Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

80 degrees
E:Express-6
D – The new Russian Express-6A was launched successfully in the early hours of March 12 aboard a Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and will shortly take over duties at this orbital slot from the ageing Express-6. The new satellite carries 17 high power C- and Ku-band transponders. One major advantage to users will be that there will be no need for uplinks and downlinks to have to track the satellite as is the case with many of the older Russian craft. Express-6A will be stable. Customers already lined up include the Russian channels TV6, TV Tsentr and AST plus several Russian telephone and data operators. The next in the Express-A series will be Express-3A which is due to launch in June and will be positioned at 11 degrees West replacing Gorizont-26.

62 degreesE
Intelsat-602
D – Iran is to launch a second channel aimed at Iranians who live abroad alongside Jaam-e-Jam, which uses space here and via Hotbird at 13 degrees East. Jaam-e-Jam 2 will use Telstar-5 capacity at 97 degrees West initially to supply its output to Iranians in the USA and Canada. The new channel will broadcast 24 hours a day, providing programmes for children and young adults, family programmes, serials, Iranian films and regular news bulletins. A new Iranian digital package has launched on 11134 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It contains IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) TV1 (V160, A80), IRIB TV2 (V161, A82), IRIB TV3 (V162, A84), IRIB TV4 (V163, A86), Sahar Universal Network (V164, A88) and Jaam-e-Jam (V165, A90). All of the channels are available in free-to-air MPEG-2.

60 degreesE
Intelsat-604
A – Live coverage of a men’s hockey match between Pakistan and Spain was fed over 4166 MHz RHCP in clear Pal on March 11 from 0750.

57 degreesE
NSS-703
D – US-based WorldNet/C-Span, the official mouthpiece of the US Government, has launched a digital service on 4053 MHz RHCP, SR 20394, FEC 1/2, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in free-to- air MPEG-2. Two Voice of America radio channels can also be found here, VOA News on APID 1122 and VOA MusicMix on APID 1130.
A – Since the introduction of its digital feed, WorldNet/C-Span has left 4049 MHz RHCP where it had been broadcasting in clear Pal for some time.

40 degreesE
Gorizont-31
D – According to Radio Television Serbia, its uplink power has been increased considerably here to enable reception on smaller dishes. However, it appears to be impossible to receive the signal in southern England. Radio Television Serbia is using 11530 MHz RHCP in clear MPEG-2, SR 4167, FEC 1/2 from 1100 to 2300 daily.

42 degreesE
Turksat-1C
D – The Star Active Cinema caption on 11469 MHz vertical within the StarDigital multiplex has been replaced by a Star Sport test pattern. CNN Turk has fallen foul of the Turkish authorities for the first time by allegedly screening material sympathetic to the Kurdish cause. As a consequence CNN Turk will have to take an enforced close down for 24 hours. This is the standard punishment for Turkish TV and radio broadcasters who “overstep the mark”.

36 degreesE
Gals-1/2, Most-1, Eutelsat-II-F3
D – Two more private TV channels from Italy have launched here. CountDown TV is using 12552 MHz horizontal, VPID 4194, APID 4195 whilst TBN can be found on 12567 MHz horizontal, SR 2168, FEC 3/4, VPID 235, APID 236. Both channels are in free-to-air MPEG-2 (see also Hotbird at 13 degrees East). A feed for ITN on March 8 at 1900 carried an interesting ending on 11095 MHz horizontal. Reporter James Mates filed two by-lines: “James Mates for ITN, California” and “James Mates for Public Television, California”. On March 15 at 1545 a live feed from the Cheltenham Festival, probably for ITN, featured the Queen Mother presenting prizes to race winners on 11079 MHz horizontal, EPG: “5.632 Msysm/s PAL”. Following the feed the stream cut to colour bars overlaid with “SIS33 – UKI 493”. At 1555 on the same afternoon a live interview with a union official from outside the Rover car plant at Longbridge in the West Midlands for ITN was carried on 11071 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, EPG: “SISLink 38”.

33 degreesE
Eutelsat I-F4
D – Eutelsat I-F4, the oldest craft in the Eutelsat fleet, has finally reached this slot, which will probably end up as its final resting place, after a move from 25.5 degrees East to a temporary home at 21.5 degrees East. The satellite is heavily inclined, by some 5 degrees, so viewing without inclined tracking is only possible at certain times of the day. A Telespazio package, an exact copy of its Hotbird output at 12673 MHz vertical, has launched on 12537 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. This contains DigItaly, Elefante Telemarket, Video Italia, Studio Europa, Thai Global TV Network, eVision and Game Network. All of these are in clear MPEG-2. In another move Eutelsat I-F5 will be relocated at 4 degrees East very soon. Eutelsat has a long standing registration with the ITU to operate at the slot.
A – There is some analogue activity here too. Il Tirreno Sat can be found on 11479 MHz, Fashion TV has started on 11656 MHz horizontal and DigItaly is on 11510 MHz horizontal. All are in free-to-air Pal.

30.5 degreesE
Arabsat-2B
A – On March 10 a volleyball match was fed over 3990 MHz RHCP during the afternoon in clear Pal. The game was being aired live on Saudi TV 2.

28.2 degreesE
Astra 1D & 2A
D – Channel 4 Extra has been testing on 11758 MHz horizontal, stream sharing with Film Four. The new channel was using the 0600-1800 time slot but now appears to have left. (see also Astra 19.2 degrees East).

26 degreesE
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D – Tele-Liban has launched on 12034 MHz horizontal via PIDs V2960, A2920 in free-to-air MPEG-2 (see also Nilesat at 7 degrees West). The channel has also joined the multiplex on 11747 MHz vertical, VPID 2960, APID 2920.

19.2 degreesE
Astra 1A-C & E-G
D – Three Viacom channels, MTV Extra, MTV Base and VH-1 Classic, have joined the Canal Digitaal package on 12344 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are all encoded. National Geographic Channel Nederland has launched on 12012 MHz vertical via PIDs V164, A96 encoded in Mediaguard. CNBC is sharing the stream, broadcasting from 0500-1100 daily. A testcard from ORB Potsdam has appeared on 12722 MHz horizontal, VPID 2401, APID 2402 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The German channel N3 has moved to 12722 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 2401, APID 2402 making way for Arte which has joined the ARD platform on its old stream at 11836 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, VPID 2401, APID 2402. Also, the radio station SR1 Europawelle has joined ARD Digital, 11836 MHz horizontal via APID 3901. Germany’s Phoenix TV has been replaced by a German version of EuroSport at 11954 MHz horizontal, VPID 410, APID 420. On the same frequency Arte has been replaced by EuroNews on PIDs V2221, A2233.
A – RTL Radio – Der Oldiesender has left the 7.38/7.56 MHz subcarriers in the audio baseband of Super RTL at 11391 MHz horizontal. It is still available via the 7.74/7.92 MHz subcarriers. Channel 4 Extra appeared briefly on 10862 MHz horizontal in Pal/Videocrypt 1 but left 24 hours later (see also Astra 28.2 degrees East).

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W2
D – On March 7 at 1935 recorded video of the Bayern Munich soccer team signing autographs for delighted fans was fed over 11133 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. During the same evening a live feed from a political meeting in Spain was fed over 11125 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 from 1945. After the relay the stream cut to this caption: “PEL-3 SERV. INFORMATIVOS TVE MADRID” over colour bars. The EPG info read “9 MHz, PAL, 1 Audio”. Another Spanish political rally, this time from Andalucia, was observed on the following night at 1900 on 11141 MHz horizontal. At 1935 on March 14 three ENEX streams, ENEX B (12516 MHz horizontal), ENEX C (12524 MHz horizontal) and ENEX D (12532 MHz horizontal) were all airing output from the French channel M6.
A – BK TV is a new to satellite TV channel coming out of Serbia. The channel, which is using 11178 MHz vertical in clear Pal with audio at 6.60 and 7.20 MHz , is broadcasting from 0930-1030 and 1230-1330 on Sundays only with a mix of entertainment, drama, sports, music and business oriented programming. Uplink facilities are being provided by Globecast.

13 degreesE
Eutelsat Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
D – A promo for the new Italian channel, RAI Nettuno Sat Due has started on 11804 MHz vertical, VPID 513, APID 651 in clear MPEG-2. Arte has opened another outlet on 11060 MHz vertical, SR 6510, FEC 1/2, VPID 5221, APID 5231 in free-to-air MPEG-2. After switching to encryption two weeks ago, the Spanish channel Canal Agro Rural is back in the clear on 12597 MHz vertical. Tok FM from Poland has launched on 10892 MHz horizontal via APID 124. The commercial station is encoded in Mediaguard. The Techno-music channel Krisma has appeared on 12111 MHz vertical, VPID 200, APID 201 in clear MPEG-2. The channel airs here from 2300 – 0630 nightly. Krisma has vacated its previous stream at 12539 MHz horizontal. Party Radio from Germany has joined the Deutsche Telekom digital platform on 11604 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, APID 115. Italy’s CountDown TV has commenced regular programming on 12303 MHz vertical, VPID 235, APID 236 and TBN has launched on the same frequency via PIDs V230, A231 (see also Eutelsat II-F3 at 36 degrees East). The Serbian channels, Pink Plus and Radio Pink, were free-to-air for around 24 hours last week on 12476 MHz horizontal but then promptly returned to their usual encoded state.
A – A new radio service has started on the back of the Iranian channel, Jaam-e-Jam, at 12437 MHz horizontal. It is VIRI (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran) Radio 1, the state radio First programme, which can be heard via the 7.38 MHz audio subcarrier.

10 degreesE
Eutelsat II-F4
D – Eutelsat-W4, which will be slotted in here, is due for launch on April 14. An encoded feed with the EPG ID “TSA M55 Motodesde Jer” was using 11052 MHz horizontal, SR 6108, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on March 14 at 1940.
A – Coverage of the qualifying practice from the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix was fed over 11163 MHz horizontal (second hop) in clear Pal on March 11 at 1215, courtesy of 9 Network, Sydney.

7 degreesE
Eutelsat-W3
D – The DigiTurk line-up seems to have settled down finally after much coming and going. To date this is the situation: 11492 MHz vertical – Bayindir TV (BRT); 11534 MHz vertical – Best TV, Kanal 7, Kanal E, Sky News, BBC World, Minimax Turkey, .tv, MovieMax, Extreme Sports, Fashion TV and EuroNews; 11575 MHz vertical – Kanal D, RAI Uno, Salon 1, Salon 2, Show TV, Vizyon TV, ZDF, MTV Europe, VH-1 Export, Fox Kids, BET International plus three DigiTurk promo channels; 11617 MHz vertical – ATV, TGRT, Salon 3, Salon 4, Kiss TV, EuroSport, CNN Turk, NTV International, Hallmark plus two DigiTurk promo channels; 11658 MHz vertical – Kanal 6, CNBC, National Geographic Channel, Muzzik, MCM EuroMusique, three DigiTurk promo channels, a testcard plus these radio channels, Best FM, Kiss FM, Alem FM, Shik FM, Power FM, RadioSport and 25 MCE audio channels.

5 degreesE
Sirius-2/3
D – The Russian Public TV channel, ORT1 – or ORT International as it is sometimes known – is free-to-air at present on 12380 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 170, APID 171. The Polish children’s channel, Fantastic, which is uplinked onto 12453 MHz horizontal, SR 18052, FEC 3/4, VPID 544, APID 545 by Kingston Satellite Services in the UK has now switched to Conax encoding. Sweden’s MTG Group is to launch a new digital platform from the end of April using Sirius-3 capacity. Initially two transponders will be used to supply between 20 and 40 channels including all of the Viasat channels except Z-TV and TV3. MTG is expected to cease all analogue transmissions by spring 2001 at the latest. The new bouquet will be encoded in Viaccess. Coverage of an ice hockey game for Canal+ was fed over 12590 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, EPG: “Teracom SWE 01a”, in clear MPEG-2 on March 14 at 1930.
A – Viasat+ is testing on 11919 MHz horizontal in D2MAC/Eurocrypt.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
D – BBC World has launched via an additional stream at 11540 MHz vertical, VPID 516, APID 656 in free-to-air MPEG-2. TV Bio+ from Denmark has commenced test transmissions on 11555 MHz horizontal, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPID 516, APID 644. A new Slovak TV channel, based in the city of Kosice, entitled TV Global, is due to launch on March 25. Although primarily a cable-only channel, satellite delivery will be used to feed cable headends. No satellite details have been released yet but it is probable that either Intelsat 707 or Eutelsat capacity will be used. TV Global will broadcast 24 hours a day with movies, documentaries, children’s programmes and sport, plus some major events and concerts.

5 degreesW
Telecom-2B/D
D – Canal Agro Rural is back in the clear on 11598 MHz horizontal after some encryption tests.

7 degreesW
Nilesat-101
D – The second Nilesat craft, Nilesat-102, is due to enter service later this year after its lift off from Kourou around July or August. Another Lebanese channel has joined the line-up at 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Tele-Liban can be found on PIDs V1010, A1210 in clear MPEG-2. Also from Lebanon, Manar Television is the name of a new TV channel hoping to broadcast to other Arab countries via satellite, probably using Nilesat and possibly Arabsat space segment. Later the service is expected to extend into the Americas and Australasia. The channel is operated by the Hezbollah who are fiercely opposed to the Israeli occupation of land which they believe should be in Arab hands. An Orbit promo channel has launched on 11823 MHz vertical, VPID 1011, APID 1211 in clear MPEG-2.

12 degreesW
Eutelsat-II-F2
D – The Andalucian package has returned to 12521 MHz horizontal after a short break. The parameters are: SR 21595, FEC 1/2. The current line-up is: Canal Sur TV (V512, A650), Canal 2 Andalucia (V513, A660) and a Test Card (V515, A680). All of these are currently in the clear.

15 degreesW
Telstar-12
D – Within the new Hallmark multiplex on 11534 MHz horizontal, SR 15000, FEC 3/4 the Nordic stream is currently free-to-air. A “GlobeCast Miami 305-341-4500” caption over colour bars is occupying the Hallmark UK stream via PIDs V2460, APID 2420 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC.

18 degreesW
Intelsat-705
A – Live coverage of the Champions League soccer match between the Dutch team Feyenoord and Lazio was fed over 11009 MHz vertical in Pal on March 8 from 1930. Unfortunately the video was encrypted but the audio remained in the clear. This relay was for the Italian channel Canale 5, part of the Mediaset bouquet on Hotbird.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – Live coverage of the ATP tennis championship from Indian Wells in the US was fed over 11675 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 2160, APID 2120 in free-to-air MPEG-2/NTSC last week for the German platform Premiere World. A caption stating “Alice Productions Bruxelles +32.2.230.2345” was noted at 2000 on March 14 at 11491 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V308, A256. On March 15 at 1845 this caption was displayed on the BT Washington stream at 11491 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, “To BT Paris via 338.5 H5/UP. To BT Wash via VYVX MVS ACC 2000 EMPIRE STUDIOS”. Also on the 15th at 1850 a feed from the EU Parliament with commentary in Spanish was fed over 11550 MHz horizontal. This was immediately followed by a report on chocolate for the Spanish channel TV Galicia.

30 degreesW
Hispasat-1A/B/C
D – The Portuguese TV Cabo bouquet on 11612 MHz vertical is dual-illuminating on the first active transponder on Hispasat-1C at 11811 MHz horizontal. The signal strength from the new craft is very strong indeed in the south of the UK. Both Cabo packages are encoded in Nagravision with the exception of CNL.

31.5 degreesW
Intelsat-801
D – The Nigerian channel AIT, which until recently was available via Hotbird digital capacity as well as C-Band digital appears to have left 3725 MHz RHCP. The channel has not been seen here for several days. Live coverage of the Sheffield United-vs-Barnsley soccer match was fed over 10998 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, EPG: “TES38 UKI 410”, in clear MPEG-2 for Sky Sports on March 7 at 2000. At the same time the Crystal Palace-vs-Bolton match was being relayed live on 10956 MHz vertical also for Sky Sports. The EPG ID was “TES20 UKI 255”. On March 8 at 1845 a feed in MPEG-4:2:2 for the French channel F2 was noted in progress on 11025 MHz vertical. EPG data read “801 CANAL 240 F2”. The full Stockport-vs-Bolton soccer game for Sky Sports News was relayed on 10957 MHz horizontal on March 14 from 2000. Also the Gillingham-vs-Burnley game was available at the same time on 10998 MHz vertical for Sky Sports.

34.5 degreesW
Intelsat-601
D – A new Canadian package has opened on 3718 MHz RHCP, SR 7897, FEC 1/2. It is thought to be aimed at Canadian service personnel overseas. There are currently four active streams containing CTV SportsNet (V4096, A4097), RDI (Reseau de l’Information) (V4098, A4099), Cool FM (from Quebec) (A4112) and another, as yet unidentified radio station from Quebec which is identified in the EPG data as FRRAD (A4113). All of the channels here are available in free-to-air MPEG-2.