The World - News from Oct. 28, 1988

An Ariane rocket blasted off from the edge of a South American jungle in French Guiana, carrying a television satellite that promises to change the French broadcasting landscape. The five-channel satellite carried into a stationary orbit by the Ariane 2 rocket will beam TV shows directly to the home. Previously, satellite signals were picked up by large dishes owned by cable companies and networks, then relayed to viewers. Signals from the new satellite, expected to be operational by the end of December, will reach viewers from Portugal to the Ural Mountains, and from Britain to North Africa. It is Europe’s first step toward high-definition television.