November 3, 1997

United States Satellite Broadcasting Co, founded in 1981, is still trying to turn profit from business of beaming pay-television programming to pizza-pan-size satellite antennas on roofs and windowsills of consumer America; USSB is programmer for leading direct-to-home satellite television service, DirecTV, and it distributes pay-television and advertiser-supported services of Time Warner Inc and Viacom Inc, including some of most popular channels on cable and satellite television; failure to become profitable is due in part to what critics consider unwieldy marketing arrangement with DirecTV; photo (M)

Libel suit brought against Business Week magazine hinges on whether magazine should be considered published when it goes on line or when it becomes available on paper; suit was brought by Julian H Robertson Jr against Business Week's parent, McGraw-Hill Cos, Gary Weiss, author of cover article on Robertson, and Stephen B Shepard, Business Week's editor in chief; Business Week contends that libel claim was filed too late--one year and one day after article became available on America Online; magazine itself appeared on newsstands a day later; this appears to be first case in which publication rule has been applied to magazine that was initially published electronically (M)

New York City's Department of Buildings issues stop-work order at Donald Trump's Riverside South project after discovering that concrete slabs poured nearly two months ago on tower's fifth floor are too weak to bear full weight of 46-story tower now under construction; structure now stands 20 stories, or about 200 feet high; photo (M)

President Clinton visits Edison, NJ, urging more than 1,500 supporters of James E McGreevey, Democratic candidate for governor, to 'send a signal to the rest of the country' with their support for him at polls (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

John Kagwe of Kenya is men's champion in New York City Marathon, even after having to stop twice to tie his shoes; his time is 2 hours 8 minutes 12 seconds, 11 seconds off course record set in 1989; fellow Kenyan Joseph Chebet comes in second, and Stefano Baldini of Italy is third; photos (M)