MUMBAI: EchoStar Communications Corp‘s EchoStar VIII satellite is scheduled for launch on 20 August, two months after the originally scheduled launch date.
The bird, to take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, will launch aboard a Proton launch vehicle at 1:15 am EDT. The satellite‘ s launch was delayed after anomalous readings from a command receiver on the satellite were observed on June 22. A problem identified with the command receiver has since been corrected, says an official release. The EchoStar VIII satellite will join seven other satellites currently comprising the EchoStar fleet. From its location at 110 degrees West Longitude, EchoStar VIII combined with EchoStar VII at 119 degrees W.L. will provide Ku-band and spot beam services over the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii to enhance the delivery of EchoStar‘s DISH Network local-into-local TV channels.

The EchoStar VIII satellite has been built by Space Systems/Loral based in Palo Alto, California while the Proton launch vehicle is provided by the US based International Launch Services. While EchoStar has not procured in-orbit insurance for EchoStar VIII, it has insured its launch for $125 million, protecting against the risk of total launch vehicle failure not attributable to the satellite through separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle.

MUMBAI: HBO is re-invigorating its old production unit, HBO Independent Productions, by reviving the business of creating series for broadcast networks.
The cable channel, which produces Everybody Loves Raymond for CBS, had turned its attention away from that business to concentrate on its own shows.

MUMBAI: The critically acclaimed The Guardian has added another feather to its cap.

The series, which airs Sundays in India on the Hallmark Channel, was honoured last week as best new series at the Family Television Awards in the US. Simon Baker who plays a corporate lawyer‘s efforts at protecting children was also honoured as best actor. Produced by Columbia TriStar Television in association with CBS Productions, The Guardian was created and written by David Hollander, previously a playwright and screenwriter. Hollander, who was inspired by his brother‘s experience working in child welfare, also serves as an executive producer along with Mark Johnson and Michael Pressman.

Also recognised was the CBS TV movie The Rosa Parks Story which will premiere on Hallmark. The awards, in their fourth year, were initiated by the Family Friendly Programming Forum. The group was formed by more than 40 advertisers in the USA to encourage the production of programmes aimed at parents and children.

A highlight of the ceremony was the sister trio SHeDAISY singing Mine All Mine from their recently released third album, Knock on the Sky. Dick Clark productions produced the Family Television Awards show for the fourth consecutive year. The ceremony is scheduled to air 9 August on ABC networks in the USA.

MUMBAI: The critically acclaimed The Guardian has added another feather to its cap.

The series, which airs Sundays in India on the Hallmark Channel, was honoured last week as best new series at the Family Television Awards in the US. Simon Baker who plays a corporate lawyer‘s efforts at protecting children was also honoured as best actor. Produced by Columbia TriStar Television in association with CBS Productions, The Guardian was created and written by David Hollander, previously a playwright and screenwriter. Hollander, who was inspired by his brother‘s experience working in child welfare, also serves as an executive producer along with Mark Johnson and Michael Pressman.

Also recognised was the CBS TV movie The Rosa Parks Story which will premiere on Hallmark. The awards, in their fourth year, were initiated by the Family Friendly Programming Forum. The group was formed by more than 40 advertisers in the USA to encourage the production of programmes aimed at parents and children.

A highlight of the ceremony was the sister trio SHeDAISY singing Mine All Mine from their recently released third album, Knock on the Sky. Dick Clark productions produced the Family Television Awards show for the fourth consecutive year. The ceremony is scheduled to air 9 August on ABC networks in the USA.