Interspace’s In-Depth Study of European Satellite Activity, Compiled by Mike Fallon

D = Digital
A = Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2 & 3
D PTV World, PTV3 and PTV News from Pakistan are stream sharing at 3420MHz vertical, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1
D A new Ukrainian music channel, OTV Muzichniy Kaneka, has launched via a SCPC carrier on 12620MHz vertical, SR 2624, FEC 7/8, VPID 3131, APID 3133 in clear MPEG-2.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS-7 & 10
A Sony Entertainment TV has left 3905MHz. The channel had occupied this slot for a considerable time in clear Pal, but has now switched to an encoded MPEG signal on 3934MHz horizontal. Sony’s analogue signal was always one of the strongest available in the UK from this slot.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 602
D Intelsat 902, the replacement for 602, was successfully launched from Kourou on August 30 at 07:46 aboard an Ariane 4 booster. The new craft carries a payload of 72 C-band and 22 Ku-band transponders. Intelsat 602 will be moved to the 33 degrees East slot.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 604
D NTA, Armenian Television, along with Armenia Radio has launched on 11477MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 1023, APIDs 1024/1025. NTA and Armenia Radio have also opened on 11519MHz vertical, VPID 516, APIDs 654/655.

57 degreesE:
NSS 703
D Russian channel RTR has launched here with its Moscow +3 hour time shifted version for the western part of Siberia to the east of the Urals. RTR has replaced Altay TV on 10995MHz horizontal, SR 4120, FEC 3/4, VPID 289, APID 290.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D On September 1 at 18:40 a feed in MPEG-2 4:2:2 was carried on 12675MHz horizontal, VPID 308, APID 256, ID: ‘STAR7 SNG1’. Kral TV is now free-to-air on 12652MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, V1000, A1001. A new Turkish bouquet has opened on 12527MHz horizontal, SR 7138, FEC 5/6 via Turksat’s West European beam. It contains Genc TV – V60, A61; Radyo Klas – A62; Klas TV – V8191, A105 (no video yet); Fashion TV Istanbul – V41, A42; Soft FM – A43; Number One TV – V50, A51; Number One FM – A52 and Discovery Channel Turkey – V37, A38. All of these are currently free-to-air but will almost certainly encode in the near future. TRT1, TRT4 and Lokum have all left 12675MHz horizontal. The multiplex carrying the UK radio station line-up, Capital Gold 1548, Primetime Radio, Virgin Radio, Heart 106.2 FM and The Storm has left 12675MHz horizontal and relocated to 12690MHz vertical. The StarDigital bouquet which had been occupying 12690MHz vertical has relocated to 11804MHz vertical, SR 27518, FEC 7/8, Western European beam. Haber Turk TV has launched on 11504MHz, SR 2400, FEC 5/6, VPID 33, APID 34, westerly beam in clear MPEG-2.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D Armenia TV and radio left 12688MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 3/4 at the end of August, but have now returned. Lider TV is new on 12520MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Radio Lider can be found on the right audio channel. The privately owned TV and Radio Lider hail from the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan which lies on the western coast of the Caspian Sea. In addition to this satellite service the channel is also available terrestrially in some regions of Azerbaijan including the capital city, Baku. A new channel called Tartarstan – New Century or TNV has launched on 12238MHz LHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 320, APID 401, Russian beam in free-to-air MPEG-2. TNV is based in the city of Kazan, Tartarstan approximately 850 km east of Moscow. The channel will reach a large part of European Russia, as far West as the eastern half of Germany and south to Kazakhstan.

28.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat Eurobird
D A new radio station has joined the CzechLink package on 12607MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 182. It is Czechoslovenska Rozvenska Regina which can be heard in clear MPEG-2. The GOD 24 Seven promo has been replaced by the Revival Channel on 11681MHz vertical, VPID 2323, APID 2324 within the GOD package. The Chinese language channel for expatriates, PCNE, has launched on 11508MHz horizontal, V2318, A2319 in clear MPEG-2. Muslim TV Amhadiyya International (MTA) is new on 11662MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2305, APID 2306 in clear MPEG.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D The four data channels which had been occupying 12207MHz vertical have now left this frequency. At 12236MHz vertical the Open Interactive audio channel HSB24 has been replaced by another Open channel, RCUP4 on PIDs V2334, A2335. PIDs for The Racing Channel on 12226MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have changed to V2309, A2310. Adventure One has left 11856MHz vertical. [.tv}-The Technology Channel has left 12226MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2314, APID 2315 as expected following the channel’s closure. Granada Plus has now started on this stream. Fox Kids has launched on 12265MHz horizontal, V2310, A2311 in parallel with its other outlet at 12382MHz horizontal. Sky’s Pub Channel and Nickelodeon have started on 12363MHz vertical, PIDs V2311/2308, A2312/2309. Sky Business uses this stream during the night. On 11836MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 Sky Premier Widescreen and Sky MovieMax 5 have swapped PIDs. They are now V2318/2314, A2319/2315 respectively. Some more PID changes, this time on 10862MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. The new parameters are; Disney Channel – V2305, A2306; Disney Channel +1 – V2309, A2310; Toon Disney – V2312, A2313; Playhouse Disney – V2315, A2316 and Playjam – V2433, A2435. As the demand for new channels in the music genre seems to know few limits two more channels are to join the Sky Digital line-up in the near future. Magic TV from the EMAP stable will offer ‘laid back music’ from Channel 452. Q – another music channel currently occupying that channel will move to Ch.453 and Kerrang! will relocate to Ch.454. MTV E! from Viacom will launch on Channel 442 and will offer a mix of news, music, chat and documentary programming. The Irish general entertainment channel Tara TV has moved to 12266MHz horizontal from 10921MHz horizontal. In Tara’s place at 10921MHz Eurosport News has launched via PIDs V2314, A2315, Sky Ch.420. Rapture TV has moved to 12226MHz horizontal from 12090MHz vertical. Sky Welcome has launched on 12480MHz vertical, VPID 2320, APID 2321 in VideoGuard encoded MPEG-2.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D Two new streams have been activated in the multiplex on 11784MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On PIDs V810, A820 a New TV testcard is present whilst on PIDs V1010, A1020 a caption is displayed stating ‘Arabsat Beirut. Lebanese Bouquet Test Transmission’.

A Bahrain FM can now be heard around the clock on the 7.38MHz audio subcarrier at 3822MHz LHCP in clear Pal. Previously this subcarrier was shared with other radio services. BSKSA (Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Foreign Language Service has launched on the 7.80MHz audio sub-carrier at 12720MHz horizontal in clear Pal.

24.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D
D Channel D on 10715MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4, VPID 309, APID 325 is now encoded in Irdeto. A new digital package serving cable headends in Germany, Austria and Switzerland has opened on 11876MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It contains Leonardo – V1011, A1012; Club – V1021, A1022; Avante – V1031, A1032; Expo24*7 – V1041, A1042; Innergy – V1051, A1052; BBC Prime – V1061, A1062 and EuroSport News – V1071, A1072. The complete package is encoded in Betacrypt. This package is also available via Kopernikus at 23.5 degrees East on 12521MHz horizontal.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H, Astra 2C
D Radio Goldstar has moved from 12148MHz horizontal to 11758MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 368 in clear MPEG-2. Ex pirate radio station Radio Caroline has returned to the Polish Wizja package at 11876MHz horizontal, SR 26500, FEC 3/4 via APID 111 after a short break. TV Festival, which carries events from the Venice Film Festival, was available in the French Canal Satellite bouquet from September 1-9 on VPID 162, APID 88 in MediaGuard encoded MPEG-2. Canal+16:9 and Disney Channel were in the clear for several hours on August 28 on 11856MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 163/166, APIDs 92/104 before returning to their usual encoded state. Canal Algerie is still free-to-air on 10788MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 168, APID 138. The Canal Satellite bouquet on 11895MHz vertical has been switched from Astra 1G to Astra 1E. The French channels TV Breizh, Planete 2 and Euronews are switching in and out of encryption on 12207MHz vertical. Eurosport News has launched on 12188MHz horizontal via PIDs V168, A137. It is in the clear at present but will encode soon. There is a new Kiosque promo on 12402MHz vertical, VPID 163, APID 92. Canal+ 1 Nederland and Canal+ 2 Nederland on 12515MHz horizontal have been renamed Canal+ Rood (Red) and Canal+ Blauw (Blue).

A The following transponders, all the former homes of Sky analogue channels, are airing an SES Astravision caption in clear Pal – 10979MHz vertical, 11082MHz horizontal, 11097MHz vertical, 11156MHz vertical, 11171MHz horizontal, 11538MHz vertical, 11553MHz horizontal, 11597MHz vertical and 11671MHz horizontal. A short test transmission from B.TV accompanied by Antenna 1 Radio was sighted on August 31 at 10877MHz vertical in free-to-air Pal. By the following day the transmissions had ceased. Tamil Oli Radio has launched via the 7.92MHz audio subcarrier on the back of MTV2 at 11421MHz horizontal. Tamil Oli has been available in MPEG-2 on Hotbird at 13 degrees East (12380MHz vertical) for some time. 11303MHz horizontal, which carries the German music channel Viva 2, has moved over to Astra 1F from Astra 1C and Sky One on 11318MHz vertical has also left Astra 1C in favour of the 1F craft.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D PI6ALK, the satellite output from the Dutch Amateur television repeater, has left 12729MHz horizontal and relocated to 12742MHz horizontal, SR 3000, FEC 5/6, VPID 4130, APID 4131. The signal strength following the move has increased slightly.

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D Hotbird 4 suffered a major technical breakdown on September 5. All of its transponders went blank from approximately 07:00 until the problem was rectified at around 14:30. Eutelsat issued a statement stating the problem was caused by the satellite’s attitude control during a routine stationkeeping exercise and as a consequence Hotbird 4 automatically initiated ‘safe Sun pointing mode’. Switzerland’s Tele 24 is to close at the end of November. The channel is currently available on 12380MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 as well as terrestrially in several Swiss cities. Eurosport News has been replaced by FilmNet Hellas in the Greek package on 10930MHz horizontal, VPID 516, APID 690 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. Shopping Avenue is new on 10758MHz vertical, VPID 1020, APID 1030 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. La Voix des Pays and Radio J have both left 10911MHz vertical. Beur FM has launched within the French TPS multiplex at 10796MHz vertical via APID 835 in clear MPEG-2. TV Festival was available for the duration of the Venice Film Festival on 11283MHz vertical, VPID 167, APID 108 in MPEG-2/MediaGuard. Both Zee TV UK and Zee Cinema are encoded once again on 12476MHz horizontal. The new erotic channel from the Playboy TV stable, Spice Platinum, on 11096MHz horizontal, VPID 2901, APID 2911 has commenced regular programming. The channel airs from 21:00-03:00 nightly and is encoded in Irdeto. Duna TV from Hungary has launched on 12149MHz vertical, V96, A900 in clear MPEG. Brazil’s TV Globo Internacional made a brief appearance on 11623MHz vertical, VPID 228, APID 248 last week but has now left this frequency. A new Muslim Slav TV station is to launch via satellite in the near future. RTV San, based in Novi Pazar, Serbia will initially broadcast once a week for two hours but h this will be extended later. The channel will use Hotbird capacity but no frequency details have been announced. RTV San will also be available terrestrially in parts of Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D Number One TV has joined the Turkish package on 11492MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2111, APID 2214 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. At 11645MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 Playboy TV and The Adult Channel have entered a stream share via PIDs V2112, A2225. Animal Planet has replaced the now defunct [.tv} -The Technology Channel on 11534MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2101, APID 2251.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D A new interactive service, Victory Challenge, has launched on 11881MHz horizontal. The Viasat Extra channels for Norway, Sweden and Denmark on 11996MHz horizontal, often a good source of UK Premiership soccer games, are all now encoded. CNN International Europe has opened on 11823MHz vertical in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2 via VPID 7041, APID 7042. PPV channels Ticket 4 and Ticket 7 are new on 11823MHz vertical, VPIDs 6041/6071, APIDs 6042/6072 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D A new news and current affairs channel entitled TA3 is testing in the Slovak package on 11540MHz vertical, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 in clear MPEG-2. The new channel, which is based in Bratislava will officially launch on September 23 and, in addition to the satellite DTH service, will also be available via cable networks throughout Slovakia. The new Finnish channel with the snappy name Urheilukanava has started regular programming on 11686MHz vertical via PIDs V514, A648 in clear MPEG-2. Urheilukanava has also opened via an additional outlet on 12476MHz horizontal, VPID 515, APID 656 where it is encoded in Conax. Mreza Plus has launched on 11619MHz vertical, SR 2940, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The new channel is based in Sarjevo and has been formed by an alliance with several local TV broadcasters, NTV Hayat, ATV Banja Luka, TV Tuzla, TV Mostar and the state broadcaster Hrvatska Televisja. In addition to the satellite service Mreza Plus is available terrestrially throughout much of Bosnia-Hercegovina. Programme output consists of sport – including Italian league soccer, drama and comedy. ORT International from Russia’s Ostankino organisation has left 12226MHz vertical. The stream is now relaying a Telenor testcard. ORT International has also vacated 11655MHz vertical.

A The Discovery Channel Europe in D2 Mac on 11938MHz RHCP is free-to-air at present. The rapid demise of D2 Mac has steped up a pace with several channels deserting the transmission mode recently. Two D2 Mac channels, Animal Planet and Fox Kids Nordic, who shared 11797MHz RHCP have left the frequency and down at 11216MHz vertical TV Danmark 1’s D2 Mac outlet has also been switched off. CNN International Europe in D2 Mac has left 11485MHz horizontal and finally TCM Nordic and Cartoon Network Nordic have vacated 11001MHz vertical.

4 degreesW:
Amos 1
D Romania’s TVRM has launched here at 11443MHz horizontal, SR 2603, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 via a Central European beam. TVRM previously occupied a stream on Intelsat 705 at 18 degrees West.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D A new channel entitled Inter has launched on 12073MHz horizontal, VPID 3063, APID 3064 in a stream share with the Showtime Sports Channel. It is encoded in Irdeto. Deutsche Welle TV is new on 11900MHz vertical, V3001, A3002 in clear MPEG. Sony Entertainment Television Middle East has left 11862MHz vertical. Two Egyptian radio stations are stream sharing on 11843MHz horizontal via APID 3091. They are Al-Iza’at El-Eqlimyah and Iza’atb Al-Iskandaryah.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D Atlantic Bird 2, which will be placed in orbit at this geostationary slot, has arrived in Kourou in readiness for an expected launch date of September 25. Atlantic Bird 2 transponders will operate in the frequency ranges 10950-11700MHz and 12500-12750MHz and will greatly increase the available Transatlantic capacity.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D Spice Platinum has officially launched on 11060MHz horizontal, VPID 2901, APID 2911 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. The new Iraqi opposition channel Liberty TV has started regular programming on 12599MHz vertical, SR 3617, FEC 3/4, V308, A256.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 705
D The Romanian channel TVRM has left 11475MHz vertical, SR 2403, FEC 3/4 and has relocated to Amos at 4 degrees West.

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

---