From WOOD@stab.sr.seSun Oct 22 23:31:06 1995
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 1995 18:48:06 +0200
From: George Wood <WOOD@stab.sr.se>
To: wood@stab.sr.se
Subject: MediaScan/Sweden Calling DXers 2227
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: MediaScan ::
:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2227--July 4, 1995 ::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2227
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: I'll be on vacation for the next four weeks. There will be
MediaScan broadcasts, however, through the magic of analog recording
tape. On August 1st I'll be talking to the Program Director of Radio
Netherlands, Jonathan Marks, host of the excellent "Media Network"
program about the future of shortwave in the satellite world, as well
as how Radio Netherlands is using the World Wide Web.
On August 22nd, I'll be talking to Victor Gonnetilleke of Sri Lanka, a
long-time radio monitor and organizer of one of the Third World's most
enduring clubs for shortwave listeners, the Union of Asian DXers.
Several times during the recent EDXC conference in Rebild, Denmark,
amidst all the talk about new satellite channels and audio via the
World Wide Web, Victor stood up and called on the broadcasters present
not to abandon the vast majority of the world's population who lack
access to satellite receivers and Internet computers.
Both programs will be available as audio files from ftp.funet.fi,
ftp.sunet.se, and from the usual Internet Multicasting mirror sites, as
of the broadcast dates (thanks to Kauto Huopio). However, there will be
no text online editions 2228 and 2229.
NORDIC MEDIA NEWS:
RADIO SWEDEN--(SES)--Radio Sweden is changing our Astra downlink from
Sky Movies Gold, as Sky is moving their uplink station and won't be
able to access our relay from Tele-X anymore. By the end of this week
you should also be able to hear us on Astra transponder 33, that's ZDF
on the TV side, on audio 7.38 or 7.56 MHz. The signal on Sky Movies
Gold will continue in parallel for another month. And we'll continue as
usual via the World Radio Network.
RADIO Q--When the previous Conservative-led government here began
auctioning off Sweden's first commercial radio licenses 2 years ago,
frequencies went to the highest bidders, without consideration for
format, or even if the licensees could afford their bids. Virtually
every single station has turned into a rock CD-machine, sometimes with
a break for a couple of minutes of syndicated news.
The shining exception has been Radio Q in Stockholm, a station run by
women, mostly for women, and featuring public affairs programming. But,
after 20 months it all came to end last Friday, as Radio Q broadcast
it's last program, having run out of money.
On Radio Q's last day, I called Eva Kaiser, one of the station's
founders. She blames the licensing system that ignores program content,
but forces stations to pay huge fees to stay on the air. She points to
Britain, where the authorities take format into account before granting
licenses, and in the interview in today's program mentions the irony
that a women's station called Viva started in London
CLT--Radio Q has sold their licence for the Stockholm frequency 104.7
MHz to CLT Multimedia, owners of Radio Luxembourg. So far there's just
a test tone on the frequency. According to Travis Baxter, Managing
Director of CLT UK Radio, plans for the new operation are still
unclear. You can hear him as well in today's program.
BBC VIA CLASSIC FM--Several months ago, the BBC's Andrew Taussig told
us that the Stockholm commercial station Classic FM would be
rebroadcasting BBC World Service news on the hour "within a few weeks".
That has not happened, and when we called the station last week to ask
when the BBC might be expected to appear, they were unaware of any such
plans.
KINNEVIK LEAVES ASTRA--(Bertil Sundberg, "Paa TV")--Meanwhile, a major
Scandinavia satellite broadcaster is leaving Astra. Bertil Sundberg
reports in the magazine "Paa TV", owned by the Kinnevik media empire,
that Kinnevik is closing down its TV3 and TV1000 channels on Astra in
October. That frees up 4 valuable Astra transponders for other
broadcasters on the waiting list.
Kinnevik has been using the Sirius satellite at 5 degrees East to relay
many of its stations, and Intelsat 702 and TV-Sat 2 at 1 degree West
for others.
SIRIUS--(TT/GE Americom)--Swedish Telecom and the Swedish Space
Corporation have ordered a new Sirius 2 satellite, which is to be put
into orbit in 1997. They've reached agreement with General Electric
Americom for the 32 transponder satellite. Half the transponders will
be retained by GE to transmit video and entertainment programming
through-out Europe. The Swedish interests will use their 16
transponders for satellite broadcasts and data transmissions to the
Nordic region.
SUPERSPORT--(TT)--Kinnevik's competitor, FilmNet, is launching a new
sports channel to Scandinavia. SuperSport will be starting this coming
Winter, featuring English and German soccer, and World Cup skiing
competitions, as well as boxing and tennis.
KINNEVIK IN CYBERSPACE--(Dagens Nyheter)--Kinnevik, on the other hand,
is launching itself into Cyberspace, in the company of Microsoft. This
Fall, when Microsoft finally releases its new Windows 95 software, and
with it the Microsoft Network online system, access to Kinnevik will be
included.
So it should be possible to read articles from Kinnevik's newspaper
"Metro", order products from their TV-Shop channel, or listen to their
radio station Z-Radio, also known as P6.
Of course Z-Radio is already on the Internet. Kinnevik has beaten
public broadcaster Swedish Radio as the first station in this country
with news on the Internet. Z-Radio is providing both ordinary
downloadable au-format files, as well as access using RealAudio, the
system where you can listen to the files while they download.
The URL is:
http://www.everyday.se/hem/p6
EUROPEAN MEDIA NEWS:
MTV--(James Robinson)--MTV Europe began scrambling as of July 3 as
follows:
Astra transponder 15 in Videocrypt
Eutelsat II-F1 in Videocrypt 2
VH-1 Germany on Hot Bird is also now scrambled in Videocrypt 2.
ASTRA--The Adult Channel will cease on Astra transponder 42 from July
31, continuing on transponder 63 only. The reason for the extra month
is because FilmNet uses Videocrypt 2, and the addressing for the Adult
Channel during its transmission hours has not been working properly.
EUTELSAT--(James Robinson)--TV Polonia has ceased transmission on
Eutelsat II-F3, 11.080 GHz. Wilsa TV will start there on September 1.
Viva 2 has ceased transmission from Eutelsat 11-F1 on 11.146 GHz. It
continues in clear PAL on 10.972 GHz.
ARTE is to start transmission on Eutelsat II-F1 on 11.080 GHz any time
now. When it starts it will be on all the time, not just after 17:00
hrs as on Astra.
TVE Internacional will cease transmission from Eutelsat II-F2 from July
31.
This may only be temporary, but the Dutch national station Radio 3,
which plays pop music, and which used to be on 675 kHz medium wave, is
transmitting on Eutelsat II-F3, 11.628 GHz, audio 6.60 and 7.60 MHz. A
testcard is on the screen.
(BBC Monitoring)--Arab Radio and Television, ART, is now using Eutelsat
II-F3, 11.095 GHz, audio 6.6 MHz. ART continues to transmit on four
channels on Arabsat 1D.
HOT BIRD--(James Robinson)--TM3 is a new German channel which will
launch on Hot Bird on 11.343 GHz on August 28, in clear PAL.
There are digital MPEG-2 tests on Hot Bird 11.283 GHz. The Sci-Fi
Channel is due to launch there on October 5, in MPEG-2.
INTELSAT--(James Robinson)--The UK cable channel SelecTV is now
transmitting on both 11.472 and 11.135 GHz on Intelsat 601, in clear B-
MAC.
HISPASAT--(Vicente Aguilo)--On July 1, the following Hispasat channels
dropped scrambling and are now in the clear, financed by advertising:
Canal Clasio, Teledeporte, Telesat 5, Antena3/TeleNoticias, Cinemania
2.
CARLSBERG LIVE--(James Robinson)--The pub radio station Carlsberg Live
has closed down. It had used the 7.74 MHz subcarrier on Super Channel's
Astra transponder 50.
POLISH RADIO STATIONS--(Thierry Vignaud)--There are 4 Polish radio
stations on the TV Polonia transponder on Hot Bird, 11.471 GHz, on
7.38, 7.56, 7.74, and 7.92 MHz.
AMERICA ONE--(Public Broadcasting Report via Curt Swinehart)--When we
talked to the World Radio Network's Karl Miosga in our last program,
plans were still on hold for America One network, a 24 hour channel to
Europe carrying programs from National Public Radio and Public Radio
International. Now, NPR, PRI, and the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting have finalized the contract from America One, which should
start within two or three months. The signal will be uplinked from
Munich (so there is a chance they will be joining us on the ZDF
transponder on Astra).
ITALY--(Svenska Dagbladet)--After his victory in the recent Italian
referendums, in which a measure forbidding anyone from owning more than
one television network failed to pass, Silvio Berlusconi's three
networks are rising in value. Last week Berlusconi had more talks with
Rupert Murdoch, who is now reportedly willing to buy less than a
majority of the three Italian channels. Murdoch would hold the largest
share, 40 percent, Berlusconi would retain 25 percent, and the existing
channel heads would remain in their jobs, in return for USD 2.8
billion.
But interest has also been shown by the Saudi Prince Al Waleed,
Germany's Leo Kirch, and South Africa's Johan Rupert.
ASIAN MEDIA NEWS:
PANAMSAT--(COMMUNICATIONS DAILY via NewsPage and Curt Swinehart)--An
accident that occurred during the transporting of the Space Systems/
Loral-built N-Star A satellite has resulted in at least 3-week delay
for bird's owner Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) and quicker
deployment for PanAmSat-4. Flight crew on the plane carrying the
satellite from San Francisco to Kourou via Houston reportedly didn't
vent the Russian Antonov aircraft properly. Increased pressure during
landing in Kourou caused the wall of the pressure container housing the
spacecraft to cave in, damaging portions of the spacecraft.
The extent of damage, and details on specific parts, weren't certain,
nor was cost or expected duration of repairs. Spokesman for SS/L
declined to comment and NTT representative was unavailable last week.
However, we're told by other sources that satellite's skin will have to
be repaired or replaced.
PanAmSat has moved up launch of its PAS-4 Indian Ocean Region
satellite 3 weeks to Aug. 1, the date when N-Star was to be launched.
Accelerated flight will allow the company to begin service, and to
achieve complete global coverage, in Sept., it said (CD June 30 p9).
After the Aug. 1 launch of PAS-4, N-Star should fly Aug. 23 if it's
ready. "The belief is that it [N-Star] will be ready by the 23rd," a
source said.
Next on Arianespace manifest is Lockheed Martin (LM)-built AT&T
Telstar 402R, set for mid.-Sept. LM spokesman said satellite is ready
to be shipped to Kourou in mid.-July. Sources said that if N-Star
weren't ready by Aug. 23, Telstar 402R would be available to take its
place and engineers would have plenty of time to mate it to launch
vehicle.
GLOBAL MEDIA NEWS:
SONY--(Kyodo via Tele-satellit)--Sony is planning to begin new
satellite channels worldwide. The first channels will be seen in the US
via DirecTV, but additional services will follow in Europe and China.
The new Sony Entertainment Channel, will be half-filled with television
and films from Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the other half with
locally produced programs.
RADIO IN CYBERSPACE:
WRN--RealAudio is part of the future plans of the World Radio Network,
the London-based company that relays Radio Sweden and 20 other
international broadcasters by satellite to Europe and North America.
WRN is on the Internet as well, putting out their entire programming
live using something called the Multicasting Backbone. That requires
some pretty special equipment, but WRN founder Karl Miosga says they
have plans as well for RealAudio. You can hear that interview in
today's program.
ANORAKS--Check out the Anorak Home Page at:
http://metro.turnpike.net/A/anorak
SPACE SHUTTLE--The space shuttle Atlantis has now undocked with the Mir
space station, but the entire shuttle mission has been carried on the
WWW on:
http://shuttle.nasa.gov
No sooner than the report last time about CU-SeeMe than a Windows
version with sound has been released (this is an "alpha" test version,
and when accessing the NASA TV channel the sound has been no existent
or unusable), from:
ftp://gated.cornell.edu/pub/video/PC.CU-SeeMeW0.65b1/
Besides the NASA CU-SeeMe reflector here in Sweden at:
130.235.128.100
NASA TV has been carried on other reflectors:
128.158.1.154 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
139.169.165.25 NASA Johnson Space Center
139.88.27.43 NASA Lewis Research Center
131.123.5.1 Kent State University
128.2.230.10 Carnegie-Mellon University
IRELAND--(Edward Dunne)--Another Irish radio station is now on the
World Wide Web. 2FM is on:
http://www.iol.ie/resource/2fm/2fm.htm
SWL HOME PAGE--Byron Hicks is putting together "an online equivalent of
a WRTH or Passport to World Band Radio" with access to schedules from
International broadcasters:
http://aloha.nmsu.edu/w5gb/swl/swl.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweden Calling DXers/MediaScan is the world's oldest radio program
about international broadcasting. Radio Sweden has presented this
round-up of radio news, features, and interviews on Tuesdays since
1948. It's currently broadcast on the first and third Tuesdays of the
month.
Radio Sweden broadcasts in English:
To Europe:
16:15 hrs UTC on 1179 and 6065 kHz
17:30 on 1179, 6065, 13690, and 15600 kHz (also Africa and the Middle
East) 20:30 and 21:30 on 1179, 6065, and 9665 kHz (also heard in
Africa)
21:30 on 1179 kHz and 6065 kHz
22:30 hrs on 1179 kHz
Asia and the Pacific:
11:30 hrs on 13740, 15120, and 15240 kHz
01:30 hrs on 9695 kHz
North America:
12:30 and 13:30 hrs on 11650 and 15240 kHz
02:30 and 03:30 hrs on 7120 and 9850 kHz
Latin America:
OO:30 hrs on 6065 and 9810 kHz
The broadcasts at 16:15 and 17:30 hrs are also relayed to Europe
by satellite:
Astra 1B on Sky Movies Gold's transponder 26 at 11.597 GHz, audio
subcarrier at 7.74 MHz
Tele-X via TV5 Nordic/Femman's transponder at 12.475 GHz, audio
subcarrier 7.38 MHz
Radio Sweden is also relayed to Europe via the World Radio Network on
VH-1's transponder 22 on Astra, audio 7.38 MHz, daily at 22:00 hrs CET.
Radio Sweden can also be heard on WRN's North American service on
Galaxy-5, on WTBS's transponder 6, audio 6.8 MHz, daily at 16:00 and
20:30 hrs Eastern time.
Our (temporary) World Wide Web page is at:
http://www.abc.se/~m8914/media.html
Sound files of Mediascan are archived at:
ftp.funet.fi:pub/sounds/RadioSweden/Mediascan.
If you access to the WorldWide Web, you can also find the programs
among the offerings of Internet Talk Radio at various sites, including:
ftp://town.hall.org/radio/Mirrors/RadioSweden/MediaScan
The World Radio Network is also available live via the Internet MBONE.
Check:
http://town.hall.org/radio/wrn.html
Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood by fax to
+468-667-6283 or by e-mail to: wood@stab.sr.se
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.
The mailing list for the Electronic Edition is now open to general
subscription. If you can send e-mail over the Internet, send a message
to:
wood@stab.sr.se
In the subject field write "subscribe mediascan"
You ought to get a confirmation message in reply. To unsubscribe from
the list, send another message to the same address, with the words
"unsubscribe mediascan" in the subject field.
To get a copy of Radio Sweden's English program schedule, include the
words "English schedule" in the subject field.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to this week's contributors Good Listening!