24/11/03

Well the rugby was great, my score pick was close. Steve Hume has found some new activity on I701 its not a satellite many look at due to it really needing a Circular pol capeable feed. He is using a 3.8M mesh in Queensland with regular V/H pol LNBF which is enough to make up from the signal loss from not having a circular pol capeable feed.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Siamglobal

Telkom & Thaicom

We confirm that Mr Lynsgstrom is entirely wrong and that the two Apsatters in Australia are completely correct. The Telkom horizontaL transponder at
3900 Mh s/r 2000 is broadcasting a very strong signal and this comes up as 9mhz Pal 1au. It shows a colour bar and an audio track of a radio prog is playing.

In addition we have tried for the last 3 days to receive the currently posted BB 7 channel on Thaicom 2 3764mhz s/r 4420 H but can receive no signal whatsoever ! The appearance of this channel in digital would be highly significant here were it true,

as it would be a reason for Thai sat owners to finally go digital as only one domestic channel would then remain unavailable in C band fta digital.

The above info is backed up by Satodx which we recommend for checking any postings. They list the Telkom transpoder but show no BB7 digital channel with the above parameters..

The moral seems to be : do not blindly believe the listings on one of the two services. If the posting is correct both Lyngsat and Satco should have it listed.

Siamglobal Bangkok

From Steve Hume

Intelsat 701
3803 RHC S/R: 6109 VPID: 1160 APID1: 1120 APID2: 1122 PCR: 1160
Loads on Coship as INTELSAT RIVE. Something about "NBA TV". Could this
be the NBA TV the yanks were all excited about?

Currently has a score sheet up, running updates of Basketball games.

DSNG 2

3821 RHC S/R: 5632 VPID: 308 APID1: 256 APID2: 257 PCR: 8190
Having problems loading image. No idea what it was now, vision gone.

DSNG 3

3830 RHC S/R: 5632 VPID: 308 APID1: 256 APID2: 257 PCR: 8190
BT LA Test Bars up like on Ku.

On 3769 RHC is now carrying Pictures of Croatia, and Abu Dhabi TV Pictures of Croatia VPID: 2660 APID: 2620 (SAT in red in a little box
top right) Abu Dhabi TV VPID: 2560 APID: 2520

3815 RHC S/R: 5632 "Colour Bars"

NEWS 24x7
Steve Hume

From Dharmesh Bamrolia

Dear sir,

New radio channel called 'SAHARA SWAR' has started
on Asiasat 3S on freq.4020 V.

There are 2 separate audio o/p as 2 radio channel on
one freq./pid.(One song on left track, another song on right track)

So, enjoy all Hindi listeners!!!

From the Dish

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3669 V "RR Sat promos, VIC-TV and occasional RR Sat feeds" have started on ,Fta, SR 13333, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1058-1105/1059 and 2081/2082.

Intelsat 701 180E 3803 R "NBA TV Barker" has started on , Fta, SR 6111, FEC 3/4,PIDs 1160/1120, West hemi beam.
Intelsat 701 180E Occasional British Telecom feeds on 3821 R and 3830 R, SR 5632, FEC 3/4,West hemi beam.
Intelsat 701 180E 3769 R Abu Dhabi TV Europe and HRT Satelitski Program have started on , Fta, PIDs 2560/2520 and 2660/2620.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 12726 H "Shanghai Education TV" has started, Fta, SR 2605, FEC 3/4, PIDs 110/111.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 3905 H "Reuters World News Service" is fta again.

NSS 6 95E 12688 VA SatLink test card and a New Skies promo have started on , Fta,SR 26087, FEC 3/4, PIDs 257/258 and 513/514.

Launch time for Yamal 201 and Yamal 202 with Proton on 24 November: 06:06 UTC.

NEWS

Adventure One Makes Way For History Channel

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=46851

MUMBAI: STAR India will replace its Adventure One channel with History Channel in its distribution bouquet. History Channel, which is owned by US-based A&E Television Networks, will be launched in India on November 30.

National Geographic Channel had obtained rights for History Channel for the Asian region. The company has given the distribution rights in India to the STAR Group. STAR will have to pay a minimum guarantee fee. STAR will also handle the ad sales of History Channel in India.

History Channel will be available from 8 am to 12 midnight. Adventure One channel will be shown only from midnight to 8 am. Both the channels are on AsiaSat-3. “Adventure One will be accommodated by History Channel in India. It will continue to beam in the Asian region. We are planning to get the channel back only in the conditional access system (CAS) scenario,” said a source.

A thrill-seekers channel, Adventure One could not attract viewers in India. STAR Group had secured a three-year distribution deal. A wholly owned subsidiary of National Geographic Channels International, Adventure One is an encrypted digital format on the AsiaSat-3 satellite. The channel has adventure travel, sport, personality, outdoor and the environment.

STAR is yet to finalise the price of the History Channel. Adventure One did not have any price tag for cable operators but formed part of the STAR distribution bouquet. “We haven’t decided on the price. But we are launching the channel on November 30,” said STAR India chief operating officer Sameer Nair.

History Channel has a wide range of content ranging from biographies, war, espionage and modern gizmos. Several political leaders including Nelson Mandela are profiled on the channel. It will also have content on Hollywood personalities.

Turner Intl Lines Up New Channel For Indian Market

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=46850

NEW DELHI: Turner International, part of the Time Warner group, is likely to bring a new channel into the India market soon. Currently, the group is represented by CNN and Cartoon Network in the country.

There’s a strong possibility of a movie channel being launched by the Turner group. Even as company officials were not available for comment, it is understood that the group would like to have a movie channel in India. It could even be a comeback for a movie channel. The toss is between Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and TNT (a mix of movie and entertainment channel), it is being speculated. Internationally, Turner has CNN, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, TBS, and a few sport channels.

For almost one year now, Turner has not had a movie channel in its India offering, if Zee channels are not taken into account. Turner channels are distributed along with those of Zee in the country. Popular movie channel HBO, which was earlier part of the Turner bouquet, switched over to Sony’s ‘One Alliance’ platform from January. There’s been a clear void in the Turner offerings since then.

That was not the first time that a void was created in the Turner bouquet, in terms of movie space. A couple of years ago, its English classic movie channel (TNT and then TCB) was pulled out from the India market, disappointing many film freaks in the process. In fact, no movie channel, in any of the bouquets, has been able to fill up that gap.

Time Warner is the world’s leading media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks, music and publishing.

T S I C H A N N E L N E W S - Number 45/2003 ? 23 November 2003 -

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

Editor: Branislav Pekic

A S I A & P A C I F I C

AUSTRALIA

ANIMAL PLANET SIGNS DISTRIBUTION DEAL

Discovery Networks Asia will almost triple the distribution of Animal Planet
in Australia next month, after signing a carriage deal putting the channel
into Foxtel's pay-TV bouquet. From December 1 the wildlife-themed service,
a joint-venture between Discovery and BBC Worldwide, will join Discovery
Channel on the News Corp-backed pay platform. Discovery Channel also airs
on Austar, while Animal Planet is also carried by Optus.

TELSTRACLEAR PREPARES TO LAUNCH DIGITAL TV SERVICE

New Zealand telco TelstraClear will rollout a digital TV service in the
country in 2004. The cable network will need some upgrades and will initially
launch the service in Wellington and Christchurch in mid 2004 where it has
40,000 analogue customers. The company said it has not yet decided what
set-top boxes it will use.

CHINA - HONG KONG

HONG KONG CABLE GETS 2006 WORLD CUP

Zug, Switzerland: Infront Sports & Media AG has signed an exclusive agreement
with Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (Hong Kong Cable), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the i-CABLE Communications Group, for the Hong Kong television
rights to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Hong Kong Cable will show all 64 matches
of the 2006 event, which takes place in Germany. The agreement follows the
company's successful carriage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, which
took place in the same Asian time zone and was tremendously popular with
viewers. Hong Kong Cable, the leading pay-TV service provider in Hong Kong,
has established a leading position in sports programming and the FIFA World
Cup ­ which is "must have" programming ­ will be the highlight of its 2006
schedule.

CETV TO RELAUNCH IN 2004

Loss-making China Entertainment Television (CETV) will breakeven within
three years, according to new owners, the Hong Kong multimedia company,
Tom.com. Chief executive Sing Wang made the prediction as he unveiled plans
to relaunch CETV, the cable and satellite-delivered Mandarin-language channel
in 2004, its' 10th anniversary year. Sing also revealed plans to move CETV's
production base from Hong Kong to the Chinese city of Shenzhen. At the same
time the sales, advertising, marketing and public relations teams would
be relocated to China's largest cities, Guangdzhou, Shanghai and Beijing
as part of a cost-cutting move. CETV, founded by Hong Kong-based entertainment
veteran Robert Chua, has failed to turn a profit since it went on air in
1994, even after Chua sold it to Time Warner in 1999 before they sold the
channel to Tom.com earlier this year. CETV is only one of four channels
with landing rights in southern China, although this advantage is offset
by its poor reception by audiences and it only has a two percent market
share in the areas it can be seen. Sing said that next year the channel
will ramp up the percentage of in-house production from 15 per cent to as
high as 45 per cent. The losses in 2002 reached $17 million before taxes
and other deductions, with less than $500,000 in revenue.

CHINA TO PROMOTE DIGITAL CABLE

Chinese broadcast regulator SARFT has given more details of its planned
move to digital. The first phase will involve rolling out digital cable
services. The second, starting in 2005, will see the debut of digital satellite
broadcasts and trials of digital terrestrial services. In the last phase,
the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics will be used to promote the take up of
digital sets and high definition services. The transition to digital cable
will be complete in four stages between 2005 and 2015, at which point all
analogue signals will be switched off.

INDIA

MUSIC VIDEOS TO BE SCREENED BY GOVERNMENT

According to local daily, the Hindustan Times, the Indian government's Information
and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry will begin screening and certifying music
videos before they can be broadcast on locally uplinked channels. The videos
will now have to be cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC),
and given a U (universal) certificate, before making it to air. For channels
broadcast from outside the country, content will be regulated through the
Cable TV Regulation Act, which gives cable operators the right to block
a given channel or program. I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the ruling
was necessary because of the increasingly risqué videos making their way
onto Indian screens. "Makers of music videos must understand the psyche
of the Indian people and should make programs which are within the limits
of decency. The vulgarity must stop," he said. The certification ruling
will not dramatically affect channels uplinked from outside of India, such
as Channel V and MTV, but will likely have severe ramifications for local
music and entertainment channels like Sahara and ETC.

IRAN

VOA-TV REACHES 12% OF IRANIANS

Voice of America's (VOA) Persian television programmes, including a daily
show that focuses on sought-after news and information, are reaching a remarkable
12 per cent of Iranians over the age of 18, a new survey shows. "News and
Views", a 30-minute programme launched only three months before the survey,
along with two separate weekly Persian-language programmes, are seen by
about four million people each week via direct-to-home satellite, according
to a nationwide telephone survey taken in September. The survey of over
1,000 people also shows that the total audience for all US international
broadcasting products - radio and television - tops out at 18 per cent of
the adult population of Iran, a country where the government jams international
radio broadcasts, bans television satellite dishes and censors all news.
While VOA-TV reaches 12 per cent of the over-18 population, Radio Farda
has a 7 per cent audience share and VOA Persian radio has 2 per cent. "It's
amazing that in a country where viewing of satellite television is illegal,
American-produced news shows in Persian can attract 12 per cent viewership,"
said Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors
(BBG), which oversees all US non-military international broadcasting. He
noted that "News and Views" has quickly proved popular, attracting a 6 per
cent audience.

ISRAEL

SCRIPPS PROGRAMMES ON THE GOODLIFE CHANNEL

Israeli broadcaster, The Goodlife Channel, has licensed at least 300 hours
of lifestyle television programming from the American-owned Scripps Networks.
The lifestyle network, owned by Israel's Ananey Communications, will initially
air HGTV's Extreme Homes and Fantasy Open House; Food Network's Ming's Quest,
Keith Famie's Adventures, Good Eats, Melting Pot, Barefoot Contessa, $40
A Day, Date Plate and Food Fight. From DIY Do It Yourself Network, Goodlife
will broadcast Cake Baking & Decorating and Fine Living's Breathing Room,
Luxury Adventures, The Great Adventure, Radical Sabbatical, Your Private
Island and Sheila Bridges: Designer Living, as well as 10 hours of Fine
Living interstitials. The Goodlife Channel features local and international
programming on interior design, food and drink, health and beauty, and spirituality.

JAPAN

BROADCASTERS TO PROTECT DIGITAL CONTENT FROM PRIVACY

Japan Broadcasting Corp., known as NHK, and the National Association of
Commercial Broadcasters in Japan said on November 17 that they will add
a signal to terrestrial and satellite digital broadcasts beginning next
April to prevent programs from being copied more than once. The measure
comes in response to concerns that because digital content can be copied
multiple times with no degradation in quality, copyrights for audio and
video programming could be infringed. Japanese public and private broadcasters
said they will introduce a common card, called B-CAS Card, which will be
given to consumers when they purchase digital TVs. Viewers will have to
insert the card into their TVs in order to watch or record digital content,
while broadcasters will air their shows with a special transmission signal
enabling only a single, non re-recordable copy of the program to be made,
the broadcasters said. The method will apply to both existing broadcasting
satellite (BS) digital programs and terrestrial digital broadcasts, which
are set to begin December 1 in some areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Since
digital broadcasts are of high quality, which does not deteriorate with
recording, broadcasters fear these characteristics may encourage piracy.

SKYPERFECT SIGNS DEAL WITH HARMONIC

Harmonic Inc. on November 17 announced that SKY Perfect Communications,
Japan's leading digital multi-channel satellite broadcasting company, is
upgrading its video infrastructure with Harmonic digital headend systems.
Harmonic's DiviCom MPEG-2 encoders and DiviTrackXE statistical multiplexer,
which form the foundation of the new service, are expected to effectively
double the capacity of SKY Perfect's existing satellites while improving
picture quality. SKY Perfect will also use Harmonic's NMX Digital Service
Manager to maximize service availability and simplify the operation of its
geographically distributed video infrastructure. The system is scheduled
to be fully operational in January 2005. With more than three million direct-to-home
(DTH) subscribers, SKY Perfect is Japan's leading digital multi-channel
satellite broadcasting company. SKY Perfect Communications Inc. had total
assets as of March 31, 2003 of approximately US$1,101 million and total
annual revenues of approximately US$596 million.
Internet - http://www.skyperfectv.co.jp/skycom/e/
http://www.harmonicinc.com

JAPANESE INTERESTED IN DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TV

Nine of 10 people surveyed want to watch terrestrial digital TV broadcasts
due to begin in Japan's three major urban areas in December, according to
a survey released on November 17. Conducted by Tokyo Broadcasting System
Inc., advertising agency Hakuhodo Inc. and Matsushita Electric Industrial
Co., the survey found that 92.8% of surveyed people want to watch the broadcasts.
Asked whether they want to watch the broadcasts on portable TVs when they
become available, 74.4% replied in the positive. Many of those respondents
intend to use portable sets when they wait for trains and other transportation
means or when they are aboard them. The survey was conducted in October
on 180 people, aged between 20 and 49, in the Tokyo metropolitan area by
showing demonstration broadcasts on both regular and portable TVs.

FUJI TV PROFITS UP

Fuji Television Network Inc. said on November 19 its group net profit for
the six months to Sept. 30 rose 37.4% from a year earlier to 14.07 billion
yen. In its consolidated earnings report, the leading broadcaster said it
posted a pre-tax profit of 25.64 billion yen in the first half, up 21.1%,
with revenues rising 5.0% to 225.88 billion yen. Fuji Television said revenues
in its mainstay segment, which includes television broadcasting, movies
and events, increased 7.1% to 179.94 billion yen, with those from non-broadcasting
businesses soaring 101.1%. Broadcasting revenues fell 2.1% amid the still
sluggish advertising market. For the full year to March 31, Fuji Television
forecasts a net profit of 22 billion yen and a pre-tax profit of 41.5 billion
yen on revenues of 442.5 billion yen.

PROFITS DOWN AT NIPPON TV

Nippon Television Network Corp. on November 20 reported double-digit profit
falls for the half year to September 30 amid slumping ad revenue. NTV, said
its group net profit for the six months fell 14.1% to 9.33 billion yen,
while its pre-tax and operating profits slid 19.4% to 18.62 billion yen
and 21.7% to 18.13 billion yen. Group revenue dropped 5.6% to 160.88 billion
yen. The major commercial TV network's mainline TV broadcasting business
saw revenue decline 4.6% to 141.12 billion yen. In its full-year outlook,
NTV expects group net profit to fall to 10.50 billion yen from the previous
year's 20.30 billion yen on projected revenue of 325.70 billion yen, down
from 336.30 billion yen.

DISNEY CHANNEL LAUNCHES

The Walt Disney Co launched the Disney Channel, a TV station exclusively
for the company's entertainment programs, in Japan on November 18 with a
ceremony in Tokyo. The U.S. entertainment and media giant provides three
core patterns of programs aimed at preschool children, grade school and
junior high school students, and families via satellite TV broadcaster Sky
Perfect Communications Inc and cable TV networks.

A F R I C A

ETHIOPIA

GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE BROADCASTING LICENCE

According to local press reports, the Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency has
said that it would start giving broadcasting licence this year [some time
in 2004]. The agency's public relations officer, Sisay Meles, on November
18 said that the licence would be given to private, government or community
owned radio and television stations.

SOUTH AFRICA

TV5 JOINS MULTICHOICE PACKAGE

French channel TV5 has signed a carriage agreement with South African satellite
operator Multichoice, giving local audiences access to a Francophone network
for the first time. From January next year, TV5 will be offered on the DStv
platform which boasts 750,000 subscribers. TV5 is already available to almost
1m viewers in sub-Saharan Africa on two other pay-TV services run by Multichoice.
This latest deal secures total coverage across the African continent for
the 24-hour generalist channel. Over 135 million homes in more than 165
countries can now receive TV5 via cable and satellite feeds worldwide.

ZIMBABWE

ZBC TO INTRODUCE NATIONAL CHANNEL

THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will establish another television
channel called National Television (NTV) next month, focussing on vernacular
languages. NTV, which will become operational from December 1 and will broadcast
from Montrose Studios in Bulawayo, will be a national channel focussing
on Shona and Ndebele programmes. ZBC deputy chairman Mr Justin Mutasa said
the establishment of NTV was part of the corporation's ongoing commercialisation
programme. "The establishment of NTV is a result of a 5 million Iranian
credit facility that was availed to the corporation and will see state-of-the-art
studios being built at Montrose Studios. Its establishment will largely
help in the showcasing of local and African talent which could not all be
accommodated on the single channel currently available," said Mutasa. Iran
has agreed to help revamp ZBC's equipment under the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint
Commission.

23/11/03

No update Sunday

22/11/03

B1 should have some RWC related feeds tonight. My pick Australia 20 England 23

Someone has asked what is Free-XTV , sorry I assumed everyone knew it is a "Free" adults only channel, website for it is here http://www.free-xtv.com/

Can people who can get Telkom 1 at 108E take a look at 3899H SR: 2000. FEC: 3/4 and please send me and email and also cc: it to Lyngsat he is refusing to publish this signal as according to him "3899 H is not possible to use on Telkom 1,according to the technical documentation from Telkom"

That doesn't explain why there are at least 2 people in NT getting it without problems in fact its a very strong signal when its on-air

From my Emails & ICQ

From various

Feeds seen on B1

12318 H 6984 3/4 - B1 Tadiran Scopus - Tadiran Scopus -
12371 H 6666 3/4 - Channel V Feed
12398 H 7200 3/4 - B1 Seven Network - BCS Slot 6 -

Saturday

12430 V 7000 3/4? B1 Seven Network - BCS Slot 6 -

From Kotak

Intelsat 704
Freq:4058, Pol:V, s/r: 27500,3/4 (Ch 1401,Ch 1402,Ch 1403) Fta
Three Channal

Insat 3A

Freq:4120, Pol:V,s/r: 5000,3/4 (Pid P:8190, V:308, A:257) Fta
DD Gujarati Feed

Mukesh Kotak

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Videoland Sports and CTI TV International" are encrypted again.MAC TV is Fta again.

Gorizont 31 140E Gorizont 31 has replaced Gorizont 25 at 140 East.

Gorizont 25 has left 140 East, moving west.

Apstar 1A 134E All channels in the CCTV muxes on 4160 H and 4180 V are now in clear.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3631 H "TV Lanka" has started , Fta, SR 3500, FEC 2/3, PIDs 1360/1320.

PAS 10 68.5E 3716 V "Christmas Music" has replaced Urban Beat on , Irdeto 2, APID 1979.

(M Rudenko)

Insat 3E 55E Insat 3E has moved from 52 East to 55 East.

New launch date for Apstar 5 on Zenit/Sea Launch: 28 April.

NEWS

Maori Television Service deal, but no start date

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

Long-lasting wrangles between the Government and the Maori Television Service appear to have been resolved, but the channel's on-air date remains uncertain.

Two months ago the Government approved a last-minute bid by the service to go to air on a Sky channel, after appearing ready to reject the deal.

But a formal announcement was not made because the approval was subject to several conditions.

Those conditions created a fresh round of tensions between the parties, including talk of legal action.

Under the Sky deal, MTS will use one of Sky's existing UHF channels in exchange for letting Sky use the four frequencies reserved for Maori television it has been squatting on.

Associate Communications Minister David Cunliffe refused yesterday to spell out what the problem over the management right was, but said "we had to think our way through some process issues".

But a letter which should clear the path for Sky and MTS to conclude negotiations had been sent last week.

MTS would not comment yesterday on when it expected to go to air, saying commercial arrangements were yet to be completed.

Political pressure builds for Maori Television to launch

From http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=7607&cid=1&cname=Media

Maori Television Service is set to go on the recruitment trail to find a new chief executive as political pressure mounts for the channel to launch.

Amid political embarrassment over MTS snafus, Prime Minister Helen Clark is said to have told Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia to get the channel broadcasting "no matter what."

Acting chief executive Ani Waaka is holding the fort but chairman Wayne Walden is playing a significant role in the running of the company.

And in the latest unorthodox move, MTS has appointed a board member, Tawini Rangihau, to be its general manager of news.

Meanwhile, a team of top broadcasting executives with commercial experience has been working to get MTS broadcasting by Waitangi Day if possible.

Since Derek Fox stepped down as CEO on August 22 the board has sought television expertise outside the tiny pool of Maori television management talent.

To that end MTS has secured the services of Prime Television New Zealand chairman Brent Harman on a short-term consultancy to push ahead planning for the on air date.

Mr Harman is a former chief executive of TVNZ, managing director of giant UK television company Flextech and, until last year, chief executive of Prime Australia.

Mr Harman sought to play down his role and MTS spokeswoman Sonya Haggie said his consultancy was nearing completion.

There is some sensitivity at MTS that the involvement of Mr Harman and other non-Maori will be depicted as pakeha stepping in to sort out problems at the Maori channel.

Another respected executive sent in to gear up for the launch is Paul France, the former chief executive of Singapore-based Asia Business News and a former head of production at TVNZ.

Also involved is Trish Carter, the former deputy head of news and current affairs at TVNZ who is setting up new systems to run the MTS news service.

Ms Carter ­ who worked alongside Mr Harman when he ran Newstalk 1ZB and was recently dumped by TVNZ head of news and current affairs Bill Ralston in a changing of the guard ­ has extensive experience overseeing One News and Holmes.

The run of temporary appointments is believed to have stemmed from the appointment to the MTS board of Rod Cornelius, a retired former general manager of the Avalon Studios. Mr Cornelius is a respected veteran of the TV business and he is also Mr Walden's neighbour in Devonport, Auckland.

Meanwhile, another major issue for MTS getting to air ­ transmission ­ has still not been resolved.

Mr Walden was still in negotiations this week with Sky executives over leasing the Sky UHF channel being used to broadcast CNN.

Under pressure from Maori MPs and the Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri, the Cabinet approved MTS going with the Sky option rather than using a set of frequencies set aside by the Crown for Maori.

Cabinet ministers Steve Maharey and Michael Cullen had opposed the change and Sky's role, but with Maori hostility growing over the seabed and foreshore issue the government avoided more ill will with its Maori caucus.

Sky faced costs of more than $10 million if MTS used the Crown-allocated frequencies because it had tuned set-top boxes into TV sets using the channels allocated to MTS.

MTS, Te Puni Kokiri and Mr Horomia's office all refused to discuss the status of talks.

However, parliamentary sources said MTS had indicated it wanted to take over management rights for the Crown-allocated network as well as the network being leased from Sky.

The Ministry of Economic Development is required to hand over the frequencies to MTS.

One source said that Sky wanted the Crown frequencies to remain unused, ensuring there was no more competition for Sky, and that this was not a good way to manage a scarce resource.

But Sky spokesman Tony O'Reilly said he was unaware of any problems or concerns.

Meanwhile, MTS looks certain to be well serviced by transmission on two platforms.

MTS will be broadcast on analogue UHF frequencies and available for free on the Sky digital platform.

Non-Sky subscribers will be able to receive the digital MTS signal using a satellite dish like the one used to receive Sky plus a satellite receiver available at electronics stores and on the web for $250-450.

Humax Co. Ltd Enters US Consumer Electronics Market With Digital Flat Panel TVs and Digital Video Recorders

From Press release

Announces Plans of Humax USA Launch at 2004 Consumer Electronics Show

SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Korean-based Humax Co. Ltd today announced plans for its US debut at the upcoming 2004 Consumer Electronics Show, to be held in Las Vegas, NV, from January 8-11. At the show, executives will share the company's US marketing strategy with members of the press, sales representatives and retailers, and unveil their 2004 line-up of flat panel televisions and digital video recorders.

Founded in 1989, Humax is recognized as one of the top three leading manufacturers of satellite set-top boxes worldwide. Currently conducting business in over ninety countries, Humax's strong strategic alliances with leading operators, major consumer electronics companies and technology partners internationally will help facilitate its entry into the competitive US consumer electronics market.

The company's marketing and distribution efforts are being led by Sales and Marketing Vice President Tony Goncalves, who previously successfully managed various product lines and business development affairs for Samsung and Sharp Electronics. "I'm excited about this opportunity for Humax," says Goncalves. "We are starting from a clean slate in this venture, allowing us to employ our R&D and marketing experiences and create products that consumers want to use and that retailers want to sell."

Humax also announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with TiVo to manufacture DVR products in 2004. The companies will discuss this venture in January at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Goncalves added, "The DVR market segment is prime for explosive growth these next few years. The hard disk drive in CE products is here to stay, as is consumer's desire to manage content. The market is wide open for a new manufacturer that can drive innovation and cost. Humax's dominant position in the set-top box industry will allow for such innovation. And we are looking forward to delivering DVRs that carry the powerful TiVo brand in 2004, as they clearly are the leader in driving DVR sales at retail."

The initial launch of the Humax product line will be through independent, higher-end retailers. Two-step distributors will be brought on to serve smaller independent home installation retailers.

Humax's US effort is part of a larger, global company effort. Each of the company's six worldwide subsidiaries will be announcing plans to enter their respective consumer electronics markets with niche, innovation driven CE products. This initiative will drive Humax to become a $1 billion company, with an anticipated 45% of revenue coming from these new businesses by 2006.

Dr. Dae Gyu Byun, CEO & President of Humax says, "Humax, in short, aims to become a Digital Home Multimedia Product Provider of reliable products that allow consumers to enjoy a wealth of content at home. Humax will continuously release more advanced products that will combine various set-top box functions, storage, and networking ability. Humax is confident it will stand as a competitive Global CE Brand with $1 billion in revenues worldwide by year 2006."

21/11/03

Sorry no time for a Friday update back Saturday

20/11/03

Free XTV is coming to Australia according to posts over at Austech Forum. They will use NSS 6 at 95.5E which is going to be difficult for many in eastern Australia to get due to the low look angle. Some have had to mount dishes upside down to be able to get the dish down to the right elevation. While the signal should be strong enough there WILL be problems for some due to ground noise and rain fade. Its expected they will use the standard Irdeto 2 type access card for a one off payment rather than their special "freextv" cam used in Europe.

Looks like Saturn Cable in NZ is expanding and going digital.

NZ to Score 50 against France tonight in a rugby revenge match

From my Emails & ICQ

Aus Idol Feeds reported last night by Various people

12400 V Sr 6667 Fec 3/4 "crowd"
12412 V Sr 6667 Fec 3/4 "4:2:2?"
12420 V Sr 6667 Fec 3/4 "Delayed TX
12430 V Sr 6667 Fec 3/4 "Non Delayed

From Skip

PAS8 3860H SR28000 SID12 in this mux (MAC TV) is now encrypted.

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "MAC TV" is now encrypted.

NEWS

Digital TV for Wellington, Christchurch

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2732086a13,00.html

Australian-owned carrier TelstraClear expects to launch a digital television service from the middle of next year in Wellington and Christchurch.

TelstraClear head of consumer sales Steve Jackson said digital television offered much higher picture quality, stereo sound, interactivity and more channels.

The subscription price for the digital cable TV would rise, but he said no decision had been made on how much.

TelstraClear was upgrading its cable network in Wellington and Christchurch to offer digital television. Cable television was now received through analogue transmission, he said.

The only other digital television service in New Zealand is Sky TV.

The upgrade would cost about $1.5 million, but the bigger cost would be in swapping over the set-top boxes in customers' homes. That cost would be "in the millions".

TelstraClear was still deciding what set-top box technology to go with.

It had about 25,000 television customers in Wellington and 15,000 in Christchurch, most signed up by Saturn in Wellington and TelstraSaturn in Christchurch.

Mr Jackson said TelstraClear had been accused of not investing in infrastructure but it was continually upgrading its network with new services. TelstraClear has invested $1.5 billion in telecommunications networks in New Zealand.

Thai Shin,HK AsiaSat In Frequency Agreement

From Press Release

Following is a joint press release from Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL and China's Asia Satellite Telecommunications Ltd.

HONG KONG, China/NONTHABURI, Thailand, Nov. 19, 2003--Shin Satellite Public Company Limited and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) are pleased to announce that on 15 November 2003, the administrations of China and Thailand have concluded a frequency coordination agreement between both countries. The agreement settled all concerned ITU filings of both sides at 120E and 122E for Thailand and China respectively.

The final meeting between the two administrations was held in Hong Kong between 13-15 November 2003. Mr. Rianchai Reowilaisuk, Director General of the Post and Telegraph Department of Thailand and Mr. Liu Lihua, Director General of the Radio Regulatory Department of China led the negotiating teams together with Mr. Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat and Dr. Dumrong Kasemset, CEO of Shin Satellite.

Dr. Dumrong Kasemset, CEO of Shin Satellite said, "We have to thank the governments of both China and Thailand for their continual support, leading to a reasonable and equitable resolution. We believe that with this agreement the customers using satellites located at the two slots will be protected from interference. This is also a good example of how Asian regional satellite operators can cooperate for the benefit of all."

Mr. Peter Jackson, CEO of AsiaSat said, " This agreement demonstrates that the normal ITU processes work exceptionally well in cases where potential harmful interference could occur between satellites. The agreement between AsiaSat and Shin Satellite fully protects AsiaSats clients in China and Australia from the signals at Ku band generated by iPSTAR. AsiaSat's Ku band clients will be able to use 60 cm antennas for receive only DTH type applications and 80 cm antennas for two way communications applications. Protection criteria for C band applications were also agreed and will ensure that clients of both companies do not suffer from adjacent network interference

iPSTAR Internet project gets privileges

From http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/20Nov2003_biz69.html

Dispute with AsiaSat on slots also settled

Shin Satellite Plc has received Board of Investment promotional privileges for its iPSTAR project to provide broadband Internet access service in and outside the country.

The project, involving an investment of 16.543 billion baht, would create job opportunities for 100 people when service begins in May.

The project has an earth station in Nonthaburi province and 18 gateways in 14 countries.

Shin Satellite will be exempted from corporate taxes on revenues generated from iPSTAR services provided outside the country for eight years, and from import duties on equipment used to provide the services.

In another development, Shin Satellite and China's Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) said they had settled their longstanding dispute over orbital slots after a meeting over the weekend in Hong Kong.

In a joint statement, the companies said they had concluded a frequency co-ordination agreement at 120 degrees East for Thailand and 122 degrees East for China. The decision would settle the filings both companies had made earlier to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), they said.

Shin Satellite chief executive Dr Dumrong Kasemset thanked the governments of both China and Thailand for their support, leading to a reasonable and equitable resolution.

The agreement, he said, would ensure customers using satellites located at the two slots would be protected from interference. ``This is also a good example of how Asian regional satellite operators can co-operate for the benefit of all.''

AsiaSat chief executive Peter Jackson said the agreement demonstrated that the normal ITU process worked well in cases where potential harmful interference could occur between satellites.

Shin Satellite, founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was granted a 30-year concession to provide satellite services in 1991.

The company's shares closed yesterday at 23.20 baht, up 50 baht, in trade worth 762.73 million baht.

IPSTAR DEAL: Frequency stumbling block cleared

From http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=103810&usrsess=1

After a year of negotiations, Shin Satellite Plc (ShinSat) yesterday announced that it had clinched a frequency coordination deal with rival Hong Kong-based satellite operator AsiaSat.

The deal means ShinSat’s soon-to-be launched multimedia satellite iPSTAR is clear of one major stumbling block.

The problem arose when iPSTAR was to be positioned at 120 degrees East, while AsiaSat 4 would be at 122 degrees East, prompting concern over frequency jamming.

AsiaSat 4 is currently orbiting in that position.

The two firm’s reached a long-awaited agreement last week to solve the possible signal-jam problems between their iPSTAR and AsiaSat 4 satellites.

ShinSat chief executive Dumrong Kasemset said the agreement meant customers using both satellites would be free from interference.

“It’s a good example of how Asian regional satellites can operate for the benefit of all,” he said.

The collaboration also means that the satellites will not suffer signal interference, especially in the skies of their big markets of China and Australia, said a source at the Transport Ministry.

“It’s surprising that they have been able to reach a deal after negotiations had dragged on for over a year,” he added.

ShinSat, founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s family, wants to make the Bt16.5-billion iPSTAR its flagship to tap the vast region’s Internet broadband market.

ShinSat shares closed at Bt23.20 yesterday, up Bt0.50 from the previous day.

ShinSat also had other good news yesterday when the Board of Investment granted its iPSTAR project an eight-year corporate tax break on its foreign-currency revenue.

Its Thaicom 3 satellite won similar approval from the agency yesterday.