Satellite Today articles from August 2001

Satellite Today archives from August 2001

Struggling PanAmSat Lays Off Employees.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT], one of the largest satellite services company, is in the process of laying off an undisclosed number of its 800 employees. The layoffs were confirmed by Scott Tagliarino, vice president for corporate and marketing...

C-SPAN Leases Two Transponders From GE Americom.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... C-SPAN, the cable TV industry's public affairs programming service, has agreed to lease transponder capacity on two yet-to-be-built GE Americom satellites, GE-10 and GE-11, starting in 2004. The capacity will amount to two transponders,...

Loral, Global Knowledge Team On Satellite-Delivered Training.(Loral Space and Communications)(Global Knowledge Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Loral Cyberstar unit of Loral Space and Communications [LOR] and Global Knowledge Inc. have signed a joint marketing agreement to use Loral satellites to deliver information technology training courses directly to users desktops. ...

Hughes Sells $130 Million Worth Of Thomson Shares.(Hughes Electronics Corp.)(Thomson Multimedia S.A.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Hughes Electronics Corp. [GMH] said yesterday its DirecTv Enterprises Inc. subsidiary sold 4.1 million shares of Thomson Multimedia S.A. [TMS], the manufacturer of RCA consumer earth stations for the DirecTv system, for about $130 million....

Andrew Gets Hub Earth Station Contract From HNS.(Hughes Network Systems)(Andrew Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Andrew Corp. [ANDW] of Orland Park, Ill., announced yesterday that Hughes Network Systems (HNS) has selected it to supply Ka-band hub earth stations as part of HNS' Spaceway satellite system. Spaceway is a Ka-band system being built by the...

GM's Delphi Gets XM OK To Build Satellite Radios.(Delphi Automotive Systems Corp.)(XM Satellite Radio)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Delphi Automotive Systems [DPH], the auto electronics supplier for General Motors Corp. [GM], announced yesterday that it is the first manufacturer to be type certified to build satellite radios for the XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] system. ...

PanAmSat Gains More Ku-Band Capacity Through JSAT Venture.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2001... Wilton, Conn.-based PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT] has secured access to badly needed Ku-band capacity by agreeing to a joint venture with Japan's JSAT, the companies announced yesterday in Tokyo. It turns out that Japan has rights to the 127[ordinal...

Orbital Sciences Finally Turns A Profit.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 2, 2001... After a lengthy profit drought, Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] reported yesterday a second quarter net income of $66.6 million, or $1.75 per share, on revenue of $1.19 billion. It was the company's first positive report for several quarters and...

NFL Chooses Loral Skynet For "Sunday Ticket".(Brief Article)
August 2, 2001... If it's August, can the NFL on Sundays be far behind? Hardly. As part of its preparations, the NFL has chosen the Loral Skynet unit of Loral Space and Communications [LOR] and PanAmSat [SPOT] to broadcast its "Sunday Ticket" programming...

Industry Veteran Tom Tuttle Joins Tachyon.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2001... Tachyon Inc., a satellite-based Internet delivery company, has named F. Thomas Tuttle, a long-time veteran of the satellite industry, as its senior vice president for legal affairs and business development. He will be based at the company's...

XM Radio Suppliers Order 170,000 Chipsets.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2001... STMicroelectronics [STM] said yesterday that manufacturers preparing to build radios for the XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] system have ordered 170,000 of its custom-designed chip sets. At least 70,000 of the two-chip sets are to be delivered...

EchoStar Begins New Deep Discount Program.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2001... Building on its recent subscriber growth, EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] has launched a deep discounting program for new customers, effective through Oct. 31. When new subscribers buy a Dish Network DBS TV system for $199 or higher,...

DirecTv, HNS Join Hands To Sell Internet Service.(Hughes Network Systems )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... DirecTv Inc. and Hughes Network Systems have made it official. DirecTv is going to market HNS' DirecWay Internet service. The two companies announced their anticipated joint marketing arrangement yesterday at the Satellite Broadcasting and...

Eutelsat's Invests In Hispasat As Part Of Latin American Play.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Paris-based Eutelsat has agreed to buy a 21 percent stake in Spain's Hispasat for 210 million euros ($185 million), beating out archrival Societe Europeenne des Satellites in the bidding for the Madrid-based company. Eutelsat's investment...

Satellite Export Licensing Measure Passes House Committee.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... A measure backed by the satellite industry that proposes to switch satellite-licensing authority back to the Commerce Department, from the State Department, was approved yesterday by the House International Relations Committee as an amendment...

Boeing Gets $130.8 Million Contract For Weather Satellite Instruments.(Boeing Satellite Systems)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Boeing Satellite Systems has won a contract to supply advanced weather satellite instruments worth at least $130.8 million, with a potentially value of $298 million. Under the contract, the satellite unit of The Boeing Co. [BA] will...

DirecTv Offers More Than $300 Worth Of Free Programming.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... As DBS broadcasters enter their busiest selling season, DirecTv Inc. has begun what it describes as its "most aggressive promotion to date," offering subscribers more than $300 worth of free programming. Of course, there are strings...

Sirius To Carry E! Entertainment Programming.(Sirius Satellite Radio )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] said it will carry 24-hour programming from E! Entertainment Television and E! Online on its satellite radio system. The programming will include the Emmy-nominated E! True Hollywood Story,...

FCC Licenses 11 Ka-band Applicants After Long-Delayed 2nd Round.(Federal Communications Commission)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... The Federal Communications Commission has finally awarded satellite licenses in the second Ka-band processing round, which lasted five years. Now comes the hard part as winners face the daunting challenge of raising money to build their...

Hewitt, Paul Confirm Resignations From SBCA Leadership.(Chuck Hewitt, Andy Paul, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association)(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The president and executive vice president of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association formally confirmed their resignations from the trade group here last week. SBCA founding President Chuck Hewitt, 61,...

HNS Announces Two New DirecTv Receivers.(Hughes Network Systems)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... Hughes Network Systems, a major supplier of receivers for the DirecTv system, announced a new receiver line, the Director Pack and Executive Director Pack, with enhanced picture quality, TruSurround Dolby-certified audio and other features....

Comsat Mobile, Four Inmarsat Terminal Suppliers Hold Sale.(Comsat Mobile Communications)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... The Comsat Mobile Communications (CMC) unit of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications said it has teamed with four Inmarsat terminal suppliers to offer customers up to $1,100 in savings on equipment and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital...

Intelsat's U.S. Customers Can Now Use Earth Stations Domestically.(Brief Article)
August 6, 2001... The newly privatized Intelsat said last week that the Federal Communications Commission had lifted its ban on U.S. customers using its earth stations for domestic communications on the Intelsat system. Previously, they had been limited to...

Orbital Agrees To Sell Sensor Division For $20 Million.(Orbital Sciences Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... Continuing its program of selling non-core assets to pay off its debt, Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] announced last Friday that it has agreed to sell Sensor Systems Division in Pomona, Calif., to the Hamilton Sundstrand unit of United...

Court TV Signs With GE Americom For GE 11.(GE American Communications)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 6, 2001... GE American Communications said Court TV signed a multi-year agreement for Court TV to use follow-on C-band capacity on GE's new GE 11 satellite, which will replace its Satcom C3 in 2004. The agreement was announced last week, but...

Ergen Launches Unsolicited Bid For Hughes Electronics.
August 7, 2001... Charlie Ergen, the irrepressible founder, chairman and CEO of EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH], took his pursuit of DirecTv Inc. public over the weekend. In an open letter to members of the General Motors Corp. [GM] board of directors,...

EMS Technologies Sells Shares In Private Placement.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 7, 2001... EMS Technologies Inc. [ELMG] of Norcross, Ga., a technology supplier to the satellite and wireless industries, announced yesterday that it had sold around 1.3 million common shares in a private placement to institutions and private...

PanAmSat Transfers Customers To New PAS 10 Satellite.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2001... Wilton, Conn.-based PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT] said yesterday it has transferred its Indian Ocean region customers to the recently launched PAS 10 satellite, from its predecessor, PAS 4. The month-long transition was completed on Sunday, the...

Orbcomm Names Hans Hoffmann President, CEO.(Brief Article)
August 7, 2001... Orbcomm LLC, the company that emerged from the bankruptcy of the Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB]-affiliate, announced yesterday that it named Hans E.W. Hoffmann as its president and CEO. The new company, consisting of Orbcomm licensees and...

Ariane 5 Probe Finds Fault In Upper Stage Engine Ignition.(Arianespace)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2001... The July 12 failure of an Ariane 5 rocket to place two satellites into proper orbit was caused by the unstable burning of the upper stage Aestus engine, concluded a seven-member inquiry board set up by French launch firm Arianespace. When...

FCC Rules Against EchoStar In Retransmission Dispute.(Federal Communications Commission)(EchoStar Communications)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2001... The Federal Communications Commission has dismissed a complaint by EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] against New York-based Young Broadcasting Inc. that Young failed to negotiate in good faith over EchoStar's transmission of its ABC...

Titan 4B Successfully Launches DSP Satellite.(Lockheed Martin)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2001... A Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] Titan 4B rocket successfully launched a 5,200-pound Defense Support Satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station early Monday morning. The satellite will join the Air Force's DSP (Defense Support Program)...

XM, Sirius Satellite To Carry CNN Headline News.(XM Satellite Radio)(Sirius Satellite Radio)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2001... XM Satellite Radio [XMSR] of Washington, D.C., said yesterday it will dedicate one of its channels to carrying the audio portion of CNN Headline News. It will be the fourth CNN program that XM will carry. The others will be CNN/Sports...

Lifetime To Lease Capacity on GE 11 Bird.(Lifetime Entertainment Services)(GE American Communications)(Brief Article)
August 8, 2001... GE American Communications announced earlier this week that Lifetime Entertainment Services, the parent of Lifetime Television, has signed an agreement for capacity on its GE 11 satellite, to be launched in 2004. Gwynne McConkey,...

Loral's Second-Quarter Shows Improvement From A Year Ago.
August 9, 2001... Loral Space & Communications' [LOR] financial woes continued in the second quarter ended June 30. The company reported yesterday that its revenue slipped compared to the same quarter a year ago, but it narrowed its losses The main...

Globecomm's NetSat Express Unit To Build Network For Exus.
August 9, 2001... New York-based Exus Networks Inc. [EXUS] has signed a three-year, $7 million contract with NetSat Express, a subsidiary of Globecomm Systems Inc. [GCOM], for satellite network equipment and services. Exus, a supplier of Inmarsat service,...

BSS Promotes Art Rosales, John Konrad.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2001... Boeing Satellite Systems, a unit of The Boeing Co. [BA], has promoted Art Rosales and John Konrad, to vice president for commercial programs and vice president for commercial marketing and sales, respectively. Rosales, who has been with...

Bell ExpressVu Introduces PVRs For Canadian DBS.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2001... Bell ExpressVu, one of Canada's two DBS broadcasters, yesterday introduced two new personal video recorders (PVRs), the Model 5100 and entry- level Model 3100 PVRs, based on EchoStar Communications Corp.'s [DISH] technology. The units...

WorldSpace Adds Europe 1 To AfriStar.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2001... WorldSpace Corp, of Washington, D.C., the international satellite radio broadcaster, said yesterday its AfriStar spacecraft will carry Europe 1 radio programming on its West Beam, covering French-speaking West Africa and the Mediterranean...

FCC Defers Action On Whether Satellites Can Use Wireless Technology.(United States. Federal Communications Commission)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... WASHINGTON - In response to proposals from London-based New ICO Global Communications and U.S. mobile satellite operator Motient Services [MTNT], the Federal Communications Commission decided yesterday to seek industry comments on whether...

NRO Contracts With Space Systems International For Payload Processing.(United States. National Reconnaissance Office)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... The National Reconnaissance Office, the Department of Defense agency that manages the nation's intelligence-gathering satellites, has awarded a small California company a 10-year, $24.1 million contract to support preparation of its satellites...

Pegasus Names Executives To Head Ka-Band Program.(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Pegasus Communication Corp. [PGTV] has named three senior executives to head its Ka-band satellite program. The company was one of the applicants to receive a Ka-band license last week from the Federal Communications Commission. * John...

Weather Channel Leases Space On GE Americom Birds.(GE American Communications)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... GE Americom announced that The Weather Channel has signed a "multi-year, multi-transponder" lease for satellite capacity of the future GE 10 and GE 11 satellites. The all-C-band satellites will go into operation beginning in 2004 at...

Satellite-based Internet Provider Orblynx Closes Its Doors.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Orblynx, an ambitious, year-old satellite-based Internet content delivery service, has shut down and laid off almost all its employees. Ashok Thareia, chairman and CEO of Orblynx's and its parent company, A&T Systems Inc., told SATELLITE...

Inmarsat Awards Thrane & Thrane $42.6M Contract.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Thrane & Thrane, a Danish manufacturer of mobile communications terminals, has won a $42.6 million contract from Inmarsat to build and install four "radio access network (RAN)" earth stations for Inmarsat's next-generation broadband global...

Comsys Study Finds HNS Leads In VSAT Orders, Shipments.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... Hughes Network Systems led other VSAT manufacturers in new orders and shipments last year, according to the annual report of the VSAT industry by the British analytical firm Communications Systems Ltd. (Comsys). HNS, a unit of Hughes...

ESA Readies Ion Propulsion System To Move Artemis Into Planned Orbit.(Brief Article)
August 13, 2001... The European Space Agency is preparing to move its Artemis experimental telecommunication and navigation satellite toward its planned 36,000-kilometer (22,369-mile) apogee orbit by using the bird's ion propulsion system, which wasn't intended...

GM Execs Hold Direct Talks With EchoStar.(General Motors Corp. )(Brief Article)
August 14, 2001... After months of snubbing Charlie Ergen's advances, General Motors Corp. [GM] executives have finally relented and are in direct talks with him and his company, EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH], over his unsolicited offer for Hughes...

Gilat Announces VSAT Deals In Asian, U.S. Markets.(Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.)(Very Small Aperture Terminals)(Brief Article)
August 14, 2001... Israeli-based Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [GILTF] announced yesterday that it will supply its SkyBlaster VSATs to Philippine firms Philippine Multimedia Systems Inc. (PMSI) and AZ Communication Networks Inc. (AzComm) for a combined...

ViaCast New Encapsulator Approved For ViaSat System.(Brief Article)
August 14, 2001... ViaCast Networks Inc. of Ijamsville Md., announced yesterday that its Forte 80 IP Encapsulator has been approved by Carlsbad, Calif.-based ViaSat Inc. [VSAT] for use with its new ArcLight system. An encapsulator translates a data stream...

Doug Kahn Replaced As PanAmSat CEO.(Brief Article)
August 15, 2001... R. Douglas Kahn, the president and CEO of PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT], left the company suddenly yesterday, just a month and a day after the company reported sharply reduced earnings for the second quarter and the first half of the year and cut back...

Bankruptcy Looms For Globalstar Unless It Can Restructure Fast.(Brief Article)
August 15, 2001... Globalstar LP, the struggling mobile satellite voice and data service, admitted yesterday that it would be forced to seek protection under federal bankruptcy laws unless it can complete a restructuring soon that is acceptable to its creditors....

Mexico Licenses Satellite Companies Minority Owned By U.S. Firms.(Brief Article)
August 15, 2001... The Mexican government has licensed several companies, including three minority owned by U.S. satellite carriers, to provide satellite services in Mexico. Eugenio Gamboa, an assistant to Deputy Communications Minister Jorge Alvarez Hoth,...

Gilat Loses $14.7 Million In Second Quarter.(Brief Article)
August 15, 2001... Israeli VSAT firm Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [GILTF] reported a net loss of $14.7 million, or 63 cents per diluted share, on revenue of about $118.3 million for the second quarter, which ended June 30. This compares with the same...

Motient Plans Reverse Stock Split.(Motient Corp., satellite communications company)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2001... Motient Corp. [MTNT], which maintains significant satellite assets even as it moves deeper into terrestrial mobile communications and information technology consulting, said yesterday it plans a reverse 1-for-10 stock "split" or, in effect, a...

Comtech Gets Order For 1,000 More Mobile Satellite Terminals.(Comtech Telecommunications Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 16, 2001... Comtech Telecommunications Corp. [CMTL] of Mellville, N.Y., said it has received a $2.4 million follow-on order for mobile data communications terminals and service from a value-added reseller in Venezuela. The reseller is equipping truck...

Loral Skynet do Brasil Establishes Earth Station For Estrela do Sul.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2001... Loral Skynet do Brasil, the subsidiary set up by Loral Space and Communications [LOR] to own and operate the Estrela do Sul 1 satellite, said it has established an earth station in Rio de Janeiro for telemetry, tracking and control of the...

Newest Weather Satellite Reaches Geostationary Slot.(Brief Article)
August 16, 2001... GOES 12, the newest weather satellite of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which was launched July 23 as GOES M, has reached its geostationary position. On reaching its assigned slot last weekend, its name was changed to...

Loral Cyberstar Introduces Terrestrial Service To Go With Satellite Delivery.(Brief Article)
August 17, 2001... Loral Cyberstar has introduced a terrestrial or wireline IP-based service - ClearStream WebCast - to go with its satellite-delivered ClearStream Live multicast service to enable companies to reach employees, regardless of location or access...

Hughes Starts Nationwide Advertising For DirecTv DSL.(Brief Article)
August 17, 2001... DirecTv Broadband Inc. said yesterday it has begun a national advertising campaign for DirecTv DSL service and would soon begin "a nationwide retail sales program" for the service. The DSL service is an adjunct to the DirecWay Internet...

EchoStar Adds Pakistani TV To Lineup.
August 17, 2001... In the competition between DBS broadcasters to serve niche markets, EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] has added Pakistan Television to its DISH Network. The service provides national news and current events, as well as TV series,...

SES Puts Astra 2C Into Service.(Societe Europeenne des Satellites )(Brief Article)
August 17, 2001... Societe Europeenne des Satellites of Luxembourg announced yesterday that its 12th satellite, Astra 2C, has been put into service at the 19.2[ordinal indicator, masculine]E orbital slot. The satellite carries 32 Ku-band transponders...

L-3 Satellite Networks Names Bittencourt To European Post.(Brief Article)
August 17, 2001... L-3 Satellite Networks has named Christian Bittencourt to the position of managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Bittencourt will be based in the company's London sales office and will be responsible for developing...

SS/L Gets Order For Japanese S-Band Mobile Satellite.(communication industry)(Brief Article)
August 20, 2001... The Space Systems/Loral unit of Loral Space and Communications [LOR] has all-but-signed a contract to design and build an S-band mobile services satellite for a Japanese company planning to deliver audio, video and data services to users in...

ViaSat, Loral Skynet Set Up Joint Venture.(telecommunication industry)(Brief Article)
August 20, 2001... ViaSat Inc. [VSAT] of Carlsbad, Calif., and the Loral Skynet unit of Loral Space and Communications [LOR] have established a joint venture, known as Immeon Networks LLC, to develop and market a satellite bandwidth-on-demand service. ...

Andrew Gets C-Band Antenna Type Approval.(communication industry)(Brief Article)
August 20, 2001... Andrew Corp.'s [ANDW] Communications Products group said it has received Intelsat F-1 type approval for the circularly polarized 2-port version of its 4.9-meter (16-foot) C-band earth station antenna. Intelsat-type approval means guaranteed...

Nera Gets 40 Percent Stake in Thrane & Thrane For Satellite Terminal Unit.(Brief Article)
August 21, 2001... Nera ASA [NERAY] of Bergen, Norway, announced yesterday that it will sell its satellite terminals business to Thrane & Thrane A/S of Lundtoftegardsvej, Denmark, for $28.9 million and a 40 percent stake in T&T. Under the agreement, Nera...

ICTI Starts Work On $2 Million Taiwan Job.(Brief Article)
August 21, 2001... Innovative Communications Technologies Inc. said yesterday it has begun design and construction of two 7.2-meter (23.6-foot) high-wind earth stations ordered by Chunghwa Telecommunications International a long distance and international carrier...

Boeing Plans To Expand El Segundo Satellite Plant.(Brief Article)
August 21, 2001... The Boeing Satellite Systems unit of The Boeing Co. [BA] said yesterday that it is expanding by 30 percent its one-million-square-foot factory in El Segundo, Calif., to handle new business and transfer manufacturing from another plant in the...

Alenia Spazio, Lockheed Martin Make Teledesic's Shortlist.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2001... Teledesic LLC, one of the satellite broadband ventures of cellular pioneer Craig McCaw, announced yesterday that it has narrowed the choice of its prime satellite construction contractor to Alenia Spazio of Italy and Lockheed Martin Commercial...

DirecTv Gets Stake In Hallmark Channel In Exchange For Wider Audience.(Crown Media Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 22, 2001... DirecTv Inc. and Crown Media Holdings Inc. [CRWN] announced yesterday that they have agreed to reposition the Hallmark Channel within DirecTv's programming lineup, bringing it seven million new subscribers. In return, Crown Media, which...

OpenTV's Software To Use IBM Chips For Interactive TV.(Brief Article)
August 22, 2001... OpenTV Corp. [OPTV] and IBM [IBM] said yesterday that they have certified OpenTV's interactive TV software to run on IBM's newest set-top-box (STB) chips, providing a base for the next generation of STB applications. One result will be a...

QuadraComm Buys RF Scientific In Stock Swap Deal.(Brief Article)
August 23, 2001... QuadraComm Inc. [QDRA] of Tampa, Fla., said it has bought RF Scientific Inc., a well-known producer of transportable and fixed earth stations for the broadcasting industry, in an all-stock purchase. Orlando, Fla.-based RF Scientific also...

Lockheed Martin Unit Gets Microsatellite Contract.(Brief Article)
August 23, 2001... Lockheed Martin Space Systems - Astronautics Operations (LMSS - AO) said it has won a $21 million contract to build a 100-kilogram (220-pound) microsatellite for the Air Force Research Laboratory. LMSS - AO is a Denver- based unit of Lockheed...

AT&T Inks Interactive TV Deal With Liberate.
August 23, 2001... AT&T's [T] Broadband cable TV unit signed an agreement yesterday with software provider Liberate Technologies [LBRT] for the San Carlos, Calif.-based company to provide interactive television software for AT&T's cable unit. Headend in the...

EchoStar, Starz Encore To Advertise On Hotelevision.(Brief Article)
August 23, 2001... New York-based Hotelevision Inc., which provides free-to-guest cable TV programming in hotels, has announced two new advertising partners - the Dish Network of EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH] and the Starz Encore Group, a unit of Liberty...

Sirius Adds National Lampoon To Programming Lineup.(Brief Article)
August 23, 2001... Sirius Satellite Radio [SIRI] said yesterday that it will carry new and classic comedy programming from National Lampoon on its satellite-based radio service. The classic material will draw on National Lampoon's archive of radio shows,...

GM's OnStar Rolls Out National Campaign To Market Hands-free Calling.(Brief Article)
August 23, 2001... General Motors Corp. [GM] is kicking off a television advertising blitz this week to promote its national rollout of OnStar personal mobile calling services in specially equipped vehicles. The OnStar service uses the Global Positioning...

Transvision Teleport Gets JSat Contract.(Transvision International Teleport LP)(Brief Article)
August 24, 2001... Transvision International Teleport LP, of Kapilei, Hawaii, said it has won an exclusive contract with JSat Corp., a leading Japanese satellite operator, to provide mid-Pacific uplinking and downlinking service for its soon- to-be launched...

SES Astra 1D Provides Follow-On For Aging Deutsche Telekom Bird.(Societe; Europaenne des Satellites of Luxembourg)(Brief Article)
August 24, 2001... Societe Europeenne des Satellites of Luxembourg has activated its Astra 1D spacecraft at 24.2[ordinal indicator, masculine]E to provide follow-on service for Deutsche Telekom's [DT] aging DFS 1 Kopernikus satellite at 23.5[ordinal indicator,...

Satelit Palapa Indonesia Planning New Satellite.(contract information)(Brief Article)
August 24, 2001... PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (SPI), one of Indonesia's largest satellite carriers, plans to purchase a new satellite next year and launch it in 2003, according to an article in Wednesday's Jakarta Post. Djoko Prajitno, SPI's director of...

DirecTv Begins Layoffs At Headquarters.(DIRECTV Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Facing slowing growth, DirecTv Inc. began laying off members of its headquarters staff Friday. It expects to continue laying off employees until the end of next month. The number of employees to be pink slipped has not been determined,...

HNS Adds Payment Processing Service To DirecWay.(Hughes Network Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Hughes Network Systems announced last week that it is partnering with Paymentech, a Dallas-based company that processes credit card transactions and provides related services, in order to improve the usefulness of its DirecWay VSAT service. ...

HNS Ships More Than Seven Million DirecTv Systems.(Hughes Network Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 27, 2001... Hughes Network Systems also announced last week that it has shipped more than seven million DirecTv systems. "This is a clear indication from the market that demand for DirecTv's entertainment services is healthy and will continue to grow...