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Sat-na March 31 1997
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from: owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net
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Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 14:23:54 -0500
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From owner-sat-na@tags1.dn.net Mon Mar 31 14: 32:34 1997
Sat-na
March, 31
1997
This week in Sat-na
PAS-6 Satellite arrives at Korou
FiT TV Joins The Family Channel
PanAmSat Satellite Selected
Cancom - Globalstar Canada granted license
GE Capital Satellites Reach Satellite Agreement
FOS-II satellites
K-TV Launch
Keystone Communications and Sony's SW Networks
DIRECTV expands anti-piracy efforts
ASTRA: SES satellite capacity for Deutsche Telekom
PRIMESTAR Announces Successful Transition
DirecPC Japan Awards Satellite Centre Contract
Next Level Communications Files Patent Infringement
Spanish-Language Channels are Available to AlphaStar
Viewers
Orion Buys German Network Communications Provider
TV/COM Single Channel Encoding System (SCES)
Playboy to seek permanent restraining order
CBS launches Eye on People cable network
Integral Systems Awarded Contract
Upcoming Launches
In Brief
PAS-6 Satellite arrives at Korou
PanAmSat's PAS-6 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite has
been successfully transported to the Arianespace launch
facility in French Guiana, where it will undergo final
preparations for a May 1997 launch into space.
Space Systems/Loral completed construction of the PAS-6
satellite earlier this month. In French Guiana, PAS-6 will
undergo final launch preparations, culminating in the
encapsulation and placement of the satellite atop an Ariane
4 rocket. Based on the latest schedule by Arianespace, PAS-
6 will be launched to its orbital position at 43 degrees
West Longitude in early May 1997.
PAS-6, an FS 1300 satellite with 36 Ku-band transponders,
will be used exclusively by the Latin America DTH
partnership of News Corporation, Grupo Televisa,
Organizacoes Globo and Tele-Communications International to
deliver DTH television services throughout South America
under the brand name Sky Entertainment Services. The
partnership is currently using interim capacity on
PanAmSat's PAS-3 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite to provide
DTH services in South America. Once operational, PAS-6 will
serve as the partnership's permanent satellite platform in
South America.
FiT TV Joins The Family Channel
FiT TV, the fitness and healthy lifestyle 24-hour cable
network of International Family Entertainment, Inc. (IFE),
has switched from analogue distribution to digital
transmission using Scientific-Atlanta's PowerVu MPEG-2/DVB
digital video compression system. The Family Channel,
switched to a PowerVu system in late 1996 for domestic
distribution of its programming to its western affiliates.
"For the next 120 days FiT TV will be distributed in
both analogue and digital formats while the network's
PowerVu receivers are installed at about 450 affiliate
locations," said Steve Lentz, president and chief executive
officer of FiT TV. "Then FiT TVFs programming will switch
from SATCOM C4 to SATCOM C3."
Space vacated by the FiT TV signal will be used by IFE
to launch a new Latin American version of The Family Channel
along with two or three other channels of programming
specifically designed for delivery to Spanish-speaking
markets in the Southern Hemisphere. The Latin American
programming, uplinked from Miami, will be developed under
the auspices of United Family Communications, a new IFE
venture. Currently, transponder space made available when
The Family Channel converted to digital is being leased to a
west coast client for uplink services.
PanAmSat Satellite Selected
PanAmSat Corporation's PAS-4 Indian Ocean Region
satellite will serve as the transmission platform for STAR
TV's direct-to-home (DTH) television service in India. The
STAR TV service, called Sky, will use seven Ku-band
transponders on the high-power PAS-4 satellite, which is
capable of beaming dozens of television channels to
subscribers in India using rooftop dishes as small as 65
centimetres in diameter.
PAS-4, which was launched in August 1995, is located at
68.5 degrees East Longitude and contains 16 C-band and 24
Ku-band transponders. The satellite is also the
transmission platform for DTH services in South Africa and
the Middle East. In addition to DTH programming, PAS-4
currently delivers more than two dozen television channels
to cable systems throughout south Asia.
PanAmSat will expand its satellite services in the
Indian Ocean Region with the future launch of the PAS-7
satellite, which will be located in the same orbital
position as PAS-4 to facilitate television channel
expansion both for C-band program distribution and Ku-band
DTH services. PAS-7 contains 14 C-band and 30 Ku-band
transponders and is scheduled for completion and launch in
early 1998.
Cancom - Globalstar Canada granted license
Industry Canada has granted its approval to provide
mobile wireless services throughout Canada using the
Globalstar satellite-based telecommunications system.
The license is the first big-LEO (low earth orbit)
license granted in Canada. Globalstar Canada now joins a
group of service providers in over 100 countries planning
to offer voice, data, and fax services via Globalstar's LEO
satellite system. Globalstar L.P. is a partnership of
leading international satellite and telecommunications
manufacturers and cellular operators constructing a $3.4
billion Cdn ($2.5 billion U.S.) system of 48 LEO satellites
to provide global mobile communications.
Canadian participation is integral to the North
American Globalstar network because two of the four
gateways in the continent will be in Canada - one is
expected to be built in western Canada, the other located
in the East. Of the remaining North American gateways, one
is under construction in Texas and the other will be in
Central Mexico.
The first launch of Globalstar satellites is scheduled
for the fall of 1997. Full global service will be
initiated with 40 satellites in late 1998, with the full
constellation of 48 satellites and eight in-orbit spares in
the first half of 1999. The Globalstar system will provide
basic voice telephony and an array of affordable mobile
satellite services, including enhanced telephony services
such as call forwarding, conferencing, and call waiting,
data, messaging and fax services, paging, and position
locating services virtually anywhere in the world.
GE Capital Satellites Reach Satellite Agreement
GE Capital Satellites (Gibraltar), Limited has
finalised its agreement with the Government of Gibraltar
(GoG), a British Dependent Territory, regarding its proposed
Gibraltar based satellite network.
The agreement further details the relationship between
GE(GIB) and GoG regarding filings made to the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) for orbital slots for use by
GE to serve Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. The
agreement includes an operating framework for future GE(GIB)
satellites which would be controlled from a planned facility
in Gibraltar.
As GE Capital Satellites - Europe, GE Americom will expand
service this year to all of Europe via Sirius 2. This
satellite being manufactured by Aerospatiale for the Swedish
enterprise NSAB is scheduled for launch in mid-1997 to 5
degrees East.
FOS-II satellites
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. For SS/L, the FOS-II program
extends the company's strong relationship with INTELSAT and
reinforces its role as a premier supplier of high-powered
satellites. SS/L has been the prime contractor on key
INTELSAT programs, delivering 24 highly reliable advanced
spacecraft, including INTELSAT V, INTELSAT VII and INTELSAT
VIIA. The FOS-II spacecraft comprise the ninth INTELSAT
satellite series.
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.
K-TV Launch
A contract was awarded to Arianespace, subject to
satisfactory negotiation of terms and conditions, for the
launch of the newly procured INTELSAT K-TV spacecraft. The K-
TV will be launched in late 1998 or early 1999, aboard an
Ariane 4 launch vehicle. It will be deployed to the key
orbital location of 95 deg E to provide high-powered video
services to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets.
Also Intelsat have updated their deployment operations
to reflect the latest INTELSAT VIII launch schedule and end
of life estimates for the INTELSAT V satellites: INTELSAT
802 will be launched and deployed to 174 deg E; INTELSAT 701
will then be moved from 174 deg E to 180 deg E; INTELSAT 511
will then be moved from 180 deg E to 157 deg E; and INTELSAT
503 will then be de-orbited from 157 deg E.
Keystone Communications and Sony's SW Networks
Keystone Communications Corp. has signed a long-term
agreement with Sony's SW Networks to provide radio
transmission services for distribution of Sony's Classical
Network programming.
Under the agreement, Keystone is providing two 192 kbps
digital SCPC carriers on Satcom C5. Service will be
delivered from SW Networks' facility in Manhattan to
Keystone, and uplinked from Keystone's newly upgraded 9-
meter antenna at the Staten Island International Earth
Station to Satcom C5.
Satcom C5, the "radio satellite," currently feeds
programming to more than 6,500 radio stations in the
continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.
DIRECTV expands anti-piracy efforts
DIRECTV, Inc. is continuing to expand its anti-piracy
efforts by filing four lawsuits in Federal District Court in
Los Angeles against nine individuals and entities suspected
of illegal signal piracy activities. In a related
development, DIRECTV announced it reached agreement to
settle claims against two of the 28 defendants named in a
similar anti-piracy lawsuit filed in federal court last
summer.
The individuals and entities named as defendants in the
Los Angeles actions are: Charles Chism and Joe Garza, Home
Satellite of Riverside, Calif.; David H. Bird, American
Satellite of San Bernardino, Calif.; Steven J, White, Omni
Satellite Systems of Los Angeles; and Donald McLeod,
Starlight Satellite of Phelan, Calif. The complaints allege
that these individuals and entities ware involved in the
distribution of counterfeit DSS' access cards in violation
of federal and state statutes. News Datacom, Limited, the
security services provider to DIRECTV, joined DIRECTV as co-
plaintiff in the lawsuits.
DIRECTV also has implemented a 24-hour Signal Integrity
Hotline: 1-800-830-6090.
ASTRA: SES satellite capacity for Deutsche Telekom
Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) and Deutsche
Telekom AG have agreed to conclude a contract on the use by
Deutsche Telekom of 250 MHZ of ASTRA bandwidth at 28.2 deg
East.
Deutsche Telekom has decided, in the context of a
reorientation of its satellite operations, to use ASTRA
capacity at 28.2 deg East as a replacement for its DSF
Kopernikus spacecraft at 28.5 deg East. With the launch of
ASTRA 2B (the second ASTRA spacecraft to be deployed at the
orbital location of 28.2 deg East), SES will operate an FSS
bandwidth of 250 MHZ between 12.50 - 12.75 GHz (ASTRA G-
band) on behalf of Deutsche Telekom. Transmissions will
include TV and radio contributions, distribution to cable
head-ends, Business-TV and SNG (Satellite News Gathering).
With the launch of ASTRA 2A during fall 1997 and ASTRA
2B during fall 1998, ASTRA's second orbital location at 28.2
deg East will provide a total of 56 transponders. 40
transponders in the BSS frequency range (11.70 - 12.50 GHz)
will be used to roll out digital DTH-services in important
European markets, notably the UK and Ireland.
PRIMESTAR Announces Successful Transition
PRIMESTAR has successfully transitioned its satellite
entertainment service to its permanent home on GE-2. This
means the service will go from 95 channels to a 160-channels
on April 20, 1997.
Operationally, the transition required several long-term
initiatives including building out an entirely new control
room outside Philadelphia to accommodate 65 new channels and
transitioning to a temporary home on K-2 for several months.
While 95 channels are currently transmitted from GE-2, new
channels are being added and tested daily. The final move
will be made at 5 a.m. (EST) on April 20, when PRIMESTAR
illuminates more than 55 of the planned 65 new channels and
"flips the switch" on the reorganisation of channels by
programming category. Additional pay-per-view channels will
be added this summer.
DirecPC Japan Awards Satellite Centre Contract
Mitsubishi Corporation has awarded a US$500,000
contract for a satellite earth station for the DirecPC
satellite Internet service to California Microwave Inc. The
company's Satellite Transmission Systems group won the
contract for the station, expected to be completed in July.
The system is made up of a 4.6 meter antenna and uplink
system, with a redundant uplink and a downlink subsystem.
The system operates in the Ku-band and will be aimed at the
yet-to-be-launched SuperBird C satellite, which will carry
the service.
The new satellite is owned and operated by Space
Communications Corporation, of which Mitsubishi Corp. is a
founder and major shareholder.
Next Level Communications Files Patent Infringement
Next Level Communications is filing a patent
infringement and antitrust suit in federal district court in
San Francisco, California against BroadBand Technologies,
Inc. In the patent infringement suit, Next Level claims that
BroadBand Technologies infringes two U.S. patents held by
General Instrument related to the transmission of digital
video. As part of its suit, Next Level is asking for an
injunction that prevents BroadBand Technologies from making,
using or selling equipment that provides digital video
signals.
In addition, Next Level's complaint charges BroadBand
Technologies with antitrust violations for knowingly
asserting an invalid patent against GI as an improper anti-
competitive measure to stifle innovation in the
telecommunications industry. The complaint also seeks a
declaratory judgement that the patent asserted by BroadBand
Technologies in an action filed against GI last week is
invalid.
Spanish-Language Channels are Available to AlphaStar
Viewers
AlphaStar USA has added to its line-up dedicated
Spanish-language programming for the North American market.
Spanish-language programming is now available in four
AlphaStar packages_SpanishBasic, SpanishValue, SpanishPlus
and SpanishDeluxe.
Spanish-language programming available from AlphaStar
includes all premium movie channels such as SHOWTIME, HBO,
STARZ!, and ENCORE, plus a full complement of news, family
entertainment, sports and educational channels. In
addition, viewers may enjoy a full range of Spanish music
channels. With the launch of this package, AlphaStar now
offers the most comprehensive line up of dedicated Spanish
content programming and audio channels available in the
United States.
In addition to its Spanish-language programming launch,
AlphaStar is preparing the debut of French-language
programming in the U.S. AlphaStar's sister company,
AlphaStar Canada's programming includes a comprehensive
French-language line-up for the Canadian market part of
which it plans to bring to the U.S. market.
Orion Buys German Network Communications Provider
Orion has acquired German-based Teleport Europe GmbH, a
communications company specialising in private satellite
networks for voice and data services. With this
acquisition, Orion expands its customer base and accelerates
its sales and service capabilities within Europe.
Previously, Teleport Europe was a privately owned
company with shares held by two major German companies,
Vebacom GmbH and RWE Telliance AG.
Teleport Europe's 1996 revenues were in excess of $14
million. Orion's customer base is immediately expanded by
approximately 55 customers including some of Germany's
leading multinational corporations such as Volkswagen, BASF
and Bertelsmann. In addition, Orion will acquire Teleport
Europe's licenses and operating agreements to provide
satellite network services in 40 countries including 17
countries in which Orion previously did not provide service.
TV/COM Single Channel Encoding System (SCES)
TV/COM International Inc. have introduced a Single
Channel Encoding System (SCES) for the growing private
satellite systems market.
The SCES enables smaller satellite systems the same
high-quality, digital MPEG-2/DVB encoding that has
previously only been available to the larger Direct-to-Home
(DTH) uplinks at a fraction of the cost.
The typical private satellite network includes an
encoding system, a satellite modulator, a control system and
an integrated receiver decoder (IRD). With this system,
businesses can communicate with remote sites, teachers can
teach at more than one location, and news crews can transmit
from remote locations. Business and education TV, Digital
Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and Pay-Per-View (PPV) are
just a few of the additional small digital satellite system
applications.
The SCES will begin beta testing in April and volume
production is scheduled for June, with pricing starting at
$60,000.
Playboy to seek permanent restraining order
Playboy Entertainment Group said that, in light of the
Supreme Court's decision not to hear arguments in its case
at the preliminary injunction stage to have Section 505 of
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 declared
unconstitutional, it will seek a permanent injunction
barring enforcement of the Act's provision.
Section 505 requires new redundant and expansive blocking
equipment be installed in millions of cable homes regardless
of whether a customer needs or wants it. Alternatively, it
prohibits cable operators from offering adult-themed
services like Playboy two-thirds of the broadcast day,
making it available from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M. The ostensible
purpose of Section 505 is to block audio and momentary bits
of video programming that can accidentally "bleed" through
from premium or pay-per-view channels on some cable systems.
CBS launches Eye on People cable network
CBS Cable launched the CBS Eye on People cable network
on March 31. The basic cable, advertiser-supported, 24-hour
network will offer entertainment and information
programming, using prominent CBS network personalities
The "not a news channel" is available in 2 million
homes now and in 3 million homes by the end of April. It
should have 10 million subscribers by the end of 1997
according to the company
Integral Systems Awarded Contract
Integral Systems, Inc. has been awarded a new contract
from EchoStar to provide dual satellite control centres for
the EchoStar-III satellite.
EchoStar-III, the third satellite in the EchoStar fleet
to provide DTH television service, is a Lockheed Martin
A2100 satellite. It will be launched in September 1997.
Integral Systems' EPOCH 2000 product line will be the
basis for the new EchoStar control centre. EPOCH 2000 will
provide all monitoring and control functions for the
satellite and ground equipment. These functions include
real-time telemetry and command, as well as offline trending
and analysis. The OASYS module of EPOCH 2000 will perform
the orbit computations required for tracking and controlling
the satellite. Integral Systems is also supplying baseband
hardware for telemetry, commanding, and ranging. In
addition, the company will provide EchoStar with a simulator
which offers operations and procedure checkout using the
station uplink and downlink hardware through the RF level.
Primary satellite control will be performed by Loral
Skynet (formally AT&T), which already operates the first two
EchoStar satellites. The control facilities for EchoStar-III
will be distributed between Skynet's tracking station in
Hawley, Pennsylvania and EchoStar's tracking station in
Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Cheyenne facility will serve as a
backup station for Hawley. Due to EPOCH 2000's decentralised
system architecture, the two control facilities will be
completely interoperable. Each control will have the same
capabilities and be able to utilise ground equipment from
either site.
Integral Systems already has a contract to upgrade the
existing Skynet satellite control facilities using the EPOCH
2O00 product.
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
" COMSAT RSI Mark Antennas, located in Des Plaines,
Illinois, and COMSAT RSI CSA Antenna Systems, located in
Rochester, Kent, England, have combined to form a single
business unit COMSAT RSI Wireless Antennas.
" The European Space Agency said it was delaying until
mid-September a second test flight of the Ariane 5 rocket.
According to the ESA, the delay was needed to complete
modifications on electrical and computer systems.
" Comark Communications Inc. will provide digital
transmitters and services to LIN Television for their
current and future owned and operated stations.
" StarGuide Digital Networks has an agreement with
Bloomberg LP to provide real-time distribution of Bloomberg
radio news programs. Utilising MUSICAM EXPRESS' satellite
uplink services, news is distributed over GE Satcom C-5 to
StarGuide II digital satellite receivers installed at
Bloomberg's nationwide network of affiliates.
" AlphaStar and the SUNDANCE CHANNEL will be the
exclusive national sponsors of the second annual Film Fest
New Haven. Scheduled for April 4 - 6, 1997, the New Haven
festival is one of New England's fastest growing independent
film festivals.
" THE BOX is currently available on Galaxy 7,
transponder 13, DigiCipher 2.
" At the 1997 NAB Sony will host a new product showcase
and open house that offers a first look at future product
offerings including Sony's full line of High Definition
Television (HDTV) products.
" CHANNEL EARTH, channel 283 on DIRECTV, began its first
day of programming March 28. CHANNEL EARTH will deliver over
13 hours of daily programming every Monday through Friday
and eight hours (5 a.m. to 1 p.m.) on Saturdays.
Sat-na is sponsored by TELE-satelit International http://www.tele-satellit.com
and produced by Satellite Journal International http://members.aol.com/satjournal
(c) Sat-na 1997
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