- - - Boeing Pushes Back Next Delta 2 Launch - - -

Today, Boeing workers will replace one of the solid rocket boosters attached to a Delta 2 rocket set for launch later this month, according to company officials.

Florida Today reported Tuesday that Boeing decided to make the "precautionary" replacement after discovering the original booster had "superficial scratches" on its outer casing.

The January 1997 mid-air explosion of a Delta 2 rocket was caused when a solid rocket motor casing ruptured. Investigators determined the casing was damaged during pre-flight processing.

The next Delta 2 launch will be Boeing's sixth to carry four Globalstar satellites into low-earth-orbit for the emerging worldwide telephone system. Those satellites are undergoing final processing at the Astrotech facility near Titusville, Fla. All four spacecraft are slated to be transported to a Cape Canaveral launch pad on Aug. 10.

- - - Ergen To Subs: Contact Your Reps - - -

During his televised "chat" late Monday night, EchoStar Chairman Charlie Ergen told DISH Network subscribers to keep the heat on Congress over new satellite legislation.

It is likely to be another month before a House/Senate Conference Committee begins work on a DTH measure. "It's unclear now whether it's going to be favorable for satellite or a revenue-enhancement bill for broadcasters," Ergen said.

With Congress beginning its summer break this week, Ergen urged customers to contact their representatives about DTH issues when they travel back to their home state during the congressional recess.

Everything from local TV carriage on satellite to distant network signal availability is addressed in the pending legislation currently before the conference committee. Conferees include some of Capitol Hill's top lawmakers, such as Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and John McCain of Arizona and Reps. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana and Tom Bliley of Virginia.

- - - DBS Buys Controlling Interest in E-SAT - - -

DBS Industries said Tuesday that it has achieved a key milestone in the development of its "Little LEO" satellite data messaging systems by concluding an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in E-SAT Inc. from EchoStar Communications.

After the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, DBS will hold 80.9 percent of E-SAT and EchoStar will hold 19.1 percent. DBS officials said after the deal EchoStar would be granted rights to use up to 20 percent of the satellite capacity of the E-SAT system.

Several contracts were signed in April to build the E-SAT spacecraft. The system is expected to cost roughly $125 million. DBS is a development state company dedicated to providing low-cost data messaging services to business around the world.

- - - EchoStar Gets ESPN Game Plan - - -

EchoStar's DISH Network will offer ESPN Game Plan for the fall season, providing up to 10 college football games per week for subscribers.

The package begins showing games Sept. 4. It will run through Nov. 27. More than 100 games are part of the offering.

Subscribers can buy the Game Plan package for $89 before Aug. 31. After that date, the price jumps to $99. After Oct. 9, subscribers can buy any of the games on a given Saturday for $11.95 each.

DirecTV also carries ESPN Game Plan.

- - - DigitalXpress Teams Up With SALON-TV - - -

DigitalXpress, the St. Paul-based provider of satellite communications services, announced Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with SALON-TV, a network and programming provider for salons and spas across the United States.

The parternship will broadcast "info-tainment" from manufacturers to salon waiting rooms that sign up for the SALON-TV service. SALON-TV programming will also include an educational, promotional and industry news service for professional stylists.

DigitalXpress President Joel Wright said, "We are helping SALON-TV position itself as the focal point for the dissemination and sharing of information between consumers, stylists, manufacturers and distributors throughout the salon and spa industry."

- - - COMPETITIVE WATCH: - - -

• TCI Launches Brand Change In Denver -
  Tuesday morning TCI of Colorado officially began its transition to the AT&T brand. Denver customer service representatives marked the first change by using AT&T greetings. Field service technicians and installers also exchanged their TCI caps for AT&T caps. As of Tuesday, customers should begin to know TCI of Colorado as AT&T Cable Services, the result of the recent merger between Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) and AT&T.

• New Technology Enables Retail Market for Cable TV -
  SCM Microsystems, a supplier of digital access control and connectivity solutions, teamed with consumer electronic manufacturers, head-end providers and conditional access system suppliers to successfully demonstrate the first generation of the OpenCable cable-ready device prototypes last week. The point-of-deployment (POD) module will provide cable operators with a removable security device that will allow consumers to buy a single set-top box or television from their local retailer and use it with any cable provider.

• College Television Network Announces Acquisitions -
  College Television Network (CTN) announced Tuesday that it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Armed Forces Communications, d/b/a Market Place Media and AllCampus Media [MPM], for a purchase price of approximately $30,000,000. CTN intends to create a company with, "a complete array of tools to help clients reach the coveted 18-to-24 year old audience: Television broadcast network, Internet, Link Magazine, radio, newspapers, and AllCampus Promotional Network." CTN's broadcast television network now provides music, news and information programming, broadcast continuously by satellite to American college and university locations across the nation."

• Trimark To Distribute Movies Online -
  Trimark Holdings announced the formation of a new subsidiary Tuesday called CinemaNow. CinemaNow is designed to become a premiere online destination for the streaming of independent, art house and niche-oriented feature- length motion pictures. It will leverage the nearly 650-title film library of Trimark Pictures as its initial motion picture catalog. Current plans include the pre-launch of the CinemaNow site, CinemaNow.com, later this year, with the fully enabled site premiering in early 2000. Films will be available on both a free and pay basis with additional revenue generated through advertising, sponsorships and e-commerce transactions in the CinemaNow store. In February of 1999, Trimark became the first motion picture company to enter into a licensing agreement to distribute its movies via the Internet.