Intelsat 602 Launched to 62E the beams should make it to Western and Central Australia, I will add this satellite once it has some services running.

From my Emails & ICQ

From John Kahler

*** FEED REPORT***

Optus B1
Goodwill Games related Feed
TNT Feed Channel
12385 V
Sr 6620 3/4

Live feed earlier today (before 12 noon AEST) from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, back to some TV show in the U.S.A.

The shows American interviewer was wearing a Goodwill Games logoed jacket.

I would say that this OB feed was for TNT and that their feed from the Games event locations would be sent out through the Nine Networks facilities somehow as the camera crew used on the feed mentioned above was a Channel Nine team.

TNT is obviously using Nines facilities and personnel here in Brisbane. Do we know what Sat/Transponders Nine uses for O/S material - maybe we will also find the outbound feed there as well?

EQUIPMENT: 90cm Ku / 1.2m Ku / 1.8 Ku Nokia 9800s / Pacific Satellite DSR-2800

John.

From Bill Richards

Thaicom3

0835 UTC 30/8/01

3551 H Sr 13330 Fec 3/4

Vpid 257 Apid 258 SID1 "TRT"
Vpid 1025 Apid 1026 SID4 "RR FEED"
Vpid 1537 Apid 1538 SID6 "TRT beackup" Same as TRT Channel, there spelling is not correct !!..
Vpid 2049 Apid 2050 SID8 "3ABN"

0845UTC

My lineup for

3640H as follows

ATV
MEGA
TVP
KDTV
MKTV
NTV
NTVP
TGRT
ERT
ANT
TVG
PINK

Regards
Bill

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3901 H "Fox News Channel" has left , replaced by occasional feeds.

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "KSTV" has started , SID 2, Vpid 1160 Apid 1120.

Apstar 1A 134E 3737 H "Hunan Life Channel" is now in clear.

Thaicom 1A 120E 3768 V Bayon TV has left

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551H" TRT International" has started on , SID 6, Vpid 1537 Apid 1538, in addition to Vpid 257 Apid 258.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H The info cards and tests have left

NEWS

Indosat knows nothing of plan for new Palapa bird

From sat-index.com

PT Satellite Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo) wants to launch a
new satellite by 2003, but the company's majority owner — PT
Indosat — says it has not approved the plan. An Indosat
spokeswoman was quoted as saying, "Satelindo has not submitted a
business plan on the satellite deal."

At least, Indosat could be interested in the venture. "If the
[satellite] business becomes more competitive and has good
growth, why not?"

Earlier, Satelindo had said potential investors in the project
included Boeing Co and a consortium of firms from Australia,
Thailand and Malaysia.

Intelsat 902 Launched

From sat-index.com

Rocket: Ariane 44L; Payload: Intelsat 902; Date: 30 August
2001, 0646 UTC; Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite
was placed in a 199.8 km x 35,924 km x 7.00 degrees
geostationary transfer orbit. Flight 143 was carried out by an
Ariane 44L with four liquid-propellant strap-on boosters.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, USA, Intelsat 902 will be
positioned at 62 degrees East. It will provide Internet access,
broadcasting, telephony and business network services for Europe,
sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, the Far East and Australia.

Intelsat 902 (a version of SS/L's 1300 geostationary satellite
platform) weighed 4,723 kg at lift-off, and is equipped with 72
C-band and 22 Ku-band transponders (in 36 MHz equivalents) as
well as advanced features like selectable split uplink for SNG.
It has a design life of more than 13 years.

Its solar arrays will generate more than 8.6 kW of power
(beginning of life). The Intelsat IX series of spacecraft
carries a much greater percentage of high-power amplifiers and
generate more solar array power than its predecessors with only
a small increase in dry mass.

The new satellite will replace Intelsat 602 and in addition
provide high-power Ku-band spot beam coverage for Europe and the
Middle East, as well as more C-band capacity to the Indian Ocean
region. Intelsat 602 will be relocated to 33 degrees East.

It is estimated that Intelsat 902, launch and insurance cost a
total of around US$250 million.

The launch was delayed from 24 August on request by Intelsat,
in order to allow SS/L to conduct checks on the satellite after
an anomaly was detected on a solar array on another satellite
manufactured by SS/L.

The next launch in Intelsat's campaign, that of Intelsat 903,
is scheduled for November 2001 using a Proton K/Block DM launch
vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. In total,
Intelsat plans to deploy seven satellites of the IX series,
which will replace the Intelsat VI series.

The next Arianespace launch is scheduled for 25 September 2001
when an Ariane 44P will orbit Atlantic Bird for Eutelsat. On 18
October 2001, an Ariane 44LP will loft DirecTV-4S for DirecTV.
Arianespace said its Ariane 5 launcher should be ready for
service end of November.

Statistics:

-- Intelsat 902 is the 26th satellite delivered to Intelsat
since 1980 by SS/L. With the delivery of the Intelsat IX series,
SS/L will have built 31 spacecraft for Intelsat, nearly half of
its fleet, and significantly more than any other manufacturer.

-- Intelsat 902 was the 19th satellite launched by Arianespace
for Intelsat. 60 percent of all Intelsat satellites now in
operation were orbited by Ariane launchers

Sony Entertainment goes pay on Sept 1

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010830/con6.html

SONY Entertainment Television is going pay on September 1. The channel had gone digital on August 6, the day it shifted from PanamSat-4 to PAS-10 satellite.

?SET will be going pay from September 1. We were waiting for the migration to a new satellite,” said Shantonu Aditya, senior vice-president, franchisee channels and distribution, SET India Ltd.

With the flagship channel going pay, SET India is targeting an increase of 300 per cent in subscription revenues in the current financial year.

?Sony TV will drive our pay revenues and the connectivity of paid subscribers upwards. We also have Max, which is strong in the northern and western regions. AXN is well-accepted in the southern, eastern and western regions,” said Mr Aditya.

Cable operators will have to sign up for a minimum of 800 subscribers for the channel. While Sony TV is being priced at Rs 8 per subscriber a month, the stand-alone cost of the channel is fixed at Rs 15. But to some operators, the company has communicated a price of Rs 25 for the channel.

The bouquet of four channels will cost Rs 22. The strategy is to sell all the channels in the Sony bouquet—Sony TV, Max, AXN and CNBC. This is the first time SET India is bundling the channels and having a special bouquet price.

Sony TV has already been signed on by the majority of the multi-system operators (MSOs). The Hinduja-owned INCablenet and the Rajan Raheja-owned Hathway Cable & Datacom have signed for the same number of paid subscribers in Mumbai.

Sources said both the cable networks will be paying for 35,000 subscribers in Mumbai. Sony has already distributed 5,000 Scientific Atlanta decoder boxes. The target is to seed the market with 10,000 boxes in the next three months.

The price for these boxes are Rs 12,000, which cable operators can pay in two equal instalments. Sources said the latest price for the decoders is Rs 20,000 each.

?We have fully covered the TRP-cities (television ratings points). Our next drive will be in the other towns,” said Mr Aditya.

30/8/01

Satfacts page has been updated!

Lets have some reports of Goodwill Games feeds there has to be some up there! Not much News happening today.

"Turner Network Television (TNT) will present 83 hours of original programming from the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, 55 hours (66%) of which will be live, from August 28 - September 9. In addition to the 12 straight days of live coverage, TNT will also air an additional 37 hours of encore performances, giving the network a total of 120 hours of competition and 31 hours in prime time. Sister network CNN/Sports Illustrated will re-air TNT's 5 - 8 a.m. morning show from August 29 - September 8 at 2 - 5pm (ET), with the exception of Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 due to Nascar programming. "

From my Emails & ICQ

From Salah M Romane

Dear Craig.

Since last night a new channel (11) on B3 Mediasat BQ Freq 12336 V Sr 30000 Fec 3/4 is displaying color bars with Mediasat logo and on the audio channels the new service is labelled Arabic Radio Test (3).

Regards.

Salah.

Craigs comment, Sid 13, Apid 1122

From Chris Pickstock 29/8/01

8 pm SA time
B1, 12397 H Sr 7200 Looks like an awards night for the Wendy Ice Cream Franchises

From the Dish

Agila 2 4080 H "A Kusan TV test card" has started on , SID 7, Vpid 1660 Apid 1620. RPN 9 and IBC 13 are encrypted again.

Agila 2 3931 V "Occasional feeds here" , Sr 14882, Fec 7/8.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "National Geographic Adventure One" has replaced National Geographic Channel , SID 3, Vpid 1360 Apid 1320.

PAS 10 68.5E 3716 VThe info card has left

NEWS

Antrix leases transponders on GE-1A

From sat-index.com

Americom Asia-Pacific (AAP) announced that Antrix Corporation
Limited has signed a multi-year service agreement to lease as
many as three transponders on the GE-1A satellite.

The satellite will supplement Insat's domestic satellite fleet
and will be able to provide Ku-band service to VSAT operators
throughout India, AAP said.

GE-1A, located at 108.2 degrees East, provides service via
three beams to greater China, south Asia including India, and
Northeast Asia and the Philippines. The spacecraft features 28
active 36 MHz Ku-band transponders with 120 watt SSPAs, eight of
which are focused over India.

The satellite is an A2100AX spacecraft, manufactured by
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and launched on 2
October 2000.

29/8/01

Well the chatroom was very interesting lastnight! More odd sightings on Mediasats feeds channels keep an eye our for Goodwill games feeds, possibly Pas 3872H Sr 6620 As well as B1

From my Emails & ICQ

From John Kahler

Optus B3 29/8/01

TBS Superstation - baseball
Mediasat Occasional 2

12336 V Sr 30000 Fec 2/3 "Live baseball from Canada - in NTSC"
EQUIPMENT: 90cm Ku / 1.2m Ku / 1.8 Ku Nokia 9800s / Pacific Satellite DSR 2800

John.

From Chris Pickstock

2 pm SA time

B1, 12385 V Sr 6620 "TNT"

Live action of a suburban roundabout, somewhere sunny.

10.25 am SA time when I turned on this morning

B3 12336 V Mediasat, Baseball from US in NTSC format.

10.30 Back to Colour Bars now (still NTSC), but just beforehand there was an advert running for "TNT Sports" for the Goodwill Games. Yesterday colour bars were up on 12390 V sr 6620 labelled "TNT" so perhaps we will find some feeds of these games.

and this report from Chris after the site had gone up yesterday. 28/8/01

5.20 pm SA time

On Mediasats second feed channel there is what looks like Chinese News. TVBS-N is at the bottom of the screen. It is in NTSC format.

Update 5.25 pm.

Now has a testcard saying "PANAMSAT NAPA" Still in NTSC

From "Jfkennedy" in the Chatroom

Pas 2 , 3872 H Sr 6620 "CH 9 feeds" Could be for the Goodwill games

From "Nick Sat"

Hi!

Can anyone confirm,I seem to have lost signals off Measat2..at 148E Freq's
11478 H,and 11664H they were encrypted but radio was fta. All gone now ?

Regards
Nick

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3901 H It's only occasional feeds, Sid 8, Vpid 1860 Apid 1820.
PAS 2 169E 3798 V The Fox mux has moved here from 3992 V, Sr 26470, Fec 7/8.

Agila 2 148E 3834 H "A Kusan TV test card has started" on SID 2, Vpid 32 Apid 33.

Apstar 1 138E 4180 V "The PHTV" mux is still on , Digicipher 1/enc., Sr 19600, Fec 3/4.

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V Indus Vision has started here , Sid 22, Vpid 1220 Apid 1221.(Perhaps they will go off analogue?)

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3676 H "MRTV 3 (Myanmar)" has started, Sr 5787, Fec 3/4, Vpid 4130 Apid 4131, Sundays, global beam.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H Four info cards and tests have started VPIDs 1537, 1553, 1569 and 1586.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "National Geographic Channel Asia has replaced Kermit Channel", SID 3, Vpid 1360 Apid 1320. (as mentioned on the site yesterday as unconfirmed)

NEWS

Rah-rah boys to rev up Optus iTV

From http://www.itnews.com.au/story.cfm?ID=7672

The Seven Network is stepping up its interactive TV efforts, with punters on the $50 million Optus cable iTV trial able to run statistics checks during the Tri Nations decider between Australia and New Zealand which appears on free-to-air on Seven next Saturday.

In what amounts to an early poke in the eye for the ambitions of the Channel Nine/Telstra/Foxtel triumvirate, the interactive broadcast is a local first and is the result of a collaboration between Seven, Optus, Oracle backed ICE Interactive and listed sports and technology outfit Pineapplehead.

But while Optus is charging ahead with iTV, Telstra and Foxtel are baulking at digitising their network following court rulings that the companies open up their cable to all comers. Optus CEO Chris Anderson told iTnews this week “our cable is open.”

?We will deal with anyone who wants to put content on our network,” he said.

Optus iTV users will be fed the same statistical information that Pineapplehead supplies to the Seven broadcast unit at the game. Appearing in the top right hand corner of the screen, users will be able to select from a pull down menu of real time statistics such as turnovers, kicks and passes, mauls and pack weights.

Seven has already tested the multi view aspect of digital TV but the Network’s iTV boss Mark Cloudsdale said: “We are taking this softly, softly. We are going to make sure we can crawl before we walk.”

The partners verified the new service on the Optus test network during the Australia versus South Africa Rugby test in Perth on August 18.

Sport is widely seen as the key to opening the interactive TV success box and has driven a strong uptake of iTV in the UK, which is the world leader in iTV.

But there is still a platform question mark hanging over interactive services in Australia. Optus, Foxtel and the free to air stations have all opted for different platforms. The free-to-airs have gone for the emerging MHP (multimedia home platform) industry standard, which has suffered from a slow development and acceptance cycle. Optus said its Liberate platform has a migration strategy to MHP. Foxtel and Austar are both committed to News Limited’s Open TV middleware.

Meanwhile, Optus has also released some early results from its trial across 300 homes on Sydney’s North Shore, which includes around 1000 people and started two months back. One hundred percent of users are using the near-video-on-demand and the electronic program guide.

Optus interactive manager Liz Norris said 96 percent of households had used the TV email product, with peak times for this service being during movies.

NVOD was most popular during the week, scuttling the Sunday movie myth, Norris said. 75 percent of users used TV Net - the so-called walled garden of interactive content on the service. Most popular were pay-by-play games and for transactions – interactive trivia games.

A paid-up Austar is set to play

From http://australianit.news.com.au/

REGIONAL pay TV and internet group Austar United Communications yesterday paid the final $30 million owed to Television and Radio Broadcasting Services for its microwave-based spectrum, paving its way into metropolitan markets.

Austar has now paid in full the $140 million agreed last October.

The funds will come from the company's cash balance of $253.2 million at the end of June, but a spokesman said that had been fully accounted for in its budgets.

"Any statements we have made to the market about our confidence of our cash position and ability to manage it forward all took into account the fact that payment was going to be made," he said.

Austar has said it has cash to see it through to mid-2002 and is renegotiating its bank facility to take it to break even by 2004.

The spectrum will eventually be used to provide high-speed internet access and possibly telephony services in metropolitan markets.

Meantime, Austar's soft launch of its interactive TV product is faring well, with the spokesman saying there had been "significant" take up of the $5 a month interactive games option.

About 200,000 of Austar's 432,000 pay TV subscribers are now able to access the two-way interactive services.

That news came as C&W Optus' interactive TV (iTV) pay TV trial announced a deal to provide enhancements to the Seven Network's broadcast of rugby's Bledisloe Cup.

The application will use real-time match statistics collated by listed TV graphics company Pineapplehead and run on iTV software from ICE Interactive.

ICE Interactive's software has been used for the trial since it commenced in June.

Optus yesterday said the iTV trial in more than 300 homes had found that 96 per cent of people were using the TV-email function and all were using the near video on demand service and electronic program guide.

28/8/01

Live satellite chat in the chatroom tonight 8.30pm Syd time onwards and from 9.15pm NZ onwards. Happy birthday Optus B3 7 years old,Yesterday. Some great news Fox News back FTA, on Pas 2 (probably not for long) The Globecast LF8 signal was back on Optus B1 last night this time it had the pids. It was encrypted and I am pretty sure it was feed of the NRL.

The U.S Tennis Open is live on Star sSports (Asiasat 3) has anyone seen a feed of it on Pas 2 or Pas 8?

For those that can get it Big Brother 24 hours, channel has started on Pas 10 , Multichoice Mux.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Chris Pickstock

3.05 pm SA Time
B1, 12390 V Sr 6620 Colour Bars at the moment. Channel is labelled "TNT"

Perhaps it could be for the opening of the Goodwill Games in Brisbane. I notice that no Aust TV is taking the opening ceremony tonight.

I get a very good signal on the following PAS 8 frequencies here in SA but no channel loads. I am assuming internet data, but I thought that always carries a high sr.

12477 H Sr 4500
12660 H Sr 5000

12635 H is the one I find interesting as I can get a good signal using sr from as low as 4825 all the way up to 7000. I find that to be such a wide range as it never happens on any other freq. or sat.

I am using an "Integra 640 S" and a 90cm dish. Any clues would be appreciated.

Chris

Craigs comment, Thanks Chris everyone be on the lookout for feeds on B1/B3 could this be the reason for Fox News and Fox Sports showing up on Pas 2? do they have people in Australia covering the Games for them? As to those Mystery Ku freqs lets hope someone with a Nokia can have a look.

From John Harrison

12354H on B1 the feed is from Telecasters Australia in Townsville who are
the licence holder for seven central they have been showing the same
programming as the local Ten channel with some minor differences in
advertising

From George (Thailand)

Dear Craig
Hello. I have compiled some news about satellite changes up here in Thailand.

Thaicom 3

R.R.Com mux have three new video channels listed as
-Video 7
-RR Video
-RR Text
- Test 1
- Test 2

along with the TRT Int and 3ABN

Insat 2E

-Aaj Tak still on (wonder why Lyngsat doesn't report it?) 3580 V SR 3255
-DD Hyderdrabad 3979 V SR 5000
-DD Calcutta 4075 V SR 5000
-Jaya TV Tests have left the Sky Bangla Mux

Lyngsat doesn't report changes on Insat 2E properly

Palapa C2

-Metro TV
-JKT Test2

Thaicom 1A

-Bayon TV

Craigs comment, Thanks for your report, Lyngsat can only report the information if people send it! That is why we have to give them our full support. If you are supplying details Christian asks you to send as much info as possible, including pids and sids if you know them. He is providing an excellent service for us all and its up to us all to help him.

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3901 H "Fox News Channel" started Vpid 1460 Apid 1420 Sid 4 (welcome back)
PAS 2 169E 3901 H "Fox Sports News Channel" started Vpid 1860 Apid 1820 Sid 8

Insat 2E 83E 3525 V "Jaya TV" tests have left.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "Unconfirmed report of National Geographic here" possibly FTA Sr 29265, Fec 5/6 (Please report if you check this out)

LMI 1 75E 3410 H "TV Lanka" is testing again, Sr 5750, Fec 3/4, Vpid 1160 Apid 1120.(This received in Australia, before)

NEWS

SingTel slams Stokes as Feds give final Optus OK

From Itnews

SingTel has hit out at Channel Seven boss Kerry Stokes for trying to scuttle its $14 billion bid for Cable and Wireless Optus - a deal the Asian telco received final approval for from the Federal Government on Monday.

SingTel CEO Lee Hsien Yang said that Stokes’ recent comments, aimed at keeping the Singapore government controlled telecommunications company out of Australia, may done Stokes more harm than good.

?I wonder whether it has damaged Mr Stokes reputation internationally, “ Lee mused adding that Stokes has opposed the bid “for reasons best known to himself.

Lee said SingTel already has 77 percent acceptances for the bid if Cable & Wireless plc sells in its 52.5 percent of the Aussie carrier. Lee said that the company expects the bid to go unconditional by August 30 at the latest. At this time C&W plc is committed to sell in 19.8 percent but is most likely to sell in its entire stake. Once acceptances reach 80 percent, CWO shareholders are eligible for GST rollover relief.

In a statement Monday, Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said that Singapore Telecommunications Limited has provided, to his satisfaction, confirmation that an export licence is not required by the US Department of State, for the A3, B1, B3 and C1 satellites, ground support equipment and technical data.

SingTel has lured Optus independent director John Morschel to its board. Morschel is also chairman of CSR, chairman elect of Leighton Holdings and a board member of Rio Tinto.

Morschel lead the group of Optus independent directors through the protracted negotiating period between C&W and SingTel.

SingTel deal takes last regulatory hurdle

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082706

Singapore Telecom said it has obtained all the necessary regulatory approvals to proceed with its A$14 billion take-over of Cable & Wireless Optus Limited, Australia.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority approved the take-over, SingTel said in a statement.

SingTel also said it received formal confirmation from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) that the Australian Treasurer is satisfied with notification received from the U.S. Department of State in relation to export licenses for the Optus satellites, ground support equipment and technical data.

"SingTel is delighted to have received all the regulatory approvals required for the Optus transaction," SingTel president and chief executive officer Lee Hsien Yang was quoted as saying.

The only condition remaining is a minimum of 50 percent acceptance of the deal by Optus shareholders, which is expected to be reached soon.

Shinawatra wants compromise with China on 120 degrees East

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082707

The upcoming visit of Thailand’s premier Thaksin Shinawatra to China will probably be closely followed by his son, Panthongthae. He holds a 37-percent stake in Shin Satellite, which plans to launch its "Internet-only" iPSTAR satellite into an orbital slot reserved by China. The conflict is reportedly one of the top items on premier’s agenda during his visit to the country.

Thaksin is expected to urge his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji to help resolve the issue to prevent it from escalating into a dispute, according to Thai newspaper The Nation.

The orbital slot in question, 120 degrees East, was awarded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to AsiaSat, which is jointly controlled by a Hong Kong company and SES of Luxembourg.

As a result, iPSTAR was not able to get what was considered the optimal slot for its purpose, despite repeated attempts to negotiate with China over the years, The Nation reports.

Austar: The virtues of interactive TV

From http://www.bandt.com.au/articles/88/0c006b88.asp

TWO-WAY interactive advertising debuted on Australian television this week when Austar deployed its technology for Sony Computer Entertainment, promoting its Grand Turismo game.

More than 100,000 Austar customers have a connection that allows them to use two-way iTV services.

The TVC was created by Whybin Lawrence TBWA.

Here's how it works:

The Grand Turismo TVC was made interactive by putting a small overlay at the bottom of the screen, containing a simple call to action offering viewers the chance to win the game.

That first screen then leads to the second part of the interactive advertisement, called the dedicated advertising space. This is a virtual channel that allows the advertisers to present extended product information.

The viewer moves into the dedicated advertising space and sees a video running in a quarter of the screen. The video is generally an advertiser's promotional video—in this case, for the Sony GT3 game.

The viewer then sees a menu screen that gives four different types of information. One allows viewers to enter a competition, two of the other screens give them information about the game itself, and a fourth screen allows the viewer to register their address to receive PlayStation news and information.

B&T spoke to Austar head of corporate affairs Bruce Meagher, and Austar product manager interactive advertising Suzie Cameron about the significance of the launch.

Why has Austar pursued iTV?

Meagher: We've been developing the interactive platform for the better part of two years. And we think interactivity as a whole is going to be a major differentiator for our product from free-to-air and other competitors.

Obviously when you can build in the two-way element, that allows you to do a lot more with the interactive platform than you could do if it was just sitting in the broadcast stream.

What is the advantage for advertisers?

Meagher: I think it's the ability to tailor advertising to extend the range of information that they give to customers.

It means that people go in there and look at your extended information. It's almost a way of economising, in a way, and then capitalising on interest.

Cameron: It takes your traditional advertising campaign from purely a branding and communications vehicle to very much a direct marketing vehicle.

That dedicated advertising place for the advertiser is an opportunity to gain leads. It's a direct marketing-type tool.

It allows them to generate a database of leads. It also allows them to present that extended product information, so it works on two different levels.

Meagher: Clearly, for advertisers it's a very attractive way of enhancing what they offer, particularly the information that they get.

The other major advantage, of course is to generate leads from the space.

Cameron: If you put a compelling enough, and interesting enough offer in your interactive ad [then] that [will] prompt people to make a response to you.

Then, you're obviously hearing from those people who are responding to you.

Does interactive advertising suit some products or categories more than others?

Cameron: [Yes, specifically] for advertisers who require four or five leads to help sell their products. [For example,] for large ticket item products such as cars, those sorts of things, obviously interactivity is particularly compelling because it can generate that lead.

[It is also good] for someone such as Sony, who doesn't necessarily look for the sales lead but looks for the opportunity to talk more about their product. For a large product such as a game that has a lot of different components to it, interactivity suits well, because it allows them to present that extended product information.

It will depend on an advertiser's strategy around their particular products and around their brands but it does suit both those strategies.

Meagher: There is the example of the pizza sales in the UK, where it is effective as a direct selling tool [and has yielded particularly effective results].

Cameron: It will depend on what the nature of the product is and the objective of the advertiser but there are a number of layers on which it can be used.

Will it revolutionise television advertising?

Meagher: It'll certainly change TV advertising. I think in some respects it's another string in the bow.

I think you'll find, as with any advertising campaign, that sophisticated advertisers are going to look at the tools they've got available to them in print and radio and television, and now interactive television, and they'll choose a blend to target different messages in different ways.

I don't think it will completely revolutionise it. It will certainly be a much more sophisticated tool that people will be able to use over time.

Cameron: I think in terms of the next step for us—allowing people to actually make a purchase from an advertisement--that will be the next phase that we will move towards.

27 August 2001

27/8/01

A likely feed tonight is the NRL Warriors vs Melbourne Storm match. My reception on B3 12363 V is back to normal perhaps thats where it will show up. Some interesting items in the News section today.

I have Updated most of the gallerys and satellite pages. Pas 10 gallery to come soon

From my Emails & ICQ

From Andrew Harrisson (Servicom, Vanuatu)

RE: Pas 2 3776

Using freq of 3776 I put the Satcruiser on auto SR and it loaded 4
channels on SR11145, 2 Japanese FTA and 2 scrambled. Channel 3 has screen
logo YTN.

Andrew Harrison

Craigs comment anyone else have info on this one?

From the Dish

Optus B1 160E 12354 H "Network Ten" feeds on SID 2, Vpid 1296 Apid 1298. (Not sure about this one may have been test only)

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "ABC 5" has left, replaced by a test card.

Thaicom 1A 120E 3768 V "Bayon TV" has started, Sr 1860, Fec 7/8, Vpid 308 Apid 256.(Not likely in Australia)

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3784 H "Globecast feed seen" Sr 5632

NEWS

Malaysia Invites Africa to Share Next Satellite

From Satnewsasia.com

On an official visit to Uganda, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad told African nations that satellites could help promote the continent's image worldwide.

He invited Africa to share the launch cost and use Measat 3, Malaysia’s third satellite, to bolster Africa’s image overseas. Mahathir said sharing the cost of the satellite would enable African countries to reach out better to Europe, South East Asia, Australia and the U.S.

?We have found that control and ownership of satellites is important in promoting our image abroad," Mahathir said at the Global 2001 SMART Partnership International Dialogue in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

Several African leaders lamented the continent's negative image worldwide, blaming bad press for deterring much-needed foreign investment in the continent.

Malaysia already has two in-orbit communications satellites, Measat 1 and 2, that cover much of Asia. Both satellites are operated by Binariang Satellite Systems.

A third satellite, Measat 3, was to have been launched in 2001 but was postponed to end-2002 and now apparently to 2004 for technical reasons. Binariang said Measat 1 and Measat 2 are fully utilized and that more satellite capacity is necessary as Malaysia expands its high-speed Internet transmission capacity through satellites instead of conventional cable.

Measat 3 is due to launch in 2002 but Mahathir’s revelation of a 2004 launch may herald a prolonged postponement of the launch, or he may have just gotten his dates crossed.

Measat 3 will be co-located with Measat 1 at 91.5° East. Its C-band will cover East Asia and Australia while its switchable beams will blanket Africa, China, India and the Middle East. The satellite can be used for digital DTU broadcasts, analog TV, digital audio, VSAT, telephony, SNG, data broadcasting, Internet services and multimedia applications.

TVB Extends Service To Malaysia and Singapore

From satnewsasia.com

Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, the world's largest creator of Chinese-language programming, will begin distributing its TVB8 channel in Malaysia and Singapore by October.

TVB continues its relentless Asian expansion in fulfillment of its strategy to increase its presence in Chinese-speaking parts of Asia. It expects over100,000 subscribers in Singapore within the year and is confident of attaining equally optimistic numbers in Malaysia.

In Singapore TVB is reportedly targeting 50% of Cablevision’s 250,000 subscribers, while in Malaysia TVB expects subscriber revenue to be HK$6 million within a year.

TVB is one of the leading television stations in Hong Kong. Its major activities include television broadcasting, program production and other broadcasting related activities such as program licensing, video distribution and satellite broadcasting etc. It transmits about 15,000 hours of programming on its Chinese Jade channel and English Pearl channel free of charge to over 2.05 million homes in Hong Kong.

Most of the Chinese programs are dubbed into other languages and are distributed to more than 30 countries, accessible to more than 30 million people every day. During the prime time viewing hours, the Chinese Jade Channel and English Pearl Channel achieve a remarkable average of 81% and 76% of Hong Kong's television audience share respectively.

Now more than 30 years old, TVB continues to deliver excellent programming and cutting-edge broadcasting technology primarily to the people of Hong Kong and to Chinese communities around the world.

TVB managers said they expect to generate HK$120 million in ad revenues in 2001 rising to HK$200 million next year, when breakeven point is forecast.

Regional Group Raises Concern Over Piracy

From satnewsasia.com

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) is concerned about the weakness of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in Thailand.

Citing the 150,000 pay TV homes that don't actually pay for their pay TV, CASBAA told the government that it must take a more proactive stand against piracy.

It pointed out that anti-piracy measures could be as simple as adding a clause to annual licensing conditions insisting that local cable operators provide proof that they hold legally binding contracts to distribute individual channels.

If a cable operator is unable to demonstrate a contractual relationship with rights owners, it would not have its license renewed. The anti-piracy roundtable drew representatives from AOL Time Warner, Star Group, Discovery Channel, Turner Broadcasting, Hong Kong Cable, UBC, Astro, Irdeto Access, NDS and the Motion Picture Association.

DD World readies to become pay channel

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010827/con4.html

DOORDARSHAN’S international channel, DD World has plans of becoming a pay channel. A free-to-air channel now, DD World will start earning subscription-based revenues once it goes pay. DD World will then become the second channel in the DD bouquet to become a pay channel. Last year, DD Sports had turned pay during the Olympics 2000.

In a move towards becoming a pay channel, DD World has floated a tender for setting up a distribution network in the UK and Europe. Depending on the response to the tender, Prasar Bharati will decide when to go pay, according to a Prasar Bharati official. The global tender closes on August 27. After UK and Europe, DD World will float a tender for the US market, the official said.

So far, DD World has a formal distribution network arrangement only in the Middle-East, where a local cable network distributes the channel. In that region, it is a government-to-government arrangement, according to the official. However, it is not a pay platform there, adds the official.

The decision of the channel to go pay follows a recent analysis of the channel by a consultancy firm. As per the SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of DD World, the channel was suffering because of lack of resources. And the decision to make it a pay channel, it is felt, would improve its revenue prospects.

Immediately after the SWOT analysis, Prasar Bharati has been working out plans to strengthen the channel. Among other things, DD World plans include substantial investment to build up a library of high-quality programmes. All this is being done after over five years of operation of the channel.

According to a Prasar Bharati note, the channel mission is ‘‘to build bridges of communication with Indians living abroad and to showcase the real India—its culture, values, tradition, modernity, diversity, unity, agony and ecstasy—for the entire world through high-quality programmes that will inform, educate and entertain while maintaining the highest traditions of the National Public Service Broadcaster of India’’.

The SWOT listed the weaknesses as total lack of direction, inadequate manpower, lack of facilities, poor technology, lack of quality consciousness and no budget allocation.

The SWOT spotted some strengths and opportunities as well. Among the strengths of the channel are the DD brand and its infrastructure associated with it. The opportunities include the potential to capture vast audiences in 79 countries and become the voice of India for NRIs and others.

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 34/2001 - August 26 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A

ESPN ASIA TO BECOME PROFITABLE IN 2004

ESPN, a division of Walt Disney, on August 20 announced it expects to reach
profitability in Asia within three years. ESPN, which operates in Asia as
a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., has been in the red since
incorporation of News Corp.'s Star Sports in 1996. ESPN Star Sports made
a pre-tax loss of US$3 million on revenue of US$29 million in the quarter
ending June 30, compared with US$1 million profit on US$25 million revenue
in the same period last year due to higher programming, production and personnel
costs. In the fiscal year ending June 30, ESPN narrowed its pre-tax loss
to US$21 million on earnings of US$96 million from a loss of US$26 million
on revenue of US$87 million in the previous year.

CHINA - HONG KONG

ESPN IN TALKS WITH YES TV AND GALAXY

UK based pay-TV operator Yes TV says it is talking to ESPN Star Sports about
a content deal for its planned pay-TV channel, but a deal has not been done.
Local press reports say ESPN Star Sports is talking to Galaxy Satellite
Television as well as Yes. Star TV was originally granted a Hong Kong pay-TV
license but has since pulled out. Yes, Galaxy and Pacific Digital Media
are the three remaining operators planning to roll out pay-TV services on
the island.

INDIA

ZEE TO RELAUNCH NETWORK

As Zee Telefilms continues its search for a strategic partner the Indian
national broadcaster has announced a makeover of its network of 15 channels.
Channel Zee TV will be the first to change with 24 new programs being aired
from the end of August. Zee News will be next for a revamp, which is scheduled
for October, followed by Zee Music, Zee Cinema and Zee English in November.
The Alpha regional channels, formerly known as Asianet Kavereree and Asianet
Bharati, will be made over by end of the year.

MALAYSIA

ENGLISH LEAGUE FOOTBALL ON ESPN AND ASTRO

English Premiership football will be available on Malaysian pay-TV after
ESPN Star Sports and Astro Satellite Broadcasting inked a deal. Astro is
ESPN Star Sport's pay-TV partner in the country and will show 165 live games
for the next three seasons. Highlights will be broadcast over Malaysian
terrestrial channel TV3.

NEW ZEALAND

TVNZ STILL ON TRACK FOR DIGITAL SERVICE

According to information supplied to us by TVNZ, the broadcaster is still
on track to launch a digital service and plans include both open access
and open standards for one set top box. No agreement for open access has
yet been reached with DTH operator Sky but negotiations are still going
on. TVNZ has an open access agreement in place with TelstraSaturn, which
is also providing some infrastructural services to TVNZ for its digital
service. Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has persuaded Sky to give
TVNZ access to its decoders after threatening to implement legislation that
would force Sky to do so if it did not act voluntarily, according to local
press reports.

26/8/01

Lots of Emails from the readers today, Some very good news about ABC Asia Pacific channel its going to be Pas 8 Cband!

IndusVision on Asiasat 3, Website and Program guide added for it on Asiasat 3 page.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Tony Drexel

Hi Craig,

Studio 23 has encrypted on Pas 8 as from today (Saturday), after about 14 months of broadcasting. But as one door closes, another opens. As you know Australia TV recomences later this year, and I can tell you it will be on Pas 8 C band! This means great footprint coverage, and FREE! I will keep you posted with any info that can be made public, from my inside source.

Kind regards,

Tony Drexel. FTASS

From Chris Pickstock Sunday 26/8/01

Same as yesterday, but I have a slightly better signal today.

B1, 12427 H sr 19800
Coverage is 16:9
D2 is alternative vision, in car cameras, pits etc.
D3 is race scoreboard
Ten Main is pixilated so have to use Imparja for main channel. Hopefully Imparja is live and not delayed.

(Screenshots grabbed by Bill Richards)

Chris

From Bill Richards Sunday 26/8/01

0100UTC
Optus B1 12354 H Sr 3688 "Another Channel has started" Fec 3/4
Vpid 1296 Apid 1298 SID2 "B/Up Tx Feed" is the channel name


Regards
Bill

Craigs comment, this reported gone, so perhaps a test

From Robert Anthoney

Was curious if anyone knows a good SR for PAS-2 3776 MHz (H)? I see a
strong signal on the (borrowed) spectrum analyzer but fail to load anything
with SRs of 6620, 5560, or 5600. I have seen references to this being an
occasional feed and it's a strong signal

Craigs comment, can anyone help with this one?

From Me, Saturday 25/8/01

Optus B1 12367 V "Globecast LF8" feed seen last night, but no pids transmitted? vpid 308 apid 256 didn't produce anything either. Nokia reported NTL format.

From Chris Pickstock Saturday 25/8/01

V8 Supercars on B1, 12427 H Sr 19800 Three Channels load.

Ten Main Vpid 308, Apid 257
Ten D2 Vpid 309, Apid 258
Ten D3 Vpid 310, Apid 260

Ten Main is Pixlated, although bad weather here in SA at the moment.

3 pm SA time

B1, 12450H "Sydney Club Rugby" analogue. No sound.On Pas 8 I am receiving a very good signal (in SA) on 12477 H and 12660 H, both sr of 4500 Nothing loads, possibly Internet. Any clues anybody?

Chris

From Me, Friday 24/8/01

B3, 12336 V "Mediasat Ocassional 2" had AFL
Friday 7.38pm Syd time

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3880 V "Studio 23" is now encrypted.

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "KSBN News" has left, replaced by Zoom TV tests, clear.The Zoom TV tests have left PIDs 1460/1420, replaced by a test card. ABC 5, RPN 9 and IBC 13 are now in clear.

Apstar 1 138E The SCTV and PHTV muxes on 3636 V and 4180 V (Digicipher 1) have ceased.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "Suprabhat and Prabhat" are back

PAS 10 68.5E 3776 V A new MUX started here, SR 9000 Fec 3/4 Power Vu Encrypted
PAS 10 68.5E 3776 V "Discovery Channel India" Vpid 1260 Apid 1220 (ENCRYPTED)
PAS 10 68.5E 3776 V "Animal Planet India" Vpid 1160 Apid 1120 (ENCRYPTED)

PAS 10 68.5E 4104 H "Feeds", Sr 5632, FEC 3/4.

NEWS

Asiasat expects "year of consolidation"

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082411

Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications company (AsiaSat) reported a 4.2 percent drop in net profit for the first half of 2001 caused by lower regional demand for its satellite services. AsiaSat Holdings’ Chairman Romain Bausch stated, "The year 2001 will be one of consolidation for AsiaSat after a year of rapid growth in 2000. The Group anticipates that in 2001 it will be very difficult to achieve growth, or even maintain the same levels achieved in 2000."

Construction of the company's next satellite — AsiaSat 4, to be positioned at 122 degrees East — remains on schedule, though. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, it is due for launch in the first half of 2002 aboard an Atlas 3B rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA.

As of 30 June 2001, 59 percent of transponder capacity on AsiaSat 2 (2000: 73 percent) and 71 percent on AsiaSat 3S (2000: 60 percent) were being used and generating revenue. Asiasat attributed the decline in usage rates of AsiaSat 2 to either to customers not renewing their contract, or their migration from analogue to less bandwidth-consuming digital broadcasts.

The company also said it had contracts worth HK$4.8 billion (US$616 million) on hand, most of which would be realised over the next few years.

The company's two major shareholders are China International Trust and Investment Corp. (CITIC) and Société Européenne des Satellites (SES), which operates the Astra satellite system in Europe.

Indian customer for Shin’’s iPSTAR project

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082406

Shin Satellite Plc chief commercial officer Yongsit Rojsrivichaikul said the Thai company was in talks with an Indian client about a possible co-operation on its iPSTAR broadband satellite project. An agreement is expected to be signed in 2001.

"We expect to appoint an Indian client as National Service Operator (NSO) in India by the end of this year. The Indian NSO would take up about 5–6 percent of our iPSTAR capacity," Yongsit was quoted as saying.

Other NSOs include China Railway Communication (Asia Pacific) Co Ltd (20 percent of the iPSTAR capacity) and BayCom, Malaysia (5–6 percent). The company expects to sign NSO agreements with Japan (12 percent) and Australia (about 20 percent) in the next six months, bringing the total capacity usage up to 50 percent.

According to Yongsit, the Malaysian and China deals alone would bring the iPSTAR project (which reportedly costs US$300 million) nearly to break even.

iPSTAR services are currently offered using existing satellites prior to the launch of the Loral-built iPSTAR-1 spacecraft, scheduled for 2003.

25/8/01

No site update today taking a break.

24/8/01

Let me know if you see any good feeds on from Friday night onwards theres usually something on B1 or B3. My dish is still on Asiasat 3, hopefully for the All Blacks tommorow night.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Bob Cooper (Satfacts Magazine)

SatFACTS needs help. Recent engineering studies of the UEC 642 and 660
series IRDs has revealed apparent major design flaws in the 22 kHz switching
voltage and its support software. Many people have reported problems with
trying to use the 642 or 660 between vertical and horizontal on Optus B3 -
we think we now know why. Can those who have had difficulties trying to use
the 642/660 for this purpose please drop notes detailing their experiences
to skyking@clear.net.nz? And to be fair - anyone who has done this and found
no problems with 642/660, we'd like to hear from you as well. Please mention
the make and model of IRD (if not UEC) as well as the 22 kHz switch.

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3901 H "NITV" has replaced Future TV USA, PowerVu Encrypt, Sid 7,Vpid 1760 Apid 1720.

Optus B3 156E 12313 H "An Austar promo has started" Vpid 101 Apid 640.

NEWS

New Palapa satellite to be launched in 2003

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082300

PT Satellite Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo) will launch a new satellite by 2003 to support and ultimately replace its Palapa C-2 satellite, according to the Jakarta Post. The report said Satelindo needs a new satellite to meet demand from broadcasting companies, with the current Palapa C-2 satellite already operating at 85-90 percent capacity.

"We will invite bids for the manufacture and launching of the satellite next year and we expect the launching to take place in 2003," the report said, quoting Satelindo satellite services director Djoko Prajitno.

"Our Palapa satellite has the widest coverage in Asia Pacific and demand for its services has been growing," he said, adding there has already been demands from 14 new customers for transponder lease. Currently the satellite services 55 domestic and foreign audio and video broadcast companies.

The new satellite, expected to cost US$120 million (not including launch and insurance), will back up Palapa C-2 and replace it at the end of its lifetime in 2011. The plan is subject to approval from shareholders, who comprise PT Indonesia Satellite Corp with 75 percent and DeTe Asia with 25 percent.

Djoko was quoted as saying, "Many investors have expressed interest in funding the new satellite, including from the U.S., Australia, Malaysia and Thailand."

Palapa-C1 and C2, both manufactured by Hughes Space and Communications Corp. [Boeing Satellite Systems], were launched on 1 February 1996 and 16 May 1996, respectively.

JCSAT-2A land in Hawaii

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082304

Transvision International Teleport LP, Hawaii, has won an exclusive contract from Japanese satellite operator JSAT Corporation to provide satellite uplink and downlink services to JSAT’s new satellite, JCSAT-2A.

JCSAT-2A, which will be launched at the end of this year, replaces JCSAT-2 at 154 degrees East.

Transvision will link Internet and data users on the JCSAT-2A spacecraft with other satellites and fibre-optic cables serving U.S. and Latin American markets, using a new 11-m C-band antenna.

Soccer, Formula 1 new focus areas, but the bucks still in cricket: ESPN

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010824/con1.html

IN a bid to consolidate its brand, ESPN Star Sports is focusing on key deliverables these days. That includes focus on soccer and Formula 1. But, said channel managing director Manu Sawhney that the decision does not mean that ESPN is moving away from cricket.

Mr Sawhney said: “We’re focussing on the best in sporting action and programming.” English Premier League (EPL), a soccer event with worldwide popularity, is one such sporting action about which ESPN is upbeat.

Is the high cost of acquiring cricket rights behind the shift? Mr Sawhne said: “We’re not shying away from investments.” ESPN holds telecast rights in 7 out of 10 cricketing countries.

ESPN is still trying to find out the difference in TRPs and ad revenues between cricketing and other events.

Mr Sawhney said Pepsi, Samsung and Madura Garments have signed up for EPL sponsorship. And for Formula 1, MRF, Ford and Pepe Jeans have signed up. Mr Sawhney said the ad rates are healthy. Though rates differ, he admitted that the rates were the highest for cricket.

23/8/01

I had an email last night to say Tv5 Asie is about to sign a contract to stay on the Mediasat service. No word yet as to if RTPI will be back or if Dwelle will stay. I wonder what's up with CCTV 3 seems to have left all its usual transponders.

DVB 2000 tip I read this in one of the forums,

The Spec analyser feature in the advance tuner menu, to make some sense from it.

Put the menu on screen, press 9 (advanced settings) , press "A" general settings, Then 7 then press 8 until Display Freq comes up. Now when the spectrum scan is running you will see which freqs are being scanned!

From my Emails & ICQ

From Chris Pickstock 23/8/01

12.15 pm SA time
Optus B3 12363 V Mediasat Vpid 4160, Apid 4120. Feed for Sky Racing from Gympie in Queensland. On now.

Austar Demonstration continuous loop has started on 12312 H, Sr 30000. Vpid 101, Apid 640, FTA

Chris

John Kahler reports Austar B3 12313 H

This frequency comes up with 8 or so Open TV applications on receivers capable of running Open TV applications.
Only one - Austar Gamespace seems to be FTA.

From Cengiz Umekkan

For soccer fans

TRT Int
UEFA Cup 1.lap

24 08 2001 5:30 NZ time
Zimbru Kisinev (Moldavia)
G.Antep (Turkey )

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3716 V "CCTV 3" has left

PAS 8 166E 3829 H "CCTV 3" has left

Gorizont 25 140E 3675 R "Radio Rossii" has started: 8.00 MHz.(not much activity seen here usually)

Palapa C2 113E 3880 H "Metro TV" has started on ,Sr 28125, Fec 3/4, Vpid 160 Apid 80.

Asiasat 3 105.5E 4129 H "CCTV 3" has left

Asiasat 2 100.5E "CCTV 4" and "CCTV 7" have left 12305 V (Digicipher 2).CCTV 2 has started in this mux, enc.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H "Tele Liban" has started, encrypted., Sid10, Vpid 521 Apid 649.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3696 V "Occasional feeds" , Sr 5700, Fec 3/4.(Worth checking tell me if you see anything)
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3714 V "Ekushey TV feeds" have ceased.

PAS 10 68.5E 4090 H "CCTV 3" has left
PAS 10 68.5E 4090 H "China Radio Internationa" has started, Apid 1322.

NEWS

SingTel bid for Optus: it's on

From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2662721%5E462%5E%5Enbv,00.html

THE federal Government has given its long-awaited stamp of approval to Singapore Telecommunications' $14 billion bid for Cable & Wireless Optus, citing the need for a strong domestic competitor to Telstra.

Treasurer Peter Costello attached conditions to the SingTel proposal to protect Australia's security interests.

The takeover "means that Australia's second-largest telephone network will be able to provide strong competition to the largest network, owned and operated by Telstra", Mr Costello said.

"Consumers will benefit from competition."

SingTel chief executive Lee Hsien Yang said he was "delighted" with the decision.

However, Seven Network executive chairman Kerry Stokes, who has waged a high-profile campaign against the bid, expressed disappointment.

"Our concerns about foreign-government control of national infrastructure remain in place," he said.

The Seven Network chairman had raised the stakes in a magazine interview published yesterday in which he described the Optus takeover as "the biggest sleeper (election issue) of all time".

"If the Government approves this it will cost them the election," he said.

A Seven spokesman said the network would pursue Freedom of Information applications with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to see if the takeover featured in recent trade negotiations between the Singapore and Australian governments.

Documents were also being sought from Treasury, including the SingTel submission to the Foreign Investment Review Board.

The spokesman said full foreign ownership of the Optus Vision pay TV business was also "contrary to government legislation".

"We will be seriously considering the implications of this," he said.

The Government's approval of the SingTel bid has three conditions, two of which relate to agreements with the Department of Defence and government agencies which have already been signed.

The third requires US Department of State confirmation that technology export licences are not needed for Optus's satellites, including the C1, Defence Department and Optus joint venture satellite to be launched next year.

Optus and SingTel have already furnished the required undertakings and are awaiting developments in the US.

Mr Lee said SingTel did not believe the conditions were unreasonable or unexpected, and he expressed hope the "positive" discussions with the US State Department would bear fruit.

The conditions, according to Mr Costello, were designed to protect Australia's security interests and were imposed at the request of the Defence Department and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

SingTel gets conditional nod for C&W

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1892510551

CANBERRA: The Government on Wednesday said it had given conditional approval to Singapore Telecommunications' bid for Australia's second-largest telecom, Cable & Wireless Optus.

"After consideration, I have decided to raise no objections under foreign investment policy to the proposal for Singapore Telecommunications to acquire Cable & Wireless Optus, subject to a number of conditions," Treasurer Peter Costello said.

The conditions relate to security concerns raised by the Department of Defense that SingTel's bid for Optus would give the company, which is 78 per cent owned by the Singapore government, access to satellites that carry Australian military data alongside telephone traffic.

Costello said SingTel and Optus would have to adhere to agreements signed with the Defence Department, the government and other government agencies in June relating to security concerns.

Before the bid could proceed SingTel would also have to satisfy the Australian government that the US State Department's Office of Defence Trade Controls did not require export licenses for a range of satellites to be used by the company.

"These conditions are designed to protect Australia's security interests and are imposed at the request, and with approval, of the Department of Defence and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation," Costellosaid.

SingTel launched a formal takeover for Optus on May 21, but since then the 14 billion Australian dollar ($7.4 billion) friendly bid has been subject to intense scrutiny.

Australia's Foreign Investment and Review Board had to assess the offer and then provide its advice to Costello who, as treasurer, makes the final decision on whether to allow the bid to proceed.

A US government approval process relating to satellites designed to carry military information also delayed decision on the bid.
( AP )

Measat 3 in Africa?

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082205

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad invited African countries to share the cost of the launch and use of his country’s third satellite in 2004 [which in November 2000 still was expected to be launched in 2002].

Mahathir said that a satellite with 24C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders would be launched to complement two others that cover South East Asia.

"While the costs may be prohibitive for you to start your own satellites, we could share the satellite to lower costs and enable African countries to reach out to Europe, South East Asia, Australia and the US," Mahathir was quoted as saying.

"We have found that control and ownership of satellites has been important in promoting our image abroad," Mahathir added.

Malaysia currently operates Measat 1 and 2. Measat 3 was announced back in 1997 but hasn't materialised so far.

Russia is to launch an earthquake-forecasting satellite in November or December 2001

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?id=2001082002

However, this is no giant apparatus using laser or radar to track the movement of the Earth's crust. Instead, scientists think they have found a number of physical effects in the ionosphere that can be seen as earthquake precursors. They can't be used for forecasts but increase the reliability of ground-based forecasting methods.

The theory goes like this: Processes taking place in the earth's crust prior to earthquakes change the chemical composition of underground water and atmospheric gases, causing temperature anomalies in the area of the potential earthquake and altering the electric conductivity of near-earth atmosphere. As a result, change occurs in all major ionospheric characteristics before an earthquake.

The 80-kg satellite will be the secondary payload aboard a Zenit 2 rocket to lift off from Baikonur, Kazakstan. The spacecraft was developed at the state missile centre's Academician Makeyev Design Bureau (Chelyabinsk Region).

Itar-Tass gave no further usable details.

Zee not interested in DD Metro primetime slots

From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/today/23tech03.htm

SUBHASH Chandra promoted Zee TV on Wednesday said it had opted out of the bidding race for Doordarshan's Metro channel since the terms and conditions of the bid were "unacceptable".

Zee had earlier indicated keenness to bid for the 7-9 pm primetime slot on DD Metro when bidding was opened first in May 2001.

Senior vice-president (marketing) Partho Pratim Sinha said: "We have decided not to bid for Metro slots. A lot of homework is needed for bidding, we did all of it before realising that what DD said and what it finally offered were two entirely different things."

He said Zee had earlier been keen on placing a bid for the 7-9 pm primetime slot since it had been confident about the vast variety of content it had access to and could leverage from.

"We have a very large offering in terms of number of options for advertisers. We can effectively leverage this strength," Sinha said adding the focus of Zee was to improve and consolidate its viewership position both in India and abroad.

In May 2001, Prasar Bharati had invited bids for the primetime band of 7-10 pm and for the 10 pm to 0030 am slot on DD Metro for a period of three years, but no decision has yet been taking on awarding the slots to any private company so far. (PTI)

22/8/01

Quiet again today, had a little earthquake last night around 7pm NZ located 420 km north-east of Gisborne it was a 7 which is quite a big one but lucky it was a long way out to sea. It wasn't felt strongly in Nelson. In fact there was 3 people in my room and 1 of them didn't even notice. Anyway I hope it didn't upset my dish pole alignment. Another not much happening day. I had a look at Pheonix Chinese channel on Asiasat 3 when I went to bed, at 2.30 a.m NZT they were running Survivor 2 in english with Chinese subtitles it can't of been screening for very long think they were at approx episode 2 or 3.

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E FTV Entertainment and FTV News Channel have left 12679 V, moved to 12318 V.

PAS 10 68.5E 3863 V "Big Brother" has started in the Multichoice mux, Encrypted, Vpid 521 Apid 649.

NEWS

Nothing to report

21/8/01

Not much seems to be happening today, Live chat in the chatroom tonight I know the last 2 Tuesdays have been a bit of a disaster but I checked the chatroom 5 minutes ago and it was working fine. We are on at the usual time 8.30 PM Syd, but I am in there from 9.15pm NZ onwards that way other people in NZ can join in without having to stay up to late.

Sorry not much in the news section today, just the way it goes sometimes.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Chris Pickstock 21/8/01

12415 H Sr 6111 Vpid 308, Apid 256 - labelled as TCN 7.5MHz
Horseracing. Been on since midday.

From John Kahler via the mailing list, last night reports a feed

Optus B1
Fox Sports NRL- Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers
Globecast Feed channel
12366 V Sr 5632 Fec 3/4

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 12480 H "IHUG (internet service)" , Sr 19440, Fec 3/4.(Strange this ones been here for months, I can get this one on my 60cm JUST) Lyngsat site says its North East Asia Beam, I don't think so!

PAS 8 166E 4140 V "The Disney Channel" mux has a new SR of 28125
PAS 8 166E 4140 V "The Disney Channel Taiwan" has replaced "The Disney Channel Philippines".

Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2535 H Swara, Quick Channel and 88 Direct are still here with new SR of 10800

Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 V "Indus Music" running video? (Unconfirmed)

Intelsat 804 64E 4080 L "Hero, NPR Worldwide AFRTS and Z Rock" have started (RADIO) SIDs 301-302, Apidss 2120,2220, 2320.(Global Beam)

NEWS

NZ Government 'too slow' on TV front

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=208722&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

The technological path to a future of television where viewers could create their own personal channel is being hampered by a lack of Government leadership, says a report.

The study of digital broadcasting and new technologies warns of the need to develop strategies to avoid a digital divide between people with access to services and those without.

"The Government may respond that it has a phased plan of policy development, but the reality is that it is simply moving too slowly," says the study, commissioned by New Zealand On Air and written by Paul Norris and Brian Pauling of the New Zealand Broadcasting School.

It maps the possibilities for consumers when television, computers and telecommunications converge.

In future, viewers may use personal video recorders to select programmes from a range of sources and dramatically alter the way they watch television.

Personal video recorders, or PVRs, are available overseas but are not compatible with New Zealand set-top boxes. Both Sky and TVNZ are planning to introduce their versions of PVR.

The PVR is a digital hard-disk drive which can record a television programme in the same way as the present video recorder. It stores the information to be watched at another time or while it is still recording.

The report says New Zealand has so far failed to regulate some areas crucial to the digital future. New Zealand has no legislation in place for the transition to digital and no timetable for the switch-over from analogue, it says.

Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said the "big picture" hinged on TVNZ's public service role.

Now that a decision had been made, she said, other issues - including the Government's role in the digital era - could follow.

20/8/01

My dish survived the storm ok just needed a bit of tweaking back to Asiasat 3 as I had left it a little loose to enable me to peak the signals a bit better. Good luck to you guys up North who are getting the storm about now.

Satfacts website, should be back soon perhaps by Friday

You may notice a few changes I have added on the left hand side down the bottom some satellites that are comming soon. Also I had a big cleanup on the satellite pages. Adding screenshots removing old channels etc, there is still plenty of work to do as I have not updated the gallerys yet.

From my Emails & ICQ

Nothing to report

From the Dish

Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2535 H Swara, Quick Channel and 88 Direct have left.

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3660 V "MTA International" has new pids Vpid 514 Apid 652.

Mystery signals to check? and report

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3660 V Sr 27500 "res asiasat?" new service?
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3765 H Sr 6100 something new here? new radio is most likely
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3900 H? maybe 3901 sr 27897 fec 7/8

Pas 8 3850 H Sr 13238 Fec 3/4 20 music channels???
Pas 8 4050 V Sr 12000 Fec 3/4 Something new here?

NEWS

DD bags Afro-Asian games rights for Rs 2 crore

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010820/con1.html

New Delhi, August 19: Finally, it is Doordarshan. The Indian national broadcaster will be the sole broadcaster of the first Afro-Asian Games, to be held in New Delhi from November 3 to 11. Doordarshan will get the right to telecast the games for a meagre Rs 2 crore. The games have come cheap to DD, mainly due to slowdown and lack of popularity of non-cricketing sporting events.

Even as the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee was eyeing a much higher figure, the deal was finally clinched at Rs 2 crore as there were not many takers for the games. This is despite the fact that 96 countries participating in the games— a fact often touted by the organisers.

In fact, the organisers are claiming that this will be the second biggest sporting event after the Olympics, the greatest show on earth.

Says a Doordarshan official: “We have been given to understand that DD will get the telecast rights for the games.” Responding to a question on why the deal was struck at such a low rate, the official said recession was one of the reasons.

The bid amount for the telecast rights depends on the ad revenues that a broadcaster can garner from beaming the event on TV. Since corporates are not willing to shell out much on advertising, DD cannot offer a higher amount, explains the official. Even at a deal for Rs 2 crore, DD is not expected to make a profit. DD will spend Rs 1.5 crore on production cost itself.

Among other things, DD attributes the low offer price to the fact that these games are being organised for the first time. Also, in some of the disciplines, the best teams are not participating.

But international sports officials contradict the DD viewpoint. Asian Amateur Athletic Association general secretary Maurice Nicholas said it is wrong to say that competition will not be good in the Afro-Asian Games. “We’re fielding the best Asian team to match the world beaters, Africans,” he said. The Asian team would have several Asian and Olympic champions, he added.

Marketing and competition manager of the African Amateur Athletic Confederation Alassan Thierno Diack also has similar views. Said Mr Diack: “The African continent is sending its best athletic contingent for the games.” Both these officials were in New Delhi during the weekend to attend an Afro-Asian Games meeting.

Armed with the assurance that it has bagged the telecast deal, DD is working on the modalities of covering the games. Prasar Bharati CEO Anil Baijal is slated to hold meetings this week for technical arrangements for the coverage. Prasar Bharati will interact with the Asian Broadcasting Union and television networks of Africa to beam the games in the two continents.

Space Systems/Loral to Build Digital Satellite for Japan's MBC

From satnewsasia.com

Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has contracted American satellite maker Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) to design and build MBSAT, a satellite that will deliver data, MPEG 4 video and other digital multimedia information services to mobile users in Japan beginning 2004.

MBC was established to provide cars and mobile terminals with digital satellite broadcasting. Its major shareholders are Toyota, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Nippon TV plus 35 other Japanese companies.

MBC will become the world's first provider of high-quality music, video and data to mobile users. Special mobile receiver terminals will allow receipt of MBC broadcasting signals inside buildings and in moving vehicles.

These terminals can be attached to cars, ships, trains, handheld terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cellular phones. Terrestrial signal repeaters will maintain signal strength.

MBSAT is due to launch in late 2003 and is to begin service in early 2004. It has a 12-year service life. The satellite is a version of SS/L's three-axis, body-stabilized 1300 bus outfitted to meet MBC's specific requirements.

Using MPEG-4 and AAC compression, MBSAT's S-band payload will deliver data, CD-quality audio and TV-quality video using code division multiplexing (CDM) MPEG-4 for video, and advanced audio coding (AAC) for audio. The system will be able to broadcast more than 50 programs simultaneously.

The satellite will provide 2400 watts RF power over 25 MHz of S-band spectra to run more than 50 channels of audio and video from 16 S-band transmitters operating at 120W. It will also provide a 25 MHz Ku-band service link to transmit the broadcast signal to terrestrial repeaters.

MBC's new broadcasting system was authorized by the Japanese government and is registered with the International Telecommunications Union. System capabilities and performance quality were verified by various field demonstrations in Tokyo..

SS/L is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services, including mission control operations and procurement of launch services.

Its parent organization, Loral Space & Communications, concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, broadband data transmission, content and Internet services.

Japan's Sky Perfect Posts $24.6 Million Net Loss for April-June Quarter

From satnewsasia.com

Sky Perfect Communications, Inc. reported a sharp 175 percent cut in its parent-only net loss from April-June to US$24.6 million from US$67.6 million in the same period last fiscal year.

Sky Perfect said its significant loss reduction was due mainly to the increase in subscribers for its digital communications satellite broadcasting. Total subscribers rose by 108,000 from the end of March to 2.72 million in June when DirecTV subscribers switched to Sky Perfect following the merger of both companies.

Sky Perfect expects subscriber volume to grow 21 percent to 3.2 million this fiscal year.

Unconsolidated Sky Perfect sales rose 37 per cent US$12 million helped along by an increase in basic subscriber fees last October.

Subscriber marketing expenses dropped to US$5.3 million from US$7.1 million due to the absence of costs for switching DirecTV subscribers to Sky Perfect. Advertising and promotion costs also rose slightly.

Analysts expect full-year earnings to rise 23 per cent to US$49 million and net loss to fall to US$11 million from US$19 million.

Sky Perfect Communications operates the SkyPerfecTV satellite broadcasting service. Together with communications satellite operator JSAT, telecommunications giant NTT, and others, Sky Perfect Communications develops advanced data services for cable TV operators.

The company was formed through the mergers of Japan Sky Broadcasting (JSkyB), Japan Digital Broadcasting (PerfecTV), and the Japanese subsidiary of DirecTV. Shareholders in Sky Perfect Communications include Itochu, Sony, Softbank and Fuji Television Network, and a unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. of Australia.

Thailand's Shin Sat Reports 139% Surge on 2Q Profits

From satnewsasia.com

A hefty spike in revenues from transponder rentals and the Internet boosted second quarter profits of Thai satellite operator Shin Satellite Plc by 139 percent to US$8.0 million from US$3.38 million year-on-year.

The firm said its consolidated revenues for the second quarter increased 32 percent to 1.24 billion baht while its expenses rose 11 percent to 926 million baht.

Revenues from its transponder service business rose 26 percent year-on-year to US$22 million. Shin Sat said revenues from its Internet service business rose 52 percent year-on-year while revenues from its international long distance service jumped 88 percent.

Executive Chairman Dumrong Kasemset revealed that Shin Sat had received orders worth US$371 million from advance customers who had already bought a quarter of the capacity of its new broadband iPSTAR-1 satellite due to launch in 2003.

Dumrong said the contracts achieved so far prove that the project is commercially viable. He added that the value of orders placed so far were higher than total projected expenses for iPSTAR, which stand at some US$330 million at present.

The iPSTAR-1 satellite is expected to be the main driver of the company's earnings and will become the fourth Shin Sat satellite in orbit.

The iPSTAR Broadband Satellite System is capable of providing a nominal capacity of over 50 gigabits per second that is equivalent to more than 1,000 standard 36 MHz transponders.

Using this technology, iPSTAR-1 should be capable of offering far more capacity than other proposed broadband satellites. Shin Sat expects that the cost effectiveness of iPSTAR-1 will allow it to offer its services at much lower prices than competing technologies.

iPSTAR-1 will provide telecommunications and multimedia services to households, business and private organizations. Shin Sat operates three in-orbit satellites, Thaicom 1, 2 and 3 making it one of Asia's leading satellite operators.

Shin Sat is 52 percent owned by Shin Corporation, Thailand's largest telecoms group, which is majority owned by the family of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pakistan TV Signs AP Deal

From satnewsasia.com

Pakistan TV has signed a multi-year news and sports agreement with video news agency Associated Press Television News (APTN), the international video news agency of The Associated Press.

PTV will take APTN's News Service, with its 16 bulletins a day in addition to live and flash material. The agreement marks the first time in 36 years that the broadcaster has opted to take material from an alternative supplier.

19/8/01

Having a storm here in Nelson today a good test for my dish! The rugby last night was a great match, seen on Mediasat Ocassional 2 and also on Star Sports, I had both dishs and receivers hooked up and Picture in Picture running Star Sports Analogue and on the main screen I had Mediasats lovely Digital pic. Speaking of Sports, Sky NZ had David Tua vs Chris Byrd a $25 NZ Pay-per view on Sunday 2pm NZ. For some reason (perhaps due to stormy weather) they left it FTA! A new internet signal on B1 see details in the "From the Dish" section it will be interesting to see who is using this transponder the signals good on my 60cm.

Apstar 2r, And Asiasat 2 pages updated, gradually getting these updated

From my Emails & ICQ

From Ren , NZ 2pm NZT

Tua boxing on B1, Sky Boquet. 12608v ENG 26 channel.
Pre match Bouts running FTA now.. Hopefully they dont encrypt at 3.00 Nz
time for Tua..


Ren.. Nz

Craigs comment those poor suckers that paid $25 NZ to watch Tua lose again would be real mad to know it was FTA

From Bill Richards

2245 Utc

Optus B1 12268 V Sr 2665, Fec 3/4 "Internet Data"

(Craigs Comment, this one strong in NZ, Who is it though? Sky? TVNZ? Saturn? Ihug?....)

2222 UTC 19-08-01

Optus B1 12360 H Sr 5424, Fec 3/4
Vpid 1024 Apid 1025 SID2 ABC Imparja TV NT
Vpid 1040 Apid 1041 SID1 ABC Imparja Program Guide

Regards
Bill

(Notice this was dropped from Lyngsats B1 page but is still active)

Some new screenshots from Bill, We now have screenshots of everything on Asiasat 2!

From the Dish

Agila 2 146E 4080 H "Zoom TV" has started testing, Sid 6, Vpid 1460 Apid 1420.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3459 V "TMG Enter TV" has started, Sr 4040, Fec3/4, Asian beam.

NEWS

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 33/2001 - August 19 2001 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com Edition

UNITED STATES

DISH NETWORK ADDS PAKISTAN TELEVISION

DISH Network has started offering Pakistan Television (PTV) on August 14 to its
customers a la carte for the monthly price of $14.99. PTV offers a variety of
programming in Urdu, Punjabi and Pushto languages, offering coverage of
national news, major events and current affairs as well as TV series, plays,
comedies, plus traditional and pop music. PTV is available from the 61.5
degrees West and 148 degrees West orbital locations.

400 TV STATIONS TO MISS DIGITAL DEADLINE

About 400 local TV stations will miss a key federal digital-TV-transition
deadline next May, five years after gaining free spectrum from the Federal
Communications Commission, the National Association of Broadcasters said August
14. All 1,288 commercial TV stations are required to be beaming digital signals
by May 1, 2002. The NAB said 68 percent of stations -- 875 -- would in fact
make the deadline. But that also means 413 stations, or 32 percent, will miss
it. The number of stations the NAB projected to miss the deadline is slightly
more than twice the number -- 202 -- already beaming digital signals. The
association has already asked the FCC to establish a simple process for
stations to seek deadline extensions. The NAB told the agency that about
one-half of the stations that said they won’t make the deadline in the survey
would need no more than another 12 months.

A S I A

(approximately $213 million).

AUSTRALIA

ABC DIGITAL SIGNS PAY-TV CARRIAGE DEAL

Australian regional pay TV broadcaster Austar Entertainment has settled on a
deal to retransmit the new children’s digital television service from the
government-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It will offer the ABCKids
channel to its satellite customers throughout regional Australia as well as
Darwin customers who already receive free to air services over the cable
system. The primary ABC service will be screened on channel 2 in the Austar
channel line-up and will feature a new national news feed. ABCKids will be
carried on channel 14 as part of Austar’s “Family” line up. There are over
350,000 households which will receive the ABC through the Austar satellite or
cable service. In addition, Austar believes that there are tens of thousands
more homes which cannot receive or have poor quality terrestrial television.
This agreement will enable them to receive a clear ABC signal if they subscribe
to the Austar satellite service. The services will be supplied to Austar at no
cost and will be available to customers at no additional charge, beginning on
November 1. Austar and the ABC will also work together to explore developing
interactive applications to further enhance both services and enable the ABC to
exploit the many opportunities that digital television provides.

AUSTAR REPORTS INCREASED LOSSES

Australia’s number two pay-TV provider Austar United Communications Ltd. on
August 15 reported that its operating loss widened to A$196.1 million in the
first half of 2001, compared with A$120.7 million one year ago. CEO John Porter
added the company was still on target to reduce its loss in EBITDA to A$50
million by end-2001. Austar said that it was also on track to meet year-end
forecasts for capital expenditure of A$110 million, but it had lowered its
revenue forecast by A$10 million to A$340 million It also lowered its total
subscriber acquisitions target by 8% to 569,000. The company posted total
revenues of A$171.5 million, up 17% from the previous half.

CHINA - HONG KONG

TVB EXTENDS TO MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE

Hong-Kong based broadcaster TVB will distribute its TVB8 channel in Malaysia
and Singapore in an attempt to increase its presence in Chinese-speaking Asia.
In Singapore TVB is targeting 50% of Cablevision’s 250,000 subscribers, while
in Malaysia TVB expects subscriber revenue to be HK$6 million within a year.
Broadcasts will start in October. TVB managers expect to generate HK$120
million in ad revenues in 2001 rising to HK$200 million next year, when
breakeven point is forecast.

STAR TV TO LAUNCH CANTONESE MOVIE CHANNEL

News Corp.’s Star Television plans to launch a Cantonese-language movie channel
for Hong Kong pay-TV audiences according to the South China Morning Post. The
channel will be launched within the next year, and be the ninth feed in the
Star and Phoenix movie channel series. “There will be 25 new movies every
month. Usually the films will be shown in the pay-TV window nine to twelve
months after their cinematic release,” Star senior vice president Jamie Davis
said. China Star entertainment will be supplying 100 new titles over three
years, in a deal worth HK$300 million. Other partners in the venture include
Media Asia Group and Teamwork Motion Pictures.

CELESTIAL PICTURES ALSO PLANS MOVIE CHANNEL

A Mandarin-language movie channel is to be launched next summer by Celestial
Pictures, aimed at key Asian markets such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Celestial will have access to the Shaw Bros. film library, which it bought
previously for HK$600 million, but will also generate its own content.
Celestial CEO William Pfeifer said that it will reach commercial agreements
with rival movie channel MATV, which also operates a Chinese-language film
service, to avoid taking market share of one another.

JAPAN

LOSSES DOWN AT SKY PERFECT

Pay-TV operator SKY Perfect Communications, Inc. on August 14 announced
financial results which show a reduction in its second quarter 2001 pre-tax
loss to ¥3.01 billion from ¥8.32 billion. Revenue rose 37.3% on year to ¥14.21
billion thanks to a steady growth in subscriber acquisitions of its satellite
broadcasting services. SKY Perfect posted an operating loss of ¥2.67 billion in
the three-month period versus ¥7.29 billion in the second quarter of the
previous year and recorded a ¥3.14 billion net loss, on revenue of ¥14.26
billion on a group basis. Its consolidated accumulated losses increased to
¥3.14 billion in the latest quarter on revenue of ¥14.26 billion.

WOWOW REPORTS FINANCIAL RESULTS

Wowow has posted revenues of Y15.88 billion and an operating loss of Y518
million in the three months to June 30. Wowow, which has 2.66 million
subscribers blamed the high losses on increased content costs and start up
costs associated with the launch of new digital channels. The company forecasts
half year group revenues of Y31.5 billion rising to Y65.5 by year end in March
2002.

NEW ZEALAND

TVNZ WINS COMMONWEALTH TV RIGHTS

TVNZ has won the exclusive New Zealand TV rights to air the 2002 Commonwealth
games, held in England. In addition to airing the games in NZ the public
broadcaster will beam a multi-channel satellite service to other Commonwealth
countries in Asia and Africa.

TVNZ DIGITAL PLANS DEAD

TVNZ’s digital plans look dead in the water after an agreement under which the
state broadcaster will use the Sky platform. On August 17, Broadcasting
Minister Marian Hobbs said she supported having just one set-top box in
households. The deal between TVNZ and Sky, which will give TVNZ open access to
Sky decoders, is close to being signed. It will enable Sky subscribers to
receive TV One and TV2 through their decoders. Any digital channels launched by
TVNZ could also be carried by Sky. In the pipeline is an education channel
which will have a trial run on TV One before the end of the year, with a view
to launching it as a complete channel. The trial is expected to screen on TV
One between 06:00 and 09:00 on Saturdays. TV2 is also about to launch an
overnight music service, M2, next month. TVNZ is expected to focus on its
commitments under the charter, and any digital strategy would not be considered
for at least a year after the charter’s introduction next July. It is
understood Sky is open to taking new channels provided by TVNZ, as long as they
do not conflict with Sky’s core channels.

THE PHILIPPINES

PLAYBOY SIGNS LOCAL CABLE DEAL

Playboy TV International has signed an exclusive agreement with Solar
Entertainment, the Philippines-based production and distribution company and
operator of the country’s leading cable network. Under the terms of the deal,
Solar Entertainment will license the Playboy TV Network to cable systems and
DTH platforms in the Philippines. Solar Entertainment plans to launch Playboy
TV on the to direct-to-home Phillipine Satellite Multimedia System and the
newly merged Sky/Home Cable platforms in October 2001.

SOUTH KOREA

DTT LICENSES AWARDED

The Ministry of Information and Communication on August 15 approved five
terrestrial digital television channels, opening a new chapter in the history
of domestic broadcasting and the home electronics industry. Under the proposed
timeframe, broadcasters will launch full-fledged commercial digital television
services in November by offering programs in a new crystal-clear,
high-definition format. Four terrestrial broadcasters - state-run Korea
Broadcasting System (KBS), semi-state Munwha Broadcasting Corp. (MBC),
Education Broadcasting System (EBS) and the commercial Seoul Broadcasting
System (SBS) - have already begun trial services of digital television last
August. However, what is unclear is how the government and broadcasters will
promote the purchase of the pricey digital TVs that are capable of receiving
digital signals. As a result, consumers are expected to be slow in adopting
digital TV as the sets can be prohibitively expensive - they can cost from
three million to ten million won. So far, KBS, were awarded two channels, and
MBC are among the networks that have taken the lead in providing
high-definition shows to their audiences. Though a specific timetable has not
yet been fixed, broadcasters are likely to return their analog channels to the
government by 2010 or when digital TV reaches 95 percent of the market,
whichever comes later, said Cha Yang-shin, a ministry official at a press
conference. By 2005, the government will promote infrastructure investment at
broadcasters with various financial supports, pushing the early adoption of
digital television.

THAILAND

WORLD STAR TV LICENSE DISPUTED

A new free-to-air TV station, which had its licence irregularly changed from
pay-TV by the Public Relations Department, is set for launch next month.
Although Suchat Suchatvejapoom, the department director-general, asserts there
is nothing illegal or irregular in the decision to allow World Star TV Co to
operate, academics in the broadcasting industry said it violates the new
National Broadcasting Act. Under the act, which took effect on March 8, 2000,
all new frequencies must be allocated by the to-be-established National
Broadcasting Commission. The department granted the licence to World Star TV on
August 18, 2000, but Mr Suchat argued that it was not a new licence. “It is a
licence granted to Thai Star TV on May 30, 1996, and the company just changed
its name to World Star TV with a new management team,” the department said in a
statement . However, in June this year, at a press conference to introduce its
new pay TV project, World Star TV president Jakrapob Penkair said the company
had nothing to do with Thai Star TV. World Star TV obtained the licence after
it agreed to settle a debt of about 20 million baht owed by Thai Star TV to the
department. It also agreed to pay the licence fee of around 400 million baht
for the concession, which will expire on May 30, 2021. Informed sources in the
broadcasting industry said World Star TV, which has been broadcasting on a
trial basis since December 3, 2000, under the broadcast logo of TTV (Thai TV),
will run a total of 16 channels, a least one of them fully commercial-free TV.
Subscribers will only pay about 2,000 baht to install an antenna and will not
have to pay any monthly fee. An executive at Shin Satellite Plc said World Star
TV plans to lease a transponder from the firm to broadcast its programmes
nationwide.

UBC RELEASES SUBSCRIBER FIGURES

Thai pay-TV operator United Broadcasting Corp. on August 16 released subscriber
figures for the first half of 2001, reporting 381,028 subscribers to its
services. UBC’s churn rate also rose in the same period to 1.1%, compared to
0.98% in the previous year, due to an 18% price increase effective from August
1. UBC also posted a net loss in that period up to B445.1 million compared with
a B443.1 million net loss posted the previous year. Losses widened to B966.5
million, compared to B869.8 million last year.

CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER PIRACY

Regional trade group the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia
(CASBAA) has expressed concern about intellectual property rights (IPR)
protection in Thailand, highlighting the 150,000 pay-TV homes that don't
actually pay. Regulators from the Public Relations Department of the Prime
Minister's Office (PRD) and the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand
(MCOT) both met CASBAA officials after a piracy summit in Bangkok earlier this
month. They were told that government bodies had to take a more proactive stand
against piracy. " Anti-piracy measures could be as simple as adding a clause to
annual licensing conditions insisting that local cable operators provide proof
that they hold legally binding contracts to distribute individual channels. If
a cable operator were unable to demonstrate a contractual relationship with
rights owners, it would not have its license renewed. The anti-piracy
roundtable attracted representatives from AOL Time Warner, Star Group,
Discovery Channel, Turner Broadcasting, Hong Kong Cable, UBC, Astro, Irdeto
Access, NDS and the Motion Picture Association.

18/8/01

Hungarian G.P on tonight Star sports, also Aus vs SAF in the rugby hopefully a feed of that one somewhere. The new Splash Kids channel has turned up on NSS at 57E this will be a Kids channel all in english a pity its not on a nearer satellite most will miss out unless they live in W.A

From my Emails & ICQ

Some Saturday afternoon feeds,

From Chris Pickstock

2.35 pm SA time
12425 H analogue, Sydney club Rugby starting soon. "Sydney Uni v Eastwood". A C7 Sports feed but I can not find sound.
12450 H analogue, Colour Bars with Alice Springs on screen. Possibly a newsfeed from the Northern Territory Elections.

And for those with Aurora; Has anybody noticed that the picture quality of AFL football is quite poor on GWN compared with 7 Central. Same game is on both channels right now, Richmond v West Coast.


Chris

From John Kahler

Optus B1 12366 V Sr 5632 3/4 X-Games or something - showing colourbars now

Anyone see anything else feed wise?

John.

From Dave Ross 18/8/01

Palapa C2 3880 H Sr 28121 Fec 3/4
Loads as Satilindo Asialink1
Has audio from Metro Tv


Dave

From Me 17/8/01

Optus B3 12336 V "Ocassional 2, AFL Feed, Adelaide vs Kangaroos, seen 7.50 pm Syd

From the Dish

Optus B3 156E 12658 V "SET Asia" has replaced Zee News , Sid 706,Vpid 2608 Apid 2609.

Palapa C2 113E 3980 V "CNN International" and CNN Radio have left.

Yamal 102 90E 3587 L "TV Nord" test card has started, Sr 4285, Fec 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256.

Insat 2E 83E 4005 V "ETV Urdu" has started regular transmissions, Sid 5, Vpids 1560 Apid 1520.

Pas 10 68.5E 3785 V "Discovery Channel India" has left (B-MAC) great more room for decent stuff.
Pas 10 68.5E 4154 H "A test card has started here" , Vpid 1760 Apid 1720

NSS 703 57E 3888 R "Splash has started testing" Vpid 1057 Apid 1058,New SR for this mux: 9766.PIDs for Southern Spice: Vpid 33 Apid 34. (Splash is a new Kids channel with all prgamming in English)

NEWS

Sky digital deal sinks TVNZ plan

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=208322&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

TVNZ's digital plans look dead in the water after an agreement under which the state broadcaster will use the Sky platform.

Yesterday, Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs said she supported having just one set-top box in households.

The deal between TVNZ and Sky, which will give TVNZ open access to Sky decoders, is close to being signed.

It will enable Sky subscribers to receive TV One and TV2 through their decoders.

Any digital channels launched by TVNZ could also be carried by Sky, although details on how much Sky might charge and issues over any conflict of business interests have yet to be worked out.

In the pipeline is an education channel which will have a trial run on TV One before the end of the year, with a view to launching it as a complete channel.

TVNZ sources confirmed the agreement with Sky after reports that Ms Hobbs had threatened a law change to open Sky's decoders to other broadcasters if it did not agree to a deal.

"My priority is ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to the choice and opportunities that digital can offer," she said.

"This requires setting a direction that supports open access and open standards for one set-top box for consumers."

The Weekend Herald was told that the deal meant the Government would be unlikely to put money into a TVNZ stand-alone digital service.

"TVNZ [is] very lucky to get out without egg all over their face," said one source.

"They've been asking for 18 months for open access. They will grab it with both hands, but they will still continue to develop their own digital philosophies and their own digital mix.

"It's just not going to happen in the immediate future and as long as this Government is around.

"While they are encouraging about the prospect of developing such a vehicle, I don't think they're going to fall over backwards to help fund it."

TVNZ is expected to focus on its commitments under the charter, and any digital strategy would not be considered for at least a year after the charter's introduction next July.

Television producer Robert Boyd-Bell has been hired by TVNZ to develop the education programme and channel.

The trial is expected to screen on TV One between 6 am and 9 am on Saturdays.

The three-hour programme will initially be aimed at adults, and will include information supplied by Government departments such as the Ministry of Education.

TV2 is also about to launch an overnight music service, M2, next month.

This was considered to be a channel TVNZ could offer on its own independent digital service.

It is understood Sky is open to taking new channels provided by TVNZ, as long as they do not conflict with Sky's core channels.

Zee, Sony join hands for telecast in Australia, New Zealand

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe20010818/corp15.html

Sydney, Aug 17: In a rare show of unity, arch competitors Zee and Sony Television channels have joined hands for telecast in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

The Sony Entertainment Television was launched here as part of the Zee Link’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite platform by Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Phillip Ruddock at a function.

On the occasion, Mr Ruddock said, it is very important for us to have these media linkages. Through television, the migrant Indian community can maintain its links with its roots.

?Maintain your linkages, but commit to Australia and this will go a long way in sustaining a rich and enduring relationship between the two countries,” he said.

Three Australian born Indian girls performed a symbolic invocation dance to Lord Shiva, about which Saba Zaidi-Abdi, proprietor and director of Zee Link said: “This dance itself represents the connectivity and continuity to our art form.”

Zee Link had commenced as a pay TV service in Australia and New Zealand in September last with the Zee bouquet comprising Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Music and Zee News.

CEO of Sony Entertainment Television Kunal Dasgupta said: “It is a small niche market which cannot be divided and bringing entertainment together makes commercial sense. We did not
want the subscribers to pay separately.

This channel is specially crafted for the region and we will be involving the local community in our programmes.”

Bollywood star Jackie Shroff, who is also one of the directors of Sony, said: “As a director I would feel very responsible that programmes with strong family values are telecasted. It is my first visit to this beautiful city and I look forward to shooting some feature films here in the near future.”

Indian High Commissioner to Australia RS Rathore said: “Sony has added a new dimension to entertainment.

Zee and Sony play a vital role in our cultural and emotional links. In uniting the community and encouraging young talent they are providing yeomen service.”.

ETV Urdu hopes to score on the programming front

Fromhttp://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/aug/aug39.htm

Going strong on its expansion plan despite the depressed media scenario, the Ramoji Rao owned Eenadu Television Network on Wednesday added "ETV Urdu" to their kitty of regional channels. The 24-hour free-to-air digital channel was finally launched on 15 August (Independence Day) after a long wait by the chief editor Eenadu group of publications and chairman of the Ramoji Film City (RFC), CH Ramoji Rao, at the RFC complex in Hyderabad.

ETV has been building its programming content for the Urdu channel for more than one-and-a-half years now. The target audience will not only be the Urdu-speaking audiences in India but also the Gulf countries. The Urdu spoken on the channel will not be pure Urdu (which not many people understand) but that spoken by common people so as to give it a broader viewership, company officials say.

Khaas Baat (Urdu News) The Channel will have a fair mix of entertainment and information with hourly news updates, telefilms, family dramas, daily soaps, devotional and musical programmes. The USP of the channel will be fresh and original programming rather than dubbed or outsourced programmes, say officials.

Special efforts have been taken to strengthen the news section. Khaas Baat, a news capsule specially designed to cover Urdu speaking areas. ETV has tied up with Reuters Television, CNN International and Transworld International so as to ensure comprehensive coverage of international news and current affairs, according to a company release.

Adakaar is a weekly acting competition hosted by well known actor Nirmal Pandey. And for those die-hard fans of Urdu poetry, Mushaira, a monthly mega event of lyrical excitement, will quench their thirst.

To develop the channel's indentity, films will not be shown in the initial period. Instead telefilms are being produced that will be telecast exclusively on the channel. Game shows, talk shows and song-based programmes like Mehfil, Gazal Sara, Qawwali are also going to be an intrinsic part of the programming.

The majority of the programming is being done in-house though there are some programmes which are on commissioned basis. The network's headquarters is in Hyderabad.

On the ad rate front, the figures being quoted would appear a tad optimistic and it remains to be seen whether the channel will be able to get buyers for its time slots. Spot rate for prime time (7pm to 10pm) has been kept at Rs 20,000 as per the rate card. Industry sources say as of now no advertiser has been confirmed though talks are going on.

A still from the serial Kachchi Basti Even on the distribution front, the channel is likely to face a long haul. According to industry sources, cable connectivity is going to be a major issue the channel will face. In this direction, channel executives have been contacting cable operators in Mumbai and also distributing set top boxes.

That apart, looking at the past record of the group and the amount of homework done by ETV Urdu as far as its programming goes, the channel is certainly expected to make a difference in today's cluttered scenario.

ETV already has Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada channels. Next in the pipeline from the ETV stable are Gujarati and Oriya channels.

Technical Specification :

ETV Urdu:

Satellite - APR-I (INSAT-2E) at 83.5 degree East
Downlink frequency - 4005 MHz
Downlink Polarisartion - Vertical
Symbol rate - 27000 Symbol/sec
FEC - 3/4
Downlink EIRP - 38 dbW
Signal type Digital,MPEG 2/clear
Free-To-Air.

Scientific-Atlanta withdraws 2002 financial guidance

From http://news.ft.com

Shares in Scientific-Atlanta fell more than 16 per cent on Friday after the US set-top box manufacturer withdrew its first-quarter and 2002 financial forecasts, citing difficulty in gauging future demand for its products.

The Georgia-based company is one of the largest makers of set-top boxes, which are used to transmit cable television and interactive online services, such as movies-on-demand, e-mail and internet connection.

Shares in Scientific-Atlanta dropped 16.6 per cent in after-hours trading to $20.86 on Friday afternoon. Before the announcement, on Thursday evening, the stock had closed down less than 1 per cent to $25.01.

Wallace Haislip, chief financial officer of the company, said: "A declining economy may adversely affect consumer purchases of new digital services, and thus purchases of our digital products by the multiple system cable operators."

He added: "The uncertainties created by these factors make it difficult to forecast future results, and we are therefore at this time withdrawing any previous guidance we may have given for the first quarter and our 2002 fiscal year."

The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of one penny per share, payable on September 14, 2001.

17/8/01

Not much happening today, hopefully there will be some interesting feeds on the weekend to watch.I will be updating the satellite pages later tonight and checking the links.

Updated Optus B1 page, added ABC Kids, Abc Sydney

From my Emails & ICQ

Hi Craig,

From Skip

Regarding my e-mail of yesterday concerning CCTV 3, 4
and 9 moving to Pas10 from Asiasat3 as of next week.
The bird they are leaving is Pas3R and not Asiasat3.
This was a comprehension error. My apologies to your
readers.

Skip.

From the Dish

Palapa C2 113E 3980 V The Analogue CNN service has left (The last FTA CNN in our region!)

NEWS

Ariane 5 may launch Insat-3C in November

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/aug/aug35.htm

India's next generation communication satellite Insat-3C, which was scheduled for launch on 11 September on an Ariane 5, is likely to be lifted into orbit only in late November instead of September as earlier scheduled.

There has been speculation over what would happen to the Insat-3C launch after Ariane 5's Flight 142, launched on 12 July, failed to achieve proper orbit.

A seven-member probe team instituted by Arianespace after the launch failure identified combustion instability during upper stage engine ignition as the source of Flight 142's malfunction. The origin of the combustion instability was attributed to an unfavourable hydraulic dynamic coupling between the propellant feed system and the internal fluid cavities of the combustion chamber.

The upper stage malfunction, which occurred during Flight 142's final propulsion phase, resulted in the mission's dual satellite payload being delivered to a lower than expected orbit, the probe team concluded.

Arianespace has set a comprehensive recovery plan to address the upper stage malfunction and now expects to return Ariane 5 to commercial service by late November. This represents a delay of two months compared to the original launch manifest and will cause relatively minor schedule implications for the remainder of 2001 and early 2002, an official release states .

Insat-3C, which has 30 transponders, will be catering to the growing demand for V-SATs (very small aperture terminals) and broadcast services in the country.

The 1,170 kg Insat-3C will provide fixed satellite services (FSS) in the normal and extended C-bands, as also broadcast satellite services and mobile satellite services in the S-band.

Insat-3C will replace India's current workhorse, Insat-2C, whose capacity would be transferred to the new bird. Insat-2C is expected to reach the end of its seven-year life span in another six months.

The next launch schedule for Arianespace (flight 143) originally set for 24 August has now been rescheduled to 30 August. An Ariane 4 4L launcher is putting an Intelsat 902 communications and television satellite into orbit.

ESA’s big ear in Australia

From http://sat-index.com/archive/display.php?url=2001081603.html

The European Space Agency said it was building a Deep Space Ground Station in New Norcia, Australia, with a 35-m wide antenna to communicate with interplanetary missions, such as the comet probe Rosetta.

When all the work is finished, the parabolic reflector will reach 40 metres into the sky (higher than a fourteen-storey building), with a diameter of 35 meters and a weight of 120 tonnes. The entire antenna actually weighs 630 tonnes, 580 tonnes of which must be positioned at a precision in the range of one millimeter.

The antenna site will be controlled by the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. ESOC is responsible for the operation of all scientific and applications missions of ESA. It uses a network of ground stations throughout the world. The Deep Space Ground Station in New Norcia will expand the network and be the showpiece of the ESOC ground stations, ESA noted in a press release.

It is planned that at the end of 2002 ESA will begin with the launch of a series of interplanetary probes for the exploration of the Moon (SMART), comets, asteroids (Rosetta) and Mars (Mars Express). They will be the first "customers" who will use the Deep Space Ground Station. The greatest challenge is presented by the comet probe Rosetta, because it will be sent to a distance of 900 million km, reaching its destination — the comet Wirtanen — in 2011.

The Deep Space Antenna (DSA) receives data from the probe and transmits commands to it in the S and X bands. The evaluation of the signals will also be used to decide the orbital parameters of the space probes.

Services converge in Singapore

From http://www.cabletoday.com/ic/997969404.html

A lack of competition has prevented Singapore, despite its pion