D = Digital
A = Analog

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D A RR Satellite Communications promo channel is running on 3550 MHz horizontal, SR 13330, FEC 3/4, VPID 1025, APID 1026 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

A Madagascar’s TV Malagasy was absent for several days last week from 3988 MHz vertical. However, by 12 November the channel had returned in clear Secam.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10

D Adventist Television Network has launched on 3495 MHz vertical, SR 4445, FEC 2/3, VPID 1160. It is accompanied by several language streams; original soundtrack – A1120; Hausa/Yoruba [for Nigeria] – A1122; Ibo/Portuguese [for Nigeria] – A1124; Fufulde/Bulu [for Niger, Tchad, Central African Republic and Cameroon – A1126; Bemba/Tonga [for Zambia and Congo] – A2120 and Twi/Kinyarwanda [for Ghana and Rwanda] – A2122. The channel is currently free-to-air. Middle East Television [MET] is available in clear MPEG-2 at present on 4132 MHz vertical, SR 3307, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 36. Two new channels have joined the Viacom package on 4034 MHz horizontal, SR 20500, FEC 2/3. They are MTV Mandarin – V338, A337 and MTV6 – V353, A354. Both channels are encoded in Cryptoworks.

48 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F2

D Eutelsat II-F1 has left this geostationary slot and is moving eastwards. Like its predecessor, II-F2 is in inclined orbit. Sardegna Uno is free-to-air on 11605 MHz horizontal, SR 2200, FEC 2/3, VPID 3601, APID 3604. Sony Entertainment Television can be found on 11608 MHz horizontal, SR 2289, FEC 2/3, V4194, A4195 in clear MPEG-2. The parameters for the Italian channel CountDown TV on 11595 MHz horizontal have been changed to SR 2665, FEC 1/2, VPID 4194, APID 4195. TeleCampione has left 12538 MHz vertical and ProSat has vacated 12538 MHz vertical.

47.5 degreesE:
Europe*Star B

This satellite has now left the 47.5 degrees East slot and is manoeuvring slowly eastwards.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1

D On 13 November 12677 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID.’APTN Baghdad’ was active for much of the day. A caption here stated ‘APTN BAGHDAD Path 1. IFB +873762221799’.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D Star 8 has joined the Star TV line-up at 12651 MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, VPID 5216, APID 5217, ID:’Test-SNG’, in clear MPEG-2. Turkish radio station Super FM 90.8 has returned to 12652 MHz horizontal, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, APID 2021 after a short break. The news channel HaberTurk is available again in clear MPEG-2 in the StarDigital package at 12651 MHz vertical via PIDs V5184, A5185. Biri bizi Gozetliyor has opened on 12621 MHz horizontal, SR 3054, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 following its move from 12636 MHz horizontal. This is the Big Brother Turkey feed stream, which is used to supply the Biri bizi Gozetliyor outlet in the StarDigital package at 12651 MHz horizontal where it is encoded in Nagravision. At 11595 MHz vertical, SR 7096, FEC 5/6 a new multiplex has opened with three active free-to-air streams at present. They are Bravo TV – V38, A34; Galaxy TV – V33, A36 and Super Kanal – V39, A40. The Georgian channel Rustavi-2 TV has switched from Anatolia 1 at 50 degrees East to EurasiaSat. The channel has launched on 12595 MHz vertical, SR 2500, FEC 5/6 and is broadcasting in clear MPEG-2. There is a new Medya Grubu multiplex at 11867 MHz vertical, SR 4510, FEC 5/6 containing Discovery Channel Turkey – V37, A38; Number One TV – V50, A51, Radyo Klas – A39 and Number One FM – A52. All of these are available in free-to-air MPEG-2.

40 degreesE:
Express A1R

D The Azerbaijani channel Space TV is no longer available in western Europe on 11660 MHz vertical, SR 3332, FEC 3/4, VPID 513, APID 256. Presumably the stream has switched to another beam.

39 degreesE:
Hellas Sat 1

Hellas Sat 2 is slated for a launch late 2002. The new craft will carry a payload of 34 Ku-Band transponders.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D Following their recent licensing problems Khalifa TV continues to be absent from 12623 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4 and also from Hotbird at 13 degrees East. The channel is still hoping to be granted a license by the French authorities and is expected to return in the near future.

33 degreesE:
Eutelsat I-F4 & Hotbird 5

Hotbird 5 has now reached this slot after travelling from 13 degrees East. Over recent days several transponders have been fired up with blank carriers. Noted so far have been 11034 MHz vertical, 11075 MHz vertical, 11118 MHz vertical, 11158 MHz horizontal, 11180 MHz vertical, 11585 MHz vertical, 11604 MHz horizontal, 11623 MHz vertical, 12520 MHz vertical and 12578 MHz horizontal.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D The AlMajd Space Channel has launched on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, V768, A769 and at 12731 MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, V768, A769, both in free-to-air MPEG- 2.

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

D Setanta Sport 1 has left 11623 MHz horizontal. The three Arabic channels on 11526 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have changed PIDs. They are now ART Europe – V2308, A2309; ART Music – V2315, A2316 and LBC – V2322, A2309. All are encoded in Videoguard. TV JobShop is testing on 11488 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2319, APID 2320. At present a caption is displayed stating ‘TV JobShop Channel 683. Television dedicated to jobs’. A new Asian channel, Simply Asian, from the Simply Shopping group is to launch on 25 November on Ch.826. The output will consist of movies, dramas, children’s programmes, news and drama. The channel is currently testing on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2317, APID 2318 in clear MPEG-2. Rapture TV has confirmed that it is to re-launch on 7 December on Ch.232. Classic TV from the UK’s Classic FM radio station is testing on 11488 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, ID.’850-4.2′. As reported in Transponder Monitor 5 November, North American Sports Network is to launch on 1 December. The channel, which comes from the Setanta Sport stable, is already broadcasting test transmissions on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. NESN will air 24 hours a day with Major League Basketball, National Hockey League, baseball, American football and ice hockey. Subscription cost will be GBP12.99 per month. Planet Rock is the name of a new 24 hour music channel set to join the Sky Digital line-up on 28 November. As yet no test transmissions from the channel have been seen. New music channel The Hits has commenced tests on 11778 MHz vertical, ID.’9311′ and has appeared in the Sky EPG at Ch.458. To make way for The Hits, Chart Show TV has moved to Ch.455. There is a new adult channel on its way from Spice TV. It is called Spice Xtreme and is currently testing on 11488 MHz vertical, ID.’850-3′. Sky One Mix is to launch on 9 December at Ch.107. It will provide a mix of ‘the best of UK and US programmes’. Galaxy 105, the Leeds, Yorkshire-based Dance and R’n’B terrestrial music station is testing on 12324 MHz vertical and is expected to enter the Sky EPG very soon. On 11604 MHz vertical, Disney Channel UK, Disney Channel UK+1, Toon Disney and Disney Playhouse are all new arrivals. Also, three TLM promo channels have launched on this frequency and in parallel at 10862 MHz horizontal. Golden oldies TV from Hollywood Classics Television is coming soon. The channel is testing on 11623 MHz horizontal prior to launch. The adult channel Tantalise TV has moved to 12344 MHz from 12032 MHz horizontal. The Paramount Comedy Channel has officially launched on 12188 MHz horizontal. The TV service for dentists, CPD Dental TV, has launched on 11585 MHz horizontal. The Sky Digital Retail Info Channel and Private Blue have moved from 12266 MHz horizontal to 11934 MHz vertical.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D On 12533 MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4 the Salmiya testcard – V308, A256; Modern Arabic Music 103.7FM – A256 and Main Arabic – A257 are all free-to-air at present. This transponder uses Arabsat 2A space segment. The footprint is centred on the Gulf area and the North African Maghreb countries at 47 dBW dropping to 41 dBW for Niger, Mauritania, the Iberian peninsula, Sicily and Turkey. BBC World India has vacated 12735 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Still with the BBC, two radio services have left 12735 MHz vertical, BBC World Service Arabic and BBC World Service [English language].

23.5 degreesE:
Astra 3A

D The ‘Foreign TV’ package on 11634 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 which serves the German DigiKabel cable distributor has left this frequency. It contained NTVI [Russia], Nashe Kino, ATV2, TV Polonia, Kanal D, RTP International, Fox Kids Russia, Fox Kids Turkey, PCNE Chinese and ERT Sat.

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

D The OK Plus promo channel has left the Spanish Canal Satelite platform at 11508 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6. There are four Premier Sport Formula 1 streams testing in clear MPEG-2 on 12090 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. EuroSport France and Hallmark Entertainment UK are new on 12344 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V165/167, A112/108. Both channels are encoded in Mediaguard. On the same frequency Super Radio Shopping and SuperStore Radio have launched on APIDs 232/245 in clear MPEG-2.

A The GOD Channel has left 10921 MHz horizontal where it had been broadcasting in clear PAL. It has been replaced by an Astravision caption.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D Galaxie Sport from the Czech Republic has been free-to-air at times recently on 12687 MHz horizontal, SR 3332, FEC 2/3, VPID 258, APID 259. A feed for TV Nova was sighted on 13 November at 17:40 on 11100 MHz horizontal, SR 5925, FEC 3/4, VPID 194, APID 205, ID.’COMPONENT’. On 14 November at 20:00 a live feed from outside the Ritz Hotel in central London where the Queen was attending a dinner was fed over 12555 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID.’SIS 12 8MBT’ for Sky News.

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

D The new Mediaset multiplex on 11386 MHz horizontal, SR 19635, FEC 2/3 which was duplicating Canale 5, Rete 4, Italia 1 and Milionario has now left the frequency. The one remaining active stream here is relaying ‘Zone Plate’ test transmissions via VPID 512, APID 600 in free-to-air MPEG-2. The Argentinian channel Telefe Internacional can still be seen on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4680, APID 4681, but at weekends only. For the rest of the week Telemundo can be found here. On the same frequency, the ASB [Arabian Satellite Broadcasting] caption is still in evidence via VPID 4611, APID 4610. It has been here for some time but the caption does not give any indication of when the channel will launch. Radio Greece is now available in the clear in the OTE package at 12188 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 742. Two new streams have opened at 11200 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, IDs:’Milano Teleport’ – V257, A258 and ‘Milano Teleport Italia – V2561, A2562. Both streams are displaying testcards in free-to-air MPEG-2. Tamil Television Network is encoded in Viaccess once again after a period in the clear in the French TPS bouquet at 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 124, APID 134. A promo has launched under the ID ‘CalabriaSat’ in the Croatian HRT package at 12520 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V52, A53. The Italian fashion channel TV Moda has left the Telespazio package at 11180 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 215, APID 216. The GOD Channel has joined the TPS bouquet at 10834 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2 via PIDs V420, A430. ART Europe, ART Aflam plus the radio channels Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem and Second Programme have all been temporarily free-to-air on 12015 MHz horizontal recently. Promos for the new AlMajd Channel 2 and AlMajd Space Channel have launched on 11747 MHz horizontal in clear MPEG-2. AlMajd Channel 2 is set to launch regular programming in English to promote Islam at the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan which is in early December. The two Polish state terrestrial TV channels, TVP 1 and TVP 2, have launched on 12360 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 401/513, APIDs 402/514 in Nagravision encoded MPEG-2. MTV Polska and MTV Classic have joined the Viacom package at 11242 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 161/163, APIDs 84/92 in Cryptoworks encoded MPEG-2. In addition, Sc-Fi UK is new on 11242 MHz via PIDs V167, A108.vertical. The new erotic channel with the curious name, Don’t Panic TV, has officially launched on 12092 MHz horizontal. The channel is simulcrypt in Viaccess 2 and Irdeto 2 at night but plays out free- to-air promos during the day.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D The Jordan Satellite Channel has launched on 11126 MHz horizontal, SR 2530, FEC 3/4, VPID 7710, APID 7810 in clear MPEG-2. The Milan Channel has opened on 10979 MHz vertical, SR 6400, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D Two of the BFBS [British Forces Broadcasting Service] channels on 11324 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 1/2, BFBS 5 and BFBS 8 were in the clear for a couple of days last week. BFBS 5 relays ITV London and BFBS 8 was carrying BBC News 24. Both streams are now encoded in Cryptoworks again.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D There was a TeleSport TV testcard present on 12695 MHz vertical, SR 10196, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320 in clear MPEG-2 last week via the Sirius North beam with an EIRP of 48 dBW at the centre of the footprint which serves Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, north west Russia and all of Scandinavia decreasing to 45 dBW covering England, N.E. France, northern Italy, former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. However, on 7 November the testcard was switched off. On the same day a new multiplex opened at 12700 MHz vertical, SR 10200, FEC 3/4 with three active streams. These contained Realitatea TV – V1160, A1120; Etno TV – V1260, A1220 and the TeleSport TV testcard again – V1360, A1320. Private Blue has been replaced by ESPN Classic Sport Italia on 12111 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6, VPID 1056, APID 1057, in Conax encoded MPEG-2.

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

D On 14 November at 10:20 two streams here were fired up with feed traffic from BBC News. 11586 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, In’UKI-234 LOW DELAY 8′ and 11596 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, V308, A256, ID.’UKI-234 LOW DELAY’. Both feeds were from Scotland and featured news on the firefighters strike.

5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 3

D An IPN caption has appeared on one of the streams in the US-based Iranian package at 12710 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 5/6, VPID 262, APID 263, ID.’GlobeCast TV’ in clear MPEG-2.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D A new children’s radio station, Radio Dal, has opened on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3005. AlMajd Space Channel has launched on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1303, APID 1304 in clear MPEG-2. AlMajd Channel 2 on 11747 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 is running promos before the official launch next month. Al-Nour Radio from Lebanon has launched on 12130 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3009 in clear MPEG-2

7.3 degreesW:
Thor 1

D Thor 1 has parked here and is expected to activate in the near future. A Eutelsat promo is being played out on 12092 MHz RHCP, SR 13021, FEC 3/4, VPID 289, FEC 290. Also, some test carriers have been noted on 11785 MHz, 11862 MHz, 11938 MHz and 12015 MHz, all RHCP. Signal levels in the south of England are extremely high.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A

D Occasional Italian feed traffic can still be found on two streams at 11683 MHz vertical, SR 12797, FEC 3/4, VPIDs 33/35, APIDs 34/36 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D On 9 November at 16:10 NASA TV was being played out on 11013 MHz horizontal, SR 20150, FEC 3/4, VPID 1260, APID 1220 in clear MPEG-2. This relay was probably for the launch of the latest Shuttle flight which was later aborted. The ‘ABC NewsOne Channel’ has returned to 10988 MHz horizontal, SR 3260, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34. This stream carries occasional transatlantic feed traffic and is presumably back-up for the sub aqua Atlantic fibre link.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D The Bulgarian channel bTV on 10989 MHz vertical, SR 4477, FEC 3/4 has changed PIDs to V308, A101.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 901

D The sole C-Band occupants here, AIT International and Ray Power 106.5FM from Nigeria, can be found on 3685 MHz RHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 3601, APIDs 3604/3605 in free-to- air MPEG-2.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1A/B/C/D

D The recently launched Hispasat 1D has now reached this slot. Discovery Channel Espana has left the Portuguese TV Cabo package at 12012 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. TV Amistad has vacated 12052 MHz horizontal, SR 28126, FEC 5/6.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS 806

D AssyriaSat, Iran TV Network, Tapesh TV and Channel One have all vacated 3848 MHz RHCP and have been replaced by GlobeCast World promo channels.

58 degreesW:
PAS 9

D Television Nacional de Peru and Radio Nacional de Peru are now free-to-air on 3840 MHz vertical, SR 27690, FEC 7/8, VPID 1360, APID 1320 [TNP left channel/RNP right channel].