bbcid MORGAA01 @ BBC-BH Skyguide Issue 029 -------------------------------- SKYGUIDE UK --------------------------------- | | | Your digest of the latest news in the world of Satellite & Cable TV | | | ---------------------- Week Ending Sun November 28th ------------------------- * NOT QUITE THE EUROPEAN Following the National Heritage Department's warning to TNT and the Cartoon Network about not carrying the required 51% minimum quota of European programming, the department has conducted an investigation into which other satellite channels do not meet the requirement. From all the channels broadcast from the UK, only three - Sky News, Sky Sports, and The Children's Channel (thanks to its large quantity of home-made programming and European cartoons) meet the minimum quota. All other channels, the report says, fall below the quota. Sky's three movie channels only broadcast 16% European programming, although Sky themselves claim that the requirement only applies "where practicable" - and since 92% of the films released in the UK are made outside Europe, it is not practical to have a film channel devoting 50% of its output to the 8% of European films. Notable omissions include Super Channel, once broadcasting a large quantity of European programming, although not now that it has been taken over by NBC. Also strangely absent from the list is Astra channel UK Gold - while the channel has been known to show the occasional few shows from the USA and Australia, the majority of its programming comes from Britain. Whether the omission was an error on the part of the National Heritage Department has not been made clear. The report made no mention of whether any action would be taken against the remaining broadcasters, although technically they are all violating European broadcasting rules. Another channel potentially breaking EC rules is QVC. Broadcasting directives state that teleshopping output may not exceed one hour per day, unless the broadcast is restricted to just one member state. QVC technically broadcasts to two states - the UK and Eire. The ITC has decided that the rules do not apply to QVC, but the possibility of EC officials making representations to the Government has not been ruled out. * ASTRA BACKUP Some Astra 1A channels may have to move to backup transponders on Astra 1C, owing to the Astra 1A satellite "overheating". First to move is the film channel Teleclub, and other channels may also make the voyage if this does not solve the problem. Viewers should notice no difference, although there may be a slight improvement in signal strength in some regions. While the channels concerned will be broadcasting on Astra 1C, the original Astra 1A frequency will be used, therefore no re-tuning will be necessary. The Astra 1C satellite has an extra group of backup transponders (in addition to the standard 18) which can be brought into service to replace any Astra 1A or 1B channel. * GALAVISION COMPLAINTS The Independent Television Commission is currently investigating one of the new Astra 1C channels, Galavision. A number of complaints have been received about the channel, largely centred around the channel's regular screening of live bullfighting. Complaints have also been received that the channel shows cigarette advertising, which (on TV) is illegal in Europe. Galavision was removed from UK Cable networks in the past for the bullfighting, but now that anyone with an Astra dish can see the channel, it has caused fresh concern. While Galavision originates in Mexico, the channel is uplinked onto the Astra satellite by SES in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, and must therefore meet European broadcasting requirements. * TOLD YOU SO As predicted in an earlier Skyguide, Chinese News Europe has launched on Astra on The Family Channel's Astra transponder. The service, previously broadcast overnight on Superchannel, has changed its name to Chinese News and Entertainment, and will broadcast from 1am to 3am daily, with an 8 to 10 hour service planned for next year. * STILL NO BT Latest figures from the ITC show that cable television operators across the UK installed 55,000 telephone lines in the last three months of 1992. The total number of cable telephone lines now in use across the UK is just under a quarter of a million. * TCC IN TROUBLE A recent advertisment for The Children's Channel has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority. The advertisment, which urged children who couldn't receive TCC to complain to their parents, fell foul of the UK's advertising rules. Children's advertising is not permitted to urge children to ask their parents to buy or obtain any product or service. The Children's Channel claimed that the commercial was tongue in cheek, but the ASA rejected this. * THE DEAL IS SIGNED (AT LAST) UK Gold has finally signed a deal with Equity, the actors union, allowing it to broadcast programmes from Thames' film subsidiary, Euston Films. Capital City, The Sweeney and Minder will begin screening early in 1994. * TV BRIEFLY Sky claim that the launch of Multi-Channels has set off a surge in satellite dish sales. Sales of over 160,000 for November and December are forecast. Thames Television has sold animation company Cosgrove Hall, producers of Dangermouse and Count Duckula, amongst others. The new company will be 25% owned by Cosgrove-Hall, with the remaining 75% shared between Anglia Television in the UK, and US broadcaster Home Box Office. The Family Channel begins a three-month run of a new series, Family Catchphrase, in January. It is likely that this show may also be sold to the ITV Network for later screening. Also starting in January on the Family Channel are two TVS productions, Perfect Scoundrels and C.A.T.S. Eyes. Sky Television has taken the unusual step of announcing that the next change to the Videocrypt scrambling to invalidate pirate cards will be at 13:30 UK Time on December 6th. A survey by UK Living reveals that up to 30% of satellite homes have not tuned their receivers to the channel. Sky has sold the second Marco Polo statellite for an undisclosed sum to an undisclosed buyer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Skyguide Issue 29 Edited by Ant Purvis Skyguide is usually published fortnightly, but may occasionally publish weekly depending on news availability. You can find it on London's CIX system in the Skyguide conference, Fidonet's Satelite TV echo, the Packet Radio Network, and on internet in the alt.satellite.tv.europe newsgroup. Skyguide is not a commercial publication, nor is it a cut-down version of a printed journal. Nonetheless, it is copyright, and is not to be redistributed in any form without consent. (Just ask!) Errors and Omissions expected. If we get something wrong, let us know and we'll put it right! Back issues can be mailed to internet mailboxes on request. Comments, suggestions, stories and monetary donations are always appreciated! You can contact Skyguide in the following ways: CIX : mail to bignoise, or use the Skyguide/comments conference. Fidonet : Leave a message in the Satellite TV echo Internet: bignoise@cix.compulink.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------