A = Analog
D = Digital

80 degreesE:
Express 6A

D New Year greetings were displayed in a caption on the Russian Far East feed circuit on 3975 MHz RHCP, SR 2999, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131 to the downlink site on Sakhalin Island on 31 December at 14:00 (00:00 on Sakhalin).

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D IndiaVision is testing in clear MPEG-2 on 3685 MHz horizontal, SR 6830, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120.

76 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F1

This craft is now parked at this geostationary slot.

75 degreesE:
LMI 1

D Militsejskaya Volna (Military Radio), Radio Mayak and Radio Rossii have opened on 12605 MHz vertical, SR 1239, FEC 7/8 via APIDs 4102/4103/4104 respectively. This transponder uses LMI 1’s North Ku-Band beam, which covers virtually all of Russia and part of South Asia and the Middle East at levels of 45 dBW.

A Radio Madagascar has joined TV Malagasy on 3990 MHz vertical via the 7.80 MHz audio sub-carrier.

70.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat W5

Eutelsat W5 has reached here and some transponder tests have been noted. Several digital carriers have been present on 11057 MHz horizontal, 11095 MHz horizontal, 12539 MHz horizontal and 12673 MHz horizontal.

66 degreesE:
Intelsat 704

A The Indian channel Ennade TV has left 4095 MHz LHCP where it had been broadcasting in free-to-air PAL. The channel is now only available via Insat 2E/3B at 83 degrees East in MPEG-2.

57 degreesE:
NSS 703

A The Democratic Republic of Congo made a special effort to enter the Christmas festivities with a solitary Christmas tree behind the continuity announcer between programmes. Congo’s Voix du Peuple TV can be found on 3800 MHz RHCP in clear PAL.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1

D A new ABS-CBN multiplex appeared briefly before Christmas on 12741 MHz horizontal, SR 13017, FEC 3/4 containing TFC Middle East – V513, A514; ABS-CBN News Channel – V545, A546; DZMM Radyo Patrol – A561 and WRR 101.9 For Life – A577. All of these are encoded in Nagravision and used Europe*Star’s Middle East beam which is tightly focused on the Gulf area. The package left the frequency on or around 22 December.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D The horse racing feeds for Turkiye Jokey Klubu have left 11485 MHz, SR 6110, FEC 3/4. A promo for RR Satellite Communications is being played out over 12606 MHz vertical, SR 4000, FEC 1/2, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Biri Bizi Gozetliyor (Turkish Big Brother) has launched on 12635 MHz vertical, SR 5121, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. Meltem TV and Meltem FM have launched on 11874 MHz vertical, SR 3400, FEC 7/8 via PIDs V308, A256/257 using Eurasiasat’s European beam.

A Cine 5 is now available in clear PAL on 11006 MHz vertical in addition to the channel’s digital outlet on 11024 MHz vertical, SR 6510, FEC 5/6. On the back of Show TV at 11046 MHz vertical are once again Yon FM – 7.74 MHz and Karadeniz FM – 7.92 MHz in free-to-air PAL.

39 degreesE:
Hellas Sat 1

A The PAL testcard on 12658 MHz vertical has been switched off.

38 degreesE:
PakSat 1

PakSat 1 has arrived at this geostationary slot and is expected to enter service in the near future.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The French music channel MCM Europe has joined the NTV package for Russia on 12245 MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 333, APID 420 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2. E! Entertainment is testing on 12456 MHz LHCP, VPID 320, APID 400. A daily feed of Pakistan’s PTV World, usually at 13:00, 16:30 and 19:00, can be found on 11512 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 544, APID 680, ID.’36 degrees EAST NON CAT THAILAND’ in free-to-air MPEG-2.

28.2 degreesE:
Astra 2A, 2B & 2D & Eurobird 1

D A new Dubai package has launched on 11641 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 containing EDTV1 – V3001, A3011; EDTV Sport – V3101, A3111 and EDTV Business – V3201, A3211. All are currently free-to-air. Christian TV has joined the GOD package on 11680 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 via PIDs V2334, A2335, Sky Digital Ch.675. To accommodate the new channel in the EPG Wonderful has moved to Ch.673 and TBN Europe to 674. Galaxie Sport is testing in the CzechLink package on 12606 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V164, A96 in clear MPEG-2. Classic FM TV launched a full service before Christmas on 11488 MHz vertical. Music channel Chart Show TV has opened on 11488 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. CTC testcards have appeared on 11585 MHz horizontal and 11681 MHz vertical. Flextech TV Network is currently testing on 11954 MHz horizontal, presumably in readiness for the new channel FTN. The Racing Channel has vacated 12226 MHz horizontal. In fact this appears to be the demise of this channel. TRNi, who own the channel, failed to secure live TV rights to Irish racing and because of stiff competition in this genre from AtTheRaces and several other racing channels. Radio Caroline is set to start test transmissions on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 in the next few days. The new arts channel, Performance, is testing on 12285 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. The channel is set to launch in February. Three new music channels are to join the Sky Digital line-up in the Spring. They are Axe, which will be similar in content to MTV2, Pop (current chart hits) and Amp (looking to steal VH-1 viewers). In the Summer two new 24 hour themed channels will join Sky Digital. The Horror Channel will, not surprisingly, offer a wide range of horror films and The Romance Channel will be aimed at women. In February BBC3, which will replace BBC Choice, launches with the popular soap EastEnders, which will be aired before it goes out on terrestrial television. The channel will also offer the opportunity to watch shows missed when aired on BBC1 and BBC2. Galaxy FM has been added to the EPG at Ch.921. The delayed launch of Mean Country 1035 AM is to take place later this month. The station offers a range of country music. MUTV was free-to-air for the period 29-30 December to allow Manchester United fans a taster of what was on offer on the subscription channel. Youth FM has closed down and has left the Sky EPG where it had occupied Ch.871. Auction-World TV are launching a new channel next month entitled Phone-World TV. As the name suggests the channel will concentrate on mobile phones and phone packages. MyTravel, formerly Airtours, are to launch their own channel later this year. Following the success of Thomas Cook TV, the MyTravel Channel will offer package holidays and , uniquely, live holiday auctions.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D The Lebanese channel New TV was abruptly switched off on 2 January when a political row brewed up over the proposed screening of a programme deemed damaging to Lebanese-Saudi relations. The channel, which can be found on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 here and via Nilesat at 7 degrees West, 12130 MHz vertical, returned to air on 5 January. The Orbit Promo Channel – V2160, A2120; Orbit Express Shop/Sharjah TV – V2360, A2320; Qatar TV – V2460, A2420 and Sharjah FM – A2321/2322 are all currently free-to-air on 12735 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Holy Qur’an Radio was replaced by Modern Arabic Music 103.7 FM from Kuwait on 11747 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 4322 last month but has now returned. Tunisia National Radio has launched on 12735 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 2921 in clear MPEG-2. The Iraq Satellite Channel has opened on 12565 MHz vertical, SR 2895, FEC 3/4, VPID 4130, APID 4131. A new MBC multiplex has opened on 12722 MHz horizontal, SR 5200, FEC 3/4 containing MBC – V512, A640; MBC 2 testcard – V519, A647 and MBC FM – A651. All are free-to-air. The PIDs for Kuwait TV1 on 12540 MHz vertical, SR 4340, FEC 3/4 have changed to V101, A105.

A Bahrain TV has left 3822 MHz LHCP where it had been available in clear PAL. A caption here advises viewers to re-tune to 11746 MHz vertical in MPEG-2 or to Nilesat at 7 degrees West, 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. The three radio stations out of Bahrain, which accompanied the TV service are still present on 3822 MHz. They are Bahrain General Arabic Service – 7.02 MHz, Bahrain FM – 7.38 MHz and Bahrain Radio – 7.80 MHz. From Kuwait, Holy Qur’an Radio and Kuwait Main Arabic Service on 5.80 MHz and 8.20 MHz were replaced by Modern Arabic Music 103.7 FM in clear PAL on 4167 MHz RHCP for a short while but Holy Qur’an has now returned. Radio Iraq International has been replaced by Iza’at Sawt al-Jamahir on 12581 MHz vertical via the 7.38 MHz audio sub-carrier.

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

D ESPN Classic has replaced Fox Sports Europe in the UPC multiplex at 12382 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V351, A362. The channel is on the air from 18:00-21:00 daily and is encoded in Cryptoworks. At 12633 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 Radio Horeb has been replaced by Radio Maria Osterreich via APID 701 in clear MPEG-2. TCM UK and Cartoon Network Europe have opened on 12515 MHz horizontal, SR 22000, FEC 5/6, VPIDs 168/169, APIDs 112/116 within the Canal+ Nederland package.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D An RTV Alsat caption has appeared on 10957 MHz horizontal, SR 2820, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. The caption states ‘Prova Teknike RTV ALSAT Eutelsat W2 16 degrees east, D/L Freq. 10957.375 H, S.R. 2.821 Msymbol, FEC 3/4’. Georgia’s Radio Ajara has launched a free-to-air service on 12675 MHz vertical via APID 35.

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

D Deutsche Welle TV Amerika has left the DW package on 11142 MHz vertical, SR 5500, FEC 7/8. Prime TV with programmes in Urdu has returned to the Antenna Hungaria multiplex on 12149 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V700, A701 in clear MPEG-2. Game One has joined the French Television par Satellite package on 11033 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 320, APID 330 in Viaccess 1/2 encoded MPEG-2. Jazz Love Radio is new in the ABsat platform on 12693 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 101 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Global Marketing TV have launched on 12380 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3241, APID 3541 in clear MPEG-2. Hungary’s Duna TV, Kossuth Radio and Petofi Radio have opened at 12149 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 96, APIDs 97/99/100 respectively. Radio Ajara from the former Russian republic of Georgia has launched on 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 292. TVN 1 is testing on 12211 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Farsi service on 12484 MHz vertical, SR 8298, FEC 3/4, APID 4420 has been replaced by Radio Farda. Sexy Sat TV has started regular night time programming on 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 128, APID 138. At night the channel is encoded but daytime soft porn promos are free-to-air. Radio Italia has launched on 11179 MHz horizontal via APID 640. Al Majd Space Channel and the Al Majd Channel 2 promo channel have vacated 11747 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. On the same frequency a Dubai testcard has appeared via PIDs V5666, A5667. The Beur TV testcard which had been occupying 11623 MHz vertical has been switched off. Tele 5 (Poland) and Polonia 1 have launched in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 11513 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V161/162, A84/88 respectively. Radio Finland (international service) and Radio Suomi (Finnish service) have launched on 12597 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APIDs 2033/2035. All of the Asian channels on 12476 MHz horizontal, ARY Digital UK, Zee TV UK, Zee Cinema UK and B4U Movies UK were free-to-air on 12476 MHz horizontal on 5 January. However by the following day they had returned to their usual Irdeto encoded state.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D Turkish channels Samanyolu TV and Burc FM Xezer have left 11599 MHz vertical for 11590 MHz vertical, SR 2200, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APIDs 256/257.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D The Ukrainian channel Perviy Kanal Vsemirnaja Ukraina has been replaced by RTR Planeta on 12380 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V55, A56 in Viaccess 1 encoded MPEG-2. At 12110 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6 Romantica, XXX TV and Amateur Babes are all encoded in Cryptoworks again after several weeks in the clear.

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

D Dantoto Racing has been enjoying some time in the clear recently on 11604 MHz horizontal, SR 4200, FEC 2/3, VPID 33, APID 34. The channel carries coverage of some Scandinavian horse racing meetings and cart races. The Pakistani channel Prime TV is temporarily free-to-air on 11014 MHz horizontal, SR 26000, FEC 3/4, VPID 515, APID 652. The Gospel Channel Europe is in the clear again on 11606 MHz horizontal, SR 1621, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 640. The Christmas Channel has been replaced by Turk Muzigi on 12456 MHz vertical, SR 28000, FEC 3/4, APID 787 in the Telenor package. There is a new EduSat testcard in evidence on 10970 MHz horizontal, SR 2140, FEC 3/4, VPID 100, APID 101. The Bulgarian channels Planeta TV and TV 7 Dni (7 Days) are now encoded in Conax on 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8.

4 degreesW:
Amos 1

D There have been several changes within the Israeli Yes bouquets of late. IBA Arabic Channel has moved to 11642 MHz vertical from 11558 MHz vertical. MTV Europe has been replaced by VH-1 Classic on 11056 MHz vertical. MTV Europe has replaced VH-1 Classic at 11008 MHz vertical. Music Box Russia has launched on 11558 MHz vertical and Music Box Israel has vacated 11558 MHz vertical.

Hir Televizio, the new Hungarian all-news channel, has launched on 11260 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1024, APID 1025. The channel will remain free-to-air for the remainder of January but will then be encoded.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

D The PIDs for several channels in the Iranian package on 12710 MHz horizontal, SR 30000, FEC 5/6 have been changed. They are now; IPN – V256, A257; GlobeCast TV – V260, A261; Assyria Sat/Channel One – V264, A265 and Tapesh TV – V300, A301.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D The PIDs for Zen TV on 11862 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 have been changed to V1003, A1004. Several channel have left the Star line-up at 11881 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 and have moved to 12034 MHz horizontal. They are UKTV, CNBC, Sky News and Fox News. Newcomers to 11881 MHz horizontal are Vindi, Star Gold, Star World, Zee Movies, Zee Music and Zee TV. All are encoded in Irdeto. Holy Qur’an Radio was replaced by Modern Arabic Music 103.7 FM on 11823 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 1120 briefly but the former station has now returned.

8 degreesW:
Telecom 2D & Atlantic Bird 2

D VisAvision are to provide two Russian channels here, RTR Planeta and Russian World Television, for German subscribers. The mini-package is expected to launch in mid- January.

11 degreesW:
Express 3A

D Perviy Kanal Vsemirnaja Ukraina has launched on 4130 MHz RHCP, SR 4705, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2 in parallel with the channel’s outlet on Sirius at 5.2 degrees East. Live coverage of the Messina-vs-Sampdoria soccer match was fed over 11610 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID.’ITA 55′ on 12 January at 13:30. At the same time 11620 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID.’ITA 10 RAI BOLO’ was relaying action from the Bologna-vs-Milano match for RAI Due.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D The PIDs for MBC USA on 12693 MHz horizontal, SR 3300, FEC 3/4 have changed to V521, A649. MBC FM has now left this frequency. Coverage of the Mercedes Golf Championship in St. Augustine, Florida was relayed on 11016 MHz horizontal, SR 20150, FEC 3/4, ID.’Channel2′ in free-to-air MPEG-2 for ESPN.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D National Geographic Channel Polska has vacated 12642 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4. Live coverage of the Manchester United game on 11 January was carried on UPC Sport Hungary on 10996 MHz vertical, SR 6110, FEC 3/4 in clear MPEG-2. This channel is normally encoded in Cryptoworks.

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

D The Spanish channel Nueva Era has left 11771 MHz horizontal, SR 28120, FEC 5/6 and has been replaced by a testcard. The Brazilian Roman Catholic TV channel Mana Europa is now available on this side of the Atlantic via 11680 MHz vertical, SR 3800, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in free-to-air MPEG-2. A live relay from a Mass in Granada, Spain was fed over 11591 MHz vertical, SR 6750, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID.’TSS 1 GRANADA E 21′ at 11:00 on 12 January.

45 degreesW:
PAS 1R

D Regular feeds from the Paris-Dakar Rally are being relayed on 11585 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID.’GCR/FLY’ for Eurosport.

55.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 805

D TV Vat Amazonia has left 3795 MHz vertical for 3915 MHz vertical, SR 1830, FEC 3/4, VPID 337, APID 340 where it is available in free-to-air MPEG-2.