Key:
D – Digital
A – Analogue

83 degreesE
Insat 2E
D – A new independent regional TV channel for India is testing on 3525 MHz vertical, SR 24800, FEC 7/8, VPID 289, APID 290 in clear MPEG-2. Hyderabad-based Maa TV will broadcast in the Telegu language, which is spoken in the Andhra Pradesh region in southeast India. The new channel promises a mix of dramas, serials, sitcoms, current affairs, documentaries and movies for 18 hours a day. It will be subscription based. Asianet Global is also a newcomer on 3525 MHz vertical, SR 24800, FEC 7/8, VPID 321, APID 322.

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3
D – The Sri Lankan channel TV Lanka appears to have extended its on-air time. The channel occupies 3430 MHz horizontal, SR 5750, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1122 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1
D – SGU TV1 from Ukraine is temporarily free-to-air on 12600 MHz horizontal, SR 5748, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34. NTV+ Proizvodstvo has left 12611 MHz vertical and has relocated to Eutelsat W4 at 36 degrees East.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10
D – A new multiplex has opened at 3808 MHz vertical, SR 12587, FEC 7/8 containing Ten SuperSport International – V32, A33; Ten SP – V34, A40 and TAJ TV – V39, A42. Ten SuperSport is free-to-air but the remaining channels are encoded. Taj Television is a UAE-based TV provider who is behind the new sports channel. Ten SuperSport is aimed at the Indian subcontinent and is being added to cable and satellite DTH services in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. MTV India has launched a free-to-air service on 4164 MHz horizontal, SR 20496, FEC 3/4, VPID 1860, APID 1830.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902
D – The parameters for the Iranian TV channel Jaam-e-Jam TV Network 3 have been changed to SR 3100, FEC 3/4 on 11042 MHz vertical.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 904
D – The new Intelsat 904 has left its temporary slot at 58.5 degrees East and is in place here; 904 has two Ku-band beams – Ku-band Spot 1 delivers 53 dBW to the Urals region of Russia south to Azerbaijan and 45 dBW to the beam edges for western Afghanistan in the east and northeast Germany to the west. Ku-band Spot 2 is centred on Kazakhstan at 52.6 dBW dropping to 44.6 dBW for Pakistan to the east westwards to Iran and the Moscow region. C-band is catered for a Global Beam at 31-35.8 dBW for Australasia/Far East, Central/South Africa and West Europe/N. Africa and southern Scandinavia. Reception of the Russian package on 11519 MHz vertical, SR 17500, FEC 3/4 containing Kanal 31 – V514, A652; NTV – V515, A653 and Radio Mayak 24 – A664 is good as far west as parts of Germany. Also Kuban RTV, Radio Rocks and Radio Mayak are received in East Europe at excellent levels.

50 degreesE:
Anatolia
D – The Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 has ceased dual illuminating on 11523 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3 and is now only available free-to-air on 11117 MHz vertical, SR 3116, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1
D – At 13:25 on April 4 11544 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 was active with the following scrolling message over colour bars, ‘FOXNEWS 525NTSC KABUL AFGHANISTAN. UPLINK/2ND IFB +873 762 000 270. PRODUCTION COORD +873 762 134 065/6. VIDFONE, MAIN IFB +873 762 958 310’ ‘n clear MPEG-2/NTSC. At the same time a live report from Afghanistan for BBC World was being carried on 11660 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1
D – A live feed for Big Brother Turkey is using 12616 MHz horizontal, SR 3054, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’Star 7 SNG B’ in free-to-air MPEG-2. Super Kanal is new on 11594 MHz vertical, SR 4180, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. Isik TV has opened a free-to-air service on 12673 MHz vertical, SR 3500, FEC 3/4, VPID 272, APID 304.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat
D – Radiolina has left 12516 MHz horizontal, SR 2441, FEC 2/3, APID 4197 where it had been present alongside Videolina, the Italian TV channel. In the Russian NTV+ package on 12399 MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 the NTV mosaic has been replaced by a new channel NTV Proizvodstvo on PIDs V325, A410 in clear MPEG-2.

28.5 degreesE:
Eurobird
D — At 11546 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2307, APID 2308 the EPG entry for ‘ShopontheBox’ has been changed to ‘Shop on TV’.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D
D – The PIDs for Men & Motors on 12226 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have been changed to V2311, A2315. At 12207 MHz vertical there have been more PID changes. The new parameters are; Sky News Eire (Cable) – V2309, A2310; Sky News Mosaic – V2312, A2316; Sky Welcome – V2326, A2327 and Chl Line-Up – V8191, A2325. Manchester United TV and Playboy/Adult Channel on 12480 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 also have new PIDs – V2318/2315, A2319/2316 respectively. Tara TV, the Irish programming channel which had occupied 12266 MHz horizontal, has closed down. The channel, which had accumulated debts of around GBP14 million ($20 million), was taken off air on April 4. Another victim of failing profits is Shop!, which has also fallen by the wayside and has been closed down. Sky Box Office 44 has moved to 10876 MHz vertical from 12226 MHz horizontal. Apna Radio (My Radio) has started test transmissions on 12344 MHz horizontal, APID 2344 in clear MPEG-2. The channel will broadcast programmes in Hindi for the Asian population in the UK. Two promos are being played out on 12012 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 2304/2313, APIDs 2305/2314 for BT and First Choice Holidays. In addition to the recent EPG reshuffle of Asian channels, Sky Digital has also made some changes to the channel numbers for sports channels. The new EPG channels numbers are: MUTV 406, Sky Sports News 408, The Racing Channel 410, Eurosport UK 412, Eurosport News 413, Gobarkingmad 414 and Motors TV 416. A London-based gay dance music radio station has launched on 11662 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 within the Sky Digital line-up. Purple Radio is occupying the Ch.912 slot in the Sky EPG.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A
D – Radio Sawa has been replaced by VOA News Now on 12661 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On 3877 MHz LHCP, SR 5610, FEC 2/3 the PIDs for Zen TV and Futures TV USA have been changed to V37/39, A38/40 respectively. The Kuwait Sports Channel has replaced KTV1 on 12531 MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. Two Orbit Network mosaic channels have launched within the past few days. One is on 11996 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4160, APID 4120 and the second can be found on 12073 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4160, APID 4165. Both channels are encoded in Mediaguard. On April 5 the expected arrival of the RTE (Radio Telefis …ireann) bouquet took place. RTE One, RTE Network 2, TV3 Ireland, TG4, RTE Radio 1 FM, RTE Radio 2, Raidio Na Gaeltachta and RTE Lyric FM are all occupying 10744 MHz horizontal in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2.

25.5 degreesE
Eutelsat II-F4
D – This elderly craft, which was launched in 1992, has burst in to life once again with some digital action. Tele Acras, an independent Italian TV channel based in Agrigento, Sicily, has launched on 11187 MHz horizontal, SR 2500, FEC 2/3, VPID 3105, APID 3106 in clear MPEG-2. Also, EuroMed is using 11190 MHz horizontal, SR 2500, FEC 2/3, VPID 3105, APID 3106.

24.2 degreesE:
Astra 1D
A – Although this satellite is now devoid of any digital activity, one bonus is that the Astra 1D caption has returned to 10773 MHz horizontal in clear Pal with tone on the 7.02/7.20/7.56/7.74 and 7/92 MHz audio sub-carriers.

23.5 degreesE:
Astra 3A
D – Astra 3A was successfully launched from Kourou at 00:29 on March 29. Eventually 3A will take over duties from the ageing Kopernikus craft situated here.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1B,C & E-H, Astra 2C
D – In the UPC Direct package on 11876 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Viasat 3 has replaced Wizja La Cinema on VPID 170, APID 100 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. On 12382 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 – another UPC multiplex – Romantika has been superseded by Film Muzeum on VPID 165, APID 98. TSF Jazz has joined the French Canal Satellite Digital line-up at 12207 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1916. There is a new Loft Story promo channel on 12012 MHz vertical, VPID 162, APID 88 in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2.
A – BR Alpha and the ADR radio channels Swiss Jazz, SRG Virus, SRI English, Swiss Pop and Swiss Classic are to open on 11082 MHz horizontal from April 16. They will continue to use their old transponder at 11686 MHz vertical until June 16. A five-way transponder share has started on 11171 MHz horizontal. It contains Bloomberg TV UK (04:00-16:00), SFB1 (16:00-00:00), SES Global promo (00:00-04:00), WDR 4 and Bloomberg News Radio.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2
D – Live and recorded video footage from the scene of a major fire in Paris was fed over one of the ENEX streams at 12509 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID:’Service 1′, in clear MPEG-2 for the French network TF1 at 15:05 on April 4. At the same time another ENEX stream at 12530 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’SWE STO-11′ was relaying live street interviews from Stockholm for TV4 Sverige. At 15:10 on April 4 12561 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’UKI 684′ was relaying a live interview with a Sky News correspondent in Jerusalem in free-to-air MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/5
D – In the WorldNet Europe multiplex at 12484 MHz vertical, SR 8298, FEC 3/4 Radio Sawa is a newcomer on APID 4530. Radio Sawa recently departed Arabsat at 26 degrees East. Radiolina has left the Hrvatska Television Croatia package on 12520 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 517. South Korea’s Channel Sun is free-to-air once again on 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 229, APID 249. Bollywood 4U Movies is currently free-to-air in the Belgacom package at 12476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 656, APID 657. At 12111 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 an ART Invest promo is being played out via VPID 230, APID 231 in clear MPEG-2. Bengali language Bangla TV has launched a free-to-air service on 12380 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3301, APID 3311. Some 30 audio channels have joined the Yes package for Israel at 11676 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The list is: Classic Music – A700; Israeli State Songs – A701; Rock Now – A702; Israeli Pop & Rock – A703; ChillOut – A704; Pop Music – A705; Love Songs – A706; 80’s Hits – A707; Country – A715; Mediterranean Music – A716; Alternative Rock – A717; Trance – A718; Israeli Now! – A719; Easy Listening – A720; Movies Music – A721; Children’s Songs – A722; Russian Music – A730; DJ Sets – A731; 60’s Songs – A732; Arabic Music – A733; New Age & Relaxation – A734; Greek Songs – A735; From Italy in Love – A736; World Music – A745; Club & House – A746; The Best of Opera – A747; Francais Chansons – A748; Latin Music – A749; Jazz – A750 and finally Black Music – A751. All of these are currently free-to-air but will encode in the near future. This transponder is configured for an Israeli beam which provides a signal level of 56 dBW to the centre, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan dropping to 46 dBW at the beam edges covering Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. Rete Sport has joined the Telefonica package for Spain in 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 4641 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Al-Manar TV has been replaced by the Jordan Satellite Channel on 12654 MHz horizontal, VPID 1060, APID 1020. Arabic radio station Iza’at Al-Jamahiryah Al-Outhmah has launched on 12654 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1521 in clear MPEG-2.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1
D – The Turkish station NTV Radyo has left 11019 MHz horizontal, SR 2168, FEC 7/8, APID 257. Galaxie TV is free-to-air again on 12702 MHz vertical, SR 2961, FEC 3/4, VPID 258, APID 259.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3
D – In the DigiTurk package on 11617 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 Kiss TV has left the line-up. On 11658 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 Mezzo has replaced Muzzik on PIDs V2104, A2204 in MPEG-2/Cryptoworks. Also, three Turkish radio stations have departed from here. They are La Shik 101.8FM, RadioSport and Kiss FM. On April 4 at 15:15 10993 MHz vertical, SR 4482, FEC 7/8, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID: ‘JERUSALEM ACTUA NEWS’, was displaying a test pattern overlaid with ‘JCS-625 JERUSALEM’.
A – On April 6 at 16:10 a live feed from the Italian resort of Rimini was fed over 11173 MHz horizontal in clear Pal. Following the traffic the transponder switched to colour bars overlaid with ‘ITA10 RIMINI’.

5.2 degreesE:
Astra 1A
D – ChannelD TV is in the clear once more on 11376 MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4, VPID 309, APID 325.

5 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3
D – In the Kingston/TLI multiplex at 12453 MHz horizontal, SR 18056, FEC 3/4 Romantica Polska is carrying out test transmissions via VPID 133, APID 135 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 12149 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 288, APID 272 a BSTV testcard is in evidence in free-to-air MPEG-2. SVT Smalandsnytt and SVT ABC-nytt have joined the NSAB platform on 12245 MHz vertical, VPIDs 151/161, APIDs 152/162. Both channels are encoded in Conax. Latvia has a new satellite earth station capable of uplinking 30 channels to the Sirius satellites. NSAB are the owners of the new Skyport facility located in the country’s capital Riga.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707
D – DR1 (Cable) and NRK1 (Cable) have left 11247 MHz vertical, SR 24500, FEC 7/8 where they were both encoded in Conax. Also on this frequency Gospel Channel Europe is new via VPID 518, APID 658 replacing Omega TV. Danish radio network DR P4 Kobenhaven has launched on 11553 MHz horizontal, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, APID 672.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102
D – Two EBU feed streams have opened on 11765 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. They are ‘FEED 1’ on VPID 1004, APID 1204 and ‘FEED 2’ on VPID 1011, APID 1212. Both streams are currently carrying free-to-air feed traffic for several Arab TV channels. In common with Arabsat at 26 degrees East, Radio Sawa has been replaced by VOA News Now on 11842 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 2014. In the ADD package on 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 a caption stating ‘ADD World Cup 2002′ has appeared via PIDs V3084, A3085 in clear MPEG-2. At 12130 MHz vertical RML 99.1FM has launched under the ID:’Leb Radio3’ via APID 3005.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2
D – There are now three IP data channels in evidence on 12649 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are identified as ‘BeyonDSL’, ‘OpenSkyPush’ and ‘Streaming’.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A
D – MusicMax Hungary and ITV Hungary have returned to 11622 MHz vertical, SR 2894, FEC 3/4 following a short break. Both channels are free-to-air. Belgrade’s RTS Sat and Radio Beograd are on the move again, this time from 11609 MHz vertical to 11520 MHz vertical, SR 2893, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APIDs 4196/4195. Napoli Network has left 11518 MHz vertical for 11532 MHz vertical, SR 2034, FEC 2/3, VPID 910, APID 911.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12
D – Radio Sedaye Iran, a California-based Iranian opposition station, has launched on 12608 MHz horizontal, SR 19522, FEC 2/3, APID 372 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

21.3 degrees/21.5 degreesW:
NSS 803 & NSS K
D – Sat 7 and Bangla TV have launched on 11618 MHz vertical and horizontal, SR 6110, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 3001/3301, APIDs 3011/3311 using the North American, South American and European beams.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605
D – In the RR Satellite Communications bouquet on 10977 MHz vertical, SR 9998, FEC 3/4 a Channel New Life promo has replaced Israel’s IBA Channel 2.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C
D – Viver Vivir has joined the TSA multiplex on 11931 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 8096, APID 8097 in clear MPEG-2. The Portuguese digital platform is testing on a new frequency at 11850 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. There are eight channels here which are temporarily free-to-air. They are: BBC World – V4108, A4209; Eurosport – V4112, A4113; Locomotion – V4128, A4129; MTV – V4144, A4145; VH-1 – V4160, A4161; Andalucia TV – V4192, A4193; BBC Prime – V4224, A4225 and Odisseia – V4240, A4241. Geoplaneta TV has joined the Spanish Via Digital package on 11931 MHz, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4352, APID 4353. The Spanish channel Antena 3 is currently free-to-air in the Retevision package on 12671 MHz vertical, SR 28120, FEC 5/6. Playboy TV Iberia is new on 11850 MHz horizontal, VPID 4352, APID 4353 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2.

34.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 601
D – Tara TV has left 11158 MHz vertical following its closure due to huge debts.

45 degreesW:
PAS 1
A – A copy of the Chinese CCTV package on PAS 9 at 58 degrees West, 3880 MHz horizontal, appeared on 11592 MHz horizontal, SR 4410, FEC 3/4 during the afternoon of April 4, probably the consequence of a switching error at the uplink site. The bouquet contains CCTV4 – V1160, A1120; CCTV9 – V1260, A1220; CCTV4 – V1360, A1320; Thai TV Global Network – V1560, A1520; Arirang TV World 2 – V1860, A1820 and three streams of China Radio International – A1760/1860/1960. All of the channels here were/are free-to-air. Unfortunately by the following morning the multiplex had been switched off.

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