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Programming News
Last Updated 01/17/04
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CBS has switched most of its analog satellite wild feeds  12/22/00

CBS has switched most of its analog satellite wild feeds to an unavailable digital transmission system. Dish owners cannot receive CBS wild feeds that use the new video transmission system. Some sporting events, like college basketball coverage, and special programs, like awards presentations, shown live on CBS may still be available on unscrambled wild feeds on T4, T5 and/or T6 on an occasional basis. Dish owners who qualify for satellite reception of distant CBS TV stations offered by PrimeTime 24 (WSEE from Erie, Pennsylvania on S4, 24) and Netlink (KCNC from Denver on F1, 6) can subscribe to the stations for full-time viewing access to CBS programming. 

DIRECTV Christmas Freeview  12/22/00

Appearing Dec. 22-24, DIRECTV's Freeview features "The Glory of Christmas." Watch more than 200 performers, flying angels, joyous music, and splendid pageantry. This Freeview event is for the whole family. 

DIRECTV Adds Austin-West Palm Beach  12/22/00

Beginning today, DIRECTV is offering local broadcast network channels to subscribers in Austin, Texas, and West Palm Beach, Fla. 

With the launch of the two new markets, DIRECTV completes its local channel additions for the year. The company offers local channels in 41 cities, representing approximately 61 percent of the nation's television households. 

The Austin channel package features KVUE (ABC), KEYE (CBS), KXAN (NBC), KTBC (FOX). The West Palm Beach package offers WPBF (ABC), WPEC (CBS), WPTV (NBC), and WFLX (FOX). 

The local broadcast network channel package is available for $5.99 a month. In addition to local broadcast network channels, a national PBS feed is included at no additional charge.

DIRECTV Freeview: Wynonna  12/15/00

Tune the channel to 103 every weekend in December to experience the DIRECTV Freeview series "Music in High Places" featuring Wynonna Judd strapping on the red ropers in Italy. Watch as Wynonna plays some of her popular songs, without her mother present, and learn more about the Italian locale in the process. 

TiVo Extends Deal With HBO  12/15/00

TiVo extended its agreement with HBO, a deal that includes the addition of TiVo's Ipreview and Network Showcases offerings. 

Together, TiVo's Ipreview and Network Showcases will give HBO subscribers with TiVo customized access to select programs from among HBO's original movies, series, documentaries, comedy and music specials, and sports and family shows. 

TiVo's Network Showcases, a collection of themed programming areas, offers information on upcoming seasonal programs and allows HBO subscribers to easily record their favorite shows. The addition of TiVo's Ipreview service will allow HBO subscribers to record a variety of scheduled programs directly from promotional previews on the network.

DIRECTV Launches Columbus-More on the Way  12/15/00

DIRECTV is delivering local broadcast network channels to its customers in Columbus, Ohio. 

Beginning Wednesday, all DIRECTV customers in the Columbus area began receiving a free one-month preview of the local broadcast network channel package. Once the preview expires, customers can subscribe to the local channel package for $5.99 a month. The offering includes a national PBS feed. 

Columbus channels included in the package are (NBC), WTTE (FOX), WSYX (ABC) and WBNS (CBS). The stations will be delivered from DIRECTV's core slot at 101 degrees, allowing viewers to get the channels without the need to purchase new equipment. 

The Columbus addition takes DIRECTV's local TV slate to 39 cities. West Palm Beach, Fla., and Austin, Texas, are expected to be added to the list in the near future.

DISH Readies HBO Latino  12/7/00

EchoStar's DISH Network will add HBO Latino at no additional cost to HBO subscribers on Dec. 13. 

The new channel announcement was made by EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen and executive vice president Jim DeFranco during a "Charlie Chat" with DISH customers Tuesday night. 

Asked by a customer if DISH plans to add HBO Zone and ActionMax and ThrillerMax from Cinemax, Ergen said he was not optimistic the three networks would launch on the DBS service in the near future. Ergen added that EchoStar is also dealing with a recent rate increase from the HBO. 

Outside of the HBO news, Ergen and EchoStar executives said an HDTV offering from Discovery may be coming soon to the service. A number of independent stations - most of which could be picked due to their extensive sports programming lineup - could also be added to local TV channels in the future, Ergen said. 

DISH Adds BVN-TV  12/7/00

EchoStar's DISH Network added BVN-TV, known as the "Best of Flanders and the Netherlands." The channel sells for $9.99 a month. It will broadcast from EchoStar's satellite at 61.5 degrees. 

DISH Adds style  12/7/00

EchoStar's DISH Network added the "style." channel from E! Networks to its America's Top 150 programming package beginning today at no additional cost to customers. 

style., on channel 115, features a lineup of 
programs devoted to fashion, beauty, home design, entertainment and travel. 

Among the network's programs are "shabby chic" from home furnishings and accessories designer Rachel Ashwell; "stylemaker," a show on the lives of the trendsetters in fashion, beauty and home design; and "homes with style.," a showcase of homes.

4DTV UPDATE  11/27/00

HBO Latino on G1. HBO Latino is now available to C-band dish owners who have a 4DTV satellite receiver and a subscription to HBO. HBO Latino-East is on G1, 751 and HBO Latino-West is on G1, 753. The new Spanish-language channel from HBO presents movies, original programming and boxing in Spanish as well as music videos featuring today's top Latino artists. 

Spanish-Language 4DTV Channels Move on C4. 4DTV feeds for eight Spanish-language channels that were transmitted via Ku-band X4 have moved to C-band C4. 
VH1 en Espanol is on C4, 750. 
MTV S is on C4, 751. 
CBS Telenoticias is on C4, 752. 
Discovery en Espanol is on C4, 753. 
Cine Latino is on C4, 754. 
RIO is on C4, 755. 
Fox Sports Americas is on C4, 756. 
CNN en Espanol is on C4, 757. 

4DTV Receivers Rename C1 to W7. Without advanced notice, the satellite identifier 4DTV receivers automatically assign the GE-7 satellite, which replaced Satcom C1 at 137 degrees west, has been changed from C1 to W7. 

Showtime Triple Play  11/27/00

In March, Showtime will introduce three new channels to its Showtime Unlimited digital package in an effort to broaden network appeal. 

The new channels - Showtime Next, Showtime Women and Showtime Familyzone - will have East and West Coast access, and they will have enhancements like Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, Spanish-language SAP and HDTV.

Showtime Next will focus on a younger audience between the ages 18-24. It will also feature content that appears on the Web and on the channel.

Showtime Women will feature movies and other programming that appeals to women. This channel is set to focus on a broad audience.

Showtime Familyzone will feature 'G' and 'PG' movies and programming. The channel will appeal to family viewers and will have no 'R' rated programming.

DIRECTV Delivers Instant Weather  11/27/00

DIRECTV is delivering "Instant Weather" from The Weather Channel, an offering coming through the DBS platform's interactive service. 

The new channel, which launched Tuesday, is available to more than one million DIRECTV customers nationwide who have a Wink-capable RCA interactive TV receiver. "Instant Weather" is free to customers and can be found on DIRECTV channel 492. 

DIRECTV interactive customers can view up-to-the-minute instant weather information for more than 1,000 cities from The Weather Channel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using their remote control, viewers can get local weather conditions with temperature, barometer reading, humidity, wind, dew point and visibility, as well as three-day local weather forecasts. 

Three more dedicated interactive channels are being prepared by DIRECTV. They include interactive offerings from ESPN and NBC and an e-commerce-type channel from bookseller Barnes and Noble. 

DISH Network launched an "always-on" instant weather channel powered by OpenTV in May. The application, available to DISH Network customers who have Model 3900 or Model 4900 satellite receivers, allows viewers to click through more than 800 cities to receive a five-day forecast. 

Satellite-Delivered Movies  11/27/00

During the weekend, Movie-goers in New York's Times Square who bought tickets for Miramax's "Bounce" saw the first film to be beamed via satellite to a theater. The flick, which stars Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow, was encrypted by Boeing, which then added a second layer of encryption to the electronic stream it sent via satellite. It took eight hours to send the file from Tulsa, Okla., to a satellite dish atop the theater in New York. Once in the theater, a computer decrypted the file and stored it on several computer hard disks. From there, it was projected on the screen using equipment from Texas Instruments.

Loral Cyberstar Completes RE/MAX Upgrade  11/27/00

Loral CyberStar completed its upgrade of the RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), which delivers key applications and services to RE/MAX real estate associates and brokers. RE/MAX uses CyberStar's Infomedia solution to distribute training, corporate communications, news and special events from its Denver headquarters. 

DISH Adds WISDOM  11/27/00

WISDOM Television has been added to DISH Network's America's Top 150 programming package at no additional cost to customers. 

WISDOM Television is a network that offers 24-hour programming in the areas of personal growth, social consciousness and healthy living. 

The network is a division of WISDOM Media Group, based in Bluefield, W. Va., with satellite offices in New York, Dallas and Denver. In addition to its television services, WISDOM also has a radio service and an Internet company. 

DISH Adds Albuquerque  11/17/00

EchoStar's DISH Network is offering local channels in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M., area. Stations covered by the satellite provider are KOAT-ABC, KRQE-CBS, KOB-NBC and KASA-FOX. DISH's local TV packages sell for $4.99 a month. A national PBS channel can be purchased for an additional $1 a month. 

DIRECTV Has Chinese Channel  11/17/00

DIRECTV debuted the Phoenix North America Chinese Channel on Wednesday. It features 24-hour news broadcasting and entertainment programming from Hong Kong. DIRECTV will offer the new channel for $19.99 per month on channel 456. Customers must already own or purchase the DIRECTV Plus System to receive the channel. 

NFL Channels are Re-Named  11/16/00

The following NFL channels have been re-named on the Interactive Programming Guide of 4DTV owners:

NFL1-ov G3-2
NFL2-ov G3-3
NFL3-ov G3-4
NFL4-ov G3-5
NFL5-ov G3-7
NFL6-ov G3-15
NFL7-ov G3-18
NFL8-ov G3-23

The actual names of football teams playing will be displayed in the guide for these channels on Sundays.

Canales Spanish Channels Move to C4  11/16/00

Seven Spanish Channels have moved to from X4 to C4:

VH1Uno C4-750
MTVS (MTVS) C4-751
Telemundo (CBStele) C4-752
Discovery Espanol (DscExp) C4-753 
Cine Latino (CineLat) C4-754
RIO (RIO) C4-755
Fox Americas (FoxAmer) C4-756
CNN Espanol (CNNesp) C4-757 

Two New Satellites Launched  11/16/00

Satcom 1 (now located at 142 degrees W), has now become C1 and new satellite GE-7 (now located at 137 degrees W where C1 was originally located) were recently launched. Programming from old C1 is now shown on GE-7, and will show up in the Interactive Programming Guide as W7. The Interactive Programming Guide should pick up these new changes within the next two weeks. GE-7 will be shown as W7 and will contain the programming previously shown on C1. 

CBand customers will not have to make any manual changes to their Interactive Programming Guide.  These changes will be automatically downloaded.

C-Band Subscribers Dip  11/14/00

C-Band subscriber numbers for October took another tumble, according to Motorola and its C-Band Access Control Center in San Diego. 

According to the center, the big dish lost more than 35,000 subscribers during the month, ending October at 1.26 million. 

In September, C-Band lost more than 33,000 subscribers. In August, the big dish lost more than 100,000, the biggest hit the big dish has taken in recent months. 

DIRECTV Takes FOX into Hotels  11/13/00

FOX Cable Networks Group and DIRECTV entered into an agreement to deliver in-market FOX Regional Sports Networks, FX and FOX Sports World to establishments in the lodging industry. 

The agreement will allow hotels to expand their programming lineup, allowing viewers to get local sports programming via the in-market FOX Regional Sports Network. 

Also covered in the agreement is international sports programming from FOX Sports World and FX, a basic network delivering programming such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Practice." 

Daystar TV is on F1  11/09/00

Daystar TV, a free full-time religious channel, is now transmitting on F1, 10 and its original satellite coordinate S4, 10. It's possible Daystar TV will move from S4, 10 to F1, 10 in the near future. 

DIRECTV Latin America Offers NBA  11/09/00

The 2001 NBA season is available to Latin America and Caribbean residents via DIRECTV in Latin America. The NBA League Pass is DIRECTV's featured package that allows subscribers an average viewing of two games per night. The NBA League Pass will be offered for promotional use to all DIRECTV subscribers in the region through Nov. 15. 

DBS Giant Takes Locals to 38 Cities  11/08/00

Beginning today, DIRECTV will begin offering local network channels in Greensboro, N.C., and San Antonio. 

The new additions take the number of cities served with DIRECTV local channel packages to 38, representing more than 59 percent of the nation's television households. DIRECTV plans to add three 
more markets to its local TV packages by year-end. The new cities include Austin, Columbus and West Palm Beach. 

The Greensboro stations in the DIRECTV package are: WXLV (ABC), WFMY (CBS), WXII (NBC) and WGHP (FOX). The San Antonio stations include KSAT (ABC), KENS (CBS), KMOL (NBC) and KABB (FOX). 

Local channels from Greensboro and San Antonio are delivered from DIRECTV's orbital location at 119 degrees. Customers need a new DIRECTV Plus system to receive programming from 101 degrees, the location for DIRECTV's core programming, and from 119 degrees. 

The system features a multi-satellite receiver and a single 18-by-24-inch oval dish. DIRECTV Plus systems are manufactured by Thomson Consumer Electronics under the RCA-brand name and Hughes Network Systems - a sister company of DIRECTV - under the HNS-brand name. 

HITS Adds Channels  11/08/00

Headend in the Sky, AT&T's digital satellite-to-cable distribution platform, launched a 13th transponder. The new pod has five channels: New Urban Entertainment Television (NUE-TV), Major Broadcasting Cable Network, The Word Network, GAC and ComedyNet. 

Adelphia Turns Off the Sex  11/08/00

The largest cable company serving Los Angeles, Adelphia Communications, has flipped the switch on the controversial pay-per-view Spice adult channel. The Health Network will replace Spice with intentions to freshen their channel lineup and family values. 

FCC Adopts Sports Blackout-Non-Dup Rules  11/03/00

The Federal Communications Commission, continuing its work to implement mandates for the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, adopted network program non-duplication, syndicated program exclusivity and sports blackout rules. 

The action applies to both C-Band and DBS providers. Under the rules, six superstations - KTLA (Los Angeles), KWGN (Denver), WGN (Chicago), WPIX and WWOR (New York), and WSBK (Boston) - are subject to certain program deletions. The rules aim to protect the contract rights of local TV stations. 

The network program non-duplication rule allows a local TV station to protect its exclusive distribution rights for network programming against duplicating shows carried on a superstation delivered via satellite. The syndicated program exclusivity rule allows a local TV broadcast station or syndicator to protect its exclusive distribution rights for syndicated shows by preventing the duplication of programming delivered by a superstation. 

For both the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules, the local station may demand that a satellite carrier blackout any duplicate carriage of the program - network or syndicated - regardless of whether the local station's signal is carried via satellite. Both rules apply only to programming that appears on the six superatations and within a specified area based on station location and zip code. 

Sports blackout rules protect exclusive distribution rights for a team or league concerning a local sporting event. If a station isn't allowed to carry a local game, then no other broadcast signal displaying the game can be shown in the blackout area. 

The sports blackout rule applies to a satellite carrier's retransmission of nationally-distributed superstations and network stations. The rule, however, exempts any satellite carrier that has fewer than 1,000 subscribers within the protected area from making any program deletions. 

The rules take effect at the end of November. Satellite carriers will have four months to phase in non-duplication and syndicated program exclusivity rules and 60 days to comply with sports blackout requests.

DISH Adds FOX Sports World   11/03/00

EchoStar's DISH Network will add FOX Sports World to its America's Top 150 package beginning Nov. 8 at no additional cost to customers. The channel delivers exclusive sporting events from around the world, including soccer from the top leagues in Italy, Chile and Argentina. The net is best known for its carriage of England's Premier League. 

Satellite Has Election Covered   11/03/00

Satellite has this year's election covered. Subscribers can get the latest news from CNN, C-SPAN, CNBC and MSNBC. In addition to television coverage, the nets also will have updates on their Web sites. And with last year's debut of local TV channels, subscribers can get information on local races by tuning into their ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC affiliates. 

BSkyB Goes to the Horse Races   11/03/00

Go Racing - a joint venture owned by Arena Leisure, British Sky Broadcasting and Channel Four Television - is betting big on interactive horse racing in Britain. Horse racing in both the United Kingdom and United States is expected to grow dramatically due to broadband technology and interactive TV, which will allow viewers to place bets while watching races from home.

Retrans Fight Turns Towards Sports Nets  11/01/00

The retransmission consent skirmish developing between Comcast and Disney is taking a sour turn, focusing on the cable giant's lock on Philadelphia sports programming. 

According to CableFax Daily, ABC's affiliate in Philadelphia accused Comcast of being a monopoly and hampering competition by maintaining exclusivity over SportsNet, which airs Sixers basketball games and Flyers hockey matches. The complaint is that Philly consumers won't switch to satellite to get ABC if they can't receive SportsNet. 

Because it's not transmitted via satellite, Comcast can keep its SportsNet channel from satellite under Federal Communications Commission rules. Since SportsNet became part of the retrans debate, satellite interests are watching closely how Comcast deals with its new regional sports nets, Home Team Sports serving the Washington, D.C., area and Midwest Sports Channel in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

A Comcast spokesman pointed to past comments from Comcast President Brian Roberts to alleviate satellite's concerns. "Of course, we will continue to distribute these satellite-delivered services through all of their existing affiliates as we work to bring top quality regional sports programming to these markets," Roberts said in July. 

Both Disney and Comcast are working out a retransmission consent agreement that will allow the cable operator to deliver Disney's ABC to subscribers.

DIRECTV Adds Birmingham   11/01/00

Effective today, DIRECTV is delivering locals to subscribers in the Birmingham, Ala., area. 

All DIRECTV customers in the Birmingham TV market will receive a free preview of their local broadcast network channel package. The offering, which will sell for $5.99 after the free preview, includes WCFT (ABC), WVTM (NBC), WBRC (FOX) and WIAT (CBS). In addition to local channels, a national PBS feed is included in each package. 

To receive local channels from the Birmingham area, which are being delivered from the 119-degree location, customers will need a DIRECTV Plus system capable of receiving satellite signals from two orbital locations. The system contains a multi-satellite receiver, an 18-by-24-inch oval dish and remote control.

DISH Makes Shop At Home a 24-Hour Net 10/27/00

EchoStar's DISH Network expanded delivery of Shop At Home. Under a new agreement, Shop At Home programming will be available 24 hours a day to DISH Network customers who subscribe to America's Top 40, America's Top 100 CD and America's Top 150 packages. The deal replaces an earlier agreement between the two companies that gave DISH Network preemptive rights to schedule other programs in place of Shop At Home. 

ON TV: Lifetime Joins Breast Cancer Fight 10/25/00

Lifetime Joins Breast Cancer Battle - Lifetime is joining the fight against breast cancer this month, airing a series of specials on the network devoted to the battle. This weekend, the top women in music, including Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Amy Grant, Wynonna Judd and Cyndi Lauper, will give a concert event and raise awareness for the fight. The concert premieres Sunday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time. 

PanAmSat Gets ABC/Disney Deal -  10/25/00

The ABC Cable Networks Group, ESPN and ABC Television Network selected PanAmSat as the preferred provider of global satellite television services during the next 15 years. PanAmSat will expand domestic and international distribution of Disney Channel, ESPN, SoapNet, Toon Disney and Buena Vista Television. PanAmSat also becomes the preferred satellite television service provider for the ABC Television Network and will provide special event and occasional services for ABC and ESPN. 

ONdigital Eyes Sub Growth 10/24/00

ONdigital, the U.K. terrestrial broadcaster competing directly with British Sky Broadcasting, said it will meet its key target of one million subscribers by the end of the year. ONdigital also said its subscriber base should reach two million by the end of 2002.

ESPN, FOX Team for Brazil Net 10/24/00

ESPN, Globosat Programadora and FOX Sports International have reached an agreement to create a new 24-hour sports network serving Brazil. ESPN's existing pan-regional network serving Brazil will be re-branded ESPN FOX Sports, and it will launch in early 2001. The new network will feature sports from the United States, Argentine and Chilean soccer and South American volleyball. Globosat will supply regional sports.

Starz and Encore moved

Click Here for new channel LocationsSTARZ! Analog Movie Pack and Encore have relocated to Galaxy-10 at 123 West. Galaxy-10 is known as G0 in 4DTV receiver and G9 in older type receiver. If you do not currently have that satellite programmed. Please take a look at out Online C-Band Receiver Manuals for details on how to program the satellite. It is the next satellite up (East) from G5. You will find a listing for our STARZ! Package in our programming section. Click Here

Galaxy 11 replaces Galaxy 4R 

The sky dance of the Galaxy satellites is almost at an end. Galaxy 4R has replaced Galaxy 11 and is the new permanent satellite at 99 degrees West. That change in early August was followed by the replacement of Galaxy 7 by Galaxy 11 as the new active satellite at 91 degrees West. Galaxy 6 at 74 degrees now is the PanAmSat fleets in-orbit spare.

Spice is back on C-Band

Very quietly and without any announcement other than an on-screen message, adult service Spice returned to analog C-band on TVNs G301 in mid-August. It continues to remain available on TVNs digital G10327.

C-BAND CHANNEL CHANGES 07/16/00

NESN is Off the Air
We have received numerous calls about NESN Not being available. Please be advise that the SSN Fox sports package was terminated on January 1st and NESN was part of that package but for some reason NESN decided to keep a free feed on F3-14. Ad of June 16 NESN is no longer available to C-Band Customers. And the only way to get it is with a small dish. Now keep in mind that the New Digital Sports package will be available July 1st and might have NESN is it. Read the previous announcements here

Action Pay-Per-View
Action Pay-Per-View will change transponders from G7-3 to G7-21, effective June 1 through June 29. As of June 30, 2000, Action will no longer be available on C-Band.

Important Programming Changes!
PAX TV and WWOR will no longer available on C-Band, effective June 27. Also, BET on JAZZ will no longer be available on C-Band after June 6.

Important Programming information!
Effective April 1, Spice programming will no longer be available in analog format for C-Band customers.

Looking for the Outdoor Channel.
The Outdoor Channel is now available via the new G-10 satellite at 123 degrees west on transponder 24.

Much Music Ending.
Effective March 1, 2000, Much Music will end its analog feed and switch to digital.

Wanting more A&E and THE History Channel.
Look no further, both programmers are now offering West Coast Feeds. The new locations are as follows:
     A&E - Galaxy 9 Transponder 23
     THE History Channel - Satcom C4 Transponder 6

KRMA Leaving.
We regret to inform you that KRMA-PBS will no longer be available on C-Band after March 31, 2000. To view your favorite PBS programs, tune in to T4-18 for the national PBS channel.

MTV 2 is changing transponder locations.
As of March 13, MTV2 will be changing from G9-6 to G10-10.

Great News for C-Band Network Subscribers!
A bill recently passed regarding the Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA) ruling on the CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC Networks. Heres a summary of how the SHVA ruling will affect PrimeTime 24 and Denver 5 subscribers:

PrimeTime 24 Networks

Customers who received PrimeTime 24 networks (CBS, FOX, NBC and/or ABC) and were involuntarily disconnected prior to October 31, 1999 will be able to receive their network signals again. The industry wide, network disconnects occurred in February and July of 1999.

Customers must have confirmation of eligibility, by law, with General Instruments.

Please note new PrimeTime 24 network customers are not automatically qualified under this ruling. In addition, the SHVA ruling does not apply to the ABC network for customers living within 75 miles of Raleigh.

Denver Networks

Customers who received the Denver networks (CBS, FOX, NBC and/or ABC) and were involuntarily disconnected prior to October 31, 1999 will be able to receive their network signals again. The industry wide, network disconnects occurred in February and July of 1999.

Customers must have confirmation of eligibility, by law, with General Instruments.

Please note unfortunately we cannot authorize new Denver network subscribers.

The Box Goes Interactive

The Box Music Network, an MTV Networks company, and ACTV's HyperTV Networks announced on Tuesday the national roll-out of BOX FUSION. Powered by ACTV's HyperTV software, BOX FUSION is a fully programmed interactive TV/web convergence service. Beginning April 10, The Box's cable viewers in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, 
Philadelphia, Miami, Phoenix, Baltimore, St. Louis and Seattle, among other cities, will get the music TV/Internet offering. Once the roll out is complete, around 12 million will have access to the service. 

MSNBC Delivers Local Content

MSNBC.com and Internet Broadcasting Systems reached an agreement to incorporate news content from 13 of IBS' local web channels into the MSNBC.com affiliate network. The partnership between IBS and MSNBC.com increases the reach of the MSNBC.com affiliate network to more than 90 local TV stations in the United States. 

AOL Taps CNET

CNET Networks will provide its broadband content through AOL Plus to members of the Internet service with high-speed access. AOL Plus, which can be downloaded by any AOL member using AOL 5.0 software over a broadband connection, offers enhanced, rich 
media content.

FOX SPORTS NET STAYING PUT 3/10/00

Fox Sports Net is staying analog at W3, 19, at least for the time being.

Justin Hibbs, the marketing manager for Fox Sports, said there is a good chance that the channel, rumoured to be following all the Fox Sports affiliates into the digital realm, will stay analog for up to nine months. "There are no plans to take it down anytime soon," he said.

As for those Fox Sports affiliates, which ditched the C-band analog format last year, Hibbs said that talks have turned a corner between General Instrument, Fox Sports and Liberty Media about including the channels onto 4DTV, a receiver designed to pick up digital VideoCipher signals.

"Things are looking good," said Hibbs. "Nothing official, but we've had a few conversations."

Galaxy X Replaces Galaxy 9.

On Monday, March 6, Galaxy X, a new dual C- and Ku-band satellite, replaced C-band satellite Galaxy 9 and Ku-band satellite SBS5 at 123 degrees west. Channels that were on Galaxy 9 have switched to Galaxy 10. Outdoor Channel plans to change transponders from 1 to 24 on Monday, March 13. Satellite ORBIT designates Galaxy X as G9, so dish owners do not have to reprogram their satellite receivers. Galaxy 9 is being moved from 123 degrees west to 127 degrees west (between G5 to the east and T7 to the west) and it will be used for additional C-band transmissions. Satellite ORBIT will designate Galaxy 9 at 127 degrees west as G0.

Free previews of Showtime Unlimiteds

Free previews of Showtime Unlimiteds services that began Friday, March 10, continue through Sunday, March 12. Dish owners with at least one VideoCipher II Plus subscription (and a digitally authorized 4DTV receiver) will be able to watch free previews on Showtime, Showtime 2, Showtime 3, Showtime Extreme, Showtime Beyond, The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel 2 and Flix.

PRIMETIME 24 CHANGES FOX   03/03/00

March 3, 2000 PrimeTime 24 has announced that they are changing their FOX feed from FoxNet on Satcom F1, channel 19 to WSVN, FOX-Miami, which is located on GE4, channel 17. The switch occurs at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 3. That puts all of PrimeTime 24's feeds on one satellite.
  Ironic that the FOX feed they choose is from Miami, the location of their biggest legal headaches in their existence. Miami District Judge Lenore Nesbit nearly shut the company down last year when she ruled that satellite delivery of network feeds was being conducted not in accordance with the law.

HBO to Launch New Spanish-Language Channel

This fall, HBO plans to launch HBO Latino. HBO Latino will air Spanish-language movies, sports-including boxing-and new and original programming. An exact launch date and satellite distribution has not been announced. It's very likely HBO Latino will be added to HBO's 4DTV channel lineup when it starts transmitting.

PRIMETIME 24 ANNOUNCES SATELLITE MOVE 02/15/00

Effective Tuesday, February 15, PrimeTime 24 will switch satellite locations to the new GE4 satellite. WKRN-ABC (Nashville, TN) will move to channel 22, WNBC-NBC (New York, NY) will move to channel 18, and WSEE-CBS (Erie, PA) will move to channel 24. From February 15-26, both the old GE1 and the new GE4 locations will be illuminated. From February 26-29, the GE1 channels will carry a message notifying subscribers of the new locations. These changes will not affect the PT24 FoxNet feed which remains on Satcom C1, channel 19.

FOX SPORTS CANS C-BAND

SSNFOX Sports will eschew the C-band universe altogether as of December 31, 1999, by shutting down all but two of its big dish feeds and converting them to digital which they believe will offer better back up, quality of service and security. The digital format that FOX Sports has chosen is not compatible with any consumer satellite receiver.

According to FOX Sports Net, the company is continuing to investigate ways to provide its signals to C-band customers, but at this time it is not possible. If you wish to prod them along, send a brief correspondence to FOX Sports Net, 100 E. Royal Lane, Suite 250, Irving, TX 75234.

All of the regional FOX Sports networks will cease C-band transmission on December 31 with the exception of FOX Sports World and FOX Sports Net. FOX Sports World is scheduled to cease its C-band feed on January 31, 2000 and there is no fixed date for FOX Sports Net.

STARZ!/Encore Gets Sony

 STARZ!/Encore Media Group inked a deal with Sony for first-run rights to the studio's theatricals. Because of the new agreement, Sony opted not to renew its agreement with HBO. The new pact with STARZ!/Encore, valued at $1.7 billion, starts in January 2005. Sony is expected to provide more than 
200 movies.

Music Choice To Feature Collective Soul 

Music Choice, a provider of commercial-free digital music via cable, satellite and the Internet, will feature Atlantic Records' Collective Soul for its February OnStage Concert. As part of the program, fans can enjoy a one-hour taped video performance via cable and the Internet, two free online  music downloads, and a 30-minute audio profile. 

BBC Hits 11 Million 

BBC America, the U.S.-based channel carrying content from the British Broadcasting Corp., said its service now reaches 11 million subscribers. While the network gets cable carriage, the numbers also are helped by the two DBS services, EchoStar's DISH Network and DIRECTV. 

Encore has moved to a new satellite location

Effective December, 30 1999, Starz! East and West, Starz! 2, and Westerns, formerly located on S-4 moved to the new feeds on G-6. Starz! East and West are now located at G6-17 and G6-18. Starz! 2 and Westerns are now located at G6-19 and G6-20. 

No More SSN (FOX Sports) On C-Band

Effective December 31, 1999, the SSN channels will no longer be available to C-Band customers. And effective, January 31, 2000, FOX Sports World will no
longer be available to C-Band customers. 

All you want is for your favorite NBA basketball team to win?

NBA basketball is in full swing, and the best place to follow all the backboard-bashing action is on TNT (G5-17) and TBS (G5-6). Click here for game schedules. 

Are you into tall tales?

Follow the fast-paced action and drama on WGN, G5-7, as the legendary Chicago Bulls seek a return to playoff and championship contention during the
1999-2000 NBA season. Click here for the 1999-2000 schedule. 

Puck-er up for icebreaking moves in January.

Tune in to ESPN, G5-9 and ESPN, G5-14, for a brand new National Hockey League season. Check out the over 100 games on ESPN and ESPN2. 

Important News About Your Networks 01/13/2000

Your network services have been saved due to the recent passing of the bill for the Satellite Home Viewer Act (SHVA). Here's what it means for C-Band subscribers: 

Denver 5 

If you subscribed to ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC network satellite services since October 31, 1999, then you can receive the Denver 5 networks with Grade A or Grade B restrictions. 

If you were turned off prior to October 31, 1999 because of a restriction, you will be able to receive your network signals again. However, you must have been active with C-Band services on October 31, 1999. 

PrimeTime 24 

If you subscribed to ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC network satellite services since October 31, 1999, then you can receive the PrimeTime 24 networks with Grade A or Grade B restrictions. 
 
If you were turned off prior to October 31, 1999 because of a restriction, you will be able to receive your network signals again. However, you must have been active with C-Band services on October 31, 1999. 

Please note - PrimeTime 24 is waiting for final approval from the judge in Florida. This means C-Band subscribers must still qualify to receive their networks. Superstar anticipates this to change, but for now, the law says we still need to verify your eligibility. You will be asked if you received network service on or before October
31, 1999. If you answer "yes" then we must confirm your response with the ACC. 

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