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

Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

E: 80 degreesE:
Express-6A
D – Three Russian radio stations have started on 11534MHz vertical, SR 2000, FEC 3/4. They are Radiostantsiya 2000 – A4097, Radio Dynamit FM – A4098 and Radio Novaja Zhizn – A4099.

75 degreesE:
LMI-1
D – On 12600MHz vertical, SR 5748, FEC 3/4 there are two streams which appear to be used by Russian Universities/hospitals for the relay of medical video footage. The streams are named in the EPG as SGU1 – V33, A34 and SGU2 – V4240, A4241. The feed traffic is broadcast in free-to-air MPEG-2. There is a new occasional feed stream on 3443MHz horizontal, SR 4000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1133. Traffic here is very infrequent and for most of the time the stream carries a test card without any ID. On October 10 a Sri Lankan TV channel, Rupavahini 1, was relayed on 3443MHz for around 24 hours but then left.

A – Madagascar’s TV Malagasy has returned to 3975MHz RHCP in clear Secam after a short absence. The signal still reaches the south east tip of England with surprising strength on a very modest dish size of just 1.2 metres.

66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704
D – Some more Russian channels have left here. Two time-shifted versions of TNT, TNT+7 hours (ie Moscow time +7 hours) and TNT+5 hours have vacated 11653MHz horizontal and NTV Russia +1 hour, NTV+3 Hours, NTV+4 hours, TNT+2 hours, TNT+4 hours and the radio service Ekho Moskvy have all left 11603MHz horizontal and have been relocated to Most-1 at 36 degrees East.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
A – On October 10 at 12:00 a live relay of a news bulletin from the state Chinese TV channel CCTV-1 was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear Pal.

56 degreesE:
Most 1
D – TV5 Europe has been replaced by TV Tsentr on 12456MHz LHCP in free-to-air MPEG-2, VPID 325, APID 410. TNT+5 hours has taken over from NTV+1 hour on 12226MHz LHCP, VPID 512, APID 660. Kultura and RTR are currently free-to-air on 12476MHz RHCP.

48 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F1
D – TeleGenova Sat has launched on 11179MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3. Also, Olisat TV is new via an SCPC carrier at 11174MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3. Both channels are free-to-air. A new Italian multiplex has opened on 11188MHz horizontal, SR 1630, FEC 2/3 containing Radio Rinascente – A321, Radio Cooky – A322, Radio Baby – A323, Radio McDonald’s – A324 and Radio Day Classic – A325. All of these radio stations, which are also available via Hotbird at 13 degrees East digital capacity, are free-to-air. Napoli International appears to have left 11099MHz horizontal.

47.5 degreesE:
Europe*Star B
D – This craft has been drifted eastwards to this slot from it’s former home at 45 degrees East. So far the only activity has been the launch of the Italian channel Italia Mia 12410MHz vertical, SR 2000, FEC 5/6, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C
D – Four new interactive data channels have joined the StarDigital package on 11469MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. They are named Rehberlik, Ilanlar, Puzzle and Matematik. MTV Europe seems to have left the StarDigital package on this frequency.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D – Videolina has left 12685MHz vertical and has relocated to 12705MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 1/2, VPID 4194, APID 4195.

33.5 degreesE: (Temporary)
D – Several transponders have been fired up with test carriers as the testing phase for the latest Astra craft continues before entering service at 28.2 degrees East. 11758, 11836, 11992, 12070, 12148, 12304MHz horizontal and 11856, 11973, 12012, 12051, 12168 and 12246MHz vertical have all been carrying unmodulated carriers with excellent signal strength into the U.K.

28.2 degreesE:
D – Astra-2D is due to launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on December 21. This will increase the number of transponders available from this slot by 15. The new satellite will operate in the frequency range 10700-10950MHz range (FSS1 band). A time-shifted version of The History Channel has launched on 12207MHz vertical, Sky EPG Channel No.562. History Channel +1 airs programmes delayed by 1 hour. The awaited new channels from the Disney stable have officially launched on 10862MHz horizontal. They are Disney Channel +1 – Sky EPG Channel 614, Playhouse Disney – Channel 616 and Toon Disney – Channel – 615. The Asian radio channel, Sunrise Radio, has launched on 12324MHz vertical, APID 653 with programmes in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. The Pakistani TV channel, Prime TV, has started on 12422MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2310, APID 2311. Their signal here is free-to-air but the Prime TV original outlet on 11895MHz vertical is now encoded. Another Asian channel, Asia 1 TV on 11973 MHz vertical is switching in and out of encryption. Q TV, the new music channel from the publishing house EMAP, has started regular programming on 12188 MHz horizontal, VPID 2314, APID 2315, Sky EPG Channel 455. The new charity channel, The Community Channel, has officially launched on 12188MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, V2308, A2309, Sky EPG Channel 655. The new auction channel Bid Up TV has launched on Sky Digital. The channel airs nightly from 20:00-00:00 on 12032MHz horizontal, VPID 2327, APID 2328, Sky EPG Channel 746. Sky Sports 1 in Pubs has been replaced by Sky Sports 3 in Pubs on 11934MHz vertical, VPID 2314, APID 2315. Sky Box Office channels 36-40 on 12168MHz vertical, which had been free-to-air for several days are now encoded again. A new Tamil language channel is about to join the Sky Digital line-up. CITV Tamil TV is testing on 12402MHz vertical, VPID 2322, APID 2323. Extreme Sports Channel UK has commenced regular programming on 11954MHz horizontal, VPID 2328, APID 2330, SKY EPG Channel 422. The new Urdu language channel Anjuman TV has still not launched on 12402MHz vertical. The channel is continuing to air a promo video. U Direct Sports Channels 2-4 replaced U Direct Films Channels 13-16 last week on 12402MHz vertical, VPIDs 2306-2310, APIDs 2307-2311 in MPEG-2/Videoguard. However, two days later the movie channels returned to their original slots. Sky subscribers are still waiting for much hyped Sky Digital teletext to be rolled out.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat-2A & 3A
D – A new soccer channel, Asia Cup Channel, has launched on 12605 MHz horizontal, VPID 517, APID 700 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. MTV from the Lebanon (no relation to Viacom’s music channel of the same name) has launched on 11785 MHz vertical via PIDs V410, A420 in clear MPEG-2.

A – The Palestinian Satellite Channel has launched on 12735 MHz vertical in clear Pal.

21.5E:
Eutelsat-II-F3
D – The Serbian TV channel Pink Plus has started on 10961 MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 208, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. It is accompanied by Radio Pink on APID 257. Pink Plus is also available via Hotbird at 13 degrees East, 12476 MHz horizontal, where the signal is usually encoded. A new Turkish educational channel, Universite Hazarlik, has launched on 11596 MHz horizontal, VPID 4110, APID 4120 in MPEG-2/Conax.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D – X-Zone, the successor to the erotic channel Adult X, has launched on 12574MHz horizontal, V166, A104 in MPEG-2/Mediaguard. Also, X-Zone has replaced Adult-X on 12344MHz horizontal, V164, A96 where it airs in MPEG-2/Mediaguard from 21:00-05:00 nightly.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D – Since the start of the recent troubles in Israel and Lebanon the US broadcaster CBS have had a feed stream active on 12548MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 carrying first hop feed traffic back to the US in free-to-air MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hot birds 1/2/3/4/5
D – The new gay channel, Rainbow Channel TV from the Satisfaction Club TV stable, launched on 12092MHz horizontal, VPID 4520, APID 4521 in MPEG-2 with Viaccess/Irdeto simulcrypt encoding. Once again accusations of jamming are flying around. However, this time it is not Kurdish language channels which are the victims but a Farsi (Persian) channel. According to GlobeCast, who relay National Iranian TV (the Los Angeles based channel), NITV’s signal on Hotbird (11623MHz vertical) was interfered with by a carrier believed to originate from either within Iran itself or from a neighbouring country. Because of the problem NITV have not been seen on Hotbird since October 1. However, in the last few days an NITV testcard has been present on 11623MHz vertical again so maybe the channel is about to make a comeback. The Spanish channel Retelsat is currently in the clear on 12092MHz horizontal. ART Ala Keefak has been replaced by the Asian Cup Channel on 12015MHz horizontal, VPID 169, APID 116. The Italian erotic channel Satisfaction Club Television appears to be on the air for 24 hours a day now. The channel’s signal on 12092MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4192, APID 4193 is now encoded throughout the day. Two more Israeli radio channels have joined the package on 12219MHz horizontal, SR 6159, FEC 3/4, APID 36. They are Arutz Sheva Hebrew Channel (left channel) and Arutz Sheva Foreign Channel (right channel).

A – The Spanish all-news channel, Canal 24 Horas Noticias, has returned to 11785MHz in clear Pal where it has replaced TVE Espana Internacional Africa/Asia. The erotic channel Adult X has left 11283MHz vertical from where it had been broadcasting nightly in Eurocrypt encoded D2MAC.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F4 & W1
D – Eutelsat-W1 has finally reached this geostationary slot after in orbit testing whilst parked at around 1.7 degrees East. W1 is expected to take over from II-F4 very soon.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D – Mega Music Channel has joined the DigiTurk line-up on 11513MHz horizontal, VPID 2108, APID 2216. Three more channels have started testing on this frequency. They are CNN Turk, EuroSport News and Leonardo. TV 5 Europe has launched on 11554MHz horizontal, SR 20000, FEC 2/3 VPID 4202, APID 4203 in clear MPEG-2. The French terrestrial channel M6 has started test transmissions on 11283MHz vertical, VPID 2521, APID 2541 in clear MPEG-2. A live soccer match between Portuguese teams Benfica and Belenenses was fed over 11004MHz horizontal, SR 6666, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 on October 15 at 14:00 for SIC Portugal. The EPG entry was “SIC DSNG POR 9MHz”.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D – The Christian digital package, Dream Family Network, which uses 12349MHz horizontal, has undergone a name change to GOD Digital. There is a new radio service in this package called The Dream on APID 811. Only one channel here is in the clear, The God Channel. The rest are encoded in Cryptoworks. Norwegian domestic radio station, P4 – Radio Hele Norge has launched on 11911MHz vertical, APID 2235 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. A Baltic version of the Scandinavian movie channel TV1000 is testing on 12034MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3171, APID 3172 in clear MPEG-2. The Scandinavian racing service TeleToto has left 12335MHz horizontal. However, SIS Intertrack Greyhound Racing for UK betting shops is still available on this frequency via PIDs V2360, A2320. 12689MHz horizontal, SR 31000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 is carrying a test card overlaid with audio from the Moscow based terrestrial TV channel TV6. The EPG data reads “ORT/INTER/TV6”.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D – TV Zulu, which is a spin-off of Denmark’s TV2 has launched on 11553MHz. The channel, which has joined the Canal Digital platform, is encoded in Conax. In the Telenor package on 11174MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 2/3 Bollywood 4U Movies is now encoded in Conax. Also, in the past week Sony Entertainment TV has also become encoded. As expected Doordarshan World from India has launched for the Nordic countries on 11174MHz horizontal via VPID 648, APID 8189 in clear MPEG-2. Doordarshan’s dedicated news channel is also due to launch here very soon. Russia’s ORT Balt is temporarily free-to-air on 11665MHz vertical. Also, up at 11677MHz horizontal NRK International from Norway is in the clear for the time being. Erotic channel Hustler TV has started on 11014MHz horizontal, VPID 520, APID 680 in MPEG-2/Conax. Hustler airs from 23:00-04:00 nightly.

A – The Nordic version of The Children’s Channel has vacated 11938MHz RHCP. This was a D2MAC signal.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D – EuroNews, NTV (the Turkish all-news channel) and TGRT have all launched on the Mediagate multiplex at11556MHz horizontal in free-to-air MPEG-2. This digital platform has undergone some changes recently. The current line-up (in addition to the aforementioned channels) is; testcard – V4391, A4392, Vietnam Television caption with music audio track – V4281, A4282, Stream News – V4131, A4132 and BBC World – V4071, A4072. On October 14 at 14:00 12613MHz vertical, SR 11797, FEC 3/4, V308, A256 carried the Ipswich Town V West Ham soccer match for Sky Sports in clear MPEG-2. During the evening of the 14th the Real Sociedad V Barcelona match was fed over 11689MHz horizontal, SR 10124, FEC 3/4, V337, A340.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D – On October 5 the entire Serbian digital package on 11519MHz vertical, SR 16000, FEC 3/4 was temporarily switched off as the TV building in Belgrade was stormed and taken over by Kostunica supporters. RTS Sat and the Belgrade radio stations had returned by the following day and appeared to be running to schedule as normal.

A – The Italian channel Digitaly has returned to 11672MHz vertical in clear Pal after a short absence. This is the sole regular analogue signal available from Express-3A.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D – Sport 1 Czech has launched via two streams on 11120MHz vertical, SR 14810, FEC 7/8, VPIDs 101/201, APIDs 111/211 in MPEG-2/Cryptoworks. Sport 1 Hungaria has commenced regular programming on 11141MHz vertical, SR 14810, FEC 7/8, VPID 101, APID 201, also encoded in Cryptoworks. The Maharishi Open University package appears to have left 11497MHz vertical. Extreme Sports Channel UK (as seen on Sky Digital at 28.2 degrees East) has launched on 11060MHz horizontal, SR 18386, FEC 3/4, V2001, A2011 in clear MPEG-2.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
A – A live feed for the Italian TV show Porta a Porta (Door to Door) was fed over 11135MHz vertical on October 10 at 16:30 in clear Pal.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS-803 & NSS-K
D – The Asian music channel which appeared on 11543MHz vertical, SR 29271, FEC 5/6, VPID 819, APID 33 in clear MPEG-2/NTSC two weeks ago was CSMTV from Taiwan. The channel has now left this frequency. On October 5 as the situation in Belgrade became tense a live feed from a static camera in a city centre street was fed over 11462MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, V33, A34 in clear MPEG-2.

24.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 603
A – On October 10 at 11:00 a feed of a cricket match from South Africa was fed over 4188MHz RHCP in clear Pal.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D – A new multiplex has opened on 10979MHz vertical containing Channel of Hope International, Thai TV Global Network, TRT International, TRT FM – A2083 and Voice of Turkey – A2084. All of these are in free-to-air MPEG-2. The Nordic version of The Children’s Channel has left 11665MHz horizontal, SR 30500, FEC 3/4 where it had been available in free-to- air MPEG-2 for some considerable time.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D – Veja TV Saude is a new addition to the Portuguese multiplex on 11811MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 7968, APID 7969 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The other channels on this frequency are all encoded. Now it is the turn of Spain to air Big Brother. 12052MHz horizontal, SR 21696, FEC 3/4 carried five streams from what looked like a luxury yacht – a much more lavish backdrop than the UK version’s location in the East End of London.

43 degreesW:
PAS-3R & PAS-6
D – The Latin American channels Eco, Galavision, Ritmo, TeleHit and TeleNovelas are all temporarily free-to-air on 12584MHz vertical.

45 degreesW:
PAS-1
D – PanAmSat’s replacement for PAS-1, PAS-1R, has arrived at Kourou in readiness for its sscheduled November 14 launch. PAS-1 was launched some 12 years ago and provides video, audio and data services to Europe, Africa and The Americas.

58 degreesW
PAS-9
D – 11475MHz horizontal, SR 26470, FEC 3/4 is sporting a new BT multiplex in clear MPEG-2 via Pas-9’s European and Conus beams. Doordarshan World – V1160, A1120, MBC (PowerVu)- V1260, A1220, Zee TV USA – V1360, A1320, BT promo – V1460, A1420 and MBC FM.

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