Interspace In-Depth Study Of European Satellite Activity, Compiled By Mike Fallon

D = Digital
A = Analogue

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2 & 3
D: Erotic channel Satisfaction Channel TV has launched on 3551MHz horizontal, VPID 1537, APID 1540 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2. New on 3515MHz vertical, SR 3333, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, is PTV1 – the Pakistani domestic TV channel – in clear MPEG-2. Cambodia has arrived on satellite with TVK from Phnom Penh. TVK, or Television Kampuchea, is using Thaicom capacity at 3448MHz horizontal, SR 6312, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APID 256. The channel, which is uplinked to the satellite from a new earth station in Phnom Penh, is available via satellite DTH or terrestrially throughout the country through a network of relays fed by the satellite signal.

58.5 degreesE:
Intelsat 902
902 is temporarily parked here for in-orbit transponder soak tests prior to positioning at 62 degrees East after October 15. Intelsat has announced a number of changes to its satellite plan. Intelsat 601, which was to have been relocated to 85 degrees East, will now remain at its current slot, 34.5 degrees West. When 902 is in position at 62 degrees East 602 will be manoeuvred to the 33 degrees East slot. 603 will remain at 24.5 degrees East until the replacement craft, 904, is operational. 705 will leave 18 degrees West and be relocated at 53 degrees West in July next year and 901 will go to 19 degrees West.

57 degreesE:
NSS 703
D: Some rare feed activity was sighted here last week. On September 19 at 17:20 an encoded feed appeared on 4160MHz RHCP, SR 5630, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650. The EPG ID was ‘TVNZ BBC1-IG1 8M’.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
D: This satellite is providing the lion’s share of feeds from Pakistan. D: A 24 hour a day live camera shot of the Satvision headquarters at the Northwest Teleport Centre in Manchester can be found on 11617MHz vertical, SR 3319, FEC 5/6. On APID 4453 at this frequency two radio services are available, Homebase FM on the left audio channel and non-stop pop music on the right. Signal levels from this craft situated off the East coast of Africa are excellent in the UK with an EIRP of 52dBW. Occasional feed traffic for the news agency IHA can be seen on 11677MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3. In a move that is almost certainly a consequence of the current situation in Afghanistan and the surrounding countries and the expected influx of several thousand military personnel a BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) multiplex has opened on 12581MHz horizontal, SR 6000, FEC 1/2. Five streams are active at present with BFBS TV, BFBS World 2, BFBS Belize, BFBS Falklands and BFBS Cyprus. All of these channels are free-to-air with the exception of BFBS TV, which is encoded in Cryptoworks. The multiplex is using a Middle East beam.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D: The Turkish channel TGRT has been replaced by Sky News on 12652MHz horizontal, VPID 4696, APID 4697 in MPEG-2/Nagravision. In common with many other satellites Fox News has launched here in clear MPEG-2 on 12731MHz horizontal, VPID 3305, APID 3306. Pro Sieben Schweiz and Nickelodeon are temporarily free-to-air on 12731MHz.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird
D: The PIDs for Channel Health on 11584MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have been changed to V2311, A2312. God 24 Seven on 11681MHz vertical has been replaced by The Worship Network. At 11739MHz vertical there have also been some PID changes. The new parameters are; Challenge TV – V2308, A2310; Trouble – V2312, A2314; Bravo – V2316, A2318; TVX Cable – V2320, A2322; TV Travelshop – V2323, A2326; Challenge+ – V2308, A2310; Trouble+ – V2312, A2314 and Bravo+ – V2312, A2314. Disney Channel, Disney Channel+1, Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney have all left 11507MHz horizontal. All are still occupying 10862MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 though. A free-to-air ‘BT Racing’ test stream has opened on 11584MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2336, APID 2337. Sri Lankan channel UC Lanka is testing on 11662MHz horizontal, VPID 2314, APID 2315, Sky Ch.681 in VideoGuard encoded MPEG-2. UC Lanka broadcasts in the Tamil and Sinhala languages. Sky Sports Extra has launched on 12148MHz horizontal, V2313, A2314. On 12382MHz horizontal, V2305, A2306 Magic, the new music channel, has commenced regular programming. Magic can be found at Ch.452 in the Sky Digital EPG. PIDs for The Pakistani Channel on 11973MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 have been changed to V2316, A2318. Kerrang! has left 10921MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. Soccer channel Premiership Plus has officially launched on 12324MHz vertical, VPID 2311, APID 2312. Surprisingly the channel was free-to-air but will certainly encrypt very soon. On 11662MHz horizontal there are several new channels. These are Zee Music UK, Zee Cinema UK, Zee TV UK, Performance and Quantum 24. All are temporarily free-to-air. 11778MHz is a new frequency for Sky Digital. Two channels have launched here, Artsworld – V2305, A2306 and Chelsea TV – V2308, A2309. Both of these channels previously occupied 12480MHz vertical where they have now been replaced by Sky One and Sky News on PIDs V2313/2321, A2314/2324.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D: Two versions of the Urdu/Hindi language channel, Asianet and Asianet Global, have launched on 12646MHz horizontal via PIDs V517, A700 and V518, A710. Also on this frequency, Zee Music has been replaced by Zee News on VPID 521, APID 740. Discovery Sci-Trek has opened on 12685MHz horizontal, V519, A720. The Kuwait Space Channel and Holy Qur’an Radio have launched on 11872MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 30, APID 256 and 257. Both services are free-to-air. UN Radio is new on 12015MHz vertical, APID 2122 in clear MPEG-2. Lebanese channel LBC Sat has been replaced by Wow on 12605MHz, VPID 514, APID 670 in clear MPEG.

A: Three of the radio services, which accompanied the Kuwait Space Channel on 11855MHz vertical have left. The Kuwaiti Main Arabic Service has been switched off on the 7.02MHz audio sub-carrier whilst Super FM 99.7 has left the 7.74MHz subcarrier. Arabic Classics has been replaced by Holy Qur’an Radio on 7.38MHz.

24.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D
A: A useful beacon when trying to locate this craft can be found on 10773MHz horizontal where an Astravision promo has recently been switched on in clear Pal.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3
D: Live coverage of the UK’s first CART motor racing event at Rockingham was fed over 12547MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’BT TES 42′ on September 22 from 15:00.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A-C & E-H, Astra 2C
D: There have been some changes to the line-up in the data package on 12603MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. Datenkanale and AstraNet have left whilst Capital Events, HSI Satconxion, JSAT, Demo Streams, Astra-Vision IP, STB Thomson MM, MM Demo, SRV and Deuromedia are all new. The Servicios Interactivos promo has left the Spanish Canal Satelite Digital package on 11895MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 8191. New in this bouquet is an OK Plus promo via PIDs V160, A80. Hallmark Entertainment Czech has been replaced by Hallmark Hungary on 11992MHz horizontal, VPID 702, APID 703 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. Eurosport News has vacated 12188MHz horizontal after a short stay. National Geographic Channel France has launched within the Canal Satellite Digital multiplex on 11739MHz vertical via PIDs V169, A116. National Geographic recently left the TPS digital platform to move to CSD.

A: Fox News is now available here for News fanatics in Europe in clear Pal. The channel is occupying 11436MHz vertical with audio via the 6.50, 7.02 and 7.20MHz sub-carriers. At present it is not known whether Fox’s presence is a permanent fixture here or is a direct consequence of recent events in the US. The Student Broadcast Network (SBN) radio service has left 11421MHz horizontal where it had been available on the back of MTV2 via the 7.38MHz audio sub-carrier. SBN can now be found on Astra at 28.2 degrees East (12402MHz vertical).

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D: Another new outlet for Fox News can be found on 11084MHz horizontal, SR 11313, FEC 5/6, VPID 3601, APID 3604 alongside MTV Italy and La 7. All three channels here are feeders for the Tele+ Digitale package. French channel TPS Foot has been replaced by TPS Star on 11617MHz horizontal, VPID 417, APID 434 in Viaccess encoded MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Eutelsat Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D: Fox News has joined the French TPS bouquet on 10910MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 620, APID 630 in encoded MPEG-2. The same US News channel has also appeared in the Stream line-up for Italy on 10992MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 523, APID 751 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Ultra Blue TV continues to air free-to-air promo videos during the day from 03:00-20:00 on 11623MHz vertical. Digitaly is available in clear MPEG-2 within the Deutsche Telekom package on 11095MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 44, APID 45. The new Polish all-News channel from Poland, TVN 24, has launched on 11283MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in encoded MPEG-2 in the Polish Cyfra+ digital platform. Kurdsat has vacated 11604MHz vertical but is still present on 11095MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2. 11604MHz is now occupied by a TV NRW testcard on PIDs V111, A112. This German regional TV channel is due to launch here on October 1. The PIDs for Canal Clasico, TVE Internacional Asia, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior de Espana have been changed to V3529/A3530, V3553/A3554, A3547 and A3555 respectively on 11785MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. A new channel here is TV Nostalgia on VPID 3561, APID 3562 in encoded MPEG-2. A SuperSport Mosaic has launched within the Nova package on 10930MHz horizontal, VPID 516, APID 690 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. Eurosport News is currently testing on 11283MHz vertical, VPID 163 in the Polish Cyfra+ package. Radio Eviva is new on 12476MHz horizontal via APID 655. Hallmark Entertainment Portugal & Espana has replaced the Hallmark Entertainment UK channel on 12460MHz vertical via PIDs V2160, A2120. TV7 Tunisie has launched on 12149MHz, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 112, APID 113 within the Sitcom World platform. Fox Kids has been replaced by Innergy on 12188MHz vertical, VPID 515, APID 653. TPS Star has officially launched on 10834MHz vertical, VPID 420, APID 430 in the Television par Satellite package. TPS Star is a new premium movie channel. Grande Fratello 1-5 (the Italian version of Big Brother) have launched on 11977MHz horizontal, VPIDs 522/523/524/525/526, APIDs 750/751/752/753/754 simulcrypt in Irdeto and MediaGuard.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D: Discovery Sci-Trek Middle East has launched on 12739MHz vertical, SR 4442, FEC 2/3, VPID 1560, APID 1520 in MPEG-2/PowerVu for cable headends. Live coverage of the Galatasaray-v-Fenerbahce soccer game from Turkey was fed over 10965MHz horizontal, SR 3048, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’NTV ISTANBUL UPLINK’ on September 22 at 16:00. From Portugal the FC Porto-v-Vittoria Setubal football match was carried on 11014MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’SRV1′ in clear MPEG-2 at 16:30 on the September 22.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D: In the DigiTurk multiplex on 11645MHz horizontal Fox News has launched via PIDs V2100, A2200 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2 replacing NBA.COM TV.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D: The new Canal+ Zap has joined the line-up from Telenor on 11278MHz vertical, SR 24500, FEC 7/8, VPID 518, APID 684 in encoded MPEG-2. CNNI is available in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 11823MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V7141, A7042. The TV8 Sweden caption has returned to 12245MHz vertical, VPID 35, APID 36. Radio Flash FM has left 12284MHz vertical.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D: Indian channel Doodarshan World has been replaced by ETC Channel Punjabi on 11174MHz horizontal, VPID 519, APID 648 in clear MPEG-2. ETC airs from 02:00-11:00 daily. The Egyptian religious radio channel El Qur’an Al-Karim has launched on 4180MHz LHCP via APID 38. The new Slovak channel TA3 officially launched on September 23 at 11540MHz vertical, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640 in clear MPEG-2. In addition to the satellite DTH service TA3 is also available in Slovakia via the UPC TV cable package.

A: Another D2 Mac channel has bitten the dust. Discovery Channel, which was available on 11938MHz RHCP in D2 Mac/Eurocrypt has now left this frequency to be replaced by a Telenor testcard in clear D2 Mac.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D: Discovery Sci-Trek is a new arrival in the ADD bouquet on 11804MHz horizontal, VPID 3063, APID 3064. After a spell in the clear Hallmark Entertainment Middle East, The Disney Channel and Sony Entertainment Middle East have all returned to their usual Irdeto encoded state on 11862MHz vertical.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2A/D
D: There are now four new data channels active in the Globecast France package on 11597MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are Demo Orange, L’Oreal, OrangeMcastFile and EduSat. RAI Uno, RAI Due and Al-Jazeera have all left 11556MHz horizontal. A live relay of the Italian Division 2 soccer game between Palermo and Cittadella was fed over 11569MHz vertical, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’GCI/8MB/B’ in free-to-air MPEG-2 on September 23 at 12:00. Live gymnastics from Marseille were carried on 11578MHz vertical, SR 6283, FEC 7/8, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID:’41/2/11MB SDI’ for France 3 at 12:00 on the September 23.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D: Several Hallmark Entertainment channels are currently free-to air here on 11535MHz horizontal, SR 15000, FEC 3/4. They are (as they appear in the EPG) Primary United Kingdom – V2160, A2120; Virtual United Kingdom – V2160, A2122; Primary Subtitle enc 2 – V2260, A2220; Virtual Subtitle enc 2 – V2220, A2222; Primary Israel Mid East – V2360, A2320; Virtual Israel Mid East – V2360, A2322 and Primary South Africa enc – V2460, A2420. On September 15 the Primary United Kingdom feed was replaced by Hallmark Portugal & Espana. This platform is used to feed Hallmark’s Hotbird outlet (13 degrees East) on 12460MHz vertical which is also free-to-air at present.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D: The US charity telethon in aid of the victims of the US terrorism attacks was fed over the Globecast Channel 1 stream on 11590MHz vertical, SR 20150, FEC 3/4 at 01:00 on September 22. This spectacular was aired live by all of the major US TV networks and their affiliate stations. Live coverage of the Michigan State-v-Notre Dame US football game was fed over 11540MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’BT4′ in clear MPEG-2 on September 22 at 21:00. A live feed from the Miss America contest was carried on the Reuters stream at 11465MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640, ID:’Reuters’ in clear MPEG-2 on September 23 at 00:10. Another feed from the same venue, but with a different camera, was fed over 11550MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’Reuters DC’ at the same time.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11 & Columbia 515
D: A new stream has opened on 11460MHz horizontal, SR 2313, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’Briton DVB Test’. So far the only video seen here has been a clock set to Central European Time. On September 22 at 12:00 live coverage of the Trophee Lancome golf tournament from France was fed over 11595MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’BSKYB’ in MPEG-2 4:2:2 for Sky Sports. A ‘World Feed’ from the same event was relayed on 11585MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’WORLDFEED’ in MPEG-2 4:2:2.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS 806
D: Abu Dhabi TV Europe has launched on 3803MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1328, APID 1338 within the Globecast package.

43 degreesW:
PAS 3R & PAS 6
D: As is customary at this time of year a temporary multiplex has appeared here, on 12701MHz vertical, SR 27690, FEC 7/8, in aid of the IBC Satellite Fair in Amsterdam. The bouquet contained fifteen channels; BBC1, BBC2, BBC World, BBC Prime, Channel Three (airing a Tower Broadcast Centre animated caption), Channel 4, Deutsche Welle TV, Deutsche Welle Radio 1, 2 & 7, RTP Internacional, Renascenca Canal 1, RDP Antena 1, BBC Future English, BBC Future Port and BS/HS Upgrade. The American channel HBO was fed over one of the CBS streams at 12636MHz horizontal, SR 19850, FEC 7/8, VPID 1260, APID 1220 on September 22 from 12:00 for several hours.

58 degreesW:
PAS 9
D: There are currently four ‘Atlantic Satellite’ testcards in evidence on 11557MHz horizontal, SR 27684, FEC 7/8, VPIDs 1160.1260/1360/1460, APIDs 1120/1220/1320/1420 in free- to-air MPEG-2. On 11477MHz horizontal B4U Music and Paris Premiere are new via PIDs V1360/1320, A1560/1520 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

All times in UTC unless otherwise stated.
Email: [email protected]
SR = Symbol Rate
FEC = Forward Error Correction
VPID = Video Programme Identifier
APID = Audio Programme Identifier

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