(1) Best New Product - Hands down, this goes to Charlie Ergen's DISHPlayer. An interactive/personal TV wonder with a remarkably intuitive interface, it twisted the cable guys' fiber promises into knots. For this, we give Charlie and crew a brand new erector set. We can't wait to see what they build next.
(2) Worst Customer Service - Sad to say, this one goes to DirecTV. With the absorption of U.S. Satellite Broadcasting and PrimeStar, the massive switching of channels and the woes of full employment, the DBS big daddy was caught flatfooted. For several weeks there, we thought Linda Tripp had commandeered their phone lines. For this, we give them one bag of soggy lemons.
(3) Best Customer Service Recovery - Ah, but the big guys made a splendid recovery. With fistfuls of programming freebies, they rebuilt much of the good will lost to Linda's turn at the switchboard. Thus we offer DirecTV a nice big bag of sugar with which to make lemonade.
(4) Most Pyretic Victory - Decking the halls of Congress with money and twisting every arm in sight paid off big for the broadcasters and cable guys as they cloaked their pursuit of the status quo with pious declarations of "consumer rights." The resulting satellite legislation kept the field firmly tilted in their direction. But DirecTV and DISH managed to turn local channels into a rallying cry, boosting their already soaring sales. We happily donate a pair of cracked Guccis to the boys of the NAB and NCTA.
(5) Best Stock - Charlie gets it again. Over the course of 1999, his DISH stock has split twice, made significant gains and most of our Wall Street friends still have it on their "Buy" lists. For this, we offer a stuffed bull to direct traffic at EchoStar Drive.
(6) Corporate Hall of Shame - Time Warner's executive suite must be knee deep in mud these days. The Time magazine story on Columbine was an unnecessary, unsavory and ill-timed grab for audience. Between this and the role certain TWX executives played in tanking PrimeStar, we'll happily foot the bill for a semester in Ethics 101 ...at the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver.
(7) Playing Opossum - We just love those wire guys. With DBS now reaching more than one out of every 10 U.S. TV households, they still claim that the little dishes can't touch their beloved wires. But these days the wire guys are saying it with fingers crossed behind their backs as they shell out millions for research on how to beat those pesky pizza-pie antennas. We're having pizza delivered to a select few of them.
(8) Most Abortive Protest - It was supposed to be a moment of high drama, but Captain Midnight's return of his DirecTV pin bounced off Eddy Hartenstein like a crumpled paper airplane. By handling the moment with class, Hartenstein deflected much of the anger generated by DirecTV's deal with the NAB. For this, we offer him a custom-made coat of teflon.
(9) Best Salesman - Golden Sky's Bill Gerski gets this one. For his many innovative suggestions of stories for SkyREPORT.com, Bill gets our No. 1 award. But really, both Golden Sky and Pegasus deserve a round of applause from the industry. Just imagine what might happen if the CE guys could sell that well! For Bill, one re-recording of the only "no" he's ever heard.
(10) Best Industry to Work With...And the Trends to Watch - Goes to the dozens of folks with whom we've worked over the past few years. For an exciting ride, this industry can't be beat. Over the past year, we've seen enough change and innovation to make the Renaissance look static. As for the year ahead, here are three trends to keep your eyes on:

• NEW SATELLITES FOR MUST-CARRY: DirecTV has ordered a spot beam satellite to address must-carry implications. Local-TV-On-Satellite continues to float its idea. Others to watch include Ka-Star, part of which is owned by Liberty Media, and Pegasus, which has Ka-Band applications pending before the Federal Communications Commission.
• GPS: GPS receivers have the typical bells (maps) and whistles (navigation tools) they have always had, which is enough for the ardent recreationalist in the SkyREPORT editorial group. New GPS products are delivering e-mail and paging services, directions to favorite restaurants, and addresses and maps of near-by businesses. Some systems resemble the palm pilot. This niche offering is becoming increasingly popular among the general buying public. (There's a reason why some of Amazon.com's holiday ads feature the emerging technology.) Companies to watch include Magellan, a unit of Orbital Sciences, and Garmin.
• DARS: The year 2000 marks the debut of at least one player, Sirius. In 2001, XM Satellite will make its mark. During the next 12 months, watch for satellite launches, additional programming announcements and more exclusive deals with motor-city giants. Get ready to receive.

• DirecTV Continues Holiday Freeview - DirecTV's holiday "Freeview" includes "YES in Concert," a special performance recorded live at the House of Blues, and theatrical performances "The Glory of Christmas" and "Maxine's Christmas Carol." On New Year's Eve the company air live concerts and comedians in "Countdown to the Millennium - Live From Walt Disney World."

• Lynch Steals Christmas - On Dec. 25, The Independent Film Channel airs "The Lynch Who Stole Christmas," a 24-hour marathon featuring film and interviews from underground cinema icon David Lynch. The line-up includes "Blue Velvet," "Lost Highway," the documentary "Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch" and more.
• CNN Tracks New Year's Celebrations - The change of the century is the biggest news of the century. CNN plans to send 60 correspondents to various places in every time zone to facilitate 100 hours of non-stop New Year's coverage.
• Discovery Tackles Millennium Bug - The Discovery Channel has developed its own tribute to Y2K. On Fri., Dec. 31, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. (ET/PT), the network will present "Real Millennium Bugs," a night full of programs about "some of the world's most creepy, crawly insects."
• Music Networks Countdown the Hits - Keep an eye on music networks such as VH1 and MTV as they present their picks of the best music from the year, the decade, or as far back in the century as they can track. MTV started showcasing some of its "Top 100 Videos Ever Made" early in December. The VH1 countdown premiered this week.