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Sat-na 23rd March 1997
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from: owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net
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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 23:07:58 -0500
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Sun Mar 23 23: 13:06 1997
Sat-na
March, 23
1997
Sat-na is sponsored by TELE-satellite International
This week in Sat-na
FCC licenses Teledesic's `Internet-in-the-Sky'
Flextech plc signs agreement
COM DEV Announces Results for First Quarter 1997
AB Sat and Canalsatellite Sign Agreement
New Thai Satellite to Be Launched next
PanAmSat aligns with South Florida's Post Edge
DIRECTV (GLA) To Offer Disney Magic
FCC Proposes To Allocate Spectrum
Playboy and TCI announce affiliation agreement for
AdulTVision
Loral completes acquisition of AT&T's Skynet Satellite
Services
Investment in Digital Broadcast Services Begins to Show
Return
Loral to build next generation Intelsat
Harris Corporation Awarded Nearly $30 Million In Digital
Broadcast Contracts
Rainbow Programming to launch American Sports
Playboy and Daewoo form partnership
Latest round of INTELSAT/ISOG digital testing
PanAmSat Updates Satellite Launch Schedule
ITC gives Channel 5 the "go ahead"
Loral And Chinasat Formally Ink Contract
Broadcasters Ready to Roll Out Digital TV
Adaptec delivers Echostar and DSS service to PCs
Scientific-Atlanta, Next Level and HITS Programming
Telstar 302
Upcoming Launches
New files and documents at our WebStand
In Brief
FCC licenses Teledesic's `Internet-in-the-Sky'
Teledesic Corp., which is building a global, broadband
"Internet-in-the-sky," has been granted a license by the
Federal Communications Commission to provide advanced, two-
way telecommunications services via a constellation of low-
Earth-orbiting satellites.
Teledesic is the first satellite communications network
approved by the FCC that will enable affordable, worldwide
access to "fibre-like" telecommunications services such as
broadband Internet access, videoconferencing and interactive
multimedia.
The FCC license allows the company to build and launch
the Teledesic Network, as well as make use of 500 MHz of
domestic radio frequency in the 28 GHz band_the uplink
portion of the Ka-band_and a corresponding 500 MHz of
downlink spectrum. In July 1996, the FCC adopted a domestic
band plan that designated that spectrum for primary use by
non-geostationary fixed satellite services (NGSO FSS) such
as Teledesic's.
This is the same radio spectrum the United Nations'
International Telecommunications Union identified
internationally for use by NGSO FSS at the 1995 World Radio
Conference.
The Teledesic Network will provide switched, broadband
network connections through service partners in host
countries worldwide - from the largest urban centres to the
most remote villages. The network emulates the most famous
distributed network, the Internet, while adding the benefits
of high-quality service and location-insensitive access.
Initial service will begin in 2002.
Teledesic's geodesic or "mesh" topology consists of
several hundred low-Earth orbit satellites operating in the
Ka-band. Each interconnected satellite provides coverage
over a small portion of the Earth's surface. Each is capable
of projecting multiple beams within its footprint, providing
efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum and supporting
high-capacity, low-cost service.
Teledesic's satellites will orbit about 50 times closer
to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites. This low
orbit eliminates the long signal delay normally experienced
in satellite communications and enables the use of compact,
low-power user equipment.
Flextech plc signs agreement
Flextech plc, Tele-Communications International Inc.'s
majority owned programming operation has signed an agreement
with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to jointly
develop new thematic subscription channels. The two
companies will form a joint venture which will produce the
channels in digital format, for distribution in the U.K. for
distribution over cable, satellite and digital terrestrial
television systems.
The channels will harness the BBC's long established
reputation as producer of the U.K.'s most successful popular
programming, as well as its scheduling and programme
management skills. Channel concepts in development include
the following working titles:
" Arena, an arts channel;
" Sports Entertainment Network;
" 0neTV, a popular music which will build on BBC Radio
1's formula;
" Showcase, a drama and comedy channel;
" Learning, which will concentrate on education;
" Style, covering information and consumer affairs;
" Horizons, a documentary channel;
" and Catch-Up TV, running repeats of episodes of popular
series.
Content will include archive material, special
versions of successful BBC
shows and new productions. The first of these channels are
expected to be in
commercial distribution by late 1997.
Flextech's venture with the BBC is a sister deal to a
proposed complementary agreement between the BBC and
Discovery Channel, in which TCI is a major shareholder, to
form a new programming venture. The proposed venture will
produce channels for distribution in the U.S., Asia, South
America and Europe. The two partnerships cement the global
relationship between the TCI group of companies and the BBC.
The BBC brings the venture with Flextech preferential
access to its programming archive for 30 years, while
Flextech will contribute its channel marketing and
management skills as well as GBP22 million of equity finance,
and will make available to the venture a primary credit
facility of GBP88 million, as well as a standby credit
facility of GBP30 million.
In a related transaction, Flextech will acquire the
equity share capital which it does not already own in the
channels UK Gold and UK Living, from Cox Communications
Inc., Pearson plc and BBC Worldwide Investments. Cox,
Pearson and BBC Worldwide Investments will, in turn, receive
ordinary shares in Flextech representing 13.3 percent, 5.6
percent and 3.5 percent respectively of Flextech's issued
shares. Tele-Communications International will hold 36.1
percent of the shares following the transactions and will
hold a 50 percent voting right in the company through a
special voting share. The existing convertible non-
preferred shares in the capital of Flextech will be re-
designated as ordinary shares to simplify the company's
share capital structure.
COM DEV Announces Results for First Quarter 1997
COM DEV International Ltd. announced first quarter
results for the period ending January 31, 1997. Revenue for
the quarter was $35.6 million, up 118 percent from $16.3
million in the first quarter last year. Net income was $3.3
million or $0.11 per share, up 230 percent from $1.0 million
or $0.03 per share from the same period last year.
A number of new orders were received by the company
during the first quarter resulting in a strong order backlog
totalling approximately $127 million at the end of the
quarter.
During the first quarter COM DEV announced the award by
Motorola of a $20 million contract for the Space Group to
produce an additional 30 sets of Ka-band antennas for the
IRIDIUM Global Personal Communications System.
In addition, during the quarter, Hughes Space and
Communications placed a $3 million dollar order for COM DEV
switches, to be used in a constellation of 12 satellites.
Hughes is a vertically integrated space manufacturer which
usually designs and builds its own switches because of their
importance to a communications payload. While COM DEV has
supplied filters and multiplexers to Hughes for almost 20
years, this is the first major switch order that COM DEV has
received from this U.S. satellite manufacturer.
AB Sat and Canalsatellite Sign Agreement
Groupe AB has signed a "Simulcrypt" agreement with
Canalsatellite Numerique, Canal Plus' French digital
satellite service, which will allow television viewers to
receive both companies' digital DTH services using only one
decoder box and smart card. (Simulcrypt enables a digital
DTH service to be commercialised simultaneously on several
digital DTH receiver systems using different access control
technologies.)
Each digital service will retain its independence, with
the subscriber management, marketing and promotion of each
of the two services remaining totally separate.
Under the agreement between Groupe AB and
Canalsatellite, consumers will be able to receive AB Sat's
digital package using a Canalsatellite decoder box and vice
versa, before the end of April, 1997.
New Thai Satellite to Be Launched next
Arianespace will launch Thaicom 3 on April 11. The
launch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Korou. The satellite,
the third one of Thailand, will be delivered into orbit at
78.5 degrees east to replace Thaicom 1, which will be
shifted to a position at 120 degrees east.
Thaicom 3 will be mainly used for broadcasting, while
Thaicom 1 will be used for telephony. Thaicom 4 that was
built simultaneously with Thaicom 3 to serve as a backup, is
scheduled to be launched early next year. If a problem
occurs with Thaicom 3, Thaicom 4 could be launched within
six months.
Satellite BSat 1a Thaicom 3
Manufactur Hughes Aerospati
er ale
Type HS 376 Spacebus
3000
Mass at 1,250 kg 2,650 kg
Lift-Off
Stabilisat spin 3-axis
ion
Payload 8 Ku Band 18 Ku-
Band
24 C Band
Design 12 years 14 years
Life
Coverage Japan Asia
Orbital 110 East 78.5 East
Position
PanAmSat aligns with South Florida's Post Edge
PanAmSat Corporation and Post Edge Inc. of Miami Beach,
Fla., have joined forces to offer Miami-based television
programmers a one-stop-shopping resource for a variety of
production, post-production and programming distribution
services. Under an agreement, the companies will jointly
market their combined capabilities, creating a seamless
ordering procedure for programmers, many of which are
currently customers of both companies.
To facilitate international distribution from South
Florida, PanAmSat will install a dedicated MCPC (multi-
channel per carrier) encoder in the Post Edge Miami Beach
production facility, enabling the transmission of several
digital television channels simultaneously to PanAmSat's PAS-
3 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite, which offers extensive
coverage of Latin America.
DIRECTV (GLA) To Offer Disney Magic
The Disney Weekend will begin every Friday at 6 p.m.,
and it will run until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Like other DIRECTV
programming, the shows will be broadcasted in Spanish,
Portuguese or English. Every month a new theme of
programming will be seen, from Romance to Heroes, Adventure
and Comedy. Subscribers will be able to order Disney
Weekend through DIRECTV's pay-per-view service.
FCC Proposes To Allocate Spectrum
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the FCC proposed
spectrum allocations for both geostationary and non-
geostationary Fixed Satellite Services ("FSS"). The
Commission also sought comment on whether other operations
could be accommodated in these proposed satellite bands.
Adoption of suggested proposals in this Notice will benefit
individual consumers and businesses, both in the United
States and world-wide, by introducing new satellite
competitors to the telecommunications service market.
The various satellite proposals before the Commission
would offer a variety of services such as: cellular backhaul
and PCS backhaul services, corporate private data
distribution service, private line networks, and backup and
disaster recovery. The Commission seeks to give companies
that propose such services the opportunity to make them
available to the public.
Specifically, the Notice proposes to add a fixed
satellite allocation to the 37.5 - 38.5 and 40.5 - 41.5 GHz
bands. These bands would be used for geostationary and non-
geostationary fixed satellite downlinks. The Commission
also proposes to designate the 48.2 - 50.2 GHz Band for
corresponding satellite uplinks. To protect terrestrial
operations, the Commission proposes to upgrade, from
secondary to primary, the fixed and mobile service
allocations throughout the 40.5 - 42.5 GHz band. Finally,
the Commission proposed to add a fixed allocation to the
46.9 - 47.0 GHz band.
Playboy and TCI announce affiliation agreement for
AdulTVision
Playboy Entertainment Group has entered into an
agreement with TCI that will allow TCI systems to launch the
company's pay-per-view service, AdulTVision (ATV).
AdulTVision broadcasts adult-themed movies to consumers
in 90-minute pay-per-view blocks, 24 hours per day, seven
days per week. The service, which is currently available to
more than 2.7 million cable households and 2.2 million TVRO
homes, offers a minimum of 50 different movies each month
with weekend premieres each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Loral completes acquisition of AT&T's Skynet Satellite
Services
Loral Space & Communications Ltd. has completed the
acquisition of AT&T's Skynet Satellite Services. The
purchase price, adjusted to reflect the sudden on-orbit loss
of Telstar 401 in January, was $478.1 million.
The acquisition, announced last September, is the first
for the "new" Loral and, together with Loral's existing
satellite activities, creates one of the world's largest
satellite-based businesses.
Among Loral Skynet's customers are AT&T and EchoStar,
and some of the strongest content providers in the broadcast
industry, including ABC and Fox. Additionally, Skynet leases
satellite capacity to direct-to-home service provider
AlphaStar.
Investment in Digital Broadcast Services Begins to Show
Return
Tee-Comm Electronics Inc reported a 9.8 percent
increase in year over year revenues including a 9.7 percent
revenue improvement in the fourth quarter over the third
quarter of 1996, and a 118 percent increase over the fourth
quarter of 1995.
Total revenues for 1996 were $42,915,000 compared to
1995 revenues $39,078,000. Fourth quarter revenues for 1996
were $17,874,000 compared to third quarter 1996 revenues of
$16,290,000 and fourth quarter 1995 revenues of $8,210,000.
As expected, the company reported a loss before taxes,
depreciation, amortisation and interest of $34,937,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1996 as compared to $9,759,000
for 1995, and a net loss for the current year of $52,397,000
compared to $7,936,000 in 1995.
The composition of revenues reflects a year of dramatic
change for the company. Tee-Comm's traditional business in
analogue satellite television equipment dropped off
precipitously late in 1995, as the new small dish, digital
satellite systems captured the attention of consumers. In
the summer of 1996, Tee-Comm introduced its own line of
digital systems to the market, leading to a rebound in
revenues during the second half of the year. The company's
U.S. subsidiary, AlphaStar Television Network Inc., launched
its direct-to-home programming service late in the summer,
stimulating demand for the company's new systems.
Loral to build next generation Intelsat
Space Systems/Loral has entered into a contract with
INTELSAT to build two high-powered, high-capacity
satellites, called the Follow-on Series (FOS) II program,
enabling the 135-nation INTELSAT consortium to deliver more
advanced communications services to customers.
Under the contract, which with options for additional
satellites has a program value exceeding $600 million, SS/L
will build and deliver two satellites for launch in the
summer and late fall of the year 2000.
The high-powered FOS-II satellites will allow INTELSAT
to provide the Indian Ocean region with advanced
communications and digital services to customers equipped
with small earth stations.
The FOS-II spacecraft will carry a significantly
greater percentage of high-power amplifiers and solar array
power than the INTELSAT VIIA series. Each of the FOS-II
satellites will operate 44 transponders in the C-band and 12
transponders in the Ku-band.
These satellites are based on Space Systems/Loral's
standard three-axis spacecraft and will have a mission life
in excess of 13 years. This project brings the total number
of satellites in this family of spacecraft that have been
built or ordered to 59, including 22 currently in
production.
Harris Corporation Awarded Nearly $30 Million In Digital
Broadcast Contracts
Harris Corporation has been awarded two contracts
valued at a total of nearly $30 million to provide digital
broadcast equipment to television networks in Atlanta and
Miami.
The first contract calls for Harris to provide a
complete digital radio and television facility for Georgia
Public Broadcasting (GPB) in Atlanta, Georgia. Harris will
design, install and bring on line a 250,000-square foot
facility that will be the new headquarters and production
centre for GPB. The contract, valued at $16 million, calls
for Harris to provide a complete production centre, three
traditional studios, six interactive studios for distance
learning, four all-digital radio studios, video and audio
post-production editing, special effects and graphics
suites, and a complete uplink/downlink satellite system.
The project should be completed in August.
The new centre will be the home of Georgia Public
Television, a nine-station network affiliated with the
Public Broadcasting Service, Peach State Public Radio, a
thirteen station network affiliated with National Public
Radio, and PeachStar Education Services, producer and
provider of distance learning services. GPT will be the
first all-digital state-owned public broadcast television
operation in the United States, and Peach State Radio will
be the first all-digital radio network in the country.
The other contract involves Harris providing a digital
transmission centre for the Discovery Communications, Inc.
(DCI) Latin America Television Centre in Miami, Florida. The
$13.9 million contract calls for Harris to create a 50-
thousand-square-foot centre with several master control
rooms, post-production facilities, editing suites, audio
post-production, playback and voice-over rooms and network
origination and satellite uplink equipment. The new DCI
facility will merge previously leased production space with
the company's Latin American headquarters. The work is
scheduled to be completed in December.
Rainbow Programming to launch American Sports
Rainbow Programming announced it will launch a new 24-
hour sports service that will debut on July 9, 1997.
American Sports Classics is the newest service from the
same company that offers American Movie Classics. The new
network will draw on more than 5,000 hours of programming
from Rainbow's sports library. It will build upon Rainbow's
existing relationships with Phoenix Productions, makers of
"Baseball's Greatest Games," and NFL Films to bring viewers
great historical baseball and football moments, as well as
original special programs highlighting the players and
coaches.
Additionally, the network has acquired more than 5,000
hours of vintage sports programming from an array of
libraries across the country, including Grinberg Film
Libraries, Universal and TWI. The network has also licensed
hundreds of sports-themed movies and documentaries, such as
"The Great White Hope" and "Champion." To round out its
programming line-up, American Sports Classics has a multi-
year production deal with the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning
production company Black Canyon Productions and Emmy Award-
winning producer Lewis Bogach to create first-run, original
programs.
Playboy and Daewoo form partnership
Playboy Enterprises Inc. has formed a partnership with
Daewoo Corp. to launch a Playboy TV network in South Korea
on June 15
The 24-hour network will initially be offered via
hotel/motel with plans to deliver it via cable and direct-to-
home (DTH) satellite service shortly thereafter. Daewoo
will control an 85 percent stake in the venture with Playboy
holding a 15 percent stake_the highest equity position a
foreign company can take.
Latest round of INTELSAT/ISOG digital testing
INTELSAT has completed the latest round of
interoperability testing for digital video equipment of ten
different manufacturers. These tests, which focused on
single-channel video compression equipment used for SNG and,
occasional contribution applications, demonstrated how well
different manufacturers' digital video equipment worked
together.
This third round of tests was conducted 24 February - 4
March at INTELSAT's Technical Labs in Washington. This
series was designed to promote the growth of digital video
transmission services by accelerating the process of
successful interoperation of equipment. The program
addressed requests by the Inter-Union Satellite Operations
Group (ISOG_which represents leading broadcasters and
INTELSAT Signatories around the world) to resolve equipment
incompatibility issues. During the entire process, ISOG
representatives were able to observe and interact with the
manufacturers, to ensure that the test results would have
the greatest correlation to their operational broadcast
environment.
Equipment manufacturers participating in the February
tests included:
California Microwave/STS; DiviCom; NDS/DMV; Magnitude
Compression Systems Inc./General Instruments; Scientific-
Atlanta, Inc.; Tadiran Scopus DVC; Tandberg Television AS;
Thomson Broadcast Systems; Tiernan Communications Inc.; and
Wegener Communications. Test equipment for the program was
supplied by Hewlett-Packard, Tektronix and Symbionics.
This last round of tests was designed to achieve "plug
and play" operation, for both NTSC and PAL standards, at
several different parameter sets. This was a significant
extension of previous tests which did not include PAL, did
not address "plug and play," and were only conducted for one
parameter set.
The test network included IF connections from one
manufacturer's encoder to all the decoders (IRDs)
simultaneously. For each configuration, the presence of
audio, video, MPEG-PSI and subjective lip sync were noted.
Objective lip sync measurements, introduced for the first
time in this round of testing, were conducted in several of
the test configurations. In addition to testing at IF, an
INTELSAT VII satellite simulator configured in C-band, was
also used to test interoperability in the presence of
injected noise.
In testing "plug and play," the only adjustments
allowed were by those means accessible to the typical user
(i.e., front panel control or PC set-ups). The purpose of
the tests was to document the interoperability among
equipment operating within the MPEG-2 and DVB framework, but
not to assess full compliance with any standard.
PanAmSat Updates Satellite Launch Schedule
PanAmSat Corporation said that it expects completion
and delivery of its PAS-7 Indian Ocean Region satellite in
December 1997, paving the way for an anticipated launch
during the first quarter of 1998.
In addition to the revised delivery schedule, Space
Systems/Loral, which is building PAS-7, has informed
PanAmSat that the satellite is expected to exceed its
contractual weight specifications. To ensure that the excess
weight does not affect the satellite's intended operational
lifetime of approximately 15 years, PanAmSat is exploring
several options, including satellite modifications by Space
Systems/Loral or the use of an alternative Ariane 4 launcher
configuration to deploy the spacecraft.
PanAmSat's revised launch schedule for future satellites is
as follows:
The PAS-5 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite is scheduled
for launch in July 1997. International Launch Services will
launch the satellite on a Proton rocket.
The PAS-6 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite is scheduled
for launch in early May 1997. Arianespace will launch the
satellite on an Ariane 4 launch vehicle.
The PAS-7 satellite is scheduled for launch during the
first quarter of 1998. PAS-7 originally was scheduled for
launch in late 1997.
The PAS-8 satellite is scheduled for launch during the
second quarter of 1998. The satellite will be launched on a
Proton rocket.
ITC gives Channel 5 the "go ahead"
The ITC has given Channel 5 the "go ahead" to start
broadcasting on 30 March. The ITC is satisfied that at
least 90 per cent of those homes within the relevant
transmission areas whose video or satellite equipment would
otherwise suffer interference from the Channel 5 signal have
already been retuned.
This decision is taken on the basis of both the door to
door house calls undertaken by Channel 5 and the results of
test transmissions which have been carried out from all the
relevant transmitters around the UK in recent weeks. A firm
of independent consultants, appointed by the ITC, has also
reported on the effectiveness of Channel 5's procedures for
monitoring progress. A consistent picture has emerged from
which the ITC has concluded that Channel 5 has satisfied the
90 per cent requirement in its licence.
Once broadcasts start, Channel 5 must continue to
retune, free of charge, equipment which suffers interference
from their signal, for a further three months. They must
use all reasonable endeavours to resolve complaints about
interference within six days, with an absolute limit of
fourteen days. The ITC will continue to monitor Channel 5's
performance closely over this period.
The nine relevant transmitters - where retuning of
video and satellite equipment was needed before broadcasts
could start - were: Croydon (London area) Lichfield
(Birmingham area) Emley Moor (Central Yorkshire) Black Hill
(Strathclyde) Mendip (Bristol area) Black Mountain (Belfast
area) Redruth (West Cornwall) Preseli (South West Wales)
Cambret Hill (South West Scotland)
Transmitters in other areas use different frequencies
so retuning was not required.
Loral And Chinasat Formally Ink Contract
Space Systems/Loral and China Telecommunications
Broadcast Satellite Corporation (CHINASAT) have formally
signed a contract for Loral's design, manufacture and on-
orbit launch of CHINASAT 8.
Under the contract, Space Systems/Loral will provide to
CHINASAT one satellite operating on both C- and Ku-band
frequencies. The satellite will be delivered on orbit in
late 1998. Service is expected to begin in 1999 and will
provide communications coverage to all of China.
The CHINASAT 8 satellite, the most powerful satellite
yet purchased by China, will have a total on-board
satellite power of 11,000 watts. The spacecraft will have
the ability to operate 16 Ku-band channels at 125 watts per
channel, and 36 C-band channels at 37 watts per channel.
The CHINASAT 8 satellite is based on the high-powered
version of Space Systems/Loral's FS-1300 standard three-axis
spacecraft and will have a mission life of 15 years. This
project brings the total number of satellites in this family
of spacecraft that have been built or ordered to 38,
including 18 currently in production.
Broadcasters Ready to Roll Out Digital TV
Digital television will be available to 43 percent of
all American households within 18-24 months under an
accelerated timetable delivered by broadcasters to
government regulators this week.
The pledge was presented to Federal Communications
Commission member Susan Ness and other FCC offices by
representatives of the National Association of Broadcasters
and the Association for Maximum Service Television.
Under the broadcast industry timetable, more than half
of all American consumers will have access to digital
television signals within 30 months.
The NAB and MSTV urged the FCC to act quickly in
approving new digital TV channel assignments for
broadcasters, and to lay the ground rules for a smooth
industry transition to digital.
Adaptec delivers Echostar and DSS service to PCs
Adaptec, Inc. announced digital satellite receiver
cards that deliver Echostar DISH and DIRECTV satellite
services directly to a PC or PC/TV.
The Adaptec receiver cards connect PC and PC/TV users
to direct satellite content such as high-resolution digital
video, broadcast web sites, business data services and new
interactive media.
Based on a "push" delivery system, satellite services
transmit a constant stream of content. From this massive
stream of information, users simply select what they want in
the same way that TV channels can be selected today. With
this system, the world wide web and a variety of new media
resources are stored to disk and are then available on
demand, eliminating the "world wide wait."
The ABA-1020, supports the Echostar DISH satellite
network, the ABA-1010 supports DIRECTV. Both cards receive
at a rate of 30 Mbits/second.. Both include a smart card
that provides subscriber access to a variety of
entertainment and informational services, sporting events,
pay-per-view shows and downloadable software and games. The
receiver cards use a standard coax cable to connect the 18"
satellite dish to the PC or PC/TV, eliminating the need for
a separate set-top box. The Adaptec cards OEM price is $395.
Scientific-Atlanta, Next Level and HITS Programming
Satellite programming from TCI's Headend In The Sky
(HITS) was demonstrated at the NCTA show.
In Scientific-Atlanta's exhibit, HITS programming was
received on Scientific-Atlanta headend equipment and
delivered with other programming sources to its digital set-
tops for decoding. Other MPEG-2 programming sources in the
demo included HBO's digital satellite feed, a local MPEG-2
encoder, and the Family Channel via a PowerVu system
satellite feed.
Also at the NCTA show, NextLevel Broadband Networks
Group announced that it has agreed to supply Headend in the
Sky by TCI (HITS) with 500,000 DCT-1000 digital MPEG-2 set-
top terminals. GI will also supply HITS with equipment for
hundreds of CATV headend sites and support services
including installation and training.
NextLevel's DCT-1000 digital set-tops and headend
equipment are to be offered in conjunction with HITS'
services to smaller cable operators. Together, the
NextLevel/HITS combination of equipment and services makes
digital addressability affordable to small- to medium-sized
broadband operators.
With HITS, smaller operators can offer subscribers the
same services as larger operators and effectively compete
against direct-to-home services. Together, NextLevel's DCT-
1000 digital system and HITS will provide these smaller
operators with the same NextLevel Digital Interactive System
that is already being deployed to major MSOs across the U.S.
and internationally.
Telstar 302
Telstar 302 is now at 97 deg east and available for
occasional feeds. The daily rate is $1300 for non-Telstar
customers. Time is also available in 15 mins blocks at $ 35.
T302 is in an inclined orbit, but during the times below
anyone with a 10ft dish should have no problem with signal
quality.
In the Box times
March 21, 1997 6.46am - 9.56am 6.46 pm - 9.56 pm
March 31, 1997 6.27am - 9.37am 6.27 pm - 9.37pm
Upcoming Launches
Next Atlas Launch Next Ariane Launch
GOES-K April 24 , 1997 Thaicom --Apr. 11, 1997
1:56am - 3:19 am ET 23.02 -23.43 GMT
In Brief
" Beginning April 20, Playboy TV will be offered to
PRIMESTAR viewers on a 24 hour per day basis. In addition,
on May 1 will begin offering Playboy TV as a monthly
subscription option.
" Canal Plus may complain to the European Commission
about an exclusive deal under which French public
television channels are broadcast on a rival to its
Canalsatellite digital satellite TV service.
" SES director general Romain Bausch has indicated that
the dispute between his organisation and Eutelsat over
control of the 28.2 degrees E orbital slot is likely to be
resolved in Astra's favour by the end of May. Speaking at
the FT New Media and Broadcasting conference
" PRIMESTAR has given the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) a grant worth $2.5 million over a three-year period.
The grant makes PRIMESTAR a national underwriter of The
Ready to Learn Service (RTL) on PBS. In a related action,
PRIMESTAR will begin carrying PBS's national satellite
service on April 1, 1997.
" Home & Garden Television (HGTV) has passed the 25
million mark by signing an affiliation agreement with
Cablevision Systems. This agreement will bring the network
past 31 million subscribers under contract.
" TCI Communications, Inc. indicated that its mid-year
price adjustments in cable systems serving about 11 million
of its customers would average below 6.8 percent, a figure
35 percent below the maximum price allowed under federal
regulations. The price increases are intended to recover
costs incurred in the delivery of TCI's basic and expanded
basic cable services. About 60 percent of the increases are
due to increased programming costs.
" SeaChange International, Inc. recently selected
Microspace Communications Corporation and their new digital
video and high speed data service, Velocity, to provide
satellite distribution for multichannel television
advertising delivery. Velocity is a full-time, MPEG 2/DVB
video, high speed data and audio satellite broadcasting
service that allows organisations to economically distribute
their data or video programming to multiple locations.
" Wiztec Solutions, Ltd. has signed an agreement to
provide Star Choice with its WIZARD SMS. The five year
contract was signed with BSI, Wiztec's wholly owned US
subsidiary.
" MTV: Music Television is now available seven days a
week on Channel 4 on the Optus Vision cable platform.
Tailored to the musical tastes and lifestyles of 12-34 year-
old Australians, MTV will air more than 123 hours of locally
produced and programmed content from its Sydney production
base weekly.
" Myawaddy Television, Burma's army-owned station, has
signed an agreement to lease transponder space on the
Asiasat 2 .
" AsiaSat reconfirmed this week that AsiaSat 3 will
launch in October on a Proton rocket. The satellite is a
Hughes HS 601 HP model and will be launched by a Russian
Proton D-1-e rocket . AsiaSat 3, will take up the
geostationary orbit of AsiaSat 1 at 105.5 degrees east
almost at its end of service. AsiaSat 3 has 28 C-band
transponders and 16 Ku-band transponders, larger than the 24
C-band transponders of AsiaSat 1.
" Pt. Telkom (Indonesia) has chosen US company Lockheed
Martin Corp. to build its 36-transponder satellite which
will be launched by late 1998. The new satellite, Telkom 1,
will replace the 24-transponder Palapa b-2r satellite.
(c) 1997 Sat-na/SJI/DVBNI
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