Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

62 degrees E:
Intelsat-602
D – Radio station Alpha Sports from Greece has launched on 11072 MHz horizontal, APID 257 (left channel). Another audio service, Alpha News, uses the right channel on APID 257. Alpha TV also operates here.

53 degrees E:
Gorizont-32
D – The satellite relay of Tajik TV has brought the service to the residents of the remote, mountainous region of Badakhshon in the east of the country who until now have not been able to receive the state TV channels. Tajik TV uses 3315 MHz RHCP, SR 4400, FEC 3/4, VPID 1110, APID 1211.

42 degrees E:
Turksat-1C
D – Galeri 1 (V1280, A1281) and Galeri 2 (V256, A257) have launched within the StarDigital package on 11469 MHz vertical. Although they have appeared in the EPG for some time regular programming has only just begun. Both channels are encoded in Nagravision.

40 degrees E:
Gorizont-31
D – After its unceremonious removal from the Amos satellite Serbia’s RTS Sat has appeared here on 11525 MHz RHCP, SR 4165, FEC 1/2, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Although only test transmissions have been observed so far it is likely that carriage via a Gorizont craft will be RTS’s only hope of satellite distribution. The channel is broadcasting from 15:00-23:00 daily at present but it has promised 24-hour programming from early next year. Gorizont-31 is in inclined orbit (1.5 degrees), in common with most of the Russian Gorizont satellites. Radio Rossii (Russia’s Radio) has launched on 3658 MHz RHCP, APID 35. This station is available throughout Russia and it’s former republics on medium wave, short wave and via local FM relays.

36 degrees E:
Gals-1/2, Most-1, Eutelsat-II-F3
A – The Iraqi Satellite Channel has started to use Eutelsat-II-F3 digital capacity. The channel is carrying out tests via an SCPC carrier at 11013 MHz vertical, SR 4338, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 in clear MPEG-2. The output is in parallel with the analogue signal from this slot and via Nilesat at seven degrees West. Memoria Futura is a new Italian channel in clear MPEG-2 on 12571 MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 1/2, VPID 33, APID 2500. At 18:50 on December 8 11071 MHz horizontal was in use with a live feed from West London for Channel 4 News. The subject was the alleged bugging of an official car in Northern Ireland. Author Nigel West, well known for his writings on security matters, was interviewed live at 19:05 by presenter Jon Snow. The EPG entry was "SIS35 UKI 495 ITN". A live report for Sky News from outside Stockport Magistrates Court was fed over 11047 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, EPG: "SIS26 CODER1" at 1400 on December 9. The parameters for the Sardinian channel Sardegna Uno have been altered slightly. They are now SR 1903, FEC 7/8, VPID 4865, APID 4866.

D – TV Locales Independantes has launched in clear Pal on the Belgacom transponder at 11180 MHz horizontal. The audio is available via 6.60 and 7.20 MHz.

30.5 degrees E:
Arabsat-2B
D – The Dubai Business Channel has opened on 12744 MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. Ajman TV, from one of the lesser known United Arab Emirates, has launched on 12733 MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4.

28.2 degrees E:
Astra-2A & Sirius-3
D – Zee TV_s new Bangla service has launched on 11973 MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2, Ch.678 in the Sky EPG. The channel, which airs movies, general entertainment and news programmes exclusively in the Bangla language is likely to remain in-the-clear until January 15 when both Zee channels will be encoded. The five Sky Box Office channels (41-45) on 12226 MHz horizontal which were broadcasting in the clear for some time have now returned to their normal encoded state. It is believed that technical problems were the cause of the free viewing. The new Channel East which can be found on 11973 MHz vertical under the EPG banner "HDS" appears to have been encoded.

26 degrees E:
Arabsat-2A & 3A
D – Ajman TV is a new arrival on 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 2460, APID 2420 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Ajman TV is also available in analogue format from this orbital slot on C-band and via Nilesat capacity and Arabsat-2B in MPEG-2. When the Dubai-based channels are off the air on 11747 MHz vertical a caption with TOWI AL SAMAN EARTH STATION, UAE is displayed.

A – Radio Bahrain has started in the baseband of Bahrain TV on 3823 MHz LHCP via the 7.02 MHz audio subcarrier.

23.5 degrees E:
Kopernikus-DFS3
D – A feed of the new ZDF TheaterKanal has launched on 12691 MHz horizontal, VPID 1071, APID 1073 in clear MPEG-2 in parallel with the Astra 19.2 degrees East outlet. The channel s presence here is presumably to supply cable headends.

19.2 degrees E:
Astra 1A-C & E-G
D – Reality TV has started on 12381 MHz horizontal, VPID 169, APID 116 (English audio)/APID 112 (Polish audio) in clear MPEG-2. This channel has also launched via Telstar-11 at 37.5 degrees West. ZDF TheaterKanal launched on December 9 at 11954 MHz horizontal, VPID 1110, APID 1120. It is currently free-to-air. Viacom is testing on 12699 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. So far the transmissions here have been very sporadic with bursts of several channels including MTV Base, MTV Germany, M2 and VH-1. Viacom intends to launch a new bouquet here this month which will be encoded in Cryptoworks except for MTV Germany which will remain free-to-air. Canal+ 16:9 has launched on 12344 MHz horizontal, VPID 161, APID 84. The widescreen channel is encoded in Mediaguard. A new Spanish interactive banking service has opened on 11895 MHz vertical. Canal Banco Bilbao Vizcaya appears as Ch.211 in the CSD digital platform. Also in the same bouquet but on 11973 MHz vertical another interactive service, Canal Jugar, a games channel, is new at Ch.251. The Polish Roman Catholic channel, TV Niepokalanow has now started regular programming on 11876 MHz horizontal. QVC Germany is to launch digital transmissions via an undisclosed Astra transponder very soon. The channel is only available in analogue format at present from this slot. QVC UK uses digital capacity on Astra 2A.

A – After several years the in-store audio channel Asda FM has left the 7.56 MHz audio subcarrier at 11171 MHz horizontal in favour of digital compression via NSS-K.

16 degrees E:
Eutelsat-W2
D – House of Commons TV has returned to the BT digital platform at 11304 MHz vertical on PIDs V2561, A2562 after a short absence. It was in the clear for several days but has now returned to its usual encoded state. On Decemer 11 at 13:30 the Exeter City-vs-Everton FA Cup soccer match was fed over 11011 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 in clear MPEG-2 for Sky Sports. A little later during the same afternoon the Norwich-vs-Coventry City game was carried on 11142 MHz horizontal, also for Sky Sports. Second hop golf feeds from South Africa have been regular viewing in the past week on 11013 MHz horizontal, SR 5613, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The EPG ID was "9 MHz, PAL, 1 AUDIO". Up at 12595 MHz vertical the same feeds have been carried with the parameters SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 163, APID 92, EPG: "SERVICE 4".

A – It now seems that the reason for the disappearance of Albania’s Television Shqiptar (TVSH) from 11178 MHz vertical since early November was financial and not technical. According to the channel it owed Eutelsat around $2,000,000 for carriage on the W2 satellite. This has now been paid and their return is apparently imminent. Before TVSH left they broadcast daily in clear Pal from 17:30-19:30.

13 degrees E:
Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
D – The US government information channel, WorldNet and several streams from the Voice of America and Radio Liberty stations have launched on 12486 MHz vertical, SR 8797, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Polonia 1 (V205, A206) and Super 1 (V207, A208) – also from Poland – have launched on 12303 MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2. These two channels have left 12149 MHz vertical where they were replaced by Antenna Hungaria testcards. Napoli International, another of the many Italian independent TV channels, has started testing on 12673 MHz vertical, VPID 210, APID 211 in the evenings. The channel is advertising a launch date of December 31. Italy’s Gold Channel has appeared on 12111 MHz vertical, VPID 330, APID 331 in the clear. Canale Milano has commenced tests on 12073 MHz vertical, VPID 162, APID 88 where it has replaced Palco 1. BET International (previously BET on Jazz) is jumping in and out of encryption 10723 MHz horizontal, VPID 1005, APID 1205. The channel’s other outlets on Intelsat-707 and Telstar-11 remain free-to-air. Eutelsat’s Skyplex on-board multiplexing facility is being used to relay recorded coverage of this years UN World Television Forum, which was held in New York last month. The broadcasts are being carried on 12539 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 and will continue through to the end of December. The Greek OTE package has launched on 12188 MHz vertical after the completion of tests. The current line-up is ET 1, ESPN, MCM Europe, Seven, Alpha, OTE Cinema and OTE+. Audio channels available are ERA 1, ERA 2, ERA 3, ERA Spor, Alpha News, Sport FM, SKAI Radio, Flash 96.1, 902 Aristera FM, Business Radio and Klik FM. All of the TV channels are encoded in Videoguard with the exception of ET 1 and OTE+. The Italian channels, Napoli International and Magic TV who share a stream have transferred from 12673 MHz vertical to 12111 MHz vertical, VPID 230, APID 231. In their place on 12673 MHz is a new offering, Memoria Futura, on PIDs V210, A211 in free-to-air MPEG-2 in parallel with their Eutelsat-II-F3 at 36 degrees East outlet. The Croatian channels HRT 1 & 2 on 12520 MHz vertical, which are normally encoded, have been broadcasting in the clear for the past few days. This is likely to be because of the recent death of the country’s leader, Tujman. 10722 MHz horizontal, SR 29895, FEC 3/4, VPID 1002, APID 1202 is being used for occasional news feeds for the Egyptian channel Nile News. On December 9 at 14:45 this caption was noted here "Nile News Channel. PLEASE STAND BY" in Arabic and English.

10 degrees E:
Eutelsat-II-F4
D – The Turkish channel NTVi has opened a new outlet on 10960 MHz horizontal, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The German religious part time channel, Neuapostolische Kirche, has launched a digital, Sunday only service on 11141 MHz horizontal, SR 5273, FEC _, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. First hop feed traffic from the EU summit in Helsinki for the US network ABC occupied 11004 MHz horizontal and 11104 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 last week. The uplink ID was "ABC Newsfeed SWE 013". Feed traffic for the Turkish channel TGRT has started to use 11044 MHz vertical, SR 3123, FEC 5/5, V308, A256 in clear MPEG-2. On December 9 at 1045 preparations for a live report were sighted here under the EPG banner "TGRT ANKARA DSNG-1".

5 degrees E:
Sirius-1/2
D – Some of the video and audio PIDs for the Dream Family Network on 12349 MHz horizontal have been changed. The current situation is; The Christian Channel (V101, A102), The Worship Network (V201, A202), Euronews (V301, A302), Travel (V401, A402), United Christian Broadcasting (UCB) Europe (A831) and UCB Cross Rhythms Radio (A841). All of the channels in the platform are currently free-to-air. A volleyball match between two Danish teams was fed over 12615 MHz vertical, SR 7028, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 on December 7 at 20:00. The EPG entry was "DNK-1 F34".

3 degrees E:
Telecom-2C
D – 12514 MHz vertical, SR 6238, FEC 7/8 was active at 19:00 on December 7 with colour bars overlaid with the uplink identifier LUX 004. A little later the stream cut to a soccer stadium as fans arrived to watch a match. On the same evening at 19:15 an ice hockey match with French commentary was fed over 12546 MHz horizontal, SR 6283, FEC7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The EPG data read FTR/F40/1.

0.8 degrees/1 degrees W:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
D – The Russian channel, ORT International, from the Ostankino organisation has encoded in Conax on 12226 MHz vertical and 12322 MHz horizontal. For dedicated fans of this state-run channel the two C-band outlets available in Europe, via Gorizont-26 at 11 degrees West and Gorizont-32 at 53 degrees East, 3675 MHz RHCP, are still free-to-air. The new Slovak channel, TV Luna, has officially launched on 11540 MHz vertical, VPID 517, APID 660. Unfortunately, after a short period during the test phase in the clear, they are encoded in Conax. National Geographic’s Adventure 1 has launched a service for Scandinavia on 12226 MHz vertical, V513, A648, encoded in Conax.

5 degrees W:
Telecom-2B/D
D – As Asda FM left this satellite for NSS-K it was replaced by a new in-store channel, McColl s FM, on 11493 MHz vertical, APID 672. McColl’s run a large chain of convenience stores situated throughout the UK.

A – On the back of France 2 on 12562 MHz vertical via the 7.74 MHz audio subcarrier there is a new radio station called Berber TV (yes – it is a radio channel and not TV). The station broadcasts in the Berber language which is spoken in parts of Algeria.

7 degrees W:
Nilesat-101
D – The Jordan Satellite Channel has been replaced by Ajman TV on 11747 MHz vertical, V1010, A1210 in clear MPEG-2. The Lebanese news channel NBN has entered into a stream share with Al-Mustakillah TV on 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 1009, APID 1209.

12 degrees W:
Eutelsat-II-F2 & Telstar-12
D – The Canadian TV channel City-TV and Toronto Radio have both left 11158 MHz vertical after around two weeks presence here. City-TV has now appeared on Eutelsat-I-F5 at 14.8 degrees West.

14.8 degrees W:
Eutelsat-I-F5
D – Regular transmissions from Eutelsat’s Atlantic Gate slot have started. Unfortunately the satellite is inclined by four to five degrees which makes reception difficult without inclined tracking. The best time to check is at around 12:00 when the inclination is at it’s least. Toronto-based City-TV has started on 12537 MHz horizontal, SR 8678, FEC 1/2, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

A – DigItaly has launched on 12522 MHz vertical in clear Pal, When the channel is off the air a Fucino Earth Station caption occupies the transponder.

18 degrees W:
Intelsat-705
A – At 18:20 on December 8 11010 MHz vertical was fired up with colour bars overlaid with "BT TES 30 BORDEAUX". Some minutes later a live feed for the Italian Mediaset organisation from the Bordeaux soccer stadium commenced in preparation for the team s Champions League game against Fiorentina. Unfortunately from the moment of the kick-off the feed was encrypted.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degrees W:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – This caption was noted on 11490 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 on December 7 at 1830; "Champions League Match Wk.8. ONdigital Opening. Stereo AFD 4:3. Carlton UK Birmingham". Just over an hour later the entire Lazio-vs-Chelsea match was fed in clear MPEG-2. One of the Reuters Washington feed streams at 11550 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V512, A650 was displaying this caption on December 8 at 1925 "Mobile Video 202-331-8882. www.mobilevideo.net" over colour bars. Asda FM is using 11644 MHz vertical, SR 11847, FEC 3/4, APID 1124. A new discovery is Asda Scotland on the same frequency via APID 1123. Both Asda channels are free-to-air.

27.5 degrees W:
Intelsat-605
D – Playboy TV and Adult X have been free-to-air some nights on 11665 MHz horizontal, VPID 1460, APID 1420. Playboy airs from 19:00-23:00 whilst Adult X takes over from 23:00 through to 04:00.

30 degrees W:
HISPASAT-1A/B
D – Canal Medicina is a new addition on 11509 MHz vertical, SR 12519, FEC 3/4, VPID 2160, APID 2120. It is currently free-to-air but will encode later.

A – On December 7 at 18:25 preparations for a live feed from an open air Nativity scene in Spain were fed over 11575 MHz vertical in clear Pal.

37.5 degrees W:
Telstar-11 & Columbia-515
D – In parallel with its Astra 19.2 degrees East outlet, Reality TV has launched on 11553 MHz horizontal, SR 4360, FEC 3/4, VPID 169, APID 100, North European spot beam in clear MPEG-2. CNNI is using 11667 MHz vertical, SR 3958, FEC 1/2, VPID 4384, APID 4405 in clear MPEG-2. This stream was previously occupied by the Mormon channel, Church of the Latter Day Saints TV. The MTV/VH-1 US relays on 11542 MHz horizontal, SR 6000, FEC 3/4, VPID 167, APID 108 have become rather erratic of late. On December 7 at 19:30 the stream was occupied by colour bars overlaid with "VIACOM NETWORK OPERATIONS (516)435-4949".

43 degrees W:
PAS-3R & PAS-6
D – The Mexican Televisa platform has returned to 12581 MHz vertical after a short stay at 12651 MHz vertical. The parameters remain unchanged at SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Minaj Broadcasting International (MBI) from Nigeria, as seen on Astra-2A, has returned to use PAS-3R capacity again after a long break. MBI can be found on 4188 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V33, A34 in clear MPEG-2.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.

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