-LORAL SKYNET: Loral Skynet and ABC complete digital satellite news gathering trials
Presswire - April 21, 1998 14:40
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M2 PRESSWIRE-21 April 1998-LORAL SKYNET: Loral Skynet and ABC complete digital satellite news gathering trials (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
-- New full-time DSNG service to be available in June;
-- Will enable 12 times more capacity than current analog transmissions
Loral Skynet today announced that its recent digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) trials, held in collaboration with the ABC network and its affiliates, have been concluded successfully. Loral Skynet's new DSNG package, to be available for full-time use in June, will use an open network standard that will enable broadcasters, affiliates and independent news providers to transmit up to 12 times more simultaneous feeds on a single transponder than has been possible previously using standard analog transmissions.
The DSNG trial, begun in July 1997, grew out of Loral Skynet's efforts to develop an open network digital platform that could support a variety of digital applications. As such, the participants tested and evaluated an array of digital technologies and helped fine-tune operational procedures necessary to successfully run DSNG applications.
In addition to ABC, participants in the trial included a wide range of independent operators, equipment manufacturers and integrators, including: Broadcast Satellite International, MOBILE SATELLITE CONNECTION, Lynqx Communications, SweDish, Tiernan Communications, NDS, Wegener Communications, EF Data Division of California Microwave, Bram Flynn & Associates and INFOTEL International, Inc.
"Jointly testing and evaluating the DSNG technology, service and operational issues with ABC and the independent news providers was very productive," said Terry Hart, president, Loral Skynet. "The resulting DSNG package furthers Loral Skynet's committment to lead the satellite industry's transition to open network digital services."
Loral Skynet will make available a full-time digital satellite news gathering package beginning in June 1998. Loral Skynet's part-time DSNG service offering will be introduced in the fourth quarter of 1998. The digital services will begin on Loral Skynet's Telstar 5 satellite, and will be available subsequently through the Loral Global Alliance.
Loral Skynet's DSNG service is one of several digital transponder management service packages that are being developed. Loral Skynet's state-of-the-art booking and transport system currently enables customers to purchase capacity from Loral Skynet (covering North America and the Carribean) and SatMex (covering North and South America), and supports such applications as broadcast video, business television, telemedicine, Internet connectivity, advertising delivery and disaster recovery communications. Soon Loral Skynet's global booking system will expand to include capacity from Loral Orion (bridging Europe and North America) and Europe*Star (bridging Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa, India, and Asia).
Loral Skynet of Bedminster, New Jersey, a wholly owned subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, is a leading satellite communications service provider that owns and operates the Telstar satellites. Loral Skynet's customers lease transponder capacity to distribute network television programming, collect live video feeds for the reporting of news and events, and to offer direct-to-home and pay-per-view programming, distance learning, educational, and other business television services. Loral Skynet also provides technical consulting, as well as tracking, telemetry, and control of satellite fleets for a wide variety of customers. Loral Skynet operates Telstar 4 and the recently launched Telstar 5, which provides C-band and Ku-band coverage over the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through the recent privatization of Mexico's satellite operations, Loral, through Loral Skynet, also manages Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (SatMex). SatMex currently operates 3 satellites, Solidaridad 1, Solidaridad 2 and Morelos II. SatMex 5 (previously Morelos III), scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 1998, will replace Morelos II. Loral Skynet's vigorous growth plan includes future launches of Telstar 6 and 7, which are expected to be in service in 1998 and 1999, respectively, and Telstars 8 and 9, to be in service shortly thereafter. For more information, visit Loral Skynet's web site at loralskynet.com.
Loral Space & Communications (NYSE:LOR) is a high technology company that primarily concentrates on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, global wireless telephony, broadband data transmission and formatting, Internet connectivity, digital audio radio services, and international direct-to-home satellite services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at loral.com.
CONTACT: John McCarthy Tel: +1 908 470 2347 e-mail: jdm@loralskynet.com |
