29/02/08

Cricket
Under 19 world cup semi final Pakistan vs South Africa. Live FTA on Asiasat3S PTV Home channel.

I've posted some better photos of the Zinwell 620 HHDTV terrestrial unit over at http://www.dtvforum.co.nz


From my Email & ICQ


Nothing important


From the Dish


Insat 2E 83E 4042 V "Bhaarath TV" has left .

Eutelsat W5 70.5R 11214 H "EuroNews" is Fta.

LyngSat Stream: http://www.lyngsat-stream.com/
LyngSat Net TV and LyngSat Net Radio have moved to an own website,
at http://www.lyngsat-stream.com/. The new website is now focusing
on all linear TV and radio channels transmitting on internet, not
only satellite channels. You are very welcome to send in updates
and corrections to [email protected].


NEWS


MEASAT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH SPACECONNECTION FOR OU SERVICES ON MEASAT-3


From Press Release

Kuala Lumpur, 28 February 2008 – MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd (“MEASAT”) and The
SPACECONNECTION, INC. (“SPACECONNECTION”) announced today the execution of a joint marketing
agreement for occasional use services on the MEASAT-3 satellite. Under the agreement, SPACECONNECTION will market MEASAT-3 satellite to its North American customer base for occasionaluse and special event services across Asia.

“MEASAT is pleased to be able to partner with one of North America’s leading providers of occasional use and special event services” said Terry Bleakley, MEASAT’s Vice President – Sales and Marketing.

“We are very excited to be able to reach this agreement with MEASAT and bring to our customers the
combination of the reach of the MEASAT-3 satellite and our unparalleled level of responsiveness and
customer service” said Mike Antonovich, President and CEO of The SPACECONNECTION, Inc.
Capacity on the MEASAT-3 satellite, launched in Q4 2006, will be augmented in Q3 2008 by the launch of
MEASAT-3a into the same orbital location.

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to Asia’s leading broadcasters, DTH
platforms and telecom operators. With the recent commissioning of AFRICASAT-1, the MEASAT fleet is
able to provide satellite capacity over 145 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia
Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia. The fleet will be further enhanced in 2008 with the launch
of MEASAT-3a, providing additional capacity at the Company’s key 91.5E orbital slot.

Leveraging facilities at the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of
world-class partners, MEASAT also provides a complete range of broadcast and telecommunications
services including high definition and standard definition video playout, video turnaround, collocation,
uplinking and IP termination services.

For more information, please visit www.measat.com

MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd.
MEASAT Teleport & Broadcast Centre, 63000 Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Tel: +60 (3) 8213 2188 Fax: +60 (3) 8213 2120
www.measat.com

Contact: Contact:
Shawna Felicia Shantell Marsh
MEASAT The SPACECONNECTION, Inc.
+60 (3) 8213 2152 +1-203-354-4515
[email protected] [email protected]

About SPACECONNECTION

The SPACECONNECTION, Inc. has been North America’s largest and most successful reseller of satellite
space segment and related services since its founding in 1987. With an inventory of more than 20
transponders across more than 13 satellites, the SPACECONNECTION is well placed to meet the needs of
customers for occasional use, fractional capacity and fulltime capacity in the broadcast, program distribution,
enterprise and government services marketplaces.

For further information, please visit www.thespaceconnection.com


NewSat has no further opportunities for an ABG license


From http://www.itnews.com.au/News/71127,newsat-has-no-further-opportunities-for-an-abg-license.aspx

Australian satellite and Internet service provider, NewSat Limited’s reapplication for an Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) license will not be considered in two months time by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy.

CRN originally reported NewSat Limited, had its application for an Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) license put on hold by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy.

At the time of press earlier this week, NewSat CEO, Adrian Ballintine said NewSat could reapply for the license in two months. According to Ballintine in a statement to the ASX, NewSat would work with the Department to address its concerns and seek an early review of the decision.

However the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy has told CRN that Newsat’s application for registration was declined and there is no further opportunity under the current round to submit a revised application.

“The company would be entitled to re-apply for registration under any future registration round. Newsat has received a full de-brief on the Department’s assessment of its application, including information about areas where its application would need to be improved should it seek registration under any future registration round.

"Details of any future registration round including the date for receipt of applications would be notified on the DBCDE website,” stated Celia Hevesi Corporate Communications at the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

According to Hevesi, there were a range of selection criterias which the Department uses to assess applicants for registration under the Australian Broadband Guarantee. These include the operational and financial sustainability of the applicant, the technical solution proposed to be put in place, the service areas proposed to covered, and the services proposed to be offered.

“Newsat did not meet all of the criteria to a satisfactory level. The parts of Newsat’s application which did not satisfactorily meet the assessment criteria are confidential to the Department and Newsat, which has been fully informed of the assessment,” she stated.

However the Department told CRN there were already a number of registered satellite providers providing competitive registered services throughout Australia. All are identified on the Department’s website at http://www.dbcde.gov.au/.


TVNZ Prepares To Launch Next Digital Channel


From http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00517.htm

Six months after launching its first digital channel TVNZ 6, TVNZ is shortly to launch its second digital channel. Advertising-free digital channel TVNZ 7 will launch on Sunday 30 March 2008 with an event and live broadcast from Parliament.

TVNZ 7 is New Zealand's first local free-to-air factual channel. It will screen a broad range of news, current affairs, documentary and commentary shows.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis says that TVNZ 7 will have a distinctive New Zealand flavour. Freed from the constraints of commercial scheduling, it will offer New Zealanders more access to fresh and engaging local content in prime time.

"We want TVNZ 7 to be a place where New Zealanders come to be informed and to form their views on the issues of the day. We want TVNZ 7 to be a place that expresses the diversity of perspectives in New Zealand today.

"Around 70 percent of the channel's content will be locally-produced, and around 40 percent of that will be programming made specifically for TVNZ 7. News will make up 30 percent of the schedule."

TVNZ 7 will launch live from Parliament with The Kingmaker Debate – the first political debate this election year between the minor party leaders who will be crucial to the political landscape after the election later this year.

"As well as one-off TV events like The Kingmaker Debate, our commissioned local shows centre around providing New Zealanders with a forum to express their views and opinions on issues relevant to them. This is something that foreign news and factual channels cannot do," says Ellis.

Two new programmes on TVNZ 7 will be Back Benches, a weekly political review show, hosted by Wallace Chapman, and Media7, a multi-media news and commentary series hosted by Russell Brown.

The significant news component of the TVNZ 7 schedule extends the TVNZ News and Current Affairs team's commitment to providing the best news to New Zealanders across multiple platforms, anywhere, anytime.

Mr Ellis says that news on TVNZ 7 will be complementary to TVNZ's flagship news product ONE News at 6, and the late night news bulletin Tonight.

"The news on TVNZ 7 will run at different times to the ONE News broadcasts to fit in with New Zealanders' busy lives. There will be ten minute bulletins called TVNZ News Now, which will go live on the hour, every hour, as well as a one hour news bulletin at 8pm, TVNZ News at 8."

TVNZ News Now will be fronted by the TVNZ 7 news team, which includes journalists new to TV, as well as some well-known ONE News reporters. TVNZ News at 8 will be hosted by Tonight's Greg Boyed and newcomer Geraldine Knox.

TVNZ launched its first digital channel, TVNZ 6, on 30 September 2007. TVNZ 7 will be available on Freeview from 12 noon on Sunday 30 March.

ENDS


More time for TV 2 petition


From http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=82633

MORE time has been givehttp://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=82633n to lawyers to file documents on the winding-up petition against Channel 2 Television.

EBU in contract with CNC for Beijing Olympics

Acting Chief Registrar Emosi Koroi extra time to Sunny Brook Holdings Fiji Limited in its petition against Channel 2.

Sunny Brook lawyer Anil Tikaram filed the petition on January 16 and the case was scheduled to be heard on Wednesday.

Sunny Brook Ltd is owned by Mike Brook, a shareholder of Television 2 Television.

Mr Tikaram said the Mr Koroi had given until March 5 to file documents supporting the winding-up notice.

It was reported that Mr Brook was one of the local shareholders in Channel 2, which wanted to set up a television station in Fiji.

The company has been involved in controversy over its license to operate in the country.

Late last year, former interim Commerce Minister Taito Waradi ordered the channel's license be suspended.

He later reviewed the call, saying there had been a misunderstanding on the issue.

In the fall-out over the issue, two senior civil servants were suspended and later reinstated.

A third senior civil servant has quit over the incident.

Shortly after Mr Waradi was dumped in a interim Cabinet reshuffle announced by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mr Tikaram said the case had been transferred to proceed before the master of the court, Jay Udit, on March 5.


New iDirect service for Asia Pacific region and Maritime users


From http://www.satellite-evolution.com/Satellite 2007/newsresult.htm

 Adelaide, Australia: February 27, 2008. Australian Satellite Communications (ASC) today announced a new satellite telecommunications service across the South Pacific region. Based on iDirect VSAT technology, the service is hosted by Hawaii Pacific Teleport and covers the whole of the South Pacific from one satellite, GE-23.

 To implement the service, an ASC owned iDirect 5IF satellite hub has been commissioned on the high performance GE-23 South West Pacific and South East Pacific Ku band beams. The new services classes operating at 1024/512kbps with 512/256kbps CIR capability complement the existing ASC network operated out of the Adelaide teleport. These existing networks are already populated with large corporate and government customers on the GE-23 South Pacific beam covering Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Following the introduction of the new services ASC have recently received orders from Geoscience Australia for sites on Christmas Island which are covered by the South West Pacific beam.

 Chris Joseland, Managing Director of ASC said "We chose Hawaii Pacific Teleport in preference to a US mainland teleport for a number of reasons. HPT are flexible, fast to respond and through joint cooperation will also market our platform to customers they have in the region. Hawaii is also ideally placed for the optimum look angle to the satellite GE-23 situated at 172 degrees East."

 The first customer site of the new service was commissioned last week on board a 240 foot super yacht off the coast of Tahiti. The owners of the yacht contracted ASC to upgrade their existing SeaTel stabilized antenna system and deliver a 1024/512kbps business grade broadband Internet access service with dedicated voice channels to the ocean going yacht.

 Vince Waterson, VP Business Development at Hawaii Pacific Teleport said "We are pleased that ASC awarded us a three year contract to provide service on GE-23. We have also entered into a co-marketing agreement whereby we will offer their services to US government customers who have a preference for using iDirect services."

 Andrew Jordan, VP & General Manager of SAT-GE said "We are pleased to offer ASC our uniquely positioned capacity on a satellite with extraordinarily high performance designed to serve commercial aircraft and maritime vessels crossing the Pacific with broadband Internet and multimedia. Our wide coverage enables us to bring broadband Internet access to even the most remote Pacific islands where users only require an antenna of 4 feet or less."

 The ASC investment is a response to rising demand for high availability business grade IP broadband as multinational companies in the region increase their focus on resource exploration, expand their maritime operations and their need for real time communication grows. This expanded coverage also allows Australian Satellite Communications to satisfy the growing demand for critical connectivity as required by governments, the resources sector, educational and non-profit organizations.


EBU in contract with CNC for Beijing Olympics


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb355.php

MUMBAI: The European Broadcasting Uniion (EBU) has signed a contract with CNC China Netcom Group for fibre and uplink services for the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

CNC is a broadband communications and fixed-line telecommunications operator in China and will act as one of EBU’s major subcontractors for the games.

The EBU is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world (75 active members, 45 associate members). It offers members technical, operational and legal services, and coordinates a growing supply of quality content for radio, television and new platforms.

The organisation works to secure recognition of the role of public service broadcasters in the digital audiovisual landscape.


Globecast to showcase broadcast trends at Nab 2008


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb361.php

MUMBAI: Broadcast content management and delivery company GlobeCast will be demonstrating the latest trends in the international broadcasting environment at Nab 2008 in Las Vegas in April.

Media management, multiplatform solutions, HD, IPTV, Mobile TV and more will all be in the spotlight at its stand.

Broadcasters are becoming increasingly focused on content creation and looking to outsource their content management. In response, Globecast has added media management to its service offering and Arsenal TV in the UK and Ion Media Networks in the US are just the latest broadcasters to sign up. Operated from technical operations centers in central London and Sunrise, Florida, GlobeCast Media Management offers full playout, disaster recovery, programme substitution and more, under one roof.

Mobile TV : With standards developing for the next generation of mobile television, GlobeCast has been building partnerships for DVB-H experimentation. In Europe, the company already operates a 3G headend and delivers more than 100 live channels to Orange. In the US GlobeCast delivers, encodes and monitors 30 channels for market leader MobiTV.

IPTV: The company says that 2008 is the year of IPTV in the US and GlobeCast will be highlighting its role in the development of this emerging medium with a live demonstration at Nab. GlobeCast's subsidiary WorldTV recently launched an IPTV platform in Canada with NeuLion to bring multicultural content to new markets, and is also aggregating multinational content for a major US telecom company.

GlobeCast has gained its extensive knowledge and experience with IPTV in Europe as Orange's broadcast partner for Orange TV which has over one million subscribers.

NHD Makes its Mark: GlobeCast says that it has been involved with High Definition broadcast for more than ten years, and now offers permanent and ad-hoc services in HD worldwide. In the US, new HD-ready fiber capacity means that nearly every news or sport event can be broadcast across the nation or across the world in the highest possible quality.


The FTA SHOW


From Press Release

"In it's 3rd month and The FTA Show is already being heard in South East Asia - Canada and New Zealand / Australia is nothing short of amazing!" stated Richard Buckner, host and producer of the new satellite show being heard up on Galaxy 25 as well as audio streams via the Internet. The show which is underwritten by DMS International a major wholesaler of FTA Satellite equipment is being aired via the ACCESS-AMERICA Satellite network. "We started out with just myself as host and now we have a Canadian Correspondent as well as a correspondent from New Zealand." Buckner stated. "We just signed up Jerry Fisher a satellite specialist and long time FTA'er in Winnipeg, Canada and Tony Dunnett a New Zealander with years of FTA experience. Tony owns a Satellite company in New Zealand and Jerry one in Canada" Buckner reported. "Advertising is starting to come in with dealers in Michigan, Canada as well as DMSI USA in Georgia." Buckner commented. "We even have received advertising requests from non-satellite related business" Buckner related.

The show a 2 hour long technical review of Free To Air Satellite equipment began in late December 2007. Buckner a Satellite Dealer and retired U.S. Marine discussed his show idea with Tim Heinrichs, CEO of DMS International worldwide distributors and manufacturers of the SG 2100 Satellite Motor, Trimax Satellite Meters, Traxis line of satellite receivers and JSC line of satellite LNB's. Mr. Heinrichs agreed to underwrite the show for the 1st month to see the response it would receive on the air. Mr. Heinrichs stated "The FTA Show is a well rounded and polished assembly of news and tips for end users, installers, dealers, and anyone with an interest in FTA satellite. Free satellite TV channels are discussed in detail from the hardware needed to the “how to's”. This show could well be called “The truth about FTA Satellite”. If there was one thing missing from FTA satellite it was this show. Produced and hosted by radio personality Richard Buckner, the FTA Show brings knowledge to the FTA satellite user. DMS International is proud to sponsor and supporter of The FTA Show."

When asked what was in the future for the FTA Show Buckner responded, "We are considering a 30 minute television show and we are going to expand our correspondents with European and the Middle East and Asia. We already have a Asian correspondent lined up as well as a correspondent from Great Britain. The Middle East correspondent is a bit elusive but we are certain we will find one soon, we are also in the developing stages of a new web site for the show"

In addition to the show Buckner also provides video/audio television content to New Zealand though the use of a high tech device called a HAVA. The HAVA Buckner explains is like a Slingbox but more professional. "It allows us to stream in MPEG4 Video content across the Internet anywhere in the world" Buckner's other company called The Movie Crypt provides over 6700 DVD's - VHS and Betas videos in the way of movies and classic television series that have entered the Public Domain realm.

The FTA Show can be heard on the Access-America.Net Radio Network on Galaxy 25. On Saturday's at 3:00 PM EST and rebroadcast Sunday's at 11:00 AM and through the week at 12:00 (Noon). It is also simulcast on streaming audio on the following web sites.

DMSIUSA.COM
FTASATELLITESALES.COM
THEMOVIECRYPT.COM
VETERANSUNITED.ORG

Richard Buckner can be contacted via email at 765-768-6943 or email at [email protected]


ADVANTECH DELIVERS THE WORLDS' FIRST SUCCESSFUL TRANSMISSION OF 155.52 MBPS IN 36 MHZ


From http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/view_press_release_printer_friendly.php?rID=42475

Advantech AMT is proud to announce one of the world's first successful transmissions of 155.52 Mbps carrier over satellite with superior bandwidth and power efficiency using 64QAM and 32APSK. --

/24-7PressRelease/ - March 01, 2008 - Montreal, Canada, February 26, 2008 -- Advantech AMT Inc., a leading provider of advanced satellite and microwave products and solutions, is proud to announce one of the world's first successful transmissions of 155.52 Mbps carrier over satellite with superior bandwidth and power efficiency using 64QAM and 32APSK.

The Advantech implementation incorporates the most advanced Forward Error Correction coding such as Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) with concatenated BCH using 8/9 and ¾ code rates. LDPC has demonstrated its effectiveness, in comparison to other coding schemes such as turbo product codes (TPC) and become accepted as the new coding standard for the DVB-S2 standard. Advantech was first to market in developing DVB-S2 capable modulator supporting modulation schemes up to 32APSK. Complementing the Advantech DVB-S2 implementation is the new addition of 64 QAM with adaptive downlink equalization, which was specially introduced into the Advantech AMT-75 product line to provide an advanced modulation to further minimize the occupied satellite bandwidth.

Testing was performed by a leading North American telecom operator on a 54 MHz transponder, and demonstrated Advantech's capability to support 155Mbps carriers using both 32APSK and 64QAM. Advantech's implementation allows for 155Mbps to be supported across 36 MHz bandwidth using 64QAM 8/9 code rate. Additionally, the Advantech implementation makes it possible to support two carriers, one of 155Mbps and the other of approximately 40Mbps, across a 54 MHz transponder.

"This testing demonstrates that Advantech ranks among industry leaders in bringing advanced capability such as 64QAM, 32APSK and LDPC in very high-speed satellite links to fruition." Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian, President of the Advantech AMT Business Unit. "Coupled with our newly available modem interfaces options of Gigabit Ethernet router, OC-3 or STM-1, Advantech can provide large scale satellite users with the means to further reduce the cost of transporting their critical data, maximizing efficiency and saving money on their infrastructure."

About Advantech AMT
Advantech AMT is a world-class designer and manufacturer of leading edge Communication products for Satellite Ground Stations and for Wireless Base Stations. With offices in Canada, Europe and the U.S.A, Advantech AMT provides global product support expertise. The main products designed and manufactured by the company are Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) available in output power from 1W to 3200 W, Block-Up Converters (BUCs), frequency converters, modems operating up to 155.52 Mbps, INTRACTM antenna tracking control systems, data broadcast receivers, satellite terminals, and other related sub-systems. Advantech is ISO-9001: 2000 certified.

To find out more about Advantech AMT, please visit our website http://www.AdvantechAMT.com


Radio, TV channels rapidly increasing in Africa


From http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/15/22465.html

A rapid increase in the number of radio and TV channels in Africa over the last three years has piqued interest in the continent by international media players. A recent report, African Broadcast and Film Markets, published jointly by Balancing Act and InterMedia, has documented this growth.
The report – a detailed look at the state of broadcasting in 40 African countries, including 17 in-country audience surveys – provides data and insights broadcasters, advertisers and governments can use to find and develop markets, increase their reach and strengthen their impact among African audiences.

Explosion in number

The report finds that the liberalisation of radio broadcasting in many countries has led to an explosion in the number of radio stations, particularly those broadcasting in local languages. Known in East Africa as the "vernaculars," these stations have been a high growth area over the last five years. The most vivid example of this trend is in Uganda, where there are now more than 150 radio stations, 69% of which cater to audiences in the country's 38 different languages.

Television broadcasting outlets have also increased steeply; out of 40 markets surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa, the report finds nearly half (18) have licensed free-to-air TV channels.

"African broadcasting is undergoing a period of major growth as more countries are liberalising and increasing the number of channels," says Russell Southwood, author of the report. "The level of radio and television ownership has kept pace, also increasing very rapidly. International media players are paying close attention to the new opportunities that are opening up."

Rise in radio listenership

The most striking trend in terms of audiences is the rise in radio listenership. There is a huge appetite for FM music radio; consumers also hunger for entertainment television, says InterMedia analyst Hugh Hope-Stone.

"Africans, both sub-Saharan and North African, surround themselves with music in cars, public transportation, shops and homes. Wherever deregulation has taken place, multiple FM channels have emerged. Growing cable and satellite subscriber bases suggests more people are willing and able to pay for services," he says.

Alongside this interest in music and entertainment television, African listeners and viewers also hunger for news (see map below). However, the report finds they tend to trust either the new private broadcasters or NGO-run radio and TV stations for news more than they do government-run broadcasters. This is particularly true in North African countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, where channels like Al Jazeera attract large audiences.

Additionally, the report finds that with the introduction of competition into the pay TV market, there are an increasing number of people with access to a wider range of programmes than are currently available on terrestrial television, particularly sports events, such as the UK Premiership and the recent Africa Cup of Nations.

Further boost

These services are largely delivered by satellite, although there are now a small number of IP-TV and cable operators. The majority of pay TV subscribers are found in Africa's urban areas. This trend towards pay TV is likely to receive a further boost when a number of operators introduce "triple play"– a combination service that includes voice, internet and TV programming services – later in the year.

The African Broadcast and Film Markets report also includes:
It also has survey-based analyses of 17 countries: Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Details are available at www.balancingact-africa.com/publications.html and www.balancingact-africa.com/broadcast_markets.html


WICB renews tie-up with Ten Sports


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/WICB_renews_tie-up_with_Ten_Sports/articleshow/2824109.cms

MUMBAI: The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has renewed its partnership for another five years with Dubai-based sports broadcaster Ten Sports to distribute television coverage of all cricket played in the West Indies between 2008 and 2012.

Ten Sports has the broadcast rights to the Middle-East and South-East Asia and will also distribute the events worldwide, with the exception of the UK, Ireland and Caribbean, where Sky Sports has the rights. Market sources told ET that the deal was struck for $60 million.

WICB president Julian R Hunte said: “The deal with Ten Sports will give us financial resources we need to support our strategic plan, the main goal of which is to take West Indies cricket to the pinnacle of world cricket by 2012. The platform on which we will build the future is cricket development at all levels and in all the countries of the Caribbean.”

Ten Sports CEO Chris McDonald said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board for another five years. We have been broadcasting the excitement, style and panache of the cricket from the West Indies throughout Asia since 2003, and are very pleased to work with WICB on a global basis.”

The tours that are part of the five-year deal include visits by India in 2009 and 2012, Pakistan in 2011, England in 2009, Australia’s tour in 2012 and South Africa in 2010. Ten Sports will broadcast 25 Test matches, 50 One Day games and nine Twenty20 games between 2008 and 2012 (a total of 184 days), including the upcoming 2008 tour by Australia to the West Indies, which was part of a previous agreement between the parties.

With WICB broadcast rights, Ten Sports has two cricket boards as a five-year partner — the other being Sri Lanka. The other broadcast rights that the sports channel currently has include Pakistan, which comes to an end in the next couple of months.


iLabs acquires 60% in Lehren Entertainment, to launch first Bollywood news channel


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k8/aac130.php

MUMBAI: iLabs Capital, a venture fund which has among other investments a controlling interest in the TV9 chain of channels, has acquired 60 per cent stake in Mumbai-based Lehren Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. to launch the first Bollywood news channel.

iLabs is also expanding its broadcasting presence in Mumbai through the launch of TV9 Mumbai, a city-centric channel in Hindi language. This will be through Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd (ABCL), the company which is 80 per cent owned by iLabs and Unified Group and houses the TV9 channels.

In Lehren Entertainment, iLabs is making the investment through its wholly own subsidiary, Affiliated Media Company (AMC). Besides the TV channel, Lehren will have its other assets including a broadband portal and 10,000 hours of archival video.

Lehren TV has obtained the uplinking licence and plans to launch in April. "We are eyeing 14 April as the launch date. The dry run should start in mid-March," says Lehren Entertainment founder and MD Mritunjay Pandey.

The Bollywood-centric free-to-air news channel will also have a small portion of its content for other films across the country. Besides news, it will have chat and gossip formats. "It will be a Hinglish (predominantly Hindi but also have English language) channel," says Pandey.

The ad sales and uplinking will be handled by ABCL to drive in the synergies with the TV9 group of channels.

"We decided to join hands with Lehren because it has an old relationship with the film industry. With the other Hindi channel covering Mumbai, it will offer us a good bundle," says ABCL vice president operations KVN Murthy.

Lehren's engagement with Bollywood dates back to the pre-satellite era when it started film-based entertainment shows in 1987. The videos packaged film scenes, songs, interviews and magazine content in the kaleidoscopic format of Bollywood.




28/02/08

Foxtel and Sky NZ merging? see news section.

Failed DTH provider OneB has shutdown their IS8 KU NZ/Islands signal (12686V)

Info About TVNZ 7
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1604672

Feed seen Thursday night
Optus D2 12670V sr 6670 fec 3/4 "NBL Basketball semi final", FTA


From my Email & ICQ


From Steve Ellis

TVNZ 7 Press Launch

Just returned from the press launch here in Auckland and TVNZ now have
some details up on their website, along with some promo reels.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/497100/1604672

The content looks quite interesting, in particular Back Benches and Media 7.
Also I really like the logo, especially how they have done the map of NZ.

Some interesting questions were asked. Two big ones were around viewing it
on Sky, which is very unlikely because it provides a commercial advantage
to Sky, and the lack of program guides in the mainstream press like The
Listener and NZ Herald.

Launch is March 30th which is after the new Maori channel launches.

I've just started at thread at DTV Forum about this if you want to
contribute.

Steve


From the Dish


No Lyngsat


NEWS


Austar plans to revive triple play in 2009


From http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2008/02/27/austar-plans-to-revive-triple-play-in-2009/

Austar, Australia’s regional pay-TV provider is currently planning to revive a focus on triple play services in 2009.

Early 2007 Austar made a decision to focus on its TV services over broadband and telephony. This move appears to have been successful; Austar’s subscription base rose by 67,660 in 2007, a growth of 11%, placing the years total subscriber base for the year at 668,786.

John Porter, the chief executive, stated that the concentration on pay-TV will continue in 2008 but that by 2009, after the planned regional high-speed broadband network with the OPEL (Optus/Elders) group has been completed, the company will be strategically focussing on the triple play offering and working with Optus and OPEL to try and deliver a product by 2009/2010.

Last year, for the grand total of A$65 million, Austar sold its regional wireless spectrum to the OPEL consortium to allow for the building of the WiMAX network.

In 2008 Austar is set to focus on growing MyStar (its PVR service) and on the launch of Optus’s D3 satellite in 2009, which if successful would increase the aptitude for Australian pay-TV.

Austar accounted for a rise of 13% in 2007 revenues to A$568 million whilst operating expenses were a reported 1% up to A$135 million. EBITDA reached revenues of A$174 million, a 23% increase.

However net profit fell by 63% to A$77 million. Despite this 2006’s A$210 million figure was inflated by a one-off tax credit.


Sky silent on pay TV merger plan


From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4418229a26513.html

NO COMMENT: Sky TV chief John Fellet is staying mum over rumours of a possible merger with Australian pay TV operator FoxTel.

Sky TV chief executive John Fellet is not commenting on speculation that Sky TV might merge with Australian pay-TV operator FoxTel.

Mr Fellet set off the rumour-mill last Friday when he said that Sky TV had deferred a decision on whether to proceed with a share buyback that had been endorsed by shareholders in October, because of an "opportunity".

He did not comment further on the nature of the proposal, which he said had about a 20 per cent chance of proceeding.

Mr Fellet said that if Sky was to merge with FoxTel it would probably have to inform the market first, but he did not want to issue a denial each time he was presented with speculation.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp owns 43.7 per cent of Sky TV and a 25 per cent stake in FoxTel, which is half-owned by Telstra. Sources have speculated that the two companies could cut their programming purchasing costs and would be able to increase their satellite transmission capacity by a third if they merged and broadcast a single service to subscribers in Australia and New Zealand.

FoxTel would want to retain the cash that had been earmarked for a share buy-back on Sky's balance sheet were it to contemplate a takeover, sources suggested.

One analyst said he was stumped after Mr Fellet appeared to discount the alternative that Sky TV might be contemplating taking over an Internet provider. He said he would be surprised if Sky TV was acquired by FoxTel, but there might be some advantages.

Sky TV is the seventh largest stock on the NZX with a market capitalisation of $1.95 billion.


NZ Defence pushes for redundant satellite


From http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/E2ACCB89075F66CCCC2573FA00027F23

Tender out for providing design, supply and installation of a land earth satellite station solution
Defence is out to tender for a second land earth satellite station (LES) to provide redundancy for its existing Porirua-based system. The tender is for providing design, supply and installation of an LES solution delivering both C-band and K-band.

The LES has to be up and running by July 31 when the frigate Te Mana is to be deployed in the Persian Gulf.

The tender also calls for the vendor to negotiate slots on commercial satellites. The LES has to be certified for at least Intelsat, Asiasat, Singtel/Optus, Panamsat and SES Americon. Potential suppliers have until February 26 to respond to a request for information.


Measat3a launch slated for Q3


From http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/28/business/20471545&sec=business

KUALA LUMPUR: Measat1R, which has been renamed Measat3a, will be launched in the third quarter of this year, said Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd. 

“The renaming of Measat1R to Measat3a better reflects the satellite’s mission to provide expansion capacity, and in-orbit redundancy, for customers utilising the Measat3 satellite,” chief operating officer Paul Brown-Kenyon said in a statement. 

Measat3a has been designed to be co-located with Measat3 at the 91.5 degree E orbital hot slot. The satellite will provide 12 high-powered C-band transponders providing coverage across a region bounded by Africa and Eastern Europe in the West, through to Japan and Australia in the East, and 12 high-powered KuBand transponders for direct-to-home customers in Malaysia and Indonesia. 

The satellite is constructed by Orbital Sciences Inc and is planned to be launched on a LandLaunch Zenith3SL launch vehicle.  

Brown-Kenyon added that Measat3a had a strong pipeline of customers awaiting its launch. – Bernama 


100 days to determine success of BERNAMA TV


From http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/NewsBreak/20080228114745/Article/index_html

BERNAMA TV’s news channel which began its 24-hour transmission today is capable of becoming the top choice of viewers within 100 days, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini said.

He said he wanted the channel to be the top choice and one capable of drawing the confidence of the public as an alternative local news channel in the country.

He said that although BERNAMA TV was still in its infancy compared with the established news channels like CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera, it was an achievable target.

“I want people to start saying within the first 100 days that this is an alternative news channel which is real, accurate and fast. I think this is achievable in the first 100 days.

“If within these 100 days, we are still the subject of doubt, then I think our ascent and challenge will become steeper,” he said in the programme,”Helo Malaysia”, aired over Astro channel 502 today.
The 30-minute programme is hosted by Sherkawi Jirim.

Annuar said it would be a success if Bernama could make it the people’s preferred local news channel in the country.

“If after watching CNN, Al-Jazeera, they say that the day is not complete if they don’t switch to 502 for the local news, namely Bernama news, then I think it’s an achievement.

“And that is the quality that I place as our trust in the first 100 days,” he said.

He said the emergence of the 24-hour BERNAMA TV could also provide healthy competition to the local and foreign news channels besides helping to upgrade the quality of news and presentation and strengthening the democratic system.


Philippine TV group enters JV for Internet games


From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/International_Business/Philippine_TV_group_enters_JV_for_Internet_games/articleshow/2818210.cms

MANILA: Philippine broadcaster GMA has formed a joint venture with an information technology company to offer Internet on-line games, officials of both companies announced on Wednesday.

The 50-50 joint venture between GMA, the country's second largest broadcaster and Intellectual Property Ventures Group (IPVG) is called I-Play and will have capitalisation of 800 million pesos ($19.8 million).

I-Play will offer Internet games mainly to Filipinos and will make money from advertising on the games and from sales of the products on the Internet gaming portal, I-Play chief executive officer Enrique Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez estimated that there are four million Filipinos who are into Internet gaming.

GMA chairman Felipe Gozun said their network had entered into the partnership in order to remain relevant in the 21st century.


Arianespace prepares for its two initial Ariane 5 launches of 2008


From http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=4662

The VINASAT-1 satellite for Arianespace’s second Ariane 5 mission in 2008 is unloaded from its protective shipping container at the Spaceport (left-hand photo). In the right-hand image, the cryogenic upper stage for this mission’s Ariane 5 is hoisted inside the Launcher Assembly for installation atop the heavy-lift vehicle, which is partly visible in the background.

(Arianespace) - Preparations for the initial two Ariane 5 flights of 2008 are in full swing at Europe’s Spaceport as Arianespace continues to demonstrate its ability to provide launch capacity and mission flexibility that meet customers’ needs.

The two vehicles currently being readied at the Spaceport are an Ariane 5 ECA for an April liftoff with a pair of commercial telecommunications satellites, and the Ariane 5 ES for Arianespace’s historic March 8 launch with the International Space Station’s Automated Transfer Vehicle resupply spacecraft.

For the April mission, initial build-up of its Ariane 5 is nearing completion inside the Launcher Integration Building, where the cryogenic core stage has been mated with its two solid rocket boosters, and the cryogenic upper stage also has been installed.

This heavy-lift Ariane 5 is scheduled for liftoff during the first half of April, and will carry Vietnam’s first telecommunications satellite, VINASAT-1, along with a second telecom platform on another of Arianespace’s trademark dual-payload missions.

VINASAT-1 arrived in French Guiana earlier this week aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft, and is now undergoing initial pre-launch checkout in one of the Spaceport’s clean rooms. The spacecraft was produced by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation.

Based on Lockheed Martin’s A2100A spacecraft platform, VINASAT-1 will improve telecommunications in Vietnam by providing radio, television and telephone communications coverage throughout the country. VINASAT-1 also will improve the nation’s communications infrastructure by removing dependence on ground networks, and allowing 100 percent of Vietnam’s rural communities and hamlets to be equipped with telephones and televisions. This C-/Ku-band hybrid satellite is designed for a minimum service life of 15 years, and will be located at an orbital slot of 132 deg. East after its deployment by Ariane 5.

As the Ariane 5 ECA mission preparations move ahead, final steps are being completed for Arianespace’s March 8 mission with the European-built Automated Transfer Vehicle. The launch vehicle for this flight is in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, where integration of the Ariane 5 ES is complete and the last series of verifications are being performed.

The European-built ATV resupply spacecraft will deliver propellant, oxygen, equipment, systems, food and water for the International Space Station and its crew, and is the first of nine ATV missions currently on Arianespace’s order book for launch during the next several years to the manned orbital facility.

Arianespace’s two upcoming flights in March and April are the first of seven Ariane 5 missions planned in 2008. Subsequent launches during the year will orbit the Herschel and Planck scientific payloads, as well as TerreStar 1 – the largest geostationary commercial communications satellite ever built.

In parallel, Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate has set April 26 for a Soyuz launch from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome with Giove-B, the second demonstration satellite for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation constellation.


Kizuna launch a success, but satellite plan adrift


From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/20080228TDY04304.htm

Saturday's successful launch by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency of the Kizuna, a satellite designed for high-speed Internet transmission, marked an end to government delays in putting planned satellites into orbit.

The question to be explored now is what kind of satellite this nation should strive to build in the future.

The Kizuna has high-performance antennae that allow it to provide communications coverage for the whole of Japan and many other areas in the Asia-Pacific region. The satellite will be used to conduct experiments on super-high-speed data transmission and test alternatives to ground-based telecommunications, to allow communication to continue if land-based facilities are rendered unusable by a natural disaster.

The cost of developing the Kizuna, including the launch, was nearly 50 billion yen.

The Kizuna project started in 2000, when then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori first made it a priority to promote information technology and allocated a budget for related projects.

Most ministries and agencies subsequently submitted policy plans related to information technology, of which the Kizuna formed the space development element.

However, from the initial stages of the project, some experts voiced doubts about the satellite's cost efficiency.

Information technologies progress rapidly. A satellite, however, requires about 10 years from planning to launch.

Initially, the launch of the the Kizuna was scheduled for fiscal 2005. But it is a truism in the world of space development that development of satellites never progresses as planned.

Some experts feared that the technologies to be tested would be outdated by the time the satellite was launched. A situation made worse by the failure in 2003 to launch an H-2A rocket that caused a dominolike effect, delaying all further launches.

During this period, development of fiber-optic technology and other land-based facilities for the Internet progressed.

JAXA and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry insist that conducting experiments with the Kizuna will show that this type of satellite is useful and that the use of such satellites should be expanded.

But even a JAXA insider expressed skepticism, saying, "Was launching this satellite really worthwhile?"

Until a backlog of projects was cleared, JAXA was not allowed to begin manufacturing new satellites, a rule that impeded Japan's space development plans.

A long waiting list of satellite launches was finally cleared between 2006 and this month, allowing Japan to enter a new stage of space development.

But it is not clear what Japan's future plans are, especially regarding communication satellites such as the Kizuna.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry's Space Activities Commission agreed Feb. 20 on a long-term space development plan it had worked on since 2006.

The plan outlines national space development policy and projects to be conducted by the government over the coming decade, giving priority to three fields of satellite technology: Observation of the Earth's environment; disaster monitoring and communications; and global positioning.

The commission member who led the drafting of the long-term plan said communication satellites and related projects would not form part of the government's plans for future projects.

An official at JAXA, which has played key roles in the government's satellite development projects, also said: "For us, there remain only a few more areas to study in the field [of communication satellites]. If a project of this type is undertaken, it should involve the development of huge antennae."

However, the long-term plan does include studies for building systems capable of enabling data communication in the event of a disaster. It has not been made clear how this study differs from the study of communication satellites, which are supposed to have been omitted from the plan.

At the commission's Feb. 20 meeting, one member told JAXA: "We haven't said the government will no longer conduct communication satellite projects. JAXA is wrong if it believes the government has said it won't launch communication satellites anymore." A comment that suggested the government's stance on the issue has not yet been finalized.

One reason future plans remain unclear is that the government has not fully tested communication satellites it has launched in the past.

The government has been unable to conduct planned experiments on three communication satellites launched in succession since 1994, due to the craft failing to enter their designated orbits and malfunctions of onboard devices.

The commission, which is in charge of evaluating the satellites, praised the findings of experiments carried out, despite the fact that all planned experiments could not be done, and concluded that the launches were meaningful. The commission has not been able to examine what would be needed in the future.

When it comes to communications and other types of satellites designed for practical use in the future, conducting experiments should not be the sole goal. It is necessary to evaluate experiments from many points of view, such as cost efficiency and how such technologies could be utilized. The commission must make a greater effort in this area, such as appointing as members more experts who can evaluate such points.

One telecommunications technology expert said: "A commercial demand exists for satellites, especially communication satellites. The government should continue to develop technologies in this field."

The problem, however, is that there has been no discussion about the advisability of the government's making further efforts in this field.

The launch of the Kizuna highlights the need to determine, in a considered manner, how to shape the nation's future satellite program.


As military officials take stock of the event's physical and political fallout, it's worth dispelling some of the misconceptions and myths that could otherwise cloud the thinking of policymakers and the public during the debate over past and future "shootdowns."

Myth No. 1: The Navy missile shot down the satellite.

Reality: Hitting a satellite with a missile is not at all like hitting a bird with a bullet and watching it plummet to the ground. An orbiting satellite stays in orbit not because of its power or guidance, but merely because of its forward speed. An attack that does not substantially change that orbital velocity cannot drive the satellite out of orbit, no matter how much physical damage it does.

The only practical way to remove such targets from orbit is by slowing them down. In practice, that occurs as a result of air drag, an effect that can take hours, weeks, or centuries depending on the thickness of the air at the satellite’s altitude. Breaking a big spacecraft into smaller pieces does increase the effects of air drag — as demonstrated dramatically last week — but it is the key role of air drag that makes the critical causal link between "shooting" and "downing" the target.

Myth No. 2: Falling satellites aren’t really hazardous, and since they’ve never hurt anybody before, they were unlikely to hurt anybody this time. Hence, there must have been a secret "real reason" for the missile mission.

Reality: First, counting on a string of successfully dodging bullets is no open-ended guarantee of being bullet-proof forever. The odds have a way of catching up with you, and defying them is an all-too-common fallacy called “normalization of deviance.” At NASA, this attitude laid the foundation for the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters.

Second, it’s not true that past safe outcomes always occurred even when countries let their big satellites randomly fall to Earth. Just the opposite is true — for decades, major spacefaring powers have taken deliberate and expensive steps to mitigate the ground-impact hazards of satellites.

All Russian spacecraft and U.S. military satellites heavier than 15,000 pounds are deliberately steered into untraveled expanses of the far southern Pacific Ocean. NASA steered its Compton Gamma Ray Observatory into a precisely planned atmospheric re-entry in 2000, and tried (but failed) to do the same with the Skylab space station in 1978.

In last week's case, the Pentagon said it resorted to the missile-intercept option because the spy satellite's guidance system was inoperable. Now, the mix of motivations for making the missile attack can be debated — but the up-front official claim about mitigating hazard cannot be glibly dismissed.

Myth No. 3: The hydrazine on the spy satellite was unlikely to reach the ground in any concentration worth worrying about.

Reality: Space officials were so concerned about the satellite's full tank of hydrazine fuel because they believed it had frozen solid, due to the low temperatures aboard the spacecraft. They feared that the titanium-shielded "toxic iceberg" would survive intact all the way to the ground and disperse around the crash site, not in the upper atmosphere. Safety officials had never been faced with this type of falling material before.

How dangerous is hydrazine? The chemical is considered toxic as well as flammable. U.S. space workers have indeed survived massive short-term dosing by the chemical during fueling accidents, but they did so due to the immediate application of pre-deployed safety measures.

The U.S. might have been held legally responsible for damage following the impact of such a hazardous cargo in a region with active agricultural exports or tourism.

As with the Palomares incident 42 years ago, in which two U.S. nuclear weapons fell to earth in Spain after an aircraft accident, people outside the region might be so spooked that they stop buying the regional exports and stop visiting its recreational facilities. The lost business alone could have cost hundreds of millions of dollars — compared with the estimated $60 million cost of the missile intercept.

Myth No. 4: The missile was aimed directly at the fuel tank, in order to pierce it and let the hazardous contents leak out.

Reality: Sure, the fuel tank was the missile's main target — but the missile didn’t have to hit the tank to crack it open. It’s hard to imagine how the warhead’s guidance system could have spotted the tank anyhow, inside the blob that was the image of the entire satellite. Hitting the target dead center and thus smashing the entire satellite to smithereens was the easiest way to ensure maximum damage to the tank.

Myth No. 5: The satellite disintegrated into more than 3,000 pieces because the fuel exploded.

Reality: Some Pentagon officials seemed to imply this, as evidence that they had achieved the goal of destroying the tank. But the kinetic energy involved in the ultra-high-speed collision was more than enough to impart enough force to cause the violent shattering — it certainly was orders of magnitude greater than the chemical energy that would have been liberated from the ignition of the entire fuel supply, even assuming it wasn’t frozen. That collisional energy was also the reason that some pieces of the target satellite got thrown forward so energetically, even though the missile hit the satellite from the front.

Most of the pieces fell through the atmosphere and burned up within a couple of days of the intercept. As of Tuesday, the Air Force Space Command was reportedly tracking 17 fragments that were still in orbit.

What's the harm in just letting all these myths lie? The danger is that the topic of weapons in space is a serious one requiring serious debate, especially in this election year. Hanging onto the technical myths could lead to misconceptions on one side of the debate ("our missiles were so accurate they could make a precision strike on the fuel tank") or the other ("the shootdown created a cloud of toxic debris that's still in orbit").

If we can "shoot down" the fuzzy thinking that has frustrated a serious exchange of views on this important national security issue, that would represent a much more enduring contribution to the safety of this planet than just protecting one random spot from half a ton of plummeting poison.


ViewAfrica Extends Contract with Intelsat to Increase Its Channel Offering


From  http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080227005673&newsLang=en

PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intelsat, Ltd., the world's leading provider of commercial satellite services, announced today that U.K.-based ViewAfrica has contracted for additional capacity on the Intelsat 10 satellite for increased channel distribution. ViewAfrica Network is distributing free-to-air programming bouquets reaching all the Sub-Saharan countries.

“The Intelsat 10 satellite is the most attractive payload for us, containing multiple high-powered beams focused on the regions we seek to grow our business," said Awaes Jaswal, CEO, ViewAfrica Network. “We have once again turned to Intelsat because its industry-leading reliability and video penetration enables us to efficiently expand as market opportunities present themselves."

“The IS-10 Ku-band service is ideally suited for DTH applications. We are working closely with customers like ViewAfrica in building and growing some of the most popular broadcast communities worldwide,” said Jean Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Europe and Middle East Sales. ”The Intelsat 10 satellite, is Intelsat’s premier video neighborhood for Africa.”

ViewAfrica Network, uplinking out of Stellar in Germany, carries a free-to-air bouquet of religious and general entertainment programming that currently includes the following networks: Daystar, LoveWorld, Press TV and Supreme Master TV. ViewAfrica is among 27 DTH platforms built on the global Intelsat system.

About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services (FSS) worldwide and is the leading provider of these services to each of the media, network services and government customer sectors, enabling people and businesses everywhere constant access to information and entertainment. Intelsat offers customers a greater business potential by providing them access to unrivaled resources with ease of business and peace of mind. An extensive customer base, including some of the world’s leading media and communications companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and government/military organizations, utilizes our services. Real-time, constant communication with people anywhere in the world is closer, by far.

Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement: Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, including known and unknown risks. Detailed information about some of the known risks is included in Intelsat's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2006 and Intelsat's other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Intelsat, Ltd.
Nick Mitsis, +1 202 944 7044
[email protected]

At A Glance
Headquarters: Pembroke, Bermuda
Website: http://www.intelsat.com/
CEO: David McGlade
Employees: 1400
Organization: Private


Major industry players support CABSAT 2008


From http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?id=17772&t=1&c=33&cg=4

UAE. CABSAT 2008 has announced major industry backing as companies as it reaffirms the event as the definitive strategic event for the region. Organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) confirmed at a press conference today that CABSAT has grown by 30% and will welcome more than 650 exhibitors from 50 countries including new exhibitors Yahsat and Duo Software amongst others.

Electronic media has been growing at an increasing rate. According to the Arab Advisors Group, there were 370 free to air satellite TV channels as of August 2007 in the region.

CABSAT has been a launch pad for new technologies and viewing platforms and this year will see many new products. Innovations in screen entertainment like HDTV, IPTV, VOD and Mobile TV is gaining worldwide popularity with consumers and industry-watchers will be looking forward to seeing these cutting-edge technologies at this premier industry event.

Leading the press briefing, Helal Al Marri, Director General, DWTC, Mohamed Al Shahi, Director of Broadcast Division, du, and Jamal Al Sharif, Director of Dubai Studio City (DSC) confirmed the increasing interest of major industry players, including providers of cable and satellite equipment and accessories, satellite communications and broadcast and production.

Al Marri said: "CABSAT has been witnessing tremendous growth on the back of growing demand for advanced technology products due to DWTC's extensive collaboration with global key industry associations and industry majors such as Arab States Broadcasting Union, first time endorser the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council.

"CABSAT provides an ideal point of entry into the fast-growing regional electronic media and satellite communications sector, justifying the intensely high demand for exhibition space this year," he added.

A world satellite industry report released in June 2007 pegged the global satellite revenue at US$ 106.1 billion in 2006.

Endorsing CABSAT, Mohamed Al Shahi, Director of du Broadcasting Service, said: "CABSAT is a major industry platform for the region, as it showcases latest trends and technology in the fast growing electronic media and satellite communications industry. du's participation in CABSAT comes in line with its dedication to showcasing and providing advanced business solutions that will ease business process operations and offer wider access to more global digital information at its highest quality.

This year at CABSAT, du will be showcasing their latest technology in HDTV, a trend that marks new horizons for the satellite industry not only in this region but globally-speaking.

CABSAT will enable us the opportunity to demonstrate how innovative technology can be implemented to enhance the quality of telecommunication services at du." Jamal Al Sharif, Director, Dubai Studio City said: "Dubai Studio City has a long standing association with CABSAT.

"We are proud of this successful cooperation and we greatly look forward to taking this relationship to new levels of growth and efficiency that benefits the maximum number of broadcasters in the region. In our pursuit of excellence, we leverage our partners' strengths, expertise and solutions to create the most sophisticated infrastructure and services for the local, regional and international media community."

This is confirmed as many industry trendsetters are choosing CABSAT as a launch pad for their new products and services into the region. Companies include E-vision with their new video on demand service; Eurostar present their Green Box range of products and Horizon Satellite Services will launch their new technology that increases Internet service efficiency amongst many others


HDTV to be showcased at exhibition in Dubai


From http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Special_Events/10193304.html

Dubai: High definition television, (HDTV) a digital broadcast system and an innovative technology that will enhance the quality of telecommunication services, will be showcased at Cabsat, an international electronic, media and satellite communications event for Middle East, Africa and South Asia, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from March 4 to 6.

The technology is currently being used in Europe, North America and Australia and will now be available in the Gulf, as broadcasters prepare to switch from the traditional system, according to Mohammad Al Shahi, director of du broadcasting services. While endorsing Cabsat, the company is ready to broadcast on HD.

The event, catering to professionals in the broadcast, production and film industry, has seen a 30 per cent growth in industry backing in the past year. A world satellite industry report released in 2007 pegged global satellite revenue at $106.1 billion in 2006.

Growth

"Cabsat has been witnessing tremendous growth on the back of growing demand for advanced technology products due to DWTC's collaboration with global key industry associations and industry majors such as Arab States Broadcasting Union, first time endorser - Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council," said Helal Al Merri, director general of DWTC.

Dubai Studio City, a partners of Cabsat, is aiming to bring in additional regional and international companies to its portfolio of 32 broadcasting companies.


(Craig's comment, that might be the reason for the "MBC-HDTV" that was testing on Asiasat2 yesterday?)


Olympic first, Games go to pay TV


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23286551-5014197,00.html

IN a groundbreaking move, the International Olympic Committee has ended the grip of free-to-air television on its broadcast rights.

The IOC has awarded the Italian rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics to News Corporation's pay-TV arm Sky Italia.

It is the first time a pay-TV group in a large market has been awarded the IOC's full broadcast and electronic rights, effectively becoming the gatekeeper of the rights. The move follows the $110million deal by the Nine Network and Foxtel for Australian rights to the same Games.

The Italian deal ends the hold on Olympic TV rights by Italy's state-owned TV network RAI, which has traditionally broadcast the Olympics in the sports-mad country and will broadcast the Beijing Games.

While Sky Italia will have to do a deal with a free-to-air TV operator in Italy to provide a minimum coverage, the surprise decision signals the IOC's determination to seek media deals that provide the maximum potential for the thousands of hours of Olympic sport across all electronic platforms, from pay and free-to-air to the internet and mobile telephony.

It also opens up the potential for News Corporation-linked pay-TV groups in three countries to consult on the coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In Australia, pay-TV group Foxtel is 25 per cent owned by News Corporation (parent company of News Limited, publisher of The Australian), Media, with Telstra holding 50 per cent and Consolidated Media holding the final 25 per cent.

Last November the IOC awarded the New Zealand broadcast rights for the 2010 and 2012 Games to pay-TV operator Sky Network Television and its free-to-air channel Prime.

Sky Television New Zealand is 44 per cent owned by News Corporation.

Foxtel spokeswoman Kristen Foster said yesterday that the deal represented a "changing of the guard" with respect to the IOC's attitude towards subscription television.

She described the deal as transformational but said it was was early days in Foxtel's planning for coverage of the 2010 and 2012 Games.

Announcing the deal in Europe, IOC president Jacques Rogge said it would mean an increased coverage of the Games in Italy as well as "an exciting promotion of Olympic sports and Olympic values in Italy".

IOC vice-president Thomas Bach, who led the negotiations, said Sky Italia had "demonstrated an unrivalled commitment to the Olympic Games and the Olympic values that will allow sports fans in Italy the chance to see more Olympic sport than ever before".

Sky Italia chief executive Tom Mockridge said the deal showed Sky's "commitment to offer more quality and choice to our subscribers".

Mr Mockridge said Sky Italia would immediately begin discussions to identify the best free-to-air network to proceed with this project.

The Sky Italia deal is reported to have caught RAI by surprise. "It was asleep," said one observer this week.

RAI has traditionally shown the Olympics under a deal with the European Broadcasting Union, which negotiates a collective deal with the IOC on behalf of state-owned broadcasters including the BBC.

But this time around RAI did not want to pay the high price, after the EBU agreed a deal with the IOC in 2004 which represented a 40 per cent increase in fees for the 2010 and the 2012 Olympics to $US746 million in a deal covering 51 countries.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although one source said the IOC's decision was driven more by Sky's plans for extensive coverage across all platforms rather than the price.




27/02/08

Some services on D2 D1 C1 had an outage this evening due to heavy rain storm over the uplink.

MBC-HD seen testing on Asiasat 2 3904V sr 20000 Fec 3/4?


From my Email & ICQ


From Poppy

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you from Monocle Magazine with regards to the use and
reproduction of images that are to be found on your http://www.apsattv.com
website.
There is at least an image on this site that we would like to reproduce in
the April edition of our magazine. Our print dead line is very soon - Feb
27th, to be precise (GMT), and I would greatly appreciate it if you could
inform me as to your copyright policy/conditions with regards to these
materials. If you have any more screen shot of CCTV-9, please let me know.
Monocle magazine is a new global publication (please see www.monocle.com
<http://www.monocle.com> ) and as part of the media section of the magazine
we will be mentioning CCTV-9 and would like to use corresponding images.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would reply to me as soon as possible
with regards to this matter.

Best wishes,

Poppy Shibamoto


(Craig's comment, Feel free to use the images, plus others I have sent you. In exchange you might like to make a donation to a charity of your own choice.)


From the Dish


Insat 2E 83E 3612 V "Channel 8" has started on , Fta.

Thaicom 5 78.5E 12313 H "TVTV has replaced Hit station" on , Fta.

Thaicom 5 78.5E 3545 V A Shinsat mux has started on , SR 30000, FEC 5/6, same line-up as on 3625 V.


NEWS


No fast forward for Austar's recorder


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23281950-20142,00.html

REGIONAL pay-TV operator Austar United Communications is struggling to keep up with demand for the MyStar box - its answer to Foxtel's iQ digital video recorder - with 10,000 of the devices installed in subscribers' homes weeks after the box's official launch.

Chief executive John Porter told The Australian yesterday there was now a backlog of about 1500 customers waiting to have a MyStar box installed within the next two weeks: "We have a backlog of 7000 new customers (waiting for installation), of which 20 per cent are (taking up) MyStar."

Mr Porter unveiled a 23 per cent rise in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for Austar to $174 million for the year to December 31.

Bottom line net profit was down 63 per cent to $77.3 million, but this figure was affected by a tax gain the company made during the 2006 year.

The Austar chief used the briefing to forecast a minimum 20 per cent rise in EBIT for the 2008 financial year. Asked if the company expected to meet and beat this figure, Mr Porter replied: "No question."

One slight dampener has been an increase in churn, or customer disconnection rates, which rose to an average 1.33 per cent per month during the 2007 fourth quarter, up from a 1.1 per cent average during the previous quarter, following an increase in subscription rates.

Mr Porter claimed this rise meant little. "You can't focus on one statistic in one quarter and say the sky is falling. You can't stand here and say: 'I'm going to do a rate increase' and not impact churn. We plan for these things."

The strong MyStar take-up augurs well for separate launches later this year of Foxtel's new high-definition iQ and Seven Media's planned launch of the TiVo DVR.

Mr Porter said Austar would avoid trail-blazing, and closely watch the launch of the Foxtel HD version of the iQ before launching a similar HD MyStar in 2009.

"Foxtel has a strategy of being a market-maker on these things, and it's a luxury for us to be able to be a fast follower ... (For) an HD strategy, you've got to demonstrate a real point of difference in the quality you can deliver, and (for us), I don't think that's going to be in place until well into 2009."


Austar viewers stay tuned


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23281427-664,00.html

AUSTAR believes economic shocks are unlikely to crimp its growth, after unveiling an 11 per cent increase in subscribers for fiscal 2007.

The regional pay TV provider's chief executive John Porter said rising petrol prices and interest rates were unlikely to cause a large number of customers to cancel their pay TV subscription.

Last week Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said the number of subscribers cancelling their pay TV service had increased slightly, thanks in part to rising interest rates.

"For 95 per cent of people (pay TV) is not a consumer discretionary item - this is how they use their television," said Mr Porter.

"Our subscriber success is clearly in our hands."

Austar yesterday booked a 63.2 per cent slide in net profit to $77.31 million for the year to December 31, however, the previous year's net profit was helped by a one-off tax break.

Net profit before interest, tax and significant items increased 26 per cent to $106 million, while revenue rose 13 per cent to $568 million.

The company gained 67,660 new customers during the year, for a total base of 668,786.

Average revenue per user ended the fourth quarter almost 8 per cent lower at $76.27, however, churn -- the number of subscription cancellations - dropped from 1.38 per cent to 1.33 per cent in this quarter.

Mr Porter said Austar's double-digit top line growth had come despite operating expenses increasing only 1 per cent to $135 million.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 23 per cent to $174 million and Mr Porter said Austar expected "in excess of 20 per cent" EBITDA growth over 2008 and 2009.

"As an industry we are probably 50 per cent of the way through our high growth phase and we don't see anything rocking our world in that regard," he said.

Mr Porter said sales so far this year for the service - which offers programs ranging from AFL and A League soccer to soaps such as The Young & the Restless-- were "right on target", however installations had been slowed by heavy rains in regional NSW and Queensland.

In January Austar sold its WiMAX regional wireless broadband spectrum to an Optus and Elders rural broadband joint venture known as OPEL.

Austar shares closed 0.5 lower at $1.42.


NewSat's satellite access for rural areas put on hold


From http://www.crn.com.au/News/70899,newsats-satellite-access-for-rural-areas-put-on-hold.aspx

Australian satellite and Internet service provider, NewSat Limited, has had its application for an Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) license put on hold by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy.

According to NewSat CEO, Adrian Ballintine, the ABG licence would qualify NewSat to receive a subsidy for the provision of broadband access services via satellite to Australians living in rural and remote communities where such services are not currently available.

“This decision was unexpected, particularly following earlier positive indications and given the Department’s recent involvement with the West Australian Government to award a $2 million tender to NewSat to rollout broadband access services in the Kimberley,” he said. “The Kimberley project drew high praise from Government officials and passed its proof of concept stage last week.”

According to Ballintine, NewSat can reapply for the license in two months. It will work with the Department to address their concerns and seek an early review of the decision.

“Given that our delivery platform has been acquired, is in place and is ready to connect consumers today. Delay risks continuing to deny eligible rural and remote
Australians early access to broadband access services that metropolitan Australia takes for granted,” he said.

There are several options for review of the decision including re-application with an amended proposal. NewSat is pursuing these options with vigour and urgency and is confident that the issues and possible misinterpretations by the assessors will be resolved, said Ballintine.

Currently NewSat Limited provides a full range of managed communication services, telemetry, tracking and communications and carrier monitoring from its teleports in Perth, Adelaide and Newcastle to Australia/Oceania, Asia, the Middle East and Africa


SKY TELEVISION Selects NVISION for Broadcast Infrastructure


From http://www.pr-inside.com/sky-television-selects-nvision-for-broadcast-r456776.htm

- NVISION Aggie Frizzell, 425-503-3036 (USA) Director Communications [email protected] PH Cheung, +852 3541 9595 (Hong Kong) Regional Manager, Asia/Pacific [email protected] As part of its major expansion and refurbishment of their broadcast facility in Auckland, New Zealand, SKY TELEVISION (SKY) has purchased a number of NVISION digital video routers, including the largest video router in New Zealand,

an NVISION NV8256 in a 512x512 configuration. SKY, New Zealand's pre-eminent PayTV provider, broadcasts more than 70 channels in New Zealand via both DBS and UHF.

The larger 512x512 router was supplemented further by two NVISION NV8256 routers; one in a 256x256 configuration, and the other a 64x64 configuration. All the routers are commissioned for digital and HD programming. The system was completed with three NV9000 Router Control systems and numerous NVISION Control Panels, including several of the sophisticated, new NV9640 re-legendable control panels.

The sale of NVISION's systems, which are to be the foundation of SKY's broadcast infrastructure, was made through NVISION's New Zealand dealer, Cobalt Technologies Ltd.

Matt Watson, SKY's Head of Engineering, commented, "We are impressed by the high-bandwidth signal performance, solid control system, redundant architecture, and quality of manufacturing and support. The fact that NVISION is highly recommended by existing owners was also a consideration. The ability to limit a failure impact to just one input or output card on a matrix as large as a 512 square system is very important to a facility such as ours that must run uninterrupted service."

Chuck Meyer, president and CEO of NVISION, stated, "Our continuing technology leadership is the foundation for building the highest levels of quality, reliability, and scaleability into every NVISION broadcast system. This enables NVISION to meet SKY's high standards for its long-term broadcast infrastructure and for SKY to have confidence in the 24/7, high quality transmission they require for their HD programming."

About NVISION: Moving Pictures and Sound Around, Perfectly

NVISION is the leading provider of advanced technology and systems for the production and delivery of superior, error-free digital audio and HD/SD video used in all broadcast sectors and multi-format post production. The company's sole focus is the development and manufacture of high-performance, high-reliability, and cost-effective router, router control, and master control systems and modular broadcast products. Since its founding in 1989, NVISION has pioneered groundbreaking technological advances, including large-scale HD-SDI routing and synchronous AES routing - first in HD; first in 3Gb/s-enabled routers. For more information, please visit www.nvision.tv.

About SKY

SKY Television (SKY), broadcasting via both UHF and DBS, is New Zealand's pre-eminent Pay TV operator, offering a wide range of sports, movies, music, on-demand and general content across more than 70 channels. SKY's channel line-up includes six sports channels, five movie channels, seven general entertainment channels, five documentary channels, five news channels, four children's channels, as well as other niche channels. (At 26 February 2007, SKY had 690,994 subscribers).

SKY launched as a three-channel UHF service in 1990, with two further channels added four years later. SKY's UHF signal reaches more than 83% of the country's 1.5 million households. In December 1998 it launched a digital satellite service, extending its reach to the entire country. SKY also offers pay-per-view movies, live events and interactive services, including Skybet, the Weather Channel, and game channels Mind Games and Playin' TV. To learn more, see www.skytv.co.nz.


Measat-3a Scheduled For Launch In Q3 2008


From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=316650

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Measat satellite, Measat-1R which has been renamed as Measat-3a will be launched in the third quarter of this year, said Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd.

"The renaming of Measat-1R to Measat-3a better reflects the satellite's mission to provide expansion capacity, and in-orbit redundancy, for customers utilising the Measat-3 satellite," its chief operating officer Paul Brown-Kenyon said in a statement here, today.

Measat-3a has been designed to be co-located with Measat-3 at the 91.5 degree E orbital hot slot. The satellite will provide 12 high-powered C-band transponders providing coverage across a region bounded by Africa and Eastern Europe in the West, through to Japan and Australia in the East, and 12 high powered Ku-Band transponders for DTH (Direct-to-home) customers in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The satellite is constructed by Orbital Sciences Inc and is planned to be launched on a LandLaunch Zenith-3SL launch vehicle.

Brown-Kenyon added that Measat-3a has a strong pipeline of customers who are awaiting for its launch.


Thai Shin Sat to get India licence, stock rises


From http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSBKK20238320080227

BANGKOK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's Shin Satellite SATT.BK has been told it will receive a licence from the Indian government to import equipment for its key IPSTAR satellite, a company official said.

The construction of IPSTAR ground terminals in India would begin shortly and the company expected to launch services in India in the third quarter, the official quoted executive chairman Dumrong Kasemset as telling analysts on Tuesday. The news sent Shin Sat shares up to a four-month high of 10.80 baht, but it slipped back to 10.50 baht, up 2.94 percent at 0415 GMT, when the main Thai index .SETI was up 0.11 percent.

India is one of Shin Sat's top targets along with China, where the company is in talks with telecoms operators to provide IPSTAR services, and could use up to 17 percent of the satellite's capacity.

IPSTAR, which has a capacity of 45 gigabytes per second (Gbps), 20 times higher than conventional satellites, contributed almost 30 percent of Shin Sat's revenues in 2007 and the proportion was expected to rise this year, the company has said.

The $400 million IPSTAR, the world's largest broadband satellite, provides high-speed Internet and telecoms services.

Shin Sat, which operates five satellites, was founded by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose relatives sold their controlling stake in Shin Corp SHIN.BK, which owns 41 percent of Shin Sat, to Singapore's Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL] in 2006. ($1 = 32.21 Baht) (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong, Editing by Michael Battye)


Sea Launch Signs With Intelsat for Two Land Launch Missions


From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/sea-launch-signs-with-intelsat-for-two-land-launch-missions,293707.shtml

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- In an agreement signed with Intelsat in January, Sea Launch will deliver two communications satellites built by Orbital Sciences Corporation to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. These Land Launch missions are currently planned for 2009 and serve to re-purpose manifest slots previously planned for two other Intelsat spacecraft.

The Intelsat 15 (IS-15) satellite will replace Intelsat 709 currently positioned at 85 degrees East Longitude. The high power Ku-band payload will provide video and data services for the Middle East, Indian Ocean Regions and Russia. Based on Orbital's STAR(TM) spacecraft bus, IS-15 will produce 4.6 kW of payload power and feature two 2.3 meter dual-grid deployable reflectors as well as one 1.4 meter dual-grid deck-mounted antenna.

The Intelsat 16 (IS-16) satellite will provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) transponder capacity for DIRECTV subsidiaries. IS-16 will provide in-orbit backup and additional transponder capacity for both Brazil and Mexico. The payload is designed to provide 24 Ku transponders over Brazil for Sky Brasil at 43.1 degrees West Longitude or capacity coverage over Mexico and Gulf of Mexico regions at 58 degrees West Longitude.

"We are very pleased to be able to re-negotiate these manifest slots with Intelsat, further reflecting our strong relationship with them. Intelsat continues to demonstrate their confidence in our Land Launch services and in our team."

The Land Launch system uses a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch medium weight satellites from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Both the satellites and the launch vehicles will be integrated and launched from the Zenit processing and launch facilities at Baikonur.

Based on the collaboration of the Sea Launch Company and Space International Services (SIS), of Moscow, Land Launch is designed to meet the launch needs of an emerging market for dedicated commercial launches in the medium spacecraft mass range. Sea Launch and SIS provide commercial customers with mission management. SIS is also responsible for hardware production and launch operations. For additional information, please go to: http://www.sea-launch.com/land-launch/index.html

Sea Launch Company, LLC, based in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. For additional information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: http://www.sea-launch.com/.


Intelsat Announces Two Senior Level Appointments


From http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24856

Pembroke, Bermuda, 25 February 2008 Intelsat, Ltd., the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, today announced two new senior level appointments, effective immediately.

Intelsat Chief Executive Officer Dave McGlade has appointed Kurt Riegelman to the position of Senior Vice President, Global Sales, and Tobias (Toby) Nassif to the position of Vice President, Satellite Operations & Engineering.

As Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Mr. Riegelman is responsible for all of Intelsat's sales activities around the world, which include providing video, network and managed telecommunications solutions to businesses in approximately 200 countries and territories. As Intelsat's former Senior Vice President, Americas Sales, Mr. Riegelman successfully led his teams through the challenges of integrating two global sales forces and delivered well in excess of the company's revenue targets in the first year of combined operations. Mr. Riegelman brings more than 15 years experience in the satellite industry to his new position.

In the role as Vice President, Satellite Operations & Engineering, Mr. Nassif is responsible for all aspects of operations and engineering of Intelsat's global satellite fleet and for operating the satellites of third-party customers. A former officer in the U.S. Navy and professor of computer science, Mr. Nassif most recently served as the Senior Director of Intelsat's Long Beach Satellite Operations Center, which serves as the 'hot backup' to Intelsat's East Coast Satellite Control Center in Washington, D.C. and is the primary control center for Intelsat's third-party satellite operations functions. Mr. Nassif has 13 years experience in the satellite industry. About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services (FSS) worldwide, delivering advanced transmission access for information and entertainment to some of the world's leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat also offers seamless service for voice, data and video transmission unmatched in the industry. With the globalization of content, broadband, telecom, HD and IPTV fueling next-generation growth, the ever expanding universe of satellite services are the cornerstones of today's Intelsat. Real-time, advanced communications with people anywhere in the world is closer, by far. Contact

Dianne VanBeber
[email protected]
+1 202 944 7406


Russian TV Times selects Intelsat for European launch


From http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=29573

Russian TV Times (rTVT) has selected global satellite operator Intelsat to expand its TV offering into Europe.

The companies have signed a multi-year, multi-transponder contract to bring up to 30 channels of Russian news, film and sports programming to the Russian-speaking population in Europe. The channel line-up includes Feniks-Art, Bridge TV, Sarafan, Russkij Extreme, Travel Channel (UK), TV Centr International, ESPN Classic Europe and WorldMadeChannel.

The Intelsat 12 satellite provides capacity used for program distribution, broadcast contribution and enterprise networking. It is also Intelsat's leading HD satellite in the region, currently distributing international programming to millions of viewers across Europe.


Liberty Global loses $422.6M in 2007


From http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/02/25/daily23.html

Liberty Global Inc. on Tuesday reported double-digit revenue growth and subscriber additions in almost all its markets in 2007, but found taxes, exchange rates and other expenses ate away at earnings.

Englewood-based Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA) is an international cable television and Internet provider company that was spun off from John Malone's Liberty Media Inc. in 2005.

It reported losing $422.6 million, or minus $1.11 per share, on revenue of $9 billion in 2007.

That compares with a loss of $334 million, or minus 76 cents per share, on revenue of $6.5 billion in 2006.

The company said its $666 million operating surplus in 2007 was offset by income taxes, monetary exchanges rates and "other non-operating expenses" generated by the business.

The 22,000-employee Liberty Global runs combinations of cable television, satellite TV, broadband or telephone companies in 15 countries, most of them in Europe, but also in Japan and Chile.

It added nearly 1.5 million subscribers in 2007 and counts 24 million customers total, 14.7 million of them in paid television, nearly 5.4 million in broadband services and 3.9 million telephone customers.

Liberty Global reported experiencing stiffer competition for customers in the Netherlands and Central Europe.

The company increasingly turned to bundling services to win new customers and was able to increase by 13 percent, to $39.07, the amount it got each month from the typical subscriber, Liberty said.


ILS Proton To Launch S2M Satellite For Mobile TV Service In Middle East And North Africa


From http://www.space-travel.com/reports/ILS_Proton_To_Launch_S2M_Satellite_For_Mobile_TV_Service_In_Middle_East_And_North_Africa_999.html

The satellite will be based on Space Systems/ Loral's flight-proven 1300 platform. It will have a maximum launch mass of nearly six metric tons and a lifespan of more than 15 years, and will deliver 20kW of power.

International Launch Services (ILS) have announced a contract with S2M to use a Proton Breeze M vehicle to launch the first dedicated mobile television satellite for the MENA region. The companies made the announcement during the Satellite 2008 industry conference in Washington, D.C.

The Proton Breeze M is Russia's leading heavy-lift vehicle, which launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton rocket worldwide to commercial satellite operators. Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow, one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry, manufactures the Proton and is in a partnership with ILS.

"It is exciting to see the growth of both satellite-delivered mobile entertainment and of S2M," said ILS President Frank McKenna. "We are confident that Proton, with its performance capability and schedule assurance, will enable the S2M business to succeed in meeting the demands for these new mobile services."

The satellite will be based on Space Systems/ Loral's flight-proven 1300 platform. It will have a maximum launch mass of nearly six metric tons and a lifespan of more than 15 years, and will deliver 20kW of power. The satellite's primary S-band payload, in conjunction with a terrestrial digital broadcasting network, will provide high-quality video and audio broadcasts via mobile phones and other personal mobile devices throughout the region.

"Our company will be implementing its service within the MENA region this year," said Mario Hoek, director of marketing of S2M. "The satellite is instrumental to our expansion plans and one of many steps in defining S2M as the leading provider of media-rich, mobile entertainment to customers in the Middle East and North Africa. We have confidence that ILS and the Proton will deliver the performance we require to have the satellite in place to ensure continuous mobile entertainment service."


Australian Open broadcast rights stay with ESPN Star Sports


From http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/8863/94/

NEW DELHI: It is game, set and match for Asia's number one sports broadcaster as ESPN STAR Sports announced its new seven-year contract for the Australian Open till 2014 covering cable and satellite, IPTV, DTH and Terrestrial rights.

ESPN STAR Sports and Tennis Australia have also agreed to a ground-breaking collaboration for new media platforms such as mobile telephony and internet.

The new contract gives ESPN STAR Sports rights for the entire territory including China for 2008, while beginning 2009 the rights will cover 23 countries across South Asia, South East Asia and North Asia with the exception of China.

ESPN STAR Sports has been bringing all the excitement of the Australian Open to tennis fans across Asia since 2002 and with this agreement will ensure that millions of fans across Asia continue to enjoy the action in the distinctive ESPN STAR Sports style directly from the hard courts of Melbourne Park.

ESPN STAR Sports will continue to support the Australian Open match coverage with comprehensive presentation packages including daily highlights, news and analysis as well as  behind-the-scene looks at the tournament.

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said:  "The Australian Open has always occupied a special place in Asian sports fans' hearts with its legacy as one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of tennis.

We have built a very successful partnership with Tennis Australia over the last six years and we are extremely pleased to now extend our relationship for another seven years.

"With the strong equity that our brands enjoy across Asia and the strength of our new media platforms including mobile and online, we are committed to further strengthen the appeal and distribution of Australian Open across Asia and to continue its growth as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific."

A delighted Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood said the new deal marked a new chapter in a very strong relationship with ESPN STAR Sports.

"ESPN STAR Sports has been a highly valued partner to Tennis Australia and the Australian Open," Wood said. "As the leader in Asian sports television, ESPN STAR Sports is the perfect fit for the Grand Slam of Asia Pacific.

"We appreciate, in particular, how well ESS has continued to promote the event and contributed to raising the popularity of the Australian Open across Asia. We look forward to continuing that growth with ESS support."

Last month ESS concluded the successful broadcast of 'The Australian Open 2008', with its coverage on various networks across Asia featuring the legendary tennis player Vijay Amritraj as expert commentator and the popular anchor Alan Wilkins presenting the highly-watched programming line-up..

This latest multi-year acquisition adds to a stellar list of the world's top tennis events already airing on the ESPN STAR Sports network, including the Wimbledon throughout Asia, the French Open in South Asia, the ATP Masters Series, which comprises ten of the best tennis tournaments outside of the Grand Slams and the Hyundai Hopman Cup, the only ITF official international mixed teams competition.

ESPN STAR Sports' comprehensive tennis coverage goes beyond its stable of tennis tournament coverage and includes its original in-house production, 'Ace' which features the latest results and updates in the world of tennis, as well as exclusive interviews with top tennis players.

It will also begin to air shows such as 'Destination Tennis', the show that features best places for tennis vacations on and off the court; 'No Strings', a unique behind-the-scenes, up close and personal look at some of the world's biggest tennis stars; and 'Tactical Tennis', an instructional series for tennis fans to take their game to the next level.


Duty cut on set top boxes proposed


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022751571000.htm

New Delhi, Feb 26 The Telecom Regulatory Authority has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to push for a reduction of Customs and Excise duties on set top boxes, their spare parts and digital head end equipments to be brought down to zero per cent from their present rates.

The Minister, Mr P.R. Dasmunsi, informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, that the recommendation amongst others has been forwarded to the Finance Ministry which has been “requested to constitute committees to study the present structure of levies on broadcasting, DTH and cable sector on the one hand and the film industry on the other.”

The reduction of duties has been a long standing demand of the broadcasting industry. For example, the DTH industry which pays an excise duty at 16 per cent on the set top boxes, has been asking for rationalisation reduction to eight per cent.

According to the industry, the end-consumer price has a tax component aggregating a prohibitive 56 per cent, leading to the entry cost to a subscriber being disproportionately high. The DTH service provider currently pays a licence fee of 10 per cent of the adjusted gross revenue, service tax of 12.36 per cent on subscription fee revenue and an entertainment tax.

In other words, calculate DTH operators, for subscription revenue of Rs 200, they pay Rs 95 in taxes and levies. They point out that their service is simultaneously being taxed for being an entertainment activity and a service too. Classified as Broadcasting Services, they pay a service tax and an entertainment tax which varies ranging from 20 to 30 per cent depending on States.




26/02/08

Live satellite chat 9pm NZ and 8.30pm NZ in the chatroom

In Satfacts this month

Trimax Sm 2200 meter review, Bob Luly satellite Pioneer remembered, feedback on last months "Then what article"

(The APRIL issue will be the FINAL issue of Satfacts magazine. Those sending cheques for renewel will continue to receive "Satfacts extended" (A newsletter) until individual subscriptions expire.)


From my Email & ICQ


Nothng to report


From the Dish


Thaicom 5 78.5E 4145 V "Channel Five" is back on , Fta, SR 4615, FEC 1/2.

Telstar 10 76.5E 3704 V "GMA Life TV" has started on , Fta.

Intelsat 10 68.5E "E! Emea" has left 4064 H.


NEWS


More viewers, less profit for Austar


From http://business.smh.com.au/more-viewers-less-profit-for-austar/20080226-1utp.html

Pay television company Austar United Communications expects to further increase its underlying earnings this year after posting a fall in bottom-line net profit in calendar 2007.

The subscription television company increased subscriber numbers during 2007 by 67,660 subscribers to 668,786 subscribers.

The company's net profit fell 63.2% to $77.31 million, but profit before interest, tax and significant items increased 26% to $106 million.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 23% to $174 million in 2007.

Chief executive John Porter said Austar expected EBITDA growth ``in excess of 20%'' over 2008 and 2009.

Mr Porter said the company planned to spend 2008 consolidating its subscription TV platform and investigating several opportunities.

''We will be strategically looking at the triple play offering and working with Optus and OPEL to see if we can deliver a product in the 2009/2010 time frame.''

Austar shares fell 5 cents, or 3.4%, to $1.42.

In January, Austar announced it was selling its spectrum holdings to OPEL Ventures, Optus and Elders, for $65 million to help fund the building of a WiMAX network in regional Australia.

Austar said it planned to end 2008 with more than 50,000 MyStar personal digital recorders in the field.

Churn, which is the number of account holders whose service is terminated during the period, increased to 1.33% in the fourth quarter, up from 1.10% in the third quarter.

Mr Porter said economic factors in Australia, such as interest rate rises, were not having a big impact on the business.

Austar said last week that its churn was higher partly due to economic factors.

''Having been through a lot of downturns and having seen consumer response to macro economic events in relationship with their subscription TV ... do you have some churn around the margins? Of course,'' Mr Porter said.

''There's some bad news around regional Australia with interest rates, some good news too, it's raining like crazy.''

He said a still booming commodities business was creating tremendous growth in regional Queensland centres.

''I believe that in challenging financial times, for many people, not all of them, I think this product is excellent value in the home,'' he said.

''Austar believes that our subscriber success is completely in our hands and that's how we're approaching 2008 and 2009.''

Total average revenue per user (ARPU) fell nearly 8% to $76.27 a month in the fourth quarter compared to third quarter of 2007.

No final dividend was declared, in line with last year.


Opera on the Big Screen


From http://www.australianstage.com.au/news/sydney/opera-on-the-big-screen-1158.html

Opera Australia and the Australian Film Commission, have announced the first live transmission of an opera from the Sydney Opera House to regional cinemas across Australia.

On the evening of Wednesday 12 March 2008, Opera Australia’s new production of Carmen will be transmitted via satellite from the Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre to eight regional cinemas that form the AFC’s Regional Digital Screen Network in Albany (WA), Devonport (TAS), Hervey Bay (QLD), Yarram (VIC), Katherine (NT), Port Augusta (SA), Wagga Wagga and Singleton (NSW) as well as to live sites on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt and at Federation Square, Melbourne.

Opera on the Big Screen will be screened free of charge to an audience of up to 7000 people, with 4000 on the Sydney Opera House steps, 1000 at Federation Square and over 2000 in cinemas across Australia.

Adrian Collette, Chief Executive of Opera Australia said “Following the success of Opera Australia’s inaugural live-site relay of La traviata to the Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House and to Federation Square in Melbourne, last March, we were keen to broaden the audience for this spectacular live event. Carmen is the ideal opera for first-timers and it is a great privilege to be able to present a relay of this wonderful production on screens throughout Australia. We are grateful to the Australian Film Commission for joining with us in presenting Carmen through its Regional Digital Screen Network.”

He continued, "This is another very significant step in ensuring that the work of the national opera company and our artists are enjoyed and seen by as many people as possible across Australia and overseas.”

Carmen is Bizet's best-known opera, and one of the most popular operas of all time. It was first performed in 1875 and has been a central part of the operatic repertoire ever since. Part of its appeal is its salacious story, initially denounced by critics as immoral, and its vivid range of characters from Carmen, the passionate gypsy to Escamillo, the heroic bullfighter. But the main reason it has endured must be Bizet's evocative music, which includes a string of hit arias from Carmen's sexy Habanera, to the bravura of the Toreador's Song.

On Wednesday 12 March, Australian mezzo-soprano Catherine Carby, who won praise for her appearances as Carmen in Opera Australia's 2002 production, will sing the title role. She is joined by Rosario La Spina, who has been steadily building his repertoire of romantic tenor roles with Opera Australia, as the tragic Don José. His rival, the bullfighter Escamillo, is sung by the young Melbourne-born bass-baritone Joshua Bloom who is making his debut at The Metropolitan Opera, New York later this year. Soprano Tiffany Speight performs the role of Don José's sweetheart Micaela, with Shane Lowrencev as Zuniga, the lieutenant of Don José's guard. Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artists Amy Wilkinson and Sian Pendry are the gypsy’s Frasquita and Mercedes alongside Andrew Moran as the corporal Morales. Stephen Mould will conduct the performance.

"This partnership between the AFC and Opera Australia expands the benefits of the AFC’s Regional Digital Screen Network from screening the latest Australian films to include broader cultural events. The AFC is excited to be at the forefront of this new cinema activity in Australia" said AFC Chief Executive Chris Fitchett.

Opera Australia’s new production of Carmen is directed by American Francesca Zambello, a world-renowned director of opera, theatre and television whose previous productions for Opera Australia include Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk in 2003 and The Love for Three Oranges in 2005.

She says of the production: "I wanted to capture the heat, the cold of the mountains, the sense of the society, the range of the classes of the people, the gypsy girls versus the Spanish girls, and the sense of the elements – fire, water, wind, rain. I wanted to do a realistic Carmen."

Designed by Tanya McCallin and Paule Constable with choreography by Denni Sayers, this production of Carmen had its first staging in 2006 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and features live animals on stage including two horses, Drummer and Jamieson, a donkey and some chickens.

Damien Beaumont, presenter of ABC Classic FM, will host Opera on the Big Screen from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

"ABC Classic FM is delighted to strengthen our partnership with Opera Australia in 2008 which already involves four live radio broadcasts of opera productions throughout the year, including Carmen from Melbourne on 26 April 2008," said Julia Lester, Acting Manager, Classic FM

Carmen is currently in season at the Sydney Opera House until 28 March 2008. It will open at the Arts Centre, Melbourne on 9 April 2008.


Maori Television to launch new channel March 28


From http://www.throng.co.nz/maori-television/maori-television-to-launch-new-channel-march-28

MAORI TELEVISION LAUNCHES 100% MAORI LANGUAGE CHANNEL

Maori Television’s new reo Maori channel will be officially launched at a dawn ceremony at 5.00 AM on Friday March 28 before its first, live-to-air broadcast from the gala dinner of the World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference in Auckland later that night.

Staff, stakeholders and delegates at the three-day international conference will attend the early-morning karakia and unveiling of a plaque at the station’s Newmarket, Auckland, headquarters exactly four years after the on-air launch of New Zealand’s national indigenous broadcaster.

At 8.00 PM, an hour-long live-to-air broadcast will simulcast on both channels from the conference’s closing event at the SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre and will also be streamed on the website www.maoritelevision.com.

The new channel – the name of which will be announced on March 10 – will initially broadcast during the prime time hours of 8.00 PM to 11.00 PM seven days a week on Freeview channel 24 and also on SKY Digital.

Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the aim is to better meet the needs of fluent Maori speakers, committed second language learners and those viewers keen to have full immersion Maori language households.

All programming will be exclusively in te reo Maori with no advertising or subtitles. There will also be special tribal programming and a particular focus on new programming for the older, fluent audience.

“Uppermost in our focus is our commitment to the promotion of the Maori language – this is at the core of Maori Television’s purpose and for which we continue to strive,” Mr Mather says.

“While we are confident we are delivering to the legislative requirements upon us, we are of the view that more can be done to enhance the future of our language and the development of digital technology is a key opportunity to advance this.

“We see this new channel as complementary to the service we are already providing and as an important new contributor to collective efforts to support the promotion and retention of our native language and the preservation of our culture.”


Thailand's Shin Corp 2007 net profit down 72 pct


From http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSBKK23070220080226

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Shin Corp SHIN.BK, Thailand's largest telecoms group, said on Tuesday its 2007 net profit slumped 72 percent due to losses on investments in the media and consumer finance businesses.

Shin Corp, controlled by Singapore's Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL] through two Thai-registered companies, reported a 960 million baht ($30 million) net profit, down from 3.41 billion baht in 2006.

Two analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a 2007 net profit of 0.4-3.0 billion baht. Kim Eng Securities said it expected Shin Corp to make a net profit of 6.8 billion baht this year.

The company had a net profit of 730 million baht in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with a net loss of 1.27 billion baht a year earlier, according to a Reuters calculation.

Shin Corp, valued at $2.9 billion on the Thai bourse, comprises more than 20 companies in the wireless, satellite, Internet and media sectors with Advanced Info Service ADVA.BK contributing more than 80 percent of profits.

AIS, 43-percent owned by Shin Corp, operates Thailand's largest mobile phone network with about 50 percent market share and contributed 6.89 billion baht profits in 2007, down 0.7 percent, Shin Corp said.

Shin Corp booked a 1.38 billion baht loss from the sale of its consumer finance unit Capital OK and a gain of 407 million baht from selling its stake in budget airline Thai AirAsia, the statement said.

Shin Corp sold its wholly-owned Capital OK in the fourth quarter last year after it sold Thai AirAsia in June in a divestment of non-core assets.

It also booked a loss of 2.45 billion baht from its media business in 2007 after the government took over the operating licence of its 53-percent owned subsidiary, ITV, in March.

After the earnings announcement, Shin Corp shares were unchanged at 29.75 baht at 0320 GMT, when the overall Thai stock market .SETI was up 0.44 percent. ($1= 33.87 Baht) (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Michael Battye)


Discovery Channel Magazine Makes Its Debut in Asia


From http://www.asiamediajournal.com/pressrelease.php?id=250

SINGAPORE - Knowledge and adventure seekers in Asia will be thrilled to hear that the much-awaited Discovery Channel Magazine, inspired by the enlightening and entertaining television network, hits newsstands across Asia today. The magazine was launched in Singapore last night at an event attended by more than 200 industry guests. There will be another trade event in Hong Kong on February 26.

The Discovery Channel Magazine is a collaborative effort between two media giants – Discovery Networks Asia, a division of the number one non-fiction media company Discovery Communications, and Reader’s Digest Asia, part of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., global publisher and marketer of books, magazines, music and video. With the most distributed television brand joining forces with renowned global publisher of the largest selling monthly magazine in the world, the Discovery Channel Magazine will set itself apart by its quality, breadth and accessibility. With the Discovery Channel Magazine, consumers can now literally take Discovery Channel with them wherever they go.

Published bi-monthly, the Discovery Channel Magazine promises to be an enjoyable read for the whole family, featuring engaging content that is the hallmark of Discovery Channel, the world’s most distributed television brand. Readers can look forward to concise, engaging articles and stunning images encompassing a wide range of topics – from demystifying science and technology and decoding animal behaviour to unraveling history and exploring ancient civilizations – that share knowledge, satisfy curiosity and inspire the very joy of Discovery.

The inaugural issue takes readers to the many worlds of Discovery - the world of tomorrow (Your Future Life), the world that shaped us (Secrets of the Sands), the world we share (Back from the Brink), the world in our grasp (Guilty! Convicted in the Crime Lab) and the world beyond us (Stalkers of the Supernatural).

The magazine is available in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Discovery Channel Magazine retails in Singapore for S$7.90, in Malaysia for RM$14.90, Philippines for PHP250, in Hong Kong HKD45, in Taiwan TWD180, in Thailand THB190, in Japan JPY987 and Korea KRW9,000. Yearly subscriptions will also be available.

Rosemarie Wallace, Regional Managing Director of Reader’s Digest Asia, is the publisher of the new magazine. A separate team of experienced writers and designers have been assembled to work on the new magazine, which will be based in Singapore. Editor-in-chief of the English edition of Reader\'s Digest in Asia, Jim Plouffe, oversees the Discovery Channel Magazine.


Pentagon: Missile hit satellite's fuel tank


From http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/NATION/802250408/1020/NATION

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon said Monday it has a "high degree of confidence" that the missile fired at a dead U.S. spy satellite in space destroyed the satellite's fuel tank as planned.

In its most definitive statement yet on the outcome of last Wednesday's shootdown over the Pacific, the Pentagon said that based on debris analysis it is clear that the Navy missile destroyed the fuel tank, "reducing, if not eliminating, the risk to people on Earth from the hazardous chemical."

The tank had 1,000 pounds of hydrazine, a toxic substance that U.S. government officials believed posed a potential health hazard to humans if the satellite had descended to Earth on its own.

The presence of the hydrazine was cited by U.S. officials as the main reason to shoot down the satellite -- described as the size of a school bus -- which would otherwise have fallen out of orbit on its own in early March. The satellite lost power shortly after reaching its initial orbit in December 2006.

Pentagon officials had said almost immediately after the shootdown by a missile fired from the USS Lake Erie that it appeared the tank had been hit squarely, but they carried out further analysis before reaching a final conclusion.

As of Monday there had been no reports of debris landing on Earth, and it is unlikely any will remain intact to impact the ground, the Pentagon statement said.

"By all accounts this was a successful mission," Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in the Pentagon statement Monday. "From the debris analysis, we have a high degree of confidence the satellite's fuel tank was destroyed and the hydrazine has been dissipated."

The Pentagon statement said a space operations center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., is tracking fewer than 3,000 pieces of satellite debris, all smaller than a football.


Vandenberg Air Force Base tracking thousands of pieces of debris from destroyed satellite


From http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=7922398

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE

Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base are tracking thousands of pieces of debris from a destroyed satellite.

The military shot it down last week as it orbited the earth.

The spy satellite, launched from Vandenberg back in December of 2006, stopped working shortly after it entered space.

Monday, the Pentagon announced it is confident a tank carrying toxic fuel was destroyed by the missile.

"The assessment now is that the intercept was successful in reaching the tank, and that the hydrazine contained therein has now dissipated," said Joint Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Carter Ham.

The satellite exploded into about 3,000 pieces.

The debris are smaller than a football and not expected to stay intact as they re-enter the earth's atmosphere.


FCC OKs Murdoch asset-swap deal


From http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-directv26feb26,1,3811516.story

WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators on Monday approved a long-pending deal allowing News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch to swap his controlling interest in satellite broadcaster DirecTV Group Inc. for a larger stake in his own company.

News Corp.'s 38.4% stake in El Segundo-based DirecTV goes to former cable executive John Malone and his holding company Liberty Media Corp. Liberty also gets $550 million in cash and Fox's regional cable sports networks in Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh in exchange for its 16.3% equity stake in News Corp.

The deal had been in the works since 2004 as Murdoch sought to consolidate his hold on News Corp.

"Rupert Murdoch doesn't want anybody controlling that much of the stock," said Larry Witt, an equity analyst with Morningstar Inc.

The deal, which is tax-free because it involves a swap of assets, amounts to a large share repurchase by News Corp., he said. Liberty's stake in News Corp. is valued at about $11 billion.

The Justice Department still must give its approval.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal with some conditions, saying that "the public interest benefits of the transfer outweighed the potential harms."

Liberty agreed to abide by arbitration provisions involving regional sports networks and the ability to retransmit broadcast stations that were imposed on News Corp. when the FCC approved its acquisition of DirecTV from Hughes Electronics Corp. in 2003.

Also, the FCC ordered that Liberty must end its common ownership of cable TV operations and DirecTV in Puerto Rico within one year either by reducing its ownership stake or selling one of the assets.

Liberty adds DirecTV to entertainment investments that include interests in home shopping channel QVC, Starz Entertainment, Time Warner and IAC/InterActiveCorp.

FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein, a Democrat, dissented on part of the decision, complaining that DirecTV still does not provide access to local broadcast TV stations in "scores of markets" nationwide.

But he and fellow Democrat Michael J. Copps, who both oppose more media consolidation, said they supported the transfer of DirecTV to Liberty because it would lessen News Corp.'s holdings.

"The question here is whether we should approve the transfer of assets from one giant media conglomerate to a marginally-less-giant media conglomerate," Copps said. "Once consummated, the transaction will result in a measure of de-consolidation and somewhat less vertical integration."


GreyCells18 launches education channel Topper


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb309.php

MUMBAI: Greycells18 Media has announced the launch of its curriculum-based education TV channel Topper, which is part of the Topper Integrated Learning System (TILS).

The new education channel will initially cater to classes IX to XII, and provide content that will comply with CBSE and other related state boards. It will Initially cover physics, chemistry and mathematics.

GreyCells18 co-promoter Raghav Bahl said, "It is about time India looked beyond TV as a medium of entertainment like in the west. We are confident that Topper learning system will not only broaden people's horizon as TV as a medium of education but will also revolutionise the education system in India."

TILS deploys technologies like digital video, text and data on the DTH platforms. It provides content such as "Daily Quiz," "Topic Tips" and study pages.

Till 15 April, Topper will be a free-to-preview 24 hours television channel available on DTH platforms Tata Sky and Dish TV. It can be viewed on channel 570 on Tata Sky and on channel 097 on Dish TV, respectively.

With three hours of fresh content from 3 to 6 pm, the channel will telecast six fresh episodes daily with four episodes based on the regular course and two episodes on the exam specials (pertaining to the upcoming board exams).

All fresh episodes will have four repeat telecasts over the week to allow students to catch up on what they may have missed.

After viewing a topic on Topper TV, a student can access additional study material on the site ww.topperlearning.com, and also take tests online. A performance record of each student is maintained to check progress. The portal also offers an interactive facility, whereby students have access to a panel of experts who will answer their queries online.

GreyCells18 co-founder Sunil Khanna said, "We are happy to announce the launch of the first curriculum-based learning system. Statistics show that there are approximately 300 million kids who enrolled in schools across India. With limited seats available in colleges and premium professional courses, it is imperative to have a strong primary and secondary education background. Thus, there is a significant opportunity to supplement the existing school system for children to make the best of their secondary education. We hope Topper will provide a major impetus to the current education system. "

The "educators" of the channel include Chandralekha Singh, PhD from University of California, currently teaching at Pittsburg University; Shankar Venkatagiri, Phd from Georgia Tech, currently teaching at IIM Bangalore; Debabrata Goswami, Phd from Princeton University, currently teaching at IIT Kanpur; Shaleen Sharma, B Tech (Hons) from IIT Roorkee; Sumeet Luthra, MBBS, FRCS(London); Mona Srivastava M.Tech, IIT-Delhi; and Pavan Chauhan B.Tech, PGDBM (IIM Bangalore).

Greycells18 co-founder Sricharan Iyengar said, "'Topper' features a group of star teachers who have been carefully identified. With exceptional track records - iconic and inspirational – these individuals come armed with experience gathered from teaching in the best institutes of the world, coupled with a passion for their subject. This team will present modules to students in the in the simplest manner."

Greycells18 Media is a joint venture forged by Sunil Khanna (former head of Reliance's DTH and associated with Zee's distribution business for long), and Sricharan Iyengar (former VP and business head ESPN Star Sports). Also holding equity are Shantanu Prakash of Educomp and Network18's private equity initiative Capital18.




25/02/08

A new Japanese satellite has been launched for highspeed internet services. Kizuna is located at 143E offering services via the KA band. Some of the example footprints include beams over Auckland and Sydney.

How does 155mbits from a 45cm dish sound? or.1.2gbit!!

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f14/index_e.html

A Press Kit is here, including footprint coverage areas
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f14/special/h2af14_pressKit_e.pdf

NHK TV has started FTA on Optus D2 12733V sr 22500 Fec 3/4


From my Email & ICQ


From Len

NHK World TV Has Arrived on Optus D2 Globecast mux

NHK World TV is now on D2 12733V (where Deepam was).

Len


From A Reader


NZ DTT Zinwell HDTV 620 settop box..
Sorry for the low quality Cell phone images

HDMI and USB port is obscurred by cabling to the right. As you can see there is no scart but it does have an Svideo conection, component, composite video and coax/spdif audio. Sorry for the blurry menu shots.




From Kyle Brophy

a few weekend feeds

AS4 12360 v 6620 "Cricket"
D1 12679 v 7200 "V8 cars"
D2 12670 v 6670 "Horses"


From Anon

Feed D1 12680V BCS SLOT 6 "80th Academy Awards"


From the Dish


Agila 2 146E 12621 V "BenSports 1-6" have started on , Nagravision, SR 30000, FEC 3/4. ( Located at Clark in Manilla. This service simply steals sports content from other providers and rebroadcasts it. They are planning to encrypt it and charge a subscription!!!)

Cakrawarta 1 107.7E 2565 H "Baby TV Asia has replaced Vision 3 Baby" on , Videoguard.

AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 3816 H "Eurosport Pacific" is encrypted again.

Yamal 201 90E 3605 L "CNL" has started on , Fta, SR 2626, FEC 3/4.
Insat 4A 83E 3756 H "India News" has started on , Fta.
Insat 4A 83E World Movies and UTV Movies have started on 3805 H, Irdeto.

Thaicom 5 78.5E 3460 V "Dharti TV Network" has started on , Fta, SR 3333, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3489 V "Sagarmatha TV" has started on , Fta, SR 3333, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 4145 V "Channel Five" has left .

Thaicom 2 78.5E 4173 H An IPM mux has started on , enc., SR 10000.

ABS 1 75E 12610 V "Fox Crime Russia" has started on , Fta.

Insat 3C 74E DD Dehradun has left 4130 V, moved to Insat 4B. DD Raipur has left 4166 V


NEWS


Foxtel customers stranded in call backlog


From http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/foxtel-customers-stranded-in-call-backlog/2008/02/22/1203467388916.html

IF YOU are thinking of becoming a Foxtel customer in the near future, think twice.

Callers to the pay TV operator are lost in a telephone maze of recorded messages with little chance of talking to a real person - unless they want to pay their bill.

Since Foxtel changed its computer system holding existing customers' records last week, the company has drowned in a backlog of calls. Unless they are very lucky, callers cannot connect to an operator.

Potential customers who press "option one" are told Foxtel is too busy to take their calls. The callers are then cut off. Existing customers are similarly ignored with the message "we are busy bedding down our new computer system".

The problem began on February 14, when the company "upgraded" its customer service system with the promise of "servicing our customers better", as promised in one of the recorded messages.

This week, Guy Maine, Foxtel's executive director for sales and customer contact, told the Herald the upgrade had led to "teething problems" involving "hundreds not thousands" of customers. He could not say when the problems would be resolved but thought "we should be in a much better position by the weekend".

Foxtel's Moonee Ponds call centre had 500 staff but the company was adding 100 more people to cope with the backlog, Mr Maine said.

Yesterday, however, the recorded message that had played all week was still telling potential customers to call back later.

The Crikey website reported that when customer details were moved from the old computer system to the new one, 80,000 names were deleted.

Kristen Foster, Foxtel's director of corporate affairs, denied the report yesterday, telling the Herald no names had been lost.


Freeview readies for main event


From http://www.stuff.co.nz/4414001a28.html

Freeview is on track to debut high-definition digital terrestrial television in April, after state-owned enterprise Kordia last week completed a $30 million transmission network that covers New Zealand's 10 biggest cities where three quarters of people live.

Freeview general manager Steve Browning says the free-to-air digital TV consortium expects to set a launch date next week.

"All of the transmitters are turned on now for testing."

Viewers will need a digital terrestrial television (DTT) set-top box and a UHF TV aerial to view the service, but not a satellite dish. About 80 per cent of TV viewers in urban areas already have UHF aerials, which are needed to pick up some channels such as Prime, Mr Browning says.

All DTT broadcasts of TV1, TV2 and TV3 will be in a high-definition format, but programmes will have to be filmed in high-definition and viewers will also need a high-definition television in order to see the difference in picture quality. Mr Browning says the amount of programming filmed in high-definition will be limited at first, but will increase over time.

Other Freeview channels will be broadcast in standard definition.

Freeview allowed only two set-top box manufacturers, Zinwell and Hills, to promote themselves as accredited suppliers when it launched its digital satellite television service last year. This was to ensure some manufacturers supplied the market.

But Mr Browning says Freeview won't offer any "exclusivity" to DTT set-top box makers, given the market for DTT is expected to be larger than for Freeview's satellite service.

A number of manufacturers have submitted set-top boxes to Freeview for testing, but none have been accredited yet.

Mr Browning says that in time there should be plenty of choice of set-top boxes. "Globally there is so much happening in this space that all the manufacturers are extremely busy."

DTT set-top boxes will cost more than the set-top boxes that are used to view Freeview's satellite service, he says.

These were priced at $299 when the satellite service was launched in May, but were retailing before Christmas at $199.

But Mr Browning forecasts DTT set-stop boxes will also drop in price quickly, once suppliers have capitalised on "early adopters".

SATELLITE SERVICE
* Launched May 2007
* Available nationwide
* Set-box costs about $200
* Requires satellite dish
* Standard-definition broadcasts only
* 10 channels, plus TV7 launching next month
* Viewed by 61,000 households

TERRESTRIAL SERVICE
* Launches April 2008
* Available in 10 cities, where 75 per cent of people live
* Requires UHF aerial
* More expensive set-top box
* Same choice of channels with high-definition broadcasts of TV1, TV2 and TV3
* Likely to carry additional channels not available on the satellite service over time
* Expected to be more popular than satellite in urban areas


Japan launches experimental Internet satellite


From http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-32108820080223?sp=true

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan launched an experimental communications satellite on Saturday as part of an ambitious space programme that could help ensure super high-speed Internet access in remote parts of Japan and elsewhere in Asia.

The H-2A rocket carrying the 2.7 tonne "KIZUNA" (WINDS) communications satellite took off into over the tiny island of Tanegashima, about 1,000 km south of Tokyo, at 5.55 p.m. (0855 GMT).

The launch had been briefly delayed after a ship strayed into restricted waters.

The KIZUNA, equipped with three antennas targetting Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific regions, is referred to as the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite or WINDS.

The geostationary satellite will be used to conduct experiments on large-volume, high-speed data communications on remote mountains and islands with little Internet access.

Japan's scientists say the 52.2 billion yen ($490 million) launch of WINDS will help the country build one of the world's most advanced information and telecommunications networks.

The launch comes 12 years after the project started, due mainly to technical glitches involving launch vehicles.

"The WINDS will help develop a society with no digital divide where everyone can enjoy high-speed communications equally no matter where they live," said an official at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Space-based Internet access through Japan's domestically built satellite could also be used in various fields including "remote medicine," which allows patients in remote areas to receive sophisticated treatment from doctors in urban cities.

High-speed Internet access would play a key role in ensuring communications between a disaster-stricken area and rescue authorities in the event of major natural disasters such as earthquakes, JAXA officials said.

"The infrastructure on the ground may not withstand a major earthquake, and remote areas may not have any access to optic-fibre networks, one official said.

"In such cases, the satellite will play a great role."

The satellite could also help in communications with other countries, the official said.

"Data can be sent to Asian countries through WINDS faster than most other means," he said.

But some experts cast doubt on the usefulness of the project.

"About 95 percent of households in Japan are capable of having broadband Internet access. So, why now?", a communications expert told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Saturday's satellite launch is part of a bold space programme, which sent the nation's first lunar probe into orbit around the moon last September.

Keen to compete with its Asian rivals, China and India, in space exploration projects, the Japanese space agency has said it hopes to send astronauts to the moon by 2025, although Japan has not yet attempted manned space flight.

Japan's space programme was in tatters in the late 1990s after two unsuccessful launches of a previous rocket, the H-2.

Disaster followed in 2003 when Japan had to destroy an H-2A rocket carrying two spy satellites minutes after launch as it veered off course.


"Kizuna" Super-High-Speed Internet Satellite Launched in Japan


From http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080223/kizuna-satellite.htm

Japan today launched the "Kizuna," an experimental communications satellite that enables both, urban and remote areas in the Asia Pacific region to access super-high-speed internet service.

The Satellite - a joint project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - was launched from the Space Centre on Tanegashima island at 5:55 p.m. local time in the south of Japan on Saturday night. The satellite is also known as WINDS, or Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite.

"The KIZUNA does not require costly ground equipment. If you install a small antenna (about 45 cm in diameter) at your house, you can receive data at up to 155Mbps and transmit data at up to 6 Mbps. With a larger antenna of about 5 meters in diameter, super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps will be available." Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency states on a press release.

Among other purposes of the project, Jaxa will to contribute to "remote medicine," allowing medical treatment to people located in remote areas. Other uses may contribute to academic and educational fields, schools and researchers in remote areas to ease the exchange of information.

The $342 million satellite is expected to in use for five years, according to Agence France Press.


Arirang TV to Launch English Radio News


From http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/201_19507.html

Arirang TV looks for global reach with new programs and an English radio channel.

Arirang TV will launch a seven-language subtitle service and English radio news service in Korea.

Chang Myung-ho, the President and CEO of Arirang TV, announced the new services at a press conference, Friday.

The station delivers news, cultural programs, educational shows and documentaries worldwide via satellite 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Starting April 1, Arirang will air English radio news 50 minutes a day, 10 five-minute news bulletins, through YTN FM.

``We will provide Korean news in English to foreigners living in Korea and for tourists,'' said Chang.

Currently, Arirang Radio serves only Jeju Island, and through terrestrial and satellite DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) platforms.

Arirang TV invested in the YTN Radio service for a 4.5 percent share and signed a contract with them to provide English news programs. By this, they can secure about 10 million more listeners around Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.

They ultimately plan is to air Arirang FM nationwide. ``English radio service is a basic infrastructure for most semi or more developed countries, providing information to foreign residents and tourists and improving the image of Korea. This corresponds with the new government's policy to expand English public education,'' Chang said.

In addition, Arirang will add three more languages ― Russian, Vietnamese and Indonesian ― to their multi-language subtitle service, March.

``We are aiming to be a global television channel. However, this is an English specialized channel and the accessibility to our programs is low in non English-speaking countries. This new service will strengthen our competitiveness,'' Chang said.

They currently produce programs in English and provide content in Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. Arirang expects to gain 2 million new viewers in the areas they serve with subtitles and will gradually increase their international subtitle service to 10 languages by 2012.

The broadcaster also regrouped its their programs in February ― ``Coree Arirang'' (Wednesday and Thursday), ``Talk Around'' (Friday) and ``Face to Face'' (Saturday), are in the``Hand in Hand'' group, which aims to foster awareness of multiculturalism in Korea.

The ``Travelscope'' group promotes tourism and includes ``Festive Journey'' (Wednesday), ``On the Road'' (Friday) and `Cuisine Tour'' (Saturday).

``Inside Biz'' includes ``Power Product'' (Monday), ``Korean Freakonomists'' (Tuesday), ``Star Biz'' (Thursday), ``Invest Korea'' (Friday) and ``Buzz in Business'' (Saturday), which are designed to foster overseas investment.

``Arirang Special'' is an investigative reporting documentary, which airs on Sunday at 8 p.m.

Chang also brought up the issue of merging with other stations such as KTV or KBS World to more efficiently promote Korea abroad through broadcasting.


RTB To Broadcast 2008 Beijing Olympics Live


From http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Feb08/230208/nite36.htm

Bandar Seri Begawan - Viewers are bound to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics live on television as Radio Television Brunei (RTB) is set to start broadcasting digitally in Brunei.

The "digital plan", which officials predict will be ready in August, has been in motion since the turn of the century and will be RTB's future broadcasting system, allowing RTB to keep up with the world's rapid advancement in technology, media and information in particular.

"From the technical aspects, the spectrum usage will be more efficient with digital as compared to our current analogue system," RTB Acting Director Hj Osman Hj Mohammad told reporters yesterday.

"In other countries, regulators prefer the digital system because they can use the (digital) spectrum for other uses," he said.

For example, he said, with digital TV one could broadcast multiple channels using just one spectrum — something an analogue system is incapable of doing.

"It will also enable us to broadcast in high definition, and also allow us to provide interactive television, such as recording your favourite shows," the Acting Director said.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin


Mark Williams Appointed CFO, Europe and Asia, News Corporation


From http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/mark-williams-appointed-cfo-europe-and-asia-news-corporation,288677.shtml

LONDON - (Business Wire) Mark Williams has today been appointed Chief Financial Officer, Europe and Asia, News Corporation, reporting to James Murdoch. Mark is currently Chief Operating Officer at Sky Italia and will take up his new position at the end of March.

Stephen Daintith, currently Chief Financial Officer of News International Ltd, is moving to New York to take up the position of Chief Financial Officer of Dow Jones.

Mark will take over Stephen Daintith's duties as CFO of News International as well as acting as CFO across News Corporation’s operations in Europe and Asia supporting Sky Italia, STAR TV and News Corp Europe as these businesses continue to grow and develop. Mark will be based in London.

James Murdoch said:

“I am delighted that Mark Williams will be joining us in London. He has been a key player in the team which has taken Sky Italia from strength to strength and I look forward to working with him in this new wider role.”

Mark Williams said:

“I’m extremely excited to be taking on this new position working for James across the breadth of News Corp activities throughout Europe and Asia, ranging from operations in Eastern Europe to the already very successful UK newspaper business. At the same time I am very proud of the team at Sky Italia and look forward to remaining involved as a member of the Board.”

Mark Williams joined News Corporation in 1996 as CFO of the Australian pay TV operation, FOXTEL, and in 2000 assumed CFO responsibility for News Corporation’s newspaper and other interests throughout Australia and New Zealand. In January 2003, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Sky Italia, based in Milan, and has overseen the rapid and very successful development of that business over the last 5 years. Prior to News Corp Mark worked in CFO roles in the consumer goods industry, based in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Mark will remain as a non-executive director on the Board of Sky Italia.

Photograph of Mark Williams available. Please call +44 20 7782 6019

News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of September 30, 2007 of approximately US$64 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$30 billion. News Corporation is a diversified entertainment company with operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.

News International Limited is the main UK subsidiary of the global media company News Corporation. Times Newspapers Ltd (TNL) publishes The Times and The Sunday Times and News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN) publishes The Sun and News of the World. TNL and NGN are part of the News International group.



Disney Channel goes local to court Asian viewers


From http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKS2115472120080222?sp=true

SINGAPORE, Feb 21 (Reuters Life!) - Disney Channel wants to expand in Asia by localizing its television content to appeal to children in the region, and plans to develop more programs outside the United States to feed global audiences.

The Walt Disney Co channel, known for its squeaky-clean programming, is aiming to tap into the high-growth markets of China and India, Gary Marsh, president of entertainment, Disney Channel Worldwide, told Reuters this week.

Disney Channel, popular with teens and pre-teens, is known for its television series "Hannah Montana" and "That's so Raven" as well as the hit "High School Musical".

"There is huge opportunity for expansion in the Asian market, certainly in India and China. What we tried to do is deepen the connection with our audiences by customizing the content," Marsh said.

Disney Channel, which airs in most Asian countries including India, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia, has a reach of 380 million in the region, compared with 95 million in North America.

GO LOCAL, GO GLOBAL

Marsh cited the production of a short television series, "As the Bell Rings", which started in Italy and now has local versions running in the UK, the United States and Australia, as an example adapting content to local audiences.

Singapore's version will premiere in March this year and China is also filming a version of the program, he said.

"When we develop an idea, the programmers in every other country around the world comment on it," he said on Tuesday.

Disney Channel has a tie-up with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and other Chinese broadcasters to show Disney content. It has a reach of 260 million viewers a week in China and is looking to gain exclusive channel rights there.

Marsh said the next step for the Disney Channel would be to form creative teams in countries such as China and Japan and in South America to come up with local content which would then be fed to a global audience.

Despite the potential of localized programs, the success of shows such as "High School Musical" and its sequel hinged on the universality of the ideas, Marsh said.

"Asian kids are no different from American kids when it comes to the notion of following your dreams and expressing yourself."

The movies, which chronicle the lives of singing students at a high school, form the cornerstone of one of Disney's most lucrative franchises for preteen girls, and a third installment is planned for release to theatres this year.

The two movies racked up more than 30 million in DVD and soundtrack CD sales worldwide and have spun off numerous other merchandise. They were made into a concert and an ice show, and won two Emmy Awards in 2006.

The original was watched by 18.1 million people in Asia and the soundtrack went platinum in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and triple platinum in Philippines and New Zealand.

"If we create programs that embody the right themes and have the appeal our audience wants, it crosses gender, cultural and geographical boundaries," Marsh said.


Chilean gov't considers bids from seven countries to build satellite


From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/25/content_7664941.htm

SANTIAGO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean government is considering bids from seven companies in five nations to build a military satellite to enhance its air force strength, the Defense Ministry said Sunday.

The nations involved in the bidding process are France, Canada, India, Russia and South Korea. Companies from Ukraine and the United States withdrew at the last minute.

The military satellite must have a five-year life, and could be put to use in research of the country's natural resources, oceans, rivers, forests and snowy regions.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet had cancelled a bid set up by the previous government and ordered a new one amid criticism of the first process.

The first bid, conducted in 2005, gave the contract to French defense company EADS's Earth Observation Satellite System but the Chilean government refused to buy it in July 2006.


Sahara launches channel for dubbed content


From http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Sahara-launches-channel-for-dubbed-content/276230/0

As the dubbed content market is getting hotter in India, the experimentation in that segment is getting bolder. First there were the Hollywood flicks like Jurassic Park and Titanic doing great business in India in their Hindi reincarnations.

Next came dubbed English movies on Hindi movie channels followed by Hindi speaking cartoon channels. The likes of Discovery, National Geographic and History Channel followed suit generating their entire content in Hindi eliminating the language barrier to increase their subscriber base.

UTV took one leap forward to launch its World Movies channel to source movies from the world over and present it in a dubbed format.

The experiment continues with Sahara's latest initiative Firangi, to be launched on February 25, which will source television content from the world over to explore an untested ground in India.

The business head of Firangi, Rajiv Chakrabarty said, "Around 40% of Indian audience watch dubbed content. Thus our market translates to about 53 million people, the average number of people who watch dubbed content in a month." Firangi also believes that Indian masses have an internalized notion “if it's dubbed, it must be a hit.”

The new channel from Sahara group has already finalized details with Cable Operators. "Talks are on with Tata Sky, Dish TV and Reliance, most likely to fructify by the day of launch."

Priced at Rs 15 per month, the channel is going to be a pay channel from day one unlike many other channels like NDTV imagine, 9x, Bindass etc which doled out the channel free for a few months before switching on to the 'pay and watch' mode.

Chakrabarty claimed to have received extremely good response from advertisers particularly from the segments of telecom, upmarket FMCG products, cars etc who are most likely to book media space on the channel. Refusing to share the details of region wise investment Chakrabarty said, "Investment depended more on the quality of programmes than the region but we have content from across the globe. Most of drama content, mini-series, movies have been sourced from Latin America, Europe and US  respectively only because these regions offer the best quality in the genres concerned."

Firangi is open to sourcing content from Africa and Australia also (the only continents from which it hasn't sourced content till now), provided it meets the channel's expectation.

The new experiment from Sahara is hoping to break even faster than other General Entertainment Channels partially because investment in a channel which has 100% bought content will be lower than channels who produce their programme, though Chakrabarty is quick to point out, "We have already invested Rs 20 crore on marketing."

On the lines of FMCG Companies Firangi has constituted a panel to monitor the performance of the channel. Based on its feedback the channel will decide on future strategies.


DD Direct to add channels, woo subscribers


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb304.php

MUMBAI: Though it has seen some growth in strength with the entry of channels like B4U Music, 9X Music, Deutsche Welle, and some channels from southern India, the country’s only free-to-air (FTA) direct-to-home service DD Direct Plus is having to reinvent itself to beat the competition.

This appears to be the main reason for the lowering of the carriage fee for all private FTA channels from Rs 10 million to Rs 2.5 million along with a service tax of Rs 300,000. However, foreign broadcasters have to pay a carriage fee of Rs 5 million.

The imposition of the carriage fee of Rs 10 million had resulted in almost all news and many general entertainment channels quitting the platform. At present, the only private Indian news channel on the platform is Total TV.

Incidentally, leading Hindi news channel Aaj Tak has recently turned pay.

The first DTH platform to be launched in the country, DD Direct had initially been launched by offering free carriage to different FTA channels. As a result, almost all the news channels had come on the platform.

However, Doordarshan sources told indiantelevision.com that new steps were being taken to get back the channels and also invite newer FTA channels to join the platform. The reduction of the fee in mid-2007 had only been the first step, they added.

DD Direct is now beaming 42 television channels and 21 radio channels. The television channels include 22 private channels, while all the radio channels are those of All India Radio.

Sources said that Korean Broadcasting Corporation (Korean TV) was also joining the platform shortly and negotiations were at an advanced stage with Bengali channel Tara Bangla.

Being the FTA DTH service provider, DD Direct only has a one-time charge for dish antennae, set top box and installation ranging between Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 depending on the brand chosen by the consumer.

DD Direct is in competition with private DTH sevice providers like Dish TV, Tata Sky and Sun Direct.


Kalaignar TV launches music channel


From http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200802231940.htm

Chennai (PTI): Tamil satellite channel Kalaignar TV has launched its 24-hour music channel "Isaiaruvi".

Popular music composer Ilayaraja on Friday formally launched "Isaiaruvi", offered by one of the latest entrants to the bouquet of Tamil satellite channels in the state.

`Isaiaruvi', which means a cascade of music, was wished all success by the `Maestro', when he said he prayed the Almighty for the channel's success.

Already the Sun TV, Jaya TV and Raj TV have exclusive Tamil music channels.

Tamil Film Producers' Council president, Rama.Narayanan, and others participated in the launch.

Kalaignar TV, headed by Sharad Kumar, has joined hands with Social Media India Ltd (SMIL), a media and communications conglomerate, where the latter would take care of monetising and positioning `Isaiaruvi' as a media platform for advertisers across the country, a release from SMIL said here today.

With its "promising innovative content, slick packaging and strong distribution and reach," `Isaiaruvi' is all set to become the leading music channel in Tamil Nadu, the release further said.




24/02/08

No update Sunday




23/02/08

No update Saturday




22/02/08

NHK TV (Japanese/English) is coming to Globecast on D2. The good news is that it will be FTA!

SkyTV's interim result presentation is available at
http://www.skytv.co.nz/Portals/0/data/files/miscellaneous/SKY_Half_Year_Results_Presentation_2008.pdf


From my Email & ICQ


Nothing for today


From the Dish


No sign of Lyngsat


NEWS


Satellites for sale?


From http://business.smh.com.au/james-lachie-keep-mum-on-the-details/20080221-1tpl.html?page=2

Could D3 become T3?

Speculation is swirling that Optus could be keen to sell its fleet of satellites, leaving investors to ponder whether Telstra could be a potential buyer.

The subsidiary of Singapore Telecommunications has five

satellites aloft and plans to launch its D3 satellite next year.

Optus also has nine satellite earth stations in Australia, with major clients including Foxtel, the Defence Department and Sky New Zealand.

Analysts believe SingTel would see a sale of the satellite operations as a way to realise value from its Australian assets while allowing Optus to focus on its mobile-phone business.

Telstra's chief executive, Sol Trujillo, would not be drawn yesterday on whether the company would be interested in buying the satellite fleet from its arch rival. Telstra does not have a domestic satellite.

"I won't comment on any specific opportunities other than to say that we will explore something that might enhance our capabilities," he said.

Nor was he giving anything away on Telstra's interests in

distressed assets such as those Commander Communications is readying for sale.

Besides, apart from smaller bolt-on acquisitions, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission isn't likely to allow Telstra to buy anything considered remotely significant in the domestic market because of competition concerns.


A sector revolving around Foxtel


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23254821-664,00.html

THE Foxtel board table is going to become an increasingly pivotal place in the evolving, integrating media, telco and internet spaces.

Both because it has most of the key players sitting around it.

But also because it links the critical infrastructure - the existing Telstra cable and ADSL2+ hosting telephone wires; tomorrow's FTTN network if and when it's built - with some of the key users and content providers.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and either James Packer's media empire or Packer and Lachlan Murdoch's media partnership.

That sets up huge incentives for co-operation, which should be troubling for the other telcos and media players. But just as much incentive for very real tensions between Telstra and the other two.

In the 'good old days' it would have been a neat separation. Telstra would have built the infrastructure and leased access to the media duo. And indeed any and everyone else.

It's no longer so simple, when Telstra is itself increasingly in the content business. In part happy to re-sell content provided by others, in part wanting to push its own content, like Sensis's search engine.

Telstra wants to maximise the revenue it generates off its infrastructure and critically, the margins. The media duo want to maximise the number of eyeballs they can reach at the lower possible cost.

Specifically in terms of Foxtel, that means both sides have a clear interest in maximising its intrinsic growth.

Given its success and where it sits now, one prediction can be made with almost absolute confidence. Neither side is going to sell out or to the other, or dilute its equal influence.

The 'sides' are very clear, and equal. Telstra on the one, and the media duo on the other.

That's also why it's irrelevant whether the Packer slice is controlled by Packer alone or in partnership with Lachlan.

Now Packer selling to Telstra would be huge. But he's not going to do that because of his interest in this space. And the way Foxtel's profit has just moved onto the escalator.

Today Foxtel gets around 18 per cent of the eyeballs. The four FTAs share the other 82 per cent. That's roughly 21 per cent per commercial FTA channel.

As discussed yesterday Foxtel is going to go into more homes, and as it does, its share of eyeballs in those homes rises inexorably.

The real horror scenario for the FTAs is this sort of arithmetic. Foxtel in 60 per cent of homes and getting 80 per cent of eyeballs in those homes.

That would leave the FTAs still with a - slim - majority of eyeballs. But if then spread over 8 channels, thanks to digital, that would mean just 6.5 per cent per FTA channel.

And a financial catastrophe for FTAs.

A bonanza for Foxtel, just on basic TV watching.

Plus by then, everything else.


Sky TV's profit jumps 40%


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10493903

Sky Network Television has reported a 40.3 per cent increase in half year net profit to $51.2 million.

Revenue for the six months to the end of December rose 8.3 per cent to $328.7 million, compared to the corresponding period a year earlier, the company said today.

Monthly average revenue per subscriber, known as arpu, was up by 2.8 per cent to $61.96 from $60.28 in the comparative period.

The increase in revenue was also due to a 5.5 per cent increase in subscribers, although installation revenue decreased due to lower installation rates charged to customers, Sky TV chief executive John Fellet said.

An improving Prime TV also contributed to the result, with Sky TV's revenue including a 22 per cent increase in advertising revenue from Prime to $14.3m.

The company declared an interim dividend of 7 cents a share, compared to 5 cents a share last year.

Total operating costs were up by 2.5 per cent to $229.4m, Mr Fellet said.

Programming costs were up by 0.5 per cent, with the cost of new channels being offset by savings from a stronger New Zealand dollar and lower rugby programming costs due to fewer All Black test matches in a World Cup year.

An increase in subscriber management costs of $1.7m, or 8.3 per cent, was mainly related to an increase in subscriber numbers and to additional decoder repair costs reflecting the increasing age of Sky's decoder base.

Sales and marketing expenses were up 4.3 per cent to $19.4m, mainly due to increased subscriber acquisition costs.

Capital expenditure increased by $12.5m to $54.9m due mainly to the costs of a broadcasting upgrade project of $20.5 million.

Those increases were offset by decreases in decoder costs that were high in the comparative period due to the purchase of a stock of "My Sky" decoders and broadcast equipment costs related to the building of a second satellite uplink facility.

Prime Television's share of peak viewing ratings increased to an average for the six month period of 6.2 per cent from 6.1 per cent.

Work on a new high definition, digital television station was going to plan, with completion expected during the 2008 financial year.

Sky TV shares were up 3c to $4.97 in early trading today, just above the year low of $4.92 hit on Wednesday and down from $6.26 in February 2007.


Sky Network First-Half Net Rises 40% on Subscribers


From http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a9crcFhKZSLc&refer=australia

Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Sky Network Television Ltd., Rupert Murdoch's New Zealand pay-TV operator, said earnings in the first half climbed 40 percent after it added sports and business channels to win subscribers.

Net income rose to NZ$51.2 million ($40.9 million), or 13.2 cents a share in the six months ended Dec. 31, from NZ$36.5 million, or 9.4 cents, a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement today. The result beat the NZ$46 million median estimate of four analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

New Zealand's largest pay-TV company, which has its decoders in almost half the nation's homes, added sports such as Formula One racing and its Crime & Investigation Network to lift average revenue per subscriber. It offered a MySky recorder box, similar to the TiVo Inc. device in the U.S., to help counter Freeview, a new digital TV service available for the cost of a set-top box.

``They've gotten to a level now where they're on a fairly steady course from here on,'' said Alan Moore, who helps manage the equivalent of $192 million at Milford Asset Management in Wellington, including Sky Network shares. ``Getting people to accept new products and devices has been a success.''

Sky Network stock, which is 44 percent owned by Murdoch's News Corp., rose 1.2 percent to close at NZ$5 in Wellington.

Investment `Opportunity'

A decision on whether to proceed with a share buyback, endorsed by investors at Sky Network's annual meeting in October, has been put off because of an ``opportunity,'' Chief Executive Officer John Fellet said today. The proposal, which isn't a takeover, has about a 20 percent chance of proceeding, he said, without giving details.

``If we can we'd like to use the money to take advantage of opportunities we've seen come our way,'' Fellet said in an interview. ``But the most likely option is the buyback.''

The company increased subscribers by 5.5 percent to 719,000 during the first half. Aiding the rise in profit, average revenue per user rose 2.8 percent to NZ$61.96, from NZ$60.28 in the same period last year. Sales rose 8.3 percent to NZ$329 million.

``We've had success in going back to the existing base and selling them extra product,'' Fellet said.

The addition of the Vibe channel, screening comedies, reality shows and documentaries aimed at women, and the reintroduction of the international business channel CNBC during the period, also helped boost subscriber numbers, the company said. Sky Network has also won broadcast rights to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London summer games.

Outlook

Fellet reiterated an October forecast of a 23 percent rise in full-year profit to around NZ$96 million, from NZ$77.9 million a year earlier. Sky Network will pay a dividend for the first half of 7 cents, from 5 cents a year earlier.

``Adding subscribers drives everything,'' Fellet said. ``The rugby and the cricket will help us in the second half.'' Sky Network has broadcast rights to the Super 14 rugby competition. Rugby is New Zealand's most popular sport.

The New Zealand dollar's strength against the dollar over the first-half period also helped the company afford more U.S. programming, Fellet said. The local currency rose to a 22-year high of 81.10 U.S. cents in June and is currently trading about 19 percent above its average in the past five years.


Shin unit studies sixth satellite


From http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/22Feb2008_biz38.php

Shin Satellite Plc says it is undertaking a feasibility study on fresh investment in its sixth satellite to determine whether to purchase a new satellite or forge partnerships with other Asian operators to share transponder resources.

The 41%-owned satellite subsidiary of Shin Corp now operates four satellites in orbit, including iPSTAR, the world's largest broadband satellite. Its first satellite, Thaicom 1, will reach the end of its 16-year service life by mid-2009.

The company will transfer the Ku-band transponders of Thaicom 1 to iPSTAR, also known as Thaicom 5, almost filling the latter's capacity next year.

Patompob Suwansiri, marketing head of Shin Satellite, said the company was considering the possibility of forming partnerships with satellite operators in Asia to jointly purchase a new satellite and share its transponder slots.

''The conclusion on the satellite purchase is expected by the end of this year. The launch of the sixth satellite, or Thaicom 6, would take two years,'' he said.

Mr Patompob said the size and the cost of the satellite would be about the same as the US$100-million Thaicom 5. The technology would be either fourth-generation broadcast-oriented or a combination between broadcast and conventional satellite modes.

He said a joint venture would be a strong option as investing in a new satellite required a huge capital outlay. Also, the number of satellite operators has surpassed demand.

Mr Patompob added most of the new satellites in orbits in Asia were replacements, with customers using them for direct-to-home (DTH) television services.

DTH services deliver broadcast signals directly to individual customers using satellite dishes.

Mr Patompob said a new satellite for broadcast would be a strong option based on the company's preliminary feasibility study, which discovered that the trends for high-definition television and further liberalisation of free TV would require more high-bandwidth broadcast satellites.

He also said that iPSTAR was expected to be the company's flagship revenue earner this year, with operators in Thailand and Australia being the major customers.

The utilisation of iPSTAR is now 6% of the satellite's capacity of 45 gigabits per second (Gbps).

Mr Patompob said the company was on the verge of opening gateways in India, Taiwan and Japan, with services beginning in the second half of this year.

It is also about to begin providing services in South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia over the next two months.

The company's plan to launch iPSTAR services in India had been delayed until early next year from the fourth quarter, pending a licence on imports of gateways, he said.

Shares of Shin Satellite (SATTEL) closed on Wednesday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 9.70 baht, down five satang, in trade of 11.5 million baht.


Thai Shin Sat sees operating profit in 2008, sales up


From http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSBKK10692920080222?sp=true

BANGKOK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Thailand's Shin Satellite SATT.BK said on Friday it expected to make an operating profit this year after an operating loss of about 560 million baht ($17 million) in 2007 as IPSTAR and its telephone business grow.

The company expected 2008 revenues to rise at least 30 percent, but its net profit would be below the 3.04 billion baht earned in 2007 as it would have no extra gains, chief finance officer Tanadit Charoenchan told reporters in conference call.

"We should have profit from operations this year because we will get more sales from IPSTAR while our subsidiaries in Laos and Cambodia should continue to grow," Tanadit said.

The company was expected to post a net 2008 profit of 1.8 billion baht, according to Reuters Estimates.

In 2007, the firm booked a 5.13 billion baht gain from selling a 49-percent stake in wholly-owned Shenington, a holding firm that invests in telephone businesses in Laos and Cambodia, it said in a statement.

It also booked a 1.05 billion baht foreign exchange gain, while 2007 revenues from sales and services fell 6 percent to 6.4 billion baht due mainly to falling revenues from satellite transponder leasing, it said.

The $400-million IPSTAR, the world's largest broadband satellite, provides high-speed Internet and telecoms services in seven countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China.

The company planned to install ground stations and provide full commercial IPSTAR services in Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia in the first half of 2008, the statement said.

Shin Sat, which is seeking an Indian licence to import IPSTAR equipment, expected to launch services in India in the second half of 2008 rather than the fourth quarter originaly planned, marketing chief Patompob Suwansiri said.

This year, the company aimed to sell up to 100,000 user terminals for the IPSTAR satellite, Patompob said.

At the end of 2007, it had accumulated sales of 104,067 user terminals, compared to break-even level of 200,000-250,000.

Shin Sat planned to invest $30-50 million this year to expand mobile phone networks in Cambodia, where it expected mobile subscriber growth would double from 470,000 at the end of last year, he said.

Its mobile subscribers in Laos were expected to rise 30-40 percent from 780,000 in 2007, he said.

After the earnings announcement, Shin Sat shares were up 0.52 percent at 9.65 baht at 0400 GMT, when the main Thai index .SETI was down 0.07 percent. ($1 = 32.37 Baht) (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong and Pisit Changplayngam; Editing by Michael Battye)


Goldstone Tech launches IPTV in Thailand for NRIs


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/22/stories/2008022251580300.htm

Goldstone Technologies has its network operating centre in Taiwan and currently offers live streaming of 20 TV channels.

Hyderabad, Feb. 21 Goldstone Technologies Ltd on Thursday announced that it has launched its Internet protocol television (IPTV) services for non-resident Indians in Thailand and is poised to shortly offer them in other markets.

For Thailand, Goldstone Technologies partnered with Synap Media & Infotech Co Ltd for IPTV services. Apart from Thailand, distribution agreements have been signed for France, Belgium and Spain in Western Europe, Morocco in North Africa and Malaysia. Similar agreements are in advanced stages in other countries.

The Chairman of Goldstone Technologies, Mr Nandan Kundetkar, in a statement said “the focus for the IPTV services in Thailand would be on the tourism and hospitality industry. The company has secured order for 3,000 Set Top Boxes and expects to sign up about 75,000 subscribers.”

“IPTV services will be a key growth driver for Goldstone Technologies in the years ahead and we are hoping to launch commercial services of our offering in 10 countries by June this year,” Mr Kundetkar added.

Operations

Goldstone Technologies has its network operating centre in Taiwan and currently offers live streaming of 20 TV channels, along with movies in Hindi, English and several Indian regional languages. The focus is to offer services to the Indian diaspora.

The Goldstone IPTV services project is underway in India, in association with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. This is to be offered over its broadband network.

This network provides live channels, video-on-demand and other value-added services on a public network directly to TV. These triple-play services are offered under the brand name TV Origin.


Chang'e II lunar probe to be launched in 2009


From http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/22/content_6477453.htm

China plans to launch its second lunar probe, Chang'e II, around 2009, according to a top satellite scientist.

Ye Peijian, chief commander and designer of China's first moon probe satellite system, revealed the plan during an interview program on CCTV, China Central Television.

However, Ye did not elaborate on the plan with more details.

He said Chang'e I, the country's first lunar probe, had resumed contact with the control center after it moved out of the shadow area caused by an eclipse of the sun at about 14:10 on Thursday.

From about 10:00 am on Thursday, the satellite was blocked from the supply of solar energy when the Earth eclipsed the sun and lost the contact with the control center.

Scientists redirected the orbit of the satellite before the eclipse started.

"Chang'e I passed the test," Ye said, adding that when blocked from solar rays, the probe consumed only 40 percent of the battery power rather than the predicted 60 percent under a temperature of minus 100 degrees Celsius.

The satellite will perform another orbital adjustment while preparing for a second eclipse in August, he said.

The 2,350-kilogram satellite carrying eight surveying facilities aims to make a three-dimensional survey of the moon's surface. It will also analyze the abundance and distribution of elements on the lunar surface,investigate the characteristics of the powdery soil layer on the surface, and explore the environment between the Earth and the moon.

China's moon mission also includes a landing of a rover vehicle around 2012 and the launch of another rover that will land and return to the Earth with lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research around 2017.


Rugby to tackle Asian market


From http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1b5cd0f2-e0a1-11dc-b0d7-0000779fd2ac.html

Rugby union is making its first big push to expand the game into the huge and largely untapped Asian market with a new annual tournament involving 25 nations and – for the first time – a large television audience.

The region’s top five teams – Japan, South Korea, Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan – will compete in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament next month. The Asian Rugby Football Union, the contest’s organiser, said it was close to clinching a deal for regional satellite broadcasts of the five-week round robin competition.

The tournament is modelled on the European Six Nations championship, contested by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. However, while membership of the European tournament is fixed, the Asian version will give 20 other national teams the opportunity to enter the following year’s competition through divisional games and a promotion and relegation system.

Some of the tournament’s games will also serve as qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup, held every four years. The International Rugby Board, the sport’s governing body, has committed $500,000 (€340,000, £258,000) a year to the new contest.

Rugby’s popularity in the world’s most populous continent has grown quickly in the past few years, especially in Japan, where some 125,000 people play the game.

The ARFU, founded in 1968, has seen its membership more than double from 10 nations a decade ago to 25 today. Japan, the only Asian team to have qualified for the world cup, lost out narrowly on being the first Asian nation to host the sport’s premier competition in 2011.

“Rugby in Asia is on the rise,” said Ross Mitchell, ARFU’s honorary secretary, at the launch of the Five Nations competition in Hong Kong. “[The contest] will give our elite players the chance to perform in front of a significantly expanded TV audience, while providing a platform for development at all other levels.”

The tournament will be sponsored by HSBC for the next three years. Sandy Flockhart, the bank’s Asia chief executive, said rugby’s growing popularity was a factor behind the sponsorship. “The real reason we are sponsoring this event comes down to the numbers,” he said. The bank did not disclose the scale of its financial commitment.

Japanese player Daisuke Ohata, the top try scorer in international Test matches, said he hoped the tournament would improve the sport’s profile and bridge the gap between rugby in Asia and other countries.


Response team formed to recover satellite debris


From http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080220/update_satellite_080221/20080221?hub=CTVNewsAt11

No matter where the satellite debris lands, Operation Burnt Frost won't be far behind.

That's the name the U.S. army has given the quick response team tasked with cleaning up the pieces of the errant satellite shot down on Wednesday. Made up of military and civilian personnel from at least 15 government agencies, the group is on standby to travel anywhere pieces of the bus-sized satellite may have fallen. Of particular concern is its 500 kilogram fuel tank filled with toxic hydrazine.

The team, comprised of members from the Air Force, Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency, has hazardous material suits at the ready to guard them against hydrazine on the ground or in the air. They would wear breathing apparatuses to protect their lungs from the fumes and use absorbent material similar to kitty litter to soak it up if it were to leak.

"This is an incredible effort," Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Horne, who's in charge of the team, told The Associated Press. "What we're doing is to make sure that we're ready as soon as we're called."

The unit was assembled in less than a week as the U.S. military made preparations to shoot down the satellite, which failed shortly after it was sent into space in 2006, losing power and central computer function. It was successfully targeted with a missile Wednesday night by a Navy cruiser, achieving the stated goal of exploding its tank of hazardous fuel.

However, Gen. James Cartwright said Thursday the military will not be positive that the tank was completely destroyed for 24 to 48 hours. If fragments remain, Burnt Frost will be there to come to the rescue.

Other pieces of the satellite have been tracked entering the atmosphere, but none was larger than a football, Cartwright said.

If the plan to shoot down the 2,000-kilogram satellite seems unusual, that's because it was. Non-functional satellites usually fall to Earth by themselves, burning up in the atmosphere upon re-entry. This one would have touched down during the first week of March, according to a military estimate.

In this case, officials said they didn't want to risk the dangerous hydrazine hitting the ground, as fumes from the gas can kill people. Hydrazine is often used to power spacecraft, but can also be used in fuel cells and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

They're hoping that if the tank wasn't completely destroyed, it lands in the ocean, where the hydrazine would be neutralized by the water.

While the U.S. military seems pleased with how they've handled the satellite's destruction, not everyone is cheering -- particularly China, which was criticized by the United States for testing a satellite-killing weapons system in 2007.

The official word from the U.S. has been that the shoot-down wasn't a test, but Defence Secretary Robert Gates recently indicated otherwise. When responding to China's calls for more information, he said his country has provided sufficient information about "the test."

U.S. officials said they're confident any secret technology would be destroyed on re-entry but the explosion definitely helps matters.

Members of the Burnt Frost crew, however, are focused on making sure no one comes into contact with the controversial satellite's fuel. The team, which is currently waiting at McGuire Air Force Base in central New Jersey, is experienced in locating debris over a large area. Some members worked on recovery operations after the explosion of the Columbia space shuttle in 2003 while others were deployed to clean up an oil spill that saw thousands of litres of crude dumped into the Delaware River in 2004.

The team's members have been fitted with body armour and helmets in case the satellite falls into a war zone. They've also been vaccinated against tropical diseases like yellow fever and malaria.

No matter where it lands, the U.S. State Department is warning citizens worldwide to keep their distance.


China Wants Information On Satellite Destruction


From http://www.rttnews.com/FOREX/gblnews.asp?date=02/21/2008&item=17

2/21/2008 2:40:25 PM The Chinese government says it wants Washington to provide information on the U.S. Navy's shooting of a rogue satellite to prevent it from crashing to earth.

Although the Navy says it destroyed the satellite with a single missile strike, the Chinese government says it is worried the United States might have actually been testing a new weapon.

“China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a news conference.

The U.S. military said it used a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3 missile) fired from a Navy warship northwest of Hawaii to hit the defunct satellite Thursday. Defense Department officials said the satellite had a tank full of hydrazine, a toxic fuel, which could have posed a risk to humans if it crashed to earth.

China drew U.S. criticism last year when it used a missile to destroy a disabled weather satellite, but unlike Washington, Beijing gave no notice that it was firing a missile.

The United States reportedly discussed its plans to destroy the satellite and have insisted the missile launch was not a weapons test.


Space Junk Hits Earth Often, Not People


From http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPXHWWJMaU0DJUAJI5yMC6x14fHgD8UU8NE81

WASHINGTON (AP) — Giant chunks of manmade space junk — like the dead satellite that the U.S. government is trying to shoot down — regularly fall to Earth. Yet no one has ever been reported hurt by them.

Chunks of debris weighing two tons or more from satellites and rocket parts fall uncontrolled every three weeks or so, according to an analysis by a Harvard University astronomer who tracks satellites and space debris.

And that's just based on the last three years. Go back a decade or so when countries didn't try to control these falling objects. Back then, two-ton chunks fell to Earth much more frequently said Jonathan McDowell, who runs Jonathan's Space Report, which tracks the world's space launches and satellites.

It's likely that 50 to 200 "large" pieces of manmade space debris return to Earth every year, according to the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies. Bill Ailor, the center's director, like those at NASA's Johnson Space Center, said he was asked by the government not to comment specifically on the current satellite re-entry issue.

In the past 40 years, about 12 million pounds of manmade space junk has survived re-entering Earth's atmosphere, according to the orbital debris center.

Yet experts in the field know of only one report of a person being hit by space debris. Lottie Williams of Tulsa, Okla., was struck on the shoulder in 1997 by a small piece of debris from a discarded piece of a Delta rocket. She was unhurt.

The reason space junk doesn't regularly hit people is simple: About 70 percent of the Earth is water.

And on average there are about 130 people per square mile of land on Earth, but people don't take up a lot of space. Far more than 99.9 percent of the land on Earth is not occupied by a person at a given time, according to rough calculations by researcher Alex de Sherbinin of Columbia University.

There is no one place on Earth that is more prone to space junk than others. Where satellites fall depend on their particular orbit.

So the orbital debris center that studies the issue puts the odds of anyone being hurt by any piece of re-entering space junk at one in a trillion, saying you are far more likely to get hit by lightning.

Using Columbia University's population density maps, McDowell calculated that at the highest possible risk, there's a 1-in-10,000 chance that the dead satellite could hit a person. However, it's probably closer to one in a million, McDowell said.

That doesn't take into account toxic fumes from the ton of frozen and dangerous hydrazine rocket fuel, which is the reason Pentagon officials said they needed to shoot down the dead satellite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a notice to local public health officials warning of the toxicity of the fuel.

McDowell is skeptical, however, given the odds.

"My gut reaction is that this is just completely bogus," McDowell said of the decision to shoot down the satellite based on a public health threat. He doesn't completely discount the danger of the rocket fuel, however.

This is the type of risk that shouldn't be reduced to mere numbers, said David Ropeik, a Boston risk communications expert who has consulted with the Bush White House and Department of Homeland Security.

"It's the nature of the risk, not the number," said Ropeik, co-author of the book "Risk." "A good question can be asked whether it is the public's worry that is driving this or whether the government is concerned about the harm that it can cause, even though the chances of that are low."


Hobbyists track secret orbits of spy satellites


From http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2008/February/theworld_February716.xml&section=theworld

OTTAWA - When the United States aims to shoot down one of its wayward top-secret spy satellites this week, a global group of 20 hobbyists keen to unearth heavenly mysteries will be watching.

They routinely track satellites in secret orbits and publish their findings online, rattling spy agencies that would rather not tip off their targets when an eye in the sky is watching them.

“We’re all children of the space age, approaching or well into our retirement, who have known each other for decades and simply have a common interest: satellite-spotting,” said Ted Molczan, 54, of Toronto.

Equipped with little more than a pair of binoculars or telescope on a tripod, a stop watch and star charts, he and his fellow stargazers have tracked more than 190 military satellites flying in secret orbits 2,000-40,000 kilometres (1,250-25,000 miles) above the Earth.

Thousands more of the non-classified variety are visible using binoculars and telescopes, and hundreds can even be seen by the naked eye “as twinkling lights” in the night sky, he said.

US officials have said they would prefer the hobbyists not publish their findings, suggesting that foreign countries try to hide their activities when they know a spy satellite will be passing overhead.

But Molczan countered: “In a democracy, there’s a necessary and healthy tug-of-war between people in government who tend to want to make things secret and the public’s need and right to know.”

From his 23rd-floor balcony, Molczan peers at a point in the sky where a satellite is expected to cross. When the shimmering dot appears, he determines its direction and the distance it travels across the sky, and calculates its speed.

“You’re trying to find a small needle in a very big haystack,” he said. “If you like technical challenges, it’s not a bad hobby.”

Thousands of satellite spotters around the world search the skies for historical relics of the space age such as Vanguard One, America’s second satellite launched in 1958.

They can also watch for the distinctive flare of sunlight glittering off communications satellites’ solar panels, or snap photos of large satellite silhouettes as they pass in front of the sun.

Most are drawn to the analysis, math, physics, computer sciences, history and even international relations involved because ”spy satellites are instruments of government policies,” Molczan explained.

“Anybody who is suitably motivated and of reasonable intelligence can learn this stuff within a few weeks.”

Molczan’s subgroup began to focus on spy satellites in the 1980s, collaborating on sightings to determine their orbit and guess at their function.

In June 1983, the United States ceased publishing the orbits of its military satellites. But Mosczan’s group was determined not to lose track of them.

In the 1990s, they identified the first US stealth satellite that was supposed to be invisible to radar and optical tracking.


CineMaya Media Group launches television channel India Plus


From http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/news/newfullstory.asp?section_id=6&news_id=29868&tag=24776&pict=9

CineMaya Media Group, Inc. has announced the launch of its television channel India Plus. The channel is powered by programming from Doordarshan India, which is currently available free to all subscribers on DirecTV, the leading satellite provider in North America serving over 16 million homes. India Plus will take over the current Doordarshan India broadcast on DirecTV as a new channel and seek additional distribution on cable platforms.

With heightened interest in India and everything Indian due to liberalisation of the Indian economy, the IT revolution, increased tourism and extraordinary success of Indians in the US during the last three decades, India Plus would serve as a bridge between two of the world’s largest democracies.

India Plus would be the first Indian TV network in the US to broadcast news in Urdu and other Indian languages like Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and Malayalam. A mix of top programming selected for international audiences from Doordarshan’s 25-plus channels, including regional language channels, would air on India Plus, with content ranging from soap-operas, sitcoms, Bollywood films, music, current affairs, spiritual, and cultural. The channel would also air content produced in the US such as interactive interviews involving live audiences with leading personalities from various fields, success stories of prominent Indians, and community related current affairs.

The channel targets to serve the rising population of Indian Americans in the US, estimated to exceed over 3 million by 2010, making it the second largest Asian population in the country. The channel will also serve other South Asian groups such as the Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali communities, which are all tied through the common bond of entertainment from the region. The channel will also serve millions of viewers on DirecTV who have subscribed to any WorldDirect package, making it available to more homes than any other South Asian television network in North America.

Sunil Hali, Chairman, CineMaya Media Group, said, “The launch of India Plus is a key element of our comprehensive and integrated media strategy of building delivery platforms for content about India and Indians across the world. Inspired by Rupert Murdoch, we aim to build a media conglomerate that serves Indians around the world through multi-platform properties in print, radio, television, and online. Our media platforms will be the voice of the Indian community, especially outside India. We have produced hundreds of hours of international television content in the past decade, and now with India Plus, we expect to build on our production expertise through our television channel, and promote the channel through our array of media and marketing properties in the North American market.”

Nayan Padrai, Founding Partner and President, CineMaya Media Group, said, “We couldn’t be prouder to launch India Plus. The CineMaya Media Group has a rich history of bringing some of India’s best media properties to North America, and this addition to our portfolio of properties further illustrates our Group’s commitment to be the leader in media for South Asians in North America. India Plus offers our Group the opportunity to engage audiences at a higher level through the television medium, and build multi-platform programming that can be syndicated through our newspapers, radio station, television channel, and our upcoming online property. The channel also provides a great opportunity for our new film and television division in India to create unique programming for audiences across the world.”


Say goodbye to the era of bad TV on cruise ships


From http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=45934936.blog

Cruise lines are known for innovation. Just look at the latest ships from Royal Caribbean, which have everything from wave pools for surfing to boxing rings.

But if there's one area where the cruise industry lags behind, it's in-room entertainment. Sure, nearly every cabin on every ship has a television. But click around on that television and what do you find? Not much. Maybe one channel playing the same movie over and over again. And a fuzzy version of Fox News, plus a few cruise line-produced channels showing you such exciting things as a replay of last night's lounge act or a primer on spending money in the ship casino.

Enter Wave Entertainment, a subsidiary of SeaMobile, which has developed a new satellite television service that can be beamed to ships around the globe. Boasting at least 25 channels, plus dozens of movies-on-demand, it'll debut in April on Oceania's Insignia.

"We're not the first to bring CNN or Fox News to a (cruise ship) stateroom, but we're the first to present television in the stateroom like you would expect to see at home," says Dennis Flaharty, the executive vice president for technology at Wave.

In addition to far more channels and on-demand choices than anything currently available at sea, Wave's system also is the first all-digital system for a cruise ship, which will mean better clarity for the shows you watch. No more fuzziness when the lady in the cabin next door turns on her hair dryer, says Flaharty.

In addition to launching on Oceania's Insignia, which will get the new system during a dry dock in late March, the new Wave TV platform also will be installed later this year on Oceania's Nautica and Regatta, and Wave already is talking to other lines about bringing it to more ships.

Flaharty says the on-demand feature of the new system will allow passengers to choose from not just dozens of movies but their favorite TV shows. "We have a very deep movie library for on-demand, and we've added something we're really proud of, which we're calling 'catch-up TV.' It could be the Desperate Housewives that was on six hours ago that you missed."

Flaharty says improvements in technology are making the system possible. "Up until a couple years ago this couldn't have been done," he notes. "Compression technologies have advanced." 


Italian police nab 133 satellite card pirates, Maltese included


From http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=65364

A crackdown on what the Italian police have described as an “international ring” of satellite television card pirates has yielded 133 suspects in Italy and abroad, according to Italian media reports.

In addition to Italian suspects, who have been raided, the Italian police have also identified suspects in Malta, Poland, Greece, France and Holland.

Searches were also said to have been carried out in Malta and the other countries.

According to the Italian media reports, the public prosecutor in Syracuse, Sicily is preparing indictments against 26 Italians while international arrest warrants have been issued with respect to 37 suspects abroad. It is not known if or how many Maltese have had arrest warrants issued against them

A total of some 3,000 pirated satellite cards, 2,000 card cloning devices, 102 computers and e50,000 in cash were seized during the raids, which formed part of a vast operation carried out by the Guardia di Finanza di Siracusa, dubbed operation ‘Smart House’.

Among the accused, according to media reports, is a certain Davide Rossi – general-secretary of the European anti-piracy body, the Association Européenne pour la Protection des uvres et services Cryptés (AEPOC). The investigation is said to have uncovered other heads of anti-piracy groups as having been hackers’ accomplices.

The investigation was carried out over three years and dealt with the cloning of satellite TV cards. The investigations had begun with a substantial seizure of cards programmed to illegally decrypt the Sky network signal. Investigations into the initial seizure had led to the uncovering of the “international ring”.

The turnover of the entire operation is estimated at e30 million per year.


Govt, DTH players to discuss interoperability of set-top boxes


From  http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/22/stories/2008022252340500.htm

‘Using technology as an entry barrier not a solution’

The mandate of technical interoperability allows consumers to shift from one service provider to another without having to reinvest in a new STB and dish.

Meera Mohanty

New Delhi, Feb. 21 The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has called for a meeting of DTH licence holders to resolve the impasse over the issue on technical interoperability of set-top boxes (STB).

The mandate of technical interoperability allows consumers to shift from one service provider to another without having to reinvest in a new STB and dish. However, TRAI’s January recommendations calling for current STB standards to be upgraded from MPEG 2 to a more advanced MPEG 4 will actually make interoperability obligations impossible, say service providers.

While the recommendations do not require upgrade for existing consumers, operators themselves feel not doing so will be discriminatory. “By using technology as an entry barrier, the regulator is actually making technical interoperability (a mandate under the license agreements) impossible for close to five million consumers (excluding DD Direct’s),” says Mr Vikram Kaushik, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Sky.

Format hurdles

Tata Sky and Dish TV use MPEG 2 compression formats as well as boxes, while new players like Reliance and Bharti Telemedia’s services are expected in MPEG 4 format, not viewable through MPEG 2 boxes. Being a stronger compression technology, MPEG 4 services can also accommodate 20-30 per cent more channels for the same bandwidth.

Only future consumers as well as Sun TV’s current consumers will be able to change service providers; although a conditional access module (CAM) card enables the box to read other feeds, MPEG 2 boxes will not work with MPEG 4 feeds. (Currently the cards are not available to consumers and at close to STB prices, are a tad expensive, say operators).

The next player can offer services at a bargain with a CAM card alone, a likely strategy for a regional DTH player, says Mr Jawahar Goel, Managing Director, Dish TV. “When you are looking at a possible market of 10 million, you can source cards for a lot less and offer services at a bargain,” he says.

Numbers should also take into account another million boxes already ordered, under transhipment or in warehouses.

Upgrade feasibility

Tata Sky and Dish TV also argue that upgrading existing boxes — the technology would have to be developed and tested — would be a significant cost. “Let the Government undertake the expense if they want us to do that, or find a way to compensate or subsidise the cost of upgrading,” says Mr Kaushik.

TRAI in its recommendations admits, “It will not be operationally feasible for a DTH operator using MPEG 2 format to upgrade the MPEG 2-based STBs of millions of existing subscribers to MPEG 4 format.”

But a senior TRAI official predicts market forces will step in.

Just like hardware costs almost half its earlier price today, DTH operators will find schemes and bundled packages to capture these subscribers, he says.


UTV channels to be available on Sun's DTH platform


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb266.php

MUMBAI: UTV Global Broadcasting Limited (UGBL), the broadcast arm of UTV Software Communications Ltd, has entered into an agreement with direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Sun Direct to carry its five channels.

UTV has already launched Bindass, Bindass Movies and World Movies. The Hindi movie channel UTV Movies is scheduled to launch on 24 February and has 300 films in the libray. UTVi, the English business news channel, will come up in March.

Said Sun Direct TV COO Tony D'Silva, "Offering thr UTV channels on our platform will increase consumer choice and satisfaction."

While Bindass and Bindass Movies offer entertainment and movie content for the youth audience, World Movies showcases films from across the globe. The movies are sub-titled in English.




21/02/08

Latest issue of Satfacts magazine mentions a Zinwell model ZMT 620 HD DTT receiver to be launched in NZ shortly.

Meanwhile Electrical chain store Noel Lemmings are advertising in a mailout.

"To see the Olympics in hi definition, you will need to upgrade to
and HD ready television and purchase the new  Freeview DTT set-top
box due for release late March 2008".**

*** This service will require the new Freeview DTT set-top box due
for release late March 2008 for approx $549.

OUCH if that price is correct there won't be many bothering with it!


From my Email & ICQ


From T.D

In it's second month The FTA Radio Show is proud to announce the
addition of 2 special guest hosts to the broadcast. Mr. Anthony (Tony)
Dunnett of Auckland, New Zealand will host a Western Pacific portion
of the show while Jerry Fisher of Winnepeg Canada will be hosting a
Canadian segment of the show, both individual are experiemced
satellite specialist with over 25 years experience each in the filed
of satellite reception of the C as well as Ku bands. We are in
negotiations currently for our European ( Great Britain )
Correspondant.

The Shows Host & Producer Richard "Rick" Buckner with FTA Satellites
stated "We feel that the global satellite listenership should be
promoted to ensure that FTA enthusiasts around the globe will have
information provided to them for their satellite reception area. We
also plan to increase our coverage of C Band transmissions as well as
the new IPTV format."

The FTA Show is sponsored by DMS International manufacturers and sole
wholesale distributors of the world renown SG 2100 Satellite Motor,
Trimax 2200 Satellite Receiver, Traxis line of Satellite Receivers
including the Traxis 3500 DBS as well as the Hot Dish 90, V Box and
Matchbox Pro USB MPEG 4 HD Receiver.

The FTA Show can be heard on Galaxy 25 on Saturday's at 3:00 PM EST,
Sunday's at 11:00 AM EST and Monday through Friday from Noon to 2:00
PM EST. It also can be download or streaming audio from the following
websites :

www.access-america.net
www.dmsiusa.com
www.ftasatellitesales.com
www.veteransunited.org


From the Dish


Telstar 18 138E 3660 V "CTI TV Asia" is now encrypted.

Express AM33 at 81.5E Test carriers on 3925 R.


NEWS


Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite


From http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7aoM2ii3QVBCAV8m2HtJSuPxPNwD8UUI7UO0

WASHINGTON (AP) — A missile launched from a Navy cruiser soared 130 miles above the Pacific and smashed a dying and potentially deadly U.S. spy satellite Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Several defense officials said it apparently achieved the main aim of destroying an onboard tank of toxic fuel.

Officials had expressed cautious optimism that the missile would hit the satellite, which was the size of a school bus. But they were less certain of hitting the smaller, more worrisome fuel tank, whose contents posed what Bush administration officials deemed a potential health hazard to humans if it landed intact.

In a statement announcing that the attack on the satellite, the Pentagon said, "Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours." It made no mention of early indications, but several defense officials close to the situation said later that all indications point to the destruction of the fuel tank. One explained that observers saw what appeared to be an explosion, indicating that the tank was hit.

Because the satellite was orbiting at a relatively low altitude at the time it was hit by the missile, debris will begin to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere immediately, the Pentagon statement said.

"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days," it said.

The USS Lake Erie, armed with an SM-3 missile designed to knock down incoming missiles — not orbiting satellites — launched the attack at 10:26 p.m. EST, according to the Pentagon. It hit the satellite about three minutes later as the spacecraft traveled in polar orbit at more than 17,000 mph.

The Lake Erie and two other Navy warships, as well as the SM-3 missile and other components, were modified in a hurry-up project headed by the Navy in January. The missile alone cost nearly $10 million, and officials estimated that the total cost of the project was at least $30 million.

The launch of the Navy missile amounted to an unprecedented use of components of the Pentagon's missile defense system, designed to shoot down hostile ballistic missiles in flight — not kill satellites.

The operation was so extraordinary, with such intense international publicity and political ramifications, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates — not a military commander — made the decision to pull the trigger.

Gates had arrived in Hawaii a few hours before the missile was launched. He was there to begin a round-the-world trip, not to monitor the missile operation. His press secretary, Geoff Morrell, told reporters traveling with Gates that the defense chief gave the go-ahead at 1:40 p.m. EST while en route from Washington.

Morrell said Gates had a conference call during the flight with Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Strategic Command, and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They told him that "the conditions were ripe for an attempt, and that is when the secretary gave the go-ahead to take the shot, and wished them good luck," Morrell said.

At 10:35 p.m. EST, Gates spoke to both generals again and "was informed that the mission was a success, that the missile had intercepted the decaying satellite, and the secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that," said Morrell.

The government organized hazardous materials teams, under the code name "Burnt Frost," to be flown to the site of any dangerous or otherwise sensitive debris that might land in the United States or elsewhere.

Also, six federal response groups that are positioned across the country by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were alerted but had not been activated Wednesday, FEMA spokesman James McIntyre said before the missile launch. "These are purely precautionary and preparedness actions only," he said.

President Bush gave his approval last week to attempt the satellite shootdown on grounds that it was worth trying to destroy the toxic fuel on board the satellite before it could possibly land in a populated area.

The three-stage Navy missile, designated the SM-3, has chalked up a high rate of success in a series of tests since 2002, in each case targeting a short- or medium-range ballistic missile, never a satellite. A hurry-up program to adapt the missile for this anti-satellite mission was completed in a matter of weeks; Navy officials said the changes would be reversed once this satellite was down.

The government issued notices to aviators and mariners to remain clear of a section of the Pacific Ocean beginning at 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, indicating the first window of opportunity to launch the missile.

Having lost power shortly after it reached orbit in late 2006, the satellite was out of control and well below the altitude of a normal satellite. The Pentagon determined it should hit it with an SM-3 missile just before it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, in that way minimizing the amount of debris that would remain in space.

Left alone, the satellite would have been expected to hit Earth during the first week of March. About half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft would have been expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and would have scattered debris over several hundred miles.


US missile hits spy satellite


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10493766

WASHINGTON - A missile from a US Navy warship hit a defunct US spy satellite 133 nautical miles (247km) above the Earth in an attempt to blow apart its tank of toxic fuel, the Pentagon said.

It was too soon to tell if the fuel tank had been shattered in the operation over the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon said in a statement, but a senior military source said initial indications suggested that goal had been achieved.

The SM-3 missile was fired from the USS Lake Erie in the Pacific at about 10.26pm EST (4.30pm NZT), the Pentagon said in a statement.

"A network of land, air, sea and space-based sensors confirms that the US military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere," it said.

"Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours," the statement said.

The senior military source said the missile hit the satellite about three minutes after launch.

"There's a good indication that the fuel tank was hit because there was an explosion," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Washington says its aim is to prevent harm to humans from the satellite's tank of hazardous hydrazine fuel. Russia and China have expressed concern, with Moscow suggesting the operation could be used as cover to test a new space weapon.

The missile hit the 5000-pound (2270kg), bus-sized satellite as it travelled through space at more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,400 kph), the Pentagon said.

"Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth's atmosphere immediately," it added.

"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days."

During a flight from Washington to Hawaii, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates authorized the Navy to fire the missile, about 10 hours before the operation was carried out, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

Commanders informed him the mission had been a success nine minutes after the satellite was hit, Morrell said.

"The secretary was obviously very pleased to learn that," Morrell told reporters in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Pentagon has said the stray spacecraft was a test satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, a US intelligence agency, launched in December 2006.

It stopped communicating within a few hours of reaching orbit, Pentagon officials have said.

Some space experts have questioned the Pentagon's justification for the mission, saying the chances of any part of the satellite causing harm were extremely remote.

But Pentagon officials have denied suggestions they wanted to destroy the satellite to prevent part of the classified spacecraft from falling into the hands of rival powers.

They have insisted the only concern was that the 1000-pound fuel tank could survive largely intact and release toxic gas.

The Pentagon has said the operation would use modified elements of its missile defence system.

But officials have sought to avoid presenting this mission as a test for that system, saying hitting a satellite is quite different from trying to shoot down a missile.

The Pentagon said it would provide further information about the operation at a news briefing at 7am EST on Thursday (1am Friday NZT).


China says on alert for possible harmful effects from U.S. shootdown of spy satellite


From http://www.pr-inside.com/china-says-on-alert-for-possible-r448930.htm

BEIJING (AP) - China said Thursday it was on the alert for possible harmful fallout from the U.S. shootdown of an ailing spy satellite and urged Washington to promptly release data about the action.
The comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry came several hours after the Pentagon said a missile launched from a Navy cruiser had soared above the Pacific Ocean and smashed a dying and potentially dangerous U.S. spy satellite.
«China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries,» ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news conference.

«China requests the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations in real earnest and provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way so that relevant countries can take precautions.


TV betting service draws criticism


From http://news.smh.com.au/tv-betting-service-draws-criticism/20080221-1tod.html

The Victorian government has been criticised for approving a TV betting service which allows punters to gamble at home using their remote control.

Opposition Gaming spokesman Michael O'Brien said the innovation would allow Victorians to "lose their house without having to leave their couch."

"This is a classic example of the government putting revenue ahead of responsibility," he said.

Mr O'Brien said under the Brumby government, gamblers' losses on poker machines had doubled, lottery tickets have become available through SMS and vending machines and now TAB TV will be accessible at home.

"John Brumby wants to bring gambling into every facet of Victorian life and hang the consequences," Mr O'Brien said.

The government says the subscription scheme, which will operate through Foxtel's Sky Racing, is merely an extension of the existing phone and internet betting accounts already held by thousands of Australians.

Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said the Two Way TV betting scheme "just provides a more convenient option" than phone and internet accounts.

Mr Robinson, who has personal TAB phone and internet accounts and "enjoys the occasional flutter", said the move would be welcomed by Australians.

"Australians love a punt, it's the oldest form of gambling in this country, hundreds of thousands of Victorians enjoy a regular punt and they do so responsibly," he said.

The NSW government has rejected Two Way TV betting, meaning Victoria is the first state to approve the service for punting on horse racing, trots and greyhounds.

"It's been a service that's been available to punters in the US for some considerable time and so it brings our punters in line with what's been available overseas," Mr Robinson said.

He said the service was available only to Foxtel subscribers and that optional safeguards such as PIN access to ensure children do not gain unauthorised access and a "long" registration test were available.

Mr O'Brien claimed the current safeguards were inadequate, and failed to protect the technologically savvy younger generation.

Anti-gambling activists say the impact on underage betting was more worrying than the overall increased exposure to gambling.

Former head of the Inter-Church Gambling Taskforce, Tim Costello, argued that TV punting would expose children to gambling in the home when they previously would not have been.

"This is another way for gambling to invade every space of life," Mr Costello said.

Gabriela Byrne, a reformed gambler and anti-gambling advocate, believes interactive television betting will extend problem gambling to the younger generation.

"I was quite outraged that the government ... has allowed another device that quite obviously targets ... another generation of gamblers, which are the young people," Ms Byrne said.

"How can we just get more money out of people that can least afford it?"


Foxtel "Call Storm" Customer Database Down For 4 Days


From http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Content_And_Downloads/Industry/G9S7D8X4

Foxtel has admitted that they have had database issues when they migrated a new customer service database over to handle new Foxtel services, however they do claim that no records are missing. However they have said that tey have had to bring in over 100 staff to handle what they describe as "Customer Call Storms".

Foxtel has admitted that they have had database issues when they migrated a new customer service database over to handle new Foxtel services, however they do claim that no records are missing. However they have said that tey have had to bring in over 100 staff to handle what they describe as "Customer Call Storms".

Foxtel has admitted that they have had database issues when they migrated a new customer service database over to handle new Foxtel services, however they do claim that no records are missing. This is despite two customer service personnel being unable to find my own personal record when I phoned in with a faulty Foxtel set top box.

They have also admitted that they were forced into a 4 day database close down due to a "Call Storm" that resulted in them having to bring in 100 additional staff to handle calls. These calls were not processed unless there was an emergency or urgent need for action.

Th ey have also failed to explain why the Managing Director of Vital Software in Melbourne, Roger Bushell was told 4 times that a Foxtel technician would attend his new home to install a cable service but failed to turn up.

Bushell the Chief Executive of a database Company said "Foxtel technicians or their contractors failed to turn up on 4 separate occasions despite being told that they would attend between certain given times.   On one occasion I phoned them to question why they had not turned up. The call centre operator told me after consulting their database that no technician was scheduled to attend my home. When I got home that night there was note from a technician who had arrived late to do the installation".

"There has to be a database problem. If they could not find your record (meaning me) on their database there has to be missing records".

Guy Main a senior executive at Foxtel said "We have had teething problems but we have not lost any records".
When asked why my record could not be found during a 90 minute phone call he said "I do not know I will investigate this. Some records may have fallen through the cracks but they are in isolation. It does not mean that they were lost but not accessible by the call centre operator."

He added "Migrating a large database like Foxtel was not an easy task. We had to do our own migration as the new Telstra database was not ready. This one is separate to the new Telstra database which is still under development".

"As a result of migration we had a call storm when we had to take the database down for 4 days. We bought in 100 staff to handle call manually. We could not action the call but we were able to talk to customers. This is why we bought in 100 extra staff. We are now on the backend of this problem and last night we had a 20 fold decrease in demand on our call centre".
He added "If a consumer had a serious problem we had a set up to manually process a call".


Sports rights give Foxtel the motivation to expand


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23248235-5015718,00.html

PAY-TELEVISION operator Foxtel will use its exclusive internet rights to broadcast the 2010 winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games and the 2012 summer Olympics as the linchpin for a substantial expansion of its online presence.

News of the pay-TV operator's internet expansion has come as Foxtel has announced record bottom line and operating profit for the December half year. The results were driven by rapid subscriber expansion, particularly in the Sydney market.

In an interview with Media yesterday, Foxtel's chief executive Kim Williams revealed the group was working extensively on its internet strategy as part of plans to offer consumers access to Foxtel at any place and time.

"The internet is an absolute mainstream, front-of-mind issue with all consumers," he said.

"Foxtel needs to respond to that in a way that is relevant to customers and ensures they get a good service offering."

Mr Williams said Foxtel was developing products "that have broadband as a delivery agent and we'll be unveiling those over the next couple of years".

It is understood Foxtel conducted an extensive broadband trial last year, with the company testing the downloading of programs to PCs and portable devices. Also, Fox Sports has experimented with downloads of English Premier League games on its website for subscribers.

Foxtel has indicated its recently launched high-definition set-top box could be used to access web content and other downloads using a broadband connection.

Mr Williams said the three main sports events to which it has won the online, mobile and overall pay-TV rights would provide a showcase and an impetus to develop the company's broadband strategy. "Clearly with having the mobile and broadband rights to the winter and summer Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, it gives us an incentive because we're committed to delivering for our customers in a technologically neutral way," he said.

Asked about one scenario - that www.foxtel.com.au could become a password-protected online hub for Foxtel channels - Mr Williams said: "There is a range of possibilities and we will be progressively unveiling them."

The pay-TV operator will have plenty of cash to fund its online expansion. The company's 25 per cent owner, Consolidated Media Holdings, implied in its accounts Foxtel had more than doubled its bottom line net profit to $60.8million for the six months to December 31, up from $27.2million for the corresponding period the previous year.

(Foxtel is 25 per cent-owned by News Limited, publisher of The Australian.)

Revenue increased by 17 per cent to $805 million after average revenue per user rose to $84.

Foxtel's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 62 per cent to a record $165 million after it increased direct subscriber numbers by 13per cent to more than 1.3million for the 2007 calendar year.

Media understands 40c in every incremental dollar of revenue being earned by Foxtel is dropping to the bottom line.

The company's total subscriber base passed 1.5 million last month, representing a 29 per cent average penetration across its operational areas and a substantial 38 per cent penetration in Sydney.

One negative point for Foxtel during the period was an increase in the rate of annualised "churn" - or customer disconnections - to 13.5 per cent.

Mr Williams said this was attributable to the expiry of two-year contracts during the December half, with some customers not renewing subscriptions.

"With the economic outlook uncertain, some people are naturally being cautious," he said.

The company is implementing strategies to ensure this churn rate stabilises. "We are confident we have the right tools to make sure consumers won't leave us," Mr Williams said.

He indicated the company would be promoting lower-cost pay-TV package options.

"Sometimes people have a kneejerk reaction and forget you can pay as little as $37.95 a month," he said.


New Report Examines Developments in FTA, Pay TV & Digital TV in New Zealand


From  http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080220005768&newsLang=en

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83412) has announced the addition of New Zealand - Broadcasting - FTA, Pay TV & Digital TV - Statistics & Overview to their offering.

Although the dominance of FTA television has been unsurpassed for many decades, the industry moving into 2007 faces several challenges. Marketing and media buyers are increasingly turning to alternative media, such as through Internet and mobile channels in order to reach consumers. New Zealand lags behind most of the developed world in the transition to digital television. FTA digital television was launched in May 2007 across all of New Zealand under the Freeview umbrella as a satellite service, but uptake so far has only been on a limited scale. Although the FTA broadcasters have been very slow in adapting to the new digital media environment there are some early promising signs of change. TVNZ for example is implementing what it calls a strategy of ‘co-opetition’, through which it will cooperate with other media players to place its local programming on various platforms. In April 2007 TVNZ launch its online-streaming-and-download TV service as part of its ‘Inspiring On Every Screen’ strategy, which is aimed at delivering high-value content via multiple platforms. Potential IPTV activities are also being pursued in the pay TV arena. SKY is continuing to progress its plans to launch a hybrid satellite/IPTV decoder.

1. Synopsis

2. Market overview

3. Free-to-Air TV

3.1 Television New Zealand (TVNZ)

3.1.1 Overview

3.1.2 Channel offerings via Freeview

3.1.3 TVNZ multi-platform strategy overview

3.1.4 TVNZ on demand TV service launch

3.1.5 Market statistics

3.2 MediaWorks NZ

3.2.1 TVWorks - TV3 and C4

3.2.2 Company history

3.3 Prime Television New Zealand

3.3.1 Company history

3.4 Totaliser Agency Board (TAB)

4. Digital FTA TV

4.1 State of play

4.2 Freeview (FTA digital TV service)

4.2.1 Overview

4.2.2 Content

4.2.3 Channels

4.2.4 Broadcasting coverage and technology

4.2.5 Trials

4.2.6 Finance

4.2.7 Competition

4.3 Kordia’s digital TV rollout

5. Pay and cable TV (digital)

5.1 Market overview

5.2 Sky Network Television

5.2.1 Overview

5.2.2 Strategic analysis

5.2.3 Satellite coverage

5.2.4 Other services

5.2.5 Sky subscriber statistics

5.2.6 Financial results

5.2.7 Acquisition of Prime TV

5.2.8 Partnerships - TelstraClear and Woosh Wireless

5.3 TelstraClear Saturn

5.4 Ethnic TV company to launch digital subscriber TV

5.5 Analysis of the pay TV market

5.5.1 On paper Sky’s financial performance is strong yet again

5.5.2 Exorbitant prices places a ceiling on further pay TV market growth

5.5.3 Striking similarities exist with the Australian marketplace

5.5.4 Telecom’s market dominance only adds fuel to the fire

5.5.5 Lack of competition only stifles market innovation and consumer choice

6. IPTV

7. Video-over-IP broadcasting

8. Digital radio

8.1 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

8.1.1 Kordia

9. DVB-T trials

10. Related reports

Exhibit 1 - Sky Network Television at a glance

Table 1 - FTA TV broadcasting statistics - 2007

Table 2 - Pay TV broadcasting statistics - June 2007

Table 3 - Total UHF, DBS & other subscribers - 2004 - 2007

Table 4 - Subscriber growth & annual change - 1993 - 2008

Table 5 - Average monthly revenue per residential subscriber and annual change - 2005 - 2007

Table 6 - Revenue overview and percentage change - 1997 - 2008

Table 7 - Group revenue overview and annual change - 2005 - 2006

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c83412.

Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
[email protected]


Korea Ends Arirang 1 Satellite Mission


From http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5226&Itemid=2

The operation of Korea's first multipurpose satellite has been officially terminated following a breakdown in communications, the Ministry of Science and Technology said Thursday.

It said the decision reached Wednesday follows 370 attempts to restore command up-links with the Arirang 1 satellite that has failed to respond to orders as of Dec. 30.

"Judging by emergency battery life, it has been decided that the satellite could not be saved," said Lee Ki-sung, head of the ministry's space technology development division.

The official added that based on the experience acquired over the past few months, designers of future satellites will strengthen backup systems and emergency procedures in case of similar accidents.

Sources at KARI said outdated communications, incorrect orbital data inputted by ground controllers, and faulty emergency systems were the main cause of the breakdown.

The ministry, however, said Arirang 1 launched in December 1999 had exceeded its three-year operational life expectancy. It orbited the Earth 43,000 times and took more than 440,000 photos.


Pay-TV Olympic bid to carry free-to-air digital channels


From http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=1&art_id=61788&sid=17672021&con_type=1

With the Beijing Olympics just months away, a pay-TV operator is lobbying the SAR government to be allowed to carry free-to-air TV channels without threat of legal action.

If successful, the change would be a boon for i-CABLE Communications' (1097) Cable TV service and PCCW's (0008) Now TV, essentially expanding their content offerings for free and allowing their subscribers to watch the Olympics in digital format.

One pay-TV operator is pushing the government to amend the Copyright Ordinance so that both Cable TV and Now TV can carry TVB and ATV channels without threats of copyright infringement from the terrestrial broadcasters. 

If pay-TV operators were allowed to deliver the terrestrial television channels, more Hong Kong residents would be able to watch the Olympics in clearer digital format, the operator argued in a letter to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.

The lobbying effort revives moves made in 2004 by Cable TV to carry the free-TV channels over its system, a practice that was ended when Television Broadcasts (0511) won a court case saying the retransmission was illegal.

ATV and TVB have said that 75 percent of the Hong Kong population will be able to tap into their new digital signals before the Olympics start. However, not all households covered by the new digital signals will be able to take advantage of them, because viewers will have to purchase new equipment.

"There is a quicker and much simpler way to ensure that ... well over 90 percent of the population can actually watch the Beijing Olympics in digital format," the pay-TV operator wrote.

"This is by broadcasting ATV and TVB's free-to-air programs via the pay- television networks," it said.

Assistant Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Bill Li Chi-pang told The Standard his office will "look into the matter."


IEC signs GlobeCast for sports broadcasts


From http://www.globecast.com/?page=press-detail&lang=en&id_article=244

GlobeCast has extended its relationship with IEC in Sports in an exclusive deal to provide arguably one of the world’s fastest growing sports marketing agencies with contribution and distribution services until December 2009, bringing the relationship up to the 10 year mark.

Since the partnership began in 2000, IEC in Sports has become a world leader in the acquisition and distribution of sports television programming and GlobeCast has adapted its solutions to fit with the company’s changing requirements and growing portfolio.

As part of the deal, more than 3,000 hours of live programming from more than 250 sporting events will be distributed worldwide each year via GlobeCast’s content delivery network, with facilities on offer including downlink, uplink, capacity, encoding and encryption as well as station facilities.

GlobeCast is also responsible for the European and Asian distribution of IEC’s four weekly television productions – World of Athletics, World of Tennis, FINA Aquatics World and Road to Beijing. The 26-minute magazine shows are distributed via satellite from GlobeCast’s London Technical Operations Centre at Brookmans Park where the signals are encrypted and uplinked to a number of different satellites covering Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

As the official television agent for a number of leading sports governing bodies including the world swimming association (FINA), International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Badminton World Federation (BWF), IEC is one of the fastest growing sports agencies in the world, supplying feeds of sporting events to broadcasters across the globe, including major broadcasters NBC, TV Globo, CCTV, Fuji Television, PCCW, Al-Jazeera and Eurosport to name just a few.


DVB-C2 spec out


From http://www.advanced-television.com/2008/feb18_feb22.htm#h8

The DVB Board has approved the commercial requirements for the DVB-C2 specification. The demand for more advanced services has pushed the existing cable specification to its limits and DVB has therefore introduced the process to develop a set of commercial requirements and is looking for contributions towards a specification that will serve the cable industry for between 10 and 12 years.

The satellite DVB-S2 standard is already being used by a number of operators and progress is also being made on the terrestrial DVB-T2


OpenTV Continues to Impact Television Viewing, Surpasses Major Industry Milestone of 100 Million Enabled Devices Worldwide


From http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/02/19/3277149.htm

SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)-- The television viewing experience has changed dramatically over the past ten years. Passive, one-way delivery of viewing content has evolved into a highly interactive, two-way television experience, due in large part to significant contributions by OpenTV Corp. (NASDAQ GM: OPTV), a leading provider of solutions for the delivery of advanced television and interactive services. Today, OpenTV is pleased to announce that more than 100 million OpenTV-enabled digital set-top boxes and televisions have been deployed worldwide.

Since its first deployments in 1997, OpenTV's technology has been integrated into more digital set-top boxes and televisions than any of its competitors and has an industry footprint that extends today into 100 countries, through partnerships with more than 50 network operators and 40 set-top box manufacturers.

In just over ten years, OpenTV's technology has greatly changed the way people enjoy television around the world, as a result of long-standing partnerships with global leaders including customers such as News Corporation, EchoStar, and Liberty Global; set-top box manufacturers such as Pace Micro Technology and Thomson; chipset vendors such as ST Microelectronics and Broadcom; and conditional access partners such as Nagravision, Irdeto and NDS. As PVR penetration grows and as other technologies such as broadband, video-on-demand and high definition gain popularity among consumers, OpenTV is committed to meeting the growing demands of the industry, enabling operators worldwide to offer advanced services to their viewers. On a global scale, OpenTV supports the largest installed base of PVR devices among middleware providers.

"As we surpass the 100 million device mark, I can proudly state that OpenTV's technology has truly become the cornerstone of digital television services around the world," said Ben Bennett, OpenTV's Chief Operating Officer. "This is no small feat when you consider the size and complexity of the global television industry. We have come a long way since the late nineties when HDTV, DVR's and advanced interactive services were still immature technologies and not fully consumer-grade quality. That has now changed as we see the deployment of much more advanced interactivity being integrated with the traditional viewing experience. Considering that still only ten percent of the world's 1.78 billion televisions are digitally enabled, we have a great market opportunity ahead of us."

Viewer experiences around the world illustrate how 100 million OpenTV-enabled digital devices have changed the way consumers interact with their televisions. In the United States, DISH Network viewers are now voting and polling through their televisions, as illustrated by the recent launch of its DISH Decision 2008 interactive election application. DishTV subscribers in India are playing interactive cricket and FOXTEL subscribers in Australia are selecting and voting for their favorite television shows in Australia. In 2004, nearly nine million BSkyB digital satellite viewers in the United Kingdom, representing 58 percent of the available digital satellite audience at that time, used the BBC's interactive 2004 Summer Olympic Games services powered by OpenTV.

"We have a long-standing relationship with OpenTV and are pleased to be a part of this industry milestone," said Carl Vogel, Vice Chairman of DISH Network. "Through our partnership with OpenTV and use of their technology, we have been able to differentiate our platform in the market. This was most recently illustrated by the launch of our DISH Decision 2008 application, which was a collaborative effort on behalf of our two companies."

Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer at Pace Micro Technology commented: "We have been an OpenTV licensee since the beginning, and we have worked together on some of the world's most exciting digital TV launches. Most recently this work has included a number of high definition PVR developments, including the first Pace/OpenTV/Irdeto partnership for the launch of Turkey's first HD PVR. At Pace, our focus is on delivering great products to our customers every time, but this can only be achieved by working with the best partners in set-top box technology. We are proud to say that OpenTV is just such a partner."

The achievement of 100 million deployed digital devices is truly remarkable when compared against other consumer technology icons. For example, OpenTV's 100 million digital devices surpass the combined units sold of Xbox, Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and Nintendo Wii since their respective launches. In addition, 100 million OpenTV-powered digital devices is more than eight times the number of BlackBerrys sold to date.

"This significant accomplishment is an absolute tribute to OpenTV's people, technology, customers and partners across the globe who have helped make it happen," continued Bennett. "We have a strong roadmap for 2008 and beyond, and look forward to celebrating more achievements in the coming years."

About OpenTV

Since the company was formed in 1996, OpenTV has grown to become one of the world's leading providers of advanced digital television solutions including advanced advertising and interactive services, and partners with more than 50 network operators and more than 40 manufacturers worldwide. Headquartered in the San Francisco, with offices in the Silicon Valley, Denver, Paris, London, Sydney, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Tel-Aviv, OpenTV has grown to a worldwide team of 500 people, dedicated to creating and delivering compelling interactive experiences to digital television providers worldwide. The company's software has been integrated in more than 100 million digital set-top boxes and digital televisions around the world, and enables enhanced program guides, video-on-demand, personal video recording, enhanced television, interactive shopping, interactive and addressable advertising, and a variety of consumer care and communication applications. For more information, please visit www.opentv.com.

Note: high-resolution screenshots of OpenTV applications available upon request.


Sahara to launch 5 channels, Bengali in the list


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb246.php

MUMBAI: Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd plans to launch five channels including one in the Bengali language within the next six months.
"We will be widening our channel offerings. We are launching five channels over the next six months. One of them will be in the Bengali language space," said Sahara One Media and Entertainment CEO Seemanto Roy while declining to provide further details.
Sahara was addressing the press to announce the launch of Firangi, the world TV channel dubbed in Hindi.
Firangi will kick off on 25 February with three hours of original programming. This will add to Sahara's existing bouquet of Hindi general entertainment channel Sahara One and movie channel Filmy. The group also runs a clutch of Hindi and region and city-specific channels.
The channel will have two prime bands - from 5 pm to 8 pm for building in loyal audiences and a repeat at 9 pm till midnight for working men and women. The channel aims to get core viewers in the age group 20-44 years.
"The early prime time band is not fragmented and we can build up loyalty for our content. The 9-12 pm slot is the time when maximum viewers watch TV and it is the best time to get people to sample the channel," said Firangi business head Rajeev Chakrabarti.
For starters, Firangi will show Lalola, a popular comedy series from Argentina, America from Brazil and Second Chance from Columbia. Each of them will have a time run of one hour.
Lalola will be telecast at 5 pm and a repeat at 9 pm. America will be shown at 6 pm (repeat at 10 pm) and Second Chance at 7 pm (repeat at 11 pm).
The strategy for two time bands was arrived at after analysis of the viewing habits of Hindi serial viewers, especially those who watch dubbed content.
Chakrabarti said, "We have addressed the often ignored quality of dubbing of international content in Hindi in our are full selection of voice artists and dubbing processes."

Firangi will be showcasing "fresh", "contemporary" and "bold content." The serials will end in 6-8 months. "It will be a lot more pacier," says Chakrabarti. 

On weekends the channel will air mini series and movies. On the first weekend Firangi will show mini series called Dolmen.
Dolmen will air in two parts on Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 pm.


DVRs to become the next battleground in DTH war


From http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=8&autono=314368

As new direct-to-home (DTH) competitors such as Reliance Communications (RCom) and Bharti get ready for a launch, another price war is imminent as both DTH and cable companies vie to offer consumers digital video recorders (DVRs).
 
A DVR is a device that allows consumers to pause, record, play back, rewind and fast forward their favourite television shows.
 
DTH companies are expected to slash DVRs box prices by nearly half to Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000 per unit. DVRs for cable channels would soon be available for between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000, industry sources said.
 
Meanwhile, Dish TV and Tata Sky have been announcing attractive price and packaging offers for their DTH services. Since the launch of their services, the price of a DTH connection has dropped by 15-20 per cent.
 
"Now, with DVR services in the offing, both Dish TV and Tata Sky are working on the cost implications of providing them at competitive price points," the sources said.
 
According to an industry source, the main worry for DTH incumbents is the pricing of DVR boxes by RCom's Big TV which may offer a DVR-DTH connection at Rs 5,000 to Rs,7,000 along with financing schemes.
 
DVR prices are linked to storage capacity. "In China and Taiwan, DVR boxes can come between $60 and $100 depending on the configuration, storage capacity, operating software, and so on. When imported, the duty and taxes increase the pricing," said a technical expert on set-top boxes and DVRs.
 
In contrast to the DTH DVRs, the cable DVRs are 50 per cent cheaper. Cable company Hathway today launched a DVR in association with international company NDS.
 
"Other cable companies such as Zee Group's WWIL and InCable are also mulling the launch of DVRs," the sources added.


NDTV scores big with entertainment channel


From http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=8&autono=314137

MEDIA With 18 advertising deals in its kitty, NDTV Imagine determinedly chases the Rs 300 crore plus revenue target
 
About a year ago, Vikram Chandra, CEO, NDTV Networks, approached analysts in Mumbai to discuss the company’s foray into entertainment.
 
“Most of them were amused and laughed at the project,” recalls Chandra. Today, it is Chandra’s turn to smirk. Within three weeks of its launch, NDTV Imagine, the 24-hour general entertainment channel (GEC) in Hindi, is the number three channel in the genre.
 
In the latest TAM report (4 years plus viewers in cable and satellite homes in the Hindi-speaking markets) the channel shares the number three slot with Sony, ahead of Sahara, Star One, Sab and 9X.
 
However, its weekly Gross Rating Points (GRPs) at 86 are higher than Sony’s (80). The channel has also improved its weekly reach from 41 per cent to 43 per cent.
 
There’s more good news. In a couple of days, advertisers such Coca Cola, Pepsi and Nokia will be on board. These will be in addition to Hindustan Unilever, Colgate, Idea, Tata Telecom, General Motors, Hero Honda and HP, among others, which are already advertising on NDTV Imagine.
 
Company sources say that the channel has signed advertising deals worth Rs 60 crore and its year one ad revenue target is more than Rs 300 crore.
 
Harsh Rohatgi, executive vice president (revenue management and new ventures), NDTV Imagine, refuses to confirm the figure but says: “Advertisers are seeing the channel trajectory and the value that we offer. We will meet our revenue targets.” The channel is budgeted to break even in the second year of operations.
 
According to the marketing head of a Delhi-based news channel, NDTV Imagine has got its programming, distribution and PR right. Rivals, of course, disagree.
 
“The only two shows that are working are Ramayana and Dharamveer. That latter because they cashed in on the popularity of the young actor who played Prithiviraj Chauhan on Star Plus,” says the Star India spokesperson.
 
Joy Chakrabarty, president and head of revenue at Zee Entertainment also says that only Ramayana seems to be working for NDTV Imagine and notching up a rating of 2.
 
Media experts say that the channel has kept away from the back-to-back melodramas which have caused viewer fatigue on most other channels.
 
“Ramayana is indeed a masterstroke since Indians are still interested in Ram. However, it remains to be seen if its magic will wear off,” says a media industry veteran.
 
NDTV Imagine CEO Sameer Nair says that the channel offers fresh though familiar programming. “We knew that we would not do a Baywatch. But we wanted the programming to be uplifting if not happy compared to the negative tenor which others adopt.”
 
Nair is pleased with the GRPs of the channel achieved without showing any Hindi films. “Advertisers no longer pay a premium on re-runs. It is better to get viewers hooked on to programmes,” he says.
 
There is no official word on the distribution cost incurred by the channel, but critics say that NDTV paid a hefty carriage fee (of nearly Rs 50 crore) to be seen in cable homes. The channel is available in 87 per cent of Star Plus homes, claim NDTV Imagine executives.
 
Will competition from the new channel pose a threat to the established players? “No. It is way, way behind us,” says the Star spokesperson. Is Vikram Chandra listening?




20/02/08

........


From my Email & ICQ


From Steve J

Cricket Feed McLean Park, NZ vs England

Intelsat 701 3741  RHC Sr 6100 Vid 1865 Audio 0256 / 0257


From Topfield NZ

NEW TOPFIELDS launched in NZ

Topfield are proud to release two new satellite receivers for 2008.

The new TF7710HSCI HDMI high definition satellite receiver and the new TF6000PVR ES with

HDMI ouput and a 320gig HDD satellite receiver..

The TF7710HSCI is both high definition and standard definition compatible. With HDMI high

definition output aa well as upscaling of SD broadcasts to 1080i this is an outstanding

receiver.

The TF6000PVR ES is now our feature PVR. With HDMI output and upscaling of SD broadcasts to

1080i this is an outstanding PVR, even for Topfield. But it gets better. This new PVR, still

with the 6000PVR LAN ethernet connection but now with a 320gig HDD is only RRP$899.

As the Topfield-NZ website is in the process of an upgrade please visit the distribution

website www.hooktech.co.nz for details.

Please note: This is a brand new release. The quickest shipment we could get was smaller

than needed, so stocks will run out fast initially. If you want one, order it. Have the

retailer you order it from backorder it if stocks have run out by the time you get there.

That way you will get the first in the next shipment.

Topfield-NZ


From the Dish


Optus D2 152E 12519 V Sr 22500 Fec 3/4 "Al Hayat" has started on , Fta (Last week).

AsiaSat 2 100.5E "Kuwait Space Channel" has left 3660 V, moved to 3820 V.

NSS 6 95.5E 12619 H "I-Net " has started on , MPEG-4, Fta (N.E Asia beam).

Insat 2E 83E 4042 V "Jayam" has started on , Fta.

Express AM33 has arrived at 81.5 East.

Thaicom 5 78.5E 3585 V "TCTV" has started on , Fta.

ABS 1 75E 3577 H "Ha TV" is encrypted again.


NEWS


NewSat’s first satellite named Jabiru


From http://www.newsat.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_news_detail.asp?news_id=43&page_id=26

Update on NewSat Limited’s December 2007 Submission to RTIR

Presented to Commonwealth Government’s Regional Telecommunication Independent Review Committee public consultation forum February 2008 in Perth

NewSat Limited (NWT:ASX) takes this opportunity to update shareholders on its presentation to the Regional Telecommunication Independent Review Committee concerning the company’s proposal to launch Australia’s first independent and first Australian-owned commercial satellite with its invitation to the Commonwealth Government to contribute AUD$200 million, from the Communications Fund interest, or principle, in a matching dollar for dollar basis with the company.

“Since making its initial submission, the company has been progressing its satellite project and welcomes the opportunity to give the Committee an update.

In December, in its original submission, NewSat sketched out its proposition about launching and operating a satellite with advanced technology unavailable today in either Australia or the region, from any competitor.  NewSat posited that this could and should be the lynch-pin of delivering the social contract the Commonwealth Government has made with the people of regional and remote Australia for the equitable provision of broadband communication access, price and performance for “the Bush” relative to metropolitan Australia.

We are currently witnessing rapid changes in technological solutions in metropolitan and regional Australia with the industry now talking up FttH.  At the same time some WiMax extensions of service provision beyond FttN seem to have unresolved problems.  The future of major roll-outs to regional Australia appear uncertain in some respects and at all the times they promise access for Australians in just a tiny fraction of the Australian land mass.

What NewSat is proposing is a holistic solution to the many disadvantaged people, businesses, government projects, curriculum and medical services delivery as well as defence and emergency communications across the entire land mass, wherever it is needed and that includes out to sea for good measure.  Wherever FttN, FttN + Wimax, FttH any other solution falls short, the NewSat satellite coverage can solve the problems whether they are just minutes outside a major town in a “blackspot” or in the red heart of the country with no post code.  And NewSat can do it like do other satellite provider can today.

So the myriad of broadband shortcomings now being documented by the Committee can best be resolved by a big picture solution such as put forward by NewSat, rather than a lot, or even a set, of band-aids and add-ons which will be relatively expensive to implement and operate as temporary fixes as well as being short lived in this rapidly changing face of technology.

The NewSat solution will provide the outcomes sought by many around the Outback and the company will work closely (as it does already) with the States, NGO’s and other groups who will benefit from the satellite platform at a level of performance not previously known and a price not previously considered.   The company judges these elements fundamental to the social equity equation and is proud to be leading the nation in delivering this infrastructure and making it available to consumers, to government and as a wholesaler to other down-stream telecommunication providers.

Since the original submission in December 07, the company has identified a range of project suppliers with whom it has commenced early, but active stages of negotiation to bring the satellite project into orbit.

Whilst no commitments have yet been made, NewSat is now confident that the world’s major space players, from satellite builders, to rocket builders and launchers, to satellite operators and risk mitigation experts are all “on board” and are very supportive of this NewSat project.

The company is now in a position to start describing its satellite proposition in finer detail.  This will continue to be refined over time and is, of course, subject to negotiation and change in the settlement of partners and customers of the project.

Today, however, NewSat can announce that the name of the satellite will be Jabiru.  The Jabiru, as you know, is the only indigenous stork to Australia, and makes a proud emblem for a satellite from this country.  We acknowledge that there is a town in Kakadu called Jabiru and believe the there will be no mix-up of names seeing NewSat’s Jabiru will be some 36,000 kilometres above the equator.

So today’s Jabiru is now expected to carry a mixed payload dominated by Ka band (see previous submission) and a balance of Ku, with a small amount of specialist requirement covered by X and L band transponders. Preliminary discussions with targeted clients have indicated this payload mixture as optimum.

It will be a comparatively large satellite with many transponders weighing more than an estimated 5 tonnes.  It will have a life of 15 years.  NewSat is in negotiation with a number of parties for allocation of a necessary geo-stationary slot. 

The company has also announced the addition of a new director to NewSat, Chris North, who joined the Board in late 2007.  Mr North had a distinguished career in public service and served as chief of staff to two Commonwealth Ministers in the telecommunications arena and was himself instrumental in developing telecommunications policy, before entering private consulting and more recently being a foundation director in launching the telecommunications public company, Unwired.

Finally, NewSat extends an invitation to the Committee, to visit the company’s Perth and/or Adelaide teleport and see first-hand the world class, on-the-ground, space assets which provide the company’s springboard for the Jabiru satellite project.

The Committee can see, at either teleport, the technical engagement with a range of satellites from the world’s largest space companies, such as Intelsat and NewSkies/SES, which illustrates the powerful reason why NewSat is extending its business to become a complete satellite/space model and why it is approaching the Committee to highlight that Australia should have its own satellite/s to fix its own problems and maximise its own productivity and emergency opportunities.

NewSat’s bold telecommunications infrastructure solution recommendation and proposal can deliver the basis of Australia’s regional and remote broadband requirement beyond 2020.”


Satellite shoot order may be from Oz


From http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fire-satellite-shot-order-from-oz/2008/02/20/1203467151453.html

The man charged with giving the order to shoot down a failed United States spy satellite might do it from Australia.

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates is due in Australia in the coming days as part of a nine-day tour that will take him first to Hawaii and then Australia before he goes on to Indonesia, India and Turkey.

Exact details of his itinerary have not been released.

A Pentagon spokesman said Mr Gates would be able to give the order to take down the satellite from anywhere, with the first attempt due on Thursday. The operation is set to cost about $40 million.

"The secretary is prepared to make that call from the road, if necessary, during his nine-day, around-the-world trip that begins tomorrow," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters.

The "window of opportunity" to hit the satellite is open for eight days.

The US plans to use a Standard SM-3 missile to hit the highly classified satellite - the first such strike ever conducted by the US - and hopes the remains will land in the ocean.

There is a minute possibility the debris will hit earth, and Australia and other nations have been put on standby for that possibility.

China successfully conducted a similar mission last year, much to the consternation of Western nations.

But Mr Morrell was keen to emphasise the mission was not being seen inside the Pentagon as an opportunity to test US space weapons power.

"This operation is designed to alleviate a threat to human beings on this planet.

"There is a large tank of hydrazine fuel onboard that satellite that would pose a significant threat to people within the immediate vicinity of it, if it were to hit land," Mr Morrell said.

"So, not wishing to take that risk, the President has asked, ordered, this department to shoot down that satellite."


Foxtel earnings up as subscribers increase


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23246194-31037,00.html

PAY television provider Foxtel has lifted its first half earnings after an increase in subscriptions drove its revenue up by 17 per cent.

The media group, which is 50 per cent owned by Telstra and 25 per cent owned by Consolidated Media Holdings and News Corporation (parent company of News Limited, which publishes NEWS.com.au), said new product releases in 2008 will further boost the viewing experience of its growing customer base.

Foxtel booked a pre-tax profit before refinancing charges of $73 million for the December half year, up from $22 million in the previous corresponding half.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 62 per cent to $165 million, from $102 million.

Chief executive and managing director Kim Williams said Foxtel continued to grow its subscriber base, revenues and profits.

"Foxtel will continue to create new entertainment horizons for Australian consumers and raise their expectations of television with a variety of new product releases scheduled for 2008,'' Mr Williams said.

That will include the launch of Foxtel's high definition television service - Foxtel HD-plus - in the middle of the year.

Foxtel HD-plus, with channels including BBC HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic HD, Fox sports HD and ESPN HD, will lift Australian television"`to another remarkable dimension'', Mr Williams said.

So far in 2008, Foxtel has secured the exclusive Australian rights to the 2010 Commonwealth games in Delhi with Network Ten and signed a retransmission deal with the Seven Network.

In January, Foxtel added the country's first dedicated 24-hour business news channel - Sky News Business - to its platform.

Foxtel today said it had 1.34 million direct subscribers at December 31, 2007, up 13 per cent on the previous year.

Its total subscriber base rose 12.7 per cent to 1.49 million.

Foxtel's total interim revenue grew 17 per cent to $805 million, as its subscription revenue also increased by 17 per cent, to $698 million.

In January, Foxtel passed a milestone 1.5 million subscribers, adding up to a 29 per cent market penetration rate.

At 3.14pm AEDT, Telstra shares were down 6 cents, or 1.26 per cent, to $4.71, News Corporation had shed 76 cents, or 3.42 per cent, to $21.45 and Consolidated Media was down 3 cents to $4.37.


Foxtel to launch electronic ad service


From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23229635-7582,00.html

FOXTEL will market its electronic program guide (EPG) as premium advertising real estate as it prepares to relaunch its interactive advertising products later this year.

The pay-TV company will create a new, advertiser-only space on its EPG that will house long-form entertainment content for brands.

A template that will cut the cost of making an interactive ad - which enables a viewer to request sponsor information or pause a program to access long-form advertising content by pushing the red button on their remote control - also will be launched.

Foxtel is also expected to follow moves in Britain to include more sponsored content with the programs a viewer records to his or her set-top box.

However, the Nine Network has been forced to cancel plans to make the first episode of its gangland drama Underbelly available in the on-demand section of Foxtel's EPG, so pay-TV viewers could download it and watch it in their own time.

That move - which was part of the first major advertising campaign undertaken by a free-to-air network on the rival pay-TV company - was scuppered by a court decision last week that prevented the program from being screened in Victoria.

Meanwhile, the EPG for the commercial free-to-air broadcasters is also up and running on Channel 4 on the digital spectrum, although sources said it would not carry advertising content. The developments come as Foxtel signed a deal allowing it to re-transmit the Seven signal on the Foxtel platform and include it on the Foxtel EPG.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said improvements to the interactive advertising products, including the use of the EPG, would be a focus in the second half of the year.

"We are looking at improving our interactive advertising product even further, particularly using the recordable memory," he told The Australian recently. "Cars, consumer electronics and computers: these are where people want the opportunity to really explain (the product)."

Anthony Fitzgerald, chief executive of pay-TV sales company MCN, said the Nine and Ten networks were in talks to enable their advertisers to run interactive ads on their re-transmitted signals on Foxtel.

"It will happen as soon as we finalise our agreement with (our interactive advertising) service provider," Mr Fitzgerald said.

A new interactive advertising template would cut the lead-time for creating interactive ads from 10 weeks to two or three weeks, he said. "These will be off-the-shelf template-based solutions that will be pre-tested," he said. "We're talking about a $15,000 to $20,000 turn-key solution."

In Britain, BSkyB has also launched an application that enables viewers to record a program by pressing the green button during an ad for that show.

"It is absolutely possible when recording programs to the EPG, or downloading them, that it would be downloaded with sponsor content," Mr Fitzgerald said.

More videos and trailers are expected to appear on Foxtel's EPG in the new advertising section, which will be promoted on the company's channels.

Mr Fitzgerald said the new formats and the launch of a new satellite, opening up more bandwidth for advertising applications next year, triple the number of interactive campaigns on Foxtel to about 100 next year.

MCN devoted a quarter of its ad space over summer to what it calls "true solus" breaks - 30- or 60-second ads that appear on their own with no station promos - for advertisers including Hungry Jacks, Holden, Coca-Cola, Reckitt Benckiser and GSK.

MCN will sell the same product during Easter as it chases growth of more than 20 per cent this year. Advertising revenue jumped 44 per cent to $130 million during the December half of last year.


Packer's ConsMedia bets on Pay TV


From http://business.theage.com.au/packers-consmedia-bets-on-pay-tv/20080220-1t9g.html

Consolidated Media Holdings, controlled by Australian billionaire James Packer, reported a pro forma net profit after tax of $57 million for the half year to December.

In recent trade its shares were down 0.7%, or 3 cents, to $4.37.

The company says it remains well positioned to capitalise on the strength of subscription television and employment classifieds markets after reporting a slight fall in pro-forma first half earnings.

ConsMedia, which was spun out of Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd last November, has a 25% interest in PBL Media - which owns Channel Nine, magazine business ACP and a 50% interest in ninemsn and other websites. The rest of PBL Media was sold to private equity firm CVC Asia Pacific.

ConsMedia also owns a quarter stake in Foxtel, half of Premier Media Group which owns Fox Sports, and 27% of employment website Seek.

''The equity accounted results from CMH's ongoing new media investments in Foxtel, Premier Media Group, Seek and PBL Media have grown substantially to $63.8 million,'' Cons Media executive chairman John Alexander said.

''Foxtel and Premier Media group continue to enjoy solid revenue and profit growth from increased subscribers as the penetration of subscription television continues to grow.

Mr Alexander said Seek continued to deliver impressive growth as the structural migration of job advertising from print to online continued.

He said Cons Media continued to support CVC in continuing to drive the PBL Media business forward ``as traditional media markets transform''.

''Cons Media remains well positioned to capitalise on the current strength of subscription television and employment classifieds growth in particular,'' Mr Alexander said.


Remote control wagering gets the green light


From http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/remote-control-wagering-gets-the-green-light/2008/02/20/1203467165837.html

Australians will soon be able to have a flutter on the gee-gees and the dishlickers from the comfort of their couches after Government approval of a Tabcorp pay-TV wagering service.

The Victorian Government has given approval for interactive television group Two Way TV to run an interactive gambling service on Foxtel, expected to be launched in April.

The service will be linked to the Sky Racing Channel on Foxtel and allow viewers to use their remote controls to place bets from their Tabcorp accounts.

The approval comes after the NSW Government refused to support the proposed service "in the current circumstances" last month.

The NSW Gaming and Racing Department is instead conducting a review of the area which is expected to report by the middle of the year.

This would mean any launch of the service in NSW would be delayed until at least October.

In a stockmarket statement, Two Way today said there would be "all necessary and appropriate consumer safeguards" on the service.

Two Way has reportedly paid Foxtel $5.6 million for a five-year agreement.


Thuraya poised for imminent commercial launch in Asia-Pacific


From http://www.ameinfo.com/147536.html

Following the successful launch of its third satellite, Thuraya, the world's leading satellite operator for mobile handhelds, is moving in full swing towards launching commercial service in the Asia Pacific region, a lucrative market of more than 2 billion people for which the Thuraya-3 satellite was designed.

Satellite post-launch activities have been underway since the spectacular orbital injection by Sea Launch on 15 January 2008. The smooth in-orbit operations and testing of the satellite functionalities to date point to a great possibility to launch Thuraya services in East Asian markets by the mid of next month.

'It's very thrilling to see the readiness spirit and the impressive communication quality at this very early stage,' said Thuraya's CEO Mr. Yousuf Al Sayed last week upon making the first phone call over Thuraya-3 satellite at the Company's gateway in Sharjah. Earlier, the gateway successfully acquired a communication signal from Thuraya-3 on 24th January.

Over the past four weeks, the Company along with its technology partner Boeing Satellite Systems International, completed major post-launch milestones including Orbital Raising to place the spacecraft in its designated slot of 98.5 degree East Longitude, the deployment of the satellite bus comprising solar arrays, reflectors and radiators, and the intialisation of the satellite payload which were all successfully achieved by 2nd February 2008. That made Thuraya proceed to the final milestone before commercial operation which is the In-Orbit Testing (IOT) that is expected to continue until the end of this month.

The IOT will be followed by a 10-day testing of communications across the coverage area, which is a further quality-check measure ensuring commercial readiness. During this phase, calls will be made and tested from various countries, and test teams will be stationed throughout the new coverage area of Asia-Pacific.

Underscoring this accomplishment, Thuraya's CEO stressed that the expansion of Thuraya's space system is part of the Company's unrelenting dynamism to expand, innovate and maintain the satellite handhelds market leadership.

'The service launch in Asia-Pacific will be a significant growth landmark, opening enormous commercial horizons for business, and bringing Thuraya to a whole new world of potential subscribers, distribution channels, application partners and technology-savvy markets,' he said.

Parallel to technical readiness which has been undergoing since early 2007, the commercial infrastructure has also been put in place in time, with highly promising distribution and marketing partnerships established with strong networks in such key markets as China, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia and Macau.

Thuraya is currently the most widely used and most dynamic operator for satellite handhelds worldwide. Once operational next month, the new satellite will double the target market and potentially the subscriber base under Thuraya's footprint, by covering two thirds of the globe's population.


Boom year for space launches


From http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/19/content_6464333.htm

A record number of spacecraft will be launched this year, a top scientist revealed Monday.

Yang Baohua, chief of the China Academy of Space Technology, said the more than 10 on the launch list include the Shenzhou VII spaceship, two environmental satellites, the Fengyun-2 meteorological satellite and a communications satellite for Venezuela.

The country launched an average of eight spacecraft in the past two years.

"China's space technology has entered a new stage. The design and manufacture of satellites take less time, and homemade satellites are more reliable and have a longer lifespan," Yang told a forum.

The academy has designed most of China's satellites, including the Shenzhou spaceships. By last December, the country had designed and manufactured 88 satellites.

The launch of Shenzhou VII is the highlight this year, because one of the three astronauts on board will conduct the country's first spacewalk.

Yang said that it would mark a breakthrough in the technology of extravehicular operation.

Shenzhen VIII, whose launch date has not been decided, will conduct spacecraft rendezvous and docking - key technologies that must be mastered if the country is to launch space laboratories and a space station, he said.

"Usually, other countries conduct 20 to 30 flight experiments to master the two technologies, but China plans to do it in two attempts," he said.

Besides Shenzhou VII, two environmental satellites will also be launched.

The Huanjing-1A and Huanjing-1B, together with a third to be launched in 2009, will form China's first small satellite constellation for disaster monitoring, to enable scientists to conduct all-weather, round-the-clock monitoring and forecast on the environment and disasters.

In another development, Beijing has expressed concern over Washington's plan to shoot down a damaged satellite, and urged the US administration to fulfill its international obligations.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Sunday that the Chinese government is highly concerned about the situation and urged the US to avoid causing damage to security in outer space and other countries.

"Relevant departments in China are closely watching the situation and working out preventive measures," Liu said.

According to news reports, the US Defense Department is planning to shoot down a damaged spy satellite that is expected to hit the Earth in early March. The satellite, which contains toxic fuel, became defunct shortly after its launch in 2006.


CCTV opens three channels in Cuba


From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7623511.htm

    HAVANA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The China Central Television (CCTV) opened three channels in Cuba on Sunday, marking the completion of a three-phase project over the past five years.

    Rolando Alfonso Borges, who heads the Ideological Department of the Cuban Communist Party's Central Committee, attended a ceremony to launch CCTV Channel 4, CCTV Channel 9 and CCTV-E.

    Tian Jin, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Rongxian were also present at the gathering.

    Cuban and Chinese officials said the two countries will further their cooperation and make TV programs a bridge of understanding and friendship between the Cuban and the Chinese peoples.

    Meanwhile, officials said Cuban TV programs are also making headway in China, with services already landing in 16 provinces.


Talk of Astro demerger intensifies


From http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_30368ebe-cb73c03a-8a52b600-52484f7c

KUALA LUMPUR: Talk of a possible demerger of Astro All Asia Networks Plc’s (Astro) foreign and local businesses has intensified following recent media reports of the satellite TV service operator’s bid for United Kingdom’s radio station Virgin Radio.

The UK’s Telegraph reported on Sunday that Astro is understood to have placed a bid for Virgin radio, along with three UK media heavyweights, with the bidders believed to have offered between RM386 million and RM450 million for the radio station.

Some analysts were surprised by the move, given the UK’s mature radio market. While Virgin Radio is the UK’s third largest commercial radio station, radio’s share of the total advertising pie in the UK was only under 5%, OSK Research said in a report yesterday.

If successful, Virgin Radio would be Astro’s second foreign radio station acquisition after its takeover of India’s Sun Radio Networks last year, the brokerage said.

“We didn’t expect them (Astro) to venture so far; traditionally its overseas markets are low-penetration markets and close to home,” said an analyst with a bank-backed research house.

Locally, Astro’s radio portfolio has been profitable with eight stations. For the third quarter ended Oct 31, 2007, Astro’s radio revenues were RM45.3 million, 8.45% higher than the previous quarter, driven by advertising revenue.

Analysts believed that the interest in Virgin Radio was due to its brand. “Astro may want to tap on its expertise and migrate it to its local radio networks here,” said the analyst.

Industry observers said demerging Astro made sense given the market’s reluctance to fairly value its foreign assets. The operator has a presence in Indonesia, India and China.

However, analysts expected the startup losses incurred in its Indonesian direct-to-home satellite operations PT Direct Vision (PTDV), its pay-TV joint venture in Indonesia, to continue and its Indian businesses to eat into its bottom line.

“There is a need to reposition its overseas investments; however, going forward, the execution risks are there. I think this (the bid for Virgin Radio) is untimely because it could divert attention from solving problems such as Indonesia’s PDTV,” an analyst with a local brokerage said.

“Even if it spins off the overseas business, it will be losing money in Indonesia for the next five years,” the analyst added.

Where its overseas operations are concerned, Astro’s big drainer is its Indonesian operations. The company slipped into the red for its second quarter ended July 31, 2007, with net losses of RM54.2 million, attributed mainly to writeoff of assets and balances arising from its investment in PTDV.

It fared a little better in the subsequent quarter, posting RM34.1 million net profits for the third quarter ended Oct 31, 2007.

The profit was partially offset by the quarter’s cost to provide services to PTDV and expenses incurred in developing a RM60.6 million direct-to-home (DTH) business proposal in Indonesia.


Sri Lanka Dialog celco profits dip


From http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=615826261&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=5 

Feb 18, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Dialog Telekom group December quarter profits fell 35 percent despite revenue climbing 26 percent as losses from its pay TV business and thinner margins on mobile operations took their toll.

Group net profits fell to 1.6 billion rupees from 2.5 billion in the December quarter on revenues of 8.6 billion rupees.

Full year profits fell 11 percent to 8.9 billion rupees, while revenues climbed 26 percent to 32.5 billion rupees.

Dialog said losses from its new businesses were dragging profits down. Dialog Television, a direct-to-home satellite operation lost 788 million in 2007 on revenues of 722 million, on a subscriber base of 50,000.

Dialog Broadband Networks (DBN), which started a CDMA wireless fixed phone service and WiMax services earned revenues of 1.05 billion up 36 percent from 2006. The firm also lost 317 million compared to a profit of 152 million a year before.

Meanwhile, at company level which covers the mobile business, profits fell 17 percent to 2.1 billion rupees while revenues grew 22 percent to 8 billion rupees in the December quarter.

"In the core mobile operations, despite gaining subscribers margins are coming under pressure," says Channa Amaratunga, from Boston Capital, a boutique investment house.

"Everybody is competing on price, giving bundles making it difficult to compare directly. But prices are now down sharply from what they were a year before."

The entry of India's Bharti Telecom is expected to intensify competition in the celco sector in the island. In 2007 subscribers had grown 37 percent.

Dialog says disruptions to services in the conflict ridden north and east of the island hit revenues. A downturn in tourism also hit its international roaming prospects.

The company said its pay TV business needed an unspecified "break-even volume of subscribers and operating revenues" to make profits. So far it had 50,000 subscribers.

"Contribution from operations is determined in the main by the extent to which the fixed costs could be recovered against revenue generated by the growing subscriber base," Dialog told shareholders in a statement.

"DTV recorded a 40 percent increase in subscribers during 4Q 07 (4th quarter of 2007) compared to the immediately preceding quarter. The company is moving aggressively towards achieving a critical mass of subscribers required to fully amortize fixed costs."

In the last quarter the firm had signed up 21,000 CDMA phone customers. Dialog also launched a digital terrestrial television network service.

The group had invested 25.7 billion (237 million US dollars) in expanding GSM mobile infrastructure, 3G/HSPA, WiMax, CDMA, digital television and fibre networks in 2007.

The company will pay dividend of 55 cents per share amounting to 4.4 billion rupees.


DStv steps up efforts to grow its market share  


From http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5960&Itemid=5822

Mr. Stephen Isaboke

February 19, 2008: Stephen Isaboke, the new general manager of MultiChoice Kenya, speaks to Kui Kinyanjui on the launch of EasyView, a  new pay TV product and the challenges facing the industry.

 BD: How  does the Kenyan market compare with others on the continent?

Mr Isaboke: It is growing at a relatively fast rate for three reasons.  It is still a young market with a huge scope for growth. Kenya’s economy has been robust in recent years and ongoing exposure to global trends has seen more uptake of lifestyle technologies by Kenyans.

What impact has the competition had so far on your business?

We have seen a very positive impact in the sense that there is increased awareness of the pay-TV concept.  Our business has grown very well over the same period and in fact, faster than previous times.

Consumers are discerning and they would prefer services which meet their total family needs and this has been a huge DStv advantage as we offer more than just the English Premier League.

 DStv has the lowest cost packages in the market. We launched two low-cost packages before the new pay TV player unveiled their offering.

Sh1,350 gets you 33 DStv Channels per month.  With our offer you get more than double the number of channels for the same cost per month. And now, just Sh182 gets you 10 channels (DStv EasyView) per month.

How many players can survive in a market like Kenya?   

There is no finite number of players in any market or category; it is all consumer and demand driven. Provided there is demand, there will always be an incentive for supply.  

One thing to note is that the pay TV business is an expensive undertaking considering several factors.  Channels and programming content are purchased in advance and at global prices; and the cost of satellite space, encoding technology and delivery from source can also be quite horrendous.

How has the pay TV business performed over the years?
We have experienced double digit growth especially over the last five years (20 per cent) last year. Growth is directly proportional to increased awareness and income levels.

We have also increased the number of packages and now have four subscription packages on offer. We have two sorts of access equipment that customers purchase as a once off. There after, they just top-up the relevant fees to view.  

Just like a cell phone – you get the gadget once then pay for airtime on an ongoing basis. Our access equipment models are the single-view standard DStv unit and the PVR dual-view unit. The PVR is the  first in Africa.  

Finally, we also increased the number of channels on offer. In the past 18 months alone we have added 10 new channels including the local broadcasters and Gospel One and Disney.

High prices have been blamed for the slow take up of premium satellite offerings.  Do you have any plans to continue the price cuts campaign you started last year?
We continually innovate. This month we unveiled the DStv EasyView bouquet targeted at the larger low/middle income segment. We will continue offering our customers value for money driven by innovation.

Will you be commissioning more local content?

Yes, as part of our commitment to support African talent we even set up a training session in conjunction with the Kenya Film Commission and sent 10 filmmakers to a workshop with some of the biggest Nollywood filmmakers.  They came back fired up and several of them have released films since.

Five localized productions have been commissioned for DStv in the past few months— an East African drama series, a Kenyan musical series – Skika, a short film project for MNet New Directions by Judy Kibinge, MNet Catwalk Kenya already on air and Idols East and Southern Africa with auditions set for 1st March at KICC.

What challenges is the industry facing as Kenya prepares to make the transition to digital television?

Digital broadcast is an exciting new opportunity for Africa to join the digital super high way, in theory, with all TV sets should be able to access the digital broadcast signal.

The cost of the technology is huge and that will be one big challenge for broadcasters but once the investment is made, the local broadcasters will be able to offer a crystal clear digital service to customers and also get up to eight channels in one stream for their use.

What were the most popular shows by rating in Kenya last year?

It is difficult to say as we offer such a huge array of programming on so many channels that the audience is split on various levels.

It is proven that localized reality shows have a huge following worldwide and Kenya is no different — and so Big Brother Africa had huge ratings as did Deal or No Deal EA which saw 11 Kenyans win $162,000  between them .

Jacob’s Cross, a South Africa/Nigeria co-produced serial also had a good following as did the various series such as Prison Break, 24, Lost, House, Desperate Housewives and Men in Trees, which premiere on DStv on an ongoing basis.  


US May Attempt to Down Spy Satellite


From http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7aoM2ii3QVBCAV8m2HtJSuPxPNwD8UTUADO0

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy heat-seeking missile is getting its first real-world use in an attempt to demolish a crippled U.S. spy satellite before the orbiting craft falls back to Earth.

The targeting of the satellite — which could come Wednesday night — is not the mission for which this piece of the Pentagon's missile defense network was intended, however.

The attempted shootdown, already approved by President Bush out of concern about toxic fuel on board the satellite, is seen by some as blurring the lines between defending against a weapon like a long-range missile and targeting satellites in orbit.

The three-stage Navy missile, designated the SM-3, has chalked up a high rate of success in a series of tests since 2002, in each case targeting a short- or medium-range ballistic missile, never a satellite. A hurry-up program to adapt the missile for this anti-satellite mission was completed in a matter of weeks; Navy officials say the changes will be reversed once this satellite is down.

The government issued notices to aviators and mariners to remain clear of a section of the Pacific Ocean beginning at 10:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, indicating the first window of opportunity to launch an SM-3 missile from a Navy cruiser, the USS Lake Erie, in an effort to hit the wayward satellite.

Having lost power shortly after it reached orbit in late 2006, the satellite is out of control and well below the altitude of a normal satellite. The Pentagon wants to hit it with an SM-3 missile just before it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, in that way minimizing the amount of debris that would remain in space.

Left alone, the satellite would be expected to hit Earth during the first week of March. About half of the 5,000-pound spacecraft would be expected to survive its blazing descent through the atmosphere and would scatter debris over several hundred miles.

Adding to the difficulty of the shootdown mission, the missile will have to do better than just hit the bus-sized satellite, a Navy official said Tuesday. It needs to strike the relatively small fuel tank aboard the spacecraft in order to accomplish the main goal, which is to eliminate the toxic fuel that could injure or even kill people if it reached Earth. The Navy official described technical aspects of the missile's capabilities on condition that he not be identified.

Also complicating the effort will be the fact that the satellite has no heat-generating propulsion system on board. That makes it more difficult for the Navy missile's heat-seeking system to work, although the official said software changes had been made to compensate for the lack of heat.

The Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates was briefed on the shootdown plan Tuesday by the two officers who will advise him on exactly when to launch the missile — Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Strategic Command, and Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who held Chilton's post until last summer.

China and Russia have expressed concern at the planned shootdown, saying it could harm security in outer space. At the State Department on Tuesday, spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that the U.S. action is meant to protect people from the hazardous fuel and is not a weapons test.


B4U Music joins DD's DTH platform


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb215.php

MUMBAI: B4U Music has joined the Prasar Bharti's Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform DD Direct+.

The offering from Direct +, may provide a boost to B4U Music. With the availability on DD DTH, it will extend its viewership across India, as Doordarshan is one of the world's largest terrestrial broadcasters with over 1400 TV transmitters located throughout India covering 88 per cent of the country's geographical area.

DD viewers across the country will be able to tune in to B4U Music's programming, graphics and features along with its VJs playing Bollywood music, International chart busters, bhangra, rhythm and blues and a lot more says a company release.

"We are delighted to be on board DD's DTH service. With its enormous reach across the nation, a whole new audience will now view the programmes and music that B4U Music offers," said B4U Network global CEO Sunil Rohra.

B4U Music at present claims to be available on more than eight different satellites, in more than 100 countries including the US, UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Mauritius Canada and India.


RCom books four transponders


From http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=8&autono=314236

Firming up its plans to rollout direct-to-home (DTH) television services, telecom firm Reliance Communications (RCom) has booked capacity on Malaysian satellite system, MEASAT-3. The deal size could not be confirmed, while it is understood that the deal is signed for around 15-20 years.
 
RCom has booked four transponders, with an option to add four transponders after a year on MEASAT-3. The booking of transponders, a short form for a transmitter-responder that is an automatic device that receives, amplifies and retransmits signals on different frequencies, will help the Anil Ambani group company offer high definition TV services in the country.
 
The company was planning to launch fully-digital DTH services by end of this fiscal through its brand Big TV. The capacity created through this move will enable RCom to provide DTH services to over 10 million subscribers in India and offer feed to over 15 million TV households.
 
The company had earlier booked 4 transponders on the satellite system under the KU band, which supports DTH services, a source close to the development said. When contacted an RCom spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the deal, but added that the DTH venture was one of the future growth vehicles for the group.
 
According to an analyst, the satellite capacity (which is similar to spectrum 2.0 in mobile communications) will provide RCom’s DTH venture with a strategic advantage over competitors.
 
Most of the competitors are either waiting for satellite capacity, which is scarce, or awaiting the launch of new satellites. RCom is looking at introducing services on an advanced MPEG-4 version, compared with the existing usage of MPEG-2 technology.
 
Chennai-based Sun Group, Sunil Mittal-owned Bharti Group and Tata Sky are other firms that have DTH services in the country.


RCom may order 5m set-top boxes


From http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1151845

Subsidiary Big TV DTH to start  services in March

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communications (RCom) is likely to place an order for 5 million set-top boxes for its proposed direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting venture, industry sources said.

Big TV DTH Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of RCom, is expected to commercially roll out its service next month.

DTH enables you to bypass the cablewallah and receive broadcasting signals directly into your premises through a set-top box.

Currently, there are two private DTH operators in the country-Dish TV of the Essel group and TataSky, a joint venture between the Tatas and Rupert Murdoch’s Star group.  

Dish TV, the first DTH player in the country, has around 2.7 million subscribers, while TataSky has over 1.5 million.

Free-to-air DTH platform, DD Direct Plus, has a subscriber base of around 7 million, according to Prasar Bharati estimates.

Besides RCom, the others about to join the DTH race include the Bharti group and Sun TV. Recently, Bharat Business of the Videocon group also received government nod to start DTH operations.

It is learnt that the set-top boxes for Reliance’s DTH venture are being sourced from Korea, China and Taiwan.

Although the company had initially planned an order of around 2 million set-top boxes, subsequently it increased the target to 5 million, sensing an opportunity in the television market.

Of the 120 million TV households in India, only 70 million have cable connections.
DTH is still in its infancy in India, and there’s sufficient room for growth. By 2015, 40% of the pay TV universe (cable TV and DTH) is likely to be DTH users, significantly up from around the present 5%, according to industry projections

RCom, sources said, is looking at ways to reduce the cost of set-top boxes by up to 20% through its mega order.

The current landed cost of an MPEG4-enabled set-top box that RCom will deploy ranges from $55-$60 in the global market. The DTH platform of RCom is currently undergoing tests.

A recent analyst report by the Kotak group pointed out that the entry of more players would coincide with potentially aggressive pricing strategies in the DTH space.

The report added that “DTH subscriber volumes would grow strongly over the next several years, led by rising affordability”.

Recently, Dish TV CEO Arun Kumar Kapoor told DNA Money that “there’s room for 4-5 DTH players in the country”.




19/02/08

Sorry no update today

Live satellite chat at 9. PM NZ and 8.30pm Syd time in the chatroom




18/02/08

Some feeds from the weekend.

D2 12670 V Sr 6670 "BskyB" tag horse racing 4:2:2

Asiasat 4
12570? H Sr 6620 308,256 AFL Sydney v Hawthorn
12590 H SR 6620 "tropfest"
12360 H SR 6620 "A-League football"

Asiasat 2
4105V Sr 6666 Australian Domestic cricket


From my Email & ICQ


From Dave Creek

D2 feeds horse racing 12,660 V SR 6670 and 12,680 V


From Wozurfree

Al Manar on Palapa C2

Maybe old news, but for those interested, Al Manar TV is currently
broadcasting on Palapa C2.

4080H - 28125
Pid's are VPID: 517 and APID: 655 also known as Channel 6.

MQTV still there. Quality is not worth watching - could go blind if i
don't change the channel.


From the Dish


AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 3816 H "Eurosport Pacific" on is Fta (For over 1 week now).
AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 4000 H "Star Chinese Movies 2" has started on , Videoguard.
AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 4020 V "Firangi" is now encrypted.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3820 V "Kuwait Space Channel" has started on , Fta.(I don't think this is new???)

Insat 4B 93.5E 3725 H "DD Bangla" has started on , Fta.

Insat 4B 93.5E 11490 V "DW-TV has replaced DD Saptagiri" on , Fta.

ST 1 88E Buddha Compassion TV Station" on 3550 V and 3632 V is Fta.

Insat 2E 83E 3438 V "Jain TV" is back on , Fta, SR 2950, FEC 2/3.

Insat 4A 83E 3756 H "Enter 10 Channel" has started on , Fta.

Insat 4A 83E 11010 H "ETV Rajasthan" is now encrypted.

ABS 1 75E 3556 H "Zam TV" has started on , Fta, SR 2645, FEC 3/4.

Intelsat 10 68.5E 12722 V "Channel G" has started on , Fta.


NEWS


Australia prepares for falling satellite


From http://news.smh.com.au/australia-prepares-for-falling-satellite/20080218-1sse.html

Police, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Emergency Management Australia are all on standby as the United States prepares to shoot down a failed spy satellite.

The US military has said it hopes to smash the satellite as soon as next week - just before it enters Earth's atmosphere - with a single missile fired from a US Navy cruiser in the northern Pacific Ocean.

The US has told Australia and a handful of other nations to be on standby for falling debris from the highly classified satellite, because there is a minute possibility of the strike misfiring and debris falling on land rather than water.

"The Australian government has been advised formally by the US government that the president (George W Bush) has authorised the US Department of Defence to attempt to shoot down an inoperable satellite," a DFAT spokesman said.

"There is no suggestion at this stage that the satellite will land in Australia, but it is too early to predict where it might come down if the US is not successful in destroying it in space.

"The US told us in advance of the public announcement and will no doubt keep us closely informed.

"The US has contacted several other countries and we appreciate their openness on this."

If the satellite does land in Australian airspace - 10 per cent of the globe - then Emergency Management Australia will take over any response.

NSW police also have been placed on alert and officers forwarded a plan on how to cope with re-entering space debris.

A police spokeswoman said Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens was overseeing NSW preparations.

The US is planning to use an Standard SM-3 missile to hit the satellite - the first such strike ever conducted by the US.

China successfully conducted a similar mission last year, much to the consternation of western nations.

Russia and China are now voicing their own concerns about the US strike.

The US has insisted the plan to shoot down the satellite is not a test of a program to kill other nations' orbiting communications and intelligence capabilities.

The Bush administration and US military officials have said the bus-sized satellite is carrying a fuel called hydrazine that could injure or even kill people who are near it when it hits the ground.

US diplomats around the world were instructed to inform other nations that the operation was meant to protect people from the satellite's blazing descent and the toxic fuel it was carrying.

The diplomats also were told to distinguish the US operation from China's much criticised test last year, when it used a missile to destroy a defunct weather satellite.

Left alone, the satellite would likely hit Earth during the first week of March.

About half of the 2,268kg spacecraft would be expected to survive the fall and would scatter debris over several hundred kilometres.

Known by its military designation US 193, the satellite carrying a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor was launched in December 2006.

It lost power and its central computer failed almost immediately afterward.


Digital viewers get a better class of TV


From http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=20250&cid=3&cname=Technology

New Zealand's first mainstream free-to-air Britney Spears-free TV channel is on the cards for intellectually-starved Kiwis.

TVNZ's Channel 7 is set to launch on March 30, and head of digital for TVNZ Eric Kearley says it's "highly unlikely" that items about the glitterati will be featured on the channel.

The move is a triumph for the country's thinking viewers, who will be treated to a free-to-air factual channel focused on news bulletins, documentaries, and current affairs.

A major drawcard will be the Russell Brown-fronted media watch/review show called Media 7. Jill Graham will produce the half-hour panel show filmed "as live" in front of an audience. Simon Pound (bFM's Sunday Breakfast and ex-Agenda) is to feature as a reporter and researcher.

It's a big ask for Mr Brown, as the team has little more than a month until the launch.

Jim Tully, head of political science and communications at the University of Canterbury, says the new channel is to be welcomed.

"I am sure there will be a small and loyal audience for a channel offering serious news and current affairs," said Mr Tully. "People will be able to see documentaries and current affairs programmes that have been hard for TVNZ to place within the constraints of its existing format."

What's more, its content will be 70% Kiwi-produced. Forty per cent of the content will be commissioned and the rest acquired.

Twelve new presenters are to feature and all will be "boy- or girl-next-door types", Mr Kearley said.

A weekly political show has been commissioned and one-off debates and regular news bulletins will feature, including one at 8pm that will be an hour-long advertising-free deal.

The 8pm news will also look at more extensive coverage and analysis and is to be presented by One News Tonight presenter Greg Boyed and newcomer Geraldine Knox. Research pointed to a drought of news between the 6pm One News and the 10pm Tonight show, and viewers were calling for another news programme at the 8pm slot.

The setup and ethos of the new channel reflects a growing worldwide trend for factual channels with locally focused content.

The objectives of the channel are to extend public broadcasting delivery, increase accessibility and strengthen our sense of national identity.

However, accessibility may be an issue for the foreseeable future, as Channel 7 is only available on the digital platform Freeview. Currently, around 40% of free-to-air TV is accessed via Sky decoders, which leaves TVNZ's digital channels 6 (kids- and arts-focused) and 7 out in the cold.


Astro’s Search For Value


From http://www.mediaresearchasia.com/view.php?type=money&id=0251

Malaysian media major Astro (AAAN.KL) has seen its share price climb up by 30% over the past three months, boosted by privatization hopes and a strong local currency. CEO Robert Odendaal’s recent resignation, cited for “personal reasons”, was probably seen by some investors as more evidence of impending privatization. Mr Odendaal’s recent departure owes more to internal politics however and we believe that privatization will not occur anytime soon.

Astro still needs a stronger execution and content strategy outside Malaysia if it wants to deliver real value to its shareholders. At their Feb. 15 close of RM4.42, Astro’s shares are trading at a fairly inflated 12.5x FYE Jan. 2008 EBITDA and 11.1x FYE Jan. 2009 EBITDA with a public market value in excess of US$2.3 bil. Almost five years on from highly successful IPO in Kuala Lumpur, which raised more than US$500 mil. in proceeds, the company remains a cash generative business dependent on the growth of a monopolistic but maturing pay-TV distribution  business (1.5 mil. subs) and smaller radio advertising assets, both residing in Malaysia.

Post-IPO, Astro’s expansion outside Malaysia has not been much of a success. The company could conceivably have built on its long running partnership with leading Chinese-language broadcaster Television Broadcasts (TVB) to make a run at buying TVB by fronting and controlling a China-centric investor consortium. Instead, today, Astro’s content assets are only modestly attractive.There’s Celestial Pictures, which owns the Shaw Brothers Film library and which Astro owned pre-IPO. Celestial posted sales of about US$5 mil. on revenues of US$20 mil. through the first nine months of Astro’s Y/E Jan. 2008 fiscal period. Post IPO, there has been a number of small JVs / equity transactions with the likes of A&E, Goal TV and India’s Sun TV Network, but nothing close to transformational.

It’s probably too late now to contemplate anything significant involving TVB but a number large-scale, actionable transactions in Greater China and India still remain attractive. Of more immediate concern is executing on current distribution businesses outside Malaysia. A messy, loss-making DTH satellite JV (PT Direct Vision, PTDTV) in Indonesia needs to be sorted out. At the end of Oct. 2007, PTDTV had 140,000 subs, half of that of incumbent Indovision with Astro’s share losses in the quarter running at US$20 mil.  Key shareholder issues are yet to resolve with Astro investors looking for a quick resolution either through Astro’s exit from the market or to find a new partner in the fast growing market.

A distribution JV in India with Sun TV’s Sun Direct TV (SDTV) DTH platform presents a greater opportunity with about 300,000 subs acquired since launch in Jan. 2007. In total, Astro will invest US$166 mil. in SDTV, which targets breakeven within five years at a subscriber level of about 4 mil.


Malaysian billionaire tunes in to Virgin Radio


From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/money/2008/02/17/cnvirgin117.xml

A company backed by one of Asia's richest men will battle a trio of British rivals for control of Virgin Radio after emerging as a surprise bidder for the company.Ananda Krishnan, thought to be the third-wealthiest man in Southeast Asia, is understood to have tabled a bid for Virgin Radio through Astro All Asia Networks, Malaysia's largest media company.

The four companies have lodged offers worth between £60m and £70m for Virgin Radio, which is valued at £85m on the books of its owner, the Scottish media company SMG.

Vitruvian Partners, a private equity firm, was also in the running for the station but was knocked out after bids were submitted last week. The deadline for the next round of bids is in mid-March.

It is the second time that SMG has put Virgin Radio up for sale, and bids are understood to be higher this time around.

SMG had been under pressure to sell Virgin but completed a major refinancing through a £95m rights issue in December, and maintains it is not a distressed seller. The company, which paid £225m for Virgin in 2000, has been offloading assets to pay down its debts.

According to US publisher Forbes, Krishnan has a self-made fortune estimated at $6bn (£3.06bn). A Harvard Business School graduate and former oil trader, Krishnan owns a slew of media and leisure holdings that includes Maxis, one of Southeast Asia's leading telecoms groups, as well as racetrack betting and lottery operations.

Astro, the biggest TV service provider in Malaysia, broadcasts over 100 TV channels across Malaysia and Brunei.

In the battle for control of Virgin, Astro is up against Global Radio, the media group chaired by former ITV chief executive Charles Allen, which owns London's Heart FM radio station. Global has also made a £313m bid for GCap Media.

Absolute Radio, a small UK player backed by Irish property investors, is also in contention. Its bid is being led by Clive Dickens, once the group head of programmes at Capital Radio.

UTV, which owns the Ulster ITV franchise and TalkSport radio station, is the other bidder.

Virgin, whose breakfast radio show is hosted by DJ Christian O'Connell, last month saw its share of the national radio audience grow 1 per cent. It now reaches 2.5m listeners a week, according to the radio industry measurement body Rajar.

SMG, in which ITV has a 17 per cent stake, saw its shares close off ½p at 14½p on Friday, valuing the company at just under £138m.

Virgin Radio declined to comment.


Malaysia will have first Islamic television station


From http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2841

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will have the first Islamic television station in the world soon to enhance people's understanding of Islam, especially the Islam Hadhari approach.

The executive chairman of World Islamic Network Television Sdn Bhd (WINTV) Khairuddin Abu Hassan said the time had come for Malaysia as a model Islamic country to have an Islamic-based television station.

"This station will broadcast Islamic programmes in a moderate way which can be understood by and impress all the races in the country," he said in a statement issued here Friday.

Earlier, Khairuddin had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Missionary Foundation Malaysia (Yadim) at the World Al-Azhar University Alumni Conference 2008 which was opened by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The MoU is for developing a television station between WINTV and Yadim and it would be known as Al-Falah Television.

Khairuddin said Malaysia would be cooperating with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries for the exchange of programmes so as to introduce each other's culture, traditions, way of life, political system and
religious practices.

"This will eventually turn Malaysia into a hub for the collection of television programmes from Islamic nations and export centre for quality programmes to Europe, the United States and East Asia."

He said Al-Falah Television would attract viewers from Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Mindanao in the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and southern Thailand.

"As a start, the progammes will be broadcast via Astro's Oasis channel," he added. (BERNAMA)


VINASAT-1 satellite to be launched


From http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/business/180208/business_vi.htm

Nhan Dan - Vietnam’s first satellite, the VINASAT-1 is scheduled to be officially launched in early April from the launching pad in Guyana in South America, according to the VINASAT Satellite Project Management Board.

Conquering space

Vietnam had been considering having its own satellite in the orbit since the early 1990s. In 1996, the Postal General Department (now the Ministry of Information and Communications) started to carry out procedures to register for a position on the orbit with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). In 1998, the Prime Minister signed a decision approving the pre-feasibility study report on the VINASAT project. In 1999, the Prime Minister decided to establish a National VINASAT Project Steering Board and set a target that Vietnam would have its first satellite on the orbit by 2005. 

However, difficulties emerged while registering with the ITU on the position on the orbit for Vietnamese satellite, thus delaying the time for satellite launching.

Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Tran Duc Lai recalled the difficulties in negotiations for a position of Vietnamese satellite on the orbit.

According to the pre-feasibility study report, if VINASAT 1 is placed at 132 degrees east, it will cover Vietnam and some neighbouring countries. Thus, Vietnam had to negotiate with some 30-40 countries that have their satellites positioned near the proposed Vietnamese satellite position so as to avoid frequency interference.

This process required a long period of discussion. For example, negotiations with Tonga took two years.

In 2005, the Prime Minister officially approved the VINASAT satellite investment project. Under the decision, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) will be responsible for carrying out the project. This is a national key project with a total investment capital of over US $200 million, sourcing from VNPT’s re-invested capital and commercial loans. The project’s key target is launching a satellite at an orbital slot 132 degrees east and the construction of two control stations in Vietnam.

In May 2006, VNPT signed a contract with US’s Lockheed Martin Corporation, the world leading manufacturer of satellites, to provide the satellite, the launching services and equipment for the two control stations in Vietnam.

In early 2007, construction of the first control station was kicked off in the northern province of Ha Tay. Currently, this station and another standby station in southern Binh Duong province have been completed.

Latest preparations are being made to ensure that the satellite will be launched as scheduled.

According to Mr Hoang Minh Thong, director of VNPT’s VINASAT Project Management Board, if the satellite is not launched before May 23, 2008, the registered position will be lost to other countries.

VINASAT-1 satellite is scheduled to be launched from a launching pad in Guyana in South America. After one month’s operational testing of the satellite in orbit, if all requirements are met, contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation will hand over the satellite to VNPT.

The successful launch of the satellite is of great importance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development. The satellite launch represents the increasing position of the country in general and its telecom sector in particular in the context of international economic integration, contributing to perfecting the national information infrastructural facilities.

The satellite will benefit Vietnamese people in remote and isolated areas, helping them to access modern telecommunications services despite geographical conditions.

In addition, currently domestic organisations and businesses have had to spend a large amount of money to lease foreign satellites. Once VINASAT-1 is put into operations, they can save leasing costs and diversify their services.

For effective use of VINASAT-1

According to Mr Nguyen Quang Hung, deputy director of the Satellite Information Centre under the Vietnam Telecom International (VTI), VNPT has worked out a programme for commercial use of the satellite.

The satellite will be served as the base for providing hi-tech telecom services such as private leased lines, mobile broadcasts, DTH television, video conferencing, data transmission and internet access, amongst other services.

VINASAT-1 coverage will be broad, targeting not only Vietnam but also other countries both regionally and globally. Thus, VNPT aims to provide services not only for domestic but also foreign enterprises.

Vietnamese staff have taken part in training courses organised at the Lockheed Martin Corporation in the US and also in Vietnam. VNPT has also signed a contract with SES ASSTRA of Luxembourg, the biggest commercial satellite services provider in Europe, to organise business training courses.

The Director of VINASAT Project Management Board affirmed that the Vietnamese staff are capable of ensuring that the satellite will operate safely and effectively.

VINASAT-1

Configuration: A2100A

Mass: 2.7 tonnes

Height: 4 metres

Lifetime: 15 years

20 sets of transponders

To be launched by Ariane 5 rocket (France)

Coverage: Japan, eastern China, the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, part of India, ASEAN countries, the Australia, Indochina and the neighbouring areas.


Attempt to shoot down spy satellite to cost up to $60 million


From http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/02/15/spy.satellite/?iref=mpstoryview

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The attempt by the U.S. Navy to use an anti-missile missile to shoot down a potentially hazardous satellite will cost between $40 million and $60 million, Pentagon officials told CNN on Friday.

The missile alone costs almost $10 million, Lt. Gen. Carter Ham said at a Pentagon briefing. He declined to give an overall cost estimate.

"I think we're working with all the parties to [find] how much did it cost to modify the missiles, the fire control, that kind of business," he said.

Pentagon officials argue the effort is worth the expense because of the slim -- but real -- chance that the satellite's unused fuel, 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine, could land in a populated area.

Because the super-secret spy satellite malfunctioned immediately after launch in December 2006, its fuel tank is full, and it would probably survive re-entry and disperse harmful, even potentially deadly fumes over an area the size of two football fields.

The missile will carry no warhead; the objective is to break the satellite apart through the force of impact alone, defense officials said.  Learn more about the mission

One Pentagon official -- who spoke on condition of anonymity because the planning for the operation remains classified -- told CNN that since early January, a Navy team, including 200 industry experts and scientists, has been working furiously to modify its sea-based Aegis missile defense system so it can shoot down a satellite in low orbit.

Among the challenges is modifying sensors designed to detect the heat from an incoming warhead so they can spot the much-cooler satellite, which has no heat source and is warmed only by the sun's rays.

In addition, the official says, a floating X-band radar has to be modified to track the satellite's trajectory, and the "fire-control" systems on the Navy ships also needed modification.

No attempt will be made to shoot down the satellite until after the U.S. space shuttle lands next Wednesday.

"The window will open when the shuttle is on the ground," Ham said.

Pentagon officials say three missiles have been modified for the mission, so in theory, the Navy may get three shots at the satellite, although only one at a time.

"They want the period of a day or two to assess the effect of the first missile ... to probably get an orbit or two, to get an understanding of what effect the first intercept had on the satellite before launching another interceptor," Ham said.

The Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie was chosen for the mission. It's fully equipped with sea-based missile defense systems, has long been the Navy's primary ship for the sea-based missile defense program and has the technology needed for the operation, officials said.

It will be accompanied by two destroyers --- the USS Decatur and the USS Russell -- at an undisclosed location in the Pacific Ocean north of the equator. The Decatur will feed trajectory information to the Erie, and the Russell will back up the Decatur.

Defense officials say the ships' radars and software were modified to track targets much faster than the ballistic missiles they were designed to track.

A host of ground-based radars, telescopes and sea-based radars will help determine if the satellite was hit. The Air Force also will have a plane in the air that can detect the release of hydrazine gas.

The USNS Observation Island, a ship that uses telemetry to monitor objects in space, will collect information on the satellite both before and after the missile launch.

The Navy will use its $9.5 million Standard Missile 3 in the shoot-down. The combined speed of the missile and satellite at impact is expected to be about 22,000 miles per hour.

The government started thinking about how to approach the satellite problem in December. And on January 4, President Bush and various senior officials agreed to begin planning for the shoot-down.

On Tuesday, the president approved the plan.


Det-5 Squadron To Track Satellite If It Appears Near Guam


From http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=148&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=20500&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1718&hn=pacificnewscenter&he=.com

11:00 a.m. Guam - A defunct satellite slated to be shot down by the U.S. military in the next few days has yet to be tracked by the 22nd Space Squadron on Mt. Santa Rosa in Yigo.

Rosanna Pino, chief of operations for the squadron or DET-5, said they will begin tracking the satellite closely once it is within the DET-5 footprint.

The Navy plans to shoot down the satellite in the northern Pacific ocean before it enters the earth's atmosphere because it contains rocket fuel that could harm people when it crashes.

Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, in a statement at the Navy Times, said three ships will intercept the 5,000-pound satellite during a "window of opportunity" in two to three days. That window is expected to last as long as seven to eight days. Cartwright said their goal is to destroy the hydrazine rocket fuel and push the satellite on a trajectory so it will land in the ocean.


Russia doubts defunct US satellite may have nuclear material


From http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/feb/16/russia_doubts_defunct_us_satellite_may_have_nuclear_material.html

Moscow : Russia is suspecting the US spy satellite that has gone out of control may have nuclear material onboard and is closely monitoring its movement in orbit, a top defence ministry official has said.

"Russian military experts suggest the satellite could have an onboard nuclear power source," said Igor Barinov, first deputy chairperson of the State Duma (parliament) defence committee.

"The defence ministry is using its space surveillance systems to track the satellite's movement in orbit," he said and expressed concern that the US had made a unilateral decision to destroy the satellite, which could jeopardise collective security.

The US Defence Department Thursday said it would shoot down the decaying satellite, which it earlier considered to be of low risk.

The department also said the chances that the "uncontrollable US experimental satellite" will hit a populated area are small, but "the potential consequences would be of enough concern to consider mitigating actions".

They said the satellite would be shot down after the space shuttle Atlantis, which is in orbit, completes its mission and lands next week. NASA officials do not want to risk sending debris into the path of the shuttle.

President George W Bush has authorised the destruction of the satellite using a sea-to-air missile within the next few days.


Russia worried by errant US satellite: news agencies


From http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n133774

Moscow. Russia is carefully tracking a crippled US spy satellite that Washington plans to destroy in the coming days, and agrees it could pose a threat if it crashed to Earth, a defence ministry official said Friday, AFP informs.
"He's not bluffing when he talks about the danger posed by this satellite," the unnamed Russian official told Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies, referring to comments made Thursday by General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The United States says the satellite is the size of a bus and contains a large quantity of hydrazine, an extremely toxic propellant.
The chemical could be dangerous to people on the ground if the satellite -- currently in Earth orbit but being pulled down by Earth's gravity -- does not burn up on re-entry, it says.
Washington says a US warship will fire a surface-to-air missile at the satellite at a specific point in its orbit that ensures any Earthbound debris will splash into the ocean.
It denies the shoot down aims at protecting the satellite's technological secrets or at demonstrating US anti-satellite capability.
A senior Russian parliamentarian echoed the defence ministry's concerns.
"The trajectory of the satellite's descent is unclear, but there is every likelihood it could fall on Russian territory," the deputy head of parliament's defence committee, Igor Barinov, told Interfax.
But Barinov also said he hoped Washington was not trying to flex its military muscles.
"If this is the Americans' answer to China's latest action in shooting down its faulty weather satellite, and if such a decision is aimed at demonstrating American power, then it could lead to a new escalation in the military sphere," he warned.


China Says U.S. Plan to Destroy Broken Satellite Is a Concern


From http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aovS39CIfjl8&refer=home

Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- China said a U.S. plan to shoot down a broken spy satellite orbiting the Earth is a matter of concern and the country should adhere to its international obligations to avoid damage in outer space.

``Relevant departments of China are closely watching the situation and working out preventive measures,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing yesterday, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. He didn't elaborate.

The U.S. satellite, weighing more than 2 tons, was placed in orbit in December 2006 and stopped working within hours. It contains a highly toxic propellant called hydrazine.

The U.S. and Japan were among countries that criticized China for destroying one of its defunct weather satellites in a missile test last year. The U.S. action would be the first time it uses a tactical missile to destroy a craft in space.

The toxic propellant may disperse over an area of about two American football fields should the satellite reach the ground, General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference on Feb. 14. Breaking the satellite into smaller pieces will reduce the chance of metal or hydrazine surviving the heat of re-entry.

Cartwright drew a distinction between the U.S. plan and China's missile test on Jan. 11, 2006. The U.S. has alerted more than 200 countries, he said.

``We started that notification well over a month ago, and we're continuing to keep people informed,'' Cartwright added.

Surprise Test

The Chinese strike surprised the international community, prompting criticism of China for introducing weapons into space and creating debris that may damage spacecraft during the next four decades.

``That will not be the case here,'' Cartwright said. He estimated half the debris would come down in the first few orbits, with the remainder falling within a month.

The U.S. military said it will try to shoot down the satellite within two weeks. The Navy will be responsible for intercepting the craft. One of three unnamed Navy vessels equipped to conduct intercepts of short and medium-range missiles will fire a modified Raytheon Co. Standard Missile-3 at the satellite, Cartwright said.

China is responsible for only a small portion of space debris, Cheng Jingye, its envoy to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, said in Geneva last year. Of the more than 10,000 pieces of debris in outer space, the U.S. ``has the honor'' of creating more than 40 percent and isn't in a position to criticize, he said at the time.


US pledges assistance over satellite debris


From http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/15/usa.spacetechnology

The US today pledged to help "mitigate the consequences" of any debris landing on other countries from a rogue spy satellite it says is due to fall to Earth next month, and pay compensation if necessary.

Defence officials yesterday confirmed that the Pentagon was planning to try to shoot down the satellite, but did not specify why it was to be destroyed.

It is thought the reason could be fears that sophisticated surveillance equipment allowing ships to be tracked through heavy cloud might end up with a military rival.

The satellite - which has not worked since its launch - would pose a danger if it crash-landed because it is the size of a small bus and is carrying a fuel, hydrazine, that could injure or kill people near it when it hits the ground.

Military and administration officials have said this reason alone persuaded the US president, George Bush, to order the satellite to be shot down.

The defence officials said they intend to fire a specially modified missile from a US cruiser in the northern Pacific Ocean to destroy the craft.

Christina Rocca, the US ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, discussed the plan at the conference today "in the spirit of international cooperation". US officials began notifying other countries of the plan yesterday.

"Whether the engagement succeeds or fails, the US is prepared to offer assistance to governments to mitigate the consequences of any satellite debris impacts on their territory," the Associated Press reported Rocca as saying.

"If this engagement is successful, we anticipate rupturing the fuel tank and causing the hydyrazine to dissipate so that it will no longer pose a danger to human life."

Rocca said the timing, location and geometry of the attempt to shoot down the satellite would maximise the chance of hitting the fuel tank and ensure any debris would re-enter the atmosphere quickly.

She added that the engagement point "will be carefully chosen to minimise the chance that any initial debris re-entering after the engagement will impact a populated area".

If the satellite is not successfully shot down, the US expects it to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the atmosphere on or around March 6.

Rocca said officials were studying how to limit the hazards of a fully-fuelled hydrazine tank landing in an inhabited area.

"At present, we cannot predict the entry impact area, which could occur in any region on the Earth's surface between 58.5 degrees north and 58.5 degrees south latitudes," she added. That area includes most of the inhabited world.

Rocca also told the conference that the US was aware that under a 1972 treaty it was "absolutely liable" for damages to other treaty parties "caused by its space object on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft".

"Any liability to other treaty parties would be determined in accordance with its terms," she said.

General James Cartwright, the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, predicted during a Pentagon briefing that there was as much as an 80% chance that the satellite would be hit by a shot fired when it was about 150 miles above the ground.

He added that the window of opportunity for taking the satellite down would open in three or four days and would last for around seven or eight days.

"We'll take one shot and assess," he said. "This is the first time we've used a tactical missile to engage a spacecraft."

The cost of the satellite is not known because it was paid for out of secret funds.


An additional worry: space debris


From http://www.star-telegram.com/national_news/story/477546.html

WASHINGTON -- A lifeless satellite targeted for destruction by the U.S. has raised new concerns about the vast array of space debris that hurtles though the skies at thousands of miles an hour.

Since the Soviets launched Sputnik as the first satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, space has evolved into a cosmic junkyard. The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., now tracks more than 18,000 manmade objects, including an estimated 850 functioning satellites, the international space station, and decades' worth of debris from rocket launches.

That tally reflects a 30 percent increase in the last 13 months, largely because of debris from China's destruction of one of its satellites last year, said the center's director, Col. Stephen Whiting.

"At the speed with which debris orbits around the Earth, if two pieces were to hit each other, that would be a very catastrophic event," Whiting said.

President Bush has ordered the Navy to try to shoot down the disabled spy satellite, which lost control after its computer failed almost immediately after its launch in 2006. Bush took the unprecedented decision out of concern that 1,000 pounds of highly toxic fuel could endanger populous areas, military officials said.

Government officials, as well as many space experts, say the satellite will be low enough that debris from the blast will burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. But some critics worry that the explosion could propel some marble-size debris upward into the path of the international space station.

"My concern is that some of it might go up to the altitude where the space station is," said David Wright, co-director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Global Security Program. "Even though it might not stay up there, if it's up there for a week, what kind of risk would that pose for the space station?"

In addition to the hundreds of functional satellites and the space station -- the largest manmade object in space -- the skies are cluttered with nonfunctional spacecraft; an array of other debris such as paint flakes, nuts and bolts; and abandoned paraphernalia from astronauts, including tools and gloves. Some space watchers say the debris field has even included coffee cups and toothbrushes that slipped out of the spacecraft hatch.

Given their blinding speed, even diminutive items can pack a wallop. Colliding with a 1-centimeter aluminum sphere at 22,320 mph would be like getting hit with a 60-pound safe going 60 mph, NASA says.

Richard Maurer, the author of Junk in Space, compares the debris to the tire fragments, cans and other junk that motorists see every day along the roadside.

"Imagine that stuff, instead of safely being on the side of the road, it's out there moving along with the traffic," he said. "That would be an incredible hazard."

While most objects burn up when re-entering Earth's atmosphere, a few large items have made it all the way to the surface. Parts from Delta II rockets, weighing more than 500 pounds, fell to Earth in Texas and South Africa between 1997 and 2000.

China's controversial destruction of one of its weather satellites on Jan. 11, 2007, spread additional debris and raised fears in the United States that China was preparing weapons that could take down U.S. satellites. It was the first such destruction of a satellite since the anti-satellite tests that the United States and the Soviet Union conducted in the 1980s during the Cold War.

The Chinese test was in the upper ranges of the lower Earth orbit -- which reaches up to 1,242 miles -- and it scattered debris that will threaten space assets for more than 20 years, according to a study by the Congressional Research Service.


Al-Jazeera criticises media code in Arab countries


From http://www.thecheers.org/news/World-news/news_11976_Al-Jazeera-criticises-media-code-in-Arab-countries.html

London, Feb.16 (ANI): Television network al-Jazeera has said a media code adopted by Arab countries could curb freedom of expression.

Television network al-Jazeera has said a media code adopted by Arab countries could curb freedom of expression.

A BBC report said that the code allows authorities to withdraw permits from satellite channels deemed to have offended Arab leaders or national or religious symbols.

The code was adopted this week by ministers from the 22-member Arab League at a meeting called by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. But Qatar, where al-Jazeera is based, refused to sign up.

The network said on Friday that it considered the charter "a risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world" and warned that some of the charter's language was ambiguous and "could be interpreted to actively hinder independent reporting from the region".

"Any code of ethics or governance for journalistic practices should emerge, and be governed, from within the profession and not be imposed externally by political institutions," said the network's director-general, Wadah Khanfar.

In recent years Arab satellite channels have given a voice to government critics and viewers, debating issues that state media shrink from reporting. Al-Jazeera, which was launched in 1996, has been served with reporting bans in several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.

The charter signed this week in Cairo seeks to limit damage to "social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values".

It also calls on broadcasters to avoid erotic content, or content which promotes smoking or the consumption of alcohol, and to "protect Arab identity from the harmful effects of globalisation".

It allows signatory countries to "withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations". (ANI)


SABC news seeks a new advantage


From http://www.news24.com/City_Press/Finance/0,,186-246_2272063,00.html

The SABC plans to have at least 20 bureaus across the world by 2010, says Snuki Zikalala, who heads the national broadcaster’s news department.

Zikalala says the organisation already maintains bureaus in Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Belgium, the UK and two in the US.

Bureaus are planned for Brazil, China, Jamaica and Ethiopia by April this year, seven more by the middle of next year and five more by 2012.

This, Zikalala says, will give the SABC a competitive advantage over rival news channels like etv, which is planning to launch a 24-hour news channel this year on DStv.

etv had initially planned to compete against DStv with a pay-TV offering after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa awarded it a licence last year.

But the free-to-air channel has opted to be a content provider. The company has yet to give further details on its strategic plans regarding the 24-hour news channel.

Apart from etv, the SABC also faces competition in the news environment from CNBC Africa, which launched its offering last year, also on the DStv platform.

And Free2View, a free satellite ­television offering, recently said it would include news channel MSNBC Africa.

DStv also broadcasts CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera and SkyNews giving subscribers a variety of news channels.

Though CNBC Africa had planned to focus its news coverage on Africa, many of their news broadcasts are from Europe, the US and Asia.

There’s a definite gap in the African news space, which gives etv’s 24-hour news channel and the SABC room to manoeuvre and become the preferred news channel on African business and current affairs.

Tawana Kupe, dean of humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand, says the quality of news in South Africa is fairly good but requires some improvement.

“TV news tends to be too urban-based and focused on government officials . . . SABC news is too government-focused and etv tries to put government officials on the spot.

“We also need longer or more regular bulletins than the 30-minute bulletins that are interrupted by advertising all the time. Business coverage needs to be more critical and not just a platform for the corporates,” he says.

The national broadcaster launched SABC News International in June last year. The channel aims to provide a pan-African perspective on domestic and international stories.

SABC News International is available on Sentech’s Vivid Satellite Digital Decoder, which broadcasts to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Europe.

Zikalala says the channel will broadcast for 24 hours a day from April this year.

“With the kind of network we are working on,we can have our own stories and our own people on the ground,” he says.

Zikalala is alluding to the skills shortage in the country, which is also affecting the media industry where the demand for senior journalists is increasing every year.

He says experienced journalists leave the trade to pursue more financially rewarding ventures or managerial roles.

Kupe says the increase in the number of broadcasters will lead to poaching and not necessarily the training of new people to address ­demand.

“So the average age and experience levels will decline,” he says.

Kupe says the quality of journalism hasn’t improved over the years and that this is due to a lack of senior specialist reporters who can command the respect of those they seek to ­interview.

“You get some reporting but no analysis and context. International broadcasters and print media have more experienced editors and reporters,” he says.

Zikalala defends his editorial approach regarding the SABC’s coverage of the government and the presidency and says it will not change when a new regime takes over.

“We covered Thabo Mbeki as president of the ANC and the country. We will give the same respect to the new ANC head and the new government, whoever it is. We are professionals,” he says.

And on his links with the ANC which raise questions about his objectivity, he says: “I’m in public service now and I can still be neutral despite my background. I’d condemn any­thing the ANC does that is wrong,” he says.

Zikalala has earned himself a number of critics. He came under fire last year for enforcing an editorial policy that “blacklisted” certain commentators. This meant radio and television news presenters were not allowed to use certain political analysts on SABC programmes.

“There wasn’t a blacklisting, but perhaps a grey listing . . . What I found was that the same people were being used day in and day out on radio and on television as if they were the only people of intelligence in our country. All I was saying was that other analysts should be sourced.”

Zikalala says there hasn’t been a staff exodus as a result and that though some people had left, others had been brought on board.


Dish TV to line up $100 million debt


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb197.php

MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra-promoted Dish TV is in the process of lining up a debt of $100 million (Rs 4 billion) as it readies to aggressively take on competition ahead of the launch of DTH (direct-to-home) services from Anil Ambani's Big TV and Bharti Airtel.

Dish TV has a total fund requirement of Rs 11 billion. The Zee Group company has already raised Rs 2.5 billion with a dilution of 4.9 per cent to Indivision Capital, the private equity arm of Kishore Biyani's Future Capital.

"We are close to lining up debt of around $100 million which should take care of our funding requirement for about a year. In form of equity, we have raised Rs 2.5 billion. But we will definitely need to raise further equity and are in talks for it," says a source .

Dish TV's debt currently stands at around Rs 4.25 billion. The company is cash negative at the moment and needs to infuse capital as it ramps up DTH customers.

Dish TV's customer acquisition cost in the third quarter is Rs 1880, up from Rs 1,628 in the July-September period. A major chunk of the fund requirement will be used to grab new customers with subsidy on hardware and heavy advertising.
 
Dish TV hopes to finish the current fiscal with three million subscribers, adding up in the last quarter from a base of 2.7 million. The target for the next fiscal is to add over a million subscribers.

The brand building strategy with film star Shah Rukh Khan will continue to put pressure on advertising expenses. "We will be roughly spending Rs 300 million on advertising and promotions every quarter as competition intensifies," says the source.

Dish TV is also looking at carriage fees from the weaker content providers. The company hopes to bring down the content cost which is currently running at 55-60 per cent of the ARPUs (average revenue per user).


Lower sourcing costs help Tata Sky halve price


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/16/stories/2008021651260500.htm

Service within the reach of more people

The company had decided to give customers the benefit of one big price cut rather than a series of small cuts. — Mr Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer

Chennai, Feb. 15 Many recent customers of Tata Sky subscriptions would have been surprised by the company’s sudden decision to halve the price of its hardware to Rs 1,499 as against Rs 2,999 earlier.

However, Mr Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, is quick to point out that the company was simply passing on the benefit of a cheaper procurement price. Having achieved economies of scale with 1.5 million subscribers in 16 months, the company had decided to give customers the benefit of one big price cut rather than a series of small cuts.

Mr Mehra told Business Line that the decision was also made keeping in mind the fact that the company was competing for viewers with cable TV. One of the barriers to switching from cable to DTH was the initial expense incurred on the hardware (the dish and set-top box) and installation, which was Rs 2,999, plus an installation cost of Rs 1,000, earlier.

With the current price reduction, the company had been able to bring down the initial expense to Rs 2,499, inclusive of an installation cost of Rs 1,000, thus bringing the service within the reach of many more people, Mr Mehra said. Tata Sky sources from three STB manufacturers that have set up base in India for Tata Sky — Kaon Media, a Korean company, whose unit is based in Uttaranchal; France’s Thomson Electronics with a unit in Pune and Korean company Humax based in Noida.

Schemes

Replying to a query whether the company would continue to offer schemes along with TV manufacturers, he said it was entirely possible. In fact, the service may soon be bundled with 21-inch TVs and not with plasma screens as was the case earlier. Thus, the Tata Sky package would be available to customers just like any other durable in the market.

The company has targeted 8 million subscriptions by 2012 at which point the industry is projected to have between 25-25 million subscriptions.

According to Mr Mehra, conversion from cable to DTH was happening very fast. This could be attributed to the fact that the average middle-class family came together to watch TV. They appreciated quality and were dissatisfied with the service provided by their local cable operator. On the other hand, Tata Sky, he said, had delivered on all its promises in respect to quality of content, transmission and customer service. According to him, the company had established a presence throughout the country; the package was available with dealers in 5,000 towns currently.

Regional content

Having rolled out several channels for its urban consumers, the company was now focussing on regional content. This niche focus had paid rich dividends in Tamil Nadu, where subscriptions had surged once the Sun TV bouquet of channels was added, he said.

According to Mr Mehra, the company’s offerings for kids had been well received since it combined education with entertainment. The company had developed content in-house for Active Wizkids and Active Stories, both of which was meant for children in the age group of 2-4 years. Content for Active Learning, a channel targeted at children in middle-school, was provided by 24X7 Guru.


Green light for HITS operators


From http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14605773

New Delhi: The existing permission-holders of Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) service-ASC Enterprises (now Dish TV) and Noida Software Technology Park Ltd-will be allowed to start HITS operation, provided they give an undertaking to the government that they would migrate to the new regime within three months of the notification of the fresh licensing norms. 

Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Nripendra Misra stated this in a letter to the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry secretary Asha Swaroop on Friday.

Although TRAI had issued recommendations for HITS operation, mainly related to band-neutrality and uplinking conditions, last year, recently the regulator revised its stand on some of the issues.

However, TRAI’s recent recommendations did not say anything clearly on the current licencees.

So, on Friday, Misra’s letter to Swaroop was accompanied by a set of recommendations for the current permission holders of HITS-Dish TV and Noida Software Technology Park.

Dish TV had launched its HITS service in August 2003, but later surrendered the satellite transponder capacity.

Even Noida Software Technology Park had received permission for HITS in 2003 but did not start the service.

“To ensure faster digitalisation and addressability in the cable sector and to ensure greater competition, it is desirable that these permission holders should be allowed to provide the HITS operation on the existing terms and conditions, till at least such time that the terms and conditions of HITS licence are notified by the government of India,” TRAI has recommended.

Besides, the government will also consider requests received from HITS permission holders for approvals on issues like change of satellite, additional channels, etc, within the framework of the existing HITS permission, according to the regulator.

Also, a HITS permission holder would not be required to furnish a performance bank guarantee for migrating to the new licensing regime, if it meets the rollout obligation.


Greycells18 to tutor students via DTH


From http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=8&autono=314077

For students appearing for their class 10 and class 12 board exams across the country, help is at hand.

This week, Greycells18 Media, a company formed by media professionals, is launching a curriculum-based television channel aimed at students in classes 9 to 12.
 
Called Topper, the channel will offer lessons in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. To supplement the information provided on-air the company has also launched an educational website called topperlearning.com, where students can access additional study material or submit queries.
 
Topper will be available on two DTH platforms — Dish and Tata Sky.
 
Speaking to Business Standard, Greycells 18 shareholder and CEO Sunil Khanna said that the channel will be available free of cost during the examination period.
 
“This will encourage sampling as well as be a service to students sitting for board exams,” he said. However, later Greycells 18 looks to introduce a subscription fee of around Rs 1,500 per annum.
 
“It’s a product whose time has come,” said TV 18 managing director Raghav Bahl, who has invested in Greycells through Network18’s private equity initiative Capital18.
 
“Greycells has been conceived as a full service education company. There is a huge opportunity in digital education. Worldwide, channels such as Discovery Schools and BBC Curriculum are doing well,” he said.
 
It is not difficult to see why Greycells is keen to tap the business opportunity in school education. There are 300 million children studying in various schools in India and nearly 66 million are expected to take the board exam this year.
 
The company sees a gap in consistency and quality of education across India. And television, being a visual medium, lends itself to education.
 
Khanna said that the timing is also right for an education channel in India. The broadcast industry is moving towards addressable boxes making the venture feasible for two reasons. One, collection of subscription is possible and two DTH boxes allow limited interactivity important for a genre such as education.
 
“Of course, once digital cable and IPTV, which are fully interactive media, roll out, we could exploit that opportunity as well,” said Khanna.
 
Currently there are 4.5 million DTH homes between the two private operators. By 2012, India is expected to have 20 million DTH homes.
 
Topper’s USP will be that it promises to offer tutorials by highly-qualified teachers including professors in universities abroad.
 
“Parents won’t mind paying for such quality education,” said Sricharan Iyengar, a former ESPN executive and Greycells co-promoter. Iyengar said that Topper is bound to have the first mover advantage as well.




7/02/08

No update Sunday




16/02/08

No update Saturday




15/02/08

A new service launching on Optus D2

Hello,

It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the Al Hayat service, 24/7, on the new Optus D2 satellite. This service will be available free-to-air throughout Australia and New Zealand and promotes Christian lifestyle to the Arabic community.

The service is available on:

Transponder 5
Frequency 12518.75 FEC ¾ Symbol 22.500 Polarity Vertical

Please let me know if you need additional information to promote this service. More information can be found on their website www.lifetv.tv

Thank you for your support.
Globecast Australia


From my Email & ICQ


From T. Dunnett

Both OneB and Auckland Teleport are now in Liquidation according to the companies register

Company Number 1843665 View Certificate Of Incorporation
Company ONE BROADCAST LIMITED (IN LIQ)

Incorporated 18-JUL-2006 View Online Extract
Entity Type Company

Status Details
Current Status In Liquidation

Company Number 1758435 View Certificate Of Incorporation
Company ANZ TELEPORT & BROADCAST LIMITED (IN LIQ)

Incorporated 23-JAN-2006 View Online Extract
Entity Type Company
Status Details
Current Status In Liquidation


(Craig's comment, they still have a signal up on IS8.)


From Ahmet Gunsay

Subject: C1

Foxtel encryption back on @ 2.40pm eastern


From the Dish


No Lyngsat


NEWS


Foxtel boxes in Seven


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23215810-664,00.html

THE deal between Foxtel and Seven demonstrates that free-to-air and pay-TV are now 'on the same side'. It is also a clear win for Foxtel.

Simply, that while 85 per cent of viewers might be watching FTA-TV, a large and likely increasing portion of them will watch it through a Foxtel digital set-top box.

That would mean by definition, they've already decided to watch some pay-TV. And if so there's an increasing likelihood they'll watch more pay-TV.

So in a sense Seven has now joined all the other FTA-TV networks in accepting that Foxtel will be the gateway for some of its/their viewers.

It also makes easier the complete switch to digital some time in the 2010s. As the full suite of FTA programs will be available through the Foxtel box.

So at least 30 per cent of viewers, and rising, will get the full suite through Foxtel and its affiliates and a rising percentage through new TVs with inbuilt at least standard definition and increasingly high-definition digital tuners.

That will leave a shrinking number of viewers who have to buy or be given a set-top box for their old analogue sets.

By the 2010s it's likely to be quite small. Also the cost, as the price of the boxes continues to plummet.

Put it all together and there's not much, policy or regulatory, for FTA-TV and pay-TV to fight over. Except giving the FTAs more free spectrum for multi-channelling.

That aside they will now be allies against a common enemy after your eyeballs. What's available on your computer, especially what comes down the net.


Foxtel deal gives Seven bigger reach


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23215800-662,00.html

THE Seven Network has signed an agreement with Foxtel that will see the free-to-air channel's digital programming appear on pay TV in a few weeks.

The deal, to cost Seven about $2 million a year, will give the network another ratings boost.

It involves the rebroadcasting of Seven's digital programming along with its electronic program guide for subscribers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Foxtel has already done similar deals with the Nine Network, ABC, SBS and last year with Channel Ten.

The arrangement ends a tense relationship between the two companies after Seven took Foxtel to court for allegedly trying to kill its pay-TV arm, C7.

Foxtel's satellite subscribers in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will receive digital retransmission early next year after the launch of the new Optus D3 satellite.

It also will mean Seven's high-definition channel, 7 HD, will form part of Foxtel's HD service when that is launched during the middle of this year.

Seven Media Group CEO David Leckie said it was great news for Seven viewers.

"We are excited about this new, positive phase in our relationship with Foxtel," he said. "Seven's objective is to deliver our programming to all Australians, and we look forward to making our programming content and information available to more viewers than ever before."

Foxtel CEO Kim Williams said he was pleased with the agreement.

"Today's retransmission deal with Foxtel and the Seven Network has been a long time coming and means that Foxtel now has retransmission agreements with all networks," he said.

The deal casts some doubt over the future of TiVo, a rival digital video recording system which is seen by many as a competitor to Foxtel's IQ system.


UBI World TV Launches In New Zealand


From http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00260.htm

Friday, 15 February 2008, 2:21 pm
Press Release: Syed Akbar Kamal

Amidst a plethora of international ethnic channel providers here in New Zealand, a new Sydney based player has emerged in UBI World TV that promises to deliver over 100 channels from across the globe. It launched its Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite service in New Zealand.

UBI World TV, the leading multicultural pay TV and radio broadcaster in the region, has its platform on the Optus D2 satellite that carries UBI’s more than 100 premium multi-lingual channels sourced from 30 different countries worldwide which are now available to the growing immigrant population of New Zealand, allowing them to stay connected to their countries of origin, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

According to Statistics NZ the Asian ethnic group was New Zealand's fourth largest major ethnic group after European, Māori, and Other Ethnicity, totalling 354,552 people (9.2 percent) in 2006. Of the major ethnic groups, the Asian ethnic group grew the fastest between 2001 and 2006, increasing from 238,176 people in 2001 to reach 354,552 people in 2006 (an increase of almost 50 percent).

The ethnic group of Chinese, Japanese and Korean is 190,296 (Census 2006) accounting for 27% growth over last census result in 2001.
The Middle Eastern, Latin American and African grouping with 34,743 people totalled 0.9 percent of New Zealand's usually resident population. Within the Middle Eastern, Latin American and African grouping, there were 17,514 people who identified with Middle Eastern ethnic groups, 6,657 people with Latin American groups, and 10,647 people with African groups.
The niche ethnic media market is mired in controversies of sorts that tend to pop up from time to time. The latest casualty of ONE B is a pointer in that direction. The channel has been embroiled in a series of controversies right from the start.

The most common complaint that one hears from the disgruntled subscribers is the lack of ability of service providers to deliver on promised choice of channels and prompt service.

“Many have come and promised the moon and gone. It’s the lack of honesty, transparency and underlying surreptitiousness that pervades in this market segment”, said a source speaking on condition of anonymity.

Jim Blackman, CEO Triangle TV and the satellite feed of Stratos, would not be drawn into making a comment on the new player but wished “good luck to them.”

Interestingly, there’s World TV Ltd a namesake to UBI World TV here in New Zealand since June 2000 catering to Chinese, Korean and Japanese interests with 7 TV and 2 Radio channels.

They did not know about the new entrant until this reporter got in touch with them. They expressed surprise at their namesake which is bound to confuse the ordinary customer.

There are over 10,000 households subscribing WTV. The total number of viewers reaching 50,000 approximately 26 percent of the market.

UBI World TV commenced operations in Sydney, Australia in 2004, and since launching has attracted more than 200,000 viewers Australia-wide. In addition, UBI services subscribers in Asia and Africa, and has operations in Europe, North America and South America. It has also started offering advertising on its top-rating channels.

UBI World TV New Zealand subscribers can enjoy a feast of entertainment, sport, information and news programs in a language package of their choice comprising: Arabic (29 TV and 10 radio channels), Turkish (10 TV and 7 radio channels), Spanish (11 TV and 1 radio channels), Greek (9 TV and 12 radio channels), Balkan (7 TV and 4 radio channels), Portuguese and Brazilian (3 TV and 1 radio channels), Persian (3 TV and 1 radio channels), including top-rating ‘best-of’ compilation channels in Turkish and Arabic produced in Australia, and a ‘best-of’ Macedonian channel produced in Macedonia.

UBI President and CEO Regina Boulos said, “We are delighted to finally bring UBI World TV to New Zealand. Our service has been widely embraced and enjoyed by the ethnic communities in Asia, Africa and Australia, and we are both pleased and excited to now be able to bring to New Zealand’s migrant communities our high-rating channels which we beam live from different parts of the world. New Zealand’s migrant communities can now re-establish ties with the native culture and heritage that they cherish.”

“Through UBI World TV, these communities can watch live news and enjoy the best dramas, comedies, movies, music, sport and more, in their language, direct from their home countries, in the comfort of their homes.”

“The launch marks a first for many communities in New Zealand including the Iraqi, Persian, Greek, Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Brazilian, Chilean, Lebanese, Turkish, Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Mexican, Bosnian, Colombian, Montenegro, Argentinean, Portuguese and Cypriot communities, who for many years have not had access to the best TV and radio channels from their home countries”, Ms. Boulos said.

When questioned what her firm’s subscriber numbers she answered “our viewer base continues to grow due to the excellent quality of our channels and the service we provide. Our subscriber numbers however are classified information.”

Referring to courting prospective customers from a host of other regional players scattered across the country, she remarked “UBI World TV has wide experience in multicultural media and marketing. Our team of multicultural, multilingual staff knows the language, culture and what appeals strongly to the audiences we are targeting. We employ a range and a mix of traditional and non-traditional media as well as innovative sales promotions activities which have worked very well for us.”

Package prices start from NZ$29.95 per month for a minimum of 12 months. Installation costs and other terms and conditions apply.

Elaborating she said “UBI World TV’s package prices and the channels available for each package vary. For instance, our Balkan Package comprising 7 of the best Macedonian, Bosnian, Montenegro and Bulgarian TV channels plus 4 radio stations is available for $29.95 per month. Our Arabic Package comprising the highest rating channels from Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Syria and Jordan offers 29 TV channels and 10 radio stations for $59.95 per month.”

Avoiding quoting a specific figure, she observed “new subscribers to UBI World TV incur an installation fee which includes: the cost of decoder box, satellite dish, cabling, technician labour/ servicing. Then they pay the monthly subscription fee. Our installation fees are competitive with the fees of other pay TV providers and vary according to the location of the customer.”

She stated the company is currently setting up an office in New Zealand, and starting to build a network of agents and dealers to generate subscriptions across the country.

*****

Syed Akbar Kamal is Producer/Director for current affairs programme Darpan-The Mirror nationwide on Stratos & Triangle TV.
www.teamworkproductions.co.nz

ENDS


Measat gets first customer for AfricaSat-1


From http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_1a9eae16-cb73c03a-1ed1dbe0-2385a0ab

KUALA LUMPUR: Measat Global Bhd has secured the first contract for its AfricaSat-1 satellite, which was commissioned early this year.

The company said in a statement yesterday that its wholly-owned Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd had signed a multi-transponder agreement with global Internet services provider SkyVision Global Networks LLC for the lease of C-band capacity on the satellite.

SkyVision would use the capacity for the provision of broadband services to SkyVision customers between Europe and Africa and across the African continent.

“The commissioning of AfricaSat-1 at 46.0°E earlier this year significantly expanded the reach of the Measat fleet into the African and European region,” Measat Systems senior director Yau Chyong Lim said.

With AficaSat-1, the Measat fleet would be able to provide satellite capacity to over 145 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia.

The fleet would be further enhanced this year with the launch of Measat-1R to provide additional capacity at the company’s key 91.5°E orbital slot.


KT to Launch 3rd Satellite into Orbit


From http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200802/200802150004.html

Korea's leading broadband communications service provider KT will launch its third satellite into orbit in 2010 in a bid to accommodate the increasing demand for high definition digital broadcasting.

The new-and-improved satellite Mugunghwa 6 will replace its predecessor Mugunghwa 3 which will be put out of service in 2011.

The soon-to-be decommissioned satellite provides TV broadcasts to more than 2 million subscribers of Skylife, a commercial satellite broadcaster in Korea.

Koreans who live in areas where cable and terrestrial TV reception are both unavailable are reportedly Skylife's main customers. KT has two satellites currently operating in orbit.


Thai PBS might hurt private TV stations


From http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/15Feb2008_biz54.php

Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) could be a threat to MCOT Plc, the SET-listed broadcaster, because of its similar content, says Kematat Paladesh, vice-president of marketing at MCOT. Thai PBS could share the same target audience with MCOT, the operator of Channel 9, and cut the station's ratings. The station fears that the lower ratings could harm advertising revenues, Mr Kematat said yesterday.

Commercial-free Thai PBS debuts today with its own programmes. In the middle of last month the station was born from the ashes of TITV/iTV, but has broadcast only documentaries because management had not prepared original content. News and news analysis account for nearly half of all content. The rest is documentaries, family programmes and educational shows.

Channel 9 positioned itself as a knowledge-based station, unlike the two-top rated Channel 7 and Channel 3, which are entertainment channels. Overall, Channel 9 ranks third and is similar to the army-run Channel 5, which airs mostly entertainment.

Mr Kematat said that MCOT executives had held talks on coping with the new challenge. He pointed out that the newest TV station did not have commercials to interrupt programmes, which might please some viewers.

He said the Radio and Television Broadcasting Act, which would legalise satellite TV, would further change the landscape of ad spending. Audiences would be more fragmented among specific satellite TV channels. The boundaries of the TV industry would not be limited to six free-to-air stations anymore.

The law was endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly late last year.

He said that Channel 9 should restructure its TV programmes and content to differentiate the station from Channels 3 and 7 and TPBS.

The removal of advertising from TPBS was one of the main factors behind the decline in local advertising spending in January, according to figures released yesterday by Nielsen Media Research (Thailand).

Total spending fell 7% from January 2007 to 6.07 billion baht, the first decline since July 2007, Nielsen reported. TV advertising, which accounts for 59% of the total, dropped 10% to 3.47 billion baht, while spending in newspapers declined 2.3% to 1.04 billion baht, Nielsen said. Radio advertising rose 13% to 439 million baht and spending in movie theatres rose 12% to 352 million baht.

MCOT shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 28.50 baht, down 25 satang, in trade worth 77.7 million baht.


Al Jazeera English to Launch in Vietnam


From http://www.asiamediajournal.com/pressrelease.php?id=236

This key agreement is yet another distribution advance for Al Jazeera English since its critically acclaimed launch in November 2006 - the channel is already available to over 100 million households worldwide, making it one of the leading television services in world news.

Al Jazeera English is the first English language world news and current affairs channel to be headquartered in the Middle East, in Doha, Qatar with Broadcast Centres in Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC. From this unique position the channel is setting the global news agenda with its impartial, independent journalism and household names including Riz Khan, Sir David Frost, Darren Jordon and Veronica Pedrosa familiar to viewers around the world.

VTC Digital Television is offered by the Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications.

VMC Vice CEO Le Van Khuong said: “VTC Digital Television is the first and biggest Digital TV operator in Southeast Asia. We are using all-digital technology from production to distribution to broadcast, so viewers can receive more channels of higher quality and more interactive services. This new partnership with Al Jazeera brings an excellent new service to the Vietnamese people. We also hope that everyone in the world can take a fresh look at Vietnam as one of the best developing countries in Asia.”

Phil Lawrie, Al Jazeera Network’s Director of Global Distribution said, "This new partnership brings Al Jazeera English’s award-winning content to viewers throughout Vietnam. Our agreement with VTC significantly extends our reach across Asia – a continent our reporters are covering with enormous dynamism and in which our audience is fast expanding."

Al Jazeera English is available throughout Vietnam on VTC digital terrestrial, Channel 9.


US to shoot down satellite


From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23217622-5005961,00.html

US President George W. Bush has directed the military to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite with a missile from a warship, a senior White House official said.

"The president directed the Department of Defence to carry out the intercept," said Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffries.

Mr Jeffries said the decision was reached because of the risk to human life of of the satellite re-entering the atmosphere with 1000 pounds of a toxic propellant called hydrazine.

"One viable option we have, we concluded, is to use a tactical missile from an Aegis ship to strike the satellite in order to reduce the overall risk," he said.

"This missile is designed, of course, for other missions, but we concluded it could be reconfigured, both the missile and other systems related to it, on a one-time reversible basis to do the shot," he said.


Pentagon to shoot down 'toxic' satellite


From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=325&objectid=10492623

The Pentagon plans to shoot down a disabled 2000 kg US spy satellite before it enters the atmosphere to prevent a potentially deadly leak of toxic gas from the vehicle's fuel tank, officials said.

President George W. Bush opted for a plan to have the Navy shoot the 5,000-pound (2,270 kg) minivan-size satellite with a modified tactical missile, after security advisers suggested its re-entry could lead to a loss of life.

Military officials hope to strike the satellite just before it reaches the atmosphere and drive it into ocean waters.

Thousands of space objects fall to Earth each year, but they generally scatter over a huge area and there have never been any reported injuries.

"What makes this case is a little bit different ... was the likelihood that the satellite, upon descent to the Earth's surface, could release much of its 1,000-plus pounds (454 kg) of hydrazine fuel as a toxic gas," said James Jeffries, assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor.

He told a Pentagon briefing that the satellite was unlikely to hit a populated area and described the danger of toxic gas as limited.

But Jeffries added: "There was enough of a risk for the president to be quite concerned about human life."

The satellite is a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in 2006, according to four senior US officials, who asked not to be named.

The satellite, known as L-21, has been out of touch since shortly after reaching its low-Earth orbit.

Built by Lockheed Martin at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, the satellite has fallen more than 70 km (43 miles) to an orbit at around 280 km (174 miles) above the Earth.

Because the satellite never became operational, it has toxic rocket fuel on board that would have been used to manoeuvre the satellite in space.


How U.S. plans to destroy out-of-control spy satellite


From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004183726_satellite15.html

The satellite mission at a glance

The satellite: The 5,000-pound US 193 was launched in December 2006. Almost immediately, it lost power and its central computer failed, leaving it uncontrollable.

The missile: A Standard Missile-3 will be launched from a Navy ship at sea.

When: A window of opportunity for hitting the satellite begins in three or four days and could last up to eight days.

Complications: The satellite carries 1,000 pounds of highly toxic hydrazine fuel. Also, U.S. officials have begun notifying other countries of the plan, stressing that it does not signal the start of a new anti-satellite weapons program.

The strike: Ideally, the missile would hit the satellite directly just before it re-enters the atmosphere, minimizing the amount of fuel that returns to Earth. If the first shot misses, a second attempt may be made.

WASHINGTON — A Navy cruiser in the Pacific Ocean will try an unprecedented shoot-down of an out-of-control, school-bus-size spy satellite loaded with a toxic fuel as it begins its plunge to Earth, national-security officials said Thursday.

President Bush made the decision because it was impossible to predict where a tank containing the fuel might land in an uncontrolled descent.

The Pentagon decided to use a modified, ship-fired anti-ballistic missile to make the attempt after Feb. 20 to avoid creating debris that could threaten the space shuttle on its return from the international space station, a military source said.

Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Navy missile, which will be fired as the 5,000-pound satellite re-enters the atmosphere, "has a reasonably high opportunity for success." The window of opportunity for taking the satellite down, Cartwright said, opens in three or four days and lasts for about seven or eight days.

The Pentagon and NASA have been working on the missile modifications for the past three weeks.

Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey said the decision was based on the fact that the satellite is carrying a substantial amount of a hazardous rocket fuel, hydrazine.

Normally, aging satellites — their onboard fuel mostly consumed — are steered into the ocean at the end of their life. But with the spy satellite's power and communications inoperable, it is tumbling, unguided, to Earth.

Risk was downplayed

When the pending crash was announced last month, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe minimized the danger, saying the potential for pieces hitting any populated area was "very small."

Unless it is shot down, the satellite, which has been out of ground communication since its launch more than a year ago, is expected "to make an uncontrolled re-entry ... on or about March 6," according to documents the Bush administration provided to the United Nations on Thursday. "At present," said an official notification sent Thursday to countries around the world as well as the U.N. and NATO, "we cannot predict the entry impact area."

Cartwright declined to say who built the satellite, known by its military designation US 193, or its purpose. Various aviation publications said Lockheed Martin built it at a cost of several hundred million dollars for the National Reconnaissance Office, the government agency that manages many of the nation's spy satellites. Lockheed Martin spokesman Chip Manor declined to provide additional details.

Officials Thursday acknowledged that many satellites — some much larger — have fallen to Earth in the past without harm. But they said the presence of 1,000 pounds of hydrazine — unexpended fuel contained in a 40-inch sphere that was likely to hit the ground intact — led Bush to approve the Pentagon's recommendation to attempt the shoot-down. If the missile shot is successful, officials said, much of the debris will burn up as it falls. The goal is to hit the fuel tank in order to minimize the amount of fuel that returns to Earth, Cartwright said.

Motives debated

The announcement set off an immediate debate on defense blogs and among experts who questioned whether there was an ulterior motive. Some experts said the military was seizing an opportunity to test its controversial missile-defense system against a satellite target.

But others noted that the Standard Missile-3 has successfully been tested against warhead targets, which are far smaller than the satellite.

"There has to be another reason behind this," said Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, a liberal arms-control advocacy organization. "In the history of the Space Age, there has not been a single human being who has been harmed by man-made objects falling from space."

NASA administrator Michael Griffin insisted the interception was not a ruse to try the defense system on a satellite or to one-up other countries that have made similar attempts. The administration was harshly critical of China when it destroyed an aging satellite in orbit.

The difference, Griffin said, "is, one, we are notifying, which is required by treaties and law. OK?" The Chinese satellite was destroyed at a much higher altitude — about 600 miles — forming a field of orbiting space debris that creates hazards for other spacecraft.

The United States and the Soviet Union conducted anti-satellite tests in the mid-1980s but stopped once it became clear the debris from the destroyed spacecraft became a danger to other satellites and spaceships. Griffin said the low altitude at which the satellite will be targeted — about 150 miles — would minimize orbiting debris.

"The lower we can catch this, the quicker the debris re-enters," he said. More than half the pieces will burn up or hit Earth before making two revolutions around the Earth, and the rest will come down in "weeks, maybe a month, but it's a very finite period of time that we can manage."

Jeffrey said the fuel tank was the only piece of the craft that was not expected to explode on re-entry, and it was hoped the missile could destroy it in space. If it hits the Earth, it could leak gas and cause potentially fatal injury over an area the size of about two football fields, he said, adding that "this is all about trying to reduce the danger to human beings."

Other experts, however, said they believed the heat of re-entry would cause the tank to explode safely high in the air.

Two additional U.S. Navy cruisers, with backup missiles, have been configured for a second and third chance, if necessary, Jeffrey said. Cartwright said that if an initial shoot-down attempt fails, the military will have about two days to decide whether to take a second shot.

The satellite was never ordered to burn its maneuvering hydrazine fuel, a substance Cartwright compared to "chlorine or to ammonia in that when you inhale it, it affects your tissues in your lungs ... If you stay very close to it and inhale a lot of it, it could in fact be deadly."

Details on missile

Cartwright said the Aegis missile system aboard the Navy cruiser will fire a Standard Missile-3 with a heat-seeking nose that destroys its target by hitting it, not blowing it up.

The Navy spent the past three weeks modifying missile software normally set for hitting much higher targets, he said.

The Pentagon would not say which ship would be assigned the task. One Aegis cruiser, the Lake Erie, has conducted more extensive testing than other ships of the Standard Missile-3. The Lake Erie is stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Asked whether this was an attempt to test the Aegis system for use as an anti-satellite system, Cartwright said the amount of special modifications being done to the programs used to guide the system would "not be transferable to fleet use."

He also rejected blog allegations that the destruction of the satellite had been planned to keep classified information aboard from landing in non-U.S. hands. Everything other than the gas container, he said, would be blown to pieces on re-entry even without the missile hit, he said.

Members of Congress were briefed on the plan Thursday, as were diplomats from other nations.


RRsat Announces First Acquisition in North America


From http://radio.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=306968

Acquiring Skynet Satellite's Teleport in Hawley, Pennsylvania

OMER, Israel, February 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST), a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that its subsidiary, RRsat Global Communications Inc., has entered into an agreement to acquire the Hawley Teleport located in Pike County, Pennsylvania, for approximately $4.25 million.

As part of the transaction, RRsat will acquire all the property, assets and licenses of the Teleport from Skynet Satellite Corporation. The Hawley Teleport, formerly owned by satellite operator Loral Skynet, includes approximately 200 acres, a 3 floor communication building on the premises of a size of approximately 40,000 sq. ft, communications equipment and antennas, in which substantial resources have been invested during the teleport's 33 years of operation.

The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2008 and is subject to regulatory approvals, a 45-day due diligence period and customary closing conditions.

"We are very pleased to announce our proposed acquisition of this premier teleport facility in Pennsylvania, in which substantial resources have been invested over the years in advanced antennas and communications equipment. The Hawley teleport, which was designed from inception to support the distribution of video and radio content, is uniquely suited to complement RRsat's services and customer base. The teleport is also geographically well-positioned for RRsat's service requirements, under the transatlantic coverage of RRsat Global Network, with strong fiber connectivity to our major U.S. point of presence in New York as well as unobstructed views of our most heavily utilized satellites," commented David Rivel, Founder and CEO of RRsat.

Mr. Rivel added, "This acquisition is the first step in our strategic plan to build a strong local presence in the North American region, and further expand the footprint of our proprietary RRsat Global Network. The teleport has significant equipment capacity to accommodate RRsat's continued growth in the U.S. market. We also intend to continue to explore additional complementary acquisitions, that will enhance our access to the U.S. market, and will enable us to offer a broader range of end-to-end services to our growing global customer base within the United States."

Conference Call

Conference call to discuss the transaction scheduled for later today, February 14, 2008 at 11:00 am EST (08:00 am PT; 04:00 pm UK Time; 06:00 pm Israel Time). On the call, Mr. David Rivel, Founder & CEO and Mr. Gil Efron, CFO will review and discuss the transaction and will be available to answer investor questions.

To participate, please call one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin placing your calls at least 10 minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US: 1-888-407-2553 UK: 0-800-917-9141 Israel: 03-9180609 International: +972-3-918-0609

About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.

RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global, comprehensive, content management and distribution services to the rapidly expanding television and radio broadcasting industries. Through its proprietary "RRsat Global Network," composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic transmission capacity and the public Internet, RRsat is able to offer high-quality and flexible global distribution services for content providers. RRsat's comprehensive content management services include producing and playing out TV content as well as providing satellite newsgathering services (SNG). RRsat concurrently provide these services to more than 400 television and radio channels, covering more than 150 countries. Visit the company's website http://www.rrsat.com/ for more information.


Murdoch sells 500,000 News Corp shares for $10 million


From http://us.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb152.php

MUMBAI: News Corp CEO and chairman Rupert Murdoch has sold 500,000 shares of common stock for a sum of $10 million (around Rs 400 million).

Murdoch has sold the non-voting News Corp shares for an average $19.91 per share.

Even after the trade, Murdoch's grip on the global media empire will not weaken as it is cemented through the family's 38.6 per cent voting stake in News Corp.


Uncertainty shrouds SA satellite


From http://www.sabcnews.com/sci_tech/science/0,2172,164128,00.html

Mystery surrounds South Africa's second satellite, dubbed SumbandilaSAT, which was meant to have been launched into orbit atop a Russian Shtil rocket. The satellite was to be fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea in December last year.

The Department of Science and Technology announced the launch of the satellite had been "postponed indefinitely" due to "administrative problems" at the Russian Federal Space Agency. "The department is seeking a new launch partner for South Africa's low-orbiting satellite, SumbandilaSAT," it said in a statement.

However, according to a report on January 23 by the Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS, the Russian Ministry of Defence refused to sanction the launch of the satellite because of a disagreement with South Africa's own Defence Ministry. The disagreement is said to involve a second Russian satellite, which the South African Defence Ministry did not want to use.

This came to be known through a report by the ITAR-TASS where the head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoliy Perminov, was quoted as saying: "Unfortunately, the Russian Defence Ministry refused to launch this satellite, as the South African Defence Ministry for its turn refused to use our satellite."

Contacted for comment, Defence Ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said he could not respond immediately to questions on the issue, but would do so tomorrow. The Department of Science and Technology also undertook to respond to questions tomorrow.

The mystery comes from the reported reference by Perminov to South Africa's Defence Ministry, given that the SumbandilaSAT programme is a civilian one, managed by the Department of Science and Technology.

The department said last year that the satellite would serve as a research tool to support the monitoring and management of disasters, among other things.

The name Sumbandila is from the Venda language, and means "lead the way". South Africa's first satellite, SunSat 1, was launched in 1999 from the United States. - Sapa


MultiChoice’s challenge to rival players


From http://www.screenafrica.com/news/business/907580.htm

Pay-TV operator Multichoice has introduced a new payment system ahead of the entry of new subscription TV broadcasters in the South African market.

MultiChoice is to launch a new payment method for some markets, called “Blind Voucher”. This low-cost system allows customers to renew their accounts without having to visit a payment office. According to a report in Rapid TV News, clients buy a Blind Voucher from any of the agents and finds a pin number, which they can send by SMS to the call centre and their account is updated.

Multichoice also launched its ultra low-cost new product called DStv EasyView for an annual fee of about R240 on 14 February.

Multichoice has also announced that it will introduce a competitively priced digital satellite decoder, named the 1110 model. The decoder which contains the latest technology allows for dual view capabilities and will be connected to a person’s Smart Card.


Business channel scores in Ghana


From http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/66/21967.html

CNBC Africa, the continent's first 24-hour international business channel, has secured a terrestrial television distribution deal in Ghana, effectively delivering the channel's business news to a potential audience of five million viewers in and around the capital Accra.
Company COO Gary Alfonso says the deal concluded with Kencity Media Group will give the network (channel 290 on DStv) a broadcast window of between 10 and 12 hours a day on the Net2 TV channel.

"This opportunity presents us with the ideal situation in West Africa, as we will broadcast business content from across Africa to the broader business orientated and economic market in Ghana, which has maintained a growth rate in excess of 6% for the past three years," he says.

"There are 11 commercial banks in Ghana, with at least three more global players on the way in the next two years. With no restrictions on foreign exchange, and recent deep sea oil discoveries off the coast of Ghana, this market is going to be a shining beacon of responsible economic development over the next two decades," he adds.

"Talks have already started with the Ghana Stock Exchange and financial institutions linked to the exchange to contribute daily from Accra, with pertinent content on the financial markets, resources and commodities, the economy and business activities in the West African country," he says.

CNBC Africa and Net2 TV will share the revenue from advertising in this vibrant and lucrative market. Adspend in Ghana was up between 37 and 40% in the past two years, driven mainly by the telecoms sector, which grew from 5% penetration in 2004 to between 15% and 20% by mid-2007.

Apart from being the only television channel dedicated to live market and business updates from the financial capitals across the continent, CNBC Africa also features news and current affairs programming with regular updates throughout the day. The channel carries political perspectives that shape African business, plus lifestyle programs, interactive talk shows and interviews with celebrated personalities in Africa, to provide more than just a business-oriented mix.

The channel is broadcast via the Sentech Vivid 'free-to-air' satellite platform across Africa. The network will also be launching terrestrially in Kenya, February 2008.


Nigeria: MultiChoice Launches New Channels for DStv Audience


From http://allafrica.com/stories/200802130360.html

Leading digital satellite operator, MultiChoice Africa, is launching two exciting new channels for DStv audience in Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso , Ghana and Togo.

According to information made available to LEADERSHIP at the weekend by Mr. Segun Fayose, public relations officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, stated that the acclaimed National Geographic Wild channel is now available to all DStv Premium, Family and Compact subscribers in these West African countries. In addition, DStv Premium and Compact subscribers in these countries can now access the English language version of the hit music channel Trace TV.

The latest news comes just three months after MultiChoice Africa further strengthened its channel line-up with channels such as M-Net Stars, One Gospel and The Style Network.

Screening on DStv Channel 261, National Geographic Wild will allow viewers to see the natural world as never before, encounter animal and plant life at its wildest - from the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of the oceans.

Highlights on National Geographic Wild according to the information include: Searching for the Snow Leopard, in which British filmmaker Hugh Miles and friend Mitchell Kelly travelled to the Ladakh region of the Himalayas in an attempt to film snow leopards high in their mountain home. The project required four years of perilous work, but despite the gruelling conditions, the team got what they came for and their amazing footage shows these felines hunting and feeding. The Power of Play which examines what the concept of play means in the animal kingdom and Hippo Hell journeys to Zambia including The Valley of the Wolves heads to Yellowstone can also be viewed in the channel .

Additional information from the MultiChoice Nigeria spokesman says that DStv audiences who tune in to the English language TRACE TV (DStv channel 325) can expect great beats and rhythm across a range of music categories from rap, R&B, reggae and ragga to adult contemporary and dancehall coming to them straight out of its Paris home even as he says that Trace TV is urban television entertainment at its finest.

"From music and Mother Nature, to movies, sport, news, kids, documentary, lifestyle and more, DStv has got something for you to watch," Mr. Fayose further informed.


Arab nations move to regulate satellite TV


From http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/080213-arab-satellite-tv

Arab satellite television channels are to face tighter restrictions on the content they broadcast. A set of regulations was agreed upon at a meeting in the Egyptian capital attended by information ministers from across the region. Qatar, the home of Al-Jazeera, was the only nation to voice reservations about the charter, citing legal reasons.

Broadcasters are called on "not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols" of Arab countries. Erotic or obscene material must also be avoided, as well as anything which promotes the smoking or the consumption of alcohol.

Curtailing freedom of speech?
Some critics think the charter, which was sponsored by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, will limit broadcasters' ability to discuss political issues. Lawrence Pintak, a media commentator based at the American University in Cairo, told Reuters that the regulations were "clearly an effort to try to stem (the) influence from satellite television on a political level".

Others in the Arab world disagree - including Khaled al-Maeena, who edits the English language Saudi newspaper Arab News. He told Newsline that some regulation could be helpful:

"If it is an attempt to silence political critics then I think we would all be against it. We are all for political programmes, we are all for people phoning in... The Arab world needs an extra dose of political and press freedom."

However, it was confirmed on Tuesday that in Saudi Arabia at least, live phone-in programmes now face an indefinite ban. It follows an incident on one such show in which the size of a civil servant salary increase in Saudi Arabia was criticised - a comment which could be interpreted as a criticism of the royal family.

The problem of enforcement
The charter adopted by the government ministers gathered in Cairo did not specifically prohibit phone-ins. It clearly targeted any programming which is critical of different religions, or might lead to public unrest, or might offend traditional Arab values.

Mr al-Maeena told Newsline that while he sympathised with much of the charter's contents, he was less convinced that it could be enforced.

"It's difficult to enforce it because these private TV stations can be based anywhere. You could have them in an office in Rome, or you can have them in Dubai, or somewhere in Cairo, or Singapore... So they are not under any government scrutiny... The airwaves are free, so anyone can listen to it."

At least one item in the charter is likely to win wide support from television viewers in Arab countries - it states that Arabs have a right to watch international sporting events in which their national teams are competing, regardless of who owns the broadcast rights.


Reliance's Big TV starts test run with 60 channels


From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb170.php

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communications' Big TV has started test run in homes of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group employees even as it has drawn up an aggressive plan plan to build a sizeable direct-to-home (DTH) subscriber base.

Big TV is now showing 60 channels from all major broadcasters, and has offered the boxes to its employees through internal mailers at the highly subsidised rate of Rs 1,000 per subscriber.

Industry sources said that the price of Reliance DTH would remain unchanged when it is commercially launched a few weeks from now.

Big TV plans to show close to 300 channels when fully functional, a possibility because of the MPEG 4 format it will be using.

The company, which has reportedly ordered two million set-top boxes (STBs), has developed a technological solution which can upgrade an existing MPEG 2 STB to MPEG 4 level.

A source said that Reliance would deploy this solution as a marketing tool to capture the existing subscribers of Tata Sky and Dish TV.

The latest regulation for the DTH sector recommended by the Telecom Authority of India (Trai) says that all new connections would have to be on the MPEG 4 format and the boxes would have to be interoperable.

This means that a subscriber can change a service provider without having to buy new equipment. Both Tata Sky and Dish TV have written to the government to remove this clause, as it would not be possible for them to upgrade the total number of five million boxes they share between themselves.

While Trai has clarified that the regulation would not affect old connections, it means that even the old DTH players would have to give new connections in MPEG 4 format.

For the rest, the existing five million would stay on the MPEG 2 format. Even in is this segment, Reliance's new solution of upgrading to MPEG 4 format would be a big lure.

A price war is imminent. While TataSky has already lowered its charges by half of what it started with a year ago, just to stay in competition, it is still above the price Reliance is offering.

Dish TV officials were not ready to let their plans be public, saying "something will be done."

But the real impact of Big TV's launch could be felt on the cable sector with the entry cost falling to as low as Rs 1,000.

Reliance Entertainment president Rajesh Sawhney was in a meeting when contacted and could not give his comments.


‘DTH to lead digitalisation of TV’


From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/15/stories/2008021551772300.htm

Chennai, Feb. 14 DTH or digital satellite television service is set to emerge as the clear winner among the various pay TV technologies and is likely to lead the digitalisation of TV in India.

A proven, superior technology, value-added services, professional customer service and all-India coverage at low incremental per subscriber cost were some of the advantages that DTH or direct-to-home services had over both cable and IP TV technologies, said Mr Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Sky.

He was addressing students of the Department of Management Studies, IIT, Madras, as part of the Business Line Club lecture series here.

According to him, DTH offered consumers consistent, professional service, superior video and audio quality and multiple channel packages to choose from interactively. It also offered viewers access to niche content and movies on pay-per view and the ability to move anywhere in the country.

Tata Sky’s aggressive marketing strategy aimed at educating the consumer about DTH had established the brand as a generic one, he claimed. Over the past 16 months since the launch of its service, the company had garnered 1.5 million subscriptions, Mr Mehra said.

Explaining the company’s marketing strategy, he said, “We have educated the consumer about the value proposition of the new service in terms of a quality service offered at a competitive price.”

The way forward was to focus on niche channels with the introduction of Western content for urban audiences and regional content for rural audiences.

Tata Sky also intended to introduce the personal video recorder (PVR), which would allow viewers to record programmes of their choice and watch them at their own leisure.

According to Mr Mehra, among the differentiators for Tata Sky were the brand pull of the Tata brand, access to advanced technology from News Corp, interactive media, the focus on varied content, offering premium as well as regional content, and finally customer service.

According to him, DTH offered viewers more choice of channels and content and assured telecast quality. Broadcasters were getting their due since there was total transparency on data such as the subscriber base.


Turner gets clearance for Rs 850 million FDI


From http://us.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/feb/feb151.php

MUMBAI: Turner Asia Pacific Ventures Inc. has got government approval to invest Rs 850.1 million in India over a two-year period.

The media conglomerate was seeking induction of foreign equity in a "company engaged in uplinking of non news and current affairs TV channel."

Turner International is setting up a 50:50 joint venture with Miditech promoters to roll out entertainment channels in Hindi and other Indian languages.

Turner has also picked up close to 30 per cent stake in Miditech, a production house run by the Alva Brothers, for an undisclosed amount.

Time Warner already broadcasts kids channels Cartoon Network and Pogo in the Indian market. Turner also has a joint venture with Zee Group for a distribution company where it holds 26 per cent stake.

The government has also given clearance to Kid Media India, a subsidiary of Dubai-based Spacetoon Media, to invest Rs 780 million in India.

The company plans to start a kids cartoon channel which will be linked from Dubai Media City and down linked in India.

Kids Media India recently entered into a pact with Marvel Entertainment International. It will represent Marvel on its licensing, merchandising, publishing and promotional programmes in the country. Spiderman, X-Men, The Hulk, Iron Man, Ghost Rider and Captain America are some of Marvel's properties.