Japan Digital Tv Majors Merge

Two of Japans major digital satellite broadcasters, Japan Digital Broadcasting Services Inc and Japan Sky Broadcasting Co (JSkyB), merged yesterday. The new company, Japan Digital Broadcasting Services, said it would begin charging fees for its 171-channel SkyPerfecTV service in July. It said the service was the most powerful platform in Japans digital satellite television sector. The service will be broadcast using the JCSAT-3 and JCSAT-4 communications satellites. The two companies signed a formal merger agreement on March 9. PerfecTV had been in service since 1996 and JSkyB was expected to start its service on April 1.