This news is provided free of charge to on-line users by TELE-satellit magazine and TS News Service GB. IT IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. It may not be reproduced for commercial reasons by any means what so ever. If you wish to reproduce this news or redistribute it for non commercial use please contact the email address below. Der TS Nachrichtendienst ist ein Service fuer die Freunde von TELE-satellit und TS-TV und ist nur fuer die persoenliche infromation freigegeben. IMPORTANT NEWS In four weeks TELE-satellit news will cease to be available in Windows Write format. The Write version, currently available on CompuServe and our ftp site will be superseded by a hypertext version in html format. We decided that a nicer version should be made available on the World Wide Web. The hypertext files not only allow a properly formatted version to be put on the web but also mean that users of platforms other than Microsoft Windows can see the formatted version. We regretfully have to withdraw the Write version as at present we can only support two formats. Users of CompuServe and the ftp site will see new files in four weeks and have the choice of an html version, to view via a hypertext browser, or a plain text ASCII file. If you don't use the World Wide Web you can still run an hypertext browser on your system to view local files. Users of other networks will see no difference. We apologise to several users on CompuServe last week who downloaded an incomplete version of TS News. We uploaded the wrong file and caught it on all but one forum ! The mistake was immediately put right as soon as we knew. Thanks to those that informed us ! TELE-SATELLIT EUROPE'S SATELLITE MAGAZINE International Satellite News Number 35, Week ending 22 January 1995 By Martyn Williams News Desk : Internet martyn@euro.demon.co.uk or CompuServe 100025,1637 (c) TELE-satellit Magazine VT4 tests as the arguements continue in Flanders New London based broadcaster VT4 says it will go ahead with a launch on 1 February whether it gets clearance for cable broadcasting in Flanders or not. The Flemish language broadcaster started tests earlier this week via Eutelsat 2 F1, 11.146 GHz H, as Flanders Culture Minister Hugo Weckx said that VT4 could not be carried on cable. Law in the region prevents no more than one local commercial TV station access to the cable system and VTM was recognised as the region's commercial broadcaster several years ago. VT4 is owned by Scandinavian Broadcasting Systems. SBS say that VT4 is not a local TV station because it is based in London and so the regulations do not apply. Countering, Weckx says that VT4 could not be a British TV channel because it is a Flemish language broadcaster and the UK could not control it. Late this week the European Commission became involved and sided with the British saying that Weckx could not bar the channel from Flemish cable. JSTV leads Europe in live quake coverage JSTV provided non stop live coverage of the Japanese earthquake earlier this week. From Monday evening the Japanese language channel carried live transmissions from NHK News in Tokyo before many channels such as CNN and Sky News were carrying pictures. JSTV were also good enough to switch off their scrambling so that everyone would have access to the programmes. JSTV, which provides Europe's only Japanese TV, also continued with unencrypted programming for the rest of the week with programming being suspended in favour of live news from Japan. TELE-satellit applauds JSTV for the unscrambled programming. It's nice to see a TV channel putting their viewers first at a time like this. NBC finally on Astra ! NBC Super Channel finally launched on Astra late Friday night. SES announced the channel would begin broadcasting on January 1st but as TELE-satellit reported last week NBC had not yet signed for the transponder. The deal was completed on Friday evening allowing NBC Super Channel to begin broadcasting almost immediately. Don't forget that the latest satellite news is available on NBC Text page 171, direct from the London Bureau of TELE-satellit. BBC launch new channels this week The BBC's two new European TV channels, BBC World and BBC Prime, will begin broadcasting this week. BBC World, a news and information channel, will be broadcast on Eutelsat 2 F1 on 11.617 GHz and be available across Europe although officially excluded from the UK. The unencrypted feed means in practice that dish owners in the UK will be able to watch the channel but it will be unavailable on cable. BBC Prime will replace the current BBC World Service Television channel on Intelsat 601 and continue to be broadcast in encrypted D2-Mac. Subscriptions will be available Europe wide, except the UK, and continue to cost around £70. SES order Astra 1G As their latest spacecraft enters service, Societe Europeenne des Satellites and Hughes Aircraft Co. of Los Angeles Tuesday announced an agreement for a the seventh Astra satellite, and an option for an eighth. Financial terms were not disclosed. The new satellite, called Astra 1G, is an HS 601 model. The new satellite will use gallium arsenide solar panels to generate 8 kilowatts of power, allowing SES to extend the Astra system's television and radio coverage to more of Europe. The contract calls for 15 years of operation. Hughes had been under contract for four Astra satellites. Astra 1G will be Hughes' fifth for SES. Astra 1E is slated for launch in 1995, and Astra 1F in 1996. Astra 1G is to be ready for launch in the second quarter of 1997. SES will choose the launch vehicle later. At the announcement Frank A. Taormina, president of Hughes Space and Communications International said "SES is our biggest current customer outside the United States, and it's gratifying to be able to continue this important business relationship," Astra 1G will have 28 active transponders operating in the ku band, powered by 100-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. As with the other Astra satellites, SES will be able to change the transponders' transmission frequencies in orbit to accommodate new programming or to back up the other satellites. SES has until 1996 to exercise its option on the additional satellite. Ostankino head denounces censorship on Chechnya Robert Orttung, OMRI, Inc Alekdandr N. Yakovlev, head of Ostankino television and radio, asked the Russian government on 14 January to stop trying to control the coverage of the war in Chechnya through censorship or by putting pressure on the media, Interfax and Mlada Fronta Dnes reported on 13 and 16 January, respectively. Yakovlev said the censorship applies to all Russian journalists reporting on the conflict and has reduced the coverage of Russian forces. Yakovlev declared that the censorship measures give Chechen President Dudaev the upper hand because independent journalists can only cover the fighting from the Chechen side. In particular, Yakovlev has asked Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to stop putting pressure on Russian television's second program and independent NTV, both of which have been less compliant than Ostankino. Russian authorities have been particularly critical of NTV. PanAmSat choose Scientific Atlanta MPEG system PanAmSat has selected Scientific Atlanta's MPEG digital video compression system for its Pacific Rim satellite service. Two six- channel systems, one in Los Angeles and the other in Hong Kong, will provide video services throughout the Pacific Rim. Initial users include the China Television Network (CTN) and Country Music Television, Asia. Activation is scheduled for January 1995. "By using the two Scientific-Atlanta digital video compression systems, PanAmSat is able to quickly and efficiently provide service to multiple video customers," said Rob Bednarek, PanAmSat's vice president, engineering and operations. "In addition, because PAL and NTSC video are both used in the Pacific Rim, the system's ability to simultaneously handle both was a key factor in our decision to purchase the Scientific- Atlanta system." WTN to supply news to EBN:European Business News UK based news service Worldwide Television News has announced a deal with the upcoming European Business News. The four year deal gives EBN access to WTN's satellite newsfeed of international news. EBN launches on February 27th via Intelsat 601. The channel will begin broadcasting on the Eutelsat Hot Bird when that satellite comes online during April or May. EBN is 70% owned by Dow Jones with Flextech holding the remaining stake. More Japanese TV for America An increased amount of Japanese produced television will be available in North America after a deal signed between Pacific Syndication, Japan Satellite Media and the Asian Broadcasting Network. The subscription service will deliver Japanese produced TV shows to viewers via cable and satellite. NBC to launch 24 hour news ? Satellite Dealers Association Rumors persist that NBC hopes to launch a 24-hour news channel that would compete against Turner's CNN and Viacom's All News Channel. The president of NBC News told a meeting of TV critics that "ultimately NBC News has got to get into the 24-hour news-service business and we ought to look at ways to do that." NBC owns the business-news network that is on Galaxy 5, Transponder 13 called CNBC and recently launched America's Talking, an all-talk channel on Galaxy 7, Transponder 22. NBC also owns Super Channel, a London-based cable network that competes against CNN in Europe. NBC Super Channel is available on Eutlesat 2 F1 and will soon launch on Astra 1D. New Products Petra Huether, TS Bureau Munich Budget Alternative The J2003 satellite receiver is another interesting product from SatPartner/Hampf electronic. With 120 channels, direct frequency input, 22 kHz switching and three Scarts as well, the unit is remarkably well-equipped and designed with the future in mind. Their new model J7200 is quite related to their top model J7002 and also offers 200 channels. Both the J2003 and the J7002 have an extended UHF-modulator range from channels 30...45. Lorenzen Communication: Double Reception In their new product range, Lorenzen Communication GmbH also offers an LNB holder for parallel reception of two satellites, i.e. ASTRA und EUTELSAT II-F1. But the firm offers still more, namely a series of single, double and quadruple coaxial relais, who can be used to connect up to four households to one multifeed aerial and an optional terrestrial aerial, if the receivers incorporate 22 kHz switching. Another handy product from Lorenzen is the Sat-Checker, which tests the receiver`s H/V switching. Drake Receiver & California Amplifier It`s not just Echostar but also Drake who offer a receiver with a threshold below 4 dB now. The improved ESR 300e's threshold can be switched in 32 steps and it offers 225 channels, two LNB inputs, one polariser output, a copy function and other goodies. Their distributor Roche also has LNBs from California Amplifier on stock, like the Mini Mag C-band model, a unit of 65 mm length and a 20 K noise figure. They have also modified their C/Ku-band feed now, and the new version has an adjustable feed horn, linear and circular polarisation for C-band and a Ku-band frequency range of 10.7...12.75 GHz SAT NET node list Here is the current list of SAT NET nodes. SAT NET is an international bulletin board system for Satellite DXers and fans. The network carries TS News in English and German as well as other satellite related discussion and news. If you run a BBS and would like to become a SAT NET node please contact Manuel Vitti at central mailbox VIDI or via Internet email to 100412.2365@compuserve.com BBS Ort Nummer bps Zeiten Five Miles Out Herzogenrath +49-2407-17244 14.400 0-24 h Funkladen BBS II Freiberg +49-3731-22915 14.400 0-24 h Weser BBS Brake +49-4401-69638 19.200 22-6 h Softwareschuppen Delbrück +49-5250-53709 14.400 0-24 h VISUAL H”velhof +49-5257-6803 19.200 0Ä24 h Satellite Info Box Bad Homburg +49-6172-305224 28.800 0-24 h NEBOSA Bischmisheim +49-681-897388 14.400 0-24 h TELIX-Mailbox Welzheim +49-7182-4473 14.400 16.15-21 h BL-Box Balingen +49-7433-8344 28.800 0-24 h Wildcat Erding Erding +49-8122-91919 19.200 0-24 h PD-Welt Landsberg +49-8191-3442 19.200 0-24 h TWIN-Box Penzing +49-8191-80215 14.400 0Ä24 h SAT-BOX Landsberg +49-8191-39747 19.200 0-24 h Killer's kleine Box Schwabmünchen +49-8232-79062 19.200 18-22 h Tele-Box Rammingen +49-8245-3739 14.400 21-3 h Telepoint BBS Bad W”rishofen +49-8247-31828 14.400 0-24 h KKK-Box Kaufbeuren +49-8341-69790 14.400 0-24 h Schoraklepperer D”singen +49-8344-1820 19.200 0-24 h Glufamichl Dietmannsried +49-8374-6631 14.400 0-24 h vidi München +49-89-133247 28.800 0-24 h Cyberspace BBS Munchen +49-89-3611110 28.800 0-24 h First Aid Box München +49-89-6732410 14.400 23Ä4 h Funkladen BBS München +49-89-7603102 14.400 0-24 h Fiffi's Inn München +49-89-5701353 19.200 0-24 h Fiffi's Inn München +49-89-5704243 19.200 0-24 h Fiffi's Inn München +49-89-54710940 ISDN 0-24 h Lost Continent B-Mortsel +32-3-4482680 14.400 0-24 h Radio Amateur BBS CH-Ruenenberg +41-61-9816969 28.800 0-24 h Radio Amateur BBS CH-Ruenenberg +41-61-9831009 ISDN 0-24 h Ikast BBS DK-Ikast +45-9725-0041 19.200 0-24 h Alley Cat S-Bandhagen +46-8-7495826 19.200 0-24 h Sunergy 12 this week Sun Microcomputers latest Sunergy broadcast takes place this week. Full details are available on the Sun Web site or by email from sunergy@sun.com The Telecommunications Act of 1934 requires universal access to communications media. As the internet grows to become the Global Information Infrastructure, will access for diverse constituencies be assured, or will we create competing classes of information "haves" and "have nots"? Is ubiquitous access, in and of itself, a policy matter, or can it be designed into the technology? The biggest problem in defining access is that nobody knows what the essence of the infobahn will be. Even if we did know, which infobahn services would we consider essential? Operating on the assumption that the GII will be central to the way we work, learn and communicate, it is clear that we need to talk about how technologies, market forces, and policies can intersect to create widely accessible information highway onramps. The broadcast can be seen around the world on satellite, : Tuesday 24 January, 1730 - 1900 CET / 1130 - 1300 EST. North America Galaxy 7, 91W on transponder 9 (3.880 GHz), Horizontal, Audio 6.20 / 6.80 GStar 2, 125W on transponder 14 (12.049 GHz), Vertical, Audio 6.20 / 6.80 Europe Intelsat K, 21.5W on transponder H5 full (11.485 GHz), Horizontal, Audio 6.60 / 7.40 Latin America Intelsat K, 21.5W on transponder H6 Upper (11.558 GHz), Vertical, Audio 6.60 / 7.40 Africa Intelsat 515, 18W on transponder 38/ch 2 (4.188 GHz), Right hand, Audio 6.60 / 7.40 In addition, the broadcast is also available on the MBONE. TELE-satellit Magazine This news is from the English language news service of TELE-satellit, a monthly satellite magazine edited in Munich, Germany. It consists of 164 pages, full colour with tables, charts and news with many off-screen photos of the satellite channels plus an informative technical section. Subscriptions are available for DM 120, Europe surface mail; DM 144, Europe airmail and DM 192, ROW airmail. Orders for subscriptions and more information should be sent to : TELE-satellit Customer Service, Silheimer Str. 6a, D-89278 Nersingen, Germany, Fax +49-7308-919001 Where to find satellite news : TELE-satellit News, English : CompuServe UK Forum (UKFORUM) - Windows Write / ASCII version, library 19 CompuServe European Forum (EURFORUM) - Windows Write version, library 5 CompuServe Deutschland on line (GERLINE) - Windows Write version, library 15 CompuServe Telecommunications Forum (TELECOM) - Windows Write version fax on demand +49-8282-81003 fax on demand +49-2163-81744 fax on demand +49-7308-919009 NBC Super Channel - NBC Text page 171 alt.satellite.tv.europe newsgroup on Usenet World Wide Web : http://xan.esrin.esa.it:2602/satellite.html Fidonet SAT.028 Fidonet SATELLITE.FR Fidonet RU.SAT Fidonet SATELLIT_R23.PUB Maus Net : tv.grp America On Line - from the "ham radio" area in the General file library. Anonymous FTP to : ftp.funet.fi /pub/dx/text/satellite/telesatellit CIX Skyguide/telesat conference SAT NET BBS network SweDX BBS, Swedish DX Association. +46-8-53034727 / Fidonet 2:201/339 Short Wave Paradise BBS, online 24 hours a day ! USA 616-383-4979 TELE-satellit News, German : CompuServe Deutschland on line (GERLINE) - ASCII version, library 15 CompuServe Der Spiegel Forum (SPIEGEL) - ASCII version, library 11 fax on demand +49-8282-81003 fax on demand +49-2163-81744 fax on demand +49-7308-919009 SAT 1 Text - page 513 SAT NET BBS network Other reliable sources of satellite news : • Radio Sweden Mediascan. 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 20 minutes into the English programme via Astra, Shortwave, Mediumwave 1197 kHz and the World Radio Network. Text and audio files of Mediascan can be found in the SCDX directory on ftp.funet.fi • Radio Netherlands Media Network, Thursday, 23 minutes into the English programme via shorwave and The World Radio Network • World Wide Web users can access TS News and the electronic journals above and more information via the European satellite home page, URL http://xan.esrin.esa.it:2602/satellite.html • The ProShow. Every Sunday night starting at 9:00 pm EST on the Omega Radio Network - Galaxy 3, Transponder 17, 5.80 MHz.