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SATELLITE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Volume 2 Number 18 1 September 1994 "...Anyone who enjoys the privilege of publishing and broadcasting in open societies should demonstrate their unshakeable belief in the universality of free speech should they ever seek to broadcast in societies that are closed." SJI is distributed in 3 versions ------------------------------ Newsletter Printed Version-Subscription ASCII Edited Version (English)-Free Windows Write Version (English)-Free[CIS Only] ================================= ENGLISH ASCII VERSION ===================================== WITH CORESPONDENTS IN: DALLAS-LONDON-PARIS-RIYADH-TOKYO-SYDNEY In Vol. 2 No 18 Desk Top Published Version: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ----Satellite Journal TV Transponder Listings (North America and Europe) ----Satellite Journal Audio Listings (North America and Europe) ----ShuffleBird (The latest changes in the Clarke Belt) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOTICE: The information contained in Satellite Journal International may not be republished or redistributed without the prior written authority of Satellite Journal International.(see end of file for contact information) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOUSEKEEPING NOTES: SJI 's home forum on Compuserve is (GO CIS:UKFORUM Sec 19).If you need to download previous issues, all our files are in that sections' library. We also welcome anyone wishing to discuss satellite topics to post messages to that section. ************************************************************* IT'S FINALLY HERE.....SJI is now available via E-Mail directly on the Internet. There is no charge for this service. If you would be prefer to receive this file every fortnight via mail send a message to 0006373898@mcimail.com and request SJI via E-Mail. *************************************************************** HOW TO CONTACT US ------------------ To subscribe to SJI Newsletter Printed Version($45US/$55CDN/UKL55/$75EUR/$85ROW): SJI BOX 2065 Burleson TX 76097 USA To subscribe to the Electronic Version (Delayed and edited BUT FREE): >From Compuserve ---> 71165,2032 >From MCI Mail ---> 637-3898 >From America On-Line ---> GaryT4SJI >From the Internet and all other services --> 0006373898@mcimail.com This electronic version may be found in the following locations and on bulletin boards world-wide. Compuserve: CEVIDEO Lib 6 Satellites UKFORUM Lib 19 TV/Radio TELCOFORUM Lib 12 Satellites BPFORUM Lib 2 Television EURFORUM Lib 5 Communications Nifty-Serve: TVFORUM Lib 2 Satellite TV Internet: Homesat news group Internet users with access to a World-Wide Web client such as Mosaic or Lynx can retrieve back issues of SJI using the following URL: http://itre.uncecs.edu/misc/sj/sj.html To retrieve back issues of SJI via ftp, ftp to itre.uncecs.edu and look in the directory /pub/satellite/sj Minitel (France) 3615 SURPIN Genie: Satellite RoundTable Fidonet: TVRO Echo CIX Skyguide/Journal Transworld BBS Bristol U.K. GWN TVRO BBS Marquette MI (bird) Direct-Line Online System London U.K. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Prevue Networks, a company of the United Video Satellite Group unveiled plans for deployment of the industry's first, system-specific nation-wide digital video file server network to replace its current infrastructure. The electronics division of Philips has teamed up with Graff Pay-Per-View, a New York technology company, to offer multimedia TV services in the Netherlands. According to Philips, which will have a 45 percent stake in the as-yet un-named new company, plans call for the operation to start offering pay-per-view TV across the Netherlands from September onwards. The remaining 55 percent in the new company will be divided by KPN, the state telecoms company, with 35 percent, while Graff will scoop up the remaining 20 percent. Initially, the new company will operate through Philips' existing multimedia division, offering pay-per-view (PPV) programming to cable stations in the Netherlands. As the company grows, PPV services will be offered on a pan-European basis, possibly via satellite TV stations. Tescorp, Inc. reported it has loaned $5.5 million to its joint venture partners to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity of Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A., the Argentine company that owns and operates the cable television system in Rio Gallegos, the capital of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Through the joint venture, Tescorp will indirectly hold an 84.0 percent economic interest in Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A. The acquisition price was $4.9 million payable as follows: $4.5 million at closing with a $400,000 balance payable in 30 days subject to certain closing adjustments. In addition to the $4.9 million purchase price, Tescorp anticipates advancing approximately $600,000 for the primary purpose of paying certain debts of Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A. assumed in connection with the transaction. Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A. serves approximately 10,000 cable television subscribers. Rio Gallegos has a total population of approximately 64, 000 persons in approximately 18,000 households. Management of the joint venture believes an opportunity exists to improve the financial performance of Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A. through expense reductions. Tescorp management believes that the price paid for Canal 2 TV Austral, S.A., approximately $550 per paying subscriber, was approximately half the price that would have been paid for a comparable system in the United States. Avid Technology Inc. announced that it has signed letters of intent to acquire the news division of BASYS Automation Systems (headquartered in Langley, UK), the market leader in newsroom automation systems, and Maryland-based SofTECH Systems Inc., a developer of advanced Windows-based newsroom automation software. Completion of both of these acquisitions will make Avid a world-wide leader in computerised newsroom automation systems. "Avid's goal is to provide technology for the newsroom of the future -- where broadcasters can combine video, sound and text on every desktop," says Curt Rawley, Avid's president and CEO. "With these strategic acquisitions, we hope to supply a solution that takes news operations all the way from capture to transmission." Earlier this year, Avid announced a development effort with Ikegami Tsushinki Co. Ltd. to develop a disk-based video camera for field capture of news material. Avid also announced networking and video server technology that integrates its disk-based recording, editing and playback products. By acquiring BASYS' news division and SofTECH, Avid hopes to expand its news production solutions to include mission-critical newsroom automation functions. Ed Green, general manager of BASYS, commented, "We look forward to becoming part of Avid because, in addition to sharing many of the same customers, we share a common vision of truly-integrated broadcast facilities. For the past year, the development efforts of BASYS' news group and Avid's broadcast group have been moving in parallel directions. There is a strong synergy between the two organisations and together we plan to create a product infrastructure that provides broadcasters with greater efficiency and more flexibility." BASYS, owned by Digital Equipment Corp., has more than 450 customers including many of the world's largest broadcasters, among them CNN, NBC, CBC, BBC, AuBC, and ITN. BASYS' client/server architecture is scaleable, supporting sites with ten users to thousands of users. Advanced multilingual capabilities allow BASYS to serve international markets such as the Asian Pacific market. With its flagship product operating on Windows-based PCs connected via Novell networks, SofTECH is recognised as having one of the most advanced technologies on the market. "Avid is the clear leader in digital video technology," said Tim Shriver, president of SofTECH. "We believe this merger is a critical step toward achieving a fully-integrated broadcast facility and we look forward to working with Avid's broadcast group." SofTECH's rapidly growing client list includes stations within Gannett Broadcasting, Allbritton Communications, and AFLAC Broadcasting. "The broadcast industry has just begun the transition from tape-based systems to more efficient disk-based technology. With this progression, broadcasters are demanding the integration of the various systems used to create and distribute news," said Tony Mark, vice president and general manager of Avid's Broadcast Group. "Avid plans to respond to this growing demand by eliminating the barriers between newsroom automation and production systems, allowing broadcasters to manage their news operations more efficiently and competitively." Completion of the acquisitions, currently expected in September, is dependent upon approval by the boards of directors of all companies and on the execution by the parties of definitive acquisition agreements. SpaceCom Systems, a subsidiary of United Video Satellite Group has announced that its client Alden Electronics will transfer most of the distribution of its weather information services to SpaceCom's FM Cubed satellite transmission technology. Alden, based in Westborough, Mass., currently uses SpaceCom's FM Squared technology on C-band and Ku-band frequencies to transmit weather data and information systems to a wide range of customers in the meteorological community. Alden will continue to use the FM Squared technology for a portion of its services. Alden has a near-50 year tradition of innovative systems for weather data collection, distribution, display and manipulation. The company's upgrade to FM Cubed service was brought about by Alden's desire to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities the technology offers. FM Cubed, invented by SpaceCom in 1991, is a next-generation digital satellite transmission technology utilising a proprietary encryption code and time-division multiplexing scheme. Its advantages include increased power, higher reliability of servility to upgrade data transmission rates remotely via software commands. It also utilises low-cost downlink antennas as small as 29 inches in diameter for Ku-band service. "SpaceCom and Alden have a great relationship," says SpaceCom Vice President and General Manager Al Stem. "Our innovations in satellite communications services match very well with Alden's high standards and goals." Bill Highlands, Communications Manager for Alden Electronics, stated, "Alden and SpaceCom have been associated for years. This recent contract brings the latest technology of both companies together to better serve our customers." Telefonica Sistemas de Satelites (TSS) is supplying a ComStream single-channel-per-carrier (SCPC) digital audio broadcast network to Cadena SER in Spain for a 200-site radio network. The network reduces costs by replacing an outmoded mix of analogue, terrestrial and digital links. TSS, the distributor for ComStream systems in Spain, installed a complete six-channel audio uplink to begin service. SER, the largest private radio network in Spain, will install the receivers at its affiliate stations. The network includes more than 300 ComStream ABR200 Digital Audio Receivers and is valued at U.S. $1 million. SER previously used digital transmission, but the Eutelsat service used until now required 2 megabits-per-second for three stereo channels. Each stereo channel in the new network will be transmitted in only 256 kilobits-per-second of bandwidth, and includes up to 9600 bits-per-second of data. With the new ComStream system, SER will eliminate all analogue subcarrier links and terrestrial lines, add data capability, and be able to address specific users over the air. The uplink for the new network will be located at SER studios in Madrid, Spain. It will broadcast six stereo channels using a 16-watt radio and 2.4-meter antenna. The complete uplink fits into two full-size racks, each with three channels and one spare for backup protection of the network. Also located at the uplink will be the ComStream Audio Network Management System (ANMS). In addition, a phone line connection between the ANMS at SER studios and a ComStream Network Monitor and Control system at TSS offices in Madrid, will enable TSS to provide 24-hour monitor and control for the network. Morocco's Constitutional Council has declared a tax on satellite television dishes passed by the by parliament in July as unconstitutional. The one-off tax of 5,000 dirhams ($555) voted by parliament was in response to the thousands of Moroccans who had bought dishes because they were tired of the state run TV broadcasts Algeria's television and radio channels began broadcasting this fortnight via Eutelsat. An H-II rocket lifted off from Tanagashima Island, 615 miles south-west of Tokyo, carrying a 2-ton government research satellite into a geostationary orbit. The launch originally scheduled for 1991 was delayed due several technical problems. This launch marks the first time Japan has launched a satellite designed and built in Japan into geostationary orbit. A H-II rocket in February marked the first launch from Tanagashima Island . A Titan 4 launched what is believed to be a U.S. spy satellite. It is not known for sure what was launched, however, it is believed it was a geostationary satellite as large as 500 feet across at a cost of 1 billion or more. China launched the Hughes built Optus-B3 satellite using a Long March-2E rocket at the Xichang State Launch Centre in south-western Sichuan province this fortnight. Optus-B3 replaces Optus-B2, lost in an explosion after its December 1992 launch. With this launch China has successfully launched two satellites in five weeks. Apstar-1 was launched on July 21 via a Long March-3 rocket. A Chinese-made Dongfanghong-III telecommunications satellite on a Long March 3 rocket will also be launched later this year. In Australia, Optus Communications Pty Ltd said in a statement that, "Initial signals indicate that all aspects of the launch to date have been successful," Hughes in statement said the satellite was due to become operational in about a year -- the time needed to test it and to move it to its position above Papua New Guinea. The new 7.5 tonne satellite will be used for data transmission and telephony. Media America Corp., owners of KTVK-TV the ABC Affiliate in Phoenix, filed a petition Monday with the Federal Communications Commission urging the revocation of the broadcast licenses of three television stations owned by Scripps Howard Broadcasting Co. The petition asks the commission to immediately institute proceedings to revoke the licenses of KNXV (TV), Channel 15 in Phoenix, WXYZ (TV), Channel 7 in Detroit, Mich., and WEWS (TV), Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio. The petition charges that Scripps Howard Broadcasting Co. willfully violated rules of the Federal Communications Commission and abused its licensee power for anti-competitive purposes. The filing says that Scripps Howard forced the ABC Television Network to switch its affiliation in Phoenix from KTVK to Scripps-owned KNXV in order to keep the network's affiliations in Detroit and Cleveland. KTVK claims that Scripps Howard violated the Commission's Network Territorial Exclusivity Rule. The rule states, in part, "No license shall be granted to a television broadcast station having any contract, arrangement, or understanding, expressed or implied, with a network organisation...which prevents or hinders another broadcast station in a different community from broadcasting any program of the network organisation." The petition states that Scripps Howard threatened ABC with moving its Detroit and Cleveland stations to another network unless ABC cancelled KTVK's contract and transferred the Phoenix affiliation to Scripps Howard. ABC notified KTVK on July 7, 1994, that its 40 year association with ABC would be cancelled in January 1995. The series of affiliation changes in Detroit, Cleveland, Phoenix and other cities was triggered by an agreement between the Fox Network and New World Communications Group. New World agreed to make all of its 12 stations Fox affiliates. The petition claims that this allowed Scripps Howard to use the leverage of its public licenses in Cleveland and Detroit to force ABC to award Scripps Howard the ABC affiliation in Phoenix. The KTVK petition also asks the Federal Communications Commission to prohibit the switch of affiliation from KTVK to KNXV until conclusion of the Commission's proceedings in this matter. WWSB in Sarasota, Fla., has filed a similar petition with the FCC against Scripps Howard Broadcasting Co. asking the commission to revoke the license of WFTS (TV) in Tampa, Fla. Early figures are in on the pay-per-view television coverage of the Woodstock '94 festival at Saugerties, N.Y. It appears to have been one of the most successful PPV programs of its kind. It is believed that 500,000 people bought the event at $49.95 for the entire event or $34.95 for one day only. The forty-four hours of festival coverage were distributed to cable systems by Viewer's Choice and Request Television and was also available to DTH owners. The revenue, expected to be about $24 million, will be split evenly between Polygram and cable operators. EUROWATCH BY MARTYN WILLIAMS in London Intelsat 702 begins broadcasting In addition to television the satellite will also carry telephone and private traffic. More significantly, the satellite will serve as the only direct, one-hop communications link between the Indian sub-continent and North and South America. Intelsat customers in more than 40 countries on four continents will use the satellite. The satellite, positioned at 1deg West replaces the older Intelsat 512 and was launched by Ariane rocket on 17 June at 0707 UTC. The current Ku band transponder plan for Intelsat 702 is as follows : 11.016 GHz H TV Norge 11.055 GHz V TV 1000 11.096 GHz H TV 3 Norway 11.173 GHz H STV 2 11.555 GHz H TV 2 Norge 11.679 GHz H STV 1 According to George Wood the other TV 3 services will locate here later in the autumn. The TV 2 Norge relay on Intelsat 515 at 18W will cease on 18 September. New Sirius services at 5deg E This week also saw a selection of new satellite services for Scandinavia on the Sirius satellite. George Wood on Radio Sweden, always the best source for Nordic satellite news, reported that Sirius now carries the following line up : 11.785 TV 3 Sweden Clear PAL 11.862 TV 6 / TVG Clear PAL (Womens / shopping) 11.938 TV 4 Sweden Clear PAL 12.015 Filmmax Eurocrypt D2 Mac 12.092 Z TV Clear PAL (Music) The service from Filmmax on Intelsat 601 will close shortly. TV 3 Sweden will remain in clear PAL due to the very tight footprint of the satellite meaning viewers outside the Nordic region cannot see the satellite and so TV 3 explained, there is no danger with TV rights. The services on Sirius and Intelsat 702 will be in addition to Astra. yyPolish service to replace TCMC on Astra The new FilmNet Poland channel is to take the place of The Complete Movie Channel on Astra's channel 63 from October. The cutting of the TCMC relay is made necessary because there are no other available channels on Astra for FilmNet's new Polish venture. The new service will use the VideoCrypt 2 system. A FilmNet spokesman explained "FilmNet and MultiChoice both agree that this situation is very unfortunate. However, the actual and potential number of subscribers was by all means too small in Holland and Belgium in comparison with Europe's third largest DTH market (Poland). There was no real, sound economic alternative, sadly enough". The Netherlands and Belgium are so heavily cabled that the majority of FilmNet viewers in those countries will not loose the channel anyway as The Complete Movie Channel will not be discontinued. Subscribers have already been notified by letter that the service will be discontinued on Astra for DTH viewers and been offered compensation. FilmNet Poland was officially launched in Lodz on August 12. An enthusiastic group of around 350 Polish cable operators, DTH dealers and distributors attended the launch as did representatives of Astra. SaRa dead Digital satellite radio on Eutelsat has been abandoned at present after tests were carried out earlier in the year. Eutelsat found that a high proportion of the current LNB's around were unsuitable for the service. The units are too noisy to allow a clean SaRa signal through so the satellite operator has decide to stick with either analogue radio or the emerging SCPC system, used mainly for distribution to headends. PPV comes to Dutch cable The Dutch PTT, Philips Electronics and US company Graff Pay per view have said they intend to set up a joint venture company in Europe with the goal of exploring and developing both PPV and video on demand services in Europe. In addition to this announcement the Casema cable company in The Netherlands announced an agreement with themselves and the new company. Under the agreement Casema and the new joint venture will introduce a new multi-channel package of pay-TV and pay-per-view to more than 400, 000 TV households in The Hague, Utrecht and adjacent municipalities. Initially, programming will consist of several pay-per-view channels where the subscriber will be charged per movie or event and some pay-TV channels on a month-to-month subscription basis. Casema is a major Dutch cable company, serving 1.2 million cable subscribers and operating systems in more than 100 municipalities. Graff Pay-Per-View Inc., operates twelve satellite-delivered channels to more than 15 million available cable and direct-to-home subscriber households in North America and Europe. Graff also operates two pay channels in the UK delivered to subscribers both direct-to-home and in cable systems, and will be expanding its satellite delivery into Europe. Nordic launches on the way for DMX The DMX digital audio package of 30 music channels will launch on Finnish cable next week followed by a cable launch in Norway on 1 September. The service, becoming available to UK, German, Austrian and Swiss satellite users early next year is also planning trials in France and Belgium during September. The new satellite service will use Astra for around 90 subscription radio channels early next year. OFT investigating BSkyB According to the Financial Times the UK's Office of Fair Trading has written to nine cable companies seeking information on how difficult it is to deal with BSkyB and the relationship with the company. The FT reported that the replies will enable the OFT to decide whether to investigate BSkyB and it's dominant market position. Many cable companies have complained in the past about the way BSkyB deals with them and this was seen more than any time when Nickelodeon launched. Many cable companies refused to carry the channel due to the high cost Sky were asking. Arabsat buys another used satellite The Arab Satellite Organisation has bought another used satellite from Canada's Telesat Canada. The satellite, Anik D1, is expected to last for up to three years and will replace the satellite that Arabsat purchased from the Canadians last year. That satellite suffered station keeping problems and started wandering around the sky in early 1993. It is expected to run out of fuel in around 10 months. Anik should be in place over Europe in early 1995. A brand new satellite is being launched for Arabsat in mid 1996. Happy Birthday Intelsat Intelsat, the International Satellite Organisation, turns 30 today, 20 August. Turner buying CBS ? Shoptalk, aka Rumourville USA, reported this week that Ted Turner may be finally buying the CBS network. The current rumour is that Turner will make his superstation WTBS a CBS affiliate and re-create TBS as a satellite only superstation. Commission investigates Murdoch and VOX The European Commission has announced that it is investigating the proposed stake in the VOX TV channel by Murdoch's News International. The deal apparently falls under the EU rules prohibiting concentrations which harm competition. The Commission has a month to clear the operation or order a full inquiry. Revenues up at Intelsat, The Family Channel Intelsat released their annual report this week and with it details of an increase in operating revenues from telecommunications. The revenue from the business rose from $616m to $685m in 1993. Of that income, 10% was generated by international TV services and a further 10% by domestic and regional services. The network now claims to serve five and a half billion people in over 6000 languages through it's TV, radio, telephone, telex, data and other services. International Family Entertainment, parent company of The Family Channel has announced increased revenues for the first six months of 1994. CEO Tim Robertson said "The Family Channel (UK) is making steady progress. We expect revenues at The Family Channel (UK) to improve for the third quarter because of a substantial contracted increase in the fees earned from the BSkyB direct satellite broadcast service. Revenue for the first six months of 1994 was US$ 2,469,000. Overall the channel made an operating loss of US$ 6,837,000 in the first six months of 1994. y SKYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Profits up Subscriptions up New channels Three major pieces of news came from Sky TV this week. News Corporation announced profits for all their businesses, including 50% owned BSkyB, Sky announced an increase in subscription charges and four new channels. Profits at the network are surging ahead. In the year to June 30 BSkyB made UKL176.8m, a more than 300% increase from UKL54.1m in the previous year. The figures included UKL20m from the sale of the old BSB satellite now known as Sirius. Operating profits rose from UKL61.5m to UKL170.1m. The figures, revealed in the annual financial statement from News Corporation, 50% owners of BSkyB, also showed the number of subscribers had increased by 1.1 million to 3.45 million. Of these, 2.6 million are movie subscribers and 2.5 million take Sky Sports. News Corp profits, which include all of Murdochs interests in TV, newspapers and other holdings totalled $998 million making them the biggest profits ever registered by an Australian company. Just one day after announcing the increase in profits Sky quietly announced an increase in all subscription charges by UKL3. This takes the price of the full Sky 21 channel packet to UKL22,99 a month. Subscribers to Sky's multichannel bouquet will pay UKL9,99 from October. In response to the Sky announcement Labour consumer spokesman Nigel Griffiths called for an investigation into the increase by the Office of Fair Trade. He said that there were no reasons for Sky to announce the increase after record annual profits and the huge amount of cash that the channel has for movies and sports purchase. The first edition of the new Sky TV Guide was being mailed out to subscribers this week along with details of five new channels coming in September. The Learning Channel will make it's Astra debut after disappearing into UAP's MPEG stream on Intelsat 601. TLC will be broadcast for four hours a day. The transponder that TLC will use remains unknown. It had been widely anticipated that Country Music TV would leave the multichannel packet and go clear in October. This was first reported back in January of this year and more recently it was reported by Skyguide that CMTE would move to Astra's channel 24 during the day with TLC sharing a channel with Discovery but the new Sky TV Guide makes no mention of this and lists CMTE as still on with Discovery in October and part of multi channels. The second new channel from Sky is the much awaited "adult" MTV - VH-1. The channel will launch on October 1st using Astra's channel 22, currently carrying MTV and a message that viewers should retune to channel 15. Sky's new daytime offering for weekdays on the Sky Sports 2 transponder is a romance channel, tentatively named The Soap Channel. The current programme scheme is : 0800 Loving 0830 Peyton Place 0900 As the World Turns 1000 Guiding Light 1100 Another World All programming on the channel will be American sourced. Sky are launching a new travel agency and Travel Channel to accompany it. The Sky Travel Channel will broadcast on transponder 47 of Astra from midday to midnight Monday to Thursday and from midday to six PM on Friday when Sky Sports 2 will take over. Sky say "Sky Travel will provide a wealth of information and entertainment giving you the full travel picture. Sky Travel's innovative home shopping service, The Sky Travel Shop, will showcase the best offers available to Sky's subscribers through the Sky Travel Service." Walt Disney Co and CLT have signed an agreement to develop a new European alliance and TV programme. Disney programming will now form the backbone of the new Super RTL service set to launch in January. Chairman and CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner said "This venture with CLT provides us with a perfect opportunity to develop a family programming service in Germany and to evaluate the potential for similar services elsewhere in Europe". "CLT has established itself as a major media player in Europe. In Germany, our combined strengths will help us develop Super RTL as a successful new satellite/cable channel. We look forward to a rewarding relationship with CLT." "The programming format of Super RTL will effectively fill a market niche and will be complementary to RTL Television and RTL2," mentioned Ferdinand Kayser, president, TV Activities of CLT Multi Media. "Our partnership with Disney definitely will be an enrichment of the TV landscape in Germany, as Disney stands for the highest quality programs putting emphasis on family values." Super RTL will be comprised of animated series, live-action series, a wide variety of feature films and entertainment specials geared toward the entire family. Weekdays will include Disney's top animated series, along with theatrical features and series from other German and international producers. Broadcast by satellite and cable, Super RTL is expected to reach between 30 percent and 35 percent of all German TV households when it launches in 1995. Details concerning program offerings and schedules will be announced shortly. CLT has 40 years of experience in commercial TV broadcasting in Europe and has substantial interests in 10 TV stations as well as 13 radio stations in 9 different countries. The company's television interests include: RTL Television, the No. 1 commercial television network in Germany, and RTL 2 (Germany); M6/RTL TV/Serie Club/Multivision (France); RTL TVi (Belgium); RTL4 & RTL5 (the Netherlands); and RTL Hei Elei (Luxembourg). Spiegal - TV Sat for sale The new edition of Der Spiegal reports that Telekom has decided to sell TV Sat. The DBS satellite at 19 degrees West will loose RTL, Sat 1 and 3sat at the end of the year according to the magazine. The magazine says that Telekom are looking for a foreign buyer. Goldman Sachs take VOX stake New York based securities firm Goldman Sachs are to take the remaining 25.2% stake in German TV network VOX. They join other shareholders Rupert Murdoch, 49.9% and Bertlesmann, 24.9%. The failed "Infotainment" channel now seems to have a more certain future. Rupert Murdoch recently said he wanted to introduce more shows programming onto the channel such as game shows and childrens programming. Launch news .... Titan carries secret satellite into orbit A Titan 4 rocket finally blasted off from the NASA Cape Canaveral launch facility early Saturday morning carrying a secret US military cargo. According to reports the payload is a massive electronic eavesdropping satellite but the US military declined comment on use of the satellite on grounds of national security. The launch was delayed for 2 days by bad weather and a further 2 hour delay was imposed on Saturday morning, again due to weather problems. Chinese rocket carries Australian satellite into space A Chinese Long March 2E rocket carried the Australian Optus B3 satellite into space early on Sunday morning. The satellite almost never made it to orbit though. The original satellite was destroyed in a mystery explosion and the replacement was delayed after US technology sanctions meant that part of the satellite couldn't be transported into China. The Optus B3 satellite is a Hughes HS 601 type satellite. Japan's H2 launches The delayed H2 launch in Japan went well early Sunday. At 0710 local time the second H2 rocket lifted off from the NASDA Tanagashima launch pad carrying a experimental communications satellite into space. The launch was delayed for a week due to a faulty fuel valve. News from Intelsat The Republic of Kazakhstan joined Intelsat on 22 August as the 134th member. The Republican Corporation Television and Radio of Kazakhstan will hold an investment share of 0.05% of the organisation. It's been an interesting week on the new Intelsat 702. The current transponder plan looks like this : 11.016 GHz H TV Norge PAL Clear 11.055 GHz V TV 1000 D2 MAC Eurocrypt 11.096 GHz H TV 3 Norway D2 MAC Eurocrypt 11.177 GHz H NRK D MAC Clear 11.468 GHz V SVT 2 D MAC Eurocrypt 11.555 GHz H TV 2 Norge D2 MAC Eurocrypt 11.679 GHz H SVT 1 D MAC Eurocrypt Early in the week NRK replaced Swedish TV's channel 2 which moved onto 11.468 GHz. TV Norge will leave their current transponder on 18 degrees West to end dual illumination on Intelsat. Information received this week from Intelsat gives more details about the use of the satellite. Uses for the satellite include a new data network fro Reuters, Egyptian global TV distribution network, domestic broadcasting for Namibia, expanded domestic services for Norway and expanded service in Eastern Europe and the CIS. PAL Plus set for UK show debut The first live demonstrations of Nokia's new PAL Plus TV set will take place a Live '94 in Olympia in a month's time. The event will also mark the first broadcasts of PAL Plus by Channel 4 TV. Granada TV will start broadcasting in the new 16:9 format next year. CNN has joined the growing number of TV stations by going on-line. The US based world news channel now hosts it's own forum on CompuServe. CIS users can GO CNNFORUM for files including latest programme news, station logos (such as the one above), presenter profiles and more. The message section also deals with CNN and programmes and news presented on the station. Euratel tests Eutelsat 2F1 is currently carrying a test programme for Brussels based TV sender Euratel. The transmissions on transponder 38 will be replaced by the new BBC News Channel when it launched later this year. Euratel is expected to move to Eutelsat 2F3 in two months. New plan on Eutelsat 1 F5 Tr Freq Pol Beam Use 1 10.991 H Euro TDMA Telephone 2 11.075 H East sporadic use 8 11.075 V East TDMA Telephone 3 11.156 H Euro sporadic use 9 11.158 V Euro TDMA Telephone 4 11.480 H West sporadic use 10 11.498 V West RTS Sat Belgrade TV 11 11.575 V Atlantic TDMA Telephone 6 11.658 H West TDMA Telephone If you don't pay your bills .... Uzbekistan's Ministry of Communications and state radio and television company reminded listeners and viewers on 20 August that they will stop rebroadcasting Russian TV in September, because the Russian state radio and TV system ceased paying the Uzbeks for the service, Radio Rossii reported. The decision of the Uzbek authorities was taken in June but not put into effect, apparently to give the Russian agency time to reconsider. Ostankino will continue to supply some programming in the mornings and evenings. Uzbek state TV hopes to develop more Uzbek-language programming and to obtain broadcasts from the US, Turkey and India. Bess Brown, RFE/RL, Inc. India licences private operators An Indian newspaper has reported that India is to allow commercial companies to broadcast thus ending the state monopoly on broadcasting. This will also allow companies to uplink TV programmes direct from India for the first time. Currently several TV services, including Star TV, uplink from outside the country into India. Around the world .... The director of Tajik TV's domestic programming, Davlatali Rakhmonaliev, was shot and killed outside his home in Dushanbe on the morning of 18 August, Russian news agencies reported. Rakhmonaliev was a former director of the state TV in Kulyab, the home of chief of state Imomali Rakhmonov and many supporters of the present neo-Communist government. Sources reporting the murder refrained from speculating on who might be behind the killing, and whether it was motivated by political or regional antagonisms. Bess Brown, RFE/RL, Inc. Hong Kong Telecommunications are planning to launch a Video on Demand service late next year. The corporation has already signed local partners and discussions with Hollywood studios are underway. Murdoch's Star pay per view service is also seen as a possible partner. Indian state satellite channel Doordarshan recently suspended transmission of it's regional language satellite channels. They were re-introduced at the beginning of the week with a new schedule and new look. Thailand has begun experimental educational TV via satellite. The relay is via Thaicom and the Thai government has installed 74 satellite dishes in education centres in remote areas currently unable to receive the terrestrial signal. Satellite viewers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have until Sunday to remove all satellite dishes. A government order threatens dish owners with confiscation of equipment if it is still being used after that day. Sources suggest a new government plan to licence satellite reception will shortly be introduced. Only Hotels are exempted from the order. In brief .... RTL 5 may have dropped Luxcrypt. All this week they have been broadcasting in clear PAL, of course it could just be an equipment failure ! Sky Sports 2 launched on schedule, 1800 UK on Friday evening. Further to our reports that Radio 538 will leave Astra - they are still there and a call to Sky this week managed to elicit no information. When asked about the reports Sky said "it's nothing we have released, I can't comment on that any further". Asda FM and SuperGold have now completed their moves to the Sky Sports 2 channel. TNT and The Cartoon Network teletext will begin during September but limited tests carrying just programme schedules have already begun. World Tamil Television are back on Eutelsat 2F3 ! They have re-commenced testing on the new channel of 11.559 GHz H after Algerian TV started on the channel they had announced as theirs. Financial News IDB, world-wide telephone and satellite communications company announced a second quarter loss of $24m. These were reported as mostly non recurring items. Revenues from the transmission services part of the company doubled in the first six months on 1994 from $127m to $233m. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Satellite Journal International Volume 2 Issue 18 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***** (A service for Compuserve readers only) ***** If you wish to receive Satellite Journal Itl. (this version) via Compuserve Mail, send a message to 71165,2032. We will send each issue _collect_. The average monthly cost would be $1 of your mail allowance (standard plan). Issues would be in your mailbox every other Monday morning. Each issue will be sent zipped using PKZIP v2 and in ASCII format or write format. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Journal International is a fortnightly (every two weeks) news journal for satellite enthusiasts and is produced in Burleson, Texas. _Comments_ or_ news_ items_ may be sent via Internet to 0006373898@MCIMAIL.COM or 71165.2032@Compuserve.com, through Compuserve directly, 71165,2032 or to P.O. Box 2065 Burleson Texas 76097- 2065 U.S.A. The deadline for inclusion of news items is 5 days before the issue date.