Satellite News

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Paramount listed the show as Episode 28, and the show was first aired on April 6 1967. But there was something special about Star Trek’s “The City on the Edge of Forever” that clicked with the public and critics. Written by Harlan Ellison, he is now suing CBS Paramount TV for 25% of the net receipts from merchandising, publishing and other income from the show. What made the episode so important?

The show has Captain Kirk and his pals interfering with the time-space continuum, and ‘leaping’ back to New York during the 1930’s Great Depression. The episode also featured Joan Collins who played a Salvation Army-type helper at the 21st Street Mission.

Ellison’s action alleges that Paramount has “earned millions” exploiting the show since it was first shown, and that “Paramount has not accounted to Ellison or paid him for such exploitations as it is required to do under the 1960 minimum basic agreement and 1966 Amendment." Speaking to a trade magazine, Ellison said “I'm doing it for the 35-year-long disrespect and the money!"

Some other fascinating facts about “Edge of Forever”: It won instant critical acclaim, getting onto TV Guide’s 100 greatest TV episodes of all time. Ellison’s original script (although altered by the time the show went into production) won the WGA’s best dramatic 1-hour script of the season. William Shatner said it was his favourite Trek episode. The show was produced for $250,000, compared with the usual $185,000 per episode.

© Rapid TV News 2009

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Conax is having a good year, especially in India where it is claiming 68% growth over the past year. Conax, owned by Telenor of Norway, says it is now the World’s third-largest supplier to the global content security market. Conax made the statement ahead of its exhibit at the Convergence India show, which opens today (March 18-20) in New Delhi.

In India, Conax says it is “trusted by major operators such as Dish TV, WWIL and Digicable, and is also successfully working with various other cable operators and content providers. Showing growth of 68% last year, Conax continues to strengthen its market position.”

Conax’ core offering, Conax CAS7, provides operators with highly secure content protection built on Conax’ 15 years of security experience and strong anti-piracy record. Conax security solutions are non-proprietary and based on an open licensing policy for set-top box (STB) manufacturers.

“Conax’ pioneering strategy has been an important factor for our success and growth in the region. A key element is Conax’ strategy and ongoing policy for development of non-discriminatory, non-royalty relationships with 100’s of STB vendors. In fact, the Conax strategy has encouraged STB providers to offer operators a rich selection of quality consumer devices and competitive pricing alternatives for all market segments,” said Geir Bjørndal, EVP Sales & Marketing, Conax.

“In today’s competitive digital TV market, digital broadcasting operators and content providers are looking to specialist solutions, like Conax, to secure their platforms and premium content. What makes Conax unique is that Conax focuses on content protection only, providing all other services through a strategic network of best in class partners,” confirmed Bjørndal.

© Rapid TV News 2009

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One of the most anticipated high definition TV channels in Portugal is AXN HD which will launch on pay TV operators ZON TV Cabo and Meo from April 6.

AXN HD will occupy ZON channel 61 and will be offered to ZON BOX cable subscribers taking the Clássico and Funtastic packages. It will also be part of the satellite offering from the operator, in the packages MAX TVCine, MAX and Total.

Meo will also integrate AXN HD into its satellite and IPTV offerings, while also inaugurating AXN's standard-definition version in Meo Satélite’s basic package.

Aside from AXN HD, ZON TV Cabo announced the arrival of four more new channels to its offering from April 6.

New HD channel, Brava HDTV, will offer opera, dance and concerts as a premium channel for €4.99 per month. The channel will be offered to subscribers in the Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Margem Sul do Tejo areas.

Also from April 6 the clients of the satellite TV operator subscribing to the packages Max TVCine, Max, Total and Base and those to the cableoperators with the Clássico package with digital boxes and those with the Funtastic package will start receiving Sony Entertainment Television.

Other ZON news is the addition of children’s channel Animax which will be distributed in the Funtastic package on the Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Margem Sul do Tejo's networks; and last but not least the addition of the English-language Russian channel Russia Today in the Clássico and Funtastic packages for subscribers also on the above networks.

© Rapid TV News 2009

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Competition is ramping up in the French IPTV market, with two operators offering free access to Canal+ premium channels for short promotional periods.

IPTV penetration in France is world-leading, with some 5.6 million IPTV subscribers by October 2008. There are three major operators, Iliad’s Free, Neuf Cegetel and France Télécom’s Orange TV, the first two of whom plan the free Canal+ bouquet.

For two weeks, ending March 23, Free is letting all subscribers view the Canal+ bouquet of Canal+, Canal+ Sport, Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Décalé and Cinal+ family. From March 23 to April 2, Neuf Cegetel is mounting a similar offer.
© Rapid TV News 2009

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Satellite operator SES Astra’s Spanish market grew 14% last year for its digital services. This growth means that of 2.6 million Spanish homes using digital-satellite technology, 1.9 million got their signals from Astra.

The operator has a market share of 73% in Spain.

SES Astra is also a pioneer in the distribution of HD contents in Spain, through Sogecable's satellite pay TV operator Digital+. Also in Europe the company is leader in this market with nearly 70 HD channels on its fleet.

Finally SES Astra transports nearly 2,500 analogue, digital, radio stations and interactive services on its satellites.

© Rapid TV News 2009

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The Philippines will be adopting Europe’s digital transmission DVB standard for its future broadcasting needs. The decision, anticipated for some time, was confirmed by the nation’s second Technical Working Group (TWG), which further investigated the options available, and ratified the initial study which favoured DVB.

This latest investigation examined Japan’s ISDB standard as well as the USA’s Advanced Television Standard, but came down in favour of the DVB system with the primary reason being the low-cost availability of set-top converter boxes.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Jorge Sarmiento said the TWG also conducted a comparative analysis study on the adoption of either a “single standard” or an “open standard” policy, including the socio-economic aspects of such migration, comments from the broadcasting operators and the cost of the digital boxes.

But the recommendation has yet to be approved by the country’s NTC. “The commission is in the process of studying and deliberating on the different DTT standards that would be chosen for adoption in the country. When approved, the target date of the full implementation would be at the end of 2015,” said Sarmiento.

He added the NTC may move further the December 31, 2015, target date for the mandatory shifting of all analog broadcast to DTT technology. “The technical working group, which includes the NTC, is still not yet sure whether or not to implement on the scheduled date or postpone the 2015 deadline given the socio-economic impact of the implementation,” he said.

© Rapid TV News 2009

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The past few years have seen a number of bar owners prosecuted and fined for allegedly showing exclusive sports in their pubs and bars without paying royalties to the likes of BSkyB, Setanta and other rights-holders. A test case is now meandering towards the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and one expert says the case might make “uncomfortable reading” for Sky and other UK rights holders.

The case was transferred to the ECJ by the UK High Court. Trade publication BarKeeper says the case involves a number of British publicans demanding the right to use decoders and cards legitimately obtained and imported into the UK. The publicans argue that decoder cards legitimately purchased in Greece and imported by a distributor do not contravene European law that prevents pirated decoder cards being used to receive satellite TV signals illegally. They believe that under the EU’s free-trade laws, they should be allowed to import the decoders and cards from member states and the legal firm of Denton Wilde Sapte, representing a range of sporting bodies including the UK’s Premier League, believes that there’s a “strong possibility” that the outcome could destabilise BSkyB and Setanta’s right to demand payment for any coverage of Premier League matches in pubs in the UK.

This, say the lawyers, would have disastrous implications for the Premier League’s income from the satellite broadcasters. Any such ECJ and UK High Court finding in favour of the publicans would represent a direct challenge to the licensing of media rights on a territory-by-territory basis and to the willingness of pay-TV operators to pay handsomely for exclusive rights within their markets, commented Alex Haffner, a senior associate with Denton Wilde Sapte.

The Premier League has argued that an ECJ result against this practice would destabilise the market and disadvantage consumers.

For the UK’s publicans, however, a positive result would save them £9,000 a year. “We are watching this case with great interest,” VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben, told the trade publication. “However I think a hearing date of this summer might be optimistic. Sky is currently a massive cost to publicans and the return becomes more questionable all the time. The cost has been escalating at a time when the offering is reducing and sterling is working significantly in Sky’s favour. Our discussions with Sky to date have been less than encouraging,” he added, “A successful case in Europe would be of significant benefit.”

The Licensed Victuallers Association (which represents publicans) in Ireland is also watching this case with great interest as it has clear implications for the Irish market also, according to LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keeffe.

© Rapid TV News 2009