Interspace’s in-depth study of European satellite activity, compiled by Mike Fallon

83 degreesE:
Insat 2E & 3B

D The signal from Doordarshan’s DD Telegu on 3910 MHz vertical, SR 5999, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 has been somewhat intermittent recently. Doordarshan’s Telegu language service covers the Andhra Pradesh region of eastern India.

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D Doordarshan’s Punjabi service has launched on 3815 MHz vertical, SR 5000, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 3685 MHz horizontal, SR 6830, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 there is a new IndiaVision promo channel in evidence in free-to-air MPEG-2.

74 degreesE:
Insat 3C

D Doordarshan Gyandarshan has launched on 4165 MHz horizontal, SR 5000, FEC 3/4 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

A Doodarshan Gyandarshan has left 4161 MHz horizontal where it had been available in clear PAL.

68.5 degreesE:
PAS 7 & 10

D The movie channel HBO India has left 3973 MHz horizontal, SR 19500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1360, APID 1320 and has been replaced by a testcard. On 3808 MHz vertical, SR 12860, FEC 7/8, home of the Ten Sports package, a new channel entitled Ten SC has launched via VPID 54, APID 55. Also here are Ten Sports India – V32, A33; Ten Sports Pakistan – V34, A40, KTN – V39, A42 and Ten Sports Middle East – V50, A52.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat 906

D Radio station Star FM Kampala has joined Uganda TV on 3720 MHz RHCP, SR 4882, FEC 2/3 via APID 35 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902

D A new Iranian channel has joined the IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) package on 11137 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It is called Amoozesh TV Network and is stream sharing with Al-Entefadah TV on VPID 107, APID 207 in clear MPEG-2.

60 degreesE:
Intelsat 904

D Russian radio station Radio Roks Regional has returned to 11491 MHz vertical, SR 5787, FEC 3/4, APID 101 alongside Kuban RTV.

56 degreesE:
Most 1

D The parameters for the Russian TNT/NTV multiplex at 12226 MHz LHCP have been changed to SR 22000, FEC 3/4. This package contains TNT+4h – V512, A660; TNT+2h – V513, A661; NTV+3h – V514, A652 and NTV+4h – V515, A653. All of these are free-to-air. The transponder is configured for Most 1’s central Russia beam, which delivers 50 dBW from the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea to far eastern Russia.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D BRT has launched on 12522 MHz horizontal, SR 2200, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256. A caption on the stream states ‘BRT Yayinimiz 1100 de baslayacaktir’. The feed stream for the Turkish version of Big Brother entitled Biri Bizi Gozetliyor has moved to 12634 MHz horizontal, SR 5118, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. Mesaj Turk has launched on 12725 MHz horizontal, SR 2600, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256 in clear MPEG-2. TGRT is now in the clear in the StarDigital package on 12651 MHz vertical, SR 22500, FEC 5/6, VPID 5201, APID 5202. Radio stations Istanbul FM Turkiye and Istanbul FM Sat left 12743 MHz horizontal, SR 2285, FEC 7/8 on 13 January but had returned by 15 January. Several TV and radio stations have receiver a warning from the RTUK (Supreme Board of Radio and Television) about flouting the very strict Turkish broadcasting rules. The stations involved are Kanal D, Flash TV, TGRT, Kanal 6, TV8, Best FM, Radyo Beyan and Burc FM. Araz Radio from Azerbaijan has launched on 11607 MHz horizontal, SR 3750, FEC 2/3 via APID 4132 (right channel) in clear MPEG-2.

40 degreesE:
Express A1R

D The Symbol Rate for the Russian package on 3675 MHz RHCP has changed to SR 33477, FEC 7/8. The line-up here is Ostankino testcard – V512, A650; TeleKanal Rossiya – V513, A660; Kultura TeleKanal (Moscow time) – V514, A670 and an Orbita 4 testcard – V516, A680.

38 degreesE:
PakSat 1

D Pakistan’s first commercial satellite becomes operational on 1 February. In-orbit transponder tests have been completed and the craft is ready for service. PakSat 1 carries 30 C-Band and 4 Ku-Band transponders. As yet there have been no announcements about which services will use the satellite but PakSat claim that TV, radio and Internet services are signed up.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The NTV+ KinoKlub promo has been replaced by an NTV+ Information promo on 12245 MHz RHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 320, APID 400. Alpha TV is testing on 10978 MHz vertical, SR 3470, FEC 3/4, VPID 851, APID 852 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 10968 MHz vertical, SR 5709, FEC 3/4 there are eight data streams active entitled WatchDog, LabNet, IGTNet, DT- Azeronline, Iran Central, Al-Sabah United, ZAEIM and Seri. On 21 January at 15:15 three handball games were fed using Sesat capacity. On 11051 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID.’MEDIA LUSO UPLI’ was the Australia-Vs-Germany game. 11062 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID.’MADEIRA ML4′ carried the Argentina-Vs-Russia match and 11070 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, ID.’MEDIA LUSO UPLI’ relayed a game in MPEG-2 4.2.2.

33 degreesE:
Eurobird 2

D. Some video action from Eurobird 2 at last! On 11179 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2082, APID 2083 there is an ‘Aflenz’ testcard. Aflenz is situated in South East Austria where Eutelsat have a centre dedicated to providing monitoring and off line support to earth stations uplinking digital carriers. On 23 January the Aflenz stream was carrying output from Austria’s terrestrial channel ORF1.

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

D Galaxie Sport is now encoded in Cryptoworks on 12607 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 164, APID 96 within the CzechLink package. The hugely popular ex offshore pirate radio station Radio Caroline is now available on 11623 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, APID 2327 in clear MPEG-2. UK Style+1 has been replaced by the new channel from the UKTV stable, UK Bright Ideas on 11817 MHz vertical, Sky Digital Ch.253. The arts channel Performance is testing on 12285 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. The channel is expected to launch next month. An I-Race promo is being played out on 11954 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 via PIDs V2322, A2323. Channel U is the name of a new interactive music channel set to launch next month. The channel is already broadcasting free-to-air test transmissions on 12285 MHz vertical. Goldshield Vitality is a new healthcare channel launching this week on Sky Digital at Ch.667. Following encouraging viewing figures Granada Men and Motors is to extend broadcast hours and open at 11:00 every day from April 5. The launch of the Soundtrack Channel has been further delayed. The channel is hoping to open sometime in February. The PIDs in the Dubai package on 11642 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 have changed to; EDTV1 – V2305, A2306; EDTV Sport – V2307, A2308 and EDTV Business – V2310, A2311. PhoneWorld is testing on 11546 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2322, APID 2323.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A & 3A

D Morocco’s RTM1 is free-to-air on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2860, APID 2820 in the Arabsat package. MBC2 is testing on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 910, APID 920 in clear MPEG-2. This channel airs fairly recent movies, mostly American, with English soundtracks and Arabic subtitles. MBC 2 has also opened on 12620 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 2360, APID 2320. On Monday nights they provide major movie premieres and at other times entertainment and news programmes interspersed with movies. MBC2 is based in Bahrain. Qatar’s Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel has opened on 4140 MHz RHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 in encoded MPEG-2. MTV Lebanon has been replaced by Nagham in clear MPEG-2 on 11785 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 410, APID 420.

A Movie channel MBC 2 has launched on 3824 MHz LHCP in free-to-air PAL.

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

D Premiere Partner TV has been replaced by TV Berlin on 12148 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 511, APID 512 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D In the Elpitel Roma multiplex at 11084 MHz horizontal, SR 11315, FEC 5/6, VPID 49, APID 52 Fox Kids Italia is now stream- sharing with Fox News. Fox Kids airs here from 15:30-17:30 daily. A live feed from a very frozen Baltic Sea for the Polish channel TVN24 was carried on 12701 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID.’TVN24 GDANSK’ in free-to-air MPEG-2 on 15 January at 17:50. An ALSAT promo has started on 10957 MHz horizontal, SR 2821, FEC 2/3, VPID 308, APID 256 with Albanian audio. A Dutch elections feed used 11108 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID.’HOL 70 SpaceLynx’ on 22 January at 20:30. On 24 January at 17:05 a live feed from a gruesome crime scene in an Amsterdam street was fed over 12539 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID.’DSNG HOL36′.

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

D Nova Cinema returned briefly to the Greek NetMed package on 10930 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V514, A670 in Irdeto encoded MPEG-2 last week but has now been replaced by Eurosport. Three new channels have launched on 11200 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 5/6. They are The Sailing Channel – V370, A371; Noello Sat – V373, A374 and FMItalia – A365. During the 22 January the Asian bouquet from Belgacom on 12476 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 containing Zee TV UK – V910, A911; Zee Cinema UK – V915, A916; ARY Digital UN – V650, A651 and B4U Movies UK – V656, A657 was all in the clear in place of the usual Irdeto encryption. Tamil Television Network is encoded once again in the French TPS package at 12245 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V124, A134. Several channels in the ABsat bouquet on 11681 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 were free-to-air for several days recently but had switched back to their usual encoded state by January 15. Channels affected were FROM 1, FROM, Moteurs, Animaux, Chasse, Zik, XXL, Musique Classique, Escales, Fit/Toute L’Histoirie, RFM TV, Action, Mangas, Encyclopedia and RTL 9. Radio Horeb has left the Deutsche Telekom INC package at 11604 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 5/6. RTL Osterreich and RTL Schweiz are encoded in Cryptoworks again on 11054 MHz horizontal after a period of around three weeks in the clear. Deutsche Welle TV Amerika has returned to 11142 MHz vertical, SR 5499, FEC 7/8, VPID 101, APID 103. On the same frequency Deutsche Welle TV Arabic service has replaced the new Afghan service. The RAI Edu Cultura channel has undergone a name change to RAI Edu Lab 2 on 11804 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3. Eurosport News is new on 11823 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V519, A720 within the Greek package. A ‘Mountain’ testcard has appeared in clear MPEG-2 on 12188 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3585, APID 3586. Arabian Star Broadcasting (ASB) launched on 27 January on 12092 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4611, APID 4610 in free-to-air MPEG-2. This is an English language, pro-Saddam Hussein, anti-war channel based in London and run by a group of British journalists led by an un-named British politician famed for his/her anti-war views. ASB is owned by a group of Jordanian businessmen. At this point it is not clear if the channel has been granted a licence by the ITC to uplink from the UK, which would mean that ASB would have to fulfil all the usual, fairly strict, ITC criteria on programme content etc. If they do not have a licence it is easy to feed the output to an overseas, non-EU member state, uplink site via fibre optic cable. There is great deal of secrecy surrounding the new channel. Although they have offices very near to the BT Tower in London the programmes are made elsewhere in the city at an undisclosed location. Greece’s ERT Sat has ceased analogue transmissions and is now available only in MPEG-2 on 12188 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 514, APID 652 in the OTE package.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D MGM Movies has left 12709 MHz horizontal for 12732 MHz horizontal, SR 4715, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in the RR Satellite Communications multiplex. On 20 January at 15:05 a feed from Qatar was fed over 11158 MHz vertical, SR 3255, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256, ID.’FOX NEWS QATAR’ in MPEG-2 4.2.2.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D The PID for the Turkish radio station Yapy Kredi has changed to A2316 in the Turkish multiplex at 11615 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 and up at 11658 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4 the APID for DigiAliver has switched to A2514. Live coverage of the Siracusa-Vs-Cavese soccer match was fed over 11170 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID.’ITA 55′ for RAI Sport on 25 January at 13:00.

5.2 degreesE:
Sirius 2/3 & Astra 1A

D The channels in the Baltic bouquet on 11842 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 have undergone name changes. ‘Estonia’, ‘Latvia’ and ‘Lithuania’ are now known as ‘1.Baltic Channel Estonia’; ‘1.Baltic Channel Latvia’ and ‘1.Baltic Channel Lithuania’. TVN Chile has left 12380 MHz horizontal. RTL Deutschland is a newcomer to 11881 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 5041, APID 5042 in Viaccess 1 encoded MPEG-2.

A The D2-MAC testcard on 12476 MHz vertical has left the frequency. This is the ex home of Canal Fem.

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

D In the Telenor bouquet at 11278 MHz horizontal, SR 24500, FEC 7/8 the PIDs for Canal+ Danmark have changed to V517, A694. In common with all the Canal+ channels for Scandinavia on this frequency, Canal+ Danmark is encoded in Conax. Radio 1 has been replaced by the Bulgarian station TNN Radio on 12169 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, APID 700. On 12303 MHz vertical, SR 27800, FEC 3/4 a ‘Big Brother 24’ testcard has appeared via PIDs V512, A640 in Conax encoded MPEG-2.

7 degreesW:
Nilesat 101 & 102

D An Al-Shashah promo is being played out on 12072 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via PIDs V3112, A3113. MBC2 has launched on 11900 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 1001, APID 1010 in clear MPEG-2.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D Last week some of the live, second hop, action from the Australian Open Tennis Championship was fed over 11016 MHz horizontal, SR 20150, FEC 3/4, ID.’Channel 1′ by GlobeCast. The same GlobeCast stream carried live coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers-Vs-Toronto Mapleleafs NHL hockey game on 22 January at 00:00 in free-to-air MPEG-2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D There have been a number of changes in the UPC cable package on 11149 MHz horizontal, SR 18382, FEC 3/4. Extreme Sport has vacated the frequency, Avante has replaced Eurohits 2 and Eurohits 1 has left the package. A newcomer here is Reality TV Central Europe on VPID 2301, APID 2310. Also, some PID changes; Persian Music Channel testcard – V2001, A2010; UPCtv Club Central Europe – V2901, A2919 and Avante Central Europe – V2601, A2610. Bloomberg TV US has left 12595 MHz horizontal and has been replaced by a testcard.

18 degreesW:
Intelsat 901

D Two new streams have opened on 11608 MHz vertical, SR 4270, FEC3/4 containing ‘DB Digital Channel 1’ and ‘DB Digital Channel 2’ on PIDs V32/35, A34/36 respectively. Both streams are relaying the German channel BahnInform in clear MPEG-2.

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

D Canal Mosaico has left the Portuguese TV Cabo package at 11811 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 5280, APID 5281. The PIDs for Mana Europa on 11682 MHz vertical, SR 3800, FEC 2/3 have changed to V1062, A1063. There have been some line-up changes to the Spanish Via Digital package on 12380 MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Palco XX, Palco X, Palco X Gay and P-Eventos have left and Fox Kids Espana, Megatrix and Super3/Buzz are all newcomers. Some of the missing Palco channels have migrated to 11851 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. Their parameters at the new location are; Palco XX –V4128, A4129; Palco X – V4400, A4401 and Palco X Gay – V4368, A4369. At 11930 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 two new channels, Campero – V4128, A4129 and Cocina – V4224, A4225 have replaced Super3/Buzz and Megatrix. New on 12456 MHz LHCP, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 are Multi 1, Multi 2, Multi 3 and Multi Serv via PIDs V4128/4144/4160, A4129/4145/4161/774 respectively. All of the Multi channels are encoded in Nagravision. Natura, Cocina and Campero have all left this frequency. Radio Nervion has returned to 11771 MHz horizontal, SR 28120, FEC 5/6, APID 2203 again alongside Contigo TV.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11

D Maharishi Open University Europe has launched on 11534 MHz horizontal, SR 681, FEC 7/8, VPID 42, APID 43 – note the very low Symbol Rate.

40.5 degreesW:
NSS 806

D The new controversial Arabian Star Broadcasting has launched on 3805 MHz RHCP, SR 25360, FEC 3/4, VPID 1160, APID 1120 in clear MPEG-2 with programming in parallel to the channel’s Hotbird outlet at 13 degrees East.

45 degreesW:
PAS 1R

D A new package for Puerto Rico has launched on 3785 MHz horizontal, SR 9290, FEC 7/8 in free-to-air MPEG-2. It contains WLII-TV – V32, A33; WKAQ-TV – V34, A35 and Televicentro – V36, A37, all based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. TV Cote d’Ivoirie International is still free-to-air on 11575 MHz horizontal, SR 2916, FEC 1/2, ID.’TV_CII/RTI’.