NEW YORK - A new direct-to-home satellite broadcast system is scheduled to begin May 1 in five cities and nationally in October.
The Digital Broadcast Satellite system sends high-powered signals from Hughes Space and Communications Co. satellites - the first, DBS-1, was launched in December,with two more due in the sky in January 1995 - to 18-inch mini-dishes made by Thomson Consumer Electronics, makers of RCA products.
First cities where DBS is expected to be marketed, as reported by satellite trade publications including TV Digest: Albuquerque; Jackson, Miss.; Little Rock; Shreveport, La.; and Tulsa. Industry representatives at a satellite seminar here Tuesday said they won't confirm the cities until a later date.
Best about DBS, supporters say, is that it's digital, offering CD-quality sound and laser disc-quality video. And since its signal is stronger than current satellite systems, the dish can be shrunk to pizza box-size. Current dishes that pick up less powerful broadcasts are four to 10 feet across.
A smaller dish solves the biggest problem in satellite sales, says Stanley S. Hubbard of U.S. Satellite Broadcasting: "Getting wives to let the husband put the dish in the yard."
DBS dishes will be mountable on the side or rooftop of homes. The dish, decoder and remote control will sell for about $700-$900 at stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward. Installation will cost about $200.
Monthly program costs will start at about $25 from two firms:
Hughes' DirecTv will offer CNN, The Disney Channel, Turner Broadcasting networks and ESPN.
USSB has HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, The Movie Channel and MTV.
Both plan multiple pay-per-view options bolstered by agreements with movie studios. That means both will offer movies at a nearly on-demand basis.
"It will be literally something comparable to having the convenience of a video store in your living room," says DirecTv president Eddy W. Hartenstein.
Obvious DBS targets will be the 18 million homes where cable is not available, primarily in rural areas. But urban cable customers may turn to DBS for the transmission quality - or because of dissatisfaction with their cable companies.
