BSkyB Closer On German Deal

British Sky Broadcasting is ready to buy a 25 percent stake in Premiere, the German pay-TV service operated by Kirch Group, and could formally close on a deal Friday. German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported that Kirch Group officials will brief German and European Union competition authorities as well as the German government on their moves this week. BSkyB, 40 percent owned by News Corp., has been negotiating with Kirch Group for more than a month on a deal. BSkyB's ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange shot into the $80s range earlier this week on the news. On Wednesday, BSkyB closed at $79.

Motorola-GI Union Moves Forward

Motorola and General Instrument said their planned merger should be completed early in the first quarter of 2000, subject to stockholder approval. The waiting period for the proposed merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act expired. Expiration of the waiting period and effectiveness of the registration statement for the merger were preconditions for completing the deal. On Jan. 5, General Instrument's stockholders will vote on the proposed merger. General Instrument has set Nov. 26 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting.

Loral Creates Cyberstar Brand

Loral Space & Communications combined its Loral Orion, Global Access Services and Cyberstar unit and put them under the unified Loral CyberStar brand. Loral Orion provides Internet access and corporate data networking solutions. Cyberstar is Loral's broadband multimedia service. Global Access Services is a recently acquired business television service. Collectively, the three businesses serve customers in more than 120 countries worldwide. Loral CyberStar will provide broadband video and data help for Internet service providers, multinational corporations, content providers and content aggregators.

INTL: DirecTV Expands To Nicaragua

• DirecTv Expands To Nicaragua - On Wednesday, Galaxy Latin America launched its DirecTV service in Nicaragua, expanding its coverage to 27 markets throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. GLA's operating company in the country, Galaxy Nicaragua, will promote the service, which delivers more than 100 channels of digital entertainment.
• Profits Far Off in Mexico - Industry analysts report that Mexico's two satellite TV groups, Sky Mexico and DirecTV from Galaxy Latin America, are seeing subscriber numbers grow but may not see a profit from internal investments for a long time, according to Reuters. Both services were launched in 1996. Sky claims 75 percent of the market.
• Companies To Forge African Venture - The Titan Corporation, based in San Diego, entered into an agreement with Africa's Telecel International Limited to create a joint venture that will provide satellite-based telecommunications and VSAT services there.
• Globalstar Looks To the East - A senior official with Globalstar said the company hopes to start its Middle East commercial services in early 2000. Peter Bacon, director of regional marketing at Globalstar, said, "The plan is to start commercial services in the Middle East around April next year, once the satellite gateway in Saudi Arabia is up and running."
• Cancom Adds French Network - Canadian Satellite Communications (Cancom) launched the French public television network RFO 1. Cancom DTH and cable subscribers will be able to access French cultural, economic, sports and news programs on the network.