Transponder Monitor

D = Digital
A = Analog

80 degreesE:
Express 6A

D A live fed for a Russian TV channel from the scene of the Moscow theatre hostage crisis was carried on 11575 MHz vertical, SR 26465, FEC 3/4, VPID 1560, APID 1520 on 24 October at 13:15 in clear MPEG-2.

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D Music channel Southern Spice has launched on 3585 MHz vertical, SR 26670, FEC 3/4, VPID 520, APID 648 in clear MPEG-2.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

D Sri Lanka’s TV Lanka 2 appears to have left the package on 3431 MHz horizontal, SR 5748, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120.

74 degreesE:
Insat 3C

D Doordarshan Hisar, which covers the area of northern India to the North of Rajasthan and to the South of Punjab, has launched on 4150 MHz vertical, SR 5000, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 in clear MPEG-2.

66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704

A The Kannada language version of Ennade TV for the Karnataka region of India has left 3760 MHz RHCP and has been replaced by a testcard.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat 906

D Intelsat 804 has left this position and is drifting eastwards. TBN, the religious channel, has started on 3963 MHz RHCP, SR 6618, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320 in clear MPEG- 2. This is in parallel with TBN’s original outlet at 3755 MHz RHCP.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 904

D A feed from the Moscow theatre siege for the Russian channel TV6 Moskva was relayed on 11477 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131, ID:’TV6 Fly Away’ on 24 October at 13:35 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

48 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F2

D Eutelsat II-F2 has replaced II F-1 here now. However, reception is difficult because II-F2 is in inclined orbit. Several Italian TV and radio channels have launched here in the past week. They are; 102.5 Hit Channel – 12528 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 1/2, V4194, A4195 [left channel] plus RTL 102.5 on the right channel; ProSat – 12534 MHz vertical, SR 3354, FEC 2/3, V33, A36 and TeleCampione – 12538 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 2/3, V4194, A4195. In addition the Italian Gruppo EuroMedia audio package is using 12524 MHz vertical, SR 1628, FEC 2/3 with Radio Rinascente – A321; Radio Cooky – A322; Radio Baby – A323; Radio McDonalds – A324; Day Classic – A325; Radio Ceccetto – A326; DiErreEsse – A327; Radio Di per Di – A328; Radio ERG – A329 and Radio 3 – A330. All of these Italian channels are low bitrate feeds for cable headends.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D HaberTurk and Star TV have opened on 12650 MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6 via PIDs V5184/5185, A5216/5217 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

40 degreesE:
Express A1R

D Due to the recent siege in Moscow, a flurry of feed activity occurred here in the last week or so. On 25 October 11585 MHz vertical, SR 4000, FEC 1/2, V511, A512 was active with a live feed from Moscow under the ID:’Viskom – Service 1′ in clear MPEG-2. In the evening of the 25th a feed for Germany’s Deutsche Welle TV was carried on the same frequency.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The first satellite TV channel to be made available in the West from Kazakhstan has launched. CaspioNet from Khabar TV is using 11053 MHz vertical, SR 2892, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195, ID:’Tadiran Scopus’. This is the feeder for CaspioNet’s Hotbird outlet which also launched last week. CaspioNet carries programming from the Caspian Sea/Central Asia area, in particular Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At 17:05 on 30 October a feed from Amman, Jordan, was relayed on 10957 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’LINX 1 UKI 832′ in clear MPEG-2. Live video from the Israeli parliament was fed over 10961 MHz vertical, VPID 4194, APID 4195 for Israel’s IBA Channel 3 during the early evening of 30 October.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird

D Bangla TV has started on 11546 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2324, APID 2325 in Videoguard encoded MPEG-2. The Irish sports channel Setanta 1 has vacated 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, V2319, A2320. The PIDs for Discovery Civilisation, Discovery Kids and Discovery+1 on 11875 MHz horizontal have been changed to V2336, A2338; V2344, A2346 and V2349, A2350 respectively. Two more streams have been added to the Icelandic NLC mini-package at 10818 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. They are named ‘RUV Test 1’ – V516, A259 and ‘RUV Test 2’ – V518, A261, which are the Icelandic state terrestrial TV channels. They are both airing a promo, which is not in parallel with the promo running on the NLC channels. Sky has confirmed that the US channel E! Entertainment will join the Sky Digital line-up as expected. The channel should be available to subscribers of the Family Package before Christmas. The ITN News Channel has been forced to implement Videoguard encoding. The channel airs UEFA soccer matches at times which it does not have rights for outside the UK. The new interactive racing channel, I-Race, which was to have launched in the near future will be delayed due to a fire at their London offices. The channel has been testing on 11954 MHz horizontal recently. Another ‘texting’ channel is to join Sky soon. TX-1 is currently running test transmissions on 11488 MHz vertical. It will allow viewers to text each other and play games on their cell phones. As expected, Living TV+1 has launched at Ch.113 in the Sky EPG. Sirasa TV from Sri Lanka has left Ch.816. The channel vacated the slot without warning last week. Also, shopping channel Shop Aid/CIC has left Ch.657. The Dating Channel has launched a new channel, The Dating Channel 2, which has joined the Sky EPG at Ch.688. The new channel will provide a gay dating service. Classic TV from the highly successful Classic FM radio station is carrying out test transmissions on 11488 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, ID:’850-4.2′. Rapture TV, the music channel, is to re-launch on the Sky platform on 7 December. The channel, which is under new ownership, will appear at Ch.232 in the EPG. Fans of US sports like Major League Baseball and National Hockey League will be delighted to know that NASN [North American Sports Network] is to launch on 1 December and will be part of the Sky Digital line-up. A minimum of 15 major live games will be aired every week! Subscription costs are expected to be around GBP9.99 per month.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D The Kuwaiti domestic TV channels, KTV 3 and KTV 4, are free-to-air again on 12540 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The channels share the stream with KTV 3 on the air from 10:00-22:00 and KTV 4 from 22:00-10:00. Orbit Sports has launched within the Orbit package at 12072 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V816, A817, encoded in Mediaguard. Orbit Sports has also joined the Orbit package in MPEG-1.5 at 11804 MHz horizontal, SR 24570, FEC 7/8 using PowerVu encoding.

A Radio Liban Libre has launched on the 7.02 MHz audio sub-carrier on the back of LBC Sat at 3742 MHz LHCP in clear PAL.

23.5 degreesE:
Astra 3A

D Two Feratel streams providing live camera shots from Austrian ski resorts have launched on 12513 MHz vertical, SR 4650, FEC 7/8. They are Feratel Aut 01 – V1057, A1058 and Feratel Aut 02 – V34, A8191. Both streams are free-to-air. Studio Universal and The Disney Channel have left the German Premiere package at 11675 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. More channels have joined the Austrian package at 11675 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. They are NTV International [Russia] – V611, A612; Nashe Kino – V621, A622; Fox Kids – V671, A672 and PCNE V681, A682. All of the channels in this bouquet are encoded in Betacrypt. At 12605 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Extreme Sports – V791, A792 and Einstein TV – V701, A702 are new. Detskij Me has been replaced by Fox Kids Russia on 12605 MHz horizontal on PIDs V931, A932.

19.2 degreesE:
Astra 1B,C & E-H, Astra 2C

D The Astra test card on 10832 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPID 55, APID 56 was replaced by an ESA [European Space Agency] caption on 28 October. On 30 October live coverage of the launch of the Odissea satellite from Baikonur carrying the first Belgian astronaut was carried here in clear MPEG-2. Hong Kong-based TVBS Europe is encoded once again after a short period in the clear on 12168 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 162, APID 88. The Disney Channel+1 France – V165, A100; Playhouse Disney – V166, A104 and Toon Disney France – V167, A108 have all launched on 12640 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in Mediaguard encoded MPEG-2.

A The Astravision caption on 10847 MHz vertical has been replaced by TV Shop Germany in clear PAL with audio via the 7.02/7.20 MHz sub-carriers.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D The Czech republic channel Galaxie Sport has launched on 12686 MHz horizontal, SR 3332, FEC 2/3, VPID 259, APID 258 in clear MPEG-2. The channel has moved from Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees East. TMF Vlaanderen is carrying out tests on 11052 MHz horizontal, SR 4479, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

13 degreesE:
Hotbird 1/2/3/4/6

D Hotbird 5 has now left this position and is drifting slowly eastwards. Gusto TV, from the Piemonte region of northern Italy, is testing within the Telespazio package at 11180 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V233, A234 in clear MPEG-2. These test transmissions are intermittent and sometimes the channel is absent for long periods of time. TV Moda, the Italian equivalent of Fashion TV, is free-to-air in the same multiplex via PIDs V215, A216. CaspioNet from Kazakhstan can be found in the Antenna Hungaria package at 12149 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 160, APID 161 in clear MPEG-2 [see also Eutelsat Sesat at 36 degrees East]. The Pakistani channel Prime TV remains free-to-air in the Antenna Hungaria bouquet via PIDs V96, A97. MA 3, the Moroccan third TV channel, has launched in the ART digital platform on 12015 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 522, APID 750. Programmes begin at 14:00 every day. On the same frequency, ART Children’s Channel is encoded once again in Viaccess 1 & 2 after a period in the clear. A new Italian mini-package has started on 11386 MHz horizontal, SR 19633, FEC 2/3 containing three active streams. These are; Moto GP – V515, A260; Videotime 2 – V111, A121 and Videotime 1 – V4097, A4100. At present all are broadcasting sports video loops. Moto GP and Videotime 2 left this frequency last week but four new channels started here. They are Millionari – V111, A121; Canale 5 – V512, A650; Italia 1 – V308, A256 and Rete 4 Locale – V513, A640. The three Mediaset channels, Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4 are in parallel with the existing Mediaset channels on Hotbird. In the Russian NTV package at 11938 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 Sirasa TV has been replaced by Ceylon TV on PIDs V2100, A2200 in clear MPEG-2. Al-Entefadeh TV has joined the Iranian package at 12436 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V308, A256. The channel airs from 04:00-05:00 and 16:00-17:00 daily. Khalifa TV, the new Paris-based channel for Algerians in France and abroad has been forced to close down temporarily. The channel had failed to gain authorisation from the CSA [Conseil Superieur de l’Audiovisuel] before launching on 3 September. Khalifa was using 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 on Hotbird plus Eutelsat 36 degrees East, 12623 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 and Nilesat at 7 degrees West, 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Contact FM has joined the line-up in the French Television par Satellite package at 10910 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via APID 3231.The Argentinian channel Telefe Internacional can be seen at times on the Olisat stream at 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4680, APID 4681.A promo for a new adult/erotic channel entitled Don’t Panic TV has launched on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4690, A4693 in free-to- air MPEG-2. Additional soundtracks are available in Italian – A4691, English – A4692 and German – A4694. Cartoon Network Polska and TCM Central Europe have joined the Polish package at 12360 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 is a stream share on PIDs V257, A258. They are encoded in Nagravision. Adventist World Radio and Adventist World Radio 1 have launched on 12597 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APIDs 2029/2031 in clear MPEG-2.

A Polsat 2 has left 11345 MHz horizontal. The channel had been available here in clear PAL.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D A Freedom TV Tele Liberte testcard has appeared in the data package at 11475 MHz vertical, SR 33293, FEC 2/3 on PIDs V151, A8191. Galaxie Sport has left 12702 MHz vertical, SR 2961, FEC 3/4 and has moved to Eutelsat W2 at 16 degrees East.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D ChannelD has left the ChannelD package on 11375 MHz vertical, SR 2169, FEC 3/4. The channel has filed for bankruptcy in Germany. Radio ERA FM has joined the Ukrainian package on 11766 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 6188 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

0.8 degrees/1 degreesW:
Thor 1, 2 & 3 & Intelsat 707

D The Bulgarian channel 7 Dni [Seven Days] on 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, VPID 523, APID 724 is now encoded intermittently in Conax. A promo channel for the Icelandic RUV [Rikisutvarpid-Sjonvarp] National Television has launched in the Telenor package on 11245 MHz vertical, SR 24500, FEC 7/8, VPID 519, APID 668 in clear MPEG-2.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

D The Reuters World News Service stream on 3730 MHz RHCP, SR 29970, FEC 7/8, VPID 728, APID 738, ID:’Reuters WNS’ is free-to-air again after a short period of being encoded. Jam-e-Jaam International has left the Iranian package at 12711 MHz horizontal, SR 16925, FEC 5/6 and has been replaced by Assyria TV on PIDs V3460, A3420. The ID’s in this multiplex are somewhat misleading – Iran TV appears as Pars TV [V3160, A3120]; PBC/Tapesh TV appears as Tapesh [V3260, A3420]; Channel One TV is under the label Persian TV [V3360, A3460] and Assyria TV appears under Iran TV.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D The home shopping channel Thane International has launched on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1018, APID 1019, ID:’SAC’ in clear MPEG-2. A free-to-air Al-Majd Channel 2 promo channel has launched on 11746 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1009, APID 1209, ID:’Majd 2′. A testcard for the new basketball channel NBA TV has appeared in the ART package at 12034 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V3084, A3085 in clear MPEG-2. Heya TV has vacated 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Al-Andalus TV has launched on 12192 MHz vertical, SR 2964, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4197 following its move from 12207 MHz vertical.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2

D A new feed stream has opened on 12625 MHz horizontal, SR 3258, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. For most of the time a ‘Verizon Avoc Wash DC’ caption is in evidence.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D MBC USA and MBC FM are free-to-air once again on 12670 MHz horizontal, SR 3260, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APIDs 256/257.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D TFC, the Filipino Channel, appeared briefly in the Iranian package on 12595 MHz horizontal, SR 31285, FEC 3/4 but has now left the frequency.

21.5 degreesW:
NSS 7

D The Reuters World Feed is free-to-air again on 11605 MHz horizontal, SR 3998, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C

D GigaShopping TV has launched in the Spanish multiplex at 11931 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4770, APID 4771 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Andalucia TV has been replaced by Fashion TV on 11851 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4192, APID 4193 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. The Syria satellite Channel has opened on 12172 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1001, APID 1011 in clear MPEG-2.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11, Columbia 515 & Satcom C1

D The main feed from the Madrid Open Golf Championship for Sky Sports was carried on 11595 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’BSKYB’ in clear MPEG-2. All of the streams in the CNN/US Military package on 11494 MHz horizontal, SR 19496, FEC 2/3 have been changed. The current parameters are; CNN\HDLN\AFDL – V257, A258 and V513, A514; Quad UAV – V769 [no audio]; C-12 MARS – V1281, A1282; Air Scan – V1537, A1538 and P-3 – V1793, A1794. All of the controversial military feeds from former Yugoslavia enroute to the US Navy base at Norfolk, Virginia are now encoded. The ‘Hunter’ stream has left the multiplex.

43 degreesW:
PAS 3R & PAS 6

D On 28 October at 21:15 a live video conference circuit between Spain and Quito, Ecuador was carried on 12694 MHz vertical, SR 6620, FEC 2/3, ID:’422P ML 18MHz’ in free-to-air MPEG-2. The Fox Sports Middle East feed at 12578 MHz horizontal appears to have decreased EIRP recently. Signal strengths have dropped significantly at times

45 degreesW:
PAS 1R

D Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne is still available on 11576 MHz horizontal, SR 2915, FEC 1/2, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. The channel signs-on at 09:00 daily. During the off-air times Chaine Une, Ivory Coast radio’s first service, can be heard over the testcard.