BRIEF TRANSMISSIONS

Reuters Asia plans to launch SDS2 service to customers in Far East in December. As with recently-launched Latin American version (MTR, May 1987), Asian SDS2 will use Intelsat's Intelnet I service to broadcast to Equatorial dishes. Reuters uplink is atop Exchange Square in Hong Kong. Separately, Reuters has launched Schwarzatron options service in Europe.

Plan by FM quote vendor Telemet America, Inc. to launch U.K. version has fallen apart. Telemet U.K. Ltd. -- joint venture between U.S. firm and Britain's Case Group PLC -- has lost franchise won last fall for FM sideband frequency in London (MTR, December 1986). In re-opening bids for frequency, Independent Broadcasting Authority cites "unacceptable delays" in group's implementation of service. "Our partner in the race did not run," complains Case's John Aylott to Financial Times. Telemet president Fred Parsons didn't return phone calls. Bids are due November 5th, and Case is expected to re-apply with new partner providing hand-held terminal technology. Likely partner could be Lotus Development Corp., whose Quotrek technology is in use by Telerate, which operates other London FM data service.

Associated Press plans upgrade -- first since 1976 -- of ticker plant that produces most U.S. newspaper stock tables. $1 million contract calls for old DEC PDP/10 and PDP/11 system to be replaced with VAXes and ticker plant software from Boulder, CO-based Satellite Information Systems Co. AP database, which is primary source for computing Dow Jones averages, has been overwhelmed by market volumes and member demand for more data from more exchanges. It frequently runs late, forcing Dow Jones to turn to Quotron for prices. While AP provides no real-time services, new facility will have full real-time capability. AP source calls it world's largest "mass-market ticker plant."

Ted Turner, Quote Vendor? As if quote business weren't sufficiently competitive, TV entrepreneur Ted Turner may be ready to take plunge. Turner Broadcasting's CNN International unit has disclosed it may beam financial news data service to Europe via same Intelsat transponder used to deliver Cable News Network to European viewers. Service would include equity, commodity, and forex quotes, plus business news. Customers would view display on television set. CNN is available on cable in U.K., France, and other European countries. In U.S., CNN delivers Xpress Information Services feed to home satellite viewers (MTR, July 1986).

Mortgage-backed securities data service proposed by Dalcomp, Inc. (MTR, September 1987) would be based on technology originally developed for Platt's Global Alert, sources say. Platt's parent McGraw-Hill would be joint venture partner in new service, and Bethesda, MD-based Financial World Publications, Inc. would provide breaking news wire. Platt's -- part of McGraw-Hill's Petroleum Information Services Group -- developed PC-based user platform known as "Easy Street" that combines on one screen broadcast data reception asynchronous dial-up for interactive data retrieval. Platt's is currently delivered via Bonneville Telecommunications Co.

International Data Media (U.K.) Ltd. has opened U.S. sales office in Mt. Laurel, NJ., headed by veteran commodity quote sales exec Len Elkins.