News Archive
New Feature!! & Clear Channel Programming Part of XM's New Lineup & A new Name for DirecWAY: HughesNet -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, March 28 2006
New Feature!!
We have a new toy for everyone to play with, the Total DssCentral Toolbar! (compatible with Internet Explorer and FireFox) This is our premilinary release, there will be many more features in the upcoming releases. We will be adding streaming TV and more Radio stations and more expanded File Share. This is set to be the next evolution in P2P! The plug-in files are available from the latest filez menu and in the file archive.
To learn more about, or to download and install our toolbar:
http://www.dsscentral.net/toolbar/
Our toolbar contains no spyware/adware and includes Privacy and Pop-up blocker tools as well as an e-mail helper. Check it out, we are sure you will enjoy the convenience of having links to your favorite sites and features right in your browser, as well as other cool features which you will love!
Clear Channel Programming Part of XM's New Lineup
XM Satellite Radio on Monday unveiled a revamped channel lineup that will expand the total number of channels the company delivers to more than 170. In addition to 10 new commercial-free music channels, seven regional news and talk channels will debut this spring and summer, the company said.
The regional channels will be programmed by radio giant Clear Channel, which has a small stake in the satellite radio company. The regional news and talk offerings will bring XM subscribers regional news coverage for every area of the continental United States.
The category will include Clear Channel-programmed music channels KISS, MIX, Nashville and Sunny, plus the launch of WSIX, which offers acclaimed country personality Gerry House live from Nashville. The channels complement the recent addition of Cincinnati's tri-state news radio station WLW.
Clear Channel will carry commercials on these music channels in May, and they will be grouped separately from XM's lineup of 69 commercial-free music channels on a new channel guide.
Music channels making their debut on XM include the return of heavy metal channel Liquid Metal.
Other new channels are: Big Tracks, featuring classic rock from the late 70's; XM Chill; U.S. Country, featuring country superstars from the '80s and '90s; Flight 26, offering modern hits of the '90s and today; XM Hitlist; Enlighten, which delivers Southern Gospel; The Heat, offering rhythmic hits; easy listening channel Escape; and Latin Pop Hits from Viva.
A new Name for DirecWAY: HughesNet
On Monday, Hughes Network Systems formally took the wraps off its new brand, HughesNet. The brand will replace DirecWAY, the previous name for its satellite broadband product.
The new HughesNet brand encompasses all broadband solutions and services from Hughes. Products and services include managed network services, digital media, and enhanced broadband offerings for business and government agencies, as well as high-speed satellite Internet access for consumers and small businesses.
"This is the beginning of an exciting new era for Hughes," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO. "The new HughesNet brand underscores our corporate commitment to enable our customers to realize the full potential of broadband solutions and services, utilizing the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies."
as seen on skyreport
DISH Considers Satellite Expansion & March Madness Delivers iTV Results for DirecTV & No More Soccer Exclusives for BSkyB -- Posted by soullezz
on Wednesday, March 22 2006
DISH Considers Satellite Expansion
The Wall Street Journal reported that the satellite TV company may spend more than $1.6 billion to increase the size of its satellite fleet during the next few years. Part of the expansion plan may allow the company to potentially lease extra capacity to other companies, allowing it to compete with commercial satellite operators such as Intelsat and SES Global, the newspaper said.
At the moment, the company uses all of its satellite capacity for its DISH Network service, and has a deal in place with SES Americom for additional capacity.
The Journal said EchoStar's latest strategy could give the company another nine wholly owned or leased satellites supporting an expansion program that could reach into the next decade.
March Madness Delivers iTV Results for DirecTV
Interactive TV was working for DirecTV during March Madness.
The satellite TV company said nearly 66 percent of its NCAA Mega March Madness package customers who had interactive receivers used on-demand interactive features to keep track of teams, scores and bracket predictions.
DirecTV said more than 49 percent used the Game Mix channel and more than 30 percent pulled up on-screen scores. Also, more than 36 percent used the tournament bracket feature to make and follow their bracket picks.
The usage results also showed customers frequently returned to use the interactive services. For example, 85 percent of customers with interactive set-top boxes used Game Mix multiple times, 64 percent accessed on-screen scores more than once, and 67 percent used the bracket pick feature multiple times.
DirecTV's exclusive Mega March Madness package covers the first three rounds of the tournament, supplementing CBS Sports' coverage of the entire tournament.
No More Soccer Exclusives for BSkyB
It appears the exclusive lock News Corp.-backed British Sky Broadcasting once had on coveted soccer rights in the United Kingdom has come to an end.
On Wednesday, the European Commission, which handles competition and antitrust issues within the European Union, adopted a decision concerning the sale of media rights for Premier League football games. The deal, which will remain in force until June 2013, will increase the availability of media rights for the matches and improve the prospects of competition in providing services to consumers, the commission said in a statement.
Said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, "The solution we have reached will benefit football fans while allowing the Premier League to maintain its timetable for the sale of its rights."
Going forward, rights to Premier League media coverage, including television, mobile and internet rights, will be made available to multiple parties, and the rights will be sold in an open and competitive bidding process subject to scrutiny by an independent trustee. The live television rights will be sold in six packages, and no one buyer will be allowed to purchase more than five of the packages.
BSkyB is still expected to bid on the rights. Also expected to bid is cable operator NTL, which bought smaller MSO Telewest last year.
as seen on skyreport
Adelphia Deal: Much Ado about Timing & DirecTV - Again - Tackles RSN Issues in Adelphia Deal & Stevens: Let Marketplace Work Out Decency Issues -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, March 21 2006
Editorial: ***WARNING***
After learning of a new type of FTA unit about to be released, I felt it nessessary to make the following warning to all who would consider purchasing one of these units.
IP based units should be considered a very severe personal security risk. What does that mean to you? It means that any FTA box that is hooked up to the internet can be used to trace it's location directly to your front door. This could give certain TV providers grounds to pursue legal action against you, a trace route of a device using illegal software to your home can be grounds for a search warrant.
These units could also possibly be used as a backdoor into your personal home network, presenting a security risk to your personal information and potentially making you a hack target. (I don't think you need this explained more.)
In todays world of quickly advancing internet technology, there is no guaranteed method of protection for these units and/or the servers they connect to, which means that all of your personal information could be harvested (taken) from you and/or your unit could be disabled at any time by malicious software updates from just about any source with the brains to spoof a IP. This would also make it possible for a unit manufacturer to disable your unit anytime they wish !!
So in advance I want to warn everyone of the dangers involved with this type of unit, don't let yourself be put at personal, financial, or legal risk, because you wanted to try "the new COOL features" they are going to offer.
Adelphia Deal: Much Ado about Timing
When it comes to the takeover of Adelphia by Comcast and Time Warner Cable, apparently timing is everything.
The Media Access Project on Tuesday complained to the Federal Communications Commission about a statement made last week by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin that the agency's time-consuming review of the deal can be attributed to conversations with the involved parties.
Said the organization, "The chairman's statement suggests that he has received communications relating to the Adelphia case in which one or more parties has expressed views as to when they hope the proceeding will be resolved and the importance of such a time frame. However, our review of ... presentations submitted by the various parties has not identified any presentation by any party which disclosed communications specifying any time frame for completion of the proceeding, or the importance of such timing."
The Media Access Project asked the FCC to conduct an inquiry into a possible violation of commission policy and "obtain suitable disclosures as may be required in sufficient time for other parties to have a meaningful opportunity to comment on any previously undisclosed communications."
Today would be the 288th day the Adelphia deal has been before the commission. The transaction has received Federal Trade Commission approval.
DirecTV - Again - Tackles RSN Issues in Adelphia Deal
DirecTV kept the pressure on Adelphia's takeover by Comcast and Time Warner cable, approaching officials at the Portals about the billion-dollar cable deal. And, again, the company's worries center on access to regional sports programming affiliated with the cable giants.
The satellite TV service told the Federal Communications Commission, via a letter sent to the Media Bureau and other officials, that regional sports networks affiliated with the cable operators will have the ability to engage in uniform "overcharge" pricing in markets where the companies are the dominant MSO. While DirecTV admitted it's the same argument concerning the deal, the company took on comments made by Comcast and Time Warner Cable that they too also pay an inflated price for the RSNs.
Nonetheless, DirecTV said such an arrangement "is of little economic significance because payment goes from one pocket to another."
DirecTV also complained that Time Warner has not provided documents for inspection related to its RSN deals in North Carolina with the Charlotte Bobcats and with the Mets in New York.
"The documents most recently produced clearly show that there are other, unquestionably relevant documents that Time Warner has chosen to withhold," the satellite TV company said. "Their absence will undoubtedly hamper the commission's evaluation of the (Adelphia) transaction's effects on the public interest."
Stevens: Let Marketplace Work Out Decency Issues
Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican and chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, called family programming tiers from cable and satellite TV "a positive development," but also voiced concern with some of the package's shortcomings.
During a speech earlier this week, Stevens said members of his committee have expressed concern that the family tiers do not include sports programming. Also, he said the committee is waiting to see an education effort aimed at informing parents about protecting children from programming deemed inappropriate for younger audiences.
Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association of America is organizing a coalition that's putting together an ad campaign to educate parents on program blocking technology, Stevens said. "That education campaign is just beginning and it is my hope that members of Congress who are working on this legislation with us will permit that campaign to run for a while to determine whether" it's working, the senator said.
"We ought to assess the need for such legislation, I think, after the marketplace has worked," Stevens said. "It has worked so far in connection, I believe, with what's gone on so far with both satellite and cable companies announcing their family tiers."
as seen on skyreport
Sirius Settles Shareholder Litigation & Liberty Global Reports Subscriber Additions & BRIDGE Eyes Competition at the Local Level -- Posted by soullezz
on Tuesday, March 14 2006
Sirius Settles Shareholder Litigation
Sirius settled class action litigation earlier this year that was filed on behalf of individuals who purchased the company's stock more than six years ago, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing made public this week.
The class action lawsuit was filed in September 2001 in U.S. District Court in New York. The action was brought on behalf of investors who acquired Sirius common stock on the open market between Feb. 16, 2000, and April 2, 2001.
The complaint alleged, among other things, that Sirius allegedly issued materially false and misleading statements and press releases concerning when its service would be commercially available. Sirius launched service in winter 2002.
Sirius said it agreed in principle to settle the litigation for $8 million. The company's insurer will fund the settlement payment, stated the SEC filing.
Liberty Global Reports Subscriber Additions
Liberty Global, the international arm of the media giant Liberty Media, reported gains for its businesses around the planet, including cable and satellite TV operations.
The company said it saw an organic increase of nearly 500,000 RGUs (revenue generating units - or customers) in the fourth quarter, bringing a full year net gain to 1.25 million new RGUs. That represents a 50 percent pro forma increase in net additions, Liberty Global said.
As of Dec. 31, Liberty Global's entities across the globe served 767,700 direct-to-home, or satellite TV, subscribers. About 466,000 were with the Austar service in Australia and the remaining 300,000 were in Europe. The company's cable operations served 11.5 million analog customers and 1.7 million digital cable customers.
Liberty Global President and CEO Mike Fries pointed out that the company was busy on the mergers and acquisition front, with deals that included the purchases of Cablecom in Switzerland, Astral in Romania, NTL in Ireland, Setamachi and Kobe in Japan, and taking a controlling stake in Austar's pay-TV operation in Australia. Liberty Global also completed the sale of a Norwegian cable system in January.
"We will continue to evaluate rebalancing our operations, specifically exiting sub-scale markets and increasing our presence in existing or new markets that fit our operating business model," Fries said.
BRIDGE Eyes Competition at the Local Level
This week's BRIDGE has a look at three cities - Richmond, San Antonio and Salt Lake City - where competition could become intense thanks to telcos are moving in with video in the markets.
The publication also has research as to whether telco video will succeed.
According to data from Centris contained in the issue, phone companies rolling out TV face an uphill battle to acquire customers. Consumer familiarity with telco TV is low and the video market is already highly competitive thanks to the two incumbent players - cable and satellite TV. However, if telcos innovate - and deliver a product that's different from the two existing providers - they could gain a foothold in the market, the firm states.
According to the research, consumers would be willing to take a telco video service if it offered a la carte channel choices or extras such as music access through an entertainment center or the ability to send movies and photos via their TV set-up.
as seen on skyreport
Street: AT&T/BellSouth Deal to Challenge Pay-TV & DirecTV Comments on AT&T/BellSouth Deal & DISH Launches More Local HD Markets & GlobeCast Adds Asianet Channels -- Posted by soullezz
on Monday, March 6 2006
Street: AT&T/BellSouth Deal to Challenge Pay-TV
Wall Street agreed that the proposed combination of AT&T and BellSouth could present challenges for the cable and satellite TV businesses.
Said Tom Eagan of Oppenheimer and Co., "Although we do not see the AT&T merger with BellSouth as significantly increasing RBOC competition with all cable operators, we would expect AT&T to expand its recently launched triple play service into the large BellSouth cities."
Eagan said the deal could be a negative for Comcast given that the cable giant serves a majority of the big cities within BellSouth's territory. It also could be troubling for DirecTV, given that AT&T could use its current satellite TV partner EchoStar, which offers the video portion of the telco's triple-play bundle, as a replacement for the No. 1 satellite TV service, the Oppenheimer analyst said.
Eagan said the deal could be a positive for EchoStar "not only because BellSouth could switch to DISH as its bundled partner, but also because the AT&T/BellSouth deal creates a large platform facilitating a potential cost-effective acquisition of DISH."
Jeff Wlodarczak of Wachovia Securities said, "A takeout in the near term of DISH by AT&T, as has been speculated in the press, is unlikely, but we continue to believe the low likelihood of success of AT&T's homegrown video product makes a DISH acquisition a reasonable possibility long term." He added that EchoStar, "which is partnered with AT&T to sell video service is likely to benefit from the merger as DirecTV may lose exclusivity in the former BellSouth markets."
Richard Greenfield of Pali Research said AT&T's focus on rolling out video service, an effort that could include BellSouth territories, may become a negative for cable operators. However, he added, "while a wider video over fiber rollout would be a long-term negative for cable operators, the near-term outlook could improve modestly as AT&T/BellSouth may be more focused on gaining regulatory approval for their merger and integrating their two companies - assuming the transaction is approved - than on rapidly deploying a new product such as video over fiber."
DirecTV Comments on AT&T/BellSouth Deal
One satellite TV company that could be impacted by the mega $67 billion combination of AT&T and BellSouth had something to say about the deal.
DirecTV, which has a bundling partnership with BellSouth, said in a statement that "it's too early to assess the impact of this proposed deal."
The company added, "We have always enjoyed a strong relationship with BellSouth - as well as our other telco partners - and we will continue to work with them to bring bundled entertainment and communications services that provide a superior choice and value when compared to cable."
In its fourth quarter reporting, BellSouth said 523,000 of its customers have added DirecTV service to their BellSouth Answers bundle since 2004.
DISH Launches More Local HD Markets
EchoStar said its DISH Network satellite TV service will launch local high def channels in seven additional cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.
DISH Network now offers local HD channels to customers in 12 cities, having previously launched the service in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Nashville.
DISH Network is making the push into high-def with its DishHD package, an offering that sells for $49.99 a month and offers HD channels as well as more than 70 all-digital standard definition channels. Local channels in both high def and standard definition can be added for $5 a month.
GlobeCast Adds Asianet Channels
GlobeCast WorldTV launched Asianet Plus and Asianet news for viewers in the United States. The two channels join already established AsiaNet as part of GlobeCast WorldTV's Malayalam bouquet, which also includes Amrita TV. The additions also bring GlobeCast WorldTV's international channel selection to more than 160. More on the GlobeCast service can be found at: http://www.globecastworldtv.com.
PROGRAMMING: DirecTV Delivers FX Original - FX original series Black. White., which premieres Wednesday, March 8, will be made available to DirecTV customers through a special pay-per-view offering 48 hours before the show airs on the network. Every Monday through April 10 DirecTV will air a new episode of Black. White. on pay-per-view Channel 124, for $2.99 per show.
INTERNATIONAL: WorldSpace Expands with Fox - Global satellite radio service WorldSpace expanded its sports programming line-up with the launch of Fox Sports Radio, a commercial-free channel offering U.S. sports news and talk radio. The service will be delivered to a potential audience of more than 380,000 U.S. troops, coalition forces and expatriates stationed or living abroad as well as its other listeners interested in U.S. sports, the company said.
as seen on skyreport
Broadcasters Take on Significantly-Viewed & Maine Seeks Conditions on Adelphia Deal & AT&T/SBC Merger: A Satellite Impact? -- Posted by soullezz
on Sunday, March 5 2006
Due to a large number of new files posted today (March 6, 2006) they are not all available on the latest files pop out menu, please check the file archive for all files not listed on the files menu pop out. Due to especially long file names the pop out menu may not be fully visible to people running low screen resolutions, this site is optimally viewed at screen resolutions of 1024x768 and higher.
Broadcasters Take on Significantly-Viewed
Broadcasters approached the Federal Communications Commission late last week concerning a push by DirecTV and EchoStar to get the agency to re-think regulations tied to satellite delivery of significantly-viewed TV stations, telling those at the Portals that the DBS services' arguments don't hold water.
The satellite TV companies petitioned the FCC earlier this year with issues about the rules governing delivery of significantly-viewed stations. They asked the commission to reconsider what they said is a narrow interpretation of the local service requirement contained in the regulations. The companies said they are pushing for an interpretation that will prevent local network affiliate stations from blocking carriage of significantly-viewed analog signals.
The significantly-viewed provisions are contained in the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA).
In their joint arguments, broadcasters tackled the satellite TV companies' objection to an FCC requirement that before a subscriber can receive an analog signal of an out-of-market significantly-viewed station affiliated with a particular network the subscriber must first receive the analog signal of a local station affiliated with that network.
What the satellite TV companies want, the broadcasters said, "is a regulatory-imposed advantage over local stations in retransmission consent negotiations. But the commission correctly recognized that SHVERA was intended not to enhance the negotiating leverage of either broadcasters or satellite carriers, but rather to protect localism and to prevent satellite carriers from by-passing local stations or using the threat of delivery of out-of-market stations to extract more favorable retransmission consent terms."
Broadcast affiliate associations participating in the FCC filing represent stations carrying ABC, CBS and NBC. The National Association of Broadcasters also was part of the filing.
Maine Seeks Conditions on Adelphia Deal
Maine's attorney general office took on the pending takeover of Adelphia by Comcast and Time Warner Cable, asking the Federal Communications Commission last week to place conditions on the billion-dollar cable deal.
The state's assistant attorney general, Francis Ackerman, asked the FCC to place conditions on the deal that would require Time Warner Cable to divest Adelphia assets in Maine. The office also offered an alternative, telling the commission it could require Time Warner Cable to reduce its market share in Maine to no more than 54 percent after the acquisition is complete.
"Simply put, the process should encourage the development of a number of credible rivals to Time Warner and avoid a result that would merely restore the pre-existing monopoly," the attorney general office letter said.
The office also said in the FCC letter that if the Adelphia transaction wins approval without any safeguards, it could reduce competition in the Maine market.
The deal, the office said, "would sharply reduce competition in the relevant Maine market, create an effective monopoly and bar new entry, causing serious harm to Maine's municipalities, citizens, businesses and economy."
The Adelphia deal is awaiting FCC approval.
AT&T/SBC Merger: A Satellite Impact?
A big telecommunications merger could have an impact on the satellite TV business.
Late Sunday, AT&T and BellSouth announced plans to merge operations through a blockbuster $67 billion deal. The DBS impact: EchoStar's DISH Network is sold by AT&T, formerly known as SBC; and DirecTV is bundled with BellSouth service.
Because of the weekend (and maybe also because it's way too early to actually gauge the impact of the deal), the companies had no comment.
In its fourth quarter reporting, BellSouth said 523,000 of its customers have added DirecTV service to their BellSouth Answers bundle since 2004. In September, SBC/AT&T and EchoStar extended their strategic agreement to continue marketing the co-branded SBC/DISH Network satellite TV service. And midway through 2005 SBC's DISH Network subscriber base was at about the 400,000 mark.
The merger also has implications for the entire pay-TV business, and details on that are available, including the first wave of opposition, at today's edition of Telco Media News: http://www.telcomedianews.com.
as seen skyreport
NAB Takes Local Angle in Attacking XM's Wireless Deal & Leichtman: Broadband Numbers Soar in 2005 & DISH Adds Denver Local HD -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, March 4 2006
NAB Takes Local Angle in Attacking XM's Wireless Deal
The National Association of Broadcasters kept the pressure on XM Satellite Radio's proposed acquisition of WCS Wireless, telling the Federal Communications Commission that any approval of the deal should have conditions.
Broadcasters, in their ongoing fight with satellite radio, have asked regulators to curtail - and even prohibit - the services from delivering localized content. The NAB letter, signed by President and CEO David Rehr and sent to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, argued for the same content scrutiny when it comes to commission review of the WCS deal.
Rehr's letter stated that XM hasn't demonstrated its use of WCS spectrum will be in the public interest. Further, the letter said, "The commission authorized (satellite radio) in 1997 with the express understanding that it was a national service, and promised to take any necessary action to safeguard the important service that terrestrial radio provides."
NAB said at a minimum the FCC should impose conditions that would prevent XM from using its spectrum, as well as WCS spectrum, "to locally originate programming, to provide local service, or to engage in terrestrial broadcasting."
As of press time, XM had no comment on the NAB petition.
Leichtman: Broadband Numbers Soar in 2005
Leichtman Research Group released data Thursday that found the 20 largest cable and DSL providers - representing about 94 percent of the broadband market - achieved record net high-speed Internet additions in 2005.
Combined net additions for the year totaled more than 9.6 million subscribers, a number that exceeded the previous record set in 2004 by more than 1 million subscribers, Leichtman said.
When the numbers are broken down, the top cable broadband providers have a 57 percent share of the overall market when compared to DSL and account for more than 24.3 million high-speed Internet subscribers compared to 18.5 million for DSL, the firm said. Cable operators added about 4.4 million broadband subscribers in 2005, a nearly identical total when compared to 2004 efforts.
Nonetheless, DSL is making a sizeable dent in the marketplace. The nation's top DSL providers netted 53 percent of broadband additions in 2005, and DSL providers added more than 5.2 million broadband subscribers in 2005, about 1 million more than in 2004, stated Leichtman's information.
"With about 10 million additional broadband subscribers in the U.S. in 2005, the number of net broadband additions has increased every year this decade," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group. "Cable operators have added virtually the same number of broadband subscribers in each of the past three years, while DSL providers have grown the market primarily by offering lower priced services."
DISH Adds Denver Local HD
EchoStar's DISH Network launched another local HD market, this time in its home town.
DISH on Thursday unveiled local high-def channels for the Denver market, delivering HD feeds for the area's ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates. The NBC affiliate is available in standard definition but is not yet available in high def, the company said.
DISH Network is making the push into high-def with its DishHD package, an offering that sells for $49.99 a month and offers HD channels as well as more than 70 all-digital standard definition channels. Local channels in both high def and standard definition can be added for $5 a month.
as seen on skyreport
|