SkyREPORT.COM News Headlines
News Update For 12/22/99
PanAmSat Bird In Space
PanAmSat's Galaxy XI satellite launched Monday evening aboard an Ariane rocket that lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana. Galaxy XI, the 10th satellite in PanAmSat's U.S. fleet and its 20th worldwide, represents the first part of the company's comprehensive expansion and backup effort. Between now and mid-2001, the satellite service provider plans to place seven additional satellites into orbit. The Galaxy bird also will support the company's North American cable neighborhood. Galaxy XI, with 64 transponders and an end-of-life power of more than 10 kilowatts, is the largest commercial communications satellite put into space, according to manufacturer Hughes Space and Communications.
DISH Adds Minneapolis To Local TV List
EchoStar's DISH Network is now offering local KSTP-ABC, WCCO-CBS, KARE-NBC and WFTC-FOX network channels to 57 counties in and around the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. With the addition of Minneapolis-St. Paul, DISH Network offers local channels in 14 cities. Other markets covered by DISH include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, Denver, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City. DISH Network said it plans to expand its local channel offerings to more than 33 cities by the end of March 2000. That would allow the company to deliver local channels via satellite to approximately 60 percent of the U.S. households.
Analyst Rates XM A Strong Buy
Soundview Technology Group initiated coverage of XM Satellite Radio this week with a Strong Buy rating. Soundview analyst Tim O'Neil set the 12-month price target for XM stock at $40. "XM Radio holds one of only two licenses issued by the FCC to provide a satellite-delivered digital radio service (SDARS) for the United States," he said. "The company has a strong stable of strategic partners. These partners are considered 'best-of-class' in their respective categories." XM has strategic alliances with General Motors, DirecTV, Clear Channel Communications, American Mobile Satellite and others. "We expect announcements from additional receiver manufacturers as well as additional content providers and automobile manufacturers to propel the stock in the near term, he said.
Loral-EUTELSAT Cooperate On Satellites
Loral Skynet and European satellite operator EUTELSAT signed an agreement that aims to prevent interference between their satellites in the busy geostationary arc over the Atlantic Ocean. Under the unique deal, Loral will begin commercial operations for its Telstar 12 (previously named Orion 2) satellite at 15 degrees West, where in-orbit testing was recently completed. EUTELSAT will continue to develop services at its Atlantic Gate position at 12.5 degrees West and will serve its customers at 14.8 degrees West aboard the Telstar 12 satellite. The agreement is subject to EUTELSAT and Loral gaining uplink licenses and the necessary authorizations.
COMP WATCH: MBC Network Launches
- Celebrity Party Marks MBC Launch - Last week's Western Cable Show marked the launch of the MBC Network, a new African-American owned and operated TV channel. The channel is "dedicated to providing original programming that reflects spiritually significant values and family-oriented lifestyles."
- Oxygen, AT&T Build New Facility - Oxygen Media is working with AT&T's National Digital Television Center to build the technical infrastructure it needs to launch the new Oxygen Cable Network in February 2000. The channel will be closely integrated with Oxygen's network of online sites.
- Analysts Like Charter Communications - Financial analysts Credit Lyonnais started its coverage of Charter Communications this week with an Add rating. "In our view, Charter has a strong management team with an enviable operating performance record," the firm said.
- MediaOne Signs Bloomberg Channel - Bloomberg Television signed a digital carriage affiliation agreement with MediaOne, the nation's fourth largest cable company with about five million subscribers. MediaOne will launch Bloomberg TV next month.
- CTAM Calls For Contest Entries - The Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) is calling for entries for the CTAM Digital & Pay Per View Case Study Competition, which recognizes the most effective digital and pay-per-view marketing techniques from the past year. They entry deadline is January 12, 2000. For more information visit www.ctam.com.