SkyLog: The Space Hotel Wants You; HDNet & DIRECTV; SES Adds HD

• Almost $4.5million for 3 Nights ... Space Hotel! --- Well, for that amount, you would get an 8-week "training" course on an island plus a return trip ... plus a velcro-like suit so you could wander around your "room" in orbit - 15 times a day!  Galactic Suite says it will launch in 2012 with space tourists using the New Mexico-based Spaceport America.  The company says it has 43 reservations. --- Meanwhile, a "tourist" in a South African jet accidentally pulled his eject lever ... and had a different sort of ride.
• HDNet and DIRECTV are partnering to offer 20 hours of HD programming from HDNet, and more than 25 movies from HDNet Movies, on a video on-demand basis each month to HD subs.
• SES World Skies has a new multi-year agreement with MediaScape, adding eight HD channels on its NSS-11 sat for distribution in the Philippines.
• Stratos has been appointed as a distribution partner for Inmarsat’s new global satellite phone services.  Inmarsat GSPS will now be available in 2010 in mobile, fixed-land and fixed-maritime packages which should launch at the end of the second quarter of 2010.
• Harris Corp has successfully completed qualification testing of a satellite terminal that will allow US Navy personnel onboard vessels to access broadband services.  Harris will supply the Navy with 55 advanced, 1.3 meter satellite communications terminates with X and Ku-band capabilities during its five year contract. •

FCC on Media Ownership

• This week the FCC has began its workshops reviewing media-ownership regulations.  This review process is required every four years and is meant to measure whether the ownership rules are in the public’s interest.  Any FCC decisions on changes won’t happen until sometime in 2010.•

AT&T/Verizon Fisticuffs

AT&T is hopping mad ... and the target of its score is arch-rival Verizon.  Apparently Verizon’s “There’s a map for that” ads suggesting spotty coverage for AT&T wireless has the big T’s dander up.  AT&T is suing Verizon for false advertising and trade practices.•

3Q Results: Discovery Takes a Hit: Outdoor Boosts its Revs; Cablevision's Roll

• So it’s not all wine and roses in cable.  Perennial favorite Discovery reported profits for 3Q09 down by 22.4%, although revenues were up slightly.  Earnings per share came in slightly below analyst expectations.
• Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc. reported a total revenue increase of 58% forits 3Q09.  The channel attributes the increase to the acquisition of Winnercomm Inc.  Their total revenues came to $23.6 million.
• Strong operating results from Cablevision and a "miracle" at Viacom drove earnings higher for both.  Operating cash flow at Cablevision jumped 14.7% to $667.7 million as the company reported earnings of $98.9 million, or 33¢/share, up from $30.9 million, or 10¢, a year earlier.   Basic subscribers dropped 1.5% while digital subs grew 2.6%, HSI subs grew 3.9% and VoIP subs were up 9.7% --- all without price erosion.  At the same time advertising revenues grew about 6% signaling a rebound.  Newsday reported a loss of $800k even as revenue grew to $79.9 million.•