- - - Four Parties Interested In SkyView - - -

A company spokesman reports four bidders have shown interest in SkyView Media Group, the New Jersey-based ethnic programmer that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August.

Bids for the company were due Friday, however the judge overseeing the case in New Jersey Federal Bankruptcy Court extended that deadline. "A couple of the bidders wanted to talk to each other," said Jim Helfgott, SkyView's senior vice president of sales and service. He declined to identify the bidders, but said they are due back in court today.

SkyView delivers foreign-language ethnic programming via the DirecTV Plus expansion platform. The company is a master system operator for DirecTV. In August SkyView filed to reorganize under the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code to "facilitate a comprehensive restructuring and recapitalization."

SkyView secured funding that has allowed it to continue service during the restructuring process.

- - - ICO Secures New Backers - - -

The U.S. satellite phone company ICO Global Communications, which filed for bankruptcy in August, has secured the finances needed to stay in business.

A recent statement from the company said, "ICO .. has received non-binding letters of intent for debtor in possession from strategic investors in excess of $225 million, the amount needed to finance the company's immediate cash needs."

The Financial Times also reported that ICO expects to raise an additional $975 million in two deals within the coming months. This would pave the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.

The total $1.2 billion would complete the financing of a project to provide global phone service through a network of 12 satellites scheduled to launch next year.

- - - Firms Release Mixed Digital TV Research - - -

New research from Cahners In-Stat Group forecasts that the number of DBS subscribers will triple between now and 2003.

In two reports examining the cable TV and DBS markets, Cahners researchers predict that by 2003 more North American television households will receive digital TV signals via satellite than by cable transmission.

"Congress is expected to pass a law that enables subscribers to receive their local broadcast stations via DTH, thereby removing a large competitive advantage held by cable operators," said Cahners In-Stat Group senior analyst Michelle Abraham. "We expect millions of frustrated cable customers to take advantage of subsidized equipment offers and make the switch over the next several years."

The Cahners reports cost $2,995 each. For more information, call 480-483-4473.

New research from Boston-based Strategy Analytics, on the other hand, reaches different conclusions than the Cahners work. In a report called "Interactive and Digital Television: Issues in the Transition Phase," researchers determined that the FCC's plan to convert US households to digital television by 2006 is "on the verge of collapsing."

Strategy Analytics suggests there currently is no proven business model for services such as High Definition TV, and that it is likely to be too expensive for mass market adoption. The firm also predicts that less than 5 percent of US households will be watching over-the-air digital television by 2005.

For more information on the Strategy Analytics research, call 617-738-1300.

- - - Brazilian Bird Lost in Space - - -

Brazilian scientists have lost contact with a research satellite reportedly worth $4.6 million.

The Saci-1 was launched Oct. 14 by the Chinese Long March 4B rocket. Since then the bird has not sent any signals to earth and its position has not been confirmed. The Brazilian National Research Institute is trying to locate the satellite. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) also has sent out a trace.

Brazil's space program suffered another setback two years ago when a rocket and satellite exploded not long after blasting off from the Maranhao launch pad. Scientists are hopeful that this new glitch is due to an aerial malfunction on earth or a malfunction in the satellite's communications system, both of which are manageable problems.

- - - INTERNATIONAL NEWS: - - -

• High-Speed Service Reaches West Bank -
  An agreement has been initiated between eSAT and Greenstar Development World-Wide to bring a high-speed satellite Web connection to a remote village in the Middle East on the West Bank. The companies report the system will be the first in the Middle East, and one of the first in the world to feature a completely solar-powered, two-way satellite link to such an isolated spot.

• Star Choice Reports 122 Percent Sub Growth -
  Canada's Star Choice Communications reports that its number of subscribers increased 122 percent between August 1998 and August 1999. As of August 31, Star Choice had 241,500 customers. Revenue for the year was $146 million, up from $85.9 million the previous year. Net loss for the year was $73.2 million, compared to $42.6 million last year.

• NetSat Buys SatMex Capacity -
  NetSat Express, a subsidiary of Globecomm Systems, and Satelites Mexicanos (SatMex) have come to an agreement whereby NetSat will acquire access to a full 36 Mhz. transponder on the Satmex 5 satellite. This will allow NetSat to extend its high-speed Internet service.

• GlobeCast Beams Hockey to Europe -
  The broadcast services company GlobeCast, a unit of France Telecom, has signed transmission agreements with the majority of the National Hockey League television and radio rightsholders, as well as with several International Hockey League rightsholders, for coverage of their respective 1999-2000 seasons. GlobeCast also will provide digital distribution of the games in Europe.

• Canadian Cinema Honors Bell ExpressVu -
  The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television this week presented the Canadian DBS company Bell ExpressVu with the "Outstanding Technical Achievement Award" in the 1999 Gemini Awards. The award honors unique, innovative contributions to the Canadian television industry.

• ESPN Selects International Agency -
  ESPN International has selected the advertising and marketing company Bates Worldwide for its international branding assignment. Bates will focus on ESPN's key distribution areas: the U.S., Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.