From news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!sunic!uunet!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!avdms8.msfc.nasa.gov!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!destroyer!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet Tue Sep 14 12:02:22 EET DST 1993
Article: 2223 of rec.radio.info
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Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1993 02:06:51 GMT
From: p00489@psilink.com (Terry M. Stader KA8SCP)
Reply-To: p00489@psilink.com
Subject: SCDX 2184
Message-ID: <$scdx.2184@ampr.org>
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave,rec.radio.amateur.digital.misc,rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.info
Followup-To: rec.radio.shortwave,rec.radio.amateur.digital.misc
Approved: rec-radio-info@ve6mgs.ampr.ab.ca
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Because SCDX 2184 was not put out on the net... this is being sent.
Please note that this is an "old" post and not a new issue! I cannot
seem to find 2185 at the moment... but I'll continue to look.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: MediaScan ::
:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2184--August 3, 1993 ::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2184
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORDIC MEDIA NEWS:
TV 5 NORDIC--Satellite broadcasting has become profitable here in
Scandinavia. All three Swedish commercial satellite broadcasters, TV3, TV4,
and TV5 Nordic, are now showing profits. For TV5, this is a considerable
change. Just two years ago the former owner had to sell three-quarters of the
channel to a Luxembourg-based American company.
We called TV5 Nordic's Managing Director, Hans von Schreeb. What have you
done to turn things around?
HANS VON SCHREEB: Mainly knowledge. During at least the latter part of the
80's you could raise money in Sweden for ventures such as TV. But there was
no previous knowledge of commercial television. So through a new major
ownership we have gained knowledge in the sense that we have the U.S.
experience and also experience from Denmark and Norway. That's the experience
that we are now taking advantage of.
RADIO SWEDEN: It seems like you're always the little brother of Swedish
broadcasters. The newspapers and magazines usually put you on a separate page
from the other 4 channels, or they put you into a little box with the foreign
channels. Does that hurt?
HVS: Well, it hurts mentally, in the sense that fro the beginning we were not
even in the papers. While our competitors, for example TV4, was in the papers
even before they began broadcasting. Now in our case, we are getting our
decent share, even in the papers. So, I think that
within the forthcoming months you will see the necessary changes. But already
now we have an average of about 60 or 70 percent of the viewers that TV3 has,
and this means that we should be in the papers in the same way as our
competitors. I think you will see that change.
RS: So they're taking you more seriously now?
HVS: Well, yess. We have at least, on the average, between 500,000 and
700,000 viewers who watch us every night, and they should have a proper
chance to gt decent information.
RS: The American company that owns you also owns Norway's TV Norge and
Denmark's TV2. Has this helped you--are you co-ordinating any programming or
anything like that?
HVS: We will. It also helps us with experience, what kind of format works,
how can you make local productions in a Scandinavian environment, how can you
cut costs, etc. This also gives us an opportunity to choose computer systems
that are already used in Denmark and Norway. Yes this helps.
RS: You've had a fight with France's TV5 over the very name itself. Have you
finally resolved that problem?
HVS: The Swedish Supreme Court has ruled that we have the right to use the
name TV5 Nordic until the case is finally resolved. Hopefully it will be
resolved, and I would really like to settle outside of court, because I don't
think we gain anything from this fight. The name TV5 is used in various
places in Europe. We're also two very different stations, in two different
languages. One is a government-owned public service channel, the other is an
internationally-owned commercial TV service. I don't think we have hurt the
French in any deep way. So I don't think this fight is especially rational.
RS: What about future plans? You have a lot of American programming, is that
going to continue?
HVS: Well yes, it will continue at the same level as long as our viewers like
it. I think the main thing is to get more local production, to give a Swedish
flavor to it. And that's what we're aiming for now. We've gone through our
graphic program, which is totally different from TV3 and TV4, and you'll also
see local production that's different.
RS: One thing that you don't have is news.
HVS: We will have news in one form or another. Our news will give an
opportunity for our viewers to be informed while watching TV5 Nordic during
the evening. So it will be short news stories. You'll see that rather soon.
EUROPEAN MEDIA NEWS:
ASTRA--Right on time on July 22nd, Discovery and its companion, the oldies TV
and film channel Bravo, showed up on the new Astra 1C satellite.
Discovery is on Astra transponder 41, Bravo on 42. Both are soft-scrambling
in videocrypt, which means anyone with a decoder can watch, without a smart
card. That's just as well, since the cards for the Sky Multi-Channel package,
which is to include Discovery and Bravo, go into effect on September 1st.
BSkyB has extended the discount offer for its Multi-Channels package until
August 31st, the date before the new package goes into effect. This could
indicate that they haven't received as many subscriptions as they had hoped.
On the other hand, BSkyB may have intended to have August 31st as the final
date the entire time, and the original July 31st target may have been a
marketing ploy to encourage early subscriptions.
When the Children's Channel signs off transponder 35, there's now a sign from
Astra saying the Family Channel will be using that transponder, which
confirms our report of two weeks ago.
On August 1st Bravo switched to a new schedule between noon and midnight
British time, so there's room for the Adult Channel to make its reported move
from transponder 26. But that hasn't happened yet.
There's also some very interesting speculation in "Sky Guide". Right now TV
Asia is using the Nickolodeon transponder, number 46, between 18:00 and 06:00
hrs UTC. But they'll have to move when the Nick at Nite service starts there.
When the Adult Channel moves from transponder 26, and British Sky
Broadcasting starts its multi-channel package, BSkyB might also close Sky
Movies Gold on that transponder. That would allow TV Asia to expand its
operation on transponder 26 to 24 hours a day. ("Sky Guide")
Otherwise, the big news from Astra is that the company has now decided to
launch a sixth satellite, Astra 1F, scheduled to go into orbit in 1996. Like
Astra 1E, due for launch in early 1995, 1F will be dedicated to digital radio
and television. 1E will operate in the 11.7 to 12.1 GHz range, while 1F will
cover between 12.1 and 12.5 GHz. (SES)
VIRGIN--Virgin 1215 made its return to Astra July 23rd at 09:00 hrs UTC.
They're using 7.38 and 7.56 MHz on the Sky News transponder. So far both
channels are mono, but the service will be stereo soon. The country music
station QCMR, which had been on one of those channels, has moved to the Sky
Sports transponder, 7.38 MHz. (James Robinson)
WORLD RADIO NETWORK--The long-awaited relay from the World Radio Network of
National Public Radio from the United States began on July 20th. "Morning
Edition" is being carried for an hour at 13:00 hrs UTC, and there's two hours
of "All Things Considered" at 21:30 hrs. But the service is not on Astra.
They're using the World Radio Network's Eutelsat II-F1 outlet, on the MBC
transponder, 11.554 GHz, audio 7.74 MHz. We called up Karl Miosga at the
World Radio Network and asked why?
KARL MIOSGA: We're using this as a test transmission, a temporary service, to
check out the circuit from Washington to London and iron out any little bugs
that we may have. But also for prospecgive radio stations and cable companies
who might be interested in relaying live programs from NPR.
RADIO SWEDEN: So when will you be going to Astra?
KM: We're aiming to start our Astra service in September, with test
transmissions beginning one or two weeks before, middle of August say. At the
moment, Astra 1C looks very likely as to where our home would be, but at this
point we can't make a definative announcement.
RS: Right now the NPR programming is sharing your channel with your regular
programming from Vatican Radio in many languages and Radio Canada
International in Russian. When you move to Astra, it will be a completely new
channel. Are you lining up other English language broadcasters as well?
KM: Yes. It will be a mixed bag again, but all in English, of course. And
mostly live. We'll have a couple of surprises, I can't give you any exact
details at this point, but it will be very similar to the tests we did last
year.
RS: Right now you have the two programs from NPR, "Morning Edition" and "All
Things Considered". Are you planning on having other programs from National
Public Radio as well?
KM: That is correct. We'll be taking "Talk of the Nation", which is their
live telephone radio show, which happens in the evening our time. And it will
also be possible for anyone across Europe to take part in that. But that will
be one of the extra programs that will feature in the Astra line-up.
ARIANE--Ariane has had another launch after Astra 1C. On July 22nd the
Western European rocket put satellites for Spain and India into orbit.
Spain's Hispasat 1B is the follow-up to Hispasat 1A, and will be placed
alongside it at 30 degrees West. It should be in place in about 10 days, and
will begin official operation in October. Hispasat transmits to both Spain
and Latin America, with both Ku-band DBS and Fixed Satellite Service
transponders. But there have been problems with the 1A satellite. 1B should
make a big difference.
The other satellite just launched into orbit is India's Insat 2B. It's
India's second indigenously-built satellite, and will be placed at 93.5
degrees East. It's expected to be declared operational by early September. It
will complement Insat 2A, which is at 74 degrees East. (Reuters, "World
Satellite Almanac")
India's state-owned television is to launch four satellite-based channels on
August 15th, India's Independence Day, to win back audience from foreign
networks. The new channels will carry sports, entertainment, news, and music
programming, apparently from Insat 2A. A fifth channel is to begin on Insat
2B. (BBC Monitoring)
ASIAN MEDIA NEWS:
SKY AND STAR--Europe's biggest satellite broadcaster has bought a controlling
interest in Asia's biggest satellite broadcaster. Rupert Murdoch's News
Corporation has purchased 63.6 percent of Hong Kong's Star Televison, which
currently transmits 6 channels: news from BBC World Service Television,
sports, general entertainment, and channels in Mandarin and Hindi.
News Corporation owns British Sky Broadcasting, which has 6 channels on
Astra, and is behind the new Astra multi-channel package. News Corporation
also owns Fox Television and 20th Century Films in the United States.
Less than a month ago Murdoch was thwarted in his effort to buy 22 percent of
Hong Kong's TVB, which has a vast library of Chinese programming, in an
effort to create a competitor to Star Television. That deal got stopped by
the Hong Kong government, and TVB has since lined up with CNN, Home Box
Office, ESPN, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. But they'll be
broadcasting on Indonesia's Palapa B2P satellite, whose signal barely reaches
the main Chinese-language markets of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Star, on the other hand, reaches 11 million homes from Japan to the Middle
East on Asiasat-1. Asiasat-2, with more channels, is due to be launched next
year. Star is expecting that BSkyB's expertise will help it launch several
pay-TV channels in October. The deal follows an attempt by Pearson, owners of
the "Financial Times" to buy control of Star-TV. Analysts have described the
merger of Sky and Star as a marriage made in heaven. (AP, Reuters,
"International Herald Tribune", "The Economist")
BUSINESS NEWS CHANNEL--Japan's Mitsui company has reached agreement with NBC
in the United States and Pearson plc, owner of the "Financial Times", to
launch a 24 hour financial and business satellite channel for Asia. Star-TV
is also involved, so presumeably the new channel would broadcast from
Asiasat-1. (Kyodo News Agency via BBC Monitoring)
SHORTWAVE:
ALBANIA--Radio Tirana is restructuring, cutting back from 23 languages, to
first 12 and then 8 services. Radio Tirana is now broadcasting in English:
01:30-02:00 hrs and 02:30-02:45 hrs on 9580 and 11840 kHz; 14:30-15:00 hrs on
7155 and 9760 kHz; and 22:00-22:15 hrs on 1395; 9760, and 11815 kHz. (BBC
Monitoring)
LIBERIA--The pro-Nigerian-ECOMOG Radio ELBC in Monrovia continues to
broadcast on 7275 kHz, despite reports that it went off the air in May. The
pro-Charles Taylor Radio ELBC based in Gbarnga also continues to broadcast.
(BBC Monitoring)
LITHUANIA--Radiocentras, the private station in Lithuania, has been testing
in slow-speed morse code on 9400 kHz. BBC Monitoring says they are announcing
an output power of 5 kW, and it certainly has a strong signal here in
Stockholm. The part we recorded was in English, and gave the address for
reception reports.
SOMALIA--A new station broadcasting in Somali and calling itself Radio
Mogadishu has been heard at 15:00 hrs on 6870 kHz. This station supports
General Mohammed Farah Aydid and opposes the United Nations presence in
Somalia. It uses the same signature tune as used by Ali Mahdi Muhammad's
Radio Mogadishu, which has been heard on 6863 and 6866 kHz. (BBC Monitoring)
UNOFFICIAL RADIO--The Voice of Independent Kurdistan, which supports the
Kurdish Workers Party, the PKK, has been heard at 14:00 hrs on 7330 kHz. It
was last heard in March on 7030 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) The PKK is fighting for
a Turkish homeland in Turkey, and has recently attacked tourist targets in
Turkey.
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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 by fax to +1-707-468-1460
(beginning August 13), from Internet to 70247.3516@compuserve.com, or from
MCI Mail or CompuServe to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516.
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 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to this week's contributors Good Listening!
Terry M. Stader, KA8SCP, America Online (AOL) Ham Radio Club Host
Macintosh Amateur Radio Software List Maintainer
Internet: tstader@aol.com or p00489@psilink.com
Packet: KA8SCP@WA1PHY.#EMA.MA.USA.NOAM