Multiplex. By the closing date on 31 January 1997, four
applications had been received, as follows:
     For Multiplexes B, C and D
"    British Digital Broadcasting PLC (BDB)
"    Digital Television Network Limited (DTN)
     For the Channel 3/4 Multiplex
"     Digital 3 and 4 Limited
     For Multiplex A
"    S4C Digital Networks Limited (SDN)
        BDB informed the ITC that its shareholders had
reached a legally binding agreement that BSkyB will withdraw
as a shareholder in BDB and will continue to supply its
programming as envisaged in BDB's application. Carlton and
Granada have each agreed to acquire half of BSkyB's
shareholding in BDB and to assume BSkyB's funding
commitments. The ITC considered that it would be consistent
with its competition duties and would not be in breach of
European Community law to award these licences to BDB,
subject to these changes in BDB's shareholding structure and
the award of the licences is therefore conditional upon the
changes taking place before the licences are granted. BDB's
licences will contain a condition restricting Granada from
acquiring control of BDB in the light of Granada's
significant shareholding in BSkyB.
                              
              Orion Network Systems Opens Latin America
     Orion Network Systems has established strategic
alliances in 14 Latin American countries and will begin
providing network communications services in Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,
From: Satjournal@aol.com
Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Paraguay.  Orion is also
exploring similar agreements in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay,
Bolivia and other nations throughout the Caribbean, Central
and South America.
     Orion's Latin American requirements for space segment
are being arranged with satellite systems including
Solidaridad, Intelsat and PanAmSat.  It is anticipated that
these customers will be transitioned to the Orion 2
satellite which is currently under construction and
scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 1999.  Orion 2
will be located at 12 degrees West Longitude and will
provide high-power Ku-band network systems in Latin America,
North America, Europe and the Middle East with both trans-
Atlantic and pan-Latin American, European, North American
and Middle Eastern beams.
                              
               Hughes signs contract and sues
     Hughes Electronics Corp. agreed to buy at least five
launches on Long March rockets from China Great Wall
Industry Corp.
     The first launch could be as early as late 1998, with
the others following about once a year.  Hughes has an
undisclosed number of options for additional vehicles.
     The contract includes one Long March 3 rocket, which
can accommodate Hughes' HS 376 small satellite model, and
four of the more powerful Long March 3B versions.  The Long
March 3B can lift the larger HS 601 and new HS 702 models.
     Hughes has also filed a lawsuit against Lockheed Martin
alleging that Lockheed reneged on launch-option agreements.
The lawsuit seeks more than $550 million in damages.  The
breach-of-contract lawsuit was filed in California state
court.
     
                              
                      Upcoming Launches
    "    Check our web site for current listings of 1997
                          launches.
                "    Click on "Launch Info".
     Next Ariane Launch          Next Atlas/Delta Launch
   PAS 6 --August 7, 1997        Iridium -- July 8, 1997
         Flight 98
Satellite          PAS -6
Manufacturer    Space Systems
                    Loral
Type               FS 1300
Stabilisation      3-axis
Payload          36 Ku Band
Coverage        Argentina and
                   Brasil
Orbital            43 East
Position
Mission          DBS Service
                              
                              
            New files and documents at our WebStand
1    DVB News International Vol. 2 No 4
1    PBS Monthly Programming Schedule
1    PBS Weekly Previews
1    A&E Prime Time Schedule
                              
                          In Brief
"    Orbcomm Japan will begin interactive data
 communications services in Japan in spring 1998 using a low-
 orbit satellite.
"     Telesistemasis  invested US$2.5mil to set up a
 teleport (digital MPG-2 compressed signals), at Belgrano.
 The teleport will broadcast the channels signal to the
 Nahuel I satellite.
"    China announced it will launch the Apstar 2R satellite
 no earlier than the end of August
"    Construction of an Australian low earth orbit satellite
 is expected to start before the end of this year. The 400 kg
 ARIES-1 is planned for launch in 2000 The satellite will
 monitor the globe on a regular basis to assess the extent
 and condition of crops and forests and to map land
 degradation, such as overgrazing and salinity.
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