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:: MediaScan ::
:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2183--July 20, 1993 ::
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Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2183
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
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NORDIC MEDIA NEWS:
RADIO SWEDEN--Due to transformer problems at our Karlsborg transmitter
station, two of our English transmission are currently off the air: the
broadcast to North America at 15:00 hrs UTC on 21500 kHz, and to Europe at
17:30 hrs on 9645 kHz.
North American listeners can continue to hear us at 15:00 hrs on 15240 kHz,
while we continue to Europe at 17:30 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz, as well as
satellite.
INTELSAT/THOR--Bravo and Discovery will turn off their Intelsat relays at the
end of August (as they are to begin broadcasts on Astra 1C on July 22nd).
("Sky Guide") Presumeably the Children's Channel will follow suit.
Scandinavian viewers are apparently expected to watch Discovery and the
Children's Channel on Norway's Thor satellite. Children's Channel appeared on
Thor on July 6th, on 11.938 GHz. Discovery will also reportedly be coming to
Thor, joining CNN, Eurosport, and FilmNet.
FilmNet is closing down on Sweden's Tele-X satellite, apparently in favor of
Thor, despite the fact that FilmNet owns Tele-X. (Bertil Sundberg in "Paa TV"
and "Elektronikvaerlden", and "Sky Guide")
As we've pointed out many times before, all of the Thor channels operate in
D-MAC, with the exception of FilmNet, which uses D2-MAC. All of them use
Eurocrypt S encoding. No one outside of Norway has D-MAC or Eurocrypt S, and
the Thor package is so far only being marketed in Norway.
In the August issue of "What Satellite TV" magazine, Barry Fox writes that
MAC is "alive and kicking in Scandinavia". It's probably more accurare to say
D-MAC is alive in Norway, a country of 4 million people. (Although there is
also a potential audience in Finland, which lies outside the Astra
footprint.) Barry Fox points out that the reason the Norwegians are pushing
the otherwise completely obscure Eurocrypt S coding system is because
Norwegian Telecom has a proprietary interest in Eurocrypt S. ("What Satellite
TV")
RED HOT--The pornography channel Red Hot Television has disappeared from
Eutelsat II-F1. The channel reportedly owes its uplinkers in Denmark more
than a quarter of a million dollars. Continental Broadcasting, which runs Red
Hot, claims it will be back on the air in around 4 weeks. (Reuters and
"SatNews")
SWEDISH CABLE--Eurosport has returned to Swedish Telecom's cable nets, still
as a pay channel (despite Eurosport's attempts to get it placed in the basic
cable package). The Scandinavian service, which will use the Thor satellite,
is due to launch in September. Swedish Telecom cable is also planning to
start relaying German, Italian, Greek, and Turkish channels.
It's main competitor in Stockholm, Stjaern-TV, already has Turkish, but it's
taking its non-English foreign channels and putting them into a special
package. This includes the current channels in French, Spanish, and Russian,
plus new offerings in Croatian, Arabic, Greek, and German. The move has been
criticised, because immigrants and others who want access to any of those
channels will have to subscribe to all the Swedish and English channels as
well.
There's also been criticism, because the only news of the change was in
Swedish, and not in immigrant languages, and subscribers to the basic package
will continue to pay the same monthly fee, for 10 channels rather than 14.
("Dagens Nyheter")
All of the channels in question are free on satellite.
ASTRA:
GERMANY--Ironically, the first broadcaster to appear on the new Astra 1C
satellite hadn't even been mentioned in the speculation of possible users.
West Deutsche Rundfunk's West 3 service appeared on Astra transponder 39 on
July 8th.
There will continue to be a strong German presence on Astra. Bavaria's BR 3
appeared on transponder 45 July 19 at 14:00 hrs UTC. (James Robinson) The
eastern German MDR is due to begin on transponder 43 on August 27th. SWF 3
has been reported to be taking transponder 47 or 48. (James Robinson and "Sky
Guide")
CHILDREN'S CHANNEL--The Children's Channel was supposed to start on
transponder 35 on July 1st. It finally appeared there on July 12th, the
second channel to start on 1C.
TV ASIA--TV Asia was one of the channels long predicted to be moving to Astra
1C, yet has been left out all the channel listings we've seen so far. Well,
no more. TV Asia follows WDR and the Children's Channel as the third Astra 1C
broadcaster. On July 18 it suddenly appeared on the otherwise unused
Nickelodeon transponder 46.
TV Asia will be using this transponder between 19:00 and 07:00 hrs British
time daily until the Nick at Night Service begins either at the end of the
year, or April 1, 1994. (James Robinson and "SatNews")
TV Asia continues on Sky One's transponder 8 between midnight and 6:00 AM
British time. And presumeably, TV Asia also continues between 6:00 AM and
6:00 PM British time on transponder 26, home also of Radio Sweden. The new
service fills in the gaps in TV Asia's schedule. The only question is what
happens when Nick at Night finally shows up?
SKY MULTI-CHANNELS--Despite Sky's advertising, several of the channels in
their "Multi-Channel" package will apparently be in the clear, and available
to all. This includes Sky News and the new shopping channel QVC. But
"SkyGuide" also speculates that MTV will remain in the clear, rather than
lose its European audience.
COMING CHANNELS--We've received a couple of lists of coming 1C channels. Some
of the new information is that Thames Television's women's channel UK Living
is to use transponder 34, from the end of July; at the same time that the
shopping channel QVC is to start on transponder 38. (James Robinson and "Sky
Guide")
This Thursday (July 22) Discovery is to begin broadcasting on transponder 41,
and Bravo on transponder 42.
News of shared transponders: Country Music TV will reportedly share the
Discovery transponder between midnight and 16:00 hrs, Bravo is changing its
schedule to run between noon and midnight, when the Adult Channel would take
over, moving from transponder 26. This would reportedly provide better
European coverage. "What Satellite TV" lists the noon to midnight Bravo
schedule from the 1st of August. The Family Channel will reportedly share the
Children's Channel's transponder 35. ("SatNews" and "What Satellite TV")
Nowhere listed is MTV's VH-1 service, which is supposed to begin 24 hour a
day broadcasts in early 1994. Transponder 47 or 48 might still be available.
VH-1 could take over one of MTV's two current Astra transponders, probably
number 15, which is directed towards northern Europe. ("Sky Guide")
MTV VS VIVA--Germany is to get its own music video channel Viva, which will
compete with MTV Europe. Viva will initially launch on Eutelsat II-F1, but a
move to Astra in the future is planned. ("What Satellite TV")
MTV is fighting back with a special feed to Germany. German vieweres will
initially receive special German-specific advertisements for two minutes
every hour for six hours a day. The service will begin by the end of the
year. Satellite distribution, possibly through Astra 1C, is being viewed as a
likely distribution network. Alternatively, Eutelsat or Kopernikus could be
used, or the German commercials could be mixed in locally for distribution to
cable headends.
RADIO--Three Spanish radio stations have appeared on the Cinemania
transponder 30, on 7.38, 7.56, and 7.74 MHz. (James Robinson)
Virgin 1215 will be returning to Astra, possibly on the Sky News transponder
12. James Robinson says the audio will be at 7.38 and 7.56 MHz, from August
1st, with QCMR moving to 7.38 MHz on Sky Sports. (James Robinson, "Sky
Guide")
Astra is carrying out research into satellite radio broadcasting, to small
antennas, without the need for a receiving dish. This would apparently be
introduced with the upcoming Astra 1D and 1E satellites. ("The AM/FM"
newsletter, via Kauto Huopio) Presumeably this is DAB-Satellite, also called
BSS-Sound, allocated frequencies by last year's World Administrative Radio
Conference.
EUTELSAT:
WORLD RADIO NETWORK--The long-awaited World Radio Network relay of National
Public Radio from the United States began at 21:30 hrs UTC on July 20, with
three hours of "All Things Considered". The Astra service on the Sky News
transponder won't be officially starting until September 1st, with tests from
the second week of August. For now, NPR is being carried on WRN's channel on
Eutelsat II-F1, on the MBC transponder (11.554 GHz) sound 7.74 MHz. (WRN)
VATICAN--The Telepace relays from the Vatican have moved to Eutelsat II-F2,
11.658 GHz. Italy's Rai Uno and Rai Due are also on this satellite. (Bertil
Sundberg in "Elektronikvaerlden")
EASTERN EUROPE--The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization says
its aging Eutelsat I-F1 satellite is being redeployed to improve coverage in
Russia and several other former Soviet republics. The move will immediately
improve telephone links between Western Europe and an area from Russia to the
central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, regarded
as vital to their economic development. (Reuters)
HOT BIRD--Eutelsat has had great difficulty competing with Astra, as the
organization has spread channels around its four active satellites, with a
mix of entertainment and "feeds" on each satellite. For example, Turkish
stations are on all four satellites, rather than concentrated on one, for
easy viewing. But now the organization has begun preparing the 13 degree East
position to compete with Astra, concentrating on pan-European entertainment
programming. Adjustments are being made to the programming on the existing
Eutelsat II-F1 satellite, which has 13 transponders. It will be joined at 13
degrees East during the second half of next year by "Hot Bird" (Eutelsat II-
F6), which will offer 16 more high-powered transponders at that same
position.
Eutelsat is now preparing to approve a third satellite for 13 degrees east,
called "Hot Bird Plus". It would be launched in early 1996, with either 14 or
20 110 watt transponders. This would mean reception in most of Europe with 40
cm antennas. "Hot Bird Plus" will enable Eutelsat to meet demands for digital
television, offering such future options as interactive television, video-on-
demand, pay-per-view, etc. (Eutelsat via Kauto Huopio)
The problem for Eutelsat is "too little too late". Next year it will have 29
transponders at 13 degrees East. Today, Astra has 50 at its position. By the
time the first "Hot Bird" launches, Astra will already have the equivalent of
"Hot Bird Plus" in orbit, the Astra 1D satellite, which will be followed in
1995 by Astra 1E.
Eutelsat's only chance is that it may be able to serve Eastern Europe better
than Astra, and there might be a greater demand for satellite capacity than
Astra can meet.
MIDDLE EASTERN BROADCASTING NEWS:
IRAQ--Iraq hopes to start a satellite TV channel, with programs in Arabic,
French, and English, by the end of the year. (AFP via BBC Monitoring)
TURKEY--The Turkish parliament has overwhelmingly approved a constitutional
amendment ending the state monopoly on broadcasting, opening the door to
legal private radio and television stations. The state TRT's monopoly has
already been eroded by 6 Turkish language television broadcasters, beamed to
Turkey from abroad. Private radio stations have also profligated.
In April the Turkish government cracked down on radio stations, the number of
which had reached 700. (Reuters, AP)
PACIFIC-ASIAN BROADCASTING NEWS:
ASIASAT VS THAILAND--A dispute over orbital slots has broken out between
Thailand and Hong Kong's Asiasat. Both want the same position for Thailand's
first satellite Thaisat, and for Asiasat 2. Asiasat has argued that it needs
the position, since it is close to Asiasat 1 at 105.5 degrees East, while
Thaisat could easily be elsewhere. (BBC Monitoring)
TONGA VS INDONESIA--The tiny kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific is locked
in a confrontation with Indonesia over a satellite orbital position which has
been snatched by the larger country. The International Frequency Regulation
Board has assigned a position at 170.75 degrees East to Tonga, but Indonesia
has hijacked it for its own use.
Tongasat 1, a Russian Ghorizont satellite, was to be moved into this position
on July 20th. As diplomatic efforts to get Indonesia to leave the slot have
failed, Tonga is threatening to move its satellite to one of Indonesia's
existing orbital positions, switch it on, and cause tremendous havoc to
Indonesia's satellite communications service. ("SatNews")
When Tongasat 1 is in operation from its proper position, it is expected to
provide coverage from Iran and India to Hawaii. A new Tongasat is to be put
into orbit in September, and two more are to follow at six month intervals.
Behind Tongasat are two American companies, Rimsat and Unicom, as well as
Asian investors.
On the other hand, a report from the French news agency AFP says Tongasat is
to use 134 and 130 degrees for its first two satellites. The company wants to
compete with Intelsat in the Pacific region. (AFP via BBC Monitoring)
NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE NEWS:
CNN--CNN International has been in the clear recently on Spacenet 3R
transponder 16. (Robert Smathers in "SatNews")
FOX--Rupert Murdoch is launching a second Fox channel in the US in August.
The 24 hour general entertainment channel, which will be broadcast in
Spanish, Portuguese, and English, will initially carry existing Fox movies
and television series. Fox has signed agreements with cable systems in
several Latin American countries, and expects to sign others soon. News from
Murdoch's Sky News channel are to be included. Murdoch is understood to want
to rival CNN in providing global news. ("Satellite Journal International" and
"What Satellite TV")
NASA--The Best of NASA Select feed for Alaska and Hawaii has moved from
Galaxy 6 transponder 19 to Telstar 301 transponder 18. (Robert Smathers in
"SatNews")
RADIO--The New York all-news station WCBS-AM has appeared on Galaxy 6
transponder 20, audio 7.38 MHz. This station had been on Telstar 302, but
disappeared when CBS moved to Galaxy 6.
Jazz station KJAZ-FM, located in Alameda, California, has appeared on Galaxy
5 transponder 7. The transmission is in discrete, narrowband stereo, on 5.58
and 6.12 MHz. (Robert Smathers in "SatNews")
MEDIUM AND SHORTWAVE:
BELGIUM--Radio World, the English language DX program from Belgium's Radio
Vlaanderen Internationaal, is on the air: Saturdays and Mondays at 06:30 hrs
to Europe and Australia on 1512, 5910, and 9925 kHz; at 09:00 hrs to Europe
on 1512, 5910, 9905, and 13675 kHz; and 13:00 hrs to Southeast Asia, North
America, and Europe on 1512, 15540, and 17540 kHz; and Saturdays at 18:00 hrs
to Europe and Africa on 1512, 5910, and 15540 kHz; 21:00 hrs to Europe on
1512 and 9905 kHz; and 23:30 hrs to the Americas on 9930 and 13655 kHz. (RVI
via Internet News)
HONDURAS--Radio Copan Internacional, HRJA, is now on the air on 15675 kHz.
The power is 100 watts, and a new five element beam antenna has been
installed, aimed at eastern North America and the Caribbean (and Europe as
well!). Programs are in English and Spanish and the current schedule is daily
except Sundays at 14:00-15:00, 17:45-19:00, and 21:00-22:30 hrs. (BBC
Monitoring)
MADAGASCAR--Radio Madagascar has been heard from around 15:00 hrs until sign-
off at 19:00 hrs on 3359 kHz, in parallel with 5009 kHz. Radio Madagascar has
used 3360 and 3370 kHz in the past. It appears that use of 3359 kHz replaces
3232, which is no longer heard. (BBC Monitoring)
MOLDOVA--Radio Pridnestrovye, the station operated by separtists in the
Dnestr region of Moldova, has been heard on a Saturday on 999 kHz with a
service in English that ended at 20:20 hrs. This was followed by a program in
German, which announced broadcasts at that time every Wednesday and Saturday.
(BBC Monitoring)
NETHERLANDS--Radio Netherlands has started a special program for the Dutch
soldiers serving with the UN in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The 55 minute program is
broadcast Saturdays at 08:30 hrs on 9590 and 11730 kHz. (Radio Netherlands
via BBC Monitoring)
YUGOSLAVIA--The Radio Ship, Radio Brod, went off the air on June 28th, on
orders of the company owning the ship. This followed a complaint by the
Yugoslavian government to the ITU. The government of Caribbean state of St.
Vincent, where the ship is registered, had made the demand, on behalf of the
ITU. The programing, promoting peace in the former Yugoslavia, was financed
by the European Community. The ship is now in an Italian port undergoing
overhaul, and taking on fuel, food, and water for another three months. The
editor is hopeful they will return to operation. Radio Brod operated on 720
kHz and 97.8 MHz. ("Vreme", Belgrade, via BBC Monitoring)
NOTE: From mid-August until early November I will in California, and will
compile the program from there. During that period, please refrain from
faxing or mailing contributions to Radio Sweden, or using the Fidonet or
packet radio addresses. The Internet/CompuServe mailbox will continue to be
used, of course. I will try to find a fax number in California, and will
include it in an upcoming Electronic Edition.
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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 in English:
Europe and Africa:
15:00 hrs on 1179 khz (weekdays only)
16:15 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz
17:30 hrs on 1179, 6065, and 9645 kHz
20:30 hrs on 1179, 6065 and 9655 kHz
21:30 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz, and
22:30 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz
Middle East and East Africa:
15:00 hrs on 15190 kHz and
17:30 hrs on 15270 kHz
Asia and the Pacific:
12:30 hrs on 15240 and 21500 kHz
22:30 hrs on 11910 kHz and
01:00 hrs on 9695 and 11820 kHz
North America:
15:00 hrs on 15240 and 21500 kHz and
02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
South America:
00:00 hrs on 9695 kHz
The broadcasts at 12:30, 16:15, 17:30, 20:30 (weekends only), 21:30, and
22:30 hrs are also relayed to Europe by satellite:
Astra 1B (19.2 degrees East) transponder 26 (Sky Movies Gold/TV Asia/Adult
Channel) at 11.597 GHz, audio subcarrier at 7.74 MHz,
Tele-X (5 degrees East) (TV4 transponder) at 12.207 GHz, audio subcarrier
7.38 MHz.
Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood from Internet, MCI Mail or
CompuServe (to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516).
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 MediaScan/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!