- - - SkyView Files For Chapter 11 Reorganization - - -

SkyView World Media, a supplier of foreign-language programming for DirecTV and other multichannel providers, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Wednesday.

The filing was made in New Jersey, where the company is located. According to SkyView's Jim Helfgott, normal operations will continue and programming services won't be interrupted as a result of the filing. "It will be business as usual here," he said.

In addition to serving cable operators with its ethnic slate, SkyView delivers its programming via the DirecTV Plus expansion platform. The company also is a master system operator for DirecTV. Through that program, the company helps with marketing and installing the DBS service in multiple dwelling units.

- - - Anstrom To Address SkyFORUM - - -

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association and SkyTRENDS announced that Decker Anstrom, president and chief executive officer of The Weather Channel, will give the luncheon address at the 12th semi-annual SkyFORUM satellite/financial symposium.

SkyFORUM will be held Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Anstrom will deliver his speech at 2 p.m.

Prior to joining The Weather Channel, Anstrom was president and chief executive officer of the National Cable Television Association.

For more information or to register for SkyFORUM, contact Carrie Jolly at the SBCA, 703-549-6990 ext. 364, or send e-mail to cjolly@sbca.org.

- - - BSkyB Digital Effort Impacts News Corp. - - -

News Corp. posted a net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter, attributed in part to the digital happenings at British Sky Broadcasting.

The media giant's operating earnings declined to $214 million for the period that ended June 30. That's down from the $266 million reported in the same period a year earlier.

However, $224 million in one-time charges - some related to the analog-to-digital switch and other expenses at BSkyB - forced the company to post a loss of $10 million. News Corp. has a 40 percent stake in the U.K. satellite broadcaster.

The decline in fourth-quarter operating earnings in part reflected lower profits at the company's Fox Broadcasting unit, losses at the Fox News Channel and increased investments in Internet-related ventures. Fourth quarter operating income from filmed entertainment increased to $22 million from $6 million, partly due of the success of Fox's "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace," which has pulled in $416 million in domestic box-office receipts.

- - - Groups Oppose AT&T-MediaOne Merger - - -

Three consumer groups have asked the federal government to reject AT&T's proposed $58 billion purchase of MediaOne Group arguing it would inflate cable and broadband Internet rates.

The Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America and Media Access Project outlined their opposition in a letter to the Justice Department's antitrust division. "We respectfully request that you aggressively intervene to block AT&T Corp.'s acquisition of MediaOne under our nation's antitrust laws," it said. "This merger will result in inflated cable and broadband Internet service prices for consumers and thwart the development of vibrant competition in these markets."

The groups also filed an 83-page brief with the Justice Department and petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to reject AT&T's application, according to Reuters.

AT&T's response has been that the company will face competition from other kinds of delivery systems, such as satellite.

- - - INTERNATIONAL: - - -

• DirecTV Japan Considers Bond Conversion -
  DirecTV Japan Management is considering raising more than 30 billion yen by issuing covertible bonds. The corporate bonds would be allocated to eight major shareholders, depending on their ownership, with payment in September. DirecTV Japan also may try to raise the money by issuing new shares instead of convertible bonds. Sources reported that DirecTV Japan will use the money to better compete with its rival SkyPerfecTV for Japanese subscribers.

• Hughes Technology Aides African Countries -
  Hughes Network Systems has announced that its TES Quantum technology has been adopted by 14 African nations seeking to expand access to telephony services. Hughes reported that by using very small aperture terminal systems, these countries will be able to provide affordable telecommunications for both international and domestic calls.

• Airanespace Gets Three New Contracts -
  Arianespace, the European launch services company, announced the signing of three new agreements to put satellite payloads into orbit by the third quarter of 2000. The company will carry Insat 3A up for the Indian Space Research Organization, Telstar 7 for Space System/Loral and another unspecified bird for PanAmSat. All three customers are companies that have worked with Arianespace in the past.

• Canadian Companies Improve School Web Access -
  Three Canadian satellite communication companies have joined forces to build a new network that will improve Internet access to schools by broadcasting content via satellite and storehousing popular websites on local computer servers. Telesat Canada, Rebel.com and International Datacasting Corporation have said that the initial system is expected to be in place by the beginning of the school year.