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Sat-NA Monday July 28, 1997
Sat-Na
July, 28
1997
SuperBird C
SBCA News
SPAR Will Contest Lawsuit
Tee-Comm/Alphastar Deal Reached
Bloomberg Signs Agreement with WorldSpace
Hitachi Launches D-VHS VCR and Compatible DSS System
Norsat Appeals Decision on the Sale of U.S. DBS Systems
Comcast-Spectacor's All-Sports Network
The Box Worldwide and TCI Music Set to Merge
Landsat Satellite Program Celebrates 25th Anniversary
CD Radio to Fly on Ariane 5
McDonnell Douglas-Built Delta II Rocket Launches
Telesat To Consult On Arabsat DBS Satellite.
Time Warner, News Corp. Settle
Upcoming Launches
In Brief
Gary Torrens
Editor
SuperBird C
A Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket (AC-133)
successfully launched the Superbird- C satellite. AC-133
launched the 3,130-kg (6,902-1b) Superbird-C into a
supersynchronous transfer orbit. Over the next several
days, the spacecraft's on-board propulsion system will
perform manoeuvres designed to inject it into its final
geostationary orbit at 144 degrees East longitude.
Atlas launched Superbird-C for Space Communications
Corporation of Japan, which already operates Superbird A and
B in providing broadcast and business communications
services to its customers in Japan and the Asia region.
Superbird-C (HS-601) was built by Hughes Space &
Communications of El Segundo, Calif.
SBCA News
STAR CHOICE ANNOUNCES MAJOR OFFERING
At the Satellite Broadcasting Communications
Association conference, Star Choice Television Network
(Canada) unveiled new developments in their business
strategy.
Until September 30, 1997, AlphaStar (Canada)
customers can get a $250 trade-in allowance and four months
of free programming by switching to Star Choice.
Star Choice is also introducing new lower priced
digital set-top receivers, the Star Choice 411 and 411
Deluxe for C$599 and C$749 respectively. This expands their
product line to include three models of receivers.
Star Choice also plans to add, Home & Garden Television, CTV
News1, Teletoon, The Comedy Network, Outdoor Life, Space:
The Imagination Station, History Television, and three new
movie channels by multiplexing the Movie Network
DIRECTV
DIRECTV and Host Marriott Services have signed an
agreement to install DIRECTV in more than 300 locations in
63 U.S. airports, including major airline hubs in New York,
Atlanta, Cleveland and Los Angeles. Prior to the agreement,
DIRECTV programming was viewed at 30 Host Marriott Services
locations, including the San Francisco and Los Angeles
airports. The roll out of DIRECTV programming to more than
300 Host Marriott Services locations is expected to begin in
early September.
EchoStar
The DISH Network will soon carry Signal, the financial
information product from Data Broadcasting Corporation.
Signal is a real-time quote service that provides data
directly from the equity, futures, and options exchanges to
a user's PC. Signal users also receive free market indicies,
free real-time news headlines from Dow Jones and Futures
World News. Daily commentary and analysis from market
experts, Forex and treasury bond data are also available.
The real-time data is received through the DISH Network
receiver and routed to a user's PC via an RS-232 interface
and does not require an Internet connection. The service
will be available on the DISH Network in Fall 1997 on a
subscription basis directly from DBC.
EchoStar also has dropped the price on the installation
of a DISH Network satellite TV system.
For a limited time, beginning August 1, 1997, customers
who purchase a DISH Network system will have a choice
between receiving a free Self Installation Kit or $100 off a
professional installation. EchoStar is limiting the offer
to DISH Network systems that are installed and activated
between August 1, 1997 and September 30, 1997.
Also at the SBCA, EchoStar unveiled its new low-priced
stand alone EchoStar 1000 set-top digital receiver, the
fourth model in the DISH Network family of receivers.
This new receiver has a suggested retail price of $129
with the purchase of an EchoStar 4000 or 5000 dual output
LNBF system.
CBS Eye On People
CBS Eye On People, the 24-hour entertainment and
information network, has been added to the DIRECTV
programming line-up. The network is on DIRECTV channel 280.
MOTO-SAT
MOTO-SAT reports that its Executive series of satellite
television positioners for RVs can now work with all DSS and
DISH network receivers.
SPAR Will Contest Lawsuit
Spar officials have responded to the news that on July
18, 1997 a lawsuit was refiled against Spar claiming damages
related to an alleged irregularity in the performance of the
MSAT satellite launched in April 1995. The lawsuit was filed
in Superior Court, Los Angeles County, California, by
numerous companies that allegedly underwrote a ``Mission
Risk Guarantee'' insurance policy for Lockheed Martin
Corporation, which Lockheed, in turn, had purchased for the
benefit of the purchaser of the MSAT satellite, American
Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC).
``Spar and our insurers have carefully reviewed and
evaluated the claims made by insurance underwriters, and we
plan to vigorously defend the lawsuit,'' stated Colin D.
Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer.
``We believe that we have several strong defences_not
the least of which is evidence that any damage suffered by
AMSC was the direct result of their own or the
subcontractors' actions in operating the satellite. It is
also important to understand that the satellite as it is
currently operating has capacity well in excess of what is
needed to meet the demands of AMSC's customers. Indeed, AMSC
has had trouble attracting customers for its services,''
added Mr. Watson.
Further, said Mr. Watson, if there has been damage to
the satellite, it occurred during ground station testing of
the spacecraft, which was the responsibility of AMSC and its
subcontractors. Spar is pursuing legal action regarding the
damage to the satellite against the responsible parties.
Mr. Watson explained that this situation first came to
Spar's attention last December, when the company was advised
that certain insurance underwriters had filed an action
against Spar. After brief discussions with Spar, the
plaintiffs dismissed the suit to allow the parties to
discuss the alleged claims in a non-litigation setting.
Tee-Comm/Alphastar Deal Reached
The court-appointed receiver and manager of Tee-Comm
announced that a ``backstop'' deal has been agreed upon.
Subject to any better financial offers being received and
subject to court approval, Loral has agreed to buy back from
AlphaStar the satellite transponders which Loral leased to
AlphaStar on its Telstar 402R and Telstar 5 satellites.
In summary, the deal calls for a transfer of value to
AlphaStar of US$8.7 million, including a cash component of
US$5 million, plus a share of the profit (over and above
AlphaStar's existing rent obligations) earned by Loral
through its re-leasing of the Telstar 5 satellite
transponders to other companies. AlphaStar will receive
between 35 and 50 per cent of any such future profit,
depending upon the average contract term of the new leases
entered between Loral and other companies. The agreement
also entitles Loral to be paid US$7.3 million under a letter
of credit held by it in satisfaction of AlphaStar's rent
arrears to Loral.
Bloomberg Signs Agreement with WorldSpace
Bloomberg L.P. and WorldSpace have jointly announced an
agreement to broadcast 24-hour news and information on 23
channels beamed from the three satellites in the WorldSpace
digital direct satellite delivery system.
Bloomberg, which broadcasts in seven languages
throughout the world, will feed programs in English,
Spanish, French and Italian on the AfriStar satellite;
Japanese and English on AsiaStar; and Spanish, Portuguese
and English on AmeriStar. Most of the program content will
feature audio feeds from Bloomberg Television. The service
will premiere in the third quarter of 1998, following the
June 1998 launch of WorldSpace's first satellite, AfriStar.
Hitachi Launches D-VHS VCR and Compatible DSS System
Hitachi reports the introduction of its new D-VHS VCR,
Ultravision VTDX815A, and compatible DSS system, the
Ultravision HDS220S.
This new DSS system integrated receiver decoder (IRD)
incorporates a "digital interface" consisting of a
simplified digital audio/video bus and proprietary software
and protocol allowing for digital bit-stream recording and
two-way communication with the new Ultravision D-VHS VCR.
By recording the digital bit-stream directly to video tape
and playing it back through the HDS220S IRD for decoding of
the MPEG 2 signal, a recording with virtually no picture
quality degradation of the original signal is possible.
The Ultravision VTDX815A and the HDS220S are scheduled
for release to dealers by September 1997. Both models have
a suggested retail price of $599.
Norsat Appeals Decision on the Sale of U.S. DBS Systems
Norsat International Inc. said it is appealing the
recent ruling of the Federal Court of Canada that the
importation and sale of U.S. Direct Broadcast Satellite
(DBS) receiving systems contravenes Canada's
Radiocommunication Act. Norsat is pursuing this course
after reviewing the written reasons for the June 27
decision.
"We have launched an appeal because we believe this
decision, which conflicts with an earlier decision by the
Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, misinterprets the
Radiocommunication Act," says Bruce Chapman, Norsat's
president and chief executive officer. "The Court has
extended what we believe the Government of Canada intended
only to be an anti-piracy law, designed to prohibit the
theft of subscription television signals, to Canadian
consumers who pay for the U.S. subscription programming
that they receive. These are two very different
situations."
"From the continuing strong demand for U.S. DBS
systems, it is clear that Canadians want the ability to
access a full range of domestic and international signals.
We believe that they would be horrified if they knew that
the law was being interpreted as saying that they cannot do
so. The actual applicability of this law to those hundreds
of thousands of Canadians who pay to watch U.S. DBS
television, and the many more who want the ability to freely
choose to do so, requires a more final determination, and so
it is incumbent upon us to appeal this decision."
Comcast-Spectacor's All-Sports Network
Comcast-Spectacor is launching a new regional sports
network, Comcast SportsNet. Comcast SportsNet is a joint
venture between Comcast-Spectacor and the Philadelphia
Phillies (MLB). The new 24-hour cable sports network will
debut in October as a basic cable service_not a premium
service.
The Box Worldwide and TCI Music Set to Merge
THE BOX, and TCI Music, Inc. have signed a binding
letter of intent for the merger of The Box Worldwide into
TCI Music. As a result of the merger, The Box Worldwide
would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of TCI Music, and
shares of the Common Stock of The Box Worldwide would be
exchanged for shares of TCI Music's Series "A" Preferred
Stock.
Landsat Satellite Program Celebrates 25th Anniversary
For thousands of years, mankind gazed up toward the
skies. Twenty five years ago, the skies looked back.
On July 23, 1972, NASA launched ERTS 1, the world's
first civilian Earth resources satellite. The launch of
ERTS 1 - later renamed Landsat 1 - created what would become
the world's largest and richest collection of imagery and
geographic information about the Earth's surface. Landsat
inspired the development of a host of new satellites that
would regularly monitor changes to the Earth's land, water
and atmospheric conditions.
Since it began, the Landsat program has had numerous
accomplishments. For example, Landsat 5, launched by NASA
in 1984, had a design life of just five years. However, in
April 1997, the satellite was announced to have completed
its 70,000 orbit of the Earth and is still performing its
primary mission today.
Landsat also inspired the revolutionary
commercialisation of high-resolution satellite imaging in
1994, when the U.S. Department of Commerce enabled the
private sector to develop and exploit satellite systems
capable of collecting imagery that reveals Earth objects as
small as one meter in diameter.
The idea of a civilian Earth resources satellite was
originally conceived in the U.S. Department of the Interior
in the mid-1960s. The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) quickly embarked on the initiative to
build and launch the world's first Earth monitoring
satellite, and launched ERTS 1 in 1972. Since then, five
additional Landsat satellites have been launched, with each
successive satellite system offering improved capabilities.
Several government and private organisations have
shared in the management of Landsat. In January 1983,
operations of the Landsat system were transferred to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In
1985, the Landsat system was commercialised with a
partnership between Hughes and RCA, a partnership that led
to the development of a private company named the Earth
Observation Satellite Company (EOSAT). EOSAT ultimately was
acquired by Space Imaging, Inc. in November 1996.
CD Radio to Fly on Ariane 5
CD Radio Inc., has signed a launch services contract
for two CD Radio satellites. These two spacecraft will be
launched from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana (South America) in 1999.
Launch services for the two CD Radio satellites will be
partially financed through a project finance loan provided
by Arianespace Finance.
The CD Radio satellites, which are being built by Space
Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California, will be used to
offer CD-quality radio programming to customers across the
United States. They will be deployed at the orbital
locations of 80 degrees W and 110 degrees W, respectively.
McDonnell Douglas-Built Delta II Rocket Launches
A McDonnell Douglas-built Delta II rocket launched the
first of a new generation of Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellites for the U.S. Air Force.
The payload, a NAVSTAR GPS Block IIR satellite, was the
first of a completely new GPS. Among its advantages is an
ability to be launched into any of the required orbits on
any day of the year with 60-day advanced scheduling. The
GPS Block IIR has an estimated life span of 10 years and is
equipped with advanced on-board computers to allow for in-
flight software modifications.
Telesat To Consult On Arabsat DBS Satellite.
Telesat Canada has been awarded a multi-million dollar
contract to provide engineering consulting services to the
Arab Satellite Communications Organisation, ARABSAT.
Under the terms of the contract, Telesat will monitor
the construction of ARABSAT's third generation satellite,
the ARABSAT 3A. This direct broadcast satellite is to be
manufactured by Aerospatiale Espace & Defence in Cannes, and
by subcontractor Alcatel in Toulouse, France. Telesat will
staff field offices at both locations for the 21-month
duration of the construction program.
Time Warner, News Corp. Settle
Time Warner and News Corp. have settled their legal
battle over carriage of the FOX News Channel in New York
City. As part of the deal, FOX will be seen on 65 percent of
the Time Warner systems across the country including New
York City.
Time Warner will get access to Murdoch controlled DBS
services allowing Time Warner to offer Home Box Office,
Cinemax, TNT and CNN. FOX News will temporarily be on a
channel run by the City of New York
Upcoming Launches
Next Ariane Launch Next Atlas/Delta Launch
PAS 6 --August 8, 1997 Iridium-- August 14, 1997
Flight 98
In Brief
" The China Aerospace Industry Co has delayed the launch
of the Apstar 2R satellite to September 5 from late August
due to questions over control of the orbiter after its
launch.
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