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Recently launched UK thematic service Channel Health plans to raise pounds5.1 million (E8.46 million) by issuing 35.7 million shares at 57p (E0.95) each. If successful the channel will be valued at pounds20.4 million (E33.85m), says the company prospectus. Intention is to create “a multi-platform distribution network providing a broad range of health and lifestyle content.” Dealing in the shares is expected to start on Aug 11, and the channel expects revenues to come from licensing content, premium phone lines, channel subscriptions, ads, sponsorship and programme co-production. Channel Health is the “brainchild” (says the prospectus) of ex-BSkyB staffer Joanne Sawicki, who will retain some 43 percent of the authorised share capital after floatation. One high-profile face who has links to the channel is former Dynasty star Joan Collins, who will be seen presenting six one-hour documentaries, ‘Joan Collins: My Secrets’ for the channel. The service went on air with Sky Digital in June, showing an eight-hour mix of health-related programming and old series (Ben Casey). The prospectus says Germany’s Einstein Channel has agreed Channel Health can be carried for up to 2 hours a day to Einstein’s estimated 500,000 subscribers. ‘Health’ says it has also identified Russia, Scandinavia and the Netherlands as additional short-term target broadcast areas and is developing production relationships in the USA, South Africa and Australia. NTL is currently testing the channel in the UK.

Worldspace has accepted their second satellite from Alcatel. AsiaStar (launched on March 21 2000) is in position at 105 degrees East. AfriStar was launched in October 1998, and Worldspace’s third craft is scheduled for launch in 2Q/2001. Alcatel have the contract to supply the satellites on an in-orbit basis. According to a company statement, AsiaStar underwent a testing period until June, and “after a thorough review…WorldSpace accepted the satellite in orbit.” WorldSpace has also signed an agreement with the BBC to carry various language-specific dedicated BBC World Service channels on AfriStar, with AsiaStar programming to follow soon. The BBC channels will be available free-to-air, and the move is designed to get BBC transmissions into countries with unfriendly local rules about the BBC and other ‘western’ broadcasts. However, as one observer has commented: “first, they have to get Worldspace receivers into such countries.”

The prospectus says Germany’s Einstein Channel has agreed Channel Health can be carried for up to 2 hours a day to Einstein’s estimated 500,000 subscribers. ‘Health’ says it has also identified Russia, Scandinavia and the Netherlands as additional short-term target broadcast areas and is developing production relationships in the USA, South Africa and Australia. NTL is currently testing the channel in the UK.

International Launch Services has won the launch contract for Madrid-based Hispasat 1D, its fourth satellite. Launch is scheduled aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS in 3Q/2002. ILS successfully launched Hispasat 1C last February, also on an Atlas 2AS. Hispasat 1D is prime contracted to Alcatel Space on a Spacebus 3000 bus.

Intelsat (due to be privatised on April 1 2001) confirmed Aug 3 that the limited liability company had received FCC approval allowing the company to inherit the original Intelsat C- and Ku-Band licences.

LEO service Globalstar is now available in Russia via GlobalTel. Currently basic telephony, voice-mail and SMS service are live, although the company says fax and data services will be added early next year. Initially, service is being run through GlobalTel’s Moscow gateway. Later this quarter, it will open gateways in Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk, which will extend service from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources have been selected by state broadcaster Doordarshan in India to advise on upgrading and modernising Doord-arshan’s studios and systems ahead of the introduction of digital terrestrial TV.

Telewest Communications has appointed Richard Newton as programme director of it technology division. He will be responsible for project and programme management within the division. Newton joins Telewest from Ernst & Young. During a secondment to Telewest in 1999, he helped introduce the digital TV programme.

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