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Intelsat 15 85.2E 12523 V "HD Life has replaced Nat Geo Wild HD Europe" on , MPEG-4, HD, Irdeto.

Apstar 2R 76.5E 3720 H "Diva Universal Philippines and Diva Universal Asia have replaced Hallmark Channel Taiwan and Hallmark Channel India" on , PowerVu.

东经140度轨道位置的快车AM3号卫星C频段，Azimut替换GTRK Vladivostok（俄罗斯）频道，设置3632 R 4340参数有条件接收。[09-21]

东经75度轨道位置的ABS-1号卫星Ku频段，TV 1000 East、Viasat Expiorer（俄）频道加密，设置12518 V 22000参数有条件接收。[09-20]

GOVERNMENT support for classifying sports into an A-list and a B-list under planned changes to the anti-siphoning laws could be firming.

Industry sources said Communications Minister Stephen Conroy was considering allowing some sporting events onto an anti-siphoning B list, which would enable them to be screened live on the free-to-air broadcasters' digital multichannels, rather than on the main channel, but said details were still being ironed out.

Some events with a broad audience, such as the Melbourne Cup, are not expected to be allowed to be screened first on the digital channels because a quarter of Australian households have not yet converted their TVs to digital.

``They are certainly looking at a use-it-or-lose-it type situation for events on the list,'' one source said, referring to reports that pay-TV operator Foxtel would be able to bid directly for events that the free-to-airs did not show live.

``How it works hasn't been quite worked out. It's not certain that everything can be multichannelled.''

The anti-siphoning list, which protects free-to-air broadcasters' access to some sports, is set to expire by the end of this year.

According to reports, the government has settled upon its approach, but industry sources said there were still issues that needed to be settled, such as what happens if a broadcaster shows an event live in some states _ such as National Rugby League matches that might be shown on Nine in NSW and Victoria _ but not in others.

A Fox Sports source said the broadcaster preferred to run national programming on its three main sports channels, although it does currently show AFL matches in some states on The Main Event channel.

``The viewers' choice application does help us out because it gives viewers a choice of which match to watch,'' the source said.

Executives from sports such as the AFL want Senator Conroy to allow pay-TV to bid directly for games rather than force them to deal with free-to-air television broadcasters.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's office refused to comment on the speculation.

Spokeswoman Suzie Brady reiterated comments last week: ``The anti-siphoning scheme does not require free-to-air broadcasters to show sporting events live: this is ultimately a commercial decision for broadcasters.

``The Government is currently reviewing the anti-siphoning scheme, including options to facilitate matches being shown live on digital multi-channels, in the event that broadcasters are only offering delayed coverage on their main channel.

``The Government will announce the outcome of its review soon.''

Live US TV Now Available In Australia For $5.36 A Month

From http://smarthouse.com.au/Content_And_Downloads/IPTV/A9D7C3E7

A US Company is set to offer Australians the opportunity to watch US TV over a broadband IPTV connection. They will also be able access to shows like The Mentalist, Law & Order and Two & A Half Men prior to the shows being aired in Australia.

The move has already angered Hollywood studios and TV stations who have threatened to sue if the service is not withdrawn immediately.

ivi TV is a brand new IPTV service that offers viewers access to leading US television content with a downloadable app that works anywhere there is an Internet connection. Users can get access to TV shows weeks before the same shows are aired in Australia on free to air networks and Foxtel.

Hal Bringman, a spokesperson for ivi TV told SmartHouse that "Anyone in Australia can access the iiTV service for US$4.99 a month (A$5.36). All they need is a broadband connection".

Among the content that is available are US NFL games which are shown on Fox Sport as well as high rating shows from the US ABC, NBC and CBS networks.

Bringman said that the new service "Converts Internet connected device into a television as soon as the application which is available for windows, Mac and Linux is downloaded".

"ivi is not another Pirate Bay or Napster trying to gain from others' works. Rather, ivi wishes to work with content owners in helping them to realise new revenue streams and reach more viewers from around the globe. The ivi team has spent more than three years developing this technology and no other company has come close to matching it". Todd Weaver, founder and CEO of iiTV said.

Colin O Brien the CEO of IceTV who is an expert on Copyright law in Australia after winning a Copyright fight with the USA claims that Hollywood Studio's will be forced by the free to air networks in Australia to stop the delivery of the service in Australia.

"Most of the free to air TV networks in Australia have clauses in their program contracts which puts the liability on the Hollywood Studio or TV network in the USA to stop the illegally use of programs in Australia. The cost of fighting this in the Courts will fall on the program seller as opposed to the network putting the show to air".

ivi TV, claims that they are confident of winning any legal fight in the US or Australia as they have adopted a model that is allowed under all applicable laws. "We remain receptive to formal partnerships with broadcast networks and are discussing carriage rights for premium cable, international, and a la carte channels" Weaver said.

Among the US programs that Australian's can watch using the ivi TV application before they are aired in Australia is Lie to Me, Glee, The Office, The Simpsons, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Friends on Channel Ten; Two and A Half Men, The Mentalist, and CSI on Channel Nine; and How I Met Your Mother on Channel Seven.

To download the application go to www.ivi.tv

TiVo going cheap as internet TV war heats up

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10674945

Telecom is selling TiVo set-top boxes at a bargain basement rate as Sky moves to relaunch its internet television offering in November.

Telecom has ended its exclusive reselling deal and is offering TiVo for $10 a month over 36 months.

At $360 the broadband and recording devices now cost 60 per cent less than the $920 charged when TiVo launched in November last year.

Despite heavy marketing uptake for the high-tech broadband and recording device, sales have been slow. But Telecom said it was still committed to TiVo.

Telecom spokesman Mark Watts said the $360 offer was "a price promotion pure and simple", not a permanent price drop.

Customers who do not have their landline with Telecom can purchase TiVo at what is (now) its standard price of $499, Watts said.

TiVo is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Hybrid Television Services - one third owned by Television New Zealand and two thirds by the Australian Seven Network.

Hybrid is focusing attention away from the TiVo personal video recorder devices and towards the Caspa software for downloading movies and television shows from the net.

Technology commentator Peter Griffin said Telecom and TiVo would not be popular with the few who did pay the full $920 price.

Despite the end of the exclusive reselling deal, Watts said Telecom remained the only internet service provider to offer unmetered broadband that allows downloads of movie and television shows.

Bargain basement rates come at a pivotal point in the battle for TiVo and Caspa to get a foothold in the emerging market for internet television. With Sky in nearly 48 per cent of homes, a big part of the population is already out of reach.

Sky chief executive John Fellet sees the market for internet television as being for those who do not want the commitment of a pay subscription.

But beyond the move to digital and the growth of personal video recorders, programmes downloaded from the net are seen as the most viable business model for television.

ESPN STAR Sports First Client for New GlobeCast Fiber Link to Astro

From http://press-releases.techwhack.com/104965-espn-star-sports-13

Singapore, 21 September 2010 – GlobeCast today announced ESPN STAR Sports as its first client for its new fiber connectivity from GlobeCast’s Parkview Square facility in Singapore to Astro in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GlobeCast’s new fiber link connects to Astro’s two diverse locations – namely Astro’s All Asia Broadcast Center (AABC) and Cyberjaya Broadcast Center (CBC).

For ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), GlobeCast is providing delivery of SD and HD channels in compressed ASI format via the new fibre, delivering world-class sports from Asia’s biggest sports content provider to Astro’s Pay-TV platform. This circuit will also be available for occasional use for the delivery of live sports and special events coverage to and from ESPN STAR Sports and Astro.

GlobeCast currently offers extensive fibre connectivity in Asia, including access to its global fiber network, the GlobeCast Backbone Network (GCBN), which offers 33 Points of Presence. In Asia, GlobeCast offers broadcasters connectivity to major operators such as nowTV in Hong Kong, SingTel in Singapore and Shanghai Media Group in China.

GlobeCast’s facility in Singapore today hosts an SD and a HD-ready playout and program origination facility. GlobeCast also runs a 24/7 MCR in Singapore as well as a 24/7 MCR and teleport in Hong Kong.

For more information, please contact:
GlobeCast: Vanessa Ching vanessa.ching {at} globecast(.)com +65 6325 4222

Vanessa Ching
Senior Manager
Marketing Communications and Research, Asia

GlobeCast
600 North Bridge Road #13-02 Parkview Square
188778 Singapore

T : 65.6325.4222
F : 65.6227.9782

vanessa.ching {at} globecast(.)com
www.globecast.com

Malaysian firm to buy 49% stake in NDTV Lifestyle for $40 mn

From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/media/Malaysian-firm-to-buy-49-stake-in-NDTV-Lifestyle-for-40-mn/articleshow/6598148.cms

MUMBAI: Media firm New Delhi Television (NDTV) on Tuesday said Malaysia-based Astro All Asia Networks will acquire 49 per cent stake for USD 40 million (about Rs 182 crore) in its lifestyle subsidiary NDTV Lifestyle.

According to the transaction, South Asia Creative Assets Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks Plc, will acquire 49 per cent stake in NDTV Lifestyle Holdings Private Ltd in two tranches, for USD 40 million (about Rs 182 crore), media company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The balance 51 per cent stake in the joint venture will be held by NDTV. The transaction is subject to receiving all requisite regulatory approvals, the filing added.

In addition to operating NDTV Good Times, NDTV and Astro may also engage in non-material diversification into complementary lines related to the lifestyle segment through the joint venture company.

Astro All Asia Networks Plc is a cross-media group with significant presence in DTH (Direct-To-Home) TV services, commercial radio and TV programming.

Shares of NDTV were trading at Rs 114.75 on the BSE, up 0.75 per cent from the previous close.

Building A Tower To The Stars

From http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Building_A_Tower_To_The_Stars_999.html

The attraction of the Space Elevator concept is not only how environmentally friendly it would be, but also how cheap it would be compared with current rocket technologies

In his 1979 novel 'The Fountains of Paradise' Science Fiction author Arthur C Clarke imagined a not-too-distant future where technology would have progressed so far as to allow us to engineer a material strong enough to be used as a cable connecting an orbiting satellite with the ground - a concept commonly referred to as 'The Space Elevator' or 'Tether'.

It involves having a satellite in near-Earth orbit, with one tether stretched out into space, attached to a heavy object acting as a counter weight, against a line that is dropped to Earth from the satellite and secured to the ground.

The satellite remains fixed in synchronous orbit, and the counter weight would keep the line held taut.

A vehicle would be used to go up and down this line, much like an elevator, moving with relative ease to and from Earth orbit. As Clarke notes in his book, perhaps it is easier to think of the Space Elevator as being something stretching not upward toward the stars, but outward... that is, 35,000 kilometers outward.

The idea is not originally Clarke's however, although he certainly brought it to widespread attention in 1979 with the publication of his novel; the Space Elevator it has its roots more in science fact than science fiction.

The key idea behind it dates back to 1895, when a Soviet Rocket Scientist named Konstantin Tsiolkovsky - inspired by the Eiffel Tower - proposed an idea for building a solid free-standing tower from Earth's surface, reaching up 35,000 kilometers into space. He proposed that from the top of this tower, objects could be launched into space with relative ease into orbit.

However the lack of a material strong enough to support its own weight at such a height proved the concept beyond human capability. Still, the underlying idea of simply connecting ground and sky, as opposed to travelling from ground to sky, stuck.

Later, in 1959, leading Soviet Engineer called Yuri Artsustanov followed on from Tsiolkovsky's work when he conceived of the Space Elevator as we think of it today.

It is worth mentioning that Artsustanov drew on not just one but two concepts of Tsiolkovsky's - the huge tower reaching up into space, and the geostationary satellite, theorized by Tsiolkovsky in his 1903 work 'The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices'.

This concept was further developed by Clarke himself in 1945, as an idea for communication satellites in geostationary orbits. This led to the obvious: the Satellite Television, GPS, etc, that we all take for granted today.

The extent of the impact Tsiolkovsky's work had on the early thinkers of the twentieth century is obvious - the most famous example of his influence might well have been the successful launching of Sputnik into space; showing that a geostationary orbit could be sustained by a man-made object. This allowed Artsustanov to base his concept of a Space Elevator in known truth - making it a more viable idea.

The attraction of the Space Elevator concept is not only how environmentally friendly it would be, but also how cheap it would be compared with current rocket technologies with the cost of sending anything up into space at roughly $20,000 per lb. Using the Space Elevator technology would be many times less than that.

Another factor is the level of public interest. People need something new to get excited about. Since the heydays of the Space Race in the 50's and 60's, public interest in leaving our planet has waned severely.

Perhaps that is partly due to the fact that we stopped heading to the moon and seemed more content remaining within Earth's orbit.

It could be because of the amount of time it takes to plan, and implement each separate mission; losing public interest in the waiting. And surely the reality of how much each mission into space currently costs is a factor also.

With the Space Elevator, we could travel from a point on Earth's surface into space, without the need for rockets, and at a dramatically lower cost. It would also be safer; removing the danger involved in riding an over-sized firework.

We could ferry supplies to an orbiting Space Station such as the ISS with ease. Even the ability to launch Satellites and Space Probes without the need of a rocket would be money well saved. Indeed the uses of the Space Elevator concept, and the opportunities that it opens to us, are immense. The technology would have a profound effect on not only the way that we reach space, but on what we do next.

Imagine a Space Elevator not only on Earth, but on the Moon as well, helping us to establish and maintain a Moon Base on the lunar surface. Perhaps even ferrying processed lunar ore to awaiting transports to bring back to Earth. And what of Mars?

The problem with a manned mission to Mars is the difficulty of establishing a base on Mars, and the logistics of getting back off of the surface. With a Space Elevator on Mars, a single ship could be sent to Mars and left in orbit whilst the surface is explored. The astronauts could then return to the ship via the Elevator, and head back to Earth.

The other proposed use of the Space Elevator concept, is in using the tethers to slingshot objects away from Earth into space. With the counter weight at one end of the tether, and for example a space probe at the other, the tether would transfer momentum to the probe, throwing it away from Earth at great speed.

This would not only negate the need for a probe to circle the Earth continuously until it had picked up enough speed to break away from Earth's gravity, but it might also mean that a probe's journey into deep space might be that much quicker, given the kick start.

There are several drawbacks to building a Space Elevator, the biggest of which is the production of a material that is suitable to be stretched tight over tens of thousands of kilometers, and endure great weights and strains from various forces. The other is the immense cost of actually getting such a 'construction' built.

However, there has recently been a resurgence of interest in the concept, and amongst several ongoing projects to build a Space Elevator is a recent announcement by Shuichi Ono, Chairman of the Japan Space Elevator Association, of their intent to build a Space Elevator with a trillion yen price tag.

Only the future will tell if such grand plans come to see fruition.

It is very clear that if we want to go back into space, and send people like you and I there, then we need to make travelling to space as cheap and as easy as possible. We cannot continue to rely on rocket technology, which is hundreds of years old, and far too expensive (the average cost sending the Space Shuttle into space is around about $450 Million).

We need to use technologies that can get Mankind to and from Space cheaply, quickly, and regularly. The development of new, strong materials that will allow us to build things like the Space Elevator will be a major factor in allowing us to do that. Surely the key to getting Mankind back into space is to make space a tourist attraction and allow companies to make money by taking them there.

In much the same way that airlines and jets offer to us the prospect of travelling anywhere on the globe, in the future they must be able to offer trips into space, the moon, and perhaps other planets. And they will not do this by using rockets.

A rich elite may be able to afford such trips in rocket-powered craft, but not the everyday men and women who have spent their lives looking up at the night sky and wishing they could reach out and touch it.

To open space to the masses, travel to it must be cheap and safe, and we must be able to send one trip after another. Links from the surface to the stars, and the advances in Science and Engineering that will make them possible, will help make going into space a realistic dream that will not be confined to only the super rich.

In the near future, perhaps within our own lifetimes, such trips might be as simple as riding a train... they might even be just as cheap.

Tony Healey is a writer in the UK with an interest in Science, Space and Science-Fiction.

KIT-3 / Found KIT-3 on two different TPs at the same time with different news Presenters

Asiasat 5 3927 V Sr 5632-3/4 Globecast 15 - Boxing
Asiasat 5 3753 V Sr 6111-3/4 Main -2010 LI - NING China Masters

Intelsat 5 3810 H Sr 13019 PIDS: 308/256/8190 Townsville Main (STS) A-League Game CAS: BISS

D2 12554 H Sr 6980-3/4 "Indy Racing"
D2 12680 V Sr 6670 "Horse Racing - Mindarie Halidon"

AsiaSat 5 100.5E 3710 V "AXN Korea" has left again.
AsiaSat 5 100.5E 3960 H "Vision 2 Drama" is Fta.

Intelsat 10 68.5E "Spirit Word" has left 12562 H, moved to 12682 H.
Intelsat 10 68.5E 12682 H "Daystar TV" has left .

东经138度轨道位置的亚太5号卫星C频段，CTN-1、CTN-2、CTN-3（柬埔寨）频道新增，设置3692 H 9620参数免费接收。[09-20]
东经76.5度轨道位置的亚太2R号卫星Ku频段，MTV、知识（华人卫视）等频道新增，设置12405 V 30000参数有条件接收。[09-20]
东经108度轨道位置的电信1号卫星C频段，TVRI Kalbar（印尼）频道消失，设置3817 H 3000参数无效接收。[09-20]
东经134度轨道位置的亚太6号卫星C频段，No.3-1（未明）频道新增，设置4160 H 6000参数有条件接收。[09-20]
东经100.5度轨道位置的亚洲5号卫星C频段，AXN（高清）频道消失，设置3710 V 12400参数无效接收。[09-20]
东经100.5度轨道位置的亚洲5号卫星C频段，Vision 2 Drama（电影）频道加密，设置3960 H 27500参数有条件接收。[09-20]

东经90度轨道位置的雅玛尔201号卫星C频段，Bridge TV（俄罗斯）频道消失，设置3791 R 7900参数无效接收。[09-19]

东经75度轨牢恢玫腁BS-1号卫星Ku频段，TV 1000 East、Viasat Expiorer（俄罗斯）频道解密，设置12518 V 22000参数免费接收。[09-18]
东经110度轨道位置的N-Sat110号卫星Ku频段，Nihon Eiga Senmon（电影）频道解密，设置12291 R 28860参数免费接收。[09-18]
东经100.5度轨道位置的亚洲5号卫星C频段，Star Contributio、Fox Family（英语）频道重现，设置3840 H 30000参数有条件接收。[09-18]
东经78.5度轨道位置的泰星5号卫星C频段，Kalaignar TV（MPEG-4）频道改格式，设置3444 H 5185参数免费接收。[09-18]
东经75度轨道位置的ABS-1B号卫星Ku频段，REN TV（俄罗斯）频道消失，设置12207 H 27500参数无效接收。[09-18]

东经132度轨道位置的越南1号卫星Ku频段，探索频道、ESPN、AXN（高清）频道新增，设置11670 H 28800参数有条件接收。[09-17]

The subscription television provider Foxtel has announced a series of new channels that will launch later this year, including a dedicated 3D offering.

The new suite of channels includes five high-definition channels, plus four so-called "+2" channels. TSR first reported the changes last month.

The company indicated that Foxtel 3D would initially air sporting content from Fox Sports and simulcast 3D offerings from the American cable broadcaster ESPN. ESPN launched its dedicated 3D channel, marketed as the world's first, at the FIFA World Cup in June.

Although Foxtel suggested that most of the content would be plundered from elsewhere, the company's chief executive Kim Williams nevertheless described the 3D channel as a "ground-breaking first". He flagged that Foxtel would be negotiating with external providers to obtain 3D content "across sport, general entertainment, factual and movie programming".

The American network Discovery announced earlier this year that it would work with Sony and IMAX to create a 3D channel with general entertainment, children's and documentary content.

As previously disclosed in TSR, among the other channels to launch are Speed (a dedicated motorsports offering, also in high-definition), MTV Hits, MTVN Live (also in high definition), BBC Knowledge HD, and Nat Geo Wild HD.

Foxtel will also introduce National Geographic Channel +2, Nat Geo Adventure +2, 13th Street +2 and TLC +2.

"We now have over 200 channels on the Foxtel platform providing premium programming across all genres, both in standard and an ever-expanding high-definition range," Williams said.

The new channels will launch on-air on 1 November.

Foxtel goes for HD jugular

From http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/blogs/gadgets-on-the-go/foxtel-goes-for-hd-jugular/20100920-15jbb.html

As Freeview kills off high-def channels, Foxtel is ramping up its HD and 3D offerings.

Both 7HD and 9HD go before the firing squad this week, to make way for 7mate and Gem respectively. The ABC and Ten have already killed off their HD simulcast channels, in favour of 24-hour news and sport. While free-to-air broadcasters continue to turn their back on viewers with HDTVs, Foxtel is trying to win them over with more HD content than ever.

Foxtel has unveiled a range of new channels, including four new HD channels and Australia's first dedicated 3D channel - all due to launch on November 1, 2010. The new HD channels include SPEED HD (motorsports), MTVN Live HD (concerts and music festivals), BBC Knowledge HD and Nat Geo Wild HD. We'll also see the launch FOXTEL 3D, a dedicated 3D channel to satisfy those with 3DTVs as free-to-air 3D broadcasts go into hiatus after this week's AFL grand final.

If you've got a big television and an eye for detail, Foxtel now looks more attractive than ever - especially if you're a footy fan whose team gets shunned by free-to-air broadcasters during the home and away season (such as Footscray). The difference between standard and high-def is most obvious when watching sport, which is one of the reasons while Seven's 7mate and Nine's Gem will switch back to high-def simulcast mode when footy or cricket is on the main channel.

You now need a HD-capable TV, set top box or PVR in order to watch One HD, ABC News 24, 7mate, Gem as SBS HD - even though they many not contain that much HD content. Dedicated HD simulcast channels may return after analogue TV is killed off in 2013, freeing up some spectrum.

Of course many viewers care more about quantity than quality and will be happy to see the free-to-air broadcasters ditch their HD simulcasts in favour of extra channels. Admittedly the quality of the high-def broadcasts varies so widely that there is little for videophiles to get genuinely excited about.

After this weekend you'll have 15 different digial channels to flick through if you've got a HD-capatible tuner, which will become 16 when Ten launches Eleven next year - that's ABC (1, 2, 3, 24), SBS (1, 2) Seven( 7, 7TWO, 7mate), Nine (9, Go!, Gem), Ten (10, 11, One HD) and a community channel. SBS will be the only network left with a HD simulcast of its main channel. The digital-only channels offer a mix of repeats and new programming, so you've probably got less than 10 channels worth of content spread across those 16 channels.

The thought of 16 different shows to choose from on free-to-air TV sounds like a channel-flicker's dream. Unfortunately the thought of extra channels to surf through isn't all that appealing if you own a high-def Personal Video Recorder, such as a TiVo. PVRs can automatically record your favourite shows each week, so you can watch them when it suits you rather than when it suits the networks. Once you own a PVR you're less inclined to channel surf, because when you flop down on the couch you watch something you want to watch - that you recorded earlier - rather than whatever happens to be on right now. Extra channels showing repeats are of little interest to "time-shifters", they'd rather those channels were used to show their favourite shows in HD. If your favourite shows are on ABC or TEN, there's no option to watch them in HD any more. If they're on Seven or Nine, you have to hope they're be picked up by 7mate or Gem - otherwise you're stuck with the standard-def versions.

As Freeview ramps up the number of free-to-air channels on offer, Foxtel's key value proposition of extra choice starts to falter. As such, it makes a lot of sense for Foxtel to emphasise quality and push HD - something you'll see very little of on free-to-air over the next few years.

Foxtel plans full 3D TV channel

From http://delimiter.com.au/2010/09/20/foxtel-plans-full-3d-tv-channel/

Pay TV operator Foxtel today announced that it would launch what it claimed was Australia’s first 3D channel on 1 November, along with four new high definition channels.

The 3D channel will feature movies and documentaries, Foxtel said in a press release, as well as sports. Sport was the first big content push when 3D TVs were first released in Australia with the soccer World Cup and National Rugby League State Of Origin games simulcast earlier this year.

“We are thrilled to announce Australia’s first dedicated 3D channel, which will showcase a range of 3D programming,” said Kim Williams, Chief Executive and Managing Director of FOXTEL. “This channel will be a single destination for 3D content which will continue to evolve over time as we work with our channel partners to deliver our viewers a range of the best 3D programming across sport, general entertainment, factual and movie programming.”

The upcoming NRL and AFL grand finals will be broadcast in 3D, thanks to the Nine and Seven networks respectively. 3D video games are expected to be the next 3D content drive, just in time for the Christmas video game new release season. A slew of made-for-3D movie releases is also expected for early next year.

Sony, Samsung and Panasonic recently stated that the 3D TV uptake by Australian consumers had been successful and that retail outlets had trouble keeping up with demand.

“I’m hoping efforts like Foxtel’s will push the case for 3D content, because right now most of it is sport or crappy 3D conversions of movies, of which not even a handful are available,” said local 3D TV owner Daniel Hatadi.

“My main issue is that the broadcast world has chosen side-by-side as the format for 3D. You end up halving the resolution this way,” he said. “I understand them going down that path for sport but I’d like to see at least 1080i full frame 3D for movies. That’s a whole infrastructure that needs to come up to spec — so it’ll be years before that happens. Not really much anyone can do about that.”

“Still, Foxtel having a permanent channel should sell more 3D TVs, especially since the free to air 3D channel is dead (for now). And that’s a good thing for me,” said Hatadi.

Fiji TV posts profit

From http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=156226

THE Fiji Television Group raked in a net profit of $3.22million for its financial year ended June 30 this year.

This marks an increase of 381 per cent from the $668,128 recorded for same period last year.

The company's financial statement released on Thursday stated all three subsidiaries of the group registered increased profits when compared with the previous year.

Holding company Fiji TV recorded a 217 per cent increase in net profit after tax of $1.59million for June 2010, compared with a net loss after tax of $1.36 million for the same period last year.

Papua New Guinea's Media Niugini Ltd recorded a net profit after tax of $3.31million, up 10.9 per cent, while Compac recorded a profit after tax of $56,900.

The company's financial statement said the group's total operating revenue increased from $26.61 million in 2009 to $29.23 million this year, a 9.86 per cent increase attributed to increase in revenue for all the group's three companies.

Fiji TV registered an increase in total revenue by 8.4 per cent while Compac's total revenue increased by 59.26 per cent, and Media Niugini Ltd registered an 8.12 per cent increase.

"The improved results are attributed to the effective cost control measures implemented throughout the group together with strong results achieved by the holding company (Fiji TV) and the subsidiary company in PNG," Fiji TV group chief executive Tarun Patel said.

He said the group's focus was on revenue generation opportunities, which led to an increase in group revenue by 9.86 per cent.

Mr Patel said the PNG operation continued to do extremely well on the back of a growing economy and "we have seen growth in advertising revenue".

"With the increasing cost in doing business in PNG, Media Niugini continues to contribute positively to the group's bottom-line," he said.

Mr Patel said the company remained positive for the current financial year despite challenging economic condition that it operated in.

GlobeCast partners with Shanghai Media Group

From http://www.mediaresearchasia.com/view2.php?type=tech&id=217

Shanghai, 16 September 2010 – GlobeCast, a France Telecom company and Shanghai Media Group, a leading media company in China, have reached an agreement to jointly provide a host of production and transmission services to serve the needs of international broadcasters and to establish a video fiber link into and out of China.

The goal of the agreement is to combine the best of SMG’s domestic Chinese capabilities with GlobeCast’s worldwide network and expertise so as to provide one-stop services to Chinese and international broadcasters based in China. SMG and GlobeCast cooperation includes developing business with news and sports channels, rightsholders, entertainment content producers, and Business TV customers.

SMG will provide in-house equipment and facilities in China, including ENG kit & crews, SNG trucks & flyaways, OB vans, tape playout feedpoints in Shanghai & Beijing, domestic fiber links and route switching in China, as well as uplink and downlink transmission solution.

A new fiber link has been established between SMG’s PoP (point of presence) in Shanghai and GlobeCast’s PoP in Hong Kong. From there, GlobeCast will provide customers with access to its international fiber network, which has points of presence in Asia, America, Africa and Europe as well as access to its 12 teleports worldwide for satellite delivery.

The physical link between the two companies’ facilities will also be backed up by coordination of services and bookings, allowing for seamless delivery of services within and outside of China.

GlobeCast and SMG will also build a digital file transmission services for domestic use within China, utilizing GlobeCast technologies and SMG’s network resources. GlobeCast’s Content Exchange solution, a powerful content management tool will make up part of the network. It will allow content producers, news agencies, editors and subtitling houses to come under one platform to exchange and share audiovisual files of any file size and in any format from any broadband connection and deliver the final product to the studios with ease.

China to launch remote-sensing satellite

From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-09/20/c_13521727.htm

JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a remote-sensing satellite "Yaogan XI" in the coming days from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, an official at the center said Monday.

The official did not give further details about the launch or the satellite.

Previously, "Yaogan X" was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern Shanxi Province on Aug. 10.

Top TV continues to compete

From http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36949:top-tv-continues-to-compete&catid=69&Itemid=58

Satellite TV newcomer Top TV is continuing to shake up the pay-TV market, announcing – after being operational for only five months – that it is slashing the price of its decoders and installation from R499 to R299.

On Digital Media's satellite TV service initially launched in May, with a price tag of R499 for decoders and installation and monthly subscriptions starting from R99. Top TV last month reported strong growth from its initial offering, having sold more than 120 000 decoders in three months, including 50 000 during its opening weekend.

At this rate, the company's business plan of signing up 500 000 subscribers over the next few months is on track. The greater goal, however, is to reach the 5.5 million available households in the market, it said.

Slow competition

Top TV's entry to market has brought some much needed competition in the industry – however, competitors have been slow to respond to the newcomer.

Dominant market player MultiChoice unveiled a DStv Lite package, in retaliation to Top TV's offering, for R99 per month. However, MultiChoice's response to the competition was criticised, as it earlier announced that it would increase the price of its premium offerings. In addition, a standard decoder from MultiChoice costs R499, without a satellite dish and installation.

Top TV also expected to be competing with newcomer Super5Media by now, but controversy has plagued the company, which has yet to launch.

After Super5Media failed to meet its first go-live deadline, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) granted the company another six months to prepare its offering.

However, speculation holds that the company is going under. Former employees of the company, who prefer not to be named, say it has effectively closed down, and about 40 staff members have been retrenched. “We were given retrenchment letters from June already,” they told ITWeb previously.

Media reports say applicants for the liquidation of the company have confirmed that a liquidation application for Super 5Media was submitted. Super5Media and was initially expected to become operational by the middle of this year.

Pakistan cracks down on illegal DTH channels

From http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/201009207885/pakistan-cracks-down-on-illegal-dth-channels.html

A large scale crack down on unlicensed satellite channel distribution is taking place in Pakistan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has seized technology from 50 cable TV networks during raids of over 70 cable operators nationwide. Prior to the raids, the authority had published newspaper advertisements, warning broadcast companies to observe the law and to only distribute legal TV channels.

PEMRA will now, the report says, cancel the licences of the major violators whose transmission equipment was seized on the night of 16 September.

This operation follows similar raids by enforcement officers in August, when PEMRA shut down 86 illegal channels and imposed heavy fines on cable operators.

The action has been prompted by the large number of complaints by the public concerned by the prevalence of the prohibited channels, according to the report.

The raids took place in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, SInjhoro, Sanghar, Deharki, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Jhang, Gujranwala, Kharian, Kasur, Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Sargodha, Hassanabdal, Attock, Peshawar, Dl Khan, Abbottabad, Swabi, Havelian, Paharpur, Dhaki, Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Sibi, Loralai and Noshki.

Reliance Communications, FashionOne TV join Casbaa

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/sep/sep142.php

MUMBAI: The Cable and Satellite Broadcasters Association of Asia (Casbaa) has announced expansion of its India agenda with the addition of two more players as corporate members of the association.

The new members are Reliance ADAG’s telecom-to-media industry player Reliance Communications and fashion and entertainment content specialist FashionOne TV.

“The Casbaa board of directors believe the participation in the association of such Indian companies as Reliance fits perfectly with a global outlook. Reliance’s membership is also an endorsement of Casbaa’s growing relevance in India,” said Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies.

Added Reliance Communications CEO-DTV & IPTV Sanjay Behl, “We look forward to collaborating with leading global players to address relevant issues and to meaningfully engage with policy makers to catapult media broadcasting, distribution & subscription TV industry to its next level.”

Reliance Communications has a customer base of over 117 million mobile subscribers. Reliance ADAG also has interests in DTH, broadcasting, cable TV

distribution and film production.

The other new joinee in the members is US-based FashionOne TV, a division of integrated entertainment company Bigfoot Entertainment with new studio facilities in Cebu in the Philippines distributing fashion and entertainment news around the world via three satellites.

“With our commitment to the world’s fastest-growing region, we are pleased to be a part of Asia’s leading association for the subscription TV industry,” said FashionOne TV CEO Eric Klein. “We look forward to new opportunities and to fostering long term relationships with like-minded partners to positively impact this high-growth industry.”

Bharti Airtel, NDTV and Star India recently joined Casbaa. Other members based in India are Amarchand & Mangaldas, BAG Films & Media, Conax, Indusind Media, Tata Sky, Zee Entertainment and ISRO.

BIG CBS inks distribution deal with Reliance BIG TV

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15171908.htm

NEW DELHI: BIG CBS Networks, the television joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International, today said it has entered into a tie up with DTH player Reliance BIG TV (RBTV) for distribution of its channels in the country.

As part of the deal, BIG TV will distribute three English entertainment channels — BIG CBS Prime, BIG CBS Spark and BIG CBS Love — on its platform, BIG CBS Networks said in a statement.

“With a reach of about 30 lakh digital television homes across India and cashing in on group synergies, BIG TV was one of the most desirous and natural choices for BIG CBS. Our endeavour is to reach maximum relevant audiences across the country and this partnership marks the beginning,” BIG Broadcasting COO, Mr Ashutosh said.

Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd and the US based media conglomerate CBS Studios International had announced their equally owned joint venture (50:50) called Big CBS Networks in August this year.

The channels are expected to premier in the fourth quarter of 2010. - PTI

DD to give ‘high definition’ coverage to Commonwealth Games

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/14171501.htm

NEW DELHI: For the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games, Doordarshan is providing ‘high definition’ coverage to its viewers and is all geared up with more than 350 ultra modern cameras and well-trained crew members who will be covering the eve nts on road, by air and under water.

“We are fully geared up. For the first time in the history of CWG the coverage will be on high definition. We will have our presence at 18 places that includes 16 venues plus two road events. More than 350 cameras will be installed for this purpose. The coverage will be on road, by air and under water,” the Director General of DD, Ms Aruna Sharma, told PTI in an interview.

“For Aquatics events, we will have under water cameras. Opening, closing ceremonies and road events will be covered by helicopter and special moving cameras will be installed for some events. In short it will be altogether a delightful experience.”

She said that for this type of coverage DD neither has the experience nor the equipment, so it has tied up with a British entity SIS live.

“SIS is responsible for the production and coverage. They bought all the modern equipment here. We also chose the opportunity to train our 300 staffers for handling sports coverage in HD. We divided those sports wise and trained accordingly. They have do ne all the test events and mock games on their own,” she said.

DD also has made arrangements for non-HD telecast. “For maximum number of viewers, who don’t have the mechanism to watch it on HD, we would step it down. We have the SD format which is also far more superior of that we normally see,” she said. — PTI

DTH operators divided on inter-operability of STBs

From http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/18/stories/2010091853020500.htm

Open house convened by TRAI

“TRAI has an open mind; consolidated response would soon be submitted”

Some operators want a minimum technology standards platform to be prescribed

CHENNAI: DTH operators were divided on the issue of inter-operability of Set Top Boxes (STBs) at an open house convened by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) here on Friday.

TRAI had called for the consultation involving all stakeholders on the direction of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. TRAI had earlier floated a consultation paper on the issue eliciting responses from stakeholders.

“TRAI has an open mind on this issue and a consolidated response would soon be submitted to the government,” TRAI chairman J.S. Sarma said.

Inter-operability

The TRAI consultation took up the discussions at two levels — the feasibility of inter-operability at the technical and commercial level. However, operators failed to reach a consensus on the issue.

Some operators favoured inter-operability by mandating the provision of conditional access modules to access satellite signals across networks while others contended that high-end CAMs required to decode superior technology signals (MPEG 4 or DVB-S) were costlier than investing in subsidised STBs if ever a consumer wanted to change an operator.

Some operators also wanted the regulator to prescribe a minimum technology standards platform to create a more level playing field in the DTH segment.

Consumer organisation Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre had kick-started the debate with a petition to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal on the lack of freedom that consumers faced in choosing an alternative operator as the STBs were at present locked to the service provider's network.

In its petition, the organisation had sought TDSAT directions to all DTH players to suspend proprietary STBs and issue only inter-operable equipment to provide consumers the freedom to switch operators without additional investments. The petitioner contended that DTH operators who provided network-locked STBs were contravening clauses 7.1 and 7.2 of the licence norms.

The TDSAT is understood to have completed hearings and has reserved judgment on the case.

东经108度轨道位置的电信1号卫星C频段，Ten TV（印尼）频道新增，设置4006 H 6000参数免费接收。[09-17]
东经100.5度轨道位置的亚洲5号卫星C频段，Vision 2 Drama（电影）频道解密，设置3960 H 27500参数免费接收。[09-17]
东经75度轨道位置的ABS-1号卫星Ku频段，REN TV（俄罗斯）频道新增，设置12640 V 22000参数有条件接收。[09-17]
东经95度轨道位置的新天6号卫星Ku频段，Thai Star TV（泰国）频道新增，设置11676 H 27500参数免费接收。[09-17]
东经108度轨道位置的电信1号卫星C频段，KBS World（韩国）频道新增，设置3972 H 2300参数免费接收。[09-17]
东经78.5度轨道位置的泰星5号卫星C频段，Nice Channel（泰国）频道新增，设置3600 H 26667参数免费接收。[09-17]

Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Motor Sport show/feed FREQ: 3753 POL: V SR: 6111 Name: SPORTSBRAND ENC2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) VDO: 4:2:2 FREQ: 3764 POL: H SR: 6111 NAME: GlobeCast 15
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) KDDI ITC Tokyo Feed FREQ: 3886 POL: V SR: 6119 NAME: KDDI 8.134M 525N
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) The Tourist Trailer by Pacific Television FREQ: 3744 POL: V SR: 6111 Feed Name: GLOBECAST SYDNEY ENC4
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) FINA World Sync Swimming Champs FREQ: 3691 POL: V SR: 14399 VDO: HDTV NAME: CCTV HY1
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Studio feed Same as Yesterday.FREQ:3784 POL: V SR: 5632 Name: SAMACOM-FEED
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Survivor Nicaragua feed FREQ: 3748 POL: V SR: 13333 VDO: 4:2:2 Name: TANDBERG SERVICE
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Chinese Earthquake Meeting feed FREQ: 3784 POL: V SR: 6111 VDO: FTA NAME: AMNSSG Enc-7
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) ST-Teleport FREQ: 4104 POL: V SR: 6666 VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) PTV DSNG FREQ: 3773 POL: V SR: 3333 VDO: FTA Name: PTV DSNG C BAND
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) ST-TELEPORT FREQ: 3913 POL: V SR: 6111 VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) GLOBECAST OZ TEST PATTEN FREQ: 3753 POL: V SR: 6111 NAME: Globecast Oz HD Enc 2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) News Feed with video lock error FREQ: 3886 POL: V SR: 6111 NAME: DAANMOGOT E/S VDO: FTA
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Talking head FREQ: 3744 POL: V SR: 6111 Name: UKI 587 Path 1 6.111
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) feed with no name in PMT table FREQ: 3712 POL:H SR: 4167
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Test Pattern FREQ: 4104 POL: V SR: 6666 VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) ST TELEPORT FREQ: 4093 POL: V SR: 6666 VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) ST TELEPORT FREQ: 3886 POL: V SR: 6111 VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Starting in French FREQ: 4104 POL: V SR: 6666 NAME: Fi11EVC WIF VDO: 4:2:2
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Soccer AFC News Show Feed FREQ: 3886 POL: V SR: 6111 VDO: 4:2:2 NAME: ST TELEPORT
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Bloomberg talking head FREQ: 3913 POL: V SR: 6111VDO: FTA NAME: REACH PVU PLUS 1
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) FREQ: 3794 POL: V SR: 3308 VDO: 4:2:2 Name: Tandberg Service
Asiasat 5 (100.5e) Talking head in Japan - English financial news FREQ: 3773 POL: H SR: 6666 VDO: FTA

Telstar 18 138E 3599 V "ETTV Asia News, Yoyo TV America and ETTV Asia" are now encrypted.

东经128度轨道位置的日本通信3号卫星C频段，华人商业（台亚卫星）频道消失，设置4120 V 30000参数无效接收。[09-16]
东经83度轨道位置的印星4A号卫星C频段，India News Haryana（MPEG-4）频道消失，设置3756 H 13333参数无效接收。[09-16]
东经134度轨道位置的亚太6号卫星C频段，国际教育替换汉语文化（中国）频道，设置3840 H 27500参数免费接收。[09-16]
东经90度轨道位置的雅玛尔201号卫星C频段，Doma TV替换Ru TV（俄罗斯）频道，设置3954 L 29500参数免费接收。[09-15]
东经80度轨道位置的快车MD1号卫星C频段，Home(+7h)（俄罗斯）频道新增，设置3875 R 32000参数有条件接收。[09-15]
东经76.5度轨道位置的亚太2R号卫星C频段，HBO（高清）频道消失，设置3960 H 29300参数无效接收。[09-15]

16 September, 2010The Government announced today that New Zealand will complete the switch to digital television by 2013.

‘'Our election promise was to achieve digital switchover (DSO) by 2015 at the latest. With 70 percent of New Zealand households already watching digital television, we are in a good position to set a date for DSO,'' says Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘'In achieving DSO by the end of 2013, all of New Zealand will receive the benefit of enhanced reception, better picture quality and more channels. There will be a substantial wider economic benefit generated by the use of freed up spectrum for new technology.

‘'Achieving DSO earlier brings forward the total economic benefits which are estimated to be in the range of $1.1 billion to $2.4 billion over 20 years.

''Countries the world over are going through the same process and by achieving DSO it means New Zealand keeps pace with technological developments.''

Digital switchover will be phased starting with Hawke's Bay and the West Coast in September 2012. The rest of the country will switch over in three stages with an end date of November 2013.

Communications and IT Minister Steven Joyce says digital television technology makes much more efficient use of radio spectrum than analogue technology, freeing up a large amount of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for new uses.

"We expect this spectrum will be ideal for 4G mobile technologies, which will give New Zealanders access to faster mobile broadband services and with improved coverage.''

The 700 MHz band has good coverage qualities which make it more economic for mobile service providers and also more attractive for providing rural wireless broadband.

"With this spectrum being made available for new uses New Zealand remains competitive on the world stage. The implementation of 4G technology will be crucial if New Zealand is to continue to improve its productivity, prosperity and economic growth," says Mr Joyce.

Households that have Freeview, Sky or TelstraClear, are already set for digital switchover. Other viewers do not need to buy a new television to make the switch, but may need to buy a set-top box and possibly a new aerial or satellite dish depending on what equipment they currently have and where they live.

A campaign will be launched later this year to provide additional information and support.

More information on digital switchover is available from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage: http://www.mch.govt.nz/

Digital Switchover is the process of consumers making the changes necessary for them to receive digital TV signals.

Digital television has been available in New Zealand for several years and offers viewers better quality pictures and more choice of channels. From September 2012 New Zealand's older analogue television network will be progressively switched off in favour of the digital signal.

rest of the South Island in April 2013
Lower North Island, Taranaki and Gisborne in September 2013, and
rest of the North Island in November 2013.
An information campaign will be launched later this year to provide additional information and support about the digital switchover.

70 percent of New Zealand households with television already receive a digital television signal. If you currently watch your television through Freeview, SKY or TelstraClear then you are already watching digital television.

There are two ways to receive digital TV, either by installing a Freeview set-top box or subscribing to a pay television service such as Sky or TelstraClear.

No. While most new TVs have inbuilt tuners which will receive Freeview signals throughout most of New Zealand, the purchase of a new TV is not required. For TVs without an inbuilt digital tuner, you can simply install a set-top box.

To make the switch, all that most people will need is a set-top box which currently retails for between $150 and $200. It can be easily installed by plugging it into the back of the television and plugging the aerial lead into the set-top box.

The majority of New Zealand households already have an existing UHF aerial or satellite dish. If you do not have either, you may have to purchase one. For more information on options and equipment go to http://www.freeviewnz.tv/

Depending on people's circumstances, they may wish to have their equipment professionally installed. While the costs vary depending on the size of the house and the location of the aerial, it is likely to cost between $300 - $400 for a set-top box and a new aerial. This includes installation.

A UHF aerial can cost between $80-100; a satellite dish (with mounting kit) costs between $200-$250.

Local retailers should be able to provide you with more advice on what you need. Once the set-top box and right aerial or satellite dish are installed, if needed, there is no ongoing cost to watch Freeview.

Further information on equipment, installation and digital switch-over is available from http://www.mch.govt.nz/

The uptake of digital television has grown by five percent a year for the past two years despite limited publicity of the pending digital switchover. With an information campaign to be launched later this year, we expect the uptake level to grow.

Overseas experience has shown there will be a small proportion of the population in genuine need that will require government assistance to make the switch. We will be monitoring digital take-up rates closely.

Details of on assistance package for those people who genuinely do not have the resources to make the switch will be available in late-2011.

In September 2012 the Hawke's Bay and the West Coast will be the first regions in New Zealand to receive television signals via digital transmission only. The rest of the country will be switched over in four stages with an end date of November 2013. Precise dates will be announced closer to the time. Those who don't have a digital receiver after this date won't be able to watch TV.

Freeing up the spectrum provides economic opportunities and allows space to introduce 4G mobile telephone services. This provides for a faster and more modern service.

Having a significant amount of spectrum available for new uses will enable New Zealand to keep up with international developments in wireless communications and information technology, to improve productivity and economic performance.

If you wish, you can choose to connect multiple televisions to a single set-top box. Because you will select the channel you wish to watch using the set-top box, rather than with your television, all televisions connected to the same set-top box will be tuned in to the same channel at the same time.

However, you may wish to make each of your televisions independently digital ready, by connecting a separate set-top box to each of them.
No matter how many televisions and set-top boxes you end up with, you will only need a single aerial or satellite dish.

The Government is in discussion with the broadcasting industry about extending DTT. Indicatively, we expect the following areas to be covered by the extension: Invercargill, Timaru, Nelson, Wairarapa, Gisborne, Wanganui, Taranaki, Taupo, Rotorua and Whangarei.

The Ministry of Economic Development estimates that freeing up the spectrum has an economic advantage of $1.1 billion - $2.4 billion for the economy over the next 20 years due to the lower costs of deploying mobile networks in the 700 MHz band, resulting in lower costs for consumers.

98% of New Zealand homes have working televisions.
70% of homes with TVs have already switched at least one set to digital.
There is regional variation in levels of digital uptake:

West Coast 81%
Northland 78%
Wellington 76%
Otago 74%
Tasman/ Nelson/ Marlborough 73%
Waikato 71%
Hawke’s Bay/ Gisborne 70%
Auckland 70%
Taranaki 70%
Southland 68%
Bay of Plenty 67%
Canterbury 66%
Manawatu/ Wanganui 62%
Digital television is popular with viewers with nine per cent of households having both Freeview and Sky/ TelstraClear.

The quality of signal transmission and awareness of digital television are contributing factors to the variation in regional uptake.

Switchover will extend television coverage to all New Zealanders and free up airwaves for new services such as ultra-fast wireless broadband and mobile television.

Viewers benefit from better quality picture and sound, including the capacity for High Definition (HD) and even 3D, and for many viewers - especially in more remote and/or rugged terrain areas - improved reception.

Viewers also benefit from a wider range of channels and advanced features - such as the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) which allows viewers to use their TV to find out the schedule for upcoming shows. Some viewers will also benefit from digital TV's capacity for specialist services, such as audio descriptions which can assist those with visual impairment, and improved subtitling which can assist those with hearing impairment.

Analogue is the way that we have received television signals since television began. The digital signal can carry much more information than analogue resulting in near DVD picture and sound quality. It also allows broadcasters to offer more channels and a range of new and different services.

UHF is the ultra-high frequency range within the radio spectrum. It is used mainly for the transmission of television and telecommunications signals.

The 700 MHz band is a range of frequencies in the radio spectrum. The 700 MHz band is particularly suitable for the provision of new 4G mobile communication services which will give New Zealanders access to faster mobile broadband services and improved coverage.

The United States, for example is building mobile networks in this band and other countries are also planning similar networks. This will help New Zealand to have access to cheaper equipment, building a stronger economy and supporting the increased use of mobile data devices.

The United States and parts of the EU have already completed the DSO change.
The United Kingdom switchover will be completed in 2012.
Australia is aiming to complete DSO in late 2013.
Information on the Digital Switch Over and digital television packages is available from:

Television viewers in all major New Zealand towns are set to benefit from the Government’s announcement today that digital switchover will take place in 2013.

That’s the message from Freeview, the free-to-air digital televison and radio broadcasting platform, which has welcomed the date set by Broadcasting Minister Dr. Jonathan Coleman and the Government’s intention to migrate all viewers from analogue to digital Television.

The extension of the Digital terrestrial network (DTT) , will increase Freeview|HD®, coverage from 75% of the population to about 87% meaning even more Kiwis will now be able to access the benefits of High Definition television for free.

The launch of Freeview three years ago was the most significant broadcasting moment since the introduction of colour TV 30 years ago and since then we’ve grown swiftly, so much so that Freeview is now being enjoyed by viewers in more than a quarter of New Zealand homes (i.e. a total of 419,945 or 26.1 % of Kiwi households as at June 30th, 2010). Importantly, with Freeview and a one off purchase, all New Zealanders can continue to get great Televison for free ,” says Sam Irvine, General Manager, Freeview.

Today’s announcement also means a further year of funding for Freeview, more efficient use of spectrum and the availability of new technologies, all of which will enable us to continue providing the Kiwi viewing public with a compelling free-to-air offer,” he adds.

SKY Television confirmed today its support of the Government's plan to switch off all analogue television transmitters and move to an all digital television environment by 2013.

Digital switchover will put New Zealand on a par with other OECD countries such as Australia where all analogue television will be switched off and replaced with digital by 2013 and the UK by 2012.

More than 800,000 New Zealand homes already receive their digital television through SKY, receiving all the key free-to-air television channels and key radio channels including National Radio and Concert FM, as these services are automatically included in whatever package that they choose.

SKY's digital satellite service reaches all New Zealand homes and offers viewers crystal clear reception and high quality audio, more content choices through additional channels and most importantly, High Definition channels through SKY's personal video recorder, MY SKY HDi.

John Fellet, SKY Chief Executive says "The goal of FreeView is to encourage Analogue Television Viewers to convert to Digital in order free up existing Analogue spectrum which can be repurposed for modern communications. To this end the Government has already invested millions of dollars in content and infrastructure. Until the switch off happens New Zealand can not receive the Digital Dividend.”

Throughout New Zealand, consumers will now be considering more than ever what digital option to choose - with just a quick call to SKY on 0800 759759, its "one stop shop" approach is designed to make the transition to digital simple and uncomplicated.

SKY Television is New Zealand’s pre-eminent pay television operator, offering a wide range of sports, movies, music, on-demand and general content across more than 110 channels. SKY’s channel line-up includes 8 sports channels, 6 movie channels, 7 general entertainment channels, 6 documentary channels, 5 news channels, 4 children’s channels, as well as other niche and special interest channels. (As of 25 June 2010, SKY had 800,000 subscribers).

SKY launched as a three-channel UHF service in 1990, with two further channels added four years later. SKY’s UHF signal reached more than 83% of the country’s 1.5 million households. In December 1998 SKY launched a digital satellite service, extending its reach to the whole country. More than 47% of New Zealand homes subscribe to SKY. The analogue UHF service closed down on 10 March 2010.

SKY also offers pay-per-view movies, live events and interactive services including Skybet, the Weather Channel, and games channels Mind Games and PlayinTV and is also the cornerstone shareholder in Fatso, New Zealand’s premier on line DVD rental service.

In July 2008 SKY launched MYSKYHDi, a new High Definition decoder and PVR with Dolby Digital surround sound, IPTV capability and increased storage. SKY currently offers seven MPEG 4 High Definition television channels (SKY Sport 1 and 2, SKY Movies and SKY Movies Greats, TV3 HD, TVONE HD and TV2 HD) to subscribers.

.On 8 February 2006, SKY completed the purchase of the New Zealand television business of PRIME Television Ltd. The acquisition of a free-to-air channel gives SKY the opportunity to showcase its channels and programmes whilst ensuring that New Zealand consumers can view delayed free-to-air sports programmes such as rugby, rugby league and cricket in primetime.

Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited, the creator of CASPATM On-Demand and the exclusive licensee of TiVo® products in New Zealand and Australia and DDD Group plc (DDD) are delighted to announce that TiVo customers who own a 3D television will be the first in New Zealand to enjoy 3D content delivered over broadband to the TV via CASPA. From today, CASPA On-Demand offers 3D content, following a distribution agreement with DDD to deliver 3D content to the CASPA On-Demand platform for TiVo customers with 3D TVs to enjoy. The CASPA offering now includes DDD’s Yabazam™ 3D animations and short films. In coming months, the CASPA 3D Fun category will grow to include a diverse range of 3D content from DDD’s Yabazam™ catalogue, featuring everything from animation and extreme sports, to documentaries, indie shorts, comedy and music videos.

The introduction of DDD’s Yabazam content to the ever-growing CASPA portfolio further reinforces Hybrid TV’s commitment to becoming the leading provider of high quality 3D content delivered direct to the TV. In June, Hybrid TV announced that Australian TiVo customers could timeshift 3D broadcasts and launched the first 3D on-demand content on CASPA, featuring a range of Disney 3D movie trailers for upcoming cinematic release films. Now Hybrid TV is delivering on its promise with DDD providing CASPA customers across the Tasman with a growing assortment of pay-per-view 3D short films and animations, ranging between five minutes to one hour in length.
“We are thrilled to be providing the first 3D video on-demand content over CASPA to all our New Zealand TiVo customers. We are extremely proud that our very first offering is a diverse range of 3D content which allows TiVo customers in New Zealand with 3D TVs, to get a real taste of 3D entertainment.

“It’s been a mammoth year for 3D – even bigger for CASPA customers with a 3D TV! Gone are the days of driving to the video store and paying late fees, CASPA delivers quality entertainment direct to your living room, giving you the freedom to watch what you want from the comfort of your lounge. With the ever- growing CASPA content offering, open to all TiVo customers regardless of their Internet provider, there is every reason to get a TiVo,” said Robbee Minicola, Chief Executive, Hybrid TV.

“Since November of last year, owners of the latest 3D notebook computers have been able to enjoy DDD’s library of high definition 3D content offered at Yabazam.com, and thanks to Hybrid TV a whole new audience of 3D television owners will be able to experience that same quality 3D programming through the CASPA platform,” explained Jay Wiskerchen, General Manager of DDD’s Content Group. “Compelling 3D content is an important component of a successful consumer 3D market and we’re very proud to be working with Hybrid TV to deliver this to TiVo subscribers.”

DDD’s Yabazam content will be available for download via CASPA through TiVo on a pay-per view basis. Prices range between $2.95 and $6.95 and can be viewed as many times as the viewer wishes for 48 hours after the download commences. The Yabazam 3D content will add to the existing CASPA portfolio of more than 475 on-demand movies, 2000+ hrs of TV shows, music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

To access and enjoy the DDD Yabazam 3D content on TiVo, go to TiVo Central>CASPA On-Demand>Movies>3D Fun.
Visit the mytivo.co.nz website now for a special TiVo offer. Purchase online to get a TiVo and wireless adaptor for only $750, saving $238 (RRP).

About Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited
Hybrid Television Services is the exclusive licensee of TiVo products in New Zealand and Australia. The TiVo media device is Freeview|HD compatible in New Zealand and Freeview compliant in Australia. In late 2009, Hybrid Television Services (New Zealand) Limited launched its proprietary content and service platform CASPA On-Demand in the New Zealand market, premiering in the TiVo device.

The TiVo product was originally pioneered in 1997 in the USA by TiVo Inc. In 2008, TiVo technology was brought to Australia by Hybrid Television Services (ANZ) Pty Limited in August 2008 and was launched in New Zealand 1 November 2009. Hybrid TV is owned by the Seven Media Group (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand). For more information see http://www.mytivo.com.au/, http://www.mytivo.co.nz/, http://www.hybridtv.com.au/, http://www.hybridsmartstreet.com.au/

About DDD Group
DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with applications for 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable: 3D viewing with and without glasses; simple integration of computer games applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; distribution of native 3D movies through its Yabazam content portal; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD's shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market (AIM: DDD).

DHAKA, Sep 15, 2010 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Bangladeshi government will launch its own satellite for improvement of information and communication technology and making those facilities easier, said a government press release on Wednesday.
According to the press, the satellite will upgrade the broadcasting facilities of the country to international standard.

The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday. The meeting discussed various technical aspects in launching the satellite, possible cost and implementation of the project.

Experts said that installation of the satellite will take three years and the cost is estimated about 200 to 300 million U.S dollars.

The meeting focused on formation of a national expert committee for quick implementation of the project.

Hollywood studios and the maker and licensing authority of the High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection standard were scrambling Wednesday to determine whether a so-called “master key” to the anti-piracy encryption technology has leaked onto the internet.

HDCP is a copy-protection technology that encrypts high-definition video traveling between set-top boxes and televisions. The technology, built by Intel, was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in 2004, and is a standard feature in televisions, cable boxes, satellite receivers and Blu-ray players in much of the modern world.

A purported master crypto key for HDCP appeared Monday on the clipboard site Pastebin, and has since been mirrored on hundreds of other websites, in a scene reminiscent of the 1999 crack of the CSS Content Scrambling System that once protected DVDs from copying.

“We are investigating whether this is real or a rumor,” said Howard Gantman, a Motion Picture Association of America vice president, in a telephone interview Wednesday.

That sentiment was echoed by an Intel spokesman. “We are still investigating the facts behind the stories on this. Until we’ve completed that, we don’t have more to say than this,” wrote Tom Waldrop in an e-mail.

But even if the code is real, it might not immediately foster piracy as the cracking of CSS on DVDs did more than a decade ago. Unlike CSS, which could be implemented in software, HDCP requires custom hardware. The threat model for Hollywood, then, isn’t that a hacker could use the master key to generate a DeCSS-like program for HD, but that shady hardware makers, perhaps in China, might eventually create and sell black-market HDCP cards that would allow the free copying of protected high-def content.

“You could make a device that would impersonate a TV, that would receive the bits and save them to a hard drive,” said Paul Kocher, chief scientist at Cryptography Research in San Francisco. “I don’t think it is going to have an impact on Hollywood’s bottom line anytime soon.”

Kocher suspected somebody in the business of making HDCP-compatible devices, who had access to at least 50 individual keys, was able to reconstruct the master key — if it turns out to be real.

From http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Hughes-inaugurates-third-India-satellite-hub-at-Hyderabad/4932570027

The hub will cater to growing demand for satellite broadband connectivity and high bandwidth application services for Indian enterprise and SMBs

Hughes Communications, the leading provider of broadband networks inaugurated its third India satellite hub at Hyderabad. The hub will cater to growing demand for satellite broadband connectivity and high bandwidth application services for Indian enterprise and SMBs. It will also serve as a disaster recovery back-up site for several Hughes’ Indian customers besides its own existing hub in Gurgaon, which currently services 40,000 VSATs on shared hub. Hughes will invest 25 crore in this hub over the next three years.

Set up over 23,000 sq ft area, the new hub, working on DVB-S2 technology with ACM/AIS (Compensation technology for rain disruptions), makes Hughes the only satellite communications service provider in India to offer hub and satellite level redundancy to customers as both its KU hubs will operate on different satellites and in different geographies. It is equipped with the state of art network operating centre, monitoring tools, fiber optic termination for backhaul traffic, internet gateway and applications for content delivery and interactive onsite learning. Initially, the facility will have a single hub which will be scaled up to four to offer varied services across the value chain.

“India’s strong GDP growth continues to drive businesses beyond the major cities into the heartland creating new economic opportunities and aspirations for people. Connectivity has emerged as a key enabler for both business and Government to deliver services to this growing section of society. Broadband penetration in India hasn’t picked up in proportion to the growth of mobile subscribers and still vast areas remain un-served, presenting a huge opportunity for satellite operations. Geographic challenges in addressing these markets make satellite the most reliable form of technology delivering connectivity. The new hub marks yet another industry first from Hughes in terms of redundancy and backup and will focus on addressing the connectivity needs of the fast growing SMB segment in India,” said Partho Banerjee, President & MD, Hughes Communications.

“We are strategically locating this hub in Hyderabad in order to be closer to many south based customers.The new hub will support our existing offerings in interactive onsite learning, high speed-internet access, high speed content delivery service and our initiative on semi-urban and rural kiosks under the CSC initiative. We strongly believe these high bandwidth intensive applications will grow in demand exponentially and consolidate our position as a technology based solutions provider,” said Vidyut Kak, Senior Director Operations, Hughes Communications.

Hughes is the first service provider in India to introduce the DVB-S2 technology with ACM/AIS features. The technology is highly bandwidth efficient and offers an intelligent system to automatically improve link reliability and uptime during adverse weather conditions. The company has over 400 enterprise customers in India across various market verticals including Banking, Telecom, Retail, Broking, Government, Defense, and Online Distance Learning among others. It supports its clients in more than 5000+ cities and towns across the country

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/09/16/stories/2010091651440500.htm

One of the early movers into the Direct-to-Home TV platform, Tata Sky has announced its new pricing strategy. The company offers hardware (set-top box and antenna) at Rs 999.

Saying that the Rs 999 offer with ‘No conditions apply' clause is the first-of-its-kind in the country, Mr Vikram Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Sky, said the company would ensure availability of its set-top boxes across the country in all leading consumer electronic outlets. “We are confident that this pricing will catapult the process of digitisation across the country,” he said.

The service provider currently offers subscribers over 191 channels ranging from news, general entertainment, kids, music and sports. Besides, it also offers a host of interactive services under the brand name Active – such as education services for the young, English-speaking lessons, cooking recipes-on-demand and 24x7 darshan of leading temples. “Over one million Tata Sky homes are using the education services such as Actve English, Actve Learning and Actve Wizkids,” Mr Mehra said.

Clocking one million connections in its first year, Tata Sky, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Star, recently crossed a subscriber base of 5.5 million across 5,000 towns in the country.

From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/media/Broadcasters-say-Trai-not-fair-in-fixing-DTH-tariff/articleshow/6562239.cms

NEW DELHI: Leading broadcaster, including Zee Turner and Star Den Media Services, on Wednesday alleged before the broadcast tribunal TDSAT that sectoral watchdog TRAI was not transparent while fixing tariff for DTH and IPTV sectors.

Senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan appearing for Star Den Media and Sun TV said that TRAI without fixing the tariff for non-CAS has fixed tariff for DTH sector.

"What was the urgency of fixing DTH tariff in relation to non-CAS tariff though it has not been finalised," Srinivasan said.

In its tariff order to be effective from September 1, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) made it mandatory for broadcasters to make channels available to DTH cable operators in conditional access system (CAS) areas and IPTV providers at 35 per cent of the corresponding rates for normal cable operators.

Earlier the broadcasters charged it at 50 per cent. Senior counsel Maninder singh appearing for Zee Turner said that method of calculation of tariff is not reasonable as TRAI should have taken into consideration advertisement fee also.

NSS 6 95E 12595 V "Polimer" has started on , Conax.
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东经76.5度轨道位置的亚太2R号卫星C频段，HBO（高清）频道消失，设置3960 H 29300参数无效接收。[09-15]
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东经108.2度轨道位置的新天11号卫星Ku频段，为食台（TVB）测试频道新增，设置12691 V 26667参数有条件接收。[09-15]
东经75度轨道位置的ABS-1号卫星Ku频段，Perviy Igrovoy、Dom Kino（俄罗斯）频道消失，设置12640 V 22000参数无效接收。[09-14]
东经134度轨道位置的亚太6号卫星C频段，CEC（测试）频道新增，设置3840 H 27500问夥呀邮铡?/a>[09-14]

News Ltd, the Australian branch of Murdoch's global media empire, announced on Wednesday it had struck a deal to sell the Fiji Times to Fijian businessman Mahendra Motibhai Patel. Details were not disclosed.

Fiji's military-installed government introduced new regulations in June that required the newspaper company to make 90 per cent of its shareholders Fijian citizens within three months or face closure.

The measures were part of a media crackdown by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup and has installed censors in major television, newspaper and radio outlets to limit criticism of his rule. Foreign reporters and media managers have been expelled, and dozens of local journalists arrested and interrogated.

"We are reluctant sellers of the Fiji Times, but I am delighted that we have been able to find a buyer who will take over the business as a going concern, respect its heritage and invest in its future," News Ltd. CEO John Hartigan said in a statement.

The sale of Pacific Publications (Fiji) Ltd. to Motibhai & Co. Ltd. is subject to regulatory approval in Fiji and was expected to be finalized on Sept. 22, the statement said.

Patel was a non-executive director of the Fiji Times. He is a co-founder of the Motibhai Group, a diversified business with interests in importation, retailing and commercial real estate among other things, according to its website.

Motibhai said the Fiji Times would operate as an independent unit of the group, and that the new owners would try to ensure the paper remained the one preferred by most Fijians.

Bainimarama last year accused the Times and Fiji TV, the country's largest broadcaster, of being "perverse" and biased for not recognizing his government.

News Ltd and Motibhai did not mention the government in their joint statement on Wednesday.

Russia plans to restore its weather satellite network by 2030

At least six Meteor-type satellites will be necessary to provide sufficient data for independent weather forecasting.

Russia will fully rebuild its network of weather forecasting and monitoring satellites by 2030 under a state program for the development of meteorology, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.

At present, Russia has only one weather satellite, the Meteor-M type, in orbit and mostly uses meteorological data from U.S. and European weather agencies.

"The work on rebuilding the national space-based weather monitoring network is a priority task because Russia is lagging behind the developed countries in this area, which makes it difficult to ensure a fair exchange of meteorological data [between Russia and foreign countries]," the statement said.

According to Russian experts, at least six Meteor-type satellites will be necessary to provide sufficient data for independent weather forecasting.

In addition, Russia is planning to launch a separate satellite network to monitor climatic changes and survey energy resources in the Arctic region.

The Arktika (Arctic) satellite grouping, which is worth around 70 billion rubles ($2.5 billion), will comprise at least two sun-synchronous orbit satellites and two high-elliptic orbit satellites.

"The future decisions on the development of the national space-based weather monitoring network will be made in line with the prospects and achievements in the technology of monitoring devices, in satellite engineering and in communications," the government said.

MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti)

Viaccess to Launch a New Generation Smart Card: PC5

From http://smart-products.tmcnet.com/topics/smart-products/articles/101670-viaccess-launch-new-generation-smart-card-pc5.htm

A new generation smart card, PC5, designed to fight the latest forms of piracy, including Control Word sharing piracy, regardless of the distribution network, will be launched by Viaccess, a France Telecom (News - Alert) company and leader in global content security.

Viaccess, for the first time will present the PC5 smart card, which is specifically designed to combat the current piracy market that has evolved today and to continue to protect the assets of Viaccess’ Pay-TV clients. Viaccess’ strategy to supply customers with a new card every 24 months to remain a step ahead of piracy, is reinforced by the same.

Some of the new features and benefits of the PC5 to provide 360 degree security services for operators include:

--Advanced Content Protection - The new PC5 smart card is engineered to provide future-proof content protection. It also offers optimal compatibility with existing and deployed set-top-boxes

--Flexible Content Protection - PC5, on trusted STBs, introduces over the air renewability of the CW protection system. With this, the CW security mechanisms that protect the connection between the smartcard and the STB, is enhanced.

--Increased Operator ROI and Management of Security Over Time - PC5 has embedded renewability against Pay-TV threats, including a card loader. PC5 implements over-the-air renewability of smart card software for increased protection against illegal modifications and emulations. These are few of new and additional means for operators to manage security over time and maintain the highest level of security versus evolving security risks

“While some other companies seem to forget that security and anti-piracy are the cornerstones of the conditional access business and/or neglect the importance of fighting effectively on the field new forms of piracy, Viaccess confirms its focus on these fundamental components of its 360° security strategy which is illustrated in our PC5 smart card,” François Moreau de Saint Martin, CEO, Viaccess, said.

“PC5 has been designed according to an in-depth analysis of the threats for the business of the pay TV operators, considering the latest evolutions of the piracy business. PC5 embeds technologies targeting modified original smartcards, smartcard emulations and other threats, and it also embeds brand new technologies against card sharing and control word sharing over different networks such as satellite and the open Internet,” he added.

In related news, Orca Interactive (News - Alert), an Israeli provider of IPTV middleware and applications, and a Viaccess subsidiary has been selected by France Telecom, to provide the COMPASS content discovery and recommendations platform for the implementation of a multi-screen content discovery and recommendation solution across all the Orange (News - Alert) TV related services.

MultiChoice Installs Thomson ViBE SD Encoders for High-Density Headend Performance in South Africa

From http://ibc.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=1202786

DMN Newswire--2010-9-13--South African pay-television operator MultiChoice has become the first broadcaster to install Thomson Video Networks' (formerly the digital headend division of Grass Valley) new ViBE EM2000 dual-channel SD encoders, as part of an infrastructure expansion for its Johannesburg headend facilities broadcasting to sub-Saharan Africa. The recently introduced ViBE EM2000 allows MultiChoice to achieve high-density expansion of its headend capability, with the potential for easy, modular growth to meet increasing demand for services.

The ViBE EM2000 encoders are deployed by MultiChoice within the framework of a 14+2 redundant IP architecture designed to support multiple transponders with output from Thomson NetProcessor multiplexers. Future growth of capacity will require only the addition of extra encoders.

"It was vital for MultiChoice to provide the highest quality video at the lowest possible bit rate, while building a physically dense infrastructure at the headend to meet space constraints," said Gerdus van Eeden, chief technology officer at MultiChoice. "With the Thomson ViBE EM2000 dual-channel encoders and the NetProcessor with its multiple output capability, we have been doing this, laying a good foundation for quick and cost-effective future expansion when required."

The ViBE SD MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AVC encoder establishes a new benchmark for SD encoding and is perfect for satellite and terrestrial broadcast applications and high-end IPTV operations, ensuring the best viewing experience on all devices over any network.

Combining compression efficiency features, including the complete MPEG-4 AVC toolset, and advanced preprocessing, it delivers clearer pictures with increased depth and clarity. The ViBE EM1000 and ViBE EM2000 MPEG SD encoders include a Mustang Compression engine, offering premium compression and true multipass encoding. Together they deliver MPEG-4 AVC compression at more than 50-percent efficiency compared to existing MPEG-2 systems.

This encoder line can be configured as single-channel or multi-channel units, where the latter offers the advantage of both a reduced footprint and lower power consumption per channel. Each channel can be independently configured for MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 encoding, extending the possibilities for hybrid applications. Both encoders tap the Dolby(R) Digital and AAC audio compression formats and support up to eight stereo pairs of audio.

"This first installation of the dual-channel ViBE EM2000 was completed against a very tight schedule, and in the context of on-air service," said Christophe Delahousse, president, Thomson Video Networks. "The high efficiency of the ViBE encoders has enabled MultiChoice to create the platform for continuing success in the region."

###

About MultiChoice MultiChoice started as the subscriber management arm of M-Net. Today it is the leading multi-channel digital satellite television operator across the African continent. Its dynamic technology platform and varied bouquet of channels, built on a foundation of compelling premium entertainment, has seen MultiChoice grow its business across South Africa. MultiChoice provides its DStv services to different market segments. The DStv bouquets cater for different lifestyles and pockets, from entry level to Premium. DStv is also available as a niche service for the Indian and Portuguese communities. M-Net and SuperSport are part of the MultiChoice stable, which delivers premium channels and content to a growing number of subscribers. Oracle, DStv Mobile, MWEB, DStv Online, CommerceZone, SmartVillage, and NMSCom also form part of the group. MultiChoice is one of the outstanding examples of a pioneering South African company, owned by Naspers, an international player providing entertainment, technology, and e-commerce services. MultiChoice's involvement in South Africa goes beyond its core business. Through its corporate social investment, the company actively participates in social transformation, and through technology it enables individuals and communities to help themselves, ultimately leading to growth of the economy of the country.

About Thomson Video Networks From the very onset of digital TV broadcasting, the Thomson name has been synonymous with supplying expertise, quality, and reliability to the world's leading broadcasters. Thomson Video Networks builds on this great heritage by providing unique and innovative video delivery solutions for a premium viewing experience. The Thomson Video Networks philosophy, since delivering the world's first large scale direct-to-home satellite system, has always been the same -- to provide the best possible picture quality across any networks, to any devices. As a worldwide leader in compression systems for satellite, terrestrial, cable, IPTV, mobile TV, and Web streaming, Thomson Video Networks is helping its customers deliver superior quality video to anything from small handheld devices to large 3D high-definition screens, with the lowest bandwidth to ensure a profitable business model. A trusted supplier with more than 20 percent of the active channels deployed worldwide, a global support presence, and culture of delivering quality at every stage, Thomson Video Networks boasts the experience and range of products to supply every need, from hybrid multiformat compression systems to contribution links for content exchange networks.

About Technicolor Technicolor is a company listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and NYSE stock exchanges, and this press release may contain certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors beyond Technicolor's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed, forecasted, or implied by such forward-looking statements due to changes in global economic and business conditions, risks related to its debt restructuring, and risks related to its operations in general. A more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties can be found by referring to Technicolor's Form 20-F (formerly Thomson) and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Technicolor's Rapport Annuel and other filings with the French Autorité des marchés financiers.

Nevion supplies Essel Shyam`s state-of-the-art play-out facility for Star TV with VikinX Modular routers for master control

From http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=1203472

September 14, 2010 --

DMN Newswire--2010-9-14--Nevion, formerly Network/VPG, a leading video transport solutions provider for broadcasters, service providers and government entities worldwide, has supplied Star TV's state-of-the-art play-out facility with its highly reliable and easy to use VikinX Modular 256x256 SD/HD video routers for master control. The facility is based in Noida, India, and operated by Essel Shyam Communication Limited (ESCL), a leading systems integrator and provider of telecom, IT and broadcasting technology solutions for enterprises, media companies, governments and security agencies.

When Star TV's play-out facility was designed, one of the most important criteria was to ensure that it is reliable and fail-safe. ESCL had used Nevion's various routing solutions in the past, and for this particular project, decided Nevion's VikinX Modular 256 expandable and upgradable router was the right product for the heart of its play-out system to help interconnect servers and edit suites, and produce final output for transmission, as well as other applications.

"We chose Nevion's VikinX Modular router for our play-out facility primarily for its reliability and seamless integration with our third-party systems controllers," said Rajesh Yadvendu, senior vice president, technical at ESCL. "It also works well with our advance SNMP alarm notification which alerts us to any possible errors. The service we've received from Nevion has been efficient and the sales and technical support provided by their team continues to exceed our expectations."

The VikinX Modular range of powerful routing products has been designed and built with flexibility, reliability and affordability as the most important design criteria, which fitted with the requests for the Star TV facility. The VikinX Modular router accommodates the industry's widest range of signal formats, including 3G/HD/SD-SDI, ASI, analog audio and AES/EBU, with the ability to mix signals in the same frame.

"We've worked with ESCL for over five years and our business with them has grown exponentially," said Ebby John, sales director for Nevion Middle East, India and Africa. "Our design philosophy for simplicity and ease of operations ensures minimal training requirements and this is one of the key reasons why our relationships with Essel Shyam and other major broadcast systems integrators have flourished and we've seen increased demand for our cost effective and reliable solutions in the region."

Nevion have supplied a large number of VikinX compact routers ranging from 8x8 to 64x64 for analog video, SD, HD and 3GHD applications, and Modular routers ranging from 64x64 to 256x256 for key installations by ESCL and other key partners in the region.

About Essel Shyam
Essel Shyam Communication Ltd (ESCL) is the leading provider of telecom, IT and broadcasting technology solutions for enterprises, broadcast and media companies, governments and security agencies. Bringing together the discipline of a service provider and the experience of a technology user, ESCL has developed world-class customer solutions. Today, ESCL stands tall with an enviable track record, an impeccable reputation, particularly in the media services segment, a comprehensive VSAT Hub and a multi-channel, multi-satellite MCPC Earth Station in Noida and an all-India service support network to maintain the company's nearly 4,000 shared-hub VSATs installed all over the country. ESCL's achievements include the largest DSNG/flyaway fleet in India, largest numbers of satellite channels being uplinked from their commercial teleport(s), largest number of channels using ESCL play-out services, international channels using domestic play-out services for international feed, premier VSAT service providers in the country, Class A internet service providers, live video streaming services, RFID-based asset management solution for the broadcasting and other industries, play-out/newsroom automation services, turnkey system integration expertise, transmission (teleport, DSNG) solutions, TV station (studio, newsroom, play-out, automation) solutions, telecom and IT infrastructure solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.esselshyam.net/.

About Nevion
Nevion is a video transport solution provider for broadcasters, telecommunications service providers and government entities worldwide. With the most flexible and scalable video processing and transport over any network, Nevion puts power, reliability and quality behind global media transport solutions. Its Ventura, Flashlink and VikinX product lines deliver the full range of content transport, signal processing, and routing solutions, with comprehensive system management and control. With the lowest carbon footprint in the industry, Nevion products are the greenest of their kind, reducing customers' operational expenses and benefiting the environment. Nevion maintains its world headquarters in Sandefjord, Norway and U.S. headquarters in Oxnard, CA, with global offices in Singapore, Dubai, and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit http://www.nevion.com/.

Videocon d2h launches new range of satellite LCDs

From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Hardware/articleshow/6553777.cms

MUMBAI: Leading direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Videocon d2h has launched a new range of LCDs, which receive signals directly from the satellite without use of any set top box (STB).

The in-built STB offers perfect picture quality by ensuring no signal loss. Available in 16 models from 19-inch to 42-inch screen size, the Videocon d2h LCD range is priced between Rs 12,990 and Rs 59,990, the company said in a statement here today.

Depending on the model of purchase, customers are eligible for complimentary subscription of 3-12 months offering 260 channels across several genres like music, new, movies, entertainment and education, it said.

"The Videocon d2h Satellite LCD range is designed keeping in mind the sensibilities and tastes of the Indian viewer," Videocon Group Chief Marketing Officer (Consumer Electronics & Home Appliances Business) Jaideep Rathore said.

"The Satellite LCD range is the first in the world with an in-built set-top-box providing uncomplicated and superior experience to our customers," he said.

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Telstar 18 138E 4033 V "AXN Beyond Malaysia" has started on , DVB-S2, MPEG-4, HD, PowerVu.

AsiaSat 5 100.5E 3710 V "AXN Korea" has started on , DVB-S2, MPEG-4, HD, PowerVu.

Intelsat 15 85.2E 12523 V "Nat Geo Wild HD Europe" has started on , MPEG-4, HD, Irdeto.

东经138度轨道位置的亚太5号卫星C频段，Set One（高清）频道新增，设置4033 V 8888参数有条件接收。[09-14]
东经132度轨道位置的越南1号卫星Ku频段，HBO、国家地理、卫视电影（高清）频道新增，设置11670 H 28800参数有条件接收。[09-14]
东经85.2度轨道位置的国际15号卫星Ku频段，国家地理野生（高清）频道新增，设置12523 V 9950参数有条件接收。[09-14]
东经146度轨道位置的马布海2号卫星C频段，GMA Life TV（菲律宾）等全频道改频率，设置3905 V 4444参数有条件接收。[09-13]
东经83度轨道位置的印星4A号卫星C频段，HBC News（印度）频道新增，设置3756 H 13333参数免费接收。[09-13]
东经140度轨道位置的快车AM3号卫星Ku频段，Mir Seriala（俄罗斯）频道消失，设置11665 V 39500参数无效接收。[09-13]

东经146度轨道位置的马布海2号卫星C频段，GMA Life TV（菲律宾）等全频道改频率，设置3905 V 4444参数有条件接收。[09-13]
东经83度轨道位置的印星4A号卫星C频段，HBC News（印度）频道新增，设置3756 H 13333参数免费接收。[09-13]
东经140度轨道位置的快车AM3号卫星Ku频段，Mir

Kuala Lumpur, 13 September 2010 – MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“MEASAT”) announced today an agreement with Phumelela Gold Enterprises (“PGE”) to provide C-band capacity for the distribution of its equestrian sports channel via MEASAT-3.

PGE, a joint venture between Phumelela and Gold Circle, is the leading equestrian sports and gaming operators in South Africa. PGE owns and manages the domestic and international broadcast and information rights to South African equestrian sports including Tellytrack and Racing International. PGE beams South African equestrian sports live to numerous countries through Racing International, which has satellite capacity over four-fifths of the globe.
“With the inclusion of PGE on MEASAT-3, we will have a total of three equestrian sports channels on our fleet, alongside CSS and Sky Channel. This places MEASAT as the top choice for this segment in the Asia Pacific region,” said Terry Bleakley, Vice President, Commercial Operations, MEASAT.

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to Asia’s leading broadcasters, DTH platforms and telecom operators. Operating four communications satellites, the MEASAT fleet is able to provide satellite capacity to over 145 countries representing 80% of the world’s population across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Australia. With the state of art MEASAT-3a satellite located at the Company’s key orbital slot at 91.5°E, the MEASAT fleet has a total of 100 transponders across four satellites.
Leveraging facilities at the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Centre, and working with a select group of world-class partners, MEASAT also provides a complete range of broadcast and telecommunications services including high definition and standard definition video playout, video turnaround, co-location, uplinking and IP termination services.

In the course of 50 years of development, China's space telemetry, tracking and control technology sector has evolved from scratch, formed a unique, multi-functional and air-ground space telemetry, tracking and control system, accomplished all space launch, telemetry, tracking and control tasks and has achieved eight key breakthroughs, according to the ceremony for the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Spacecraft Telemetry, Tracking and Control Committee under Chinese Society of Astronautics as well as the 25th Space Telemetry, Tracking and Control Academic Annual Meeting held in Beijing on Sept. 13.

The first breakthrough is the success in independent research and development of large optical and radio measurement instruments.

The second is the further leap forward in systematic planning, design and construction of missile and space telemetry, tracking and control networks that have focused on the three tasks of long-range missile whole-course flight tests, submarine-to-ground missile flight tests and geostationary communications satellite launch tests. The networks cover almost all types of missiles and satellites and have become part of China's comprehensive telemetry, tracking and control facilities.

Third, the scope of China's Space Tracking, Telemetry and Commanding (TT&C) network has expanded from land to oceans, which is marked by the establishment of the Yuanwang Fleet consisting of six surveying vessels.

Fourth, China independently developed several crucial technologies and built the communications network for manned space flights, which is a major breakthrough in the country's aerospace research.

Fifth, based on the establishment and utilization of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System and the Space-based TT&C System, the scope of China's tracking, telemetry and control network has extended from ground to space.

Sixth, the successful completion of the Chang'e-1 mission, which is part of China's lunar exploration program, represents a major breakthrough in the country's tracking, telemetry and control capabilities in deep space.

Seventh, China helped the International Maritime Satellite Organization build a satellite monitoring station in Beijing. This was the first time that China's space tracking, telemetry and control technologies were applied in the international market, and it has promoted China's cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations in satellite monitoring.

Eighth, China successfully exported a ground control station to Nigeria, which was China's first export of an entire ground control station. It has laid a good foundation for China's space tracking, telemetry and control technologies to occupy a prominent position on the international market.

Legality of satellite reception questioned

From http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100913/local/legality-of-satellite-reception-questioned

12% of households have satellite

A fast-selling satellite-based TV system called Dreambox is breaching the Copyright Act because it is being used to access foreign licensed channels unlawfully, legal experts believe.

Lawyers who spoke to The Times but insisted not to be named argued that, although the Dreambox and the equipment that comes with are not illegal, the distribution of content is because it involved the unauthorised use of codes of people, mostly foreigners, who were paying for the service and content.

Despite being in breach of the Copyright Act, however, the only authority that could act was the police because the Copyright Board did not have “muscle” to address the situation legally, the lawyers said. Yet, the police can only act on the strength of a formal complaint being filed by an injured party.

Oliver Weingarten, a UK solicitor who works for the Premier League, said that such “illegitimate” technologies were becoming popular around the world, with the potential of diluting rights of licensed broadcasters.

“What needs to be done in Malta is for legislation to be enacted which enables enforcement activity to be taken by the police, to act as an effective deterrent. Recently, this is what has happened in the UK and Cyprus, by way of example,” he said, adding it was only suppliers, rather than end-users, who were being targeted at this stage.

Questions sent to the police about the matter some weeks back remained unanswered at the time of writing. However, police sources said they would look into the matter if a complaint was received.

The Dreambox is a satellite receiver connected to a dish on the roof and to the internet. A series of codes are used to gain access to channels offering sports, films and other content. This is known as card sharing.

An exercise conducted by The Times among shops retailing satellite reception equipment revealed that, while many of them offer just the system without the content, others ask customers for their IP internet address to furnish them with the codes to unlock their favourite channels. This comes against a monthly fee of between €15 and €36, with the cheapest giving the user access to the basic channels.

Premier League matches and those of the Italian Serie A are available through Dreambox but their transmission in Malta is illegal because no one holds the rights to transmit the games in Malta via satellite channels, such as Sky UK or Sky Italia.

Earlier this year, several people were arrested in the UK and other European countries for their participation in a satellite card sharing website.

Although these systems have been on the market for a number of years, there was a surge in the purchase of Dreamboxes and satellite equipment in Malta when Go announced it had purchased the exclusive rights to broadcast English and Italian domestic leagues matches. The rights had previously been held by the other television service provider, Melita.

A seller advertising a Dreambox for sale on http://www.maltapark.com/, a popular Maltese classifieds site, said the Dreambox was not ideal to receive free-to-air channels: “You won’t have time to watch free-to-air given all the channels you’ll be receiving,” the seller said.

He explained that the system worked by someone sharing a subscription over the internet. “There are people who will try to make their service cheaper by sharing it with more than six sets. In these cases, the reception suffers,” the seller said, adding he could arrange for subscriptions costing €45 for three months.

Asked whether the system was legal, the seller paused for a while, then replied: “I don’t know...” and then adding: “I think it’s legal”.

Salesmen in two particular shops explained they could supply the equipment but then referred the “buyers” acting on behalf of The Times to “someone else” when asked about content.

Asked for more information on this “someone else” who provides the service, the salesmen said they did not have any details.

At another shop, the person behind the counter said he had a number of someone who provided the service but would only supply it if the client purchased the full satellite system from him.

When a representative of The Times visited the official Dreambox shop in St Andrew’s as a prospective buyer and not identifying himself as a journalist, the shopkeeper explained there were different options to choose from and also different subscriptions.

Asked whether the system was legal, the shopkeeper said everything was legal because the Dreambox was produced in Europe and, had it been illegal, it would have been stopped.

Kevin Vella, from the Satellite Centre in St Andrews, the agent for Dreambox, declined to comment when contacted by The Times for an explanation on the legality or otherwise of the content on the systems he sells. “No comment,” he said curtly.

When contacted, spokesmen for the two TV service providers operators admitted they had noticed a sharp increase in satellite usage since earlier this year.

They said the Dreambox, and other card sharing services, were not legal and were being offered by “unauthorised and unlicensed entities”, causing irreparable damage to them because of the unlevel playing field it brought about.

“Go embraces competition in every sector it operates in. However, competition should be fair, legal and in full respect of regulatory obligations to ensure a level playing field. Anything that is illegal and infringes on the intellectual property rights we are granted by rights-holders cannot be permitted in any way,” a company spokesman said when contacted.

In the same vein, a spokesman for Melita said the presence of Dreamboxes and other satellite card-sharing solutions on the local market “should be of great concern to any pay TV operator as well as the regulatory bodies”.

“These providers offer a telecommunications service without being duly authorised or licensed. This unfair practice is skewing the market, giving rise to expectations of pricing which are unrealistic in relation to the economics of the TV content market. Moreover, there are issues of copyright and piracy in relation to content, which is not authorised or owned exclusively by channels,” the spokesman said.

Both Melita and Go said they had not reported the matter to the police because they believed the relevant authorities and regulatory bodies were aware of the issue and had all the tools and means to address it.

On its part, the Malta Communications Authority said the content aspect was not within its remit.

The issue of football rights came to light earlier this year when Nationalist MP David Agius took the matter before the House Social Affairs Committee, when he explained that consumers had no alternative except to choose whether they wanted to follow their favourite team playing in the domestic league or the ones in Europe.

The issue was discussed at marathon committee meetings but no conclusion had been reached. At the end of the last sitting to discuss the issue, committee chairman Edwin Vassallo asked the Office of Fair Competition to investigate whether there was breach of the Competition Act in the refusal by Go and Melita to share football rights. The matter is still being investigated.

Broadcasting Authority statistics show that about 12 per cent of households in Malta have satellite TV reception at home.

Spanish pirate to pay $5.1 mil security deposit

From http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i93d84615e6fca146f4ed02c6664306df

Offered pirated codes, cards for Digital Plus platform

MADRID -- A Madrid court judge has ordered a man accused of offering pirated material on two web pages to pay a security deposit of €4 million ($5.1 million) until the trial begins and ordered the pages be closed.

The pages allegedly offered pirated codes and cards to access the pay-content of media giant Sogecable's satellite platform Digital Plus.

The stiff sentence, based on an estimate of the benefits obtained by the web administrator and the losses registered by Digital Plus due to the crime, is transferable to the administrator's personal assets.

95 foreign channels get down link license

From http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=95+foreign+channels+get+down+link+license&NewsID=257647

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Information and Communications today informed that 95 foreign television channels have been issued license to telecast their programmes in Nepal through downlink. Those TV channels include Discovery, BBC, Star, Max and Star Plus among others.

Similarly, nine companies have taken license for DTH (Direct to Home) service. Among them, seven have applied for renewing their licenses.
As per the National Broadcasting Regulations 2052 BS, an organization should begin its services within a year since the date it has acquired the license. If it fails to begin its services within that period additional six months time will be extended for the service resumption.
Similarly, two companies-Home TV operated by the Satellite Channel Pvt. Ltd and Dish Nepal operated by the Dish Media Network- have got licenses for installing earth station as well.
Home TV has applied at the Ministry for regular transmission after completing its test-transmission. The Dish Media Network has got license for test-transmission.
Likewise, Gorakhapatra National Daily is being published in 28 different languages and a sub-committee under the coordination of linguist Dr Madhav Prasad Pokharel has been formed for recommending the possibility of printing the newspaper in other languages if possible at a time when demand for publishing the Gorakhapatra National Daily in other languages has been raised.

News-hungry Kerala to get a dozen more television channels

From http://www.livemint.com/2010/09/13232038/Newshungry-Kerala-to-get-a-do.html

Newspaper publishers entering the business view television as another media platform to spread their reach

Kochi: India’s most literate state just can’t get enough of the news. In the next few months, at least a dozen mostly news channels are going on air in a state that already boasts 18 free-to-air Malayalam-language services.

Most of the new ventures are being launched by political parties and newspaper publishers. Mathrubhumi Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd, which publishes the Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi and magazines such as Chitrabhumi and Grihalakshmi, has already applied for a news channel licence. So have three other newspapers—Kerala Kaumudi, Madhyamam and Mangalam.

According to M.V. Shreyamskumar, director, marketing and electronic media, at Mathrubhumi, the proposed news channel is a step towards building a full-fledged media house.

“We are well accepted as a brand. Using the strength and credibility of our media network, we are planning a news and current affairs channel,” he said. According to Shreyamskumar, the publishing house expects the current 7% viewership for news to more than double in the state.

Kerala Kaumudi, a newspaper with nine editions, intends to launch its channel in April 2011 to coincide with the paper’s centenary celebrations, said an official who did not want to be identified. Officials at Madhyamam and Mangalam were unavailable for comment.

Though there was no official confirmation from Tamil Nadu-based Sun TV Network, it plans to launch a third channel in Kerala devoted solely to news, according to media industry experts.

Newspaper publishers entering the business view television as another media platform to spread their reach and maximize revenue. According to Sashi Kumar, founder of the news network Asianet, newspapers opting for news channels illustrates the push towards vertical integration in the business, as well as publishers’ attempt to tap the revenue shift taking place from print to television.

For political parties, broadcast media is a propaganda vehicle and a tool to extend their influence over their constituencies. Taking a cue from both the state ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress party, the Indian Union Muslim League, a partner in the Congress-led United Democratic Front, is starting a news channel. P.K. Kunhalikutty, party secretary and former Kerala industries minister, said though it would be a party-promoted news channel, it will pursue an “independent” editorial policy.

By November, the party will launch a cable TV network under the Channel IBC brand. The studio and the marketing team for the cable channel will act as a precursor to a full-fledged satellite channel, which will be a joint venture. However, Kunhalikutty refused to share details of the partner in the venture. The channel will go live during the assembly election in May.

K. Muralee-dharan, former member of Parliament and son of senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran, has also started work on his news-cum-entertainment channel under the banner of Janapriya Communications Pvt. Ltd.

“It will not have any political connections,” said Muraleedharan, who quit the National Congress Party and is said to be keen to join the Congress. His news network will cater to Malayalees outside the state by being the first to offer English and Hindi news bulletins.

Experts estimate that a total of around Rs. 400-425 crore will be invested in launching the new channels in the state. While Janapriya expects to invest Rs. 50 crore in the venture, Nikesh Kumar, who quit as executive editor at Kerala’s first 24-hour news channel Indiavision, to work on a new channel, said he will invest not more than Rs. 25 crore in his project. He plans to use the Internet and mobile phones to create an interactive news channel. “We will use footage from citizen journalists to run the channel,” he said.

The new channels will vie for a slice of the Rs. 300 crore broadcast advertising market in Kerala. Broadcasters claim that new players are keen to enter the market as many of the existing channels have broken even in the third year itself and posted a modest profit.

Though Sashi Kumar is critical of the “so wall-to-wall, so in-your-face, and so full of sound and fury” news channels in the state, he rules out a shakeout, expecting the advertising market to expand.

However, Manas Mishra, executive vice-president at Mudra Connext, is not so sure. Kerala is a print-centric rather than TV news market, he said, adding that among news channels, Asianet News, Manorama News and Indiavision are more or less evenly matched in ratings and fare. “News consumption on television is low, leading to low channel shares. The space is crowded to begin with and their revenues are nowhere close to Hindi news channels. I have my reservations on new players coming in unless there is a drastic change in their business model and offering.”

Sejal Shah, vice-president, India Media Exchange, the media buying unit of Publicis Groupe in India, agreed: “A channel such as Asianet News barely sees 50 gross rating points a week. I find the entry of any new player difficult to imagine.”

As per industry estimates, news channels in Kerala barely generate Rs. 15-20 crore yearly among all the players.

D2 12680 V SR 6670 vpid 0101 apid 0102 ppid 0101 - "BIGPOND"V8 Live Feed - Phillip Island

D2 12678 V SR 6670 "WORLD FEED" racing mini's at the moment
D2 12343 H SR 22500 "Kordia SNG" blank screen

Apstar 6 134E 3840 H "HKS TV" Sr 27500 Fec 3/4 has started on , Fta.(Hong Kong?)

NSS 11 108.2E 12431 H "Jai-Alai TV has replaced TVE Internacional Asia-Africa" on , Conax.

Intelsat 10 68.5E 3802 H "Times Now, ET Now and Zoom" are encrypted again.
Intelsat 10 68.5E 3922 V "India TV Wiz" has left .

Intelsat 906 64E A Dish Nepal mux has started on 10990 V Sr 45000, 8PSK DVB-S2, MPEG-4, Fta. (30 channels here , this service using steerable beam and will spill into other places, Thailand, Indonesia etc.)

东经83度轨道位置的印星4A号卫星C频段，HBC News（印度）频道新增，设置3756 H 13333参数免费接收。[09-13]
东经140度轨道位置的快车AM3号卫星Ku频段，Mir Seriala（俄罗斯）频道消失，设置11665 V 39500参数无效接收。[09-13]

东经90度轨道位置的雅玛尔201号卫星C频段，Sport TV替换Rossiya 2（俄罗斯）频道，设置3903 L 8888参数有条件接收。[09-12]|
东经108.2度轨道位置的新天11号卫星Ku频段，Jai-Alai TV替换TVE（环宇卫视）频道，设置12431 H 30000参数有条件接收。[09-12]
东经78.5度轨道位置的泰星5号卫星C频段，Ja Ting Ja TV（泰国）频道新增，设置3600 H 26667参数免费接收。[09-12]

东经138度轨道位置的亚太5号卫星C频段，GLTV US（外国）等4个频道新增，设置3847 H 4444参数有条件接收。[09-10]
东经96.5度轨道位置的快车AM33号卫星C频段，1TVRUS Vostok替换Perviy kanal（俄罗斯）频道，设置3925 R 4883参数有条件接收。[09-10]
东经96.5度轨道位置的快车AM33号卫星C频段，Alt TV替换Katun TV（俄罗斯）频道，设置3795 R 1478参数免费接收。[09-10]

THE federal government has been presented with a broad array of potential media and telecommunications reforms.

This has come about as part of its promise to consider overhauling the way the industry is regulated in a convergent media era.

A survey by The Australian of media and telco executives stresses the difficulties that Broadband and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy will face in balancing competing corporate interests after the $43 billion National Broadband Network is constructed.

Although most chief executives agree many media and communications laws are out of date, there is little industry-wide consensus on the best way to tackle the challenges and opportunities brought about by the digital economy. Copyright, anti-siphoning, spectrum allocation, ownership rules, mandatory digital radio in cars, local content quotas and the operational separation of Telstra are just some of the issues executives say should be examined by the Gillard government.

"The rapid rate of technology innovation is facilitating the introduction of new services and competitors, and we are now seeing dramatic shifts in consumer behaviours," FetchTV chief executive Scott Lorson said.

"The introduction of the NBN, expansion of free-to-air digital channels, and continued improvements in mobile services will accelerate these shifts. The regulatory challenge is to calibrate the need to encourage and protect long-term investment and local production, while accelerating the introduction of new services, increasing diversity, and facilitating greater competition and choice."

Senator Conroy outlined in March an expansive second-term agenda that included a promise to conduct a broad review of media and communications laws. "Many regulations are out of date already and others will be as soon as the national satellite television service and NBN are up and running," he said. "Others are well intentioned but inadequate for the convergent media era."

The responses hint at what will be a fascinating debate about how different corporations view the future of media.

"The current regulatory framework was created in an era of media oligopolies," ABC managing director Mark Scott said. "Now, there are multiple players: anyone with a mobile phone, laptop or camcorder can be a broadcaster. Commercial business models are being challenged.

"Given the speed and impact of the communications revolution, the review should be as broad as possible, recognising that audiences are fragmenting and that we are consuming media differently."

News Limited chairman and chief executive John Hartigan argued for a market-based response from the government, including the use of analog spectrum vacated by the free-to-air networks as part of the digital switchover.

"News has a long-held view that regulatory intervention in the media industry is counter-productive to efficient growth, encouraging competition and circulation of the widest possible spread of information, entertainment and opinions throughout the community," Mr Hartigan said. (News Ltd publishes The Australian).

The preservation of copyright was arguably the most common response from executives, who are concerned that the digital medium make it easier to misappropriate original content.

"I'd like to see recognition somewhere in the review of content and the origination of content being protected, rather than content being effectively stolen by middle men," Fairfax Media chief executive Brian McCarthy said.

Mr McCarthy was speaking days after Fairfax lost a Federal Court case against the use of headlines in The Australian Financial Review by the LexisNexis information service.

His comments were echoed by Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams and West Australian Newspapers chief Chris Wharton.

"Our challenge is to maintain the business at a time when the copyright laws are under assault and our content is being commoditised by free services," Mr Wharton said.

Senator Conroy is in the middle of preparing a new set of anti-siphoning laws governing television sports broadcasting, which has been the subject of fierce debate between Foxtel (which is 25 per cent owned by News Limited) and free-to-air broadcasters.

Both sides appear to have settled on a compromise but say now that Labor's deals with the Greens and independent MPs make the outcome less certain.

Mr Hartigan and Mr Williams called for more sport to be taken off the list, which prevents Foxtel bidding directly for listed events.

Ten chief executive Grant Blackley said anti-siphoning rules were "vital" for consumers.

'Telstra's role in a post-NBN world was also front of mind for telco executives. AAPT chief Paul Broad said regulatory reform should be pushed across industry to encourage competition and prepare for a new world where content is independent of infrastructure and carriage.

"Carriage and content delivery are two separate areas that should be considered separately, and regulations need to ensure no one player has anti-competitive control in any area or across both," Mr Broad said.

He said a ubiquitous 4G network capable of delivering 100Mbps to 98 per cent of Australians was dependent on allocation of spectrum to all-comers, not limited to select players.

The influence of the independent MPs may help shape the review, including the so-called reach rules that prevent a television station owning more than 75 per cent of national audience.

"The only thing I have a view on is that I'd like there to be some flexibility in how we use our spectrum for subscription services," Prime Media Group chief executive Ian Audsley said. "If we had some latitude, it would allow a regional service such as ours to get into the content game."

Purchase of Hazmat trucks proves fortuitous

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4121254/Purchase-of-Hazmat-trucks-proves-fortuitous

The Fire Service has been able to call on new hi-tech fire trucks to deal with the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

Farmside chief executive Richie Smith said the Fire Service had installed its satellite dishes in its new hi-tech "hazmat" trucks. These were purchased earlier this year to be used as command centres in large incidents. The Fire Service been using a satellite connection on one of the trucks in Christchurch's CBD since the day after the earthquake.

The army, which is helping to control the city, had also installed a satellite dish at a central police station to support its communications.

"We're just a bit of a linkage really for all the guys out there doing the hard work. It's critical for them to have secure telecommunications."

Mobile operators urged people in Christchurch to use their cellphones as little as possible after the quake, as mobile towers that had lost electricity were running on limited battery supply.

Landline phone and internet services have also been down in some areas as a result of damaged cables.

Mr Smith said some businesses unable to get phone and internet connections after the quake had approached Farmside about its service, and Canterbury Civil Defence had indicated it might use satellite services in emergencies in the future.

Farmside's Christchurch office had been cordoned off as it was close to the heritage building Manchester Courts – formerly called the New Zealand Express Company Building – that was expected to be demolished shortly. The company was headquartered in Timaru and operations had been largely unaffected.

Joanna Burgess, spokeswoman for Apple distributor Renaissance, said its MagnumMac store and service centres in Christchurch's Moorhouse Avenue had reopened by Friday.

Sweetener possible for digital TV switchover

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4121241/Sweetener-possible-for-digital-TV-switchover

The Government may announce as early as this week when it will turn off analogue television broadcasts, with 2015 the most favoured date, and is tipped to offer a sweetener for provincial cities.

New Zealand will follow other countries, including the United States, Britain and Australia in switching off its analogue network.

After that, people with older television sets will need a Freeview set-top box or a subscription to a pay-TV service such as Sky Television to continue to watch television. Most new televisions have digital receivers built in.

Labour broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns forecast the Government would make the digital switchover more palatable to people in provincial New Zealand by announcing it would extend the reach of Freeview's high-definition service, FreeviewHD, to several cities, increasing coverage from 75 per cent to 87 per cent of households.

A spokesman for Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said an announcement would be made soon "on a range of issues regarding broadcasting".

Cities that could get FreeviewHD include Masterton, Nelson, Whanganui, Rotorua, Invercargill, New Plymouth and Gisborne.

An extension of digital terrestrial television (DTT) coverage is expected to cost about $20 million. State-owned enterprise Kordia is likely to get the job, which would involve installing additional equipment on transmission towers, but it stands to lose millions of dollars in revenue that it earns from maintaining the analogue broadcasting network, when the digital switchover is complete. Elsewhere, Freeview is broadcast in standard definition, via satellite.

The Government has indicated that analogue television broadcasts will cease some time between 2013 and 2015. Prime Minister John Key and Dr Coleman said in June that their instincts were to make the switch at the end of that window, in 2015. Dr Coleman acknowledged the closure of the service would be unpopular with some voters and the election scheduled for 2014 was a factor in its thinking.

The Government has not indicated whether it intends to provide financial assistance to help consumers. Options were suggested at a select committee meeting last year.

In the US, households were offered one or two coupons each worth US$40 (NZ$61) ahead of the switch-off of its analogue service last year. The vouchers could only be redeemed against the purchase of an approved set-top box, and it was illegal to sell them.

The British government provided targeted financial assistance, to the elderly and disabled.

The digital switchover will free up prime radio spectrum, valued at about $100m, much of which will be used to support 4G mobile telecommunications services based on a new technology, long-term evolution (LTE), which looks set to become the standard for mobile broadband networks for years to come.

Vodafone and Telecom have pushed for the digital switchover to take place in 2013, so the spectrum can be auctioned earlier. Vodafone has been most vocal, warning in June that a delay until 2015 could put the country's broadband future at risk. It said a 2015 switchover could impinge on the Government's $300m plan to improve broadband infrastructure in rural areas.

It has been assumed Communications Minister Steven Joyce pushed for an earlier date.

However, one industry source believed the Government was too worried about the possible impact on voters in a 2014 general election, notwithstanding that the digital switchover may not be politically contentious.

Mr Burns said most people would prefer the switchover to happen before 2015. "Britain and America are already there. It might provide a bit of discomfort to the financial returns of Kordia, but I think there are more important issues than that."

STAY TUNED

The Government is expected to announce as early as this week the date that analogue television broadcasts will cease.

All televisions will still work after the "digital switchover", but will need to be plugged into a digital receiver, such as a Freeview or Sky set-top box. New televisions have digital receivers built in.

The cheapest option for the 35 per cent to 40 per cent of people who do not have the right equipment now is likely to be to buy a Freeview set-top box.

People in rural areas will need a satellite dish.

Vodafone and Telecom want the switchover to occur before 2015, but the Government is concerned it could face a voter backlash in the 2014 election.

The digital switchover will free up radio spectrum for advanced 4G mobile networks, additional digital television channels and possibly for free television to be broadcast to cellphones and handheld televisions.

Digital transmission also consumes less power than the analogue transmission network.

TelstraClear tells Sky Television there will be 'no free lunch'

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4121239/TelstraClear-tells-Sky-Television-there-will-be-no-free-lunch

TelstraClear says it will only agree to offer Sky Television's iSky internet television service to broadband customers "unmetered" if it can reach a commercially worthwhile agreement, and there will be "no free lunch".

Consumer markets head Steve Jackson says TelstraClear wants to carry iSky, but "we are not going to do it for nothing".

"We want to be reimbursed for the use of our network."

The tough talk came after chief executive Allan Freeth upped the ante over regulation, calling for telecommunications commissioner Ross Patterson to take a fresh look at the broadcasting market.

Sky chief executive John Fellet hopes to persuade at least three or four internet providers not to charge customers to download programmes and movies delivered through iSky, which is due to be unveiled on November 15.

Sky will stream three sports channels and a selection of news channels. Subscribers will also be able to download 200 movies to watch at any time from a catalogue that will change each month, and catch up on movies and many programmes they may have missed on Prime and other "basic" Sky channels.

iSky will be free to Sky customers who have signed up to the equivalent pay-TV channels, and will later be offered as a paid service to people who don't subscribe to its pay-television service.

Internet providers' willingness not to charge for downloads is likely to be pivotal to the take-up of iSky, given customers' data caps could otherwise be quickly eaten up downloading films and programmes. Sky is hosting programmes for download on servers in New Zealand to try to reduce internet providers' carriage costs.

TelstraClear is New Zealand's second largest internet provider, after Telecom, which has been non-committal but is not expected to offer unmetered iSky downloads – partly because of its relationship with free-to-air platform rival TiVo.

Mr Fellet has suggested internet providers may be willing to provide iSky unmetered in order to steal a march on rivals who do not offer the service.

But Mr Jackson indicates that alone would not be sufficient incentive to get TelstraClear on board for the November launch.

"Sky's previous attempt at online delivery was slightly underwhelming. If there is customer demand, we will look at it again, irrespective of the economics.

"We will do it if we are reimbursed for it, or we will do it if there is customer demand for it. That will depend on the quality of the service and their track record previously was not great."

Sky pulled its original internet service, Sky Online, last year. Mr Fellet said it had a bad business model and "clunky technology", but promised iSky would be a completely different service.

Orcon has confirmed it is in discussions with Sky TV over iSky. Spokesman Duncan Blair says offering iSky unmetered would be more attractive for Orcon if it was the only internet provider to do so, though the fact other internet providers may provide the service uncapped might not be a deal-breaker.

TelstraClear's Dr Freeth fired a salvo at Sky in April, saying a deal under which it resold Sky's pay-TV content was "restrictive".

He says that remains an ongoing issue that is "not going to go away as more and more people watch TV over broadband".

"The whole nature of entertainment is changing and content provision and content bundles are changing. I don't know how long the traditional models can remain in the face of this type of social transformation.

"We would like to see [telecommunications commissioner] Ross Patterson's interest in this area. We think it is probably reaching the time that the Commerce Commission has to have a look, for customers, to `free up' the content space.

"The days of people buying up rights across a whole spectrum of delivery channels will have to disappear – particularly if they can't use them."

Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien says it agrees with Dr Freeth's assertion that the nature of entertainment is changing.

"However, we also believe that the evolution of new business models and rapidly changing social trends, driven by changing viewing habits and constant technological advancement, is not a new occurrence; in fact, it has been going on since the invention of the Gutenberg press.

"If history has taught us anything, it is that attempting to use regulation to overrule consumer choice and rein in entrepreneurs typically retards product innovation."

Mr O'Brien says the practice of hoarding broadcasting rights often occurs in a free-to-air environment. "We have never acquired rights that we did not intend to use."

Mr Jackson says TelstraClear will begin selling its long-awaited personal video recorder in the next "two or three weeks", providing pay-TV cable network customers in Wellington and Christchurch with the same features provided by MySky.

Sky thinks about launching music store

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4121243/Sky-launching-music-store

Sky Television has revealed it has considered launching its own music store.

Chief executive John Fellet said the idea was one of about 30 possible new services the company is evaluating.

Sky Television provides music and audio channels.

Mr Fellet said he "didn't want to try to replicate iTunes" but saw potential for a service that would let subscribers download music from a catalogue of 6000 tracks for $12 a month.

The company was also keen to see whether it could provide services to Playstation and Xbox console owners. "If I can figure out a way to tailor a product to them, why wouldn't? I"

It was not likely to get into the online games market, however. "Long term, I think Sony and Microsoft will be so good at that it will be difficult for us to get involved, so I think that is a better play for internet providers working closely with games providers. What we do best is aggregating content."|

Permira buys satellite operator ABS for $200 mln -sources

From http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE68C07020100913

HONG KONG, Sept 13 | Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:13am EDT

HONG KONG, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Global private equity fund Permira has acquired satellite operator Asia Broadcast Satellite in a $200 million management buy out from CVCI, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

This is Permira's third investment in Asia, taking its total exposure to the region to about $2 billion. The investment in ABS was made through Permira 4 fund, which manages about 9.6 billion euros ($12.2 billion).

Founded in 2006 by Thomas Choi, ABS supplies bandwidth connectivity to broadcasting and telecom customers, serving over 80 customers in about 30 countries, Permira said in a statement without disclosing the value of the deal. ABS currently operates three satellites.

"We are busy here," Henry Chen, head of Permira's Hong Kong office said. "There is a lot of focus on the growth prospects in this region. So if all goes well, we expect to make more investments in this region," he added.

Permira focuses on TMT, consumer, industrials and financial services. ABS is the third investment made by the Permira 4 fund, Sources previously told Reuters that Permira is bidding for Taiwan cable company China Network Systems Ltd, in a deal worth about $2 billion. [ID:nTOE67H03F].

Asia has seen several private equity exits this year, which reflects an improvement in the market sentiment. Many more exits are planned. Apart from MBK Partners' planned sale of CNS, U.S. private equity fund Lone Star aims to exit its majority stake in Korea Exchange Bank (004940.KS). [ID:nSGE67G0BW]. (Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Ken Wills)

Leak to Reduce Lifespan of China's Sinosat-6

From http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/100910leak-reduce-lifespan-chinas-sinosat-6.html

China's SinoSat-6 satellite launched Sept. 5 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. Credit: Xinhua photo by Yang Guang Enlarge Image

PARIS - The Chinese Sinosat-6 satellite launched Sept. 5 has a leak in its helium-pressurization system that likely will force ground teams to resort to exceptional measures to bring it into operational orbit that will result in a reduced operational life, industry officials said Sept. 10.

The problem, which resembles glitches on two European telecommunications satellites launched in recent years, will trigger an insurance claim estimated at around $60 million, according to one industry official.

Sinosat-6, designed to last for 15 years in geostationary orbit, may secure a 10-year operating life, depending on how serious the leak is. Owned by China Satellite Communications Corp of Beijing, the satellite was insured for $200 million for a total loss, with partial losses resulting in a pro rata claim in most cases.

Chinese underwriters took about one-third of the coverage, with Western insurers taking the rest, according to one official.

The Sinosat-6 anomaly will put an end to hopes that 2010 would be a year without a single claim for launch or satellite failures but will not, on its own, threaten the profitability of space insurance underwriters this year.

The glitch, which officials say appears to have nothing to do with the Chinese Long March 3B vehicle that placed Sinosat 6 into orbit, will also further undermine the reputation of the DFH-4 platform that Sinosat-6 uses. The platform, introduced less than five years ago, suffered in-orbit failures of the Sinosat 2 and Nigcomsat-1 satellites. DHF-4, developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, is the platform China uses to export telecommunications satellites and Chinese Long March vehicles as a package. Several DFH-4 platforms have since been launched without a problem.

The two previous DFH-4 failures were traced to solar array deployment issues, while Sinosat-6’s problem is that it is unable to deliver full helium-provided pressure to the satellite’s fuel tank.

A similar type of issue has trimmed by about one-third the life expectancy of the Amazonas satellite owned by Hispasat of Spain. For Africa’s Rascom consortium, a similar leak reduced the estimated operating life to no more than three to four years.

Sinosat-6, carrying 24 C-band, eight Ku-band and one S-band transponder, is intended to replace the Sinosat 3 satellite at 125 degrees east.

JAXA launches satellite to boost GPS

From http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100912a3.html

TANEGASHIMA KAGOSHIMA, Pref. (Kyodo) The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched a satellite Saturday to improve car navigation and other services using the global positioning system.

The locus of the HIIA rocket is seen Saturday evening as JAXA launched the quasizenith satellite Michibiki from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The 4-ton satellite is intended to boost the accuracy and coverage of GPS services in the country by complementing a U.S. satellite network. KYODO PHOTO

JAXA launched the quasizenith satellite Michibiki at 8:17 p.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, using an HIIA rocket.

The 4-ton Michibiki, measuring 3 meters long, 3 meters wide and 6 meters high, is intended to boost the accuracy and coverage of GPS services in the country by complementing a U.S. satellite network.

The nation's GPS services currently depend on U.S. satellites that orbit not only above Japan and whose radio waves can be hampered by skyscrapers and mountains.

The agency aims to eliminate such blind spots and reduce the margin of error to within 1 meter by putting the Michibiki on an orbit almost just above Japan.

However, as the Michibiki will orbit above the country for only eight hours a day, two additional satellites are needed to provide 24-hour coverage.

The government has yet to draw up a specific launch plan for the additional satellites. It is expected to work out outline plans by next spring.

The government has so far earmarked about ¥40 billion as development costs for Michibiki and some ¥33.5 billion as ground facility and launch costs.

iPhone users able to watch live broadcasts of Xinhua TV

From http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-09/11/c_13490532.htm

BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Users of the iPhone can enjoy both the Chinese and English television broadcasts of Xinhua News Agency from Saturday.

After downloading an application from Apple's app store, iPhone users will be able to watch the two channels' round-the-clock news programs through both wifi and 3G networks, said Wu Jincai, chairman of China Xinhua News Network Corporation (CNC), the TV arm of Xinhua News Agency.

Users of the iPod and iTouch can also access the same service.

CNC began broadcasting in January and its English channel, CNC World, began satellite and cable broadcasts in July.

"We hope to provide another perspective for global audiences to learn about news events," Wu said.

Spacecom sets its sights high

From http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/09/12/spacecom-sets-its-sights-high/

IBC 2010 – AMSTERDAM. Spacecom has outlined its plans to become a global player in the satellite broadcasting market within the next five years.

Speaking to Broadband TV News, Ori Onn, the company’s senior VP marketing and sales, said that Amos-5i , which is located at 17 degrees East, was launched earlier this year on an interim basis. Focused on Africa and also covering southern Europe, it will make its full debut in June 2011.

It will be followed by Amos-4 at 65 degrees East, covering Asia (India, China and parts of Russia) and the Middle East; Amos –5 at 40 degrees West (pan-European); Amos-7, which will join Amos-5 at 17 degrees East in 2014; and Amos-8, over Latin America.

Of the still to be launched satellites, Amos-4 and Amos-5 are already financed.

Israeli-owned Spacecom is part of the Eurocom Group, whose other interests include the telco Bezeq (as majority owners) and the DTH platform Yes.

It has a strong presence in the CEE region, listing Magio (Slovakia), T-Home (Hungary), Boom TV (Romania), Inter and 1+1 (Ukraine) and HBO Central Europe among its clients.

Appear TV powers MultiChoice expansion

From http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/09/11/appear-tv-powers-multichoice-expansion/

IBC 2010 – AMSTERDAM. Headend provider Appear TV has announced a successful deployment for its SC2000 headend for MultiChoice Africa. The Naspers-owned platform is extending its reach through a greater number of commercial outlets in South Africa and Africa as a whole.

“The roll out has been the result of a collaborative partnership in which we have worked together to deliver a solution that met MultiChoice’s exacting requirements including some custom development to simplify installation and maintenance,” explained Carl Walter Holst, CEO, Appear TV explains, “We are delighted with the successful deployment of our technology for MultiChoice, which helps it to distribute the MultiChoice services to a wider audience.

The modular headend will be used in hotels, shopping centres and leisure venues in South Africa. As part of the three-year contract retail customers will be obliged to use the Appear SC2000 configured with satellite reception, descrambling, and IP output modules.

Zee Sports to rebrand as Ten Action; soccer to be focus

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/sep/sep86.php

MUMBAI: Zee Sports is being rebranded as Ten Action and will become a soccer-focussed channel.

The rebranding is likely to coincide with the start of the European soccer season.

An official announcement about the rebranded channel will be made soon, sources said.

The channel, it has also been learnt, will air a studio show called C2K (countdown to kick off).

Ten Action will showcase leagues such as La Liga, Serie A, Scottish, Dutch football, the Uefa Europa and Uefa Champions League. It will also air the Coca-Cola Championship.

Indiantelevision.com was the first to report that Zee had plans to expand its sports broadcasting portfolio and as part of that growth strategy would be launching a cricket and a soccer-driven channel.

Zee feels that with digitisation growing, the channel has strong potential to exploit revenues as clients can look at their product in terms of target advertising.

Distribution revenues are also expected to improve and the broadcaster hopes to get more traction in the direct-to-home (DTH) platforms.

DTH cos create more advertising space

From http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/advertising/DTH-cos-create-more-advertising-space/articleshow/6543340.cms

NEW DELHI: With the Direct-to-home (DTH) subscriber base touching 25-million household mark, DTH service providers such as Dish TV are wooing advertisers by selling spots on their home screens or integrating ads in various value-added services. Home screen is the default channel that can be seen by a consumer when she/he switches on the set-top-box (STB) before flipping to their favourite channels. In recent times, PepsiCo, for instance, used DTH service providers to air its long format advertisements showcasing Frito-Lay brand ambassador Saif Ali Khan interviewing the potato chips brand lovers while liquor brand Seagrams picked up spots to show clips of its advertisements as well as sponsored parties.

Buoyed by the advertisers response, market leader Dish TV, which has over 8 million subscribers, has roped in a digital ad sales company Qasar as its executive sales partner to identify prospective brands. “ Advertisers are warming up to the idea of advertising on Dish TV. We expect nearly 5% of the overall revenues to come from advertising in the next two years ,” said Salil Kapoor, chief operating officer, Dish TV. With 33 million households to be DTH subscriber by the end of the year, representing a third of the total cable and satellite homes, Mr Kapoor believes advertisers cannot ignore the medium as television viewership is getting highly fragmented.

On the other hand, other players like Tata Sky and Big TV have experimented with integrating brands with their value-added services like pay-per view. “ We have experimented with certain consumer durable and FMCG brands which got their advertisements integrated with our services such as cooking and recipes or learning English,” says Vikram Mehra chief marketing officer, Tata Sky.

Tata Sky offers brands advertising on its home screen for about 5.5-6 hours. Brands like Bajaj Allianz have used Tata Sky to address potential insurance buyers by integrating itself in a value- added services.

DTH companies are either working on fixed rates for longer format advertisements or creating 20-30 second slots on their home screen for potential advertisers. Umesh Rao, senior vicepresident, Big TV says that several regional advertisers are also coming on board. Besides, broadcaster are using these opportunities to woo subscribers to their new programmes by showcasing their clips on the home screen. Media planners like Dentsu Media’s COO, Sai Nagesh said that currently most DTH households are affluent, brands have a potential medium to reach out to these consumers in a targeted manner.

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FOXTEL has called on the Gillard government to shorten the anti-siphoning list of sport protected for free-to-air television.

It is also seeking a review of media regulation.

The pay-television operator yesterday urged Labor to shorten the anti-siphoning list of more than 1300 sporting events to "those events the terrestrial networks actually broadcast, as this will ensure more live sport on television, better funded sports codes and money for grassroots development".

Television networks and sporting bodies will be closely watching Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who is expected to announce changes to the list in coming weeks.

The new anti-siphoning framework will give the two main football codes, the AFL and NRL, more certainty while they negotiate broadcast deals that could be worth as much as $2 billion combined.

There is speculation the federal government could allow Foxtel to bid directly for some AFL and NRL games -- which are presently protected -- while the free-to-air networks would be permitted to show protected sport on their multichannels.

Network Ten chief executive Grant Blackley said the rules that "ensure key sporting events continue to be made available for everyone to view for free are vital for consumers".

"The requirements to keep major sport free will be equally relevant when Australia completes its switchover to digital TV in 2013 and the full suite of free digital channels will be available to all," he said. "In a post-switchover world, it follows that they should be applicable across the free-to-air platform."

Senator Conroy has also flagged a review of media laws to take into account the "convergent media era" and the construction of the National Broadband Network.

Foxtel is 25 per cent owned by News Limited, publisher of The Australian.

The current settings were outdated and needed updating "given developments in the digital economy and the coming rollout of the NBN", Foxtel said.

Technicolor to supply HD set-top boxes to Astro

From http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=755974

French broadcast equipment and STB maker Technicolor has won a further contract from Malaysian pay-TV operator Astro. As a part of the contract, Technicolor will supply HD MPEG-4 STBs with a local recording feature to support Astro's move to offer more technology-adapting services and products to its nearly 3 million customers. The HD-enabled STB to be supplied by Technicolor includes features to record to external disks, enabling subscribers to customise the recording. Deliveries of the new STB are now underway and Technicolor will also provide locally-based logistics and after-sales support to Astro.

JAXA to launch satellite; original GPS plan on hold

From http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009090311.html

Amid growing calls for an independent Japanese global position system, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch a satellite Saturday to complement a U.S. satellite network and improve GPS services in Japan.

Japan currently relies on a U.S. network of 30 satellites, including backup orbiters, to provide GPS services to Japanese drivers, cellphone users and surveyors across the country. Four satellites are needed to determine exact locations.

However, such services are sometimes unavailable in certain areas with mountains or tall buildings.

The Michibiki satellite, to be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Saturday, will partially resolve that problem because its orbit will pass directly over the Japanese archipelago.

The quasi-zenith Michibiki will also carry out various tests in 58 areas, including surveying, disaster mitigation and tourism.

However, since the satellite will be above Japan for only eight hours a day, two additional satellites are needed to provide 24-hour coverage. JAXA has no plans to launch two more orbiters, mainly due to funding difficulties.

Plans for an original Japanese GPS network were announced a decade ago, with the satellites also expected to serve communications and broadcast functions.

Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Hitachi Ltd., Toyota Motor Corp. and others jointly set up a private company to coordinate use of the proposed Japanese satellite network and share the cost burden.

But with the advent of optic fiber cables and the spread of terrestrial digital broadcasting, interest in the satellites' role in broadcasting and communications waned. In 2007, the joint company was disbanded, leaving the government to foot the entire bill for satellite launches.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is covering 60 percent of the roughly 73.5 billion yen ($878.6 million) in development costs for the Michibiki satellite, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are shouldering the remainder.

Many ministry officials oppose the completion of the triple-orbiter network because it would cost an additional 70 billion yen. And businesses have been reluctant to chip in since a cost-free GPS system is already in place.

Yet, new calls are rising for a domestic GPS system from the standpoint of national security and maintaining social infrastructure.

Critics warn that relying solely on the United States is risky because the environment surrounding GPS could change due to budgetary constraints or emergencies.

Russia currently operates its own positioning system, known as GLONASS, while Europe is experimenting with its Galileo system. China is testing its COMPASS program, while India is developing a limited area positioning system.

"Launching satellites individually holds significance from the perspective of national security," said Kazuto Suzuki, an associate professor of international politics and economy at Hokkaido University who is well versed in space development issues.

A newly formed project team to discuss the future of satellites under the Japanese government's space development strategy office held its first meeting earlier this week. It is expected to come up with a road map in March and earmark funds for space programs starting with the fiscal 2012 budget.

Infrastructure minister Seiji Maehara noted that the government considers these projects crucial in Japan's information-gathering efforts.

He added that he hopes the team will thoroughly discuss "whether to have three satellites or seven," the number needed to create an independent GPS network.

MultiChoice, e.tv awarded mobile TV licences

From http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/multichoice-etv-awarded-mobile-tv-licences-2010-09-10

Digital satellite television operator MultiChoice would launch its mobile television offering within the next 12 months, after being awarded a radio frequency spectrum licence for mobile television broadcasting by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Friday.

MultiChoice South Africa group CEO Nolo Letele told Engineering News Online that the operator was relieved and excited about being awarded the licence.

The operator, which has been running trials of its mobile television offering since 2005, would now start preparations “in earnest” to launch the service offering.

Letele could not confirm an exact launch date, but said that the operator was confident that it would be able to launch the service within the next 12 months, in line with its licence conditions.

He added that, as part of the preparations already undertaken, the operator has been talking to all the mobile operators and that it has also looked at various handset options. The company has already spent R300-million in experimentation on mobile broadcast technology and network infrastructure and plans to increase this investment in the construction of an extensive broadcast network.

MultiChoice’s chosen technology behind broadcast Mobile TV is Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld, which would offer robust digital sound and picture quality. The service utilises a dedicated broadcast network, designed specifically for mobile devices, so many people can watch DStv content on a range of devices.

The operator emphasised that the service should not be confused with the recently launched DStv Mobile streaming service that uses mobile operators' third-generation networks.

Icasa chairperson Stephen Mncube on Friday announced that two radio frequency spectrum licences for the purpose of providing mobile television broadcasting had been awarded within the mobile digital terrestrial television (MDTT) multiplex 1.

MultiChoice would have 60% capacity on the MDTT multiplex 1, with e.tv being awarded the other 40%.

The capacity was initially meant to be awarded through an auction that would have been held on Friday, but a third applicant, Super 5 Media, in August withdrew its application.

As there were no other competing bidders, the spectrum was awarded to MultiChoice and e.tv.

The two television operators would be required to use all the capacity applied for within the next 12 months.

Now live cricket telecast on Disney channels

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k10/sep/sep78.php

MUMBAI: For the first time ever, international cricket will be shown live on a children's channel as Disney decides to hook on to India's most popular sports to expand its mass appeal among younger audiences.

ESPN Star Sports has inked a deal with Disney XD and Disney Channel to live simulcast select India matches from the Champions League T20.

Says Walt Disney Television India VP, GM Natasha Malhotra, "We are really excited to partner with ESS on the telecast of the Airtel Champions League T20 on Disney XD and Disney Channel. This will be an unprecedented sports programming event in the kid's genre and a special treat for our young cricket fans to be enjoyed with their families."

The channels will air three matches from the Champions League T20 featuring the three Indian teams.

Disney Channel and Disney XD will air on 10 September the Mumbai Indians versus Highveld Lions match from 9 pm. The action continues with Chennai Super Kings versus the Central Stags on 11 September and Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Guyana Cricket Board on 12 September at the same time.

Disney Channel's host Murtuza will be interviewing cricketers and the audience adding value to the coverage. He will also be seen bringing alive all the on-ground excitement with the ESS' commentators and hosts of Champions League T20.

Says ESS VP - strategy, business development and cricket rights Anurag Dahiya, "We are delighted to share the live telecast of three matches from the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 with the Disney network in India . All the young fans of the Disney network will have an opportunity to see champion T20 teams from top cricketing nations battle it out for the title of - Champion of Champions."

In addition, Disney XD in association with ESS had also run a contest which they claim got over 63,000 entries. The winners of the CL T20 contest on Disney XD - the lucky trio Nihar Reddy, Muskan Shah and Kieser Fernandes - will fly to South Africa to witness the toss on those three days and meet MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar - captains of the Indian teams participating in the event.