A = Analogue
D = Digital

78.5 degreesE:
Thaicom 2&3

D Yes TV has returned to 3475 MHz vertical, SR 3298, FEC 3/4, VPID 4132, APID 4133 in free-to-air MPEG-2 after a short break. Bangkok-based TVT (Television for Thailand) Channel 11 has launched on 4086 MHz horizontal, SR 4690, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 650 in free-to-air MPEG-2. Cambodian public television, TVK, is new with a free-to-air service on 4144 MHz horizontal, SR 3366, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256. Jain Satellite TV, the general entertainment channel which hails from Delhi, has opened on 3475 MHz vertical, SR 3300, FEC 3/4, VPID 4132, APID 4133.

70.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat W5

D Eutelsat W5 has entered service at this geostationary slot. The first traffic was the provision of four single hop digital streams carrying live video footage from the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne for the German pay-TV package Premiere.

64 degreesE:
Intelsat 906

D Tanzania’s Star TV has launched on 3885 MHz LHCP, SR 3271, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2. This uses the North West beam which delivers 44 dBW into Northern Europe and South East England.

62 degreesE:
Intelsat 902

D Live feed traffic from Kuwait has been using Intelsat 902 capacity. On 11540 MHz horizontal, SR 3254, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 1047, ID:’Video Profile’ a live shot of Kuwait City is often available for Fox News.

48 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F2

D Sardegna Uno Sat from the island of Sardinia vacated 11606 MHz horizontal briefly last week but has now returned.

45 degreesE:
Europe*Star 1

D As expected, a large quantity of the feed traffic coming out of Kuwait and Iraq can be found here. BBC News have been using 12683 MHz vertical, SR 4225, FEC 7/8, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’INA-PATH-1-UKI-801′. At 12683 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256 a live shot of the Baghdad skyline can be seen. 12644 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’REUTERS BAGHDAD 2′ is the home of the live Reuters feed traffic from the Iraqi capital. When not in traffic a caption is displayed stating ‘REUTERS BAGHDAD FLYAWAY. CO/ORD TEL 008737 63085643’. Tadiran Scopus are using 12664 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID:’T—— S—–‘ with a live shot of Baghdad. Continuous reports for several Japanese channels from southern Iraq, especially the port of Umm Qasr, are being fed over 12655 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 512, APID 4112, ID:’GCR-FRESNES’. Up at 12680 MHz vertical, SR 4223, FEC 7/8, VPID 33, APID 34, ID:’DEFAULT’ recorded video footage from the Iraq/Kuwait border were being fed on 22 March at 10:30.

The Satvision feed on 11617 MHz vertical, SR 3319, FEC 5/6, APID 4195 is carrying One Stop In-Store Satellite Radio for the UK chain of convenience stores in clear MPEG-2.

42 degreesE:
Turksat 1C & Eurasiasat 1

D In the RR Satellite Communications package on 12613 MHz vertical, SR 3898, FEC 7/8 the Kairali caption has been replaced by the caption, ‘The Israel History Channel coming soon. http://www.IsraelHistoryChannel.com, E-mail: [email protected]‘ via PIDs V1073, A1059. The StarDigital multiplex, which had been occupying 12648 MHz vertical has re-located to 12690 MHz horizontal, SR 28000, FEC 7/8. It contains HaberTurk – V5184, A5185; TGRT – V5201, A5202; Star 5 – V5120, A5121; Star 7 – V5152, A5153; Star 6 – V5136, A5137; Star 8 – V5216, A5217; CNBC-e – V5248, A5249; NTV (Turkey) – V5232, A5233 and Kanal D – V5264, A5265. All of these are free-to-air except Kanal D, which is encoded in Nagravision. The promo channels for RR Satellite Comms and Saturn Holdings have vacated 12613 MHz vertical, SR 3900, FEC 3/4. A new-to-satellite TV channel from the Asian republic of Georgia, TV Imedi, is testing on 12605 MHz vertical, SR 3700, FEC 5/6, VPID 4194, APID 4195 in clear MPEG-2. TV Imedi is described as ‘Georgia’s first truly democratic TV channel’.

39 degreesE:
Hellas Sat 1

D The launch date for Hellas Sat 2 has been set for 1-10 May, 2003. The new craft will carry 34 Ku-Band transponders.

36 degreesE:
Eutelsat W4 & Sesat

D The VPID for the Azerbaijani channel, Lider TV, on 12520 MHz horizontal, SR 4340, FEC 1/2 has been changed to 308. The APID is 256. SGU Television (Satellite Educational TV) has launched on 12701 MHz vertical, SR 5750, FEC 1/2, VPID 33, APID 34 in clear MPEG-2. SGU is based in Moscow and was previously available via LMI 1 at 75 degrees East capacity. On 12674 MHz vertical, SR 2000, FEC 3/4 there are several new Russian radio stations. Radio Retro 88.3 FM and Radio Novaja Zhizn (New Life) – a Moscow-based Christian station, can be heard via APIDs 4097/4099. Radio Dinamit FM, a commercial station with relays throughout Russia – A4098, Rosskoe Radio 2 – A4100, Radio Monte Carlo 102.1 FM (Russia) – A4101, Nashe Vremya (National News) from Baku, Azerbaijan – A4102 and Radio Mayak – A4104. Moscow channel OTIK has launched a free-to-air service on 12303 MHz LHCP, SR 2335, FEC 1/2. Fox News are using 10962 MHz vertical, SR 3254, FEC 5/6, VPID 4194, APID 4197, ID:’FOX FEED’ for their link from Kuwait City. TNV (Tartarstan Novy Vek) and Radio Bulgar have re- located to 12214 MHz LHCP, SR 4340, FEC 3/4, VPID 320, APIDs 401/402 from 12225 MHz LHCP. These stations emanate from the Tartarstan Republic on the Volga River to the east of Moscow. Interactive channel ITR has left 12214 MHz LHCP for 12233 MHz LHCP, SR 12000, FEC 3/4, VPID 257, APID 258.

30.5 degreesE:
Arabsat 2B

D Blue Nile Channel from Sudan has started on 12587 MHz vertical, SR 5085, FEC 3/4 via PIDs 308, APID 256. Bahrain TV and it’s accompanying radio channels, General Arabic Programme and Bahrain FM, have vacated 12505 MHz horizontal.

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

D Bengali Radio is testing on 11584 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, APID 2331 in free-to-air MPEG-2. In a surprise move, the BBC has announced that as from 30 May all eight TV channels carried on the Sky package will be free-to-air as opposed to the current situation where they are free-to-view and require a FTV smartcard. This is as a result of the unresolved negotiations with Sky over a suitable carriage deal for the package. Also, all 15 regional variations of BBC 1 will be available to viewers all over the UK and will not be restricted to postcodes. The very popular Capital 95.8 FM from London and Century FM have joined the line-up on 12324 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 via APIDs 5733/5747. Chart Shop TV has been replaced by Video Vault on 11488 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3, VPID 2310, APID 2315, Sky Ch. 456. Boomerang UK has vacated 12051 MHz vertical. Sky are to address the growing thirst for reality TV programmes with Sky One Real which may launch in the next few months. The channel will air programmes such as Ibiza Uncovered, Boot Camp, Temptation Island to name a few. Bravo+1, a time-shifted version, has launched and entered the Sky Digital EPG at Ch.125. Audio channel, The Scene, has ceased broadcasting. The station, which has been somewhat troubled recently, was removed from the Sky EPG on 12 March. It had been at the Ch.889 position. From Bid-Up TV comes a new channel, Price-Drop TV. The new channel, which will include a dynamic price-reducing mechanism, i.e. prices will fall as items sell out until they are all sold, is set to launch later this year.

26 degreesE:
Arabsat 2A, 2C, 2D & 3A

D This orbital slot has suddenly become a new ‘Hot Spot’ for the Arab world with satellite capacity doubled. PAS 5 has been renamed Arabsat 2C and is co-located with Arabsat 2A and 3A here. In addition, Eurobird 2 has arrived at this slot from 33 degrees East and is now known as Arabsat 2n Tunisia’s National Network Radio service in Arabic has launched alongside TV7 Tunisie on 11938 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 3321 in clear MPEG-2. Super Station 99.7 FM from Kuwait City has launched via two free-to-air streams on 12533 MHz vertical, SR 3000, FEC 3/4, APIDs 256/257. A new multiplex has opened on the Arabsat 2D transponder at 11566 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. It contains 23 active TV and audio streams. The line-up is; Iraq Satellite Channel – V4060, A4020; Bahrain TV – V4160, A4120; Saudi Arabia TV Channel 1 – V4260, A4220; Kuwait Space Channel – V4360, A4320; Jamahiriya Satellite Channel (Libya) – V4460, A4420; Sudan TV – V4560, A4520; Saudi Arabia TV Channel 2 – V4660, A4620; al-Majd Space Channel – V4760, A4720; Oman TV – V4860, A4820; Abu Dhabi TV – V4960, A4920; Bahrain FM – A4122; Main Arabic Programme – A4230; Holy Qur’an Radio – A4322; Iza’at Jomhoriyat al Iraq – A4020; General Arabic Programme (Bahrain) – A4130; Al-Qur’aan Al-Kareem Radio (Saudi Arabia) – A4222; Main Arabic Service (Kuwait) – A4330; Radio Bahrain – A4132; Iza’at Al Jamahiryah Al Outhmah – A4422; Sudan Radio – A4522; Second Programme – A4622; Radio Oman – A4822 and Emarat FM (UAE) – A4922. All of the channels here are free-to-air. Iraq Satellite TV continues to broadcast despite the heavy bombardment from coalition forces on Baghdad. The channel carries some reports on the bombing and frequently airs video footage from hospitals showing civilian casualties. By far, most of the output concentrates on recorded shots of Saddam Hussein being cheered and applauded and very long patriotic songs. In addition to their new outlet on 11566 MHz horizontal the channels also airs on 11747 MHz vertical and via Hotbird at 13 degrees East on 12654 MHz horizontal and Nilesat at 7 degrees West, 11823 MHz vertical. Interestingly, the channel has suffered several outages and after one on 20 March the channel returned some hours later with much improved quality. Before this the signal appeared to be a re-broadcast of an analogue feed and provided a noisy picture but now it appears to be from a digital source. At times the Satellite Channel has been replaced by the domestic Iraq TV.

21.5 degreesE:
Eutelsat II-F3

D Countdown TV launched on 11611 MHz horizontal, SR 2500, FEC 2/3, VPID 4194, APID 4195 last week but has since moved up in frequency to 12717 MHz vertical, SR 2500, FEC 3/4, VPID 4194, APID 4195. Some BBC News feeds from Baghdad can be seen on 12518 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 308, APID 256, ID:’BBC BAGHDAD’ in clear MPEG-2.

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

D A new audio channel, Canal Evenement, has joined the line-up in the French Canal Satellites package at 12012 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via APID 2046. CNNI, CNN News Radio, Travel, Bloomberg Espana, Cartoon Network Espana, TCM France, TCM Espana and TVBS have all left 12168 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. All of these channels can be found on 11778 MHz vertical. The German travel and tourism channel TV Lastminute.de has started regular programming on 12148 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 3071, APID 3072 in free-to-air MPEG-2. On 12226 MHz horizontal there are two new testcards present, from Poland’s TVN – V514, A662 and TVN Siedem – V515, A663. The Qatar-based al-Jazeera Television has opened on 11568 MHz vertical, SR 22000, FEC 5/6 via PIDs V55, A56.

16 degreesE:
Eutelsat W2

D US networks ABC and CBS are using 11021 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34 for their primary, first hop, feedpoint from the Operation Iraqi Freedom command centre in Doha, Qatar. At 11190 MHz horizontal, SR 5630, FEC 3/4 there are three streams supplying CBS from Kuwait. They are ‘CBS NEWSPATH 1’ – V33, A34; ‘CBS NEWSPATH 2’ – V1057, A1058 and ‘CBS NEWSPATH 3′ – V2081, A2082. During the morning of 20 March NEWSPATH 1 was airing a live shot of the Kuwait City skyline interspersed with dozens of live reports by CBS correspondent Drew Levinson for WCBS New York and CBS affiliates all over the United States in between several air raid warnings and the constant donning and removing of his gas mask and chemical protection gear. On 19 March at 14:35 11098 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID:’Service 1’ carried a live shot of Baghdad from a locked- off camera was fed in clear MPEG-2/NTSC.

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

D La 7 has joined the RAI bouquet on 11996 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 via VPID 166, APID 104, simulcrypt in Mediaguard and Videoguard. The US network WABC/ABC7 from New York is being fed over the ‘Studio NY Feed’ stream in the Russian NTV+ package at 11938 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 164, APID 88 in clear MPEG-2. WABC is a New York- based ABC affiliate station. The feed is active 24 hours a day and includes commercial breaks. Khalifa TV has left the GlobeCast package at 11623 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4. A caption on the channel’s former stream advises viewers to re-tune to 11034 MHz vertical. In the Telespazio multiplex at 11179 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 a caption is in evidence with ‘Telespazio Fucino E/S +39 0863550221, http://www.telespazio.it TV Mediterranei-10dBF Source 4:3 625′ on PIDs V229, A230 in clear MPEG-2. Russia’s RTR Planeta is new on 11034 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 820, APID 830 in the French TPS bouquet. On 10949 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there is a Sawatel testcard present in clear MPEG-2 via PIDs V2000, A2001. Sawatel have uplink facilities in Beirut and Cairo. A Mediterranei testcard has appeared on 11179 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 229, APID 230. Daystar TV (see Atlantic Bird 1 at 12.5 degrees West) is testing within the Telespazio package on 11179 MHz horizontal, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, VPID 225, APID 226 in clear MPEG-2.On 12558 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4 there is a new Canale ExpoVacanze testcard present via VPID 6660, APID 6661.

10 degreesE:
Eutelsat W1

D The Jordanian Satellite Channel has left 11126 MHz horizontal. Fox News are using several frequencies for first hop feed traffic from the Middle East. Recently they have utilised 11154 MHz vertical, 11160 MHz vertical, 11164 MHz vertical, 11166 MHz vertical and 11187 MHz vertical, all SR 3255, FEC 5/6. 10992 MHz vertical, SR 4166, FEC 5/6, VPID 308, APID 256 is the home for APTN feed traffic from Doha, Qatar in free-to-air MPEG-2/NTSC. Several feeds for Japanese channels have been sighted here under the ID:’APTN DOHA CH2′.

7 degreesE:
Eutelsat W3

D On 11448 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 2/3 there is a Europe Online IP data package in residence. It contains 6 active streams offering EON, OpenSkyPush, Streaming, Internet plus two un-named streams containing data. The Turkish channel Number One TV has replaced Vizyon Salon 6 at 11617 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, VPID 2106, APID 2208 in Cryptoworks-encoded MPEG-2 and Number One FM is new on 11658 MHz vertical, SR 30000, FEC 3/4, APID 2503 in the DigiTurk package.

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

D The erotic channel Private Gold has launched in the Telenor package at 11324 MHz horizontal, SR 24500, FEC 7/8 via VPID 514, APID 648 in Conax-encoded MPEG-2. The Big Brother Norge feeds have returned to 12226 MHz vertical, SR 28000, FEC 7/8, VPIDs 514/515/516, APIDs 652/660/664. All three streams are encoded in Conax. A new Satellite Media Services multiplex has opened on 11185 MHz horizontal, SR 2049, FEC 1/2 containing IRN-Independent Radio News (UK) – A101 (this is the UK sustaining service feeding commercial stations throughout the UK); SMS Commercials Channel – A109; SMS Programmes Channel – A110 and SMS Stereo 3 – A153. All are free-to-air and are in parallel with SMS’s original feedpoint at 11458 MHz horizontal, SR 3150, FEC 3/4.

5 degreesW:
Telecom 2C & Atlantic Bird 3

D There have been some more changes in the Gabon package at 4152 MHz LHCP, SR 12800, FEC 7/8. The current line-up here is; TeleAfrica- V512, A650; RTG 2 – V513, A660 and RTG 1 – V514, A670, Africa 1 – A651 and Africa No.1 – A661/671. All of the TV and radio channels here are free-to-air.

12.5 degreesW:
Atlantic Bird 1

D TCT, the Illinois-based Christian TV channel on 10982 MHz horizontal has changed Symbol Rate and FEC to SR 3709, FEC 5/6. A new channel on this frequency is Daystar TV. Based in Texas, Daystar claims to be the 2nd largest Christian television network in the US. It can be found via PIDs V33, A36 in clear MPEG-2.

15 degreesW:
Telstar 12

D The PIDs for Voice of America TV – Farsi Service have changed to V77, A69 in the US-Iranian package on 12595 MHz horizontal, SR 31824, FEC 3/4.

22 degreesW:
NSS 7

D On 19 March at 15:00 a live shot from the UN Security Council showing preparations for a live press conference was fed over 11562 MHz horizontal, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, VPID 33, APID 34, ID:’Service 1′ in clear MPEG-2. Other UN New York feeds used 11683 MHz horizontal, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, ID:’Service 1′.

27.5 degreesW:
Intelsat 605

D The new Israel History Channel has launched on 3730 MHz RHCP, SR 14000, FEC 3/4, VPID 3105, APID 3106 in free-to-air MPEG-2. This transponder is configured for Intelsat 606’s West Hemi C-Band beam, which is centred on South America, Central America and the southern US.

30 degreesW:
Hispasat 1B/C/D

D Radio Amistad is new on 11615 MHz vertical, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, APID 4213 in clear MPEG-2.

37.5 degreesW:
Telstar 11

D A live relay of the US broadcaster NBC is being carried on 12703 MHz vertical, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, VPID 521, APID 679 in free-to-air MPEG-2.