Skyguide Issue 005 Page 1 -------------------------------- SKYGUIDE UK --------------------------------- | | | Your digest of the latest news in the world of Satellite & Cable TV | | | ---------------------- Week Ending Sat 10th April 1993 ----------------------- * HERE IS THE NEWS Not much to write home about this week.. * VIDEO DIALTONE British Telecom has been attacked by the Cable Television Association following the announcement of its plans to introduce a "video on demand" service, sometimes known as "Video dialtone". The idea would allow BT customers to request video programming - most likely to be films - which would be sent to their homes via BT lines. Extra equipment would be required in the home for the service, the technology for which is liable to be available in under three years. The Cable Television Association, representing cable television companies who themselves are planning to offer a similar service, said that under anti-monopoly rules drawn up by Oftel, BT is prohibited from offering such a service until the regulations come up for renewal, which will not be before 1998. * RADIO ACTIVE Much seems to be happening on the Satellite Radio scene at the moment. The feed of Virgin 1215 on Astra, as reported last week, is rumoured to be only temporary, and that once engineering trials are completed, the Astra service will cease. Hopefully it's a decision that isn't set in stone - you don't need to be a genius to recognise the much improved quality that even a mono Astra signal gives over ordinary Medium Wave reception. Meanwhile, Q-CMR (Quality Country Music Radio) has failed to launch as expected (see Skyguide Issue 1). Reports suggest that the audio subcarrier that they were hoping to use has been given to another broadcaster by BSkyB. If this is the case, QCMR are likely to challenge the decision in court. Two Christian Radio services are said to be launching soon. If and when they appear, you're likely to find them on any of Sky's spare audio subcarriers. Super Channel's "In Orbit" satellite news page, supplied by The European Satellite User Group, reports that Power FM, a radio station on MTV's subcarriers, is not closing, it is just changing its name (to Love FM), its music format (to Easy Listening), and its satellite (to a digital delivery mechanism on Eutelsat). It was unclear from the somewhat garbled report whether the Astra service will stay or go, although TESUG took the opportunity to have a go with the revelation that it would be cheaper to give away dedicated equipment to cable head-ends than to broadcast on Astra. Leaves the home dish owners out in the cold, though. Apparently the mailbag resulting from the closure of Euronet has prompted the return of the station. Early reports suggest that the channel will return, although possibly on a new transponder on Astra 1C. More news as we get it. ========================== skyguide/skyguide #15, from bignoise, 1530 chars, Apr 9 19:39 93 This is a comment to message 13. -------------------------- Skyguide Issue 005 Page 2 * SPRING GOLD More new shows come to UK Gold in the springtime, including a mix of comedy and drama drawn from the BBC's archives. "Are You Being Served?" returns to Satellite television after its previous screening on Sky's ill-fated Comedy Channel. "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum", screened on UK Gold's opening night, also comes to the channel. Ronnie Barker appears in seven different situation comedies under the banner of "Seven Of One", and Mel Smith weighs in with "Colin's Sandwich". A rapid repeat for "Moon And Son", starring Adam Faith, only recently broadcast on BBC1. The popular vet series "All Creatures Great And Small" appears, along with other dramas "Colditz" and "Rockliffe's Babies" * NEW AND IMPROVED >From this issue, Skyguide resticts itself to 78 columns per line, to be more amenable to offline readers like Matrix. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Skyguide is published weekly and is copyright. Not to be redistributed in any form without consent. Errors and Omissions expected. (c) 1993 by Ant Purvis Comments, suggestions, and even news stories are always appreciated! You can contact Skyguide in the following ways: CIX : mail to bignoise Fidonet : Netmail to ANTONY PURVIS at 2:251/22, or leave a message in the Satellite TV echo. Internet: bignoise@cix.compulink.co.uk