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Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kibby who wrote (24817)	11/4/1997 7:41:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

PBS getting into DBS. They need encoders, and the Feds will pay for them................................. dbsdish.com PBS LAUNCHING MULTIPLE DBS FEEDS BY YEAR-END ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUBLIC BROADCASTING REPORT via Individual Inc. : PBS said it plans to provide multiple feeds to DBS operators for transmission to all DBS subscribers, not only those unserved by local PBS signal. Vote at Oct. 23 PBS membership meeting gave green light to proceed, contrast from same time last year when PBS withdrew plans (PBR Sept 20 p2). "The stations told the PBS board to 'Go get 'em,'" PBS Exec. Vp-COO Robert Ottenhoff told us after meeting. He said he expected rollout "A.S.A.P.," with service reaching subscribers on 4 DBS systems by year-end. Ottenhoff said PBS is working toward congressional relief that would establish compulsory licenses for programming. In that scenario, already operating for unserved areas, broadcasters pay flat rate for programming into pool, which then is distributed to producers. Until such relief is passed, most likely in form of amendment to Satellite Home Viewer Act, PBS will negotiate individual deals with myriad companies that produce PBS programming. "It will take us awhile to gather rights," Ottenhoff said: "This [legislation] will make it easier." N.C. Network Gen. Mgr. Tom Howe, member of New Technologies Working Group (NTWG), was scheduled to speak at House Judiciary Copyright Subcommittee hearing on issue after our deadline Oct. 30. PBS official told us that proposed legislative language is very narrowly crafted for PBS, and could be passed before congressional session ends Nov. 7. Outgoing NTWG Chmn. Burnill Clark, pres.-CEO, KCTS-TV Seattle, told PBS board Oct. 23 that it has been making extensive "efforts to secure congressional relief." NTWG -- in 3rd year of 2-year charter -- has been converted to PBS board committee, to be chaired by KWSU-TV Pullman, Wash., Gen. Mgr. Dennis Haarsager. Pres. Ervin Duggan told board that move was to ensure NTWG, formed under his direction in 1994, would be "more secure" as it pursued mission on DBS and other issues, such as digital TV. NTWG conducted survey of PBS stations this fall on whether they would support national DBS feed, and majority said they would, according to group report. Issue still had to clear PBS's first-ever membership meeting, result of governance reforms adopted in Feb. (see separate story, this issue). Coalition of stations drafted resolution calling on board to "position PBS to take advantage of the direct broadcast satellite (DBS) channels set-aside," referring to proposed 4-7% set-aside for noncommercial educational programming on DBS services in 1992 Cable Act. FCC is expected to release rulemaking on set-aside Dec. 11. PBS stations repeatedly have voiced concerns that national feed would in fact compete against stations, with DBS channel having 2 advantages: (1) Relative difficulty for DBS subscriber attempting to watch over-air channels. (2) Improved picture quality inherent in digital broadcast. In effort to give stations advantage over DBS feed, WTVS Detroit Senior Vp-Station Mgr. Dan Alpert moved that DBS feed be "distinct" from National Program Service (NPS) programming. However, reflecting effort PBS has made in last year in wooing station support (PBR April 4 p8), his motion failed. Official tally showed 114 of 121 station representatives voted to encourage board to move ahead with DBS feed. Buoyed by station support, NTWG's Clark told board that his "advance scout group" now was positioned to be "out on the frontiers" of broadcast technology. He assured board that feed wouldn't harm stations, with fund-raising on national feed going to station covering donor's zip code and effort on NTWG's part to differentiate programming properly. Ottenhoff told us PBS is in negotiations with 4 DBS providers, but neither he nor DBS operators would provide details. Revenue from DBS feed to unserved areas was $1.1 million for year, according to budget released at board meeting. Ottenhoff resisted suggestions of Alpert and others that NPS programs shouldn't be used, or at least that stations should receive first broadcast window. "We have to provide a service that is attractive to DBS" operators, Ottenhoff said. He also pointed out that multiple feeds will allow PBS to generate programming stream for time when PBS stations are multiplexing in DTV: "We're looking ahead to the DTV world." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Warren Publishing