Satellite Videophones Revolutionizing News Coverage

SPACEMART

A local technican sets up a satellite dish 24 June for a Taiwan television station atop the south gate of the Xian City Wall. AFP Photo by Robyn Beck

McLean - Oct 24, 2001
From live interviews with rescuers amid the rubble of the World Trade Center in the hours following the September 11 attack, to live reports from sites perilously close to coalition bombing targets in Afghanistan in recent weeks, mobile satellite communications have dramatically raised the benchmark for live, on-the-scene news coverage.

Leading the newsgathering revolution are lightweight, portable satellite telephones and videophone units that enable reporters to quickly broadcast live audio and video from areas where a full satellite link-up is not possible.

These briefcase-sized units weigh as little as 10 pounds, can be set up in seconds and are easily operated by a single reporter. Linked to a camera and a small folding satellite dish, these units are changing the way major networks cover the news, giving them more power to broadcast from the scene, in real time, at virtually a moment's notice.

While awareness and interest in satellite videophones grew among the network news industry following CNN's usage of the technology to cover the U.S./China spy plane crisis earlier this year, demand has radically spiked in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

"We are on an around-the-clock production schedule to try to meet the demand," said Gerry Gutman, President of Richtec, Inc., one U.S.-based provider of mobile satellite communications systems.

"Whereas certain network news organizations and government agencies were the primary users of such technology in the past, today every major network is using, or has ordered, mobile satellite videophone products from companies around the world, and more inquiries come in every day from a growing number of other industries."

Announced long before the events of September 11, MSUA-2, a world conference focused entirely on Mobile Satellite Users is scheduled for December 3-4, 2001, in Arlington, Virginia.

This second annual international Mobile Satellite Users Conference and Exhibition will be hosted by the Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA), less than 90 days after tragic events catapulted mobile satellite systems into the global spotlight. As a result, the conference represents a unique opportunity for all involved with, or interested in, mobile satellite communications.

"With MSUA-2, we're giving current and potential users of the technology a chance to meet with each other, as well as with manufacturers, resellers, service providers and regulators, to discuss what the industry is doing, and needs to do, to continue to meet their growing needs," said MSUA President Ahmad Ghais.

"The show will feature live demonstrations of satellite terminals, which will better enable mobile satellite services users to learn about, evaluate and compare the latest equipment, systems and services offered by major providers."

The MSUA-2 conference will be held on December 3-4, 2001, at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virginia. MSUA-2 is currently accepting exhibitors for the limited number of exhibit spaces that remain available. If you're interested in attending or exhibiting at MSUA-2, call 410/827-9268.

SPACEMART

Time Warner, Beijing Reach Landmark Broadcasting Accord

Beijing (AFP) Oct 23, 2001
US media giant AOL Time Warner has gained a potentially crucial foothold in the Chinese TV market, signing an agreement to broadcast its CETV cable network in parts of southern China. In return the group will transmit Chinese news channel CCTV-9 in parts of the United States.

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