30/11/04

Livechat tonight 9.pm NZ and 8.30pm Syd time onwards

"Preview" started on B1 12581V Sky NZ Vpid 517 Apid 655 sid 1050 NDS encrypted

Sorry about the lack of stuff on todays update Ihugs having internet probs today

Those of you who can get it keep an eye out on Measat 1 for Distribution of BBC Prime channel.

From my Emails & ICQ

From MR Humax

Jcsat 3 128E

The signal on 4055 V (Jcsat3) is abolsutely booming at present
81% SNR !!!

From ChrisGlobe

B1, 12355H
Channel swapping again on 12355H.
Now running

Central GTS, Vpid 689, Apid 690
Southern Cross 10 Port Pirie, Vpid 705, Apid 706
and various others with the same pids, SC10 Broken Hill, SC10 Port Lincoln

Whilst this may not keep running today, (or in 5 minutes time) I think it
may become permanent like Ten Tasmania was, as Central GTS and Southern
Cross 10 are switching the running of the stations from Port Pirie here in
SA, to Canberra. I can't remember whether the start date was Dec 1st
(tomorrow) or Jan 1st.

Hope it becomes permanent as whilst I can get GTS here, I can not get SC10
as it is UHF only and the signal has to come through a hill.

Chris

From George

Channel 1 Russia is on Thaicom 3
Freq - 3640 Horizontal
Symb - 28066
FEC 3/4

From User128

Pas 8
3840 28000
2.4 solid west australia 5:30 pm 29 nov 2004
tasc mux - showing right now

channel_01 - golf
channel_03 - stc -- sound track channel
channel_05 - bars
channel_07 - puppets
channel_08 - gameshow ?
channel_09 - cooking
channel_10 - interview
channel_11 - yep its still him ! ...
Mac TV - taiwan cartoon

all FTA
noticed this, morning just double checked all still there

From the Dish

Nothing in my email

NEWS

Malaysia to Buy U.S.-Made Satellite With Financing From Ex-Im Bank

From Press Release

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) approved a $138 million long-term loan guarantee to help Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a unit of MEASAT Global Berhad (BLOOM MGB MK), purchase a telecommunications and broadcasting satellite from Boeing Satellite Systems Inc. of El Segundo, California, and a number of U.S. suppliers.

The Ex-Im Bank guarantee will support a 48-transponder satellite that will be placed in orbit next year. It will also enable MEASAT to purchase launch insurance using the insurance broking services of Willis Inspace of Bethesda, Maryland. A commercial bank syndicate led by Standard Chartered Bank of New York is providing the loan.

"Technology is a driving force of the U.S. economy, and high-tech U.S. exports such as this are second to none," Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill said. "Ex-Im Bank is committed to supporting U.S. jobs through exports while helping Malaysia upgrade its telecommunications infrastructure."

MEASAT Global Bhd. is an established supplier of premium satellite communication services to Asia's leading broadcasters, telecommunications providers and "Direct to Home" (DTH) operators.

Ex-Im Bank, the official U.S. export credit agency, has approximately $1.4 billion in financial exposure in Malaysia. This year, the Bank marks its 71st year of helping finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans. In fiscal year 2003, the Bank authorized financing to support more than $14 billion of U.S. exports worldwide. For more information on Ex-Im Bank, visit http://www.exim.gov.

(Craigs comment, to go at 91.5E and Cover Australia nicely on Cband)

Grabbing a Piece of the Space Pie

From http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=106734

EVEN as Malaysia braces for its first citizen to don a spacesuit, does the country really have what it takes to develop and sustain a genuine space industry? HIMANSHU BHATT looks into the dilemmas and ideas.

MALAYSIA raised eyebrows last year with a stunning statement that it planned to send its first cosmonaut to outer space with a Russian mission.

The announcement came after the agreement with Russia for the purchase of 18 Sukhoi Su30 fighter jets worth RM3.42 billion.

The selected candidate will need to undergo rigorous training of up to 12 months. It is understood that over 8,000 Malaysians have applied.

If all goes well, we shall be watching as one of our own floats in zero gravity by 2007.

Aside from the inevitable discussions in coffeeshops and living rooms among cynics and admirers alike, there has been - far less openly but very importantly - a buzz of excitement in scientific and industrial circles, for the announcement marked the country's desire to become a serious player in the extremely lucrative space sector.

There was talk of how the landmark decision could basically open up the floodgates for many other space-related ventures.

The prospects of spin-offs from research and development are enormous.

Unknown to many, Malaysia's foray into space began in the 60s, albeit in much less sensational context, when our first satellite receiving station was built by the Information Department.

In 1996, the Measat 1 and Measat 2 satellites were launched, followed by TiungSat 1 in 2000. The country now aims to launch Measat 3 and RazakSat next year.

But with three satellites already in outer space and more to come, we still have no national legal space regime and have not even ratified any of the UN space law treaties.

These concerns only pale in comparison to the other pressing questions that have got the authorities mulling to sort out - and quickly.

The issues are so brazen and critical that they are readily admitted to and discussed by the chief director of the National Space Agency.

"We need to develop our national space policy and laws, our legal and institutional infrastructure, towards ratification of international space treaties," said Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman recently.

"But there is also a need to enhance manpower and human resources.

Mazlan's frank views at a National Aerospace Conference in Universiti Sains Malaysia recently were met with equally candid assessments by industrialists and academics who had gathered there.

How does an infantile, embryonic industry on the ambitious throes of literally catapulting itself above the horizon ensure it sustains and grows with limited expertise and intellectual resources?

There was, among other things, talk of the "triple helix formula" - a concerted policy framework that brings together the government, industry and university.

"Genuine partnerships are very important," said Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) general manager Norhizam Hamzah.

"The best way in which a budding industry like ours can blossom is by sharing and pitching in."

ATSB is the Malaysian company that prepared TiungSat 1 in collaboration with UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

And he is well aware of the enormous downstream activities that can be churned out from a space project.

The main source for research is the university. And it is crucial that this entity is not left out in the development of the industry.

"The universities are unique because their very role affords `luxury of failure'," Norhizam said. "They learn through encouraged failure - which industries simply cannot be afford to do."

And while industries can benefit from the experience of academics, the universities need to adopt a stronger business culture so that they deal with real-world problems instead of getting caught up in intellectual clouds.

Perhaps the best model for Malaysia to look to is the European Space Agency (ESA), founded in 1975.

Today, the agency employs about 35,000 people with an estimated 400,000 more involved in the supply chain, contributing to an annual turnover of E5.5 billion (RM22 billion).

Dr Chris Welch, lecturer in astronautics at Kingston University in the UK, speaks strongly of the strategies the ESA has cleverly used to pool resources from far-flung, disparate corners.

In 1989, Welch was one of the final 20 candidates for a flight to the Mir space station on the UK-USSR Juno/Soyuz TM 12 mission.

He has since been involved in space education and outreach activities, and now comments for the media on space issues.

The ESA, he explains, has come up with an ingenious seed money scheme for academics. It also gives technical guidance to help researchers verify if a study is applicable or relevant to space.

"Most importantly, the ESA has facilitated networking," he said.

And one programme to work wonders for the progress of European space industry is the ESA's Innovation Triangle Initiative (ITI), introduced in April.

"It finds potential partners by bringing together the inventor, the source of an innovation - probably a university not necessarily involved in space activities before - and the developer, a party with know-how to market the innovation while ensuring customer requirements are met."

The third factor brought in is the customer, the space sector company interested in using the new idea to improve an existing space product or create a new one.

The ESA is also known for its Ariadna project, a contract- awarding scheme for research. Ariadna has proposals for topics already defined by the ESA as well as generic areas where the academic community can propose study.

Currently, Ariadna research areas include theoretical physics, power systems, propulsion, trajectory design and space systems engineering.

University researchers in Malaysia would surely salivate to see such strategies run effectively here.

"Universities have many ideas, but most get stillborn," said System Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd executive chairman Khalilur Rahman Ebrahim.

"I have done a lot of backyard research that never went beyond than the lab.

"Any idea must be further developed into a prototype with the ultimate aim to commercialise it in the market. If we don't understand this, we fail."

A venture between SCS itself and USM for developing an unmanned aerial vehicle has been hailed as an example of such university- industry partnership coming to fruition.

In a recent MOU, the two sides agreed to collaborate on making a drone with a three-metre wingspan that can travel along a pre- programmed 200km path for some eight hours.

USM, through its School of Aerospace Engineering, would provide expertise in design while SCS undertakes the manufacturing and marketing.

The vehicle, able to carry cameras, transponders and communications devices, would help in efforts such as search and rescue, traffic surveillance and border control.

It is expected to be ready late next year. Malaysia has yet to build its own drone.

But developing local space commodities unavoidably means being compelled to rely on resources of other countries. And why not?

"We have to be frank. We are dependent on foreign expertise, especially at the beginning." Khalilur said. "It simply should not be a problem to depend on foreign technology."

"But now we do see our local capability expanding. It has been gradual, but maybe in the next five to 10 years, there will be more local content in technical and manufacturing capability.

"We must start at some point. We must have the confidence that we can do it and just plod along."

BBC Worldwide, MEASAT sign agreement for BBC Prime in Asia

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/oct/oct295.htm

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide and a unit of MEASAT Global Berhad, owner and operator of the MEASAT satellite network, announced an agreement for using MEASAT to broadcast BBC Worldwide's international entertainment channel BBC Prime into Asia.

The channel is a specially developed version of BBC Worldwide's international entertainment channel of the same name currently available in Europe, Middle East and Africa and will start broadcasting on 1 December, 2004. The announcement was made at the CASBAA convention in Hong Kong.

BBC Prime will bring the best of BBC entertainment to viewers in Asia, with a varied mix of comedy, drama, life style, talk shows, game shows, music and documentaries. Through the MEASAT-1 satellite, BBC Prime will be offered to TV platforms across the South East and East Asian regions. The channel will be transferred to the MEASAT-3 satellite after launch in mid-2005. The bandwidth has sufficient capacity to accommodate BBC Prime's plans to provide subtitling for major markets.

BBC Worldwide EMEIA director of channels Wayne Dunsford said, "With MEASAT, we have found a strong and reliable partner to lay the foundation for the roll-out of BBC Prime into Asia and we look forward to a long and successful cooperation."

MEASAT vice president sales and marketing Paul Brown-Kenyon said, "We are delighted to be able to support BBC Worldwide on this channel. MEASAT-1 provides an excellent distribution platform for BBC Prime across East and South East Asia. It also allows for seamless migration to MEASAT-3 in 2005, a satellite which will reach over 70 per cent of the world's population through a single beam."

Intelsat Reports Loss of Intelsat Americas7

From Press Release

Pembroke, Bermuda – 28 November 2004 – Intelsat, Ltd. today said that its Intelsat Americas-7 satellite experienced a sudden and unexpected electrical distribution anomaly that caused the permanent loss of the spacecraft on November 28, 2004 at approximately 2:30 am EST. Consistent with existing satellite anomaly contingency plans, Intelsat has made alternative capacity available to most of its IA-7 customers, many of whom have already had their services restored, reflecting Intelsat’s intention to ensure a smooth transition for its customers. Intelsat is working with Space Systems/Loral, the manufacturer of the satellite, to identify the cause of the problem. The satellite, which operated at 129° West, was launched in September 1999 and covered the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Central America, and parts of South America. The satellite was self-insured by Intelsat.

The upcoming launch of the IA-8 satellite, currently scheduled to occur on December 17, 2004, will provide 36 Ku-band, and 24 C-band, equivalent transponders to the Intelsat North American fleet and help mitigate the impact of the permanent loss of IA-7.

Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation for the sale of Intelsat, dated as of August 16, 2004, among Intelsat, Ltd., Intelsat (Bermuda), Ltd., Zeus Holdings Limited, Zeus Merger One Limited and Zeus Merger Two Limited, the total loss of the IA-7 satellite would give the purchasers the right not to consummate the acquisition of Intelsat. The purchaser, Zeus Holdings Limited, has advised Intelsat it is evaluating the impact of the IA-7 failure.

About Intelsat

Building on 40 Years of Leadership. As a global communications leader with 40 years of experience, Intelsat helps service providers, broadcasters, corporations and governments deliver information and entertainment anywhere in the world, instantly, securely and reliably. Intelsat's global reach and expanding solutions portfolio enable customers to enhance their communications networks, venture into new markets and grow their businesses with confidence. For further information, please contact us at media.relations@intelsat.com or at +1 202-944-7500.

Contact
Dianne VanBeber
dianne.vanbeber@intelsat.com
+1 202 944 7406

Internet Users Left Stranded After Intelsat Satellite Fails

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20835-2004Nov29.html

Commercial satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. lost use of one of its satellites Sunday -- a mishap that left some Internet customers stranded and could jeopardize a proposed $5 billion deal to sell the company to a group of four venture capital firms.

Dianne VanBeber, vice president of investor relations at Intelsat, said yesterday that it was not clear what had happened to the Intelsat Americas-7 satellite, but that it had suffered a "sudden and unexpected power loss" early Sunday morning.

Intelsat was able to switch many of its customers, such as the Playboy Channel and the Nebraska lottery system, to some of the other 27 satellites in its fleet within hours of the loss. But other Intelsat customers, such as StarBand Communications Inc., a satellite Internet service provider, are still experiencing outages.

VanBeber declined to estimate what the loss of the uninsured satellite would cost the company, other than to say it would not be material to the firm's financial results. However, the loss could affect plans to sell the company.

A consortium of private investment groups formed under the name Zeus Holdings Ltd. had arranged to buy Intelsat this year for $3 billion plus the assumption of nearly $2 billion in existing debt. The loss of the satellite gives Zeus Holdings the right, under the terms of the contract, to walk away from the deal, Intelsat said.

At least one of the groups in the venture said it has not made a decision about what to do.

"We're evaluating the impact of the loss," said Clare Sillars, a spokeswoman for Apax Partners Inc., one of the investment firms in the consortium.

Plans to send another satellite aloft in December should absorb some of the impact from the loss, Intelsat said. The company bought the Americas-7 satellite from Loral Space & Communications Ltd. this year as part of a $900 million deal for five satellites. The Americas-7 was launched in 1999.

A spokeswoman for Loral, Jeanette Clonan, said that the company would be working with Intelsat to figure out what went wrong with the satellite, but that it would probably be days before Intelsat and Loral engineers figure out the problem.

Intelsat is incorporated in Bermuda but most of its workforce, or about 850 employees, is based in Washington. Intelsat has not lost a satellite since 1972.

Though Intelsat was able to switch many customers to other satellites after the Americas-7 satellite lost contact Sunday morning, not every customer can easily be moved. StarBand Communications, a McLean company that provides wireless high-speed Internet access to residential customers, may be mired in troubles for weeks or months.

StarBand had about 20,000 customers who relied on the satellite for their Internet access, all of whom are now without access. Those customers, many in rural areas, will have to readjust their satellite dishes to point to another satellite -- once StarBand and Intelsat figure out which satellite to use.

"We've had better ways to start the week," said Howard Lossing, vice president of marketing at StarBand, who found out about the problem when he learned his service at home was down Sunday morning.

Joel Loucka, a StarBand customer in Beach Bluff, Tenn., has already ordered a second phone line because he needs to be online and on the phone simultaneously to run his Web-hosting company, based out of his home in the woods.

Loucka is reluctant to go to another wireless Internet company because he has already shelled out $600 for equipment to get online through StarBand (his subscription costs an additional $60 per month).

"I'm going to wait this out and see how it plays," he said, adding, "I don't think this is going to clean up any time soon."

Bin Laden Announces New Satellite TV Network

From TheDailyFarce.com - Marcelo Lewin

Osama Bin Laden released a new tape today announcing the creation of Bin Laden TV, a new Satellite television network that will be carried by all major satellite and cable TV providers worldwide.

"We have a ton of content and video tapes to show the world." Stated Ahbur Bin-Laden, senior VP of programming at Bin Laden TV, "The ratings at Al-Jazeera jump through the roof every time they play a tape released by Osama or al-Zawahiri. Therefore, we decided to get in on the TV game and earn some advertising dollars ourselves."

"He is a very smart man." Stated a media analyst with Nielsen who wished to remain anonymous, "Not only is he going to be able to get his message out, but he will also make tons of money by placing commercials in between his tapes. Smart, smart move."

There is a long list of companies waiting to advertise in the new Bin Laden TV network channel including Smith and Wesson, Kellogg Corporation, Toys R Us, U.S. Defense Department and Wal-Mart.

"We don't really agree with his messages." Stated Suzanne Uplader, VP of Marketing for Wal-Mart, "However, we do love the fact that millions of people always listen to his tapes over the Internet and on TV. That's money in our pockets. So, you bet we are going to advertise on Bin Laden TV."

Bin Laden TV will debut January 1, 2005 with four new shows; "Bad Insurgent Boys" a reality TV show, "The Fallujah", the life of a teenager from Baghdad implanted in the home of a Fallujah family, "Who wants to be beheaded?" a game show and "The Insurgent Apprentice" starting Bin Laden himself, where he gets to hire and fire an apprentice to help manage his terror organization.

29/11/04

According to rumours NZ's Sky tv will download new software in the new year so that Sky decoders can receive FTA signals on Optus B1. This should make the Sky decoders able to tune into any "Freeview" satellite style service, just like in the U.K. If Sky suddenly allows its user base of 600000 to access the "Freeview service" that then makes the TVNZ capacity very valuable. It also must be only a matter of time before Sky starts selling off their older decoders to the public.

Intelsat have lost their bird at 129W due to malfunction. All traffic has moved to 121W this will not affect us at all of course. But those dxers looking to the Western birds may like to try for 121W.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Bill Richards

Living Asia Channel , Asiasat 3

From Jason Wu

Telstar 18 138E

Yesterday 3660V disappeared, a new mux appeared on 3460V, SR30000, FEC 3/4, C-SKY-NET, 14 taiwanese channels are same as that on 3960V off Jcsat 3, maybe going to shift.

cheers,
Jason Wu

From Ahmad Mobasheri

Telstar 18

At 17.30 Saturday, 65% signal strength on 3m dish here in Auckland.
3 FTA and 13 Viaccess .

Cheers

(Craigs comment, Viaccess 2.4 encryption but a lot of talk in Asian forums of this one being available on UCAS type receivers)

From Herb Gardiner

Hi all,

Just had a call from a mate who installs Sky. He's received an e-mail
from Sky stating all new subscriptions now attract a minimum 12 month
contract, effective immediately. It has been a one-month minimum
contact upto now. Break the contact before, pay the balance of
contract.

Sounds like they are bracing themselves for TVNZ digital, on by April 2005...

Herb.

From ChrisGlobe

FINA World Cup Swimming
B1, 12522H, sr 6110

Chris

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E 3836 V "Future TV USA" is now encrypted.

PAS 8 166E 4122 V New PIDs for Iglesia ni Cristo TV and Net 25 on : 257/258 and 513/514.
PAS 8 166E 4122 V New SR for the mux on : 5555.

PAS 8 166E 12575 H "TFC Asia-Pacific (PIDs 668/69) and ABS-CBN News Channel" (PIDs 70/71) are now encrypted.

Optus B3 152E 12640 H "Moskva - Otkrytyj Mir" has started on , Fta, PIDs 520/648.

Telstar 18 138E 3460 V An I-Sky-Net mux has started on , enc., SR 30000, FEC 3/4, same TV channel line-up and PIDs as on JCSAT 3: 3960 V.

NSS 6 95E 11037 H "ETV Marathi, ETV Gujarati, ETV 2 and ETV Bihar" are now Fta.
NSS 6 95E 12729 V "Moskva - Otkrytyj Mir" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2593/2594.New PIDs for Channel 2 News: 1793/1794.

Telstar 10 76.5E 4167 H "A World Travel Awards promo" has started on , Fta, SR 2816, FEC 3/4, PIDs 43/46.(At least its not another Mike Boulas Holiday in Greece channel)

NSS 703 57E 3980 R "Kiran TV tests and a T News test card" have started on , Fta, PIDs 33/32 and 67/62. New PIDs for Udaya News: 61/60.

Intelsat Americas 7 at 129W Intelsat Americas 7 has failed, all channels have left the satellite. Moved to 121W

NEWS

Australia's Two Way TV To Raise A$40M Via IPO

From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/041128/15/3ovpv.html

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--With a prominent Australian media executive on its share register, Two Way TV Australia Pty Ltd. is heading to the market to raise A$40 million via an initial public offering.

According to a person familiar with the upcoming IPO, the interactive television software group will sell 40 million shares at A$1.00 each, resulting in a market capitalization of A$90 million.

Two Way TV is "working with the pay and free-to-air television networks in the development of digital content including games and enhanced TV", according to its website.

Following the IPO, chairman of Australian pay television group Foxtel, Sam Chisholm, will emerge with a 14% stake in Two Way TV. Managing Director Jim McKay will also retain a 14% stake, while chairman Jim McKerlie will have 6%.

The offer, which opens Monday and at this stage is expected to close on Dec. 14, is fully underwritten by EL&C Baillieu Stockbroking. Two Way TV is expected to make its debut on the Australian Stock Exchange on Dec. 23.

BSA's powers could move online

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3111002a11,00.html

The Broadcasting Standards Authority is likely to have its powers widened and a switch-over date to digital television will be set, as the government fine tunes its broadcasting review.

But the long-awaited Stocktake review will not see TVNZ get direct programme funding - as requested by TVNZ boss Ian Fraser - helping secure New Zealand on Air's future.

Broadcasting minister Steve Maharey said programme funder New Zealand On Air had passed with a "clean bill of health", despite controversy over its NZ Idol funding decision.

He indicated that proposed changes from the broadcasting review, launched last November, focused on "funding and structural arrangements" within the sector, rather than the organisations, which include New Zealand On Air, TVNZ and the BSA.

Hinting at changes to the BSA - the judicial body responsible for upholding legal standards on TV and radio - Maharey said the watchdog was working in an increasingly diverse environment.

"It largely deals with free-to-air media and people are watching this less. They watch lots of Sky TV and the internet, so there's been discussion about how they might broaden their role."

He would not detail the proposals before cabinet.

However, insiders said it was likely the BSA would monitor New Zealand media streams broadcast solely online. At least one Kiwi-run radio station already broadcasts only on the internet and other media, including TV, could follow.

He also hinted at possible changes to TVNZ, but said there was no "big revolution" planned.

Despite widespread criticism that TVNZ's charter, with its public service mandate, is "an impossible task", Maharey said he was happy with how the charter was operating.

Intelsat satelitte loss threatens $3.1 bln sale

From http://www.reuters.com/advisorToolkit/newsArticle.jhtml?type=fundsNews&storyID=6937199

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A planned $3.1 billion takeover of satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. appeared in jeopardy on Sunday after the company said an electrical problem had ruined one of its satellites.

Bermuda-based Intelsat said private equity group Zeus Holdings Ltd. had the right not to close its takeover if the satellite was lost.

Zeus, an investment vehicle formed by private equity firms Apax Partners, Permira, Apollo Management and Madison Dearborn Partners, was evaluating the impact of the satellite's failure, Intelsat said.

It said an "electrical distribution anomaly" hit its Americas-7 satellite early on Sunday morning and it was working with manufacturer Space Systems/Loral (LRLSQ.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) to determine the cause of the problem.

The satellite, launched in September 1999, covered the United States, Canada, Central America and parts of South America. Intelsat said it had insured the equipment. It was one of the company's 28 satellites, according to its Web site.

The satellite operator, which was set up at the time of the Cold War as a multi-governmental organization, now acts mainly as a long-distance carrier for telecom companies and runs a private line between the White House and the Kremlin.

DD's DTH targets 1 mn subscribers by end-2005

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/nov/nov250.htm

NEW DELHI: A delay in the formal launch --- or dedication to the nation, as Prasar Bharati would like to put it --- of pubcaster Doodrashan's DTH service notwithstanding, it is going ahead with great gusto and marketing the service to subscribers.

"Some 200,000 (set-top) boxes have already been sold and we are targeting a million subscribers by the end of 2005," Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma told indiantelevision.com today.

DD Direct Plus, as the KU-band service is known as, is, probably, a unique experiment undertaken by a media company. For the first two years or so, beyond a one-time investment of approximately Rs 2,500, a subscriber would have to pay nothing.

According to Sarma, the feedback from dealers of set-top boxes in recent times has been encouraging. Demand for the boxes for this free DTH service has increased with the addition of some private satellite channels.

Private sector TV channels that are being carried by DD Direct Plus include Zee Music, Smile TV and ETC Punjabi (from the Zee stable), Sun TV, Kairali TV, CNN, BBC, Star Utsav, Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, amongst the 30-odd channels being part of the service at the moment, according to Sarma.

"We are optimistic that we would be able to meet our target of one million subscribers by end 2005," Sarma said, adding that the demand is building up because it's a free service, unlike an existing service, Dish TV, which is 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms.

For example, in South India, the price of boxes were jacked up by dealers to about Rs. 3,500 as demand upped with the surfacing of South Indian language channels like Sun TV.

If Prasar Bharati's assertions are to be taken on its face value, then DD Direct Plus has notched up more subscribers in about 75 days than what Dish TV has managed to do since its launch in October 2003. Dish TV's claimed present subscriber base is approximately 160,000.

Though DD's DTH service is primarily aimed at those places where cable or terrestrial TV's penetration is low, it is banking heavily on the inclusion of private sector channels, especially the popular entertainment ones (like Star Plus, Sony, Sahara One and Zee TV) on the platform, which has not happened as of yet.

But DD is optimistic that a proposed initiative of the sector regulator would help it net most private sector channels on its DTH platform. At the moment, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is in the process of fine-tuning the interconnect regulations, which envisage a controversial clause on making available all TV channels to all types of platforms on a non-discriminatory basis.

Industry sources point out that this particular clause is designed to help DD more than anybody else as it would necessarily mean all pay channels also being made available to a free non-encrypted DTH service --- a scenario that hasn't gone down too well with pay broadcasters who have been lobbying hard against the clause likely to be finalized before the commencement of next session of Parliament that begins from first week of December.

However, industry sources also point out, DD has become the first defaulter of the must-provide clause being debated as part of the interconnect regulations by Trai. The moment DD bagged the telecast rights of some of the cricket matches played in India last month, it sent a missive to Dish TV asking it to discontinue showing DD channels telecasting cricket. Dish TV complied with DD's request, but not before expressing to Trai its concern over this development.

There are over 900 dealers in 212 cities and towns attempting to push STBs for DD Direct Plus. A basic box for the costs approximately Rs 2,500 (slightly over $ 54) and can access all free to air channels without the help of any smart card.

28/11/04

No update Sundays

27/11/04

No update Saturdays

26/11/04

"Hope Channel " on B3 Globecast, This service is currently a test. Please register support at info@globecast.com.au or write to HOPE Channel, PO Box 1115, Wahroonga, NSW 2076 or PO Box 76281, Manukau City, New Zealand

Living Asia on Asiasat 3 nows has pics.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Ranime

B1 Feed 12371 H 6670 3/4
"Ch V " schoolies from Brissie beach.....

From the Dish

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3760 H "Living Asia Channel" has started on , Fta, PIDs 1090/1091.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3780 V "Star Chinese Channel has replaced Star Movies Middle East" on ,PIDs 517/660.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3860 V "Star Sports Pakistan" has left .
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 4140 V "Zee Biz" has started on , Mediaguard, PIDs 5702/5701.

NSS 6 95E 12534 H "CNN International Asia" has started on , Fta, PIDs 539/639.

Yamal 201 90E 4037 R New PIDs for Music Box Russia on : 903/902. A test card has started on PIDs 101/102, Fta.

NEWS

TV hopefuls under scrutiny

From http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2004/11/26/26flive25.html

Four companies who applied for television licences in Fiji have been subjected to an independent assessment by the Ministry of Information to verify the authenticity of their proposals.

The review came as a result of a Cabinet sub-committee on media meeting last week

"We decided on revaluation of the four companies who have shown interest in obtaining TV licences in Fiji," says Information Minister Simione Kaitani.

"So far we are only relying on their proposals. Without independent assessment we don't know if they really exist."

Two of the companies, Fushen TV (with links to China) and a partnership involving the resource rich Ba Province, are understood to have satisfied the initial requirements for the licences.

Fushen TV plans to begin operations in Labasa, on Fiji's second largest island - Vanua Levu.

The Ba Provincial business enterprise has proposed television transmission via satellite to be provided by its Australian partner.

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, which runs the oldest radio stations in the country, is also one of the applicants for a TV licence.

The Cabinet has agreed that any television operator in Fiji should provide 100 percent coverage to its 300 islands.

WorldAudio to begin Satellite Digital Radio trial in Darwin

From http://www.radioinfo.com.au/newsitem.php?id=3186

WorldAudio has announced it will begin a consumer trial of Satellite Digital Radio broadcasting in Darwin, which may have long term implications for Australia’s radio industry.

Satellite digital radio companies Sirius and XM have rocked the radio industry's boat in America, becoming increasingly popular and creating a new subscription business model in the process.

Sirius recently signed Howard Stern in an attempt to further increase take up of its audio services (see earlier radioinfo story) and has begun to worry the free to air radio broadcasters in that country by providing an alternative radio industry business model.

In this Australian venture, WorldAudio has signed a memorandum of understanding with AsiaSpace Limited (WorldSpace-Asia) to begin the trial, which is the first in Australia to use a satellite based distribution platform for commercial free-to-air digital radio broadcasting. It will commence in January 2005.

WorldAudio’s Radio 2 format will transmit from the southern beam of the AsiaStar satellite, which provides World Space’s radio and multimedia broadcasting services to South East Asia, and includes coverage of Northern Australia in its footprint.

The company will recruit consumers for specially selected focus groups and each will be given a satellite digital radio receiver, and will be asked to listen in at specific times to specific programs broadcast by WorldAudio – Radio 2.

The focus group research, which will take place over the next six months, will provide an understanding of consumer habits including their behavioral and emotional relationship with the satellite based digital radio medium. The research will also explore consumers’ level of understanding and interest in this type of digital radio platform.

WorldAudio Chief Executive Andrew Peter Thompson has told radioinfo: “It is important to gain an insight into a consumer perspective in relation to the introduction of Digital radio. It is my hope that the research will provide useful information to Government and its agencies to help form part of the process of the introduction of digital radio broadcasting in Australia”

Thompson, who is once again challenging the status quo with this new venture, will undoubtedly meet with some resistance from other radio industry sectors, who are already conducting their own terrestrial digital radio trials. World Audio is also involved with the Melbourne terrestrial radio trial.

WorldAudio’s partner in the venture, WorldSpace, is headquartered in Washington, DC, and runs AsiaStar from its Melbourne Operations Centre, which was set up in July 2000. The company is a global provider of satellite radio and multimedia broadcasting services, particularly targeted to third world countries.

WorldSpace established the world’s first satellite radio network, with two active satellites – AsiaStar and AfriStar, serving Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It transmits educational multi-media training packages, as well as retransmitting radio services from many countries including Virgin Radio, BBC World Service and National Public Radio.

(Craigs comment, You can already receive the signals in most parts of Australia using a dish antenna and patch antenna. Satfacts and Silicon Chip magazine had an article about this a few months ago)

Primus Telecom and FOXTEL form sale alliance

From http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=4617

Melbourne based fixed-line telecommunications carrier, Primus Telecom and subscription television provider, FOXTEL have reached an agreement for Primus to sell the new FOXTEL Digital service, enabling Primus to offer subscription television services as part of a suite of bundled communications offerings to customers.

Primus Telecom will become a FOXTEL Digital sales agent to residential customers who can acquire telephony, broadband and FOXTEL subscription television services from Primus Telecom as a single package.

FOXTEL is owned by Telstra Corporation Ltd (50%), the News Corporation Ltd (25%), and Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (25%). FOXTEL launched its new digital cable and satellite service in March 2004.

Primus Telecom has informed that the alliance will allow it to provide bundled telephone, internet and subscription television packages at competitive prices.

Customers who choose to receive their FOXTEL Digital subscription television services as part of a suite of Primus Telecom bundled services can select from the same full range of FOXTEL services as other FOXTEL customers. FOXTEL will connect, maintain, and bill the customer for the FOXTEL service, after Primus Telecom has made the initial sales transaction.

Are S'poreans ready for satellite dishes?

From http://www.todayonline.com/articles/30092.asp

If deemed mature, then surely they should be trusted with their own TV remote controls

HAVE you ever felt sometimes there was little to do in Singapore and few programmes of interest to watch on TV?

Sure, Singapore's sole cable TV provider StarHub currently offers its subscribers a choice of 29 international channels and this list will no doubt grow.

But by comparison, Astro, Malaysia's satellite TV operator, is slated to offer its viewers more than 100 new channels next year — despite there already being six free-to-air TV channels.

Singapore currently has nine free-to-air channels, though this might change depending on how the media reconfiguration pans out by the end of this year.

With Government overtures signalling that Singapore society is "matured enough to make choices of their own, take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences" with disposable incomes, then why not with our "disposable" free time?

Even people in Afghanistan are now free to use satellite dishes. So, is Singapore the only developed country in the Asia Pacific with a ban on privately-owned satellite television?

Just when will Singaporeans enjoy this choice?

Satellite dishes beaming programmes directly from space to homes would mean lower prices and greater choices for Singaporeans.

The Government's long-standing abhorrence of privately-owned satellite dishes has been the concern over access to unsavoury entertainment and information that are "at odds with Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society".

But where there's a will there's an Internet highway — so surely, this can no longer be a cogent or compelling argument.

Besides, satellite dishes — like underground cable networks — are just a delivery platform for content. Lifting the ban on satellite dishes will not in itself result in free-wheeling, no-holds-barred channel surfing.

Consumers will still need to subscribe to a pay TV operator to unscramble the content — which is what Singapore's promised second pay TV licensee could tune into.

Moreover, in November 2002, a panel under the Economic Review Committee expressed favour for satellite dishes in homes, stating economic benefits of doubling the jobs available in the infocommunications industry and upping the revenue generated towards the gross national product.

At a recent doorstop interview over the casino debate, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, as the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, commented on the media scene: "Singaporeans are not starved of media, not starved of information, not starved of entertainment and information, through all the media channels available."

But there will always be Singaporeans who will want more access to information and entertainment.

Dr Balakrishnan added: "People will exercise their choices and what we need to do is to remind everyone that you have to live with the consequences of your choices. We can't have a situation where we protect you, even from yourselves ... "

So, the Government is no doubt aware, but awareness without action can lead to a mismanagement of expectations.

Certainly, Singaporeans can now stand up and identify themselves as people who choose to chew on sugar-free gum for health reasons.

And if Singaporeans are deemed mature enough to play their cards well, why should they not be trusted with their TV remote controls?

Perhaps, the issue here is really one of money versus maturity.

Singapore is already a well-penetrated market, with more than one-third of all homes already enjoying pay TV content, and an estimated pay TV market of just $200 million — giving little impetus for pay TV operators to enter the market, evident in the failed bid for a second pay TV licence last September.

But until the ban on privately-owned satellite dishes is lifted, we'll never really know which is the operative factor.

If you have a view on this, email us at news@newstoday.com.sg If deemed mature, then surely they should be trusted with their own TV remote controls

Disney, Star ink deal; to launch two channels in India 17 December

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/nov/nov227.htm

MUMBAI: The Little Big Mouse is finally ready to make its entry into Indian television space. And expectedly, it is on the biggest network platform that Disney will be launching two of its channels.

Walt Disney Television International Asia Pacific (WDTVI-AP) announced today that it has signed a multi-year deal with the Star Group to distribute The Disney Channel and Toon Disney Channel in India. The announcement was made jointly by Doug Miller, executive vice president WDTVI-AP and Walt Disney International and Star group CEO Michelle Guthrie. Both channels will be launched on Friday, 17 December 2004.

"The Disney brand is incredibly strong in India and has a natural resonance with Indian kids and families. This strong brand affinity makes India a natural market for us to launch a Disney Channel and also introduce the region's first ever Toon Disney Channel," said Miller. "We believe that Star India, with their unrivalled experience and successful track record in delivering compelling content make them the ideal partner to realize this potential."

Michelle Guthrie commented, "Disney is the undoubted leader in providing unique entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together and we believe that adding Disney Channel and Toon Disney to the Star bouquet of channels will make us the natural home for kids and family viewing in India. The strength of the Disney brand will also give us incredible strength in marketing the channels and attracting more viewers to our services."

"With a 30 million cable & satellite TV audience under the age of 14 in urban India alone, India is one of the world's largest kids audiences and the launch of Disney Channel and Toon Disney will not only have a major impact on the way the Disney brand is enjoyed in India but also in the development of the Indian pay television business," said Rajat Jain, managing director, Walt Disney Television International (India) and The Walt Disney Company (India) Pvt Ltd.

Pogo goes pay from 1 November

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/nov/nov225.htm

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Pogo, the Cartoon Network's sibling kids' channel from the Turner stable, has gone pay from 1 November. The monthly maximum retail price is fixed at Rs 10 per month.

Pogo, which as per company estimates is beaming across 17 millions homes, was a digitally encrypted channel but was available free till now.

Confirming this move, Siddharth Jain, new CEO of Zee-Turner Ltd, which distributes Pogo in India, said, "We are very clear that we want to keep the price at a realistic level, while continuing to provide quality content to the viewers."

According to him, "The introduction of Rs 10 will include a distribution margin for the cable operators.”

Pogo is distributed by Zee-Turner, a Time Warner and Zee Telefilms Ltd joint venture as a stand-alone channel and will not be packaged along with other bouquet channels. Zee-Turner's comprehensive bouquet comprises 25 channels.

Keeping in mind the distribution cost involved at every level, an attempt has been made to safeguard the business interest of the cable affiliates, Jain said, claiming that , probably, this is the first time that a broadcaster is sharing distribution margins with the cable operators.

“We hope, this price arrangement would ensure that the broadcaster gets a fair share of the consumer spend," Jain said, hinting that such a move should arrest the trend of rampant under-declaration in the broadcast and cable industry.

Though Jain was not forthcoming on the dealer margin, a company source said that the maximum retail price of Pogo has been pegged at Rs 10, but “an effective rate of Rs 6 will be charged from subscribers.”

This would also mean that Zee Turner would have to spin out a different distribution strategy for Pogo as it will be distributed and marketed amongst cable ops as a standalone channel owing to a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recommendation that new pay channels couldn't form part of existing distribution bouquets after a price freeze was put in place from 26 December, 2003.

Pogo joins Hungama TV in an environment which is increasingly going to be tough for pay television. Hungama TV, distributed by Star India and priced at Rs 6 a month per subscriber, is according to industry reports already seeing a slip in carriage after the launch of Star One.

Pogo is distributed by Zee-Turner, a Time Warner and Zee Telefilms Ltd joint venture. Launched on 1 January 2004, the channel has content specially designed for Indian audiences like Tiny TV, Prime Pogo and Family Movie Zone. Pogo will double its Hindi language content to 80 per cent by the end of the year.

25/11/04

All quiet again! not much for today

The TAS muxes on PAS8 Cband is FTA again

From my Email & ICQ

Nothing to report

From the Dish

Intelsat 701 180E 12648 H "VH1 Asia" has started on , MDS, PIDs 519/647.

PAS 8 166E All channels in the TAS muxes on 3860 H and 4080 V are now in clear.

Optus B3 152E 12640 H "NTD TV" has left again, replaced by a test card.

NSS 6 95E 12729 V "Israel Plus" has left .

Yamal 201 90E 4037 R The test card has left .
Yamal 201 90E 4037 R "Music Box Russia" has started on , Fta, PIDs 101/102.

ST 1 88E 3582 H New PIDs for all channels in the TBL TV mux on : 513/514-609/610.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3734 H "The Myawady TV" tests have left .

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3545 V "Care TV" is still on , Fta, PIDs 305/306.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3640 H An RR Sat mux has started on , Fta, SR 28066, FEC 3/4, global beam, same channel line-up and PIDs as on 3671 H.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12278 V "Home TV has replaced TVBS Newsnet" on , PIDs 368/369.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12308 V "Open Satellite TV has replaced TVBS Golden" on , PIDs 880/881.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12650 V "TVBS Newsnet and TVBS Golden have replaced Home TV and Open Satellite TV" on, Viaccess, PIDs 1856/1857 and 1888/1889.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12734 V "TVBS and TVBS Golden" have left , replaced by test cards.

PAS 10 68.5E 3864 H "HBO Pakistan" has started on , Irdeto, PIDs 519/720.

NEWS

New Skies Adds Flexibility For Mobile Comms Throughout Pacific, Atlantic

From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-04zzzzzzzzs.html

New Skies Satellites Tuesday announced a new service for Broadband Maritime, a telecommunications service provider offering broadband communications services for ships at sea, which allows their customer vessels to transition autonomously between the NSS-5 Pacific Ocean region and NSS-7 Atlantic Ocean region satellites.

It is typically the case in the commercial satellite communications industry that a customer is required to notify an operator's network operation center prior to a user transitioning from one satellite to another, or vice versa.

New Skies now will allow Broadband Maritime and other maritime customers as well as oil and gas and government users to monitor and regulate such transitions themselves, delivering enhanced flexibility, greater ease of operation and increased privacy for secure communications.

Zevi Kramer, chief information officer for Broadband Maritime, said: "We have vessels moving between the NSS-5 and NSS-7 footprints daily. Foregoing the need to contact New Skies each time one of these vessels moves from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or vice versa, makes our operations more efficient and less complex."

"Moreover, we have been impressed by New Skies' dedication and flexibility, accommodating our requirements by tailoring their offerings to create a custom-fit service - this enables us to offer our customers the best solutions possible."

Steve Wilson, New Skies' vice president of sales for North America, said: "As a smaller global operator, we're better positioned to adapt to our customers' requirements and deliver the service they need. This particular service reflects our desire to give valued customers such as Broadband Maritime greater control over their capacity."

"In addition, we believe this added flexibility and control will be especially attractive for our government users, who may often prefer not to divulge the location of a particular satellite uplink in cases of a special operations missions."

"By bypassing our POC and monitoring the signal transmission themselves, government users not only gain more control over their service, but also highly valued privacy and even greater security."

Broadband Maritime signed with New Skies in June 2004 and recently completed the testing phase of the new service. Going forward, New Skies only requires Broadband Maritime to register each vessel with the POC and to keep a log of the transitions each month.

CodecSys(TM) Honored as Top-20 Technology by Japan's Nikkei Electronics Magazine

From Press release (Edited)

Award Winning Multi-Codec Technology One of Top-20 Worldwide Technologies of 2004

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Broadcast International
(OTC Bulletin Board: BCST) today announced Japan's Nikkei Electronics magazine
has honored its CodecSys technology by including it in its annual special
edition of the top-20 technologies around the world.

This recognition is just the latest in a growing number of awards CodecSys
has received including Popular Mechanic's Best of What's New Award, TV
Technology's 2004 STAR Award for Superior Technology, and the Stoel Rives 2004
Utah Innovation Award.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition on an international
level," said Rod Tiede, CEO of Broadcast International. "This reinforces our
efforts and the acceptance of CodecSys in Japan and among the Pacific-Rim
countries."

CodecSys is a patented multi-codec technology employing real-time
artificial intelligence systems to manage libraries of standard and
specialized codecs to efficiently process a particular scene, or even frame,
of video and then switches on the fly to another codec that is better suited
to the next scene or frame. Exploiting the best attributes of multiple codecs
enables 50 to 75 percent reductions in bandwidth compared to single codec
solutions.

CodecSys cuts bandwidth significantly with full-screen, full-motion video
including HD quality under 3 MB, DVD quality at 512 K, and VHS quality at
256 K.

Professionals working with video today want high-quality video in
full-screen, full-motion broadcast video without increasing network bandwidth,
IT infrastructure and cost. Delivery platforms that benefit from CodecSys
include: satellite, cable, Internet, local-area-networks, and wireless
networks. CodecSys will provide multi-codec compression for a variety of
different applications including: newsgathering, cable set-top boxes, home
networking, video-on-demand, direct-to-home satellite receivers,
IP videoconferencing, telemedicine, film and broadcast production.

CodecSys also enhances other bandwidth hungry applications including:
streaming video and web casts, network TV programming, digital cinema,
distance learning, security monitoring, online advertising, and digital
signage.

CodecSys Technology is available immediately by contacting Broadcast
International.

About Broadcast International

Broadcast International is a leading provider of video-powered business
solutions, including IP and digital satellite, Internet streaming, and other
types of wired/wireless network distribution. CodecSys is a patented
technology that enables BI clients to enhance video quality at current
bandwidths or reduce the cost of bandwidth while maintaining quality. In
addition, BI assists clients with video production, rich media development and
a full range of network support services.

Broadcast International was founded in 1984 and is a public company
(OTC Bulletin Board: BCST) headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. For more
information, visit http://www.brin.com or call +1-801-562-2252.

About Nikkei Electronics

Nikkei Electronics, the leading Japanese electronics publication, covers
electronics, information, and communications technologies of the digital era
for engineers and managers engaged in research, development, planning, design,
and technical support. It provides prompt reports, to-the-point commentaries
and in-depth analysis on advanced technologies, products, production materials
and supporting tools, while introducing related policies, laws, standards,
markets, companies, and people.

24/11/04

Things are very quiet

Zee Biz has started on Asiasat 3 4140V sr 27450

NASA TV I701 power is way down again

Celeb feed continues, b3 12552V

Rumours
New boxes from Asia already doing UBI on B3!

From my Emails & ICQ

From "Cougar"

3.8 mtr paraclipse antenna for sale Adelaide only

I have a 3.8 mtr paraclipse antenna and positioner for sale must be Adelaide pickup.

Will trade for smaller C-band dish

Email tas@adam.com.au for info

(Craigs comment, be in quick!)

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3836 V "Azio TV" is now encrypted.

NSS 6 95E 11037 H "B4U Music" is now encrypted.

NSS 6 95E 12535 V "Jagran" has left .

Yamal 201 90E 4037 R "Music Box Russia" has left again, replaced by a test card.

NEWS

China creates multi-satellite control system

From http://english.people.com.cn/200411/24/eng20041124_165013.html

China has created its own multi-satellite automatic control system, marking the transformation of its satellite supervision management, China Radio International reported Wednesday.

According to national space development plan the number of China's satellites in orbit will be increase every year.

The traditional manual supervision mode on the ground will no longer effectively handle the multi-satellite management.

The new system is expected to improve the management efficiency and identify and fix common technical defects while the satellite is orbiting.

China has launched 45 satellites by early November.

France Allows Hezbollah TV Broadcasts

From http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200411%5CCUL20041123a.html

(CNSNews.com) - A French government decision to let a Lebanese-based satellite television station continue broadcasting in France is not going over well with American Jewish groups.

The station, al-Manar, is linked to the terrorist group Hezbollah, the American Jewish Committee said.

"It is incomprehensible why the French government, which earlier insisted on banning Al-Manar as part of its strategy to confront radicalism, now is allowing the Hezbollah message of hate to reach into every home in Europe," said Jason Isaacson, director of AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs.

Isaacson said he conveyed the American Jewish Committee's outrage in a private meeting in Paris with Jean-Frangois Cope, the spokesman for the French government.

"Al-Manar is a fountain of hatred against Jews, Israel, America and other Western societies spilling over the airwaves, and it should not be allowed to use France as a vehicle for spreading its message of hate across Europe," Isaacson said in a press release.

Al Manar apparently signed a code of conduct in order to get the French license, which was granted last week.

However, AJC said, "it is inconceivable that Al Manar will be able to fulfill the terms of that code, to desist from spewing vitriolic hatred, given that Hezbollah's primary goals are the destruction of Israel and murder of Jews."

The American Jewish Council is urging the French government to revoke al-Manar's license.

The AJC says it is dedicated to promoting "pluralistic and democratic societies where all minorities are protected." It fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry.

NDTV targets 2005 launch, TV18 plumps for December

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/nov/nov204.htm

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The fight for the business news channel has begun, it seems.

The Raghav Bahl-promoted Television Eighteen Ltd (TV-18) is pressing ahead to meet its deadline for launching a Hindi business news channel in the first half of December, while a similar fare from the NDTV stable is likely to be launched sometime in the first quarter of 2005.

A senior executive of NDTV Ltd. confirmed to indiantelevision.com that the business news channel “has been delayed till Q1 2005,” while a TV-18 executive indicated that the present effort would be to put the Hindi channel on air “anytime between 1-10 December.”

As things stand today, Zee Business (managed by a newly floated Zee News LTD) is likely to be the first to get off the block on 30 November amongst a slew of new business channels in the pipeline. Zee group news director Laxmi N. Goel had confirmed this launch to indiantelevision.com earlier this month.

The reason for NDTV further delaying its business news channel is because Dr. Prannoy Roy, whose family promotes the channel’s parent company, doesn’t want to put on air any half-baked stuff. “Dr. Roy wants to make absolutely sure that the details are fine-tuned to the last nut and bolt,” a company executive said.

He added that such precautions are being taken as the ratings for the business programming in the day part on NDTV 24x7 have been good vis-à-vis competition and everybody wants to “live up to the public expectation.”

“If some others in the company had their way, the business channel, yet to be named, would have got launched in 2004 only. But Dr. Roy is insistent that before the channel is put on air for public consumption, all aspects are finalised, including a phased media blitz and sale of ad inventory,” the NDTV executive said.

The New Delhi Television LTD (NDTV) board had approved launch of a separate business news channel in May. The company had made an application to the information and broadcasting ministry for uplinking permission for the same in September and, as per an earlier launch schedule, the new fare was expected to start beaming in 2004.

Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that the NDTV business channel's differentiating pitch will be that it covers a far wider canvas than the focus on stock markets that CNBC-TV18 is still perceived as having.

Meanwhile, though a final name for TV-18’s Hindi news channel, which would carry pre-dominantly business news, has not been finalised, one of the options being bandied around in the company is 'Awaaz', Mumbai-based broadcast industry sources said.

Interestingly, TV-18’s Hindi channel, to be beamed via an Insat satellite, is also likely to carry non-business news to broadbase its viewership. According to industry sources, the company has hired even few reporters to be on the crime beat.

Star to launch 24-hour Bengali news channel

From http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/24/stories/2004112405391000.htm

KOLKATA, NOV. 23. The Star group today announced its plans to launch a 24-Bengali news channel, through a tie-up with the Ananda Bazar Group of Publications (ABP) based in the city.

Aniruddha Lahiri, Managing Director of ABP Pvt. Ltd. told a press conference here that the channel would be launched shortly, through Media Content & Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd., (MCCS), a joint venture between ABP TV Pvt. Ltd. and Star group.

ABP Pvt. Ltd. is the majority partner in this joint venture that was incorporated in September 2003 for broadcasting Star News — the 24-hour news channel. Star has a 26 per cent stake in the joint venture.

Peter Mukherjea, CEO, Star India, said Star's launch of the Hindi channel showed that the growth of regional language TV would propel viewership in India where 45 million households were connected to cable and satellite television, with a viewership of about 200 million people.

23/11/04

Live chat tonight 9p.m NZ and 8.30p.m Syd time onwards. Might be quiet as some can not access the site due to routeing issues. I myself can't get to it, but using Googles page cache the chatroom is always reachable.

The Living Asia Channel is testing on Asiasat 3, they were supposed to be up in October. Not sure yet if it will be FTA as it is via Agila2.

Website for them http://www.livingasiachannel.net/

NZ Satellite Opportunites summary of submissions file, worth a read!

http://www.med.govt.nz/rsm/spp/satellite/submissions/submissions.pdf

From my Emails & ICQ

From Simmo

Asiasat 3

Living Asia 3760 H Sr 26000 Says Free, but no pix.
pids are 1090/1091/1090

From Ranime

B1 Feed 12367 6111 3/4
TCN 9 Kerryanee Kenel..eeeee.

From the Dish

Optus B3 152E 12640 H "NTD TV has replaced Israel Plus" on , Fta, PIDs 520/648.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12640 V "Beijing TV 1 and Beijing People's Radio" have left .
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12650 V "Shanxi TV and Shanxi People's Radio" have left .
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12660 V "Hebei TV 1 and Hebei Traffic and Music Radio 1-3" have left .
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12671 V "Tianjin TV and Radio Tianjin Binhai Station" have left .
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12660 V "Beijing TV 1, Shanxi TV, Tianjin TV and Hebei TV 1" have started on , Fta, SR 40000, FEC 1/2, PIDs 305/256-338/286.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 12671 V The CNR mux has moved, to 12664 H, Fta, SR 5990, FEC 1/2.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12278 V "TVBS Newsnet" is now encrypted.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12308 V "TVBS Golden" is now encrypted.

NEWS

BSA signs services agreement with AUSTAR

From http://www.austarunited.com.au/press.asp?action=show&record=1

Broadcast Services Australia (ASX:BSA) has today signed an agreement with AUSTAR Entertainment Pty Limited (AUSTAR) (ASX: AUN) to install satellite receiving equipment in subscribers homes in North Queensland.

The agreement includes performance of installation services to regional AUSTAR customers over athree year period. Mark Foley, Joint Managing Director BSA said “it is great to be working for AUSTAR again We had always regarded the team at AUSTAR as easy to work with and thoroughly professional. Over the past few years, BSA has made important advances in its operating systems and its ability to deliver high quality customer service to the subscription TV industry. The signing of this agreement with AUSTAR reinforces our conviction that BSA’s customer focus meets the expectations of the countries premier satellite TV service providers”. ENDS Contact Ian McGregor, Company Secretary for further information: 02 9935 5903.

Media execs avoid witness box

From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11467973%255E7582,00.html

MANY of the media industry's top executives - including Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer - are unlikely to appear at the Seven Network's monster media trial next year, a list of witness statements has revealed.

The 20 defendants to the trade practices action were required to file their witness statements a month ago, indicating who will be in the witness box for the trial due to start in May next year.

The list reveals the various defences will mostly be made by the companies' operational executives rather than their chief executives or majority owners.

Seven has alleged its sports pay-TV channel C7 was forced to close after pay-TV group Foxtel, its owners (The Australian's publisher, News Limited, Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting and Telstra) and others engaged in anti-competitive behaviour to secure the pay-TV rights to the Australian Football League and National Rugby League.

The defendants have denied the claims and said they would vigorously defend the action.

Witness statements have not been received from either Kerry or James Packer, Rupert or Lachlan Murdoch, News Limited chief executive John Hartigan, Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski or former Nine Network chief David Leckie, who now runs Seven.

And Seven is unlikely to subpoena those people who have not provided statements as it is generally considered unusual to call hostile witnesses. But at least 20 witness statements have been tabled from people on opposing sides of the case.

The statements, which are not yet publicly available, outline what each of the witnesses will argue and replies to those statements are soon due.

News has provided witness statements from its general counsel Ian Philip and chief operating officer Peter Macourt. Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams has provided a statement and will appear, as will broadcast consultant Ian Frykberg. Former Foxtel chief Tom Mockridge, who now runs the News Corporation unit Sky Italia, has also prepared a witness statement.

Former Optus chief executive Chris Anderson will help represent the telco.

Nine's representatives include the former chief executive of its parent company, PBL, Nick Falloon.

Seven will have at least five people in the witness box, led by executive chairman Kerry Stokes.

The legal action, which Seven estimates has cost it $14 million this year, is the largest in Australian media history

HK probes Falun Gong 'hacking'

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4034209.stm

The Falun Gong movement is illegal in China

Hong Kong authorities are investigating after TV programmes beamed into China from the territory by satellite were allegedly hacked into at the weekend.
Content promoting the spiritual group Falun Gong, banned on the mainland, appeared on the satellite feed and was broadcast on two Chinese TV stations.

A Falun Gong spokesman in Hong Kong said she did not know if any of the group's followers were involved.

The group was branded an evil cult in China after an incident five years ago.

Ten thousand of its members besieged the leadership compound in Beijing demanding official recognition of their faith.

The movement, which combines Taoism, Buddhism and traditional Chinese breathing exercises, remains legal in Hong Kong, though, where freedom of religion is guaranteed.

Mystery signal

On Saturday evening, television programmes promoting Falun Gong appeared on the feed beamed into China from a satellite owned by the Hong Kong company AsiaSat.

The operator says it does not know where the signal came from.

In its words, its satellite was attacked.

The company was forced to halt transmission for more than four hours, disrupting programming on two TV channels on the mainland.

Hong Kong's Telecommunications Authority has confirmed it is working with AsiaSat to try to track down the source of the signals.

A spokesman for Falun Gong in Hong Kong said she had checked message boards and other communications channels within the group and no-one was claiming responsibility.

China to launch broadcasting satellite in 2006

From http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1117824,00050004.htm

China will launch a satellite exclusively for broadcasting services in first half of 2006 which will result in a major policy change, allowing people to receive satellite television signals in their homes for the first time, the government said.

The satellite is expected to serve 260 million Chinese families, Vice-Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Zhang Haitao said.

China has about 360 million households -- 100 million of which now receive cable TV programmes. The rest will be a potential audience of satellite broadcasting, he said.

China will have to appropriately adjust its policy and formulate rule and regulations in a bid to start satellite-broadcasting business, Zhang added.

Currently, China forbids individuals to receive satellite TV programmes by their own satellite receivers.

Freeview will outstrip Sky, says report into digital dominance

From http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/articles/2004/11/23/freeviewwill

The digital television revolution is set to be led by Freeview rather than Sky, according to a report by the UK’s biggest media agency buying group.

OMD’s media negotiating company, Opera, claims in its forecasts for 2005 that Freeview will be in more homes than Rupert Murdoch’s satellite giant by the end of next year and will come to dominate the DTV market in years to come.

Sky, which was sweeping all before it in the world of multi-channel before the birth of Freeview, claims the results of the report are “fundamentally flawed”.

The report looks set to open a major debate on who is really pulling in the multi-channel viewers.

With free-to-air digital box sets available in the shops for as little as £30, Opera predicts a major shift in the order of supremacy, forecasting that Freeview will be in 10 million homes by the end of 2006 – five years ahead of Sky.

Although describing Freeview’s channel line-up as “not comparable in any way to the quality of Sky’s offering”, Opera’s report claims that Freeview is currently outstripping Sky’s sales by 10 to one, mainly because of the appeal of the lower price of the service.

Other, more conservative estimates from Sky rivals put the current figure at nearer seven to one while sources within Sky yesterday described the figures as “totally wrong”.

Sky claimed that the report is based on a “fundamental error” of comparing sales of Freeview boxes, with Sky subscriber uptake, driven by a range of different marketing channels.

Sky claims hundreds of thousands of Freeview boxes which feature in the report have been bought with the intention of being used in second rooms in UK homes, many of which also have Sky.

The broadcaster also claims that Opera’s prediction of 10 million Freeview homes by 2007 is ludicrous, as it would require 55% penetration by the digital terrestrial TV service in the 72% of households it covers.

That would mean, it claims, taking into account the penetration of Sky and cable, almost 100% digital penetration in those areas.

“It’s wholly implausible,” said the source, adding that the report was “like comparing apples and pears”.

However, Ofcom’s figures for June 2004 suggested that Freeview was already in 3.9 million homes and Opera’s report, while disputed by Sky, backs up claims already made by the likes of ITV that it is the “astronomical” take up of Freeview, not the satellite giant, which is now leading the transformation in viewing in the UK.

Just under 60% of homes already have digital, says Opera, while warning commercial TV that the biggest beneficiary of Freeview’s success is likely to be the BBC, with Freeview’s success creating a two-tier standard of multi-channel audience.

“The growth of Freeview is positive for advertisers,” the report says, “but does not present a wholly pleasing picture.”

It says Barb figures show viewing of commercial television is considerably lower (60%) in Freeview homes compared to Sky homes (79%), although higher than analogue terrestrial households (52%).

But it adds: “The key problem is rights issues. Many of the multi-channel broadcasters only own pay-TV programme rights, rather than free-to-air rights.

Free to air rights are significantly more expensive and the advertising returns likely to be generated by the size of the Freeview audiences are not enough to justify the outlay.

“Eventually there will be a tipping point where this ceases to be the case and we then anticipate an influx of better quality, commercial stations/programmes.

Until that point it appears that the BBC, with its part-ownership of Freeview and its fortunate position of not having to seek sensible return on investment, is reducing the benefit of this platform in terms of increasing commercial supply.”

A Sky spokesman said: “Sky is confident of hitting its targets for the long-term growth of pay-TV, regardless of how many homes switch from one form of free TV to another in the meantime.”

Satellite 'to combat rustlers'

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/4030745.stm

The FUW believes the sheep thefts could be even more widespread

Hi-tech, modern satellite tracking equipment may be used to crack the age-old crime of sheep rustling.

Officers at Dyfed-Powys Police are considering the move in reaction to a steep increase in thefts of the animals.

A new survey by the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) shows that thousands of sheep are going missing each year.

The worst hit county is Powys where 3,000 worth £200,000 have been reported missing in the past year.

Rustlers have stolen more than 1,000 from the remote village of Llangynidr, near Crickhowell, in the past 12 months alone.

Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Monmouthshire are also rustling hot-spots.

In a separate initiative in the old county of Montgomeryshire, the FUW said farmers, police and Powys County Council had held talks about narrowing the width of farm gates to five foot to make it harder for vehicles to access fields.

Some livestock owners, in the Newtown area, are even considering taking their sheep off the land because of rustling.

FUW survey on sheep thefts

1,000 from Llangynidr, near Crickhowell
487 from Brecon to Builth Wells area
530 in Monmouthshire
150 ewes from Llandinam near Newtown
115 from Ponterwyd near Aberystwyth
23 from Llandysul
270 from Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire

Chief Inspector Steve Hughson, of Dyfed-Powys Police in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells, said: "The satellite tracking system is certainly an option we are considering.

"But it is very much in the early stages and cost and the feasibility of the scheme needs to be assessed.

"It's something we've used before to track stolen quad bikes. It sounds hi-tech I know, and we would implant sheep in areas we have identified as high risk.

"It's a good idea and could reduce thefts which have totalled £200,000 in the last 12 months."

The chief inspector, a farmer's son, added: "It's difficult to assess whether there's been an increase in rustling or whether there's been a increase in the amount of reported cases.

"But we take sheep thefts very seriously. Police and trading standards officers are working together along with other agencies to solve this problem."

"The people doing this know what they are doing and are closely associated with farming," he said.

Farmer Hefin Tomos: 'Someone has been helping themselves'

The FUW president Gareth Vaughan urged people to use camera phones to capture images of rustling.

"The results are extremely worrying, and indicate that there are experienced gangs operating in parts of Wales who may be stealing to order," he said.

"Virtually everyone has a mobile phone, and mobiles with digital cameras are the latest must-have gadgets.

"I would appeal to anyone who has one of these camera phones and who sees something that looks suspicious to take a photograph of the incident.

"Photographs of lorries, trailers and number plates could be extremely useful."

Dillwyn John, who has 900 sheep on his farm at Cwmtaff, near Merthyr Tydfil, has fallen victim to sheep rustlers this year and over the last three decades.

"I estimate that I have lost as many sheep over the last 31 years as I now have on my farm," said Mr John. "It's a big problem in these parts."

With the regulations governing sheep identification, it would be extremely difficult for the thieves to sell them to other farmers or to licensed abattoirs, said Gareth Vaughan.