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Sat-ND, 4.7.96

Sat-ND 96-07-04 - Satellite and Media News

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"(c) Copyright 1996 by Sat-ND, http://www.sat-net.com/pck/"
Please send any contributions and comments regarding Sat-ND to
Peter C. Klanowski, Fax +49-451-5820055, pck@LyNet.De

This issue is sponsored by TELE-satellite, Europe's Satellite Magazine 
Have a look at their homepage! >> http://www.TELE-satellit.com/ <<


Japan sells first ten satellite lanches
The Japanese rocket consortium Rocket Systems Corp. found the first
customer for its commercial launch programme. According to the Japanese
newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, Hughes Space and Communications International
will book ten launches with the H-2A rocket, a redesigned version of the
model H-2. An official agreement is expected to be signed officially next
month. The launches will take place between 2000 and 2004.
So far, three H-2 rockets have successfully been launched. The biggest
problem with Japan's first indigenous satellite launcher is the cost.
Orbiting a two-ton satellite with the H-2 still costs twice as much as
using European or American launchers. With US$77 million per launch, the
remodelled H-2A will not only be cheaper. It also allows for a 3-ton
satellite lifted into a geostationary transfer orbit.
The Rocket Systems consortium comprises more than 70 Japanese firms. Their
financial effort to join the commercial satellite launch club are
estimated at US$9 billion. However, it is unknown how much of this amount
is used for technical improvements, and how much is used for simply
subsidising the ambitious launch scheme.

High-tech, high-risk
Speaking of hidden subsidies: Chinese insurance companies continue to help
the country's satellite launching business, Xinhua news agency reports.
Following the successful launch of APSTAR 1A yesterday, Lin Zhongjie,
General Manager of China Pacific Insurance Company, said "The aerospace
industry is high-tech, and also high-risk." He added that "Chinese
insurance companies have the responsibility, and are capable for
supporting China's aerospace industry." China Pacific provided insurance
premiums worth US$130million for the satellite's launch and successful
transfer into orbit.
Since 1992, China Pacific and other Chinese companies have jointly
provided insurance for the launching of seven satellites, and paid
compensation for the failed launches of two satellites. Lin said the
compensation for APSTAR 2 was US$160 million. 

Leo's Golden Goal (part 3)
The biggest ever football (soccer) deal in the history of television today
had further repercussions. Yesterday, the International Football
Association FIFA sold the broadcasting rights for the World Cups 2002 and
2006 to a consortium of KirchGruppe (Germany) and Sporis-Holding AG
(Switzerland.) They will pay a record sum of SFr2.8 billion.
While a spokesperson for KirchGruppe today pointed out that all matches
will be shown on free-to-air TV as demanded by FIFA, observers noted that
a delayed transmission would indeed be in accordance with the contract.
Although the 2002 world cup is still six years away, it becomes
increasingly probable that live football on TV will by then only available
to people who can afford it. 
However, optimists point out that a tournament like the World Cup is too
much for one channel, anyway. There are 32 teams participating, 64 matches
will have to be shown. Only a broad coverage would help refinance the
investment.
This, of course, largely depends on what TV will look like in 2002. The
same holds true for football. Kirch's multi-billion deal has sparked off
speculations on the future of the game. Many observers now expect
off-times to be introduced, allowing for more commercials to be screened
on TV. 


Transponder News
By Norbert Schlammer <100415.3560@compuserve.com>

INTELSAT 703, 57°W
A lot of testing could be watched today at 11.542 GHz h. Until 0515 UTC,
Kazakh TV was on air. Tests continued until the afternoon when Kazakh TV
finally reappeared. It was switched off again at 1715 UTC.

AMOS 1, 4°W
According to Karl-Michael Gierich, the Central European Beam of the
satellite will be used to transmit a Czech and a Polish channel.  A
spokeswoman for Israel Aircraft Industries couldn't give a date for the
launch of transmissions. She reacted quite enthusiastically, however, when
she heard that the satellite could perfectly be received with 90 cm (3
ft,) dishes even in Germany, which is not within the targeted area.

DFS 2, 28.5°E
According to an insert at 11.549 GHz v, the Swiss version of German
commercial channel RTL will cease transmissions on this satellite next
Sunday. 

EUTELSAT II-F1, 13°E
According to Petr Hora, Viva II now carries a teletext service.

EUTELSAT II-F2, 10°E
BHT from Bosnia-Herzegovina seems to have left EUTELSAT II-F3. Today, the
channel appeared at 11.575 GHz v on this satellite. As on EUTELSAT II-F3,
BHT uses the sound subcarrier 7.02 MHz. Strangely, an Switzerland address
is given for feedback.


Re: Sat-ND, 3.7.96
Intelsat 510 is supposed to take over the new Intelsat position at 33 deg
E. It won't be deorbited in the near future. Juergen Stichler
<just0000@stud.uni-sb.de>
That's what I thought, too. But then, I checked the space segment page on
the Intelsat Web site again. Funnily, neither the 33°E position nor
INTELSAT 510 are mentioned any longer. This may be a mistake, of course.
On the other hand, 510 really is an old bird, and repositioning may take
up its last reserves. Unless Intelsat comes up with some news, we'll just
have to wait and see what happens.
http://www.intelsat.int:8080/connect/html/spaceseg.html

========================================================
Copyright 1996 by Peter C. Klanowski, pck@LyNet.De. All rights reserved.

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