Space Digest Sat, 17 Jul 93 Volume 16 : Issue 888 Today's Topics: Data Broadcasting News Hubble, Why the hurry? Satnews 112-2 Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to "space@isu.isunet.edu", and (un)subscription requests of the form "Subscribe Space " to one of these addresses: listserv@uga (BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle (THENET), or space-REQUEST@isu.isunet.edu (Internet). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 15:06:15 +0000 From: Darren Ingram Subject: Data Broadcasting News Newsgroups: sci.space ********************************************************* ****************** DATA BROADCASTING NEWS Edited by Darren P. Ingram News in English Issue number 30 - 28/06/93 Published Biweekly ---------- Editorial contact: Darren Ingram M2 Communications Limited 184 Brookside Avenue Coventry CV5 8AD UK Telephone: +44 (0) 203 717 417 Facsimile: +44 (0) 203 717 418 E-Mail : dbn@dims.demon.co.uk ---------- (C) Copyright 1992-3 M2 Communications, All rights reserved ---------- VW TO INSTALL 6000 SITE VSAT NETWORK Volkswagen AG has signed a contract with Scientific Atlanta for a 6000-plus site two-way VSAT network in Europe, aimed at the motor conglomerate's dealer network. SA is set to announce the contract's existence in the near future and is presently remaining tight-lipped over the whole affair. Once the network is completed, it will be the largest network of its kind in Europe, easily shadowing the yet-to-be-launched AXA Equity and Law 3000+ terminal VSAT network (DBN passim). VW is no stranger to the use of interactive VSAT services as its North American offshoot has a 900 terminal network provided by SA. The company says that the decision to install such a large two-way VSAT network was made because it needed time-critical communications for its dealers, and national PTTs could not guarantee the availability and backup of a terrestrial network. Logistically the operation of such a wide on-line terrestrial network was also problematical. Many network operators, who declined to be identified in print, were shocked at the enormity of the network, but hardware manufacturers are gleefully pointing out that they will benefit from the increased awareness, and business, that such large systems will bring. Presently the largest two-way VSAT network operating in Europe is a 150-site service for the Italian government's department of social security. Renault operates a 140- site VSAT network for its French dealers and Daimler Benz has a limited 20-site VSAT network. LATIN VSAT NETWORK PLANS TAKE SHAPE Three European aerospace companies are planning to build a private VSAT network for South America which will be used to carry video, data and voice telephony. Deutsche Aerospace AG, Aerospatiale and Alenia have signed a contract with the Argentine state-telecomms company CNT. CNT is overseeing the contract, which will provide service in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. The three European companies have set up a joint venture company called Nahuelsat SA, based in Buenos Aires, which will operate the service for a maximum of 24 years before licences are terminated. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but one report suggests that up to US$200 million has been pledged by Deutsche Aerospace, with the company failing to take a significant majority stake. A new satellite will be built and launched, either by Arianespace or General Dynamics, to rival the existing telecommunications services operated within the four target countries. Network capacity will be sold onto interested companies once the service is operational, and interim bandwidth will be purchased and provided on Anik and Brasilsat 2B satellites. IDB OPENS UK C-BAND EARTH STATION IDB Communications Group has formally commenced service to its 11-metre C-band earth station in the United Kingdom. The station, located at Brookman's Park outside London, is the first privately-owned C-band uplink in the UK and the first IDB owned and operated facility outside of the US. The earth station will be utilised by IDB Worldcom, the telecommunications arm of IDB, in cooperation with the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) to operate StatCom, a voice and data communications service linking the US and other European cities with the Russian Federation and CIS countries. A Russian Statsionar 5 satellite located at 53 degrees east longitude will be used to host the service. Customer premises equipment providing connectivity to the network will comprise of integrated 3.8 and 4.5 metre C- band earth stations. StatCom has been running since May 1993 with a temporary 7 metre antenna. IDB hopes that emerging and isolated businesses, such as the oil and gas companies, will find the service a more viable and cost-effective method of communications compared to present-day alternatives, such as the Inmarsat system. Edward Cheramy, president of IDB, said: "The oil and gas industry is expected to spend over US$20 billion in the next decade, developing oil and gas fields in the Russian Federation and the newly independent states. It is estimated that telecommunications expenditures will surpass US$300 million during that time period. IDB and RSCC are well positioned to serve these major telecommunications requirements." * RSCC is a state enterprise of the Russian Federation Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. EC TO ADOPT COMMON APPROACH ON EARTH STATIONS A recent meeting of the Telecommunications Council of the European Community has passed a draft directive aimed at creating a single market for satellite earth station equipment. If approved, the directive will assist the manufacturers of satellite communications equipment achieve the economies of scale necessary to compete effectively in European and world markets. The directive, COM(92)451, would extend the ruling of directive 91/263/EEC on telecommunications terminal equipment to include the harmonised certification and testing of equipment and to guarantee the use of approved satellite communications in all member countries. "The development of satellite communication has been up to now held back by the fragmentation of the Community market, in contrast to the situation in the US where this technology is more widespread," said an EC statement. COMSTREAM INTRODUCES SCPC RECEIVERS A new range of SCPC digital audio receivers has been launched by Comstream Corp. According to the company, the receivers feature configurations that are tailored for two specific digital audio market segments -- radio broadcasting and business music. Delivery of the units will commence in August, and they will be priced below the ABR200 SCPC receiver, presently Comstream's flagship product. The ABR75 receiver, designed for radio broadcasting reception, operates at a single data rate of 128kbit/s, although users can specify a rate of 64, 96, 192 or 256kbit/s alternatively at the time of order. The ABR75B is designed for use by business music and includes circuitry permitting the remote control (off/on) of the receiver's audio output. All units are fully compatible with each other within one network, and can be varied in accordance with local operating needs. TELETEXT JOURNAL TO BE LAUNCHED William Overington, the researcher and scientist behind the pioneering research into Telesontext, is planning to launch The Journal of Teletext, Telesontext and Telesoftware Research. Overington hopes that the 24-page A5 newsletter will appear every six weeks, and will address research by broadcasters into teletext-related topics. Selected advertising will be carried in the publication, which is destined to be read by academics and corporate research staff. A library of telesoftware will be held and maintained, being made available to broadcasters who wish to carry telesoftware broadcasts or trials at a later stage. STANFORD GETS VSAT PROTOTYPE ACCEPTANCE The ASOC and Custom Products division of Stanford Telecommunications Inc. has received prototype acceptance of VSAT equipment designed for use within wireless communications applications. The approved STEL-9236 receiver module has been produced to provide a 'L-band to datastream' receiver board and the first OEM contract has been signed by an unnamed manufacturer for it to form part of a commercial background music delivery service. Orders for over 5000 units have already been received. "The introduction of the receiver product opens up a range of VSAT applications that require high-performance satellite communications at aggressively low costs," said Hatch Graham, vice president and general manager of Stanford Telecom's ASIC and Custom Products division. "We are pleased with the initial response to our VSAT receiver product and believe our product offers state-of- the-art performance, yet priced below US$1,000 offers an attractive alternative for VSAT manufacturers." GCI EXTENDS NA KU-BAND SATELLITE CONTRACT General Communications International has signed a new agreement with Hughes Communications Inc. to extend its transponder lease aboard a Hughes Ku-band SBS 5 satellite until the end of the satellite's lifetime, presently estimated to be 1999. GCI currently uses the transponder to provide end to end data connectivity to customers in Alaska. GCI's GCI Network Systems subsidiary offers integrated communications systems using private telephone lines, VSATs and computer connections. "We are very pleased that GCI has extended its lease agreement on our SBS 5 satellite, which provides coverage for customers in Alaska, Hawaii and the lower 48 states," said Carl Brown, vice president of Galaxy Satellite Services for HCI. And Brad Spees, director of marketing at GCI, says that the satellite link is important because of the limited terrestrial communications services available in Alaska. "This system allows us to reach areas of Alaska where communications might otherwise be non-existent, such as oilfield drilling rigs, mine sites and logging camps. AT&T MOVES INTO INDONESIA AT&T Tridom is to provide Citra Sari Makmur, an Indonesian network operator, with a VSAT network to provide its customers with enhanced voice and data services. The first applications are likely to be for the financial and oil industries. Unrestricted build licences have been granted by the Indonesian government to CSM permitting the build of VSAT systems. Under the terms of the contract, CSM is scheduled to buy a AT&T Clearlink hub and 150 Clearlink System 400 terminals. A Clearlink voice link module is also to be provided for the service which will be hosted on the Palapa B satellite. "Indonesia is one of the fastest growing countries in the world. With a population exceeding one billion and a geographic coverage extending over more than 13,000 islands, Indonesia is a prime candidate for satellite communications," said Ray Robinson, chief executive officer of AT&T Tridom. NEWS IN BRIEF Reports from India say that the Indian Department of Telecommunications is planning to launch its own VSAT network to counter a plan by Hughes Escorts Communications, an Indian offshoot of General Motors. Tenders have been requested from hardware vendors for equipment compatible with the planned 200 terminal C-band system. The DoT plans to use the Insat-1A satellite for the service. The Second European Space Agency Electronic Components Conference was recently held at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, and attended by over 300 specialists from 20 countries. The conference concluded that the market for high reliability space components is rapidly changing, that the complexity of electronic components used in space programmes is increasing, that programmable integrated circuits are needed in space programmes and that the exchange of data and information regarding components in space applications is necessary. AlphaServ has won an order from British Rail's Network South East region to supply a turnkey maintenance service for its satellite information system. The maintenance will cover the pilot service introduced by BAeComm (with the data section bought out by AlphaServ) in 1992. Muzak has signed a multi-year contract worth US$2 million with Antex Electronics Corp. for a new satellite downloadable message system. The digital system allows the recording and playback of digitized audio messages and schedules for use within retail shopping organisations. Word has it that AlphaServ has signed a contract for a UK-wide satellite data broadcasting service. Details on the client are presently unknown, but it is hoped that further information will be in the next issue of DBN. ICV sources suggest that it has placed an order with AlphaServ for satellite hardware and services. ICV has signed a contract with Maxat for satellite capacity and services. Hughes Network Services is reportedly planning a US$6 million deal which will see a VSAT network launched in Russia using capacity from Ruduga in C-band. Further details are expected soon. BT Visual & Broadcast Services has just concluded a major training programme for over 200 staff on broadcast services (VSAT, BTV and SSS). The core unit of sales staff will act as an interface between BT's national telecomms sales force, providing expertise and support as required. Hughes STX Satellite Mapping Technologies has signed a contract with an unnamed energy exploration firm to manage and provide a range of enhanced satellite services. Details of the contract, worth US$1 million, have been classed as confidential, but work duties will include satellite sensing, archiving, distribution and management. Peter Martin has been appointed business manager of BT's SatStar VSAT offering, while Andrew Joyce takes over the reins as business manager for business television. BT is presently looking at integrating BTV over a two-way VSAT network. The National Stock Exchange in India is looking at launching a satellite communications network providing the delivery of financial information to dealing rooms and brokers through VSAT. A service would be launched late in 1994, once specifications have been made. CORRECTION: In the last issue of DBN under an article entitled "Coventry Set to be teletext capital of world?" a number of editing errors were made. The work into Telesontext is being conducted by the Management Division of the School of Engineering, and not the Business School as stated. Our apologies to Coventry University and William Overington. SPECIAL REPORT Intelsat: The Reuters Connection to Latin America Reuters has been using Intelsat's Intelnet service for the past six years to speed news and information to over 500 small dish antennas throughout Latin America. Operating 24 hours per day, the network pulls in and distributes raw material for colour news pictures, news reports and real-time financial in formation from the world's major exchange markets. Using the Intelsat 601 satellite at 332.5 degrees east longitude, with a fractional transponder lease operated between COMSAT in the U.S., EMBRATEL in Brazil and Telintar in Argentina, the Reuters network delivers data in real-time to areas as far south as Patagonia in Argentina, and to as far north as the densely populated suburbs of Mexico City. "We were the first in the world to use Intelnet for direct satellite delivery internationally," says Horacio Pardo, Reuters technical manager for the project. "The Intelnet service bounces signals from a single point at Reuters technical centre on Long Island, New York to an unlimited number of subscribers." Reuters' VSAT network has been a key element in the agency's business strategy for Latin America, providing reliable, versatile and cost-efficient alternatives. The network began operation in 1987 using 9.6 kbit/s of a 5 MHz segment on the hemispheric beam of the 332.5 degrees east longitude satellite. Several months later, a 19.2 kbit/s carrier (9 MHz lease) was added. This capacity is used to provide the Reuters SDS2 service, which carries wire data providing stock quotes, cash market prices, news coverage, futures quotations, weather, OPEC reporting, energy statistics, and regional and international market reports. In 1992, Reuters further expanded the network with a 168 kbit/s carrier (18 MHz lease), which currently provides the SDS3 service. SDS3 is a multiplexed service offering stock market ticker and price quotes through a custom financial monitoring software. This customized software allows the user to set price limits on particular stocks to alert the customer for buying and selling decisions. SDS3 also provides a 1200 bit/s wire service, which can interface to a computer or directly to an ASCII printer, and a laser photo service for both black and white and colour photograph delivery. The photo service is Reuters first approach to a multi-media feed. Eventually, this feed could include audio signals, television clips and TIFF layout files, used for importing photographs and other graphic images. "The SDS3 market and news feeds are swept into 386 or 486 PCs that use Windows to sort and display information on a real-time basis, cross-referencing to create graphics showing market trends," says Enrique Jara, Reuters manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. "The news feeds can also be funnelled into client systems running applications, including Lotus or Excel, for selective and detailed analysis of those factors of interest to the user." In parallel to the SDS services, which are receive only systems, Reuters also began operation of two-way service between four of its offices in Latin America and the company's area headquarters in New York, using the Intelsat satellite at 335.5 degrees east longitude. Through COMSAT in the U.S. and CNT in Argentina, the interactive service began in 1990 between New York and Buenos Aires, and was the first international IBS communications system operated interactively by a private company in Argentina. Since that time, the service has been expanded to include Reuters offices in Chile, Brazil and Venezuela. The 7-meter customer-premise terminals now carry point-to-point wideband applications, such as connecting Reuters Spanish Language Service's central editing desk in Buenos Aires to the main System 55 host in New York. The desk, which was put into operation in 1992, marked the first time that a LAN had been used over a satellite link to connect remote PCs with a System 55 central editing system. Reuters executives state that using the on-site terminals has helped reduce in-house communications costs by offering digitized voice and electronic mail circuits between the two offices and providing a cost-effective alternative for the delivery of digital pictures to Reuters pictures desk. "With both the SDS and the point-to point wideband services, Reuters has met its business goals by providing clients with quality service at reasonable cost. The company has also benefitted by achieving economies of scale in the management of its intensive use of communications," Jara says. "Without Intelsat, much of the region, particularly outside the major urban areas, would be outside the flow of information and data that is so sorely needed for doing business." * This article originally appeared in Intelsat News, the house magazine of the International Satellite Organisation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- DBN is published biweekly by M2 Communications Limited and is (C) copyright with all rights reserved. The NON-SUBSCRIBER VERSION is a limited, delayed subset of the printed subscription version. To subscribe to the printed version, please contact M2 Communications Limited at 184 Brookside Avenue, Coventry CV5 8AD, UK. Subscription rates are 300 (UK/EUR), 350 (North America) and 400 (rest of the world). Discounts available for non- corporate subscribers, with subscriptions starting at 50. Further discounts for delivery of DBN b electronic mail are available. Articles and contributions are welcome. Weekly deadline 1800 GMT Wednesday prior to publication. All articles submitted remain the property and rights of the publisher unless agreed otherwise, and may be edited for clarity, brevity etc. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of DBN, M2 Communications or its staff. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 16:05:50 +0000 From: "David M. Swain" Subject: Hubble, Why the hurry? Newsgroups: sci.space In article <29535@ksr.com> clj@ksr.com writes: >In article , masticol@scr (Steve Masticola) writes: >>Hubble is running on only one gyro; two (maybe three?) others have >>failed. If the last gyro fails, it loses attitude control and starts >>to tumble. It'd then be unserviceable, as well as useless for >>observation. I'd think NASA would want to put in new gyros before that >>happens. > >It's not that bad. First, I don't think something that massive would start >tumbling -- where would the force come from? The danger is that science [ stuff deleted ] >-- >Chris Jones clj@ksr.com > I think there are two places the force would come from, firstly there will be the solar radiation pressure on the satellite combined with the residual atmosphere that could cause the HST to start to rotate. Secondly there are electrical torques caused by the satellite passing through the Earth's magnetic field lines. The evidence for this is the tumbling of upper stages whose tumbling rates vary due to just these forces. -- David M. Swain | "Once is happenstance, " 23 Partridge Way | "Twice is circumstance, " Cirencester, Glos | "But the third time it's enemy action " England, +44 (0)285-885263 | Internet: daves@regulus.demon.co.uk | James Bond, 007 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 15:06:06 +0000 From: Darren Ingram Subject: Satnews 112-2 Newsgroups: sci.space FCC GIVEN CABLE REGULATION FUNDS After moaning, screaming and complaining, the US Federal Communications Commission has been given US$11.5 million more to enforce the new, and somewhat controversial, cable television legislation. President Clinton bowed to FCC complaints that it would need to take on more staff to enforce the law affecting the nation's 10,000 cable television operators and 57 million subscribers. Congress stipulated that the FCC must begin enforcement immediately and start the 'rate relief' rule which can see cable prices fall in September. Even though the FCC has been given the money it required, it has yet to retain a plethora of lawyers, accountants and administrators required for the cumbersome task. Whatever happens, it is unlikely that the majority of cable television subscribers will even note a drop in rates until the first quarter of 1994 at the earliest. Cable television operators can mandatorily appeal against FCC rulings, which in turn have to be initiated by viewers and local certification agencies. The National Cable Television Association previously threatened that each of its 10,000 operator members would seek a full appeal, causing massive disruption in the process. TAIWAN AND CHINA TO LAUNCH SATELLITES According to a report carried by the Taiwanese Central News Agency, Taiwan and China are to form a joint company, based in Hong Kong, to launch two communications satellites by the end of 1995. The newly-formed Chinese Engineering Development Trust would participate in the Asiasat satellite consortium with US$20 million funding. Satellites will be purchased from GE in the US and launched at the Xichange Space Centre, Sichuan province, south-west China. Taiwan's own National Space Programme is looking for a foreign partner to develop its own satellite, a 400kg research satellite set to be launched by 1998. MCM DISAPPEARS OFF TDF SATELLITE Radio Monte Carlo's MCM Euromusique service has disappeared off the TDF 1 satellite, much to the surprise and chagrin of viewers. One of its largest audiences was in the UK, where viewers were tuning in using obsolete converted British Satellite Broadcasting receiving apparatus. Details on the disappearance are scarce, and MCM was not answering its telephone when contacted. It is believed that its transponder was up for renewal and price negotiations over the cost broke down with MCM being unable to pay the required rate. Relatively poor takeup of the service was also cited as a contributory factor. Some sources suggest that if MCM returns it will encrypt its transmissions at a later stage. The audio subcarriers are continuing to transmit RFI and RF Hector, with the vision caption saying that MCM is temporary absent from the transponder! EUROSPORT GOES DIM ON SWEDISH SCREENS Eurosport, the pan-European sports television network, has came off the air of Sweden's largest cable network following a dispute with owners Swedish Telecom, reports Sweden Calling DXers and PAA TV. Eurosport has advised Swedish Telecom that it was withdrawing rebroadcast rights for its cable network because ST would not pay a licence fee to carry the service even though ST was expected to offer it as a free channel to viewers. Eurosport is broadcast in the clear on the Astra satellite. A special Nordic version of Eurosport will be broadcast on the Thor satellite from September, and this will be encrypted, but many Nordic citizens are expected to forgo the Nordic commentary and watch it free from the Astra satellite. Nobody from Eurosport would comment when contacted by Satnews. COUNTDOWN TO SHUTTLE LAUNCH At the time of going to press the countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch last Saturday was without any hitches. The 57th mission carrying a five-man crew is set to feature a spacewalk training exercise to test equipment needed for the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission scheduled for December. The shuttle is carrying an Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, worth around US$363 million, to pioneer the next generation of communications satellite. Over the next two years the satellite will conduct 69 experiments including high definition television, microbiology, telebotic operation and astronomical tests. A US$57 million science pallet containing a pair of ultraviolet telescopes will also be deployed for a six-day observation. The pallet will be placed into space and retrieved at the end of the flight. RUSSIA TO SELL "ROCKET" ENGINES TO INDIA Despite strong protests by the US government, Russia has agreed to honour a contract and sell rocket engines and technology to India for use within satellite communications satellites. Officials at the US State Department are concerned that the sale would encourage the spread of ballistic missile technology, especially as India and Pakistan are enemies. Sources say that the US$350 million contract, payable in hard currency, is to irresistible to the cash-strapped Russians. Throughout the debacle the Indian government has continually stressed that the rocket engines would be used for communications satellites. Two cryogenic engines ordered through a 1991 contract are slated to be delivered by the end of 1995. President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin discussed the sale of rocket technology while at a recent economic summit in Tokyo. The US is trying to exert pressure on Russia over the sale of rocket and military equipment, but cash-strapped Russia is facing tremendous internal pressures and requires all the money it can get. CASIO DEVELOPS WATCH REMOTE CONTROL Engineers at Casio in Japan have developed a wrist watch with a built-in remote control unit. The CMD-10 device will be available from 17 August at around US$85. The remote control can be programmed to act like a universal remote control, and it will remove in an instance the problems of losing the numerous remote control devices that are now compulsory on television, video and audio apparatus. Casio expect over 100,000 devices to be shipped monthly, and it is presently gearing up for major export orders. Apart from the remote control facilities, the watch will contain the usual wide range of time and date-keeping functions. A number of buttons on the watch will turn TV and VCR power off, alter volume, fast forward and rewind tape, record and play. It will also change the channels on television sets. Many other buttons can be programmed dependent on the users requirements. NEWS IN BRIEF Ten Japanese and European electronics companies have worked together to formulate a proposed international digital video cassette recorder format. An association or alliance is expected to be formed. The players -- Matushita Electronics, Sony, Philips, Thomson, Hitachi, Toshiba, JVC, Sanyo, Mitsubishi and Sharp -- claim that the digital VCR will use a tape half the size of a conventional VHS unit with greater resolution than previous units. Prices and agreements have yet to be formed. Scientists in India have reportedly managed to improve the image location accuracy of the IRS-1B remote imaging satellite by 1km. The improved level of accuracy allows greater examination of captured satellite data, as well as providing enhanced capturing and analysis options for Indian scientists. Magnetech Corp. has signed a contract with Live Entertainment Network Systems (LENS) to provide uplink services to the channel in South America. LENS is also set to launch a service in Spain, and Magnetech has been given the first option to provide the transatlantic uplink service. Magnetech is a major supplier of uplink service to North American broadcasters including ABC, CNN and ESPN. Korean Broadcasting System has signed a cooperation agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, covering the exchange of news and co-production of programmes. A KBS spokesman said that it was the first time that any broadcasting cooperation had existed between firms of the two countries, and that they both had great hopes of successes in the future. Reed Exhibitions in the UK have announced that Cable & Satellite '94 will be situated in a larger hall at London Olympia. A number of new features are to be added including integral workshops and seminars. Over 200 exhibitors and 8000 visitors attended the event in 1993, and already 50 percent of the stand space has been booked by the exhibiting companies. According to figures released by the UK Broadcasting Standards Council, complaints about taste and decency rose by one percent compared to the previous year (49%) while complaints about sex fell one percent (23%). Complaints about violence and violence rose 11% to 19% at the same time. The European Space Agency's Eureca reusable satellite has landed back on earth with the Space Shuttle. After nearly 11 months in orbit the satellite has conducted many microgravity experiments and has outperformed the original expectations of ESA engineers. MTV will see the 10th anniversary of its MTV Video Music Awards on 3 September. The awards will be held at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Special categories have been introduced for Europe with the European viewers' choice award. Edouard Balladur, the French prime minister, said that European countries should make an effort to cooperate on space projects as progress in technology was a way to assert themselves on the world stage. Balladur spoke at the finalisation of contracts between ESA and NPO Energia (see separate story) last week. The US National Weather Service and Department of Defense are combining images from their satellites to monitor the floods currently hitting the Midwest of the US. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this is a prime example of civilian-military partnerships in action. DirecTV Inc. has signed an agreement with Universal Pay Television/Universal Pictures giving it the right to provide Universal with current release films and events for a pay-per-view service on the yet-to-be-launched 150-channel DBS service. The ESA's ERS-1 satellite captured the Landers Earthquake in California during 1992 it has been announced. By using radar data it was able to measure with hugh precision the slip of the Earth's surface, said an article in Nature magazine, published in the UK. Turner Broadcasting Systems has confirmed a 17 September launch for TNT and Cartoon Network to launch on Astra 1C, transponder 37. Pace Micro Technology has appointed Madrid, Spain-based A-Z Productos SL as its exclusive Spanish distributor for satellite television products. The company is Spain's leading satellite television distribution company and Pace hopes to increase its share of the market as a result of the agreement. Filmnet has been taken off Sweden's second largest cable channel Kabelvision service because it was felt that its monthly charges were too high for subscribers. TV1000 has been offered as a replacement. A television programming advisory committee in Singapore is considering recommendations that the US TV series Beverly Hills 90210 not be broadcast by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation because the series may transmit the wrong impression to Singapore's youngsters. BET Holdings and its subsidiary Black Entertainment Television has acquired an 80 percent interest in Avalon Pictures Inc., owner of Action pay-per-view, a national satellite pay-per-view channel based in Santa Monica, US. Satnews bids a fond farewell to Odelle Smith from Maxat. Smith handled Maxat's PR and marketing activities, and she kept agencies under an iron fist. Good luck with your move back to New Zealand. Videotron has reported a net profit of C$22.1 million for the nine months to 31 May 1993, an increase of 91 percent over the previous year, for its Canadian company. Videotron is Canada's second largest cable TV operator and a formidable player in the UK cable TV industry. Several journalists have been shot and attacked while covering the fighting in Mogadishu. Reuters Television cameraman Mohammed Shaffi was shot twice when he tried to visit the scene of a US helicopter gunship attack but fortunately he survived. Reuters photographer Dan Eldon was beaten to death and a Reuters photographer and sound recordist are missing along with a German Associated Press photographer. Other news personnel in the area have gone missing, say press reports. Showtime Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. and Tristar Pictures Inc. have entered into a five year agreement whereby SNI has the exclusive premium television rights to Tristar feature films. Showtime operates three US premium television networks -- Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix -- as well as SET Pay Per View, Showtime Satellite Networks and through another joint venture All News Channel. Production work has now started at Pace Micro Technology's new 5 million satellite receiver factory in Saltaire, West Yorkshire. Work on the premises started only four months ago and an initial run of 3,000 satellite TV receivers has already been produced three weeks ahead of schedule. During July a night shift will be introduced, and in August a second production line will be opened. Preparations for the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in the UK carried on recently with ITN trying a live outside broadcast link with members of the crew posing as famous people talking about a Mrs Robinson who died after a great and gracious career. Throughout the broadcast the crew had to hold a paper sign reading "rehearsal". A failure in the Redundant Crystal Oscillator aboard the NOAA-I satellite has forced a postponement of its launch from 13 July. It has now been rescheduled to launch on 21 July say NASA. The oscillator is a timing device that regulates activities aboard the spacecraft. At the time of going to press no further delays have been reported. The Assembly Education Committee in California, US has approved a measure that will ban public schools from airing television programs that feature commercials, expressly hitting Whittle Communications' controversial Channel One 12-minute daily current affairs programme that includes two minutes of advertising. MTV has launched a marketing kit for cable television companies in a bid to increase its brand awareness and gain additional viewers for its range of services throughout Europe. The kit includes profiles, merchandise, product information and sales guides. Eutelsat has produced its 1992 annual report in printed form, and copies are available from the organisation. A BBC TV and radio crew has been show at with automatic weapons while covering violence in a black South African township on 5 July. The crew escaped unhurt. Bravo in the UK is rescheduling its transmission times from 12 noon to 12 midnight daily, and the channel is being repositioned as a niche entertainment channel focusing on young, upmarket adults. Following extensive research the new programming strategy is to cater for adults aged 20-44. Ariane flight 58 carrying Hispasat 1B ad Insat 2B is expected to take place on 22 July at 2247GMT. At the time of going to press there were no known problems with the Ariane 44L launcher. Private television and radio stations will now be able to open in Turkey, following a parliament approval of a constitutional amendment. State-run company TRT has faced stiff competition from Turkish channels beamed in by satellite from outside the country. Trimble Navigation, PenStuff and GO and joined forces with AT&T and IBM to make it easier for software developers to integrate Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into their PenPoint applications (hand/pen-based computer systems). US cable television operator Nostalgia Network Inc. says that Excellerated Learning Institute has made it a buyout offer worth at least US$21.5 million. William Geist has been appointed as vice president, information technology and services at Scientific Atlanta. He joins from Reichbold Chemicals, and takes his appointment on 21 July. Telesat Mobile has been taken over by BCE, Canada's largest company and parent of Northern Telecom, after falling into bankruptcy during April. MTV Europe has now moved to its new headquarters at Hawley Crescent, London NW1 8TT. Telephone: +44 71 284 7777 Fax: +44 71 284 7788 NORTH AMERICAN SIGHTINGS by Robert Smathers It has been a real quiet two weeks in the North American satellite sky, but activity is expected to pick up in the second half of July and into August. The CTVN (Commodities Television Network) has launched on Galaxy 3/13. CTVN is a place where one can buy or sell things. Rates are US$15/line/hour. So far, only an introduction slate has been up. CTVN has also occasionally pulled themselves off of G3/13 and let other uplinkers uplink infomercials. The infomercial I caught there last week dealt with DBS. United DBS had their "Your Future in the DBS Industry" infomercial for dealers on July 8. Galaxy 4 update: There have been test transmissions on Galaxy 4. Galaxy 4 has been testing at 89.5 degrees west and later in July it will drift to its operating orbital slot at 99 degrees West. I had problems telling what signals were tests from Galaxy 4 -- Galaxy 4 is right between Spacenet 3R and Galaxy 7 while in the testing phase. Consumer dishes have a tough time with spacing this close -- co-satellite interference dashed my hopes of thinking I saw a Galaxy 4 test signal. I did, however, find the Galaxy 4 beacon so I had no problems finding the actual position of Galaxy 4. Paul Johnson in New Mexico reported on Usenet that he saw Galaxy 4 Ku-band testing. That is the only report I've had of Hughes Communications testing the Ku part of the satellite. All of the other reports and attempted observations have happened with the C-band part of Galaxy 4. The major networks in the United States fed coverage of the Tokyo Economic Summary to America using some of the western North American domestic satellites. NBC had backhauls on Satcom C1, ABC had backhauls on Telstar 303/17, CBS had backhauls on Telstar 303/19, and CNN had backhauls on Telstar 301/sometimes 2 and sometimes 15. I wasn't sure which feed on T303 had FOX's coverage. SATELLITE TV EVENT OF THE WEEK -- By far, the event of this week was the flooding in the midwestern United States. There were no "Special Report" type of local news feeds, but there were newsfeeds and live satellite uplink coverage that I observed on Telstar 301, Telstar 302, Telstar 303, Galaxy 7, Galaxy 6, SBS6, GSTARs 1, 2, and 4, Satcom K2, and SBS5. The network news shows heavily covered the flooding, especially putting their major news anchors in the field to cover the story. It appeared most of the uplinks and coverage occurred in the states of Iowa and Missouri. DIARY 18-23 July Satellite Communications Systems Surrey, UK Tel: +44 71 240 1871 19-23 July New Broadcast Standards & Systems Warwick, UK Tel: +44 71 240 1871 20-25 August Teleteaching '93 (including distance learning) Trondheim, Norway Tel: +47 7 544040 27 August-5 September Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 3038 0 14 September Cable Communications London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 71 631 3214 16-20 September Live '93 Olympia, London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 71 782 6000 28-29 September Broadcastech Asia '93 Singapore Tel: +61 2 954 5844 29-30 September UK Telecommunications Policy London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 71 631 3214 5-7 October Vision '93 Olympia, London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 71 830 8447 12-14 October Inmarsat Second International Mobile Satellite Communications Conference: Paris, France Tel: +44 (0) 71 637 4383 14-15 October Cable and Satellite in Education '93 Blackburn, UK Tel: +44 (0) 254 676026 27-29 October Home Satellite TV Asia Phuket, Thailand Tel: +1 305 767 4687 29-31 October Broadcast India 93 Bombay, India Tel: +91 22 215 1396 29-30 November A Charter for Public Broadcasting (EBU) Brussels, Belgium Tel: +41 22 717 2111 7-8 December 10th European Satellite Communications Conference London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 81 742 2828 1994 16-20 January 16th Annual Pacific Telecommunications Conference Honolulu, Hawaii Tel: +1 808 941 3789 8-10 February Integrated Communications 94 TBA Tel: +44 (0) 733 394304 15-17 February Smart Card 94 TBA Tel: +44 (0) 733 394304 Cable & Satellite 94 Olympia, London Tel: +44 (0) 21 705 6707 Companies are requested to fax information about forthcoming events to "Diary" on +44 203 717 418 or through mail in good time for publication. 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