31/07/08
Next update Friday
30/07/08
A bit of a storm here today , no dishes lost but if anyone has found my back fence could they please let me know!
From my Email & ICQ
Nothing to report
From the Dish
NSS 11 108.2E 12321 V "MBC (South Korea)" has started on , DVB-S2, MPEG-4, HD, Fta, SR 6667, FEC 5/6 (Mentioned here the other day) .
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3892 V "Apna Channel, Apna News and Kook TV" have left .
ABS 1 75E 12610 V "Gameplay TV" is back on , Fta.
NEWS
Austar report $7m loss
From http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=3&ContentID=87886
Regional pay television operator Austar United Communications has posted a first half net loss, but says subscriber numbers have increased and that its outlook is positive.
Austar today reported a net loss of $7.603 million for the 2008 June half year, compared to a $24.682 million profit in the previous corresponding period.
Underlying profit, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 28 per cent to $101 million.
Chief executive John Porter said the interim results highlight the company's continuing subscriber growth.
Total television subscribers had risen by 26,287 to 695,073 since the end of 2007, on improved sales and a strong take-up of Austar's MyStar personal digital recorder offering.
Average monthly customer churn for the second quarter of calendar 2008 fell to 1.32 per cent, from 1.53 per cent in the first quarter.
Total average revenue per user (ARPU) for the second quarter grew 2.4 per cent to $78.07 from the last quarter of 2007.
Austar said its gross margin rose 15 per cent to $171 million while its EBITDA margin increased 33 per cent.
Mr Porter said Austar was keeping an eye on financial markets before deciding on further capital management initiatives, after an on-market share buyback in May and June when it purchased and cancelled 46 million shares.
“As for future capital management activity, we obviously have a range of choices given the approvals granted at the annual general meeting last May, but there seems to be a way to go before debt markets settle again,” he said.
“We will keep an eye on the markets and then decide about any future capital management activity when it makes sense to do so.”
Austar’s net financing costs in the first half increased by $13.52 million to $26.01 million, due to higher average drawings on a senior debt facility, which were used to finance a $300 million capital return in 2007, it said.
Austar did not declare an interim dividend.
Austar Shares (AUN) $1.215
From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24101012-23634,00.html
AFTER a hard day's tilling and heavy lifting - mainly of bulging wheat cheques - farmers like nothing more than slumping in front of the box for a televisual feast, courtesy of the bush pay-TV provider.
And for rural denizens not so exposed to the mining or soft commodities booms, it's a simple choice between a night in front of the telly and discretionary items such as, er, food.
“Gathering around the electronic hearth to enjoy Austar makes sense for families in rural Australia, even if they are cutting back on other items such as dinners out or nights at the cinema,” says Austar CEO John Porter.
Because of either rural prosperity or the whiff of tough times, Austar's subscriber numbers continue to head in the right direction, as does the all-important ARPU (average revenue per unit, up 2.4 per cent to $78.07 after a rate increase in December).
Churn -- another key measure -- is also down, but still at less than desired levels.
Porter cites a “substantial improvement” in Austar's programming, in favour of exclusive content with a “water cooler” effect. For those who have not yet had their fill of foul-mouthed British chefs, the premier of Hells Kitchen series four screens in October.
Porter is also heartened by the strength of TV sales, especially the high-definition models. “When you get a high-quality TV you look for high quality content,” he says.
But there's a growing dichotomy between Austar's healthy operating result and its reported net loss: a $7.6 million first-half loss compared with a $24.6 million profit previously.
EBITDA wise, earnings rose 28 per cent to $101 million, so it's amazing what a difference that `I' (interest) and `T' (tax) costs can make. Interest costs more than doubled to $26 million.
Austar's debt stands at $769 million, with a negative equity position of $315 million. Such a stat seems alarming at face value, but Austar refinanced on favourable terms before the credit crunch and is spending $300 million -- $55 million so far -- on a share buy-back.
The tax hit relates to a tax benefit Austar can no longer use for the failed sale of $65 million of wireless spectrum to the defunct Optus/Elders broadband consortium.
Criterion had Austar as a long-term buy at $1.34 on April 23 and we probably will maintain that. Austar is doing well with subscription growth, especially the uptake of its My Star personal digital recorder product.
And what's a bit of debt between friends when you're a monopoly provider?
YouTube free on Seven's TiVo
From http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24100429-15321,00.html
THE Seven Network's newly launched TiVo digital video recorder will offer users the ability to download YouTube internet videoclips to the box free by the start of next year, according to the man charged with selling the product outside the US.
It had been thought that Seven could charge subscribers for additional features as they became available on the TiVo box -- which was launched yesterday in Harvey Norman stores -- including internet downloads.
But Joshua Danovitz, TiVo's international general manager, said: "We're going to make YouTube available free of charge from early next year."
The move is seen as a way of boosting sales for TiVo for Seven amid mixed publicity in the lead-up to yesterday's launch.
Seven is believed to be aiming for more than 50,000 sales of TiVo DVRs by the end of the 2008-09 financial year -- with 25,000 sales believed to be the break-even number for the period.
Mr Danovitz and Seven executives were cagey about how yesterday's launch had gone, leaving Gerry Harvey, the head of Harvey Norman -- which is selling the product exclusively for the next six weeks -- to do the spruiking. "It was way better than I thought it would be," he said last night.
"Maybe it's got something to do with the Olympics."
There have been suggestions the TiVo box -- which at the moment allows access only to 10 free-to-air channels, rising to 15 next year -- will lack the content available on the rival iQ2 DVR offered by pay-TV operator Foxtel, which features 90 channels.
But Mr Danovitz has dismissed the concerns. "The key is not that Australian consumers are limited by channels. I think what we are doing -- and Seven are doing -- is offering more control and flexibility over what, when and possibly where they watch. With web TV -- like YouTube -- there's a lot of content."
Mr Danovitz said this content would be expanded further with the upcoming launch of a movie and TV program download service from the internet. "In the US, TiVo has 30,000 titles available over broadband," he said.
The company was "pushing very hard" to have a similar service available in Australia by December this year. The company would add other "extra features over time" to the basic TiVo product.
The TiVo boss has deflected criticism that the $699 price for the TiVo box is too high.
Telstra turns on Seven Network HD for Beijing Olympics
From http://www.nowwearetalking.com.au/news/telstra-turns-on-seven-network-hd-for-beijing-olympics
Over two years of planning, design and testing, the Seven Olympic HD Content Delivery and TVNZ HD Content Delivery Networks are ready for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Despite some last minute communications issues, and after 18 hours of continuous work with various Telstra teams spread across the globe, Telstra's International Service Director, Darren Wilson, and Head of Engineering, Steven Dargham, switched on the International HD Content Delivery Network for Seven Network Australia at 3:00am on July 11th 2008. The following day, Steven Dargham switched on the TVNZ HD Network. Both Seven and TVNZ Networks have been fully tested and fine tuned to Seven and TVNZ engineering specifications over an extended period.
More than 18 new Next Generation Olympic nodes have been specifically commissioned for the Olympic network serving Seven and TVNZ from Melbourne and Auckland to Tokyo; and Hong Kong to Beijing as the host of the 29th Olympic Games.
For the first time ever, viewers in Australia and New Zealand will watch all the action closer with vivid real live coverage of the 29th Summer Olympics in full HD.
Telstra International has also commissioned for Seven Network Next Generation HD and SD Digital Video Network carrying multiple real live feeds from Beijing International Broadcast Centre (IBC) to 7BCM Dockland-Melbourne.
The complex networks have been delivered two weeks ahead of the projected delivery target, and it was a monumental effort by teams across the globe - led by Telstra International Engineering and with involvement of Telstra Australia TClear NZ, Telstra Asia, and our International Network operator Reach.
At the recent Media, Entertainment and Telecom Awards 2008, Telstra International won the "Best International Carrier". The Beijing Olympic project is just one example of many showing multinational clients why Telstra International is the Best International Carrier.
The Network in Brief
Telstra International Fibre Cable Network
- Telstra International has established two dedicated and fully protected fibre optic cable links from Beijing to Australia.
- Telstra International has established two dedicated and fully protected fibre optic cable links from Beijing to New Zealand.
- Telstra International Established Next Generation Multi Service Platform Olympic Nodes in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Auckland and Melbourne dedicated for the Olympic Network.
- The Network will carry Multiple High and Standard Definition Feeds from Beijing International Broadcast Centre to Australian and New Zealand.
- The Network will simultaneously carry Data and VoIP Telephony.
- The Network delivered with full geographical and undersea cable, exchange and building lead-in diversity.
- One path uses the APCN2 cable to connect Beijing to Tokyo, and then uses the Australia-Japan Cable (AJC) from Tokyo to Sydney. The AJC is the largest capacity system to reach Australia. A total of more than 15,000kms of cable.
- The second path connects Beijing and Hong Kong via the RNAL cable and then connects Hong Kong to Perth via the Reach SMW3 - almost 12,000kms of cable.
- Having two paths from Beijing to Australia acts as a dual backup to provide uninterrupted and live broadcasting to circumvent cable failures.
- Covering every single aspect Telstra International established a third paths for disaster recovery a manual restoration fibre have been established via USA using SX north and SX South.
King of Tonga coronation on TVNZ
From http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1958670
The event of the year in the South Pacific will be this week's coronation of the King of Tonga, and TVNZ has arranged coverage befitting a Royal occasion.
Pacific Correspondent for ONE News, Barbara Dreaver, will report the numerous activities as a Kingdom celebrates the crowning of the new King, George Tupou V.
The Coronation Ceremony will be seen live on TVNZ 7 from just after 9am on Friday morning, August 1.
This will also be streamed live here on tvnz.co.nz and made available internationally.
TV ONE will have delayed coverage of the Coronation Ceremony following Friday's ONE News at Midday, and TVNZ 7 will re-screen the ceremony at 10.10pm.
ONE News on Friday night will feature coverage of the Coronation Ceremony and other events with Barbara Dreaver reporting live from Nuku'alofa.
TVNZ's Tagata Pasifika will also be presenting two special programmes reporting the momentous events from Coronation week in its normal scheduled time slot on August 7 and 14.
The Pacific Islands will also share live coverage of the Coronation Ceremony, relayed by satellite to viewers throughout the region by TVNZ's Pacific Service.
New Era for Broadcasting in China
From http://www.satellitetoday.com/via/cover/23880.html
With the Chinasat-9 satellite in orbit, officially sanctioned satellite-TV services are set to become a reality in the world’s biggest market. With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, China offers broadcasters, equipment manufacturers and others a tantalizing opportunity but also a market that is tightly regulated. Will the launch of Chinasat-9 and the Olympics lead to more opportunities to develop this market, and what role might satellite play?
The Olympics will focus the eyes of the world on China, but will the event, which will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) to all corners of the globe, lead to the development of a more progressive broadcasting and digital TV market in the country? For the Chinese population, the launch of Chinasat-9 in June is a highly significant event for the country. The satellite, manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, will provide coverage of the Olympics and also help initiate free direct-to-home (DTH) services in different regions of the country as part of a project dubbed Cuncuntong, a village-to-village TV broadcasting initiative. "This project will help people in rural areas who are not able to receive standard terrestrial broadcasting or cable TV," says Maurice Liu, general manager of NDS China. "They will use satellites to cover these areas that cannot receive cable and terrestrial broadcasting. The Cuncuntong project only covers rural areas, and it allows people on the ground to set up dishes to watch FTA (free-to-air) satellite TV.... Pay TV-type DTH is not likely to happen in China soon — not this year — but it might happen after the launch of the Cuncuntong project when a large satellite audience is established."
The project, seen as key in reducing the digital divide between rural and urban areas in China, also will raise several issues on access and regulations, says Liu. "This may create a lot of demand in certain areas in China, not just the rural areas. There may even be strong demand in urban and city areas," he says. "This will present a challenge for the local governments to monitor who is watching legal Cuncuntong satellite TV or illegal foreign satellite broadcasting and will bring out the questions on whether it is a good idea to have pay DTH services."
The government also must relax its regulations on the use of satellite dishes — which often are ignored anyway — for the market to really gain momentum, says Iris Hong, head of the TMT team at Interfax China. "The use of satellite dishes is now highly restricted in China. Individuals are banned from using satellite dishes. By law, only foreigner-oriented hotels and residences, hotels of or above a three-star rating, and authorized facilities, such as journalism schools, are allowed to install satellite dishes to receive programs with foreign content. However, the regulations are often flouted by satellite dish sellers who supply Chinese families. Many Chinese families use pirated satellite TV and do not pay any subscription fees.... After Chinasat-9 is launched, the government is expected to relax its restrictions about satellite receiving devices. DTH services will first be offered free to remote and underdeveloped areas in China which are not covered by cable TV networks or terrestrial signals. The government has not announced which company will provide DTH satellite services, and the business model that will be employed to offer such services. It will take time for China’s DTH market to take off."
Graham Kill, the CEO of Irdeto, a provider of content security solutions to pay-TV operators, relocated in October from the company’s Amsterdam office to Beijing to spearhead Irdeto’s effort to improve its performance in emerging markets. Asia contributes around 30 percent of Irdeto’s overall revenues, and the Beijing office will be the center for its Chinese operations and its Asia-Pacific regional headquarters, as well as a base for part of Irdeto’s corporate management. The broadcasting market has been developing slowly in the country because the government "has been somewhat cautious in developing the DTH industry," he says. Despite this, satellites are everywhere in China and rules may need to be changed for the market to really accelerate. "You only have to drive around any part of the country, and you will see dishes on houses," says Kill. "However, dishes are only legal in certain sanctioned circumstances such as three-star-and-above hotels, foreign compounds, etc., and regulation 129 says you can’t use satellite dishes. Satellite dishes will become legitimate when that regulation changes and there is a mainstream service. Then I think you will see dishes and equipment in the high street electronic stores with simple-to- install packages. Clearly, you can’t see that right now. I think when you have got a satellite operational and a state-endorsed operator with the mandate to offer commercial DTH services, the scene is set to change. Every day of the week the country is increasingly progressing its digital industry and is becoming open to other influences."
"When you live here you see the myriad of micro changes in your everyday life that contribute to the macro changes in the country. Things get done. This country can move mountains if it wants to."
— Kill, Irdeto
Decisions
While the Cuncuntong project shows some signs of helping develop the broadcasting market in China, some industry officials are not so sure what impact satellite ultimately will have in the market. "DTH could be an effective way to bring digital TV to remote rural areas as part of the village plan, but the Chinese government has not decided if it will cover all of China with digital TV via [digital terrestrial television] or DTH," says Richard Jun Li, a senior market analyst from IMS Research’s China office. "The government authorities mainly support cable to digitize TVs in China. There is no sign to show that this will be changed. Satellite is mainly used to cover rural areas."
However, because of the size of the market, even if satellite does not make a huge impact in heavily cabled urban areas, the size of the opportunity is still huge. "The major objective for this DTH deployment is to reach the households which will not be covered by cable TV in three to five years. This amounts to more than 50 million families," says Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec.
"Satellite will dominate in the less urban areas," says Kill. "The majority of the population still lives outside the wealthier, more densely populated coastal crescent (an area running from Beijing down the coast to Guangzhou). Here cable is dominant. There are about 350 million people there, so by implication, there are about 900 million people outside that area. As industry progressively moves westward and the spread of the inland middle class grows, that represents a huge opportunity for satellite. It is less easy in the more urbanized areas of Chinese cities where there are large numbers of [multiple dwelling units] to place dishes, causing a logistical limitation together with greater competition from cable and IPTV."
Stephen Spengler, executive vice president for sales and marketing for Intelsat, also believes the DTH market in China could see some significant growth. "We see a huge potential for the expansion of DTH services in China and expect that demand will follow the same arc that we see in other countries undergoing rapid economic developments," he says. "Today, China is underdeveloped from a satellite telecommunications and video perspective, and satellite technology can contribute to building out its communications infrastructure."
Companies such as NDS, Irdeto and Newtec are beginning to see revenue growth in this market. Kill admits he has been surprised by the pace of change has seen in the country and believes a national DTH platform could be bought about very quickly if the desire was there. "I have been coming to this country since 1985, and I have always been blown away by the changes that you see," he says. "When you live here you see the myriad of micro changes in your everyday life that contribute to the macro changes in the country. Things get done. This country can move mountains if it wants to. While a national DTH platform may only be at the soft launch-type stage a year from now, that could all change if there is the motivation, government backing and everybody in the industry gets behind that initiative. The situation could be vastly different in a short period of time if those things come together."
Newtec, which has been shipping modulators in China, believes there will be plenty of opportunities to grow this market. "The size and development condition of the country makes it impossible to achieve a full coverage using only terrestrial and cable transmission, so digital satellite TV will play an important role in the rollout of digital TV," says Van Herck. "We are now shipping some ABS-S modulators and expect many other opportunities in the coming years. The development of new direct-to-home channels will certainly create the need for additional content and therefore the need for additional contribution and [digital satellite newsgathering] links. With a country of the size of China, satellite will play a very important role."
Cynthia Dickens, senior vice president of market development, Asia, SES New Skies, says, "When a commercial DTH service is in place, no doubt the demand for locally and foreign-produced programming will mushroom. Two of SES’ core strengths are the development of rock-solid video distribution platforms and global reach. We may play a part in contributing approved programming to China or in distributing Chinese programming to our various DTH or cable platforms around the world, which among other things, cater to large overseas Chinese communities."
Olympic Aftermath
With the Summer Olympics moving from the planning phase to the competition phase and the worldwide broadcasting of the event gearing up, the question is what impact this will have on the digital TV market in China. "The government regards the Beijing Olympics as an opportunity to showcase China to the world," says Hong. "China has expedited its migration to digital TV, aiming to allow more people to watch digital TV before the Beijing Olympics. Shenzhen launched digital terrestrial TV services in October of last year. Hong Kong launched digital terrestrial TV services on December 31, 2007. Central China Television began to offer high-definition digital terrestrial TV in January of this year. The government has also pushed the deployment of digital mobile TV before the Beijing Olympics. According to the plan of China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, mobile TV services through the CMMB (China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting) system will be available in 37 cities before the Beijing Olympics."
Kill sees the games as "a unique opportunity for China to really profile itself generally, and more specifically, related to media. If you look at the media market information reports, they are rather sketchy when it comes to China," he says. "The country will come under the spotlight, and the Olympics are an opportunity for the country and its media industry and associated opportunities to be seen and understood a bit better. The country is most definitely going to make some special profiles of some media facilities and technologies during the Games. Not all of them are completely finished. There is a new CCTV (China Central Television) building and facilities, for example. They are not quite complete, but enough is there to give a real sense of the level of ambition in the country. Such things are going to be quite remarkable. The trials of mobile TV, albeit on a limited scale, will be available for the Olympics and will demonstrate some of the country’s forward thinking and its desire to press ahead with new technologies. After the Olympics, I believe that the country’s digitization will continue to abound."
Newtec also sees the Olympics as a booster and a milestone in the development of digital TV in China, says Van Herck. "But this development is certainly something that has been initiated way before and will continue way after the Olympics. China has already deployed digital TV successfully in many areas and the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film & Television has decided to switch off analog TV by 2015," he says.
The focus then may be on what the broadcast market looks like when the world is no longer focused on the country. "I think a year from the Olympics you will see satellite delivered mobile television up and running. You will be able to have to have a CMMB phone and see video on your handset," says Kill. "That will be supplemented by terrestrial distribution in urban areas and for indoor coverage. I think a year after the Olympics, the channel lineup will be a redistribution of the main national state channels on that mobile platform. They will probably concentrate on rolling out the service, rather than customizing the content for the mobile format initially. On national DTH, you will be seeing the first signs of the service and the plan coming together. I don’t think you will see the full commercial launch of the service by that time."
Bottom Line
The launch of Chinasat-9 and the Olympics promise to serve as watershed events for broadcasting in China, with satellite ready to capture a strong share of any potential market growth, particularly in rural areas. If the Cuncuntong project is a success, it likely will to lead to further demand for TV services. The question is whether the Chinese government will go to the next stage and bring a national pay-TV DTH platform, which would satisfy the increasing demands from households in China for more advanced digital TV services.
"The FTA satellite offer will help create an environment in which people will get used to using satellite dishes to receive television," says Liu. "So there will be operators or groups who are keen to form entities to get a license to run a legal DTH platform in China. Whether they will get approval from the Chinese government is questionable, but the fact is that there will be tens of millions of subscribers on the ground that are already watching TV broadcasting through the Cuncuntong project, and selling them additional services or content such as extra pay channels can make it a lot easier than setting up a new satellite network for DTH in China."
Korea to Get Weather Satellite
From http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200807/200807300018.html
The Korean government has introduced some measures to improve the accuracy of weather predictions. In light of mounting complaints over the national weather agency's inaccurate forecasts the government says it plans to launch a weather satellite and expand its area of ocean observation.
It would be Korea's first weather satellite, and with it the duration of one complete observation cycle will be cut down to 15 minutes from the current 30, allowing for a more accurate view of minute-to-minute atmospheric changes.
Other initiatives include improving automated phone weather reports and acquiring the latest numerical weather forecasting models. The actual measures to take affect will be announced in September.
Arianespace Ready For Fifth Ariane 5 Launch Campaign
From http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Arianespace_Ready_For_Fifth_Ariane_5_Launch_Campaign_999.html
The fifth Ariane 5 of 2008 is now under Arianespace's responsibility for payload integration, final checkout and launch following its delivery by industrial prime contractor Astrium at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
Handover of this heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA occurred with the vehicle's transfer on Saturday from the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building (where it was assembled by Astrium), to the Final Assembly Building, where Arianespace will oversee installation of the AMC-21 and Superbird 7 telecommunications satellites.
Both payloads have undergone their fueling, with each spacecraft completing the process inside the launch site's S5 satellite preparation building. Liftoff of the mission is planned for August 12.
Arianespace is maintaining its accelerated Ariane 5 mission pace, with a total of seven flights planned in 2008 - making it the busiest year of activity since the launcher's commercial introduction in 1999.
CET Teleport's Acquisition
From http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=1980017249
CET Teleport has acquired from Stratos GmbH (Stratos) its interest in the former Deutsche Telecom teleport located near Hameln in Germany. What this translates out to mean is that under terms of the deal, CET Teleport will continue to service the Stratos customer networks currently running at the Teleport to the same standards of professionalism and with the same commitments presently in place. The Teleport has over 50 antennas from 15m downwards operating in C, Ku, X and A bands and is fully integrated into Deutsche Telekom’s German fiber network, providing it with access to the terrestrial network for Internet connectivity and data and voice backhaul.
The Teleport, one of the largest in Germany, was built by Deutsche Telekom in 1987 for satellite broadcast and VSAT services. The Teleport is located in northwest Germany giving it a commanding view of the skies with visibility from the east coast of Canada and the United States, through the Caribbean and down to South America, then covering Europe and Africa, all the way across Russia and China, and all of Asia, down to the west coast of Australia.
South African HD television starts off with a whimper
From http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=561&fArticleId=4530678
It has been compared to the move from black and white to colour television in the 1980s. But this time only technology geeks will probably notice the difference enough to fork out up to R30 000 to experience better quality television pictures.
The new format is high-definition (HD) television, which has caused a market frenzy since it was introduced in Europe and the US in 2006.
HD provides a clearer picture and soundtrack than the standard signal, with a higher resolution. It uses 720 or 1 080 horizontal scanning lines, providing up to double the quality and clarity of conventional, 520-line analogue television.
The difference between HD and standard television is more evident in sports broadcasts, so MultiChoice last week introduced a personal video recorder (PVR) decoder to coincide with the Beijing Olympics, which start on August 8.
Fifa has recommended that the 2010 World Cup be broadcast on HD. The SABC has already bought an outside vehicle capable of transmitting HD signals in preparation for 2010.
However, the public broadcaster has yet to detail whether it will broadcast dual formats (HD and standard) during the soccer event. It is likely, though, to continue using the standard format for many years.
HD television sets have been available in stores for a while, but viewers will first experience the benefits during the Olympics. MultiChoice will broadcast the games in both formats. M-Net will launch an HD channel, with sports and entertainment programmes, on August 24. Until then, consumers can only get the best out of the new format by playing HD DVDs.
Nolo Letele, the chief executive of MultiChoice, said the HD channel would "enhance customer retention". It would not charge more for the service.
The pay television operator would incur costs on upgrading its infrastructure, but Letele would not reveal how much it had spent so far and what it had set aside for the entire process, including dual broadcast.
The new HD PVR could be used simultaneously with the old PVR decoder.
Letele expected that about 9 percent of its 2 million subscribers would buy the new PVR, which would cost R2 499.
David Moore, a media analyst at Africa Analysis, expected a "very slow" uptake in HD in developing markets such as South Africa. "It is a lot more expensive, for a small gain in picture quality," he said.
The largest uptake has been in the US, where many channels have both a normal broadcast and an HD broadcast, even for the free-to-air stations.
However, not many people fully understand the new product and the cost of upgrading receivers. Consumers should be aware that to fully experience HD quality, programmes should be recorded or broadcast in a HD format.
This is why M-Net intends to package an HD channel.
It also means that television production companies could be forced to upgrade their recording equipment to HD standards.
A sales representative at one retail store said the shop sold about 10 HD sets a day, most of which were plasma screens.
He said most buyers did not understand what HD meant, confusing it with the move from analogue to digital.
"They claim that they would rather buy now than later … they fear the unknown."
To access digital television, viewers with analogue sets will have to buy set-top boxes.
Moore said a major problem for broadcasters was that HD used up a lot more of the available broadcast spectrum than standard format: one HD channel could use the same spectrum as four standard channels.
"HD will only really be able to take off once the digital migration has been completed, as it is difficult and inefficient to transmit HD on an analogue network," he said.
Letele said its HD was for satellite broadcasters only and was separate from the state-led migration from analogue to digital signals.
On whether HD could attract more advertising revenue, Moore said advertisers would have to try harder to make products look attractive on a high-resolution screen, as it required much more attention to viewable detail.
Illegal deals dog middle east satellite TV industry
From http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080729/NATIONAL/613781112/1010&profile=1010
Rogue technicians are installing cable decoders for a one-time fee, nominal in comparison to a subscription with a legal provider. Courtesy ABC / Everett / Rex Features
ABU DHABI // Technicians working under the table are illegally installing unlimited satellite television in homes through internet connections.
The rogue technicians are charging customers as little as Dh1,600 (US$435) to install a satellite dish and a specially rigged decoder box that provides unlimited access to almost every satellite television channel available in the country.
In comparison, Showtime charges Dh299 for the installation of its service, and monthly fees ranging from Dh294 for a platinum package to Dh175 for a family package and Dh84 for sport. Its competitor, Orbit, offers free installation of its satellite dishes and packages ranging from Dh50 to Dh179.
Customers who take advantage of the illegal services can access a vast range of programming, including premium shows such as 24, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, and current pay-per-view films such as The Kingdom and Disney’s James and the Giant Peach. However, they have no guarantee that the decoder will continue to function if satellite companies scramble their signals.
Showtime says the growing problem can be stopped if authorities begin jailing offenders rather than fining them.
The technicians often run their operations from home or small companies. The National contacted several small shops that had advertised on classified notice boards in supermarkets to inquire about buying Showtime Arabia and Orbit packages.
Two of them initially offered only the regular packages at the usual prices. But when asked if there was a cheaper alternative, both said they could offer all the channels for a one-time payment.
“We connect the receiver to the internet, it works perfectly,” one of the technicians said. A second offered to sell the decoder box for Dh1,400 and install a dish for Dh500. “You will be able to watch everything you want,” he said.
Those caught flouting the law can be fined up to Dh10,000, but many believe the trade is so lucrative that it is a poor deterrent.
A source at Orbit, who did not wish to be named because he is not authorised to speak on this issue on behalf of the company, said the decoder boxes, often sold under the name DreamBox, were a “major problem everywhere in the Gulf and Africa”. The company is working with the Arabian Anti-piracy Alliance to clamp down on the use of such devices. “We carry out stakeouts and do our best to close down those who sell pirated devices,” he said.
He added that the small kiosks that sell them were associated with “large criminal gangs chains linked to prostitution and the drug trade” and that “those controlling the trade were almost impossible to track down”. “It is the poor man in the kiosk on the cheapest salary that gets caught,” he said.
Once the decoder boxes are connected to the internet, the scrambled channels are decoded through purpose-built websites, he added. Companies such as Orbit and Showtime Arabia regularly rescramble the channels to beat the criminals, but some of the boxes are able to refresh via the internet and decode any new encryptions.
In June, the Ministry of Economy pledged to take tough action against the importation of illegal satellite decoders and said it had instructed all ports to confiscate any decoders arriving in the country. Copyright laws ban decrypting pay-TV channels within or outside the country, unlike other GCC nations.
Wisam Edghaim, who heads Showtime’s anti-piracy team, called for “more deterrent laws and stronger implementation of these laws”.
“The fines are not working and there needs to be more people being sent to jail for proper lengths of time,” he said.
Coffee shops that purchase home subscriptions but screen football and other sporting events for customers are also known to be an area of concern for pay-TV companies.
Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi Municipality said it would fine residents who had installed unsightly satellite dishes on balconies up to Dh1,000 to help maintain the city’s image.
Tata Sky plans tie-ups with Sony Pictures, Fox for content
From http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Tata-Sky-plans-tieups-with-Sony-Pictures-Fox-for-content/342300/0
In the backdrop of intensifying battle in the direct-to-home (DTH) space, Tata Sky's plans to stay on the top with tieups.
The partners include global entertainment majors such as Sony Pictures and Fox for content as varied as movies and coverage of special events which will constitute the key to the expansion of its ‘pay per view’ portfolio.
Star India Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Fox parent News Corp, holds a 20% stake in Tata Sky Ltd.
The pay-per-view movie-service offers viewers access to the most recently launched Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters. In January, Tata Sky rival, Dish TV, entered into a tieup with Sony Pictures, in a move to expand its movie-on-demand segment.
The tieup with Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, gave subscribers access to the latter’s rich blockbuster movie-collection.
Acknowledging the development, Vikram Kaushik, managing director and CEO, Tata Sky Ltd, told FE , “We are in discussions with Sony Pictures and Fox for content, but it is too early to comment on the the content or the time-frame. As regulations mandate that no DTH player can create and own content, we are forced to go to sources." Earlier, there were reports that Fox News Channel, the US-based channel of News Corp, plans to enter India through its tie-up with Tata Sky.
Recently, Tata Sky expanded its value-added services by launching Actve Matrimony in association with bharatmatrimony.com. The DTH company has also launched "Actve Darshan" — broadcasting live telecasts of religious services at temples. The company also plans to launch regional content in its pay-per- view offer for which the cost has been estimated at about Rs 50-75 per movie.
However, analysts are not too optimistic about the costs involved. According to a Mumbai-based media, “DTH companies are losing heavily on each new connection. Dish TV is losing about Rs 2,600 per new connection, while Tata Sky is losing Rs 5,000. Dish TV’s recovery period for a single connection comes to 30 months, while Tata Sky will take 50 months.” Tata Sky's Kaushik echoed the same opinion. “It’s like the telecom industry. You will have to have deep pockets as the recovery period is long. So, though the recovery period is pretty long, we have invested about Rs 4,000 crore so far,” he said.
Earlier, Tata Sky had approached the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) to pass an interim order restraining Dish TV from continuing with its advertisement offering free set-top boxes. The MRTPC has reserved its judgment over the case.
Recently, the Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education (Voice), a consumer organisation, filed a petition with the MRTPC alleging that Tata Sky was misleading viewers arbitrarily by increasing the price and removing prime channels such as BBC, Ten Sports, ESPN, STAR Sports and STAR Cricket, from its basic bouquets.
ESPN STAR Sports Names Chief of China Operations
From http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=ess072808.htm
SINGAPORE, July 28: Wong Swee Teng has been named the new managing director and chief representative of ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) China.
Wong will be responsible for the strategic direction and growth of ESS’s operations in China as well as managing business relationships with partners and affiliates in the country. Prior to joining ESS, Wong served as a consultant for Bertelsmann China, where he helped expand the organization’s book publishing business and also oversaw the restructuring of Bertelsmann’s 14 companies in China.
Manu Sawhney, the managing director of ESS, to whom Wong will report, said: “Swee brings a wealth of experience and business insights to the role. Having had the benefit of working in regional and global positions coupled with his solid foundation in operations, distribution and the digital space, I am confident he will do well as our new head of China, a market with many exciting and fast-growing opportunities.”
29/07/08
Live satellite chat 9.pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards in the chatroom.
Very quiet update today
From my Email & ICQ
Nothing to report
From the Dish
Agila 2 146E 3808 V "Living Asia Channel" is Fta.
Agila 2 146E 3824 V "Chat TV" has left .
AsiaSat 4 122.2E 3760 H "Kairali Channel" has left .
AsiaSat 4 122.2E 4180 V "Surya TV" has left .
NSS 11 108.2E 12411 V "Baro TV has replaced Kids TV" on , BISS. WB-TV has left.
NSS 11 108.2E 12421 V "YBS TV" has started on , Fta, SR 2962, FEC 3/4.
ST 1 88E 11508 V "Udayam TV" has left .
Intelsat 10 68.5E 12682 H "Solid Rock TV" has started on , Fta.
Yamal 202 49E 3953 L "TV Lanka Channel 2 has replaced TV Lanka" on , Fta.
Intelsat 12 45E 11632 V "CNN International Asia Pacific" has left .
NEWS
New Farming Channel To Launch On Sky
From http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/new-farming-channel-launch-sky/5/1562
29 July 2008 - The Country Channel, a dedicated farming news, information and lifestyle television channel, is to be launched on SKY's digital satellite network on October 1, this year.
The Country Channel, targets New Zealand's rural community and will feature daily updates on new products and systems as well as rural based news and lifestyle shows. The channel will be available free to customers with SKY digital's start up package for the month of October. The Country Channel when launched will be accompanied by a sophisticated website (www.thecountrychannel.co.nz) as part of the communication package.
Colin Harvey, Chairman, The Country Channel Limited says, the vagaries of New Zealand's communications networks and New Zealand's topography mean that until now the written word has remained the most effective way to reach the rural sector.
"Through SKY's 100% coverage, businesses and farm organisations will be able to reach their highly specialised target audiences quickly and efficiently" says Harvey.
Country Channel producer Andy Tyler says a one-hour daily news and information show, FARMGATE, will be the centrepiece of programming on the channel with 20-minute sponsored slots available to businesses and organisations which need or want to reach a dedicated rural audience.
"For example fertiliser companies will have a great forum to discuss the benefits of nutrient management programmes or the pressure on world prices while an organisation like Dairy NZ can quickly reach a wide audience with new information designed to improve on-farm productivity," says Tyler.
"Rural lenders and farm advisors have an ideal channel to their audiences and there is a huge range of rural sector service providers who can more effectively get their message to farmers.
"Those on lifestyle blocks will also have an information source that can help with their animal management."
SKY Director of Communications, Tony O'Brien said The Country Channel is another example of SKY partnering with local entrepreneurs to deliver new and innovative channels and programmes to service niche or specialist television markets.
"Farming and agri-business remains the backbone of New Zealand's economy, but is not well served by mainstream television media," said O'Brien. "The Country Channel adds television to the mix of specialist rural communications publications and has the potential to fill a major information gap in the rural sector and showcase just what our farmers achieve on a daily basis."
Mr Tyler said content on the channel would be shown in rotating blocks throughout the day to cater for varied outdoor schedules with the schedule centred on FARMGATE.
"This show will be our focus with an experienced and dedicated production team fronted by a credible rural commentator or identity. It will include segments on farming news, long range weather and market reports.
"It will also be shown four times a day and we see the programme as giving in-depth analysis and coverage of issues in the rural sector as well as providing a showcase for farming technology and processes."
Mr Tyler said FARMGATE would be supported by local content as well as relevant content produced in Australia and the United Kingdom.
"We're also currently developing a local programme based on a rural vet service that we see as being very helpful to both farm and lifestyle block owners.
"In addition to locally made programmes, the channel will include relevant overseas content, as New Zealand farmers face many of the same pressures and issues that are developing overseas."
The Country Channel will be on SKY digital channel number 99, launching October 1 this year.
Foodies’ delight
From http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/29/tvnradio/1595706&sec=tvnradio
A channel that is all about food has everyone drooling for more.
Asian Food Channel (AFC), Asia’s first and only regional food television channel, is into its third year and has grown to be a much-talked about channel.
Co-founders of Asian Food Channel, Maria Brown and Hian Goh. "You have the urban young mum who likes to bake, the housewife who’s furiously scribbling down recipes, and young kids who try to do their own food jammers. It brings us joy to see what the channel means to different viewers," says Goh. AFC offers a range of food-related programmes featuring an illustrious line-up of international celebrity chefs. Its spectrum of content genres allows for a mix of homegrown and acquired programming while staying true to the Asian food culture and heritage.
AFC Network Pte Ltd launched the channel in July 2005; AFC made its debut in Malaysia (Astro Channel 703 ) last October. Its core audience comprises viewers aged 25 to 49.
StarTwo posed some questions to AFC co-founder and managing director Hian Goh and AFC co-founder and managing director (acquisitions and programming) Maria Brown.
How did the idea for AFC come about?
Hian Goh: The genesis of Asian Food Channel was backed by a very bold idea for a 24-hour food channel. We felt that since Asians love food so much, there must be a demand for such a channel. In our analyses around the world, food channels are always very popular. When we first launched the channel, people laughed at us. If we had a Christmas list of everybody who laughed at us at the initial idea, we would run out of money sending all these things (gifts).
Maria Brown: It was an interesting experience, fighting to do something that many people didn’t believe was possible. When AFC was first launched, there was a bit of a Korean wave in the region, with Korean movies during very well. We purchased 3,000 Korean food shows. They were interesting but the trouble was, honestly, we bought too many. It was like eating beans every day.
Hian: Or eating kimchi.
Any leftovers (of the Korean shows)?
Brown: We live on pasta now. (Laughs) The Korean wave wasn’t a mistake but was about testing something new because these Korean food shows have never been shown outside South Korea. For us, it’s a way to change and push the boundaries.
What are the popular shows?
Brown: Sugar with Anna Olson is very popular, particularly amongst Malaysians who enjoy the cakes she bakes.
Hian: We make a lot of effort to show programmes on street and Asian food, hunting for the best hawker food. Road Trip Malaysia is very popular and it’s about going around Malaysia and eating. We juxtaposed that with Western titles featuring Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef) and Michael Smith (Chef At Large).
What about Food Jammers?
Brown: Food Jammers is a fun show and has done very well, surprisingly. We’ve many young kids, 12- and 13-year-olds, watching, and we’re mindful of the variety and diversity of our audience.
Chef Wan’s From the Garden to the Kitchen, has done very well, too. It’s an opportunity to see chef Wan in a different guise as he speaks English here. We told him: “You’re speaking slower in this show compared with your other shows.” He says: “It’s because I am nervous about my English. I went slower to make sure that everybody can understand me.”
Explain the concept of Restaurant Makeover.
Brown: The show is based on the idea that people who are running the business are in trouble, tired and don’t know how to redesign the restaurant or they’re going under and if they don’t sort out the business, they will fail. It was one of the first shows we acquired because we see ourselves as a food information rather than an eating channel. We identified it as a great show because it is about the business of restaurants, and many people out there have restaurants, big or small, and face many challenges.
There is a lot of human drama in Restaurant Makeover. Last week, it was about a guy, his wife and two small kids. The kids got sick, the wife got run over and the restaurant owners had to delay the running of the business. The Restaurant Makeover guys were actually crying.
Or, the designers have an idea of how the restaurant would look like while the owner hates it and they fight. Sometimes, the restaurant owner complain about the makeover and throw out all the changes. So, the story doesn’t always end happily.
How do you identify people to feature?
Hian: To be a successful personality on AFC, you must know your food, have a great knowledge of food or be able to cook very well. We search for people who are very authentic and likeable. If you watch the channel, you’ll see that everybody is passionate about food.
Do you have people launching cookbooks after their shows?
Brown: I think that’s going to happen as we create more good content. One opportunity would be for us to develop books with them. And we’ll be putting a lot of things on our website that people can acquire easily.
Do you have any plans for roadshows to promote the channel?
Brown: We’ve got quite a few surprises. We’re also bringing in personalities like Martin Yan. But we have to be mindful of their busy schedules. If they can do roadshows, that’s even better.
How is AFC now?
Hian: It brings us a lot of joy that people are fanatical about the channel. When we started the business four years ago, people were laughing at us. Now, they are gushing about the shows. You have the urban young mum who likes to bake, the housewife who’s furiously scribbling down recipes, and young kids who try to do their own food jammers. It brings us joy to see what the channel means to different viewers.
Future projects?
Hian: We’re (moving) into private productions and working with advertisers who want to bring their brands onto the AFC platform. People have e-mailed us, asking: “Do you have a good knife or a good restaurant to recommend?” People are looking to AFC to recommend things because they trust us and because we know our subject matter. Recommendation is a very powerful thing for advertisers.
What’s the feedback on Hell’s Kitchen?
Brown: (Hell’s Kitchen) is terribly over-dramatised. One would hate to have a boss who’s swearing at you the whole time but it’s just entertainment. We bleep out everything. Actually, what you’re hearing is all in your imagination. One guy wrote to us: “I love AFC but why are you torturing us with Gordon Ramsey? I can’t stand this man. Why are you putting him on the channel?”
We bought a dart board, stuck a picture of Gordon Ramsey on it and sent it to him, saying: “Dear Viewer, we’re very sorry. When the Gordon Ramsey marathon comes on, we advise one of two things. You get the dart board out and start firing the darts at the picture. Or here’s the apron; go and cook something nice in the kitchen.”
Sometimes it’s unfair. People just can’t write to the channel and say: “I personally don’t like ? Can you please take it right off tomorrow.”
Kazakhstan May Delay Launch of Its Second Satellite
From http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2434757~title_Kazakhstan-May-Delay.html
ALMATY. July 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Kazakhstan will keep working on the KazSat-2 satellite despite the failure of the first national satellite, although the launch of the second satellite may be delayed slightly.
"The KazSat-2 satellite is being designed," Vice-President of the Republican Center of Space Communications and Electromagnetic Compatibility Gabdrakhim Myrzakulov told the first international conference entitled "Space Activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Period until 2020." The conference took place in Almaty on Thursday.
"A number of technical corrections have been made and technology produced by celebrated European companies have been used in the new project, bearing in mind the problems that occurred in the operation of the first satellite," he said.
In the words of Myrzakulov, the second satellite may be launched in the first quarter of 2010. "The launch of KazSat-2 is preliminary scheduled for December 2009, however, it may be delayed until the first quarter of 2010 due to objective reasons," he said.
The next satellite, KazSat-3, may be launched in 2013, he said.
KazSat-1 was lost on June 8, 2008, because of a failure of the onboard computer.
Al-Manar undergoing changes
From http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989632.html?categoryId=14&cs=1
Hezbollah's TV channel covers prisoner deal
BEIRUT -- As Hezbollah claims victory over Israel in the latest prisoner exchange, the group's television channel, Al Manar, is undergoing a renaissance of its own.
With a new studio and revamped graphics displays, the Lebanon-based broadcaster showcased wall-to-wall coverage of the July 16 deal, hailing it as a major achievement.
Drawing on its increasingly sophisticated resources across the country, Al Manar provided hours of real time reporting as Israel released five Lebanese prisoners as part of the agreement and then trucked over the remains of 197 guerrillas in exchange for the two Israeli bodies.
It was Al Manar's first major live production since its five story headquarters was demolished by Israeli air strikes in the summer 2006 war. Although the station continued broadcasting immediately after the attacks from a remote location, it has since made broad use of green screen virtual sets with a temporary feel.
The new studio, seen extensively during the exchange coverage, features a sleek glass anchor's desk and several large flat-screen displays. Throughout the handover, correspondents reported from multiple locations in South Lebanon and Beirut, often appearing on a live splitscreen grid. At the same time, a series of moving crane cameras swooped over red carpet welcome ceremonies emphasizing cheering crowds both in the capital and near the border.
As part of the well-orchestrated media spectacle, Hezbollah outfitted the five prisoners in military uniforms soon after they had crossed into Lebanese territory. The men were then flown to the capital by helicopter and greeted on the airport tarmac by a long line of dignitaries. As evening fell, the former prisoners were escorted to a third ceremony held at a football pitch in the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Beirut. There, Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nassrallah made a surprise public appearance to congratulate them. As pop-star like hysteria swept over the ocean of supporters, Al Manar's mobile and roof-mounted cameras caught the action from every angle.
Critics within Israel have condemned the prisoner deal saying that it has only strengthened Hezbollah's image. One freed inmate, Samir Kantar, was convicted of killing three Israelis including a 4-year-old child. Still dressed in fatigues, he spoke during an exclusive interview with Al Manar later that night, claiming the charges against him had been fabricated.
Al Manar has continued to promote the exchange throughout the week, dubbing it "Operation Radwan," in series of promotional clips that air continuously during commercial breaks. "Radwan" is a reference to slain Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyah's nom de guerre. Hezbollah has vowed revenge after his assassination, which it blames on Israel, earlier this year.
Al Manar has also devoted substantial time to the series of funerals held for the 197 guerrillas whose remains were returned as part of the exchange. With many of the deceased Syrian or Palestinian nationals, more than 100 coffins were paraded through the streets of Damascus on flat-bed trailer trucks. Symbolic ceremonies were also held in Gaza.
Labeled a terrorist entity by the United States, Al Manar, which broadcasts over satellite, is barred from carriage in the U.S. and in several European countries. But the 24-hour station remains a popular news outlet across the Arab world. Its reporters are stationed throughout the Middle East, including hotspots such as Baghdad and Gaza. Unlike other Lebanese channels where local politics is an obsession, Al Manar's newscasts often prioritize regional stories, such as Iran and the Palestinians. Its talkshows, documentaries and other programs are announced in multiple time zones with "Occupied Jerusalem Time" as a reference.
Despite the programming bans, Al Manar appears to be in good financial health with little trouble attracting advertisers. Its commercial breaks are crammed with short spots pitching budget shops that appeal to low-income communities often ignored by other Lebanese channels. Lengthy infomercials peddling diet creams and health supplements are also ubiquitous.
With an eye toward posterity, Al Manar has also begun to produce retrospective pieces on its history as Hezbollah's mouthpiece. A recent in-house promotion offers a special DVD compilation of the station's harrowing coverage during the 2006 war. Also on sale is the music of Hezbollah's orchestra.
Independent Satellite Stations Could Go Black in China
From http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/satellite-stations-go-black-1826.html
NEW YORK—Two days from now, China may no longer receive satellite-transmitted news from several independent television and radio stations.
In 2005, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) signed a contract with European satellite operator Eutelsat to let Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and U.S.-based non-governmental television and radio channels to broadcast to tens of millions of small satellite dishes across China on a long-term, protected basis. One of these television stations includes New York-based New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV).
The original broadcasting agreement was strongly supported by Congress and the current U.S. Administration. On July 31, BBG will cease to broadcast uncensored programs into China.
Since 2005, an “Open Satellite Window” agreement assured the 24/7 free flow of broadcasting into China. This agreement ensured a lifeline of open debate on the Olympics, the Tibet crisis, the Chinese
earthquake, and other issues that the Chinese state-run media historically avoid reporting.
On July 31, the eve of the Beijing Olympics, BBG plans to cancel its contract with Eutelsat for its broadcast on the satellite W5, the only satellite protected by the Open Satellite Window agreement.
According to NTDTV, Eutelsat notified them of the situation because of the BBG’s contract cancellation,
but it will also terminate its long-term contract to transmit NTDTV into China. By dropping the transmission and breaking ranks with the non-governmental channels, BBG will surrender the stations’ on/off switches to Chinese authorities.
Instead of being assigned to the satellite W5, U.S. international broadcasting channels will be assigned to the China-controlled satellite AsiaSat 3S.
BBG will also stop broadcasting to the tens of millions of 18-30 inch, concealable dishes that Eutelsat reaches across China, and will only be able to reach minimum four-foot dishes via AsiaSat 3S which uses a Chinese-controlled technical system.
Cutting Off NTDTV
The NTDTV satellite news channel in particular saw signs of trouble early on. On June 16, Eutelsat
cut off NTDTV and other non-Chinese regime signals that were transmitted on Eutelsat’s W5 satellite
since 2004. All VOA channels, RFA channels and heavy Pentagon traffic on this same satellite continued
without interruption.
On July 10, Reporters Without Borders released a detailed investigation showing that Eutelsat’s shutdown of NTDTV’s signal was a premeditated, politically motivated decision to satisfy Beijing’s demands and get Chinese concessions and contracts. The Wall Street Journal also revealed in 2005 that Eutelsat
repeatedly tried to shut down NTDTV’s Asia broadcast under pressure from Beijing, in return for Chinese state business.
The Reporters Without Borders report is available at http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=27818 .
Eutelsat Says "No Prejudice" Against US-Based Chinese TV
From http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2442455&title=Eutelsat_Says_No.html
Text of press release published by the European satellite operator Eutelsat on 25 July
Paris, 25 July 2008: Eutelsat strongly affirms its independence and holds no prejudice against NTDTV [New York-based Chinese- language station New Tang Dynasty TV, which transmitted via Eutelsat W5 until mid-June. The station has blamed pressure from Beijing for the cessation of the Eutelsat W5 broadcast].
In the night of 16 to 17 June 2008, Eutelsat's W5 satellite experienced an anomaly which led to the loss of the use of one of the spacecraft's two solar arrays. Following standard procedures and after analysis of technical data, the decision was taken to switch- off four of the satellite's 24 transponders to enable sufficient power to be maintained to operate the 20 remaining transponders in service.
Alternative capacity on other Eutelsat satellites was proposed to clients concerned by the switchoff of W5's transponders. However, since Eutelsat has no alternative satellite providing coverage of south-east Asia and parts of China, it has not been possible to propose a solution with this coverage for clients only interested in broadcasting over this region.
In these cases, Eutelsat has investigated and identified solutions on satellites commercialized by other operators with coverage of the region. A list of operators who could able to replace W5 was sent to RR Sat, the company providing broadcast services on W5 for EuroNews, C-Music and NTDTV.
EuroNews resumed broadcasting over south-east Asia and parts of China on the AsiaSat 2 satellite on 30 June 2008. A solution is currently being put in place for C-Music. As far as Eutelsat understands, NTDTV has not explored alternative solutions.
"Eutelsat affirms that it holds absolutely no prejudice against channels broadcast by its satellites and notably NTDTV", states Philippe McAllister, Eutelsat's general counsel, who also says: "NTDTV continues to broadcast in Europe via our Hot Bird video neighbourhood".
Philippe McAllister adds: "Eutelsat has no direct relationship with NTDTV, which procures its services from RR Sat, a worldwide operator of broadcast services. Our activity as an independent satellite operator gives us no authority or prerogative of control over the content transported by capacity leased by client broadcasters."
Originally published by Eutelsat press release, Paris, in English 25 Jul 08.
Zimbabwe: Globecast Satellite Trial Ends, South African Company Acquitted
From http://allafrica.com/stories/200807281651.html
There was a dramatic end to the Globecast Satellite trial on 24 July 2008 when Harare Magistrate Archie Wochiunga refused to place the South African company on further remand after the state applied for a postponement of the matter.
Prosecutor Florence Ziyambi had applied to have the matter postponed arguing that her witness had failed to turn up because of transport problems.
However, defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa opposed the application, saying the state had the obligation to bring its witnesses on time. Mtetwa said the trial had proceeded painfully slowly as the prosecutor had chosen which witnesses to call and when. She said the court could not be held at ransom by a disorganised prosecution and urged the court to dismiss the application.
Magistrate Wochiunga dismissed the application for postponement and decided to remove the accused company from remand. The effect of removal from remand of an accused who would have pleaded amounts to an acquittal of the accused.
Globecast Satellite, whose representative during the trial was Thabani Mpofu, pleaded not guilty to charges of contravening Section 7 (1) as read with Section 7 (4) and 7 (5) of Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), which outlaws the provision of broadcasting services or operating a signal carrier without a licence.
Mtetwa is currently working on an application for the release of the vehicle belonging to Globecast.
MISA-Zimbabwe welcomes the acquittal of the company and reiterates its position that the BSA is unnecessarily repressive. It is hoped that the current talks between Zimbabwe's political leaders will deal decisively with laws such as the BSA, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act, with the view of repealing them.
BACKGROUND:
The case against Globecast Satellite stemmed from the broadcast of an interview by CNN with Zimbabwe's Minister of Information and Publicity, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, on 27 March. The uplink for the interview was dispatched by Globecast Satellite.
The court heard evidence from six witnesses, among them Cloud Nyamundanda, who is the acting Chief Executive Officer of Transmedia Corporation, and Obert Muganyura, the Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.
Pace continues march forward
From http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=5978
Pace has increased the number of receiver shipments by 55% to 2.8 million in the half year to June 30, 2008. The technology company also boosted revenues by 22% to £231.1 million compared to the six months to December 1, 2007 with pre-tax profits reaching £11.2m.
The leading light in the company’s continued renaissance has been Pace France, the former Philips Set-top Box and Connectivity Solutions business, which recorded revenues of £2.1m on volumes of 1.4m set-top boxes in the period between April 21 and June 30. Such figures are representative of the level of shipments that have come from the recently acquired division in previous years.
Amid continued pressure on set-top box prices, Pace improved its gross margins, up slightly from 20.7% for the six months ended December 1, 2007 to 21%. The company has recently changed its financial year leading to the disparity in some of the dates. The second half of the 2007 financial year ran the month of December 2007.
Announcing its interim results Pace also confirmed the identity of the ‘mystery’ US cable operator that had placed a significant order for cable set-tops as Comcast. In recent months there have been ten new HD PVR products released including those for Foxtel, UPC, Viasat, Sky Italia and Sky New Zealand.
Unified efforts urged to crack down on illegal TV channel decryption
From Newslink
JEDDAH - The television system has emerged as the primary source of home entertainment and news throughout the world ever since it became commercially available in the late 1930s. The system, considered one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, has evolved from its rudimentary electronic configuration to a sophisticated communications medium using the latest digital technologies to provide a broad range of channels and services, all at a reasonable subscription price.
The introduction of satellite television in the early 1990s ushered in a new age in home entertainment, particularly in the Middle East where the technology was warmly received by Arab home viewers. Today, more than 300 channels in the region compete for a potential audience of more than 200 million who eagerly await the latest news and entertainment in around 38 million households.
However, as is the case with most successful businesses, the television industry has been a prime target for profiteers. In the Middle East, various private and public sector groups continue to coordinate on how to prevent the sale and use of illegal TV decoder boxes, which are used to decrypt pay TV channels. Countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and other GCC countries have in fact implemented aggressive information and enforcement campaigns to control this growing commercial and social threat.
“The use of illegal TV decoder boxes poses more than just a business hazard; it also undermines our region’s high moral standards and jeopardizes the jobs of thousands of hard-working employees in the television broadcasting industry. Piracy violates the law, curbs employment opportunities, causes substantial business losses, curtails future investments in the country, limits the public’s intellectual level and victimizes consumers. In addition, this criminal act tarnishes the image of a country. Much still needs to be done to increase public awareness on the social, legal and economic impact of illegal TV signal decoding. Governments in particular will play important roles in combating this growing menace,” said Ola Khudair, deputy CEO, Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance.
The rising incidence of illegal TV signal decoding indeed has far-reaching economic and social consequences for Islamic countries. This practice exposes the public to immoral content and, worse, negatively influences the values of unsuspecting young viewers. From a legal perspective, watching immoral shows via illegal decoding constitutes a grave violation of Islamic religious laws, which highly prohibit indecency. Buyers of illegal decoders are also criminally liable for viewing “stolen” broadcasts. They also ironically end up paying more for the use of these devices since they need frequent updates and maintenance and do not come with any guarantee or technical support.
Illegal decoding disenfranchises the growing Middle Eastern television broadcasting sector as well as the practice victimizes companies that spend millions of dollars to acquire broadcasting rights and deprives them of earnings that they could use to further enhance services, equipment and facilities as well as widen audience reach. Lost profits also translate to lost opportunities for various administrative improvements, such as additional training or higher employee compensation.
Unfortunately, third party firmware, software, and card sharing programs for circumventing pay TV channels are readily accessible via the Internet and from individual racketeers. Organizations such as the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA) continue to explore methods to address this situation. The AAA has in fact hired a special IT team to identify the various forms of Internet piracy in an effort to trace and apprehend violators across the GCC region.
The Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information is undertaking aggressive measures to eradicate the menace of piracy in the Kingdom. Similar activities are being conducted by governments throughout the region as part of the growing trend toward intensified intellectual property rights protection.
As a pioneer of pan-Arab satellite television, the Kingdom is fully aware of the broad implications of continued illegal TV channel decryption in the country. Currently home to 10 television stations, all supervised by the Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the country has invested heavily in methods and technologies to prevent access to materials that are deemed offensive to its cultural and religious beliefs, focusing particularly on the Internet and the illegal decoding of pay TV. Several initiatives are in fact being prepared to further clamp down on the domestic sale and use of illegal decoders.
Illegal TV channel decoding can only be effectively fought through the unified efforts of Middle Eastern governments. They must send a clear and strong message that any and all forms of violations against intellectual property rights will not be tolerated and will be promptly and appropriately acted upon
Astro predictions on DishTV
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15281610.htm
CHANDIGARH: After a tie-up with Shaadi.com for matchmaking, direct-to-home (DTH) television satellite service-provider DishTV on Monday launched 'Active Astro Service' to offer daily and monthly astrological forecast.
The company has roped in astrologer Mr Ajai Bhambi to lead the show, DishTV North Zone (Sales) Deputy Vice President, Mr Manjit Singh Sodhi said here.
The launch is an effort to take entertainment to the next level, Mr Sodhi said.
DishTV has also tied up with Shaadi.com for the purpose of matchmaking, Mr Sodhi said, adding, “The profiles of individuals in the new service to be launched next will be kept secret”.
DishTV, an initiative of Essel Group, has 205 channels and services with registered 3.5 million subscribers. - PTI
28/07/08
To clear up some confusion. The 9X channels mentioned on the website on Thursday will be on ASIASAT 3S and not related to the mux on Asiasat4 KU. It should of read as below. 9X is the brand and they will have 3 channels in MPG4 (Fta a short while then encrypted)
9X Indian channels starting soon on Asiasat3S
Carrier Frequency: Transponder 7H
Downlink: 3880MHz Horizontal
Data rate: 8Mbps
DVB-S standard QPSK
Modulation: FEC 3/4
From my Email & ICQ
From Vaughan
A feed from the weekend.
D2 12670 V sr 6670 vpid 1865 apid 1825 ppid 1865 - "GCHD01" South Sydney Vs Knights
From R.Williams
Monday night Netball feed
Optus D2 12660 Sr 6670
From the Dish
Optus D2 152E 12425 H "Telepace has replaced Italian TV Network" on , Fta.
Telstar 18 138E 12690 H "TV 5 (Mongolia)" has started on , Fta, SR 43200, FEC 3/4.
NSS 11 108.2E 12471 H "CTI TV Asia" has started on , Conax.
Insat 4B 93.5E 11490 V "DD National and DD Bharathi have replaced DD News and DD North East" on, Fta.
Chinasat 9 92.2E 11920 L "Fujian South East TV, Jiangxi TV, Shandong TV, Henan TV, Hubei TV, Hunan TV, Guangdong TV, Guangxi TV, Chongqing TV, Sichuan TV 1 and Guizhou TV" have started on , ABS, Fta, SR 28800, FEC 3/4.(Posted on Apsattv weeks ago)
Chinasat 9 92.2E 11880 L "Hebei TV, Shanxi TV, Nei Monggol Chinese TV, Nei Monggol TV, Jilin TV Station, Yanbian TV 1, Liaoning TV, Heilongjiang TV, Shanghai TV, Jiangsu TV, Zhejiang TV and Anhui TV" have started on , ABS, Fta, SR 28800, FEC 3/4. (Posted on Apsattv weeks ago)
Chinasat 9 92.2E 11840 L "CCTV 1-2, 7, 10-12, CCTV Music, CCTV Kids, CCTV News, Beijing TV and Tianjin TV" have started on , ABS, Fta, SR 28800, FEC 3/4.(Posted on Apsattv weeks ago, Footprint "China")
Insat 2E 83E 3934 V "Star Bangla" has started on , MPEG-4, Fta.
Insat 4A 83E 4072 H "Topper TV" is now encrypted.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3545 V "My TV" is Fta.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3585 V "AI-Net" left .
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3585 V "Amata Tong Hua Channel" has started on , Fta.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 12313 V "TV 3 (Cambodia), TV 5 Cambodia, TVK (Cambodia), CTV 9, Apsara TV, Bayon TV and CTN (Cambodia)" have started on , Irdeto, SR 30000, FEC 2/3. (You will remember Alex in W.A picking these up on his 2.7m MONTHS ago!, ..interesting DX target)
Thaicom 5 78.5E 12355 V "MRTV 3" has started on , Fta, SR 30000, FEC 2/3.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 12355 H "MySci" has started on , Irdeto.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3760 H "Sitel TV" is back on , Fta.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3840 H "KidsCo and MCM Top" have left again.
ABS 1 75E 3679 V "Deluxe Music" has started on , Fta.
NEWS
Change outdated TV laws: Foxtel boss
From http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=603864
Subscription broadcaster Foxtel says Australia's "outdated" broadcasting laws are hampering advancement in the digital age.
Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said the Australian television industry was moving into the digital era but labouring under a mess of analogue-era regulation.
"The regulatory disconnect between the old and the new reality is distorting the market and costing the nation in lost productivity," Mr Williams said in a prepared speech for an American Chamber of Commerce in Australia luncheon.
"Outdated regulatory mechanisms are a festering sore on the body of the digital economy.
"They need corrective surgery or they will disable our national potential."
Mr Williams said the core regulations applying to television broadcasting were "protectionist, anti-competitive and anti-consumer".
"They are based on the flawed idea that only free-to-air TV is good for consumers," he said.
Governments had "gifted" the free-to-air networks extra spectrum for digital, blocked a fourth commercial network, and protected them with the world's most restrictive regulation on television rights for sports.
Mr Williams said the regulations kept the commercial networks' costs low, blocked new entrants and hobbled their competitors such as Foxtel.
Changes to media ownership rules in 2007 had failed to drive strong investment in digital by the commercial networks but had led to majority foreign-ownership and control of the Seven, Nine and Ten networks.
"Policymakers and government need to see through the commercial networks when they next wave Aussie flags, seeking yet more protections and advantages from the Australian taxpayer," Mr Williams said.
"The nation must move into the next five-year digital innovation and investment cycle with a balanced approach to industry deregulation."
Foxtel was especially concerned about existing sports anti-siphoning regulation that was enacted to keep events of national significance on free-to-air television.
Mr Williams said more than 1,300 sports events were protected, many more than originally intended.
"If an event was of national significance, then surely the terrestrial (free-to-air) networks would have been broadcasting it, yet there are hundreds of events on the list that have not been broadcast by the terrestrial networks."
Mr Williams said that in the United States there were no anti-siphoning regulations, yet there was a plethora of sport spread across free-to-air and subscription television, cable and satellite.
"The point is, the market works, and policymakers and legislators need to have more confidence in the international evidence that amply demonstrates that is the case," Mr Williams said.
Foxtel had suggested a "use it or lose it" proposal whereby events that were not broadcast live and nationally by the free-to-air networks would come off the anti-siphoning list and go onto the open market.
Mr Williams announced that Foxtel would launch a new channel located Melbourne in a few months.
Mr Williams said Foxtel had performed well over the past year, although high interest rates, and rising petrol and food prices had affected consumer confidence and spending.
He said that this year Foxtel passed more than 1.5 million total subscribers.
Foxtel Pay-TV's strong year tipped
From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24078302-664,00.html
FOXTEL chief executive Kim Williams has hinted the pay-TV provider will book strong full year results despite the impact of high interest rates and rising food and petrol prices.
Mr Williams said it would be "tempting" to discuss the results but was constrained by the so-called "black out" period in the lead-up to their release next month.
Foxtel booked a 224 per cent increase in net profit for the December half to $60.8 million.
Deutsche Bank has predicted it will report a $136 million net profit for fiscal 2008.
Mr Williams said the company had performed well over the past year but conceded it "hadn't been easy".
"Clearly, the impact of high interest rates and rising petrol and food prices, and exuberant demand over the last few years causing rises in inflation, have affected consumer confidence and spending," he told a business lunch in Melbourne.
"The results will become public in a few weeks and I am looking forward to their release in mid-August."
Mr Williams also revealed yesterday the company, which has more than 1.5 million subscribers, was set to launch a new channel based in Melbourne in "a couple of months".
"That's all I can reveal . . . but it will be a real boost to our programming operations here," he said.
Mr Williams would not comment on what motives Channel Seven might have or the implications of it building a 4.82 per cent stake in the James Packer-backed Consolidated Media Holdings, which is a 25 per cent shareholder in Foxtel.
"You'd have to ask Seven that," he said.
Foxtel chief opens up his cupboard of channels
From http://business.smh.com.au/business/foxtel-chief-opens-up-his-cupboard-of-channels-20080725-3l0k.html
FOXTEL'S chief executive, Kim Williams, has indicated the pay TV operator will report solid results for 2007-08 but the slowing economy has dampened consumer spending.
"Foxtel has performed well over the past year, although it hasn't been easy," Mr Williams told a business luncheon in Melbourne yesterday.
"Clearly the impact of high interest rates and rising petrol and food prices, and exuberant demand over the last few years causing rises in inflation, have affected consumer confidence and spending."
Foxtel - which is owned by Telstra, News Corp and Consolidated Media Holdings - is banking on new high-definition channels and its latest personal digital recorder, iQ2, to retain customers and keep up its growth rates after exceeding a milestone of 1.5 million subscribers this year.
But its churn rate, which indicates contract cancellations, jumped from less than 12 per cent in 2006-07 to 13.5 per cent in the first half of the financial year just gone, sparking concern that higher interest rates and petrol costs were taking their toll. ABN Amro has estimated Foxtel's subscriptions will be up 8 per cent in 2007-08, down from 14 per cent growth in the year before.
The success of the iQ2, which has been taken up by more than 22,000 subscribers since its launch last month, has helped to boost the share of Foxtel customers using a personal digital recorder (PDR) to more than 24 per cent and would take it past 30 per cent by the end of the year, Mr Williams said.
Firing another salvo at the Seven Network, whose rival recorder, TiVo, will go on sale on Tuesday, he said Foxtel called Seven's device a "Mother Hubbard PDR box" because "when you look inside it's pretty bare", providing just the free-to-air channels compared with more than 150 channels on pay TV.
The Foxtel boss repeated his calls on the Rudd Government to abolish rules governing sports coverage that favoured the free-to-air networks, urging it to employ a "use it or lose it" rule, allowing sporting events that aren't shown by the free-to-airs to be taken off the anti-siphoning list so that they can be bought by the highest bidder.
The Government is reviewing the anti-siphoning list over the next 18 months.
Time for a play-off
From http://www.smh.com.au/news/reviews/time-for-a-playoff/2008/07/26/1216492790816.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
TiVo: the box is bigger and heavier than iQ2.
Foxtel's iQ2 has a worthy new competitor in TiVo. David Flynn compares the contenders.
Fifty-seven channels and nothing's on," Bruce Springsteen once lamented. And more often than not, we'd all nod in agreement.
But while there may be precious little to watch in the few hours you can spare in front of the television, there might be plenty of worthwhile shows scattered around the schedule that simply don't fit your timetable.
Then there are those peaks and rating periods when several great shows clash.
Three decades ago, the answer was the VCR. Today it's a high-tech equivalent known as the PVR (personal video recorder), which swaps magnetic tape for a hard disk able to record dozens of hours of TV.
Despite the many drawbacks of those ageing VHS recorders, PVRs have been slow to take off. Most seemed built for the tech-savvy and geek elite instead of mere mortals.
Now that's changing for the better, thanks to PVRs designed with the consumer in mind. The famed TiVo, which led the charge in the US in 1999, finally arrives in Australia this week. Foxtel's iQ digital recorder is also taking a step forward with the release of the iQ2, which supports a high-definition signal.
Both sport the same basic traits of any digital recorder: capacious hard drives, onscreen program guide to plan your viewing and the ability to watch at least one channel while recording another.
You can also use the recorder to "pause" live TV shows when the phone rings, just as if you were pausing a DVD. You can even log onto the internet and remotely program the PVR to record a show you don't want to miss.
Unfortunately, the iQ2 and TiVo also fall short in a few areas.
You can't skip advertisements. Yes, you can fast-forward at warp speed but there's no magical way to delete the ads or skip an entire commercial break. That's what happens when TV networks sell a video recorder. Nor is there any way to get recorded shows onto a portable video player such as an MP3 player or iPhone.
Nevertheless, the iQ2 and TiVo are fighting for space in your living room. Here's how they stack up.
TiVo
In contrast with the iQ devices and even overseas TiVo services, Channel Seven's TiVo box sells for an outright $699 through Harvey Norman and Domayne, without any continuing fees.
You buy it, bring it home and set it up yourself - a process that's fairly straightforward unless you're using a digital HDMI connection to your TV set, in which case there are a few bothersome cables to swap before the TiVo springs to life.
However, the TiVo (pictured) also requires a broadband connection to retrieve the program guide - something Foxtel sends straight to the iQ2 on its own. This rules out the TiVo for homes still on dial-up or without an internet connection. And even if you have broadband, you'll need to have a network cable snaking its way into the living room (very unlikely) or pony up $60 for the TiVo's optional wireless adaptor, assuming you've got a wireless network at home.
All this cuts deeply into the number of TiVo-ready homes. And the necessary features to view PC-based photos and videos, and transfer pre-recorded shows onto your iPod or iPhone, won't be introduced until next year - and then you'll face a small but as-yet-unannounced fee for the software upgrade.
The TiVo is slightly bigger and much heavier than the iQ2, with a utilitarian design that looks like something from the 1980s. This is one to hide from sight. On the plus side, it's much quieter than the iQ2.
The unit can receive all free-to-air SD and HD channels but, with only one tuner per band, the simultaneous recording or watch-and-record capability has to be split between one SD channel and one HD channel. The 250GB drive holds more than 20 hours of HD or 60 hours of SD recordings; Seven plans to have an external hard drive next year to boost capacity.
We found TiVo's program guide and menu system is a little less elegant than that of the iQ2, yet it still outstrips that of almost every other PVR on the market.
On top of the standard feature set is a "wish-list" function that watches for the names of favourite directors or actors in the program guide and automatically records those programs. This is something Foxtel could and should introduce as soon as possible. Ditto for TiVo's KidZone, a basic parental-control feature to set up a viewing list of pre-approved programs based on their rating and your own judgment.
Smartest of all is TiVo's ability to learn your tastes in TV, using a thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings you give each show, to suggest other shows that may be of interest.
iQ2
Foxtel's second-generation digital recorder has been introduced as part of the network's new high-definition or HD+ service, which offers five new channels with dedicated programming from the BBC, Discovery, National Geographic, Fox Sports and ESPN.
The slim iQ2 set-top box is the only way to get the Foxtel high-definition channels. Similarly, if you want the iQ2, you'll need to sign up for Foxtel HD+.
It costs $200 to upgrade your existing Foxtel connection to basic HD+ and then $10 a month for the iQ2 service plus $10-$15 for the HD+ channels and $7 a pop for HD on-demand movies.
Those expenses are on top of your regular Foxtel subscription, which starts at $38 a month for the basic channels and peaks at $106 for the works.
You don't need to subscribe to the high-definition channels to get an iQ2 but you'll still be up for the digital upgrade fee and monthly iQ2 rental. So unless you want the HD channels, you'd be better off sticking with the original iQ box (costing $10-$15 a month), even though it's got only half the capacity of the iQ2.
The "piano black" colour and curved edges make the iQ2 a stylish box although there's an annoying hum from the hard disk, which never seems to stop spinning. There's no setting to slow the disk or put it into a silent and low-power standby mode when you're using the iQ2 as merely a tuner rather than recording or playing back a show.
Given the riot of channels available on the Foxtel service, the decision to pack the iQ2 with a 320GB drive - enough for about 30 hours of high-definition programs or 90 hours of standard definition content - was a smart move. It also means you've got plenty of time to catch up on all those programs before the disk fills.
The facelifted electronic program guide is cleaner and easier to read than before and working through the list of recorded content is a doddle.
The box contains four digital tuners but only two are now active: you can record two programs simultaneously (while also watching playback of a pre-recorded program) or watch one channel while recording another.
The third tuner is reserved for the movies-on-demand service, while Foxtel says the fourth tuner will be enabled as part of a future upgrade.
However, there's no provision for connecting the iQ2 to your home PC network. Foxtel clearly has no wish for the iQ2 to be used for showing downloaded videos, playing music from your MP3 library or even running a slideshow of your favourite photos.
PICK YOUR PVR
In the end, a PVR is all about the content and Foxtel's wealth of channels makes it king of that domain.
You'd be silly to buy a TiVo if you've already got Foxtel: spring for an iQ or iQ2 instead. After all, Foxtel includes all the standard and HD free-to-air channels but TiVo doesn't work with Foxtel.
On the other hand, if you don't have pay TV, then TiVo is perhaps the most consumer-friendly PVR solution we've seen. But the $700 price tag is a killer, especially when people seem to be watching less TV (or at least less free-to-air TV) these days. It's hard to get past the feeling TiVo is a little too late and a little to pricey to make the splash it deserves.
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Worldwide Satellite Teaser Trailer Debut
From Press Release
Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds
and Hogwarts is no longer safe. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie
within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the
final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the
key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his
old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant
Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.
Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as
teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more
drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron
is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And
then there's Hermione, simmering with jealously but determined not to show her
feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to
make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead
and Hogwarts may never be the same again.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE:
released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures beginning November 2008.
SATELLITE INFORMATION
EUROPE
1st Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 0100-0115 GMT
2nd Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 1000-1015 GMT
Satellite: Eutelsat W1 TXP F6 CH-4
Downlink Frequency: D/L: 12703.83 V
Symbol Rate: 5.632
FEC: 3/4
Color: PAL
Uplink: PBL Ref 116385 & 116386 +44 207 432 5155
ASIA / PACIFIC
1st Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 0100-0115 GMT
2nd Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 1000-1015 GMT
Satellite: IS-2/08C Chn 4 Orb Loc: 169' E;
Downlink Freq:: 3901 Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 3/4
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 30.800
Virtual Channel: Four
Color: NTSC
Uplink: Intelsat NAPA +707.253.9466 - Intelsat Ref 117011 & 117012
LATIN AMERICA
1st Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 0100-0115 GMT
Satellite: IS-9/10C Channel 7 Orb Loc: 58'W
Downlink Freq: 3880 Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 7/8
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 27.69
Virtual Channel: Seven
Color: NTSC
Uplink: Intelsat NAPA +707.253.9466 - Intelsat Ref 394262
2nd Feed:
Date: 30th July 2008
Time: 1000-1015 GMT
Satellite: IS-9/08C Channel 101 Orb Loc: 58'W
Downlink Freq: 3840 Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 7/8
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 27.69
Virtual Channel: 101
Color: NTSC
Uplink: Intelsat ATLANTA 404.244.2320 - Intelsat Ref 394266
For more information: Black Diamond Media -- [email protected]
+1 310.451.5500
PR Newswire -- July 25
Web site: http://www.blackdiamondmedia.com/
Losses from cable-TV piracy may hit P7B in ’08 with only 2% growth in paying subscribers
From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=126567
The cable-television industry is going to see a mere 2-percent growth this year in terms of paying subscribers this year, as losses due to signal piracy are expected to remain at P6 billion to P7 billion.
The Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA), a group representing the country’s more than 400 cable-TV operators, said the number of paying cable-TV subscribers in the country stood at 1.5 million in end-2007 as against 3 million illegal subscribers.
In 2006 PCTA president Allan Dungao said the number of legal cable-TV subscribers stood at 1.5 million but illegal subscribers, or those that do not pay but are able to feed cable-TV signals into their TV sets via illegal connection, stood at 2.5 million then.
Losses recorded in 2005 stood at P4.5 billion. In the same year, the government was deprived of P2.3 billion in taxes by the growing incidence of cable-TV theft in the country. The country ranked third in Asia in terms of the extent of pay-TV theft, also in 2005.
“The nonpaying have even increased now. Signal-piracy theft should really be addressed, and we hope that the signal- theft law will be passed soon. This law should be able to cut by half the number of illegal subscribers and reduce gradually the industry’s losses by 10 percent,” he said last week.
The proposed law imposes penalty on nonpaying cable-TV subscriber.
Dungao said the continued deployment of digital boxes or set-top boxes also helped eliminate illegal connections.
The country has 13 million potential cable-TV subscribers, but the number of illegal subscribers continue to outnumber the legitimate ones, a phenomenon that clearly hurts legitimate cable operators and even the government, which loses a substantial portion of its revenues because pirate-cable companies don’t pay taxes and license fees.
The country’s cable-television penetration rate remains unchanged at approximately 8 percent, way below the region’s average rate of 30 percent to 35 percent.
Cable-TV firms in the country have raised their monthly subscription fees by an average of 5 percent to 10 percent, he added.
Astro sees no progress in PTDV equity talks
From http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_584d4833-cb73c03a-9c8c3f00-c5d58a8e#
KUALA LUMPUR: Astro All Asia Network plc has not made any progress in negotiations on its proposed equity take-up in Indonesia’s PT Direct Vision (PTDV) and the discussions remain inconclusive, said its executive deputy chairman and group chief executive officer Ralph Marshall.
“The primary terms of the trademark and the licensing agreement under which PTDV is able to provide Astro service to its customers expires on Sept 1, 2008 and we are evaluating our options in this context,” he said in a statement yesterday.
However, Marshall said: “The group is optimistic about the potential of the Indonesian market where pay-TV penetration is just 2% compared with over 40% in Malaysia.”
Astro also plans to focus on driving its Malaysian business by expanding its pay TV, radio and programming operations while leveraging on its expertise to expand in the region.
“The group will continue to grow its pay TV, content and radio business overseas. In India, where the group has a 20% stake in Sun direct TV, demand for direct-to-home satellite TV services has been robust.
“The joint venture stands a good chance of carving out a credible market share with around one million customers to date,” it said.
Improvements in customer service would also be a priority. Astro TV CEO Rohana Rozhan said building blocks to transform customer experience would be the company’s main focus.
Astro expansion to continue
From http://rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200807271769/astro-expansion-to-continue.html
Malaysian pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks will continue to expand internationally, off the back of similar expansion at home, the group said.
Chairman Dato’ Haji Badri Haji Masri said: "We are focused on driving our Malaysian businesses to higher levels of customer service. In the current uncertain economic environment, we recognise that consumer sentiment may be affected. Nevertheless, we remain positive that the investments we have put into technology, local programming, premium sports and other content will continue to pay off.”
Dato’ Badri added: "Our experience and achievements at home mean we are also well-equipped to meet the strong demand in the region for high-quality entertainment and information adapted to the respective languages and cultures."
Astro has a 20% stake in south Indian DTH operator Sun Direct TV which earlier this month announced it had signed up 1 million subs in just 200 days of operation.
But Astro’s less-successful foreign involvement, with Indonesia’s PT Direct Vision, remains a cloud, despite Astro’s talking-up of the operation. Astro CEO Ralph Marshall said: "There has been no progress in negotiations on the proposed take-up by the Group of an equity stake in PT Direct Vision and the discussions remain inconclusive. The primary terms of the trademark and the licensing agreement under which PTDV is able to provide the Astro service to its customers expires on 1 Sept 2008 and we are evaluating our options in this context. However, the Group is optimistic about the potential of the Indonesian market where pay-TV penetration is just 2% compared with over 40% in Malaysia
Modernized booster Soyuz-2 puts on orbit military satellite
From http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12902114&PageNum=0
PLESETSK (Arkhangelsk region), July 27 (Itar-Tass) -- A modernized carrier rocket Soyuz-2, which was launched from Russia’s northern Plesetsk spaceport for the first time on Saturday, put successfully a military satellite on the circumterrestrial orbit, spokesman for the Russian Space Troops Lieutenant-Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin told Itar-Tass on Saturday. The carrier rocket Soyuz-2 was launched at 22.31 Moscow time on Saturday.
“The satellite separated successfully from the carrier rocket at 22.41 Moscow time and began an independent flight. The separation took place outside the radio coverage zone from the territory of Russia, therefore the signal came only now. The satellite was numbered Kosmos-2441. The command and measurement complex put the satellite under control at 00.07 Moscow time on Sunday,” the spokesman said.
The Samara-based design bureau TsSKB-Progress has designed the carrier rocket Soyuz-2 under the order placed by the Defense Ministry and the Federal Space Agency.
TsSKB-Progress Director General Alexander Kirilin called the launch “a serious achievement of the military industry.” He noted that “the booster Soyuz-2 is equipped with a new engine.” According to him, “The satellite has five years of service life on the orbit.” “The functional capabilities of this spacecraft are very high,” Kirilin told reporters on Saturday. “The satellite will operate in the distant probing regime,” the director general said.
The launch vehicle Soyuz-2 developed in 1a and 1b phases is passing the flight tests from the spaceports in Plesetsk and Baikonur. The major difference between the Soyuz-2-1a and the Soyuz-2-1b is that a new engine RD-0124 developed by the Voronezh-based design bureau Khimavtomatika is applied in the third stage of the Soyuz-2-1b. One of the So
The launch weight of the Soyuz-2 booster is 311.7 tons, and it can put on the support orbit a payload of 7,480 kilograms. The rocket fuel consists of liquid oxygen and kerosene. The modernized launch vehicle Soyuz-2-1a can put 300 kilograms more than the Soyuz on a 200-kilometer-high orbit, and the Soyuz-2-1b – 1,200 kilograms more. The So
Up to now during the flight trials the Soyuz-2-1a was launched thrice: twice from the Plesetsk spaceport and once from the Baikonur spaceport. The Soyuz-2-1b was launched once from the Baikonur spaceport. All launches were successful. The So
The Soyuz-2 carrier rocket may be put into service for the Russian Space Troops at the Plesetsk spaceport already this year. On January 25, 2008, the then commander of the Space Troops Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin said, “During the flight trials the Space Troops should make five launches.” “Two launches have already been made, in 2008 we will continue the flight trials and will make two launches from the Plesetsk spaceport. We may put into service this carrier rocket already this year taking into account launches of the rocket from the Baikonur spaceport,” Popovkin said.
The launch of the Soyuz-2 booster was initially scheduled on Friday, July 25. However, the launch was postponed for a day. “Due to additional software checkups of the Soyuz-2 control system the state committee for flight trials headed by Commander of the Space Troops Major-General Oleg Ostapenko decided to delay the launch for a day,” the spokesman of the Space Troops said.
NDTV Good Times Launches on Dialog TV
From http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=16495
India’s only Lifestyle Channel Now Available to Sri Lankan Viewers
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Monday, July 28, 2008 -- (Business Wire India)
NDTV has entered into a distribution partnership with Dialog TV, Sri Lanka’s leading DTH service provider, for NDTV Good Times – India’s leading travel and lifestyle channel.
Commenting on the tie-up, NDTV’s Head - Distribution & Affiliate Sales, Rahul Sood said, “NDTV is very pleased to extend its partnership with Dialog TV to offer NDTV Good Times to viewers in Sri Lanka. Our English news channel NDTV 24x7 is already present on Dialog and has been well received by viewers. We are confident that NDTV Good Times will do the same with the South Asians and Indians Diasporas looking for quality English Channel to keep in touch with the changing trends.”
“NDTV Good Times will be an important source of information and recreation not only our South Asian viewers, but also appeal to everyone interested in the Asian lifestyle,” he further added.
NDTV Good Times is already present in Japan, Korea and Taiwan and will be expanding into other markets soon. With this tie up, NDTV’s global presence now extends to all key regions across the world - the UK, US, Canada, across the Middle East, South Africa, Australia-New Zealand and neighboring South Asian countries.
“We launched DTV with the promise of high quality, affordable programming to draw every segment of society,” said Mr. Nushad Perera, Chief Executive Officer, Dialog TV. “NDTV Good Times will provide the best entertainment to our viewers with programming ranging from health and holistic healing to fashion and food. We are indeed pleased that with the addition of NDTV Good Times we will be able to give them unequalled choice of programmes in the lifestyle segment.”
About NDTV Good Times:
Launched in September 2007, NDTV launched Good Times is a lifestyle channel that targets a largely cosmopolitan, socially upbeat audience who lives in style and enjoys every moment of life. The channel is currently in English and brings in world-class, aspirational lifestyle programming from health, fashion and food to travel, luxury and more. NDTV has come together with the Kingfisher Brand in a first-of-its-kind media alliance for the promotion of NDTV Good Times. The channel offers original content and its lively presentation draws viewers looking for an entertaining experience. The channel has a promising line up of shows that cover every aspect of the lifestyle genre to portray the essence of an increasingly global India.
About Dialog Television:
Dialog Television (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Dialog Telekom PLC., operates Dialog Satellite TV, a Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite TV service. Dialog TV supports an array of international content including CNN, BBC, HBO, Cinemax, AXN, ESPN, Discovery Channel, MTV (Music Television) and Cartoon Network, in addition to a wide portfolio of Sri Lankan television channels. Since its inception about a year ago, Dialog TV has been growing from strength to strength, building a name for itself as a leading player in the market. Based on cutting edge digital broadcast infrastructure, the company’s services reach out to over 100,000 Sri Lankan homes, hotel rooms and hospitals to date.
For press backgrounder on NDTV Good Times click here
Media contact details
Rohit Jaiswal ,
NDTV,
+91 99990 36145,
[email protected]
Z.A.M.Zihar,
Dialog TV,
+94 777 338088,
[email protected]
DSTV HDTV details
From http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/4611.html
MultiChoice releases HDTV details, including its decoder price and launch date.
MultiChoice on Thursday announced the launch of its High-Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD PVR) decoder (HD PVR image here) .
MultiChoice’s Chief Executive Officer Nolo Letele says “We are delighted and extremely proud to launch High Definition television into the South African market. HD television will bring with it detail, vividness and clarity of picture never seen before on our television screens.”
Customers will need an HD PVR decoder and an HD ready television set to view HD content. The HD PVR decoder will be available in major retail stores from August 2008 and will launch at a price of R2 499.00 (for a limited time period).
The HD PVR will initially be made available with pre launch software which does not include all the features such as a full suite of interactive applications. These will become available when the MNet HD channel launches at the end of August.
The software will be delivered to HD decoders via the satellite transmission without any intervention needed from the customer.
MultiChoice subscribers will also soon be able to link the HD PVR to their current Dual View PVR to enjoy 3 viewing environments, or link the HD PVR to 1110 decoder to enjoy 2 viewing environments, as part of the XtraView offering.
The additional cost for XtraView is R55, which is the amount currently payable on the Dual View service.
MultiChoice will initially only launch a single HDTV channel due to the ‘prohibitive cost around HD’. The company however points out that the number of channels will grow in time.
The Beijing Olympic Games will be the first to broadcast in HD format from 8 August to 24 August on channel 170.
From August 24 at 19:00 M-Net HD will take over the channel offering a mix of series, movies, sporting action and once-off specials. Some of the programming – mainly movies, series and specials – will be available in surround sound.
SABC’s dismal showing on DStv
From http://www.filmmaker.co.za/readarticle.php?article_id=3148
The SABC Africa channel is counting on digital terrestrial television (DTT) to broadcast to the nation after it canned its association with pay-TV operator MultiChoice. by Matebello Motloung
Next month, SABC Africa will no longer be available on DStv after the two broadcasters ended their relationship.
The move came as no surprise because SABC channels are not popular on DStv. They are “no drivers for pay-TV uptake”, MultiChoice CEO Nolo Letele told the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) during the regulator’s hearings last year.
SABC 1, 2 and 3 accounted for less than three hours of the 22 hr 52 min the average viewer spent a week watching DStv last year. The SABC channels also fall outside the top-10 most-watched channels on the pay-TV platform.
SABC Africa offers a combination of news, current affairs and entertainment — mainly soap opera reruns and children’s programmes.
Talks between the SABC and MultiChoice collapsed when they failed to agree on a new SABC Africa contract after the original one expired earlier this year.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago declined to comment on the failed talks, saying: “I’m not in a position to give you all the details, except to say that we wanted to renew with them and had been in negotiation, but there were a lot of issues we couldn’t agree on.”
Of the four SABC channels available on DStv, SABC Africa is the only income generator as it was commissioned by MultiChoice.
However, the revenue generated has to be weighed against broadcasting operational costs.
MultiChoice airs the other three channels as part of its compliance with the Electronic Communications Act, which stipulates that subscription broadcast licensees must carry public service channels to fulfil their mandate of universal coverage.
Though SABC Africa is available on Sentech’s Vivid digital satellite platform, viewership figures are not known. But Vivid, restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, is believed to be problematic, while MultiChoice operates in most African countries and has more than 2m subscribers.
Kganyago insists all is not lost and says SABC expects to switch to DTT in November, which will enable it to broadcast SABC Africa as an additional channel.
Do you know about the switch to digital?
From http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3015&art_id=vn20080728060044647C735346
Owners of old TV sets may have to pay for a conversion kit to watch their programmes or buy a new digital TV as the country switches over to digital transmission.
South Africa will change to a digital signal during the next three years, with digital initially being made available alongside the analogue to receive free-to-air channels such as SABC and e.tv.
Consumers will then have to buy either a digital television or a digital Set-Top-Box - or decoder - that will enable them to receive the digital signal on their analogue television. The digital decoders should be available in 2009.
'Most consumers know nothing about this digital migration process'
Multichoice's Communications Manager, Marilyn Watson, said digital satellite television (DStv) subscribers would not be affected as the company provided its service via digital broadcasting and viewers' decoders were already designed to receive digital signals.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said: "This will be a once-off purchase with no subscription fees payable thereafter. It is anticipated that the Set-Top-Box will retail for R500 to R600."
High definition digital televisions range from 19-inch sets, selling for R2 799, to 52-inch sets, selling for R34 999, almost double the price of analogue televisions, a spokesperson for national retailer, Hi-Fi Corporation, said.
National Consumer Forum chairperson Thami Bolani expressed concern about the lack of public knowledge about the issue, and questioned why the government hadn't informed the public better.
"Most consumers know nothing about this digital migration process, and will find themselves unable to watch their television in three years time," he said.
"Government needs to provide more leadership here - to tell consumers what will happen and how this change will affect them," he said.
"The longer we wait, the more likely it is that consumers will be disadvantaged."
Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's Spokesperson, Joe Makhafola, said the department of communications would conduct a public awareness campaign on digital migration "in due course".
"Broadly speaking, the campaign will revolve around the benefits of broadcasting digital migration, digital switch-on and analogue switch-off, requirements for receiving digital signal, such as acquiring a Set-Top-Box, and the opportunities that digital migration presents, such as building national identity and social cohesion."
Makhafola said the possibility of subsidising the costs of the set-top boxes for the poor had been referred to the Cabinet for processing.
The SABC's awareness campaign would ensure that viewers were educated on when and how the migration would affect them.
Bolani, meanwhile, said he wanted to warn consumers to watch out for unscrupulous retailers looking to cash in on the confusion by off-loading old analogue television sets.
Thomson Reuters New Channel Won't "Challenge" CNBC
From http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/7/thomson-reuters-new-channel-won-t-challenge-cnbc
London's Daily Telegraph reports that Thomson Reuters plans to launch a "business television news channel to rival that of Bloomberg and CNBC." The first part of that may well be true; the second part most certainly is not.
We have no doubt that Thomson Reuters may launch some kind of TV channel; since they're already producing plenty of video for syndication, they've got the infrastructure and could do it on the cheap. But it won't rival CNBC or any other cable news channel with full distribution in the US.
Here's why: NBC U's (GE) CNBC achieved full distribution--95 million odd cable and satellite homes--in the early 90s in the go-go era of new cable channels. Now analog capacity on those systems is full, and the only way to get carriage for a new channel is if you have the leverage of, say, News Corp. (NWS). And even Rupert Murdoch's muscle has only been able to do so much for the newly launched Fox Business Network last year: It's been a struggle just to get the 32 million subscribers it does have -- one reason that early ratings have been miniscule. Murdoch's not the only billionaire who has struggled to break a new business channel: Mayor Mike's Bloomberg TV, which has been soldiering on since 1994, has 45 million subscribers.
That said, Thomson Reuters could launch a linear channel on the Web, with possible carriage on digital systems, as well as AT&T's U-verse or Verizon's FiOS. The model here is ABC's World News Now, which is produced by a tiny staff in New York and carried on digital tiers of some cable systems, as well as the Web. Or, like Bloomberg TV, Thomson Reuters could launch it as a service to its professional subscribers.
Even so, we're talking about a micro-business, no threat to the $330 million in estimated profits CNBC took in last year. The world just isn't clamoring for another business news channel, and cable operators know it.
No govt hurdle to DTH launch seen
From http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1179622
NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel is ready to enter the media space through direct to home (DTH) broadcasting and internet protocol television (IPTV) services.
Even as there have been reports of Bharti being under government scrutiny for violation of FDI norms in the DTH space, the company top management on Thursday said, “We are fully compliant with all the guidelines.”
Bharti Telemedia Services president Atul Bindal told DNA Money: “I am in constant dialogue with the government.” He does not anticipate any government hurdle to starting services.
On whether there was a show-cause notice to the company on FDI related matters, Bindal said some clarifications were sought by the government, which have been given.
In an analysts’ call later in the day, Bharti officials said that the company’s DTH licence is safe.
The company is expected to start its DTH operations this year. It is already doing a pilot run of the service.
27/07/08
No update Sunday
26/07/08
No update Saturday
25/07/08
Next update Monday
24/07/08
The mux on Asiasat4 122.2E 12430V sr 20000 (Australasia beam) is/was currently FTA
9X Indian channels starting soon
Asiasat3S
Carrier Frequency: Transponder 7H
Downlink: 3880MHz Horizontal
Data rate: 8Mbps
DVB-S standard QPSK
Modulation: FEC 3/4
From my Email & ICQ
From Dwelle
Dear Partners,
We have just been informed that due to the installation and configuration of new hardware in Hong Kong the DW transmission on AsiaSat 3S will be interrupted for around 30 minutes on July 25, 2008 between 01:00 and 02:00 hrs UTC
We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
From the Dish
Agila 2 146E 12661 H "God's Learning Channel" has started on , Fta.
NSS 11 108.2E 12471 H NBN (Philippines), ABC (Philippines) (clear), GMA 7, Viva Prime Channel,Phoenix Movies Channel, PBO, Nickelodeon SE Asia, The MGM Channel Asia,Bloomberg TV Asia-Pacific, TV 5 Monde Asie, ETC, Jack TV and Solar Sports have started on , Conax, SR 30000, FEC 5/6.(Several weeks ago)
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3545 V "My TV (Thailand)" is back on , Fta.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3640 H "God TV Australasia" has started on , Fta.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3991 V "Sur Sangeet" has left
ABS 1 75E 12548 V "AXN Sci-Fi Russia" is Fta again.
Intelsat 10 68.5E "Colors" has started on 4034 H, Irdeto.
NEWS
ABC unveils new Web TV platform
From http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/ABC-unveils-new-web-TV-platform/0,130061791,339290819,00.htm
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation tonight unveiled its new online streaming platform, allowing users to watch TV shows on the internet.
After a year in the making, the ABC tonight unveiled iView in Sydney. The internet site has six channels which allow people to watch a variety of ABC TV programs on demand.
Among the channels are a children's channel, documentary, ABC shop, a news channel, arts and Catch-up where people can view popular shows from the last few weeks. The children's channel includes unique content not available on TV.
The ABC said more channels will be available in the future. The ABC's head of strategic innovation Abigail Thomas said the beauty of the service lay in the fact it required no box, no cost and no downloading.
It could also be used through television and the ABC is working with internet service providers to get it excluded from download caps. ABC managing director Mark Scott said it was a turning point for the network.
"Tonight marks a vital step forward in the ABC's move to being a great public broadcaster of the digital era," he told guests at the launch.
ABC TV boss Kim Dalton agreed. "It's about reaching our audience with unique quality content, where they want it, when they want it and how they want it," he said.
Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy pulled out of tonight's launch at the last minute due to cabinet commitments but his representative, the member for Blaxland Jason Clare, said the move showed the ABC was an "innovator".
"I think it's the responsibility of the media to adjust to this new digital world," he said. "The ABC is an absolute leader in this area."
British counterpart, the BBC, has a similar product called iPlus but Scott praised the ABC for creating a service for much less cost.
Measat-3A Arrives For Launch At Baikonur Cosmodrome
From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=348027
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama)-- Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd's new satellite, Measat-3A, is now at the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to be readied for launch on Aug 21.
In a statement here Wednesday, Measat said its fourth satellite was delivered to the launch site by its maker, Orbital Science Corp, from their facility in Dulles, Virginia.
"The satellite will be launched into orbit onboard a LandLaunch Zenit-3SLB launch vehicle," it said.
Measat said working in tandem with Measat-3, Measat-3A would increase by some 50 percent the capacity available at the key 91.5E orbital location.
"With 12 high-powered C-band and 12 high-powered Ku-Band transponders the satellite will allow for a continued expansion of Measats direct-to-home broadcasting and telecommunications business," it said.
Measat chief operating officer, Paul Brown-Kenyon, said the satellite launch would be another key milestone in the expansion of the companys business.
"Complementing the Measat-3 satellite, which was launched in December 2006, the new satellite will allow us to continue to support the growth of our customers in rapidly growing segments in Malaysia and across Asia-Pacific," he said.
SES ASTRA TechCom to Deliver Vietnamese Satellite Network Operations Centre
From http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ses-astra-techcom-deliver-vietnamese/story.aspx?guid=%7B3869A793-BE58-41CB-B3FD-380C1FF3F82E%7D&dist=hppr
BETZDORF, Luxembourg, Jul 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SES ASTRA, an SES company (FR:SESG: news, chart, profile) (LuxX:SESG), announced today that its subsidiary SES ASTRA TechCom has been selected to deliver the Network Operations Centre for the new Vietnamese satellite system VINASAT. SES ASTRA TechCom shall deliver the Network Operations Centre to Vietnam Telecom International, which operates the VINASAT-1 satellite. The end-to-end system includes uplink and downlink facilities in various frequency bands, as well as features for monitoring of the satellite payloads and uplinks, in order to allow VINASAT to ensure continuous quality of the customers` video and audio services.
VINASAT-1 is Vietnam's first state-owned satellite. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Services and is operational since May 2008, being used for telecommunication purposes.
"We are very proud that SES ASTRA TechCom has been chosen to deliver the Network Operations Centre for the first Vietnamese satellite project," said Gerhard Bethscheider, CEO of SES ASTRA TechCom. "The decision shows that the profound technical knowledge that we offer to third parties is recognized and highly trusted around the world. We are confident that our new role in Vietnam and the region will help us to further position the broad and integrated portfolio of SES companies, in particular of ND SatCom, a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT and communication network solutions."
About SES ASTRA and SES ASTRA TechCom http://www.ses-astra.com/
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 14 ASTRA and two SIRIUS satellites. The combined satellite system delivers services to more than 117 million DTH and cable households and transmits a total of 2,295 analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 42 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA and SIRIUS represent the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, 23.5 degrees East, 5 degrees East and 31.5 degrees East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (FR:SESG: news, chart, profile) (LuxX:SESG). SES owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES which provides global coverage and connectivity. The company owns 90 percent of SES SIRIUS in Europe, as well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: http://www.ses.com/.
SES ASTRA TechCom is a provider of operating services, consultancy and products for the satellite industry. The Luxembourg based company offers the technical know-how and expertise of the SES group to satellite manufacturers, satellite operators, broadcasters and government organizations.
SOURCE: SES ASTRA
ABS-CBN Enhances Live and File-Based News Coverage With Streambox Video Technology
From http://www.streamingmedia.com/press/view.asp?id=9681
Streambox's Sophisticated Video Technology Simplifies Delivery of High-Quality Video Over Low-Cost, Low-Data-Rate Networks
SEATTLE (July 23, 2008) - Streambox Inc. today announced that ABS-CBN, the largest television network in the Philippines, has deployed the Streambox® ACT-L3™ newsgathering solution in order to expand and enhance coverage of breaking news in the region. The IP-based solution comprising a Streambox portable encoder, an IFB server, and a decoder facilitates cost-effective video coverage while simplifying live and file-based reporting across the Philippines.
"In a country consisting of more than 7,000 islands, news logistics are a challenge," said Maria Ressa, senior vice president for ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. "The Streambox newsgathering solution enables us to deploy smaller teams to cover breaking news and deliver stories faster. In addition, the scalability of the software-based solution will help us expand easily and deliver content across multiple platforms simultaneously. As a result, we can deliver high-quality news more efficiently today and grow our operations as demand increases."
ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs provides news to viewers across the Philippines, as well as to major news agencies around the world. Rather than rely on costly and less-flexible microwave-, satellite-, and FTP-based solutions, the broadcaster now uses the Streambox solution to capture and stream video reports from a variety of locations at a fraction of the cost incurred when it used less-flexible systems and equipment.
The newsgathering solution deployed by ABS-CBN is part of the Streambox platform, which helps broadcasters streamline their operations while cutting costs and delivering high-quality live and file-based video over low-data-rate connections, such as BGAN, 3G networks, and other IP networks. Streambox's IP-centric solutions are ideal when mobility, flexibility, and a low power requirement are needed. Performance, reliability, and low end-to-end latency are hallmarks of Streambox solutions. These features, along with robust error correction technologies, ensure unrivaled video quality at low data rates.
Newsgathering operations at ABS-CBN service all media, including print, broadcast, broadband, and mobile delivery. To significantly reduce the high cost of satellite transmission, camera operators and reporters are trained to capture video, edit, and transmit the video via broadband, HSDPA, and BGAN networks.
"The Streambox solution is a plug-and-connect system that's easy to set up and use, and it integrates seamlessly with ABS-CBN's existing SNG/ENG tools," Ressa continued. "Deploying Streambox to our mobile reporting teams helps us deliver high-quality news quickly, reliably, and at a lower cost."
"With its deployment of Streambox, ABS-CBN is setting the standard for live and file-based newsgathering in the Philippines and beyond," said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO at Streambox. "We are pleased that Streambox's IP-centric solutions enable the broadcaster to enhance its news distribution over a variety of broadcast and broadband platforms."
More information about Streambox's live and file-based solutions is available online at http://www.streambox.com/.
About ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN is the largest integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with an asset base of Php24 billion (USD$503 million). The company is principally involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as in the production of television programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses. The company operates in three major geographical areas. In the Philippines, the company is involved in broadcasting, cable operation, and other businesses. In the United States and other locations (Middle East, Europe, Japan, Australia, and Asia Pacific), the company operates its cable and satellite operations to bring television programming outside the Philippines. More information about the company is available at http://www.abs-cbn.com/.
About Streambox, Inc.
Streambox provides a single software-based platform for live and file-based video transport and acquisition over IP. The platform comprises clients — from small form-factor mobile devices and laptops — to rule-based video management and play-out systems. The company's scalable end-to-end solutions can be integrated into all IP-centric broadcast and broadband operations.
Streambox solutions are based on the industry-leading ACT-L3™ codec which provides unrivaled performance, reliability, and quality over low data rate IP networks for fast transmission and play-out of video streams in HD and SD. The company's platform enables broadcasters, government agencies, enterprises, and other users to enhance content ownership, simplify operations, and increase operational efficiencies.
STREAMBOX, INC.
Editorial Contact:
Susan Warren
+1 (631) 261-1013
mailto:[email protected]
23/07/08
Not much local news today.
Optus C1 Aurora service has re-encrypted.
138E Telstar 18 12690 H Sr 43200 Tv1-TV9 started
From my Email & ICQ
From Tony Cooke (NZ)
Sky Sport 1 & 2 widescreen
Did anyone else notice that as of last night Sky Sport 1, 2 and
Highlights are now broadcasting widescreen ie 16:9.
Welcome to 1999 Sky Sports!!
From the Dish
Optus D2 152E 12394 H "MKTV Sat" is back on , Irdeto.
NSS 11 108.2E 12330 V "YBS TV" has started on , Fta, SR 2962, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3875 V "Dharti TV Network" has left .
Telstar 10 76.5E "MKTV Sat has replaced Sitel TV" on 3760 H, Fta.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3840 H "KidsCo, MCM Top and Luxe TV" have started on , Viaccess.
NEWS
PBLSat Serves Up Wimbledon
From http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=509527361
PBLSat, specialists in Occasional Use satellite services, have successfully delivered transmission services throughout this year's Wimbledon Championships for four of their international clients. PBLSat operated four Ku-band flyaways based at Wimbledon and the company was also responsible for the international satellite and fiber delivery for IMG Media, Sky Italia, NTV Russia as well as a major US broadcaster. For IMG Media, PBLSat provided their European HD transmission service in addition to 27MHz of its own leased capacity on the Atlantic Bird 1 satellite. The Ku-band flyaway used DVBS2 technology to ensure the highest possible quality was achieved within the 27MHz of satellite capacity. NTV-PLUS Russia selected PBLSat to provide an HD uplink and satellite capacity for the duration of the event, and the company provided a Ku-band flyaway and satellite capacity on Intelsat IS-12. Sky Italia required a permanent lease for the event, with the capacity obtained on the Eutelsat W2. Working in SD, PBLSat provided uplink facilities and 9MHz satellite capacity. PBLSat provided its US client with an HD fiber lease from location through to New York using 20Mbts of PBLSat’s dedicated fiber between London and the U.S. as well as provided an 18MHz satellite redundant path for the final two days of Wimbledon using satellite capacity on Telstar 12
New Skies to bring US sports in HD to Europe
From http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=5775
SES New Skies and SM2 Sports Media Solutions today said they signed a contract for 18 MHz of bandwidth on the NSS-7 satellite at the orbital location of 338 degrees East. Under the contract, SM2 will use NSS-7 to deliver North American sports events in HD to Europe for a period of five years.
SM2’s main business is the negotiation of sports rights and the satellite delivery of sports events for broadcasters worldwide. Founded in 2004 in Greenwich, Connecticut, SM2 has already delivered over 3,000 hours of programming to clients in Europe and Asia including BSkyB, NTV Plus, Bravo, Premiere, RAI, Sky Italia, Sogecable, Sports TV Portugal, CCTV, YES and PCCWC.
Additional clients include: NFL International, TNA Wrestling, ESPN International, USGA, Fox Sports International, Augusta and US Figure Skating.
On Digital Media poised to challenge MultiChoice
From http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A806456
ON DIGITAL Media (ODM) had received a pay-TV licence from communications regulator Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), the group said yesterday.
ODM is the first company to go through the Icasa process and be issued with a licence. It is now the only serious challenger to MultiChoice, although director Vino Govender says he does not see it that way.
Icasa said last year it would award licences to four new players: e.sat, a division of e.tv ; Telkom Media; niche Christian network Walking on Water (WOW); and ODM. But they would have to meet Icasa and satisfy its conditions.
Telkom Media’s future is still uncertain and e.tv has pulled out to offer its 24-hour news channel to DStv.
“Our market is not big enough to handle more than one serious player, and MultiChoice has that market sewn up in terms of content and subscribers,” an analyst said yesterday.
MultiChoice is now aggressively covering the lower end of the market with cheaper offerings and Premier Soccer League broadcast rights.
A delay in issuing licences, expected in February, stalled ODM’s launch from this year to next May. Govender said the licence would enable the company to proceed with its business plan.
ODM was targeting Living Standard Measures 6-9, and needed 340000 subscribers to be profitable. It planned for a profit after 33 months. The company had made no big changes to its original plans for channels and subscription fees. It would offer news, sports programming, music, movies and children’s and family programmes .
ODM subscribers will pay only for the channels they watch, and will be able to create their own bouquets.
Pay-TV race is on
From http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2008/0807221046.asp?O=FPTOP&S=Broadcasting&A=BRC
[ Johannesburg, 22 July 2008 ] - On Digital Media (ODM) has become the first pay-TV licensee to receive its licence and, even though it only plans to be on-air next year, hopes to beat Telkom Media to it.
This morning, ODM director Vino Govender said the company wants to be operational (set up its offices and have staff working there) within 60 to 90 days, with broadcasting starting around June/July next year.
While analysts have said competitor Telkom Media might be on-air in a couple of months, if it manages to source funding, Govender says he does not believe this will be easily achieved and ODM still hopes to be the first alternative to MultiChoice.
“We understand that if there are major changes in Telkom's shareholding, there will be a regulatory process with public hearings, etc. Whether this will happen in two to three months is questionable,” he says.
However, Chris van Zyl, spokesman for Telkom Media, denies this. He says, while the company has to wait for a backer before it can go on air, the incumbent shareholder (Telkom) will not choose someone as a partner that will cost it its licence.
“The shareholding has not changed yet and if there are changes, there is provision in the licence to tell ICASA about it within seven days,” he explains.
He says the general terms and conditions of the licence granted by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) have been met and the individual process is still proceeding.
Media lawyer Michael Silber, of Michalsons Attorneys, says the process could go either way. According to him, the licence does provide for some changes in shareholding, but depends on the extent of these changes if the licence remains in place.
“If they try to sell the licence to someone else, it's more onerous, but under the licence they can sell share incentives to executives and just issue a notification to ICASA,” he notes. “They don't necessarily need to be re-licensed.”
ICASA could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
Significant head start
Five companies – ODM, Telkom Media, eSat, Walking on Water and MultiChoice Africa – were awarded pay-TV licences in September 2007. Since then, eSat as decided to withdraw from the broadcasting race, and e-tv has opted to be a content provider for MultiChoice.
In November 2007, ODM launched a new SES (Société Européenne des Satellites-Astra) satellite that allows it access to more than 1 000 analogue and digital radio and television channels.
Craig Terblanche, business and technology advisor with Marketworks, says the pent-up demand for pay-TV is such that it might well compare to the take-off of cellphone technology in SA.
“To be first in the market would be significant,” he says. However, “the market still has to be educated on what these offering bring – whether you are first or second to the market, you will have the same challenge.”
Abu Dhabi crackdown on satellite TV dishes
From http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2008/July/theuae_July710.xml
ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Municipality will from today crack down on residents who have installed satellite dishes in balconies and other places, a practice which affects the city's image, said a municipality official. Those who violate the regulations risk a fine of Dh1,000, he added.
Residents who do not have access to cable TV may install normal satellite dishes on the roofs of their buildings provided they are not visible to the public and not installed in the balconies or elsewhere, said Engineer Omar Al Hashimi, Head of City Image Management Section of Abu Dhabi Municipality.
BSkyB tunes up for digital music battle with Apple
From http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article4380763.ece
BSkyB has unveiled plans to take on Apple’s iTunes with a new subscription-based digital music service, with packages likely to be priced around £10 a month.
The satellite broadcaster, 39.1 per cent owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times, has signed up Universal Music, the world’s largest music group, and hopes to recruit the other three majors shortly.
Subscribers will be able to listen to any song in the Universal catalogue, comprising artists ranging from ABBA to U2, by streaming it to their computer. Songs will also be available to download and own, although the number depends on the fee paid.
Lucian Grainge, the chairman of Universal Music International, said it was hoped that the service would help to stop piracy, because every song would be available legally for streaming. “This is our attack and our defence,” Mr Grainge said. “We don’t want to tell our consumers what they can’t do, but remind them of what they can do.”
Sky refused yesterday to release any details of pricing or launch timing – or even spell out the name of the service – but it would be logical to provide it before the end of the year. The pricing of similar subscription products varies from £5 to £15 a month.
Apple’s iTunes dominates the digital music market, although it sells songs and albums only on a download basis. Competing subscription services, such as Napster or HMV’s digital service, have failed to make significant inroads into Britain, although services such as Rhapsody have done well in the United States.
Mike Darcey, Sky’s chief operating officer, said that his company would retain a majority stake in the venture but Universal would have a share-holding, with other stakes on offer to the remaining music majors.
US Rep. seeks to blacklist Press TV
From http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=64466§ionid=351020101
A US lawmaker is seeking to extend a previously-proposed resolution which labels several TV channels as terrorist and include Press TV.
The US House Resolution 1308 sponsored by Republican US Representative Gus Bilirakis would blacklist several TV channels, including the Tehran-based Arabic language satellite channel al-Alam, as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' (SDGT) organizations.
The bill, introduced on June 26, aims to condemn what the lawmaker calls the broadcast of 'incitement to violence' against Americans in Middle Eastern media.
Bilirakis claimed that as Iranian state-run TV channels broadcast 'the coverage of rallies and speeches in which Iranian leaders, clerics, children, and mass audience have declared 'Death to America!'' they are broadcasting incitement of violence against Americans.
He then reasoned that if the broadcast of the designated networks is not brought to a halt, it 'may increase the risk of radicalization and recruitment of Americans' into terrorist organizations.
In the year since Press TV's launch, the channel has gained a reputation as a satellite channel which, in its news coverage and talk shows, including Four Corners, Middle East Today, and Fine Print, gives voice to people with viewpoints differing from that of the Iranian government.
Guests on live Press TV shows include pro-US figures and those against the Tehran government.
The move is expected to spark controversy as many human rights groups and advocates view the resolution as a blatant example of censorship and an infringement of freedom of speech.
The resolution will also compel the president to 'take into consideration state sponsorship of anti-American incitement to violence when determining the level of assistance to, and frequency and nature of relations with, regional states'.
The H.R. 1308 is currently in the first step of legislative process, pending investigation and revision by House committees before general debate on Congress floor.
22/07/08
Live satellite chat in the chatroom 9.pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards
All Aurora channels on Optus C1 are currently FTA (6.p.m NZ)
From My Email & ICQ
From Mike H
Optus are doing platform changes on C1 Aurora 22 and 23 July .,saying leave stb on or service will be disrupted and take 2 hours to come back to normal
From Len
Deepam, Sun, KTV on D2
Those three channels are unencrypted today.
D2 12733V sr22500
Stable pictures.
Len
From the Dish
Agila 2 146E 3905 V "GMA Life TV (clear) and GMA Pinoy TV Europe" have started on , SR 6400, FEC 3/4.
Chinasat 9 92.2E 11960 L "Yunnan TV 1, Xizang TV 1-2, Shaanxi TV, Gansu TV, Qinghai TV, Qinghai TVComprehensive, Ningxia TV and Xinjiang TV 1-3" have started Fta, SR 28800, FEC 3/4. (These have been there 2 or 3 weeks)
NEWS
TVNZ Taking The Olympics To The Pacific
From http://www.voxy.co.nz/entertainment/tvnz-taking-olympics-pacific/5/1360
22 JULY 2008 - Pacific Island audiences this year will be able to see more television coverage of the Olympic Games than ever before. Arrangements have just been concluded enabling viewers to see next month's events around the clock, a mix of live and pre-recorded coverage from Beijing.
TVNZ's Pacific Service, TVNZ Sport, the International Olympic Committee and Oceania National Olympic Committees have combined to ensure viewers right across the Pacific, from Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia to the Cook Islands and Niue, can receive extensive satellite coverage of the Games.
Manager of TVNZ's Pacific Service, Ric Carlyon, says that in the past these territories have, at best, received TVNZ's domestic programming or pre-recorded hour-long daily highlights packages. "Now they join viewers the world over with up-to-the-minute coverage, 24 hours a day for the duration of the Games. Some of these territories are participating at Beijing so for the first time locals will have an opportunity to see their competitors".
TVNZ's Head of Sport, Murray Needham, says "we are very grateful to the Oceania National Olympic Committees and the IOC for their contribution which enables us to guarantee this extensive satellite transmission, ensuring that viewers, even in the most remote islands, have the opportunity to see the premier sporting event of 2008, the Olympic Games in Beijing".
It is envisaged that up to 17 TV stations will ultimately receive the extended coverage, a special feed produced by TVNZ Sport in Auckland and delivered into the Pacific by TVNZ Pacific Service, starting on August 6.
G’day, mate!
From http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Features/20080720161920/Article/indexF_html
Dover believes the Astro-Australia Network broadcasting agreement will further strengthen ties between the two countries.
Australia’s international TV channel is collaborating with Astro to provide us a window into the continent’s soul while retaining a regional perspective on issues and including local talent in its programmes.
HIZREEN KAMAL writes.
ASTRO’S gone Down Under.
The Australians are coming to Malaysia in a big way when the continent’s international television channel, Australia Network, begins airing over Astro’s platform around the clock.
Scheduled to begin later this year, this mixed genre channel, which will see more choice entertainment, information and sports content, has been airing for 12 hours daily over Astro News (Astro Channel 514) via the news package since April.
Its programmes include the latest regional news, extensive sports coverage, award-winning children’s programmes, world-class international documentaries, lifestyle programmes and top-quality dramas.
One such drama is the award-winning and longest-running series Home & Away, which has drawn wide viewership around the world.
There is also the documentary Great Outdoors featuring places for perfect getaways, the pre-school series Bananas in Pyjamas and Playschool, the country’s most successful TV programme for pre-school children featuring stories, songs and a variety of play ideas.
The network also prides itself in its news and current affairs programmes, with its flagship show News Hour with Jim Middleton explaining the news behind the headlines.
The programme consists of interviews, analysis, debates and panel discussions on issues pertaining to Australia and the Asia Pacific, proffering “a different view” from other news networks.
The round-the-clock broadcast is made possible following an agreement between the network’s chief executive officer, Bruce Dover and Astro’s chief executive officer Rohana Rozhan, in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“A 24-hour service means we need to have more programmes. Currently we are looking at having more educational programmes for children, as well as lifestyle travel shows to appeal to Malaysians in general,” said Dover.
“We also hope to share our expertise by working together with Astro by co-producing, for example, children’s and educational programmes, as well as featuring Malaysian talents like hosts to anchor our shows to cater for local viewers,” he added.
Australia Network will progressively introduce Bahasa Malaysia subtitles in all its programmes.
Presently, subtitles appear in up to six hours of content per day.
The network is now broadcasting in 20 million homes in 44 countries across Asia and the Asia Pacific, India and various hotels.
Australia Network’s airing via the Astro platform began in 2002 with four hours of daily broadcasting.
With 2.3 million Astro subscribers, Malaysia has a sophisticated viewership and one of the biggest cable and satellite markets in the region, said Dover.
“Our countries share a strong educational and economic link, and our broadcast agreement will further strengthen our relations — we are not just bringing Australia to Malaysia, but also Malaysia to Australia.”
Dover said his network draws on the vast inventory of programming available from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian commercial television networks, as well as independent production houses from around the world.
“While our goal is to provide a window into Australia, we will ensure that at the same time, our shows are relevant and provide a regional perspective on regional issues.”
Sony Launches SET On Now TV
From http://www.mediaresearchasia.com/view2.php?type=press&id=236
Parent of popular cable channels AXN, AXN BEYOND and Animax, SPE Networks – Asia joins with PCCW on July 29 to launch SET on now TV channel 514.
SET comes to Hong Kong and brings the trendiest shows all in one channel in the medium of choice of today’s modern viewer – English-language entertainment. Hong Kong’s modern men and women will enjoy and get immersed in SET’s chic, sexy, sophisticated and witty programming as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of their pacy mobile lifestyles.
SET delivers enrapturing TV shows wrapped around fashion, lifestyle, drama, reality and comedy to provide these viewers with an entirely pleasurable entertainment destination to go home to. More than just entertainment, SET delivers a strong line up of smart, stylish, fun and tantalising programming to engage today’s modern individuals.
SPE Networks – Asia Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Mr. Ricky Ow, says, “We are excited to launch SET with our valued partner, now TV, and be the first pay-TV channel in Hong Kong to provide contemporary viewers with quality programming that plays prominence to female-driven content. SET programming has a strong focus on style, lifestyle and pop culture anchored by strong female leads. This unique SET entertainment formula will definitely indulge the mind and senses of today’s cosmopolitan urbanites and be their choice of entertainment.”
PCCW’s Managing Director of Television & Content, Dominic Leung, says, “As Hong Kong’s premier broadcaster of lifestyle programming, now TV keeps up to speed with everyday cosmopolitan life and fashion trends by delivering super-contemporary and wholesome entertainment into the home. The addition of Sony Entertainment Television’s smart and stylish programming helps us to keep our discerning viewers up to date on trends as they are being set.”
Coming from entertainment powerhouse, SPE Networks – Asia, which has a robust track record of ten years in television entertainment in Asia with leading cable channels, AXN, AXN BEYOND, and Animax, viewers too can expect SET to deliver high-quality entertainment ranging from top-notch, first-run programs to all-time-favorites from the U.S.
Every month, SET viewers can expect brand new and exclusive hit shows in the genres of dramas, lifestyle reality, celebrity-driven variety shows and talk shows. This includes Drama series like Cashmere Mafia from the creator of Sex and the City starring Lucy Liu; fashion-makeover series, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style; lifestyle reality programs like Top Design, an interior-decorating competition series led by renowned US fashion designer Todd Oldham, as well as season two of cooking-competition reality series Top Chef; celebrity-driven variety shows like Spice Girls: Giving you Everything, and Pussycat Dolls: The Search for the Next Doll.
Get SET for the most stylish, smartest and chic entertainment in Hong Kong. Subscribe to SET for only HK$30 per month only on now TV.July 22, 200
Biography Channel Debuts in Hong Kong
From http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=bio072108.htm
The Biography Channel makes its debut in Hong Kong today on now TV, making this the third AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN) channel to premiere in the Asian region.
The Biography Channel features non-fiction stories, including the Emmy Award-winning Biography series, which profiles personalities such as Vera Wang, Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Michelle Kwan, Chiang Kai Shek and Kim Jong-il. The Hong Kong feed is subtitled in Cantonese.
Among the first acquisitions of local content is Little Big Dreams, produced by Singapore-based Threesixzero Productions and distributed by iD Distribution. Shot in high definition, the film looks at children who come from all over China to attend the infamous Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastic School to pursue an Olympic dream.
The Biography Channel launched in Singapore and the Philippines in May. Additional distribution agreements for other regions are expected in the coming months to build the channel’s current reach of 67 million TV households in 23 territories.
Now TV also previously launched AAAN’s The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network. AAAN is a joint venture between A&E Television Networks and Astro All Asia Entertainment Networks.
AAAN’s general manager, Louis Boswell, said: “The Biography Channel is the third network we have launched in Hong Kong in just over a year and confirms our commitment to becoming the leader in factual-entertainment programming in Asia. We are delighted to launch the channel in partnership with now TV. This channel is dedicated to real people and their real stories, no matter whether they are famous or ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell. There is an infinite supply of real-life stories to tell here in Asia, and we look forward to telling them. After the early successes of The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network, I am sure that BIO will be equally well received.”
TV Signal Cut Under Pressure From Chinese Regime
From news item
The only signal into China providing mainlanders with free and uncensored satellite news has been cut off amid calls of foul play. Independent station, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), headquarterd in New York, had their signal abruptly cut by satellite carrier Eutelsat on 16 June. Eutelsat told NTDTV it was due to a “power anomaly” but evidence suggests it was a politically motivated decision.
Recorded admissions of both a Chinese diplomat in Italy and an employee of the European-based satellite company have revealed that pressure from Beijing and business opportunities are behind the blackout.
The Chinese regime is again attempting to silence the independent TV station NTDTV, the only signal into China providing mainlanders with free and uncensored satellite news.
Chinese Ambassador Caught On Tape
Chinese ambassador to Italy, Sun Yuxi, described the political pressure he directly placed on Eutelsat, as well as the negotiations between the parties, in a recording obtained by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) on July 17.
Sun admitted that Eutelsat immediately reported to him after discontinuing NTDTV's signal and refers directly to Eutelsat's CEO Giuliano Berretta in the recording.
"Once he switched off [the signal]—he especially did this for us—he had people tell my technical support staff to pass the news onto me, the Ambassador, that the issue the Ambassador has spoken with us multiple times has already been taken care of. They said that this… and anything of Falun Gong will never be presented again."
"We also expressed our encouragement to them. [We said that] from now on, don't stick with that side; you should collaborate with us. You also should propagandise China from a positive perspective. They also repeatedly apologized, promising to never allow anything like this to happen again."
Sun also touched on the benefits Eutelsat could receive for cutting the signal.
"They want to develop collaboration with China Central Television (CCTV). In addition to this, they want to discuss collaboration with our aviation industry regarding some European satellite, some meteorological satellite. They want to borrow our carrier to launch their satellites," Sun said.
The full transcript can be found on the WOIPFG website.
NTDTV began broadcasting into China four years ago and is one of the few independent Chinese media in the world that is not controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. NTDTV covers a lot of human rights issues, including the repression in Tibet, the persecution of Falun Gong, underground Christian churches, dissidents and human right advocates.
Reporters Without Borders Obtain Evidence
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released a report July 10 that revealed Eutelsat CEO, Giuliano Berretta, was directly involved in shutting down NTDTV's transmission into China.
Both the investigator and the Eutelsat employee's names were withheld by RSF out of concern for their safety.
“It was our company’s CEO in France who decided to stop NTDTV’s signal,” the employee said. “We could have turned off any of the transponders. (...) It was because we got repeated complaints and reminder from the Chinese government.”
The employee continued to tell the interlocutor that it was due to business prospects with China that Eutelsat decided to cancel NTDTV. The full transcript can be found on the RSF website.
Reporters Without Borders said in the report: “NTDTV’s broadcasts irked the Chinese government because, thanks to this satellite, they could be freely received in tens of millions of Chinese homes. Their suspension just a few weeks ahead of the Olympic Games looks like a favour provided by Eutelsat with the aim of obtaining new deals. Eutelsat tried to drop NTDTV once before, in 2005, but an international campaign forced it to sign a new long term contract.”
NZ Politicians Express Concern
United Future leader, Peter Dunne, is concerned the Chinese people are being deprived from the freedom of information and the freedom of choice.
“I find it bizarre that the company [Eutelsat] can be saying that there was a technical problem that is taking so long to resolve... It’s all too convenient, right on the eve of the Olympic Games, for this to be a technical difficulty,” Mr Dunne said.
“I certainly think that Eutelsat has got to revisit its position and allow NTDTV to continue its broadcast into China.”
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said it appears the Europeans have come under pressure from the Chinese to block the satellite.
“Obviously we’ve been calling on the Europeans to do everything they can to protect freedom of speech. You know, the European tradition is one of freedom of speech…and we would be encouraging the European satellite company in order to actually make sure that freedom of speech continues to exist and they don’t suppress the satellite signal.”
Eutelsat Finally Buckled Under Pressure
NTDTV New Zealand spokesperson, Gina Shakespear said Eutelsat has been under pressure from the Chinese regime for years to shut NTDTV down and they finally buckled.
“It's no surprise... There is a lot of financial gain at stake for Eutelsat.”
She said NTDTV's main concern was for the Chinese people.
“It's a tragedy for NTD but more so for the Chinese people. Chinese people rely on NTD, it's their lifeline and now it's been cut. We're getting a lot of calls from the mainland every day asking what has happened to the signal.”
She said Mr Beretta's conduct has clearly violated Eutelsat's own company constitution. “As well as article 3 of a convention governing the operations of satellite companies, outlining equality of access, pluralism, and non-discrimination.”
Eutelsat has provided no update or additional explanation to NTDTV about the continued service blackout, Ms Shakespear said. In addition on 7 July, Eutelsat formally notified NTDTV that it was discontinuing its service to NTDTV, despite their contract still being valid.
Calls made to Eutelsat for comment have gone unanswered for over a month.
Russia puts fifth German spy satellite into orbit
From http://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17134&Itemid=13
The FINANCIAL -- A Russian carrier rocket has successfully put into orbit a fifth German SAR-Lupe reconnaissance satellite, a Russian Space Forces spokesman said on July 22.
"A Cosmos 3M carrier rocket, launched at 06:40 MOSCOW time (02:40 GMT) from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia has successfully orbited a German SAR-Lupe satellite," Lt. Col. Alexei Zolotukhin said.
According to RIA Novosti, the German SAR-Lupe satellite is designed to provide high-resolution radar images to NATO military commanders in Europe. It offers spatial resolution of less than 1 meter, and allows imaging at night and through clouds.
"Control over the satellite has been passed onto the customer," the spokesman said.
Russia's Space Forces previously conducted four SAR-Lupe launches in 2006-2008, under a 2003 contract between Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and German Cosmos International Satellitenstart Gmbh (a subsidiary of OHB Systems AG), which stipulated five SAR-Lupe launches until 2009.
The Cosmos 3M is a liquid-fueled two-stage rocket, first launched in 1967, with over 410 successful launches to date. The booster has been designed to lift a payload of up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs) into low, medium, and high orbits.
ESPN Star lands rights to Olympics
From http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989255.html?categoryId=19&cs=1
Network acquires exclusive rights in 22 areas
ESPN Star Sports has acquired exclusive cable, satellite, IPTV and mobile TV rights in 22 countries in Southeast Asia, including India, to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Deal gives the Disney-News Corp. joint venture 200 hours of coverage for the London Games and more than 60 hours for Vancouver.
"This is the first time that IOC has awarded the rights to a pay TV platform across the region, and it is a testament to our commitment to reaching out to a wide audience base across Asia with the most interesting and compelling programming," said ESS managing director Manu Sawhney.
The 22 territories covered by the deal are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau (English-language rights only), Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia (English-language rights only), Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
The company recently landed exclusive TV rights for the Indian subcontinent to soccer events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2009 Confederations Cup.
Star India ropes in Viaccess to encrypt its upcoming channels
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july215.php
MUMBAI: Viaccess SA, an encrypting system for digital television, has signed an agreement with Star India for the encryption of its upcoming channels in India.
Viaccess was selected by Star India for its security expertise and the flexibility of Viaccess conditional access solution.
Viaccess CEO François Moreau de Saint-Martin says,“I am delighted to contribute to the growth of the media industry in India. This success is a great step for our development in South Asia and confirms that Viaccess matches the requirements of major players of these markets."
DTH players oppose new tech, cry input cost hike
From http://www.financialexpress.com/news/DTH-players-oppose-new-tech-cry-input-cost-hike/338519/
Fearing that they may be forced to migrate to MPEG 4 (an advanced compression format technology that enables broadcast of more channels) set top boxes (STBs) from their current MPEG 2 STBs for their new subscribers, the existing DTH operators (on MPEG 2 technology) have approached the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) to address their concerns.
Voicing concern, Jawahar Goel, managing director, Dish TV Ltd, said, “Our analysis shows that apart from broadcasting more channels per transponder, MPEG 4 doesn’t offer any advancement in the quality of picture in comparison to MPEG 2 technology as claimed by some quarters. This is what we wanted to communicate to the ministry. On the other hand, given the present pricing, MPEG 4 boxes are around 50% costlier than MPEG 2 boxes, and in dollar terms, the difference comes out to be about $20. This will make subscriber acquisition for DTH players expensive and also hurt their bottomlines more”.
Currently, two DTH operators, Tata Sky and Dish TV, who claim to be addressing over 4 million DTH subscribers combined, are using the MPEG 2 technology. The soon to be launched Reliance Blue Magic Ltd, Bharti Telemedia Ltd and the existing Sun TV Direct have favoured MPEG 4 format by claiming that it offers substantial video quality improvements and 25% saving in transmission bandwidth enabling broadcast of a higher number of channels.
According to Goel, there are only around 2 million subscribers on MPEG 4 worldwide, while MPEG 2 supports around 100 million DTH customers currently and also one has to monitor how this technology withstands monsoon in the country, implying that performance of the new format is yet to pass the litmus test. “We have no immediate plans to shift to MPEG 4, it is not feasible for us cost wise also, considering that we have recently introduced free-set-top boxes scheme,” says Goel. Moreover operators on MPEG 2 feel that if technical interoperability of STBs has to be made possible, as mandated by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the onus should lie on new players who are entering with the new format, as MPEG 4 is not yet approved by BIS or Trai and doesn’t conform to the existing licensing and BIS norms.
21/07/08
Protostar 1 has reached 98.5E. Look for test carriers later in the week
Indonesian FTA broadcasters won't be broadcasting the Olympics..
A few feeds from the Weekend
Asiasat 4 122.2E 12358 v 6620 "Tri Nations Rugby Australia v S Africa"
Optus D2 12680 V sr 6670 vpid 0101 apid 0102 ppid 0101 - "V8 World Live Feed"
From my Email & ICQ
From Bill Richards
3 Indian channels started FTA
Intelsat 8 3987 V Sr 6100 Fec 3/4
Ex Asiasat 2
JAYA TV
KTV
Sun TV
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 12648 H "NDTV Imagine" has started on , MCATS.
Intelsat 8 166E 3987 V "Sun TV (India), KTV (India) and Tharisanam TV Australia/New Zealand" have started on , Fta, SR 6111, FEC 3/4.
NSS 11 108.2E 12321 V Sr 6667 Fec 3/4 "MBC Korea" HD started in Mpg4 DVB S2
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3799 H "APTN Asia" is now encrypted.
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3840 H "National Geographic Channel HD Asia" has left .
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3866 H "Sun TV, KTV and Tharisanam TV Australia/New Zealand" have left again.
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3960 H "Guysen TV" has left .
ProtoStar 1 has arrived at 98.5 East.
NSS 6 95E 12729 H "Han Movie and Drama Channel" is now encrypted.
Insat 4B 93.5E 3955 H "Orissa TV" has left again.
Insat 3A 93.5E 3800 V "DD Urdu" has left .
Measat 3 91.5E 3630 V "Shop TV" has left .
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3725 V "Sindh TV and Sindh TV News" have started on , Fta, SR 6666, FEC 1/2.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3784 V "Dhoom TV" has started on, Fta, SR 3333, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3892 V "Apna Channel, Apna News and Kook TV" have started on , Fta, SR 8888,FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 12355 H "Sumrujlok, Next Step TV and Music Lifestyle" have started on , Irdeto.
Intelsat 7 68.5E 3661 V "Purva Magic" has started on , Fta.
Intelsat 12 45E 11468 V "National Geographic Channel Russia" is encrypted again.
Intelsat 12 45E 11632 V "CNN International Asia Pacific has replaced The Buddhist TV" on , Fta.
NEWS
New satellite station to be built at Kojarena
From http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/new-satellite-station-to-be-built-at-kojarena-20080721-3ike.html
Construction of a joint Australia-US communications ground station will soon begin near Geraldton.
The unmanned facility, which is intended to provide support to a satellite-based mobile phone network used by Australian, US and other allied forces, will be built at the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station at Kojarena.
It will consist of three small buildings, three satellite dishes and two antennas.
The decision to build the station follows an agreement in February between Australia and the US to "enhance joint access to satellite communications capabilities", the Department of Defence said.
As part of the agreement, the US Army is looking at building a regional hub next to the station, which could be used by both countries
TVNZ and Sky trade salvos
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/4623143a28.html
TVNZ has renewed its war of words with Sky TV, accusing the pay television company of using "stalling tactics'' to delay the consideration of sweeping reforms of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation.
The two companies have been at loggerheads over the future of the industry since the Culture and Heritage Ministry began a Cabinet-ordered review of regulation last year.
Sky filed a "cross-submission" with the ministry in June, accusing TVNZ, TVWorks, Freeview and the Screen Production and Development Association (Spada) of making "misleading and inaccurate statements" during public consultations on options for industry reforms.
Click here to read Sky's cross-submission.
This was after TVNZ accused Sky of anti-competitive behaviour and called for the operational separation of Sky, and TV3 owner TVWorks said Sky should be forced to divest itself of free-to-air channel Prime.
The Culture and Heritage Ministry's director of digital broadcasting strategy, Jo Tyndall, says the ministry would not treat Sky's cross-submission as a "formal submission" but decided to invite TVNZ, Spada and TVWorks to respond.
"Having received a 'piece of paper' from Sky in which they said there were elements of submissions they considered inaccurate or misleading, we felt that it was entirely appropriate to make Sky's submission available to each of those other submitters and say, 'look, you need to be aware Sky has said this. If you want to exercise a right of reply you are of course able to do so'.
"What we wouldn't intend to do is to post these subsequent pieces of paper on our website, because that then does make it look like the submission process is continuing."
TVNZ spokesman Peter Parussini said in a letter to Ms Tyndall that Sky's cross-submission was intended to bog down the review and paralyse officials.
"This approach was successfully used for many years when reforms were mooted for the telecommunications industry,'' he said.
Click here to read TVNZ's letter, and here to read its accompanying submission.
Sky chief executive John Fellet denied that was Sky's intention. "We were happy to stand firm with our original submission, but theirs contained so much misinformation and outright `wrong' that we felt we had to respond.''
TVNZ said that Sky's "overall approach" had been to assert there was no need for additional regulation, but that this "ignores the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting technologies and the fragmentation of audiences".
Sky's subscription revenue was increasing much faster than revenue from television advertising, it said, and in time Sky's profits would "result in it being able to out-bid all other broadcasters for all premium programme rights''.
"While the emergence of new distribution technologies will certainly result in change, TVNZ believes Sky is overstating the extent to which new distribution methods such as Internet protocol TV will act as a real constraint on Sky's business.
"Many new technologies are still in their infancy and most households do not have the infrastructure to access new platforms.''
Spada chief executive Penelope Borland also took up the invitation to respond to Sky's cross-submission, saying Sky had misrepresented and misunderstood the association's views, particularly on copyright.
Click here to read Spada's submission and here to read its accompanying letter.
One of the association's "key concerns'' is that Sky plays repeat episodes of New Zealand-made programmes, but rarely commissions new local prodhgrammes, once news and sports are excluded, she said.
"Elsewhere, pay TV operators generally are obliged to spend a percentage of their total acquisitions budget on local programming, as in Australia, or direct a percentage of gross annual broadcasting revenues, as in Canada, into the creation of new local content programming."
Ms Borland said it was also common practice for pay TV operators to pay royalties to programme makers when they retransdhmit programmes from free-to-air channels, and that this was an obligation imposed by the World Trade Organisation.
Mr Fellet says programming rights are sold on a regionalised basis in the US and Canada. Royalty payments are made only when pay TV companies take prodhgrammes that have been sold to a free-to-air station in one geography and retransmit them in another, and that situation does not arise in New Zealand, he says.
Communications Minister David Cunliffe has meanwhile endorsed merging the communications and broadcasting portfolios. He told a select committee that most countries represented at an OECD meeting in Seoul this year had done this.
Mr Cunliffe and Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard will report to Cabinet on the outcome of the review within a month.
Starhub to showcase Olympic Games on six channels
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july202.php
MUMBAI: With less than a month to go before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games kicks off on 8 August, Singapore pay TV operator StarHub has unveiled its plans for the event.
StarHub will offer coverage across six dedicated channels. All Olympic channels will run daily from as early as 8 am, and will carry ‘live’ and delayed programming till midnight. The channels are made available free to StarHub’s cable TV customers with a HubStation, digital or High Definition (HD) set-top box.
The six Olympic channels will telecast a variety of sports, including the complete coverage of all football matches, athletic and swimming events. Starhub will also air selected sports involving the participation of Singapore’s Olympic contingent.
Starhub's Head of Services and Solutions Adit Harinasuta reiterated StarHub’s commitment to offer viewers the most comprehensive selection of sports content on local television.
He said, “The Olympic Games is the world’s most compelling sporting event that inspires and unifies audiences worldwide. As Singapore’s leading sports content provider, StarHub shares our local viewers’ passion for sports. We want viewers to be able to truly experience the games and immerse themselves in it, even from the comfort of their homes.
"We are proud to set new standards of Olympics broadcasting with six free TV channels dedicated to the games – a first ever for StarHub and for Singapore.”
Also for the first time ever, StarHub will offer HD coverage of the Olympics via MediaCorp’s HD5 (Channel 300), which will be available at no extra cost from 28 July to all cable TV customers with an HD-ready TV set and StarHub’s HD set-top box.
StarHub’s cable TV customers with the analogue set-top box will be able to access ‘live’ coverage of selected Olympic events, including the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, on StarHub’s Preview Channel (Channel 01).
To meet the viewing needs of sports fans on-the-go, StarHub will make available for free, a ‘live’ stream of each of the six Olympic TV channels on its mobile platform to all StarHub Mobile post-paid customers with any 3G or 3.5G (i.e. HSPA-capable) handset. Customers may access these six channels via the MobileTV Xtra site on StarHub’s Gee! portal from 6 August. MobileTV Xtra is a value-added service, and users will not incur data access charges when viewing the ‘live’ streaming of the Olympic Games on their mobile phones, as customers can view and surf sites on StarHub’s Gee! portal for free.
StarHub will also introduce a new mobile TV client application that will be available for download on selected handsets from 6 August to enhance the viewing experience for customers accessing the Olympic channels on their mobile phones. The new application not only enables viewers to switch seamlessly and effortlessly between mobile TV channels, it also offers an Electronic Programme Guide, whereby users may select their preferred channels via the Guide interface. Customers may download this application from StarHub’s MobileTV Xtra site in the Gee! portal. Alternatively, they may send an SMS with the keyword LiveTV to 6757. Starhub will reply with a link for users to download the application. Customers may visit www.starhub.com/gee from 6 August to view the list of compatible handsets.
Harinasuta adds, “We are thrilled to be the first in Singapore to offer sports fans exciting Olympic Games action ‘live’ on their mobile phones. Streaming live sports content on mobile is not new to Starhub. Our mobile customers have been able to receive coverage of the Barclays Premier League and the recently concluded Uefa Euro football tournament ‘live’ on their mobile phones.
" We are dedicated to consistently achieve even more for our customers. At StarHub, we celebrate Freedom, and we want to empower sports fans with the freedom to get their fix of sporting action on-the-go, wherever they are.”
The telecast will commence on StarHub Digital Cable from 6 August, starting with the preliminary rounds of Men’s and Women’s football. Starhub will also air an uninterrupted telecast of the Opening Ceremony live on 8 August at 8 pm. The Closing Ceremony will be aired on 24 August at 8 pm.
Reflecting on rapid pace of change
From http://www.apb-news.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&func=show_article&id=136&Itemid=1
Tom McVeigh is senior vice-president for Operations & Technology at ESPN Star Sports. He is also an APB panellist.
Every now and then I reckon it is a good idea to sit down, take a deep breath and quietly think about what has happened over the past 10 years as far as our TV (or media) business is concerned. Frankly, we are all normally far too busy to find the time for such reflection.
However, following the recent BroadcastAsia2008 and APB ConneXxion Forum, reflecting on the events at the NAB Show last April, and anticipating the technology offerings of IBC2008 this September, it is apparent that there will be some considerable focus on the existing rapid pace of change in technology and its effects on the media business.
Having been at ESPN Star Sports (ESS) in Singapore for nearly a decade, it now seems a good idea to ponder on what we have been up to all these times. Back in 1998 we were happily originating six sports channels using three satellite uplink providers. Our transmission suites were staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by two operators. We had separate servers in each TX suite for playing the commercials, promos and so on.
Two production suites easily handled the production requirements with three or four Digital Betacam edit suites and an Editbox providing the required edit resource. We also used an "in-house" designed traffic scheduling system.
With these facilities, we were considered as the "main game in town" or "the only game in town" in some of our markets.
But that was then. Now, it is amazing how things have changed while we have all been getting on with trying to earn an honest dollar!
The costs of sports rights (the major "raw product" for our "factory") went ballistic! In some cases, 300%-400% or more and still rising.
Purchasing rights for our whole footprint for Asia has became more challenging, resulting in our content distribution market to become more fragmented. Thus, it was apparent that ESS' distribution system had to evolve to be more flexible and more cost-effective became apparent.
Therefore, service start-up costs and overall operational running costs had to be considered carefully if we were to be competitive! First up, we looked closely at our uplinking costs and the cost of our satellite space.
It was obvious that with a proper cost-benefit analysis that we could increase our distribution flexibility and control distribution budgets if we were to build our own satellite earth station for both uplinking and downlinking. We gained support for this from our Board, installed the equipment and proved that our reasoning was sound.
As international fibre became available and affordable we moved from our full-time satellite single-channel contribution in the UK to Singapore, increasing capacity to five fibre channels and a return path. An added advantage to ESS with the full-time fibre pipeline was the ability to inject in various points across the US. Once again this was all based on sound logic, good financial sense and, most importantly, an alignment with our business goals.
With the continuing need for further focus on "more for less" or "more for the same", we are now planning implementation of MPEG-4 DVB-S2 on one of our 36MHz distribution slots. This will give us the ability to distribute in either SD or HD or a combination of both, when the need arises. We are also closely monitoring international fibre costs between Singapore and a number of other countries for both SD and HD capability.
Our channel count is currently 17, with various other additional feeds as required for both live and repeats depending on our distribution and syndication requirements.
Furthermore, our two mobile content services - mobileESPN and Star Sports Mobile - and with the recent launch of www.espnstar.com, I think most can appreciate the need for maximum flexibility and cost-effectiveness in introducing new services, as the outcome of rights bidding can potentially change our required distribution requirements often.
All transmission-replay requirements now come from a server, while full automation has been employed for several years. Our philosophy has changed from two operators per suite to single-person staffing of TX suites for live broadcast, or as required. We are in the process of upgrading our transmission automation system to a Harris V4 and Omneon server platform. We have recently installed additional backbone infrastructure within the facility, which will upgrade us up to 26-channel capability.
The introduction of a new BMS system is now under way and is due for completion by next month. This will replace our in-house designed system which we have outgrown as the business has changed and grown.
We have rebuilt one of our PCR/studios into a HD-ready facility and we are in the process of building another HD PCR/studio due for completion in October this year.
For some years we have been planning the next phase of introducing server-based technology into both our production and post-production workflows. This would be the largest single-capital expenditure investment for ESS and possibly the most complex project that many at ESS would ever be involved in.
We have recently introduced the complete system, called Homerun, and at this time we are transitioning the various sports production and news teams across to the new system. We expect the process to be completed in late August or early September this year. The system is based on an Omneon spectrum and MediaGrid hardware with OmniBus providing the media asset management system.
Currently, we have 25 Apple Final Cut Pro editing systems and an additional 75 desktop workstations, which are a mixture of Opus browse and Headline edit. We have a Sun/Storage Tek SL8500 Archive with DiVa Archive Management. Ingest of our 100,000 Digital Betacam tape library began in early June this year and we expect to have this task completed within nine to 12 months.
The Homerun system base format is IMX30 with the browse system being Windows Media 9. Up to eight audio channels for multi-language are available. This was obviously an important "must have" for us as we distribute into 28 countries with five languages at present.
Workflow re-engineering has played a huge part in most of the above process changes over the years, although the term has only recently come into vogue. A major focus for us has been the upgrading of skills and retraining of staff across many groups as we have introduced automation and server-based processes across the company.
My opinion is that the technology and business changes that we have seen at ESS in the past decade will almost pale into insignificance with what will develop in the next 10 years as the rate of technology development and change explodes exponentially ….
I must remember to take a deep breath and have a quiet think about things again in July 2018!
2008 year of HDTV in Asia
From http://www.apb-news.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&func=show_article&id=137&Itemid=1
KUALA LUMPUR/PARIS - Most Asian pay-TV operators expect HDTV offerings by end-2008 - these and more interesting facts about HDTV development and deployment in the region were the results of an industry study initiated by Malaysia-based satellite service provider Measat Satellite Systems, and France-based international research and analyst firm Euroconsult in May this year.
Last month, both companies jointly announced the results of the study, which delved into the development of HDTV in the Asia-Pacific region. The study polled the rationale, benefits, challenges and expectations for HDTV among the regions' leading pay-TV operators.
Interviewed for the research were 25 operators in 15 markets, collectively serving more than 24 million subscribers.
It was found that 75% of pay-TV operators surveyed have planned, or were planning, to launch a HDTV service offering this year. The study also showed operators as generally bullish on the outlook for HDTV, with a majority expecting it to increase average revenue per user (ARPU) or profits on its own.
HDTV, which most saw as "here to stay" and destined to become a "must-have" offering, had been identified as a key strategic priority for their business. The study even indicated that the roll-out of HDTV is being spearheaded by newer pay-TV platforms looking to differentiate their offerings from existing platforms, while more established platforms were taking a slower approach to implementing HDTV.
Interviews conducted suggested that HDTV was seen as not particularly easy or difficult to introduce. The lack of substantial HDTV content - both local and international - was viewed consistently as the most important roadblock for developing the HDTV sector in the region.
Paul Brown-Kenyon, COO of Measat, said results from this study are very interesting, as the insights will help Measat determine how best it can support its customers and partners in the development of this important segment.
Pacome Revillon, managing director of Euroconsult, added that the study provides clear evidence of faster development of HD offerings in Asia than previously expected. "Opportunity for growth and increasing competitive pressure are the primary factors driving pay-TV broadcasters to develop an HD offer," he noted.
CAS thriving in the region
From http://www.apb-news.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&func=show_article&id=138&Itemid=1
The growth of digital cable in Asia has seen CAS providers such as Irdeto (left) and NDS (above) strengthening their presence in China and India respectively.
Going digital has enabled the Asian pay-TV market to continue growing at a satisfactory pace, and providing the much-needed boost for conditional-access system (CAS) providers as they are now very much in demand by pay-TV operators to protect their premium content.
With the growing strength of the Chinese digital cable market, providers of conditional-access systems (CAS) for Chinese pay-TV operators are also selling more of their offerings. This was revealed by US-based IMS Research last month in its report on the growing CAS market in China. IMS even identified China Digital TV (formerly known as Beijing Novel-Tongfang Digital TV Technology) as a leading CAS supplier in the Chinese market, which IMS predicts would increase Chinese company's worldwide market position from eighth at the end of last year to fourth or fifth by the end of 2010.
IMS says "the growth of Chinese digital cable has rapidly become the single-largest force in DTV. As a result, CAS providers have been successful in China and are forecast to continue to gain share against all of the major western CAS providers".
One "western" CAS provider that has a presence in China and a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific is Irdeto, which has dual headquarters in Amsterdam and Beijing. Recently, Irdeto reports that its DVB CAS will be part of Hebei Broadcasting and TV Information Network (Group) and Xinjiang Broadcast & TV Transmission Network's digital migration process. The agreements translate to two million smart cards that Irdeto will deploy to both cable networks over the next 24 months.
Hebei is China's sixth-largest province with 67.4 million people and with nearly 6.5 million cable-TV subscribers. Hebei Broadcasting, a provincial-level cable-TV network operator, selected Irdeto to simulcrypt with its existing CAS and has agreed to purchase one million smart cards to be delivered within the first 18 months of deployment.
The Irdeto DVB CAS has also been selected by Xinjiang Broadcast to securely enable the sale of high-quality premium content to its subscribers. Xinjiang province, in western China, is home to an estimated 1.3million cable-TV subscribers.
"Irdeto's proactive security strategy and flexibility allows us multiple ways to sell and package our content, which was exactly what we were looking for," says Su Hao, general manager of Xinjiang Broadcast & TV Transmission Network. "The solution is also very scalable which will set a solid and flexible foundation for our future DTV development."
Across the region, Irdeto has also inked a deal to deliver its DVB CAS to Bangalore-based multi-system operator (MSO) Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT). The phased roll-out of the Irdeto solution will be completed over a 30-month period. ACT says the deployment of Irdeto's technology is part of its aggressive plans to migrate its analogue cable customers to its new digital platform.
ACT was established to bring cable TV, Internet, data and other broadband services to residential customers through cable networks, and will harness Irdeto's DVB CAS to gain a stronger foothold in the country's burgeoning cable-TV market. Another CAS provider thriving in the region is UK-based NDS, which also has clients in India. Tata Sky, a provider of direct-to-home (DTH) satellite pay-TV services in the subcontinent, has achieved a milestone of two million subscribers within a period of only 20 months. Tata Sky's content is protected and powered by a suite of NDS solutions including VideoGuard CAS, MediaHighway middleware, an advanced electronic programme guide (EPG) and Value@TVTM interactive infrastructure.
Tata Sky's pay-TV platform is also supported by NDS staff in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, ensuring continuing quality of service and development of new solutions for future implementation. The company is also increasing its presence in India with the opening of a new sales and support office in New Delhi.
Says Sue Taylor, vice-president and general manager of NDS Asia Pacific: "NDS is very optimistic about the growth of the Indian pay-TV market and we are honoured to be the partner of choice for leading broadcasters, platform operators and service providers delivering the latest services and content to subscribers.
"The opening of our sales and support office in New Delhi allows us to enhance our reach and local support capabilities, and to better serve our existing and future customers."
NDS says India is a dynamic market for digital pay-TV and is projected to see some of the highest digital subscriber growth rates anywhere in the world. Furthermore, according to forecasts from research firm Media Partners Asia, India's digital pay-TV market will lead the Asia-Pacific region in revenue generation by 2015.
Media Partners Asia adds that the major factors promoting market development are government regulation, high GDP growth, increasing demand for quality content and delivery, and new market entrants offering both satellite and cable services. The increase in competition and consumer choice in pay-TV is accelerating uptake of digital solutions and is leading operators to provide quality content, innovative applications, differentiated services and improved delivery.
NDS says that India's established pay-TV market leaders Tata Sky, Hathway Cable and Datacom, as well as new market entrants Bharti and Digital Entertainment Network (DEN), all rely on NDS systems to protect and enable their pay-TV services.
Blanket coverage of Olympics
From http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=3052&art_id=vn20080718105358747C214859
Pau television channel SuperSport has decided to go wall-to-wall on their coverage of the biggest and one of the greatest sporting spectacle in the world - the Beijing Olympics, starting on August 8, and ending on August 24.
To ensure sports fans miss none of the spectacular action from the Games, SuperSport has announced it will cover the two-and-a-half-week event on four channels - SS5, SS6, SS7, SS10 - from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony.
And the Daily News can confirm two more channels will be made available for the Olympic Games days before the start. This was confirmed by Vaughn Bishop, marketing manager of SuperSport, early this morning.
"We are in negotiations at present and hopefully we will have two additional channels available for the Games - that's saturation coverage of the event. It will be the best - that's what we strive to give our viewers all the time," he said.
SuperSport 6 is a 24-hour Olympics channel on which viewers will be able to catch live action of all the popular gold medal events. SuperSport 5 and SuperSport 7 and SuperSport 10 will also feature live action when there is a clash of event times. And there will be two overflow channels - No 198 on DStv for the whole of the continent, and No 199 for South Africa only.
Bishop said: "We have taken every aspect of the events into consideration before deciding on the amount of the coverage the Games deserve on our channels.
"We also took into account the medal potential of the athletes not only from South Africa, but also from different parts of the continent. The Kenyans and the Ethiopians have been proving themselves on the world stages - hence the decision to beam the Games into Africa."
Bishop announced a strong SuperSport presence in China with the likes of Crystal Arnold, Ponga Liwewe and Gerald de Kock in Beijing while Robert Marawa and Leigh-Ann Paulick will be the anchors at their Randburg studios.
Added to all this, there will be a daily magazine programme with live links to the television representatives in Beijing.
The programme on SuperSport 6 will begin at 7.30pm daily and run for 120 minutes and will include interviews with the athletes and highlights of the day's events.
SuperSport Update - on channel 200 on DStv - will include a 20-minute package of highlights from Beijing, which will be incorporated into the regular 20-minute highlights programme on that channel. This package will run as part of a loop that features rugby, soccer, cricket and the best of the rest.
Bishop also announced a series of exciting programmes in the run-up to the Games which includes: Going For Gold, Africa To Beijing, Great Women of the Olympics, Golden Moments of the Olympics, Beijing, Are You Ready?, The Olympic Spirit, Opening the Gates to the East and Olympic Century.
Videocon to launch DTH by October-end; plans to invest Rs 10 bn in 2 years
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july208.php
MUMBAI: Videocon Group will launch its direct-to-home (DTH) service by October-end and plans to invest Rs 10 billion in the venture over two years.
Bharat Business Channel Ltd , the company which will launch the DTH service, has signed up with SingTel for six Ku-band transponders. The DTH venture is being headed by Anil Khera who was earlier in charge of Videocon's Sansui and Kelvinator brands.
"We have taken six Ku-band transponders on SingTel's ST-1 satellite. We are investing Rs 10 billion over two years and are launching the DTH service by October-end," Khera tells Indiantelevision.com.
Videocon will operate its DTH service under the D2H brand. The company will use MPEG-4 compression technology and plans to kick off the service with 200 channels.
Videocon will manufacture the set-top boxes (STBs) at its Aurangabad factory. It will use Irdeto's encryption technology.
The uplinking will be at Greater Noida, adds Khera.
Reliance ADAG's Big TV and Bharti are also preparing to launch their DTH service this year. While Dish TV is the current market leader with 3.3 million subscribers, Tata Sky has over two million and Sun Direct one million.
Tdsat directs Star Den, MSM Discovery to produce relevant documents in HITS case
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july207.php
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) directed the distributors Star Den and MSM Discovery to further produce relevant documents by 21 July for the case registered by Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL) and Dish TV.
Earlier in its petition, Dish TV and WWIL had alleged that Star Den and MSM Discovery were denying their feed for the upcoming Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) service to be launched by WWIL. Star Den distributes the Star group of channels while MSM Discovery has a bouquet that includes Sony and Discovery channels.
During the proceedings, Dish TV and WWIL said Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in its recommendations had mentioned that the existing HITS permission holders should be allowed to commence their operations provided they agree to migrate to the new regulatory requirements within three months of it being framed. And if the licence holder fails to do so, it is liable for the licence to get cancelled.
The duo also said that an undertaking has been signed according to which WWIL and Dish TV are ready to migrate to the new framework for HITS whenever it is prepared.
Meanwhile, the channel distributors showed their apprehension by saying that providing signals to WWIL and Dish TV for HITS might violate the downlinking and uplinking guidelines set by the ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The case will be heard again on 22 July.
20/07/08
Sunday no update
19/07/08
Saturday no update
18/07/08
$10000 reward for return of TV3 stolen satellite equipment.
http://forum.dtvforum.co.nz/showthread.php?p=2296#post2296
From my Email & ICQ
Nothing to report
From the Dish
Agila 2 146E 3915 V ""?GMA 7 and QTV Channel 11" have started on , Fta, SR 6700, FEC 3/4.
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3866 H "Sun TV (India), KTV (India) and Tharisanam TV Australia/New Zealand" have started, Fta, SR 6111, FEC 3/4.
NSS 6 95E 12729 H "Han Movie and Drama Channel" has started on , Fta (N.E Asia beam).
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3545 V "My TV" has left .
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3545 V "TV Pool" has started on , Fta.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3960 V "Apna News" has started, Fta.
Intelsat 10 68.5E 4156 H "Express News" has started on , Fta, SR 2920, FEC 3/4.
NEWS
Four Video Channels Streaming Online for Beijing
From Press Release: Television New Zealand
Friday, 18 July 2008, 12:41 pm
In A First For New Zealand, tvnz.co.nz Will Offer Four Channels Of Simultaneous Video Streaming Online During Beijing 2008
Nothing compares with the power and excitement of the Olympic Games, the greatest global sporting event. When the world's elite athletes gather in Beijing this August, TVNZ will bring Kiwi viewers closer to the drama and excitement than ever before, with spectacular images, expanded coverage, and new technologies.
The online home of the Olympic Games is TVNZ's dedicated Olympic website at tvnz.co.nz which is now LIVE. The site can be found at tvnz.co.nz/Olympics
TVNZ is the official online partner of the Beijing Olympics. The Olympic website is a one-stop shop for information, analysis and breaking Olympic news in the build-up to Beijing.
Site features include a dedicated section for every Olympic sport and profiles of every New Zealand competitor in the Games – including a range of interviews with the Kiwi medal hopefuls. Those wanting to enjoy past glories can watch the range of archive video footage. Google Maps technology has been utilised to produce a stunning bird's-eye of the Beijing venues and there are blogs from sports broadcasting legends Keith Quinn and John McBeth, as well as diaries from several competing athletes. Further features include a full event schedule, photo galleries and all the news from the tvnz.co.nz journalists who will be will be part of the TVNZ production teams in Beijing and Auckland.
During the Games, in a first for New Zealand, tvnz.co.nz will offer the chance to choose from up to four channels of simultaneous video streaming online from TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra and two additional channels programmed by ONE Sport, which are only available online. There will be regularly updated information on the broadcast schedules for the television and online channels, and a daily package of Olympics video highlights that will be updated overnight, allowing Kiwis to catch up on, or re-live, the previous day's big Olympic moments.
"This depth of online coverage of a major sporting event is something New Zealanders have never experienced," says Jason Paris, Head of Emerging Business. "As well as broadcasting over 800 hours of Olympics action online, we're offering up our richest content experience yet, with a wealth of video resources, coverage of every sport, high-quality images and all of the big stories about the Games."
Head of Sport Murray Needham agrees: "The Olympic channels at tvnz.co.nz add another dimension to our coverage of Beijing, and give New Zealanders unprecedented opportunities to be part of the thrills and emotion of the Games."
Beijing 2008 will be screened from August 8-24 across TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra and tvnz.co.nz
1st Japan-Made Com. Satellite to Be Launched in August
From http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=19107
Tokyo, July 17, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Mitsubishi Electric Corp. said Thursday it has finished building the first Japanese-made communications satellite and started preparations for its launch on Aug. 13.
The Superbird-7 satellite for Space Communications Corp., a unit of Sky Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. has been transported to the Guiana Space Center, the launch site in French Guiana, Mitsubishi Electric said.
The new satellite will be the successor to Space Communications' Superbird-C used for broadcasts. It will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket of France's Arianespace SA. It will remain at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, 144 degrees east longitude in a geostationary orbit for 15-year operations.
All 18 satellites now used by Japanese broadcasters and telecommunications carriers are U.S. made.
Mitsubishi Electric is in charge of the design and construction of the new satellite as well as its launch and performance tests. The satellite was manufactured at the company's Kamakura plant in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo.
The Superbird-7 satellite for Space Communications Corp., a unit of Sky Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. has been transported to the Guiana Space Center, the launch site in French Guiana, Mitsubishi Electric said.
The new satellite will be the successor to Space Communications' Superbird-C used for broadcasts. It will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket of France's Arianespace SA. It will remain at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, 144 degrees east longitude in a geostationary orbit for 15-year operations.
All 18 satellites now used by Japanese broadcasters and telecommunications carriers are U.S. made.
Mitsubishi Electric is in charge of the design and construction of the new satellite as well as its launch and performance tests. The satellite was manufactured at the company's Kamakura plant in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo.
AMC-21 Is Delivered To Spaceport
From http://www.space-travel.com/reports/AMC_21_Is_Delivered_To_Spaceport_999.html
AMC-21 will be operated by U.S.-based satellite services provider SES AMERICOM.
The second of two satellites for Ariane 5's next flight has arrived at Europe's Spaceport as Arianespace continues its sustained mission pace in 2008.
After touching down in French Guiana aboard a cargo jetliner, the AMC-21 satellite was moved to the Spaceport's S5 spacecraft preparation facility. It joins Superbird 7, which also is undergoing final checkout for a planned Ariane 5 ECA liftoff during the first half of August.
This will be the fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2008, and it follows the previous launches in March, April, June and July - which orbited a total of six telecommunications satellites, along with the Automated Transfer Vehicle for servicing of the International Space Station.
AMC-21 will be operated by U.S.-based satellite services provider SES AMERICOM, and is to handle television and enterprise distribution services. The spacecraft was supplied by prime contractor Thales Alenia Space, and utilizes a STAR-2 spacecraft manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Arianespace is targeting a total of seven Ariane 5 missions in 2008 - making it the busiest year for this workhorse launcher since its commercial introduction in 1999.
Korean TV station debuts Vietnamese channel
From http://www.thanhniennews.com/overseas/?catid=12&newsid=40258
The South Korean television station KBS on Monday debuted a Vietnamese television channel with Korean subtitles, the first channel of its kind in the country.
The channel is produced by KBS in coordination with the South Korean telecom operator KT and Vietnam Television (VTV).
KBS and KT representatives said they hope the channel would help the Vietnamese community in South Korea, especially Vietnamese brides, be informed of news in the homeland.
Korean subtitles would help the immigrants to learn the Korean language and integrate better into the community, the representatives said, adding that Koreans could also get acclimated to Vietnamese culture, customs and society by watching the channel.
Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Pham Tien Van said the main difficulties Vietnamese people encountered when living in a foreign country are language and cultural barriers.
The broadcasting of Vietnamese programs is part of a multicultural project backed by the RoK government.
Currently, VTV provides VTV4’s programming to KBS, which is responsible for making appropriate subtitles.
In the future, KBS aims to be able to produce Vietnamese programs on its own capacity.
In the first year of the channel’s operation, families with Vietnamese members will have complimentary access to the channel’s programming, including Korean language teaching programs.
More than 70,000 Vietnamese people currently live in the RoK.
Of the figure, 20,000 are married to Korean men.
StreamGuys, Inc. Delivers ABS-CBN Broadcast TV From the Philippines Globally Through IPTV and Internet Distribution
From http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/streamguys-inc-delivers-abs-cbn-broadcast/story.aspx?guid=%7B922DAC9E-94EC-4F6E-8FF8-EECC5E72E040%7D&dist=hppr
BAYSIDE, Calif., Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- StreamGuys, Inc., a streaming media and content delivery provider based in northern California, is now handling content delivery for ABS-CBN's IPTV service in Canada, Europe, Japan and South Korea. ABS-CBN Broadcasting is the largest integrated media and entertainment corporation in the Philippines, with 35 television stations, 19 owned-and operated AM and FM radio stations, and 10 affiliated radio stations throughout the Philippines. The broadcaster has been using StreamGuys for content delivery for four years, mainly for on-demand streaming and downloads of ABS-CBN programming over the public internet through its pioneering service, TFCnow!
According to Enrique Olives, Director of Business Development for ABS-CBN Global, there are approximately 8 million Filipinos living abroad. To ensure global delivery of its programming, ABS-CBN has employed the internet to penetrate markets where satellite and cable delivery is cost-prohibitive or unavailable. StreamGuys recently won the IPTV business after four years of providing cost-efficient streaming broadcasts and backend server infrastructure management for the internet streaming and download service at now.abs-cbn.com.
"There is a huge market for ABS-CBN programming outside of the Philippines, and it's important to make our content available on as many platforms as possible," said Olives. "Content delivery networks like StreamGuys are ideal for IP-based broadcast distribution because you are essentially leveraging on their relationships with ISPs around the world instead of just purchasing raw bandwidth. This relationship allows ABS-CBN to focus on its core competency of producing content instead of managing the network."
StreamGuys delivers ABS-CBN programming as MPEG-4 standard-definition video for IPTV and Windows Media for internet streaming and download services. For the growing IPTV service, StreamGuys built out a cluster of servers in the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands to ensure plenty of network capacity. StreamGuys designed the IPTV server infrastructure to communicate directly with IP addressable consumer set-top boxes, allowing consumers to view content immediately on demand.
"StreamGuys has proven valuable as a CDN that adjusts to our changing requirements as we scale our network," said Eugene Paden, Head of IT Operations for ABS-CBN Global. "They clearly understand the different quality requirements for watching content on TV as opposed to a computer, and manage the network to maintain those various requirements. The network management has been critical as we grow our customer base, and the positive aspects of the scalability vs. cost ratio become increasingly evident as we boost network capacity."
Olives added that StreamGuys has always offered very competitive pricing as a content delivery network. "The flexible pricing they offer has always been attractive from a business point of view," he said. "The 24/7 network management is essentially built-in to the overall price, which is nice for both our bottom line and the engineering side. We can go to sleep at night knowing they will take care of things if there is a connectivity issue into a specific country or another problem with the greater network."
"The rise of the internet and IPTV delivery platform for distributing high-quality broadcast content makes it possible for broadcasters to reach almost every corner of the globe. The relationships between broadcasters and content delivery networks have grown stronger as IPTV network infrastructure management becomes more complex," said Jonathan Speaker, COO of StreamGuys, Inc. "We are proud to assist ABS-CBN for reliable and cost-effective delivery of its broadcast content worldwide, allowing them to focus on producing content."
BBC Entertainment, CBeebies to launch in Latin America
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july163.php
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide and Televisa Networks have announced the signing of a partnership deal in Spanish-speaking Latin America that will see the launch of two BBC-branded entertainment channels later this year in Mexico.
The roll out of two new channels, BBC Entertainment and pre-school children's channel CBeebies, will mark the first time the BBC’s global channels have entered the Latin America market.
The partnership with Televisa Networks – the pay TV arm of Grupo Televisa, the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world – positions the two media companies to explore further synergistic media opportunities.
The channels have achieved outstanding ratings and critical acclaim in Europe, since launching in Poland last year, while earlier launches in Singapore, Hong Kong, India and South Korea have already bolstered the BBC’s presence across Asia.
BBC Worldwide Channels' MD said Darren Childs says, "The joining together of two leading broadcasters marks a milestone for BBC Worldwide's channels business. Not only does this deal allow us to reach a massively important Latin American audience with the best BBC content, it also sees the final piece of BBC Worldwide Channels’ strategy fall into place – giving us a BBC-branded presence on every inhabited continent."
Televisa Networks CEO Bruce Boren added, "We are very proud to partner with such a great company as the BBC and are excited to be able to offer new channels in two such important categories. This new offering will strengthen our existing lineup and help Televisa Networks further establish its leadership in the marketplace."
Satellite Users Group Opposes UTC Request
From http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Satellite_Users_Group_Opposes_UTC_Request_999.html
Group Claims Action Poses Spectrum Threat to the Ku-band
The Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) has filed a position paper with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing a recent petition for allowing terrestrial services in the Ku-band. In its petition, the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) requested that the FCC allow terrestrial fixed services to operate in the crucial 14.0-14.5 GHz band.
"Such an action would cause a significant increase in the number of interference incidents that the satellite industry will have to address," said SUIRG President Robert Ames. "The negative impact to fixed and mobile satellite-based services would be catastrophic."
The filing by UTC specifically requests that the FCC commence proceedings to establish rules to permit shared, secondary terrestrial fixed service use of the 14.0-14.5 GHz band by fixed point-to-point, point to multipoint, and temporary fixed stations and for critical infrastructure industry communications.
"The Ku-band is critical for VSATs, SNG (satellite newsgathering) and mobile satellite services," continued Ames. "The UTC has failed to show compellingly that the proposed operations will not cause unacceptable interference to the incumbent satellite services operating in that frequency."
Ames went on to say: "The UTC provides a flawed analysis suggesting that millions of UTC terminals can be operated without a problem. However, previous C-Band testing and analysis conducted within the satellite industry indicates that such use will cause unacceptable levels of interference into GSO (Geosynchronous orbit) FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) operations.
"Furthermore such use will expose the UTC terminals to interference that will be incompatible with the critical nature of the services that are intended in the proposed new secondary terrestrial allocation."
SUIRG, a non-profit association comprised of both private and public sector satellite organizations, with the assistance of several satellite serviced providers and equipment manufacturers, has conducted several field tests addressing the growing WiMAX debate over shared spectrum with terrestrial services.
Analysis conducted to date the C-Band has conclusively indicated that sharing of the spectrum would cause unacceptable levels of interference.
Dish Hails Satellite Launch But Douglas Co. Firm Says Backup Failed on Monday
From http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1482675/dish_hails_satellite_launch_but_douglas_co_firm_says_backup/
A critical satellite to boost Dish Network Corp.'s high- definition programming was launched into orbit late Tuesday by California-based Sea Launch Co.
The good news was tempered some by Dish's disclosure in a regulatory filing Wednesday that a satellite launched in 1996 and used primarily as a backup failed on Monday.
Rohan Zaveri, vice president of space programs for Douglas County- based Dish, said in a statement the company was "thrilled" with the launch of EchoStar XI and looked forward to begin the testing that will precede delivering programming.
Earlier this year, a satellite to be leased by Dish failed to launch into its proper orbit and the company had to rejigger its programming to stay on track with its plan to offer 100 national high-definition channels by year-end.
Dish recently announced it is reaching that goal with the addition of 17 HD channels, but it still lags behind rival DirecTV.
"I think the question is how effective (the new satellite) will be to help bring Dish quickly and deeper into the HD revolution," said Jimmy Schaeffler, chairman and senior research analyst for the Carmel Group in California.
"It will take 30 to 60 days to take this bird through all of its tests to make sure it is what it should be, so they're not off the hook yet, but every minute and hour that goes by is better for them."
Dish Network, the country's second-largest satellite TV provider, has suffered from record-low subscriber growth amid a weakening economy, and lingering customer-service issues.
Dish spokeswoman Francie Bauer said the company estimates the new satellite will be in service by early September. The satellite, the company's most powerful yet, is projected to have a 15-year life.
The rocket carrying the satellite lifted off at 11:21 p.m. MDT from Sea Launch's platform on the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Live coverage was carried on the Internet and Dish Channel 101.
Dish said in its regulatory filing that the older satellite that failed Monday, EchoStar II, was used to provide backup capacity, and local network channels to Alaska and six other small markets.
That programming was switched to EchoStar 1 within several hours of the failure, the company said.
Dish said the failed satellite had a book value of about $6.4 million as of June 30.
The satellite also had experienced problems in February 2007 with the rotation of some of its solar panels, according to a previous regulatory filing.
"Whenever you have to switch (to another satellite), it's taking away some of your bandwidth, and it's a bandwidth game when all is said and done," Schaeffler said.
But he said EchoStar II's 12-year-old life "is about right for birds built back then."
TiVo all set to broadcast YouTube on TV
From http://news.techwhack.com/8002-tivo-youtube
TiVo has announced that they are all set to introduce their new service that would broadcast YouTube over TV sets.
They had revealed about this new service earlier this year as part of their deal with Google.
TiVo said that they would release this updated software in the coming weeks.
TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD DVR subscribers would soon get access to this new service through their TiVo devices.
TiVo CEO Tom Rogers added: “With YouTube content now available on TiVo on top of all the movies, music videos, songs and TV shows that are simply unavailable on cable and satellite, TiVo subscribers have more choice on their TV sets than any other TV viewers in the world.”
Hunter Walk, YouTube’s director of product management said: “The partnership with TiVo extends our ability to make YouTube accessible anywhere and lets people watch what they want, when they want it.”
Dish TV to roll out its services in SUVs
From http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Dish-TV-to-roll-out-its-services-in-SUVs/337228/
Zee group, the pioneer of DTH (direct-to-home) platform in India, is ready to roll out its services in sports utility vehicles (SUVs) across the country.
According to a Dish TV official, talks are on with car manufacturing companies such as Tata Motors, Honda and Ford Motors. These companies have completed successful trials, costing Dish TV an additional $500.
Dish TV has already provided services in special trains and Kingfisher Airlines. The hardware, priced at about $1500, is sourced from companies in Israel and Germany.
"The car manufacturers have expressed their interest in the services. Though the trials have been done successfully, we are yet to start it commercially as the deal has not yet been signed," the official said.
"The market is positive in India, but we have not yet started aggressive marketing here. The scenario will change once we start it," he said.
Meanwhile, Dish TV has added 2,85,000 new subscribers during the fourth quarter with a total of 1.04 million in FY 2008. At present, the DTH service provider has 59% marketshare in India. The official, however, added that besides the hardware cost, consumers will have to shell out charges for their respective packages. About 15 Mercedes in India are using mobile Dish TV at present.
17/07/08
The Test signal on Is8 12726 H NZ/Islands beam sr 28066 has left
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3754V sr 6111 Fec 3/4 "Sun, KTV, Jaya TV" started (Unconfirmed report)
Am33 96.5E 3525R sr 31110 Kultura Telekanal started
From my Email & ICQ
From Dave Creek
More feeds of the Pope
D2 12,664 SR 6670
D2 12,670 SR 6670
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 12648 H "Max Asia" has left .
Agila 2 146E 3906 V "GMA 7, GMA Pinoy TV Asia and QTV Channel 11" have left .
AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 4095 H "Sun TV (China)" is back on , Fta, SR 5554, FEC 3/4.
NSS 6 95E 12729 H "YTN" has started on , BISS.
Insat 4B 93.5E 3955 H "Orissa TV" has started on , Fta.
Insat 4A 83E 4040 H "Sangeet Bhojpuri" has started on , Fta.
Thaicom 2 78.5E 4020 H "RU TV 2" is back on , Conax, SR 1085, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3670 H "TVK" is back on , Fta, SR 3704, FEC 3/4.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 12355 H "T-Sports" is Fta.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3760 H "Sitel TV" has started on , Fta.
ABS 1 75E 3652 V World Fashion Channel International has left.
Intelsat 10 68.5E 4034 H "MTV Mandarin and MTV Indonesia" have left .
NEWS
Work on satellite site in Australia about to begin
From http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56213
TOKYO — Construction on a new satellite ground station in Australia begins this month, part of the U.S. Navy’s efforts to provide more secure and mobile communications around the world, according to Navy officials.
The $15 million satellite station in Geraldton, a town in Western Australia 200 miles north of Perth, is part of an effort to increase the military’s system communication capacity tenfold, according to Navy publications and Steven A. Davis, a spokesman for the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego.
Davis and Navy spokeswoman Lt. Karen E. Eifert said the site is not a spy base or station. Instead, they said, the technology will allow military units to transfer data while sailing, flying or driving throughout the world without stopping to re-link to the system.
"It allows for full true communications on the move," Davis said during a phone interview last week.
The site, which is scheduled to be completed in a year, will link into the Navy’s Mobile User Objective System, Davis said. That system uses narrowband technology that works despite inclement weather or interferences from urban areas, he said.
The system, called MUOS, will be partially available late this year. The entire system is scheduled to be online by 2014, according to Navy publications.
The site at Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station Geraldton will contain three small buildings for the electrical power, three 18-meter satellite dishes and two smaller antennas, Davis said. Once construction ends, the site will operate unmanned, save for needed maintenance.
Australia was chosen because it provides an "optimal look angle" to the satellite, Davis said. Other site locations are in Hawaii, Norfolk and Sicily.
The technology will be available for all services, military spokespeople said.
Ten set to take on Fox in sport
From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24031241-2702,00.html
THE Ten Network is considering launching a sports-only channel from next year as part of its expanded multi-channelling offering, in a move that would have the new channel compete with pay-TV's Fox Sports franchises.
Media understands the move is at the top of a list of options being considered by Ten for multi-channelling, when the three commercial free-to-air networks are each permitted to launch an additional standard-definition channel from the beginning of next year.
Other options examined by Ten include launching a lifestyle channel that would include cooking, travel and home-renovation programs.
The revelations provide a glimpse into how the free-to-airs may think ahead of next year's launch of the new standard-definition channels, and specialised content directed at certain demographics is likely to feature prominently.
A consortium of free-to-air networks, including Ten, Nine and Seven, regional networks including WIN and Prime, and the ABC and SBS, formally announced yesterday the establishment of Freeview as a consumer marketing platform for the new digital channels.
Ten has been quietly upping the sports quotient on both its main free-to-air and existing high-definition multi-channel in recent weeks, in what appears to have been a way of testing a broader sports offering on its multi-channels.
Tellingly, it has been running MotoGP and Formula 1 grand prix events live on its HD multi-channel, with other programs running simultaneously on its main channel.
Ten surprised sports fans at the weekend by showing live the Wladimir Klitschko-Tony Thompson boxing world heavyweight title fight in the early hours of Sunday on its main and HD channels.
It was the first time a free-to-air has run a world title fight, an area pay-TV has dominated, in more than a decade.
"We haven't got any comment," Ten spokeswoman Jeannette McLoughlin said.
"It's entirely premature to signal what our plans might be."
David Malone, chief executive of Premier Media Group, which operates Fox Sports and is 50 per cent-owned by The Australian's publisher News Limited, also had no comment.
Ten has the rights to several major sporting events. These include its joint coverage of the AFL with the Seven Network and Foxtel, two of golf's four "majors" (US Open and US Masters) as well as the year's four world golf championships, cricket's emerging powerhouse the Indian Premier League and the motor sports events.
And Ten is likely to bid for the rights to golf's British Open when Nine's rights expire after this week's event at Royal Birkdale.
The golf majors can be repeated on the multi-channels and many of the other events for which Ten has deals, such as the IPL cricket and the motor racing events, are largely free of regulatory requirements and can be screened live or on delay on the multi-channels.
But AFL games are contractually unable to be shown on the multi-channels after their first screenings on Ten's main channel.
The US Masters is on the Government's anti-siphoning list, which protects viewer access to major events on flagship free-to-air channels, and must be first screened on the main channel before the multi-channels.
Ten expects the IPL cricket, for which it has signed a five-year deal worth $10-$15 million, to provide substantial content across its channels, as the tournament turns the sport on its head.
Ten's head of sport, David White, told Media last month he expected the 59-match tournament to "be massive (in Australia) in two to three years' time".
The weekend's world title boxing screening has indicated Ten will compete with pay-TV to bid to win one-off events from rights holders.
Meanwhile, Nine is keeping its options open on Big Brother and is believed to be considering buying the show for 2010, potentially to derive full benefit from introducing it across its main free-to-air and multi-channelling stations.
Nine and Ten have privately indicated their new standard-definition channels could be six months later than the January 1 launch date, as the networks grapple with the channels' business model and technical issues.
Sources have suggested any move by Nine on Big Brother would be at a cost dramatically lower than the $28 million a year paid by Ten to production house Southern Star for its 2008 series.
Reward offered for missing TV3 gear
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4621646a1860.html
TV3 is offering a $10,000 reward for the return of broadcasting equipment stolen in Wellington on Sunday morning.
Publicist Stephanie Taylor said the Satellite News Gathering truck was broken into while parked in Durham Crescent in Aro Valley early on Sunday.
Taylor said the equipment would be “absolutely no use” to anyone, except a television broadcaster.
She said the gear is branded with the TV3 logo, and predicts it would not be easy to re-sell.
“The equipment is critical to our live broadcast operation, and we need it back,” Taylor said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the equipment can phone the TV3 Wellington newsroom on 04 802 1803.
Tests of New Communication Satellite End Successfully
From http://www.russia-ic.com/news/show/6718/
Russian engineers announced the end of ground tests of new telecommunication satellite “Express AM44”. No errors or exceptions were detected during said tests. Now the satellite waits for being sent to the orbit.
The satellite carries transponders of Ku-, C- and L-ranges and shows higher output capacity than previous satellites of the “Express” series. Satellites weigh about 2560 kilograms and are expected to actively operate for 12 years. Space vehicle is designed for providing communication, TV and radio broadcasting, multimedia services and other types of communication.
Russian Satellite Debris Poses Hazard
From http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92602008
All Things Considered, July 16, 2008 · NASA is carefully tracking some 500 pieces of debris from a Russian intelligence satellite that may pose a hazard for the international space station. The satellite exploded in March; another piece of it broke apart in June.
In recent days, a couple of pieces looked like they might come close enough to the international space station to prompt an evasive maneuver, says Gene Stansbery, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who helps track debris. Further tracking, however, indicated the debris would pass at a safe distance.
This model of Russian satellite has a history of occasional and peculiar breakups.
"They undergo these mysterious spasms," says Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "And what's unusual about this latest one is that there's so much debris — much more than in any previous explosion of a satellite of this type."
The satellites, known as EORSATs — Electronic Ocean Reconnaissance Satellites — have been in use since the 1970s. Some analysts believe the satellites are used to track U.S. Navy ships from their radio transmissions.
Most analysts believe the breakups are intentional, McDowell says. The initial explosion seems to happen when the satellite is within range of a Russian tracking station, "which leads one to imagine that it's them sending a radio signal going 'blow up now,'" McDowell says.
McDowell says the subsequent breakups may be due to residual fuel igniting.
Stansbery says NASA has contacted Russian officials in the past about the occasional messy breakups of these satellites, but hasn't received a response. Russia is a major partner in the international space station.
The 500 pieces being tracked are at least a couple of inches in size, Stansbery says. He says the debris cloud probably also includes smaller bits that the network can't track.
"In those cases, you don't have any warning if one would come close" to the international space station, Stansbery says, though the risk from those pieces is low.
Stansbery says he's heard the Russians are retiring this model of satellite. The Russian Embassy did not return a call seeking comment.
StarHub Bolsters HDTV Offerings
From http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=starhub071508.htm
SINGAPORE, July 15: Singaporean pay-TV operator StarHub plans to be offering five high-definition channels on its digital cable platform by the end of this year, including a sports service.
"StarHub was the first pay-TV operator to offer commercial HDTV services in Southeast Asia in January 2007, and we are glad to see an increasing supply and demand for HD content since then,” said Patrick Lim, StarHub's head of cable TV services. “StarHub is committed to offer quality content to local viewers and we remain Singapore's top pay-TV provider of content with more than 150 channels carried on our platform.”
At the end of this month, StarHub Digital Cable customers will have access to MediaCorp's HD5 at no extra cost to all customers with an HD-ready TV set and StarHub's HD set-top box. In August, the platform will roll out Sports HD, also at no extra cost. The channel will feature 92 Barclays Premier League matches for the new 2008/09 season and weekly US PGA Tour events in high definition. Sports HD will replace HD Showcase.
HD5 and Sports HD join the existing National Geographic Channel HD and Discovery HD. A fifth high-def channel will be up and running by year end.
In other StarHub news, the platform has appointed Kathleen Syron as its new head of content, beginning in September and reporting to StarHub's CEO, Terry Clontz. Syron and her team will be responsible for leading StarHub's content strategy across all three of its platforms: pay TV, mobile and online.
She comes to StarHub from Astro All Asia Networks in Malaysia, where she was the director of programming.
Japan takes critical view of digital channel
From http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6480/53/
TOKYO -- Japan's telecoms ministry has issued new guidelines aimed at reigning in promotional programming, including infomercials and shopping shows, on new digital broadcast satellite (BS) channels, as Japan prepares to switch to all-digital broadcasting in 2011.
The twelve digital BS channels currently operating have been rapidly adding promotional programming to their skeds, in addition to regular TV commercials. These shows now constitute nearly 40% of their total weekly broadcasting hours. At some channels the percentage is as high as 60%. The channels thereby cut production costs, while earning coin from promotional program sponsors.
Responding to complaints by consumer groups about the flood of such programming, the ministry, known locally as the Somusho, has announced that "it has no reason to prioritize" the license applications of new BS channels "broadcasting large numbers of programs whose principal purpose is advertising."
The ministry will instead give priority to applicants whose programming mix is less weighted towards promotional programming.
The ministry will begin a preliminary survey of new license applicants in August, including an appraisal of how much promotional programming they intend to broadcast. It will begin formally accepting applications in the spring of 2009 and issue licenses to successful applicants that summer. There is room for from eight to twelve new digital channels -- and dozens of companies are reportedly considering applications.
Commercial broadcasters in Japan currently self-restrict TV commercials to 18% or less of their total weekly broadcasting hours. There are no punishments for violators, however. Also, the government does not limit the percentage of programming devoted to ads, including promotional shows, since such regs would infringe on free expression enshrined in Japan's Broadcasting Law.
On the other hand, when evaluating applicants for new broadcasting licenses, the Somusho examines the channel's proposed programming mix to determine whether it contributes to the "healthy development of broadcasting."
Chinese Satellite Market to Generate 5.3% Rate of Growth Despite Regulatory and Business Hurdles
From http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/chinese-satellite-market-generate-53/story.aspx?guid=%7B2267CA2E-336B-4791-8BA3-819E0419695D%7D&dist=hppr
Latest NSR Report Finds Transponder Leasing in China, Hong Kong and Macau Anticipated to Reach US$375 Million by 2013
CAMBRIDGE, MA, Jul 15, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- NSR today released its newest market survey and forecast report: "China Satellite Markets: Assessment of Commercial Satellite Transponder Demand in China, Hong Kong and Macau." This study offers the most in-depth and detailed assessment of commercial C- and Ku-band transponder demand in China available to the industry and drills down into the details of the major market and application trends in the region.
The report outlines the many regulatory and market hurdles facing the mainland China market and provides a segmentation of capacity demand between that provisioned by China's domestic satellite operator and foreign satellite operators serving the country. Further, the inclusion of the Hong Kong and Macau satellite capacity market is a critical facet to the understanding of the overall mainland China assessment because these markets cannot be treated in exclusion of one another. "The quantification of overspill of television broadcasting signals nominally meant for the Hong Kong, Macau or greater Asian market is critical to piecing together the mainland China market," noted Patrick French, Senior Analyst for NSR and author of the report. "Just one of the critical drivers for the market is television broadcasters intentionally targeting the enormous illegal satellite TV market in China."
Other key developments in China have been the consolidation of its domestic satellites under one operator, China DBSAT, and the soon to be launched national DTH service for China. "China is on the verge of finally initiating a brand new industry, legal DTH satellite TV services, in the coming months," said French. "As long awaited as this has been, there still remain a number of key hurdles to get the ball rolling, not the least of which being the still pending modification of Decree No. 129 to allow Chinese nationals the right to purchase, install and receive television services on a satellite dish." NSR projects that the development of the Chinese DTH market will follow its own unique path, different than has been seen to date in Western countries or parallel markets like India, and should conservatively number nearly 3 million subscribers as of 2013.
"There is no doubt that with its enormous population and ethnic diversity, skyrocketing cell phone and pay-television subscribership, and proactive government efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country, China could offer the most potential for new satellite transponder demand in all of Asia," stated French. "Yet, NSR's assessment is that the challenges of turning this potential into a reality that shows up on the bottom lines of the region's satellite operators are very substantial, and the actual rate of growth projected for the Chinese market, while respectable, certainly falls short of what it could be."
About The Report
"China Satellite Markets: Assessment of Commercial Satellite Transponder Demand in China, Hong Kong and Macau" is a multi-client report now available from NSR. The report examines demand trends for video distribution, Direct-To-Home, video contribution & occasional use television, telephony & carrier services, broadband & narrowband VSAT networking, and other services. For additional information on this report, including a full table of contents and list of exhibits, please visit http://www.nsr.com/ or call NSR at 617-576-5771.
About NSR
NSR is an international market research and consulting firm specializing in satellite and wireless technology and applications. NSR primary areas of expertise include satellite technology, IP applications, wireless convergence and broadcast services. With extensive expertise in all regions and a number of broadband sectors, NSR is a leading provider of in-depth market insight and analyses.
SOURCE: NSR
TAIWAN: Al Jazeera English TV makes debut in Taiwan
From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=94822
New channel to offer Internet TV service subscribers "alternative view" on news events, says Chunghwa Telecom president
Al Jazeera English, the English-language service of the popular Arabic satellite news channel, made its debut yesterday in Taiwan.
The channel is now available through Chunghwa Telecom's Multimedia-on-Demand (MOD) service, an Internet TV service offered by the state-controlled telecommunications giant that to date has almost 500,000 subscribers nationwide.
Speaking at the press conference in Taipei to mark the launch, Derl McCrudden, acting bureau chief of the Kuala Lumpur broadcast center, said that Al Jazeera had "no agenda other than the news" and would offer Taiwanese viewers unbiased analysis on global events.
Former vice president Annette Lu, also in attendance, said she was pleased about the arrival of the new channel, as she had just had MOD installed in her house.
She added that the launch of Al Jazeera, which is unpopular with certain governments around the world, was yet another sign of Taiwan's media freedom and showed how far the nation had progressed since the days of media censorship just a few decades ago.
Chunghwa Telecom president Lu Shyne-ching said the channel would provide subscribers with an alternative view on events to established news channels.
Launched in November 2006 and with its Asian base in Kuala Lumpur, Al Jazeera English features news, documentaries and sports and reaches an estimated audience of 120 million households around the world.
GlobeCast Throws a Wider HD Net
From http://www.digitalfacility.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=455802
To meet rising demand for high-definition capable facilities, GlobeCast America has been investing heavily in upgrading its U.S. infrastructure for transmission and playout of HD signals. As part of that process, it has improved its global fiber network and has nearly completed the upgrade of its Culver City, Calif., operations.
“With the growth of HD and the demand for more HD content, we have been investing the capital to dramatically increase our capability to uplink, downlink, convert, encode, playback and transport HD across all formats,” said GlobeCast America CEO Mary Frost.
Much of the demand for HD-capable transport and facilities is being driven by clients that want to transmit signals within the United States, Frost said. But the company is also seeing increased demand from clients who want to export HD signals from the U.S. to Europe and Asia and, to a lesser extent, import HD signals into the U.S.
Frost also noted an increased demand for high-definition capacity from religious broadcasters and the enterprise sector, particularly the medical field.
GlobeCast is not a newcomer to the HD game. David Szelag, vice president of technical operations, said the content management and delivery company has been handling HD signals in the U.S. for the syndication and sports markets for some time. This fall will mark GlobeCast’s fourth year of delivering syndicated content in high-def.
In 2007, the company began to prepare for the expansion of its HD capacity by upgrading its global fiber infrastructure. That fiber network will allow it to deliver HD content to the company’s 12 teleports on five continents.
The next step was the HD upgrade of its Culver City master control and teleport, which Szelag called the company’s “primary technical facility in the U.S.”
“We distribute WorldTV [subscription-based ethnic programming packages] out of there” and it is the base for many permanent and occasional use services, he added. “It is really our gateway to Asia and Europe, which is why we started there.”
The company had initially planned to complete that process over a six to nine month period in 2008, but one of its customers, World Wrestling Entertainment, moved up the launch of its HD offering to January 2008. Because of that accelerated timetable, the Culver City facility upgrade is near completion, with the exception of a few enhancements to their audio capabilities, according to Szelag.
Vendors involved in that upgrade included Snell & Wilcox, which provided its Alchemist Ph.CTM HD standards converter with motion control, Omneon Video Networks, which provided servers; digital routers from Utah Scientific; Tandberg Television, which supplied a variety of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 encoders and integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs); and monitoring and other equipment from Harris Broadcast Communications.
Within the next 45 to 60 days, GlobeCast is expecting to receive IRDs from Scientific Atlanta to ensure one of its clients can begin sending HD signals this fall.
As a result of the upgrades, GlobeCast can now handle such advanced modulation standards as DVB-S2, which maximizes satellite capacity and MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 compression.
To further expand its HD capabilities, GlobeCast is also looking “to partner with companies who have HD trucks and HD studios and post production capabilities,” Frost said. “Partnerships can help all of us move into the HD world, which is a very expensive undertaking.”
The company is also looking to upgrade its Sunrise, Fla., facility, which would make all of its U.S. operations fully HD-compatible, said Marcelo Buitrago, a sales solutions engineer at the company. “We have a master control playout facility at Sunrise and the plan is to upgrade that facility to HD playout as well.”
But timing for the Sunrise upgrade has yet to be determined. “It will be more project driven,” and dependent on when clients need the HD capability, Buitrago said. “We started with Culver City because that is our main facility and our main path to the outside world.”
Because most of its international HD traffic is with Europe, Buitrago said the company “implemented Europe first. Asia will be second.” Later, it will expand HD links to Latin America.
Along with its extensive domestic business, GlobeCast, which is owned by France Telecom, is a major player in transporting broadcast signals in and out of the United States, and is a major provider of ethnic channels in the U.S. and Europe.
But Frost said that market has not yet embraced HD content and that it may take some time before international channels begin importing HD content to U.S. subscribers.
U.S. subscribers to the WorldTV packages from Europe and Asia “don’t seem to need or demand it,” she said. “They are just happy to have some overseas feeds and we haven’t seen any sense that they are clamoring to upgrade to HD.”
Frost expects some of the first international content in HD to reach U.S. consumers will likely be premium sports networks. Networks from Japan, Mexico and Brazil that have already begun to expand their HD content might also be early movers, she said, adding, “Some other regions like Eastern Europe will take a long time.”
Murphy case: Written judgement out
From http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/80143?PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc
The Premier League will have to drop foreign satellite prosecutions if the European Court of Justice rules no geographical restrictions apply to their use.
The news was delivered in the written judgement of the Karen Murphy case yesterday.
Round one went against Murphy of the Red, White & Blue in Portsmouth, who was appealing against her conviction for screening Premiership football via Greek channel Nova Supersport.
But Lord Justice Stanley Burnton and Mr Justice Barling decided to refer the case to the European court.
The case against foreign satellite suppliers AV Station and QC Leisure has also been referred to Europe.
The written judgement said: “If the geographical restriction is held to be unlawful, it may be difficult to see why the subscription charge exacted by BSkyB for its service (to which the Appellant did not subscribe) should be treated as ‘applicable’ to the Nova programme screened by the Appellant.
“If it is not so applicable then the offence under s. 297(1) would not be established. This may need to be the subject of further argument depending on the outcome of the reference which we propose to make.”
Section 297 (1) states that a programme has been received dishonestly “with intent to avoid payment of any charge applicable”.
Murphy’s lawyer Paul Dixon, of Molesworth Bright and Clegg, claimed it was a “powerful judgement”.
“The FA Premier League should immediately abandon its campaign of criminal prosecutions against honest, decent and hardworking publicans who purchase and use legitimate European satellite television decoder cards in their pubs,” he said.
Prosecutions to continue
However, a Premier League spokesman said the prosecutions would continue.
“The use of foreign satellite equipment has not been legitimised. Lord Justice Pumfrey's December judgment remains valid as does the use of section 297,” a spokesman said .
“It remains the case that Mrs Murphy has been found guilty of a criminal offence.
“Action will continue to be taken against publicans who use foreign satellite equipment to broadcast Barclays Premier League football in this country.”
When the European Court has reached a decision the matter will then have to return to the High Court here for a decision after which it will be open to either side to mount appeals.
The process could take up to two years.
Music copyright groups told to remove border restrictions
From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/17/content_8558234.htm
BRUSSELS, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Music copyright groups must stop practices which created artificial barriers to the provision of music across borders, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
The Commission's antitrust decision required 24 music copyright groups, or the collecting societies, across Europe to end the infringements by modifying their agreements and practices, but did not impose fines.
The prohibited practices consisted of clauses in the reciprocal representation agreements as well as other concerted practices between those collecting societies.
As a usual practice, music authors sign over to collecting societies the rights to manage on their behalf, worldwide, the copyright of their musical works.
However, the membership clause, currently applied by 23 collecting societies, prevents an author from choosing or moving to another collecting society.
Meanwhile, the collecting societies also agreed to territorial restrictions that prevent a collecting society from offering licenses to commercial users outside their domestic territory
These territorial restrictions include an exclusivity clause by which a collecting society authorizes another collecting society to administer its repertoire on a given territory on an exclusive basis.
The Commission said the concerted practice among all collecting societies resulted in a strict segmentation of the market on a national basis, making it difficult for a commercial user to offera pan-European media service since it has to obtain a license in each member state.
"The removal of these restrictions will allow authors to choosewhich collecting society manages their copyright. It will also make it easier for users to obtain licenses for broadcasting music over the internet, by cable and by satellite in several countries from a single collection society of their choice," the Commission said.
The European Union (EU) antitrust watchdog said it opened an investigation following complaints from broadcasting group RTL and Music Choice, a British online music provider.
Thousands tune in to banned Dish TV
From http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2008/July/theuae_July564.xml
DUBAI - Despite a blanket ban on subscription of Dish TV, a product of the India-based Zee TV, many shops in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are selling the service after allegedly smuggling the receivers into the country, Khaleej Times has learnt.
Officials of the Real Media-Zee Network yesterday said that they have launched an awareness campaign on their channel asking people to refrain from using the Dish TV services and informing them that it is illegal. Earlier, the Ministry of Economy had directed the port authorities across the UAE to confiscate TV decoders being smuggled into the country.
The ministry had also issued warnings to people involved in illegal import of receivers, which decodes pay TV channels in violation of the UAE copyright law.
Khaleej Times talked to some dealers who said that the Dish TV has been a craze among the people of Asian origin and is cheaper than e-vision, the cable TV service provider in the UAE.
Dealers said there are big agents in the market who import the decoders and the cards in thousands from India.
'We get it from the big dealers. The Dish TV consists of a receiver and viewing card. The service uses a single satellite which sends signals directly to the personal mini dish antenna of the subscriber. In India, one can get the receiver for anything between Rs4,000 (Dh365 approx) and Rs.5000 (Dh455 approx). One-year subscription costs Rs3,500-Rs4,000 just for the card. The receiver is free with a year's subscription,' a dealer in Abu Dhabi said.
'Here, we sell the receiver for Dh550. The cost of the six-month validity viewing card is Dh150. The cost of the dish antenna with the LNB (the main switch attached with dish which receives signals from satellite) rests between Dh100 and Dh150. The technical service charge is Dh100. So, the total cost of installation is just Dh950. This is still cheap when compared to an e-vision connection,' he said.
'Most of the consignments enter from Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah ports. With Dubai having strict regulations, agents import it through other routes in the country. Mini dish antennas are easily available in places like the Naif Road and Bur Dubai in Dubai, and Rolla area in Sharjah,' said another dealer in Dubai.
A sales executive with e-vision said that they were suffering losses because of the Dish TV.
'People are inclined more towards the Dish TV as they have all the sports channels from around the world as well as movie channels at a cheaper rate. For example, an interested subscriber for e-vision has to make a payment of Dh250 (six-month validity) for the installation followed by monthly payment for the package they choose. Our package of E-Pehla Gold, which has the same number of channels like the Dish TV, comes for Dh223 every month. But people need to understand that they are using a service which is illegal in the country,' he said.
Altogether e-vision has around 13 different packages and also gives a platform to other satellite services like Orbit, Showtime, ADD, TFC etc.
Manoj Mathews, Vice President, Corporate Communications at Real Media-Zee Network, told Khaleej Times that they have a tie-up with e-vision for the campaign.
'The problem has been persisting for quite some time now. The content of Dish TV is just for India and is illegal outside the country. The receivers and cards of Dish TV are being smuggled into the country by dealers. We are trying to curb the practice,' he said. Those who were using the service already said that they would always vote for cheap options. 'I have been using Dish TV for almost a year now. It took me just Dh950 for installation. And I just need to pay Dh150 in order to renew the card in every six months. Earlier, I had an e-vision connection, where I needed to give Dh250 as installation changes and Dh153 every month (for six months) for the e-Pehla Silver package. So, the total amount stands at Dh1,168 for six months. Moreover, I had no idea that Dish TV was banned here,' said an Indian national who requested anonymity.
Hackers of encrypted satellite TV channels are liable under UAE federal law No (2) of 2006 for Prevention of Information Technology Crimes, Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kamali, Director of Institute for Judicial Studies and Training, Ministry of Justice, said. According to the law, any intentional act whereby a person unlawfully gains access to a website or information system by logging on to the website or system or breaking through a security measure carries imprisonment and a fine or either of the two.
He said the Ministry of Economy had issued warnings to persons involved in illicit import of decoders of satellite transmission and distributors/sellers of programmed sets for decoding pay TV channels without obtaining permission from the service rights owners. 'As part of its policy to fight piracy, the ministry has instructed all border checkpoints to confiscate any decoders being smuggled into the country.
Such operations, he explained, represent a flagrant violation of law for protection of intellectual property rights.
He added the GCC countries would approve measures to ban import of decoding devices.
He indicated that the National Media Council (NMC) has a unit responsible for protection of intellectual property rights, including satellite TV channels.
'The inspectors have been granted judicial powers by the Ministry of Justice to refer hackers of TV channels to Public Prosecution on the ground of breaching the law for protection of intellectual property rights and anti-IT crimes federal law,' he maintained.
Raytheon Team To Bid For Indian Satellite Navigation System
From http://www.gpsdaily.com/reports/Raytheon_Team_To_Bid_For_Indian_Satellite_Navigation_System_999.html
The GAGAN design is based on the experience gained delivering the only certified space-based augmentation systems.
Raytheon is leading a team to deliver a comprehensive solution for the Indian Space Research Organization and Airports Authority of India global navigation satellite systems. This will complete the final phase of the Global Positioning Satellite-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation System, or GAGAN.
GAGAN will provide satellite-based navigation for civil aviation across South and East Asia, which will provide India with the most accurate, flexible and efficient air navigation system deployed.
"We look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship with ISRO and AAI during this critical phase of GAGAN," said Andy Zogg, Raytheon vice president of Airspace Management and Homeland Security.
"We are committed to a thorough transfer of knowledge of the GAGAN system to further enhance India's leadership position in air navigation."
The Raytheon team will leverage the experience it gained during the past several years in deploying the technology demonstration system phase of GAGAN.
The GAGAN design is based on the experience gained delivering the only certified space-based augmentation systems.
For example, the Wide Area Augmentation System was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in July 2003, and the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System was certified by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau in September 2007.
Team members are Accord Software and Systems, Pvt. Ltd. Of Bangalore, India, for GPS-based user receiver prototype development optimized for the equatorial region; Elcome Technologies, Pvt. Ltd. of Gurgaon, India, for logistical and on-site support; and Naverus, Inc., of Kent, Washington, for performance-based navigation route design, procedure flight validation and other related services.
16/07/08
Very quiet taking a break, back on Thursday
15/07/08
Live satellite chat 9.pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards.
From my Email & ICQ
Nothng to report
From the Dish
Palapa C2 113E 10990 H "TV One" has left .
Telkom 1 108E 3785 H "TV Edukasi" is back on , Fta, SR 4000, FEC 3/4.
Telkom 1 108E "TVRI Papua" has moved from 4005 H to 3797 H, Fta, SR 3900, FEC 3/4.
AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 4095 H "Sun TV" has left .
NSS 6 95E 12535 V "India News" has started, Fta
NSS 6 95E 12595 V "Fashion TV India" is now Fta.
Measat 3 91.5E 3752 V "Voom HD" has switched from DVB-S to DVB-S2.
ST 1 88E 12673 H "New Eyes TV" has started on , Fta.
ST 1 88E 12515 H The Videoland mux has left .
Thaicom 2 78.5E 4020 H "RU TV 2" has left .
NEWS
Two men charged over pay TV scam
From http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24022302-29277,00.html
TWO men have been charged with selling fake pay TV cards that give viewers access to Foxtel and Austar without subscribing.
Two Sydney men - a 42-year-old man from North Ryde and a 43-year-old Ashfield man - will face court today in Sydney's Downing Centre.
The Ashfield man has been charged with making and distributing unauthorised set-top decoders and possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The younger man was charged with distributing unauthorised decoders and possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The maximum penalty for the copyright offences is five years in jail, while the maximum is two years' jail for the proceeds of crime offence.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided properties in three states in April in a crackdown on pay TV scammers. At that time, they said up to 50,000 bogus cards could be circulating across Australia
The AFP executed 10 search warrants, seizing hundreds of fake cards and set-top decoders in Victoria, NSW and Queensland after a six-month investigation.
Two Victorian men were charged after the raids, and officers seized cash in excess of $173,000, computer equipment and fake smart cards from a Sydney property.
The latest arrests follow an analysis of data on the computers.
Pay TV scam not likely in NZ
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10521711
Two Sydney men have been charged with selling fake pay TV cards that give viewers access without subscribing, but Kiwi Sky bosses say that a repeat of the fake card rip-off is unlikely to happen here.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided properties in three states in April in a crackdown on pay TV scammers. At that time, they said up to 50,000 bogus cards could be circulating across Australia.
Sky NZ communications director Tony O'Brien says the relatively small size of the New Zealand market for such a rort makes it far less worthwhile for criminals.
"When someone wants to defeat the system, they'll got the market with the biggest return," he said, "and that means the US, UK and Australia. We're the smallest pay TV market in the world - it wouldn't be worth their while."
O'Brien says Sky has systems to alert the company of illegal access and there is a plan in place if such a breach occurs.
"If it were to happen here we'd send out a new series of smart cards, then obviously prosecute the offenders. There are definitely safeguards in place."
The AFP executed 10 search warrants in Australia, seizing hundreds of fake Foxtel and Austar cards and set-top decoders in Victoria, NSW and Queensland after a six-month investigation.
Two Victorian men were charged after the raids, and officers seized cash in excess of A$173,000, ($222,600) computer equipment and fake smart cards from a Sydney property.
The latest arrests follow an analysis of data on the computers.
A 42-year-old man from North Ryde and a 43-year-old Ashfield man will face court today in Sydney's Downing Centre.
The Ashfield man has been charged with making and distributing unauthorised decoders and possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The younger man was charged with distributing unauthorised decoders and possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The maximum penalty for the copyright offences is five years in jail, while the maximum is two years' jail for the proceeds of crime offence.
(Craig's comment, Wakey wakey, Sky NZ open your EYES!....)
APSCC 2008 Satellite Conference And Exhibition On The Move Towards Jeju Island
From http://www.spacemart.com/reports/APSCC_2008_Satellite_Conference_And_Exhibition_On_The_Move_Towards_Jeju_Island_999.html
The satellite industry in the Asia-Pacific region is "on the move" with increasing demand for Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in India and China and with a number of broadband services via satellite significantly increasing in Asian countries including Australia.
Healthy growth of DTH service in Asia has been projected for this year as more transponders are available with lower IRD cost, and many national DTH programs being planned to be launched. Satellite carriage of High Definition Television (HDTV) also continues to grow rapidly in the region. According to a survey of 25 operators in 15 markets in Asia, 75 percent of Pay TV operators plan to launch a HDTV offering during 2008.
Satellite experts will dig into the specific details of these trends in the Asian satellite market at the largest event for the satellite industry in Asia, the APSCC 2008 Satellite Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for September 22-25 in Jeju Island.
After a delightful change of the venue to Bangkok in 2007, APSCC is heading back towards to Korea to enjoy the early fall of Jeju Island, the largest island in South Korea situated off the south east cost of the Korean Peninsula and also known as the "Island of the Gods."
Focusing on the theme of "Satellites on the Move", APSCC 2008 will highlight key issues impacting the development of the satellite industry in the Asia-Pacific region, including new satellite application technologies, services strategies and regulatory issues currently faced by the satellite community, through CEO Roundtables, panel discussions and sessions over the three-day conference.
In addition, a brand new pre-conference program, the Military Satellite Services Workshop, has been added this year on September 22 to cover the issues, applications, and equipments regarding military satellite services.
The Military Satellite Services Workshop will present how Asian countries are using satellites for their military purposes and will examine the approaches for more efficient and applicable solutions among satellite applications for military satellite services.
The 3-day event also includes the APSCC 2008 Exhibition, which will introduce new products and more efficient solutions to the satellite and space industries' marketplace. Several companies will participate the exhibition for the first time to launch and showcase their new satellite-related technologies and services that will transform or help shape the way we live.
Hosted by the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC), APSCC 2008 is supported by CASBAA, CSA, ESOA, GVF, ITSO, MSUA, PTC, CUA-SCBT, SIA and SUIRG and sponsored by Arianespace, SES-ASTRA, Boeing, Marsh, Orbital Sciences Corporation and Thales Alenia Space.
Russia to launch Thai satellite
From http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6449890.html
Russia is to launch a carrying rocket on Wednesday to send into orbit a Thai satellite for Earth observation, local media reported on Monday.
The Dnepr, a satellite carrier modified from an intercontinental ballistic missile, will blast off from the Dombarovsky missile launching site in Russia's Ural mountains region with the THEOS (Thailand Earth Observation System) satellite atop.
"We are on schedule. The cone with THEOS has been attached to the rocket. The rocket will soon be filled with fuel," Interfax cited a space center source.
Philippine justice department rejects reconsideration plea of alleged cable pirate
From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/july/july141.php
MUMBAI: The Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) has firmly reiterated rejection of a motion for re-consideration by alleged cable pirate Maguindanao Skycable.
The Philippines Secretary of Justice Raul M. Gonzalez said the DoJ had made a "final decision" that criminal copyright violation cases should be lodged against Estrellita Juliano-Tamano and other officers of Maguindanao Skycable.
"The 9 April Motion for Reconsideration by the Maguindanao executives shall be considered a useless piece of paper and will not merit a whit of consideration from this office", said Gonzalez.
Noting that the appeal was lodged despite clearly-stated previous decisions by the DoJ, Gonzalez instructed the Maguindanao Skycable attorney to "exercise better discretion in the future".
The copyright complaints were originally filed in early 2006 by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) on behalf of the copyright holders against Maguindanao Skycable for illegally distributing copyrighted programs of major cable and satellite programme providers.
Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies says, “We thank the Department of Justice for making this final call. Their action demonstrates the ultimate commitment of the Philippine authorities in the fight against piracy. Further progress on these cases will highlight their determination to protect intellectual property rights on all levels and across all industries.”
Broadcast Gets Patent for Video Compression Technology
From http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1476990/broadcast_gets_patent_for_video_compression_technology/
Broadcast International, a provider of video-powered broadcast solutions, has announced that CodecSys, its multi-codec video compression technology, has been granted a patent from the Mexico patent office.
The technology slashes bandwidth requirements for video transmitted over satellite, cable, IP, and wireless media. CodecSys allows, for example, up to twelve HDTV channels to be broadcast over the same media which currently support only two.
CodecSys video compression technology enables multiple expert codecs (used in the compression of video signals for transmission) to be used to minimize the bandwidth required to transmit video over bandwidth-constrained networks such as the internet. Other solutions use only a single, general purpose codec, and require up to six times more bandwidth to transmit the same video.
The Mexico patent is the eighth international patent allowed for Broadcast International's CodecSys video compression technology. Patents for the core CodecSys multi-codec switching technology have also been granted in the US, Australia, Singapore, India, Korea, Malaysia and Russia.
14/07/08
Historic Warkworth NZ Satellite dish gets demolished.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1904889
A few feeds from the weekend
D1 12670 V 7200 Pope
D1 12656 H 6670 Pope
D1 12680 V 7200 Pope
D2 12660 V SR 6670 V 1265 A 1225 P 1265 "GCAST1" Horse racing
D2 12670 V Sr 6670 "Sky News, Pope Feed"
D2 12680 V SR 6670 V 0200 A 1010 P 0200 "ANC-001" Sky news, pope at airport.
Asiasat4 12570 v 6620 NRL from Wollongong Steelers (Dragons) v Raiders
From my Email & ICQ
From Vaughan
IS2 Live Feed - Miss Universe 2008
Cali Mux: 3901 H sr 30800 "PAS Adhoc II VC"
NBC bringing us the action from Vietnam... NICE!
From Phillip Storey
Eurosport on the I-180 is currently FTA....12648H 28067 3/4
Regards,
From Glenn Gibson
Sunday
Intelsat 2 Cband boxing feed
3901H 30800 V1260 a 1220 Adhoc 1 VC 2
From the Dish
AsiaSat 3S 105.5E 4180 V "Geo Middle East" has started on , Conax.
Insat 2E 83E 3774 V "Vissa" is encrypted again.
Thaicom 5 78.5E 3670 H "TVK" has left .
Telstar 10 76.5E 3840 H "Fashion TV" is back on , Viaccess.
NEWS
New PVR Takes On TiVo And Foxtel iQ HD
From http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Media_Centres/Set_Top_Boxes/C5W6J4R6
A new personal video recorder (PVR) that allows users to record both free to air TV and Foxtel in high definition has been launched by the Digital Products Group the maker of the Beyonwiz PVR.
The new Beyonwiz DP-P2 comes with a 320 GB HDD which is double the capacity of the TiVo offering also allows users to pause and rewind live HDTV and record over 30hrs in HD or 80Hrs in SD. It also has the Ice TV electronic program guide which for almost 18 months Channel Nine has been trying to noble because it allows users to eliminate free to air TV advertising.
A new line input capability allows users to connect almost any AV device including their Foxtel iQ or iQ HD as well as a Tivo unit and record to the DP-P2's internal HDD. The benefit of this say DPG is that when a viewer is using their PayTV service via the Beyonwiz "Line Input" the Beyonwiz will automatically hold a Buffer of up to 2 hours so you can Pause and Rewind Live PayTV.
The Beyonwiz DP-P2 also doubles up the amount of storage available allowing users to offline storage to the Beyonwiz. Users can also connect the DP-P2 to their home computer network and playback movies, pictures and music directly from their PC, External HDD or from a variety of supported memory cards. If a user owns more than one Beyonwiz unit they can even playback recordings from one unit to another, so if you record a program in the Lounge Room on your first Beyonwiz you can play it back in the Bedroom on your second.
Digital Products Group General Manager Jai Kemp said " I have been co-developing and importing STB and PVR's for almost 10 years now, and the number 1 question that a consumer asks when enquiring about one of our products is whether it can record Pay TV to the HDD as well as FTA TV, well now they can"
" The reason that PVR manufactures have not been able to implement this feature in the past is that it is almost technically impossible to achieve using the current PVR chip-sets. We have developed a new Chipset and a digital encoder that allows us to do this".
The Beyonwiz DP-P2 is "available now" and has a RRP of $999.
New Zealanders embrace 'free' digital TV
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10521458
Uptake of Freeview - the free-to-air digital television and radio service - has been faster than expected, with installed receivers in over 100,000 Kiwi homes.
The latest figures show that over 25,000 receivers have been sold this quarter, swelling the total to 123,903, including 7594 high-definition versions.
The current arrangement from Government on digital television dictates that the analogue broadcast will be shut off when coverage reaches 70 per cent, or 2012, whichever comes first.
Freeview boss Steve Browning says that between the freebie service and Sky digital broadcasts, coverage is now sitting at around 50 per cent.
"We didn't think it would be quite this fast," he admits.
Users of standard analogue televisions will need to buy an add-on box to receive digital broadcast when the switchover is eventually made.
Freeview receivers currently come in two flavours - HD and standard definition - but this will change later this year or early next with the arrival of a PVR model which will allow users to record one Freeview channel and watch another.
It will run a system with features like American TiVo, which suggests similar content for viewers and features series link technology similar to that employed by Sky's new HDi decoders. This will record every episode of a show without having to manually enter recording details.
It also features a impressive work around for timing clashes between shows.
Browning explained that - using Shortland Street as an example, if the receiver has a programming clash for a weeknight episode, it will look forward and choose between rescreenings on other digital channels, or pick the episode out of the weekend 'Omnibus'.
Browning can not yet release full details about the machine, but says working spec includes at least two tuners and a large hard disk drive.
Sony has today released Bravia LCD televisions with built-in Freeview HD tuners which use the same interface as other Freeview devices already in the marketplace. Using the localised GUI is a first for the Japanese electronics giant.
Browning says the Freeview service has resonated with New Zealanders, and that he has been impressed by the speed of its uptake.
"We are all acutely aware that the cost of living has gone up dramatically this year," he says. "This makes Freeview's offer of digital quality TV and radio for a one-off cost and no ongoing payments very appealing,".
He says there have been a few teething problems with the new service, and while nothing remotely as embarrassing as Prime's porn blunder, a kids' show was broadcast without sound - raising an immediate reaction from peace-starved Mums throughout the country.
The adoption of Freeview into New Zealand homes is likely to increase further during the Olympics, with high-def coverage of events as well as 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. There will also be an exclusive channel giving extended coverage - including smaller sports unlikely to enjoy mainstream coverage - called TVNZ Sport Extra on Freeview 20.
Single set-top box for Freeview HD and Sky possible
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/4617858a28.html
Sky Television says it has been approached by electronics companies that want to supply a set-top box capable of picking up Sky's satellite service and Freeview's digital terrestrial TV service, Freeview HD.
"International players have approached us on that idea," Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said.
It would be the only way viewers could access both services in high-definition using a single set-top box, without buying a new type of television that goes on sale today.
Sky's existing set-top boxes can be configured to pick up channels broadcast on Freeview's satellite service, including TVNZ6 and TVNZ7, but TVNZ has threatened legal action if Sky does this.
The satellite service would give viewers access to Freeview channels only in standard definition, not high-definition.
TVNZ spokesman Peter Parussini says it would be open to Sky selling a combined box.
"Ideally, absolutely, we should try and simplify things for the consumer, but the issue is can you technologically do that while protecting everyone's own commercial interests? We are open to the idea."
Sony will begin selling LCD televisions with built-in Freeview HD tuners today.
SkyLife Selects NDS Solution for New HD Service
From http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5998&Itemid=2
SkyLife, the nation’s digital satellite TV service provider, chose NDS solution for HDTV service.
NDS said that SkyLife signed up a contract to use VideoGuard conditional access system and MediaHighway middleware solution to offer the nation’s first ever H.264 based HD service more effectively.
SkyLife HD is a 24-hour HD service which aggregates the world’s best HD content from
broadcasters such as Discovery HD, NHK, VOOM HD, and others. Viewers must subscribe to
the SkyLife HD package in order to watch the HD channels and selected HD packages also
include SD channels.
NDS said, “The new agreement expands the existing long-standing relationship between NDS and SkyLife since the establishment of our relationship started in 2001.”
Galileo Leads The Race Against Russia's Glonass
From http://www.gpsdaily.com/reports/Galileo_Leads_The_Race_Against_Russia_Glonass_999.html
Galileo, which was announced as a commercial project in 1999, has been marking time until 2007 because of haggling between the EU countries over investment and revenues. Some of them have questioned the very possibility of profiting from satellite navigation.
The European Commission has decided to start buying satellites and ground-based equipment for its Galileo satellite navigation project. By 2010, the system should comprise 30 satellites and a ramified ground infrastructure.
Europe's independence from the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) will cost it 3.4 billion euros by 2013. But the European Commission thinks it is worth it.
Galileo, an initiative launched by the European Union and the European Space Agency, will provide information concerning the positioning of users in many sectors such as transport (vehicle location, route searching, speed control, guidance systems, etc.), social services (aid for the disabled or elderly), the justice system and customs services (location of suspects, border control), public projects (geographical information systems), search and rescue systems, or leisure (direction finding at sea or in the mountains, etc.).
Good for Europe, but what about Russia's Glonass? In the mid-2000s it was declared a priority national project and a successful commercial undertaking capable of rivaling Europe's Galileo and America's Navstar (NAVigation Satellites providing Time And Range) GPS.
In the past few years, though, we have seen that it cannot rival either. Moreover, it is not clear why Glonass is not progressing as fast as it should.
The success of any undertaking in space or on the Earth depends on the goals and conditions for attaining them, as well as allocations and deadlines. The more uncertain and vague they are, the fewer chances a project has.
We know from Soviet and Russian history that when a project is described as "global" and "a national priority," and the more special programs are approved and special commissions established, the fewer the project's chances.
Glonass was first proposed in 1982 and took off quite well as a military project. But the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought down the system of satellite navigation.
In 2001, Glonass was declared a priority national project for the space sector and the national economy as a whole. A special federal targeted program was approved for its implementation. It was also given a new goal - to compete with the U.S. and European programs in attracting commercial users.
In other words, we have been trying to turn a purely scientific and technical project into yet another symbol of Russia's greatness, without clearly formulating tasks for the navigation satellites.
Lack of funds for the program has forced us to review it twice, in 2006, when the task was set to increase the number of the group's satellites, and in late May 2008, when the government approved the goal of increasing the production of Glonass sets to create a vast market of users.
We are again presenting the program as a commercial project, a lucrative business, which it cannot be.
So far, there have been no more than 16 of the planned 18 Glonass satellites in orbit to cover the entire Russian territory, although '18' is also something of an arbitrary figure. Russian research institutes have conducted mathematical modeling studies that prove that 18 satellites can ensure only 70% reliability of positioning. I'm not sure we will have the 30 satellites required for a truly reliable system in the foreseeable future.
As for Glonass receivers, the questionable achievements of Russian producers of household radio electronics make me wonder. And then, who will use Glonass' services, and where? Are we doing anything to develop a market for navigation satellites' data?
There is no reliable information about any of these elements, although it has been reported that Russian and foreign cargo transportation companies working in Russia have been supplied with Glonass sets. But this is not a market, and not a commercial business.
And lastly, Galileo, which was announced as a commercial project in 1999, has been marking time until 2007 because of haggling between the EU countries over investment and revenues. Some of them have questioned the very possibility of profiting from satellite navigation.
Eventually, a thorough business analysis put an end to disputes and commercial considerations, and the program became a purely budget project with net expenses estimated at 3.4 billion euros.
Maybe Russia should do the same with its Glonass system? But where will it find the money? You say everything is cheaper in Russia? Don't make me laugh.
The only solution is to reassign the task of developing satellite navigation to those who really need it, the army.
Rupert Murdoch overtaken by son in media power ranking
From http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIC_VzH2cQa3YArS6aA5YIaO0q-A
LONDON (AFP) — Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., was overtaken by his son James for the first time in a ranking of the most powerful figures in British media published Monday.
Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page topped The Guardian's list of the most powerful people in British media because "of the all-pervasive impact of Google on the media", the newspaper said.
James Murdoch, chairman of satellite broadcaster BSkyB in Britain and News Corp. Europe and Asia's chairman and chief executive, ranked second in the list, while his father was in fifth position.
Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth ranked 27th, making for three Murdochs in the top 100.
The Guardian said James overtook his father "partly because Rupert has been more focused on the US since buying the Wall Street Journal publisher, Dow Jones" in December.
The top 100 list, which The Guardian has published every year since 2001, measures economic, cultural and political influence in Britain and is decided by a panel of industry experts.
Eutelsat says four transponders to remain out of use on W5 satellite
From http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/14/afx5209863.html
PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Eutelsat Communications said four transponders on its W5 satellite will remain permanently out of use following an incident in the spacecraft's power supply subsystem on the night of June 16 to 17.
Eutelsat and Thales (other-otc: THLEF.PK - news - people ) Alenia Space have carried out a technical investigation and though the satellite's power supply has been stabilised, the investigation concluded that it would not be possible to bring back into operational use the four affected transponders which went out during the incident, the satellite operator said.
The satellite's operating capacity from now on will be 20 transponders.
Satellite Company Lies About Shutdown of TV Station, Says Recording
From http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/eutel-lies-about-shutdown-ntdtv-962.html
On June 16, when Eutelsat took New Tang Dynasty Television off the air, the satellite company claimed that it was due to a power supply "anomaly" on its W5 satellite and that the source of the anomaly was being investigated. On July 11, Eutelsat issued a 97-word press release containing only one conclusion from its three-and-a-half-week investigation, "it will not be possible to recover operational use of the four transponders that were switched off as a result of the technical incident."
However, according to incriminating new evidence contained in a recording of a conversation with a Eutelsat employee in Beijing on June 23, there was no anomaly, no investigation, and Eutelsat's CEO in France, Giuliano Berretta, was the source of the power cut.
The highly sensitive recording was obtained by press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans Frontieres – RSF) and released on July 10. The phone call was made by a Chinese interlocutor claiming to be a Director in the Central Propaganda Department calling a key official at Eutelsat's Beijing office to check up on the status of the case.
In the transcript, translated from Chinese, the caller asked, "Are those few [transponders] really broken, or are we just using this technical excuse to stop them?"
The employee repeatedly responded that "the transponders are not broken" and goes on to explain that any of the satellite's transponders could have been turned off and that it was a political decision to shut down NTDTV.
"We can choose to turn off this transponder, or another transponder. ...But our CEO [Giuliano Berretta] issued the order to turn that one off," said the employee. When the caller asked if it was because NTDTV was on that one, the answer was "Yes."
The employee went on to say that Berretta turned off NTDTV because of "repeated complaints and reminders from the Chinese government." He added that "two years ago, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television kept saying the same thing over and over: 'Stop that TV station before we begin to talk.'"
Pulling the plug on NTDTV was therefore Berretta's "very friendly message" to the Chinese regime that Eutelsat wanted to talk, said the employee.
Reporters Without Borders Confirms Satellite Company Bowed to Chinese Regime
For several years Eutelsat has been vying to sign lucrative contract deals with China. In 2005, Berretta attempted to sacrifice NTDTV to win favor with Beijing by refusing to renew the TV stations contract, but failed at that time. This time around, not long after NTDTV faded to black, Eutelsat made another move designed to please the Chinese regime in signing a contract to use China's Long March rocket to launch their new Zhongxing-9 satellite intended for Olympic broadcasting. No other satellite company has used this rocket for their launches.
Carrying NTDTV had been so troublesome for Eutelsat, the Beijing official said laughing that they've been "cursing it for several years," hoping the W5 satellite would break down. The China office had even suggested that the Chinese regime simply shoot it down to put everyone at ease.
NTDTV was founded in 2001 and has been broadcasting via satellite, independent, uncensored Chinese-language programming into mainland China and across Asia since 2004. It has always been seen as an enemy by the Chinese Communist Party because it reports truthfully on topics that the regime considers forbidden such as Taiwan, the persecution of Falun Gong, repression in Tibet, the underground Christian church and various other human rights and corruption issues.
Backup system kept secret
Another critical revelation contained in the recording is that the W5 satellite has a backup transponder in case there are technical problems with a principle transponder. The existence of this backup system was deliberately hidden, said the employee:
"Actually, on the satellite, there should still be another transponder. A small part is still reserved... as a back up. In case any other is not functioning well, this is reserved.
"But this is very, very private information that cannot be announced to the outside. If the U.S. got the information, then our company cannot stand this kind of pressure. If people learned that you still have a spare one, that's terrible," he said, ironically adding, "Of course, if people get that information, it means that we have a mole in our company, ha ha [laughs]."
With the Beijing Olympics weeks away, NTDTV is anxious to get back on the air because it says that Chinese people need access to uncensored information. "Mr Berretta shut down NTDTV, slammed shut the only window of free information to millions of Chinese people," said an NTDTV statement.
"Since the inception of the NTDTV broadcast on W5, it has become indispensable to a vast number of Chinese viewers," the statement continued.
Since going off the air, NTDTV has received over 1,200 comments of support from viewers and signatures on its petition to Eutelsat to resume broadcasting. Three viewers from Mainland China, Xiaoguan, Yong and Yushi Liu, wrote that "missing NTDTV is like having no fresh air to breathe. We suffocate when we see the fake news and reports from other TV stations."
Another viewer, J. Zhuang said "there are too many people relying on the truthful reporting from NTDTV. Our hearts are burning! No matter what reasons, it is your utmost responsibility to resume the broadcasting."
RSF said to ensure the safety of the interlocutor and the Eutelsat employee, their identities cannot be released.
Tala Dowlatshahi, U.S. Representative for RSF, said that her organization had taken rigorous steps to ensure the recording's authenticity, had consulted with their lawyers, and were confident enough with the veracity of the materials to go public.
"Clearly as an organization that is representing scores of journalists we have to make sure that this is not just merely an allegation," said Dowlatshahi.
Dowlatshahi said that RSF was in the process of trying to secure a variety of important documents regarding the case that the recorded employee had agreed to email to the supposed Propaganda Department Director during the course of the conversation.
Eutelsat could not be reached at its headquarters in Paris or its Washington office for comment.
Sea Launch Sets Sail For EchoStar XI Launch
From http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Sea_Launch_Sets_Sail_For_EchoStar_XI_Launch_999.html
EchoStar XI broadcast satellite.
The Sea Launch vessels have departed Sea Launch Home Port and are en route to the Equator, in preparation for the launch of the EchoStar XI broadcast satellite for DISH Network on July 15. Liftoff is planned for 10:21pm Pacific Daylight Time (5:21 GMT, July 16), at the opening of a two-hour launch window.
Upon arrival at the launch site, at 154 degrees West Longitude, the Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown, during which the Odyssey Launch Platform will ballast to launch depth and erect a Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad.
After successfully completing a final series of tests, the team will proceed with fueling operations and launch.
Prior to fueling, all personnel on the Launch Platform will transfer to the Sea Launch Commander for the duration of the mission. The team monitors both marine and launch operations remotely, from a position at about four miles uprange of the platform.
The Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5,511 kg (12,150 lb) EchoStar XI spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location of 110 degrees West Longitude. Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the powerful 20-kW spacecraft carries a Ku-band payload for direct broadcast television service.
EchoStar XI will complement the existing DISH Network fleet and will provide uninterrupted service and additional capacity and capabilities to DISH customers throughout the United States.
Designed for a 15-year service life on orbit, EchoStar XI is the 3rd satellite Sea Launch will deliver to orbit for EchoStar and the 8th mission with a spacecraft built by SS/L.
Share feed with IPTV, HITS: Govt tells channels
From http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=3&autono=328643
The government has made it mandatory for all broadcasters — representing about 350-plus television channels that are currently allowed to be beamed on cable and direct-to-home (DTH) platforms — to share their feed with Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS), IPTV and Mobile TV, the new cable distribution platforms that have emerged recently.
A clarification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) recently makes it compulsory for all broadcasters to immediately share their channels with Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL), the HITS licence holding company of Essel Group.
This is significant because several broadcasters, including the STAR channels (distributed by STAR-DEN) and Sony bouquet (MSM Discovery), were not sharing their channels with Essel Group's HITS venture that will be initially launched across 12-cities in the last week of July.
WWIL would ultimately rollout HITS across all the 55-cities listed by the broadcast regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), for the proposed CAS rollout.
"The I&B ministry has told all broadcasters, including STAR-DEN and MSM Discovery, to share their channels with HITS platform of WWIL at the earliest," a source in the I&B ministry told Business Standard.
Similarly, operators of IPTV (Bharti, Reliance Communications and MTNL) or Mobile TV (Doordarshan) can now demand from the broadcasters any channel they want, even in the trial-phase, till an overall policy for all the new platforms comes out, an industry source said.
This move will also make Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group the pioneer of private DTH (Dish TV) and HITS. Dish TV is the first private DTH company in the country launched in late 2004, while WWIL will become the first cable company to have launched HITS starting July-end.
Digital Entertainment Networks (DEN), the joint venture company with STAR India, is also interested in launching their own HITS platform and therefore waiting for the government to announce the HITS policy, a source in STAR-DEN alliance said.
It should be noted here that the government is yet to bring out its policy on HITS, IPTV and Mobile TV.
HITS is a new cable distribution platform that is similar in its technology with DTH. But unlike DTH, where the television signals reach the end consumers directly via satellite, in HITS, the cable operator receives the channels via a satellite and then pushes them to the consumers through a set-top box.
This, according to Trai, is a faster and cost-effective technology to enforce both conditional access system (CAS) and the digitalisation of analogue cable.
The Essel Group is using a private satellite Asiasat-4 for the HITS operations and has booked 10-transponders on it. Its HITS rollout will have about 200 digital quality channels offered to the consumers through attractive schemes.
Real Estate TV to air from DTH platform
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/Media/Real_Estate_TV_to_air_from_DTH_platform/articleshow/3228141.cms
NEW DELHI: Real Estate TV, a 24x7 TV channel dedicated to real estate and infrastructure, on Sunday said it is in talks with leading direct-to-home operators, including Dish TV and TataSky, to beam its signals.
"We are at an initial stages of discussions with DishTV, TataSky and Reliance. Most probably by next week we will be finalising our partner," Real Estate TV CEO Prem Menon said.
"There are issues to be sorted out over pricing among others with the DTH operators after which we will come to some conclusion," he added.
The channel, launched by Alliance Broadcasting, the media company of the Rs 4,400-crore Alliance Group, is available across the country through cable television.
Menon said the company also has plans to foray into the overseas countries, including the US, the Middle East, Canada, Australia among others.
By February next year, the channel will be going into the overseas countries to cater to Indian population abroad, he added.
In India, Real Estate TV has tied up with cable service providers such as Hathway, InCable, Seven Star and Asianet.
Menon said the channel is targeting high net worth viewers in metros through its programmes comprising latest updates on all aspects of real estate, including infrastructure.
Real Estate TV has recently appointed MQ Networks for undertaking its marketing and advertisement activities.
As per the agreement signed between the two firms, MQ would look after sales promotion, marketing, media sales of the channel.
DTH industry in throes of tech war
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/DTH_industry_in_throes_of_tech_war/articleshow/3229484.cms
NEW DELHI: Technology war, which was associated with the CDMA and GSM-based operators, is now set to shake up the direct-to-home(DTH) entertainment industry.
With several new players, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and the Videocon Group, set to foray into the DTH space with the latest MPEG-4 technology, existing players such as Dish TV and Tata Sky are of the view that using this advanced technology is a violation of existing guidelines for DTH operations in India.
The existing players also allege that MPEG -4 cannot be introduced in India unless the existing DTH regulations are changed. However this claim is dismissed by top officials of Trai, the regulator for telecom and broadcasting sector.
During the latest working group meeting existing DTH players opposed the revision of standards to include MPEG-4 technology. The meeting was called by Ministry of Broadcasting and included representatives of all DTH players besides those from the Bureau of Indian standards, the national certification body.
Both Tata Sky and Dish TV say that revision of norms cannot be done unless the new players offer commercial interoperability with the set top boxes which are under MPEG-2. A top Trai official told ET that the regulator favoured the introduction of the MPEG-4 based DTH services.
“No operator must be permitted to stop the march of technology citing excuses such as this technology is not mentioned in the DTH regulations. How can the new player be at fault if their set-top-boxes (STBs) are not interoperable with those of the existing players?
The logic of the existing operators does not make any sense – it should be their responsibility to upgrade the STBs of the customers to the superior technology. Market conditions will soon force the incumbents to switch to the MPEG-4 format. Trai has already recommended that the regulations be revised and MPEG-4 be allowed,” the Trai official added.
However a senior Dish TV official said, “The new players cannot launch MPEG-4 set top boxes till the DTH norms are revised by the BIS and I&B ministry revises its guidelines on the sector.” At the same time, existing DTH operators are of the view that MPEG-4 does not guarantee better quality reception or picture for the consumer, but will only help the operator provide a larger number of channels with minimum satellite transponders.
Trai hits out at DoT, now over WiMax
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Telecom/Trai_hits_out_at_DoT_now_over_WiMax/articleshow/3229517.cms
NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator Trai has slammed the communications ministry for being secretive about the amount of wireless broadband (WiMAX) spectrum that is currently available in the country.
Trai has also accused the Department of Telecom (DoT) of keeping it in the dark, both on the availability of WiMAX spectrum as well as on the government’s efforts to get other users such as the department of space to vacate these radio frequencies.The regulator has also demanded that the government put in place a transparent and efficient spectrum management regime.
“The results of the efforts made by the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC wing of the DoT) to get the required spectrum bands vacated/re-farmed from the incumbents are not available in the public domain. The Authority has time and again emphasized that in the times to come, the spectrum will become the most valuable and scarce resource as with the advent of new data centric applications, its demand will increase and there will be competitive users for the same band of spectrum. Therefore, there is a need to have a transparent, predictable and efficient spectrum management system for allocation and pricing of the spectrum,” Trai said in its communication to the DoT.
Trai has also point blank told the DoT that even as other countries had rolled out WiMAX services, the process in India had been delayed ‘due to uncertainty in the spectrum allocation policies’.
“Unless immediate action is taken for vacation of spectrum and its further allotment is done in a time bound manner with the clear-cut roadmap, little progress will be made in term of penetration of wireless broadband in the country,” the regulator warned.
Trai has also directed the DoT to work with the Department of Space (DoS) to get 100 MHz for broadband wireless spectrum vacated urgently in the 3.4 - 3.6 GHz band for wireless broadband services.
At the same time, the authority also took a dig at the DoT and said: “The Authority does not have any information regarding the efforts made by the DoT/WPC to coordinate with the DoS for spectrum in this band, and also results of the study done to find solution to the interference problem in this band between the satellite and terrestrial wireless services.”
Importantly, Trai has also decided not to make any recommendation for 3.4-3.6 GHz frequency bands unless the DoT assess the compatibility of satellite based services with WiMAX services in a transparent manner.
Again, in the case of 2.5 to 2.69 GHz frequency bands, Trai has asked the DoT to coordinate with the DoS and ascertain the feasibility of vacation of additional spectrum in this band within the next 45 days.