Transponder Monitor
Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon
A = Analogue
D = Digital
90 degreesE:
Yamal 102
D: As mentioned in Transponder Monitor November 7, the Russian channel STS Ladya has launched here in clear MPEG-2 on 3582 MHz LHCP, SR 4295, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The Yamal 102 footprint reaches from central France and Algeria in the West at 35 dBW to far eastern Russia, Japan and China in the East. The beam centre, at 40 dBW, is the Nepal/Tibet region.
78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D: As expected, Nepal’s new satellite channel, Nepal TV, has launched on 3585 MHz vertical, SR 26667, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V513, A641 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The other channels available in this multiplex are Star Vijay – V512, A640; Sanskar TV – V514, A642; SN TV – V516, A644; Tara 1 (Bangla language) – V517, A645; Tara 2 (Punjabi) – V518, A646; Tara 3 (Marathi) – V519, A647 and Tara 4 (Gujarati) – V520, A648.
75 degreesE:
LMI 1
D: Two channels remain in the Ukrainian package on 12600 MHz vertical, SR 5749, FEC 3/4. These are SGUTV1 (the Ukraine terrestrial TV Channel 1) on VPID 33, APID 34 and SGU Internet, an IP service.
68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10
D: Two of the South African radio stations in the Vivid package on 12722 MHz vertical, SR 26651, FEC 1/2 appear to be off the air. Both TransAfrica on APID 802 and Punt GeselRadio on APID 803 have not been heard for several days.
66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704
D: CNBC Asia appears to have left 3922 MHz RHCP, SR 5998, FEC 2/3. The channel has been absent from here for several days.
60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
D: Following their move to Anatolia 1 at 50 degrees East (11524 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3), Rustavi TV 2 from the former Soviet state of Georgia has left 11465 MHz vertical, SR 5000, FEC 3/4. TNT, a Russian channel, seems to have left 11519 MHz vertical, SR 17500, FEC 3/4, VPID 516, APID 654.
57 degreesE:
NSS 703
D: The Indian TV channels Star Plus and Star News continue to be fed here on 11185 MHz vertical, SR 14000, FEC 3/4 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2. These streams carry the feeders for Sky Digital. Also in this multiplex, Fox News Channel is a newcomer via PIDs V514, A648 in MPEG-2/Videoguard.
48 degreesE:
Eutelsat II F1
D: MagicStar from Italy launched via an SCPC carrier here on 11609 MHz horizontal, SR 2000, FEC 2/3, VPID 3105, APID 3106 in free-to-air MPEG-2 last week but was quickly replaced by RTB International.
45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
D: ABC News are using a new frequency for feed traffic from Islamabad, Pakistan. 11453 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 is the place to look for action from the area destined for the US channel.
42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D: Following five days of enforced silence metered out by the Turkish authorities (the RTUK) TeleOn, Kral TV and Star TV have returned to the StarDigital bouquet on 12652 MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6. Two data services, Oyun Dunyasi and StarAktif, have also opened on 12652 MHz horizontal, Star 1 has replaced ATV on V1536, A1537; CNBC Europe has been replaced by Star 2 – V1632, A1633; NTV (Turkey) has left V1050, A1051 in favour of Star Spor and Star 3 has launched on V1536, A1537 and V1312, A1313. All of these channels are temporarily free-to-air. The Milan Channel, for soccer fans, has left 12152 MHz horizontal for 11804 MHz vertical, V1648, A1649 where it is in the clear for the time being and also at 11804 MHz vertical Star Spor, Star 1, CNBC Europe and Sky News are all free-to-air.
A: Karadeniz FM has launched on the back of Cine 5 at 11006 MHz vertical via the 7.56 MHz audio sub-carrier. There is currently a Pal EurasiaSat testcard on 11766 MHz vertical. The three radio stations which were accompanying Maxi TV/SuperSport on 11685 MHz vertical have been switched off. They were Radyo Viva – 7.02/7.20 MHz, Show Radyo – 7.74/7.92 MHz and Radio Nostalji – 8.10/8.40 MHz.
40 degreesE:
Gorizont 31
D: The Russian public TV channel RTR has left 3737 MHz RHCP where it had been available in free-to-air MPEG-2 and has relocated to Express 3A at 11 degrees West. Now that Kabul Television is operational again after an absence of around six years since the Taleban took power there is likely to be a satellite feed from the channel just a soon as the necessary equipment is in place. During the war between Russia and Afghanistan Afghan TV was carried on a Gorizont craft for downlinking in Moscow.
36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D: Radio Georgia and Georgia TV have vacated 12561 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 3/4 and have moved to Express 3A at 11 degrees West. Georgia’s old slot here has been quickly snapped up by National TV of Armenia and Armenian Radio via VPID 255, APIDs 256 (left channel) and 256 (right channel) respectively. After several weeks in the clear, 2M National from Morocco is encoded once again on 12686 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 1/2, VPID 333, APID 800. CNNI has left the NTV+ platform on 12476 MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 (Russian beam).
28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird
D: Three more Sky Box Office channels, SBO# 24, 34 and 35, have joined the line-up on 11469 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPIDs 520/521/522, APIDs 648/649/650. Ekushey TV from Bangladesh is available on 11661 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2312, APID 2313. Abu Dhabi TV has launched on 11663 MHz horizontal, VPID 2326, APID 2327 in free-to-air MPEG-2. In the CzechLink bouquet on 12607 MHz horizontal Prima TV is enjoying long periods in the clear. This channel is usually encoded in Cryptoworks. The Czech Republic domestic TV channels, CT1 and CT2 were also in the clear for some time but have returned to encryption. In the same package Eurosport is also free-to-air temporarily. Best Direct, another in the rapidly expanding home shopping category, has launched on 11527 MHz vertical, V2322, A2323. The Sonali Channel has officially launched on 11527 MHz vertical via PIDs V2324, A2325. Sonali, from the Reminiscent Television stable, broadcasts in the Bengali language for expatriates from Bangladesh and eastern India. Thomas Cook Travel from the well known travel agents of the same name has launched on 11525 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2306, APID 2307 in clear MPEG-2. You will be delighted to hear that CPD Dental TV is testing on 11527 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2322, APID 2323, Sky Ch.952 in clear MPEG-2.
28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D: BBC Radio’s Welsh language service, BBC Cymru, has launched a free-to-air service on 11719 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, APID 2334. Relax With A Book Radio has opened on 12344 MHz horizontal via APID 2339. It is currently free-to-air but will encode in Videoguard soon. Following a great deal of uncertainty, ITV2 did indeed join the Sky Digital line-up at 10906 MHz vertical, V2321, A2322. Incidentally, this channel is free-to-air so it can be viewed by anyone with a standard DVB receiver and does not require a Sky Digibox. A new radio service entitled The Villan has launched on 12324 MHz vertical, APID 646, Sky Ch.903. From April of next year Ireland’s RTE TV and radio services will be available to Sky Digital subscribers. RTE1, Network 2 and TG4 TV channels will be joined by Radio 1, 2FM, FM3 and the Gaelic language Raidio Na Gaeltachta. As usual at this time of year, Christmas Holiday Music has reappeared on 12188 MHz horizontal, APID 2480 in MPEG-2/Videoguard.
26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D: The US version of business channel Bloomberg TV has opened on 11996 MHz horizontal, VPID 640, APID 641 in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2. TV7 Tunisie has been replaced by Jam-e-Jam Network 1 from Iran on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2060, APID 2020 in clear MPEG-2. The same happened on 12015 MHz vertical where Jam-e-Jam took over from the Tunisian channel on VPID 2960, APID 2920 temporarily but TV7 has since returned. CNBC US is a newcomer at 12074 MHz horizontal, VPID 896, APID 897 in MPEG-2/Mediaguard. There is an Al-Majd Space Channel testcard in evidence on 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4760, APID 4720 heralding the imminent launch of the channel here.
A: Kuwait’s Holy Qu’ran Radio has replaced Arabic Classics FM on the 5.80 MHz audio sub-carrier at 4167 MHz RHCP.
24.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D
D: The Chinese channel PCNE has started in the MediaVision package for German cable headends on 11836 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 681, APID 682 in BetaCrypt encoded MPEG-2. On 11914 MHz horizontal, another MediaVision transponder, 9D TV is new via PIDs V518, A519.
23.5 degreesE:
Kopernikus 3
D: In parallel with 11914 MHz horizontal on Astra 1D, 9D TV has launched on 11681 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 518, APID 519 in MPEG-2/BetaCrypt.
19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1B,C & E-H, Astra 2C
D: Several more French radio stations have joined the Canal Satellite Digital multiplex on 12207 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are France Musique – A1901; FIP – A1903; France Info – A1904; France Inter – A1905; Radio Bleue – A1907 and LeMouv – A241. All are free to air. Two new channels have joined the MTV Network bouquet on 12699 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. They are MTV Base – V3051, A3052 and MTV 2 – V3091, A3092. The French language Belgian TV channel RTBF (Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communaute Francaise) has launched a new satellite service on 12610 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 48, APID 49 in clear MPEG-2. RTBF provide several TV and radio channels in the French language terrestrially in Belgium. Match TV, a new channel from the prestigious French magazine Paris Match, is set to join the Canal Satellite Digital line-up from December 10 on 11739 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 165, APID 100. The channel, which will be primarily aimed at women, will offer a mix of documentaries, movies, talk shows and general entertainment. The German music channel Viva Zwei is to close on December 31. On January 1 a new free-to-air channel entitled Viva Plus will launch on 12552 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. Both Fashion TV and Andalucia TV have moved to 12441 MHz vertical from 11973 MHz vertical and 11934 MHz vertical respectively. A new soccer channel, Taquilla Futbol, has launched on 11895 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 401 within the Spanish Canal Satellite Digital package. A Chamber TV test card has appeared on 12522 MHz vertical, VPID 55, APID 56 in clear MPEG-2. The Xmas Channel has replaced the Easy Listening Channel on 11797 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 384 in the German Premiere World bouquet. Sixteen of the XtraMusic audio channels on 12051 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 are currently free-to-air in place of the usual Cryptoworks encoding. They are; Classic R&B, Hottest Hits, Trends, Classic Rock, Rock’n’Roll, Oldies, Brazil Carnival, Classic Jazz, Turkish Pop, Italian Contemporary, German Hits, German Rock, German Folk, New Age, Traditional Country and Popular Classic. There is a promo from Tele Melody running on 12012 MHz vertical, VPID 167, APID 108.
A: UK broadcaster Channel 5 is to cease analogue transmissions on December 31. The channel has been a member of Sky Digital for some time now.
17 degreesE:
Astra 1A
Astra 1A is on the move. It was last checked at 17 degrees East and is drifting at around 0.5 degrees West per day. 1A is enroute to the 5 degrees East slot where it will co- locate with the two Sirius craft there. The Astra satellite will be kept in inclined orbit to conserve fuel.
16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D: The PIDs for the Portuguese channel SIC International on 12568 MHz horizontal, SR 2891, FEC 3/4 have been changed to V308, A256. The channel is temporarily broadcasting in the clear here.
13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D: Turkey’s TRT International has opened on 10955 MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 307, APID 256 (right channel). It has been joined by two radio stations, Voice of Turkey on APID 256 (left channel) and TRT FM – APID 257. This is an exact copy of the TRT International line-up on 10972 MHz horizontal which is in Pal. This analogue service is likely to close very soon. The parameters for the Television par Satellite package on 11034 MHz vertical have changed from SR 29900, FEC 5/6 to SR 27500, FEC 3/4. A new data channel entitled Humax Download has started in the VisaVision multiplex on 11406 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The Italian channel Marco Polo, which was providing two language soundtracks on one stream within the VisaVision bouquet has now split into two streams on V1451, A1452 (Polish) and V1451, A1453 (Italian). Also new in this package are Show TV (Turkey), TGRT (Turkey), Gala (Turkey), HRT TV1 (Croatia), BK 063 Sat (Serbia), TV Polonia, NTV (Russia), NTV+ Nashe Kino, RAI Uno, RAI Due, RAI Tre and TVE Espana Internacional. In the RR Satellite Communications package on 12220 MHz horizontal, SR 6161, FEC 3/4 Radio Sedaye Melli Iran has been replaced by Radio Iran KIRN 670 on APID 1060 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The Adult Channel has finished testing on 12322 MHz horizontal, V545, A546 and has commenced regular programming from 00:00-04:00. Spain’s TVE Internacional Asia and Africa is currently available in the clear on 11785 MHz horizontal.
A promo for PolSat 2 Cyfrowy is being played out on 12360 MHz horizontal, V549, A550 in clear MPEG-2. Polish channels TVN and TVN 24 have launched on 11179 MHz horizontal, SR 21100, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 512/513, APIDs 650/660. TVN is free-to-air but TVN 24 is encoded in Conax. MagicStar returned to 12303 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 within the Slovenian package for a short while last week but was quickly replaced by RTB International. Stream sharing with the music channel Krisma, a Telespazio promo is being played out on 12111 MHz vertical, VPID 200, APID 201 in free-to-air MPEG-2. From the same multiplex TV Moda, a new fashion channel from Italy, has launched via PIDs V220, A221. Zee TV and Zee Cinema are still spending lengthy periods in the clear on 12476 MHz horizontal. Rock TV has launched a free-to-air service on 12054 MHz horizontal, V165, A100.
10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
A: There are two Turkish radio stations accompanying NTV on 10985 MHz horizontal once again. They are Radyo Pop – 7.02 MHz and Radyo Eksen – 7.74 MHz.
5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D: The Ostankino Television streams for Estonia and Lithuania for TemTV on 11881 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 5021/5031, APIDs 5022/5032 are now encoded in Viaccess. At 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 CNNI has left this frequency. New here is TV1000 Baltic on V7071, A7072 in MPEG-2/Viaccess. In the Merlin Communications multiplex at 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27195, FEC 3/4, APID 80, Adventist World Radio 2 has vacated the frequency. Home shopping channel PIN has launched on 11996 MHz horizontal, VPID 4101, APID 4102.
7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D: Lebanon’s Tele Liban left 12130 MHz vertical, VPID 2006, APID 3011 on November 21 but had returned by the 23rd.
8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2
D: RTNC ( Radiodiffusion Télévision Congolaise) La Voix de Peuple has left 11598 MHz horizontal after a short stay here.
11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D: RTR Russian Television has launched on 3695 MHz RHCP, SR 4026, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Radio Rossii is also available here on APID 35 (left channel) and also Radiostantsiya Swoboda (Radio Liberty) via the right channel. Georgian TV and Radio Georgia have launched here at 11463 MHz vertical, SR 4339, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APIDs 256/257 in clear MPEG-2. Both channels previously occupied a slot on Eutelsat at 36 degrees East. The output is in parallel with Georgian TV and Radio on Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East, 11303 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 which is probably fed from this Express 3A feed. Video Italia and Radio Italia are new on 11525 MHz vertical, SR 3865, FEC 2/3 in clear MPEG-2.
15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D: There is a new GlobeCast package on 12580 MHz horizontal, SR 15755, FEC 1/2 which contained Pars TV – V2160, A2120, Iran TV Network – V2260, A2220 and Sima-Yeh Azadi Iran National TV – V2360, A2320 at first. However, on November 27 all three Iranian channels were switched off. Down at 12520 MHz the Farsi language channel Pars TV has been replaced by Tapesh TV. INN (Italian Network News) has left 11732 MHz horizontal, SR 29900, FEC 7/8, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Pars TV can currently be found on 12608 MHz horizontal, SR 19522, FEC 2/3 in clear MPEG-2.
18 degreesW:
Intelsat 901
D: Occasional Italian feed traffic has been noted on 11018 MHz vertical, 11026 MHz vertical and 11045 MHz vertical, SR 6400, FEC 3/4 at excellent signal strength in the UK.
30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D: Disney Channel Espana has joined the line-up on 11731 MHz horizontal, SR 28126, FEC 5/6, VPID 701, APID 702. It is encoded in Nagravision. Six new free-to-air channels have opened on 11891 MHz horizontal, SR 28126, FEC 5/6. They are Mirador Canal 91, Canal 92, Canal 93, Canal 94, Mirador Privado and Todo Mirador on PIDs V111/211/311/411/511/611, A112/212/312/412/512/612 respectively.
All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
E-mail: [email protected]
SR – Symbol Rate
FEC – Forward Error Correction
VPID – Video Programme Identifier
APID – Audio Programme Identifier