Japan Digital Broadcasting Services has begun data transmis-sions to personal computers via satellite on a trial basis.
Full-scale services are due to start in October. The company was created earlier this month through the merger of PerfecTV and Japan Sky Broad-casting, which will deliver DTH programming under the channel name of SKYPerfecTV.
The data broadcasting service, dubbed SKYPerfecPC, distributes stories from the Fuji tabloid evening newspaper, high-quality music and other data as well as software, allowing PC users to download them.
Iridium made history in May when the rocket carrying the company's final five low-Earth-orbit satellites into space took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
The Boeing Delta II mission marked Iridium's 15th launch in just over a year, and completed the world's largest commercial satellite network. The launch brought the number of Iridium's operational satellites in orbit to 67 although 72 satellites have been deployed for the system. Five birds are inoperable.
The mission was originally set to lift-off on April 26 but was postponed then when engineers detected vapor during the loading of propellant.
Loral Space & Communications, in its first detailed response to allegations it won favorable treatment from the Clinton administration on high-technology exports to China, denied that it requested or received "political favors or benefits of any kind" in exchange for campaign donations.
Congressional GOP leaders said they were considering a special committee to investigate the matter and the Justice Department moved closer to opening a criminal case. In responding to those moves, Loral said that a waiver it received early this year to export satellite technology to China was "handled in a routine way" by the U.S. government.
"No political favors or benefits of any kind were requested or extended, directly or indirectly, by any means whatever," the statement said.
The Justice Department opened one criminal investigation last year to determine whether Loral and Hughes Electronics violated laws regarding the export of sensitive technologies after the 1996 crash of a Chinese Long March missile carrying a Loral-made satellite. In reviewing the results of a Chinese probe into the crash's cause, Loral and Hughes technicians allegedly turned over information that would improve the missile's guidance systems.
Last February, with Justice already scrutinizing those allega-tions, Loral was granted permission by the White House to return to China for another commercial launch. Republicans claim the decision was influenced by $632,000 in donations to the Democratic Party by Loral CEO Bernard Schwartz, the party's largest single donor for the 1996 election.
The Loral statement said that Schwartz "was not personally involved in any aspect of this matter" and noted that this year's waiver was "one of 16 such waivers approved by Presidents Bush and Clinton since 1989."
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DirecTV Japan, the second DBS service to launch in the country, has acquired 109,000 subscribers in its first six months of operation, DirecTV Chairman Gareth Chang said.
"This is a great foundation considering the recession," Chang told press at a status update of DirecTV's operations in Japan.
DirecTV Japan entered the market one year after its main rival PerfecTV, which merged with News Corp.-backed Japan Sky Broadcast-ing to form SKYPerfecTV. The competing service now has 672,000 subscribers.
"The merger has defined the players in the industry and DirecTV has emerged as one of the two major players in Japan," he said. "Now the real competition begins with the two of us. and it is better to compete with two rather than three."
Engineers as Hughes are working on a first-of-its-kind experimental mission that will swing a communications satellite around the moon in an attempt to reposition the bird in its proper orbit.
The spacecraft, AsiaSat 3, has been stranded in a lower orbit since its launch on Christmas Day last year. During the past several weeks, Hughes controllers have fired the satellite's onboard rocket motor several times to raise it out of an elliptical orbit. The final firing, on May 7, will send it on a 9-day round trip to the moon.
If successful, the satellite is expected back in a circular orbit over the equator by the end of May. The satellite's orbital slot and new name still needs to be determined. At present, it's informally referred to as HGS-1.
The maneuver has never been attempted before, and involves sending the spacecraft into a three- dimensional, figure-8 orbit around the moon, using lunar gravity to fling the satellite back into a usable Earth orbit. The salvage mission was devised by orbital analysts at Hughes Space and Communications, which built the spacecraft.
Lucent Technologies will develop and supply communications chips to CD Radio. The broadcaster will use digital signal processor and radio-frequency chips from Lucent Technologies for its service, scheduled to debut next year. DitalXpress was named the official satellite broadcaster of the 1998 World Congress on Information Technology. The event, scheduled for June 21-24 at George Mason University in Fairfax County, Va., is expected to draw more than 1,700 senior-level information technology executives from 50 countries. NDS teamed up with Drake Automation for a deal to provide end-to-end digital broadcast solutions for Telewizja Polska in Poland. The company will use NDS' compression equipment and NDS Director to feed its analog terrestrial transmitters throughout the country. NDS also sold its first digital broadcasting solution in Russia to commercial broadcaster N-TV. The Russian deal was valued at $1.5 million deal.
TCI chairman and CEO John Malone told reporters at the National Cable Television Association convention that he is talking with the "Big Four" networks about creating tiers of broadcast HDTV multiplexes.
"For broadcasters, HDTV is more of a cost center than anything," Malone said. He then offered an option to broadcasters where TCI would receive, multiplex, time-shift and bill for HDTV content, "for a split."
The issue, he said, is, "How do they tell Congress that they're going to charge for it?"
Malone also predicted that "four-to-one we end up on 720p for the first generation of HDTV." He said the 1080i format that HBO and possibly others plan to use takes up too much spectrum. Malone added that TCI and others would "prefer the rest of the world to go with a progressive system."
Tele-Communications Inc. and Microsoft entered into a definitive agreement, originally announced in January 1998, under which Microsoft will license a minimum of 5 million copies of the Windows CE operating system and related software to TCI’s National Digital Television Center for use in advanced digital set-tops.
The nonexclusive license agreement details the terms and conditions for delivery and deployment of the Microsoft software. TCI previously announced agreements to supply advanced digital set-top box hardware beginning in 1999, initially from General Instrument.
The license agreement also enables any company that is a Head-End-In-The-Sky (HITS) customer in North America to license the same software from Microsoft under the same general terms and conditions when it deploys advanced digital set-tops.
The new version of Windows CE, specifically developed for use with TCI’s advanced digital cable set-top boxes, enables a wide variety of new TV content and services based on innovative support for Internet content, video and graphics, the company said in a statement. Loral Unveils USCast Satellite-Based Internet Service
Loral Orion Network Systems unveiled a new, satellite-based Internet access service aimed at enterprises, businesses and Internet Service Providers seeking to expand their Internet access.
USCast will be sold to ISPs and in turn marketed to businesses and enterprises. It will enable companies to maintain their existing terrestrial Internet access while expanding their capability to download large-size data files. The service may be attractive for bandwidth intensive applications, including multicasting, downloading news, receiving Usenet information and receiving video and audio streaming.
USCast will be delivered via the high-power, high-bandwidth Orion 1 satellite. The bird now carries more than 100 Mbps of Internet data, serving more than 60 ISPs throughout Eastern and Western Europe.
USCast follows Loral Orion's 1997 rollout of WorldCast, an Internet service available to European ISPs. Two new satellites set for launch over the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions in late 1998 and early 1999 will allow WorldCast to expand into those regions.
Globalstar has announced an agreement with Al-Murjan, a Saudi Arabia-based holding company, for the distribution of Globalstar mobile satellite services throughout the Middle East.
Under the agreement, Globalstar mobile satellite services will be exclusively distributed by Al-Murjan in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Al Murjan will own and operate a Globalstar ground station and obtain regulatory approval to interconnect the Globalstar system with the existing infrastructure in the eight countries.
"This agreement completes Globalstar's service provider plans for the Middle East," said Anthony J. Navarra, executive vice president for Globalstar. "Globalstar now has service provider agreements in 114 nations, covering 90 percent of Globalstar's business plan."
GE American Communications, Loral Orion, Loral Skynet and other satellite providers revealed plans for system expansion at the Inter-Union Satellite Operation Group (ISOG) meeting in Washington, D.C., last week.
GE is planning two launches next year including GE-4 to service the Americas and GE-1A to service Southeast Asia, China and India. Loral Orion plans to launch Orion 3 this fall for service to Asia, Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. Loral Orion will also launch Orion 2 next spring to cover the America's, Europe, Russia and the Middle East and South Africa.
Capitol Broadcasting continues to push for local-into-local legis-lation that will help its Local TV on Satellite unit, and is eyeing possible satellite orders for its local broadcasting effort by the end of the year.
"The company continues to do everything possible to get this stuff through Congress," says Diane Smith, who is lobbying Congress for legislation Capitol needs for its local plans. "We hope to be ordering satellites by the time these guys go home at the end of the year."
Capitol, itself a local broad-caster, is pushing for satellite must-carry of local stations. That mandate is opposed by DTH companies, specifically EchoStar, which is delivering local stations for select markets in the East via a satellite at 61.5 degrees. Another satellite that will be stationed at 148 degrees is expected to deliver local stations in the western half of the United States.
In addition to legislation, Capitol needs to secure spectrum between full-CONUS slots at 101 degrees and 119 degrees. The company wants to use Ka-Band satellites to deliver local stations nationwide.
Two Loral controlled companies are planning for key satellite launches this year, one for its Loral Skynet service and the other for SatMex, the partly-privatized Mexican satellite provider.
When it takes its position at 93 degrees, Skynet's Telstar 6 will be one of the most powerful commun- ications satellites in the industry. Like Telstar 5, it will carry 52 transponders - 24 C-band and 28 Ku-band. It also will have the same footprint, with coverage that includes all 50 states, the Caribbean, Mexico and southern Canada. Telstar 6 is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter.
SatMex 5 (previously Morelos III) is a Hughes 601 HP and will carry a payload of 24 C-Band and 24 Ku-Band transponders. SatMex 5 is ten times more powerful than its predecessor, Morelos II. It will be located at 116 degrees, and will expand Morelos II's coverage, with a footprint extending from Canada to Argentina. It's scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter.
Motorola announced that it plans to dump its stalled Celestri project in favor of a partnership share in Teledesic; a move that will bring its "Internet in the Sky" project to market with less competition and with fewer risks.
This new partnership will combines Motorola, Boeing, Matra Marconi, and Teledesic in a deal involving low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to transmit video, voice, and data to consumers.
By joining with Teledesic, Motorola will receive its awaited license in exchange for a $750 million investment in the telecommunications network. Additionally, Teledesic will acquire a much-needed communications satellite contractor for its networks.
The "Internet in the Sky" project calls for 63 LEO and 4 geostationary satellites at a cost of $12.9 billion. This satellite venture expects to launch service in 2003.
Telesat Canada has announced that the name of Canada's first direct broadcast satellite will be "Nimiq" - an Inuit word for any object or force that unites things or binds them together.
Sheila Rogers, a physiotherapist from Nepean, Ontario, submitted the winning name. "The Inuit meaning of Nimiq really appealed to me," said Rogers. "A bond, or something that ties things together, suggests the way Telesat unites our country through satellite communications."
Rogers will receive a grand prize package that includes a trip to San Francisco and products from ExpressVu, Xerox and EDD Inc. She will also have her name placed on the satellite, immediately below the name of the satellite itself.
Telesat's National Satellite Contest was judged by a panel of famous Canadians, including musician Bryan Adams; actor Dan Aykroyd; and Canadian astronauts Marc Garneau, Chris Hadfield and Steve MacLean.
Antennas Americas, Inc. has announced that it has received a patent for an antenna assembly that includes the use of an antenna circuit and associated cable as part of the antenna.
This antenna technology has been used in several of Antennas Americas' products, specifically in the Freedom and Walldo local TV antenna systems to allow satellite subscribers to receive local channels.
Kevin O. Shoemaker, chairman of the board and chief scientist for the company, commented, "We are very excited about this patent as it is another step in the continued development of unique and proprietary antenna products."
The Freedom system antenna can be installed on the back of 18" dishes, while the Walldo system is a flat antenna that can be attached to the outside of a house.
The Federal Communications Commission reclassified Comsat as a non-dominant common carrier in five product areas covering 85 percent of the company's Intelsat revenues, a move that could help the commun-ications company become more of a competitor and assist with its Intelsat privatization efforts.
The FCC found Comsat non-dominant in the provision of full-time video and earth station services in all markets. By finding Comsat non-dominant in these markets, the commission said it is eliminating rate of return regulation.
The commission also found Comsat non-dominant in Intelsat switched voice, private line and occasional-use video services in markets determined to be competitive. In markets deemed non-competitive, the FCC denied non-dominant common carrier status.
The FCC said it will "explore the legal, economic and policy implications of enabling users to have direct access to the Intelsat system."
The Commission will consider replacing rate of return regulation for Comsat's dominant markets with an alternative form of incentive-based regulation. It issued a proposed rulemaking and is seeking public comment on any alternative incentive-based regulation plan.
Toshiba, Toyota and Fujitsu will launch a digital satellite-based venture in Japan, aiming start-up for a service delivering video and audio to cars by 2001.
The joint venture, Nihon Mobile Broadcasting Corporation, will be incorporated in May with a starting capital of 500 million yen, the companies said in a statement. Other investors are Tokyo FM Broad-casting, Kenwood, Denso and Alpine Electronics. Nippon Tele-vision Network is also expected to join the venture.
The group is talking with Japan Satellite Systems regarding use of transponders aboard a satellite that will be launched in 2000.
Space Systems/Loral-built Intelsat 502 satellite was retired after more than 17 years of service, exceeding its design life by more than 10 years. The bird was launched from Cape Canaveral via an Atlas Centaur rocket on Dec. 6, 1980, and provided C-Band and Ku-Band services initially from its position at 15 degrees It spent most of its operational life serving the Atlantic Ocean region and was moved to 319.5 degrees east latitude in 1994.
In a recent review, Moody's said the outlook for all of Primestar's debts ratings is stable. The firm added, however, that it remains "concerned about whether PrimeStar can ultimately support potentially $3.5 billion of debt and preferred securities and service over $250 million of interest and dividends.
"Moody's remains concerned about the potential overhang of the Tempo satellite debt ($585 million) given our expectation that divestment of Tempo's assets (including 2 satellites and 11 authorizations at 119-degrees), which will almost certainly be required as a condition to FCC approval of the ASkyB contribution, may prove difficult," the firm said. Sky Latin America Reaches 275,000 Sub Mark
Sky Latin America, a region-wide DTH partnership of Organizacoes Globo, Grupo Televisa, News Corp. and TCI International, has reached the 275,000 subscriber mark.
Rapid subscriber growth in first quarter 1998 represented a 50 percent increase over 1997 year-end figures. Sky Latin America attributed its continuing success to increased marketing activity and the extension of its programming line-up.
Sky's Brazil provider pointed out that a jump in the number of channels offered plus exclusive programming has made the service tops in the region.
"Our increase of channels available to the consumer from 45 to 140, coupled with our exclusive broadcasts of the Brazilian Soccer Championships and select State Championships, has doubled our growth rate since the 4th quarter of 1997," said Mauricio Vaz, chief operating officer of NetSat, operator of Brazil's Sky service.
In Mexico, INNOVA CEO Jorge Alvarez said his Sky service is the DTH leader in the country, despite launching the platform six months after rival DirecTV. "Sky has achieved more than 60 percent market share with rapid growth of our business in the first quarter," he said. "with exclusive programming, such as the Chavez/Gonzalez bout, we have extended our presence throughout the country, with greater equipment availability at more points of sale.”
Sky Latin America services are available in Brazil, Mexico and Columbia under the names NetSat, INNOVA, and Sky Columbia, respectively.