Three new Indian satellite TV channels with political affiliations will launch, causing turmoil among all the satellite TV channels in Tamil Nadu state, South India. The new satellite TV channels are Kalaignar TV owned by the Chief Minister’s family, Mega TV from Congressman and former Union Minister K V Thangabalu, and Congressman’s Vasanthakumar’s Vasanth TV. The new satellite TV channels are government backed.

Mega TV and Kalaignar TV will launch in August and September, 2007 and this means that all major political parties in Tamil Nadu will then have their own satellite TV channels. Opposition to the new satellite TV channels includes Jaya TV and Makkal TV, operational since 2006 and also politically backed.

All these satellite TV channels may to air opposing political views as well as other programming. The channels all want the others’ political broadcasts downplayed. Interestingly, Vasanth TV’s owner also directs Vasanth & Co, a top retail chain in the state. Satellite TV in Southern India may become an extensive venue for political and retailing messages.

The multimedia PC company KWorld Computer, in Taiwan, has two Windows Vista-ready DVB-S TV-tuner cards available. One is designed for desktops and the other for laptops, according to current information on the company website. The Plus TV DVB-S PI210 allows a PC with a free PCI slot to receive free-to-air digital satellite broadcasts AND analog TV and FM radio. KWorld bundles the PI210 with its HyperMedia Software package, which supports such features as picture-in-picture (PIP) viewing, time-shifting, and electronic program guides (EPGs). It also allows for scheduled recording, even when the PC is not switched on. The compact Plus TV DVB-S 300U offers the same features and capabilities as the PI210, but uses USB connectivity. Both tuners come packed with a remote control for the PC.

Couch potatoes have given way to a new breed: Car Potatoes. These TV watchers can view their favorite programs from the back seat via satellite TV. This mobile satellite TV system features over 185 channels and appeals especially to carpoolers and sports fans.

DirecTV and KVH Industries state that their TracVision A7 mobile satellite TV system provides a “living room TV experience” in the family car. By law, a monitor cannot be placed in a front seat. Previous front seat TV’s were programmed to shut down when the vehicle was in motion. Some drivers were watching TV at stop lights and that proved hazardous.

The TracVision A7 mobile satellite TV system has a low-profile antenna that sits atop the vehicle and tracks the same satellite that DirecTV uses. Consumer interest has increased because local channels are now available. In-car service costs $4.99 a month if you have DirecTV already at home.

The programming packages from DirectTV outdistance all competition. The introductory level Total Choice package provides one hundred and fifty channels, over two-and-a-half times the competition's. Total Choice includes a diverse range of topics from global news to music videos, religion, history, gaming, home shopping, cartoons. classic reruns, fitness, movies, and endless others. Total Choice provides your local channels as well. This means crystal clarity in digital TV in all weather.

The next from DirecTV is Total Choice Plus, for 180 channels. Total Choice Plus features a variety of children's programming, educational programming, and even additional stations for music video television and sports. The final package is for sports and movie lovers. Total Choice Premier adds movie packages like Showtime Unlimited and the Starz Super Pack, along with Cinemax and HBO. Total Choice Premier then adds a wide range of sports channels including regional sports networks. This gives you a total of two hundred and fifty channels. As an added bonus all three programming packs provide XM satellite radio channels.

Maxim Integrated Products has recently launched its new MAX2120 satellite TV tuner. This is an inexpensive, zero-IF, direct-conversion tuner for satellite TVs. The satellite TV tuner receives QPSK signals in the 925MHz to 2,150MHz range and down-converts these signals to baseband for demodulation.

This satellite TV tuner produces only very low 8dB noise and thus eliminates the need for an external LNA. The VCO auto-tuner function makes the unit easy to use overall. The MAX2120 satellite TV tuner is suitable for DVB-S and free-to-air applications also, where low cost and easy user operation are keys for success.

This satellite TV tuner operates on one 3.3V supply and uses just 330mW. It is designed to function with a low-cost 4MHz crystal, but you can choose any crystal in the 4MHz t - 8MHz range. This satellite TV tuner is available in a 5mm x 5mm 28-pin TQFN package and prices start at $3.50 each, in bulk.

In Cuba, one man started a satellite TV business four years ago. He purchased a satellite dish antenna, receiver, access card with the correct code for the signal, a signal amplifier, and cable all on the black market. He has since provided the satellite signal for his whole neighborhood through a network of cables over the rooftops. However, everyone on the network must watch whatever the satellite dish owner is watching. The provider does a survey periodically of his customers to learn their preferences and makes a programming schedule of telenovelas, Telemundo, HBO, talk shows, and "Sabado Gigante."

 

Although the average wage in Cuba is $15/month, the satellite customers receive help with their $7.56US monthly satellite TV bill from relatives in the US and from working side jobs.  About 90% of this particular satellite TV provider’s neighborhood residents are his customers. Cuban media is government operated and there has been a crackdown new satellite TV dishes being installed, by the equipment is easier to obtain now and satellite TV is spreading in Cuba. As the government takes down satellite TV cables, they are promptly reinstalled by residents.

 

While numerous TV networks broadcast a variety of sports for millions of fans to enjoy, only satellite TV provides the premiere sports program choices that are exclusive to its subscribers. Satellite TV networks like DIRECTV also feature special programs for specific league play in specific sports. That is an offer that regular and Cable TV cannot make. Satellite TV subscribers see more games in a single season in their favorite sports and leagues than with anything offered on regular and Cable TV.

Satellite TV gives you the chance to see more games per week – even your favorite leagues – all in real time.  

 

Cable TV offers only a limited number of games in any league per season; such as probably 25% or less of NBA games. You only get to see a few highlights from other games. However, subscribing to satellite TV sports packages solves the problem — DirecTV offers NBA League Pass for 40 NBA regular-season games a week.

 

Hauppauge Digital now offers a £99 Satellite TV tuner card that provides free-to-air HD TV on your PC or your linked TV when you have a satellite dish.  The Hauppauge WinTV-NOVA-HD-S2 tuner card plugs into a PCI slot inside your desktop PC and connects to a satellite dish to give you either live Standard or HD satellite TV direct to  your PC.

This satellite TV tuner card comes with a CyberLink PowerCinema application for full-screen TV or a smaller TV that appears a pop-up window on your PC screen.  There are no extra subscriptions required in order to receive free-to-air HD satellite TV channels, including all of the BBC's HD broadcasts.

 

This system allows you to record TV programs to disk in their hi-definition H.264 format and supports DiSEqC 1.0 for switching between four different satellite sources.  This satellite TV tuner card required a PC with at least a 3.2GHz or Intel Core Duo processor, with a minimum of 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended).