SkyREPORT.COM News Headlines
News Update For 3/21/00
EchoStar Bird Eyes June Launch
The next DBS satellite serving the United States could lift off from Florida in June. According to several upcoming launch schedules, including Florida Today's reputable worldwide launch forecast, Lockheed Martin's International Launch Services is expected to fly the EchoStar VI satellite aboard an Atlas 2AS rocket from Cape Canaveral on June 11. An EchoStar spokesperson wouldn't confirm the date, sticking to the company's late spring timeframe. As with any launch, dates are subject to change. EchoStar VI, built by Space Systems/Loral, was acquired from News Corp. through a legal settlement between the two companies. EchoStar will place the bird at its 110-degree location. Last September, the company put EchoStar V into the same orbital slot. Other upcoming launches include the inaugural flight for Lockheed Martin's Atlas 3A, which will fly with the Eutelsat W4 satellite, on April 14. Sometime during the second quarter, a Russian Proton vehicle will carry the first Sirius Satellite Radio satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
DirecTV Adds Oxygen-DIY
DirecTV reached a multi-year agreement to distribute the Oxygen network on its high-power platform beginning this spring. Under terms of the agreement, DirecTV will make Oxygen available to more than 7 million customers. With the DirecTV deal, Oxygen has agreements in place with distributors that could account for 27 million subscribers by the end of 2002. The Oxygen network is backed by Gerry Laybourne, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn Mandabach and Oprah Winfrey. Through Oxygen's partnership with Wink Communications, DirecTV customers with a Wink-enabled receiver will have access to enhanced programming - at no additional charge - later this year. In another move, DirecTV said it will add the Do It Yourself (DIY) network from Scripps to its programming lineup this spring. DIY was created by the architects of Home & Garden Television (HGTV). DirecTV said DIY will be available to more than 8.2 million of its customers.
DISH To Air Special On Cancer Awareness
EchoStar's DISH Network will offer its customers an opportunity to view HBO's exclusive documentary, Cancer: Evolution to Revolution, for free on Thursday, March 30, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The preview will appear on channel 300. Cancer: Evolution to Revolution presents the latest scientific information on early cancer detection, prevention and treatment. The two-and-a-half-hour documentary depicts the realities of cancer and certain medical procedures. Cancer: Evolution to Revolution also offers wide-ranging resources on how and where to obtain expert advice and support through leading cancer organizations nationwide.
Author Stephen Keating to Address SkyFORUM
The SBCA and SkyTRENDS announced that Stephen Keating, author and business writer with The Denver Post, will deliver the luncheon address at the 13th semi-annual SkyFORUM satellite/financial symposium. Stephen Keating has covered the satellite and cable television industries for five years at The Denver Post. In late 1999, he published a book entitled, "Cutthroat: High Stakes and Killer Moves on the Electronic Frontier." Currently, Keating is a business consultant and writer based in Denver. His articles have appeared in Wired magazine and Advertising Age. SkyFORUM will be held Tuesday, March 28, at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan. Keating's luncheon address will begin at 1:10 p.m. For more information on SkyFORUM, please visit www.sbca.com or call Rachel Zink at (703) 549-6990, ext. 363.
TECHNOLOGY: ORBCOMM Moves Into Mexico
- ORBCOMM Moves Into Mexico - ORBCOMM de Mexico will resell two-way monitoring, tracking and messaging products and services provided by three ORBCOMM business units - Vantage, Tracsat and Controlsat. Vantage's services are targeted to the transportation industry, Tracsat serves the heavy equipment industry, and Controlsat serves the oil and gas and chemical industries. The services will be targeted towards the Mexican market.
- Macrovision Scores U.K. Deal - Macrovision U.K. announced that Yes Television will use its digital pay-per-view copy protection technology for use in its broadband video-on-demand service. Under the agreement, Yes Television will implement Macrovision copy protection control capability in its headend system software and copy protection capability in its digital set-top boxes.
- Ariane-5 Takes Off Today - Today, Europe's Arianespace is scheduled to launch an Ariane-5 rocket. The vehicle's payload consists of two commercial satellites, Asiastar and Insat 3B. The flight will take place early this evening from Arianespace's Kourou launchpad in French Guiana.