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:: MediaScan ::
:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2160--Aug. 18, 1992 ::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2160
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
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SWEDEN:
TV-SHOP--The Swedish Cable Board has ordered a cable channel called TV-Shop
to stop broadcasts. The channel, which is carried mainly in large cities,
consists solely of advertising for items which viewers can order by
telephone. The cable board says this violates the law governing cable, which
limits the amount of commercials and restricts them to blocks between
programs. TV-Shop has no programs other than advertising.
The ban affects only TV-Shop as a separate channel. The same organization
also broadcasts on satellite outlets TV3 and TV5 Nordic. Satellite
transmissions are not regulated by the cable law.
The Managing Director of TV-Shop says he will appeal the decision. (TT)
TV4--Sweden's new commercial terrestrial broadcaster, TV4, is starting local
broadcasts to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, and Sundsvall, beginning later
this year. The local programs will consist mainly of sports, entertainment,
and news. (TT)
SCIENCE FICTION:
STAR TREK--Satellite TV monitors in Britain and Scandinavia may be interested
to know that they'll be able to tune in to both the original 1960's American
science fiction TV series "Star Trek and its "Next Generation" successor from
Swedish broadcasters soon.
The original series will be carried by TV5 Nordic on Tuesdays, beginning on
September 15th, at 20:00 Swedish time, 19:00 hrs British time. Apparently
they plan to broadcast all 79 original episodes. Nordic is on the Swedish
Tele-X satellite at 5 degrees East, on 12.475 GHz. It seems to put fairly
good signals into the UK.
Meanwhile, TV4 on the same satellite will be broadcasting the new "Star Trek:
The Next Generation" series, on Saturdays, beginning this Saturday, August
22nd, at 18:00 hrs Swedish time, 17:00 hrs British time. TV4 uses the
transponder at 12.207 GHz, which is also one of Radio Sweden's satellite
homes.
SCI-FI CHANNEL--The long-discussed American Science Fiction Channel is
apparently about to begin operation. Test transmissions have been reported on
Galaxy 5, transponder 4. (Jim Gallucci on CompuServe)
SPACE AND NEW SATELLITES:
KITSAT--We also have some new satellites in orbit. On August 11th an Ariane
rocket put South Korea's Kitsat-A into orbit. Kitsat is also called Uribyol,
which means "Our Star" in Korean. The satellite will photograph the Earth and
measure cosmic rays. It also carries an amateur radio electronic mail system,
and will conduct experiments in voice broadcasting.
The satellite was built for the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology by three Korean students under the guidance of engineers at
Britain's University of Surrey, which has put together several amateur radio
satellites. It's described as a near clone of UoSat-Oscar 14 and UoSat-Oscar
22.
Kitsat is to be placed in near circular orbit 1300 kilometers from the Earth,
with an inclination of 66 degrees, which will make it available to users much
farther to the north and to the south than most amateur radio satellites. It
will orbit the Earth every 110 minutes.
The downlink for its packet radio bulletin board will be at 435.175 MHz. The
system will operate at 9600 baud, making Kitsat the second amateur radio
satellite to use that speed. It's expected to take some of the load from
UoSat-Oscar 22. (Reuters, IPS, "Space News" via Kauto Huopio, and "Practical
Wireless")
OPTUS--On August 14th, China finally succeeded in launching Australia's Optus
B-1, formerly known as Aussat B-1. This satellite carries 15 Ku-band
transponders, and is to be placed at 160 degrees East, replacing Aussat A-1,
which is due to run out of fuel in early 1993.
The first launch attempt failed on March 22nd. The second B series satellite
is due to be launched by a Chinese rocket in December. Australia is expected
to use the satellites to carry a 6 channel subscription TV service, due to
begin operation in early 1994. (Reuters, AP)
SHUTTLE/OLYMPUS--American space shuttle missions are broadcast live to North
America on NASA's Select TV transponder on the Satcom 2R satellite. But
Europeans recently had an opportunity to view live video from the shuttle
Atlantis on the Olympus satellite at 19 degrees West, using the transponder
at 12.530 GHz. (Stefan, DL5HAS)
MIR/DEUTSCHE WELLE--Deutsche Welle TV is to broadcast a report on the Mir
mission from last March, in which a German cosmonaut took part. The program
will be on August 26th at 15:00 hrs, repeated the following day at 17:00 hrs.
Deutsche Welle uses Eutelsat II-F1 at 11.163 GHz. (Stefan, DL5HAS)
EUROPEAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
FILMNET--FilmNet has announced that it will drop the use of PAL from Astra.
On August 24th the FilmNet PAL signal on transponder 11 will switch to D2-
MAC. On September 1st the current D2-MAC signals on transponder 23 will come
to an end.
For cable companies wanting to receive PAL, FilmNet transmissions in that
mode will continue on Eutelsat II-F1. ("Satnews and "In Orbit")
UK GOLD--The planned joint venture between the BBC and Thames TV, UK Gold,
faces a problem. The actor's union Equity has rejected a royalties offer. UK
Gold is to show classic British programs from the past, and will have to pay
royalties to the participating actors. ("Satnews" and "In Orbit")
Equity's resistance was responsible for the end of the original Super
Channel, which was intended to be a "Best-of-British-TV" outlet.
A proposed satellite network from Britain's ITV is being viewed as a spoiler
to UK Gold. ("Satnews")
RED HOT DUTCH--Europe also has a new pornographic movie channel. Unlike the
softporno Adult Channel on Astra, which is British, Red Hot Dutch is based in
the Netherlands, where there are less restrictions. It uses the same
transponder on Eutelsat II-F1 as TRT, 11.181 GHz, starting at midnight
British time. According to one report, a viewer has successfully used an old
FilmNet PAL decoder to receive the signal. ("Paa TV")
CAROLINE--Radio Caroline has received a satellite radio broadcasting licence.
Caroline is curently producing programs on three different channels. The new
service is to be 24 hours. ("In Orbit")
NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
INTELSAT--Italy's RAI has announced plans to begin broadcasts to North
America using Intelsat-K at 21.5 degrees West. Transmissions will be in D2-
MAC, which is totally unknown in the Western Hemisphere. ("Monitoring Times")
Tests from what seems to be Intelsat-K have been seen in Europe at around
11.660 GHz. (Paul, G0DFP)
AFRICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
CNN--CNN has abandoned use of the Russian Ghorizont satellite at 40 degrees
east, which it used for C-band transmissions to Africa. Instead, CNN is
continuing to use Intelsat 601 at 27.5 degrees west. However, Russia TV
channel from Moscow, the French language TV5 service, and Portugal's RTP
INternational continue to be relayed. (BBC Monitoring)
ASIAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
TURKEY--After the de facto introduction of private TV channels in Turkey, via
satellite, the radio scene has started to change. There are already two FM
stations testing in Istanbul, Kent FM on 101 MHz, and Genc Radyo on 89.6 MHz.
Both seem to be operating from outside the country, so presumeably there's a
satellite relay somewhere. Another group is planning a station called Power
FM. (Haluk Mesci, Turkey)
There is a Turkish radio station called Metro FM listed on Eutelsat II-F4 on
the InterStar transponder at 11.095 GHz, audio subcarrier 5.80 and 7.4 MHz.
(SBC)
A new Turkish TV satellite broadcaster called Kanal 6 has appeared on
Intelsat 601, at 11.670 GHz. A comercial radio station is reported using the
audio subcarriers at 7.02 and 7.20 MHz. Another Turkish TV station, is
testing on Eutelsat II-F3 at 11.617 GHz. The test picture reads "HBB stereo
HAS TV". This transponder belongs to British Telecom. ("Paa TV")
INDIA--India's newly launched Insat 2-A is working well at 74 degrees East,
and three regional Indian television channels have moved to it from Arabsat.
Tamil Nadu programs are on 4115 MHz, Karnataka on 4135, and Maharashtra on
4175 MHz.
RADIO:
BRITAIN--Britain's new Independent Radio Network stations have been testing.
Classic FM is to be launched on September 6th. Independent Music Radio tests
have begun on 1215 kHz medium wave. ("AM/FM")
BURMA/NORWAY/UNOFFICIAL--The Democratic Voice of Burma, which broadcasts from
Norway daily at 14:30-15:00 hrs, has switched frequency slightly, from 17840
kHz to 17845. (BBC Monitoring)
CANADA--Due to the failure of a transmitter in Sackville, Radio Canada
International has stopped broadcasting on a number of frequencies. The
transmitter will be out of service for an undetermined period. (Hans-Joergen
Poettmann, Germany)
CHINA--Radio Beijing is changing its name. Beginning October 1st it will
known as China Radio International, to differentiate it from a local radio
station in Beijing. (BBC Monitoring)
CZECHOSLOVAKIA--The Radio Czechoslovakia domestic service in Czech and Slovak
is now using shortwave 5930 kHz from 03:57 to 16:00 hrs, when external
service broadcasts begin, and 16:00-20:15 hrs on 5920 kHz. (BBC Monitoring)
MOZAMBIQUE/UNOFFICIAL--The South African backed Renamo guerillas in
Mozambique Voice of Renamo has opened up a second service on 10100 kHz, which
it calls an external service, at 05:00-05:15 hrs and around 16:00 hrs. The
regular service, called the domestic service, broadcasts at around these same
times on 7380 kHz. (BBC Monitoring)
THAILAND/CAMBODIA--The United Nations has begun using a VOA transmitter in
Thailand to broadcast to Cambodia. Radio UNTAC is operated by the UN
Transitional Authority in Cambodia, which is trying to help reunite the
country after the civil war. It operates on 1575 kHz at 00:30-01:00 and
12:00-12:30 hrs. (BBC Monitoring)
USA--VOA Europe has expanded its network of local rebroadcasters. The station
is now heard on FM in Prague, on 98.1 MHz, and in Tirana on 107.4 MHz. (VOA
Europe)
The Voice of America is to expand broadcasts to the Middle East by building a
transmitter relay station in Kuwait. The station will include 11 medium and
shortwave transmitters. In exchange for providing the site and services,
Kuwait will be allowed to use the station for its own broadcasts. (Reuters)
A presidential commission has recommended that the United States phase out
Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. The Advisory Commission on Public
Diplomacy says focusing half the government's transmitters on Eastern Europe
was logical once, but no longer makes any sense. The commision's report calls
the two stations a waste of money in the post-Cold War world.
Besides phasing out Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, the commission
advocates:
Shutting down the TV Marti service to Cuba
Terminating construction of a shortwave station in Israel
Building a less costly version of the medium and shortwave station in
Kuwait
Enhancing the Voice of America rather than establishing an expensive new
Radio Free China.
The commission is a bipartisan citizens panel created by Congress and
appointed by the president. (Reuters and BBC Monitoring)
PUBLICATIONS:
BRITAIN--"AM/FM" is a monthly summary of stories called by the AM/FM
Newsline, which is a British radio industry telephone news service that costs
British callers between 36 and 48 pence a minute. It can be reached by
calling 0336-40 45 50. The "AM/FM Online Edition" is availble on Usenet and
London's CIX conferencing system. (Kauto Huopio via Internet News)
LONDON CALLING--The BBC World Service's monthly program guide "London
Calling" is about to come to an end, replaced by a new guide called "BBC
Worldwide". This should be 100 pages in length and will include BBC World
Service Television listings. The new magazine will appear in November.
TROPICAL BANDS SURVEY--For people who like to monitor the tropical bands
below 6 MHz, the Danish Shortwave Clubs International has published the 20th
edition of its "Tropical Bands Survey". This 24 page booklet lists all active
broadcasting stations between 2 and 5.9 MHz. This is the best tropical bands
summary we know of, and it's available by seamail for 8 IRCs or 35 Danish
kroner, by airmail for 9 IRCs or 43 Danish kroner, from: DSWCI, Tavleager 31,
DK-2670 Greve, Denmark.
And that's it for this week's MediaScan. We'll be back next time with a
report on this weekend's European DX Council conference in Finland.
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Sweden Calling DXers is the world's oldest radio program for shortwave
listeners. Radio Sweden has presented this round-up of radio news, features,
and interviews on Tuesdays since 1948.
Radio Sweden broadcasts to Europe in English at 20:30-21:30 hrs on medium
wave 1179 kHz, as well as shortwave 6065 and 9655 kHz, and via satellite on
Astra 1B (19.2 degrees East) channel 26 at 11.597 GHz, audio subcarrier at
7.74 MHz, and on the Tele-X direct broadcast satellite (5 degrees East) at
12.207 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.38 MHz.
That program is also broadcast to the Pacific and the Far East on 17730 kHz.
We're also relay our half hour program at 12:30 hrs on satellite, otherwise
it's being carried to South Asia, the Pacific and the Far East on 15170 and
17740 kHz.
The rest of the Radio Sweden English schedule is (half hour programs):
To Europe:
22:30 hrs 1179 and 6065 kHz
To the Middle East and East Africa:
15:00 hrs on 15270 kHz
To Asia/Pacific:
12:30 hrs 15240 and 21625 kHz
01:00 hrs 9685 and 11730 kHz
To North America:
15:00 hrs 17870 and 21500 kHz
02:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz
Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood by fax to +468-667-6283,
from Internet, MCI Mail or CompuServe (to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516),
through the FidoNet system to 2:201/697 or to SM0IIN at the packet radio BBS
SM0ETV.
Reports can also be sent to:
Radio Sweden
S-105 10 Stockholm
Sweden
Contributions should be NEWS about electronic media--from shortwave to
satellites--and not loggings of information already available from sources
such as the "World Radio TV Handbook". Clubs and DX publications may reprint
material as long as Sweden Calling DXers and the original contributor are
acknowledged, with the exception of items from BBC Monitoring, which are
copyright.
We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden
Calling DXers, and our programs in general.
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Thanks to this week's contributors Good Listening!