• 166 degrees E:
• PAS-8
• D. TV Nacional de Chile has leased a C-Band digital stream on PAS-8 to extend its coverage to Asia and the Pacific Rim. The signal is fed here from Santiago via PAS-5 then downlinked and turned around at PanAmSat’s Napa facility onto PAS-8. This move makes TVN the first Latin American channel to achieve almost global coverage

  .

• 83 degrees E:
• Insat-1D & 2E
• D. Two more Insat craft are scheduled to lift off in the next few months: 3B in September and 3A in mid-2000. Both satellites will be placed into orbit by Ariane launchers. Zee Network and Canal Plus are getting together to launch a new digital pay-TV platform for India and Bangladesh. Mediaguard encryption will be used. Up to 21 channels will make up the bouquet, including Zee’s News, Cinema and Music Asia channels. These will be dubbed into the Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi and Telugu languages. Zee/Canal Plus have not yet announced which satellite will provide carriage but Insat capacity, with high signal strengths and the need for minimum dish sizes, will probably be used.
• 78.5 degrees E:
• Thaicom-2&3
• D. Business-wise, Thaicom seems to be booming. Several new deals have recently been announced for the carriage of channels to the Far East and Australia. Turkish state TV and Radio, operated by TRT, is to be uplinked to a Thaicom C-Band transponder from Israel to be turned around in Sydney onto Optus B3 for Australian viewing by the large Turkish community there. Indian channel Raj TV is to use capacity here for its new offering, Raj Plus, a Tamil language service. In addition, a UK based company, Reminiscent Television, has plans for two new channels to be carried on Thaicom, one for a Punjabi audience and the other for Gujarat speakers. A politically sensitive issue has arisen over a new occupant at 3423 MHz horizontal. Korean Central Television (KCTV), a North Korean TV channel based in the capital city Pyongyang, has appeared here in free-to-air MPEG-2. This is the first time that a TV channel from the Democratic People’s Republic has ventured into satellite broadcasting. It is not clear at this stage if the channel is being uplinked from native soil or elsewhere. North Korea does have one known uplink used for Intelsat IOR data and telephone traffic.
• 68.5 degrees E:
• PAS-4 & 7
• A. Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan is to start broadcasting hourly news bulletins in English and Hindi, alternating every hour between the two languages. This will be in addition to the existing bulletins. The channel can be found on 4034 MHz RHCP in clear PAL.
• 62 degrees E:
• Intelsat-602
• A. Feed transponder 4166 MHz RHCP was active at 1640 on 12 July with a report in French for TV Mauritius in clear Secam.
• 57 degrees E:
• Intelsat-703
• A. RTNC, La Voix du Peuple, from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo has returned to 3798 MHz RHCP in clear Secam after a break in transmissions due to technical difficulties.
• 53 degrees E:
• Gorizont-32
• D. The Turkmenistan bouquet on 3714MHz RHCP has undergone some slight changes. The Symbol Rate has been changed to 12500 and the line-up is now as follows: TMT1 (V1160, A1120), TMT2 (V1360, A1320), TMT3 (V1260, A1220) and Turkmen Radio (A1122). All are free-to-air.
• 42 degrees E:
• Turksat-1C
• D. Bayrak TV from Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus has launched an "International" channel on 11111 MHz vertical, SR 4555, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256. The channel is part time and airs from 2100-2200 Thursdays and Sundays, 2230-0030 Saturdays. Bayrak also operate the terrestrial TV and radio stations in this part of Cyprus.
• 36 degrees E:
• TDF2, Gals-1/2, Most-1, Eutelsat-II-F3
• A. The Iraq Satellite Channel continues here on 10984 MHz vertical in clear Pal in parallel with 11861 MHz vertical via Nilesat at 7 degrees West. Unlike the Nilesat signal, this feed does not carry any of the Iraqi radio channels in the audio baseband.
• 28.5 degrees E:
• Kopernikus-DFS2
• D. Some occasional feed traffic for the German channel Phoenix is using 12608 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2.
• A. 11551 MHz vertical was active at 0630 on 2 July with a live feed from the "Deutscher Bauerntag 1999" conference for the German channel ZDF in clear PAL. Audio was available via the 6.60/7.20 MHz audio subcarriers.
• 28.2 degrees E:
• Astra-2A & Sirius-3
• D. u>direct, the new pay-per-view movie service has finally launched its full service after a slight delay on Channels 801-811. There are two Preview channels available, at Channels 799 and 800.
• 26 degrees E:
• Arabsat-2A & 3A
• D. The Al Jazeera Satellite Channel from Qatar has vacated 11767 MHz horizontal from where it had been broadcasting in clear MPEG-2.
• 22 degrees E:
• Astra-1H (Temporarily)
• A. The latest Astra craft is carrying out in-orbit transponder soak tests at this slot before being drifted into it’s final geostationary position. Strong carriers have been noted on several frequencies between 11700 and 11900 MHz vertical.
• 19.2 degrees E:
• Astra 1A-C & E-G
• D. The Polish Roman Catholic TV channel, TV Niepokalanow, was testing on 11876 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 305, APID 351 in clear MPEG-2 recently but has now left. Video Italia has opened on 12610 MHz vertical on PIDs V121, A122 in clear MPEG-2. The programming is in parallel to the channel’s other outlet on Hotbird. The French Nostalgie la Tele has been replaced by RFM TV within the AB Sat bouquet on 12266 MHz horizontal. The familiar AstraVision promo channel seems to have started on 11837 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 168. So far the audio stream is empty.
• A. Berlin radio station, Hundert 6 has launched on the 7.74/7.92 MHz audio subcarriers on the back of DSF at 11523 MHz horizontal.
• 16 degrees E:
• Eutelsat-W2
• D. RTL used 12542 MHz and 12557 MHz horizontal for their live coverage of the British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone on 11 July in free-to-air MPEG-2, SR 11265, FEC 3/4. Qualifying practice on the preceding days could also be observed here. Panorama TV is new at 12520 MHz vertical, SR 2342, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. This is another channel carrying exclusively remote camera live shots from Europe’s ski resorts.
• 13 degrees E:
• Eutelsat Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
• D. Belgacom has launched a new multiplex at 12,476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The platform is used to deliver the Europe by Satellite channel plus provide occasional feed capacity. RTL and Maharishi Open University 2 are also carried here as well as a new House-music channel, Worldhaus. One interesting occupant is TeleCanada, who will be using the Belgacom frequency to feed its television programmes plus Radio Toronto International to European subscribers. The Canadian channels arrive in Belgium via Eutelsat’s new 12.5 degrees West "Atlantic Gate" slot. Also, Pink TV from Belgrade will be starting here on 1 August on PIDs V10, A720. There is already a caption in place on this stream advertising the imminent return of the channel which states: "Next upcoming programme on this channel (Pink TV) as from August 1st". Pink TV was previously available via Eutelsat-II-F2 in analogue format prior to the implementation of sanctions against Serbia, which brought about the disappearance of both RTS Sat and Pink TV. The new service, Pink Radio, will be available via APID 722. It is believed that both Pink TV and Pink Radio may move to Eutelsat-II-F2 capacity later in the year. MBC has launched on 12597 MHz vertical on PIDs V160, A80 (left channel). The audio service, MBC FM can be heard on the right channel of APID 80. MBC has also appeared on 12654 MHz horizontal, replacing RTP Internacional on PIDs V1060, A1020. The new RaiSat channels on 11958 and 11996 MHz vertical have started regular transmissions. Unfortunately all are encoded in Irdeto and Mediaguard. There have been some changes over at 11804 MHz vertical with the RAI channels there. The three RaiSat channels, RaiSat 1-3, which have been in situ here for some time have been replaced. RAI Sport Satellite is now on PIDs V512, A650 in place of the first channel, RaiSat 2 has been replaced by colour bars and RaiSat Educational has taken over from the third channel on PIDs V514, A652. All of the new channels are free-to-air. Both the Asian channel Apna TV and Babylon Blue seem to have left 10723 MHz horizontal. MTV Italy has plans to launch a radio station of its own, possibly by the start of January 2000. The station will be based in Milan and will be the first radio channel within Viacom’s MTV network. Erotic channel Satisfaction TV2 has launched on 12092 MHz horizontal via PIDs V4352, A4353. The channel airs a free-to-air promo from 0900-2000 daily. To add to the channel’s current digital outlets, Nasza TV from Poland has launched on 11331 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34. TVP Regionalna from Poland has started on an SCPC carrier at 11457 MHz horizontal, SR 611, FEC 3/4, VPID 4032, APID 4033 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Emporio Decorama, yet another Italian home shopping channel, has launched part time on 12673 MHz vertical via PIDs V210, A211. Cadena Sur, the Latin American channel which carries programming from several South American Spanish speaking countries, has changed its name to Canal Sur. The channel can be found on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Canal Sur was encoded for a while recently but all transmissions are now back in the clear. TV Bulgaria has been missing from 12539 MHz horizontal since 7 July. As with the AB Sat frequency on Astra, RFM TV has replaced Nostalgie la Tele on 11682 MHz horizontal. Second hop feed traffic from Malaysia for APTN was fed over 12584 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on 5 July at 0645. The first hop from the originating uplink was downlinked and turned around in Jerusalem. The Israeli test and occasional feed traffic are continuing on 11027 MHz horizontal. An unidentified Israeli radio station has started on APID 4196 here too.
• A. TV Bulgaria and the radio channel Horizont both left 11096 MHz horizontal briefly last week and were replaced by Monte Carlo Sat. However, both Bulgarian offerings have now returned.
• 10 degrees E:
• Eutelsat-II-F4
• D. Antena 1, the independent TV channel from Bucharest, Romania is currently free-to-air on 11024 MHz vertical. The channel has strictly adhered to encryption in the past. TVE’s coverage of the Tour de France cycle race was fed over 11072 MHz horizontal, SR 9999, FEC 33/4 VPID 4097, APID 4100. TV Bulgaria has opened a new digital outlet at 11004 MHz vertical, SR 5154, FEC 2/3, VPID 4609, APID 4610 in free-to-air MPEG. The radio service, Horizont is also here on APID 4610. Istanbul’s Pop TV on 11026 MHz horizontal has changed PIDs. They are now V308, A256.
• 7 degrees E:
• Eutelsat-II-F4 & Eutelsat-W3
• D. MCM Europe has launched on two streams at 11517 MHz horizontal, SR 20000, FEC 2/3, VPIDs 514 & 1281 (no audio) in free-to-air MPEG-2. However, it is not all good news. The streams are using a resolution of 352×288, 25fps and a bit rate of just 900 Mbit/s. The result is constant pixel locking or loss of signal altogether. One of the EBU feed streams, 11141 MHz vertical, SR 6854, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, was active during the day on 1 July from the Northern Ireland talks. When not in traffic, colour bars were displayed overlaid with "EBU BELFAST Path 1. Northern Ireland Talks. IFB: +44 1232 769412". A feed in the French language was noted on 11052 MHz horizontal, SR 6856, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 on 8 July at 1030. This traffic was being fed in MPEG 4:2:2. The EPG info was "LBR TV FTR PAL".
• A. Live coverage of a soccer match between Val d’Aosta and Juventus was fed over 11174 MHz horizontal in clear Pal from 1655 on 12 July. There was however no audio available.
• 5 degrees E:
• Sirius-1/2
• D. Occasional feed frequency 12590 MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 was active on 8 July at 0700 with a live report for a Danish channel from the scene of a serious road traffic accident in free-to-air MPEG-2. The European Christian Channel has started on 12326 MHz horizontal, SR 3319, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2.
• 3 degrees E:
• Telecom-2C
• D. Tour de France feeds for the German channel ARD and the French networks can be found here. The German feed is on 12575 MHz horizontal, SR 13844, FEC 7/8 and is encoded. The primary feedpoint for France2 & 3 is at 12515 MHz vertical, SR 13844, FEC 7/8 in MPEG 4:2:2.
• A. A daily feed of the days highlights from the Tour de France appears on 12630 MHz horizontal in clear Pal for the US network ABC and ESPN at around 1745. On 12 July at 1640 a feed from Kenton in north west London by APTN was carried on 12650 MHz vertical for the German channel Sat 1.
• 0.8 degrees /1 degrees W:
• Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
• D. There is a new Telenor Norwegian digital package on 12322 MHz horizontal, SR 27800, FEC 3/4. The current line-up is: NRK1 (V512, A640), NRK To (V513, A644), TV2 (V514, A668), TV Norge (V515, A672), NRK P1 (A648), NRK P2 (A652), NRK Petre (A656), NRK Alltid Nyheter (A660) and NRK Alltid Klassik (A664). All of these are free-to-air except TV2 and TV Norge. A couple of days after the launch of this new platform another Norwegian radio station joined, NRK Sami on APID 676. The Estonian radio station, Radio Kuku, has started regular programmes on 11665 MHz vertical, APID 648, after several weeks of testing. Although not exactly satellite news the following may have an effect on some of the Russian and former Soviet Union TV services: a private TV channel in Estonia, Kanal 2, has switched over from Secam to PAL. This may be the beginning of a mass exodus from Secam as more and more new TV sets come equipped for the PAL standard only.
• 4 degrees W:
• Amos-1
• D. In a surprise move RTS Sat and Radio Beograd have left 11421 MHz horizontal. According to Israeli sources pressure was allegedly put on Israel’s Spacecom Company, the operators of Amos, by the US Department of Defence, which has strong links with Israel Aircraft Industries – a subcontractor for the US Department of Defence and a 25 per cent shareholder of Spacecom – to the effect that it has a lot to lose if the broadcasts should continue. Apparently RTS’ contract with Amos has now been terminated.
• 5 degrees W Telecom-2B/D
• D. The SCPC feed carrying Switzerland’s Tele 24 on 11670 MHz vertical has a new Symbol Rate. It has been changed to 3254.
• 7 degrees W:
• Nilesat-101
• D. Saudi backed Al-Andalus TV launched on 11747 MHz vertical last week in free-to-air MPEG-2 via PIDs V1012, A1212. At 0650 on 5 July, the first day of broadcasts from the new channel, the following caption was displayed "AL-ANDALUS TELEVISION. CINEMA STAGE TRANSMISSION INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LTD." The audio track was playing out an "Azaan" or Call to Prayer. By 8 July the channel had transferred to 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1012, APID 1212. The current line-up on 11747 MHz is; Education 1-6, SRC (colour bars) – V1009, A1209, TEST (colour bars) – V1111, A1311, University 1 & 2, NSL (colour bars) – V1010, A1210 plus regulars Bahrain TV, Jordan Satellite Channel, Horus 1, Palestinian Satellite Channel, Arab News Network, MBC, Oman TV and Kuwait Space Channel.
• 8 degrees W:
• Telecom-2A
• D. Eutelsat is to take over eight transponders here in an arrangement with France Telecom. Telecom-2A has a life expectancy of some four years left and during that time Eutelsat will use the capacity here to enhance its "Atlantic Gate" facility alongside the 12.5 degreesWest slot. European business networks and Internet traffic will also be catered for.
• 21.3 degrees /21.5 degrees W:
• NSS-803 & NSS-K
• D. The French horse racing channel, France Courses International, has returned to 11615 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 2021, APID 2031 in clear MPEG-2. The channel can usually be seen here in the evenings from around 1815. CNN’s This Morning, Berlin opt out continues to be fed over 11471 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 every weekday morning at around 0615 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC. On 1 July at 0615 recorded highlights of some basketball matches in the US were fed over the BT Washington Channel 1 stream on 11550 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 in MPEG-2/NTSC. A succession of new Coca Cola TV commercials in English and Spanish were fed over 11550 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 on 9 July from around 0630 in free-to-air MPEG-2.
• A. The UKI 149 uplink was at Wimbledon for GMTV on 1 July at 0715 to provide a live feed on 11532 MHz horizontal in clear Pal from outside the All England Tennis Club featuring the large queues of people hoping for a ticket. The same mobile SNG was at Darlington Hall in the north of England for another link for GMTV on 5 July at 0640, also on 11532 MHz horizontal.
• 27.5 degrees W:
• Intelsat-605
• D. The Canal M stream at 11661 MHz vertical, SR 30494, FEC 3/4, VPID 1460, APID 1420 is displaying a caption in Norwegian explaining that owing to some technical problems the home shopping channel is temporarily off the air.
• 37.5 degrees W:
• Orion-1 & Columbia-515
• D. The Palestinian Satellite Channel, which was beamed to the US on 11902 MHz horizontal, has been replaced by Oman TV on PIDs V4130, A4131 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.

SR – Symbol Rate
FEC – Forward Error Correction
VPID – Video Programme Identifier
APID – Audio Programme Identifier