[Prev][Next][Index]
Sat-na Monday May 19th
Sat-na
May, 19
1997
Thor II
PanAmSat Completes Merger with Hughes
EchoStar Communications Corp.
Loral Names Ronald Maehl President Of Cyberstar
EWTN announces new European feed
First Sea-born Satellite Launch Platform Completed
China Launches A New Telecom Satellite
Home Box Office
Fuji Tv To Join JSkyB
Intelsat News
EchoStar files against The News Corp. Ltd
Seagram And Viacom Make Statements
Globalstar Partners Commit To $275 Million Purchase
CCI selects Matra Marconi Space
E'Prime Aerospace
PT Bakrie Communications
Philips Signs Digital Microwave Contract in Guizhou
Sony Server-Based Editing System
The Titan Corporation Announces a Profitable First
Quarter
Upcoming Launches
Thor II
Thor II, the first dedicated television and
communications spacecraft ordered by Telenor of Oslo,
Norway, is scheduled for launch Sunday night.
Built by Hughes Space and Communications Company in El
Segundo, Calif., the first of two launch windows for Thor II
is 6:39 to 7:23 p.m. EDT (3:39 p.m. PDT and 10:39 p.m. GMT)
Saturday. A second launch window of 8:54 to 9:45 p.m. EDT
(5:54 p.m. PDT and 12:54 a.m. GMT) Sunday has also been
established. Thor II will be launched onboard a McDonnell
Douglas Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Station on
the central Florida coast.
Telenor is the owner and operator of Thor II, the first
satellite to be designed specifically for Norway. It is a
high-power version of Hughes' popular HS 376 spin-stabilised
spacecraft model. Hughes also built Telenor's first
satellite, Thor I, which was purchased in orbit in 1992 from
British Sky Broadcasting. The two-satellite fleet will
deliver television and telephony/data services to five zones
stretching from Scandinavia across the north Atlantic to
Greenland, with the primary zone comprising Norway, Denmark,
Sweden, Finland and the Baltic states.
Thor II will deliver direct-to-home television by means
of 15 active Ku-band transponders, powered by 18 40-watt
travelling-wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs). The spacecraft
will use gallium arsenide solar cells to generate more than
1400 watts of spacecraft power at end of life and will rely
on nickel-hydrogen batteries for power through eclipses.
Thor II is designed to operate for more than 11 years and
will be located at 0.8 degrees West longitude.
Both satellites in Telenor's fleet are versions of the
Hughes spin-stabilised 376 model. Thor II will be the 48th
HS 376 model to be launched.
PanAmSat Completes Merger with Hughes
The merger between PanAmSat and the Galaxy Satellite
Services business of HCI has been completed. The newly
created company is called PanAmSat Corporation.
Grupo Televisa SA, got about $650 million in cash and
an equity interest of about 7.5% in the new PanAmSat Corp.
Grupo Televisa also has reacquired PanAmSat's interests in
Grupo Televisa's direct-to-home Spanish language
broadcasting ventures in the Americas and Spain.
Grupo Televisa originally had a 40.5% in PanAmSat prior
to the merger.
EchoStar Communications Corp.
EchoStar Communications reported first quarter 1997
total revenues of $72.0 million, an increase of 74% as
compared to $41.5 million during the first quarter of 1996.
This increase was the direct result of the company's
increasing DISH Network subscriber base. The DISH Network
began providing commercial service in March 1996. During
the three months ended March 31, 1997, the DISH Network
added approximately 130,000 subscribers.
EchoStar had approximately 480,000 DISH Network subscribers
as of March 31, 1997.
Loral Names Ronald Maehl President Of Cyberstar
Loral Space & Communications Ltd. announced the
appointment of Dr. Ronald C. Maehl as president of
CyberStar, Loral's next-generation global, broadband,
multimedia communications and information distribution
system. Dr. Maehl reports to Michael B. Targoff, president
of Loral Space & Communications.
Dr. Maehl will lead CyberStar, a new Loral business
venture that will provide capacity for the deluge of data
that is now beginning to flow over the global information
infrastructure.
CyberStar, beginning in late 1997 with broadband data
delivery services from leased Ku-band transponders
satellites, will reach full stride in 2000 using three
geosynchronous Ka-band satellites, built by SS/L, in its own
constellation.
EWTN announces new European feed
Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) has launched a
new service customised for Europe. The European feed
consists of 24-hours of Catholic programming. EWTN's new
European satellite network is on PanAmSat 1 Ku-Band,
Transponder 21, Channel 3 with a downlink centre frequency
of 11642.0MHz, audio channels 1 and 2.
First Sea-born Satellite Launch Platform Completed
The world's first commercial sea-borne space satellite
launch platform has completed the successful trials in
Stavanger, Norway.
The platform, made from a former North Sea oil rig,
will send its first satellite into space next year. It will
compete in the satellite market along with its sister ship
as part of a 350 million pounds (about 560 U.S. dollars)
project.
The sister vessel is being fitted out at Govan,
Glasgow, Britain, as a floating rocket assembly factory,
providing crew, accommodation and a mission control.
China Launches A New Telecom Satellite
China successfully launched the Dongfanghong III
communications satellite from the Xichang Satellite
Launching Centre in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The
satellite was placed into orbit with a perigee of 209 km and
an apogee of 30671 km.
Dongfanghong (the East is Red) III, a newly developed
communications satellite, has 24 C-band transponders. Its
life span is about eight years. The launching used a China-
made Long March III-A rocket. The satellite will be located
at 125 degrees east
Home Box Office
Home Box Office, will add a new family-oriented service
on USSB starting on June 1st.
HBO Family, will be a 24-hour commercial-free channel
with Hollywood movies, original programming, documentaries,
animated features, and HBO specials.
Programming will be in three blocks:
" a "Kid's Block," from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
" a repeat from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
" Feature films will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., rated G
or PG. and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the network will air some
PG-13 films.
Fuji Tv To Join JSkyB
Fuji Television Network Inc. has decided to take a
capital stake in Japan Sky Broadcasting Co., a joint venture
set up by Softbank Corp. and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to
run the JSkyB operation. JSkyB, which is slated to go into
operation next spring, will be Japan's third digital
satellite broadcaster, following PerfecTV's debut last
autumn and DirecTV, which comes on air this fall.
Intelsat News
INTELSAT announced @intelsat, its suite of Internet
products, at the International Internet Summit it hosted in
Washington, DC. The @intelsat suite, targeted to serve
customer requirements in the Internet marketplace, consists
of four products which are immediately available:
" @intelsat.backbone. High-capacity service for backbone
connectivity between Network Access Points. Allows backbone
providers to extend the reach, capacity and reliability of
their terrestrial networks.
" @intelsat.access. For Internet Service Providers
establishing access to a backbone network point of presence.
Allows ISPs to introduce service rapidly to regions of the
world that are unserved (primarily in developing areas of
the world) or underserved (where demand exceeds current
capacity).
" @intelsat.enterprise. To fulfil connectivity
requirements of corporations to ISPs as well as to support
Intranet and Extranet applications. Allows easy connections
to corporate networks for geographically distant locations.
" @intelsat.multicast. For Intranet/Extranet point-to-
multipoint applications (e.g., Web caching, UseNet
newsgroups, digital audio/video multicasting, real time
database updates). Reduces network congestion through the
use of a single transmission to multiple registered users.
The Internet Summit showcased four demonstrations
including: a side-by-side comparison of satellite vs.
terrestrial Internet (TCP/IP) connections, showing the
relative network response times of the different media; VSAT
Internet access, demonstrating that satellites can be used
easily to extend Internet/Intranet access to any part of the
world; INTELSAT's Intranet, the world's largest satellite-
based Intranet, utilising voice and TCP/IP via frame relay
over satellite; and international date multicasting.
" INTELSAT's annual Global Traffic Meeting, held at
INTELSAT headquarters 5 - 9 May 1997, was attended by
approximately 1,700 delegates representing more than 410
companies from 163 countries. During the meeting,
international communications users discussed their satellite
traffic plans for 1998 and beyond.
" The Republic of Uzbekistan has joined INTELSAT as its
141st member-nation.
EchoStar files against The News Corp. Ltd
EchoStar has amended and significantly expanded
the scope of the suit initially filed against News Corp. on
May 8, 1997 in the United States District Court for the
District of Colorado.
Among other things, EchoStar seeks to require News
Corp. to honour its obligations under the Agreement. In
addition EchoStar seeks damages resulting from breach of the
Agreement by News Corp., including lost profits which could
exceed $5 billion.
As a result of the failure by News Corp. to honour its
obligations under the Agreement, EchoStar does not currently
have adequate capital to fulfil its contemplated business
plan without material changes. EchoStar has had preliminary
discussions with a number of investment banking firms to
investigate alternatives to meet its short and medium term
needs. EchoStar also intends to speak with major vendors
and other potential strategic partners. While there can be
no assurances, EchoStar believes that it can arrange
transactions to meet its short and medium term obligations.
EchoStar intends to seek recovery from News Corp. for any
costs of financing in excess of the costs of the financing
committed to by News Corp. under the Agreement.
Seagram And Viacom Make Statements
Seagram
We are very pleased with the decision by Judge Myron
Steele in Delaware Chancery Court in Wilmington that
Viacom's ownership of the MTV Networks was a breach both of
the USA contract and of Viacom's responsibility as a partner
not to compete with the partnership. Specifically, the
Court held that the agreement "flatly prohibits" Viacom's
conduct and that "the evidence is overwhelming that
(Viacom's) current holdings consist of national, video,
advertiser-supported basic cable networks - a direct
conflict with the non-compete provisions of the USA
agreements." The Court rejected all of Viacom's defences and
arguments, calling them "illogical," "flawed," "entirely
specious," and "makeweight." The Court reserved decision on
the issue of remedy, giving the parties 30 days to come to
an agreed-upon resolution. Failing such agreement, the
parties will have 15 days to submit their own proposals to
the Court for a final determination of the remedy. In that
connection, the Court wrote that MCA and Seagram "are
entitled to an appropriately tailored equitable remedy."
Viacom
Statements made by Seagrams that it had won its case
against Viacom are clearly wrong. We are gratified that the
court agreed with our position that Viacom did not
measurably damage MCA or the venture in a manner that
justifies the relief sought by MCA. He has directed the
parties to submit an agreed upon plan for discontinuance of
the USA Networks venture in its present form. The judge
stated that the plan should provide for a disposing of the
assets used in the venture and be submitted within 30 days
of the date of the opinion. The judge further stated that
if the parties did not agree on a plan of discontinuance, he
will consider each party's separate plan.
Globalstar Partners Commit To $275 Million Purchase
Globalstar, LP announced purchase orders by the
partners that comprise Globalstar's Limited Partnership for
35 Globalstar gateways to be installed around the world.
The contracts, total approximately $275 million.
Globalstar partners plan to have operational gateways
ready to provide service in the last quarter of 1998. The
first four gateways are nearing completion in Aussaguel,
France; Yeoju, South Korea; Dubbo, Australia; and Clifton,
Texas, United States.
QUALCOMM, Inc. is responsible for the production and
installation of the antennas, radio frequency, and
interconnection electronics for the Globalstar gateways.
The $2.6 billion Globalstar system, comprising 48 low-
Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites and a global network of ground
stations (or gateways), will allow people around the world
to make or receive calls using hand-held, vehicle- mounted
and fixed-site terminals. Globalstar will also provide
messaging, data transmission, fax and position location
services. Globalstar now has service provider agreements
in 104 countries, and has also secured licenses in 14
countries.
Globalstar gateways are the interconnection points
between the Globalstar satellite constellation and existing
terrestrial-based telecommunications networks. Each gateway
will contain up to four antennas that track Globalstar
satellites as they pass overhead in orbit, sending and
receiving Globalstar user signals (voice, fax and data
transmissions). A single gateway is expected to provide
fixed and mobile service in an area as large as Western
Europe. The initial 35 gateways now under contract will
provide service coverage to 81 countries, and will develop
approximately 75 percent of the projected revenue for
Globalstar's services world-wide. As Globalstar expands its
coverage, these gateways will eventually form part of a
network of up to 100 gateways that will bring global voice,
fax and data services to virtually every inhabited corner
of the world.
Globalstar plans to launch the first four of 48 low-
earth orbit (LEO) satellites on October 1 and another four
in December.
CCI selects Matra Marconi Space
Constellation Communications, Inc. announced the
selection of Matra Marconi Space as prime contractor for the
space segment of its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system.
Matra will develop the system's satellites and deliver them
to the desired orbit around the earth. The initial contract
is worth at least $600 million over the next three years.
Matra will send a team of engineers to Dallas, Texas
next month to begin working with ground-segment provider
Raytheon E-Systems on the integrated system.
CCI's system in its initial phase will be a 12-
satellite ring circling the equator and will provide
continuous service to more than 100 countries located within
the world's tropical belt. The CCI system will then be
expanded with additional rings of satellites to provide
global service.
E'Prime Aerospace
E'Prime Aerospace Corporation has successfully
completed design, developed technology and acquired permits
and licenses for the Eagle S-Series launch vehicles.
The E'Prime Eagle S-Series commercial launch vehicles
are derived from Peacekeeper technology. The Peacekeeper,
the last generation ICBM, has had 41 consecutive successful
launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
E'Prime Aerospace deploys solid booster rocket
technology for the Eagle S-Series launch vehicles. Eagle
canister launch vehicle capabilities range from delivering a
satellite payload of 1200 pounds to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to
over 10,000 pounds to LEO or over 4,500 pounds to
Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The Eaglet, Eagle, SI
and SII are canister launched vehicles. The Eagle can
deliver 3,000 pounds to 100 nautical mile LEO at a current
price of $12 million. First launch of the Eagle series is
anticipated in the first quarter of 1999.
The larger Eagle SIII through SVI launch vehicles,
utilising strap-ons, are launched from a conventional hot
pad. Launch vehicle capabilities range to delivering over
40,000 pounds to LEO and over 13,000 pounds to GTO. Current
plans are to launch the large vehicles from Cape Canaveral.
The canister launch does not require construction of a
conventional hot pad and allows for repetitive launches at a
rate of one per week. In a canister launch, steam from a
hot gas generator propels the rocket 200 feet in the air
where ignition takes place. This canister launch system, a
combination of solid propellant stages and bi-propellant
liquid upper stage, permits the Eagles to outperform older
and costlier rocket launchers on the market. The system
provides simplified vehicle and payload processing: Eagle
assembly and checkout requires only 5 days and a crew of 12.
Stages are shipped from the manufacturer in canister
segments which serve as shipping containers.
PT Bakrie Communications
PT Bakrie Communications Corporation of Indonesia has
agreed to invest US$100 million in Iridium LLC and be
allocated service rights covering the IRIDIUM South Pacific
Gateway Service Territory that includes: Australia, New
Zealand, and other South Pacific countries. Bakrie
Communications expects to develop this IRIDIUM Service
Territory in co-operation with DDI Corporation of Japan and
Bakrie's Australian subsidiary, Link Telecommunications.
With the allocation of the South Pacific Territory, Iridium
LLC now has committed operators responsible for its entire
global telecommunications service.
Philips Signs Digital Microwave Contract in Guizhou
Philips Digital Videocommunication Systems and the
Guizhou Provincial Broadcasting Bureau reached an agreement
for the supply and installation of a DVB-compliant
compression system for the province's planned digital
microwave network.
This PDH network will carry, among others, 6 digitally
compressed TV channels from Guiyang to the CATV networks of
8 provincial cities, while each of these cities will
contribute a single channel back to Guiyang.
The Distribution part of the network will be based on
the Philips Token Mux concept and the newly introduced
second generation MPEG-2 video encoder.
The distribution system will be installed in the third
quarter of 1997, while the contribution systems will be
added in the fourth quarter. This will enable Guizhou to
have their advanced digital microwave network fully
operational before January 1st, 1998.
Sony Server-Based Editing System
Sony Broadcast & Professional has announced the
successful installation of a digital server-based editing
system for ITN's Channel 5 News. The system was used
extensively on Channel 5's launch night programmes with the
first half hour "5 News", broadcast on 31 March, the opening
titles, and six of the stories edited on the system's
workstations. The system has been used on a daily basis
since the launch.
The ITN installation currently comprises a video server
(MAV-1000) with 14 hours of fully mirrored disk capacity,
three DNE-1000 edit workstations and one filing client
workstation, used to record items into the server. With the
General Election out of the way, Sony and ITN are upgrading
the system to incorporate an on-air server in the digital
process, providing an easier and more convenient way of
transmitting material without any need for tape.
The Titan Corporation Announces a Profitable First Quarter
The Titan Corporation reported net income of $475,000,
or $.02 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 1997,
compared to a net loss of $864,000, or $.07 per share, for
the first quarter of 1996. Revenues in the first quarter of
1997 increased 40% to $43,290,000, from $30,895,000 in the
same quarter last year.
Income from continuing operations in the first quarter
of 1997 was $818,000, or $.04 per share. Included in the
first quarter of 1997 was a loss from discontinued
operations of $343,000, or $.02 per share, reflecting a plan
by Titan to divest the Company's broadband communications
business.
Titan stated it decided to divest its broadband
communications business in order to focus on businesses that
are better aligned with the Company's available resources
and offer a greater opportunity for Titan to create value
for its shareholders.
Higher revenues in the Communications Systems segment
were due to increased shipments made on the Company's
Indonesian contract with P.T. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara for
its proprietary Xpress Connection rural telephony system.
The growth in the Defence Systems segment was due primarily
to increased revenues from Mini-DAMA satellite production
contracts and revenues generated from the acquired Eldyne
and Unidyne businesses, offset somewhat by a decline in
certain subcontract work and by the sale of the Electronics
division in July 1996.
Upcoming Launches
Next Delta Launch Next Ariane Launch
THOR 2A -- May 18, 1997 INSAT 2D/INMARSAT 3F4 --June
3, 1997
In Brief
" Hughes Network Systems, Inc. reports that Computer
City, one of the nation's largest retailers of computer
products, will begin retailing DirecPC Personal Edition in
all 81 of its U.S. stores. The DirecPC Internet service
offers download speeds of up to 400 kbps_three times faster
than ISDN and 14 times faster than a standard 28.8 modem.
" AlphaStar Canada reports that its service is now
available through more than 1,000 retailers represented in
over 1,300 storefronts across Canada. Currently, AlphaStar
has over 6,000 customers activated across Canada.
" The Cisneros Television Group, have signed a letter of
intent to acquire Argentine cable programmer and distributor
Imagen Satelital for $109 million including $9 million in
debt.
" A new television feature will air on CHANNEL EARTH
beginning May 19. The "Science & Technology Report,"
sponsored by Mycogen Seeds, will provide information on the
newest advances in science that affect agriculture and the
food industry. "Science & Technology Report" will be part of
CHANNEL EARTH's Noontime Trading Monitor. It will be seen
immediately following the channel's market reports at 12:51
p.m. Central Time, every Monday through Friday. CHANNEL
EARTH is on channel 283 on DIRECTV
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
[Other mailing lists]