HUNDREDS of extra satellite TV programmes and interactive services are on the
cards after Astra鈥檚 announcement that it plans to launch a new series of
satellites. The snag is that European satellite viewers will no longer be able
to receive all the new programmes and services with a simple dish aerial.
Luxembourg-based Astra鈥檚 existing satellites are all at 19掳 East and
broadcast analogue programmes from BSkyB and other European stations in the
鈥渓ow-band鈥� frequencies between 10.7 and 11.7 gigahertz. Astra has now run out of
both frequencies and room in space at this orbital slot, so in August 1997 the
company will start launching a new series of satellites at 28掳 East. These
will transmit digital signals in the 鈥渉igh-band鈥� frequencies between 11.7 and
12.75 gigahertz. Existing dishes will not be capable of receiving the high
frequencies or 鈥渟eeing鈥� the new orbital slot.
The new satellites will be called Series 2 and BSkyB has already leased 14
transmitters on the first one. It will use them to broadcast around 200 extra
channels, but viewers will not be able to receive them with existing dish
aerials. Dishes will have to be modified to include an electronic device known
as a high-band LNB directed at 28掳 East as well as a low-band LNB pointed at
19掳 East.
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Dishes will need updating again in 1988 to take advantage of Astra鈥檚 next
innovation鈥攊nteractive control. Viewers with suitable electronics in their
living room and in their aerial will be able to send digital signals up to the
satellite. These will trigger the rapid transmission of information from the
satellite to the viewer. For example, PC users will be able to order software on
demand.
Last week in Luxembourg, Astra鈥檚 director-general Romain Bausch was unable to
offer any advice for people planning to install a dish鈥攏o future-proof
equipment is yet available. The company鈥檚 marketing director Yves Elsen says
that 鈥淎stra will work with BSkyB to take all necessary steps to advise the
辫耻产濒颈肠鈥�.
Bausch acknowledges that Astra鈥檚 interactive system effectively makes the
viewer鈥檚 home a satellite broadcasting station. Under current laws, viewers may
therefore be obliged to apply for a government licence.
鈥淲e think that people will be able to transmit without a licence, but we will
have to check,鈥� he says.
