30/06/03

Nothing to say up here today. Link added above with specs for the Coship IRD.

From my Emails & ICQ

From MR Humax

Some feeds from the weekend

Optus B1,12429 V 6667 3/4 "250cc grand prix for Channel 10"
Optus B1,12420 V 6108 3/4 "TEN commentators"
Optus B1,12429 V 6670 3/4 "F1 program"

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 12406 H The Soundtrack Channel Pacific has left , replaced by a test card.
PAS 8 166E 12380 V "SBN - Scholar Business Network" has left .

JCSAT 2A 154E 3915 V "BYU TV" is now Fta.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3800 V "DD Jammu & Kashmir" is still on , Fta, SR 3950, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.

Yamal 102 90E 3725 L "Radio GTRK Dalnevostochnaya" has replaced Radio Rossii on ,Fta, APID 257.

NEWS

Boeing Committed To M'sia

From http://www.bernama.com.my/B2002/news_business.shtml?business/bu3006_2

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- The Boeing Company reiterated its commitment to the Malaysian market and to exploring further opportunities in order to create closer links with customers and industry in the region.

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' president and chief executive officer, Jim Albaugh recently visited Malaysia and met up with key government officials and industry leaders to discuss Boeing's continued business interest.

Albaugh's visit follows an earlier visit this year by other senior Boeing executives, an indication of the company's continued interest in Malaysia as a provider of offshore software development services and as a regional participant in back office operations, Boeing said in a statement Monday.

Boeing has also formed partnership with other companies in Malaysia, including holding a 25 percent stake in Asian Composites Manufacturing Sdn Bhd in Kedah, which manufactures composite trailing edge flaps for Boeing's 700 series commercial aircraft.

Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd and Boeing Satellite Systems, also part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, have established a relationship to provide the next-generation satellite for Malaysia.

The new Boeing 601HP satellite, designated MEASAT-3, would join the existing Boeing-built MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 spacecraft in the Malaysia-East Asia Satellite (MEASAT) system.

Boeing's relationship with Malaysia dates back to 1968 when the national carrier, then named Malaysia-Singapore Airlines, now known as Malaysia Airlines, acquired three 707 aircraft.

Today, Malaysia Airlines has a world-class fleet that includes Boeing's most modern jetliners, including the industry-leading 777 while AirAsia and Transmile Air operate Boeing 737s in regional and domestic service.

In 1993, the Malaysian government purchased eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses.

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 26/2003 29 June 2003 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International

Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A

AUSTRALIA

BROADCASTERS TO PUSH DIGITAL TV ROLLOUT

An estimated 75,000 digital television receivers have been sold in Australia, two and a half years after the standard was approved locally. That's a small number in a population approaching 20 million, but that may be about to change. Commercial Television Australia is about to launch a promotion featuring personalities from all three commercial networks, set-top boxes that allow analogue sets to receive digital signals are available at $299, and the stage is set for digital television to become a reality for Australians. Sales of widescreen televisions, which improve DVD viewing as well as television, are up by 80 per cent, with about 8000 sets sold monthly. In a startling prediction, receivers sold (including set-top boxes and integrated digital televisions) are expected to rise from 75,000 to 150,000 by the end of this year alone.

SENATE REJECTS MEDIA BILL

The Australian Senate on June 26 formally rejected the government's proposed relaxation of media ownership restrictions. The bill was finally defeated after the government moved in the House of Representatives lower house to exclude an amendment preventing mergers between television broadcasters and newspapers in mainland capital cities. Communications Minister Richard Alston's media ownership reform bill is now expected to be reintroduced to parliament later this year. If rejected by the Senate again, the bill becomes another double-dissolution trigger for Prime Minister John Howard, who has raised the possibility of an election in mid-2004. Alston said the outcome of the government's bid to modernize media ownership rules is "tragic," denying Australian media companies the opportunity to grow and expand.

CANWEST TO HOLD ON TO TEN NETWORK STAKE

CanWest has said it has no plans to offload its stake in Australian commercial terrestrial Ten Network. The Canada-based media giant has a 56.5% stake in Ten and has already put other TV assets on the block as it seeks to pay down debt. Ten will not be joining these however, despite reported interest from a number of companies.

TELSTRA SALE OF FOXTEL SHARES DENIED

Australia's government has thrown out recent recommendations from the Competition and Consumer Commission that suggested Telstra should sell its 50% ownership of pay-TV operator Foxtel. The government explained that substantial media restructuring could undo years of inward investment and as such should be viewed with caution. It also noted that if dominant telco Telstra were forced to relinquish its Foxtel stake, the tax payer may have to compensate the company's shareholders. The state currently owns 50.1% of Telstra.

BANGLADESH

NEW CABLE TV CHANNEL TO LAUNCH

Bangladesh's third private television channel, National Television (NTV), is to launch on July 3, according to M Enayetur Rahman, the station's chairman. He said NTV would be dominated by news and current affairs and committed to "neutrality and independence”. Viewers across the world would be able to watch NTV programmes through satellite. The station also has a partnership agreement with CNN. The two existing private cable television networks are Channel I and ATN Bangla, while state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) has the only terrestrial facility. Many employees of NTV had worked for now defunct private Ekushey Television (ETV), which was Bangladesh's only network having both satellite and terrestrial facilities. ETV shut down operations in August 2002 after it lost its licence following a court battle.

CHINA - HONG KONG

TOM.COM CLOSES IN ON CETV STAKE

Tom.com is closing in on a majority stake in AOL Time Warner's Chinese Entertainment Television Broadcast (CETV), having secured a consensus on terms from the broadcaster's three shareholders. The acquisition will be announced within a fortnight, according to sources close to the deal. CETV is 80 per cent controlled by debt-ridden AOL. Lark International Holdings - which operates the UA cinema chains in Hong Kong - has 16 per cent and veteran producer Robert Chua the remainder. Industry sources estimate CETV has a market value of US$70 million and is running an operating loss of $15 to $20 million a year. CETV is one of only four foreign channels that can legally broadcast to homes in the Pearl River Delta.

PCCW TO RESUME PAY-TV OPERATIONS

PCCW, a Hong Kong-based telco, may resume pay TV operations in October, according to local reports. PCCW shut down a VOD service, inherited from its takeover of Hong Kong Telecom, last year after subs fell below 10,000. But is now in talks with various content providers and set-top box manufacturer NEC about a new service.

SINGEL SUES STARHUB

SingTel has launched a lawsuit against Hong Kong pay-TV provider StarHub Cable Vision, alleging breach of contract. SingTel has accused SCV of using its leased lines to connect commercial pay TV customers, such as hotels and shopping malls, when a 1995 agreement between the two companies applies to residential customers only. SingTel is seeking an undisclosed amount for losses and damages. The companies came to blows last year when SingTel tried to stop StarHub's takeover of Singapore Cable Vision.

INDIA

STAR TV SELLS STAKE IN HINDI NEWS CHANNEL

Star TV has reached agreement with several Indian investors to take equity stakes in its recently launched Hindi-language news service, The Financial Times reported. The Indian government imposed a 26% cap on foreign ownership of news channels earlier this year. According to the report, two individuals, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, and Hemendra Kothari, who heads DSP Merrill Lunch, will both take a 25% stake. The rest will be split among five other individuals, the report said.

GOVERNMENT WALKS OUT FROM CAS MEETING

The Government has indicated that coercive measures might be adopted, including banning of pay channels from going on air, to regulate the cable industry. The meeting between broadcasters and cable operators, facilitated by Indian Government's Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) to sort out the issue of pricing of pay channels for the conditional access system (CAS) ended in a deadlock with Government eventually staging a walk-out. With the July 14 CAS implementation date approaching, the Government has indicated that coercive measures might be adopted, including banning of pay channels from going on air, to regulate the cable industry.

IRAQ

SATELLITE TV BOOM IN IRAQ

Iraqis are snatching up satellite dishes by the thousands. Cartoons, fitness programs, movies and commercials are flooding into Iraqi living rooms. Satellite television has helped introduce them to open debate and free speech. The demand for satellite dishes has continued despite a lack of electricity. Prices have dropped from $300 two months ago to about $250. The Americans have sent advisers contracted by the Defense Department to help set up the Iraqi Media Network. The network is still experimental, but it will let Americans tell their side of the story. During Saddam's regime, Satellite dishes were banned and anyone caught with one was jailed for six months and fined up to $500. Informing on neighbors, relatives or friends with satellite dishes brought a $25 reward.

NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA GROUP CONSIDERS RESTRUCTURING

Rupert Murdoch's New Zealand media outpost, Independent Newspapers, may restructure its interest in local Sky television after it receives the 1.2 billion New Zealand dollars from the sale of publishing assets to Australia's John Fairfax Holdings. INL's main asset after the sale of its New Zealand newspapers and magazine titles will be its 66.25 per cent shareholding in Sky.

THE PHILIPPINES

GMA NETWORK TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL CHANNEL

The chairman, president and CEO of GMA Network, the second largest media broadcast company in the Philippines, has announced GMA will soon launch its international channel covering North America. The new channel is expected to rival ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel, which has had success in the U.S. and Middle East, and which will soon expand to Canada and Europe. The huge number of Filipino workers based in the U.S. and the Middle East has ensured the success of The Filipino Channel. Yalong said GMA is in talks with two big U.S. cable and direct-to-home television operators for the setting up of its international channel.

SINGAPORE

GOVERNMENT TO TENDER MORE PAY-TV LICENSES

The Singapore government on June 24 said it is opening a tender for the city-state's second pay-TV operator. The second license will effectively end StarHub Pte. Ltd.'s current monopoly on subscription TV services. The cable TV operator had a seven-year exclusive pay-TV license which ended June. License bidders have until September 24 to submit their applications with detailed programming, commercial and technical plans, the government said in a statement. The government has been mulling the introduction of new subscription TV service operators for a year, and has indicated that this may include services such as satellite and digital television. The announcement comes days after the government partially lifted a ban on satellite dishes and satellite TV operators, by allowing hotels and schools access to these networks. Singapore Telecommunications, which has been in talks with the government to offer pay-TV services, said it remains keen to explore the service. SingTel, which has conducted trials of its interactive TV service with 300 Singapore families, has said new subscription TV operators would take 12-18 months to commercially launch a service once a license is issued.

29/06/03

No update Sunday

28/06/03

Sites late as I have been waiting for Lyngsat update, but its not here yet. Oh well more info Mondays site update

From my Emails & ICQ

From Bill Richards

0100 UTC

Pas 2 4023 H Sr 6620 FEC 2/3 "Church Feed English" FTA.Vpid1160 Apid1120

From the Dish

No Lyngsat in my email yet

NEWS

TVB 8 and TVB Xing He join AsiaSat 3S

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k3/june/june186.htm

HONG KONG: TVB 8 and TVB Xing He Channel have begun broadcasting on AsiaSat 3S.

An official release informs that with AsiaSat 3S TVB's two 24-hour Mandarin language satellite channels', the coverage will extend to all cable TV operators and more than 1.2 billion Chinese viewers across the satellite's footprint covering over 50 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the C.I.S.

TVB 8 and TVB Xing He Channel are operated by Hong Kong-based TVB Satellite Broadcasting Limited (TVBSB), a subsidiary of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). TVB 8 carries a diverse mix of entertainment, infotainment and music programmes while TVB Xing He Channel offers a wide selection of top-rated classical and modern dramas.

The channels are available on AsiaSat 3S in C-band with the following reception parameters:
Transponder: 13H;
Frequency: 4109.5 MHz;
Polarisation: Horizontal;
Modulation: QPSK;
Symbol Rate: 11.23 Msym/sec;
FEC: 3/4 .

AsiaSat 3S is a Boeing 601HP satellite, with 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band linearised transponders and an estimated 16-year operational life. The C-band footprint of AsiaSat 3S covers over 50 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Ku-band coverage consists of two high powered fixed beams serving East Asia and South Asia, as well as an in-orbit steerable beam now positioned over Australia.

AsiaSat 3S currently broadcasts over 70 television channels, including those from SABe TV, Sahara TV, Star, Sun TV and Zee Network in India.

(Craigs comment, not really new news they have been there for some time. Hopefully they will stay fta)

MultiChoice lashes out at ‘unlawful' broadcasting reports

From http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2003/0306270813.asp

Satellite TV broadcaster MultiChoice has attacked media reports that it was broadcasting unlawfully and adds that piracy is not an issue for the group.

Yesterday, the media reported on a Cape High Court judgment that let a pirate viewer off the hook after being prosecuted by the state in terms of the Broadcasting Act of 1999. The findings implied that MultiChoice was broadcasting without a licence as it only has permission from the Independent Broadcasting Authority of SA to offer its subscription satellite services.

A statement issued by MultiChoice says that until 1999 it was not required to hold a licence, because satellite broadcasting was not regulated. It says the company has now complied with the requirements and timeframes of the Broadcasting Act of 1999 and the subsequent Broadcasting Amendment Act of 2003.

“The articles which appear in a number of newspapers on 26 June 2003 are misleading, factually wrong and sensational. They are likely to cause substantial financial loss and embarrassment for MultiChoice, a company which has at all material times been operating legally under the relevant broadcasting legislation,” the statement says.

However, the confusion that has been generated by the judgment highlights the legal minefield that makes up SA broadcasting regulation.

Steven Ferguson of law firm Nicci-Ferguson says: “The two loopholes as I see it were: MultiChoice did not have a valid licence in 2001 when the defendant was charged and therefore could not enjoy the protection afforded to a licensee in terms of section 66 (prosecution of pirate viewing) of the Independent Broadcasting Act.

“And the permission that has now been granted to them was given under section four of the Broadcasting Act, as amended, which does not have any criminal provisions to prosecute such piracy.”

Ferguson says the Broadcasting Act of 1999 (BA) deals predominantly with governing the state-owned SA Broadcasting Corporation, whereas the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act deals with other parties and includes satellite broadcasting services. The new Broadcasting Amendment Act 64 of 2002 (assented to on 29 January 2003) makes certain amendments to both Acts.

“The important provision in the 2002 Act is the addition of section 4(5) to the 1999 BA Act. This new section empowers ICASA [the Independent Communications Authority of SA] to give ‘interim consent' to certain parties to commence broadcasting pending the outcome of their application for the relevant licence. This appears to be the interim measure that the state tried to rely on in their argument,” he says.

What the judges say

According to the findings of the Cape High Court: “To have the ‘necessary permission to continue its activities' is conceptually, legally different from having a licence. Such permission would not be subject to any conditions… Had the legislature intended to equate the position of such an application with that of a licence-holder, then it would have been easy for it to say so.”

Ferguson says: “The significance of this is that the BA Act does not have a corresponding provision to section 66 of the IBA Act. Section 66 makes it an offence to use or be in possession of any apparatus which allows a person to view a satellite broadcast without authorisation from the licensee.”

The MultiChoice statement says it has been operating legally under section four of the Broadcasting Act as amended and as confirmed by ICASA.

“MultiChoice would like to state categorically that neither the judgment referred to in these articles nor any other court in SA has ever held MultiChoice to be broadcasting unlawfully,” the company statement says.

Piracy not a problem

MultiChoice spokesman Lebogang Hashatse says pirate viewers are not a problem for the company and that it has the issue under control.

“I am not aware of any pending prosecutions against pirate viewers at the moment,” he says.

Hashatse says that even if MultiChoice was not afforded any protection in terms of the Broadcasting Act, “companies were protected as piracy was generally considered an illegal act”.

Ferguson says people using smart card readers/writers to gain illegal access to MultiChoice's services could technically be prosecuted in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act.

“In terms of subsections three and four of the ECT Act, persons who use (or sell, offer, etc) any device to circumvent security measures designed to protect data (such as the measures employed by MultiChoice in their smart cards) will be guilty of an offence,” Ferguson says.

Big, big debt to pay

From http://www.wkbn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1340037

Tampa, Florida-AP -- It's not exactly realistic, but a man has been ordered to pay 180 million dollars in restitution in installments of 500 dollars a month.

It will take him 30-thousand years to pay his debt.

Steven Frazier pleaded guilty in Tampa, Florida, to conspiracy in a scheme to steal satellite television signals. He got a five-year sentence along with the court-ordered restitution.

The federal judge ordered the restitution based on a formula about how much Frazier's intended victims, Direct T-V and Echostar, would have lost.

Frazier's lawyer says he's not expected to pay the entire sum, but the installment plan will put a crimp in his budget once he gets out of prison.

Shin says net profit to rise 20%

From http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/28Jun2003_biz65.html

Economic growth, new products the key

Khunying Potjamarn Shinawatra admires super-deluxe mobile phones on display at the Shin Fun Fair yesterday as Shin Corp chief executive Boonklee Plangsiri looks on. _ NATTHITI AMPRIWAN

Shin Corporation expects the combined net profit of the group's companies to grow by more than 20% this year, chief executive Boonklee Plangsiri said yesterday.

``In the first half of this year, we see signs that group net profit will achieve a growth target of 20%. Therefore, there is a high chance that group net profit in the second half will exceed 20% as targeted,'' he said at the opening of the Shin Fun Fair yeaterday.

The three-day fair at Impact Muang Thong Thani is being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the country's largest telecommunications business, founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Boonklee predicted the growth in profit would be supported by the country's strong economic growth as well as by the group's introduction of new products and services.

Shin and its three main subsidiaries _ Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS), Shin Satellite and iTV _ earned a combined net profit of 17.35 billion baht on revenues of 103.13 billion last year.

Shin holds a 43.09% stake in AIS, the country's largest cellular operator, which earned profits of 11.43 billion baht on revenues of 81.36 billion last year. It holds 51.53% of Shin Satellite and 55.53% in iTV.

The group posted first-quarter net profit growth of 15.3%.

``The group has launched a number of new service products, which will generate more revenue. In the future, once launched, the iPSTAR satellite will also generate major revenue to Shin Satellite and boost the group's total revenue,'' he said.

Mr Boonklee said the company had not yet decided on any new investment plan, as it was still in talks with potential businesses. Previously he has said Shin was negotiating deals to venture into the entertainment and marketing businesses.

He said Shin Corp had sufficient cash for financing new investments and expansion and had no need to raise new capital.

Meanwhile, AIS chief executive Somprasong Boonyachai said AIS was investing US$400 million in network expansion this year.

He said the company's network could now serve 15 million users, while currently it had 12 million users and was gaining about 400,000 subscribers per month.

Wichian Mektrakarn, vice-president for engineering, said work this year would focus mainly on relocating some capacity to heavy-use areas and adding new capacity in fast-growing regions, in particular the Northeast.

Shin Corp shares closed yesterday at 19.20 baht, down 40 satang, in trade worth 562.8 million baht. Shin Satellite fell one baht to 24 and AIS declined one baht to 59.50.

27/06/03

C1 stopped at 152E for testing keep an eye out for any activity!

Globecast change of Frequency date for the B3-C1 swapover has changed to Wednesday July 16th 5.am

For those interested in the Coship autoscanning units, checkout the report below.

http://www.satcritics.com/edit_coship.php

From my Emails & ICQ

From Superfly

Measat2 VTV test

Testing of the VTV services on Measat 2 (KU Vietnam beam) today showed no sign of a signal on a 2.7m solid dish in Brisbane.
Also no sign of the KU Indonesian beam.

From the Dish

Optus C1 at 152E

Optus C1 is now geostationary around 152 East.
Reception reports are very welcome.

BSAT 2C at 120.5E

BSAT 2C is now geostationary around 120-121 East.
Reception reports are very welcome.

(I don't know the footprint of this satellite just yet)

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3755 V New PIDs for Arirang TV World 1 on : 3601/3606.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3760 H "MTA Internationa"l and a test card have started, Fta,PIDs 1070/1071 and 1080/1081.

Insat 3A 93.5E 4120 V "DD Gujarati" has started, Fta, SR 5000, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/257.

Yamal 102 90E 3725 L "Radio GTRK Dalnevostochnaya" has left .

Chinastar1 87.5E 12475 H "GZTV" Sr 6250 Fec 3/4 (One for the dxers in W.A?)

Insat 3C 74E 4121 H "DD North-East" has left .

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "ARY Digital India" has started, Fta, PIDs 517/700.
PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "The Music" has started, Fta, PIDs 515/680.

NEWS

Indian Broadcasters plan alternative channels on FTA tier — Govt mulls capping ad time on pay channels

From http://www.hinduonnet.com/bline/stories/2003062702460100.htm

BOTH the broadcasters and the Government are finalising contingency plans to ensure that the conditional access system (CAS) rolls through.

While, the Government on its part is looking at a slew of options including capping the advertising time on pay channels, broadcasters are planning to launch alternative channels in the free-to-air (FTA) tier.

And the buzz in the corridors of Shastri Bhavan — home to the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry — is that advertising time could be restricted to a specific percentage of the programme time.

Officials are currently in the process of studying various legislations followed in different countries. If this comes through, pay broadcasters could face heavy advertising revenue losses.

Internationally channels are allowed about 10 minutes of advertising in a one-hour show, a norm prevalent in India as well. Some foreign premium pay channels that charge high subscription fees do not take any advertisements. In addition to this, the Government is not likely to allow broadcasters to arbitrarily increase rates and will ask them to freeze the initial post-CAS rates for a specific period of time.

Sources in the I&B Ministry said, "We are looking at a lot of options such as restricting the advertising time. We will also not allow channels to increase rates arbitrarily. However a final decision will be taken only later."

Hence, the meeting between the broadcasters and the Government over the implementation of the CAS on Monday assumes significance because any future course of action by the Ministry would depend on the outcome of this meeting. The Ministry has asked the broadcasters to announce the maximum retail price (MRP) of individual channels on Monday.

Meanwhile, broadcasters on their part are planning to launch clones of existing popular entertainment channels in the FTA tier. Star, for instance, is planning to launch Star Classic, Zee is launching two channels, Zee Comedy and Zee Manasi, while Sony is also contemplating a similar launch.

Industry analysts view this as a smart move as the broadcasting companies would be able to retain a large part of the advertising revenues from the FTA channels and get some subscription revenues from the encrypted ones. "Gradually the broadcaster could shift content from the FTA channel to the pay channel. This way the rollover to CAS could also be smoother," they said. Government also views this development favourably.

26/06/03

An Interesting item in the news section today about the controversial channel "Al-Manar" available via Tarb's (also Pas 2 cband)

Those interested in the Coship autoscanning receiver email me if you have not done so allready.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Bill Richards

0830 UTC

Pas 2 3888 V Sr 6110, FEC 3/4, Vpid 308 Apid 256 SID1 "Tennis Feed".

Pas 2 4054 H Sr 5420, FEC 1/2
Vpid 1160 Apid1120 SID1 Church Feed Eng/French
Vpid 1160 Apid1122 SID2 Church Feed Span/Por

Regards
Bill Richards
South Australia

From George Kamal

dear sir

I have upgrade the software of coship 3188c
in 3188a. the software was upgraded. but the reciever
is not working as by software. what and how can i do for
working the reciever working as a dvb3188c? ( the soft-
ware is working as 3188c. but the reciever was not get
any mpeg signal in blind scan mode) please help me .

best regards- -george

(Craigs comment, the 3188A and 3188C are different units the C version is the one with the hardware that supports the blindscan modes. Loading in the software for a different model is not advised.)

From the Dish

Not received as yet

NEWS

Arabic TV brings war back home

From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6651857%255E7582,00.html

THE images are bloody and brutal. Palestinian children throw rocks at Israeli tanks, Israeli soldiers shoot back. Innocent people die. Every night, thousands of Muslims across Australia are tuning into satellite television channels from the Middle East. The images they see are gruesome and confronting. Palestinians are killed by Israelis, children scream and women wail.

In Australia, experts say the most confronting channels remain Al-Jazeera and the lesser know but increasingly popular Al-Manar.

But while Al-Jazeera has been criticised for some anti-Western bias, Al-Manar is blatant about its agenda. It is the mouthpiece of the Hezbollah party in Lebanon, an organisation that has been placed on Australia's list of terror groups.

Hezbollah makes an effort to disseminate its views worldwide. In Australia, it is particularly popular.

Al-Manar is the second most popular Arabic TV channel out of 10 available in Australia via subscription, says a saleswoman for its Sydney-based distributor, TARBS World TV. Al-Manar's website says the Beirut-based channel provides news and current affairs in support of the oppressed Palestinian people. "Al-Manar is the first Arab establishment to stage an effective psychological warfare against the Zionist enemy," the website says.

Yael Adler, vice president of programming and production at TARBS World TV, says the images broadcast on Al-Manar are just like the images broadcast on any other news service. The crucial difference is that they come from a Palestinian perspective, she says. "We've never really seen anything that would justify removing it. It's even available in the [United] States," she says.

Adler rejects the suggestion that Al-Manar incites violence and recruits suicide bombers: "There's a lot of people who say television triggers violence in general. Are you going to ban Terminator?"

Dr Michael McKinley, senior lecturer in global politics at the Australian National University, says while channels such as Al-Manar can influence the actions of Muslims in Australia, there is no evidence that they create terrorists.

McKinley blames a lack of "sensible" and "sensitive" reporting from the local Australian media for the popularity of extremist TV channels.

He says it's hard to know what turns somebody from being sympathetic to a cause to becoming a terrorist. "You're left with that space between advocating the overthrow of Israel and strapping explosives on your back," he says.

He says a lot of what is broadcast in the mainstream news media is regarded by Australian Muslims as propaganda.

But Dr Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia Israeli Jewish Affairs Council, says it is outrageous that in Australia, people can view a channel that is run by a terrorist organisation. "It's a proscribed organisation in Australia, a terrorist organisation of global reach," he says. "There's no doubt that they are spreading a terrorist ideology on the channel. It's totally inconsistent with the criminal code banning Hezbollah that people can view this channel here," he says.

Rubenstein is particularly outraged by the channel's Internet site, which gives contact details for donations to the resistance movement.

He is also concerned that the channel glorifies suicide bombings. "Words are bullets and the images are inflammatory. They disseminate the ideology of hatred and it is extremely damaging . . . It is the precursor of terrorism," he says.

Clive Williams, director of terrorism studies at ANU, says there has been evidence of people seeing injustices on television and then acting unilaterally. "They will see a program that underlines injustices to the Palestinians and they might take it upon themselves to demonstrate their concerns by an act of violence," Williams says. "I don't think one should constrain objective reporting, and Al-Jazeera does this, but if they are straight-out propaganda I think it's highly undesirable."

But Islamic Council of Victoria president Yasser Soliman says there is nothing to be alarmed about. "There are some strong views expressed from the things I've seen about the situation [in the Middle East]. There are some comments broadcast by religious readers encouraging resistance . . . but at the same time there were comments by President Bush," Soliman says.

"The channel handles things differently from how a secular channel would. But I think it's popular because it broadcasts things that aren't broadcast on other channels, from the victims' perspective. It is not a terror channel," Soliman says.

Tony Ishak, managing director of World Media International, a company that provides the three Arabic channels broadcast through Optus including Al-Jazeera, says there are no "hidden messages" in what is broadcast. "If anything, during the war it was probably poor viewing because they aren't very nice images to look at. It's basically about looking at the current situation in their language. They give perhaps greater editorial insight, which as far as I know is a good thing," he says.

He rejects outright the idea that the brutal images Al-Jazeera broadcasts plays on the sensitivities of Muslims living abroad. "If people see dead bodies they won't become terrorists, they . . . are more likely to be against war and violence," he says.

Shock DStv licence loophole

From http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=176777

Viewers of Multichoice satellite TV programmes now have one more choice: do it illegally - and do so with impunity.

For months, two Cape Town lawyers believed they had found a legal loophole in South Africa's labyrinthine broadcasting legislation, which gave pirate viewers of Multichoice programmes immunity from prosecution.

Yesterday two judges of the High Court agreed and overturned the conviction of a Strand man for pirate viewing.

The judgment also found that for more than five years, up to last month, Multichoice had been broadcasting unlawfully.

There were no interim measures in place to allow Multichoice to operate as a broadcaster, pending a decision by the Independent Communications Authority (Icasa) on its licence application, the court ruled.

Multichoice had applied for a broadcasting licence in 1998, but Icasa granted it only last month.

Nevertheless, the licence was granted under legislation which does not allow for the prosecution of pirate viewers - and so they can continue to illicitly receive broadcasts without fear of prosecution.

Multichoice corporate communications manager Lebogang Hashatse said that the satellite TV provider would not comment on the judgment at the moment. "We will study the judgment and then decide on how we want to approach to matter," he said.

He said that Multichoice received formal permission to operate from Icasa last month, in terms of the 2003 Broadcasting Amendment Act.

The legal loophole was discovered by advocate Jantjie van Niekerk and attorney Etienne Barnard.

They argued that pirate viewers are prosecuted in terms of the Independent Broadcasting Act. This law refers to licences granted in terms of the act and contains provisions for the prosecution of pirate viewers, but Multichoice had applied for a licence in terms of the later Broadcasting Act.

The court agreed, and found that as a result pirate viewers of Multichoice broadcasts could not be prosecuted in terms of the Independent Broadcasting Act.

Last year Anton Hart was convicted in the Strand Magistrate's Court of pirate viewing. He was caught out using an unlicensed smart card to view programmes broadcast by Multichoice Africa.

Hart admitted to having had equipment in his possession that was intended to be used for the reception of broadcasts by Multichoice.

He was fined R5 000 and sentenced to five months' imprisonment, which was conditionally suspended for four years. He appealed his conviction to the Cape High Court.

In their judgment yesterday, Justice André Blignaut and Acting Justice Ron Goodman said that the law under which Hart was charged - the Independent Broadcasting Act - did not allow for the prosecution of pirate viewers of Multichoice's programmes, because Multichoice had applied for another type of licence, under another law, the Broadcasting Act.

Multichoice applied for a broadcasting licence on November 30, 1998. This was not granted by April 2001, when Hart was arrested for pirate viewing. It was only granted a month ago.

The state argued that the law did make provision for an interim situation where a broadcaster can continue as if it has a licence.

Hart's lawyers said if the law had been intended to mean this, it would have been phrased accordingly.

Judges Blignaut and Goodman agreed with Hart's legal team. They said that parliament did make provision for interim measures in other instances, but specifically did not do so in the case of the licence that Multichoice had applied for.

"In my view the legal issue must be decided in favour of Hart. I say that for two reasons. The first is that what the state argued extended the effect of the law beyond that which is permitted by its wording.

"To have the 'necessary permission to continue its activities' is conceptually, legally and practically different from having a licence.

"Such permission would not be subject to any conditions ... Had the legislature intended to equate the position of such an application with that of a licence holder, then it would have been easy for it to say so."

Singapore invites bids for second pay-TV service

From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

Singapore's Media Development Authority (MDA) has opened the tender for country's second pay-TV license, marking an end to StarHub Cable Vision's (SCV) eight-year monopoly on subscription-TV services. The tender closes on September 24 this year and according to the MDA, the proposal must include detailed programming, commercial and technical plans. Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has expressed interest in running pay-TV operations here. Other interested players, include Pacific Internet and MediaCorp. SingTel spokesman Chia Boon Chong, said, "We are keen to explore the provision of subscription-based television service in Singapore if it allows us to offer a commercially viable and integrated suite of services that is an extension of our broadband service offering." Last July Singtel successfully completed an 8-month interactive TV trial, jointly with MediaCorp, parent of Channel NewsAsia.On its part, MediaCorp says it is also getting a copy of the tender document and will only be able to decide after it has studied the terms of the pay-TV licence.

Commenting on the opening of the market, StarHub programming vice-president Sandie Lee said, "Generally, we welcome competition as it will help to create a more vibrant TV industry in Singapore. But what we hope to see is differentiated and sustainable competition as there is little or no value added if operators end up chasing the same content."

25/06/03

If you are interested in the Coship autoscanning unit mentioned in the last few days. Please send me an email

Well it seems like only last week we were watching Optus C1 launch. But things are moving quickly!

Globecast will change Frequency as part of the Optus B3-C1 swapover. The date I been given is SUNDAY 13TH July 2003 from 5:00am AEST

SATELLITE DECODER – FREQUENCY CHANGE

Old frequency: 12336 V
New frequency: 12367 V

There will be no dual broadcast, C1 will go to 156E and Transponders will swapover one by one over a 4 day period.

From my Emails ICQ

From David Ross

PAS 2

3888 V "Tennis" Sr 6110 Fec3/4

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3718 V "Pinoy Central TV" has started, Fta SID 1, PIDs 4096/4097. (Been there a while)
PAS 8 166E 4060 H Occasional feeds, PIDs 1560/1520.

Yamal 102 90E 3564 V "Radio Courants" has left .
(N Kawano)

Intelsat 906 64E 3963 R "JC-TV" has started, Fta, PIDs 2260/2220.

NEWS

Digital viewers hooked on free TV

From http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,984103,00.html

A fifth of all households with digital television now receive free-to-air channels rather than pay-TV, highlighting the rapid growth of the BBC and BSkyB-backed Freeview service since it launched last year.

If the growth of Freeview, which launched in October 2002 following the collapse of ITV Digital and offers 30 digital channels through an existing aerial without a subscription, continues at the same pace then more than half of all UK households will be connected to multichannel TV services by this summer.

The latest statistics from the independent television commission show the number of viewers who have bought Freeview boxes to receive 30 free channels rose by more than 21% in the first quarter of the year to 1.6 million.

Meanwhile, the number of people receiving free-to-air digital channels through a satellite dish has also risen significantly, growing by 18% to 660,000 in the first three months of 2003 according to the ITC's estimates.

This is made up of former SkyDigital subscribers who now use their dish to watch free-to-air channels and viewers who have bought their set-top box through Sky but do not subscribe to the pay-TV service.

Overall, 2.3 million people receive digital television without a subscription to SkyDigital or cable operators NTL and Telewest.

The government is hoping the popularity of Freeview and the possibility of a similar "free sat" proposition developing via satellite will make it cheaper and easier for people to switch to digital, making the prospect of hitting its target of switching off the analogue network by 2010 a reality.

The ITC chief executive, Patricia Hodgson, last week said the BBC's recent decision to break away from Sky and broadcast its digital channels, including BBC3, BBC4 and Cbeebies, free to viewers without a Sky viewing card was "the most extraordinary development since the start of cable and satellite broadcasting".

According to the ITC figures, the growth of Freeview is not harming SkyDigital, allaying analysts' fears that it may cannibalise pay-TV growth, with Sky adding more than 143,000 paying customers over the quarter to take its total to over 6.4 million.

The total number of mutichannel TV viewers now accounts for 48.6% of all households, making it likely that by the summer the industry will pass the psychologically important milestone of reaching more than half of all viewers.

(Craigs comment, this how to do digital tv! what we need is a similar platform via satellite! "Free Sat" )

INSAT 3E launch by end of August

From http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG3_sub.asp?ccode=ENG3&newscode=12624

Bangalore, June 24 (UNI) Communications satellite INSAT 3E has been scheduled for launch from Kourou in French Guyana for the end of August, ISRO Chairman K Kasturirangan said today.

The fourth of the third-generation series of geo-stationary satellites, the INSAT 3E -- to be launched on board an Ariane Five launcher -- would have 24 communications transponders in the C-Band and 12 in the Extended C-Band.

The satellite will be launched along with E-Bird of Eutelsat and Smart-1, the first European moon mission and test-bed for advanced research.

The INSAT 3E is currently undergoing final tests at the ISRO Satellite Centre here.

An exclusive satellite for education-- the Edusat-- would be launched during the third or fourth quarter of next year, Dr Kasturirangan told reporters after inaugurating the geo-informatics lab of the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) here.

Pilot projects to connect schools and colleges via satellite had been launched in many States, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, he added.

Dr Kasturirangan said while the existing transponders were being used for the purpose, the expansion of the projects would be facilitated by the launch of the Edusat.

Karnataka would expand its telemedicine project to all districts to facilitate availability of quality healthcare consultancy to rural areas, he revealed.

KSRSAC Director H Honne Gowda said the agency was undertaking over two dozen projects in the areas of natural resource management, agriculture, urban and infrastructure development, watershed planning and satellite communication

India to launch education satellite

From http://sify.com/news/international/fullstory.php?id=13180480

Bangalore: India will launch a satellite exclusively dedicated to education in late 2004, the chief of the national space agency said Tuesday.

"We are currently in talks with the (federal) human resource development ministry and plan to launch the satellite by fourth quarter of next year," said Indian Space Research Organisation chairman Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan.

Named EDUSAT, the satellite network will assist with teacher training in remote regions, he said.

"It will help create virtual classes," Kasturirangan said at the inauguration of the southern Indian state of Karnataka's State Remote Sensing Applications Center's geo-informatics laboratory.

The center has 120 scientists working in fields ranging from oceanography and geology to cartography and the digital image processing of data from remote sensing satellites.

Kasturirangan said space scientists were also working on a plan to link the rural districts of Karnataka to urban hospitals to provide better healthcare facilities.

He denied media reports that India was planning to put an astronaut on board the International Space Station, being put together by a US-led consortium including Russia, Canada and Japan.

"There is no proposal to put our own man in the station," he said.

Shop24Seven Shuts Down Satellite Ops

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=36886

Mumbai: Shop24Seven, the teleshopping channel promoted by Hinduja TMT and the US-based Planet E-Shop, has shut down its satellite service.

The teleshopping channel, beamed by Thaicom 3 satellite, was carried on several cable networks across the country. The decision is viewed as a move to save costs.

Shop24Seven has changed gear and is now running as a cable channel on the Hinduja-owned INCablenet network. It has also taken air-time slots on Lashkara and Gurjari channels. Sources said the Punjabi and Gujarati language channels, in turn, have been promised ‘better carriage’ on the Hinduja-owned INCablenet network.

“We are running Shop24Seven as a cable channel. We are currently available on the INCablenet network and are in talks with other cable networks for carrying the channel. We are also buying air-time slots on regional channels to have a presence in focussed markets,” said Shop24Seven India Pvt Ltd’s chief executive offficer Pushkar Misra.

The company is in talks with multiple language channels for buying air-time in an effort to penetrate the regional markets.

The company used to have a slot on CMM, a music channel. “We are out of that slot. We experimented with that for a month,” said Mr Misra.

Shop24Seven is trying to have an arrangement with other cable networks but no deal has been struck as yet. “When we were available as a satellite channel, we were on Hathway Cable & Datacom, SitiCable, the Kolkatta-based RPG network and the Orissa-based Ortel. Now we run only on the INCablenet, but are in talks with the others,” he added.

Shop24Seven also uses the Internet to carry out media commerce and e-commerce. It has tied up with portals like Rediff.com and Baazee.com for selling products. It also plans to tie-up with retail stores. “We have 1,000 products, most of which are exclusively sold only through us. The categories range from appliances to fitness, jewellery and toy products. Imported items are available because of our joint-venture partner,” said Mr Misra.

Pricewaterhouse has a 3 per cent stake in Shop24Seven India. The balance 97 per cent is distributed between Hinduja TMT and Planet E-Shop in the ratio of 51:49.

24/06/03

Livechat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards

About the Coship 3188C unit mentioned yesterday. The July issue of Satfacts will have a full report. I have had a sneak preview of it heres a little quote from it

"This receiver does virtually what every DXer has dreamed of for ages, and it does it without a computer or any other hardware. Coship has attained what others called unattainable." As a first it is truly brilliant. A no frills thrill which deserves the inspection of any serious "feed hunter" or DX enthusiast"

Is it time to retire those old Nokias?

Not much news around today

From my Email & ICQ

From Siam Global

Subject: THE MYSTERY DEEPENING

DEAR MR SUTTON,

THE 3985MHz TRANSPONDER HAS NOW BEEN JOINED BY 4025MHz AND 4065MHz ON THE LYNGSAT LIST FOR INSAT 3A. YET HERE IN THAILAND THERE IS NO SIGNAL WHATSOEVER NOW FROM ANY OF THESE THREE TRANSPONDERS AT 1800GMT MONDAY .

INTERESTINGLY THE INSAT CHART SHOWS THE SIGNAL REACHING EASTERN EUROPE , POSSIBLY HUNGARY AND A CLEARLY HUNGARIAN NAME IS GIVEN BY LYNGSAT AS THE PERSON REPORTING THESE TRANSPONDERS.

NO , THERE IS NO ERROR. I PICK UP " CHANNEL GUIDE" AND ANALOGUE CHANNELS FROM THIS BIRD IN FULL STRENGTH.

SO EITHER THERE ARE BRIEF TEST TRANSMISSIONS WE MISSED, AN E. EUROPEAN BEAM NOT RECEIVABLE IN SE ASIA, OR IT'S ALL A HOAX. PRESUMABLY TIME WILL TELL AND WE SHALL KEEP UP OUR MONITORING.

SIAMGLOBAL BKK

(Craigs comment, Lyngsat reports they have all left so you must of missed them)

From the Dish

Jcsat2a 154E 3906 V Sr 3425 ?????

JCSAT 3 128E 4050 V "Da Ai TV and three SET test cards" have started, Fta, SR 11000, FEC 7/8, SID 1-4, PIDs 1024/1025-1072/1073.

Telkom 1 108E 3500 H All channels in the TelkomVision mux are encrypted again.

Insat 3A 93.5E All channels have left 3985 V, 4025 V and 4065 V again.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3687 H "A test card" has started, Fta, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 4038 H A Singtel test card has started , Fta, SR 2300, FEC 3/4,PIDs 4226/4227.

Insat 3C 74E 3851 V "DD Gujarati" has left .

NEWS

Govt chooses radar system providers

From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/23/1056220539351.html

Two companies had been selected to provide early warning radar systems for a range of tactical military aircraft, the government announced.

Tenix Defence and BAE Systems would provide electronic warfare self-protection systems for the Defence Force's Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, as well as C-130H Hercules transport planes.

The radar systems would detect threats from anti-aircraft gunfire and missiles.

The government also announced it would re-tender contracts for providing defence garrison support and maintenance services, worth $480 million per year.

Fran Bailey, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, said local providers around defence bases would be encouraged to tender for the contracts.

"The commonwealth government is committed to ensuring that local providers around our defence bases gain access to this important and sizeable market," Ms Bailey said in a statement.

"Local providers right across the country, in both regional and rural Australia, will have greater opportunity for involvement in delivering services and support required by Defence."

Meanwhile, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation was planning to carry out tests on the recently launched Optus and Defence C1 communications satellite.

The satellite, which was launched earlier this month, will be used to provide defence satellite communications across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "Phoenix InfoNews" has started, Viaccess 2, PIDs 1104/1105.ETTV Movie has left this mux.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3985 V "Sahara Manoranjan" has started , Fta, PIDs 160/80.
Insat 3A 93.5E 3985 V "Three test cards" have started , Fta, SR 27500, FEC 3/4,PIDs 161/84-163/90.
Insat 3A 93.5E 4025 V "B4U Music, Nickelodeon India, Cartoon Network, BBC World India, Zee News,DD Bharati and five test cards have started, fta, SR 27500,FEC 3/4, PIDs 160/80-169/110, 702/703 and 706/707.
Insat 3A 93.5E 4065 V "Zee TV Asia, Zee Cinema Asia, Zee Music, Zee News, Alpha Marathi,Alpha Punjabi and CNN International Asia have started, Fta,SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs 160/80-165/98 and 702/703.

ST 1 88E 3582 H "TVBS Golden" has replaced CTI TV , enc., PIDs 38/39.
ST 1 88E 3632 V All channels in the TV Star mux are now encrypted, except Taiwan Music Channel, BBC World, Da Ai TV and CASA TV.