The BBC is planning to launch its 24-hour satellite news
service, BBC World, in the U.S. in February. Former CNN
President Reese Schonfeld's International News Network is a
partner with the BBC in the new venture. BBC World would include
international sports news in its 24-hour "news wheel" (Mult.,
12/21)....AT&T is ready to join the on-line services market with
its apparent victory in the battle to purchase Ziff
Communications Co.'s Interchange Online Network....Fox
Broadcasting has solicited the opinions of several former FCC
officials "to help convince the FCC that it complied with rules
limiting foreign ownership of TV stations to 25%" (WALL STREET
JOURNAL, 12/21)....WASHINGTON POST TV critic Tom Shales gives
Direct Broadcast Satellite a a glowing review: "Clearly, this is
the greatest new toy since the VCR, with pictures so sharp and
rich that it's as if a veil were lifted from in front of the
screen. Cable cannot compare. We keep hearing about the '500-
channel universe' just around the corner, but it looks like an
enormous corner. The 150-channel universe is here now, and it's
a hoot" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/21).
