Japan Broadcasting Corp, also know as NHK, is launching two new digital services in Asia using Scientific-Atlanta’s PowerVu digital video compression and distribution system. One new channel, NHK World TV, will provide free-to-air programming which anyone can view, while a separate protected channel, NHK Premium TV, will establish pay services to authorized viewers. The PowerVu uplink system will be installed at the Otemachi facility of KDD, Japan’s international telecoms provider, in Tokyo, Japan. When programming is delivered by satellite, PowerVu receives and decodes the protected video transmissions so they can be included in the affiliate’s program lineup for viewing by cable customers. Digital video compression will enables the transmission of up to four or six channels digital channels of programming using a single satellite transponder instead of the entire transponder an analog transmission needs for each program. Beginning in October 1998, NHK plans to use its PowerVu system to expand the availability of its programming by re-uplinking its signal from Singapore for distribution to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Additional plans call for another uplink of the signal from California to serve Latin America.
