30/06/04

Sorry about the server being down. I may need a new one. Please send any hosting offers to my email address.

Not good either yesterday with the Launch of the new Telstra-18/Apstar V going wrong and the bird being stuck at 21000km they are trying to salvage it but if they manage to, it will use up most of its fuel and drastically shorten its life. The last thing we need is another inclined sat up there.

Sorry if some of the news on the page is a little stale

Mystery signal from last week NZ, KU Nss 5 177W?? now has a service on 12671V sr 15500 Fec 5/6 Taiwanese mux the same as on I804 but with extra channel labled OU_TV FEED which is showing HAKKA TV from Taiwan. Not sure on the beams on this bird might be worth a look in Aus or the Islands? Could the BestTV mux be moving to NSS5?

Zee TV at http://www.zee-tv.com/
Zee English at http://www.zee-english.com/
Zee MGM at http://www.zee-mgm.com/

From my Emails & ICQ

Many emails telling me the server is down ...

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3706 V "ABS-CBN Channel 1" has left .
PAS 8 166E 3714 V "ABS-CBN Channel 2" has left.
PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Videoland Sports, The Soundtrack Channel Pacific and CTI TV Asia" are FTA

Optus B3 152E 12501 H "The GlobeCast World TV" mux has left .

Optus B3 152E 12720 V "SBS Radio AM Perth and SBS Radio FM Perth" have started on , Fta,APIDs 201 and 202.

Express AM 11 96.5E 3875 L "Perviy kanal (+4h) and Radio Mayak" have started on , SECAM, 6.50 and 7.00 MHz.

NSS 6 95E 11543 V "The New Skies promo and a Free-XTV info card" have started on , Fta SR 27500, FEC 7/8, PIDs 1537/1538 and 5021/5034, NE Asian beam.

NEWS

Zenith Fails to Put Satellite in Orbit

From http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/06/29/zenith.shtml

Russia’s Zenith rocket lifted off from the Space Launch platform in the Pacific Ocean early Tuesday morning, but failed to deliver Telstar-18 communications satellite to its preset orbit, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reported.

According to preliminary reports, the booster engine didn’t operate as planned, thus causing the failure.

The Telstar-18 satellite, which has a mass of more than 4,500 kg, was to be placed in a geostationary orbit at 138 degrees eastern longitude. It is the third rocket to blast off from the Sea Launch platform in 2004.

The satellite was supposed to relay radio and television signals the entire Asia-Pacific region, as well as provide all-out Internet access, the news agency reported.

Representatives of Boeing’s Russian office noted that the Telstar-18 satellite had been assembled by the Space Systems Loral company, Novosti reported. The spacecraft will be controlled by Loral Skynet (both companies are affiliated with Loral Space & Communications).

Telstar 18 still salvageable, says expert

From http://newsfromrussia.com/science/2004/06/29/54635.html

Telstar 18, an American communications satellite, can be put into a geostationary orbit by its rockets, a source at the Flight Control Center told RIA Novosti.

"However the service life of the space vehicle will decrease significantly as the orbital maneuver will use practically all of its fuel," the source said.

According to the source, the satellite's apogee is 21,000 kilometers instead of 36,000 kilometers.

Currently, experts at the flight center and the American customers are meeting to make a decision about the future of Telstar 18.

The source said that it had not be excluded that the cause of the problem was with the Energia rocket corporation's Upper Stage DM (one part of Energia's two stage launch vehicle).

"The Russian Upper Stage DM did not completely fulfill its set flight sequence," said Valery Lyndin, the official spokesman for the center. "Because of this, Telstar 18 was put into a much lower orbit."

He specified that after the satellite separated from the upper stage, the foreign customer was given control of it.

Specialists discuss ways to deploy US satellite into target orbit

From http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=988744&PageNum=0

MOSCOW, June 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and U.S. specialists are holding an emergency session to discuss the ways of deploying into the target orbit the U.S. Telstar-18 satellite, launched from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, sources from the Mission Control Center told Itar-Tass.

The Russian-Ukrainian Zenit-3SL rocket was successfully launched on Tuesday from a floating platform within the framework of the international Sea Launch project. The rocket, which blasted off from the Odysseus launch platform, was to bring into space the Telstar-18 communications satellite.

However, the U.S. satellite has failed to reach the target orbit, a source from the Mission Control Center outside Moscow told Itar-Tass. According to the source, it happened because of a malfunction in the acceleration unit.

“The satellite separated from the acceleration unit of the rocket, but failed to reach the target orbit,” a source said. “It is now in the apogee, at the altitude of 21,000 kilometers instead of the calculated 36,000 kilometers,” the source emphasized.

The Itar-Tass correspondent in Los Angeles has learnt that an emergency session of specialists is now in progress on board the ship, from which the launch was controlled. Experts believe “satellite’s own engines can be used to deploy it into the calculated orbit”.

It was expected that the satellite, designed and operated by the U.S. company Loral Space and Communications, will work in space over 13 years. Telstar-18 was the 14th satellite, launched within the Sea Launch project.

The Sea Launch joint venture was set up in 1995 by the American Boeing, the Russian space company Energia, the Anglo-Norwegian Kvaerner Group and two Ukrainian enterprises (the design bureau Yuzhnoye and the Yuzhmashzavod company).

Media giant ABS-CBN to expand into Australia

From http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breakingnews.php?yyyy=2004&mon=06&dd=30&file=5

Philippine media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is to expand into Australia in the third quarter, according to newly appointed president Luis Alejandro.

In an interview with Business World newspaper, Alejandro said ABS-CBN is also planning to penetrate potential markets in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore.

"ABS-CBN Global, the wholly owned unit which runs the media giant's international operations, will launch satellite services (in Australia) in the third quarter," Alejandro told the news paper.

The media firm already runs a cable business in Australia where it distributes Filipino-produced content.

ABS-CBN sees its global unit as one of the major drivers for its growth as the domestic market is already saturated.

ABS-CBN Global offers Filipino programs to 1.3 million Filipinos in North America, the Middle East, and Europe.

MATCHING STUDIO DEAL: Channel 7 goes for content

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=116355&usrsess=1

BBTV Productions to invest Bt425m for a 27.8% stake

Matching Studio and BBTV Productions, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bangkok Broadcasting and Television, which operates Channel 7, yesterday announced a partnership, signalling the full integration of the television station and content providers.

Under the partnership, BBTV Productions will invest Bt425 million in Matching Studio for a 27.8 per cent stake.

The board of directors of Matching Studio passed a resolution to increase the company’s capital by placing 57.74 million shares with BBTV Productions Co Ltd at Bt6.8 per share. And it will offer 46.19 million warrants at Bt0.70 per unit in order to maintain the fully diluted shareholding structure at 27.8 per cent.

The move follows an industry-wide trend. Channel 3, operated by BEC World Plc, previously formed an alliance with GMM Grammy Plc, to supply content for talk-shows, soap operas and other variety programs. And RS Promotion Plc recently formed a similar alliance with TV Channel 5.

The tie-up by BBTV Productions and Matching Studio is also an opportunity for the latter to link with Thailand’s leading media conglomerate and to enhance Matching Studio’s financial strengths.

BBTV Productions chairperson Charlotte Donavanik said the firm was registered in 2001 to produce quality programme content for TV Channel 7, as well as to seek new business opportunities for the channel. The company officially started operating at the beginning of this year.

“It is a good match between BBTV Productions and Matching Studio. We [BBTV] have hardware, broadcasting network and capital. While Matching Studio has talented people and creativity,” she said.

“Under the partnership with Matching Studio, BBTV Productions can expand its business beyond TV media into a full entertainment conglomerate.

“We [BBTV Productions] can use the agency’s strengths, such as in event organising, film production, movie studios, rental services for film shooting equipment, and outdoor billboards. This will make BBTV Productions fully born in those areas,” Chalotte said.

Matching Studio managing director Somchai Cheewasutthanon said the partnership with BBTV Productions fitted with the company’s policy to expand into new media products.

“We are expanding our business overseas in areas of film production, advertising and event marketing and other ‘below-the-line’ activities,” Somchai said.

“With a good reputation and the credibility of its parent company, TV Channel 7, BBTV Productions will help by giving us support on public-relations activities for our projects, as well as contacting foreign partners.”

He said the company’s subsidiary Matching Motion Pictures plans to team up with a Hollywood film-maker for a big movie project.

The company is also negotiating with CCTV, China’s biggest satellite-TV operator, on cooperation to expand its “content-providing” business to China.

Matching Studio is also working on its “Movie Town” project to set up “the first world-class” movie studio in Thailand, he said. US-based Bastien and Associates, which designed an outdoor studio for Universal, is currently designing Movie Town, which would be in excess of 100-rai in size. The design process is due to be finalised next month.

“We are a professional production house and don’t want to get any extra benefits such as broadcasting airtime from the channel. We can produce good TV content and are able to support every TV station which demands our talents,” Somchai said. But he said TV Channel 7 would be the priority.

Chalotte said that under the partnership, Matching Studio would not get any airtime privileges over other producers in supplying TV programmes to Channel 7. The company would be screened and have to pass the same criteria as other program producers.

Yuwadee Boonkrong, managing director of Media of Medias Plc, said Channel 7 had “money power” and the station wanted to expand its business network to cover programme content, which is now seen as “software” for the TV stations.

Bangkok Broadcasting and Television, which runs Channel 7, also owns more than 60 per cent of Media of Medias.

“In the future, all media businesses will compete together by means of ‘software’, and all TV stations including Channel 7 want to have good software providers in-hand,” Yuwadee said. “I can say that Matching Studio will be not the last agency forming a partnership with Channel 7.”

Narong Chaovarad, assistant managing director of Media of Medias, said Channel 7 had made a short-cut and expanded its business to content production and event organising through its partnership with Matching Studio, which is already strong in these areas.

Thai Shin Satellite Likely To File Shr Sale Plan Next Wk

From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040629/15/3ld4d.html

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL (SATTEL.TH) is likely to submit for approval its proposal for a share offering to the Securities & Exchange Commission next week, the company's financial adviser said Tuesday.

"We are likely to file the plan with the SEC next week, but we haven't decided on the timing of the share sale yet," Sittichai Mahaguna, senior vice president of Kim Eng Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Under the plan, the company will sell up to 208 million shares to raise between $60 million and $90 million to refinance its short-term debts and for working capital.

The company recently rescheduled the planned offering to early July from early June mainly due to weak market sentiment.

Russia launches eight foreign satellites into orbit

From http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/003200406291455.htm

Moscow, June 29. (AP): Russia launched eight foreign satellites into orbit today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Space Forces press office said.

The satellites took off on a Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr rocket, a decommissioned ballistic missile converted for space launches, at 1130 IST and were in orbit within about 15 minutes.

They include a French research satellite intended to measure electrical and magnetic currents in the high layers of the atmosphere and study volcanos and other seismic phenomena on Earth, as well as Saudi and US communications satellites and an Italian scientific orbiter.

STMicroelectronics Announces Immediate Availability of Fully-Certified DVB-MHP Reference Design for Digital Set Top Boxes

From Press release

Hardware and Software Components Bring Time-to-Market and Technology Re-use Advantages to Consumer Electronics' Manufacturers

GENEVA, June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM - News), the leading supplier of integrated circuits for digital set-top boxes (STBs), today announced the availability of a complete hardware and software reference design that targets the expanding market for digital TV services requiring the DVB-MHP (Digital Video Broadcast -- Multimedia Home Platform) middleware. The reference design comprises ST's successful STi5517 MPEG-2 decoder, a choice of satellite or terrestrial demodulators, a comprehensive suite of software drivers, and a fully-certified DVB-MHP software stack which includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The hardware elements are packaged on an inexpensive two-layer pc-board, for which complete schematics are also available.

The STi5517 combines, on a single chip, an ST20 CPU, MPEG-2 video and audio decoders, transport interfaces, advanced security, and many of the peripherals required by today's STBs. By taking advantage of this high level of integration, ST's customers can design cost-effective products that meet the needs of consumers worldwide.

The DVB-MHP standard defines generic interfaces between the underlying STB hardware, the interactive TV applications, and the broadcast network. DVB-MHP applications can therefore be delivered via cable, satellite, or terrestrial networks with minimal change to the underlying hardware and software. ST's software stack not only meets the requirements of all services currently using MHP by being compliant with Enhanced and Interactive Profiles of DVB-MHP 1.0.2, but also includes code to implement the more recently published DVB-MHP 1.0.3 specification. The stack features a customizable user interface that manufacturers can adapt to reflect their brand. The reference design provides full support for downloaded applications and the ability to add proprietary extensions through standard interfaces.

"The key component of the new reference design that ensures our customers' products are brought to market in the shortest possible time is the pre- integrated, fully-certified DVB-MHP software stack," said Christos Lagomichos, General Manager of ST's Set Top Box Division. "The availability of this software gives set-top box manufacturers the opportunity to obtain all the core hardware and software components for their products from ST, saving them time and money from both the administrative and engineering perspectives."

Customers for the new reference design can take advantage of ST's modular approach and address both terrestrial and satellite services by choosing one of ST's proven demodulator products. The STV0360 terrestrial and STV0299 satellite demodulators have been widely deployed and provide a glue-less interface to the STi5517 decoder. The STB6000 tuner chip completes ST's silicon offering for satellite STBs.

"The availability of interchangeable front-end modules ensures our reference design can be applied to all DVB-MHP services with minimal change to the underlying hardware," continued Lagomichos. "The software architecture also reflects this modular structure, so customers can address different markets with minimal engineering effort."

By using STAPI (ST's Application Programming Interface) as the underlying driver layer over the STi5517 hardware, ST provides customers with a simple migration path to other MPEG decoders in the ST product range, allowing them to take advantage of the increased performance and feature set of that comes with each new generation of devices. ST has licensed STAPI to manufacturers worldwide and it is currently being deployed in many high volume STBs.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2003, the Company's net revenues were $7.24 billion and net earnings were $253 million. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com.

A Nhulunbuy welcome to a new era in ABC radio

From http://www.abc.net.au/darwin/stories/s1142152.htm

ABC Local radio celebrated major changes to transmission across the Top End with a broadcast from beautiful Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land, home to miles of gorgeous beaches, fabulous fishing and Arnhem Land culture.

The changes mean Top End communities including Nhulunbuy now receive 105.7 ABC Darwin at all times of the day, with communities south of Newcastles Waters receiving Alice Springs program during the breakfast, morning and drive timeslots.

Local Radio Manager Jo Jarvis says the move will ensure ABC Local Radio NT is more relevant to more Territorians.

"Coastal communities who do business with Darwin and share the same weather patterns, including tropical cyclones,as Darwin, will now receive a radio service tailored to their needs.

"ABC Radio has been able to set up this new broadcasting environment by securing two satellite services to transmit our signals to the northern and southern sections of the Northern Territory," she says.

The changeover was celebrated with a seven hour broadcast from Endeavour Square in the centre of Nhulunbuy, as a procession of locals joined presenters Julia Christensen, Charlie King and Alison Buchanan at the microphone to give them an insight into life at the town.

About four thousand people live in the East Arnhem Land town, at the point where the Gulf of Carpentaria meets the Arafura Sea.

Mining town

The broadcast concentrated on the history of Nhulunbuy and its growth as one of the Northern Territory's most significant mining towns to life in the community at the moment and it's future as Alcan seeks approval for a 1.5 billion dollar expansion.

Guests included Mandawuy Yunupingu, founding member of Yothu Yindi; Mike Hindle, the Nhulunbuy town Administrator and the co-ordinator of the Yirrkala Arts Centre Will Stubbs.

Mr Hindle says living in Nhulunbuy is like living in a tourist resort without the tourists.

"It's just a terrific lifestyle and a great place to live," he says.

The Deputy Chief Minister Syd Stirling is also the member for Nhulunbuy, after first arriving in the community as a school teacher in 1979.

"It was a very different town then, we had tv on a delayed 24 hour broadcast because the videos were sent over from Darwin so it made for wonderful news because we'd get the live news through ABC Radio but the tv news that night some 24 hours later," he said.

Mr Stirling was a footy umpire in the town as well, and has a reputation for being tough on the players.

"A bit of a challenge, I loved it, it kept me fit and it was my way of contributing to the community," he said.

Aboriginal culture

Nhulunbuy is a centre for Aboriginal culture in the Territory, and in particular, is home to musicians who have made a name for themselves locally and overseas, such as Mandawuy Yunupingu.

Mr Yunupingu told Julia Christensen it's a great place to live, and most of the Aboriginal community support an expansion of the mine.

"I've seen it grow and develop and now we are about to embrace expansion in the next year or so but I think indigenous Australians are prepared for the expansion and starting to adopt and adjust to modern developments and I would think a building of a partnership would be the way to go," he says.

Conexant Unveils Advanced Modulation Satellite Set-Top Box Tuner; Company Sets Industry Milestone with Shipments of 80 Million Tuners and Demodulators

From Press Release

RED BANK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2004--Conexant Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT), the worldwide leader in semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, enterprise networks and the digital home, today unveiled a third-generation satellite tuner for digital satellite set-top box receivers. The CX24118 direct down-conversion satellite tuner supports 8PSK advanced modulation and coding specifications, providing satellite operators with up to 35 percent higher data throughput rates using existing bandwidth. The highly integrated tuner can be used in conjunction with Conexant's CX24114 advanced modulation satellite demodulator, providing manufacturers with a complete front-end system solution designed to offer optimal system performance.

"Our third-generation satellite tuner, when combined with our new demodulator, allows operators to leverage their existing infrastructure and provide their customers with a wider range of digital-quality programming content and services," said Jeff Crosby, vice president of Set-top Box Products for Conexant. "Conexant has shipped more than 80 million satellite tuners and demodulators to date, and we will continue to leverage our extensive experience to provide advanced system solutions that meet the cost and performance specifications operators require to address an increasingly competitive marketplace."

The highly integrated CX24118 has been designed to meet the stringent performance parameters required for advanced modulation 8PSK and DBS-S2 applications. This tuner offers excellent phase noise performance and very low implementation loss. Features include a fully integrated local oscillator and variable baseband filtering. The device requires a single +3.3V supply and features very low power consumption. The CX24118 has also been designed to reduce bill-of-material (BOM) costs and board space requirements. It is packaged in a small footprint (6mm x 6mm), 36-pin pack QFN, lead-free package and does not require an external balun which reduces overall bill-of-material costs. It also includes a built-in automatic tuning machine that eliminates the need for a software calibration routine and accelerates the calibration time.

Conexant offers a comprehensive suite of digital STB components and system solutions for worldwide satellite, terrestrial and cable entertainment broadcasting networks. The company's product offering includes silicon tuners, satellite communications channel demodulators, MPEG audio and video decoders and dial-up modems for back-channel applications. Complete reference designs that help manufacturers reduce cost and speed time-to-market are also available, bundled together with a range of operating systems, middleware, driver and development tools.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the CX24118 are available now, with volume production scheduled for the third calendar quarter of 2004. It is priced at $7.00 in quantities of 10,000.

About Conexant

Conexant's innovative semiconductor solutions are driving broadband communications, enterprise networks and digital home networks worldwide. The company has leveraged its expertise and leadership position in modem technologies to enable more Internet connections than all of its competitors combined, and continues to develop highly integrated silicon solutions for broadband data and media processing networks.

Key products include client-side xDSL and cable modem solutions, home network processors, broadcast video encoders and decoders, digital set-top box components and systems solutions, and dial-up modems. Conexant's suite of networking components includes a leadership portfolio of IEEE 802.11a/b/g-compliant WLAN chipsets, software and reference designs, as well as solutions for applications based on HomePlug(SM) and HomePNA(TM). The company also offers a complete line of asymmetric and symmetric DSL central office solutions, which are used by service providers worldwide to deliver broadband data, voice, and video over copper telephone lines.

Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company with annual run-rate revenues of approximately $1.2 billion. The company has approximately 2,400 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Red Bank, N.J. To learn more, please visit us at www.conexant.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; successful development of new products; the timing of new product introductions; the availability of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; product obsolescence; the ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the uncertainties of litigation; and the risk that the businesses of Conexant and GlobespanVirata will not be integrated successfully, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors: Conexant is a trademark of Conexant Systems, Inc. Other brands and names contained in this release are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts
Conexant Systems, Inc.
Gwen Carlson, 949-483-7363

New Skies Expands Presence In Greece Through NSS-6 Deal With IP Service Provider Com-ToNet S.A.

From Press Release

Athens-Based Teleport Operator and IP Service Provider to Access Full Transponder on NSS-6 Satellite for Internet Services from Europe to the Middle East

New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE:NSK), the global satellite communications company, today announced a new agreement with leading Greek IP service provider and teleport operator Com-ToNet S.A. for a full transponder on the NSS-6 satellite.

Com-ToNet, in collaboration with KB Impuls Hellas S.A. (KBIH), will use the high-powered Ku-band capacity to offer broadband connections to the European Internet backbone for corporations, government agencies, telecommunications companies and Internet service providers operating throughout the Middle East.

Nigel Gibson, New Skies' vice president of European sales, said: "Com-ToNet and its partner KBIH, are established players in the European telecommunications industry, with strong experience and solid reputations for implementing high-quality VSAT networks and offering premium value-added data, voice and Internet services.

"This relationship strengthens our presence in the Greek market. It also reflects the comprehensive and powerful inter-regional coverage offered over NSS-6, which is optimized for communications between Europe and the Middle East."

Gerasimos Bonanos, chief executive officer of Com-ToNet, said: "New Skies is the largest provider of satellite-based IP services worldwide, and its fleet offers some of the best coverage available today of the Middle East, with excellent connectivity to Europe. When combined with our own knowledge of the market and extensive portfolio of integrated services for ISPs and enterprise networks, we are able to offer the most competitive solutions to clients, based on the most advance and reliable technology."

About Com-ToNet S.A.

Founded in October 1999, Com-ToNet S.A. was granted a license by the National Telecommunication and Post Committee to install and employ a satellite network in Greece for the purpose of providing satellite communications services. Com-ToNet uses the most up-to-date VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology produced by Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. to provide satellite telecommunications networking solutions and interactive broadband data services.

About New Skies Satellites

New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, data voice and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations, Internet service providers and government entities around the world. New Skies has five satellites in orbit, ground facilities around the world and one additional spacecraft under construction. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.

Contacts
New Skies Satellites
Jeff Bothwell, Tel: +31 70 306 4239 Mobile + 31 (0)6 11 31 01 83
jbothwell@newskies.com

Prasar Bharati to bring in 20 channels

From http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13508934

The Direct to Home (DTH) service of the Prasar Bharati, when launched, would not only bring your favourite TV channels in your living room, but also 20 radio channels of the AIR.

With the commissioning of the DTH, a subscriber would get 20 AIR channels along with a boquet of TV channels through a small dish antennae, AIR director general Brijeshwar Singh has said.

Singh, however, did not elaborate when the DTH of the national broadcaster would become operational. It is still being finalised, he said.

The AIR DG, who came here yesterday in connection with the inauguration of a Regional Staff Training Institute (Technical), the third one established by the Prasar Bharati, said the DTH would be expensive for a common man with the equipment costing a few thousand rupees.

The AIR also introduced digital radio which was very effective in the mountaineous terrain of the North East. Two of its channels were already on the satellite to satiate the thirst of the music-lovers of the region.

Ten's McDonald meets I&B minister Reddy

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/june/june225.htm

NEW DELHI: A fortnight ahead of a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court relating to a cricket telecast row between Doordarshan and Ten Sports, senior executives from the latter company met the information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy today.

The meeting was described as a "courtesy call," but the Dubai-based Taj Television Ltd CEO Chris McDonald admitted that various issues relating to sports broadcasting were discussed s part of a general discussion with the minister.

Asked specifically whether the issue of DD-Ten Sports wrangling, now pending a decision in the apex court, was brought up, McDonald replied in the negative.

McDonald was accompanied by Taj TV India head Sarmishta Rijhwani, who added that "nothing specific" was brought up or discussed during the meeting with Reddy.

Ten Sports is involved in a legal wrangle with Indian pubcaster DD over the telecast of the India-Pakistan cricket series, held after 14 years, in Pakistan last year. Ten has been claiming that allowing DD to also show the cricket matches, the rights of which ere obtained exclusively by Ten, has resulted in financial losses.

The Supreme Court, earlier, had directed DD to deposit Rs 500 million with the court, which may be used to cover up Ten Sports alleged losses, if proved in the court.

In turn, DD has been lobbying with the government to enact a legislation that would ensure the terrestrial broadcaster also getting telecast rights of any events that is deemed important for the country, irrespective of the fact whether a private channel has obtained telecast rights or not for India.

ICC-ESPN row: Dish TV likely to be winner

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=758955

PUNE: The payment dispute between Pune's largest multi-system operator, ICC Pvt Ltd, and ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, the broadcaster of ESPN and Star Sports channels, has an unlikely gainer.

Some city subscribers are now turning to Dish TV — the direct to home (DTH) offering from Zee Group.

"We have seen a 30 per cent growth in sales in Pune this month and the inquiry levels have gone up considerably," said a senior official of New Era Entertainment Network, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Essel Group that looks after Zee's DTH operations.

Even though the ICC-ESPN spat helped push the sales, the company does not want to attribute the entire growth to just that, he said.

A Dish TV connection costs Rs 7,500. This includes a 60-cm dish antenna, a low-noise block, a set top-box and a view card, plus subscription charges for the first three months.

There are two subscription options — a basic monthly package for Rs 110 and Rs 220 for the basic plus.

The Rs 220-package offers 48 channels, including five exclusive movie channels and most sports, news and entertainment channels like NDTV, ESPN, Star Sports, Cartoon Network, Doordarshan and Zee-Turner channels.

The company is also talking to Star and Sony to add their channels to its bouquet.

At present, Dish TV is the only DTH service brand in the country, though Star is expected to enter the fray shortly.

Customers opt for it because of better (digital) picture quality, more movie channels and most important, direct transmission, which makes them independent of the middleman and the power failure at his end.

The company has been adding around 600 individual Dish TV connections per month in and around Pune since it was launched in October 2003.

But this month, the connections have gone up to nearly 800, said Sunil Somani, partner of DTH Diamond Satellite Company, one of the two main distributors of Dish TV in Pune.

Currently, there are around 4,000 Dish TV connections in the district, according to him.

"In Pune city alone, this month we sold around 70 connections more than the 300 connections we usually sell every month," he said. The city has around 1,600 connections so far.

Those who do not wish to purchase the dish antenna, also have a long-term rent option. They can pay Rs 3,923 initially and a rent of Rs 33 per month for the next five years. This option is available since May 27 only in Pune and Aurangabad.

The service is compatible with any kind of TV set, including the black and white TVs.

29/06/04

No update due to server problem

28/06/04

Apstar V/ Telstar18 is launching to 138E tomorrow. Check link below for live video there may be some Cband feeds as well.

http://www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html

http://www.sea-launch.com

Current Mission: Telstar 18

Sea Launch is currently preparing for its next mission, the launch of the Telstar 18 communications satellite, on June 28, at 8:59pm PDT (3:59 GMT, June 29). A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket will lift the 4640 kg (10,229 lb) spacecraft to orbit from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned on the Equator.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Frank Calabrese

INTERRUPTION TO DIGITAL SIGNAL FOR RAI TV AND RADIO CHANNELS

Heads up for your information, on Asiasat 2.
http://www.international.rai.it/speciali/avviso/20040623_eng.shtml

INTERRUPTION TO DIGITAL SIGNAL FOR RAI TV AND RADIO CHANNELS

Please note that on 29th June 2004, from 2 am until 5 am Italian time, there
will be an interruption in the broadcast of all Rai International television channels for Asia and Africa. This is due to necessary maintenance work.

Due to the same technical problems, in Europe too, on 29th June 2004, from 2 am until 5 am Italian time, there will be an interruption in the signal for
all RAI digital television and radio channels broadcast by EUTELSAT "Hot Bird II" satellite.

We apologise to viewers for the inconvenience caused

From Bill Richards

Pas 8
Disney Channel on 4140 H PIDs 1560/1520 has gone encrypted
ABS-CBN Channel 2 has gone on 3880 V, PIDs 1260/1220
Now a test/bar patern fta


From Steve Hume

Telkom 1 108E Log
4084H, SR: 6000 TransTV_Test1
4075H, SR: 6000 TV7-Network
4066H, SR: 6000 LATIVI NETWORK
4005H, SR: 6000 ANTV DANDUT
3986H, SR: 6000 RO.PALEMBANG (Current)
3986H, SR: 5992 DLD-RO BANDUN (FEEDS) ******
3898H, SR: 2000 9MHz, PAL, 1 Audio
3813H, SR: 6000 DSNG-TV7two (FEEDS) ******
3786H, SR: 6000 Service Name
3460H, SR: 28000 Telkom Vision
3580H, SR: 28000 Telkom Vision
3500H, SR: 28000 Telkom Vision
4195V, SR: 4857 (DATA)
4189V, SR: 2025 (DATA)
4176V, SR: 3253 (DATA)
4130V, SR: 2099 Service Name
3969V, SR: 2025 (DATA)
3844V, SR: 2489 (DATA)

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume

From Mark Fahey

Radio D Istanbul has started FTA on NSS6
http://www.radyod.com
12688 Hz 28066 3/4

Cheers,
Mark

From the Dish

Quite a big Lyngsat update catching up on the last few days

PAS 2 169E 3836 V Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel is back on , Irdeto, PIDs 2311/2312. New PIDs again for NourSat: 2313/2314.

PAS 2 169E 12673 V The Telstra mux has left .

PAS 8 166E 3706 V "ABC-CBN Channel 1" has started on , Fta, SR 3260, FEC 7/8, PIDs 4096/4097.
PAS 8 166E 3714 V "ABS-CBN Channel 2" has started on , Fta, SR 3260, FEC 7/8, PIDs 4096/4097.
PAS 8 166E 3815 V "Arirang TV World 2" is encrypted again.
PAS 8 166E 3836 V "TVBS Golden and TVBS Asia" are now encrypted.
PAS 8 166E 3860 H "CSN" has left , replaced by occasional feeds.
PAS 8 166E 3880 V "ABS-CBN Channel 2" has left , replaced by a test card.
PAS 8 166E 3880 V ABS-CBN Channel 2-3 have left . DZMM - Radyo Patrol is now in clear.
PAS 8 166E 4140 H "Disney Channel South Korea" has started , Enc, PIDs 1560/1520.

Apstar 1A 134E 4054 H A test card has started on , Fta, SR 4420, FEC 3/4, PIDs 160/80.

JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "FTV Entertainment, TTV, CTS and CTV" are Fta.

Telkom 1 108E 3460 H "Musik" has left .
Telkom 1 108E 3500 H "Ar-Rahman Channel" has left , replaced by a test card.
Telkom 1 108E 3580 H "ARY Digital UK" has left .
Telkom 1 108E 3786 H "Occasional feeds" on , SR 6000, FEC 3/4.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4140 V "Smile TV" has replaced Zee TV Asia on , Fta, PIDs 100/101.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 4020 V "EuroSport News" is now encrypted.
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 4020 V New PIDs for EuroSport News on: 1213/1313.
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 4020 V The test card has left .
AsiaSat 2 100.5E 4148 V "CBN" has started testing on Fta, PIDs 350/351.

Gorizont 28 96.5E 3915 R "Telekanal Rossiya" has left (SECAM).

Insat 3A 93.5E 3913 V New PIDs for Cine World on : 258/259.
Insat 3A 93.5E 4132 V "RTA has started regular transmissions" on , Fta, SR 4000, FEC 3/4,PIDs 308/256.

Yamal 102 90E 3576 L Tyumenskoe Vremya, Hit FM and Kanal Melodia are back on , Fta, SR 4357, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256, 256 and 257.
Yamal 201 90E 4021 R "Rambler TeleSet (+0h)" has left .

PAS 10 68.5E 12577 V "Radio Vida" has started on , enc., APID 2065.
PAS 10 68.5E 12642 H "Telly Track" has started on , Fta, SR 2170, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256,Africa & European beam.
PAS 10 68.5E 12687 V "Telly Track" has left .

NEWS

Sea Launch at Equator, Preparing for Telstar 18 Mission

From Press Release

The Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown tonight in preparation for the launch of Loral's Telstar 18 communications satellite, scheduled for Monday, June 28, in a launch window that will open at 8:59pm PDT (3:59 GMT, June 29). All systems are proceeding on schedule.

The Odyssey Launch Platform and her sister ship, the Sea Launch Commander, arrived at the launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude last night. The marine crew began the process of ballasting the Launch Platform about 65 feet, to launch depth, in preparation for launch operations. The vessels will be stationed alongside each other throughout the weekend, frequently connected by a link bridge that enables foot traffic between them.

On the day of launch, the platform will be evacuated and all personnel will be stationed on the ship, positioned three miles uprange, throughout launch operations. Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 4640 kg (10,229 lb) Telstar 18 spacecraft to a high perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 138 degrees East Longitude.

Built by Space Systems/Loral and operated by Loral Skynet, both subsidiaries of Loral Space & Communications, the high-powered 1300-model spacecraft will carry 54 active transponders - 16 Ku-band transponders and 38 C-band transponders - that will cover the Asia/Pacific region with multiple services, including cable programming, direct-to-home broadcasting, Internet, VSAT and IP-based two-way services within Asia while providing an inter-connect to the United States.

Sea Launch will provide a live satellite broadcast of the Telstar 18 mission on June 28, beginning at 8:40pm PDT (3:40 GMT, June 29). The launch program, featuring live video from the launch site as well as commentary and interviews, may be downlinked from satellite coordinates posted at: www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html A simultaneous webcast will be posted at: www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html

Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and marketed through Boeing Launch Services ( www.boeing.com/launch ), is the world's most reliable commercial heavy-lift launch services provider. This multinational partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. For additional information and images of this mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com

Joint venture for TV market

From http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=3972

A JOINT venture between a local company and an overseas television network is expected to challenge Fiji Television's current grip on viewers with 15 pay-TV channels.

Pacific Broadcasting Services director Berenado Vunibobo said it had entered into a partnership with Australian-based television company, Television and Radio Broadcasting Services (TARBS).

Mr Vunibobo said TARBS has a worldwide TV network, which included links in European countries like France, Portugal, Spain, as well as Australasian countries such as India, Bangladesh and Australia.

"At the moment we're trying to enter into partnership with the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited as well as the Ba Provincial Holdings Limited to get the project off the ground," Mr Vunibobo said.

The start-up package to sign up to the network was expected to include a portable satellite dish and a decoder at $399, with a monthly
subscription fee of between $40 and $49.

"Our coverage would mean that anyone anywhere in Fiji will be able to use our services and the satellite dish and the decoder belongs to them," Mr Vunibobo said. All 15 channels will be sourced from TARBS's network links in Europe and Asia and will include three Hindi channels as well as BBC, CNN, Discovery and specific movie channels.

With the mother station based in Australia and satellite transmission being the link to Fiji, Mr Vunibobo said Pacific Broadcasting had no intention of applying for a TV operating licence.

"Since all our infrastructure will be based off-shore and the only services we will need is the Government's approval for setting up satellite dishes, we felt that we did not need to apply for a licence," Mr Vunibobo said.

"However, since we do not want to cause any problems, we felt obliged to at least apply for a licence but we will be paying the Government some $56 as a fee for setting up satellite equipment," he said.

(Craig comment, This will be interesting Fiji TV are also launching their own paytv 15 channel service but via Nss5 at 177W!)

Asia to launch first commercial earth observation satellite: report

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/92163/1/.html

TOKYO : Japanese trading house Itochu Corp., satellite communication firm Jsat Corp. and three other firms plan to jointly launch earth observation (EO) satellites as soon as 2008, becoming the first in Asia to do so, a news report said on Saturday.

The group, which also includes NTT Data Corp., Imageone Co. and NEC Toshiba Space Systems Ltd., seeks to gain a foothold in the commercial satellite imaging market, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

The five firms will establish a jointly held company in August, with plans to launch two satellites in 2008 or later, it said.

The new entity will have an initial capital base of 200 million yen (US$1.8 million), and its president will be sent from Itochu, it said.

The low-altitude remote sensing satellites to be used will orbit the earth at about 500 to 1,000 kilometres, the Nihon Keizai said.

They will employ the most advanced commercial-satellite-compatible cameras, enabling them to provide images of objects smaller than one metre across.

The satellites will cover nearly all points on earth, the newspaper said.

While government-affiliated entities in Japan have launched multiple EO satellites to observe weather-related phenomena, the nation's civil satellite industry has been limited to such sectors as communications and broadcasting, the newspaper said. - AFP

New Chips Improve Color TV Dramatically

From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/screens-04c.html

Israeli scientists said they have developed the biggest improvement in color television in 50 years, surpassing even high-definition technology, with electronics that nearly double the color palate that can be displayed on a TV screen.

The novel, multi-primary color or MPC chips, from Israeli electronics company Genoa Color Technologies in Herzlia Pituach, are set to deliver a picture that looks more like cinema than video, with truer, more vibrant color and a brighter image.

The first commercial release of the chips will be from industry giant Royal Philips Electronics next year, experts told United Press International.

The basic way color televisions work has not changed much since RCA introduced its first color set in 1954: colors are produced by combining shades of red, green and blue, also known as RGB, light. This is different from the colors on a movie screen, which are created by shining bright white light through colored film. This is why film images have always looked more detailed and natural than video.

It seems a little odd to make yellow by adding red and green together, Simon Lewis, Genoa's vice president of marketing, told UPI.

If you take the most expensive plasma screen, bring it to local cinema, and run the movie beside it, you'd be sick that you spent the kind of money you did on the plasma screen, Mark Bruce, a Genoa spokesman at HiTechPR in Rye, N.Y., told UPI.

The new Genoa chip adds up to three more colors, such as yellow and turquoise.

With this you see all of the colors of the rainbow. As opposed to the normal TV, which shows 55 percent of the color gamut, Genoa can show 90 to 95 percent -- the difference is astounding, Bruce said.

Television broadcast signals carry data on the full range of color in a picture, information that normally gets lost when converted for use on RGB screens. The new chips translate existing video data into pictures made with the additional colors with the help of advanced, real-time algorithms. When combined with new television screens such as liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, the result is images with the extra primary colors in their palette.

We can take any signal -- standard or high-definition, broadcast, satellite or cable, VCR or DVD or TiVo -- and can show that content in advanced form, Lewis said. We're not just adding colors, we're changing the way we state colors. White is not just made of red, green and blue, but all the primary colors, so the balance of white is coming off differently with the multi-primary color technology than with RGB screens.

The result is not only a much larger range of color, but up to 40 percent greater perception in brightness. It is like comparing an RGB array with a rainbow. The one presents only three colors while the other offers a wider selection.

I think it's extremely promising, said Josh Bernoff, a television industry analyst Forrester Research, a technology analysis firm in Boston. There are a lot of ways to improve television, he told UPI, and most of them involve either something extremely expensive for the consumer, such as buying a great big flat screen television, or changing the whole production of television, like the switch from regular to high-definition television. Genoa has done something very simple that can make a dramatic difference in visual technology.

Genoa will ship the first of the MPC chips in the third quarter of 2004, and Philips will introduce a new line of liquid crystal on silicon, or LCOS, rear-projection TV sets with the chips in 2005.

We see the value proposition of the multi-primary picture performance to be thoroughly compelling, said Andre Papoular, Philips Consumer Electronics senior vice president. The company will no longer sell regular RGB rear- projection sets, replacing them with sets bearing the MPC chips.

Though traditional, cathode-ray tube television sets cannot take advantage of the chip, liquid crystal sets are the target. I think you'll see this become a standard technology for LCD flat panel sets within the next three to four years, Bernoff said.

Lewis said Genoa is focused on penetrating the flat-screen LCD TV market, for at least 10 million units -- maybe to go as high as 18 to 20 million units. Leading manufacturers of LCD TVs include Sharp in Japan, Samsung and LG.Philips in Korea and CMO and AUO in Taiwan.

In theory, we expect to see that down the road -- 2006 or so -- multiple brands will be selling multi-primary color LCD televisions, Lewis said, noting his company is in talks with several LCD TV companies regarding the MPC chips.

BROADCASTING: China asks for Thai-language TV channels

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=116271&usrsess=1

‘Unofficial request’ from CCTV sparks concern that Kingdom’s cultural identity is at risk

China’s satellite television company has expressed interest in launching up to 40 Thai-language channels in Thailand, according to Grisanaporn Soempanich, head of the directing board of the broadcast division of the government’s Public Relations Department.

Grisanaporn said representatives from CCTV paid him an unofficial visit recently to inquire about broadcasting the satellite television channels in Thailand. He asked them to wait until the National Broadcasting Commission, which will regulate the industry and issue permits for broadcasting frequencies, is established.

CCTV’s interest in Thailand sparked concern that the Thai government is selling the broadcasting industry down the river through the various free trade agreements (FTAs) it is rushing into.

Nirun Phitakwat-chara, chairman of the Senate Committee of Social Development and Human Security, said the FTAs – including the one signed with China last year and the pact being negotiated with the US – open the door for giant telecommunications companies to step in and dominate the local market.

“Is the prime minister selling Thailand’s national assets under FTAs?” Nirun asked rhetorically.

Supinya Klang-narong, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, said radio and television are not like other commodities, which can be traded for profit.

“If the industry is dominated by big commercial firms that have no expertise in creating media content, local viewers will see lower-quality programmes on their TV screens. Overseas’ programme content will be dumped on the market and destroy local program producers,” said Supinya.

She suggested that the government should codify new rules and regulations limiting the stake foreign companies can hold in Thai media outlets to protect them from multinational companies with the financial wherewithal to control the market.

Grisanaporn said if CCTV entered the market it would mean big changes for Thailand’s television industry, which would no longer be limited to a few local players. CCTV owns more than 80 satellite television channels.

“The coming of CCTV to Thailand and in the Thai language would change our Thai culture and lives,” he said.

Grisanaporn said television viewing is moving toward cable television. There are currently 1.9 million cable television subscribers in 43 provinces, excluding UBC, which has 400,000 customers.

He said the trade agreements would also allow multinational companies to invade Thailand’s tourism, movie and other media industries.

Thailand in the future would be similar to developed countries like the United States, where free television accounts for just 20 per cent of all viewers, said Narong Chaovarad, assistant managing director of Media of Medias Plc.

“Viewers around the world will be more segmented and they need cable TV channels, which serve their niches,” he said.

THAILAND: Airwaves regulator a year away

From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=12316

The National Broadcasting Commission, the independent regulatory agency that could end all arguments over television and radio frequency rights, is unlikely to be formed for at least another year

The National Broadcasting Commission, the independent regulatory agency that could end all arguments over television and radio frequency rights, is unlikely to be formed for at least another year - dashing hopes that it could usher in public control over broadcasting stations and resolve conflicts at TV Channels 5 and 11.

Prime Minister's Office secretary-general Yongyuth Sarasombat said the selection panel is not yet ready; it is still short of three members.

In a letter to 159 NGOs, Mr Yongyuth said they will be called for a meeting once their status has been examined. Then the NGOs could select from among themselves three people to sit on the 17-member selection panel.

Checks on qualifications are likely to be completed next month. The screening process in which 14 candidates will be picked could then start, but would take six months to complete. The Senate will then spend at least another six months to choose seven out of the 14 candidates.

The news is likely to upset media reform activists. With a general election just around the corner, they believe frequencies are now at their most vulnerable - business groups are racing to secure benefits before any change of government.

Somkiat Tangkijwanit, of the Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI), said the situation could worsen in the next few months.

"Business groups will do as much as they can to protect their interests. A case in point is Channel 11 and Channel 5," he said.

State-run Channel 11 plans to launch two new satellite stations while Channel 5 has awarded a 30-year concession to RTA Entertainment Plc. Critics believe the deals breach the Airwaves Act.

Article 80 prohibits allocation of airwaves, issuance of new permits, and new operators while the NBC is not yet in place.

As the NBC has yet to be created, the prime minister and the Public Relations Department have been designated as caretaker authorities.

"Channel 5 and Channel 9 are rushing to list on the stock exchange. Wouldn't that pose a problem for NBC?" he asked.

Mr Somkiat said the government needs a policy for handling the matter, and said public opinion should be considered.

Supinya Klangnarong, secretary-general to Campaign for Media Reform, said any changes at Channel 5, Channel 9 and Channel 11 should be subject to public scrutiny.

Channel 3 and Channel 7 long ago awarded 30-year concessions to Bangkok Entertainment Co for 3.2 billion baht and to Bangkok TV and Radio Co for 4.6 billion baht respectively.

She said the state was inviting business operators to seize the airwaves and create problems for NBC.

"NBC will be meaningless when it comes into existence. There will barely be any airwaves for them to regulate by that time," she said.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of Campaign for Political Reforms, said the government has two tasks - speeding up creation of the NBC and keeping business groups from exploiting the airwaves for the time being.

RNT would tear up deal if NBC in place soon

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=5&id=116171&usrsess=1

RNT Television is willing to abandon its two-year contract to co-produce news programmes for satellite TV Channel 11/1 if the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is established soon.

RNT chief executive officer Police Colonel Ruamnakorn Tubtimthongchai said yesterday the firm had acknowledged in writing to the Public Relations Department (PRD) a state order that its contract would expire once the NBC was established.

The PRD, which oversees TV Channel 1, awarded the deal to RNT late last year to co-produce 24-hour news programmes for its satellite TV Channel 11/1.

Ruamnakorn said RNT was also willing to allow the PRD to amend its contract to co-produce news programmes if need were.

"Neither will we ask for any compensation from the PRD if such an amendment really takes place. This is to show that we're ready to comply with the state order," he added.

He said RNT's contract with the PRD stated that the PRD could revoke the deal at any time after giving the company 30 days' notice.

Ruamnakorn admitted that the condition put the company in a risky position.

The Supreme Administrative Court last year aborted the NBC's establishment on the grounds that the proposed system of selecting commissioners lacked transparency.

The Prime Minister's Office this year began the process anew of setting up the NBC and is now naming a committee to select seven qualified commissioners.

MCOT slates stock sale for October

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=1&id=116222&usrsess=1

First agency to list under new rules

The Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand (MCOT), operator of television Channel 9, yesterday unveiled details of its plan to raise Bt7 billion through an initial public offering in October.

The state agency plans to use most of the money to invest in its Global TV Network, a satellite television company, said MCOT director Mingkwan Sangsuwan.

The sale will mark the first stock sale under new state-agency regulations for IPO share allotment, approved in April.

Pornpimol Churuphant, director of the State Enterprise Development Office - which is partly responsible for overseeing MCOT's transformation into a quasi-public entity - said the shares would be sold at the beginning of October, stock market sentiment permitting.

"The majority of the shares will be allotted to domestic investors," she said.

Shares will be priced at Bt35 each.

There will be three tiers of share allotment - one for investors looking to invest less than Bt100,000, another for investors willing to put down between Bt100,000 and Bt500,000, and the third for investors looking to risk more than Bt500,000.

No subscriber will be allowed to buy more than 5 per cent the total shares on offer. Foreign investors can hold no more than 15 per cent of the available shares.

"We have learnt many lessons from earlier state-enterprise share offerings, so we have tried to make this share offering as transparent as possible," she said.

MCOT will register to change its status to a public company on July 31, when its moniker will change to MCOT Plc, said Boonchai Sriprachaya-anunt, executive vice president of investment banking for Phatra Securities Co, the agency's IPO adviser.

At that point, the company will have Bt3 billion in registered capital, consisting of 600 million shares with a par value of Bt5 each. The Ministry of Finance will own all of MCOT Plc until the IPO.

Between 20 to 25 per cent of the company will come up for sale during the IPO, leaving the rest in the hands of the Finance Ministry.

Boonchai said MCOT would file the necessary papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission by August.

The number of shares has yet to be determined, he said, adding that the proportion of domestic and foreign shareholding might change.

MCOT plans to expand Channel 9's reach to 12 countries: the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, India, China, Australia and three Scandinavian countries, said Mingkwan.

"We are a small country, but it would be great to broadcast all information related to our business opportunities to the world," the agency's director added.

The remaining proceeds from the IPO will be used in the government's push to make Thailand a news centre in the region.

MCOT has been trying to persuade many international news agencies to open offices in its business complex.

So far, four international news agencies having committed: Japan's NHK, China's CCTV, KBS of South Korea and TV5 from Europe.

Another three international news agencies - CNN, BBC and CNBC - are in talks with MCOT.

MCOT is also at the centre of changing the country's information technology to digital.

"In developed countries, all IT has been changed to digital. If we don't follow the trend we will be left behind," said Mingkwan.

MCOT yesterday held its fourth public hearing at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre.

The hearing drew 200 participants, less than expected.

Sukhum Chaleysub, president of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, who sits on MCOT's public hearing committee, said hearings had gone well due to the good preparation by the organisation's management and the hard work of its staff.

"The privatisation of MCOT will benefit both its staff and the public," he said.

After the initial public offering, he added, the organisation's employees would be more alert and work more efficiently, while the public will have access to quality news reporting from both domestic and international sources.

PAS 2 169E 3836 V "NourSat" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2313/2314.

PAS 2 169E 12399 H "TVBS Newsnet" has left , replaced by occasional TVBS feeds.(asian beam)

NSS 6 95E The DISH TV muxes are back on 11172 H and 12688 V, Conax, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, line-ups and PIDs identical to Insat 3A: 11510 H and 11670 H.

Insat 3A 93.5E 11630 H "India TV has replaced TV 5 Asie" on Conax, PIDs 167/106.

Yamal 102 90E 3576 L "Tyumenskoe Vremya, Hit FM and Kanal Melodia" have left .

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "Fashion TV India" has started on , Fta, PIDs 3105/3106.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H New PIDs for Fashion TV on : 1025/1026. Talk Sport has left this mux.(Craigs comment still there i think)

Telstar 10 76.5E 4030 V "TV Maldives" is fta again.(Euro 2004 reasons?)