SkyREPORT E-News
Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:11:21 -0700
****** HBO ****** There are 32 teams in the NFL. All you need to know is one. The show the pros watch. "INSIDE THE NFL" Wednesdays at 10pm/9c Beginning Sept. 15 ****** http://www.hbo.com ****** -------------------------------------------------------------- Buying a sports package? Cast your vote in SkyREPORT's Sky Poll - http://www.skyreport.com -------------------------------------------------------------- SkyREPORT 08/30/2004 - DirecTV Gets Pegasus Subs, DBS Assets ****** Jayco Ventures Inc. ****** Jayco Ventures, Inc. (JVI) is the industries leading supplier of installation products for the DBS industry. From residential drop material to commercial SMATV gear, JVI has the largest selection of approved parts in the DBS industry. For product information, to get a full line catalog, or to find a JVI distributor near you, call 800-841-7970 or visit us on the web at www.jviparts.com. "Countless unseen, details make the difference." ****** http://www.jviparts.com ****** Today's Headlines: DirecTV Gets Pegasus Subs, DBS Assets Digital Subs Grow in Canada Analysis: Expect More Intense Competition Satellite-Based Home2US Aims for Niche Audiences PEOPLE: A Promotion for Polka ****** Hughes Network Systems ****** One-third of the population is underserved by broadband. Give your customers the high-speed access they crave with DIRECWAY The satellite broadband solution that's available now, everywhere in the continental U.S and Puerto Rico. To become a dealer, call 1-800-859-5167, or visit http://dealers.DIRECWAY.com for details ****** http://dealers.DIRECWAY.com ****** DirecTV Gets Pegasus Subs, DBS Assets As expected, DirecTV completed the acquisition of DBS assets controlled by Pegasus Satellite Television, which includes rights to all DirecTV subscribers activated through Pegasus in its rural territories. The move made Friday follows Maine bankruptcy court approval of a settlement between DirecTV, Pegasus and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. Pegasus sold DirecTV in rural areas through its NRTC affiliates in 41 states. The sale of Pegasus Satellite's assets to DirecTV totaled $938 million, including $875 million in cash. DirecTV said it expects to complete the migration of Pegasus customers to DirecTV within 30 to 45 days. The satellite TV company said it's working with Pegasus to ensure a seamless migration of customers to its service, and DirecTV customers in Pegasus territories will continue to receive uninterrupted service during the transition process. Pegasus had about 1.08 million customers as of June 1. A number of Pegasus subsidiaries, including Pegasus Satellite Television, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. On Aug. 2, DirecTV and Pegasus announced an agreement that would allow the satellite TV company to purchase Pegasus' primary DBS assets. ****** Pace Electronics ****** A PACE exclusive! Now introducing Tradewind International Products. From 100% quality controlled micro-modulators to exclusive 4-way ground blocks, Tradewind International Products are a step above the rest. For product information and to receive a 2004 product catalog, call us at 800-444-7223 or visit us on the web at www.pacemso.com. (we are nationwide) ****** http://www.pacemso.com/products/connectors.asp?referrer=jumbo ****** Digital Subs Grow in Canada Canada's pay-TV distributors added slightly more net digital TV subscribers in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, according to new research from Ottawa-based Decima Research. The number of Canadian households subscribing to digital TV subscription services increased by an estimated 3 percent, or about 113,582, in the first quarter (November/December 2003 to February/March 2004), compared to an estimated 3 percent or about 102,432 for the previous year (November/December 2002 to February/March 2003), Decima said. The number of digital TV subscribers in Canada topped an estimated 3.9 million as of February/March, representing a year-over-year increase of an estimated 12 percent or about 428,618 subscribers, the research firm said. The number of Canadian satellite TV subscribers increased by 1 percent, or 22,483, during the first quarter, compared to 1 percent, or 30,041, recorded for the same period last year, Decima said. Digital cable subscribers in Canada increased by an estimated 5 percent, or about 83,921, in first quarter 2004, compared to an estimated 6 percent, or about 71,819, in first quarter 2003. The latest digital TV subscriber numbers are contained in the latest installment of Decima's quarterly digital TV market overview report series, titled "The Digital Domain: Tracking the Growth and Development of the Canadian Digital TV Distribution Market." For more on the report, visit http://www.thedigitaldomain.ca. ****** SkyWay USA, Inc. ****** SkyWay USA, an 'open standard" satellite broadband program offers satellite dealers up-front pay, no cost & no charge-back standard equipment, acquired liquidity value of each subscriber, national dial-up ISP capabilities and the highest paying monthly residuals ever paid in the industry. The SkyWay USA program allows satellite dealers to offer nationwide dial-up Internet services and satellite broadband primarily to the 30 million households located in rural markets where DSL, cable modem or other terrestrial broadband solutions are not available. Interested Satellite dealers should apply online at www.skywayusa.com to secure entry into their local markets. ****** http://www.skywayusa.com/dealers/profile.asp ****** Analysis: Expect More Intense Competition The competitive landscape for pay-TV is expected to get more intense, says one research firm. Vamsi Sistla, director of broadband and residential entertainment technologies at ABI Research, says competing platforms have created more choice within the pay-TV market. "Consumers no longer think, 'my house is already wired for cable, that's what I'll use'," he said. "Leading service providers are already partnering with builders to include a fiber option in new homes. The same goes for satellite operators," Sistla says, adding that the increased variety gives subscribers leverage to negotiate better deals, and puts price pressure on operators. A study from ABI Research, "Video Subscribers: Cable, DBS, Terrestrial and IP Systems" examines global trends in subscriber growth across the major video platforms, and takes a look at advanced features such as video-on-demand, PVRs and HD. The report suggests that by 2009, DBS will claim more than twice the worldwide market share of digital cable, while the cable industry will still maintain a lead over DBS in North America. Another challenge for providers in this environment is churn, Sistla says. With so many options, consumers are more likely to frequently change platforms or service providers. "It's now harder, but more important, for operators to create 'stickiness' in subscribers," Sistla says. "High quality and variety of content isn't enough any more. What got video providers this far will not carry them into the future. They have to differentiate themselves. They may achieve that by strategies such as bundling, or by top-notch customer service, or by frequent special promotions and incentives for continued loyalty." ****** ProBusinessTools ****** I want efficency I want higher productivity I want order processing I want ProBusinessTools Get ProBusinessTools Now Click here ****** http://www.probusinesstools.com ****** Satellite-Based Home2US Aims for Niche Audiences Please welcome the latest satellite-based satellite TV platform to serve niche U.S. audiences. Home2US Communications, based in Herndon, Va., is operating an open pay television platform, and is using SES Americom's AMC-4 satellite for its service. Home2US said it will enable international broadcasters to distribute prime television channels to ethnic audiences across the United States. As part of its debut, Home2US said it signed an agreement with Viaccess, a France Telecom company, for conditional access technology. ****** Satellite Under Eave Mounts ****** TILE ROOF INSTALLATIONS MADE EASY FREE SHIPPING! ****** http://www.eavemounts.com ****** PEOPLE: A Promotion for Polka The American Cable Association, which represents small cable operators, promoted Matt Polka president and chief executive officer. ACA Chairman Jim Gleason, president of New Wave Communications, said the promotion and related staff growth come as a "direct result of the positive gains already made by ACA and a strategic effort to provide the organization and its members with the support to further ACA's mission as Congress begins rewriting current telecommunications laws in 2005." Gordon Joins BET - Donovan Gordon, a former executive with Showtime, joined BET as senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing. Gordon will replace Lee Chaffin, who left the network last spring to pursue other business interests. McMullen to Head OutQ - Sirius Satellite Radio named John McMullen station manager for Sirius OutQ, the full-time talk radio channel dedicated to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community. As station manager, McMullen will develop partnerships with other media, organizations and individuals. And he will continue to host his popular Sirius OutQ radio show, The John McMullen Show, which airs weekdays at 11 a.m. Eastern. Huguez Joins Starz - Edward Huguez was named executive vice president, sales, for Starz. Huguez comes to Starz from Midstream Technologies, where he served for three years as president, CEO and chairman. Midstream is a Seattle-based company that provides interactive and video-on-demand technology to cable companies. ****** The BRIDGE ****** Got a question about Cable? Satellite? Get the answers you need in your own personal broadband library. Check out our archives... ****** http://www.mbc-thebridge.com ****** --------------- Important Subscriber Information! --------------- SIGN UP FOR MORE INDUSTRY CRITICAL NEWS FROM MBC or manage your subscription or unsubscribe: http://www.skyreport.com/register.cfm ------------------------------------------------------------------ Advertising Info - http://www.skyreport.com/mediakit_2004.pdf SkyRETAILER: http://www.skyretailer.com | The BRIDGE: http://www.mbc-thebridge.com MBC-Datasouce: http://www.mbc-datasource.com | SkyRESEARCH: http://www.skyreport.com/skyresearch.cfm CableRETAILER: http://www.cableretailer.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright  2004 Media Business Corp (MBC). Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of MBC is prohibited. MBC and MBC logo are trademarks of Media Business Corp. SkyREPORT.com is wholly owned and operated by MBC. 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