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SBCA Preaches Unity in Show Kickoff Event The SBCA show officially opened yesterday morning with industry leaders urging satellite dealers and others to stick together to continue the explosive growth it has enjoyed over the past nine months. Welcoming dealers to the first national satellite convention, SBCA Chairman and U.S. Satellite Broadcasting President Stan Hubbard said, while “competition is inherent [in the industry], we must work together.” For their part, he said, dealers must eliminate barriers to purchase and tell consumers they do not need cable to get local channels. The FCC and Congress are solidly behind the industry, Hubbard noted, in a prelude to SBCA President Chuck Hewitt’s pitch to dealers to get involved in the “real issues of Capitol Hill.” Noting past victories in battles over state and local taxes and zoning laws, Hewitt pledged the association is turning all of its energies toward fighting the copyright rate increase and rewriting the Satellite Home Viewer Act. To change the way it supports satellite TV’s retail segment, the SBCA will begin distributing sales tips, updates on industry activities, and market data to dealers via the Internet, Hewitt said. Also during the opening ceremonies, HBO Direct Senior Vice President Vinnie Bauer presented the industry’s annual awards, including two new honors. The Business Leader of the Year Award went to Kevin Leslie, owner of Leslie Engineering and a member of the SBCA Retail Council. Fellow Retail Council member Rik Hawkins, of Star Path Communications, won the Community Service Award, and the Gordon D. Main Retailer of the Year Award went to Keith Clougherty of Roxy Systems, a direct mail dealer based in Boston. Rick Souder, of Circuit City, was given the Provider's Choice Award, which is selected from nominations submitted by the four DBS providers. This final presentation was met with a smattering of boos and grumblings from the audience of primarily independent satellite dealers. The SBCA reported 4,628 people attended the show yesterday. EchoStar Lays Out Medium-Power Plan, Unveils New Boxes EchoStar and Loral Skynet released pricing and program packages yesterday for their planned SkyVista DBS service in the U.S., with additional target markets of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—all of which EchoStar cannot reach with its current high-power satellites. They will sell reception systems for $399, with a basic programming package of 20 channels, including broadcast network signals and one channel each of HBO and Starz! for $19.99 a month. Foreign and niche channels will be available for an additional charge. The service is slated to begin in September on Loral Skynet’s medium-power Telstar 5 satellite at 97 degrees. EchoStar also announced plans to offer a third generation of receivers for its DISH Network DBS service operating at the 119-degree orbital slot. The systems will range from $179 to $319 suggested retail price and are expected to be available this fall. The basic receiver, selling for $179, will be an upgraded version of the current model 1000, with a single LNB, front panel controls, and an S-video output. The 3720 model, retailing for $249, has a dual LNB and a universal remote that can operate four devices. The advanced model 4720, with a $319 price tag, offers an infrared remote, event timers, VCR controls and Dolby Digital output. Meanwhile, Ergen said he supports the concept of a red light/green light plan for determining which dish owners are eligible to get network superstations via satellite. But mapping is unreliable enough that "a majority of Americans will live in the red light district," Ergen said. The company will start delivering local broadcast signals in its hometown of Denver this summer, he said. "We're looking foward to any [legal] challenges we might get." The company earlier this week replaced PrimeTime 24's service, which is under a federal injunction, with stations it uplinks itself. However, some expect broadcasters to seek a restraining order to prevent EchoStar from selling those network signals until the PrimeTime 24 case is over. (click on the ad below to visit advertiser's web site) PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE   July 23 daily   July 25 daily         Please direct questions about this site to general.mail@satbiznews.com q 1999 Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.