A Microsoft senior executive was overheard by a crowd at the Windows World '97 exhibition saying that PCs with the ability to reproduce a digital television signal will replace analog TVs in a few years.
Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Senior Executive Vice President, said by the year 2000 all PCs will be capable of receiving digital signals. Mundie also stated that future versions of Microsoft operating software, Windows '98 and Windows NT 5.0, will have standard broadcasting features.
Mundie also said that consumers have spent more time on their PCs in the past year, cutting their television viewing time down by 15%. With TV-PCs consumers will have better picture quality, more interactive programming with Internet connections, such as Web-enhanced video.
Two bars in the Chicago area and two in New York were filled suit against by DirecTv for alleged illegal display of their programming.
The Cue Can Do in Schaumburg, Ill., the Saluki in Chicago, the R&R Bar and Grill in Massapequa, N.Y. and the Outfield Inn in Middle Village, N.Y. are all defendants in the complaint. The complaint was made because the commercial establishments were allegedly showing DirecTv to the public with only a residential subscription. DirecTv believes that the named establishments have violated the Federal Communications Act.
DirecTv is suing for $110,000 in damages for each violation and is seeking an order from the court prohibiting the commercial establishments from displaying DirecTv programming without a commercial license.
In a $75 million deal, $55 million in common stock and $20 million cash, Lowell "Bud" Paxson bought The Travel Channel from Landmark Communications Inc.
Paxson, Chairman and CEO of Paxson Communications, seemed very enthusiastic and stressed that he would promote The Travel Channel using his national network of UHF stations.
He also added that besides the promotions the deal is cable exclusive and has nothing to with his broadcasting properties.
Paxson stated that he is willing to spend twice as much as what is currently being spent on The Travel Channel in order to raise the standards of programming to match A&E and Discovery.
A brief black out was experienced by customers of U.S. Satellite Broadcasting in early July. Nothing could be seen but a blank screen and an occasional message at the bottom of the screen stating they were having technical difficulties.
The black out was due to a thunderstorm that lingered over both USSB's satellite uplink facility and a USSB backup facility.
USSB's programming popped back on just before 10 p.m. eastern time after a 22 minute blackout with no difficulties thereafter.
DirecTv, USSB's DSS partner, had no similar experiences.
Due to Mike Tyson's display of poor sportsmanship and overwhelming appetite, a Miami attorney has filed suit on behalf of Florida viewers who paid up to $50 to watch the championship bout. The attorney believes the pay per view customers were cheated by the short 3 round match between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
The fight was called of after Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ears in the 3rd round.
The suit claims that Tyson stripped viewers, who were paid to watch a valid heavyweight championship bout, of the entertainment value they deserved.
Piers Corbyn, an astrophysicist from Weather Action claims communication satellites orbiting the earth could be harmed by impending solar flares.
Corbyn says there is a possibility that a strong delivery radiation and high energy may have been released from the sun. The flares may not develop for months, but when they do they will have a hostile effect on satellites and the earth's weather.
Harmful solar flares are nothing new to the satellite industry. Earlier this year on was believed to put AT&T's T401R satellite out of commission, and damages one used by TCI Satellite Entertainment.
Jay Larkin, a Showtime executive producer, has mentioned the possibility of a law suit against broadcast outlets who revealed actual footage of the Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield fight to the public.
Those at the Viacom unit were shocked when they saw footage of the highly copyrighted fight on news and sports broadcasting programs.
Footage of the fight was shown during a hearing held by the Nevada State Athletic Commission when ESPN, CNN, and Court TV broadcast portions of the pay-per-view event. Showtime believes this showing could have cost them around $100 million.
PrimeStar has began promoting it's "Extra Innings" baseball package at the discounted price of $99 (3 installments of $33).
PrimeStar also had a major presence at the All-Star Game in Cleveland. The company's three-tiered sponsorship approach included the scorecard section of the All-Star Game program, the MLB Pinnacle All-Star FanFest's National MLB Hall of Fame Exhibit, and the "This Week in Baseball All-Star Daily" show.
In early July, officials from Microsoft refused the purchase of CBS through its parent company, Westinghouse.
Microsoft was reportedly going over CBS's finances and considering a purchase of the television unit, but refused in order to not cause any conflicts with NBC and it's MSNBC unit.
Seagram is also said to be considering a purchase of CBS, but nothing has been finalized.
Westinghouse is looking to divide it's media and industrial businesses into two separate companies by early October.
A nation-wide network for the Federal Aviation Administration is being formed by MCI with the help of up to three Ku-band transponders located on two U.S. satellites.
SBS-6,a Ku-band satellite, is being used to begin the operation of FAA Telecommunications Satellite program also Known as FAATSAT. FAATSAT will include nation-wide, satellite-based communications network formatted to improve the transmission of computer data, radar information, navigational data and much more. FAATSAT will occupy SBS-6 until the launch of PanAmSat's Galaxy X satellite in mid 1998. It will then increase it's contents to two Ku-band transponders with the use of a third satellite as an option.
A copy protection contract with Macrovision has been extended an additional three years by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment International.
The Macrovision anticopy Process is being utilized by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in such countries as Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Nearly 2 billion videocassettes have been protected by the Macrovision anticopy Process worldwide.
Effective on the first of September David Evans, former executive vice president of News Corp., will act as Tele-communications International's president and chief operating officer.
Evans will eventually become chief executive officer of TCI International, taking the place of Fred Vierra, who will continue to act as the company's vice-chairman.
Evans has served as president for international operations at British Sky Broadcasting, chief operating officer of Fox Television and president and chief operating officer of Sky Entertainment Services.
In order to protect pay TV services distributed through the means of cable and home satellite, the European Commission has submitted a proposal to crack down on those who are believed to be operating illegally.
If the proposal goes through the Council of Ministers the and the European Parliament, the order will prohibit the sale of pirate decoders as well as smart cards and software. The order will also restrict individual member states from using "anti-piracy" as a basis of stopping the unrestricted activity of legal services and access devices whose origin is of another member state.
July 9th marked the third successful launch for the $5 billion Iridium global telecommunications network bringing the total number of Iridium satellites in orbit to 17.
Five satellites were launched on a McDonnel Douglas Delta II rocket 420 miles to their low earth orbit locations.
When everything is said and done the Iridium system will utilize 72 satellites to distribute wireless telephone, data and paging to customers around the globe.
The Iridium global telecommunications network is expected to be in full operation by next year.
A certain character is on the Internet claiming to have a set of 7 DSS test cards for RCA, Sony, and all other DSS models. This person is also advertises Dish Network cards (7) for all EchoStar models as well as a break for PrimeStar receivers model 301 D w/remote, "all opened up and bullet proof". Buyer beware, this is a SCAM. Please spread the word in order to stop this character from taking anyone's money.
ExpressVu Inc. has announced the pricing schedule of the ExpressVu DISH Network systems that will be available later this summer. Three systems, the 3500, 4500 and 5000, with remote control and a 60 cm(24") dish, will be priced from $599 to $999.
The 3500 model($599) includes basic system features such as: MPEG-2/DVB compliance, connects for digital videodisc players, VCRs and data communication networks and a high-speed data port. All systems are software upgradeable via satellite;
The 4500 model($749) features a UHF universal remote.
The 5000($999) features a local link which allows the Electronic Program Guide to include local programming listings and switching between satellite TV and local programming.
ExpressVu also has signed retail agreements with four of Canada's leading retailers, Future Shop, The North West Company, Sears and Wal-Mart Canada, in addition to prior agreements with K-Mart, The Bay, Bell Mobility, Aventure Electronique, London Drugs, Real Canadian Superstores and True Value Hardware.
Canal Indigo(French), Viewer's Choice and Allarcom Pay Per View have received go-aheads for 4 additional Video-On Demand services. With the addition of these services, Canadian subscribers will have a wide choice of video on demand programming, all with approved Canadian Content Labels.
Russia's decommissioned ballistic missiles SS-18 (RS-20), will be used to launch commercial satellites. The missiles will be Rokot, and operate from the Russian launch center Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk region. The Russian government is adapting the Kosmos rocket launch pad at Plesetsk for the Rokot operations. The first launch is planned in early 1998. After renovations, a schedule of 6 launches per year is planned.
Paul Maxwell-King, a major test device producer in the United Kingdom, has introduced a new add-on module for use with MK series devices and existing battery cards. The ADDON-2 has space for the new ASIC chip, which is NOT installed, as reverse engineering of this chip is not yet complete.
The ADDON-2 fits into the card slot of the receiver, then the emulator or battery card connects to the
ADDON-2. It allows you to program an eeprom, or use an existing test device/emulator, providing you have
the new software, (still under development). It also provides receiver power to the emulator, so you don't
need a separate power supply. It also can take the clock frequency from the receiver, so the card or emulator
does not need it's own oscillator. This device should be useful to software developers, as well as end-users.