Eutelsat, one of the world?s leading satellite operators claims to have finished 2001 by clocking up over 1,000 television channels on its satellites.

In 1983 channels like Sky Channel were the first clients to sign up for its capacity. Today Eutelsat is used by broadcasters such as BBC, Canal +, TPS, RAI, Eurosport, Bloomberg and CNN.

Eutelsat?s recent penetration survey revealed that of the 122 million TV homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East equipped for cable and satellite reception, 98 million are watching programmes delivered by its Hot Bird and EuroBird satellites.

Out of over 1,000 TV channels delivered through Eutelsat?s capacity on 21 satellites, over 970 are digital. Atlantic Bird 2 a new satellite was launched in October. So Eutelsat is delivering specially pre-packaged broadcast digital television programming for cable networks.

Next year the company will launch new broadcasting satellites Hot Bird 6 and 7. This will improve the in-orbit sparing capability at 13 degrees East and expand the capacity dedicated to coverage of Africa and available for the opening of new markets. In addition to its Ku-band missions, Hot Bird 6 will also enable new services through its enhanced Skyplex capability and its Ka-band transponder capacity.

Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta said: "Satellites and digital technology have fundamentally changed the media landscape by opening up possibilities for thematic, regional and interactive programming, thereby dramatically enhancing consumer choice. New levels of compression, combined with our upcoming new television satellites will open a new chapter in broadcasting that will further empower consumers."

Eutelsat S.A. is one of the world?s leading providers of satellite communications solutions. With a fleet of 18 satellites and additional capacity on three other satellites Eutelsat provides coverage across four continents, encompassing Europe, the Middle East, Africa, south-west Asia and North and South America. Six satellites are under construction with launches planned over the next two years. Eutelsat?s satellite infrastructure gives it the flexibility to combine TV and radio services, rapid Internet access, multimedia entertainment, corporate network solutions and IP and non-IP business applications.

From its strategic Hot Bird orbital position and other orbital positions, Eutelsat transmits 1,019 television and 550 radio stations to 98 million households via cable or direct-to-home with 41 per cent of capacity dedicated to IP and non-IP network applications.

Eutelsat, one of the world?s leading satellite operators claims to have finished 2001 by clocking up over 1,000 television channels on its satellites.

In 1983 channels like Sky Channel were the first clients to sign up for its capacity. Today Eutelsat is used by broadcasters such as BBC, Canal +, TPS, RAI, Eurosport, Bloomberg and CNN.

Eutelsat?s recent penetration survey revealed that of the 122 million TV homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East equipped for cable and satellite reception, 98 million are watching programmes delivered by its Hot Bird and EuroBird satellites.

Out of over 1,000 TV channels delivered through Eutelsat?s capacity on 21 satellites, over 970 are digital. Atlantic Bird 2 a new satellite was launched in October. So Eutelsat is delivering specially pre-packaged broadcast digital television programming for cable networks.

Next year the company will launch new broadcasting satellites Hot Bird 6 and 7. This will improve the in-orbit sparing capability at 13 degrees East and expand the capacity dedicated to coverage of Africa and available for the opening of new markets. In addition to its Ku-band missions, Hot Bird 6 will also enable new services through its enhanced Skyplex capability and its Ka-band transponder capacity.

Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta said: "Satellites and digital technology have fundamentally changed the media landscape by opening up possibilities for thematic, regional and interactive programming, thereby dramatically enhancing consumer choice. New levels of compression, combined with our upcoming new television satellites will open a new chapter in broadcasting that will further empower consumers."

Eutelsat S.A. is one of the world?s leading providers of satellite communications solutions. With a fleet of 18 satellites and additional capacity on three other satellites Eutelsat provides coverage across four continents, encompassing Europe, the Middle East, Africa, south-west Asia and North and South America. Six satellites are under construction with launches planned over the next two years. Eutelsat?s satellite infrastructure gives it the flexibility to combine TV and radio services, rapid Internet access, multimedia entertainment, corporate network solutions and IP and non-IP business applications.

From its strategic Hot Bird orbital position and other orbital positions, Eutelsat transmits 1,019 television and 550 radio stations to 98 million households via cable or direct-to-home with 41 per cent of capacity dedicated to IP and non-IP network applications.

Exactly a year ago on 31 December, 2000, 24-hour Hindi news channel Aaj Tak was launched by India Today Group.

Today, the channel claims to enjoy a share of over 55 per cent in Hindi speaking markets within the news genre with viewers spending as high as 70 minutes weekly watching the channel. Aaj Tak CEO G Krishnan, said: "The viewership is a true reflection of the appreciation that we have received from the viewers & the advertising fraternity."

As far as the advertising is concerned, one big success that Aaj Tak has chalked up is in managing to mop up a wide range of ads from players who were traditionally not known to set aside budgets for television.

The channel?s aim is to bring in-depth & incisive coverage to viewers and has listed the following events as being worthy of note:

On Republic Day (26 January) when the a devastating earthquake struck Gujarat it had round the clock coverage of the earthquake-ravaged state. A highlight was a unique platform - Meri Aawaz Suno (here my voice) - where people spoke their views and how their lives were affected.

In June it was in Nepal with extensive reports and analysis by teams stationed in the Himalayan kingdom when the Royal Nepali prince killed his entire family in a fit of jealousy.

During the Agra Summit the channel claims to have set up a team of 24 members to cover Pakistan President Musharaf?s visit to India. A correspondent was sent to Islamabad for the perspective on the summit from across the border.

Like other channels Aaj Tak kept the events of 11 September in focus. Aaj Tak claims to be the first Indian news channel to reach Afghanistan after US bombings commenced.

The channel claims that within half an hour of the 13 December terrorist attack on Parliament, it had the minister for parliamentary affairs Pramod Mahajan live from inside the Parliament on the line. This was followed by exclusive interviews of George Fernandes (defence minister) and information & broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj.

The 29 December deadline for payment of license fees by private FM radio players in metros has been extended by eight months, costing the national exchequer a "notional loss of Rs 46 million".

The decision to defer the roll out of services, announced by I&B minister Sushma Swaraj over the weekend, was prompted by technical problems related to co-location in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai where players have entered into an agreement with AIR for the use of its transmission towers. In Mumbai, where neither DD nor AIR have towers, private players have been exempted from the condition of co-location for a period of two years and have been allowed to make interim individual arrangements within the next four months. After that, operators will be required to start paying license fees, whether services start or not.

Players in the non metro cities on the other hand, have been given a seven-day ultimatum to either pay their license fees or forfeit their bank guarantees, which is equivalent to the first year?s fee. FM licenses have been given for 37 stations, of which 19 are in the metros. As per the license agreement for the metros, the FM licensees agreed to ?be part of the consortium of all licensees in each center and install transmission facilities at a single location and share the transmission resources.? The consortium, however, could not be formed as some prospective players went to court alleging changes in licensing conditions after the bids. Those who did not seek legal recourse were allowed to form a consortium five months ago. In Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, FM players signed an agreement earlier in December with pubcaster Prasar Bharati for use of AIR transmission towers to collocate their transmitters. However, the government realized at the end of the month that AIR itself would take four months to upgrade its towers, and another four months would be needed for the licensees to start their services.

The annual license fee for all the 37 stations spread across 19 cities totals Rs 1587.2 million. The licensees include the Times Group?s Bennett, Coleman and Co. (12 stations), Star India-Ispat group?s Music Broadcast (six stations), The India Today Group?s Living Media (three stations), Vertex Broadcasting of the Dabur Group, Millennium Broadcast (three stations), Midday (three stations) and Udaya TV (one station). Private FM players, however, will not be allowed to broadcast news and current affairs programmes.