Apsattv.com History November 2000

30/11/00

Thanks to those that showwed up for the chat it wasn't all that busy but we can't expect much at this time of the year. Next Wednesday might be the last scheduled chat for the year. We will see how it goes, maybe make it the Monday after. There is Cricket Tonight 7.30pm Sydney Time NZ vs South Africa the feed of this dureing the last test was on Panamsat 4 68.5E 3635 H Sr 6110 Fec 3/4. It may also show up FTA on I701?

A tv schedule has been added for Sun Tv on the Asiasat 3 page http://www.chinasuntv.com/schedule.asp

From my emails & ICQ

This from Siam Global,

MY NECK NEATLY CHOPPED OFF. EGYPTIAN BOUQUET ON ASIASAT 2 ENCRYPTED AGAIN ! SEEMS THEY GAVE US JUST ONE DAY OF FREE VIEWING TO CELEBRATE THE START OF RAMADAN.

SIAM GLOBAL

The TARBS Bouquet on AsiaSat 2 (3640 H - MPEG -2) is encrypted again.

Regards,
Mahmoud Hashish

From the Dish

Intelsat 704 at 66E "E-TV Telugu" has started regular transmissions on 4095 L Analog Pal

LMI 75 E 3743 V "Feeds" Sr 8825

Thaicom 3 78.5E "Mega Cosmos" on 3640 H has changed Fec to 3/4.
Thaicom 3 78.5E "MRTV" is still on 3666 H SR 6000 Vpid 308 Apid 256 it has a new FEC: 2/3.

Asiasat 2 100.5E All TV channels on 3640 H "Tarbs Egyptian Boquet" are encrypted again.

NEWS

Foxtel expects subscriber numbers to hit 800,000

From http://www.it.fairfax.com.au/breaking/20001129/A45445-2000Nov29.html

Australian pay television company Foxtel Australia today forecast subscriber numbers to reach 800,000 within a year.

Foxtel chief executive Jim Blomfield said he expected subscriber numbers would continue growing at the current rate of 100,000 a year.

Foxtel today said subscriber numbers had reached 700,000, compared to 673,000 at the end of the three months to September 30, 2000. It said also that it had an estimated 2.25 million viewers on cable and satellite.

?We hope we would exceed that (100,000 per year growth) over the coming year,” Blomfield said.

Foxtel today officially launched new channels for its regular cable and satellite service.

Asked about Foxtel's involvement in talks with the Australian Football League on rights for the 2002 season, Blomfield declined to give details. But he said Foxtel had prepared its bid. “There is continous talks on a range of issues with the ACCC,” he said.

Channel Seven is currently fighting a bid led by News Corp, Foxtel's 25 per cent owner, to retain rights to televise AFL matches from the end of the 2001 season.

Blomfield also would not comment on a possible timetable for the launch of Foxtel's digital platform.

?We are in a position to lodge a digital platform, most of that technology is ready. We will do that when it is appropriately economical to do it,” he said.

Foxtel remaining equity is held by Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, with 25 per cent, and Telstra, with 50 per cent.

Earlier this month Foxtel reported a loss before tax of $20 million for the three month ended September 30, 2000, compared to a loss of $23 million in the previous corresponding period.

Foxtel shuffles pack to boost subscribers

From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1468903%255E462,00.html

FOXTEL has reshuffled its programming in a costly push to lift its pay TV subscriber numbers.

The broadcaster yesterday said it would shift some of its higher priced "tier" channels to its basic service but not lift its prices.

Foxtel announced a host of additional new channels at a special launch yesterday.

It has joined forces with the Nine Network for the first time to produce an Australian series, McLeod's Daughters, and launched Australia's first television channel for women with the aid of publishing and entertainment icon Maggie Tabberer. From December 2, it will introduce a new classic movie channel, fashion channel and contemporary music channel at no extra cost.

Chief executive Jim Blomfield declined to reveal how much the new package, hailed as "the biggest improvement to the Foxtel service since the launch of satellite in March, 1999", was costing Foxtel.

"We have invested considerably -- it's part of a long-term strategy we have been working towards."

Mr Blomfield said he expected subscriber numbers to exceed the 100,000 increase in the past 12 months. Foxtel said subscriber numbers had reached 700,000, compared with 673,000 at the end of the September 30, 2000 quarter.

But he declined to comment on Foxtel's sports programming yesterday. Foxtel is in a consortium with the Nine and Ten networks bidding for AFL rights now held by the Seven Network.

Mr Blomfield said Foxtel had prepared its bid for Australian Football League broadcast rights, but refused to say if it had been lodged. When asked if Foxtel was talking to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about AFL rights, he said there were continuous talks on a range of issues with the ACCC.

Mr Blomfield also refused to say whether differences between Foxtel's partners Telstra Corp Ltd, News Corp and Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd, was delaying the launch of its digital platform. "We are in a position to lodge a digital platform, most of that technology is ready. We will do that when it is appropriately economical to do it," he said.

Earlier this month Foxtel reported a loss before tax of $20 million for the September 30 quarter compared with a $23 million loss in the previous corresponding period.

With Paul gone, Sam looms as Foxtel's man

From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1468745%255E521,00.html

PAUL Rizzo's resignation from Telstra on Tuesday evening shocked his boss, Ziggy Switkowski, but didn't surprise him. Rizzo wanted the chief executive's position won by Switkowski from a four-way contest in March last year, and wanted to quit then.

Ziggy persuaded his chief financial officer to stay at least another 12 months. Twenty months later, Rizzo has decided to take up an academic position.

Telstra can replace him, but in the short term, his sudden departure will be bad for the share price. US investors got used to Rizzo's urbane manner and easy grasp of technical issues on the numerous roadshows to the US conducted by Ziggy and him. They won't take the unexpected resignation well. They'll dump the stock.

In any case, Rizzo's announced departure comes amid the rising nervousness in the US about telcos and high-tech companies, so the timing has not been good for Telstra and its minority shareholders.

His decision to leave may cause some consternation among senior management and shareholders, but it creates an opportunity for Telstra on the board of the pay TV joint venture Foxtel, where Rizzo is chairman.

Telstra chairman Bob Mansfield has already recruited Rizzo's obvious replacement for this post when he brought on to the Telstra board at the annual meeting this month Sam Chisholm, the former chief executive of the world's leading subscription television service, BSkyB, and also of the Nine Network in Australia.

Whether Chisholm is willing to take the post is another matter, but Mansfield should be twisting his arm hard to ensure he takes the Foxtel chairmanship.

Telstra owns 50 per cent of Foxtel which, as Australia's dominant pay TV provider with nearly 700,000 subscribers, represents one of the few double-digit growth businesses for the group.

Yet Telstra is often out-manoeuvred by its minority shareholders The News Corporation Ltd and Publishing & Broadcasting (both 25 per cent) because they know so much more about content and broadcasting.

News has the right to appoint the chief executive and so has effective control over management.

But this is a crucial investment for Telstra, which has not been able to tap the revenue potential.

News and PBL have been preoccupied since 1997 with trying to persuade Telstra to sell down so that the three partners can equalise their shareholdings on 33.3 per cent each, but Telstra has held out, insisting that it keep its half share of this business.

It has not been able to leverage its potentially controlling position to its advantage. All three shareholders hold the right of veto on decisions and for the past three years, Foxtel has been held back by tit-for-tat blocking votes by one or other of the shareholders.

Foxtel has been helped enormously by the paralysis which has gripped its main competitor, Optus Vision. Now that Optus's 53 per cent owner, Cable & Wireless Plc, is forcing its Australian subsidiary to liquidate its operating assets, including its broadband cable which delivers the Optus Vision service, Foxtel's potential competition in the metropolitan centres where it operates has collapsed even further.

Chisholm is well known to News and PBL directors and has the capacity to bring the previously diverging objectives of the three partners together. When he ran BSkyB, Chisholm was instrumental in hiring Foxtel's chief executive Jim Blomfield as well as his predecessor, Mark Booth.

Most importantly for Foxtel, it needs to roll out digital set-top boxes and develop the digital, interactive services such as banking and shopping which will add high-margin revenues to Telstra and its partners.

One factor holding back Foxtel's digitalisation is the fear shared by all three partners that, once Foxtel has spent the $200 million to $300 million digitialising the cable and expanding the number of channels from 64 to more than 200, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will "declare" the service and thus open it to all comers who might want access to the cable and the set-top boxes without spending any money.

Until the ACCC and its chairman, the self-styled "professor", Allan Fels, agrees to a moratorium on a declaration, the digitalisation simply won't happen and consumers will be worse off.

Primelife targets seniors with broadcasting deal

From http://www.afr.com.au/premium/property/2000/11/30/FFXMSE0V3GC.html

Primelife is moving into the television business.

Listed retirement home developer and operator Primelife Corporation has branched out into the broadcasting business with a joint venture, 40-hour-a-week grey power television venture.

Primelife, along with RMIT University and Melbourne Community Television, is to broadcast Monday to Friday with programs targeted at Australia's growing ageing population.

Primelife chief executive Mr Ted Sent said the retirement age audience had been neglected by commercial networks.

Initially to start screening in Victoria from February - on the Channel 31 signal - the company plans to broadcast throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Programming will include classic films, documentaries and information and entertainment targeted at the older audience.

Primelife has set up a subsidiary called Lifestyle Media International which will manage the network, to be known as Renaissance Television.

Primelife is one of Australia's largest retirement village managers and developers.

Mr Sent said the venture would directly benefit the company by increasing its presence and profile within the aged community, which in turn would help support sales of retirement village developments.

The company expects to offset costs from advertisers and sponsorship of airtime by companies and marketers aiming at the senior citizen and retirement consumer demographic.

Primelife reported a 37 per cent increase in net profit for the year to June 2000 of $20.8 million. Shareholders received an unfranked 26¢ a share dividend.

The company recently bought Co-Operative Retirement Services from the Adelaide Bank to give it a national focus and to take its market share to 18 per cent of the Australian market.

FTA TV channel aims for the over-55s

MELBOURNE's older TV viewers are to have a station with shows devoted to them.

Next year, from 8am to 4pm daily, Renaissance Television will be seen on community station Channel 31.

Wayne Rogers, chief executive of Prime Life, which is behind Renais- sance Television, yester- day said programs would include films, lifestyle, travel, finance, health, and the arts.

Nick Grigoriadis, executive officer at Chan- nel 31, said "nothing else would cater like this to the over-55 market"

A transmitter upgrade will improve reception of Channel 31.

29/11/00

Todays update is very small not much around at all. Livechat tonight 8.30pm Sydney time onwards, Lets have a good turnout tonight! Tele-Liban is new on Asiasat 2 its fta at the moment heres their website with programming schedule http://158.222.24.64/tl/

I don't have any screenshots of it yet, perhaps someone can also screenshot the others that are FTA at the moment there. The womans Cricket World Cup is on from today its being played in New Zealand. Has anyone seen feeds of the matches yet probably on I701.

The other Cricket India vs Zimbabwe is live on Apstar 2R 76.5E "Channel I"

From my emails & ICQ

TARBS have included another channel in their line up that is TELE-
LIBAN a government owned service in Lebanon.

Mike

Tele-Liban has become the ninth channel within the Egyptian mux on
3640Mhz H on Asiasat-2 - that's the feed for PAS-8

Andrew Axiom CompuSat Services

This From SIAM GLOBAL Re:Asiasat 2 Egyptian Boquet

JUST TO STICK OUT MY NECK, I THINK THESE MAY BE FTA FOR ONE WHOLE LUNAR MONTH.

YESTERDAY WAS RAMADAN WHEN IT WENT FTA. THIS LASTS ONE MONTH SO MY GUESS IS IT WILL NOT ENCRYPT AGAIN UNTIL AFTER RAMADAN.

SIAM GLOBAL

From the Dish

Asiasat 2 100.5E "Tele Liban" has started on 3640 H Dig Vpid 520 Apid 648.

Thaicom 3 78.5E "MRTV" has left 3666 H (Digital Tests).

28/11/00

Where was everyone on Monday night for the chat? It was very quiet I guess at this time of the year everyones busy with Christmas partys and doing things outdoors in the evenings, from next week I may put the start time back half and hour. Any one have some thoughts on this? I hope we have a better turnout on Wednesday! Theres not much else new today.

Is there anyone out there useing a 2.4GHZ video sender that also beams the signal from the remote as well? This is something I am after to have the satellite receiver upstairs and be able to control it downstairs.

From the Dish

LMI 1 75E 3435 H "MSC Sri Lanka" has been replaced by a test card.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3565 H "Sky Racing Channel 1-2" have left

Asiasat 2 100.5E 3640 H The entire package here remains FTA still

NEWS

Squabble may delay digital TV

From http://www.theage.com.au/bus/20001128/A41241-2000Nov27.html

Australia's peak advertising groups have warned that dissension among free-to-air TV broadcasters over which set-top box to adopt will delay the introduction of digital TV.

The Australian Association of National Advertisers and the Advertising Federation of Australia, which together represent companies responsible for 90 per cent of all media placements, said the disagreement could lead to viewers requiring two set-top boxes to gain access to all digital services.

The Nine and Ten Networks are believed to have underwritten the cost of introducing a low-end, non-proprietary box (which does not enable Internet access) produced by the French company Thomson.

But Seven has disagreed on the choice and could support a rival proprietary box. Seven declined to comment on the issue yesterday.

However, others in the industry remain confident Seven would eventually support non-proprietary boxes.

The executive director of the Advertising Federation of Australia, Lesley Brydon, said if a dual system eventuated, it would increase advertising costs as advertisers would have to create ads in two formats.

"It means there is no agreement between the three channels as to a common platform, which we believe is essential for advertising to be cost-effective," said Ms Brydon.

She said no one was keeping advertisers or the advertising agencies informed of developments.

Digital television will be launched on January 1 and the order of 10,000 Thomson boxes is expected to land before then. The TV networks arealso hopeful other manufacturerswill soon announce plans to launch set-top boxes into the market.

The general manager of the Australian Association of National Advertisers, Sara Morton-Stone, said the groups would be seeking meetings with the TV networks next week to gain a better understanding of their positions.

"We want to ensure the system in Australia is as simple and cost-efficient as it can be," she said.

"Anything that gets in the way of broad take-up of digital TV, such as a number of standards or proprietary standards, runs the risk of retarding the take-up of digital TV."

Ms Morton-Stone said the advertising industry supported digital TV as it gave advertisers the ability to better target marketing campaigns.

The AANA and AFA have also held discussions on the formation of a digital advertising coalition to ensure their members have a voice on digital TV issues.

The associations said they planned to seek meetings with the networks and would not hesitate to call on the Federal Government to intervene if the networks could not resolve their differences.

Meanwhile, a Broadband Media and Advertising Alliance has been formed by companies involved in the broadband arena to iron out issues associated with the new media.

Broadband, or high-speed Internet access, has sparked issues such as how to define advertising as opposed to content.

Its initial members include BMCMedia.com, Telstra, the Fantastic Corporation and Beyond Online.

The group also hopes to develop voluntary industry standards, and to educate developers of broadband advertising and marketing content in areas such as privacy.

Net cable back to capacity

From http://www.australianit.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1459876%255E442,00.html

DAMAGE to Telstra's main internet gateway was more extensive than originally thought, but it is due to return to full capacity today.

A ship's anchor is believed to have sliced the cable in two and damaged a repeater, which made the repair more complex, Telstra spokesman Stuart Gray said.

"The damage was more extensive than normally occurs in these circumstances. We don't know why," Mr Gray said.

"They've replaced the repeater and my understanding is they're getting ready to splice the cable back together."

The SEA-ME-WE 3 cable snapped on the afternoon of November 20, about 63km south of Singapore.

The breakage severely affected internet access for millions of consumers and businesses in Australia from 3pm AEST till midnight.

The cable carried about half of Australia's international internet traffic, and Telstra resold capacity to other local ISPs, Mr Gray said.

Telstra expected it to be repaired today but had restored services earlier using other cables and satellite connections, Mr Gray said.

The internet disruptions, which were believed to have cost Australian businesses millions of dollars, could have been avoided if Telstra had diversified its overseas access arrangements, a telecommunications expert said.

Alan Horsley, head of the Australian Telecommunications User Group, said Telstra relied too heavily on the SEA-ME-WE cable.

Mr Horsley said Telstra was a member of the 90-company consortium that owned the SEA-ME-WE (South-East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe) cable, and this reduced its access costs.

"But there are other cables – Pacrim East, Pacrim West, Jasuraus, and the newly commissioned Southern Cross cable – and Telstra should have had its traffic spread over those," Mr Horsley said.

"They probably get cheaper rates on the SEA-ME-WE 3 cable because they're part owners.

"As it happened, Telstra managed to get back to near 100 per cent service within 24 hours – which is pretty good – but they should have diversified their access arrangements earlier."

He said undersea internet cables were vulnerable to damage from ships' anchors and trawlers in shallower coastal regions, as well as from undersea earthquakes, so similar disruptions were likely to occur again.

Mr Gray said the ends of the cable would be lifted to the surface for repairs before being spliced together.

The 46mm-diameter fibre-optic cables are surrounded by two layers of steel mesh.

Mr Gray said the repairs would probably cost about $200,000.

He said Telstra had not been asked for compensation from any of its customers.

The accident is believed to have cost Australian businesses millions of dollars through disrupted communications, lost productivity and failed e-commerce transactions.

27/11/00

Livechat tonight in the chatroom at 8.30pm Sydney time, or 9.30pm NZ onwards. I sent a message to KUBAND from the MOSC chatroom hopefully if they agree they will shift their chat to Tuesdays to avoid the clash of interests. It should benefit both chatrooms.

From my emails & ICQ

Hi Craig,

A guy called Michael called this morning after seeing the advert you put on the site and will be taking it away tomorrow..its for a friend of his. Yes it was a 3m, solid petal dish.

thanks,
Bob Roberts

(Craigs, Note glad to help out its not the first bit of gear to have been seen on my site and sold!, the Sattrader section will dissapear soon to be replaced by a more friendly message based one)

NileTv, the Egyptian channels on Asiasat2 digital are all now FTA.

Regards
Eddie Mobasheri

Hi,

The Egyptian Bouquet on AsiaSat 2 is now in Clear. Do not know why this is happening.

Regards,
Mahmoud

(Craigs, Note this was reported on the mailing list when it happend. Its not very likely that it will remain FTA so enjoy it while you can.)

From the Dish

Apstar 2R 76.5E A "Channel NewsAsia" mux has started on 3705 V SR 6111 Fec 3/4, identical to the mux on 3687 V.

Thaicom 3 78.5E The Sr for MRTV on 3666 H has changed to 6064

NEWS

Australian Digital TV gears up for new year

From http://news.com.au/newspulse/pulseframe/0,4711,1452380^2,00.html

DIGITAL television equipment will be in shops in January, networks have promised the federal Government in a face-saving deal to ensure viewers can watch the system soon after it begins on January 1.

But the boxes that convert the digital signal for existing analog sets will only be available in small numbers and are likely to cost $500 to $600.

The networks, under government pressure, have agreed to underwrite the set-top boxes at a cost of up to $6 million. This is because manufacturers, despite months of negotiation, do not want to take the risk of supplying new digital TV equipment.

The networks are believed to have secured a manufacturer who can deliver the boxes by mid-January.

The Nine, Ten and Seven networks led a campaign to secure protection from competition under the digital regime imposed in legislation earlier this year.

The rules were sharply criticised by other media groups that wanted to use the new digital TV spectrum, including News Limited – publisher of The Australian – and Fairfax.

Since the rules were set in June, government sources have privately conceded they are worried digital TV could fail to attract new viewers next year, which would be a blow to the campaign to portray Australia as a "new economy".

Communications Minister Richard Alston confirmed that the Government had urged the networks to resolve the issue of supplying the new equipment.

"It may well not have been a significant difference (without government involvement) but we didn't want to sit back and hope, we wanted and still want to do our best to ensure that everything remains on track," Senator Alston said.

After meetings with government and department officials – including a meeting between Senator Alston and television chiefs – networks advertised last month for manufacturers to supply the set-top boxes.

French deliver cheap digital TV to Australian retailers

From http://news.com.au/newspulse/pulseframe/0,4711,1456921^462,00.html

FRENCH electronics giant Thomson will deliver Australia's first digital set-top boxes to retailers ahead of the launch of digital television on January 1, 2001.

Broadcasters Nine and Ten networks will underwrite Thomson's efforts by up to $6 million as part of their commitment to persuade consumers to buy the equipment they need to view digital television.

The three commercial networks called for expressions of interest from manufacturers in October to build set-top boxes with a non-proprietary applications platform, after months of discussions with manufacturers failed to produce an agreed standard for the new medium.

It is understood that Seven network has broken ranks with its rivals after a disagreement on the applications platform. Nine and Ten have chosen a European, non-proprietary platform which is still in development.

The Australian has learned that Thomson will be announced as the winning tenderer this week and that the electronics group will deliver 10,000 set-top boxes by the third week in December.

Distribution details for the shipment are still sketchy but it is understood that the boxes will retail for less than $600 each and that some will be made available to the rental market.

They will be capable of receiving both standard-definition and high-definition television signals which will be converted to better quality pictures on analog televisions along with any multiple camera angles or other enhancements the broadcasters might make to their digital signals.

It is understood that Thomson hopes to have at least 30,000 of these boxes in Australia and at least one digital television set retailing for less than $2000 by March 2001.

Other television manufacturers Teac and Thorn are also believed to be planning to launch low-cost set-top boxes and televisions early in the new year.

Thomson, which distributes its product through Myer-Grace Bros and other selected outlets, already has two digital television sets available in Australia. Its 110cm widescreen, rear projection television retails for $5500 and its 130cm set retails for $7500.

It is understood that Thomson will deliver a $1999, 60cm widescreen standard-definition digital television -- which is superior to existing analog sets -- with an in-built digital video disc, to the Australian market as early as February.

Without the DVD player, the set would retail for around $1100 and Thomson is believed to be considering a plan to manufacture the set without the player.

The manufacturer is also hopeful of producing a high-definition television to Australian specifications by September.

Industry sources said on Friday that other manufacturers were also working on plans to deliver high-definition sets, including those who had been vehemently opposed to making sets in the high-definition format chosen by the networks.

26/11/00

Not much today, concretes drying nicely :-) I have put up the TSI Channel news, but have cut out all the non-related stuff for our part of the world. The 2nd Cricket Test between India and Zimbabwe is live 2pm Sydney time onwards each day on Channel I on Apstar 2R. A url for TVK Cambodia on Thaicom 3 has been added (non official website).According to Satfacts website Zee news analog on Asiasat 3 is the next channel to disapear scheduled to go on Dec 1st.

Page to be trimmed tommorow

From my emails & ICQ

This from D. Holbrook

Some confusion - I was misquoted on Lyngsat - the freqs aren't correct on
the Nokia & the Satcruiser doesn't give FEC.

Correct Lineup is

12407 2/3
12532 2/3
12594 3/4
12657 2/3
12720 3/4

Holbrook

From the Dish

LMI 1 75E "MSC" on 3435 H NID/TID and SID is 102/12 and 1365.

Thaicom 3 78.5E New TID for the RR Satellite Communications mux on 3551 H: 11.
Thaicom 3 78.5E "MRTV" has started on 3666 H Dig Sr 6786 Fec 3/4 Vpid 308 Apid 256 global beam.

Optus B3 156E It's still FEC 3/4 for the Optus Aurora muxes on 12595 V and 12720 V.

NEWS

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 48/2000 - November 26 2000 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by Tele Satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

DISNEY PLANS ASIAN CHANNEL

The Walt Disney Co. is hoping to establish an Asian Disney TV channel in Japan
or China within the next five years, though its main development plans in the
region will be focused primarily on building brand equity, according to Disney
president and chief operating officer Robert Iger.

FRENCH CHANNELS FOR ASIA

French group Lagardere’s 24-hour classic and jazz channel, Muzzik, will be
launched in Asia in April 2001. The new service will carry 60 per cent
classical music, 30 per cent jazz and 10 per cent world traditional. The
service will be carried on Taiwanese DTH platform, Pacific Digital Media, in
which French company Lagardere is involved. Other regional carriage agreements
are under negotiation. The feed will be customised for Asia because of music
rights issues. Lagardere is also planning a new 24-hour interactive computer
and video game channel, Game One, uplinked from Paris and transmitted across
Asia from Intelsat 704. The channel, which will allow users to download or play
games on air, launches in Asia on December 15.

INDIA

STAR TV LOBBIES INDIAN GOVERNMENT

Star TV’s CEO James Murdoch has lobbied Indian government ministers to increase
the foreign equity participation in the direct-to-home (DTH) television
service, according to The Times of India. Murdoch recently met with Information
and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj, Information Technology Minister Pramod
Mahajan and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. The government has capped foreign
direct investment in DTH at 20 per cent and no individual company is to own
more than 20 per cent of the paid up capital of a DTH company.

LIVING MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW CHANNELS

India’s Living Media Group, which was at one time negotiating the Turner’s CNN
International for content co-operation, launches its 24-hour news channel, Aaj
Tak TV, this month. The Aaj Tak slot Living Media has vacated on DD is now the
subject of a tussle between rival news providers such as Kerry Packer’s Channel
9, which already has a 3-hour prime time band, Nine Gold on DD Metro.

SET TO INVEST IN DIGITAL TV

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is believed to be planning a US$87-million
investment in digital direct-to-home TV and acquiring rights to major local
events and concerts. Parent company, Sony is said to be contributing with $33
million.

PRIVATE BROADCASTERS SAY NO TO DD PLATFORM

Private broadcasters, including STAR TV, Zee Telefilms and Sony Entertainment
Television, are said to be resisting efforts to lure them onto the digital
direct-to-home satellite platform being planned by state broadcaster,
Doordarshan (DD). Private broadcasters are seeking ways around the 20 per cent
foreign equity cap set for new DTH platforms.

INDONESIA

CHINESE BROADCASTS ON METRO TV

A new private television station, Metro TV, will become the first in Indonesia
to use Mandarin Chinesein its daily news broadcasts. The TV station, launched
November 18 by President Abdurrahman Wahid, has scheduled a 60-minute Mandarin
news broadcast twice a day on weekdays and two half-hour wrap-ups on weekends,
besides Indonesian and English news. The use of Mandarin was banned nationwide
following the 1965 military coup. Up until now, there has been no news in
Mandarin on Indonesian television because several bans on the language have not
been lifted by the House of Representatives. There are lots of ethnic Chinese
in Indonesia who rely on the Chinese language to get news. Metro is one of five
privately-owned TV stations to go on air in the near future and it is expected
to air its first broadcast on November 25.

SGN BUYS SCTV

Australian media company, the Singleton Group (SGN) is part of an international
consortium which on November 24 bought Indonesia’s ailing TV network Surya
Citra Televisi (SCTV). SGN will invest US$23.73 million in the consortium which
also includes telco Emtek and investors Mark Carnegie and John Wylie. SCTV is
Indonesia’s third largest and one of the biggest debtors to the Indonesian
Banking Restructuring Agency.

NEW ZEALAND

REGIONAL BROADCASTERS WANT BROADCASTING EQUITY

Regional television broadcasters from around New Zealand met for the first time
this week to discuss the impact of digital transmission technology on regional
stations. About 14 stations have joined forces to address issues such as
inequality in NZ On Air funding, and plan to lobby government to ensure that
regional stations have an equal opportunity to access digital broadcast
methods.

PAKISTAN

TELEBIZ WINS PAY-TV LICENSE

Pakistan’s private-sector news and business programmer, Television Business
Productions Limited (Telebiz), is planning to move into the pay-TV sector
against rival new licensee STAR TV after winning its own license from the
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Telebiz, which is seeking international
alliances for its expansion initiative, produces daily and weekly programming
for CNBC Asia, PTV and Asia TV in the US and Africa. Telebiz says the new
pay-TV licenses will boost the provision of national cable services in
Pakistan. Pakistan has about 8,000 pay-TV operators in 49 cities serving about
1.5 million households.

Concretes going in this weekend, then wait wait wait for the concrete to "cure" photos of it next week if I can borrow the digital camera.

Bob Roberts in Sydney has a 3M solid dish free to give away to anyone who comes and collects it!

The dish is on the ground, but the new owner would have to dismantle for transportation.

Location is Sefton, Sydney
He can be contacted on 0411 025 456.

LMI 1 75E "MSC (Sri Lanka") has started on 3435 H, Dig FTA, Sr 3500, Fec 7/8 Vpid 1160 Apid 1130
This one on the B Beam can any one in Australia get this beam?

ST 1 88E "FTV" and "Sun Satellite TV" on 3509 H are now encrypted.
ST 1 88E "Cha Cha Channel" and "CASA" on 3632 V are now in the clear.
ST 1 88E "Savoir Knowledge Channel" and "RAI International 2" on 3509 H are now encrypted.
ST 1 88E "FTV" on 3509 H is FTA.

Palapa C2 113E "Cha Cha Channel" and "CASA" on 4000 H and 11130 V FTA Currently.

Optus B3 156E Several updates in the Austar/Foxtel and Optus Aurora packages.
Austar/Foxtel has started to use 12501 H DIG /Irdeto Sr 29473 Fec 3/4.

Australia’s biggest ISP has defended criticism that it did not have an adequate satellite network to cope with the week’s underwater shenanigans.

Telstra spokesman Stuart Gray admitted the 650,000-customer ISP would not attempt to re-rout Web traffic via satellite, a situation Monash University IT lecturer Stephen Giles said highlighted the nation’s “particularly poor” degree of satellite coverage.

Giles said Australia was an “unattractive” coverage area for companies that run satellite operations. “That leaves (Telstra) with the small number of entry and exit points that are in place at the moment.”

however, Gray said no amount of satellite coverage would encourage the ISP to consider that as an alternative mode of international Internet connection.

Satellite just doesn’t have the capacity of cable,” he said. “All our future developments are with cable.”

Telstra would redirect all international Web traffic via its undamaged “Eastern cable” until the damaged “Western cable” was repaired, he said.

The 37,000-kilometre SEA-ME-WE 3 Internet cable, that connects Australia to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, was slashed at the bottom of the ocean near Singapore on Monday afternoon. The damage left Telstra’s Bigpond network running at 30 percent its normal capacity, until traffic was switched over to the other cable. Gray said the ISP was currently running at around 75 percent its normal capacity.

Gray said the repair ship was expected to “set sail” on Thursday afternoon, and that repairs were expected to be completed early next week.

The cost of the job would be covered by the consortium of 90 international players that own the cable, Gray said. He would not estimate the cost of the repair, but said a similar repair in Australian waters had cost the consortium AU$200,000. Telstra’s fiscal stake in the consortium was less than five percent, he said.

The spokesman said the single cable was coping “quite well” with traffic during off peak hours. However, “there has been some slowness during peak periods.”

The ISP had not received any official complaints from customers who were denied access to the Web, Gray said.

Millionaire adman John Singleton agrees that his latest investment could be one of his riskiest yet.

Mr Singleton revealed yesterday he was part of a consortium that had taken a $72 million indirect stake in Indonesia's third-largest television network SCTV.

"We have bought things and gone against the trend of play before and had people look back and say `that was obvious'. Well, this is an even more obvious investment," Mr Singleton said yesterday.

"There is only one question mark and that is Indonesia. Australia is still very ignorant about Indonesia. It's got a population bigger than America and it's closer than New Zealand. There's no chance Indonesia won't be in Australia's economic future."

Mr Singleton is doubling up on the bet by investing $45 million on behalf of the publicly listed Singleton Group, which he controls, plus an undisclosed amount of his personal fortune. Also in on the deal are Singleton Group's chairman Mark Carnegie, his partner John Wylie, their investment fund and Emtec, a medium-sized Indonesian telco and IT company.

Mr Carnegie described the deal brokered by Emtec chairman Eddy Sariaatmadja as "convoluted" because of restrictions preventing direct foreign investment in Indonesian television stations that are not publicly listed.

The Australian-based consortium will invest in PT Abhimata Mediatama, whose sole asset will be a 33 per cent stake in PT Cipta Aneka Selaras. Cipta has a joint interest in the 73 per cent shareholding in SCTV of another company, PT Mitrasari Persada.

Mitrasari in turn owns a stake in Cipta along with Indonesian investment bank PT Bhakti Investama Tbk.

Indonesian media analyst Keith Loveard was sceptical about the merits of the deal.

"Singleton has to fight against a market which is expanding rapidly in terms of the number of the stations that are preparing to launch," Mr Loveard said yesterday. "He gets well-trained staff, a good news operation and equipment but there are already four or five commercial television stations in a market which has never produced any profits apart from the original station RCTI."

Doordarshan the national television service of India has revamped its entire site (www.ddindia.com) making it more userfriendly for a consumer target. Its sections include latest News, Bollywood beat, Explore India - Travel and Tourism, Program Bazaar and a discussion forum.

While latest news is a first hand service of India related content, Bollywood beat is a database of songs sung by Bollywood stars available in Realmedia. Other sections include Matters of India and Matters of Faith which are under construction. DD world live telecasts are also available in clippings. Program Bazaar provides information of programs whose rights DD posseses. A discussion forum has been set up that caters to three categories sports, politics and law and order. However interaction requires you to register first. Salient features include a polling session and a daily programming schedule (also under construction).

The site is powered by DSF Internet Services Pvt. Ltd. whose client roster includes All India Radio, Doordarshan, BMW, Motorola, GE-India, ICMR, Usha International, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India Info, Mantra Online, and many more.

Doordarshan currently has 49 studio centers, operates 21 channels with a network of 1150 transmitters, and reaches 87 percent of the country's one billion people.

The Emerald island is going to see a lot of Harish Thawani, the promoter of media firm Nimbus Communications. The reason: Thawani has in partnership with the World Sports Group bagged the rights for Sri Lankan cricket for the next three years. The deal covers 14 tours and would involve 180 days of international cricket, reveals Thawani, who has emerged as one of the most important players of the sports rights business over the past two years.

While he is unwilling to give any fix on the price that WSG-Nimbus put in to be the successful bidder for the rights, industry estimates are that they cost him close to $30 million. The other bidder TWI apparently was not willing to match the bid.

The bid covers global telecast (both radio and TV) , sponsorship and stadium signage rights. Sources indicate that the final tab that WSG-Nimbus may have to cough up could be in the range of $45 million. WSG-Nimbus is a 50:50 joint venture between the UK based WSG plc and India's Nimbus.

According to industry sources, WSG-Nimbus is likely to cut a deal with Zee Sports as the latter is quite hungry to grab quality cricket content, whatever is left of it. News Corps has got the telecast rights to almost all the international cricket matches in Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, England, West Indies, Pakistan. Additionally, it has the rights to ICC backed cricket. The only other player with cricket rights is Mark Mascarenhas of World-Tel who apparently has not found too many takers for the Bangladesh cricket property he has acquired for some $12 million for four years.

Thanks to those that came into the chatroom, Not much to report for today. The new C-Sat online satellite news is on it also incorporates Dishnews magazine from Pakistan.Its not much good though as the news on its very old. Its no where near up to the standard of the Scatindia one.

Hi

Have you any idea who stocks Comstar dish's? I believe some one in
Auckland must be importing them. Can you post the question on your site
please?

Many thanks

From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1443571%255E462,00.html

SEVEN Network is facing a fresh obstacle in its fight to secure access to the Foxtel cable and set-top box, with the pay television group primed to launch several new channels in a rejigged programming line-up.

Foxtel's move is seen by those close to Seven as a blocking manoeuvre, which will use most of the available channel space. The new line-up, revealed in Foxtel's subscriber magazine, will take up 46 of the 50 channel slots Foxtel holds under its agreement with Telstra.

Seven's right to access to the Telstra cable and Foxtel's set-top box has been upheld by three court decisions, including the Full Bench of the Federal Court.

"The judgments declared we have access from the cable into the set-top box into the television set," a Seven spokesman said, adding that this encompassed the channel capacity at the time of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's open access declaration in 1999.

But Foxtel contends that these decisions fall short of requiring it to carry Seven's pay television channels as part of its channel line-up. Instead, Foxtel claims that Seven will need to establish a separate pay service on the cable with its own subscriber management systems and marketing arrangements.

Seven said it would push ahead with its plans to get access to the Foxtel cable and set-top boxes, particularly its fight to get its AFL-centric pay TV sports channel C7 on to the platform.

Seven has pay TV licences for up to 10 channels, for which it is seeking access. "Our claim on space dates back to when we originally claimed access," a spokesman said.

Foxtel now offers 42 channels on its cable, including the five free to air channels. It will increase its basic package by two additional channels, Fashion Television and MusicMax, and will replace Turner Classic Movies with Fox Kids during the day and Fox Classic Movies in the evenings.

Foxtel will also expand its movie tier, which costs an extra $10 a month, to three channels, Showtime, Encore and Showtime2, a new channel which screens the Showtime schedule two hours later.

Turner Classic Movies moves to a more expensive Entertainment Plus tier, including a new 24-hour History Channel, the comedychannel, a new women-focused fx channel, and Hallmark Movies.

Foxtel is believed to have earmarked its four remaining analog channels for pay-per-view movies, and possibly one or two other channels. The pay television group has been in discussions with Disney, currently available on Optus Television and Austar.

Foxtel said yesterday the changes were purely to benefit subscribers.

"The changes are not for the purpose of defeating access, they are being made as part of Foxtel's long-term plans to expand the services it provides to its subscribers," a Foxtel spokesman said.

Telstra has another 14 channels outside Foxtel's 50-channel agreement available for other pay television operators.

From http://www.afr.com.au/premium/marketwrap/equities/2000/11/22/FFXQ7T55TFC.html

If no news is good news, embattled pay television group Austar United Communications must be wondering when the news will stop.

Austar shares yesterday dropped almost 10 per cent to $2.65, battered by a mixture of fact and fiction involving its parent, United States group UnitedGlobalCom, and other parts of the UGC empire. UGC stock plummeted $US3.875, some 19.6 per cent, to $US15.875 in Monday night's US trading as investors reacted to the announcement late last week of a $US366.9 million net loss and speculation the company's European arm, United Pan-Europe, was unable to draw on its 4 billion credit line.

Well, the loss was real (Austar itself lost $201.76 million in the nine months to September 30 while UPC went through $US542.4 million), but apparently the financing problem was not, leaving UGC president Mike Fries lamenting the "fundamental errors and factually incorrect statements from a few analysts in Europe".

The situation was not helped by local rumours that Austar could write off about $140 million on a mysterious satellite joint venture with Cable & Wireless Optus.

An Austar spokesman noted the company's satellite joint venture with Optus, which controls its pay-TV conditional access platform, had "no assets", making a writedown somewhat problematic.

Market mail was that CSFB was telling clients to bail ship. The broker sold 705,000 of the stock yesterday and bought 40,000. It would be a strange turnaround as CSFB floated the business.

The Government's plans for a Maori television channel are inadequate, according to the Government's own advisors.

A report leaked to One News recommends the Government increase funding three-fold to $50 million a year and calls for more mainstream Maori programmes.

Maori have been promised another channel since the collapse of Aotearoa Television four years ago.

The Government appointed broadcaster Derek Fox and others to examine its plans. They want a stand-alone channel set up as soon as possible but say the Government's promised funds are inadequate.

The Government was promising $17 million a year, the group says $50 million is needed.

In terms of mainstream programming, the group wants programmes focussed on Maori issues to be increased five-fold from the current three percent to 15%.

The report also recommends Maori get a 20% stake if TVNZ or its transmission subsidiary BCL were ever sold.

Maori MPs Willie Jackson and John Tamihere say they support the report. Tamihere says the impact of digital television must be taken into account "rather than just picking up the old technologies".

The report will eventually go to the appropriate ministers for consideration.

LIVECHAT tonight 8.30pm Sydney time onwards I hope you can get in as the chat server has to contact the U.S and if your haveing trouble due to the cable break you may have trouble getting on. To those that asked yes the picture above looks funny as it was taken with a cheap low res digital camera and is in fact 4 photos stitched together, the car shed is west, I will try and scan off some other photos I have of it.

Satfacts is doing a review of the Humax IRCI 5400 Satellite receiver in the December issue, if you have any comments about this unit send them to Bob Skyking@clear.net.nz

Dordashan India, and Now TV have teamed up to produce a Portal for live cricket coverage , this is a EXCELLENT site you get the scorecard on the left and live video (up to 300k!) on the right its almost like an interactive tv service.

www.dd.now.com is the link to it. They are useing Akamai servers also which means the video will stream off a local server if your ISP has an Akamai Server (Ihug and Telecom in NZ do)

I re-loaded Fashion TV using the auto sr function (Satcruiser 201P) and it came up good as gold.
Details according to my receiver are; 3795H sr2533 Vpid308 Apid256 PCRpid8190 These details match up with Lyngsat chart.
Tits and bums for everyone!

(Craigs, Note I think it was only the older models of the Phoenix receivers that were haveing problems with it)

Robert Anthony in the NT reports, all of Aurora services on B3 were FTA for a few hours this morning (They have since encrypted again)

Thaicom 3 76.5E 1855 UTC 3565 H Sr 5000 Fec 3/4 Vpid 512 Apid 650 "Sky Racing Channel Australia"
Thaicom 3 76.5E 1855 UTC 3565 H Sr 5000 Fec 3/4 Vpid 513 Apid 660 TELSTRA SYDNEY TOC test card

Optus B3 156E 0230UTC 12369 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 Vpid 4096 Apid 4097 "MEDIASAT DSNG1 Horse Racing Feed."

Im looking to buy a 3.4 to 3.8mtr mesh dish .
Im located in Salisbury south Australia
regards martin mills
email kryyten@ihug.com.au

Thaicom 3 76.5E "Sky Racing Channel" has started on 3565 H Sr 5000 Fec 3/4 Vpid 512 Apid 650, global beam. Occasional Telstra feeds on Vpid 513 Apid 660.

ST 1 88E TTV, FTV and Sun Satellite TV have replaced PTS, Guangdong TV and BBC World on 3509 H

Palapa C2 113E "Australia TV" is still in PAL on 3880 H.
Palapa C2 113E "Metro TV" has left 4089 H, MPEG-2/clear, PIDs 513/651.
Palapa C2 113E "Australia TV" is still testing on 4089 H.

Thanks to those that turned up for the chat. If anyone had trouble getting into the chat , it wasn't the server at fault. Its mostly due to the main cable being cut see the news item below for details.

Sorry about the wrong info re Fashion TV, it's just my receiver thought it was encrypted. If I remember rightly, they recently changed the sr or pids. Maybe they have done something like this again.

(Craigs, Note don't worry at least it cleared up why it wasn't working for some!)

ST 1 88E PowerCom Tech has merged with Space TV on 3509 H some channels FTA here

Optus B3 156E 12503 H Sr 29473 is active with 12 Channels of Fox LOGO
Optus B3 156E 12438 H "Bloomberg and Cartoon Network" have started here

Palapa C2 113E "Metro TV" has started on 4089 H Vpid 513 Apid 651.Occasional feeds on PIDs 514/652.
Palapa C2 113E "Australia TV" on 3880 H has switched from PAL to Digital Sr 14060 Fec 3/4 Vpid 512 Apid 650, Metro TV has started on PIDs 513/651.

One of Australia's biggest Internet connections was cut yesterday, hitting over half a million home and business Internet users.

The SEA-ME-WE 3 communications cable which links Europe, Asia and Australia - entering the country at Floreat beach - was damaged on the ocean floor near Singapore around 12.20pm.

The cut virtually closed down Telstra's Internet network, which used the cable for 60 per cent of its international Internet access.

Telstra's other Internet connections were unable to cope with the redirected demand. At 4pm Telstra's Internet network was working at just over 30 per cent capacity, meaning at any one time around two thirds of its users experienced slow or non-existent Internet access, a Telstra spokesman said.

Telstra is Australia's biggest Internet service provider with over 500,000 subscribers and 800 wholesalers.

Other ISPs and networks such as Optus were uncongested.

Telstra spokesman Stuart Gray said the company's Internet network was in gridlock and he did not know when it would come back to normal operation, though the company was looking at getting alternative capacity from satellite and other networks.

During the afternoon an increasing backlog of requests for international Web pages caused the already congested system to slow down further.

The cable cut had also affected Internet access in Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, UK and the USA, though its biggest impact was in South East Asia. The cause of the damage, which occurred approximately 100km from Singapore on the ocean floor, could not be confirmed. Possible causes include a ship's anchor or minor earthquake.
Long distance telephony was not affected.

Until last week SEA-ME-WE-3 was Australia's biggest connection to the Internet, now superceded by the 40 per cent Cable & Wireless Optus owned Southern Cross Cable Network, running from the east coast to the US.

The new Southern Cross cable, which Telstra is not yet connected to, carries 100 Gigabits a second - five times SEA-ME-WE 3.

The SEA-ME-WE-3 cable is one of the longest and fastest intercontinental cables in the world. It was set up two years ago specifically to speed up Internet access in the countries it connected.

Its handful of optical fibres thinner than a human hair can transfer 20 Gigabits of information ever y second - equal to about 5000 medium-length novels, 500,000 simultaneous phone chats or a million pages of e-mail.

Australia's link to SEA-ME-WE 3 runs out from a small manhole in the dunes behind Floreat Beach.

From there it joins a networ k that runs almost 40,000km from Germany, round Spain, through Egypt and the Middle East to South-East Asia, Australia and Japan.

From http://www.idg.net.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/9D49934040712FACCC25699D00183C75!opendocument

Ihug will today launch a new device that lets the internet be used via a home television – the Ihug Surfboard.
The $699 (including GST) Surfboard is not Ihug's first dalliance with internet-via-TV as a consumer service.

The Ihug Super System, which came with an infra-red keyboard was pitched and styled as a luxury consumer electronics appliance and displayed at the Big Boys Toys show two years ago, but proved too expensive to manufacture.

The company has since worked with a range of set-top boxes, including those from the suppliers of the decoders used with its IDTV pay-TV service but has struggled to find one that performs adequately. The Surfboard is similar to the devices used to provide in-room internet service in hotels such as Auckland's Metropolis.

Director Nick Wood indicated earlier this year that the company might wait for a new generation of boxes next year, but the pressure may have gone on Ihug with TVNZ and Telstra's announcement of a digital TV partnership which would involve interactive services and internet access. Although Ihug's Ultra internet service has taken off in recent months, the accompanying Ihug Digital TV has languished.

An Ihug statement released yesterday afternoon says the Surfboard plugs into television sets and "requires no detailed skill to operate". A publicity photo shows a custom Ihug user interface. The device has a picture-in-picture feature, allowing simultaneous internet use and TV viewing, and an infrared keyboard.

Ihug Director Tim Wood says the product has already been trialled in New Zealand and the results were "overwhelmingly positive". He describes it as "perfect for newcomers. It will have special appeal for the many seniors who are increasingly interested in email as a way of contacting young relatives."

The Surfboard will initially be available for sale only, but it is understood it will eventually be available for hire from the Video Ezy chain, of which Ihug is a majority owner.

Ezenet directors are confident the idea of Internet access through the family television set will catch on, although they admitted yesterday that sales were still just "steady".

Perth-based Ezenet makes and sells TV set-top boxes that enable users to surf the Internet through their telephone line and television.

As one of the first companies to offer such a product, managing director Linton Chapman said that Ezenet had to create its market.

"Sales are going steady," he told the annual meeting yesterday.

"We would have liked them to escalate but, being the first in the market, you are really the educator of the people. A lot of people don't know you can access the Internet through your existing television.

"It's a slower uptake here than it is in the United States, where the uptake there is running at 50,000 units (set-top boxes) a month, so we should be doing a lot more."

Ezenet's set-top boxes have a wireless keyboard, microphone and video camera and a modem, delivering consumers all the regular Internet services delivered through typical personal computers.

The Ezenet system also offers telephony services through the set-top box, with users able to talk to each other anywhere in the world for the cost of an untimed local call.

The company had sold nearly 1500 boxes to retail chain Harvey Norman, and expected orders from other key retailers as the concept became more popular and new models came out, Mr Chapman said. Ezenet's set-top box retails for about $570.

Shareholders at the annual meeting questioned the board about the writedown of its existing stock of set-top boxes, asking Mr Chapman if the remaining units would eventually be sold.

Mr Chapman said the company was continually seeking new technologies and supply agreements, and was confident about the system's future success.

Ezenet was caught up in April's sharemarket "tech wreck". Its shares have plunged 90 per cent this year, from a peak of $1.46 to eight cents yesterday.

Documents recently lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange revealed Ezenet burnt $231,000 for the three months to September, while customer receipts were $48,000.

Ezenet now has cash reserves of $1.4million. On present burn rates, it has 21 months before funds run dry.

Livechat tonight 8.30pm Sydney time onwards I am in there from 9.30PM NZ time for those in NZ who want to get on earlier.

Apstar 2R finally added to the satellites pages! A bonus! while checking out Details i found Channel I on Apstar 2R has a live video stream on another site. Right at this moment India vs Zimbawe cricket test match is on it! So check Channel I on Apstar 2R 76.5E for the Cricket!

Hi Craig....

Your email from Hans on the website is inaccurate.

Fashion TV has NOT encrypted.

They HAVE done something to their sugnal however which makes SOME receivers
split the screen... that happened about a week ago.

Not all receivers are effected. For example, the original model Phoenix 333
has the problem, while the new model Phoenix 333 shows Fashion TV clear as
a bell. (I'm watching it now as I type this). I repeat... it is NOT
encrypted - although SOMETHING strange has happened to the signal.

Regards
Andrew (Axiom Compusat Services)

TechTV To Enter Asian Marketplace with its First-ever Satellite-Delivered International Channel Dedicated Solely to Global Technology

Due to the overwhelming reception and demand for its programming, TechTV (formerly ZDTV), is preparing to launch its first-ever 24-hour international satellite-delivered channel in Asia during Q1, 2001, it was announced recently by Tom Grams, General Manager, TechTV International. Originating from uplink facilities in a major Asian city, the TechTV footprint will reach all of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.

TechTV already produces and distributes more than 1,300 hours of original programming per year, making it the world's leading source for technology-related programming. The new channel will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at launch.

"We've learned that as a program genre, technology travels extremely well," said Grams. "We have also learned that our success depends on our ability to have this channel localized to the greatest extent possible. The new TechTV channel will be programmed to serve as either a 'pass-through' channel or as the foundation for a localized channel in each country."

"We are looking for established media partners in each territory who have production, localization and cable and/or satellite distribution experience, who can contribute relevant local content, as necessary, in order to make the channel more appealing to their own local audience," added Karen Kaufman Perlman, Head of Worldwide Sales.

The recent announcement follows the August launch of the TechTV and 68 ENTERPRISE network, "The Internet and Hi-Tech Channel" on YES, Israel's new DBS platform.

The new channel will provide technology-related news, information, entertainment, and advice aimed at a broad audience, enabling everyone to participate more fully in the Digital Age.

The launch of the channel in Asia earmarks the company's first major global network expansion for TechTV since Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures purchased it from Ziff Davis last January in a deal valued at more than US $320 million.

Barely two years old, TechTV as a US cable and satellite channel currently reaches over 20 million homes and its programming is already seen in over 70 countries worldwide.

TechTV, formerly known as ZDTV, is the on-air and online network dedicated to the digital lifestyle. Offering everything from industry news to product reviews, tech stocks to tech support, TechTV's original programming keeps the wired world informed and entertained. TechTV is one of the fastest growing cable networks, currently available in more than 20 million households in the U.S. and distributing content to 70 countries around the world. With over 750,000 unique visitors per month, TechTV is a community destination that encourages viewer interaction through e-mail, live chat and video mail. TechTV is owned by Vulcan Ventures, Inc., which purchased it from ZD Inc., on January 21, 2000.

Shiron Satellite Communications, along with Pan Asia Sat Media, recently announced the successful launch of a multimedia superhighway for Asia. The launch of a new InterSKY™ Hub was celebrated October 16 in Jakarta, Indonesia at a party for 600 people hosted by Mr. Patrick Cheung, Chairman of Pan Asia Sat Media.

InterSKY™ is a Two-way broadband satellite solution developed and manufactured by Shiron. Exclusive features such as Demand Assigned Multiple Access and Bandwidth On Demand will provide Pan Asia Sat Media, a Hong Kong-based Internet service provider, with an efficient and cost-effective solution. Two-way satellite communication will ensure Internet users throughout Asia fast and reliable service, free of the wait caused by terrestrial transmission.

Shiron Satellite Communications (1996) Ltd. provides a total solution for Internet Service Providers, Corporations and SOHOs, with the InterSKY™ System. InterSKY™ is a high-speed Two-Way via satellite communications system that uses satellite resources at maximum efficiency, making it a cost-effective solution.

Shiron is based in Petach Tikva, Israel and operates an additional office in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. InterSKY™ is marketed and sold worldwide, with systems installed in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

Just a very small update for today ( You don't expect me to spend all day updateing the site on a Sunday do you)

WWF Wrestling Survivor Series Pay Per View is on NOV 20th (Monday) 12 noon EDT, Look for an unencrypted feed of it on Intelsat 701 somewhere! Please send a message on the mailing list if you see it there.

Anyway heres a bargain for those in Sydney! Ideal for a Dish Phaseing project, e.g 4x 3M dishs phased together will perform as a 6M solid would. Buy 10? theres 15M solid dish performance :-) who wants 20?? for 30M solid performance, Hmm Ku Irdeto from South Africa or Thailand anyone? Make sure you let them know where you saw the advert! suggest they should post me one of those 3M Andrews dishs for helping them cleanout there warehouse.

Here are some screen shots of the new Indonesian Metro TV.(Note the details posted yesterday)
It's currently 1:30 am Sunday and it looks like regular programming, probably testing.

The fta sat enthusiasts have suffered another blow!! Fashion TV encrypted (a few days ago).

Metro hasn't been on since I got up this morning. I'll keep an eye on it.

In the past I havn't had any luck getting RCTI (digital) but the other day it loaded beatifully and hasn't missed a beat since. Strange!

(Craigs, Note I have hunted the web and found the following on Metro TV, see news below it seems they will only be doing four hours a day transmission to start with)

Spacenet 4 172 E signal carriers are supposedly on 3840 3880 3920 3960 all V (Reports needed please)

Following the lifting of media restrictions in 1998, the first of the five stations is due to begin broadcasting next month
JAKARTA -- Couch potatoes in Indonesia will have more television channels to choose from when five new stations go on air next year.

Media restrictions were lifted two years ago, resulting in five new stations entering the market to compete with the existing five private TV stations and the state-owned TVRI. One of them, Metro TV, will start broadcasting next month.

It is owned by PT Media Televisi Indonesia, part of businessman Suryo Paloh's group. It also owns the Media Indonesia daily and a number of hotels.

Although it will broadcast only 12 hours of programming in the greater Jakarta area to start with, Metro TV aims to be a round-the-clock news television station reaching at least seven provinces in the country by next year.

Besides updating news every hour and relaying material from the CNN network, it will also air quiz and talk shows and documentaries. News programmes in both English and Mandarin will also be available.

As it will be the first news-only television channel in Indonesia, Metro News Director Andi Noya is optimistic it will be a success.

""In this transitional period, instantly-updated information is very important,'' he told The Straits Times.

""When there is unrest, everyone turns to his television or radio for continuous updates.''

Besides, the operational cost of airing news programmes is generally lower than on entertainment shows, despite higher initial investment costs, he added.

The cost of running a news programme is between 15 million and 20 million rupiah (S$2,850 and S$3,800) a month. In comparison, entertainment shows such as local soap operas can cost a TV station about 150 million rupiah.

The second station that will follow Metro TV is Televisi Tranformasi Indonesia or Trans TV.

Owned by Bank Mega's owner Chaerul Tanjung, Trans TV will consist of 25 per cent news with the usual mix of entertainment, and sports and religious shows making up the rest. It will start operations next June.

According to its news director, Mr Riza Permadi, Trans will broadcast in 30 cities across the country within two years' time.

Trans TV may boast of having the industry's finest talent in Indonesia.

Mr Riza, 38, was the news director of SCTV and his president director, Mr Ishadi, is the former director of TVRI and was previously the director general of radio, television and film in the information ministry.

In comparison, Metro TV's Andi Noya, a reputable print media journalist and formerly an editor for Media Indonesia, has only done a brief stint in RCTI, the country's first private TV station.

Other stations gearing up to begin operating next year are: DVN TV owned by businessman Sukoyo, Global TV owned by Nasir Tamara and PR TV, or Pasaraya Mediakarya, which is owned by former Cabinet minister Abdul Latief.

All the companies obtained their permit to broadcast after President B.J. Habibie relaxed regulations on media in mid-1998.

Privately-owned TV stations are still relatively new in Indonesia, with RCTI starting operations in 1990.

Under former president Suharto, the restricted issuance of a broadcasting permit made the industry a reserve of people linked to power.

JAKARTA, Indonesia October 24, 2000—A.N.N Systems, a global supplier of integrated technology for creating, managing and distributing media, announced the implementation of StarDRIVE Automation and the OpenMedia Newsroom System at Metro TV in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Metro TV news team of more than 60 reporters, editors and producers will create 13 hours of fresh programming daily from its new headquarters, beginning with its launch on November 24, 2000. The A.N.N Systems solutions will be the front-line production tool in the Metro TV operation.

StarDRIVE is an integrated technology solution designed to enable the implementation of end-to-end media management and automation efficiently, effectively and affordably. The OpenMedia news production solution offers flexibility in news production without sacrificing control of newsroom automation.

Metro TV will rely on OpenMedia for production of all program content, including creation of customized rundowns, ingest of wire services, teleprompting and the timing of programs throughout its broadcast day. The StarDRIVE system will manage all video and audio media, from ingest, through editing and production to playout. StarDRIVE also will provide Metro TV's producers with low-resolution video browsing and editing on their desktop PCs. Using StarDRIVE, Metro TV's news people will synchronize the low-resolution media assets in their newsroom computer domain with the high-resolution media assets in the broadcast domain.

The National Geographic Channel has received approval from the Chinese
government to beam its programmes via satellite directly to local TV stations.
With this, the channel; currently also available in China on a part-day basis
on cable TV, would be able to reach tens of millions of Chinese TV viewers.
National Geograhic reaches 20 million homes throughout Asia and Middle East via
cable and DTH networks.

India’s Hinduja group and state broadcaster Doordarshan have unveiled separate
plans to follow rival Zee Telefilms into India’s fledgling direct-to-home (DTH)
broadcasting sector. The Hinduja group is planning to launch a 100-channel
bouquet of DTH services by December 2001. This will include at least 25
specialist channels, along with a host of international and regional fare. The
public service broadcaster is expected to launch a platform in partnership with
other local players. The Indian government gave the green light to DTH services
at the beginning of this month, but placed a foreign equity cap of up to 49 per
cent. Private broadcaster Zee has already announced its intention to launch DTH
services, in partnership with US-based Indian businessman Siva Sankaran’s
Sterling Group. The joint venture platform will involve several
regional-language channels in Southern India. However Zee’s stake in the
venture has not yet been decided as Indian Information and Broadcasting
Minister Sushma Swaraj also capped local private broadcaster’s investment in
DTH platforms at 20 per cent. The DTH licences cost $2.5 million and licensees
will have to share 10 per cent of revenue with the government and carry all of
Doordarshan’s channels.

Production company UTV says it wants to increase its output and launch
dedicated channels to capitalise on India’s newly liberated DTH sector.
Chairman Ronnie Screwvala said in a Reuters report that the company wants to
launch channels for children, education, and home shopping. He added UTV plans
to invest about Rs200 million in producing content dedicated to DTH.

Satellite channel Sahara TV wants to go global over the next 18 months, and its
first expansion is into North America with a Canadian service. The channel,
which launched only a few months ago, will spend Rs5.9 billion on its
expansion. After North America, it has plans for a UK channel for Europe and
services in South Africa and Australia. It also announced plans for a 24-hour
news channel; it currently airs general entertainment programming.

Competition in Indonesia’s pay TV market is set to become more intense with the
introduction of PT Omnilink Multimedia Nusantara’s digital MMDS service. The
service will cover some 3.5 million homes in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali. The
company also revealed plans to expand into other major Indonesia services, a
launch of a two-way, high-speed MMDS Internet service by year’s end, as well as
a pay-TV offering by the second quarter of 2001.

The page has had a good trim all that news last week was makeing the page to large don't worry its been put into the history area see above to access it. A bit of a colourfull page today with a few screenshots.

At present (04:30 UTC) test card with "TGC" audio ident
(The Golf Channel)
Also a probable Bathurst feed Encrypted on TVNZ transponder 4044R on I701 only seen in the last few days Idents as "TVNZ SYD1 E1896 M108

Cheers
Peter Eade

- New Castle vs. Sunderland - Saturday - 22:00
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool - Sunday - 23:00

- Lazio vs. AC Milan - Sunday - 02:20 am
- Verona vs. AS Roma - Sunday - 20:55
- Bologna vs. Parma - Monday - 02:20 am

Champion League

- AC Milan vs. Galatasaray - Wednesday - 02:30 am
- Leeds United vs. Real Madrid - Thursday - 02:30 am

0230UTC Pas2 3804 V Sr 4686 Fec 3/4 Vpid 33 Apid 34 "Asian Conference Feed, Apec?"

Palapa C2 113E A number of Space tv channels are FTA includeing 3760 H "Mega Movies"

Palapa C2 113E 4089 H 2 other interesting signals seen in with Australia tv's Digital signal on 4089 H, The Metro Colour Bars is interesting, Metro's a new Terrestrial FTA channel in Indonesia could it be FTA here soon?

Good news I am now in touch with a local satellite person here in Nelson. It will be good to at last have some locals to chat satellite with! Other things of interest this weekend the Bathurst race, Channel 10's coverage will be widescreen 16:9 and multi camera, this is sure to be a digital signal on Optus B1, Intelsat I701 and maybe Pas 2 as well. If you see the feed on Saturday please email it to me don't assume others may have already.

"TEN’s Bathurst telecast will begin on Saturday, November 18, with action of the top ten shoot out for pole and GTP racing from 12-5pm. This will be followed by a full day of racing on Sunday, November 19 with Ten’s telecast running from 7am-5pm."

Cricket NZ vs South Africa 1st Test is on tonight from 7.25pm Sydney time, Check I701 TVNZ feeds for it

There is now a Humax users mailing list at egroups, the 5400 is becoming a very popular machine in Australia

Why can't we have interesting satellite channels like this interesting link.. http://www.tvnewsweb.com/newstalk/2000/11/15nakednews.shtml

"BILL" writes, hello, Palapa C2 Megamovies is fta on 3760 H Sr 26666 there is a message on the top saying there is a change to new freq 3509 v 26666 I don't get it can you see it???? help

(Craigs, Note TRY 3509 H Sr 26999, this freqs reported for the St1 88E bird) its possibly only on Space TV's channel package there.)

Just a quickie from Singapore - I am attending the CASABA Sat & Cable show - was told by the local rep that ART is encrypting first quarter of 2001 - using UEC IRd's and IRDETO encryption system.

Must go - email charges here are very high.

( Craigs Note, the Panamsat 2 Middle East BQ consisting of Antenna Pacific, LBC Australia, Art Australia and Rai International 1 has been threatning to go encrypted for a long time now. I did get some info earlier this week that I cannot divulge yet about the situation, hopefully I will have some more info on it next Tuesday. I don't think they can encrypt the ART channel into Irdeto without the whole BQ going to Irdeto)

Things to look for possible feeds of this weekend (let me know if you see any of them)

5.00pm Syd Golf Johnie Walker Classic from Bangkok (Live on Star sports I think)
7.25pm Syd 1st Test NZ vs South Africa Cricket 1st day

7.00 am Syd Nascar qualifying round from Atlanta
7.00 am Syd Golf LPGA from Florida (check Pas 2 Fox feeds for this one or I701)
9.30 am Syd NBA Sacremento Kings v La Lakers (anyone seen the NBA anywhere)
4.30 pm Syd Golf Johnie Walker Classic from Bangkok (Live on Star sports I think)

1.00 am Syd Tennis Masters Series live Mens semifinal from Paris
1.50 am Syd Rugby League World Cup 1st semi final (Check I701 tvnz)
6.00 am Syd Rugby NZ vs France 2nd test (not likely but check I701 anyway)
Channel 10 Bathhurst feeds should appear on B1 at least from about 9.am Syd
4.30 pm Syd Golf Johnie Walker Classic from Bangkok (Live on Star sports I think)
7.25 pm Syd 1st Test NZ vs South Africa Cricket 3rd day

Fans looking for a new angle on Bathurst’s FAI 1000 this November, need not leave their living room, thanks to new digital television technology being introduced by Network Ten for the November 18 & 19 motorsport event.

On Saturday, November 18 (12noon-5pm) and Sunday, November 19 (8am-5pm) Network Ten’s telecast will offer fans four times the viewing action of previous years with an extra channel of alternate Bathurst action, alongside TEN’s golden logie winning coverage of the 1000km Mt Panorama race.

Ten’s new multi-channel coverage will only be available to those with digital televisions – but it will give viewers the opportunity to receive race coverage on one band; view what is happening in the pits and in car action on a second channel; gain an overall picture of the cars from aerial cameras; and obtain a full list of timing and race statistics on a fourth channel.

The multi channel facility offers TEN the opportunity to give viewers four separate channels of Bathurst motorsport viewing.

"Digital television and the mult-channel facility means viewers get a bigger, clearer picture and more options when it comes to viewing," said TEN’s Murray Lomax.

"By multi-channelling the FAI 1000 coverage fans will get more options and the chance to dwell on things in the telecast. For example viewers can sit watching the incar camera channel and get action for five minutes on the one driver, rather than quick glimpses.

It allows fans to watch and analyse the techniques of the different driver around the whole circuit.

"We also have the opportunity to put the timing on a dedicated channel, along with shots from the blimp. In all we have the possibility of 10 extra channels – which gives you enormous scope within a telecast."

NETWORK TEN has been experimenting with the digital technology in motorsport all season, filming the V8 Shell Series championship rounds in the new wide-screen 16x 9 digital format.

"The implementation of the new digital format, involves more than just changing cameras," said Lomax.

"You need to consider the 25 per cent extra space you get on screen, which is why we have been using the technology all season even though on the regular television, viewers have been none the wiser.

In Bathurst Network TEN will also be using the split screen format – to be introduced at September’s Queensland 500. The split screen gives fans three different pictures on screen at one time – and will be used to keep viewers in touch with action when the leading drivers pit.

TEN’s Bathurst telecast will begin on Saturday, November 18, with action of the top ten shoot out for pole and GTP racing from 12-5pm. This will be followed by a full day of racing on Sunday, November 19 with Ten’s telecast running from 7am-5pm.

AUSTAR United Communications Ltd chief executive John Porter went into damage control today as his company's shares had their sixth consecutive decline and remained near record lows.

Mr Porter assured the investment community the company had done "a lot of navel gazing" and was now focused on its core businesses and producing profit growth for its shareholders.

"I told my business development team: 'Hey guys, guess what? We have a whole new world of business development. Developing businesses that we already have'," Mr Porter told a Securities Institute of Australia luncheon in Sydney.

He signalled the company had put further acquisitions on the backburner, including Cable & Wireless Optus' consumer and multi-media operations which Austar was thought to be interested in.

Austar – which has pay TV, Internet and mobile phone businesses that target regional and rural Australia – has watched its shares steadily fall since reaching record highs in March when the stock was approaching $10.00 a share.

Yesterday, Austar's shares lost 10 cents, or 3.5 per cent, to close at $2.75 after hitting an intraday low of $2.68.

Wednesday the stock crashed to an all-time low of $2.63.

This week Austar's stock has dropped 71 cents.

But Mr Porter told the luncheon he believed the sell-off had been overdone.

"We feel pretty good about where we are as a company and we do ordinarily believe we are in an oversold position right now," Mr Porter said.

Austar's share price was not helped by the release on Tuesday of its first quarter results, which included an operating loss of $81.1 million. This was a 73.5 per cent deterioration of its 1999/00 first quarter result.

Analysts have since cut back their earnings forecasts for Austar and downgraded their recommendations for the stock.

The analysts pointed to concerns about when Austar would reach profitability and how it would fund further expansion.

Mr Porter yesterday acknowledged the share market environment had changed since Austar's record highs in March.

He said the company's expansion strategy was at a point where Austar "did not have to spend another penny" on its interactive television, narrowband Internet, broadband Internet and mobile phone businesses "until we think there is a real opportunity to pull profits forward".

"I can assure you that we understand that and we have heard that message and we are seriously considering how and when we deploy capital against these opportunities," Mr Porter said.

"We feel that all of our assets are in place, we have the assets' platforms, we have the products, we have the right markets and we have the content whether we own it or aggregate it to meet our objectives across the board, to deliver growth in voice, video and data and ultimately review the capital spending and deliver tremendous profit growth for our shareholders in what we think is a very reasonable time frame."

Mr Porter also said Austar was working on new marketing methods to attract subscribers in regional and rural Australia that have previously decided against taking up the company's products.

Sam Chisholm's arrival at Telstra today will be like a gun going off in a crowded room. It will certainly galvanise the Packer and Murdoch clans.

The legendary Chisholm is only one of three new directors due to be voted on to the Telstra board at today's annual general meeting as part of an attempt to refocus the troubled company.

But the most pressing question is whether Chisholm will be able to finally end the brawl between Telstra and the media moguls over what to do about Foxtel.

Chisholm's presence is only likely to increase the tensions already convulsing Telstra and Foxtel - at least in the short term.

The Telstra board is already bitterly divided, with its management activist chairman Bob Mansfield and beleaguered chief executive Ziggy Switkowski both in the firing line.

Into this volatile mix will come the tough, determined and often abrasive figure of Chisholm. Chisholm also knows both the Packers and Murdochs intimately because of earlier corporate incarnations as a key executive for both. He's not the type to be easily spooked by their aggressive styles.

Foxtel is half owned by Telstra and News Corp and PBL have 25 per cent each. Redefining its future is the latest round of Australia's most enduring game of corporate media bluff.

At the moment, the Foxtel partnership is limited to TV with Telstra retaining the rights to the Internet and interactive services that could come down the cable to the TV screen.

Clearly, the best option for attracting customers and lifting margins is to combine the TV and Internet businesses but, given the players, it's easier said than done.

Murdoch and Packer are particularly frustrated with their Foxtel business partner and have been conducting a vehement public campaign against Telstra for thwarting Foxtel's expansion into the new digital era. The criticism from both has been virtually identical in tone. Negotiations with Telstra, Rupert Murdoch said, were "frustratingly slow" and "becoming an art form". An exasperated James Packer told the PBL annual general meeting that the negotiations with Telstra were "exhausting".

Chisholm can be expected to even up the argument from Telstra's side considerably, if only in private. Because of his personality and his experience, everyone expects him to have an influence on this that extends well beyond that of a typical Telstra board member when Foxtel needs a circuit breaker.

Despite coming close to agreement several months ago, a nervous Telstra has been reluctant to hurry any decisions when the game keeps changing so quickly. It is also terrified of getting another market mauling for getting the worst in any deal with Packer and/or Murdoch. Chisholm has the nous and credibility to avoid that.

"He won't be Packer's man or Murdoch's man," says an insider. "Apart from anything else, he's got a huge ego that means he wouldn't be part of a deal that could be criticised as looking after Packer or Murdoch at the expense of Telstra.

"But, most importantly, he brings a hard nose and a brain which understands the business and he's not afraid to speak out. That's good for Telstra."

The personal relationships are as tortured as usual. Packer and Murdoch interests are already promoting the expansion of Britain's pay TV service, British Sky Broadcasting, as a model for Foxtel. It is certainly not lost on anyone that Chisholm is credited with transforming BSkyB into a success story when he was working for Murdoch in Britain in the 1990s.

But Chisholm left BSkyB after Murdoch first moved his daughter into the business and subsequently made it clear that he no longer had the same enthusiasm for Chisholm's way of doing things.

Chisholm's relationship with the Packers is also mixed: he left to work for Murdoch after years running Channel Nine.

He gets on better with James Packer than he does with Kerry but there is still some resentment on both sides.

Power arrangements at Foxtel have been extremely difficult for a long time. Each partner has the right of veto, increasing the potential for deadlock, although News Ltd gets to appoint the chief executive of Foxtel.

After a hard push to increase their share of the ownership to one third each and vague threats from Packer about jumping to Optus, News and PBL have temporarily given up on this.

But despite so many months of protracted negotiations over "scope", what the reluctant partners clearly still can't agree on is how to expand Foxtel into new interactive services and just who should pay whom for what.

This prolonged stalemate ensures that the supposed Foxtel deadline of July 1 next year for going digital now seems more like a remote-control fantasy.

That means Australian viewers will be blocked indefinitely from interactive TV - whether it's pay per view movies or using their TV sets for emailing or shopping or banking. Yet with Optus in total disarray and the free-to-air networks doing virtually nothing to advance their digital plans, that leaves a vacuum in which Foxtel could dramatically expand its business.

It now has 680,000 subscribers, which is relatively successful - though not yet profitable - but well short of what it could achieve. At least some of those new subscribers would also pay more money for more services.

"It's better for Telstra to have 50 per cent of something than 100 per cent of nothing," said one analyst.

Chisholm is known to be a big backer of interactivity, declaring several months ago that it was the "hot new item" and that everyone would have to offer it simply to remain competitive.

Telstra still doesn't want to give up its rights to interactive services and potential e-commerce revenues without ensuring it is getting an excellent return. But what is that exactly? Foxtel has the developed customer TV base and direct access to the home. How much should Telstra have to pay Foxtel for access to the set-top boxes, for example, which will permit all these new possibilities and perhaps sell its telephone services as well? How much more should Foxtel have to pay Telstra for use of its cable so it can offer customers extra? Should PBL and News be able to include their own interactive offerings?

"It's like the Irish question," says one observer. "Everyone wants peace but no-one can agree on how to get it."

Foxtel has been fortunate that there is no hungry competitor at the moment to take advantage of the delay. But Chisholm is not a patient man. Someone's blood will end up on the floor.

Television Asia ranks HBO as Tops amongst channels

From Indiantelevision.com

Asian cable TV magazine Television Asia conducted a survey in October 2000 amongst 400 cable operators Asiawide (majority of the respondents were from India). The survey has come out with some flattering results for HBO, which has been rated as numero uno in five (see tables below) out of the seven categories that the channels were rated on by cable ops. Discovery was the other good performer as far as cable operators were concerned. Star Plus was another dark horse winner when it ranked highly on best programming and most popular channel.

Fashion TV with all its breast and bottom display was surprisingly ranked as the channel offering the worst programming and sales.

The survey also probed cable ops' minds on other issues like when and why they would dump or carry a channel from their networks. 62% said that they would opt for channels that provided the maximum amount of programming value to their subscribers. Other reasons why they would retain/drop a channel included included digital poor transmission quality (five per cent), too many advertisement breaks (three per cent), language/dubbing issues (five per cent) and poor affiliate relations (three per cent). Another five per cent said they would prefer to add channels rather than drop them. Eight per cent named a few channels that they would choose to block but did not assign reasons for their decision.

Please note this Table from www.indiantelevision.com please take a look at there site

Just a small edition today. Sorry about the chatroom last night, NETGATE was down the main link out of NZ seems to happen quite a bit one of the routers goes down and cuts off some isp's even my backup ISP was out. I could load the chat but it would not connect to it. My ICQ was out as well which usually indicates International access is very bad.

Heres my own thoughts on the TVNZ digital package, (Supposedly useing Pace DGT400 as the low end settop box)

1-TVNZ TV1 FTA
2-TVNZ Channel 2 FTA
3-Blank-untill TV3 FTA appears here
4-Blank-untill TV4 FTA appears here
5-Prime TV FTA likely to jump onboard as they have a very small coverage area
6-Government run Maori Channel FTA

Some kind of sports channel ..perhaps a mix of Espn plus local sports programming?

These loggings unconfirmed from various sites..( I don't speak or understand Taiwanese or Chinese)
If you can confirm any of these changes please send me an email.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3524 H Sr 20480 Fec 3/4 "Internet Data" this of interest to Nokia users.

Asiasat 3 105.5E 12700 H Sr 30000, A KU Star TV package has started here, testing for DTH to Indian homes?

From http://www.australianit.com.au/common/storyPage/0,3811,1416180%5E442,00.html

REGIONAL communications company Austar United Communications is on target to deliver between 60,000 and 70,000 new pay TV subscribers for the year despite the effect of the GST and Olympics on consumer spending.

Austar yesterday announced it ended the first nine months of the year with almost 46,000 new subscribers, having added 20,686 customers in the September quarter.

The company also reported it had gained more than 25,000 internet subscribers in the quarter, more than half of them organically.

Austar delivered a 41 per cent increase in third-quarter revenue to $98.1 million.

Losses for the quarter increased to $22.8 million from $13.14 million in the June quarter.

The company's operating loss for the year so far is $38.3 million and bottom line losses are $201.8 million.

Analysts said the result put Austar on track to finish the year with up to 70,000 new pay TV subscribers and 100,000 internet subscribers as the company finalised its $13 million acquisition of the internet service provider Eisa.

Austar's shares, however, continue to languish amid the broader market concerns about tech stocks.

They hit a record low of $3.10 yesterday before ending down 7.6c at $3.134.

Austar chief executive John Porter predicted "when the pendulum swings back the other way, we'll be the beneficiary".

Mr Porter acknowledged concern in the market that Austar would have to address its cash situation in a year or more. At the end of September, Austar had $422 million in cash.

"I don't know how many ways to say we're not raising money in the equity market," Mr Porter said. "We have a parent that has tremendous access to capital and a real and sustainable access to the debt market."

Mr Porter said Austar had no need to consider going to the debt markets for some time and could opt to slow down its growth rather than resort to borrowings.

Livechat tonight! see you in the chatroom at 8.30pm Sydney time onwards. Not much other than news for today with the Southern Cross cable comming online I know Ihug at least seems faster today I was watching the 50k stream of Fox News from the U.S at 2.30pm this afternoon and I was getting 10 fps on my 56 k dialup connection. I also managed to download the remaining files of a cd image over night 185megs worth which was great as these files were from a non-reumse site and the ftp previously kept timeing out after about %90. When I headed to bed there was 5 files going at a steady 6K. The new C-Sat Satellite online magazines now available click the C-sat image above to open it.

Thursday 1:00 am RCTI Palapa - Germany vs Denmark

Also on RAI (American and Australia beam) - Italy vs England - (for time:
check on RAI International web site)

With Lyngsat site down for a break, we need reliable accurate reports that means nothing from Satco-dx site unless its been confirmed yourself as they are weeks out of date and the info's often wrong anyway.

Sky Television boss Nate Smith has quit his job after running the company for nine years since its inception.

Acting chairman Mike Robson dropped the bombshell resignation at Sky TV's annual meeting in Auckland on Tuesday.

Mr Smith, an American, said family reasons had determined his decision. A daughter was returning to the United States to attend university next year and another daughter would follow the year after. Chief operating officer John Fellet will replace Mr Smith as chief executive.

Mr Fellet's first job will be to review subscription rates, under pressure from the falling New Zealand dollar against the greenback that buys Sky's programmes.

Mr Smith said after the meeting that before he returned home later next year he would research the New Zealand interactive television arena, which was ahead of the United States in many areas. He was also interested in the Rupert Murdoch group move to put all of its satellite business under one hat.

He finishes with Sky TV on December 31 but will not leave empty handed.

When Sky TV floated in late 1997 he was issued 2.8 million share options at $2.10. Mr Smith said yesterday that he had not exercised those options, though he has been able to do so since November 18 last year. If he were to cash them at yesterday's share price of $2.91 (up 10 cents on the previous day's trade) he would take a $2.26 million profit. Sky TV's share price reached a high of about $5.25 in March. which would have yielded an $8.82 million profit.

"Hindsight is a fine thing," Mr Smith said after the meeting.

He declined to comment on analyst speculation that he would rather have seen Tuesday's meeting approve a $256,000 increase in director's fees to a maximum $320,000 paid in options rather than cash as it was a time of cash flow pressure from the weak Kiwi dollar and hefty write-offs for set-top boxes. The company reported a $27 million loss in the year to June, compared with a $4.4 million profit last year.

A shareholder majority approved the directors fee increase for non-independent directors linked to major shareholders INL and Mr Murdoch without any discussion.

Mr Fellet said Sky had signed up 55,000 new subscribers in the year to October, bringing the total to 392,000, of which 200,000 took digital sat

Best Programming	Worst Programming
1. HBO - 55% 2. Discovery - 10% 3. CNN - 7% 4. Star Plus, Star Sports MTV - 15 % Cinemax, ESPN, Star world, AXN, Zee TV, B4U - accounted for the remaining 13 per cent.	1. Fashion TV - 19% 2. CNNI - 16% 3. CNBC - 12.6% The remaining votes for worst programming went to CETV, ESPN, Star Movies, Star Sports, Kermit, Jain TV, AXN, HBO, Plus 21, Zhongtian, Sony Entertainment, Zee TV and Hallmark.
Best sales and Marketing	Worst Sales and Marketing
1. HBO - 32 % 2. Discovery - 15% 3. MTV - 10% 4. ESPN - 7% 5. Star Channels - 17% The Philippines Movie Channel Pinoy Blockbuster, Turner's Cartoon Network, Cinemax, Sun TV and CNBC account for the remaining votes.	1. CNNI - 17% 2. Fashion TV - 14% 3. CNBC - 10% The remaining 51% included French service TVS, B4U, Sun TV, National Geographic, ESPN, Taiwanese channel Zhongtain.
Best on-air look	Worst on-air look
1. HBO - 20% 2. Discovery - 17% 3. AXN - 14% 4. MTV - 8.5% 5. CNNI - less than 8% Nickelodeon, Disney, ESPN and National Geographic gathered enough space for a mention.	1. CNBC - 21% 2. Hallmark - 16% 3. Cinemax - 10.5% 4. Turner/Time Warner - 5% The rest of the list was made up of known and unknown country specific services.
Best Viewer Feedback
1. HBO - 31% 2. Discovery - 18% 3. CNNI - 8% 4. Star Plus - 7% 5. MTV - 5% Remaining 30% votes were regional or area specific channels including ESPN, National Geographic, Zee TV, Sun TV and Sony Entertainment Television.
Most popular channels	Best value for money
1. HBO -47.5 % 2. Star Plus -15% 3. ESPN - 12.5 % 4. Discovery - 12 % The remaining 13 per cent of the votes were divided between Disney, MTV, AXN and Sun TV.	1. HBO - 29 % 2. Discovery - 18 % 3. ESPN - 10.5% 4. CNNI - 8 % The remaining 35 per cent is divided between Star Movies, Pinoy Blockbuster, MTV, National Geographic, Disney, Zee TV and CNBC.