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Astrolink, the Lockheed Martin/ Telespazio/TRW-backed broadband satellite project, has closed a $900 million equity investment, initially announced in May. Astrolink secured the investment following regulatory approval for the project on competition grounds in the EU and approval by the US State Department for the necessary technology transfers between the US and Europe. Astrolink’s Ka-band satellite system will use the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus. With a life span of about 15 years, the A2100 is compatible with a wide array of launch vehicles. Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems will build the Astrolink satellites, using high-capacity, packet-switched payloads manufactured by TRW Space & Electronics Group. The $3.6 billion constellation will range between four and nine geosynchronous satellites, depending on customer demand
Canal Plus Polska and its digital bouquet Cyfra+ have secured a US$190 million credit facility from Citibank, Dutch ABN AMRO Bank and Banque Paribas. The finance will be used for the development of further niche channels and an advertising campaign. The banks are to establish a consortium this September by when the agreement is expected to be signed. Other financial institutions have been invited to join the consortium. The credit facility has been granted for a period of seven years.
According to an article in a French weekly magazine, TPS’ recent bids for football will take its toll on other aspects of the economics of the bouquet. Accordingly, said the report, TPS is cutting back on its plan to launch new film channels in the autumn. A single channel will be launched, to be called CineFAZ (Films from A to Z). The channel will be intended for young adults and will be included in the basic.
A new events and arts channel broadcasting from Germany to Europe has launched on cable and satellite. Worldhaus TV, which is based in Weimar, Europe’s culture capital of 1999, launched on June 13 on the city’s local cable network. Since July 1, the channel has been available on Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 3 satellite at 13 degrees East. At the inception of the satellite transmission, airtime was extended from 12 to 24 hours a day. The unencryted feed is relayed by open/public channels on cable networks in several larger European towns and cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Glasgow. Additionally, European cultural channel Arte takes over Worldhaus TV during its night-time hours (0300 and 0600 CET). Worldhaus TV is limited to 99 days on-air and is scheduled to cease broadcasting on September 19.
One of the leading media groups in Italy, Milan-based RCS Editori, has confirmed it has firm plans to enter the country’s increasingly competitive pay-TV market. In an interview for Prima Communicazione magazine, RCS president Cesare Romiti said his company will "soon" choose a partner between one of the two Italian digital platforms, Telepiu or Stream. He added that RCS is in "advanced talks" with both RAI, Canal Plus and with News Corp. Romiti also said RCS intends to launch a package of thematic TV channels focusing on news, sports, fashion and fitness that would draw on the group’s magazine brands.
BVN (Best of Flanders and the Netherlands), the satellite station which broadcasts selected output of the public broadcasters in The Netherlands and Belgium, has secured carriage covering the USA on the DBS platform operated by Kelly Broadcasting System. BVN will become part of Kelly’s SkyVista package on Telstar 5. From the beginning of September, subscribers will be able to gain access to the service for US$5 a month. In Europe BVN can be watched on Astra 1G and during the night from 0100 till 0300 also on Hotbird 3.
Via Digital has begun test transmissions for a new premium football channel Futbol Total will launch in September with a schedule that includes exclusive coverage of the UEFA Champions League. There will also be news coverage following the progress of the Spanish teams, together with extensive highlights, and features on historical matches. Futbol Total will be on-air 15 hours a day.
Investment analysts at Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock of Modern Times Group from ‘outperform’ to ‘neutral’ in the wake of a surge in the Swedish group’s share price following its decision to invest with Netcom in an Internet portal for Scandinavia known as everyday.com.

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