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1999 Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association Show READ ALL ABOUT IT! Satellite TV Industry Rolls Into Las Vegas With DirecTv and EchoStar racking up record levels of new subscriber sales, the satellite TV industry begins its annual trade show today. While the DBS services are expected to garner much attention at the show, a number of issues will share the spotlight with them, executives said. The legislative activity in Washington and reaction to DirecTv’s agreement with the National Association of Broadcasters should be hot topics of conversation at the tables and on the show floor, they said. DirecTv’s legal battle with the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative also will be center stage, they said. For its part, the show’s sponsor, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, is focusing heavily this year on the multiple-dwelling unit market, with a slew of panel discussions, workshops, and floor space devoted to the topic. Although much of the talk at the show will focus on Washington, DirecTv and EchoStar are focusing on the new programming and services they plan to offer, spokesmen for both companies said. In addition to talking about a marketing agreement with SBC Communications, DirecTv also intends to highlight its recently announced local-into-local plans, spokesman Bob Marsocci said. “The big focus will be the fact that local-into-local is near term and that we’ll be offering local-into-local as soon as the ink is dry” on legislation that would allow such services, he said. Among other things, DirecTv also will tout its new consumer offer which will give consumers three free months of the Total Choice Platinum programming package when they purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket package, which retails for $159. DirecTv’s Platinum Choice package retails for $80.99 per month. EchoStar plans to focus on its new slate of data and Internet services, spokesman Marc Lumpkin said. In addition to demonstrating its combination DBS/WebTv DISHPlayer receiver, EchoStar is scheduled to unveil a new receiver that will enable subscribers to access interactive services OpenTV plans to begin offering later this year. Hill Staffers Predict Little Action This Week Capitol Hill staffers and lobbyists following the satellite TV legislation conference committee said last week they do not expect much substantive action to take place on the bills while satellite TV hands are in Las Vegas this week for the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association’s annual convention. However, some sources said it is possible the House-Senate conference committee could meet briefly to name its chairman. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is expected to get that post, sources said. Part of the delay in moving the legislation forward, staffers said, is that the House Commerce Committee is focusing on the ongoing debate over funding for the Public Broadcasting Service. DirecTv’s agreement with the National Association of Broadcasters on a legislative framework also has slowed the pace somewhat as members of the conference committee evaluate it, sources said. Though several congressional staffers were invited to attend the SBCA show, one will attend, SBCA Senior Vice President Andy Paul said. Several House and Senate staffers cancelled trips to the show due to unrelated hearings scheduled for this week, he said. Renee Bennett, counsel for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), is the only congressional staffer attending the show, Paul said. Several FCC staffers also are attending. TURN THE PAGE OTHER ISSUES TO LOOK FOR: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 Wednesday, July 21, 1999   Please direct questions about this site to general.mail@satbiznews.com q 1998 Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.