Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity

compiled by Mike Fallon

D – Digital
A – Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D: MKTVSat from Macedonia has started in the RR Communications bouquet on 3550MHz horizontal, SR 13331, FEC 3/4, VPID 2069, APID 2070 in clear MPEG-2. It is joined here by Radio Skopje from the Macedonian capital on APID 2071.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-4 & 7
A: At 10:55 on June 8 a live feed from Moscow for NHK Tokyo was carried on 12605MHz horizontal in clear NTSC with audio via the 6.80MHz subcarrier.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
D: Another Kazakh TV channel, Kanal 31, has started here at 11520MHz vertical, VPID 514, APID 652 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D: TRT4 has left 12677MHz horizontal, SR 3332, FEC 7/8. Kanal D has joined the Star Digital bouquet on 12652MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, VPID 1536, APID 1537 where it is encoded. Kanal D has started on 12688MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 7/8 in clear MPEG-2 where it replaced TRT4 via PIDs V4722, A4723. A few days later Kanal D left here and reappeared on 12652MHz horizontal, VPID 1536, APID 1537. Then a Star Digital multiplex opened here containing Star Sport, Star 1, Star 2, Star 3, ATV, TRT1, TRT4, TGRT, CNBC-e, CNN Turk, Radyo Red, Turkce Slow, Gold Music, Lokum FM and Ritmo Latino. Also, Eylik TV is new here on PIDs V5712, A5713. Kanal 6 on 12652MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6 was forced to close down for 24 hours on June 13 after it apparently upset the Turkish authorities with some sensitive programme content. Kanal 7 International has launched in clear MPEG-2 on 11144 MHz vertical SR 4300, FEC 3/4 VPID 33. APID 34. Also, Kanal 7 Mihr Radyo 7 have started on 11135 in free air MPEG – 2 . On 12565 MHz horizontal the Mediagate digvit

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D: Italian private TV channel 24ore TV has launched on 11043MHz horizontal, SR 6109, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘ITA80 TELESPAZIO’. Studio Europa has vacated 12683MHz horizontal. The Sitcom World bouquet that had been occupying 12512MHz horizontal has moved to 12567MHz horizontal, SR 17365, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B
D: The Oman multiplex has returned to 12740MHz vertical, SR 4462, FEC 7/8 after a break. The line-up is Oman TV, Radio Sultanate of Oman and Radio Oman FM.

28.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat Eurobird
D:Three more overseas channels for Sky Digibox owners have launched here. EDTV1 (V2312, A2313), EDTV Business (V2315, A2316) and EDTV Sport (V2317, A2318) from Dubai can be found on 11584MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 in free-to-air MPEG-2. As expected the CzechLink package has left 11622MHz horizontal and is now available at 12606MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 only. Although most of the offerings here are encoded in Cryptoworks TV3 Praha is free-to-air and the two domestic channels, CT1 and CT2 do have some clear windows throughout the day. The four radio stations in the bouquet, Radio Zurnal, Praha, Vltava and Proglas are all free-to-air. The Matrix is carrying out tests on 11508MHz horizontal, VPID 2321, APID 2322 in clear MPEG-2. On 12529MHz vertical, SR 3332, FEC 1/2 Radio Billa is new via APID 35. The Italian channel TBN Europe has launched on 11681MHz vertical via PIDs V2330, A2331 in clear MPEG-2. The new dog racing channel gobarkingmad has started regular programming on 11681MHz vertical, VPID 2332, APID 2333. It is currently in the clear but is likely to encode very soon.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D: The four Sky Box Office channels on 10921MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPIDs 512/513/514/515, APIDs 640/641/642/643 are still free-to-air. They can only be received unencoded using a standard MPEG receiver but not a dedicated Sky Digital box. Another children’s channel, this time from an unusual source – Crayola crayons, is set to join the Sky Digital line-up by the end of the year. The new arts channel will feature items on shopping plus arts and crafts. In addition, some of the output will be sourced from Hallmark Entertainment’s vast archive. The Community Channel has moved to 12382MHz horizontal from 12188MHz horizontal. Another new Asian offering, Asian Air Radio has launched on 12344MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2. The Sky Box Office Events Preview channel appears to have left 12480MHz vertical. On 12110MHz horizontal several U Direct Films channels are currently free-to-air, namely U Direct Films 1, 3, 5 and 6.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D: The Filipino Channel has vacated 12646MHz horizontal. The Orbit multiplex which contained BBC Prime, Adventure 1, Jordan Satellite Channel, Fox Kids and TV7 has left 11996MHz horizontal where it was broadcasting in MPEG-1.5/PowerVu. Down at 11919MHz horizontal Adventure 1, BBC Prime and Fox Kids have joined the Orbit line-up in MPEG- 1.5/PowerVu.

A: Arab News Network returned to 11977MHz vertical in clear Pal last week after a long absence but left very soon afterwards. In its place the Palestinian Satellite Channel launched in clear Pal.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H
D: Love Radio is currently free-to-air in the Canal+ Nederland package on 12574MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, APID 237. Recently some of the Viacom channels in their bouquet at 12699MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 have been broadcasting in the clear. In particular, MTV2 has been free-to-air via PIDs V3081, A3082 for long periods. There is a promo for TV Niepokalanow 2 on 12670MHz vertical, VPID 77, APID 78 hailing the imminent launch of a second strand from the Polish Roman Catholic channel.

A According to BSkyB Sky MovieMax, Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 3, Sky News and midnight Blue will all cease analogue transmissions on June 30. Also QVC UK, Cartoon Network UK and The Disney Channel will close in Pal on the same date. Sky Premier, Sky Sports 2 and Sky One will continue in analogue format for the time being. Sky Sports 2 is expected to take over Sky Sports 1’s slot at 11509MHz vertical from July 1. It seems that ADR is not dead – yet. German radio stations Radio Kultur and Berlin 88.8 are planning to start an ADR service in August on 11656MHz vertical on the back of ORB via audio subcarriers 7.92MHz and 7.74MHz respectively.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D: Radio Babboleo has left 12704MHz vertical, SR 5924, FEC 3/4, APID 37. Live coverage of the Roma-Vs-Parma soccer match was fed over 11052MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘SOLO’ on June 17 at 14:00 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D: Tamil Oli Radio on 12380MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3532 has a new ID in the EPG, ‘TRT Tamil Oli’. Radio Radio has left the Italian D+ package at 11861MHz horizontal. The PIDs for MonteCarloSat on 12538MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 have changed to V5126, A5122. In the Globecast platform on 12597MHz vertical the APID for the two audio streams from JSTV 2 have been changed to 2012/2013. Canal Andalucia Turismo is stream sharing with Canal Fiesta on 12092MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4432, APID 4433 in clear MPEG-2. Canal Andalucia Turismo airs from 10:00 to 22:00 whilst Fiesta covers the night-time hours. TeleGenovaSat has joined the Croatian package at 12520MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 406, APID 407 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Canale Lavoro, the Italian employment channel, has commenced regular programming on 11766MHz vertical, VPID 516, APID 654 in free-to-air MPEG-2 after a couple of weeks of test transmissions. On 11623MHz vertical TV5 Europe has launched via PIDs V228, A248 in free-to-air MPEG-2. A RAI Lab testcard appeared on 11766MHz for a few days last week but then promptly vanished. Poland is the latest country to bow to the public’s ever increasing thirst for rolling news with the announcement that TVN24, a 24-hour news channel, will be on the air by October of this year. Talks are currently taking place with the Cyfra+ and Wizja digital platforms regarding inclusion in their packages. BVN TV from the Netherlands has launched on 12303MHz vertical in clear MPEG-2 via PIDs V209, A210. The channel is only part time here, airing nightly from 00:00-06:00.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D: On June 11 at 18:45 CNBC-e was dual illuminating here with an additional stream on 11004MHz horizontal, SR 3048, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 35, ID: ‘SERVICE 1’ alongside the channel’s usual location at 11014MHz horizontal, SR 4267, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The Turkish channel, Mesaj TV International Dijital, which was previously relayed via Turksat at 42 degrees East has launched here at 11103MHz horizontal, SR 2498, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. Unfortunately this is via the Aegean beam so reception in western Europe is difficult. Macedonian TV (MKTV) on 12540MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 2/3 has returned to MPEG-2 4.2.0 after a period in 4.2.2 mode.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D: X-TV was replaced by Isik TV at 11492MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2109, APID 2211 last week, but the Turkish channel has now left here. Isik TV is also available on 11658MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2100, APID 2200 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. RTK1 from troubled Kosovo has launched here at 11567MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID: ‘RTK PRISTINA’, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The channel, which was set up with the help of Nato after the recent fighting in the area, is on air from 16:00 to 23:00 nightly. RTK1 was previously using Eutelsat W2 capacity in Pal. Radyo Eksen from Turkey is new on 11645MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, APID 2213 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. Sima-yeh Azadi Iranian National Television has now left 12594MHz horizontal.

A: A live relay of the Messina-Vs-Catania soccer match from Sicily for D+ was fed over 11173MHz vertical in clear Pal on June 17 from 14:00.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D: Poland’s Puls TV seems to have left 12639MHz vertical, SR 3615, FEC 3/4. GOD Revival in the GOD package on 12348MHz horizontal, SR 11665, FEC 3/4 is now encoded. In the same digital platform, GOD 24-7 is now in the clear on PIDs V301, A302. In the Intertrack/SIS bouquet for betting shops on 12335MHz horizontal, SR 10368, FEC 3/4 there are four new dedicated closed streams. They are Audio & Data – APID 2120, Coral Sirius – V2160, A2422, Ladbrokes Sirius – V2160, A2420 and Tote Sirius – V2160, A2122. The other streams here contain Special Ladbrokes – V2160, A2420, William Hill Sirius – V2160, A2520, Special William Hill – V2160, A2520, Intertrack Data – V2360, A2320, CCC Test Channel – V2160, A2120, TCR Adhoc – V2160, A2120, SIS Racing Germany – V2160, A2122, SIS Racing Europe – V2160, A2120, SIS Racing Car – V2160, A2120, SIS Racing Data – V2160, A2120, SIS Racing Audio – A2120, Replaced By CH4 – V2160, A2122 and SIS Irish Racing – V2260, A2220. 12649MHz vertical, SR 3980, FEC 3/4 is sporting a new TET TV testcard via PIDs V4226, A4227 in clear MPEG-2. A new multiplex has launched on 12226MHz horizontal, SR 25540, FEC 7/8 containing Animal Planet, Animal Planet Poland, Animal Planet Turkey, Animal Planet Eastern Europe, Discovery Civilisations, Discovery Channel, Discovery Channel Eastern Europe, Discovery Channel Poland, Discovery Channel Nederland and Discovery Channel Travel & Adventure. All of these are feeders for cable headends and are broadcast in MPEG-2/PowerVu.

A: TV4 from Sweden has left 11938MHz vertical. The channel is still available in analogue format via Thor at 0.8 degrees West, 11388MHz

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D: The three Big Brother Norway streams which had been occupying 11247MHz vertical have now closed down.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D: Two new independent Egyptian channels have joined, or are about to join, the Nilesat bouquet on 11823MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Mehwer TV – VPID 1004, APID 1013 (encoded) which features general entertainment programming plus movies and educational and cultural output. and Dream – VPID 1010, APID 1017. Also new on 11823MHz vertical is Sudan TV via PIDs V1117, A1118 in clear MPEG. There have been some PID changes at 11861MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Hallmark Entertainment is V3001, A3003, Show – V3011, A3013 and Sony Entertainment TV – V3021, A3022. The Iraq Satellite Channel has vacated 11843MHz horizontal once again. In its place was an Al-Tanweer promo channel on PIDs V2010, A2011 which was followed a short while later by the launch of the Al-Tanweer Cultural Channel. Al-Tanweer specifically aims at tying up major scientific breakthroughs with the Islamic culture. Also on this frequency the Misr Tourist Channel has officially launched in clear MPEG-2 via VPID 1012, APID 1013. Misr concentrates on promoting the delights of Egyptian culture and heritage. On 12073MHz horizontal a CNBC US testcard is in residence via PIDs V3092, A3093.

A: The sole analogue occupant here, TV Jamahirya from Libya, has vacated 11977MHz vertical.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D: The In-Store audio bouquet at 11476MHz horizontal, SR 5698, FEC 2/3 is growing. There are currently seven streams here containing MBS Radio 1 (Homebase FM) – A900, MBS Radio 2 (easy listening on the left channel and classical on the right) – A4097, MBS Radio 3 (pop music on both channels but not in parallel) – A4097 and MBS Radio 4 (Tiles FM) – A4099. MBS Radio 5 – A4100, Radio 6 – A4102 and Radio 7 – A4103 are all silent.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D: Euronews and American Farsi Network are still fed here on 11631MHz LHCP, SR 17000, FEC 3/4. Up at 11659MHz LHCP, SR 2892, FEC 3/4 RTS Sat and Radio Beograd 1 can be found in clear MPEG-2.

12 degreesW:
Eutelsat II-F2
D: SIC International from Portugal is once again available in the clear on 12575MHz vertical, SR 4339, FEC 1/2, VPID 33, APID 36.

14 degreesW
Express 2
A: Russia’s Ostankino Television (ORT) and Radio Mayak have vacated 4125MHz RHCP. ORT can still be found on Express 3A at 11 degrees West in clear Secam on 3675MHz RHCP. This is probably the strongest C-band analogue signal that can be received in Europe.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D: A new channel, Sport 1 OPT-OUT, has joined the UPC digital platform for cable headends on 11060MHz horizontal, SR 18382, FEC 3/4, VPID 2601, APID 2612. The two Polish state terrestrial TV channels, TVP 1 and TVP 2 have launched on 11120MHz vertical, VPIDs 301/401, APIDs 311/411 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. The occasional feed traffic for LDS, the TV channel from the Mormon Church, have left 11563MHz horizontal and relocated to 11568MHz horizontal, SR 3426, FEC 3/4. The Iranian channel Pars TV has moved from 12613MHz vertical to 12618MHz vertical, SR 2150, FEC 3/4, VPID 81, APID 82 in clear MPEG-2. Down at 11060MHz horizontal there is a new UPC promo channel in free-to-air MPEG-2 available via PIDs V2601, A2612.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
D: The replacement for Intelsat 705 was successfully launched from Kourou at 06:45 on June 9 following a 24-hour delay due to unfavourable high altitude winds. Intelsat 901 carries a payload of 42 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders. Scenes of celebrations by Roma soccer fans after their team’s win over Parma on June 17 were fed over 10984MHz vertical, SR 6398, FEC 3/4, VPID 3601, APID 3604 in clear MPEG-2 at 15:45.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D: Three more streams have opened within the Globecast multiplex on 4055MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. These are relaying Saudi Channel 1 – V126, A136, Saudi General Arabic Programme – A143 and Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, the national Islamic radio channel – A144.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D: A CSat promotional channel has appeared on 11563MHz vertical, VPID 161, APID 84 in MediaGuard encoded MPEG-2.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D: A new channel, Movida Local, has launched on 11931MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4740, APID 4741 in clear MPEG-2. Another newcomer to this platform is Tu Farmacia TV in clear MPEG-2 via PIDs V4730, A4731. A new European strand from the Mexican channel Galavision, named Galavision Europa, has launched at 11771MHz vertical, VPID 4192, APID 4193 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2 where it has replaced Ritmo Son Latino.

31.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 801
D: On June 17 at 15:00 live coverage of a speedway event for Sky Sports was carried on 10983MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’9MHz, PAL, 1RS2′ in clear MPEG-2.

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All Times in unless otherwise stated.

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

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