Key:
A. Analogue
D. Digital
83-E: Insat–2E
D. For the first time for one of its regular TV channel relays, Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan has started to use digital compression (see also PAS-4). The DD2 Metro service has launched in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 3911 MHz vertical, SR 6000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. Also, DD1 National Service has opened via an SCPC carrier at 3831 MHz, SR 6000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in parallel with the PAS-4 outlet. DD1 & 2 have undergone something of a relaunch following disappointing viewing figures. Both channels have started 24-hour programming in a bid to win viewers back.
A. DD8, which is the Telugu language service, can be seen on 3990 MHz vertical in clear PAL. However it is probably only a matter of time before this service switches over to MPEG-2 also. Jaya TV is a new Tamil-language channel based in the south of India. It is available in clear PAL on 3597 MHz vertical with audio at 6.60 MHz.
78.5-E: Thaicom–2&3
D. Jain TV, last seen on satellite some two or three years ago, has returned on 3535 MHz vertical in PAL. The channel, which promises a 24-hour news service to rival Doordarshan’s News Channel, is part owned by J K Jain — a former Indian MP.
68.5-E: PAS–4 & 7
D. Following Doordarshan’s move into digital compression 4033 MHz vertical, SR 19565, FEC 3/4 is sporting a new Doordarshan digital platform in clear MPEG-2. It contains a Doordarshan News testcard on VPID 512, APID 650, DD Sports (V 513, A 660), DD India (V 514, A 670) and DD1, the national Hindi service (V 520, A 730).
A. BBC World Service African stream has launched on the back of BBC World at 3863 MHz vertical via the 7.20 MHz audio subcarrier. Over at feed transponder 3932 MHz horizontal occasional relays of Sat 7, the Arabic language Christian channel can be found some Fridays from 1330 in clear PAL. Following the move to digital compression DD India has left 4155 MHz vertical in PAL and has been replaced by the new channel, DD News. The new 24-hour news channel was launched on August 15.
62-E: Intelsat–602
A. A news bulletin from ANI India was fed over 4166 MHz RHCP in clear PAL on 13 August at 1740. Some feed traffic from Turkey following the major earthquake in the north of the country has been using both feed transponders, 4166 and 4188 MHz RHCP in clear PAL. Reuters Indian feed traffic can often be seen on 4166 MHz RHCP under the banner "Reuters Subcon".
60-E: Intelsat–604
A. A report from troubled Timor for RTP Internacional was fed over 4166 MHz RHCP in free-to-air PAL on August 22 at 1620.
42-E: Turksat–1C
D. The new mini-package on 11469 MHz vertical, SR 22494, FEC 3/4, which is known as the Star Package, is carrying Star TV and a stream share between Kral TV and TeleOn (VPID 33, APID 34) in addition to the captions noted last time (see Transponder Monitor August 11). During the morning of August 17 virtually all of the digital and analogue Turkish TV channels here abandoned normal programming to relay live pictures from the scene of the devastating earthquake centred on the town of Izmit in the north of the country. Feed stream 10979 MHz vertical, SR 4685, FEC 3/4 relayed live, uninterrupted news feeds for ATV under the EPG title "ATV-IST-NEWS-2". This footage was being relayed in real time on both ATV and Prima TV.
36-E: TDF2, Gals–1/2, Most–1, Eutelsat–II–F3
D. A weather channel airing output from remote cameras sited at various mountain resorts in the Italian Alps, similar to the Interlaken feeds on Eutelsat-W2 at 16 degrees East, was observed on 12630 MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2 on August 12. However, by the following day the channel had disappeared. The Serbian channel Pink Plus continues on an SCPC carrier at 11139 MHz horizontal, SR2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 encoded in Irdeto. During the day when the channel is off the air a caption is displayed inviting potential viewers to call +381 11 3116766 for subscription details. Because of the expectation of trouble during the latest round of Loyalist marches, live shots from several Northern Ireland streets, mainly in Derry, were fed over 11040 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 under the EPG banner "RTV UKI-511 SKY NEWS" on 14 August at 1355. Also on the 14th, 11072 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V 308, A 256, was airing this caption; "SIS33 UKI493. ITN SNG LINKS. 07801 641340". The EPG entry was "5.632 Mysm/s (as written) PAL".
A. Belgacom is airing a swish new promo on 11178 MHz horizontal in clear PAL. The format is very similar to the GlobeCast offering on Telecom-2B/D at 5 degrees West. During the afternoon of August 22 coverage of motorcycle racing from the Czech Republic was fed over this Belgacom transponder in clear PAL with audio available via the 6.60 MHz audio subcarrier.
28.5-E: Kopernikus–DFS2
D. A number of feeds for several German TV channels used 11525 MHz horizontal, 11549 MHz vertical and 11601 MHz vertical on August 11 for feed traffic from various locations in the path of totality for coverage of the solar eclipse.
28.2-E: Astra–2A & Sirius–3
D. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has been testing on 11973 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 in free-to-air MPEG-2 via PIDs V 2305, A 2307, EPG: "2605-Test". On August 20 SET was added to the EPG at Ch. 670 under "SET Asia". Both SET and the new Indian movie channel, B4U, launched officially on August 26. B4U is using 12120 MHz vertical and prior to the start date a caption was displayed here with "B4U@ PEARSON". The Welsh language channel S4C2, which will be dedicated to providing coverage from the new Welsh Assembly, has started tests again on 12120 MHz vertical after a break of several months. As expected, Nickelodeon’s new channel, Nick Junior, is to launch next month. The channel, which will join Sky Digital’s Multi-Channel package, is to air daily from 0600-1900. Nick Junior will also be made available to analogue viewers via Astra’s 19.2 degrees East slot. Sky Sports Extra, BSkyB’s first truly interactive channel, launched on August 22. Subscribers to Sky Sports 2 & 3 can receive the channel which, amongst other things, offers multiple views of major soccer matches using several camera angles.
19.2-E: Astra 1A–C & E–H
D. A testcard overlaid with "Dolby AC3" has appeared on 12670 MHz vertical on PIDs V 308, A 256 in clear MPEG-2. For the duration of the Satellite Show in Berlin which starts on August 28, German news channel n-tv is being downlinked on 12670 MHz vertical, SR 12730, FEC 5/6, VPID 162, APID 96 in free-to-air MPEG-2. n-tv has a regular digital feed on Hotbird.
A. Midnight Blue, an adult entertainment channel, has taken over from Playboy TV on 11671 MHz horizontal. The channel airs from 0000-0400 daily and is encrypted in Videocrypt.
16-E: Eutelsat–W2
D. A still shot from a football stadium was observed on 11142 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V 308, A 256 at 1945 on August 13 for the German sports channel DSF via a Dutch uplink. The EPG data read "INTRAX HOL21 DSF ASJ". On August 15 from around 0750, 12544 and 12557 MHz horizontal were active with the practice sessions from the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix. These streams carry live coverage for RTL in free-to-air MPEG-2, SR 11261, FEC 3/4 VPID 33, APID 34. The first frequency is used for a continuous shot of the pit lane, which occasionally cut to colour bars overlaid with "TWS RF CONTROL", while the latter stream carries the RTL World feed as provided by the host broadcaster, in this case Magyar Telev"z"o. The following caption was noted on 11012 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 at 1620 on August 23: "STRYDER 1 UKI 491. TURKISH RESCUERS HEATHROW FOR CENTRAL TV ABINGDON" The EPG data was "Auto 9 MHz". At the same time 12508 MHz horizontal was active with a report from outside a Belfast court where journalists were demonstrating. The EPG entry read "ULSTER TV BELFAST". At 1630 on the 23rd 12539 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, was airing the following caption over colour bars: "Test Transmission. Bars 75% +1kHz –9dB (Ch1/Ch2). Live from Warsaw Poland". A feed for the Zoom magazine programme followed. Also at 1630 a live interview with a representative from the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry from a Dublin street was fed over 12554 MHz horizontal in free-to-air MPEG-2 for the Irish TV channel TV3. The EPG entry read "SNG TV3 IRELAND Ch G Lo".
13-E: Eutelsat Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
D. Two new radio stations have joined the Greek Nova digital platform on 12168 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Melody Radio and Skai Radio are both encoded in Irdeto. The rather bizarre Gold & Watch Channel and the Art Channel have launched a promo on 12539 MHz horizontal. Both channels are stream sharing on PIDs V 4355, A 4356 in clear MPEG-2. The Dubai Sports Channel has launched on 12654 MHz horizontal, VPID 1060, APID 1020 in free-to-air MPEG. Also, Radio Dubai Sports is new here on APID 1021. The music channel Krisma and the Hotbird Jazz Channel (HBJ) are sharing a stream on PIDs V 4353, A 4354 at 10719 MHz vertical. An Austrian Catholic TV channel, K-TV finally started on 11055 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 581, APID 582 in clear MPEG-2. After a very long run-in period Mizik Tropical, the African and Caribbean music channel, officially launched its 24-hour service on August 11. Mizik can be found on 12476 MHz horizontal in free-to-air MPEG-2. The signal is uplinked at Liederkerke, Belgium by Belgacom. Following in the footsteps of Hundert 106, another Berlin FM station is testing on 12476 MHz horizontal, APID 772. It’s Spree Radio 105.5. 11026 MHz horizontal, the location of recent tests by Israel, is the site of a new free-to-air promo from J Channel, a Hebrew/Yiddish language service which is due to launch very soon. The parameters are: SR 1807, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195. The channel appears to feature Jewish religious programming and a contact telephone number, (+272) 2 999 99 22, is given out frequently for viewer information. Apparently J Channel is hoping to go 24-hours soon. TLI is a new Spanish independent channel also on 12476 MHz horizontal. The presentation is very similar in style to some of the Italian private channels which have recently popped up on satellite, such as ReteMia and TVGESat. The new computer games channel from Italy, Game Network, is to officially launch on September 17 at 12673 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Three audio streams will be activated, with French, German and Italian all available. Game Network has been testing for around two months on this frequency.
7-E: Eutelsat–W3
D. Another customer for Eutelsat-W3’s Aegean beam. Turkey’s Kanal 7 has launched on 11650 MHz horizontal, SR 4555, FEC 5/6, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. The programming is in parallel with Kanal 7’s other outlet on Turksat-1C at 42 degrees East. As would be expected, the EBU has a constant stream active from Turkey following the earthquake. 11051 MHz horizontal, SR 6854, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 is displaying this message over colour bars when not in traffic; "EBU IZMIT Path 3. IFB +41 227172898" in clear PAL. The EPG entry is "EBU ISTANBUL".
3-E: Telecom–2C
D. It seems that Channel 4 Racing have started to use Telecom-2C for its feed traffic. It has previously been seen on several of the Eutelsats including II-F3 at 36 degrees East. On August 14 at 1445 12721 MHz horizontal carried live coverage of the Newmarket meeting in clear MPEG-2, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 under the EPG banner "UK-ARENA". 12712 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 31, APID 32, carried a live relay of TV Lux from Luxembourg in clear MPEG-2 at 1600 on the 23rd.
5-W: Telecom–2B/D
D. The Tottenham/Everton soccer match was fed in it’s entirety over 11493 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 513, APID 660 in free-to-air MPEG-2 complete with commentary for Sky Sports. The EPG title was "Channel 2".
A. Feed transponder 11553 MHz horizontal was active at 1250 on August 16 with "LBO" over colour bars in clear PAL. No ensuing feed traffic was noted.
7-W: Nilesat–101
D. The new Lebanese channel, NBN, has started regular transmissions on 11747 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2 after a couple of weeks of testing. Although this satellite is seldom used for feed traffic one was sighted on August 10 at 1635. It was on 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1010, APID 1210. A short piece for Nile TV News was followed by an "Arabica" caption. The EPG name was "NSL".
12.5-W: Eutelsat–I–F5, –II–F2 & TV Sat–2
D. The SIC transmissions from Portugal are continuing here on 12574 MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2. Reception in the South of the UK with a 1.2 metre dish is very good. Apparently SIC programming here is not in parallel with the terrestrial signal viewed in Portugal. This satellite feed is thought to be a feeder of an "international" version for cable headends and digital platforms in Europe.
14-W: Express–2
A. What is thought to be a Timor radio station with programming in Portuguese has been heard intermittently on the 7.56 MHz audio subcarrier at 4025 MHz RHCP, the transponder which was previously occupied by RTP Internacional
18-W: Intelsat–705
A. Although the vast majority of feed traffic here is now using digital compression, very occasional analogue traffic can still be found. On August 14 at 1435 11134 MHz vertical was fired up with video in clear PAL of several people using handheld radios and mobile phones interspersed with shots of some mountaineers. None of the usual audio subcarriers were open.
21.3-/21.5-W: NSS–803 & NSS–K
D. A live report on eclipse glasses for a German channel was fed over 11480 MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 on August 10 at 1630. After the feed the stream cut to colour bars with "DFA D35 0dB". PGA golf from the US was fed on one of the BT Washington streams at 11550 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 at 2000 on August 13 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Soccer action from the Marseille/St Etienne match was fed over 11608 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4 at 2000 on August 15 for Canal+. This match was also relayed via Intelsat-801 at 31.5 degrees West, 11011 MHz vertical in MPEG-2. Video footage from an Elton John TV concert was carried on a Reuters stream at 11566 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC on August 16 at 0740. EPG data was "REUTERS DC (202)898-005". Live coverage of a women’s basketball game between New York and Cleveland for the German sports channel DSF was fed over 11503 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 at 2000 on August 21. Also on the 21st, 11550 MHz horizontal was relaying the St Louis Cardinals versus New York Rams baseball game in clear MPEG-2 and 11598 MHz horizontal, SR 5698, FEC 3/4 was used to feed more action from the PGA golf at St Augustine, Florida for DSF. The GlobeCast streams were missing at 1655 on the 23rd at 11590 MHz vertical. In their place was a feed in MPEG-2 4:2:2, SR 10907, FEC 3/4 under the EPG banner "Service 2".
A. Live coverage of a soccer match between Sliema, Malta and Zurich was fed over 11532 MHz horizontal in clear PAL on August 13 from 1830. Natural audio was via the 6.60 MHz audio subcarrier and German commentary could be heard on 7.20 MHz. A concert from the Olympic stadium in Berlin was carried on the same transponder in clear PAL for the German channel Sat 1 on August 15 at 1400. On August 17 11532 MHz horizontal was airing a report on students in Baltimore for ABC News in clear NTSC at 0750.
27.5-W: Intelsat–605
D. There continue to be changes to the Portuguese channels here. RTP Internacional has moved to 3858 MHz RHCP, SR 6258, FEC 2/3 from 3820 MHz RHCP. RTP’s African service has relocated at 3830 MHz, SR 6258, FEC 2/3 from 3858 MHz RHCP. Both channels are available in clear MPEG-2 and are using Intelsat-605’s East hemi beam. One of the Telenor streams at 11661 MHz vertical, SR 30494, FEC 3/4 has started to relay the Discovery Channel in free-to-air MPEG-2 on PIDs V 1460, A 1420. The EPG title is "Telenor-encoded".
31.5-W: Intelsat–801
D. 10969 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V 308, A 256, was displaying this caption "BT TES 35. WIDTX3/4MESTRE UKI 407. BT TES 30. 44-403-106204" on August 10 at 1625 in clear MPEG-2. On August 14 the usual clutch of sports feeds appeared here. The Norwich/Birmingham soccer match was aired in full on 10969 MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2 for Sky Sports News from 1400. At the same time 10975 MHz vertical was showing colour bars with tone in MPEG-2 4:2:2. The EPG data was "INTRAX HOL33 CANAL+". From 1405, 10978 MHz vertical was airing the preparations of the Nantes/Lens match in clear MPEG-2 with the EPG name "5.632 1Audio 18dB". Over at 10987 MHz vertical colour bars with "Signal Complet Kiosque" were spotted. The EPG info for this one was "BT TES". The Strasbourg/Montpellier clash was fed over 11008 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V 308, A 256 in full. On 10972 MHz vertical, SR 5631, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, an interview in Dutch was fed at 1545 on August 23 in clear MPEG-2. An unusual EPG entry for this one: "422P@ML 45MHz".
A. On August 10, the day before the Solar eclipse, a rehearsal for a live ‘Eclipse Special’ show by the French network TF1 was aired on 11009 MHz vertical in clear Secam at around 1600. The programme consisted of live shots from a light aircraft flying along the line of totality and studio links from a makeshift studio located in front of Reims Cathedral. When the programme had finished the transponder cut to colour bars overlaid with "Program TF1. Reims Municipal. Audio 1: Complet mono".
37.5-W: Orion–1 & Columbia–515
D. On one of the Tower Broadcast Centre streams at 11622 MHz vertical, SR 18901, FEC 7/8, VPID 517, APID 645, audio from the Italian version of Cartoon Network has been playing out over the Tower caption for several weeks. The EPG data for this stream is "NTL ORION Tp7 Euro 1".
All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
SR — Symbol Rate
FEC — Forward Error Correction
VPID — Video Programme Identifier
APID — Audio Programme Identifier