From: lightw@cetra.trl.OZ.AU (Liron Lightwood)
Subject: DMX digital pay radio coming to Australia soon
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: Telecom Research Labs, Melbourne, Australia
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 06:01:31 GMT

Someone recently posted an article asking about pay radio, etc.  Well,
here's what's happenning in Australia.

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Soundcom Pty Ltd, a local supplier of in-store radio and background music,
is planning the introduction of a subscription radio service called DMX
(Digital Music eXpress), to commence before the end of this year.  The
service will be available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adellaide and
Perth, and possibly (IMHO) in Hobart, Canberra and Darwin.

According to reports, DMX will contain 20 channels of CD quality audio music,
with formats including country, jazz, latin, 50's, 60's classical, hot hits, 
Australian rock, and others.  The music will be free of commercials and
announcements, but song titles and other information will be displayed on the
receiving equipment required to receive the service.

Most of the programming will be carried out by International Cablecasating
Technologies in Los Angeles, with some input from Australia.  The programs
will be delivered to Australia via satellite (Intelsat), and delivered to
homes via the Microwave Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS).

Costs for the service are unclear at the moment.  Depending on which report
you read/hear, the receiving equipment will cost between A$500 and A$800
(including installation of antenna), with monthly subscriptions ranging
from A$10.00-A$12.50 a month, to 'less than the cost of one CD per month'
(B&T July 24 1992), which in Australia, means under A$28.00.

Currency conversion rates:        A$             US$        UK pounds
                             10.00 - 12.50   7.20 - 9.00   4.00 - 5.00
                               500 - 800      360 - 576     200 - 320

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I understand there are similar services in the US.
How does the following compare to the US, eg. cost, music choices, formats.
Is the name DMX also used in the US?

[Moderator's Note:  I WISH our lousy cable company would carry the dmx
service.  From what I have heard, dmx is great. We have 30 channels.  Music
ranges from classical (three channels) to jazz (three or 4 channels) to a
wide variety of rock, pop, country and urban.  John Higdon wrote a fine
article in comp.dcom.telecom about it.  A cable outfit across town (TCI)
carries it, but alas mine does not.  In Chicago, the rate is $5.00 per month
(above the cost of basic cable) plus an additional $5.00 to rent the
converter.  You can buy the converter for (I think) $100. I understand the
converters have direct XLR outputs which can connect to DAT decks. I would
like to hear from DMX subscribers as to such matters as ... how much
repetition occurs on the system, especially on the 'pop' channels (as opposed
to the jazz and classical feeds), and whether there are pauses between musical
selections, or do they segue' together? What is the general net opinion of
this service?] 

Liron Lightwood                    Internet : r.lightwood@trl.oz.au
Telecom Research Laboratories      Phone : +61 3 253 6535
770 Blackburn Road                 Snail : P.O. Box 249 Clayton 3168 Australia
Clayton  Vic. 3168 Australia       Disclaimer : My views are not my company's

Newsgroups: rec.radio.broadcasting