellite Journal International available free by Email
News by Region:
World News Page 2
North America Page 4
Europe Page 7
Miscellaneous Page 8
Transponder Charts Page 9
World News .......
DVD-Video authoring agreement signed
NB Digital Solutions and The Post Group have agreed to
open a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) authoring facility in
Los Angeles.
NG Digital Solutions (NB), a leading provider of off-
line digital video compression services, and The Post Group
(TPG), a leading Video Post Production House will open a
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) authoring facility at TPG's new
Post Production facility in West Los Angeles.
Initially the authoring facility will be used to encode
full length feature films for distribution on DVD-Video
optical-discs.
NB and TPG anticipate that their new DVD Authoring
facility will be fully operational before the end of this
month. The installation of the required video and computer
equipment has been completed, and the DVD authorising system
is currently being tested to insure that it will meet all of
the technical and quality standards of the DVD format.
NASA Selects Nuko Information Systems
NUKO Information Systems, Inc. has been awarded a
contract by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Centre to provide a
digital video networking system for testing Quality-of-
Service using ATM transmission technology over Satellite.
Under terms of the award, NUKO will supply NASA with
its Highlander MPEG-2 video networking system. The NUKO
system, with its advanced standards-based encoder and ATM
multiplexer capability, will enable NASA to evaluate the
quality of ATM digital video transmission over a satellite
link for applications such as voice, fax, medical imaging,
teleconferencing, compressed video, and real-time data
manipulation.
Sony Unveils First Full-Featured Digital Still Camera
Sony Electronics announced a digital still camera
offering features including a 1.8-inch, LCD screen, built-in
4MB flash memory, high-speed wireless infrared image
transfer, flash, rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, and a
host of recording modes.
The DSC-F1 is the first digital still camera with a
built-in infrared transceiver capable of wirelessly
transferring images to an IrDA-equipped PC or to Sony's new
DPP-M55 digital color printer. The system transmits images
up to 1.152 megabits per second (Mbps), or about 30 times
faster than typical serial connections at 38.4 kilobits per
seconds (Kbps).
In addition, images stored in the camera can be
downloaded individually, allowing rapid transfer of selected
pictures to be stored in the PC or printed. The camera can
also connect to a PC or Macintosh via a serial port and to a
TV or video monitor via standard video jack for playback.
The digital camera incorporates progressive scan,
square-pixel, charge-coupled device (CCD) that is capable of
capturing high resolution images providing 640 x 480 (VGA
quality, non-interlaced) resolution with 24-bit color.
Up to 108 images are stored onto the built-in 4MB flash
memory in JPEG format. Users may select any of three
different compression levels resulting in 30, 58 or 108
pictures, all at 640 x 480 resolution.
Similar to a 35mm camera, the DSC-F1 also includes a
self-timer. In addition, the camera has a built-in feature
that enables the user to digitally record the date and time
of captured pictures automatically. Instant Playback Clear,
accurate viewing, instant playback and on-the-fly editing
are possible using the DSC-F1's built-in 1.8 inch TFT color
LCD.
In the playback mode, users can choose to view images
forward, backward or in a continuous loop (Slide Show mode),
as thumbnail images (Search mode) and magnified 2x. The
camera's LCD displays date, time and compression mode. In
the editing mode, users may choose to delete, protect or
transfer images between the camera and a PC or printer.
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.
North America .......
ZENITH WINS $1 BILLION ORDER
Zenith Electronics will provide at least 3 million
digital set-top boxes for Americast, the new home video
programming venture of Ameritech Corp., BellSouth Corp., GTE
Corp., SBC Communications and the Walt Disney Co. The set-
top boxes will decode signals from four different sources,
including direct broadcast satellite and wireless cable.
The Americast consortium of four regional telephone
companies and Disney hopes to compete against locally
franchised cable TV systems, either through its existing
telephone wire rights-of-way or through more advanced
technologies such as wireless cable or direct broadcast
satellite.
Sony's Newest Generation of Digital Satellite
Sony Electronics Inc. has introduced its next
generation of Digital Satellite Systems.
All three new systems incorporate one-button record
with a VCR mouse, Sony's 32-bit microprocessor for fast on-
screen menu operation, and the SignalSeeker LED, another
Sony first which enables an individual to easily install the
antenna dish with the aid of an LED that flashes at 20
advancing speeds as it detects proximity to the satellite
signal.
The VCR mouse can control most brands of VCRs to start
and stop timer recording coupled with the ten-event
programmable timer, the Sony-brand DSS receiver will turn
on, select the channel and automatically turn off so
consumers can record shows even when they're not at home.
Sony also features S-Link audio/video integration that
allows remote command signals to be passed through other
infrared controlled A/V components resulting in one-button
system operation and easy system integration.
DSS system owners now choose from 206 satellite channels
In a survey RCA asked DSS system owners recently
whether or not they received local television channels. 68
percent confirmed they still tune in to local news and
weather reports, mostly using a separate antenna. Other DSS
system owners have kept a cable subscription to accomplish
the same goal.
The DSS system owner profile has shifted from an
earlier rural and early adopter type to a significantly
broader audience, said Michael D. O'Hara, Vice President,
DBS Product Management. He also noted a shift to purchasers
who have access to cable. Two-thirds of DSS system owners
in a 1994 survey were located in non-cable areas, but now
only four out of ten DSS system owners lacked cable access.
The demographic profile of today's DSS system
purchasers suggests that, compared with the total U.S.
population, they are more likely middle-aged and have a
higher level of education. Purchasers also report higher
income levels.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
Miscellaneous .......
News IN Brief
u BSkyB plans to offer access to the Internet via
conventional TV sets when it introduces its digital
satellite TV service in 1997.
DTH Transponder Charts.......
Galaxy Latin America (Galaxy 3R)
Channel Service Language
AS General Spanish
CineLatino Spanish Films Spanish
KID Children Spanish
MultiCinema Intl. Films Sp. / Port.
ZAZ Family Spanish
Zeta Entertainment Spanish
Venevision Superstation Spanish
International
Televen International Superstation Spanish
Bravo Brazil Arts Portuguese
ESPN Brazil Sports Portuguese
MTV Brazil Music Portuguese
RBN News News Portuguese
DirecTv/USSB (Direct 1-3)
Channel Service Channel Service Channel Service
100- Pay Per View 271 Encore 331 Prime Spts
199 Movies West
202 CNN 272 Encore Love 332 Spts Ch
Pacific
203 Court TV 273 Encore 401 Spice
Western
204 Headline News 274 Encore 402 Playboy
Mystery
206 ESPN 275 Encore 500- Format Music
Action 529 (DMX)
208 ESPN 2 276 Encore True 960 TV Land
212 TNT 277 Encore WAM 963 All
NewsChannel
213 Home Shopping 282 CBS East 965 VH-1
Net
214 HGTV 283 CBS West 967 Lifetime
215 E! 284 NBC East 968 Nickelodeon
216 MuchMusic 285 NBC West 970 Flix
217 BET 286 PBS 973 Cinemax
220 Turner Classic 287 ABC East 974 Cinemax 2
Movies
222 History 288 ABC West 975 Cinemax West
Channel
223 Disney 289 FOX Net 977 The Movie
Channel
224 Disney 2 298 TV Asia 978 Movie Channel
West
225 Discovery 303 NewSport 980 HBO
226 TLC 304 Golf 981 HBO 2
Channel
227 Cartoon 305 Classic 982 HBO 3
Channel Sports
229 USA Network 306 Speedvision 983 HBO West
230 TRIO 307 Outdoor 984 HBO 2 West
Channel
232 Family Channel 309 Spts Ch New 985 Showtime
Eng.
233 WTBS 310 MSG 986 Showtime 2
235 Nashville 311 NESN 987 Showtime West
236 CMTV 312 Spts Ch NY 989 MTV
240 SCI-FI 313 Empire 990 Comedy
Sports Channel
242 CSPAN-1 314 Spts Ch 995 Sundance
Philly Channel
243 CSPAN-2 315 KBL 999 USSB Preview
245 Bloomberg 316 HTS
Direct
246 CNBC 317 SportsSouth
247 America's 318 Sunshine
Talking Network
248 Weather 320 PASS
Channel
250 Newsworld Itl. 321 Spts Ch
Ohio
252 CNNI / CNNfn 322 Spts Ch
Cinci
254 Travel Channel 323 Spts Ch
Chicago
258 Bravo 324 Mid West
Spts
266 Independent 325 Prime Spts
Film Ch SW
269 STARZ-E 326 Prime Spts
I-M W
270 STARZ-W 330 Prime Spts
NW
Hotbird (Eutelsat)
P
o
l
Channel Frequen Audio
cy
EBM 11.262 H 7.02 PAL
VH 1 Germany 11.242 V PAL
Rai Uno 11.363 V PAL
Rai Due 11.446 V PAL
Canal Horizons 11.408 V PAL
Eurosport 11.387 H Various PAL
Dubai TV 11.513 H PAL
TV5 Europe 11.323 V 6.60 PAL
MCM 11.304 H PAL
TV Polonia 11.471 H PAL
Polsat 11.428 H PAL
Sci Fi 11.283 V PAL
TVE Int. 11.222 H 6.60 PAL
TM3 11.345 H PAL
CLT 11.492 V PAL
ART 5 11.534 V 6.60 PAL
AlphaStar (Telstar 402)
Channel Service Channel Service Channel Service
Alpha Preview HBO Showtime
Channel
Arts & HBO 2 Showtime 2
Entertainment
Cartoon HBO 3 Showtime West
Network
Comedy Central HBO West The Movie
Channel
Country Music HBO 2 West Movie Channel
TV West
Disney (E) Cinemax
Disney (W) Cinemax 2 Sundance
E! Cinemax Golf
Entertainment West
Family Channel Encore
Lifetime Encore +
MTV C-SPAN
CNBC ESPN
Nickelodeon CNN ESPN2
Sci-Fi CNNfn Liberty
Sports
The Nashville Court TV Classic
Network Sports
Turner Classic Discovery Regional
Movies Ch Sport Ch
TNT Headline
News
TV Land History
Channel
USA Network Learning
Channel
VH-1 NewsTalk
Echostar (EchoStar 1)
100 Preview Channel 241 WNBC, New York 700 Showroom Channel
(NBC -E)
102 USA Network 242 KNBC, Los Angeles 900 Business TV
(NBC -W)
104 Comedy Central 243 WRAL, Raleigh 901 Business TV
(CBS -E)
106 TV Land 244 KPIX, San Francisco
(CBS -W)
108 Lifetime 245 WJLA, Washington DISH CD
(ABC -E)
110 TV Food Network 246 KOMO, Seattle 950 New Country
(ABC -W)
112 Home and Garden 247 FOX 951 Country Classics
Network (National)
114 E! Entertainment 249 PBS 952 Country Currents
Television (National)
118 Arts and 953 Jukebox Gold
Entertainment
120 History Channel 260 Trinity 954 70's Song Book
Broadcasting
Network
122 Sci-Fi Channel 261 Eternal Word TV 955 Adult Favorites
Network
132 Turner Classic 956 Adult Contemporary
Movies
138 Turner Network 300 HBO - E 957 Adult Alternative
Television
140 ESPN 301 HBO 2 - E 958 HitLine
142 ESPN2 302 HBO 3 - E 959 Classic Rock
160 MTV 303 HBO - W 960 The Edge
162 VH-1 304 HBO 2 - W 961 Power rock
166 Country Music 310 Showtime - E 962 Non-Stop Hip Hop
Television
168 Nashville Network 311 Showtime - W 963 Urban Beat
170 Nickelodeon 312 Showtime 2 964 Latin Styles
172 Disney Channel 320 Cinemax - E 965 Fiesta Mexicana
176 Cartoon Network 321 Cinemax 2 - E 966 Eurostyle
178 Learning Channel 322 Cinemax - W 967 Jazz Traditions
180 Family Channel 330 The Movie Channel - 968 Contemporary Jazz
E Flavors
182 Discovery Channel 331 The Movie Channel - 969 Expressions
W
200 CNN Cable News 970 Contemporary
Network Instrumentals
202 Headline News 401 The Golf Channel 971 Concert Classics
204 Court TV 972 Light Classical
206 CNN International / 500 PPV 1 973 Easy Instrumentals
CNNfn
208 CNBC 501 PPV 2 974 Big Band Era
210 CSpan 502 PPV 3 975 Contemporary
Christian
214 Weather Channel 503 PPV 4 976 KidZone
220 Travel Channel 504 PPV 5 977 LDS Radio Network
222 HSN Shopping 505 PPV 6
Network
226 QVC Shopping
Network
230 TBS, Atlanta 600 RAI (Italy)
232 KTLA, Los Angeles 602 ART (Arabic)
234 WPIX, New York 604 ANTENNA
(Greek/Croatian)
240 WGN, Chicago 605 MTV-L (Spanish)
606 PDP (Spanish)
607 TMNDO (Spanish)
by Steve Rubie ASC Satellite
DVB News
International
Volume 1 Issue 9
DVB News International is a monthly news journal for
satellite enthusiasts and is produced in Burleson, Texas and
Brantford, Ontario Canada.
Comments or news items may be sent to:
Internet E-mail: 71165.2032@Compuserve.com
or
Compuserve: 71165,2032
or
Satellite Journal International / DVB News International
PO Box 2065 Burleson Texas 76097- 2065 USA
or
Merriam & Torrens Advertising Inc.
PO Box 23058 Brantford Ontario Canada N3T-6K4
519-751-1487 9am-5pm eastern time.
The electronic deadline for inclusion of news items is 20
days before the issue date.
Copyright 1996
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