ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR CANADA'S FIRST DIGITAL DIRECT-TO-HOME
SATELLITE TELEVISION SERVICE
>>david another one for your mpeg news collection. please translate to english as you see fit and if you have time thx stak
TSE: ``TEN''
NASDAQ: ``TENXF''
TORONTO, Dec. 19 /CNW/ - Tee-Comm Electronics Inc. is pleased to announce
that comprehensive testing of its updated Canadian digital satellite earth
station has now been successfully completed. The uplink facility is designed
to state-of-the-art MPEG 2 DVB world standards, to receive, digitize, and
compress satellite signals for re-transmission to Canadian homes.
The successful test results confirm that AlphaStar Canada -- a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Tee-Comm -- can begin a digital satellite
broadcasting service in Canada, within thirty days of receiving a go-ahead
from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission.
AlphaStar applied to the CRTC for a digital Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast
licence earlier this month, and hopes to receive approval early in the New
Year.
``Our Milton Call Centre and Branch Offices across Canada have received
hundreds and hundreds of inquiries from consumers and dealers since we went
before the Commission,'' said Al Bahnman, President and CEO of Tee-Comm.
``It's clear that Canadians are eager to take advantage of a digital DTH
service -- but one that s made in Canada.''
Since 1995, the CRTC has awarded DTH licenses to three other Canadian
companies, but as yet, none has been able to launch a service. Their problem
has been an inability to find sufficient ``space'' on broadcast satellites,
and there appears to be no immediate solution for these licenses.
AlphaStar Canada, however, has transponder space on AT&T's 402R
satellite. In fact, Tee-Comm launched its AlphaStar U.S. programming service
on the same satellite in July this year, and is adding new subscribers daily
to its 115 channel video and audio digital DTH service.
``The U.S. operation shows that we have all the elements in place to
provide a first-class, 80-channel service to Canadians, almost immediately,''
said Bahnman. ``We're the only Canadian company with confirmed satellite
space, a full inventory of set-top receivers, and now a fully-operational
digital earth station. We have a ready market to serve, and we can't wait to
get going.''
To handle inquiries from the public, Tee-Comm has set up a bilingual,
toll-free telephone service (1-888-991-9992) in Canada.
Founded in 1983, Tee-Comm Electronics Inc. is a digital satellite
communications company. Tee-Comm's line of Star Trak(TM) integrated receivers
are sold through an extensive network of distributors and dealers in Canada
and the United States as well as Mexico, South America, Asia, and Europe.
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For further information: Clive Hobson, Tee-Comm Electronics Inc., (905) 878-8181; Josh
Cobden, Goodman Communications Inc., (416) 924-9100 |
