EXHIBIT 10.9

                              DATED 31 October 1996

                               SECURITY ASSIGNMENT



CAPITAL MEDIA (UK) LIMITED                                (1)

UNIVERSAL INDEPENDENT HOLDINGS LIMITED                    (2)








                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

PARTIES                                                                   1
OPERATIVE PROVISIONS                                                      1
         1 Definitions                                                    1
         2 Interpretation                                                 1
         3 Covenant                                                       2
         4 Security                                                       2
         5 Expenses                                                       3
         6 Further assurance                                              3
         7 Event of Default                                               4
         8 Power of attorney                                              5
         9 Duration of assignment                                         5
         10 No liability as mortgagee in possession                       5
         11 Exclusions                                                    5
         12 Certificate                                                   6
         13 Rights cumulative, waiver                                     6
         14 Severance                                                     6
         15 Communications                                                6
         16 Successors                                                    7
         17 Governing law                                                 7
SCHEDULE 1                                                                8
         Notice of Assignment                                             8
SCHEDULE 2                                                                9
         Consent and Acknowledgement                                      9






         DATE

              31 October  1996

         PARTIES

(1)      CAPITAL MEDIA (UK) LIMITED (formerly Excalibur Communications Limited)
         a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number
         3025201, whose registered office is at 25 James Street, London W1M 5HY
         (the "Assignor"); and

(2)      UNIVERSAL INDEPENDENT HOLDINGS LIMITED of PO Box 438, Tropic Isle
         Building, wickhams Cay, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (the
         "Assignee").

         OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

1        DEFINITIONS

         In this Assignment the following expressions shall bear the following
         meanings:

         Assigned Assets                    the  right,  title,  benefit  and  
                                            interest of the Assignor in or under
                                            an agreement dated 25 September 1995
                                            made between PTT Telecom BV ("the
                                            Lessor") (1) and the Assignor (2)
                                            ("the Transponder Lease") whereby
                                            the Lessor agreed to lease to the
                                            Assignor transponder capacity

         Events of Default                  any of the events mentioned in 
                                            Clause 7

         Secured Obligations                all monies,  liabilities  and 
                                            obligations, whether principal
                                            interest or otherwise now or at any
                                            time after the date of this
                                            Assignment being or becoming due,
                                            owing or incurred by the Assignor to
                                            the Assignee whether actual,
                                            contingent present or future and
                                            whether done severally or jointly
                                            with any other person and whether as
                                            principal or surety or in some other
                                            capacity, together with interest
                                            legal and other costs, charges and
                                            expenses whatsoever on a full
                                            indemnity basis so that interest
                                            shall be calculated and compounded
                                            in accordance with the usual
                                            practice of the Assignee from time
                                            to time as well after as before any
                                            demand made or judgment ascertained
                                            hereunder

         Security Interest                  any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien,
                                            assignment, encumbrance, guarantee,
                                            title transfer or retention
                                            arrangement or agreement, or any
                                            security interest whatsoever,
                                            howsoever created or arising

2        INTERPRETATION

2.1      Sections 61 and 63 of the Law of Property Act 1925 shall apply to the
         construction of this Assignment.

2.2      Headings used in this Assignment and table of contents are for
         convenience only, and are to be ignored in construing this Assignment.






2.3      References in this Assignment to it or another document shall be
         construed as a reference to this Assignment, or the other document, as
         from time to time novated, amended, varied or supplemented.

2.4      Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.

2.5      References to laws and regulations include amendments and 
         re-enactments.

3        COVENANT

3.1      The Assignor shall satisfy the Secured Obligations as they fall due for
         satisfaction in accordance with their terms.

4        SECURITY

4.1      Assignment

         As continuing security for payment and discharge of the Secured
         Obligations, the Assignor with full title guarantee, assigns absolutely
         by way of security to the Assignee the Assigned Assets.

4.2      Re-assignment

         Upon the irrevocable payment in full when due and upon the complete
         performance and observance of all the Secured Obligations, the Assignee
         will (subject to the terms of this Assignment) at the request and
         expense of the Assignor re-assign the Assigned Assets to the Assignor.

4.3      Enforcement and application

         The security created by this Assignment shall become enforceable by the
         Assignee upon the occurrence of an Event of Default. Thereafter the
         Assignee may apply all or any part of the Assigned Assets towards the
         discharge of the Secured Obligations in such manner as the Assignee
         deem fit.

4.4      Primary security

         This Assignment shall be deemed to constitute primary and not
         collateral security and the security shall not be discharged or
         impaired by:-

         (a)      the dealing with, existence or validity of any other security
                  taken by the Assignee in relation to the Secured Obligations
                  or any enforcement of or failure to take, perfect or enforce
                  any such security;

         (b)      any amendment to or variation of any document or any security
                  relating to Secured Obligations;

         (c)      any release of, or granting of time or any other indulgence to
                  the Assignor or any third party; or

         (d)      any other act, event or omission which would or might but for
                  this clause operate to impair or discharge the security
                  constituted by, or the Assignor's liability under, this
                  Assignment including any act, omission or thing which would or
                  might afford an equitable defence to a security.

4.5      Negative covenant

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         Except with the prior written consent of the Assignee, the Assignor
         shall not create, agree to create or permit to subsist any Security
         Interest in, over or affecting the whole or any part of the Assigned
         Assets (except for Security Interests in favour of the Assignee as
         security for the Secured Obligations) or over its right to call for a
         discharge of the security hereby constituted nor deal with such right
         in any manner.

4.6      Notices

         The Assignor shall forthwith on receipt of consent pursuant to clause
         6.1 deliver a duly completed notice of assignment in the form set out
         in Schedule 1 and procure that upon receipt of such notice an
         acknowledgement and consent in the form set out in Schedule 2 is
         executed and delivered to each of the Assignee.

4.7      Documents

         The Assignor shall deposit with a person nominated in writing by the
         Assignee all documents relating to the Assigned Assets. Such documents
         shall be returned to the Assignor upon re-assignment of the Assigned
         Assets in accordance with clause 4.2.

5        EXPENSES

5.1      The Assignor shall immediately on demand pay the Assignee all
         expenses (including legal and other out-of-pocket expenses) incurred in
         connection with:

         (i)      the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Assignment,
                  the Facility Agreement and any related documents;

         (ii)     any variation, waiver, consent or approval relating to this
                  Assignment, the Facility Agreement or any related documents.

         (iii)    the preservation or enforcement, or the attempted preservation
                  or enforcement, of any Assignees' rights under this
                  Assignment, the Facility Agreement or any related documents.

5.2      The Assignor shall immediately on demand:

         (i)      pay any stamp, documentary and other similar duty or tax to
                  which this Assignment or any related document may be subject
                  or give rise; and

         (ii)     indemnify the Assignee against all losses or liabilities which
                  the Assignee may incur as a result of any delay or omission by
                  the Assignor to pay any such duty or tax.

6        FURTHER ASSURANCE

6.1      Notwithstanding any of the terms and provisions set out herein the
         Assignor and the Assignee agree that this Assignment shall not create a
         valid assignment of the Assigned Assets (of any kind whatsoever whether
         equitable or legal) until the Assignee has obtained consent from the
         Lessor to such assignment of the Assigned Assets.

6.2      The Assignor shall, at the request of the Assignee and at its own cost,
         promptly execute any document and do or omit to do any other act or
         thing which:

         (a)      the Assignee may specify in order to perfect or improve any
                  security created or intended to be created by this Assignment
                  and to enable the Assignee to

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                  deal with the Assigned Assets in accordance with the
                  provisions of this Assignment or in order to perfect the 
                  Assignee' title to any part of the Assigned Assets; or

         (b)      the Assignee may specify with a view to the exercise or
                  proposed exercise of any of their powers, rights and
                  discretions under this Assignment.

7        EVENT OF DEFAULT

         The following events shall constitute an Event of Default:

         (a)      if the Assignor fails to pay any sums payable by it from time
                  to time to the Company on the due date therefor or fails to
                  comply with any term condition covenant or other provision of
                  this Assignment or of any facility from the Company or any
                  related security document or to perform any of its obligations
                  or liabilities to the Company or if any representation or
                  warranty from time to time made to the Company by the Assignor
                  is or becomes incorrect or misleading in a material respect;

         (b)      if any indebtedness of the Assignor becomes due or capable of
                  being declared due before it's specified maturity date by
                  reason of breach or default on the part of the Assignor under
                  the terms of any agreement or instrument creating or
                  evidencing the same or is otherwise not paid when due (or
                  within any applicable period of grace) or any guarantee or
                  indemnity given by the Assignor is not honoured when due and
                  called upon;

         (c)      if an encumbrancer takes possession of or a trustee receiver
                  or similar officer is appointed in respect of all or any part
                  of the business or assets of the Assignor or a distress
                  execution attachment or other legal process is levied or
                  enforced upon or sued out against all or any substantial part
                  of such assets and is not discharged within 5 days;

         (d)      if the Assignor is deemed unable to pay its debts within the
                  meaning of Section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or commences
                  negotiations with any one or more of its creditors with a view
                  to the general readjustment or rescheduling of its
                  indebtedness or makes a general assignment for the benefit of
                  or a composition with its creditors;

         (e)      if the Assignor (being a company) takes any corporate action
                  or other steps are taken or legal proceedings are started for
                  its winding-up dissolution or reorganisation (otherwise than
                  for the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction whilst
                  solvent on terms previously approved in writing by the
                  Company) or for the appointment of a receiver administrator
                  administrative receiver trustee or similar officer of it or of
                  all or a material part of its revenues and assets or (being an
                  individual) dies or becomes of unsound mind or has a
                  Companyruptcy petition presented or order made against him;

         (f)      if the Assignor suspends or threatens to suspend a substantial
                  part of its business operations (otherwise than for the
                  purposes of a reconstruction or amalgamation on terms
                  previously approved in writing by the Company) or any
                  governmental authority permits or procures or threatens to
                  permit or procure any reorganisation transfer or expropriation
                  (whether with or without compensation) of a substantial part
                  of the business or assets of the Assignor;

                                       4




         (g)      if any guarantee indemnity or other security for any of the
                  Secured Liabilities fails or ceases in any respect to have
                  full force and effect or to be continuing or is terminated or
                  disputed or in the opinion of the Company is in jeopardy
                  invalid or unenforceable or if this Charge or the security
                  created by it is disputed or in the opinion of the Company is
                  in jeopardy;

         (h)      if at any time it is or becomes unlawful for the Assignor to
                  perform or comply with any or all of its obligations under
                  this Charge any other agreement between the Assignor and the
                  Company or any of such obligations of the Assignor are not or
                  cease to be legal valid binding and enforceable;

         (i)      if control (as defined in Section 435 of the Insolvency Act
                  1986) or the power to take control of the Assignor is acquired
                  by any person or company or group of associates (as defined in
                  such section) not having control of the Company at the date of
                  this Charge (unless with the prior consent in writing of the
                  Company); or

         (j)      if in the opinion of the Company a material adverse change
                  occurs in the financial condition results of operations or
                  business of the Assignor.

8        POWER OF ATTORNEY

         For the purposes of securing the performance of the Assignor's
         obligations under this Assignment, the Assignor irrevocably appoints
         each of the Assignee or any person acting as the delegate of the
         Assignee as the Assignor's attorney on behalf of and in the name of the
         Assignor or otherwise to do all acts and things and sign and execute
         all deeds and documents which any such Assignee may consider necessary
         or expedient for the purpose of giving full effect to this Assignment.

9        DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

9.1      The provisions of this Assignment shall remain in force until the
         Secured Obligations have been unconditionally and irrevocably paid or
         discharged in full.

9.2      The security created by this Assignment is continuing and is not to be
         considered as satisfied or discharged by any intermediate payment or
         settlement of the whole or any part of the Secured Obligations or any
         other matter or thing whatsoever, including, without limitation, the
         insolvency, liquidation or administration of the Assignor.

10       NO LIABILITY AS MORTGAGEE IN POSSESSION

         Nothing herein provided shall be deemed to constitute any Assignee
         mortgagee in possession of the property charged under this Assignment.

11       EXCLUSIONS

         Sections 93 and 103 of the Law of Property Act 1925 shall not apply to
         this Assignment.

12       CERTIFICATE

         A statement as to any amount of the Secured Obligations or as to any
         amount due to any of the Assignee under this Assignment which is
         certified as being correct by a 

                                       5




         duly appointed representative or Officer of such Assignee shall, in 
         the absence of manifest error, be conclusive evidence that such amount 
         is in fact due and payable.

13       RIGHTS CUMULATIVE, WAIVER

13.1     The rights of the Assignee under this Assignment:

         (a)      are cumulative and are in addition to their rights under the
                  general law;

         (b)      may be exercised as often as they consider appropriate; and

         (c)      may be waived only in writing.

13.2     Any failure or delay in the exercise of any such rights shall not be
         treated as a waiver.

14       SEVERANCE

         Each of the provisions of this Assignment is severable and distinct
         from the others. If one or more provision is or becomes invalid,
         illegal or unenforceable, then this shall not affect the validity,
         legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

15       COMMUNICATIONS

15.1     Any demand, consent, record, election, certificate or notice
         required or permitted to be given under this Assignment shall be in
         writing and sent by registered or recorded delivery post or facsimile,
         or delivered by hand, addressed to the relevant party at the address or
         the facsimile number set out in this Assignment or in either case to
         such other person or address or facsimile number as any party shall by
         not less than five (5) business days' written notice have advised the
         others in writing. Any such demand, consent, record, election,
         certificate or notice shall be deemed (if given as aforesaid) to have
         been received by the party to whom it is addressed:

         (a)      two (2) business days after posting in the case of despatch by
                  post as aforesaid; or

         (b)      if sent by facsimile, on the business day on which it was
                  transmitted if transmission takes place during normal business
                  hours otherwise it is deemed to be received when normal
                  business hours next commence; or

         (c)      on delivery if delivered by hand.

15.2     In this Clause:

         (a)      "normal business hours" are 9.30 am to 5.30 pm on a business
                  day; and

         (b)      "business days" are days (not being Saturdays or Sundays or
                  public holidays) on which banks are open for business in
                  London.

16       SUCCESSORS

16.1     This Assignment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
         the Assignor and the Assignee and their successors and assigns.
         Reference to the Assignee in this Assignment includes any assignee or
         transferee of any Assignee in relation to its rights and obligations
         under this Assignment.

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16.2     The Assignor may not assign or transfer all or any part of its
         rights or obligations under this Assignment. The Assignee may assign
         all or any of their rights hereunder to any person.

17       GOVERNING LAW

         This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
         English law, and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive
         jurisdiction of the English courts.





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                                   SCHEDULE 1

                              NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT

To:      PTT Telecom BV
         The Hague
         The Netherlands



From:    Capital Media (UK) Limited
         25 James Street
         London W1M 5HY

Date:

Dear Sirs

We hereby give you notice that by an assignment (a copy of which is attached)
("the Assignment") dated ____________________ 1996 and made between this Company
and the Assignee described in the Assignment we have assigned absolutely to the
Assignee all our right, title, benefit and interest in and under the Assigned
Assets (as such term is defined in the Assignment).

You shall disclose such information relating to the Assigned Assets as the
Assignee may request you to disclose to them, and act in accordance with their
instructions concerning the Assigned Assets.

This notice and the instructions herein contained are irrevocable. Please
acknowledge receipt of this notice by completing and returning the enclosed
consent to assignment.

Yours faithfully


/s/ BARRY LLEWELLYN
- ----------------------------
for and on behalf of
Capital Media (UK) Limited

                                       8



                                   SCHEDULE 2

                           CONSENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To:      Universal Independent Holdings Limited



From:    PTT Telecom BV
         The Hague
         The Netherlands

Date:


Dear Sirs

We acknowledge receipt of a notice of an assignment and copy of a deed of
assignment dated 1996 (the "Assignment") and made between Capital Media (UK)
Limited (the "Assignor") and the Assignee relating to the Assigned Assets (as
such term is defined in the Assignment).

We hereby consent to such assignment, and agree to disclose information relating
to the Assigned Assets if requested to do so by the Assignee, and agree that we
will comply with the Assignee' instructions concerning the Assigned Assets.

Yours faithfully



- -----------------------------------
For and on behalf of
PTT Telecom BV

                                       9




         ATTESTATIONS

         THE ASSIGNOR

         EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED              )
         by CAPITAL MEDIA (UK) LIMITED acting by       )
         two directors/a director and the secretary:   )

                                           Director       /s/ BARRY LLEWELLYN

                                           Secretary      /s/ CHARLES KOPPEL

         THE ASSIGNEES


         EXECUTED as a Deed on behalf of           )
         UNIVERSAL INDEPENDENT                     )
         HOLDINGS LIMITED incorporated             )
         in the British Virgin Islands             )
         by                                        ) /s/
         and                                       ) /s/
         being a person/persons who in             )
         accordance with the laws of that          )
         territory is/are empowered to sign the    )
         document on behalf of the Company         )





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