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European Radio Network (ERN), a subsidiary of London-based World Radio Network (WRN), has launched EuroMax on Astra (19.2 degrees East), replacing WRN’s German-language service. EuroMax Deutsch re-broadcasts selected German-language programmes produced by various public European radio channels such as Radio Sweden, ORF Austria, Radio France Internationale and Radio Vlaanderen International. The channel uses the analogue subcarrier 7.38 MHz on MTV Germany’s transponder 27 (11.612 GHz H). Two additional EuroMax services in French and English will launch in the second half of this year. On 20 December 1999, ERN’s first channel EuroMix, rebroadcasting programmes in various languages, had launched on Hot Bird (13 degrees East).
Germany’s broad and competitive free-to-air television market will gain a new addition at the beginning of 2001 when Kinowelt launches its own TV channel. According to managing director Michael Kolmel, the channel will air movies and series to which Kinowelt owns the rights but that would have otherwise been sold to other broadcasters. He said that the company currently possesses the rights to 600 hours of series and 10,000 movies, among them classic titles like Ben Hur and Gone with the Wind. Kinowelt’s financial director Eduard Unzeitig added that he expects the channel to loose more than DM100 million (Euro 51 million) until the financial break-even foreseen for 2003 takes place.
UPCtv, the television subsidiary of Amsterdam-based cable operator UPC, will encrypt its digital package on Telstar 12 (15 degrees West) "as soon as possible". According to a spokesman, the Cryptoworks system developed by Philips will be used. He said that most UPCtv channels currently uplinked in Amsterdam and Maidstone in the UK would move soon to Berghaus Plaza in Amsterdam with encryption starting at the same time, "in a few weeks". The spokesman said that the UPCtv channels are only intended for cable distribution with the exception of Reality TV which is distrbuted to DTH homes receiving UPC’s Polish Wizja TV digital package on Astra (19.2 degrees East). He said there were no plans to market more channels for DTH reception as they are offered to cable operators as "cable exclusive" channels.
Following hard on the news that the Saudi Arabian MMDS project has been curtailed, local reports suggest that the so-called satellite dish and decoder ban is to be formally lifted. While largely ignored, with dishes and decoders widely available at much the same prices as elsewhere in the Gulf, the ban has been a continued worry for equipment importers and distributors. That Saudi Arabia is taking such a lead, and in such a high profile manner, is seen locally as a radical move by this most conservative of Arab States. As regards other Gulf countries, Qatar still enforces a total dish ban (in favour of local telco’s Q-Tel MMDS multichannel service) while Bahrain maintains a policy of "discouraging" dishes.
MTV Networks International has taken an equity stake in MTV Russia, which was previously a Biz Enterprises licensing operation. Bill Roedy, president of MTV Networks, said the Moscow-based channel had enjoyed a "remarkable" first year of operation.
Amsterdam-based New Skies Satellite NV has been granted rights to new orbital slots over the US. The positions are 105 degrees West, 125 degrees West, 120.8 degrees West and 133 degrees West. The slots give Conus coverage as well as footprints over South America.
BT Broadcast Services has launched a news service for broadcasters that want to send live or taped reports from Washington DC locations to the rest of the US and the world. BT is partnering Mobile Video Services Ltd which has an office rooftop close to the White House.
BSkyB has purchased the Sky.com Internet address from Sky Computers of Massachusetts for an undisclosed amount, reported to be in the region of Pounds 600,000. Sky.co.uk requests will now default to the new address. BSkyB wants to unify its Internet sites at a single location. Meanwhile, Meirion Alcock has joined as head of online retail commerce at BSkyB from Flextech, where he served as general manager of ScreenShop UK from 1997-99.
Teledesic has appointed long time Hughes staffer Bob Day as vice president of space technology and Paul Regulinski as vice president of systems technology.

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