Key:
D – Digtal
A – Analogue

105.5 degreesE
Asiasat-1 & 3S
D. Ekushey TV, the first independent TV network in Bangladesh, has commenced test transmissions on 3749 MHz vertical, SR 4070, FEC 2/3. Ekushey TV, or ETV, is already available terrestrially in Bangladesh in the cities of Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet. It expects to be available in Europe and North America by the end of the year.

75 degreesE
LMI-1
A. TV Malagasy from Madagascar continues to be received well in south east England with varying strength with a very modest dish size of just 1.2 metres. TVM can be found on 3976 MHz RHCP in clear Secam.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat-602
A. Coverage of part of a conference attended by the Cuban leader Fidel Castro was fed over 4188 MHz RHCP in clear Pal on April 12 at 1740 (see also Intelsat-601 at 34.5 degrees West).

57 degreesE:
NSS-703
D. There is a new Indian digital package on 3980 MHz RHCP, SR 28000, FEC 3/4. The present line-up is: Sun TV – V1160, A1120; Sun News – V1260, A1220; Sunii – V1360, A1320; Gemini TV – V1460, A1420; Teja TV – V1560, A1520; Udaya News – V1660, A1620 and Ushe TV – V1760, A1720. The complete bouquet is free-to-air. Unfortunately the transponder is configured for an East hemi beam thus rendering the package impossible to receive in the West.

48 degreesE
Eutelsat-II-F1
D. Euro Mediterraneo has launched in free-to-air MPEG-2 via an SCPC carrier on 11090 MHz horizontal, SR 2277, FEC 2/3, VPID 4194, APID 4195.

42 degreesE:
Turksat-1C
D. A new StarDigital multiplex containing solely German channels has opened on 11660 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4. The current line-up is: VH-1 Export – V4096, A4097; MTV Germany – V4099, A4100; RAI Uno – V4101, A4102; RAI Due – V4104, A4105; RTL Deutschland – V4113, A4114; RTL2 Deutschland – V4115, A4116; Vox – V4117, A4118; Pro Sieben – V4119, A4120 and Sat 1 Deutschland – V4121, A4128. All of these are free-to-air.

36 degreesE:
Gals-1/2, Most-1, Eutelsat-II-F3
D. 11621 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 was active on April 5 at 1800 with “SISLink 30 UKI 419” over colour bars. At the same time 11661 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 was airing a “Reuters Turkey” caption. The EPG entry read “RTV TURKEY 625”. An interesting second-hop feed carrying coverage of live horse racing courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club used Eutelsat-II-F3 capacity at 11064 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on April 8 at 1230. An on-screen clock at the top of the screen showed Hong Kong time, which was 2030. The EPG data read “Auto 6 MHz”. At around 1300 the stream cut to recorded coverage of an Oasis concert. At 1230 on the same day live coverage of the Grand National horse racing meeting from Aintree in Liverpool for Sky Sports was fed over 11054 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, EPG: “9 MHz, PAL, 1 Audio” in free-to-air MPEG-2.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat-2B
D. There is another new Lebanese channel here. Tele Liban has launched on 12537 MHz vertical, SR 3036, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2.
A. On April 6 at 1740 this caption was noted on 3870 MHz LHCP in clear Pal: “Bahrain Television satellite transmission for Dubai Television – Endurance Horse Race, GMT 16.30- 18.30 by Feedpoint Tel: #973-681 019.” A live discussion programme was fed over 4080 MHz RHCP in clear Pal on April 5 at 1910. The programme was being aired live on Abu Dhabi TV on Arabsat at 26 degrees East and Hotbird.

28.5 degreesE:
Kopernikus-DFS2
D. The primary feeds from the San Marino F1 Grand Prix on April 8 & 9 for RTL and Premiere Sport could be found on 12606 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 36 and 12675 MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra-1D & 2A
D. Some new channels look like joining the Sky Digital line-up very soon. Several test broadcasts have started over the last few days. At 12032 MHz horizontal TVJS (Product Information Network – a home shopping channel), Ideal World, BM and Lashkara all appear in the EPG and at 12129 MHz vertical TviC also appears in the EPG. Ideal World, which is another home shopping channel, will launch this week at Ch.642 in the Sky Digital EPG. More information on the forthcoming Community Channel (see Transponder Monitor April 5): the channel will launch in September within the Sky Digital platform. It will be free-to-air and is expected to be available via digital terrestrial and cable in addition to the satellite DTH service. It is owned by the Media Trust, a charity which works closely with the media to promote voluntary and community groups. BSkyB has donated the first three years carriage for up to 12 hours a day, which is reported to be worth some pounds1,800,000. Sky Sports News on 11856 MHz vertical has undergone a name change and a complete repackaging. The channel is now known as SkySports.com TV. The new look was rolled out on April 10. As well as the return of some of the old favourites such as The Last Word with Jimmy Hill and Good Morning Sports Fans many new programmes will be aired in the next few months. Somewhat misleadingly, the name SkySports.com does not mean that the channel has any interactive Internet connections. Premier Christian Radio is testing at 12324 MHz vertical in the clear. The u>direct sport promo on 12110 MHz horizontal, VPID 2332, APID 2333 has been switched from clear to encoded. The u>direct film promo on the same frequency, VPID 2324, APID 2325 is still free-to-air. Viacom’s M2 music channel, which has been struggling in the ratings war for some time is to be renamed MTV2. It will also come with a new look to tempt viewers. Hallmark UK has commenced test transmissions on 12282 MHz horizontal. The signal arrives here, second-hop, via Telstar-12 at 15 degrees West. The Sky Box Office ‘All Day Ticket’, which enables viewers who pay the pounds3 to watch a newly released movie as many times as they wish before 0600 the next day, has been renamed ‘Multiplay’.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D. There was a new Xtra Music promo channel on 12051 MHz vertical via APID 642 for a day or two last week. It has now closed down. As the exodus of Sky analogue channels continues as they move over to digital compression via Astra’s 28.2 degrees East slot, The Racing Channel has announced that as from August of this year it will only be available via the Sky Digital bouquet. Its slot here, at 10877 MHz, will be returned to SES. Also, Sky Box Office 3 has left 11362 MHz horizontal and has been replaced by a 24-hour service from Bloomberg TV Germany, Sky Box Office 1 has vacated 10744 MHz horizontal and Sky Box Office 4 has left 10847 MHz vertical. Sky Box Office 2 has been replaced by a Sky Digital Info channel at 10877 MHz vertical. This transponder is shared with Playboy TV, The Adult Channel and The Racing Channel. Over at 10847 MHz vertical Granada Breeze and .TV have both left the transponder.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W2
D. The Italian channels, Utis Sat and Magic TV have been replaced by the sports channel SNAI Sat on 12608 MHz horizontal, VPID 1460, APID 1420. Six encoded streams carrying live coverage of the San Marino F1 Grand Prix on April 8 and 9 used 11170 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. In the EPG they were identified as “Track 1”, “Track 2”, “Track 3”, “Pit Camera”, “Vehicle Camera” and “Stats”. These were probably for one of the Italian networks. Also, coverage from the same venue for RTL was at 12541 MHz horizontal, SR 11260, FEC 3/4 and 12557 MHz horizontal, SR 11260, FEC 3/4.
A. Chaine Nord Afrique (CAN) has launched at 11178 MHz vertical in clear Pal. At present the channel is only available on Wednesday evenings from 1600-1700

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hotbirds 1/2/3/4/5
D. Local Satelite Internacional from Spain is occupying 12092 MHz horizontal, VPID 4176, APID 4177 in free-to-air MPEG-2 during the evenings. As Polish TV and radio channels appear to be in a state of flux, as channels come and go rapidly, two new channels have launched on 10719 MHz vertical. They are Polsat Info 2 via PIDs V159, A84 and TV4, V168, A84. Both are encoded in Mediaguard. Euronews started via an additional stream on 12597 MHz vertical, V163, A92 last week but now appears to have left. The channel was broadcasting alongside the existing stream on this frequency which is on PIDs V2221, A2231. Radio McDonald’s, which provides in-store radio to the hamburger chain’s Italian outlets, has launched on 12673 MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2 within the Telespazio package. Presumably other language streams will follow for the rest of Europe. A new Italian home shopping channel, TBNE, is occupying 12303 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 12380 MHz vertical, VPID 3027, APID 3037, a Game One testcard is displayed in readiness for the launch of its service very soon. NITV, which apparently stands for National Iranian TV, has launched unannounced on 12460 MHz vertical, VPID 2460, APID 2420 in clear MPEG-2. All that is known about this new channel is that its website can be viewed at http://www.nationaliraniantv.com/ but if you cannot read Farsi it won’t help much. NITV is believed to be based in Los Angeles (see also Telstar-12 at 15 degrees West). The Polish version of the German music channel Viva has launched on 11130 MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 98, APID 99 in clear MPEG-2. Sicilsat from the island of Sicily is testing on 12303 MHz vertical, VPID 225, APID 226 in clear MPEG-2. A bonus for Japanese speakers/expats but at a price – two new channels have launched on 12597 MHz vertical in free-to-air MPEG-2. JSTV (as seen via Astra) is on PIDs V2000, A2002 and NHK World Premium can be seen via V2011, A2013. The EPG entries for the channels are “New Service 1” and “New Service 2”. EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) has commence test transmissions on 10723 MHz horizontal, VPID 1001, APID 1201 in free-to-air MPEG-2. EWTN is also available via PAS-1 digital capacity (which is probably the feed point for the new Hotbird outlet) and an EWTN radio service is broadcast world-wide from the US via shortwave. A new channel from Romania is about to launch via Hotbird capacity. Pro TV International will start on April 30 on 12201 MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2. The channel aims to broadcast nightly from 2100-0700 for Romanian citizens as well as for the rest of Europe. It also plans to start a service for the US and Canada in the near future. Sky News is once again free-to-air within the Telepiu package on 12341 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 160, APID 80 after a short period of encryption. Italian state broadcaster RAI is to launch three soccer channels, Channel Milan, AC Roma and AC Inter in June. They are likely to gain carriage on Hotbird and will, no doubt, be subscription based.
A. The Kurdish language channel Kurdsat has extended its broadcasting hours. It is now on air from 1600-2100 daily at 10931 MHz horizontal in clear Pal.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W3
D. The French music channel MCM and the Alice promo channel have both vacated 11517 MHz horizontal, SR 19996, FEC 2/3.

5 degreesE:
Sirius-2/3
D. TV3 from Denmark has launched on 12380 MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2, VPID 55, APID 56. The SVT Europa testcard and the TV Chile advisory caption have left this frequency.

3 degreesE:
Telecom-2C
D. Live coverage of a rugby match between St.Fr. and Brive. (abbreviated as per the on-screen caption) for Canal+ France was fed over 12538 MHz horizontal, SR5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on April 5 at 1830 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat-707
D. Sweden’s TV4 has launched on 12303 MHz vertical, VPID 513, AID 644 in Conax encoded MPEG-2. Occasional feed traffic can sometimes be found on 11229 MHz horizontal, SR 24500, FEC 7/8. There are two streams here, Telenor UK 2 (V800, A801) and Telenor UK 3 (V1200, A1201). Both streams are free-to-air.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat-101
D. The PIDs for Ajman TV on 11999 MHz vertical have changed. They are now V100, A101.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat-II-F2
A. Digitaly has ceased analogue transmissions on 12554 MHz horizontal.

15 degreesW:
Telstar-12
D. National Iranian TV has launched on 11534 MHz horizontal, VPID 2460, APID 2420 in clear MPEG-2 with programming in parallel with its Hotbird outlet. After a brief stay here LDS (Church of the Latter Day Saints TV) has left 11667 MHz vertical. In the UPC package on 11150 MHz horizontal Club TV is currently in the clear.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D. Colour bars overlaid with “AL-JAZEERA TELEVISION” were spotted on 11557 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640, at 1840 on April 4 in clear MPEG-2. This stream normally carries traffic from Reuters Moscow Bureau. On April 5 at 1735 live tennis in MPEG-2 4:2:2 was fed over 11617 MHz vertical, SR 5697, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The EPG entry was “ETTD-2”. Five minutes later Globecast Channel 1 at 11590 MHz vertical, SR 20145, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, A1120 was fired up with live coverage of the preparations for a press conference from the White House. The subject of the conference was the “White House Conference on the New Economy”. Live coverage of the Manchester City-v-Crewe soccer game was fed over 11551 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, in clear MPEG-2 on April 8. A feed from the Grand National horse race at Aintree occupied 11530 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 on April 8 in clear MPEG-2. Live coverage of a Brazilian soccer match between Vasco Da Gama and Botofogo was fed over 11539 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 on April 9 at 2100. The Lyon-v-St. Etiene football match for Canal Plus France was fed over 11617 MHz vertical, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 2021, APID 2031 in free- to-air MPEG-2 during the afternoon of April 14. On the same day 11506 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 and 11676 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 were both relaying live coverage of the Seve Ballesteros Trophy 2000 golf in clear MPEG-2. Live Nascar motor racing from the US was in evidence on April 16 at 2000 on 11540 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, in clear MPEG-2/NTSC.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat-1A/B/C
D. Two new channels have joined the line-up at 12078 MHz vertical. They are TV de Galicia in free-to-air MPEG-2 via PIDs V160, A4161 and Canal Nostalgia, encoded in Nagravision, V4208, A4209. A live report from outside the Real Madrid football stadium prior the team’s UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United was fed over 11663 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 3610, APID 3602 on April 4 at 1825. Following the feed the stream cut to colour bars overlaid with “RETEVISION 6-20”.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat-801
D. The German channel, TV NRW, has left 11485 MHz vertical. The regional service had been available here, part time, for around four weeks in clear MPEG-2. A live report for Anglia TV from a roadside in Bedford on the effectiveness of police speed checks was fed over 10981 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 on April 5 at 1700. The EPG info read “BT TES 42 G00339G”. It is unusual to find UK regional feed traffic here as most of the ITV companies seem to have favoured Eutelsat-II-F3 at 36 degrees east recently. Also on April 5, 11484 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 was active from 1730 with a live feed from a German street. Following the feed the stream cut to an “INTRAX HOL12 DSF” caption. 11484 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, the former home of TV NRW, is being used for occasional German feed traffic. On April 5 at 1830 this caption was spotted here: “SWR KURZWETTER RHEINLAND-PFALZ”. The stream was then switched to a weather bulletin followed by another caption reading “ARD WETTERSTUD 100 GAIS”. 10966 MHz vertical, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 was in use on April 8 & 9 with live coverage of the San Marino F1 Grand Prix in free-to-air MPEG-2 for ITV Sport.

34.5 degreesW:
Intelsat-601
A. A speech by Fidel Castro was relayed on 4188 MHz in free-to-air Pal on April 12 at 1650. The occasion appeared to be a conference of some sort, some of which was fed over Intelsat-602 at 1740 the same afternoon.

45 degreesW
PAS-1
D. A “WATERFRONT NY NCC” caption over colour bars was observed at 1920 on April 5 on 11638 MHz horizontal, SR 26463, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.