Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon

Key
D – Digital
A – Analogue

134 degreesE
Apstar-1A
D – Macau TV, from the former Portuguese colony that was recently returned the China, has been testing on 3929MHz horizontal, SR 4444, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 in clear MPEG-2, is to officially launch at the end of this year. The channel, which is based in Macau but has production facilities and a network centre in Beijing, will provide news, documentaries, financial information, educational and children’s programming sourced from a number of Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwanese production companies.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-4 & 7
D – On July 21 live coverage of the Davis Cup tennis championship was fed over 3742MHz horizontal, SR 19846, FEC 7/8 in clear MPEG-2 with English commentary. Sony Entertainment TV’s SET Max has switched from Pal to MPEG-2/PowerVu on 3932MHz horizontal. The parameters are; SR 19835, FEC 5/6, VPID 1160, APID 1120. Japan’s Channel J is currently free-to-air at present in the NHK platform on 4032MHz horizontal, SR 26564, FEC 3/4 on PIDs V1460, A1320.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat-804
D – The African feed of the US channel Worldnet has left 3668MHz horizontal, SR 11716, FEC 3/4, VPID 310, APID 263.

62 degreesE
Intelsat-602
A – A report from Istanbul for the Arabic language channel MBC was fed over 4166MHz RHCP on July 22 at 17:55 in clear Pal.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat-604
A – A daily news programme from the Chinese channel CCTV1 is fed over 4166MHz RHCP in clear Pal at 12:00 for 30 minutes. Staying with China, permits are still required for the sale and installation of satellite receiving equipment and the authorities frequently raid premises and confiscate receivers, dishes and viewing cards. Apparently there is a thriving trade in receivers and dishes for Chinese eager to watch Taiwanese Television. On July 19 at 18:10 a live feed of the state visit of the Sultan of Oman to an unidentified Arab country was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear Pal.

42 degreesE:
Turksat-1C
D – The History Channel has joined the DigiTurk bouquet on 11469MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6 on VPID 512, APID 513, replacing Star 3 Metro. Like most of the channels here it is encoded in Nagravision. The occasional CNN Ankara Bureau feeds on 11583MHz vertical have changed parameters. They are now SR 2998, FEC 3/4. Galaxy TV has left 11044MHz horizontal and moved to Turksat-1B

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W4 & Sesat
D – The move by the Russian digital platform NTV+ from Most-1 to the new Eutelsat-W4 has angered several thousand subscribers living in parts of eastern Europe and the Middle East. Although Most-1 was also positioned at this orbital slot and covered these areas, the footprint of the Eutelsat craft is much tighter, and has left these outside-Russia customers without a signal. In Israel alone there are around 15,000 NTV+ subscribers. Apparently there has not been any explanation from NTV+ nor any sign of a refund of subscriptions. The Italian finance channel CFN on 12702MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3 has changed PIDs. They are now V940, A941. The Serbian channels Pink Plus and Radio Pink have left 10965MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4 and have moved to Eutelsat-II-F3 at 21.5 degrees East. Also, Assyria TV seems to have vacated 10976MHz vertical. The first of several Multichoice Africa multiplexes opened on July 14 at 12360MHz horizontal, SR 26040, FEC 2/3 Central African beam. The current line up there is testcard – V33, A34, SIC International – V2081, A2082, Sony testcard – V3105, A3106, B4U testcard – V4129, A4130, Zee TV testcard – V5153, A5154 and an AGC testcard – V6177, A6178. Multichoice Africa will also use 12437MHz horizontal, SR 26040, FEC 2/3, Central African beam (44.3dBW), 12476MHz horizontal, SR 26040, FEC 2/3, Central African beam (44.3dBW) and 12207MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, Nigerian spot beam (54.6dBW). In fact two of these frequencies burst into life on July 19. 12437MHz is relaying these services; M-Net East – V60, A61, BBC Prime – V80, A81, Hallmark Entertainment – V144, A145, ESPN Africa – V208, A209, Supersport 1 – V272, A273, BBC World – V336, A337, CNBC Europe – V400, A401, National Geographic Channel South Africa – V464, A465 plus 20 DMX audio channels. Up at 12476MHz horizontal there is M-Net West – V60, A61, Movie Magic – V80, A81, Supersport 1 – V144, A145, Supersport 2 – V208, A209, CNN International – V272, A273, SABC Africa – V336, A337, Discovery Channel – V400, A401 and Channel O – Sound TV – V464, A465. A Guadalajara testcard in Pal was quickly replaced by a Hispavision multiplex in MPEG-2 on 12322MHz horizontal, SR 26480, FEC 1/2. So far test transmissions have only consisted of testcards on V3105/A3105, V4129,/A4130, V5153/5154 and V6177/A6178. IT@vision has vacated 12606MHz horizontal. There are some infrequent Reuters feed on 11108MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4.

31.3 degreesE:
Turksat-1B
D – 11133MHz vertical, SR 4555, FEC 5/6 is sporting a new Turkish mini-package. Bravo TV is on VPID 33, APID 34 and Galaxy TV can be found on V308, A256. As with all of the transponders on Turksat-1B this frequency is configured for a Turkish beam.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra-1D & 2A
D – Four radio stations are dual illuminating on 12402MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. Classic FM (A2318), Core (A2319), Classic Gold 828 (A2320) and The Mix (A2321) are new here in parallel with their existing outlets on 12110MHz horizontal. The Nigerian channel MBI Europe from Minaj TV are still having problems with their feeder on PAS-3R at 43 degrees West, 4187MHz vertical, SR 5631, FEC 3/4. For several days now a caption has been displayed on the MBI stream at 11973MHz vertical advising viewers that due to “technical difficulties” the channel would not be available for the time being. The 24-hour all news channels from ITN (VPID 2318, APID 2320) and ITN Radio are set to launch on August 1. Both channels are currently testing on 12032MHz horizontal, Ch.525 in the Sky EPG. On July 21 the TV channel started test transmissions running real time news bulletins. Once launched officially it will offer some interactivity in common with the new Sky News Active. NTL is providing the uplink. The signals are sent to Crawley Court near Winchester in Hampshire by fibre optic link from NTL’s Digital Media Centre in London. It is here those promos and commercials are added prior to transmission. Sky Digital started to upload over-the-air new EPG software last week. The new version, v2.6b.10, incorporates digital subtitling, a more user-friendly Box Office ordering system and complete A-Z programme listings. It seems that Pace Digibox owners were the first to receive the new software with owners of other systems receiving it later.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat-2A & 3A
A – TV d’Algerie has launched a new Pal outlet on 11895MHz vertical with audio at 6.60MHz. Also in the audio baseband are four Algerian radio channels. These are Chaine 1 (Arabic language) – 7.02MHz, Chaine 2 (Berber language) – 7.20MHz, Chaine 3 (French language) – 7.38MHz and Chaine Thematique El Bahdja (cultural radio) – 7.56MHz. This is an exact copy of TV d’Algerie’s outlets on Eutelsat-W2 at 16 degrees East (11095MHz vertical Pal) and Intelsat-605 at 27.5 degrees West (4007MHz RHCP Pal).

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat-II-F3
D – 10972MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 is carrying occasional feed traffic for the Belgian Belgacom organisation. Pink Plus (V308, A256) and Radio Pink (A257) have started on 10965MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4. Part of an Elton John concert from Liverpool Docks was fed over 12534MHz horizontal for the BBC during the early evening of July 19. Perhaps with unfortunate timing (with her 100th birthday coming up on August 4), there was another of those rehearsals for the syndicated feed arrangements for the death of the Queen Mother on 11072MHz horizontal on July 19. She was referred to throughout the transmission as ‘Mrs Robinson’. Some may remember a previous rehearsal in 1993, which was fed over Telecom-2C.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – Grand Tourisme and Zap TV appear to have left 12699MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. MTV France has left the Canal Satellite Digital package at 11739MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It is still available however in the Viacom bouquet on 12699MHz vertical. The Dutch radio station Sky Radio has joined the Canal Digitaal platform on 12574MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, APID 227. MTV Polska has replaced Atomic TV on 12382MHz horizontal. German radio channel Antenne Niedersachsen/Hamburg/Bremen has changed APID to 320 on 12.148 GHz h, SR 27500, FEC 2/3
A – More Sky analogue channels are due to leave in the next few weeks. On 10877MHz vertical The Racing Channel will depart on August 28, Backchat promo on August 31, Adult Nightly/Playboy Channel PPV – August 31, Costcutter Radio – September, Talk Radio – September. At 11127MHz vertical, Sky Travel, Sky Cinema and TV Shop – all close on August 31. Cologne-based Music channel Viva will launch on 11127MHz vertical on October 1. German regional TV channel BTV from the Baden-Wuerttemberg region launched, as expected, on July 15 at 10847MHz vertical in clear Pal.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat-W2
D – The Symbol Rate for the TV Romania package on 12715MHz vertical has been changed to 9909. The continuous live feed for the new Channel 4 programme Big Brother is using 11303MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2568, APIDs 2569/2570. The first audio stream is silent whilst the second is carrying the return Channel 4 audio. The feed is very voyeuristic as the relay continues throughout the night with cameras trained on the occupants sleeping in their beds. Channel 4 show edited highlights at night (see also Telstar- 12 at 15 degrees West). A live feed from the British Open golf for the German network Premiere was relayed on 11133MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 last week.

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hot Birds 1-5
D – The new Tamil language channel Deepam TV, which up to now had been free-to-air since its launch several weeks ago, has encoded in Cryptoworks on 10722MHz horizontal. In the Telespazio package at 12673MHz, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 the four radio channels, Radio Rinascente, Radio Cooky, Radio Baby and Radio McDonalds have all been switched off. They are all still available via the TPS platform on 12245MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Seven, which up to now was free-to-air in the Greek OTE package on 12169MHz horizontal, has encoded in Irdeto. The Italian radio stations Radio Monte Carlo Italia, Radio Deejay, Radio Italia, Radio 101, Radio Radio and Radio Radicale were all free-to-air on 11863MHz horizontal for a short while last week but have now returned to their usual encoded state. The Spanish channel Retelsat is switching in and out of encryption on 12092MHz horizontal. Iran’s IRIB World Service Radio 3 has launched within the Iranian package on 12437MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 85. Tele Monte Carlo’s two channels, TMC 1 and TMC 2 are both free-to-air on 11996MHz vertical for the time being. The French channel Mangas is currently free-to-air within the AB Sat digital package on 12692MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 on PIDs V162, A88.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat-II-F4
D – Live coverage of the ATP tennis championship being held in Stuttgart was fed over 11001MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 3601, APID 3604 last week in free-to-air MPEG- 2.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat -W3
D – A Romantica testcard has appeared within the Turkish package at 11658MHz vertical on PIDs V2107, A2209. Occasional feed traffic for DigiTurk is occupying 11596MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4. Discovery Channel Mediterranean on 11658MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 has an additional English and Turkish soundtrack.

5 degreesE:
Sirius-2/3
D – On September 1 Viasat is to launch a digital platform aimed specifically at the Baltic states. Although no frequency information is available yet the new service will include a tailor made version of Lithuania’s TV3 as well as premium channel TV1000, Estonian Television and ORT International from Russia plus other Russian language channels. In the Dream Family Network on 12349MHz horizontal The God Channel, Worship Network and the Revival Channel are all free-to-air now after a period of encryption.

3 degreesE:
Telecom-2C
D – The sole remaining regular TV channel here, Eurosport on 12569MHz horizontal, SR 6800, FEC 5/6 has vacated its slot and moved to Telecom at 8 degrees West. According to France Telecom Telecom-2C will be moved westwards at some point to co-locate with Telecom-2B at 5 degrees West.

0.8 degrees /1 degreesW:
Thor I-III & Intelsat-707
D – Two of the Bulgarian channels on 12168MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, namely MSAT TV (V513, A644) and Diema TV (V514, A648) are currently free-to-air. A major reorganisation of Canal Digital’s multiplexes is due to take place from September 5 (see table, Interspace 697). The feed of DR1 on 11.174GHz H will cease transmission on September 5,2000 while Eurosport Nordic will close down on October 31.

8 degreesW:
Telecom-2A/D
D – The Swiss channel Tele 24 has started here at 11642MHz horizontal, SR 2888, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4197 in clear MPEG-2. The channel had previously been using Telecom-2C capacity. Test transmissions from the new Fremdsprachenplattform (FSP) have been sighted on 11554MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The new service is slated for a September 1 launch. Already Team TV (VPID 2305, APID 2306) and TGRT (VPID 505, APID 506) have launched here in clear MPEG-2. After a short absence TV Montenegro (VPID 3026, APID 3036) and Radio Montenegro (APID 3538) have returned to 11652MHz horizontal, SR 4445, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat-II-F2
D – The KTLI occasional feed traffic on 11554MHz horizontal has changed Symbol Rate to 6109. The stream uses MPEG 4:2:2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar-12
D – A new Globecast digital platform has opened on 11656MHz horizontal, SR 26653, FEC 3/4. The streams here are in parallel with 11646MHz vertical on NSS-K at 21.5 degrees West. Some of the streams offer free-to-air feeds at times but the majority of activity is encoded in PowerVu/Nagravision. The US version of voyeristic doucmentary cum gameshow Big Brother appeared on 11518MHz horizontal, SR 5347, FEC 3/4 in the very early hours of July 16 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC. This was drawn from the CBS output rather than a direct feed from the location of the ‘guinea pigs’.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat-705
A – On July 22 at 16:50 coverage of a pre-season soccer match between Aosta and Juventus was fed over 11012MHz vertical in clear Pal with Italian commentary via the 6.60MHz audio subcarrier.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – The Irish sports channel Setanta Sport uses 11625MHz vertical, SR 5698, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 every Sunday at around 16:00 for feed traffic. The stream here is encoded but an identical feed stream for Setanta on Eutelsat-II-F4 at 10 degrees East is broadcast in the clear. Live coverage of the British Open Golf Championship from St Andrews, Scotland for BBC Sport was carried on 11522MHz horizontal, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2 last week.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat-605
D – Plate-Forme Bretagne has started test transmissions on 11561MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2, in parallel to its outlet on Telecom-2D, 11661MHz vertical.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat-1A/B/C
D – A fourth Hispasat craft is on order from Alcatel in France. The new satellite is expected to launch in late 2002 and will carry 28 transponders. Hispasat-1D is likely to offer return channel facilities, which potentially can provide bi-directional Internet services. Coverage of the Tour de France 2000 cycle race for Spain’s TVE is being fed over 11568MHz vertical, SR 10847, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. MTV Espana on 12456MHz LHCP, VPID 4112, A4113 has replaced MTV Europe. It is encoded in Nagravision.

34.5 degreesW:
Intelsat-601
D – The Canadian digital bouquet for the armed forces on 3718MHz RHCP, SR 7897, FEC 1/2 is now encoded.

43 degreesW:
PAS-3R & PAS-6
A – Coverage of the British Open Golf from St Andrews was fed over 12700MHz horizontal in clear NTSC for the Japanese network NHK. Japanese commentary was available via the 6.50MHz audio subcarrier.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.

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

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