30/11/02
Not much to report today. Still playing with FTA boxes one appeasr to have a satellite search mode e.g enter 12250 and 12750 as the limits and have it scan the V side with symbol rates 2000-45000 . But I can't get it finding anything a pity could be ideal feed scanner unit even though the rest of the unit doesn't seem to hot. The menus certainly are frustrating to use.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Chris Pickstock
Womens Hockey World Cup
B1, 12316 H, sr 6980 feed from Perth
Chris
From Joe
Pas 8 12686H 28124
Currently FTA
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12301 H ABC Asia Pacific has left .(Try down 17mhz in freq same settings)
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "Med TV" has started , Fta at the moment, PIDs 1861/1824.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3554 V The test card has left , PIDs 516/644.
NEWS
Arianespace Flight 157 Postponed for a few days
From Press release
The launch of flight 157 has been postponed by a few days following an anomaly that occurred during the final phase of the launch preparation sequence.
6,8 seconds before the transmission by the on-board system control to ignite the Vulcain 2 engine, the ground operations control system simultaneously gave the order to open the cryogenic arms and initiate the external igniters (AMF) of the launch table, whose function is to ignite the hydrogen which prechills the engine.
The igniter activation status report failed to reach the ground operation control software following, which the onboard control system did not trigger the ignition sequence as scheduled at -3.0 seconds.
Operations then ceased : The launch vehicle, HOTBIRDTM 7 and STENTOR, and the launch system went into safe mode.
Draining of the cryogenic upper stage via the launch vehicle purge lines is currently in process. The operations will continue until Saturday morning, when the launch vehicle will be transferred back to the Assembly building (BAF).
At that point it will be possible to ascertain why the AMF ignition was not acknowledged by the ground operations control system.
Rectifying the anomaly and reconfiguring the flight are not expected to take more than a few days . A new launch date will be announced early next week.
(Craigs comment, note this is Ariane 5 flight 158 is scheduled to carry Optus C1, hope it doesn't mean another delay)
Korea moving closer to developing its own satellie launch vehicle
From http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2002/11/30/200211300012.asp
Thursday's successful launch of Korea's first liquid-fuel rocket, the KSR (Korea Sounding Rocket)-III, could serve as the technological foundation for a future space program, experts said yesterday.
The Korean government's vision in space exploration is to join the world's top 10 space-exploring nations by 2015. To attain this goal, Korea has been working to develop low-orbit satellites and launch vehicles on its own by 2010.
In satellite development, Korea has made some progress. In 1999, Korea developed on its own the third Uribyol - a small satellite - and the first KOMPSAT multipurpose satellite.
Korea, however, is far away from developing their own launch vehicles that can carry these satellites into outer space. The Korean government's initial aim is to develop a launch vehicle that can be used to lift off 100 kg-class satellites into outer space by 2005.
"To emerge as a powerhouses in the space industry, Korea needs to develop a launch vehicle that can put a satellite into a stationary orbit at an altitude of 35,000 km above the earth," said Cho Gwang-rae, a researcher of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
According to Cho, the successful launch of the KSR-III indicates that Korea is a step closer to attaining its satellite launch vehicle development plan.
The rocket reached an altitude of 42.7 km above the earth, and flew for a total of 233.44 seconds. "The altitude and flight time the rocket attained indicate that we are still in the primary stages of our space program. However, we have the technology to pursue the next stage of development in our space program," Cho said.
Cho said that the launch of the KSR-III will pave the way for Korea to develop the envisioned launch vehicle, the KSRV-III by 2005.
"We are one step closer to our dream of launching a Korean-produced satellite on a Korean-developed launch vehicle from this country," Cho said.
But Cho conceded that Korea still has a long way to go in accomplishing that dream. "In satellite development, our primary task is to secure the technological capabilities required for a stationary orbit satellite. We also need to develop a launch vehicle that will take the satellite to a stationary orbit."
These technological challenges call for parallel advances in related fields, including the engine and metal sectors.
One important feature about the KSR-III is that it was powered by liquid fuel. Rocket propellants are comprised of fuel and an oxidizer. Yesterday's launch used kerosene as a fuel, and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. KARI's previous KSR-I and KSR-II, which were launched in 1993 and 1997, both used solid-fuel engines.
"We already had experience with solid-fuel rockets, but had little knowledge of liquid-fuel rockets before starting the KSR-III project," said Lee Soo-yong, another KARI researcher. "If we only have experience in solid-fuel rockets, it is hard to say that we have real expertise in rockets."
Lee said advanced countries have already developed liquid fuel for rockets and will soon commercialize hybrid fuel, a mixture of solid and liquid fuels.
KARI started to develop a liquid-fuel rocket in 1997 as the final stage of its three-stage rocket project that began in the early 1990s.
So far, only eight or nine countries in the world, including the United States, Russia, France, Japan and North Korea, have succeeded in launching satellites using their homegrown liquid-fuel rockets.
"Liquid-fuel rockets are the mainstay of space-launch vehicles around the world. To shoot spaceships or satellites into space, we need the technology to develop liquid-fuel rockets," said Lee.
A total of 78 billion won was injected into the KSR-III project over the past five years, with such corporations as Hyundai Mobis and Hanwha Corp. providing financial assistance.
29/11/02
Sorry the sites late but you can expect some late site update during cricket season.
Optus B3, 12407 V "CBAA Radio" is Fta at the moment, Very loud as well!
Optus B1, 12456 V Vpid 512 Apid 650 Sid 102 has a Saturn tv guide FTA? New, odd not sure whats up with this one.
From My Emails & ICQ
Dear Craig,
If you would like more information in regards to KBS please call or
Email. TV Korea
On 02 9299-5902
www.tvk.com.au
Kind regards
Mark Lobwein
DTH Services Manager
86 Dickson Avenue
Artarmon 2064 NSW Australia
Phone: +61 2 8258-7900
Fax +61 2 9958-6299
Mobile + 61 419 989 475
www.globecast.com
From Q S
BISS is Basic Interoperable Scrambling System.
The modualtation scheme can be QPSK,8PSK,16QAM etc
http://www.octalis.com/Products/BISS/biss.htm
Tandberg also support BISS
From Stephen Abbot
Craig, found this on the Scientific Atlanta site
http://www.sciatl.com/customers/contentdistimages/Technical_Papers/BISS.pdf
It would appear that it is not a modulation scheme but infact a CA for contribution circuits using DVB transport streams. Therefore what modulation is used is irrelivent.
Cheers
Stephen Abbot
From Zappara
Med TV, Optus B3
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 3740 H The encrypted channels in the Viacom mux are in Cryptoworks.
Optus B1 160E 12608 V "Shine TV" has started , Videoguard, SID 1039, PIDs 512/650.
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "Med TV" has started testing, Fta PIDs 1861/1824.
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "HRT Sat" is still/back on , Fta, PIDs 1960/1920, 02-05 UTC.
Superbird C 144E 12523 H "EPG Channel Guide" has left , 12583 H and 12643 H.
Superbird C 144E An I-HITS mux has started on 12703 H, PowerVu, SR 21096, FEC 3/4, NID/TID 61441/65035, PIDs 2160/2120-2460/2420, line-up: Channel Neco,Nikkei CNBC, MTV Japan and Shop Channel.
Palapa C2 113E 11132 V "CCTV 1" has started , Viaccess 2, PIDs 72/73, 16-22, time sharing with Scholar Business Network.
Telkom 1 108E 3500 H "MTV on Sky 101.6 FM and RRI Pro 2 FM" have started , Irdeto 2, APID 62 and 102.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H Radio Catania has started ,cFta, SID 9, APID 2529.
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3848 H "TVB Xing He Channel" is now Fta.
NEWS
Low iTV take up in Australia
From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html
This weekend's (Sunday 1/12/02) broadcast of Australia's first interactive rock music concert will highlight the lack of penetration that the technology has achieved in the market so far.
When the government-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) airs Long Way to the Top - Live in Concert - only 300,000 TV homes - four per cent of the total - will be able to experience the interactive features.
The interactive content will include backstage interviews, archival footage and the ability to switch camera angles. The ABC concedes that the broadcast will not match the standards set for other iTV programmes internationally, but points out that it is the most advanced programme ever shown in Australia.
The bulk of the viewers able to access the interactive features subscribe to regional and rural pay TV platform Austar. City viewers with digital TV will hear the surround sound carried during the two-hour show.
The ABC says it is encouraged by viewer response to the Walking with Beasts series screened earlier this year. Austar viewers who used the interactive features and responded to a survey said overwhelmingly that the extra content made the series more entertaining - 89 per cent; 98 per cent said they wanted to watch more iTV.
The ABC's Director of New Media and Digital Services said that the interactive content of Long Way to the Top - Live in Concert added just E30,000 more to the show's budget.
TAHU FM TO LAUNCH ON SKY
From Press Release
Maori radio network Tahu FM will be heard across the country when it begins broadcasting nationwide on SKY Digital channel 105 from this Sunday, December 1.
As its main studios are situated in Christchurch, Tahu FM currently reaches a limited audience in Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and Kaikoura.
SKY TV has more than 500,000 subscribers, 72 percent of which have the digital service. So Tahu FM will immediately be available to over 800,000 New Zealanders with the potential to reach the whole country including over 30,000 Ngai Tahu tribal members throughout New Zealand.
Tahu FM's format caters to a Maori niche market audience during the morning and changes to an English hip-hop youth format in the afternoon making it extremely popular among the 12 - 30 year old age group.
With an amalgamation of bi-lingual programmes focusing on topical Maori issues and shows that are all about the music, Tahu FM bestows a unique blend of both cultural and contemporary content.
Goose and Aubz kick off each weekday morning in the 'Two Eggs For Breakfast' morning show, followed by Maori language programmes plus Ruia Mai News at the top of the hour.
Throughout the afternoon Tahu FM plays a myriad of hip-hop, urban and R&B beats incorporating a chart countdown via Mai FM Auckland.
SKY TV already boasts a diverse array of New Zealand radio stations including National Radio, Niu FM, the Edge, George FM, Concert FM and UP FM, all of which currently broadcast live across New Zealand on SKY Digital.
Also offered on SKY Digital is a 13-channel premium music service called SKY Digital Music, which is genre specific, free of advertisements and interruptions. These channels are NZ Chart, Pop, Smooth, Chill, Jazz, and House, 50s and 60s, Party, Rock, Country, Classical, Kids, Blues and a special temporary Christmas music channel available in December.
Tahu FM launches on SKY Digital channel 105 on Sunday, December 1.
For More Information Contact:
Andrea Rush
Communications Manager
SKY Television
Ph: 579-9999 ext 8761
Email: arush@skytv.co.nz
Ariane-5 rocket launch aborted
From http://www.spacedaily.com/2002/021129005430.j0gdflsr.html
KOUROU, French Guiana (AFP) Nov 29, 2002
A 10-tonne Ariane-5 rocket that was to lift off for its inaugural flight with two satellites Thursday failed to take off from the launch pad in French Guiana after problems with its Vulcain engine.
The countdown had been flawless but the rocket failed to take off at the end of the countdown.
The cryogenic arms providing hydrogen and oxygen to the launcher failed to operate properly, causing the countdown to be stopped, Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said.
Another attempt to launch the rocket will not be made for "several days" a disappointed Le Gall told reporters after the aborted launch.
"Tonight we will empty the launcher, bring it back to the final assembly building. Tests have already begun to assertain the sequence of events in this incident in order to restart launch preparations as soon as possible," he said.
He said that the actual launch had not been aborted, though witnesses seeing some combustion from burners on the ground may have thought so.
The countdown procedure was automatically stopped before triggering the ignition sequence of the main stage's Vulcain engine.
The two satellites and the launch vehicle and all the ground equipment were said to be "in a safe mode".
The rocket was carrying Hotbird TM7 for the European telecoms consortium Eutelsat and Stentor, an experimental communications satellite for the French space research institute CNES.
Ariane 5-ESCA is a modified version of the Ariane 5, taking its payload capacity from 5.9 tonnes to a massive 10 tonnes in order to accommodate larger satellites and combining several of them in a single launch, thus substantially reducing costs.
It includes several new or improved components that have never been tested in a mission before, including beefed-up solid boosters and a modified main-stage engine.
The new launchers place the European Space Agency (ESA) into head-to-head competition with Boeing and Lockheed Martin of the United States.
Boeing launched its new Delta 4 on November 20, while Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 made its maiden flight on August 21.
The trio form the vanguard of the most powerful generation of rockets to go into space since the mighty Saturn V which hoisted the Apollo astronauts to the Moon.
Their genesis dates from a decade ago, when the market for satellite launches was booming and geostationary telecoms satellites, which account for the biggest market sector, started to become bigger and heavier.
Analysts say the launch market has shrunk in recent years, partially as a result of the bursting of the telecoms bubble.
That has left surplus capacity in satellite transponders as well as vast amounts unused fibre-optic cable, the alternative to satellites for transmitting big data streams.
The launch slump is likely to last until 2006 until the generation of satellites launched in the 1990s begins to age and needs replacement, according to a Paris-based consultancy, Euroconsult.
(Craigs comment, more delays this will probably set back C1's launch another few more months!)
Drifting satellite in stable orbit
From http://cooltech.iafrica.com/science/191425.htm
A huge European satellite that was left adrift in space after a failed launch by a Russian rocket is now in a stable low-earth orbit, its operator, SES Astra, said on Thursday.
Astra 1K is in a circular orbit at an altitude of 290 kilometers (181 miles), "where it can be safely sustained to allow the engineering teams to assess the status of the satellite and appropriate actions in due course", SES Astra said in a press release.
SES Astra is part of Luxembourg-based world satellite operator SES Global, whose 29 satellites transmit more than 1100 television and radio channels, as well as Internet and multimedia, around the world.
1K cost SES Astra some 280 million dollars (euros) but the programme has "full insurance coverage" and the launch failure on Tuesday will not affect existing services as another satellite, Astra 2C, can provide backup, the statement said.
The Astra fleet comprises 13 satellites that are already in orbit but there is 20-percent surplus capacity at the moment, the statement said.
1K was to have been placed in geostationary orbit in a slot 36 000 kilometres (22 370 miles) from the earth.
This orbital ring is coveted by telecoms operators, as a satellite there travels around the planet in 24 hours, which means it stays in the same spot relative to the earth's position all the time.
A satellite in this position can broadcast to or receive signals directly from the "footprint" it covers, without the signals having to be expensively relayed by ground stations or other satellites.
On Tuesday, experts said it was possible to use the satellite's own propulsion system to boost it into orbit but that would require an increased use of fuel and this would reduce the satellite's expected lifespan of 13 years.
Another theoretical option, depending on technical and financial factors, is to have the satellite recovered by the US space shuttle.
The shuttle has done this several times, notably retrieving an Indonesian satellite, Palapa B2, in November 1984, nine months after it was sent spinning into the wrong orbit by a launch failure. Palapa B2 was later relaunched as Palapa B2R.
Dream-Magic iTV service launches in Philippines
From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html
Filipino digital direct to home satellite platform Dream has helped to launch the country's first two-way digital interactive service - Magic Box.
Dream, owned by Philippines Multimedia Systems, is rolling out the Dream-Magic iTV service which will offer messaging, onscreen email, games, chat and information.
Subscribers will pay a subscription of E14 a month, compared to the average cable TV subscription of E9. Dream-Magic customers will also pay an E90 installation fee.
Dream hopes to extend the platform around Asia, including China, India, Malaysia and Thailand, although it has not yet cut any deals with would-be partners in these markets.
28/11/02
Shine TV is now officially displayed on channel 99 on the Skybox. No extra charge for this one.
Channel 9 is moving its feeds from 8psk and Qam 16 to BISS format. (Anyone have details of this format?)
AMC 13 to go at 172E in late 2003 has interesting Asia Pacific region coverage have a look here footprint maps are in the middle.
http://www.ses-americom.com/satellites/amc-13.html
From my Emails & ICQ
From Shelby Mcdonald (this one picked up off the NZ.gerneral newsgroup) he has allowed me to repost it here
He has Tested Skys new SKYMAIL service this is his report
> A few questions. Do you have to be online to compose an email on it? Do the
> incoming emails get to the box via the satellite (at least that means no
> waiting online downloading emails)?
>
I admit to trying it, (just for the sake of trying it). As soon as you
start skymail it has to go online to download your details & identity but
then you can go offline to compose mails. But then if you want to look in
your address book or change details you have to go online again. Even when
you are online it gives up the connection & disconnects anyway saying the
"server has dropped the connection" or thereabouts. Then when you reconnect
it has to try several times. The charge is 18c per minute or part minute so
if you connect 4 times in a minute because of dropped connections that is
72c. I can't tell if the message comes via sat, certainly doesn't seem like
it.
I tried my usual xtra account, had 25 emails mostly spam. It downloads the
headers only at 3 at a time, so even if you want to scroll thru the list of
emails you have to wait 10 seconds between each 3 and then if you actually
want to read them, well.......Ofcourse, the inevitable happened as would
when sitting in your lounge w/ family: The message subject comes up
"ENLARGE YOUR PENIS NOW", you then have to explain to everyone how spam
works & that it wasn't actually mine.
I think my father who isn't computer literate, doesn't have a cell phone, is
technophobic, summed it all up pretty well. Whilst I was taking 10 minutes
to write a very short email he started laughing his head off. Gosh, even
old technophobes can't be fooled with this one!!!
Again, I only did this for the sake of trying & a quick check of the phone
bill lists the cost of this experiment at $10.62 for 62mins to the phone
number 087697596 in which I managed to send about 3 emails and read one.
(Craigs comment, this has disaster written all over it Sky should stop wasteing money on such gimmicks and actually provide more content that people actually want to watch. Anyone needing email that badly can pick up a cheap old 486 for $50 and sub to a flatrate internet service for $25 NZ a month. Works out far cheaper. Also I have to wonder how much Email space Sky allows for? Spammers could cause expensive Chaos if they targetted the users Skymail.co.nz domain addresses.)
From Dunk
B1 Feed - Fox Sports - Golf
"NUNYAR FB"
B1 12379 H Sr 6620 Fec 3/4
video pid - 0134
audio pid - 0100
pmt pid - 0020
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 4020 V "TVBS Newsnet USA" has left .
PAS 8 166E 12366 H Three more Les amis test cards have started , Fta, SIDs 5-7,PIDs 1281/1282-1793/1794.
Optus B1 160E Animal Planet Australia & New Zealand has moved from 12608 V to 12707 V,Videoguard, SID 1014, PIDs 517/655.
Superbird C 144E There are still occasional feeds on 12677 V and 12683 V, SR 4150, FEC 3/4 and 7/8.
Koreasat 3 116E Updates on SkyLife, enc.:Catch On has replaced HBO Korea on 11823 L, PIDs 576/577, ch 301.
Catch On Plus has replaced HBO Plus on 11938 L, PIDs 1328/1329, ch 302.
Nongsusan Shopping has replaced Nongsusan TV on 12410 H, PIDs 1600/1601,ch 221.
Palapa C2 113E 11132 V Phoenix InfoNews and Scholar Business Network have replaced TVBS and CCTV 1 on , Viaccess 2, PIDs 64/65 and 72/73.It's HotSat TV on PIDs 74/75.
Koreasat 2 113E 12370 H The test card is now encrypted.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3946 H Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 "Golf PGA?"
NEWS
Experts gain some control of satellite lost in orbit
From http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/sci_and_tech/article/0,1406,KNS_328_1574467,00.html
MOSCOW - The owners of the world's largest communications satellite said Wednesday they had gained partial control over the six-ton orbiter after a Russian rocket failed to put it into the proper orbit.
There was still no hope, however, of using the French-made Astra-1K satellite for its main mission of handling signals for radio, television, mobile telephones and the Internet, an official said.
"It is too early to say whether there could be any other use for it," said Mark Roberts, vice president of Societe Europeene des Satellites of Luxembourg, which owns the satellite.
The Astra-1K was launched atop a Proton rocket Tuesday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. The rocket carried it to a preliminary orbit, but the Russian-made DM-3 booster failed to send the satellite to its higher, planned orbit, Russian space officials said.
It was the biggest setback yet to Russia's satellite-launching program, which Moscow has seen as having the potential for funding its depressed space industry.
HK PRESS:Galaxy Full Signal Coverage To Cost Under HK500M
From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/021128/15/35792.html
HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, the pay-TV arm of Television Broadcasts Ltd. (H.TEB), will be able to provide full coverage of its signal in Hong Kong by satellite at a cost of less than HK$500 million, The Standard reports.
Galaxy General Manager Stanley Tang gave the estimate based on the cost of installing of 5,000 to 6,000 satellite receivers - each costing between HK$30,000 and HK$40,000 - and providing set-top boxes to subscribers, the paper says.
Galaxy won't charge subscribers for the installation and usage of the receivers and set-top boxes, Tang said.
Each box would cost the company between HK$780 and HK$1,560.
Hong Kong's sole pay-TV provider at the moment is i-Cable Communications Ltd. (ICAB), which had to build its own cable network at a cost of nearly HK$7 billion.
It will take the company up to 30 months to install the up to 6,000 receivers needed, Tang said. He didn't give information when operations would start.
27/11/02
Telsat have sent me 3 FTA receivers to have a play with! have only hooked 1 up to play with so far box is a FTA 2810
Med TV was testing on B3 Globecast, (This will be a pay channel). They are using 544x576 resolution for this one. The KBS channel was running Volleyball this afternoon and was looking shockingly bad with far to much mpg compression.
Shine TV and Tahu Fm have started on Sky NZ, Shine is of course encrypted.
B1, 12544 V "Tahu FM" Apid 663 Sid 1105
B1, 12608 V "Shine TV" Vpid 512 Apid 650 Sid 1039
Meanwhile Tarbs has added French radio (probably encrypted but may be worth a scan of Tarbs transponders)
From my Emails & ICQ
From "Wiz"
Found MEDTV (no audio) transmitting on B3 on a channel entitled Future Video Service
Network: MEDIASAT MCPC
Provider: OP
12336MHz (V) SR 30000 2/3
Video PID/Audio PID: 1861/1824
Cheers, Wiz!!
(Craigs comment, To be a pay channel website is www.medtv.com.au)
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 12366 H "A Les Amis test card" has started , Fta, SID 8, PIDs 7201/7202.
PAS 8 166E 12686 H "SBN Shanghai" reported here FTA
PAS 8 166E 3860 H "PTS" has left , PIDs 440/441, replaced by occasional feeds.
Superbird C 144E The occasional feeds have left 12678 V and 12683 V.
Palapa C2 113E 11132 V "TTV" is encrypted again.
Express 6A 80E 4125 R "Novosti Online FM" has left .
NEWS
Austar seeks new customers
From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html
Australia's number two pay TV provider Austar is planning an aggressive drive to sign-up new customers in 2003, hoping that the improved financials and the approval of the Foxtel and Optus channel sharing plans will stimulate the sector overall.
Chief Executive John Porter said Austar planned, "to get all hands to the pump on growing subscribers in the first quarter," of 2003. Austar, which serves regional and rural Australia and has around 435,000 subscribers, has seen a fall of 6.5 per cent of its customer base in the last quarter as a severe drought has lowered incomes in country areas. Austar, 81 per cent owned by United Global Communications, will benefit from Foxtel and Opaccord gaining government approval because it has a programming joint venture with the former.
Now that these channels will be seen by a further 280,000 Optus customers Porter believes that will add a further E10 million a year in subscriber revenue. Austar was on course to be cash flow positive by the 2004 financial year according to the company's Chief Executive.
SKY LAUNCHES NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST CHRISTIAN CHANNEL
From Press Release
Shine Television, New Zealand's first national Christian TV channel is here and it promises to bring a spiritual shine to the nation.
The channel which goes on air on Sunday December 1 will be available on SKY Digital Channel 99 and also on UHF Channel 56 in Christchurch (previously Freedom TV).
Shine TV will reach all 360,000 subscribers on SKY's digital service, (a potential audience of 800,000 New Zealanders), plus the majority of people in the Christchurch region, broadcasting a mix of international and locally produced programs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Shine Television's Chief Executive Denis Delaney said, "The aim of the channel will be to shine - not compare, not judge - just shine. Shine sees itself as just one of many light stands in the community with programs transmitting the light of good deed and thought to the nation."
"Shine Television will be more than entertainment," Mr Delaney said. "It will be informative, relevant and educational but, most importantly, it will be a television channel that you can trust. This will be a television channel that viewers can rely on to play only programs reflecting sound Biblical values."
Mr Delaney said that Shine Television's mission is to provide a Christian lifestyle channel that upholds traditional values - and in so doing become a market leader in New Zealand television.
The channel will bring local chat shows, cartoons, documentaries, news, interviews and movies, chosen not for their sensationalism or shock factor, but rather for professionalism, relevance, authenticity, intelligence, and entertainment value
SKY Television Chief Executive, John Fellet said, "We believe that Shine will cover an important segment of the television universe that is currently under served by all existing broadcasters in New Zealand."
Shine Television aims to be a 100% family friendly channel with something for everyone, like great drama, hot shows for teens, thought provoking discussion, powerful documentaries and inspirational teaching.
Shine will have a solid line-up of local and international programs, and it is committed to providing quality programming aligned with sound values.
Shine TV is a joint venture with Rhema Broadcasting Group - which has been bringing Christian radio to New Zealand since 1978 and today reaches 95% of New Zealand's population with its three radio networks: New Zealand's Rhema Network, Southern Star and Life FM.
Both Rhema Broadcasting Group and Shine Television are charitable organisations that receive most of their funding from supporters.
Shine TV will deliver a wide range of positive programmes that respect New Zealand's unique bi-cultural heritage and multi-cultural society.
Viewers can tune in to watch the official launch of Shine TV LIVE on SKY Digital Channel 99 at 2pm, Sunday December 1.
For More Information Contact:
Andrea Rush
Communications Manager
SKY Television
Ph: (09) 579-9999 ext 8761
Email: arush@skytv.co.nz
SKY LAUNCHES NEW INTERACTIVE TV EMAIL SERVICE - SKYmail
From Press Release
SKY Digital subscribers now have the option of sending and receiving text emails on their television screens using a special interactive infrared keyboard.
SKYmail is the latest interactive product to be launched by SKY Television.
SKY's Business Development Manager, Kirsty Barwick said, "SKYmail is a simple way for people who don't know much about computers to send emails to friends and family."
"It's easy to use with clear on screen instructions and convenient as it is accessed through the television", she said.
SKYmail is especially useful for people who feel intimidated by computers and for those who can't afford a computer with the Internet".
SKY now has 513,000 subscribers, 72 percent of which subscribe to the digital service. To access SKYmail subscribers can either use their digital remotes or purchase a specially designed cordless, infrared keyboard, which has all the functions of their digital remote and makes writing emails easier.
SKY has its own email ISP enabling subscribers to have an @skymail.co.nz email address. However, those who have existing email accounts with ClearNet, ihug, nzoom, ParadiseNet and Xtra can also access their existing email accounts using the new on screen email service.
SKY Digital subscribers can access up to three email accounts each. There is also a unique SKYmail address book available.
SKYmail users cannot view attachments or files. But these can be accessed through the web interface www.skymail.co.nz on a personal computer.
Subscribers wanting SKYmail addresses will pay $2 a month, plus online charges of 18 cents a minute or part minute. Those who access accounts with other Internet providers will pay online charges only. The online charges are billed through the subscribers phone account and the SKYmail charges are billed to their SKY account.
Other existing SKY Interactive services are the interactive Weather Channel, and the LudiTV games channel.
For More Information Contact:
Andrea Rush
Communications Manager
SKY Television
Ph: 579-9999 ext 8761
Email: arush@skytv.co.nz
New Ariane Launcher Poised for Liftoff
From http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_space.jsp?view=story&id=news/aw1125ari.xml
Half a dozen years after its first flight attempt, the Ariane 5 is ready to take to the air in an enhanced configuration designed to considerably augment performance and decrease costs.
The upgraded version, set for launch during the night of Nov. 28-29, will carry aloft France's Stentor experimental telecom satellite and Eutelsat's Hot Bird 7. The upgrade, designated Ariane 5 EC-A, will be capable of placing a 10-10.5-metric-ton payload into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) in dual-launch configuration, compared with 6.7 tons for current Ariane 5s and 5.9 tons for the first commercial mission three years ago.
The new version will enable operator Arianespace to keep pace with the growing size of telecom satellites until an even more powerful 12-metric-ton upgrade, the EC-B, enters service in 2006. The EC-B will also add an in-orbit restart capability required, say, to launch Europe's new Galileo navigation satellites, which are to be deployed in 2006-07.
The new versions are needed to counter a growing threat from overseas competitors, in particular Boeing's Delta IV, which debuted last week (see p. 22). The Delta IV will have a GTO capability of 13 tons when the heavy-lift version is ready in mid-decade.
About 2.2 metric tons of the nearly 4 extra tons of lift provided by the Ariane 5 EC-A will stem from the use of a cryogenic upper stage in place of the storable propellant design currently used. This stage is built around the HM7 engine developed for the highly reliable Ariane 4, which is to be retired from service at the beginning of next year.
Another 1.3 tons will be provided by an improved Vulcain 2 main stage cryogenic engine, offering 20% more thrust than the version now in use. An additional 400 kg. will come from an upgraded solid booster stage equipped with 10% more propellant
The EC-A also will offer considerable cost savings compared with the basic launcher, said Joel Barre, head of the space division at Snecma, developer of the HM7, Vulcain and part of the solid rocket booster. Cost is considered critical in a tepid market where supply heavily outstrips demand.
A good deal of the savings, Barre said, will be generated at the propulsion system level, thanks to a new two-piece composite nozzle, similar to one used on the Delta IV, and the improved Vulcain 2 main engine. Like other key components on the EC-A, the Vulcain 2 reflects a 35% cost reduction required when the second batch of Ariane 5s was ordered two years ago.
According to Rene Bosson, deputy head of engineering in Snecma's space group, Vulcain 2 savings have been obtained primarily by streamlining the production setup. Engineers have reduced the number of man-hours needed to produce mechanical components by 25%, for example, and halved tubing costs, cutting cycle times by a factor of 2-5.
OTHER MEASURES are planned between now and next year to improve assembly, testing and purchasing processes and to enhance production planning by shifting it directly to the shop floor. These measures are expected to lead to a 25-40% drop in associated management costs, Bosson said.
In a bid to further curb expenditures, Arianespace recently decided to phase out the basic Ariane 5 version in favor of the EC-A, and to negotiate a third batch of launchers with even lower price tags. Program leaders declined to specify the new cost goal, but Barre said it would go "a bit beyond" the 50% initially stipulated for batch three, and it would be introduced earlier than originally planned.
Instead of being applied starting with the 37th launcher, the new 50%-plus cost objective will enter force with vehicle No. 27. This means that the original agreement for the first 10 rockets in batch two will be honored, but that the second 10 will be renegotiated as part of batch three. The batch three contract, covering a total of about 30 launch vehicles, is to be signed toward the end of this year, for delivery starting in 2004.
Ariane executives said the new standardized product line and further cost reductions will allow them to offer the EC-A at a price "in line with present market conditions," which is understood to mean at a significant discount to the $150 million or so it has been asking.
The new round of cost reductions is to be made possible through a package of measures intended to streamline the overall Ariane 5 production and development system, recently approved by the Arianespace board (AW&ST Oct. 21, p. 26).
For example, the all-new Vinci upper-stage cryogenic engine, being developed by Snecma, Astrium, Fiat Avio and Volvo for the Ariane 5 EC-B, typifies the design-to-cost approach mandated for new Arianespace development projects. The hydrogen and oxygen turbopumps intended for the Vinci recently started bench testing here, and the full engine is expected to begin running on the test stand next year.
Officials pointed out that by sharply reducing engine development time and test article quantities, engineers were able to develop Vinci for just 400 million euros--half the amount required for Vulcain (on an equivalent size basis). Looked at another way, the Vinci will cost no more to build than the HM7, while developing three times more thrust.
Additional cost savings are also anticipated for the Vulcain main stage engine, primarily through the introduction of money-saving production technologies, according to Bosson. Some of these innovations will be introduced in later versions of the EC-A, and some in the EC-B.
For instance, by using powder metallurgy for critical components like pump impellers or gas generator housings, engineers could cut finishing costs by up to 50% compared with machining methods.
ANOTHER INNOVATION under study involves use of a new patented ball bearing design that could more than double pump running speed. The technology employs a ceramic ball running in a cage made of carbon fiber filaments associated with filler of an undisclosed composition.
Other changes envisioned include replacing the present 12-injector gas generator injection configuration with a single tricoaxial assembly; using a single-piece cast combustor head, in place of the current two-piece forged design; and employing plasma forming for the combustion chamber, instead of the long and costly electroforming process now used.
These changes could halve the cost of producing pump and gas generator components, Bosson said.
(Craigs comment, Optus C1 should launch via this early next year)
ILS Declares "Mission Anomaly" As Proton Upper Stage Fails
From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-02q.html
International Launch Services regrets the failure of today's mission to put the ASTRA 1K satellite into proper orbit for SES-ASTRA.
The Proton K rocket, built by Khrunichev, lifted off on time at 4:04 a.m. today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (6:04 p.m. Monday EST, 2304 Monday GMT). All three stages of the Proton vehicle performed normally.
The Block DM upper stage, built by RSC Energia, performed its first burn as planned and reached a circular parking orbit of 175. 5 km (109 miles). Preliminary flight information indicates that the second burn of the Block DM upper stage did not occur as planned, and the ASTRA 1K satellite was separated into the parking orbit.
"We extend our sincerest condolences to SES-ASTRA and SES-GLOBAL for the apparent failure of the Block DM to place the ASTRA 1K satellite into the proper orbit," said ILS President Mark Albrecht.
"We have a long history of success with the SES-GLOBAL family of companies - SES was the first commercial customer on Proton. We have several missions next year with SES companies, and we are committed to providing timely, reliable service."
The Proton K vehicle has flown 24 other missions for ILS since 1996, all with the Block DM upper stage. A mission failure in December 1997 also involved the Block DM. The Proton family - including the upgraded Proton M with the Khrunichev-built Breeze M upper stage - has flown 26 consecutive successful missions since February 2000.
ILS' next scheduled Proton mission employs the Proton M with the Breeze M upper stage. The Breeze M has flown successfully eight times in various configurations.
A Russian State Commission is being formed to determine the reasons for the anomaly. ILS will provide details as soon as definitive information is available for release. A copy of the official statement from Khrunichev will also be made available upon translation. In parallel with the State Commission, ILS will form its own Failure Review Oversight Board to review reasons for the anomaly and define a corrective action plan.
"ILS will continue business as usual with its Lockheed Martin-built Atlas family of launch vehicles," Albrecht said. "We will work diligently with our partners to return the Block DM to flight as soon as possible for its few remaining missions on the ILS manifest."
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) in the United States, with Russian companies Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia. ILS provides launch services on the Proton and the Atlas vehicles to customers worldwide.
ASTRA 1K Satellite Fails To Reach Correct Orbit
From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-02q.html
Luxembourg - Nov 26, 2002 - SES ASTRA regrets to announce the failure of the Proton launch vehicle to place ASTRA 1K, the fourteenth satellite in the ASTRA series, into the correct orbit.
ASTRA 1K was built by Alcatel Space of France, with Proton launch services from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur (Khazakstan) provided by ILS (International Launch Services), a US-Russian joint venture. The spacecraft was intended to operate at ASTRA's orbital position of 19.2° East.
SES ASTRA has full insurance coverage for the ASTRA 1K programme and the launch failure will not affect existing services at 19.2° East. Furthermore, ASTRA 2C, already operational at 19.2° East, offers comprehensive back-up for the ASTRA low-bands at this slot and will remain there until further notice.
Interactive Ka-Band services will continue to be provided by the existing Ka-band payload on ASTRA 1H.
With an existing available surplus capacity of roughly 20% of the 13 satellite strong ASTRA fleet in orbit, SES ASTRA, over the coming months, will reassess its future needs and make investment decisions on ASTRA 1K replacement capacity accordingly.
The Proton K vehicle has flown 24 other missions for ILS since 1996, all with the Block DM upper stage. A mission failure in December 1997 also involved the Block DM. The Proton family - including the upgraded Proton M with the Khrunichev-built Breeze M upper stage - has flown 26 consecutive successful missions since February 2000.
ILS' next scheduled Proton mission employs the Proton M with the Breeze M upper stage. The Breeze M has flown successfully eight times in various configurations.
A Russian State Commission is being formed to determine the reasons for the anomaly. ILS will provide details as soon as definitive information is available for release. A copy of the official statement from Khrunichev will also be made available upon translation. In parallel with the State Commission, ILS will form its own Failure Review Oversight Board to review reasons for the anomaly and define a corrective action plan.
"ILS will continue business as usual with its Lockheed Martin-built Atlas family of launch vehicles," Albrecht said. "We will work diligently with our partners to return the Block DM to flight as soon as possible for its few remaining missions on the ILS manifest."
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) in the United States, with Russian companies Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia. ILS provides launch services on the Proton and the Atlas vehicles to customers worldwide.
26/11/02
Live chat in the chatroom 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards.
Not much news today, KBS on B3 Globecast will be a pay channel details in a few days. This channel has been fixed now and loads as a tv channel it will be converted to Pal soon.
From my Emails & ICQ
Nothing to report
From the Dish
PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Z TV has replaced Star Chinese" , Viaccess 2, PIDs 920/921.
Express 6A 80E 3791 R "TBN Europe" has started , Fta, SR 3255, Fec 3/4, PIDs 308/256.
NEWS
HBO ends Zee pact, in alliance with Sony
From http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?story=2803
HBO, the premier Hollywood movie channel, today said it had left the distribution arrangement with the Zee-Turner network, to join hands with Sony Entertainment Television.
Almost in retaliation, Zee Telefilms has snatched its business news channel, CNBC India, out of the One Alliance of Sony and Discovery, among others.
Zee Telefilms intimated to the stock exchanges in a late evening release that its board would meet on November 30 to ratify the proposal.
An HBO spokesperson said at a press conference it had entered into a new sales and distribution pact with Sony for India and Maldives. HBO will, hence, be part of the One Alliance bouquet from January 1, 2003.
Sony India chief executive officer Kunal Dasgupta said the alliance with HBO would propel the One Alliance bouquet to the top distribution slot in India by April.
CNBC India's distribution tie-up with Sony was due to expire in March 2003. The channel was already scouting for a new partner in recent months. CNBC chief executive Haresh Chawla declined to comment on the issue.
Subscription charges for the One Alliance bouquet are also due to increase soon because of the new arrangement.
Earlier, HBO had a distribution alliance with Zee-Turner, its exclusive distributor and advertisement sales representative since its entry into India about two years ago.
According to sources, HBO has parted ways with the Zee Network since Turner International is due to launch its own movie channel soon.
This would probably have caused a conflict of interests if the channel continued to be part of the bouquet.
James P Marturano, managing director, HBO South Asia, said: "HBO has reached around 15 million homes in India and the neighboring countries and the Sony alliance will enable us to build on the success that the channel has enjoyed till date." The offer in India by HBO is its cheapest in the world.
"With HBO, we now have an attractive mix of popular channel services. Moreover, it will be a seamless transition because we have the same encryption technology and the satellite as HBO," Kunal Dasgupta said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, Sony is also in talks with MTV and Nicklodeon for including them in the One Alliance bouquet. Sony has seen a growth of around 60 per cent each year in the last three years.
25/11/02
KBS Korea on B3, Globecast will start officially on Dec 1st. I hope they plan to convert it to Pal as many Humaxes have difficulty with NTSC.
Skymail on SKY NZ has started, see news section for details. The Audio is FTA. The Aardvark site summed things up pretty well in his comments on SKYMAIL http://www.aardvark.co.nz/
From my Emails & ICQ
From Various
Star Gold on Asiasat 3 was FTA for a while, thank you to all that supplyed screenshots its not often this is FTA
From Abby
Dear APSATTV --
My name is Abby and I live in Hong Kong. I came across your web site in my search to try and find a way to pull NASCAR auto racing into my home here in Hong Kong. I do not know much about satellites, but am a semi-retired electrical engineer who will do just about anything to get my NASCAR races here in Hong Kong! At present I do not own a dish, nor have I been able to find a payTV service here in Hong Kong who carries NASCAR. Would you have any advice for me or would you know of others who could help me in my quest?
Thank you very much,
Abb
(Craigs comment, anybody have some ideas on where to find Nascar racing?)
From the Dish
Intelsat 804 176E Intelsat 804 has arrived at 176 East.(Start looking for it?)
PAS 8 166E 12301 H FEC for ABC Asia Pacific is : 5/6.
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "KBS Korea" has started , Fta PIDs 1061/1024.
Optus B3 156E 12336 V "HRT TV 2 and HRT Sat" are on and off at various times of the day
Apstar 1A 134E 4180 V "CCTV 3, CCTV 5, CCTV 6 and CCTV 8" are now encrypted.
JCSAT 3 128E 3960 V "BNE TV Network" is Fta.
Palapa C2 113E 3727 H "TBN" has started, Fta, Sr 3000, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4144/4145.
Asiasat 2 100.5E 3660 V SIDs for Kuwait Space Channel and EuroSport News : 31 and 9632.
Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H Both Kermit Channels have left .
NEWS
Now it's pay-even-more TV
From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/23/1037697938025.html
By the time Foxtel's 800,000 and Optus's 270,000 customers receive their monthly magazines some time next week, the true impact of the new program-share arrangement will be felt - on eyeballs as well as hip pockets.
From December 1, 16 channels that were previously available only on the Foxtel service will be available on Optus. In turn, Foxtel will inherit from Optus the music channel MTV and arts channel Ovation, as well as three movie channels.
But while Optus customers peruse this array of new channels, from January 1 they will be hit with a hefty rise in the cost of an entry-level subscription, which increases from $24.95 to $39.95 a month.
Foxtel has frozen the price of its basic subscription, but viewers will pay more for the privilege of watching MTV and Ovation when the Entertainment Plus add-on package increases by $3 a month from December 10.
Foxtel viewers who had hoped to pick the eyes out of the three Optus movie channels, which have exclusive access to the Warner Bros, Disney, Dreamworks and MGM libraries, will only be able to do so by buying into the top-shelf Movie Plus package.
This movie-lovers' cornucopia of seven movie channels may be an embarrassment of riches, but at $24.95 a month, or $300 a year, on top of the basic package, is it more than punters will accept?
Foxtel corporate spokesman Mark Furness does not believe it is overpriced.
"We are increasing the size of the menu. For the first time we are offering our customers 100 per cent of the movie product and we think it will be attractive to our subscribers," he said.
Optus consumer and multimedia division managing director Martin Dalgleish stressed that people on contracts, on higher tiers or on packages that no longer exist will be affected differently and that some subscriptions will decrease.
"Pay TV in this country is attractively priced at the entry level," Mr Dalgleish said. "Relative to average income it is very attractive."
With Optus and Foxtel providing the same channels at similar prices, the real competition, Mr Dalgleish said, would come in the bundling of pay TV with telephone, internet and broadband services.
Discounts would apply with the more services a household took.
But Charles Britton of the Australian Consumers' Association said he was not surprised that Optus had raised its fee, reiterating concerns that the program-share arrangement would primarily benefit pay-TV providers as they rebuilt their balance sheets from the losses of the past eight years.
"We would prefer to see competition on service and price than on content," Mr Britton said, arguing that the growth of the market should, in fact, drive prices down.
Hey, you've got Skymail
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2120222a28,00.html
Sky Television digital customers can now send and receive e-mail through their television screen.
Business development manager Kirsty Barwick says Skymail is a key launch for Sky and success will influence how much more interactive television product development the company does.
Sky hopes to have five to 10 per cent customer penetration in two years.
The company has 513,000 subscribers, 72 per cent of which use the digital service.
Skymail, first touted for launch in 2000, does not have any attachment or graphic facilities, though Sky has launched a website, www.skymail.co.nz , where subscribers can view e-mail and attachments via standard Internet access.
While the system can be used with existing remote controls, Sky is also selling a $99 wireless infrared keyboard.
The offering is expected to appeal to anyone who feels intimidated by computers and those who can't afford a full computer and Internet set-up.
Ms Barwick says while Sky is offering its own e-mail hosting using in-house servers and enabling customers to have an @skymail.co.nz e-mail address, customers of Xtra, ClearNet, ParadiseNet, Ihug and NZoom will also be able to access their existing e-mail accounts.
Sky had been in discussions with Auckland-based Asia Online - now Iconz - about hosting a Sky-branded ISP service.
Those plans fell over when Asia Online went into voluntary liquidation in November 2001. The company has since been taken over by Dresden Equities.
Telecom, with its shareholding in Sky, was expected to be the partner for the service, but Sky has taken control in-house.
Customers wanting Skymail addresses will pay $2 a month plus online charges of 18 cents a minute.
Those who access accounts with other Internet providers will pay online charges only. The online charges are billed through the subscriber's telco.
"The fact that Telecom and Telstra bill almost every single household in New Zealand is very appealing for us.
"It would have been a major project in itself for us to handle those variable charging rates on our billing system. That's why we've opted for the telephone billing," Ms Barwick says.
She says finalising the commercial agreements with Telecom and TelstraClear, plus keyboard manufacturer Philip RCS and software developments led to delays in the launch of Skymail.
Issues with full development of the two-way infrastructure plus lack of competition were also cited by Ms Barwick as delay factors.
Sky will launch a betting service in conjunction with the TAB within six months. Gaming leader boards and competitions are also possible.
The company already has interactive weather and gaming.
The games offering has 18,000 subscribers, but Ms Barwick estimates the number of users is at least double that as the first game per month is free and Sky has no records of those users.
Ms Barwick says the company has no immediate plans for e-commerce.
"We believe that e-mail, games and betting are the key products for interactive TV.
"That's not to say we wouldn't explore e-commerce but we don't have a lot of confidence that they're the right products, given overseas experience and our population."
Malaysia to launch own micro satellite by 2004
From http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/techscience/story/0,4386,156661,00.html
The satellite can be used for purposes ranging from urban planning to intelligence gathering
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will develop a micro satellite for a variety of applications including military and intelligence gathering in collaboration with South Korea, a report said yesterday.
The RM50-million (S$23-million) Medium Aperture Camera satellite (Macsat) will be able to distinguish between objects 2.5 m apart, enabling it to see houses, cars and people.
Macsat, to be launched in 2004, is being developed by Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) and SaTReC Initiative Company of South Korea.
'Macsat's main function will be to capture digital images at a 2.5 m resolution,' ATSB managing director Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said.
'The pictures will be very sharp and can be used for many purposes including urban planning, land use and national security.'
Mr Ahmad said Malaysia had to develop its own technology for high-resolution satellite imaging as advanced countries were reluctant to sell it.
'No one is going to sell you this kind of technology because they are using it for their own military,' he said.
Sixteen ATSB engineers are working on the project in South Korea.
Macsat, with a lifespan of at least three years, will also be the first satellite to orbit the Earth along the equator so it will be called a Neqo (Near Equatorial Low Earth Orbit) satellite.
A Neqo satellite would pass over any given spot on the equator more frequently than others, thus providing constant data streams.
Its footprint path, or coverage area, will be nine degrees north and south of the equator, tracking at 7.5 km per second.
Other satellites move in polar orbits (north/ south) as the industrialised countries which developed them had little interest in data from the equatorial area.
Malaysia's first two satellites, Measat and TiungSAT-1, are used for communications and Earth observation.
'It will be the first time a Malaysian satellite is developed in the country, as the country's other satellites were wholly developed overseas,' Mr Ahmad said.-- New Straits Times
T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 47/2002 24 November 2002 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic
Edited Apsattv.com Edition
A S I A
AUSTRALIA
FOXTEL TO REACH DEAL WITH HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Foxtel is reportedly set to strike a new deal with Hollywood movie studios
within months. The Australian Financial Review reported on November 18 that
Foxtel, which last week won regulatory approval for its content sharing
deal with Optus, had been talking to Premium Movie Partnership since March.
Foxtel's current 10-year movie deal expires in 2007 and the parties were
said to be discussing a new 10-year deal at $11 per subscriber, compared to
$13.86 per subscriber previously. Foxtel would save $150 million over the
next five years under the proposed deal.
TELSTRA TO DEFEND SEVEN NETWORK CLAIMS
Telstra Corp. said on November 19 it will vigorously defend claims by Seven
Network that sport programming by Telstra's pay-TV joint venture breaches
the Trade Practices Act. Earlier, broadcaster Seven Network said it plans
to take legal action against the Foxtel pay-TV joint venture, alleging
breaches of the Act. Foxtel is 50% owned by Telstra with Kerry Packer's
Publishing & Broadcasting and Rupert Murdoch's News each holding 25%.
Telstra is one of 19 parties that Seven is taking to court over the sport
programming issue. Seven claims the Foxtel partners breached the Act "in
their pursuit of their common objective: to enshrine a monopoly in
subscription television infrastructure and content, and to seriously damage
Seven." "
NTV MIR LAUNCHES ON TARBS
Russia’s NTV-Mir TV company has launched broadcasts in Australia. A
spokesman for the company’s press service told ITAR-TASS that Australia’s
leading television company TARBS (Television and Radio Broadcasting
Services - World TV) would enjoy exclusive broadcasting rights. The
broadcasts will be in Russian and will go on air under the “Watch the Best”
motto. The channel will run news, talk shows, NTV’s entertainment
programmes, the best feature films and serials. NTV-Mir is NTV’s
international channel, which broadcasts in Europe, Israel and North America.
Internet http://www.tarbs.net
CHINA HONG KONG
MORE SUBTITLING FOR ATV AND TVB
The Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority has imposed new license conditions on
commercial TV networks, ATV and TVB, requiring a greater number of
programmes to carry English sub-titles, according to a report in the South
China Morning Post. The sub-titling obligations will apply to news, weather
and current affairs programmes, and all prime-time programmes, on ATV’s
Home channel and TVB’s Jade channel from December 2003. The sub-titling is
intended to help viewers improve their language skills. As most shows
already have Chinese sub-titles, the changes will result in many programmes
having bi-lingual sub-titles. ATV’s World channel and TVB’s Pearl channel
will also be required to sub-title news and information programmes from
December 2004, as well as two hours of educational programming each week.
PHOENIX DELAYS CHINA CHANNEL ANALOGUE SHUTDOWN
Hong Kong based Phoenix Satellite Television has decided to delay the
shutdown of the analogue signal for its China Channel until next year. The
China Channel went over to digital broadcasting in October and was
originally scheduled to close down the analogue signal in November. A
spokesman for the China Channel said that the delay was in order to meet
demand from customers who had not had sufficient time to change their
reception equipment. The signal is now scheduled to be closed down early
next year.
STAR RESULTS UP
Asian regional pay-TV platform Star said that its quarterly operating loss
for the period to the end of September this year was 27 per cent better
than the same time 12 months earlier. The News Corp-owned company did not
reveal any figures, but it said that the gain was due to 15 per cent
revenue growth mainly provided by Star plus in India. The earnings report
also highlighted that joint ventures in India, China and Taiwan,
respectively Hathway Cable, Phoenix Satellite TV and Taiwan Cable Systems,
reached a total of €4 million, up from €1 million for the same period in
2001. Phoenix reported a net loss of €2.6 million for the first quarter of
its financial year in 2002. Star's Asian regional joint venture, ESPN Star
Sports earned €3 million in the quarter to the end of September, compared
to a €5 million loss in the same period in 2001. It reported a 48 per cent
increase in revenue in Hong Kong and India on the back of anti-piracy
measures and subscription increases levied on cable TV operators respectively.
TVB COULD LAUNCH GALAXY BY END OF 2003
Television Broadcasts (TVB) could launch its Galaxy direct to home digital
satellite TV platform by the third quarter of 2003, according to JP Morgan.
TVB is in talks to sell a 51% stake in Galaxy, which the Hong Kong
government requires the company to do before it will be allowed to launch
Galaxy. Galaxy is valued at €140 million. TVB is in talks with an unnamed
investor willing to acquire a 51% stake in Galaxy.
FRENCH POLYNESIA
CONCERN OVER PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT ON PAY-TV
Concerns have been raised in French Polynesia over the pornographic content
of some programmes on satellite television. A group of women from Tahiti’s
opposition has recently complained about violence and pornographic material
screened on TNS, a multi-channel service funded by the territorial
government. It was launched two years ago to provide a variety of
television programmes to the outer islands and now boasts 10,000 customers.
The editor of the monthly Tahiti Pacifique magazine Alex du Prel says that
a satellite pay-TV service which can be received across the outer islands
is of particular concern. According to Prel, the mayor - who is also the
pastor - on one island shuts down the generator at midnight and switches it
on at six o’clock in the morning to ensure nobody sees the offending
programmes.
INDIA
GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER FOREIGN TV INVESTMENT RULES
The Indian government is to take a fresh look at the broadcasting sector
and the foreign investment policies that govern it, the Economic Times has
reported. The newspaper said the government had “woken up to the threats”
posed by plans by foreign TV organisations to run 24-hour news operations
in the country. It said these included Rupert Murdoch’s Star TV, which
reportedly plans to launch a 24-hour Hindi news channel in March. The
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sushma Swaraj, said that with
several proposals for news channels being floated, the government wanted to
look at the trend and take a “conscious decision”. At present, at least 51
percent of the share capital of a cable network company must be held by
Indian citizens. For direct to home broadcasting, 49 per cent foreign
investment is also allowed, with a 20 per cent limit on foreign direct
investment.
INCREASE IN CABLE TV RATES
Ahead of the Indian cricket team’s tour of New Zealand from December 12,
ESPN Software India - which airs ESPN and STAR Sports- on Friday announced
a 30 per cent jump in the rates: from Rs24 to Rs32 per subscriber home per
month. The new rates are effective December 1. Interestingly, the move
comes at a time when the upper house of Parliament is slated to take up for
discussion the amendment to Cable TV Regulation Act, 1995, that would usher
in the conditional access regime in the country, making it mandatory for
subscribers to access pay channels only through a set-top box. Sony
Entertainment Network, which would air the ICC World Cup cricket in 2003
from South Africa, is slated to increase its subscription rates in January
2003. News channels like Aaj Tak are also likely to go pay by early next
year. Cable subscriptions rates have, on an average, gone up from Rs150 per
household to around Rs250 in first half of the year.
JAPAN
EARNINGS DOWN AT JAPANESE TV NETWORKS
Japan's TV broadcasters, including industry leader Fuji Television Network
Inc, saw first-half earnings drop. Fuji TV said on November 21 it’s
consolidated net profit in the half-year to September 30 fell 18.8 per cent
from a year earlier to Y10.24 billion, while revenues dipped 2.3 per cent
to Y215.22 billion. Rival Nippon Television Network Corp said its net
profit fell 45.3 per cent to Y10.87 billion, while revenues shrank 9.3 per
cent to Y170.37 billion. For the full year, Fuji TV is projecting a Y16.0
billion net profit, compared with its previous estimate in September of
Y15.5 billion, while revenues are targeted at Y418.50 billion.
JBC TO CONTINUE ANALOGUE TV SERVICES
Japan Broadcasting Corp. will continue to offer its broadcast-satellite
analogue television service after 2007, when it had originally been
expected to end. NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, plans to launch a new
satellite to replace the current one, which was designed for use only until
2007. NHK estimates around 5 million of the current 15 million viewers will
remain subscribers until 2007, meaning it should continue to provide them
with the service. NHK plans to negotiate with the government and another BS
analogue broadcasting service provider, Wowow, to continue the service,
which started in 1989. The plan is expected to draw fierce opposition from
providers of newer BS digital broadcasting services, which had been
expecting to acquire analogue viewers after 2007.
NEW ZEALAND
MAORI TV STILL NOT ON AIR
Viewers waiting for the Maori Television Service (MTS) to start
broadcasting are going to have to wait a little longer. Cabinet on November
18 discussed the Maori channel and its plans for transmission but did not
come to any final decision. Prime Minister Helen Clark said the platform
decisions would be made “shortly", but also indicated it was unlikely
legislation making the channel a legal entity would be passed this year as
it looked likely to be overtaken by other priorities. The Maori channel had
been expected to start operating in July this year but chairman Derek Fox
said it was still at least three months away. MTS had a programming
schedule, staff, premises it wanted to lease in Auckland, and design work
ready for setting up the offices. Mr Fox told the Maori affairs select
committee recently that there were two outstanding issues to be resolved.
One issue was that Parliament still had to pass legislation, which he said
he hoped would happen by the end of the year, and the other was a decision
by the Government on its transmission platform. "It's no secret that our
preferred option is TV4," Mr Fox said. The Government has previously told
MTS it would prefer that the channel broadcast on an existing UHF
frequency. The committee was also told the Government had allocated $6
million to getting the channel established and it would ultimately get $55m
a year in operating costs.
PAKISTAN
53 FOREIGN TV CHANNELS GET GREEN LIGHT FOR CABLE DISTRIBUTION
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has identified
53 foreign satellite Channels for relay distribution through cable TV
network operations in Pakistan, according to an APP news agency report.
Despite the enormous demand Indian satellite channels have in Pakistan,
channels like Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, and Zee TV continue
to be off the list. This is principally due to the hostile political
climate that exists between the two neighbours. Among the foreign channels
cleared are CNN, BBC World, Sky News, Euro News, DW News, Al-Jazeera,
Bloomberg, CNBC, Nickelodeon, Fox Kids, Star Sports, ESPN, CCTV-3
(Chinese), CCTV-4 (Chinese), Bangladesh TV, Turkish TV, HBO,
Jam-e-Jam-1/IRAM-1, Jam-e-Jam 2/IRIM 2, and Disney Channel.
QATAR
ENGLISH TV CHANNEL TO BE TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED
Qatar Television (QTV) is ‘temporarily’ discontinuing its English service
(channel two) from 1 January 2003 and introducing a sports channel in
Arabic instead, QTV director Mohamed Abdulrahman al-Kuwari on November 17
said. The daily English news bulletin will be shifted to channel one.
However, the timing of the bulletin has not been decided. ”Channel one will
also show foreign movies, at least three days a week,” al-Kuwari explained.
There are strong technical reasons for suspending the English service,
maintained the director. ”The sports content in channel one is taking a lot
of time and we will be able to reduce the load by launching the dedicated
sports channel,” he maintained. Other reasons for sacrificing the English
service for the sports channel include lack of satellite facilities for a
new channel and related technical and infrastructure problems. To begin
with, the new sports channel may telecast for about 10 hours. “Gradually,
we plan to increase the total duration of the programmes,” al-Kuwari
remarked. Although the QTV director described the discontinuation of the
English service as a ‘temporary’ measure, he said he was not sure about its
reinstatement.
SOUTH KOREA
GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH MOBILE TV SERVICE
The government is set to launch a "moveable TV broadcasting service," in
which one can watch high-definition TV broadcasts through portable
equipment, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and mobile handsets.
The Ministry of Information and Communication (MOIC) said on November 18
that it decided to spend W5 billion for the development of a technology
which would enable watching high-definition terrestrial TV broadcasts while
moving, as the demand in the country for such broadcast, including live
coverage of big sports events, has been gaining momentum. The ministry said
that the technology targeted for development for such TV broadcast will be
based on satellite digital audio broadcast (DAB) technique.
THAILAND
GMM MEDIA COULD BID FOR TV CHANNELS
GMM Media (GMMM) plans to bid for radio and TV stations remained in place
but further development will rely on the setting up of the National
Commission on Radio and Television Broadcasting, due next year, Jurairat
Unnahaka GMMM executive member, said on November 22. Jurairat said GMM has
set aside an investment budget for the project but may need to review the
dividend payment, originally fixed at 40 per cent of net profit. GMMM’s
revenue largely comes from radio broadcasting business (60 per cent), while
another 33 per cent is from TV broadcasting, with the remaining three
percent from publishing.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
BBC WORLD TO PROVIDE CONTENT FOR IN NETWORK
BBC World and the Hindujas’ InNetwork Entertainment (INEL) signed an
agreement on November 21 which will pave the way for BBC to provide news
content for the cable network. Initially, BBC programmes will be relayed
over the IN Mumbai network, and will be later over the entire IN CableNet
cable services. The deal, valid for a year from December 2, will put three
BBC shows - India Business Report, Wheels and Talking Movies - on the
Hinduja network. in both English as well as dubbed in Hindi and perhaps
Marathi.
24/11/02
No update Sunday
23/11/02
No update this weekend back Monday.
22/11/02
KBS still running in the B3, Globecast mux , HRT was off for a while seems to be back now though.
Read the news section for info on the launch of W5 to 70.5E I have not looked at the footprints but the news item says it will get into Australia and Asia.
From my Emails & ICQ
From S.J
11.30 AM (NZDT)
Optus B1, 12420 V, SR ????, FEC ??? (gone now - 11.35 AM).... was not using standard SR - 6110 or 6980
Optus B1, 12430 V, SR - 6111, FEC - 3/4 (Astralinks) .... Is using encryption of some sort, not Irdeto)
3.40 PM (NZDT)
B1, 12411 V , SR - 6111, FEC - 3/4 (Basketball Feed)
12420 & 12428 v feeds now gone
From Jeff
Doordarshan has pulled the plug on the analog version of the BHARATI channel on Pas 10.
Jeff in Perth W Aust.
From the Dish
Intelsat 701 180E 10975 H New PID for Star Academy 163/92. Test cards on PIDs 512/650 and 513/660, Fta.
PAS 8 166E 12366 H New SR for the Les amis mux : 28860.
Asiasat 3 105.5E 3780 V "Star Gold" Fta?? Sr 28100 Fec 3/4 unconfirmed..
NEWS
Satellite launches new era
From http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,5514722%5E15841%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
IN the aftermath of last week's restructuring of the pay-TV industry, all systems are go for the imminent launch of a $500 million satellite from French Guiana that will further improve the outlook for pay TV in Australia.
The Optus-owned B3 satellite, in orbit since 1994, is nearing the end of its useful life and its bigger and better replacement, C1, will rocket into the sky in the next available launch window between December and March.
Apart from increasing the satellite footprint available to the regional pay-TV group Austar, C1 will also have more capacity for extra channels and services in regional and metropolitan areas and the receiving dishes needed to decode the signal will be smaller.
While the B3 satellite has 15 transponders, seven of which are now used for pay TV, C1 will have 24 transponders and Foxtel has agreed a 15-year, $900 million leasing deal for 12 of them and has an option over two others.
A substantial amount of the remaining capacity has been assigned to the defence department.
Austar will be a big beneficiary as the satellite will expand its potential direct-to-home satellite service area by 200,000 homes.
New areas of Tasmania will open up to Austar, as will more of the Northern Territory, South Australia and northern Queensland.
And Foxtel, which is taking over management of the satellite's pay-TV operating platform from the Optus-Austar joint venture, will be able to offer more channels and services such as near-video-on-demand and interactive TV. Austar also hopes to offer those services for its regional customers.
Austar now provides pay TV in Darwin via cable but it will be able to offer satellite pay TV and also transfer many wireless customers throughout Australia to satellite.
"The service on satellite is more extensive and it will be an easier service to deliver," Austar's legal and regulatory director Deanne Weir says.
"And a lot of homes that don't get ordinary free-to-air TV will be able to get satellite TV, so they can get the ABC, and we hope to retransmit SBS in the near future."
Austar chief executive John Porter says the transfer of satellite management will also bring significant cost savings to Austar.
Foxtel has said it will initially use the increased satellite capacity to provide more than 120 digital pay-TV channels as each transponder can carry 10 channels.
"Once the channels are up there they beam everywhere so whatever they are putting up we could make available to our customer base as well," says Weir.
"Near-video-on-demand is an exciting opportunity and hopefully will be launched by Foxtel, and we will look to join in with them. And it gives us an opportunity to provide more enhanced interactive TV as well."
Weir says Austar will adopt a "wait and see attitude" when it comes to offering more channels.
"It's more economic for us to share channels with Foxtel so we will encourage each other to look at new channels and try and launch them together," she says.
AAPT aims to have pay-TV up and running next year
From nzherald.co.nz
Telecom's Australian operation AAPT is determined not to be left out in the cold by the Foxtel-Optus pay-TV content sharing deal and hopes to have its own pay-TV offering in the market by the middle of next year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last week cleared an A$1.3 billion deal between pay-TV operator Foxtel and second-ranked Australian carrier Optus, allowing the two to share programming and networks.
While the deal was watered down at the behest of regulators to require Foxtel to open its network to rivals, smaller carriers remain nervous at Telstra's 50 per cent stake in Foxtel and fear a cosy duopoly is being formed with Telstra and Optus looking to mop up the pay-TV market between them, bundling phone, internet and pay-TV access.
Telecom's chief operating officer for Australia, David Bedford, said he had misgivings about the deal being rubber-stamped by the ACCC when the body has raised its own concerns about Telstra's role in the pay-TV market.
He had flagged his concerns to the ACCC and written to communications minister Richard Alston.
"The [ACCC] felt it was beyond their power to rule on anything about that. They've flagged it as an issue but let the deal go through without it being dealt with," said Bedford.
"If you want competion in the telecoms industry and other players apart from Telstra and Optus are going to be denied one of the key components, you're not going to get competition," he added.AAPT's consumer business had revenue of $187 million in the three months to September 30, largely derived from local and long distance calling and cellular traffic, and made a surlpus of $6 million. Overall the Australian business is just now breaking even.
While struggling to match Telstra on deals in the consumer Telstra market, Bedford said it was imperative AAPT was able to offer pay-TV and negotiations would take place later this month to try and secure a content deal with Foxtel.
"It's more than volumes, it's the perception. You have to be able to provide that full range of services if a customer wants it. If you don't have that there's a risk of you being seen as not one of the top rank," said Bedford.
Foxtel had shown a willingness to negotiate with AAPT some time ago, said Bedford, but had "been dragging their heels" more recently.
"When you're one of the smaller players, you have to make a bit of fuss from time to time to get listened to," he said.
"I'm not sure what the timing will be but we're keen to be able to package into our offering pay-TV certainly in the first six months of next year."
Telstra plans to begin offering customers Foxtel subscriptions from December 1.
Boeing's powerful Delta IV blasts off
From http://europe.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/11/21/rocket.debut.reut/
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) -- Boeing Co.'s new Delta IV rocket, the first conventional rocket to use a new U.S.-built engine since the space shuttle, was launched successfully Wednesday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The debut had been delayed by months of technical problems, most recently on Tuesday, when the countdown was stopped just minutes before liftoff when a software glitch caused a vent valve to remain open after it was supposed to close.
The Delta IV blasted off at 5:39 p.m. EST, carrying a Eutelsat broadcast satellite on its way to geosynchronous orbit, extending that Paris-based company's reach into Asia and Australia for the first time.
Eutelsat, Europe's largest satellite-services operator, is owned by leading European telecommunications firms including BT Group Plc, Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom SA.
The new Delta IV, like the Atlas 5 from Lockheed Martin Corp. that launched successfully in August, is a product of the U.S. Air Force's effort to bring out a new generation of rockets that are more powerful, more reliable and more cost-effective.
It is Boeing's new rocket, the product of a $1.5 billion program, that has won the bulk of contracts from the Air Force -- 22 over the next four years, compared to seven for Lockheed.
But both rockets enter a global market that has shrunk considerably since the mid-1990s, in part due to contraction in the telecom industry. The number of commercial launches scheduled for the next several years is just a fraction of the number projected in the heyday of the telecoms.
The Delta's new Rocketdyne RS-68 engine in the first stage is the first new liquid-hydrogen rocket engine produced in the United States in 25 years, when the main engines that power the U.S. space shuttle first rolled off the assembly line.
This new engine is larger than the shuttle's engine but has just one-fifth as many parts as the shuttle engine.
The Atlas 5 uses a kerosene-burning Russian-built engine.
Also new with this latest version of the Delta, a workhorse for U.S. military and commercial launches for 40 years, is the new 1.5-million-square-foot plant where the rocket is produced in Decatur, Alabama. The entire rocket is built and assembled there.
The new 20-story rocket was launched from a completely rebuilt launch complex 37 at Cape Canaveral, where Project Apollo-era Saturn 1Bs were launched in the 1960s.
Boeing has designed the Delta IV to fly in five different configurations. The smallest two-stage configuration can lift 17,900 pounds into low Earth orbit.
The largest, featuring three first-stage common booster cores mounted side by side, can boost 50,800 pounds into the same orbit.
The configuration chosen for Wednesday's inaugural launch was the second lightest, the basic rocket with two solid-fuel rockets strapped to its side.
NASA recently added a new wrinkle into the next-generation rocket competition between Boeing and Lockheed when the space agency said it may develop a new mini-shuttle to ferry crews back and forth to the International Space Station.
This new mini-shuttle might launch atop one of the new-generation rockets. Expendable rockets have not been used to launch U.S. human space flight missions since the mid-1970s.
New Eutelsat satellite to focus on India
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=29006175
NEW DELHI: Eutelsat, world’s fourth largest satellite service provider, has launched W5 satellite to be positioned to at 70.5 degrees east thus focussing on Asia including India. Launched by a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is expectd to substantially reinforce its market presence in the whole of Asia in complement to the company’s SESAT satellite.
?W5’s central Asian position makes it suitable for broadcasters, service providers and other users both for regional communications in Asia and connections between Asia and Europe,’’ says Giuliano Berretta, CEO, Eutelsat.
Equipped with 24 Ku-band transponders with 72 Mhz bandwidth, W5 is configured with one fixed widebeam covering Western Europe, central Asia and the Indian sub continent and two steerable spotbeams. The steerable spotbeams can cover north-east and south-east Asia.
W5 will deliver digital communications service, video distribution and contibution links, occassional use video and particularly satellite news gathering as well as Internet backbone connections.
SkyPerfecTV reports profit
From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html
Japan's largest digital satellite TV platform, SkyPerfecTV, has reported the first operating profit in its history after recording a record loss in its previous results.
The third quarter results showed a E4.24 million profit for SkyPerfecTV. This came three months after the April to July quarter revealed a net loss of E162.9 million. The loss was despite an increase in sales of nearly 23 per cent thanks to live coverage of the football World Cup in Japan and Korea in June.
Given that the company had booked about E154 million in expenses and writedowns as the cost of its exclusive World Cup coverage, a loss was expected. But the colossal volume of red ink increased the quarter loss six-fold compared the results a year earlier, and caused SkyPerfect Communications shares to fall 3.6 per cent on the day of the announcement.
SkyPerfect has around 3.3 million subscribers
Videocon news channel launch in February
From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=29006664
Mumbai: Videocon, whose media plans include pumping in Rs 30 crore for the launch of a news and business channel, is aiming for a February launch next year.
Recruitment will begin in December with the appointment of a management team headed by a CEO, Videocon’s managing director V N Dhoot, told ET. The company is talking to two or three short-listed prospective strategic investors for the media venture, and a final handshake is expected next month, Mr Dhoot added.
21/11/02
Some activity, Globecast Optus B3, is running KBS Korea, channel labled "Future 1" This loads as a radio channel on Nokia's and Humaxes for some reason. Not sure if its a test for a possible future service or if its just a short term feed.
Due to a large increase in Spam junk mail, I have replaced my email address above with a graphic version that way spammers can't set their bots over the site and pick off my email address.
I ran the link checker over the site all the links should be workling now let me know if you find one that isn't. Also I started a major cleanup of the LINKS page. Still a lot of links to be added. Let me know if you wish to be listed or if you can supply some good links.
Sorry not much news today
From my Emails & ICQ
From Me
Optus B1, 12410 V Sr 6110 Fec 3/4 "Nba Feed"
From Zaparra
Apstar 2r
3720 H Sr 29265 Fec 5/6
13Ch Package
1. CH 11 625 LINE VID 1160 AUD 1120
2. CH 12 525 LINE VID 1260 AUD 1222
3. CH 21 VID 1360 AUD 1320 FTA
4. CH 22 525 LINE VID 1460 AUD 1422
5. CH 31 625 LINE VID 1560 AUD 1520
6. CH 41 VID 1660 AUD 1620
7. CH 32 INDIA HINDI VID 1560 AUD 1522
8. CH 20 625 LINE VID 1160 AUD 1122
9. A COPY OF CH 11 625 LINE VID 1160 AUD 1120
10. DCP DOWNLOAD VID 1160 AUD
12. CCP DOWNLOAD VID 1160 AUD
13. BHU DOWNLOAD VID 1160 AUD
Ch21 Running loop of movie "Steel Magnolia" fta.
All the other chs come up as Encrypted Power Vu
3920 H Sr 28340 Fec 7/8
All chs are encrypted Power Vu
16 CH Package
1. AXN Taiwan VID 1160 AUD 1120
2. AXN Rest of Asia VID 1260 AUD 1220
3. AXN ROA NTSC VID 1360 AUD 1320
4. AXN India VID 1460 AUD 1422
5. SCV VID 1560 AUD 1520
6. AXN 6 VID 1660 AUD 1620
7. ROA Business VID 1260 AUD 1222
8. Thai Ch VID 1260 AUD 1220
9. ROA NTSC English VID 1360 AUD 1322
10. A copy of SCV VID 1560 AUD 1522
11. A copy of AXN VID 1660 AUD 1622
12. DCP Software
13. CCP Software
14. BSR
15. A copy of ROA VID 1260 AUD 1222
16. A copy of AXN VID 1160 AUD 1120
From Spencer
Korean channlel in NTSC running on Globecast boquet on B3 vertical
KBS, Pic from Zaparra
From the Dish
PAS 2 169E 4030 V "TVB 8, TVBJ" and the test card have left , moved to PAS 8.
PAS 8 166E 3920 V The APEC mux has left .
Palapa C2 113E 3926 H "Bali TV" is back on , Fta, Sr 4208, Fec3/4, PIDs 33/36.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "ETV (Thailand)" is back/still on , Fta, PIDs 514/670, 02-15 UTC.
Intelsat 906 64E 3898 L "Sun TV (India)" is back on , Fta, Sr 3200, Fec 3/4, PIDs 4194/4195, NW zone beam.
LMI 1 75E 3454 H "TV Lanka" has started, Fta, SID 6500, Fec 3/4, PIDs 1160/1122, beam B.
NEWS
Foxtel sidesteps Seven
From http://finance.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5529225%255E462,00.html
FOXTEL is pressing ahead with its pay-TV restructure, as the industry absorbs the ramifications of a major legal action against it by Seven Network.
Tomorrow, Foxtel will lodge its undertakings on analog access with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. It's the first step in the content-sharing deal approved by the regulator last week after nine months of negotiations.
The ACCC will then hold a public inquiry into the undertakings.
Meanwhile, investors were studying Seven's Federal Court action, in which it alleges Foxtel, its shareholders and most others in the pay-TV industry conspired to force its C7 pay-TV sports channel out of business.
Foxtel and the other respondents have denied all claims, and said they'll vigorously defend the action.
Among other things, Seven wants the court to unwind the pay-TV restructure.
But it hasn't sought an injunction to prevent its imminent implementation.
Deutsche Bank media analyst Andrew Anagnostellis said yesterday the scale of the action was "staggering".
"This case, if not resolved commercially, is likely to go to the High Court in the next five years," he said.
"If Seven is successful, there could be a total re-ordering of the Australian media landscape."
JB Were said it may downgrade Seven, simply because of the legal fees it will incur.
"While harder to quantify, the impact of a litigation matter of this magnitude on management time is also likely to be significant for Seven and Foxtel," it said.
Seven has said the legal fees will be expensed each year in its new media division, meaning that TV costs won't be affected.
A spokesman said that the fees were "significant but not material".
Even so, Seven's lower TV ratings compared with last year's have prompted further earnings downgrades.
Salomon Smith Barney this week reduced its forecast earnings for Seven's TV division by 2 per cent to $142.3 million.
The broker said it believed Seven made commitments to advertisers in August that have limited its exposure to the lift in TV advertising.
Analysts Peter Dobrijevic and George Colman said: "While subsequently met, these appear to have had the effect of shifting revenues forward from the December quarter to the September quarter – such that Seven is not enjoying the same uplift as the other networks."
But they said that, if Seven won its legal action (which could take at least two years to resolve), it was more likely to receive monetary damages than to be granted another industry restructure.
"The sheer ambit of the remedies being sought is such that any court decision in Seven's favour apart from the awarding of damages will necessitate the unwinding of numerous existing agreements," they said.
"The enormous complexities and impracticalities involved lead us to believe that if Seven wins, the award of monetary damages is more likely."
BBC sees no threat from other news channels
From http://www.blonnet.com/stories/2002112102000600.htm
BBC World, the international news and information channel, has made considerable gains in its advertisement revenues from the Asian region, away from the traditional European or American markets.
The first nine months of the calendar year have seen impressive growth in the Third World, said Mr Jonathan Howlett, Director (Airtime Sales), BBC World.
While talking about the channel's consolidation in India and other countries other than the traditional ones, Mr Howlett also attributed this shift to the changing global economic scenario which has been witnessing uncertainty in the last few months.
While declining to give figures of the revenues, Mr Howlett said though geopolitical events such as the Iraq-US confrontation and the state of the world economy could have an impact on airtime sales, they would be beneficial to the channel as it would provide greater coverage, thus yielding long-term benefit as increasing viewership could bring commercial dividends later on.
India, which is one the biggest markets for BBC, could occupy a stronger position in the channel's agenda, he said, adding that the growing news channels within India could pose little challenge to its commercial prospects because of the distinct focus BBC gave to its regional news.
In BBC Worldwide, the news programme cannot be sponsored or its airtime sold. For advertisements, the channel largely relied on those relating to travel and tourism, the automotive sector or Government schemes or programmes which called for investment.
Highlighting the stringent editorial policy to maintain its USP of being an objective news channel, Mr Howlett said Overdrive, a popular programme on automobiles, could not be sponsored by the companies which produced the cars. The sponsorship was accepted only from the companies making accessories and ancillaries.
He said it was BBC's self-regulation that had helped maintain its editorial credibility even in the sphere of sponsorships.
Asia Today, India Business Report and Mastermind (a programme which ran for over a year and has been resumed because of its popularity) continue to strengthen the viewership of BBC, he said.
20/11/02
The chatroom was very quiet last night where was everyone?
A few people in the chatroom mentioned some links no longer working I will try and run the links checker over the site later. If you can think of any links that need to be added let me know as I want to give the links page a overhaul.
Not much news today
Rumours
Remember the NTSC NBA feed on B1 last week? its rumoured to be for the Americas Cup Yachties, mmm nice to have that sort of money to bring in your own personal feed of the game!
From my Emails & ICQ
From Troy Beard
Hi my names Troy and I've just been introduced to this site. I must say its great. I reside in Nagano in Japan and have a 3.6 metre dish with an analogue and digital receiver. I'm desperate to watch the Ashes cricket tests between Aust and Eng.
( Second test starts Thursday from Adelaide)
Do you or does anyone know what feeds they are on. If so are these feeds scrambled? I'm fairly new to satellites so I'm still learning but it beats Japanese TV!!
Would love to see the cricket....Can you help....
Thanks in advance..
Troy Beard, Nagano, Japan.
(Craigs comment, Cricket feeds are usually encrypted. If you can see Pas 10 you may be able to sub to the Multichoice Cband service and that should carry the match. Actually I think I posted something a while ago about a special Japanese cricket channel starting up not sure which DTH service was going to provide it.)
From Zapara
I906 64E 4101R "Star news feeds" Sr 5733, Fec 3/4
This replacement satellite much stronger
From John McDermott 19/11/02
Short feed seen
Optus B1 12430 V SR 5000 Fec 3/4 "Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter interview"
From the Dish
No lyngsat update yet
NEWS
Seven accuses Foxtel team of unsporting conduct
From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/19/1037697663926.html
Seven Network has taken legal action in the Federal Court against Foxtel and its owners, alleging they colluded to destroy its C7 sports channel and create a monopoly in premium sports broadcasting.
If successful, Seven could be awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from the Foxtel partners, cause the break-up of the Foxtel group, and win back lucrative broadcasting rights to Australian Rules and Rugby League games.
Seven claims to have snared documentary evidence of collusive behaviour by the Foxtel partners, including internal Foxtel documents sourced from more than a year of pre-action discovery and courtroom actions.
In a 58-page release to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday, Seven said its legal claims were serious and that without rectification the present situation would critically damage itself and sports rights holders.
Seven spokesman Simon Francis said Foxtel owners News Ltd, Telstra and PBL had sought "to enshrine a monopoly in subscription television infrastructure and content, and to seriously damage Seven".
"Seven is pursuing legal action to ensure that it, as a company, and others, can compete in a vibrant landscape on sound business terms and on a level playing field."
The TV station's angst about lack of competition in the nation's pay TV industry was already at boiling point last week when the competition regulator approved the $1.3 billion content deal between Foxtel and Optus.
Seven named 19 parties under its statement of claim, including Nine Network, Network Ten, Austar and Optus Vision, National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL).
Seven's accusations centre on its failed negotiations nearly two years ago to win the broadcasting rights of the nation's leading sports codes, Australian Rules and Rugby League.
Seven claims both codes opted for an "inferior" package offered by Foxtel and Fox Sports, and that as both deals were done at almost the same time it was clear the media giants had entered into anti-competitive and collusive arrangements to starve C7 of sports content, forcing its eventual collapse.
The NRL eventually accepted a television deal with Fox Sports, made up of News and PBL, while the AFL went with a Foxtel consortium that included Telstra, News and PBL plus Ten Network.
"Once Foxtel and Fox Sports had secured both the AFL and NRL subscription television rights, C7's future as a competitor was doomed," Mr Francis said yesterday.
Seven pulled the plug on C7 in May after five years of operation, during which time it reached 250,000 Optus and 250,000 Austar subscribers.
Other orders sought by Seven include that News and PBL divest themselves of any interest in Foxtel, that News and PBL be banned from using their media resources to support any bid for sports rights, and that the broadband cooperation between Telstra and Foxtel be terminated.
Foxtel yesterday said it totally rejected the allegations.
Shares in Seven fell six cents to $4.60 yesterday, Telstra lost three cents to $4.53, News Corp gained two cents to $11.62 and PBL rose one cent to $8.31.
The reporter holds Telstra shares.
Star results up
From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html
Asian regional pay TV platform Star said that its quarterly operating loss for the period to the end of September this year was 27 per cent better than the same time 12 months earlier.
The News Corp-owned company did not reveal any figures, but it said that the gain was due to 15 per cent revenue growth mainly provided by Star plus in India. The earnings report also highlighted that joint ventures in India, China and Taiwan, respectively Hathway Cable, Phoenix Satellite TV and Taiwan Cable Systems, reached a total of E4 million, up from E1 million for the same period in 2001.
Phoenix reported a net loss of E2.6 million for the first quarter of its financial year in 2002. Although analysts called the results encouraging the failure to gain carriage for the Infonews service in China and Taiwan remained a concern.
Star's Asian regional joint venture, ESPN Star Sports earned E3 million in the quarter to the end of September, compared to a E5 million loss in the same period in 2001. It reported a 48 per cent increase in revenue in Hong Kong and India on the back of anti-piracy measures and subscription increases levied on cable TV operators respectively.
19/11/02
Live chat tonight 9pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd onwards see you in there.
From my Emails & ICQ
From Bill Richards
Bali TV has returned
Palapa C2 3926 H Sr 4207 Fec 3/4
Regards
Bill
From the Dish
Nothing to report
NEWS
Churches offer alternative for dying regional TV
From www.scoop.co.nz
Press Release: Church Broadcasting Commission
Churches offer alternative for dying regional TV
The Churches’ Broadcasting Commission says there is a future for regional TV, despite stations in Wellington and Christchurch announcing their closure recently.
?We’ve asked the Minister of Broadcasting to ring-fence satellite frequencies for not-for-profit groups, as part of the digital television policies that are being considered,” said Commission chairperson, Trish Moseley.
?This will give an opportunity for transmission of community and special interest TV stations at a fraction of the present costs,” said Mrs Moseley.
She said that digital satellite transmission is undoubtedly where the future of TV lies.
?We believe it is vital that a portion of this transmission space is reserved for regional and community interests. “Only the government can do this, and they must do it now as there may never be another opportunity once all frequencies are allocated. We believe it is their obligation and responsibility and we’ll be lobbying them to this end.
?We hope other interested parties will join us in persuading the government of both the need and the common-sense in keeping some digital channels available for TV that will genuinely reflect the ‘heart and soul’ of New Zealand such as regional stations have tried to do, and not all be gobbled up by national and international media interests,” added Mrs Moseley.
(Craigs comment, these people have the right idea Digital satellite transmission is where the future lies at least in NZ anyway. They just need to find a suitable platform where they and others can broadcast. Where they are not at the mercy of Skys control )
D-Day for Maori Television
From http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0211/S00392.htm
Press Release: ACT New Zealand
Ministers in Helen Clark's cabinet must this morning either go ahead with plans to set up Maori Television to fail, or face making a very embarrassing turnaround, ACT Broadcasting Spokesman Deborah Coddington said.
"This is D-Day for Maori Television. The key Ministers are determined to force Maori Television to broadcast on a second-rate UHF frequency from Broadcast Communications (BCL), the struggling company that used to be a cash-cow for ailing Television New Zealand.
"The Ministers were due to announce their decision when Maori Television Service's Derek Fox - a passionate defender of his channel - spoke out. He wants Cabinet to accept a proposal from CanWest for the Maori Television Service to use Channel 4, which would be a decent platform.
"Mr Fox publicly accused Jim Anderton's Ministry for Economic Development and BCL of telling "a few porkies" about UHF. At the Maori Affairs Select Committee, Mr Fox revealed that tuning and aerials would cost around $450 for every household wanting to watch the channel.
"Today we will find out if Mr Fox has outmanoeuvred the Ministers, or if they will arrogantly plough on with their decision to send the new service the way of Aotearoa Television.
"This channel must be given a decent platform if we have any hope of turning the service into a successful private enterprise with no more drain on taxpayer funds," Miss Coddington said.
(Craigs comment, They need to get their act together the Maori TV channel SHOULD be available FTA via satellite. Sky have already said they would carry it (I can't see them getting away with encrypting this one). The price of $450 for tuning and aerials is a huge joke, Mr Fox dosn't have a clue, even installing a FTA satellite receiver and Dish you would still get