30/09/04

Firstly SORRY about the stupid delays in being able to access the site via the usual apsattv.com address the former host isp is being very slow in releasing the i.p.

"mansi test" is new on 4140V Asiasat 3, also new on Asiasat 3 4129H Sr 13240 is CCTV E&F

New CCTV channel Asiasat 3/Pas8 Pas 10 Etc

Note this is translated via Babblefish from Chinese to English

On October 1, 2004, the Central Committee Television officially will begin broadcasting ?? the language frequency channel, the foreign call letter will be CCTV-E & F. This is the Central Committee Television continues the third international frequency channel which CCTV-4 (Chinese international frequency channel) and CCTV-9 (English international frequency channel) sets up afterwards, symbolized the Chinese television foreign propaganda leapt on a new stair. ?? the language frequency channel is the news synthesis frequency channel which 24 hours broadcast, is objective by the Chinese angle of view, fairly reported occurs in Chinese and the world each place news, outside the people are interested content demonstration modern China, lets Spanish and French country people understands China through this window, the understanding world. Arranges the aspect at the program, uses Spanish and French broadcasts the way in turn, every 8 hours for as soon as broadcast the sector, among, Spanish and French program respectively occupy for 4 hours. In various time intervals, the news implementation rolls broadcast that, special program first broadcast, rebroadcasts two time. In Spanish time interval broadcast the column includes: "Synthesis News", "Finance and economics News", "Cultural News", "Sporting news", "This Is China", "Traveling Guide", "Foreigner Looked China", "the Chinese Artistic and literary realm", "Dialogue", "Human relations Chinese", "Study Makes Chinese dish" and so on. French time interval broadcast the column includes: "Synthesis News", "Important news Renew", "Brief news", "Go all over China", "Riotous Life", "Literary Stage", "Documentary film" and "Television Theater" and so on. What is worth mentioning, ?? the language frequency channel hires massively domestic and foreign west, French expert holds the post of the M.C, the language pure tunnel, broadcasts the newspaper to be relaxed freely. ?? the language frequency channel uses the digital compression technology to carry on broadcast that, transmits the signal through Pan-America 8, 9, 10, satellite and so on Milky Way 3C and Asian 3S covers the whole world.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Zaparra W.A

NSS 6 Signals`

Ok I was bored so moved my 2.7nt over to NSS 6. This is what I found.
10966 Horz 2498 1/2 Data so strong my Nokia reads it as FF FF ** Data
11105 Horz 3254 3/4 TVRI should be able to receive on a 45cm Nokia A9 FF FF
11634 Horz 27492 3/4 Data
12716 Horz 4997 1/2 Data
12701 Vert 4997 7/8 Data

From David Leach

Apstar6 launch

hi craig, its david here from nsw australia ,im just letting you know that the official launch of apstar6 to replace apstar1a at 134east is december 4th on wards ,source apt satellite control centre who ove just spoke to on the phone ,thank yoiu

david nsw australia .

From Nucklehead

Hi Craig

Just a note about the Worldnet (VoA) mux on Intelsat 701. There are 4 separate Video program channels in operation. Details are;

Worldnet mux 3885R sr25000 fec3/4

VoA ch1 Vpid 2160 Apid 2120 PCR pid 2160
VoA ch2 Vpid 2260 Apid 2220 PCRpid 2260
Voa ch3 Vpid 2360 Apid 2320 PCRpid 2360
AlHurra (VoA Arab language channel) Vpid 2560 Apid 2520 PCRpid 2560

The Worldnet mux on Asiasat 2 does not containVoA ch3 or AlHurra

Cheers
Knucklehead

From George (Thailand)

Insat 3C 74E DD North-East 3760V SR 6250

From the Dish

No Lyngsat received, a bit frustrating they are arriving very late these days

NEWS

Optus reviews video options

From http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10921834%255E15306,00.html

OPTUS is conducting a comprehensive review of its video offerings for its hybrid coaxial cable and planned high-speed internet network that uses Telstra's copper wires.

The company is considering a range of options, including Foxtel's digital pay-TV offering and a number of options that would see video services offered over broadband links.

Optus consumer and multimedia chief Scott Lorson said: "As it relates to the HFC (hybrid coaxial cable), we maintain a genuine interest and have a sophisticated understanding in video services over all of our networks and are currently investigating several options, which include video streaming, video-on-demand and subscription TV services, as well as other entertainment."

Added impetus for the review has been Foxtel's move to push pricing for its analogue pay-TV - received by Optus's 195,000 pay-TV subscribers - towards that of more expensive digital services.

Optus's first step has been to jack up the fees it charges customers for pay-TV by as much as $10 a month for a standard plus movies package for new subscribers.

In a letter to customers signed by customer solution manager Stephen Baylas, Optus said: "Optus has been informed by our content provider Foxtel that our wholesale price will shortly rise."

Foxtel spokesman Mark Furness confirmed that Optus's rates had been put up and that all other Foxtel customers would also see a price rise before Christmas.

Sources said that Optus could offer Foxtel's digital services within three months, if it so decided.

Three years ago, Optus spent at least $200 million on Australia's first interactive television trial.

This involved digitisation of the company's entire hybrid coaxial cable network, which passes about 1.6 million homes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

That means it would cost Optus only about $20 million to prepare its network for digital, plus the cost of new set-top boxes.

But it is understood Optus is more in favour of providing video using broadband and emerging technologies, such as Microsoft's IPTV, which is a different set-top box that sits between the internet connection and the user's television set.

Telstra is also testing IPTV on it own HFC network. Optus management is preparing a business case for a national deployment of the service over residential digital subscriber line (DSL).

Optus is eyeing the emerging ADSL2+ standard, which will see internet speeds jump from the 1.5Mbps available on current generation technology, to 3Mbps, which is fast enough for DVD quality video, later rising to 14Mbps.

As well as access technology, the Optus review is also exploring its online content options.

Unlike Telstra, which has its own in-house content team, known as BigPond Media, with budget of about $25 million a year, Optus has preferred to partner with content providers.

The company is watching a growing trend of other global telecommunications players developing relationships with Microsoft's internet content arm msn according to sources close to the project

TV station to reapply

From http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=9228

A CHINESE television company hoping to set up a cable television station in the Northern Division would have to reapply.

Labasa Mayor Councillor Paul Jaduram said Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited was expected to apply to the Government for a television licence.

The company had been waiting for the Government's approval after former Labasa mayor Charan Jeath Singh and the television company executives signed a memorandum of understanding at Fushun City, in China earlier this year.

Mr Jaduram said it was good the Government had finally come up with their set of guidelines and policies in regards to the set up of television stations by other companies.

"All Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited has to do is to reapply and I hope they do meet the guidelines set out by the Government," he said.

Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited with the Labasa Town Council plans to set up a 15 channel cable TV station in Labasa.

A CHINESE television company hoping to set up a cable television station in the Northern Division would have to reapply.

Labasa Mayor Councillor Paul Jaduram said Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited was expected to apply to the Government for a television licence.

The company had been waiting for the Government's approval after former Labasa mayor Charan Jeath Singh and the television company executives signed a memorandum of understanding at Fushun City, in China earlier this year.

Mr Jaduram said it was good the Government had finally come up with their set of guidelines and policies in regards to the set up of television stations by other companies.

"All Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited has to do is to reapply and I hope they do meet the guidelines set out by the Government," he said.

Fushun Television (Fiji) Limited with the Labasa Town Council plans to set up a 15 channel cable TV station in Labasa.

India's 'teacher in the sky'

From http://www.scidev.net/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=readnews&itemid=1629&language=1

[CHENNAI] Indian space scientists have launched a US$20 million satellite — called 'Edusat' — that will be used exclusively for teaching. The "teacher in the sky" will address the twin problems of rural illiteracy and the lack of trained staff, says Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

From next month, the satellite will beam programmes in local languages directly to 1,000 schools, 200 each in the states of Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa. In the coming three years, Edusat's reach will be extended to a total of 10,000 schools. The satellite's powerful 'spot beam' technology enables reception by small satellite dishes whose low-cost means that households could also turn into interactive classrooms.

"Edusat will propel India into a leadership role in distance education," predicts Nair.

The satellite technology lends itself to interactive learning, as participating schools will be connected to a hub that communicates with Edusat. In one planned programme — the question hour — students' questions will be beamed to the satellite and rebroadcast. This system will allow a teacher in any classroom to communicate with all other participating classrooms, so the answer to a pupil's question might come from a teacher on the other side of India.

Initially, Edusat's programme content will be decided by the state governments' education departments and by the users themselves. Eventually, however, a new organisation is expected to take on this role.

The satellite was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, 80 km north of Chennai on 20 September. Although Edusat has only a seven-year mission life, it is the forerunner of a planned nationwide service that aims beam educational programmes from space to 200,000 classrooms.

According to the ISRO, India would need to create a "constellation of Edusats" in phases to meet the needs of the entire country. The organisation has proposed a self-sustaining business model under which it would provide the satellites, and industry would supply the hardware for schools and colleges, which in turn would produce the teaching material.

ISRO looks upon the Edusat project as social mission but hopes that commercial education programmes driven by the private sector could eventually use Edusat's transponders for a fee.

"The benefits of Edusat could also reach neighbouring countries covered by the satellite's 'footprint'," says Nair.

29/09/04

ACC has left Globecast B3 12524V replaced by The God Channel

Up Fm returned to Sky NZ FTA on B1 12644V

From my Emails & ICQ

From Bill Richards

0745 UTC
Thaicom3 3671 Horz 13333 3/4 Vpid2561 Apid2562 God Channel has started FTA

Also Sky 1,2,3 are all FTA

Regards
Bill Richards
South Australia

From Vk4bkp

Weak sig on NSS6

Can someone with a large solid or in Asia/India/Middle East check
NSS6 11636H 27515ish 3/4. Don't think it's an Oz beam. Wondering if
it's a TV mux or just data. Just a little too weak for a CH ID at the
moment on the 2.3m.

From Steve Hume

Indonesian Game Show Feed
The show is called "ot AK atik REJEKI "
Satelindo Asialink
PalapaC2 3765H, 5632 VID: 308, AUD: 256, PCR: 8190

From Steve Draper

Up FM Sky NZ B1

Sky is currently testing the radio channel UP FM
f-t-a.

Quoting the October 'Skywatch': "Auckland's only full
spectrum dance music radio station returns to Sky
Digital with the help of Erox Adult Lifestyle
Centres". Huh?

Steve D

From the Dish

Intelsat 701 180E 11074 H "BBC World" has started on , Fta, PIDs 515/680.

PAS 8 166E 3836 V "Azio TV" has started on , Fta, PIDs 166/104.
PAS 8 166E 3836 V "TVBS Golden" is encrypted again.

Telstar 18 138E 12402 V "ETTV Movie and LS Movie Channel" are encrypted again.

Telstar 18 138E 12302 V "ETTV News and Da-Ai TV have replaced ETTV Shopping and ETTV Shopping 2" on, Viaccess, PIDs 57/58 and 54/55.

Apstar 1A 134E 4058 V "A Golden Eagle Cartoon TV test card" has started on , Fta, SR 4420,FEC 3/4, PIDs 64/65.

JCSAT 3 128E 4120 V "Super TV" has started on, Fta, PIDs 1070/1071.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 12560 V "Celestial Movies has replaced MSTV" on , Irdeto, PIDs 264/520.

Express AM 11 96.5E "STS (+4h), STS (+7h), Muz TV and Love Radio (Russia)" have started on 11044 V, Fta, SR 29800, FEC 3/4, PIDs 522/750-524/770 and 772.

NSS 6 95E 11172 H "Smile TV" is now encrypted.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3894 V "Occasional feeds" on, SR 1990, FEC 3/4.(Ouch low SR not blind search friendly)

Measat 1 91.5E 11106 V An 8TV promo has started on , Mediaguard, PIDs 161/84.

Yamal 102 90E 3594 R New PIDs for STS (+7h) on : 2160/2120.
Yamal 102 90E 3701 L "MTV Russia" has left , moved to Yamal 201: 3674 L.
Yamal 201 90E 3944 L "World Fashion Channel" has started on , Fta, SR 4285, FEC 3/4,PIDs 4450/4451.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 3848 V "GreatSports Channel" is now Fta.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3585 V "ILearn" has left , replaced by a Shin promo.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 4113 V "TV Cambodia 5 and Hot Wave FM 98" have started on, fta, SR 2694,FEC 3/4, PIDs 512/650 and 661, Asian beam.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12333 H "ETTV News and Da-Ai TV have replaced ETTV Shopping and ETTV Shopping 2" on Viaccess, PIDs 57/58 and 54/55.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12493 H "ETTV Movie and LS Movie Channel" are encrypted again.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12734 V "TVBS Golden" is encrypted again.

PAS 4 72E 11521 V "Alsumaria" has started on , Fta, SR 4220, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256.

PAS 10 68.5E 4099 V "Pulse" has started testing on , Fta, PIDs 513/641.

NEWS

Price push on digital TV subscribers

From http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10913923%255E7582,00.html

AUSTRALIA'S 1.1 million pay-TV customers will be stung by a price rise of up to 9 per cent on their monthly bills by December. The move comes as Foxtel attempts to accelerate the migration of pay-TV customers to its new digital platform, launched earlier this year.

The price hikes are a result of a comprehensive pricing review by loss-making Foxtel (25 per cent owned by The Australian's publisher, News Limited).

First to be hit will be the 195,000 customers who receive their traditional analogue pay-TV service from number two telecommunications company Optus. In a letter to customers, Optus has outlined the price rises from November that will see a total package rise by $9 a month to $100.80.

The basic package will jump $5 a month to $46.95 The 900,000 Foxtel-managed customers will be hit by a price rise in December.

News Corp buys the rest of Sky Italia

From http://seven.com.au/news/topstories/123354

News Corp Ltd snapped up the rest of Sky Italia at a bargain price as its deputy chief operating officer Lachlan Murdoch met with Australian funds to shore up support for the group's proposed move to the US.

News Corp, which recently enthused about the long-term potential of the satellite platform, said it had bought out partner Telecom Italia S.p.A.'s 19.9 per cent stake for just 88 million euros.

Merrill Lynch media analyst Jessica Reif Cohen recently reported it would be an exceptional transaction at that price.

"Since the assets are already under News Corp direction, which mitigates transaction risk versus typical acquisitions, and potentially frees Sky Italia to market more aggressively," Ms Reif Cohen said.

Sky Italia has over 2,700,000 subscribers throughout Italy.

And at an investor presentation in July, News Corp said it was on track to meet its immediate objective of three million subscribers by the end of calendar 2004.

SKY Italia is one of four parts to News Corp's direct broadcast satellite television segment. The other three are Foxtel, BSkyB and DirecTV.

Meanwhile, Lachlan Murdoch is in Australia this week for a series meetings at which he will discuss the company's plan to reincorporate in the US state of Delaware.

Earlier this week, a coalition of Australian and international superannuation funds warned they would not guarantee to support Rupert Murdoch's plan for his media group because they believed the move would spell diminished rights for investors.

The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, which represents 32 Australian funds, said it had raised concerns with News Corp including that takeover protection for minority shareholders were negligible in the US.

A spokesman for News Corp's Australian arm, News Ltd, rejected the claim that corporate governance was inferior in the US.

"At its core we don't agree with the fundamental position which is that US governance is substantially different from Australian governance," the spokesman said.

"These regimes are extremely known to a large number of US investors, who are very comfortable with them.

"About 20 per cent of funds under management in Australia are invested in foreign companies, a large proportion of which are in the US, so Australians already have a heavy exposure to foreign companies listed on foreign exchanges operating under foreign governance regimes."

Singapore Knows The China Frequency

From http://www.chinatechnews.com/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=1885

Turn now to Singapore. The country has been making a push for its financial sector to become more relevant in China. While a listing in the U.S. or Hong Kong continues to be the dream of Chinese entrepreneurs, the Lion City has recently gained traction as an attractor of capital.

A few months ago, ChinaCast became one of the latest mainland-based companies to list in Singapore. ChinaCast is a Bermuda-registered, Beijing-based company that traffics in satellites. And it boasts an A-list group of shareholders, including Intel, Hughes Electronics and Sun Hung Kai (the Hong Kong real estate powerhouse).

ChinaCast did its IPO on the Singapore stock exchange in May 2004.

ChinaCast’s basic business is to rent raw bandwidth from third-party satellite providers, and then package this satellite bandwidth out to businesses that need a turn-key satellite hookup. The company has focused on universities that use the satellite hook-ups to provide distance-learning courses.

The Chinese Ministry of Education has now issued dozens of licenses to universities across China to use distance learning in their curriculums. At last count, ChinaCast had inked deals to provide distance learning to at least 15 of these universities, including Beijing University.

Although by now it is a cliché, Chinese do tend to value education. As Chinese become prosperous, there is every reason to think more money will be spent on education, making universities growing markets. By focusing on the education market, ChinaCast is probably betting on the right horse.

Essentially, the Chinese universities decide what to teach, and then outsource the rest to ChinaCast. ChinaCast then delivers an end-to-end technology solution to deliver the course via satellite. This includes the bandwidth, data transmission and the operation of the entire network system. The lectures are then broadcast from whatever venue the university chooses, to any registered student in China with Internet access.

It is a win-win situation for both the university and ChinaCast. Rare is the university that would want to put up the capital needed to operate a satellite network. Even if a university were able to muster the resources, the maintenance and management of such a system would probably be out of reach.

There is also a largely untapped market in corporate distance learning. As Chinese and foreign companies become less regionalized and more national, distance learning will only become more important. And already ChinaCast has a footprint in this market. With its Enterprise Networking Division, ChinaCast has set its sights on capturing the market for large organizations that need to communicate among branch offices in China.

ChinaCast does not have its own satellite but pays a satellite provider a periodic usage fee, and incurs a transponder fee. And by focusing on providing satellite-based services and not on owning the actual satellite, ChinaCast has avoided many potential pitfalls.

AsiaSat, one of the most well-known satellite-providers in Asia, does actually own satellites. But along with this ownership of satellites comes numerous maintenance problems, and problems with finding customers. As a result AsiaSat, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has not been a lollapalooza to investors. Over the last seven to eight years AsiaSat’s stock price has ranged from highs of over US$40 to lows of just over US$10. It now sits at about US$18.

Let’s hope with the cash and recognition that came with their recent IPO, the executives at ChinaCast do not get any grandiose ideas of launching their own satellite like AsiaSat. They should stay closer to earth, lest investors feel the need to ground them.

Now listed on the Singapore stock exchange, ChinaCast’s market capitalization is in the neighborhood of US$80 million. With profits currently annualized for the year at just over US$4 million, the stock is not a screaming bargain.

But ChinaCast has virtually no debt and is poised to develop its distance learning courses deeper into the mainland. With a sky-high profit margin of 25%, ChinaCast is already showing signs of being a well-tuned company. As the company develops a track record and grows its profits, investors will want to stay tuned.

Zee To Air Sports Channel Test Signals From Today

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=70008

MUMBAI, SEPT 28: Zee Telefilms Limited (ZTL) has received approval for its upcoming channel Zee Sports. This was conveyed to the company’s shareholders by ZTL chairman Subhash Chandra at its Annual General Meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday.

This comes at a time when the entire dispute over telecast rights is under dispute and is before the Supreme Court. "We got the approval last evening, and we will begin test signals from tomorrow," said Mr Chandra. Responding to a shareholder’s query, he pointed out that the matter was sub-judice. "All I can say is that we have full faith in the judicial system and we will get justice," he added.

ESPN-Star Sports had taken the issue to court after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awarded the rights on an "in-principle" basis." ESPN-Star Sports maintained that Zee did not possess experience in cricket broadcasting. Subsequently, BCCI cancelled the tender.

Mr Chandra emphasised that Zee was committed to sports. "India is not just about cricket. Foreigners have milked cricket and Zee is keen on developing other sports as well," he explained. Answering a query on experience in sports broadcasting, he said: "The experience issue has been demolished since cricket is produced by third party experts. ESPN-Star Sports also does not have experience." To date, the legal expenses on this case for Zee has been Rs 23 lakh and Mr Chandra pointed out that if the case drags on, it could cost as much as Rs 1.5 crore.

Zee has a joint venture with MGM and this airs the Zee MGM channel. MGM was recently acquired worldwide by Sony. According to Mr Chandra, this will not make a difference to the television channel. "We have ceased our arrangement with MGM three months ago," he said.

SAB TV signs pact with SET Satellite, S`pore

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/15281307.htm

MUMBAI: Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd has informed BSE that the company and SET Satellite (Singapore) Pte Ltd (SET) owners of Sony Entertainment Television and Max channels have entered into an understanding pursuant to which SET have entered into an exclusive option to distribute the SAB TV channel as part of the One Alliance bouquet and to acquire a equity stake in the broadcasting subsidiary of SABTNL.

The valuation and percentage of equity will be decided by both the parties in the near future.

28/09/04

Live satellite chat in the chatroom 9p.m NZ and 8.30p.m Syd time onwards.

Sorry if you can't get into the site using the apsattv.com address we are in the change over process moving to the new server.

Things are pretty quiet today

The Tarb's/UBI website is now online
http://www.ubiworldtv.com/

People calling the UBI phone number have been told Packages are priced from $49.95 upwards

From my Emails & ICQ

From Jon.C Thailand

Multicoice on Pas 10 Cband was fta for a while today

From the Dish

No Lyngsat received

NEWS

Foxtel confident of showing Indian tour

From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/28/1096137216245.html

Satellite broadcaster Foxtel is confident it will show the upcoming Australia-India cricket series no matter who provides the telecast from India.

"We've had preliminary discussions with other possible providers to make sure that if the series goes ahead there will be coverage in Australia," Fox Sports spokesman Dugald Saunders said.

Television rights for the four-Test series - regarded as a virtual world Test championship - are the subject of a legal battle in the Supreme Court in Delhi.

The court is due to hear a petition filed by Zee Telefilms over the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cancel its $A430 million four-year contract to telecast Indian cricket.

The deal was challenged by the Disney-Murdoch broadcaster ESPN-Star Sports on the grounds that Zee did not have the required experience as a cricket broadcaster.

Both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket Australia have said they are not in favour of the series being played without live television coverage.

The BCCI is currently finalising arrangements for another broadcaster to pick up the series.

If that happens, Fox Sports has made arrangements to pick up its coverage for Australia.

"Discussions have been held with other parties. No matter who gets it we are in a position to provide coverage here," Saunders said.

"From our point of view it doesn't actually matter who gets the rights over there."

He said Foxtel merely plugged in the satellite feed and provided its own hosting.

"Whoever does get it needs us for Australian coverage. There's no one else here who can provide the coverage. We're the only option for them."

Saunders said Foxtel believed there was too much at stake with TV rights and sponsorship deals in India and elsewhere for the whole thing to fall over.

"If everything is scrapped we'll be shattered like everyone else, but I can't see that happening."

The first Test is scheduled to start in Bangalore on October 6.

Moody's cuts PamAmSat's rating deeper into junk

From http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=6343384

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service on Monday cut its ratings on satellite operator PanAmSat Corp. deeper into junk, citing a $250 million debt offering that will be used to pay dividends to shareholders.

Moody's cut PanAmSat's senior implied rating to "B1," the fourth-highest junk rating, from "Ba3." and its senior unsecured rating to "B2," the fifth-highest junk rating, from "B1." The outlook is stable.

Moody's said it was concerned about the effect the added debt would have on the company, which was already highly leveraged as a result of its leveraged buyout by private equity sponsors in August

China launches twentieth scientific satellite

From http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_1208281.htm

China has launched a scientific satellite from a remote desert in northwestern Gansu province.

State media reports it's the 20th recoverable satellite for scientific and technological experiments that China has launched.

China sent a pair of satellites into space earlier this month for a two-year mission to investigate space radiation and its effects.

In October last year, China became the third country after the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve manned space flight, when astronaut Yang Liwei orbited the Earth 14 times.

BCCI says cricket telecast will be on DD

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/sep/sep286.htm

NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Even as the Supreme Court today referred the telecast rights issue to a five-judge constitutional bench, the Indian cricket board submitted in the court that the Indian pubcaster would be telecasting the Australia and South Africa series domestically.

This was conveyed to the apex court by the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) counsel KK Venugopal, who added that the international rights would be given to "somebody else". This, he contended, was being done because of the gravity of the issue and that a situation is being attempted to be averted where Indian public do not get to see the matches being played in India.

On cue, ESPN-Star Sports has written a letter to the BCCI offering to produce the live telecast of the matches and share the feed with Doordarshan. "In view of the fact that the contract for telecast of cricket matches awarded to Zee Telefilms has been cancelled, we are ready to produce the live telecast of the matches," the Press Trust of India, quoting from the letter, reported today.

In its letter, ESS has again reiterated that it should be given the cricket rights as it has "all the infrastructure to do the live telecast of matches."

ESS COMMITS TO GIVE BCCI NET AD REVENUES FROM CRICKET TELECAST

In the letter, ESS has further committed to give BCCI all the net (international?) advertisement revenues the channel earns as well as the "net share of DD revenues net of costs."

Efforts made by indiantelevision.com to get comments from BCCI supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya and Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma proved futile. While Dalmiya refused to comment at all on the issue, including the fact whether an agreement with Prasar Bharati has been reached or not, Sarma could not be contacted as he was out of the country, scheduled to return late this evening.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has adjourned to Tuesday its hearing of Zee Telefilm's petition in the India cricket telecast rights case.

Reflecting the seriousness with which the apex court views the matter, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Santosh Hegde referred the case to a five-judge constitutional bench that will hear arguments in the case to which main respondent BCCI has already filed its caveat.

The first issue that the court will have to get out of the way is whether Zee's petition is maintainable or not. In its petition, Zee has contended that it is the rightful owner of the cricket rights as it has deposited $ 20 million with the Indian cricket board as per terms and conditions. It has also contended that the cricket board's decision to cancel an earlier tender process, which saw Zee emerge as the highest bidder with a quote of $ 308 million, is unjust and the court should overturn that decision.

The respondents in the case include the government of India, ESPN-Star Sports, BCCI and PriceWaterhouse Cooper (PwC), the audit firm that vetted the various bids.

Zee had moved the Supreme Court last Wednesday after the BCCI the previous day filed an affidavit in the Mumbai HC that it was cancelling the tendering process and would retain the rights of Indian cricket with itself. Immediately after that, ESPN Star Sports, a joint venture between Walt Disney and News Corp, withdrew its petition against the award of the rights to Zee.

Zee had said in its petition that its contract for cricket telecast rights with the BCCI was signed and was not incomplete as the BCCI maintains.

Cancellation of telecast rights — Constitution Bench to hear Zee's plea from today

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/09/28/stories/2004092802910100.htm

THE three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde, today referred the petition filed by Zee Telefilms challenging the cancellation of the telecast rights and re-opening the bidding process by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to a five-judge Constitution Bench.

Mr Justice Hegde said that the Bench would request the Chief Justice to refer the case to a higher Bench as the petition filed by Zee raised constitutional issues.

The broadcaster, in its petition, has alleged that BCCI is inter-alia recognised by the Government of India as the Regulatory Authority for the game of cricket in India and that it is performing one of the most important public functions for the country with the authorisation and recognition by the Government of India.

The Court also issued notices to all the parties including the Government of India, ESPN-Star Sports and PricewaterhouseCoopers and asked them to be prepared to resume arguments from Tuesday.

Counsel for Zee, Mr Harish Salve, today said that the broadcasting company was only challenging the cancellation of the contract, which is mala fide and illegal. He contended that Zee Telefilms had emerged as the highest bidder at $308 million for the telecast rights and has already paid the BCCI $20 million.

He alleged that the BCCI had entered into a long and arduous negotiation process (with ESPN Software) contrary to the guidelines issued by the Central Vigilance Commission, which barred negotiations except with the highest bidder.

According to Mr Salve, the BCCI in its affidavit had clearly said that both Zee and ESPN Software were eligible to bid for the rights. It also alleged that there was collusion between the sports broadcaster ESPN-Star Sports and the BCCI, which led to the cancellation of the contract on September 21.

27/09/04

MYTV and TV Plus have merged acording to reports

Unofficial Tarb's/UBI forum http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=29&submit=Go

UBI World TV for more info call (02) 97762727 ?

New channel testing on Tarb's/UBI "Newsat" arab channel

China G.P was on Pas 2, 3795 V 20000 but in 4.2.2

From my Emails & ICQ

From George

This is from the mytvplus website
www.mytvplus.com.au translated with altavista babel fish

Dear friends, company MYTV Plus and TV Plus with happiness report to you
about the confluence of two companies for the purpose of assignment to the
clients of Australia and New Zealand of the most complete and interesting
packet of the russian television channels and radio. It was
established after prolonged analysis and contact with our potential
spectators that the absolute majority wished so that the first channel,
voshedshchim into our basic base packet would become the first channel of
Russian television - channel UNIT VECTOR. For this very reason we decided to
declare its basic channel of our four subsequent packets.

The channel, which entered our second packet became channel "SOYUZ", which
rightfully occupied this place, since is the fundamentally new channel,
which is differed significantly from all remaining programs of rossiysskogo
television, velekolepno supplementing channel UNIT VECTOR both on the
selection of programs and on the quality of their production, and in the
content of the proposed materials. The third channel those entered the third
packet became channel NTV, whose rating proved to be considerably higher
than in all remaining possible candidates. I think, takeing into account
this fact, this channel today in Australia it does not need any additional
advertisement.

1 packet includes one television channel - the first channel of Russia, one
radio channel, reduction A$5 to the bells for the boundary each month, all
the time of contract *, free connection and the replacement of decoder for
the former clients TARBS*. the cost of the first packet compose A$40 per
month, including GST.

2 packet includes two television channels: the first channel Russia,
channel - "Soyuz" one radio channel, reduction A$5 to the bells for the
boundary each month, all the time of contract *, free connection and the
replacement of decoder for the former clients TARBS*, and also beslatnye
local bells from 1 February, 2005, *.

The cost of the second packet composes A$54 per month, including GST.

3 packet includes three television channels: the first channel Russia,
channel - "Soyuz", channel"NTV" or equivalent channel, one radio channel,
reduction A$5 to the bells for the boundary each month all the time of
contract *, free connection and replacement of decoder for the former
clients TARBS*, and also beslatnye local bells from 1 February, 2005, *. the
cost of the third packet composes A$65 per month, including GST.

4 packet include four television channels (Channel four it will be declared
soon), one radio channel, vaucher on A$5 to the free bells for the boundary
*, free local bells from 1 February, 2005, *, free connections the
replacement of decoder for the former clients TARBS*, the cost of the fourth
packet - A$74 per month.

* these conditions are real only for the clients, who signed themselves to
the the russian television until 10 October, 2004. For obtaining all reductions on the telephone

it is necessary to also fill the accompanying form of company My Telecom.

In order to make a final decision by the selection of the third and the
fourth channelo in our packets, we request you to fill the following small form.

Since our company is interested so that this solution would correspond to the selection of the absolute majority of our clients and largest possible number people it passed to the third packet and as far as possible and to the fourth packet, this form it will allow us to make a selection most correctly.

You will estimate, if you please, your priorities of channels according to
the five-scale scale.

(Craigs comment, if you can make any sense from that it looks like the top package will be 4 Russian channels +1 radio and some sort of phone arrangement for free calls?? for $75 a month. OUCH!)

From Simmo

Telkom 1 108E Feed seen
RO-SB-TIMUR 4098 H 3125

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3836 V "TVBS Golden" is now fta
PAS 8 166E 4180 H "ABC Australia", FTA PIDs 7000/7010.(Only temp?)

Telstar 18 138E 12402 V "ETTV Movie and LS Movie Channel" on are fta again.

Telkom 1 108E 4097 H "SCTV Jawatimur" has left .New PIDs for JTV: 308/256.

NSS 6 95E 12534 H "AIR Kannada, AIR Bangla, AIR Hindi, AIR North East and AIR Punjabi" have started on , Fta, APIDs 731-740.(India beam)
NSS 6 95E 12595 V "NTV (Bangladesh)" has replaced Raj Digital Plus on , Fta,PIDs 4602/4603.(India beam)
NSS 6 95E 12595 V "ABC Asia Pacific" is now encrypted.
NSS 6 95E 12647 V "DD Kashmir, AIR Telugu, AIR Marathi, AIR Tamil and AIR Gujarati" have started on , Fta, PIDs 509/609 and 702-705.
NSS 6 95E 12688 V "Zee Music" is now encrypted.
NSS 6 95E 12729 V "DD North-East" has started on , Fta, PIDs 521/621.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 12658 H. "The test card" has left

Telstar 10 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka Channel 3" is now Fta.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3760 H "New Sat" has started on , Fta, PIDs 256/512.
Telstar 10 76.5E 3760 H "Kanal D Fun has replaced Kanal D" on , Fta, PIDs 261/517.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12493 H "ETTV Movie and LS Movie Channel" are fta.
Telstar 10 76.5E 12734 V "TVBS Golden" is Fta.

NEWS

SATELLITE PROBLEMS: Thaicom 5 to launch in 2006, four years early

From http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&theme=A&usrsess=1&id=121512

ShinSat needs to replace Thaicom 3

Shin Satellite Plc wants to move up the launch of its fifth satellite by four years to 2006 in case its ailing Thaicom 3 goes on the blink sooner than planned.

Chief commercial officer Yongsit Rojsrivichaikul said last week that Thaicom 5, at a cost of US$200 million (Bt8 billion), will be bigger than Thaicom 3 but have a similar physical design.

ShinSat’s shortlist of potential builders has France’s Aerospatiale, the prime contractor for Thaicom 3, as well as Boeing Satellite Systems and Space Systems/Loral of the US.

“We’re negotiating the details regarding the number of transponders on Thaicom 5. We expect there will be more than 30. We have to hurry and conclude the deal with one of the companies within this year,” Yongsit said.

ShinSat had planned to launch Thaicom 5 three or four years after its broadband satellite iPStar, also known as Thaicom 4, which is scheduled for takeoff early next year. Thaicom 5 is intended to replace Thaicoms 1, 2 and 3.

But the plan was revised after the company found an irreparable glitch in Thaicom 3 that will terminate its service in 2007.

Thaicom 3 was put in orbit in 1997 with a mission lifetime of 14 years, meaning it was designed to run to 2011.

Thaicom 3 experienced a severe technical problem in its power supply last year that knocked out nine of its transponders.

The same glitch prompted another failure in Thaicom 3 in the middle of this month, forcing ShinSat to shut it down twice for maintenance during a solar eclipse.

Thaicom 1 was launched in 1993 and was followed by the identical Thaicom 2 in 1994, with both having a lifespan of about 13.5 years. Their missions are due to end in 2009.

After Thaicom 5 starts up, Thaicom 3 will continue working for the duration of its serviceable life.

Hughes – now Boeing Satellite Systems – built Thaicoms 1 and 2 for ShinSat, while Space Systems/Loral is assembling iPStar.

ShinSat needs Thaicom 5 to provide conventional broadcasting services now offered by Thaicoms 1, 2 and 3, since iPStar will offer mainly broadband telecom services. Thaicom 5 will become the broadcasting centre for all TV programmes in Thailand, Yongsit said.

Thaicom 5 will not likely encounter the same ills as Thaicom 3 because ShinSat now has much more technical expertise, he said.

ShinSat has had no trouble in securing financing to build Thaicom 5, he said.

Thaicom 5 will be positioned at 78.5 degrees east longitude, the same orbit as Thaicoms 2 and 3. Thaicom 1 has been relocated to 120 degrees east.

The newest Thaicom will cater to an expanding number of television operators, a trend that is expected to gain speed when the regulator gets off the ground to issue more licences and deregulate the market.

Thailand is in the process of forming the National Broadcasting Commission.

Murdoch sets sights on Russian television

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2004/09/26/cnmurd26.xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2004/09/26/ixcity.html

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to expand into Russian television, with plans to create a pay-to-view platform and produce programmes.

Marty Pompadur, one of Murdoch's lieutenants, is on a fact-finding mission that has included visits to Siberia and Samara on the Volga river.

News Corporation, which owns the Sun and The Times newspapers and has a 35.5 per cent stake in British Sky Broadcasting, already has an outdoor billboard advertising business in Russia owned by its News Outdoor Group subsidiary.

The division has headquarters in Moscow and also operates in Hungary, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. News Corporation has also made a number of investments in radio in Russia, but has yet to invest in the country's television industry.

"We're looking for other investments," Pompadur said. "We are looking to add to our radio and our outdoor (advertising) holdings, and we are interested in pay-TV and content." He said the trip was a tour of the country designed to increase his understanding of the market.

The company is considering satellite, cable and broadband internet as ways of creating a pay-TV platform in Russia.

Several other media companies have also recently stepped up plans to invest in Russia. Two months ago WPP, the advertising giant headed by Sir Martin Sorrell, started talks to merge its Russian advertising operations with agencies owned by Video International, one of the country's leading media buyers.

Edusat placed in near-Geosynchronous Orbit

From http://www.123bharath.com/technology-india-news/index.php?action=fullnews&id=22775

Technology India > Bangalore, Sept 26 (PTI) India's dedicated educational satellite EDUSAT has been placed in a near Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO).

This was achieved after the third and final orbit-raising operation conducted from ISRO's Master Controal Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said here today.

The manoeuvre was completed by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) on board the satellite for a duration of two minutes, 15 secs on Sept 24, ISRO said in a statement.

With this operation, EDUSAT, launched on September 20, has achieved an orbital period of 23 hours and 46 minutes and is continuously within the radio visibility of MCF, ISRO said in its statement.

Located at 61 degree East longitude, the satellite is now drifting towards its orbital slot of 74 degree East, at a rate of 2.54 degrees per day and would reach its first In-Orbit Test slot by October 2, it said.

After the completion of the third apogee motor firing, the East side antenna, intended for transmitting and receiving Ku-band signals with multiple spots beams coverage, was also deployed successfully on September 24, the statement said.

Three-axes stabilisation of the satellite and deployment of its West side antenna, which is intended for transmitting and receiving Extended C-band signals, was done yesterday.

Besides the two deployable antennas, the satellite has one body-mounted antenna meant for transmitting and receiving Ku-band signals with national coverage beam.

`DD Direct Plus' to air 17 Doordarshan, 10 AIR channels

From http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/27/stories/2004092713250300.htm

MANGALORE, SEPT. 26. The direct-to-home (DTH) service of Doordarshan will enable people to access regional and national radio and Doordarshan channels in any part of the country, except Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Vasantha Kumar Perla, chief programme executive of All India Radio, Mangalore, and Suresh Kumar, station engineer, Doordarshan (Maintenance Centre), Vamanjoor, near here, have said.

Free-to-air service

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, they said Doordarshan had begun its DTH transmission on an experimental basis. "DD Direct Plus'', the first free-to-air DTH service of Doordarshan, would provide 17 Doordarshan channels and 10 channels of All India Radio.

There was a proposal to include 13 private television channels in the service. More number of television and radio channels would be added to the DTH service in phases.

Channels

Some Doordarshan channels available under the DTH are DD-Chandana, DD-National, DD-News, DD-Sports, DD-India, DD-Bharati, DD-Bangla, DD-Gujarati, DD-Kashmir, DD-Malayalam, DD-Podhigai, DD-Punjabi, DD-Sahyadri, DD-Saptagiri and DD-Gyanadarshan.

The 10 AIR channels available are AIR-Kannada, AIR-Delhi, AIR-Gujarati, AIR-Bangla, AIR-Marathi, AIR-Telugu, AIR-Tamil, AIR-Punjabi, AIR-North East Service and AIR-Vividh Bharathi.

These DTH digital channels offer crystal clear video and quality audio and the service is available throughout the country except in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Set-top box

The service can be directly received with a 60 cm/90 cm/120 cm dish antenna with the use of Ku-band LNBC and set-top box without any other intermediaries.

It involves one-time expenditure on installation and there is no hidden or recurring cost. The installation will cost between Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 5,000 depending on the quality of the equipment. The equipment is available in the open market.

"DD Direct Plus'' is available on the high power transponders of NSS-6 satellite parked at 95 degree E on the geo-stationary orbit.

Details regarding the DTH service may be had by logging on to ddindia.com and ddinews.com.

The service is also available in some neighbouring countries.

EDUSAT to be operational in a month: ISRO

From http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200409270301.htm

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 27. (PTI): Edusat, India's exclusive satellite for education launched on September 20, would be fully operational within a month, ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair said here today.

"The satellite has been successfully placed in its accurate orbit and now the health of the same has to be monitored", Nair said while participating at a meet-the press programme, organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists Trust here.

The first theme-based satellite of India would be made operational in four weeks by switching on its transponders, Nair said.

The objective of the project was to link various institutions of higher education and create 'virtual classrooms'.

There would be 50 receiving centres, he said. In the first phase, there would be 1000 terminals with two-way interactive facility.

In the second phase, there were plans to put up 10,000 terminals.

Of this, 5000 would have interactive two-way facility, he said, adding that the second phase would be completed in three years time.

On ISRO's future plans, he said the process of building a cryogenic engine was progressing at Mahendragiri. The first flight, carrying a GSLV using cryogenic engine, would be made next year, he said.

The second launch pad at Sriharikota would be commissioned in February-March next, he added.

Nair said the programme of linking Kerala's medical colleges with district hospitals to promote continuing medical education and expert consultation would be commissioned in three months. The Kerala Government had singed an MOU with ISRO for the scheme a few weeks ago.

ISRO would bear half of the total cost of the project of Rs 12 crore, he said.

On the immediate plans of ISRO, Nair said work on the satellite under the INSAT series four-A was progressing and would be launched from at French Guyana in February.

There was also a plan to launch a CARTO-sat satellite under the IRS series for remote sensing for mapping purpose from Sriharikota in February-March.

To a question, he said ISRO would also go in for a satellite exclusively for medical purposes if the need arose.

ISRO Project Director, Perumal, who was also present, said ISRO was working on project of going in for a re-useable space vehicle.

Sahara TV to launch new movie channel

From http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG3_sub.asp?ccode=ENG3&newscode=73227

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) As part of its massive expansion drive, Sahara India Pariwar' will launch a exclusive movie channel from January 1 under its newly formed brand SaharaOne.

SaharaOne is the umbrella brand of the Sahara Group under which four business of movies, television, radio and special feature have been brought together.

The Sahara group has a diverse portfolio of parabanking, life insurance, housing finance, infrastructure and housing, media and entertainment, aviation, consumer products, information technology and power.

SaharaOne Television -- the television arm -- will enter into exclusive long-term tie-ups with leading artistes, producers and technicians to develop original entertainment content for television, a company statement said.

While the channel has already made a entry into producing movies, it plans to release 70 films in the coming one year and has invested Rs 185 crore for the venture.

SaharaOne Motion Pictures, has entered into exclusive tie-ups with leading film producers and directors like Ram Gopal Verma and Boney Kapoor.

The Group's Radio venture, SaharaOne Radio, which currently operates in four channels on the WorldSpace satellite network also plans to expand its operations.

Sahara is also developing a state-of-the-art and fully digital film production facility, together with an academy for film and television arts in India.

''The academy will provide an all in one film production and finishing service to film producers and all others involved with film making,'' the statement said.

The proposed academy will offer courses in cinematography and lighting, production sound and picture, directing, FX motion graphics, motion capture and post production, web animation and independent producing.

The channel is also launching a host of new programmes in its entertainment and news channels.

No telecast means no Test status: BCCI

From http://www.thatscricket.com/2004/test_series/ind-aus/2609telecast.html

Kolkata: Expressing concern over the ongoing imbroglio over the telecasting rights of cricket matches the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday said that Test status of India-Australia series beginning on October 6 may be withdrawn if live telecast was not ensured.

"If live telecast of the India-Australia Test was not done then its Test status can be withdrawn," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said in Kolkata.

He, however, said that the Board was trying its best to ensure the live telecast of the four-Test series, which would begin with the first Test at Bangalore from October 6.

The BCCI had earlier granted telecasting rights to Zee Telefilms following a bidding process. But it was challenged by ESPN-Star Sports in Bombay High Court following which BCCI had cancelled the award to Zee.

But this prompted Zee to move Supreme Court challenging Board's decision and the matter is scheduled to be taken up by the apex court on Monday.

BCCI had earlier sought permission from International Cricket Council (ICC) to stage the Test series without live telecast in view of the current impasse, which had been rejected by the world body while emphasising the necessity of third umpires in the international matches.

The ICC had said in its communique, "The BCCI is required to organise live TV coverage of the Test matches and One-day Internationals as set out in the ICC standard playing conditions to provide for third umpire decisions".

TELE-satellite News - Number 39/2004 ­ 26 September 2004 -
A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by

TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

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

AUSTRALIA

LABOR IN FAVOUR OF TELSTRA GIVING UP FOXTEL STAKE

Government-owned telecom operator Telstra would be
forced to relinquish its stake in subscription
television leader Foxtel under a Labor government,
according to broadcasting policy released on September
21 by the main opposition party. The policy advocates
"greater competition and diversity" in the
communications sector and backs the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission's view that
"getting Telstra out of Foxtel will encourage
competition in the communications industry." Foxtel is
50% owned by Telstra, along with Rupert Murdoch's News
Corp. and Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting
Limited, each 25% stakeholders.

ABC TO LAUNCH SECOND CHANNEL IN MARCH

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will
launch a second TV channel in March next year. The new
channel will include a mix of children's, documentary,
arts, international and regional news programming and
will be available to viewers with digital television
receivers or as a free channel through subscription
television. "We have now delivered hard fought cost
savings and efficiencies that allow the ABC to launch
a second television channel," ABC Managing Director
Russell Balding said. "A major purpose of the digital
service is to expand the reach of ABC children's
programming. The second channel will allow families to
switch between the main and second channel to access
trusted, safe and high quality children's programming
right through the day and into the early evening. "

BRUNEI

BRUNEI AND SINGAPORE IN FAVOUR OF DIGITAL TV PUSH

Brunei and Singapore are spearheading an initiative to
hasten the adoption of digital TV in the region,
according to a report in Singapore's Sunday Times.
Quoting Dr Tan Chin Nam, Permanent Secretary in
Singapore's Ministry of Information, Communications
and the Arts, who was in Brunei last week to attend
the 14th joint technical committee meeting on
cooperation in broadcasting between Brunei and
Singapore, the report stated that both countries have
jointly hosted two Asean Digital Broadcasting meetings
this year. The two meetings led to the setting up of a
taskforce, comprising representatives from six Asean
countries, which is formulating common specifications
for decoder set-top boxes (STB) for adoption at the
third Asean meeting on digital broadcasting. Brunei
mooted the idea of a common minimum standard for STBs
for the Asean region in December last year. The
proposal was supported by Singapore, Sunday Times
reported. Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and MediaCorp
Technologies will be working together to develop
interactive applications for digital TV, Dr Tan said.

CHINA ­ HONG KONG

ASTRO LAUNCHES CELESTIAL MOVIE CHANNEL

Malaysian pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks's
Celestial Pictures unit has launched its Celestial
Movie Channel in China at certain hotels. "Celestial
Pictures plans to secure broader distribution over
cable networks," Astro said in a statement to the
stock exchange. The sales and distribution of the
channel will be undertaken by China International TV
Corp. Launched last March, Celestial Movies is a
subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures,
owner of the Shaw Brothers film library, which
includes such classics as "One-Armed Swordsman" and
"36th Chamber of Shaolin." The group is wholly owned
by Malaysian broadcaster Astro All-Asia Networks.

NASPER PLANS PAY-TV SERVICE

Media and electronic broadcasting giant Naspers is
laying the groundwork for a satellite television
broadcast licence in China so that it is able to
provide a product similar to its African DStv
offerings. Group nonexecutive chairman Ton Vosloo told
the Cape Town Press Club that he could not say more at
this stage, as the group was hopeful it was making
headway.

TVB ENTERS MAINLAND MARKET

Hong Kong's free-to-air broadcaster Television
Broadcasts Limited (TVB) says it has won long-sought
landing rights to legally air its two flagship
channels to about five million homes in the Pearl
River Delta area, the South China Morning Post has
reported. The broadcasting licence - granted on
September 2 - laid a foundation for TVB and its
mainland partner Southern Media Corporation (SMC) to
jointly develop the market, TVB's General Manager of
International Operations Dewy Ip said. The channels -
Jade and Pearl - will be broadcast in nine cities:
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Foshan,
Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhongshan and Zhaoqing. Future
co-operation opportunities included the collection of
advertising sales and content production and
distribution. The parties were in talks to produce
drama series together and TVB would help SMC
distribute its Chinese channel overseas.

TVB INITIATES TALKS OVER GALAXY STAKE

Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) says
it is in talks with potential partners who could take
51 per cent of its pay-TV venture, Galaxy Satellite TV
Holdings Ltd (Galaxy), the South China Morning Post
has reported. "We have started seeking partners since
the announcement (of Intelsat's departure)," Stephen
Chan, General Manager of TVB said. "We are asking the
government to grant us a grace period so we can have
more time to seek one or more partners. TVB announced
last week that Intelsat would quit Galaxy and transfer
its 51 per cent stake to TVB. The free-to-air
broadcaster needs government approval to hold more
than 49 per cent of its pay-TV arm. Hutchison Global
Communications tops the partner wish list with its
network coverage of one million homes. Galaxy -
launched in February - is estimated to have around
5,000 to 6,000 users.

MTV AND NICKELODEON TO EXPAND PRESENCE

MTV and Nickelodeon, two cable channels owned by the
media conglomerate Viacom Inc., announced several
deals on September 24 to expand their reach in China.
MTV is tripling the reach of its 24-hour channel in
China's Guangdong province to 10 million by the end of
the year. It also entered an agreement with Beijing
Television, a regional broadcaster, to produce
Chinese-language music and entertainment programs for
BTV. The production deal with BTV marks the second
production venture in China for MTV, following the
announcement in March of a joint venture with Shanghai
Media Group to create children's programming. China's
state broadcaster, CCTV, also expanded its agreement
with Nickelodeon to gain rights to all episodes of
Nickelodeon's animated shows CatDog and The Wild
Thornberrys, which have been top ratings performers on
CCTV's new channel for children, which launched in
March. Viacom and CCTV are also discussing other
possible deals, including using programming made by
CCTV to air on Nickelodeon channels outside of China,
and other licensing deals for Nickelodeon shows on
CCTV.

INDIA

STILL NO SOLUTION IN CRICKET TV BID

The battle over the TV rights to India's international
cricketing series for the next four years has turned
into a messy court tangle, according to a report in
Variety. The Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) last week awarded the rights to Zee Network for
a $308 million, a sixfold increase from the $54
million paid by pubcaster Doordarshan for the past
four years. But the decision was challenged in Mumbai
High Court by rival ESPN-Star Sports, which claimed it
had not been given a fair chance to better its bid.
The court's proposal for both nets to submit fresh
bids to the court was accepted by ESPN-Star but
rejected by Zee on September 14 -- leaving a prolonged
legal battle the only option. Cricket-crazy Indians
are now worried a cricket Test series between India
and world champions Australia starting October 6 will
be blacked out. The BCCI said it may have to look
elsewhere to ensure fans are not left in the dark.

DISCOVERY TO LAUNCH TWO LIFESTYLE NETWORKS

Discovery Networks International has announced the
names for its three new lifestyle networks, with the
first, Discovery Travel & Living, set to launch
October 18 in India. Discovery Travel & Living,
together with Discovery Home & Health and Discovery
Real Time, form the core of Discovery Lifestyle
Networks, an initiative announced in June of this
year. Following the India launch, the three channels
will be rolled out throughout 2005 and will launch
with 70 million cumulative subscribers in 82 countries
and will be available in 15 languages. Discovery
Travel & Living will target adults aged 25 to 45,
while Discovery Real Time will target men in that
demographic and Discovery Home & Health will gear to
women aged 18 to 45. Discovery is using India as the
test-bed for the new services, with Travel & Living
distributed in India by the One Alliance, a
joint-venture between Sony Entertainment Television
India and Discovery Communications India.

KIDS NETWORK TO LAUNCH ON SEPTEMBER 26

UTV has set September 26 as the launch date for
Hungama TV, a new 24-hour channel in India for kids
aged 4 to 14. Programming includes the Chattar Pattar
block for preschoolers and Halla Gulla, from 5 p.m. to
6 p.m., for tweens. Other programming blocks include
Non-Stop Dhamaka and the Ulta Pulta Club, which will
include game shows, comedies and sci-fi. Later in the
evening, Abracadabra Spell & Movies will target a
broader family audience.

NDTV CHALLENGES MURDOCH’S STAR TV

Prannoy Roy left Star network last year and created
created his own venture in competition with Rupert
Murdoch’s satellite TV platform. Roy's two channels -
NDTV, which broadcasts in English, and NDTV India,
whose programming is in Hindi - have established
themselves as the number one and number two channels
in their sectors. His recent quarterly results, £1
million profit from £5 million of advertising revenue,
are the best proof of his success. NDTV's rise can
also boast having pushed Star News into a distant
fourth place. Until 1992 television was the monopoly
of state broadcaster, Doordarshan. Now 10 new news
channels launch every year and it is estimated 44
all-news channels beam into India 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Many of the new stations grew out
of news programmes commissioned by Doordarshan, which
started outsourcing production work in the early 1990s
as India liberalised. Roy’s latest project appears to
be a business channel to challenge the market leader,
CNBC, which is run by US network NBC and is backed by
General Electric.

DD SIGNS UP 13 PRIVATE TV CHANNELS FOR DTH SERVICE

State-owned broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) has reached
agreement with 13 private satellite channels to join
its free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) service. The
private channels include Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, BBC
World, Zee News, Zee Music, STAR Utsav, ETC Punjabi,
Kairali (Malayalam), Sun TV (Tamil), Jain TV, Aakaash
Bangla and CMM Music. The date of launch, however, is
yet to be fixed. „A formal launch is expected to be
announced after the (state) elections," said the
Director of Doordarshan's Mumbai centre, Mukesh
Sharma. Except for the cost of dish installation and
the set-top box, the service is free. Set-top boxes
cost Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 each, and are available
through dealers.
Internet ­ http://www.ddindia.com

MALAYSIA

8TV ON ASTRO

Free-to-air TV channel, 8TV, is extending its
broadcast to the east coast of the peninsular, Sabah
and Sarawak on October 1 via satellite TV operator
Astro All Asia Networks. Its parent company Media
Prima's group managing director Abdul Rahman Ahmad
said 8TV was also planning to spread its broadcast
reach free-to-air to Negri Sembilan, Malacca and
Kuantan with a RM7 million investment in new
transmitters by year-end. The TV station has so far
spent RM15 million on transmitters for the west coast
of the peninsular. 8TV is operated by Media Prima's
subsidiary Metropolitan TV. Media Prima also owns
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia and a 43% stake in The New
Straits Times (Malaysia). Currently, 8TV holds a
substantial market share of 20% for key demographics
of viewers between the ages of 15 and 34.

NEW ZEALAND

SKY TV SIGNS FIVE YEAR CRICKET DEAL

Sky Television has signed a deal with New Zealand
Cricket, giving the network exclusive rights to all
international and domestic cricket coverage for the
next five years. Under the deal, every home-based test
match and one-day international will be exclusively
live on Sky, until the end of the 2008/09 summer
season.

PAKISTAN

LICENSES TO BE AWARDED TO 12 NEW TV CHANNELS

Pakistan government would soon award licences to 12
new private TV channels, Mansoor Rasheed, a top
official of the Pakistan Electronic Media and
Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in Islamabad.
Rasheed said ten licences had been awarded to
satellite TV channels and two to virtual universities
that would air their transmissions soon. He also said
that licences to 22 new channels were in the pipeline
and would be completed soon, the Daily Times reported.

SOUTH KOREA

DIGITAL SATELLITE BROADCASTS IN BOTH KOREAS

South Korea's digital satellite broadcasting will be
made available this week in a North Korean border town
where South Korean companies are building a huge
industrial complex, officials said on September 23.
Officials of Skylife, South Korea's only operator of
digital satellite broadcasting, have set up equipment
necessary to receive broadcasting in the industrial
park in Kaesong. The broadcasting service is the third
of its kind in the reclusive country. The South Korean
operator has already offered the service at Mt
Kumgang, a scenic resort on the North's east coast, as
well as Sinpo-Kumho.

TAIWAN

CTS TO BE FIRST PUBLIC STATION

Taiwan’s Government Information Office (GIO) has
announced that the Chinese Television System (CTS)
would be the nation's first government-owned
terrestrial TV station to be made into a "publicly
operated" station, the Taipei Times newspaper has
reported. "Before an independent National
Communication Commission (NCC) is established, one of
our future missions is to integrate the Public
Television Service (PTS) with four other public
service TV channels, including CTS, into a public
television group before the end of next year," GIO
Director-General Lin Chia-lung said. The government
owns 75.04 per cent of CTS and 47.39 per cent of
Taiwan Television (TTV). The GIO plans to take a
gradual approach to the issue of making CTS and TTV
publicly operated. GIO would start with the CTS, then
decide whether to commercialise TTV or integrate it
into the public television group, which would be
allowed to run commercials.

26/09/04

No update Sunday

25/09/04

No update Saturday

24/09/04

Some good news about TVNZ's future plans. read the news section for info

Big changes are coming! I did some checking and "freeviewtv" "freesat" "freeview" .co.nz all appear to have been registerd and "parked" as domain names.

But some bad news, It seems 3.5ghz for broadband usage in NZ might become common place. NOT GOOD AT ALL!! many in Australia are already having problems on cband due to use of 3.5ghz for terrestrial broadband transmissions. Those in Auckland may like to know Wired Country are already using 3.5ghz via the Sky Tower.

NASA TV on I701 has boosted their power. Try again if you couldn't get it previously.

UBI TV? no announcement or launch mentioned anywhere?

From my Emails & ICQ

From Billo

NASA TV

NASA TV in Sth. Aust. stronger than it ever was - solid lock using 3m mesh
dish and PacificSatellites 20K linear LNBF with no dialectric plate - even
the Powtek sees it OK..

From Simmo (Cairns)

Nasa TV

49% Q here without plate on 3.8M..Not a hope before
without it...

From the Dish

Intelsat 701 180E 12729 H "Mad TV and Mazzika" have left .

PAS 8 166E 12726 H "Pink Plus, RTV International USA and RTV International Plus" have started on , Fta, PIDs 512/640, 514/642 and 515/643.

ST 1 88E 3484 V "ABTV 3" has started on , Fta, PIDs 514/670. New SR: 4214.

ChinaStar 1 87.5E 4062 V New PIDs for almost all channels in the Shanghai Media Group mux on .

Intelsat 709 85.2E 11486 V "ATV Home Channel and ATV World Channel" have left .

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3600 H "A Shin promo" has started on Fta, PIDs 519/720.

Telstar 10 76.5E 12493 H "ETTV Movie and LS Movie Channel" are now encrypted.

NEWS

TVNZ plans satellite television network

From The Independent

TVNZ is expected to soon announce plans for a satellite operation delivering free-to-air television channels and radio to the whole of New Zealand.

The system would deliver television signals to homes free of charge, so long as householders have bought an inexpensive set-top box.

TVNZ is believed to be modeling its service on the free view system in the UK.

TVNZ has registered the following trademarks: FREEVIEWTV, FREESATTV, FREESAT and FREEVIEW.

With the British Freeview, viewers can access around 50 channels and several radio stations free of charge once they have purchased a $150 set-top box.

Last week, TVNZ acquired a half transponder on the Optus B1 satellite, giving it sufficient capacity to launch a multi-channel digital operation to the entire country.

It claimed it didn’t know what it planned to use the extra satellite for, leaving market-watchers wondering why the state broadcaster would commit to a multi-million dollar deal without some plan for its use.

TVNZ is believed to have booked two transponders on the new Optus satellite being launched in 2006.

This would give the broadcaster capacity to deliver between 15 and 20 channels.

It is expected TVNZ’s competitors will be invited to transmit on the platform alongside TVNZ’s two channels.

TVNZ’s business model is also believed to have investigated the creation of new channels for the platform.

But its announcement last week that it had acquired a half transponder on the current Optus satellite means it can launch the new free digital TV platform anytime, without waiting for the new Optus satellites to be launched.

TVNZ’s moves come hard on the heels of Broadcasting Minister, Steve Maharey’s Review of Broadcasting in New Zealand, due at year’s end.

A key discussion will be whether New Zealand’s future digital television signals should be transmitted via a terrestrial network or via satellite.

One option is to use the Sky digital satellite platform.

But industry insiders believe the government is squeamish about the ‘Murdochisation’ of the New Zealand media, alarmed that the Sky platform would deliver News Ltd total control.

The new platform would ensure the government has control over any future free-to-air television delivery.

Insiders say the terrestrial option is expensive and a hangover from the early days of television technology when satellites weren’t available.

An earlier plan by TVNZ to launch a satellite pay TV operation in partnership with TelstraClear, and in competition with Sky TV, collapsed in mid-2001 when TelstraClear withdrew from the partnership.

(Craigs comment, progress at last? good to see they have noted the success of FREEVIEW in the U.K. A simple enough model to copy whether via Terrestrial or Satellite. Most likely they will use DVB-T in the main centers backed up by Satellite via B1 in other parts of the country. It will be interesting to see how Sky responds or if TVNZ will allow any of their new channels to be viewed using Sky's set-top box.)

Government Announces Allocation Plan for Wireless Broadband Spectrum

Media Statement from Hon David Cunliffe, Associate Minister of Communications

From http://www.med.govt.nz/rsm/spp/fixed-wireless-access/media/minister-20040913.html

"Widespread availability of broadband infrastructure is a key objective of the government," Associate Minister of Communications David Cunliffe said today, announcing a spectrum allocation plan for fixed wireless access broadband services.

Fixed wireless access is a method of delivering broadband by radio links, in competition with wire-based services.

"Additional radio spectrum for broadband services will help achieve our goal of increasing broadband availability. The allocation plan complements work done to implement project PROBE," the Associate Minister said.

"The allocation will make additional spectrum available to parties wishing to provide wireless broadband services in specific areas, who may not have had the incentives or resources to acquire nationwide rights. In doing so it should promote competition in the broadband marketplace," said Mr Cunliffe.

The spectrum will be managed by the Ministry of Economic Development on behalf of the Crown. It consists of two blocks in the 3.5GHz frequency band. Licences will be available for geographic areas based on territorial local authority boundaries.

Assignment of licences will be on a commercial basis. Some restrictions on use and eligibility are proposed to promote use of the spectrum in accordance with the Government’s objectives.

Details of the allocation plan are available from the link below. The first allocation round is expected to held early in 2005, once documentation is finalised.

http://www.med.govt.nz/rsm/spp/fixed-wireless-access/allocation-plan/index.html

(Craigs comment, not good news at all refer to the current problems in Australia with Terrestrial 3.5GHZ internet services wiping out cband)

Sky TV Acquires Assets, Name Of Dvd Rent Biz

Press Release: Sky Television

Thursday, 23 September 2004, 12:04 pm

Sky Television Acquires Assets And Name Of Dvd Rental Business

SKY Television announced today that it has acquired the assets, including the name, of DVD Unlimited, an online DVD movie rental business based in Nelson. The acquisition is effective from 1 October 2004.

Sandy Webster, of Nelson, pioneered New Zealand’s first online DVD business in late 2003.

John Fellet, SKY Television Chief Executive, said, “Sandy showed great initiative in establishing this business back in 2003. Her knowledge and experience, combined with DVD Unlimited’s comprehensive movie library provides us with the foundation on which to continue to grow a great business”

“We are excited about this new development as it adds a new dimension to our company - further announcements will be made in the near future”, said Fellet.

Sandy Webster, previous owner of the company, said, “I am pleased to have concluded the deal with SKY which will now give my family and I the opportunity to pursue other interests”

From October, the business will be relocated to Auckland, where SKY will continue to operate and service existing customers irrespective of whether or not they subscribe to SKY’s pay television services.

Over time, SKY plans to operate the most comprehensive DVD library in Australasia.

Integral Systems To Provide Satellite Control Software For Optus

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

Integral Systems Thursday announced that SingTel Optus ("Optus") has awarded Integral Systems a contract to expand the Optus C1 satellite control system to include support of the Optus D1 and D2 satellites.

Under this contract, Integral will provide the primary and backup control center software that will be used to operate the Optus D1 and D2 satellites. These satellites are currently under construction by Orbital Sciences Corp. and are based on their STAR 2 BUS platform.

Optus previously procured EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS) from Integral for its Optus C1 satellite, a Loral FS1300 satellite.

Based on this experience and the cost advantage offered to Integral's recurring customers, Optus elected to specify EPOCH in their Request-For-Proposal (RFP) that was sent to potential satellite manufacturers for the D-Series satellites and to award a sole source satellite control software contract to Integral.

The EPOCH IPS software will provide real-time spacecraft and ground system command and control, long term archiving and trending functions for the Optus D1 and D2 satellites.

"We are extremely pleased that a highly respected operator like Optus has once again chosen EPOCH IPS to support their new D series satellites," said Stuart Daughtridge, Vice President of the Commercial Division at Integral Systems.

"Optus' decision to not only include EPOCH in their satellite RFP but also award us this contract sole source shows their confidence in both the capabilities offered by our EPOCH software and in Integral's ability to cost effectively support Optus as they add new satellites to their operation."

Arianespace To Launch AirTV Satellite In 2007

From http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launchers-04zl.html

AirTV has signed a launch services agreement with Arianespace to orbit its first broadband spacecraft, which will deliver a new level of in-flight entertainment and connectivity for airlines worldwide. The AirTV system will provide 60+ channels of live television (in multiple languages) and 40Mbps of Internet, e-mail and data services to aircraft.

The AirTV 1 satellite will be orbited by an Ariane 5 in 2007, and is to be positioned over the North Atlantic - initiating AirTV's commercial operations with service for airline traffic flying between America, Europe and the Middle East.

Additional spacecraft will follow to fill out the company's constellation, providing coverage for aircraft flying nearly all of the commercial airline routes around the globe.

"Arianespace is very happy to support AirTV's innovative project, and we are pleased to work with a company that is building the future of the airline in-flight entertainment industry," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace's Chief Executive Officer.

"At Arianespace, serving our customer involves more than just providing launch services: we also are ready to help them in the search of financing."

AirTV's purpose-built satellites will supply real-time television in multiple languages, with the ability to tailor the programming by individual aircraft and for the specific international route that it is flying.

"The great success of live television in the U.S. has confirmed our belief in the benefits of real-time TV as part of a competitive airline's in-flight entertainment offering," said John Larkin, AirTV's Chairman and CEO.

"We are convinced the future of in-flight entertainment will be driven by live television and Internet services, and that this future is soon to become a reality. We believe the AirTV system is the most efficient and effective way to deliver these services in terms of capacity, cost and coverage."

AirTV has been - and plans to continue working - with an export credit guarantee agency to help secure debt financing for the launch of its initial satellite in 2007.

AirTV is developing its system with a European consortium that includes EADS as well as other leading suppliers.

Announcements regarding negotiations with other program partners to follow.

13 private FTA channels to join DD's DTH service

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/sep/sep253.htm

MUMBAI: National broadcaster Doordarshan has roped in 13 private satellite channels to come onto its free-to-air (FTA) direct-to-home (DTH) service.

"A total of 30 channels will be available on our DTH service called DD Direct Plus," said Prasar Bharati chairman MV Kamath while addressing a press conference today in Mumbai. This will include Doordarshan's family of 17 channels.

The private channels are Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, BBC World, Zee News, Zee Music, STAR Utsav, ETC Punjabi, Kairali (Malayalam), Sun TV (Tamil), Jain TV, Aakaash Bangla and CMM Music. While Jain TV has signed the agreement, the other channels have lent their confirmation through fax, e-mail, letter or by telephone.

Consumers will have to invest Rs 3,000-3,500 on a dish and set-top box (STB), said Kamath. But there is no hidden or monthly bill for the service. "We are trying to give the people the best of programmes at no cost. In many countries, DTH is a pay system," Kamath stressed.

The date of launch, however, is yet to be fixed. "The test signals are on. A formal launch is expected to be announced after the (state) elections," said DD Kendra Mumbai director Mukesh Sharma.

DD's DTH service has channels from the news, music and vernacular language genres. "Personally I feel a movie channel will add strength to our platform," said Sharma.

AIR DTH service will be operating through the Prasar Bharati DTH platform with uplinking facilities at Todapur, Delhi. Though there is a provision for 20 radio channels, in the first phase 10 AIR channels are being launched. These are AIR Hindi, Begali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Vividh Bharti and north-east services.

AIR currently produces news and programme content in 66 different languages and dialects and broadcasts through its terrestrial network of 215 stations. But terrestrial networks have the limitation of the programmes being available only within the coverage areas of the transmitters. The DTH service of AIR will make available to listeners across the country the multi-lingual broadcasts originating from different stations.

The TV and radio programmes can be received anywhere in the footprint area of the satellite with a 60-90 cm dish, converter and STB. The output of the STB is connected to a TV set. With a selection, the TV can be used for either watching TV programme or listening to radio programmes. During the radio programme, the screen is either blank or gives a fixed picture display. The DTH service will operate through satellite NSS-6, located at 95-degree east in the geo-stationary orbit.

DD is distributing 10,000 DTH receiver systems in public institutions like schools, panchayats and youth clubs across the country, said Sharma. Out of these, about 1,100 systems are to be installed in the north-east region.