****** Showtime Networks ****** Death, it's not the end of the world. It's just the beginning. Don't miss the 2nd season of DEAD LIKE ME, the irreverent, quirky series about life after life. And, he has a hit show, a sold-out DVD, now he's talking to Showtime: DAVE CHAPPELLE LIVE. It's raw. It's provocative. It's a Showtime Comedy Event. Life just got his attention. Don't miss !HUFF, the New Showtime Original Series starring Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt and Blythe Danner. Coming in November. Showtime. Taking premium to places it's never been. ****** http://www.sho.com ******
-------------------------------------------------------------- Which is worse - cable or DBS piracy? Cast your vote in SkyREPORT's Sky Poll - http://www.skyreport.com -------------------------------------------------------------- SkyREPORT 09/24/2004 - Still No Moves for Sat Bills ****** Multicom, Inc. ****** Multicom, Inc. is a stocking distributor of more than 6,000 products serving the cable TV and DBS industries. Save! - Don't Over-buy! Visit our website to see product comparison charts at http://www.multicominc.com For further information please give us a call at 1-800-423-2594 ****** http://www.multicominc.com ****** Today's Headlines: Still No Moves for Sat Bills, Biz Eyes McCain Proposal FCC Eyes Ownership Issues with Cablevision, MVDDS DirecTV Weathers the Storm SkyFILES: Random Thoughts PROGRAMMING: It's All Politics on Showtime ****** PACE Electronics ****** PACE Electronics has been in the television reception and distribution business since 1972 offering its equipment to both consumer and commercial dealers nationwide. 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/products.asp?referrer=coax ****** Still No Moves for Sat Bills, Biz Eyes McCain Proposal As the week comes to an end, there still wasn't any movement on key satellite TV legislation on Capitol Hill. There is talk that a hearing on bills impacting the satellite TV industry may move to the House floor next week. On the Senate side, where two pieces of legislation await action, there hasn't been any news. Satellite TV needs critical items passed in the legislation such as its compulsory license for superstations and distant networks, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Meanwhile, legislation sponsored by Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican and chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, is gaining more attention due to its proposal to help consumers obtain access to digital TV when analog TV feeds are shut off. McCain's bill, which aims to allocate spectrum for public safety issues as well as push forward the digital TV transition, contains language pertaining to subsidies for devices consumers can use to obtain digital TV signals if they still have analog TV sets. The bill also has a proposal that would provide payment for a one-time installation of equipment required for residential reception of services provided by a multichannel distributor, such as cable or satellite TV. A key part of McCain's bill was gutted during a hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. Lawmakers took out a provision that would've required broadcasters to cease analog broadcasts and convert to digital TV by 2009. (For story, see: http://www.skyreport.com/viewskyreport.cfm?ReleaseID=1490) ****** AGEMNI ****** Collect your commissions for FREE. DishStar The web application for Satellite Retailers. Visit http://www.agemni.com ****** http://www.agemni.net/programming.asp ****** FCC Eyes Ownership Issues with Cablevision, MVDDS The Federal Communications Commission granted DTV Norwich, the Cablevision-backed entity that holds licenses for Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS), an extension to come into compliance with rules governing cross-ownership issues. Cablevision, which has a large presence in the New York City area, holds a 49 percent indirect interest in DTV Norwich. FCC rules prohibit an entity that has interests in a cable operation from having an interest in an MVDDS licensee if the cable operator's service area significantly overlaps the MVDDS license area. In order to avoid any conflict, DTV Norwich was made part of Cablevision's planned spin-off of a group of assets that also includes VOOM, the Cablevision-backed satellite TV service. The FCC granted DTV Norwich an extension of 270 days for it to come into compliance with the MVDDS/cable cross-ownership rule. Satellite interests have been closely watching MVDDS at the FCC. The service will share frequencies used by DBS, and that has some worried about potential interference with small dish services. ****** 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 ****** DirecTV Weathers the Storm How well did DirecTV manage the hurricanes that recently blew through Florida? With flying colors, stated one customer of the satellite TV company. A subscriber in Palm Beach wrote DirecTV about the service before, during and after a recent storm. The customer had a DirecTV system hooked up to a generator, which allowed for TV reception of critical news and information and (more importantly for the viewer) access to HBO. The customer reported 115 mph winds blowing through the neighborhood, as well as trees falling to the ground and debris traveling through the air. During the entire time the hurricane ravaged the area, the DirecTV satellite dish remained intact on the roof. "Let me tell you when they put that dish up its not going anywhere," the customer wrote DirecTV. That's great news for satellite TV viewers in the Sunshine State. The not so great news for cable customers: According to the Florida-based DirecTV customer, cable service in the area is still out and may be out for weeks. ****** Applied Telcomm ****** Applied Telcomm is a top distributor of quality Satellite Installation Supplies and Tools for the Communications Industry. Visit our new Web Site at http://www.appliedtel.com To view our on-line catalog and find current Specials ****** http://www.appliedtel.com/catalog_index.htm ****** SkyFILES: Random Thoughts by Michael Hopkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] *A Gem of a Company ... DirecTV isn't the only U.S.-based News Corp.-controlled company that's firing on all cylinders. Gemstar TV-Guide, the company known for its interactive program guide technology, has News Corp. as its largest shareholder. This week, the company announced that Hitachi America will put its IPG technology into digital TV sets. Earlier this month, Gemstar said Panasonic was licensed to put its IPG technology into digital recording devices and televisions sold in Europe. TVG Network, Gemstar's interactive horseracing channel, was launched on Comcast cable systems in 13 markets this month. And the net inked a deal with the New York Racing Association for television and account wagering rights for races at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga Racecourses. Add to that a few recent court victories, and Gemstar (which once had a reputation as a company not that didn't exactly have its feet firmly planted on the ground) appears to be an emerging winner in TV technology circles. *Fighting the Pirates ... DirecTV recently won two key cases concerning piracy. One was in Colorado, in which a federal judge fined an end-user $10,000 (the maximum allowed under federal law) plus attorney fees for allegedly using illicit satellite TV reception equipment. In Phoenix, a man was sentenced to four months in jail and three years probation for unlawful possession of an access device and facilitation of computer tampering. And in Utah, DirecTV filed suit against a couple for allegedly setting up a fraudulent scheme to obtain programming from the satellite TV company for consumers by setting up false subscription accounts and illegally activating receivers. DirecTV's piracy-fighting efforts have always been in the spotlight. And another DBS company (DISH Network) is experiencing piracy challenges of its own. For more on satellite TV's battle with the pirates, as well as cable's signal security efforts, check out the October issue of The BRIDGE (http://www.mbc-thebridge.com). *Where the Air is Thin ... During the week, I received comments concerning my last column on the NHL lockout and carriage of Denver-based Altitude Sports and Entertainment on EchoStar's DISH Network. While some will miss TV coverage of Avalanche hockey, readers reminded me that the regional sports network will still deliver Nuggets basketball plus game action from local college sports teams. In fact, this past weekend, I caught the Idaho State/Northern Colorado match up on Altitude (via DISH Network). And as an alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado, I was happy to finally see coverage of the Bears (even though my college team lost in overtime to the Bengals from Pocatello). It's terrific Altitude has stepped up and is delivering coverage of local colleges that haven't before had the TV exposure. The network also has a deal in place with the organization overseeing Colorado high school sports concerning TV coverage. So far, Altitude has carriage deals in place with DISH Network, Adelphia and a handful of smaller cable companies. Nonetheless, the lack of Avs coverage isn't going unnoticed, and that (plus other factors - probably associated with carriage costs) may have hurt the RSN's chance for carriage on Comcast and DirecTV. Do you have a comment or letter for SkyFILES? Write the editors at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note, your comments may be used for our Web site. ****** The BRIDGE for October 2004 ****** Illicit Copying, "sharing", digital cable filters, black boxes ... If these words make you uncomfortable ... Read the October issue of The BRIDGE, The Fight for Signal Security! ****** http://www.mbc-thebridge.com/ ****** PROGRAMMING: It's All Politics on Showtime There are three remaining candidates on Showtime's political reality series, "American Candidate." They are Park Gilespie, Malia Lazu and Lisa Witter. This Sunday, and on Oct. 3, viewers can elect the winner of the TV series by calling a toll-free number or text messaging number available by watching the show. The winner will be announced on the final episode Oct. 10, Showtime said. VH1 Classic Features Styx - Tonight at 6 p.m. Eastern, VH1 Classic will feature Styx and its newest album entitled, "Cyclorama." The hour-long program also will feature videos from the band and a visit from band member James Young. --------------- 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). 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