And along with this change there is a new e-mail adress as well: please use euromedia@wowmail.com. Thanks.
Welcome back!
Radio Caroline ist back on air. Okay, it is very thin air, since they broadcast via satellite and for the weekend only. But as of 20 February everyone who owns an analogue dish can hear the programs. For the time beeing only saturday and sunday on astra tp 35 (travel/challenge) and they close down at the early hour of 23:00 GMT. For more Info turn to their Caroline-Webpage. And if anyone of you owns a small or medium business that can spend some promotion dollars, pound or marks, don't hesitate to contact them. We want them to stay and grow, don't we?
Who would ever thought about that ...
Okay, lets be honest: everyone. About what? About the big cats merger in european media. British Sky Broadcasting and Canibal+ have announced plans to merge. No news. Just the logical next step in european media control, viewer control and degrease in viewers choise. So the new company can eventually buy every single transponder capacity and force every independent station they might have left until now to "join" them.
No more canibal+ danisch
And another one bites the dust. The glorious takover of Filmnet Nordic by Canibal + has taken another victim: Caibal+ Denmark has ceased in D2-MAC today, replaced by colour-bars.
No more luuuuuuve
As of early afternoon on 14.2. - half a day earlier than announced - Granada Sky has called it a day for their scandinavian Entertainment Channel. Since then there is only a black screenfor scandinavian viewers instead of the megacheap Programs of Sky Entertainment ("I luuuv ittt, I luuuuv itt, I luuuuv itt"). Wait and see, what Viasat will offer next to their paying customers.
Kaufradio
The Usingen testcard has ceased on the former RTL2 tp, replaced by greybars. Some of the sound carriers are used for Feeds of a german point of sale radio (musik, spots).
The End
At least concerning the "paneuropean programming" NBC's mother company General Electrics had announced to be transmitted via Sirius 2, they are calling it a day. One of the GE tps is used by Cyprus Sat, another is now showing booking informations. It seems GE has decided to stop their european adventure full scale. (If they only had left us our Super Channel ...)
And once again: Forced into digital!
No one in his/her right mind would change from analogue to digital - since the analogue quality is better, there are no blocks and stills, better sound and a more stable receiption in remote areas or on the outer limits of the satellite beams. But european viewers don't have any chance since the industry and the politicians have decided they have to go for digital and loose their analogue programs all together and for good. Probably not at least because digital is the system, politcians and mediatrusts get the best control over the vievers with. Who cares what the viewers want. Thy should not view your neighbours television stations! (And that will end with the shut down of all terrestrial analogue stations in europe in a couple of years! Then you will have to subscribe with canibal+ and to fill in forms with the illnesses of you grandgrandgrandmother to get a licence to view the digital free-to-air-programs.) Like it is in the Netherlands today. No one can receive one of the commercial tv stations (RTL, SBS) without filling in formas for canibal + which controls the conditional access and the viewing cards!
By the way, a tip: to complete control over the viewers, the new digital receivers include a modem, to pay directly via the receiver from your bankaccount. Don't you ever connect that receiver with your telephone line! You never know what data about you these boxes transmitt to canibal + and to whom those data are beeing sold!
The same game as in the netherlands hast started in scandinavia where canibal+ now runs the former filmnet channels. First the programs have become a lot worse than with filmnet. Now - like in the netherlands - the SBS stations (TV Danmark, TV Norge and Kanal 5) and some of the public stations stations can only be seen with a Canibal+ viewing card. Yet for free, but that will change very soon! And the owners of d2-mac decoders will be left in the scaninavian cold as well. They will be forced to go cubic. So Canibal+ Denmark has announced to shut down d2-mac as of 31.1.1999 and will only be available - you guessed it - digital.
Isn't that the future we all have been waiting for? Beeing controled by canibal+ and the politicians what when to view in our own homes? And probaly you will no longer be able to tape these films to watch them at a time you like to. The industry will argue with the new digital pay-per-vie you can order every film at a time you like - so no need to tape at all. Maybe in a few years you only are allowed to buy english videos in england and only german dubbed in germany - provided you show your video renting permitance and your identity card. To get those you will have to fill in forms, providing the video industry with the statistics of your family, your video equipment and and and ... And the european law and government? It supports only the big businesses - it pays better. And when the viewers try to defend themselfs against the powers of the media moguls who take them their tv? They get busted and have to pay lots of money. And when commission members are caught taking money and "destruct justice"? They cannot be replaced or sacked because that would be like changing horses in mid run and very damaging for the european union.
Gone
Two more stations have disappeared from the cold duck position 13 degrees east. Ring TV (promotion for sex phone numbers) and Eros TV. Ring Tv is said to return on the former RTL2 transponder (now showing an Usingen testcard), but since this is a german telecom tp, changes will be made on a 1. of month. So watch that tp on february 1st. No new programs are announced for that position, but CNBC which - thanks to european media politics and rupert moloch - encrypts at night on astra will leave 13 east as well. Not much left, he?.
Once again: The return of ...
The anonymous testcard following the short intermezzo of vicenca oro channel has been replaced by ... of course ... fashion tv in pal clear.
All Encryptions: go
TV Norge and TV Danmark are encrypted again.
New trailer
French Globe Cast media services (france telecom) has started a trailer on Telecom 2 (4W); frequency 12.638/V, english sound on 6.60 MHz followed by Reuters TV Paris. The tp is now empty again.
No program today
Vicenca oro channel has ceased, replaced by an anonymous testcard
Gold Card Fashion
The former Fashion TV tp on 13 East is now used by a "vicenza oro channel" with promotion for luxury goods from Vicenza (where else?) - pal, clear.
Clear sbs
We don't know why - encryption, viewer, card problems - anyway: the two nordic Disney/abc/sbs stations TV Norge and TV Danmark are transmnitted in clear D2-MAC again. But be ashured this can't last for long.
Eros Fashion
Fashion TV is still in analogue on the Eros-TV-Transponder on 13 east.
New testcard
There is a new testcard on Thor 3 (1 west). Tp 23 shows the moving grooving Telenor testcard - analog, pal clear
Gone with the wind ... again
Fashion tv have vanished for good in digital dust ... again.
New channels for dutch speaking countries
... but since they are coming from Disney/SBS they will be encrypted. As of 1 march 1999 SBS6 will start a second station for the netherlands: Het 5 - due to take the place on those remote controls until now used for RTL station RTL5 news&wether.
No date but the decision was made public on a press conference: VT4 will start at least one radio station in belgium and enter the internet world as well. They are looking for flemish partners to do so.
Lost in Space ...
Yes we are going to loose our national currencies and the analogue antenna tv very soon - to be replaced by artificial less quality high cost substitutes. But there are some losses right now. Here they are:
First on eutelsats cold duck position at 13 degrees east, following tm3 another german general entertainment channel has left. This time it is RTL2. Replaced since newyears midnight by an Usingen testcard.
Skandinavian viewers too have lost - a bit at least. On 5 degrees east Viacoms Horror-Channel called Science Fiction Channel Nordic has disappeared from Sirius 2. It has been replaced for the time beeing by BBC World.
The channel states:"
Sci·Fi wishes to confirm that it has taken the decision to withdraw its
broadcasting service from Scandinavia and Benelux with effect from
1st January 1999. The decision will enable Sci·Fi to dedicate its time
and resource to the continued growth and development in its core
markets.
Sci·Fi is fully aware that its viewers in Scandinavia and Benelux will
be disappointed at the loss of Sci·Fi, and would like to take this
opportunity to thank viewers and partners in these regions for their
loyalty and support. "
There will be at least one pay-tv-event on that tp: january 17th the Come-Back-Boxing with Myke Tyson from Los Angeles. Viasat customers will pay 150 Kroner for it. Non customers are charged 100 Kroner more.
We don' want to decide wether it is a winst or a loss, you may do that yourself: the Viacom-Transponder 27 on Astra is now used to transmit the germanized version of MTV. The english version of the MTV programs is still on TP 15 - in videocrypt.
Its Fashion-Time ... again
Yes they are back on 13 degrees east. This time Fashion TV - not the Homme version but l'Original - uses the tp BBC World should have used: 10.989/V in pal clear. When will they disappear again? We really don't know, maybe tomorrow, maybe ...
BBC World x1
BBC World have left their second tp on 13 east - now only on tp 124, 11.114/V.
TV 8 back
Swedish documentary and business channel TV8 is back in analogue. It uses Sirius-II-tp 38 at 12.437/V, D2-MAC as part of the Viasat-Gold-PayTv. Kanal 5 is still on their two tps.
Ring TV x2
For some time during the morning hours, sexline-promotion tv Ring TV is on Bird 5-Tp 125 too. Later back on the BVN-tp.
Slight change of plans
Until recent the CNBC videotext announced that CNBC would leave Hot Bird on 30 november 1998. Now the page reads "in the near future, watch this page for ..."
... and coming 2?
The Tele x testcard on the former TVS-DK tp has ceased. Now the tp shows a telenor testfilm - as usual when a new service is due to start.
... and coming?
There are changes expected for scandinavian viewers. It seems that Kanal 5 will leave their second tp - that one on Sirius 2, 5 East - and will only be available on their Thor tp at 1 east. The Sirius tp will then - as of december 10 th probably - be used by swedish documentary and business channel TV8, which will return to that position, this time not in pal but D2-MAC and as part of the viasat gold package.
... gone! (updated)
Both new tps on Hot Bird 5 are empty again. Following Viva who left11.006 soem days ago and made it thereby possible to use the new frequencie 11.013 for a "new service" (what of course didn't happen yet), today BBC World have left their second tp at 11.033 verlassen - no new services either ...
Sorry. BBC World is still on two tps, they have moved to 11.114/V.
W2 online
Eutelsat's new W2 satellite entered service this morning, November 19, 1998, at 1.00 UTC when the traffic formerly carried by EUTELSAT II-F3 at 16 degrees East was switched to the new satellite in an overnight manoeuvre. W2 was launched on October 5 from Kourou by an Ariane 4 vehicle.
W2's 24 transponders will be used for a broad range of services, which include television broadcasts, business networks, fast Internet access and digital television distribution links. A total of 22 transponders on the new satellite are connected to the fixed Widebeam, which covers the entire European continent, North Africa and the Middle East. Two transponders are switched to the Steerable Beam which is pointed over the Indian Ocean specifically to cover Reunion Island and Mauritius, for consumer digital television broadcasts.
No harm done
The EUTELSAT fleet of satellites remained unharmed following the Leonid meteor shower last night. The Leonid showers, associated with the dust trail left behind by the Tempel-Tuttle comet as the Earth passes through it, could have caused both mechanical and electrical damage to satellites, which are thought to be at particular risk during the peak period of the storm.
EUTELSAT took careful measures to minimise the storm's possible impact on operational traffic as well as to maintain service continuity. Countermeasures included orientating the satellites so as to reduce the exposure area of the solar panels and shield sensitive equipment.
Ring Ring ...
Eros TV is no longer the lonesome advertiser for expensiv numbers - there is a new program in town, using the until now unused sparetime of the BVN Transponder (Wereldomroep TV Nederland). Until the start of BVN TV it is "Ring TV" in pal clear. Ring as in "ring and pay horrable fees" for "0800 ... " and the equivalent numbers in other countries. The program you have waited for.
And round and round and ...
Following eros, fashion tv and the eros testcard, bbc world is now on the "new service" transponder of hot bird 5, frequency 11.033V (still on their new frequency 11.989/V too). Eros is now on their new tp 11.623/V
Slight change of plans ...
As you might know, eros tv had used their new frequiencie - now located on hot bird 5 - 11.623 V for some time now. As you also might know, fashion tv had returned to 13 east in analogue - they were using 11.033 V. That's changed. Eros tv is now on 11.033 V whilst Fashion tv can be sort of seen on 11.623 V. This will change again on november 17th, when eros tv will return to 11.623 V. And what happens to fashion tv after that? Who knows? We don't dare to forespell.
Take Over
Yepp it is done. Hot Bird 5 is on air. Most of the services are a lot stronger now (DW TV is not). Viva 1 is still around their old frequencie and on their new one, so tp 125 is not to be used yet. Tp 126 seems to be the new home for nomade fashion tv - for the time beeing. There are still some problems with the sound.
Take 5
As of 10 november Hot Bird 5 should take over from 2-F1. This will mean some frequencies to be changed. Turn to our Hot Bird 5 page to learn which stations you will need to retune.
New look
Prior to theirs leaving 13 degrees in analogue, euronews is trying to make the leaving a painless as possible to their vievers. They have changed their appearance - absolutley to the worse. So no tears from your chronist when they go digital.
They will be back
Two channels have been announced to be back in analogue soon. Swedisch TV8 will be back as part of the pay tv package of viasat gold for scandinavian viewers on either 1 or 5 degrees. MTV europe will be back in analogue on astra. Probably on tp 27 - left by viacom station nickelodeon and now home of an astra digital trailer and VH-1 Germany. MTV is said to back in january 1999.
WBPM gone
French techno channel wbpm has been replaced by a Usingen TVCSM testcard. It is not known yet if the techno station will be back in analogue.
Filmfour trailer (updated)
At last! The Sky Digital Promo has ceased on astra tp 59. It has been replaced by a FilmFour (channel four, uk) trailer, announcing the launch of that new movie service for 1 november. It will show not quite "mainstream" movies but it will be encrypted once the regular service has started. And as usual for astra it can only be subscribed for in th uk. More info on their website at http://www.filmfour.com. The trailer is now encrypted in videocrypt, you need a viewing card.
Twisting around - part 2
According to current planning, the transfer of broadcasts to HOT BIRD 5 is
provisionally scheduled to take place in the second week of November. The
transfer of traffic to W2 is scheduled for the second half of November. The
basic manoeuvre in each case will consist in positioning the new satellite
at its new orbital home, switching off the EUTELSAT II bird, retuning
uplink stations for the new satellite, and, finally, activating all
carriers on the new bird according to a specified sequence. Since Hot Bird 5 frequencies differ from those of II-F1, there will be same retuning to do. See our Hot Bird 5 special page.
Transponder - Twist
Sky has switched about their transponders once again. Sky Box Office 3 is no longer analogue on astra TP 59, but has been switched to the former Bloomberg and intermediate sky promo tp 11. In exchange the "Sky Digital Information chanal" is no longer on tp 11 but - who would guess such a thing - tp 59, in pal clear some times. Yeah, Astra means more choice (in encrypted pay tv and promos) as anywhere else!
Sky News Facelifting
Sky News has modernized their outfit (again) and presents itself in a peppy poppy american coloured bombastic style. The service though (with a little less picture on screen) stays as it is - one of the best news services transmitted by any european satellite. Although they spend too much time broadcasting the longest (and dumbest) soap opera in the whole wide world. Or do you really believe, honourable politicians would be interested more in the contents of some pants than some politics or world crisis? Or would you believe a sitting president could be forced out of his office because of his manners rather than his politics? Just to please some ancient puritan moral? (Okay, and beeing member of the wrong party because the constituition of that country only allows Republicans to be president of the republic?) It is all but unrealistic that anyone could believe the law to force the government to provide the opposition party with all the government paperwork and plans, so they can take it home, read it and make a Jerry Springer Special of it. The result of all that would mean only republican saints could be president! See, what I mean? Okay, we know the americans haven been relieved of their brain capacities by all those soap operas and talk shows and they can't tell whats life and whats live any more. But that soap opera is too much. No nation would make itself redicolous like that! Absolutely impossible. The laughing stock of the world. No one would do that. Not even opposition parties in America. So it has to be a soap opera and as such not to be broadcasted in a news service like Sky News. No one would believe that to be true ... no one ... its too redicolous ... its unbelievable ...
Two new birds
Although there are more channels beeing switched off than added, Eutelsat keeps starting new satellites - for the "digital market" we suppose - that's those worst quality ever seen channels which disappear into cubes at the slightest reception problems. (Have a look at Bloomberg analogue on Astra to get the digital picture.)
W2 is due for launch on October 5 in Kourou (French Guiana) by an Ariane 4 launcher (V111) provided by Arianespace. The launch window opens at 22.51 GMT and closes at 23.38 GMT. W2's 24 transponders will replace the 16 provided by EUTELSAT II-F3 at 16 degrees East and will be used for a range of services, which include television broadcasts, business networks, fast Internet access and digital television distribution links.
W2 is accompanied by scandinavian Hot Bird Sirius III - but sadly not to replace Sirius I yet. Instead it is going to transmitt twitchy-jerky cubic-tv on astra's 28.5 east postion until SES gets their own satellite up and running. And since a sirius is beeing launched, the launch is broadcasted in analogue (!!!) via Sirius II, tp 39 (12.456/H).
(UPDATED!)
Following close behind is Hot Bird 5, which is scheduled for lift-off on October 9 from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas IIA launcher (AC-134). The launch window opens at 9.55 p.m. GMT and closes at 11.05 p.m. GMT. Recently NBC Europe and Onyx have left this position, beeing followed by CNBC on 30 november.
Joining HOT BIRDs 1, 2, 3 and 4, the 22-transponder Hot Bird 5 satellite will replace EUTELSAT II-F1 and will be used to broadcast analogue and digital television and radio channels and multimedia services to over 70 million homes in Europe, Africa and the Middle East connected to a cable or community network or equipped for direct-to-home reception.
More Travel - less style
UK Style on astra tp 56 (following Bloomberg Germany) has been replaced by The Travel Shop in pal videocrypt (daytime on tp 35). Tests beeing seen on tp 27, but no service expected to start.
Another bites ...
Onyx Germany has left 13 east replaced by a testcard. Still a testcard on the former Super Channel / NBC Europe tp, and coming very soon to a DTH home near you: the testcard on the CNBC Europe tp (starting 30 november)!!!!
New on Sirius II
Hmm. We did'nt expect that. Following the testcard today the HALLMARK service has indeed started on Sirius II, the scandinavian Hotbird. D2MAC / Eurocrypt, Frequency 11.900/V (tp10), no teletext yet.
I've seen the future - and it ####s!!!
Wanna see the television future, the only way of television you will be allowed to receive in a couple of years? Tune into Sky News an watch the live coverage from the labour party conference. (Or tune into the german bloomberg version.) If you get a bit (or a bit more) dizzy: sorry, no way out, the politicians and technicians have decided: thats the one and only tv future. No emergency exits available.
TCC Nordic / Discovery - Problems?
The last transmitting Version of TCC (Childrens Channel) seems to be in technical difficulties. And since Discovery uses the same tp at night, they could be in Trouble too (sorry for the bad joke). We could not get any sound carriers and no network information. By now all is back to normal, but we do hope this will not hint to the end of this version of TCC.
Electionday in Germany - where to watch?
If you like to follow the election day covering in german, you must be aware that german tv stations are not unbioased at all. Although the Springer/Kirch owned rightwing stations (Sat.1, Pro7, Kabel1) and the a bit less conservative Bertelsmann-stations (RTL, RTL2, Super RTL, Vox) don't go too far in colouring their coverage, you should be aware that the socalled elcection coverage of socalled news tv n-tv is to understand completely as a sort of "their masters voice". If you like to listen to the views of the ultraright business bosses you are in the very right (!) place with them. If you should like competent and relatively unbiosed Informationen please tune into one of the other commercial german stations or - it is not easy for me to write - tune in with german pubcasters ARD and ZDF. Although very nosy, they do remotely know the meaning of the word "true". If you like it in plain englisch or dutch oder french, there will be lots of infos on 13 east. For english comments turn to Reuters = Sky News. We cannot recommend CNN anymore because since they have been taken over by Warner CNN has mutated into a rightwing, scandal-seeking-and-supporting outlet for Time Warner magazin stuff and Larry-King-Lifelong. For the englisch patients we could offer BBC World and (tune into the english sound subcarrier) Euronews - on 13 east.
Sirius 2 too!
There is a new testcard coming from Sirius 2. Tp 10, 11.900/V shows a "Teracom - Svensk Rundradio" testcard. The time shown is not CET but seems to be some sort of GMT. The D2-MAC card indentifies with "Hallmark" in the d2-mac network information. Since this testcard has been seen in MPEG before there might not even start a new analogue service at all. So don't be disapointed.
Testcards ...
The former Super Channel tp (13 east) shows still a testcard. The takeover of Super Channel by NBC seems to be a great win for the european viewers ...
Astra tp 27 - former home of Nickelodeon Germany is yet another home for a colorbar testcard - apart from the few hours used by VH-1 Germany.
The former ANN-tp at 13 East, used by Fashion TV ("for good") und RAI (Filmestival) has been switched off.
Bloomberg UK is back
The UK version of business broadcaster Bloomberg TV is back in analogue on astra. As of monday, 14.9. the english version is transmitted on tp 51 - but. only bewteen 6:00 - 12:00 GMT - pal clear.
DR2 going, going, gone!
Scandinavian viewers should check if they are still watching DR2 via their old tp. If so please retune your receiver to their new Thor 3 frequencie. On the old transponder DR2 has ceased on 16 september. The tp has been switched off, no new user yet.
Surprise!
Th egerman Version of Bloomberg TV is indeed transmitting via astra - but you won't find them on tp 11 - the former bloomberg tv tp is used by sky for digital promo spots all day now. Instead bloomberg german has started on astra tp 56 - until now inhabited by uk tv. It seems they share this tp. Bloomberg is on air between 5:00 and 18:00 GMT.
Testcard +
Filmfestival transmissions from RAI Sat hsve ceased (due to the end of the festival we assume). On monday there was a RAI testcard all day long on that tp. No sign of the return of fashion tv yet.
CNBC und National Geographics have also ceased on the former Super Channel transponder. The sound is still there but only a testcard with it.
Filmfestival Special
The RAI transmissions on 13 East are dedicated to the Filmfestival in Venice (Italy). Transmissions only daytime, during the night the testcard is back on air.
... and then it was RAI
The testcard - pardon us - the third version of fashion tv - on 13 east has changed to a RAI testcard "RAI CNCT Roma - Speciale RAI Venezia". Fashion TV Hommes is back on the EROS TV transponder. Until ...
Its free!!!
The disney channel on astra is having a party on and everybody can join in. They are in pal clear from august 31st until september 6th :-)
1. September - gains???
For scandinavian viewers there might be a slight gain - at lest when they own a D2-MAc-Decoder and subscribe to one of the packages. Scandinavian Animal Planet seems to be a lot stronger now the second half of their transponder on Thor 1 is no longer used by Sky (News/Dot/National Geo).
DR2 are still on their old (Intelsat 707) and new (Thor 3) transponder .
1. September - Lost in Space
No illusions about new stations the media industry and politicians would allow us to view for free. (Independent stations are on the edge of distinction anyway. Or one giant step further.) So here are the recent losses for viewers in europe.
Scandinava (Thor, Sirius, Intelsat 707)
Apart from Kanal Fem the second Disney/abc/SBS station has switched from pal clear to D2-MAC too - about 10:00 on 1 september.
Astra (updated)
Maybe you remember: analogue english Bloomberg would eventually hand over their tp on astra to the german version of that business service on september 1st. Now what? Bloomberg english did hand over the tp - but not to the pal clear german version of Bloomberg but ... would you have guessed ??? ... of course a SKY-Trailer promoting the Sky digital package encrypted in videocrypt.
update: bloomberg is back on tp 11 - in english of course :-) and pal clear ... Sky Promo is back in videocrypt ...
tp 51 is now home for Animal Planet - videocrypt encrypted of course and as part of the sky packages as the Sky testcard lets you know all through the night when other versions of Animal show the green Animal Planet testcard.
Eutelsat 13 East
Eutelsats Cold Duck position has lost another service too. Remember? Fashion TV is back in analog on 13 East for good. Hmm. If so, then there is a third version of Fashion TV. But this version looks almost like a simple testcard.
Tests on AM
A testtransmission from London has started on AM 1296 kHz. (Good choice of music!!!) In dutch, french, german and englisch listeners are asked for receiption reports - every letter would get an answer they say. Lets try it!!!
Kanal Fem
Kanal Fem has switched to open D2-MAC on 1 west about 5:00 CET. But even if you don't own a d2-mac receiver/decoder there is still(!) a chance for you to watch Kanal Fem. Try Sirius 2 at 5 east - here is Kanal in pal clear (they haven't switched to mac here - yet). Frequency: 12.476/V.
So is animal??? (updated)
Following the launch of astra 1A and some testcards and promos there was a colorbar testcard on astra tp 51. On september 1st it was replaced by another testcard reading "Animal Planet" - so far in Pal clear. But that will change when regular programs start - after all it is astra (less choice more encryption!!)
jepp - following a SKY testcard the animal planet programs are encrypted in videocrypt ..,
Fashion analogue x2
Not only is fashion back in analogue, but there are two versions of fashion tv to watch now. L'original and hommes. On Eutelsat analogue you can watch the guys tomcatwalking all day and night long. And on astra via tm3 it's guys and dolls - with monday til wednesday 1:00-3:00 pour l'hommes.
Getting closer ...
Yeah the world is becoming a smaller planet day by day. So there is a need for solutions for a smaller planet, isn't it? But in the real world, the world is only becoming smaller for businesses, common people are getting more und more divided by new frontieres everywhere.
Latest "solution for a smaller planet" is targeted on scandinavia. Broadcaster Disney/abc/SBS is dividing scandivaian vierwers back to their national frontieres. As of 1 September 5:00 CET Kanal 5 will no longer transmitt in clear pal but in D2-MAC instead. And following the 19 october you will need a viewing card to wtach this program. And you will only be allowed to pay for one of these cards if you are an inhabitant of sweden. So neighbouirs from Finland, Danmark or Norway may no longer watch the service. They have to watch the programs targeted (and restricted) on their respective countries: TV Norge for Norway and TV Danmark for Denmark. Brave new world ...
Launchpad News
According to jsi, our dutch service, the launch of astra 2a will be broadcasted via astra tp 51 - analogue clear pal. Astra 2a should be launched on board a rushian Proton D-1-e on 30 august. (following SES). The window is between 00:31 und 2:31 GMT. Scheduled is 1:00 GMT. Astra 2A will broadcast digital cubictv from 28,2 East for the UK. To get astra viewers in the mood for launching, the testcard on tp51 has been replaced by the astra net promo video.
Videotext
Strange things happen! Although they had announced it (again) it has become reality eventually: german broadcaster Vox has started their teletext.
So did tm3 - with news headlines and movies scheduled for the week.
Radio Festival 1998
The Merlin / CMR / Media Zoo team will broadcast their annual radio festival in august. (WIth participation of Radio Caroline, EKR and Merlin Network 1). For more information turn to the merlin communications or media zoo webpages.
You again ... !?!
Did you fall for it (again)? Have you been out and got yourself one of those expensive boytoys to watch cube-tv? Just to keep watching fashion tv - since they told you (again) - you would have to have a digital receiver to receive fashion tv? You didn't? Okay here is the news: fashion tv is not only on astra tp 64 (tm3) all night long - in pal clear, but it is back on 13 east (again) in analogue! But no longer on the eros tv tp. Just tune into the former ann (arab news network) tp. (11.768/V). For the time beeing at least ...
VOX! Yeah!
You did'nt believe it either? We certainly didn't. Vox had announced it would start ist text-tv (again). But this time it became reality. German broadcaster (murdoch station to become soon) has indeed startet teletext (on eutelsat 13 east and astra). Not much yet, but the basic information is there (schedules, movies on vox ...).
United Europe - another one bites the dust ...
Europe? United? ROFL. The european commission has - with great success - managed to keep foreign tv- and radio services from their people. They all may receive their very own stations, but none of their european neighbours! And in no case uncontrolled! So the only european english services left to watch (yet) by european viewers are sky news and euronews. With eurosport getting more and more sound carriers (and picture) scrambled, it seems only a question of time, that eurosport switches to pay tv completely. Leaving the european viewers with each their own services (most of them will be pay tv by then) and us station tnt/cartoon.
So the primary directive for european viewers is: Don't you dare to watch your neighbours tv! (Just those, your governments controle by granting them controlled access to their cable networks.) And don't try to get anything with your own dish! Cause your loving governments and cable companies will stop you from mounting a dish or receiving programs from other european countries because it destroys the beauty of your neighbourhood and your town (and the income of your cable companie, partly own by your townhall). And don't you forget those handy copyright reasons!
Until now there was a small loophole: there were two scandinavien stations left in clear pal on satellite: TV Norge and Femman, now Kanal Fem. They have been taken over by us giant abc/disney - and disney is well known for its policy: let no one have anything for free! So you guessed it already. TV Norge will join canal+ and mutate into a scrambled pay tv station in d2mac/eurocrypt this autumn. Another window to other parts of europe has successfully be closed. Europes politicians can be proud. They did everything to please the media companies and made canal+ the scrambling, digitizing master of the airwaves all over europe. But their people get less and less choice. Big brother may watch you, but you are not allowd to watch your brothers programs.
When nick goes
Color bars test card has replaced the farewell message of german nickelodeon. Another card has replaced sky box office 4 on tp 57. And there is still the astra testcard on tp 51 (ex cmt europe). So if you like testcards, turn to astra and tune in!
When Thor comes in ...
As of 1 August eventually Thor should be online and broadcasting from the scandinavian Hot-Bird-Position (!!!). Before and after that there will be some reshuffling on Thors already transmitting and Intelsat 707 - and the retirement for german crap satellite TV SAT2. To learn more about the changes click here.
nbc ends crap programming for europe
Remember? Some years ago us media giant nbc bought european station Super Channel, mutated it to NBC Super Channel and further to NBC Europe. Programming changed by cutting all the movies and installing talk and talk and business all day and night. Oh jeah, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brian were on too. That was precisely the programming europe had been waiting for ...
So we arent really surprised about the closedown announced for july 1st. (We are indeed surprised that it took so long after all.)
For England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe NBC Programming will mutate to National Geographic Channel (already available as part of the Sky Packages in England and Scandinavia). The National Geographic Programs will be interrupted by ... yepp CNBC between 6:00 and 12:00 in the morning all week.
These programs will be available on Eutelsat II-F1 until 1 september 1998, thereafter from Astra 2A (28,5 east).
Sister Channel CNBC (who sucked EBN and mutated their very different programs into their avarage boring all american channel) will cease on Hot Bird and only be available on Astra (1E) tp 50. It will carry Jay Leno and Conan O'Brian at the weekend to fill the gap in business news.
For the german speaking countries and Poland and the Czech Republic, NBC will mutate to a joined venture with german company DFA and broadcasting from London. The gaps between the CNBC programming will be filled with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brian and entertainment programs produced by DFA ("Polka jambouree???"). This channel will be for paying cable and Kirch viewers only. So there is no reason to worry about it.
And the empty tps on 13 East? Will probably be filled with yet other digital packages ...
clearly techno
Since 21 june there is a new french music channel on 13 degrees east. The former fashion tv transponder now is home for w-bmp. The new techno tv starts - in pal without encryption - at 20.00. Comments are in four languages: french, english, german, italian. If you like techno, you might want to watch the grand opening of w-bmp. You can do so on june 26 at 22.00 or june 27 at 20.00.
dutch in the clear
jsi our dutch service let us know the dutch public broadcaster nos is transmitting word cup programs without encryption. Dutch viewers all over europe can watch the game with dutch comment - if they use digital equipment that is :-(
teststop
Test transmissions of the new danish service Star TV have stopped. Let hope it will return as a regular service in clear d2-mac or pal. (But who would count on it?)
TV8 gone
Swedish business channel TV has ceased in analogue on Sirius 2. It has been replaced by ... (NO NOT ANOTHER TESTCARD!!!) ... MTV Nordic in D2-MAC/Eurocrypt. So that is why they will leave Thor2? (SciFi Channel, yet another Viacom outlet is already on that satellite.)
Fashion tv is no longer available in analogue - is that so?
Of course it is not - don't be rediculous! Switch to german womens channel tm 3 on astra, wait till the dark hours and watch ,,, "tm3 Modenacht" and wonder why the f-logo feels so familiar :-)
Say good night, Nick
No more Viacom toons for german kids. At least for the time beeing. The german version of flatmans childrens channel "Nickelodeon" has ceased on Astra, beeing replaced by ... yeah - a testcard! Say thank you to the german pubcasters Kinderkanal, kids (financed by forced fees).
Plus 1 Testcard
Tescardlovers should turn to astra. The astra vision promotion (tp 51) has been replaced by a ... testcard!
Minus 1 Testcard
One testcard has been replaced by a new service on thor. There is no longer the Tele X-Testcard, which followed the election special on the former TV S DK -Transponder. It is still called TV S- DK, but now the S is for "Star" insetad of Sport. Star transmitts in D2-MAC a Mix of Sport (most of the first night Snooker) and Movie/Music. In the very dark hours one can read "Star-News"-cartds in clear D2-MAC .
Freuency: Thor 2, 0.8 W, 11.389/H.
Onyx x2
German based clip channel Onyx is back on their second tp (11.638) at 13 east. Still on their old tp. Seems there are some sound problems on the new one.
Horizon stays behind bars
Maybe the encoder had a little "time off". UK Horizon was transmitting in Pal clear this morning - but only for a short time. So don't count on watching that channel without decoder. Clear pal? Never, we're british!
Testcard gone
Yepp and another sorry. Bad news, testcardlovers: the astra uplink testcard on tp 51 has ceased. Now you can admire the wonderful world of astra again and again and again - yeah it is the astra promo. (And it is really up to date, telling viewers there will be further satellites launchend in 1997. Isn't that great news?)
UK Preview becomes Horizon
The UK TV (UK Gold, Horizon, Style, Arena) Preview channel on astra tp 56 has ceased. It has been replaced by the continous broadcast of UK Horizon only. So no more Arena. Sorry, folks. But at least until now Horizon is still in decoder mode, so you need a decoder but no card.
Europe - less choice or mo money
Wanna watch tv programs from other european countries? Forget it or move around and subscribe to their pay-tvs. Free TV??? Pan-european??? The three last mohicans of scandinavian free tv are going to end this too. Later this year, sbs-channels Kanal Fem, TV Norge and TV Danmark will be encrypted lijke all the others.
Pan-european tv only exists for the multi(euro)dollar trusts, not for the common viewers. One day in a future not so far from today, there will be one or two companies controlling all programs - but it will be able to compete and get great shareholder value - if it sets sufficiant parts of its workforce "free".
ANN "single" again
ANN has left their old Tp on 13 east and are only available on the new frequency of 10.949/V.
EUROPESAT-1 DIGITAL TELEVISION AND MULTIMEDIA SATELLITE FOR 29 DEGREES EAST
Read about it here
Onyx 2 ceased
The second transponder transmitting Onyx on 13 east is empty again. ANN still on two tps.
Text or no text ...
TV Danmark (D2-Mac, open, 11.216/V, Thor 2) work on their new teletext (new for the satellite version that is). Sometimes there is teletext available, then there is not. Test your luck. ? For receiving this teletext (and the service) you need a D2-Mac-receiver (or decoder).
... gone
The Merlin Communications testcard on Sirius II is gone. The transponder is - like most of his brothers and sisters on that satellite are - empty.
Another 24 hours ...
Yeah,a nd another 24 hours around the clock ... yeah, youve got that right ... shopping-channel has started on 13 east. Q24 (Quantum) uses Hot Bird 4 on 10.930/H. Sound in english, german and dutch.
... and so does ANN
ANN too uses two analogue transmitters on 13 east (so there is a lot of analogue programming on that position, isn't it?) ANN moves to their new tp shortly. New Frequency: 10.949/V (thats Hotbird 4).
Onyx meets Onyx
Onyx now uses the belgacom tp at 13 east (11.638) too. Test or on the move? We'll see.
The Animals went
Animal Planet has ceased analoge transmissions via 13 east. As one can see this is a very "hot" Position ... it seems more services are leaving then starting here ... (and there is not much wearth watching at all)
New testcard
Sorry, the testcard on the Fashion TV tansponder did not last long, but there is still hope for testbildfans. On Astra tp 51 the encrypted CMT closed down and a "Betzdorf Uplink"-testcard can be seen on that tp.
Sci Fi Nordic ceases
Eurocrypted SciFi(Horror)Channel coming from Viacom (company directive: "There is no program or service, we cannot ruin in a very short time") now only broadcasts via Sirius 2. Their second (former) transponder on TV SAT has been shut down on 1 april.
Hot Bird 4 on (non)air
Hot Bird 4 has endet its special giuest apperance as Europesat at 29 east and the duck has landed on 13 east. There is and will be not much in analogue, maybe Eutelsat will shuffle the services a bit about and gain some space for analogue services an the other birds. Tp 115 (10.815/H) is the new home for Duna TV which will be joined by ANN (10.949/V) and Quantum TV later this month. Thats all, folks.
Watch this space ...
With one tiny interruption the merlin testcard is stoill on tp 27 of Sirius 2. But no sound at all - just the relay of this weeks cmr mediazoo. But there will be another "event" shortley: the Radio Caroline birthday party will be reason for special broadcasts all over this planet earth. Among other outlets you will be able to listen to the programs via Astra and Sirius 2 transponders. Further infos on the websites of Merlin and Mediazoo.
And the winner is ...
After announcing (and annoying everone) again and again and over again, Fashion Tv has left their analogue transponder at 13 east at midnight sharp on april 1st (after all this tp is under administration of german telekom). Following a oneday testcard there is an anlogue service again on that tp. You might have guessed, it is ... Fashion TV, l'original ...
Happy Birthday, Merlin
Merlin, Uplink-Service for GE, BBC and many more celebrates its first birthday with a special 24 hours radio station: Merlin Networks 1. via shortwave and at least two Satellite-Transponders. Via Satellit MNOne is to receive via Sirius 1, tp 27 (12.227/H). 7.02/7.20 MHz, 6,50 MHz and via Astra, CNBC-tp, 7.38/7.56 MHz. The Program contents Great Moments of Radio History - including bits of Radio Caroline and the CMR Media Zoo with Eric Wiltsher. Tune in!!! Real audio @ http://www.colc.net/mediawave/live.ram.
Merlin Network broadcasts from the CMR Studios in London and you can reach them via per phone (+44/71/4191035), Fax (+44/71/4191024) and e-mail (mno@cix.co.uk), Webpage: http://www.merlincommunications.com.
fashion adieu
Fashion tv - now still available in analogue on 13 E - will close its analogue transmissions "in spring 1998". It will only be open to members of a socalled "fashion club" and as it seems in digital only. Spots taken from the outer limits intro are transmitted in several languages to prepare fashion viewers for x-day.
BVN is here to stay ... a little bit longer
Thanks, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. In their spring program information, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep announces that BVN (Best van Nederland, former Wereldmomroep TV) will stay available in analogue via 13 E for some years at least, so makers and viewers can make up their minds about digital. Thanks from all the analogue viewers out here.
Election Watch (updated)
The color testcard on the former TVS DK transponder Thor 2, 0.8 W, 11.389/H) has been switched off. It now shows another testcard, announcing an election special from Danmarks Radio (Folketings Election Evening 1998) for wednesday, 19:35 CET. Be aware of lots of squares - it is converted from a digital transmission (to D2-MAC).
12 march: election is run, tp now shows a testcard of Digital Video X, Copenhagen in D2MAC clear.
Radio Nederland International is back (updated)
Maybe you noticed the colorbars testcard on the BVN tp. It is not just there or to announce a new analogue tv service (on 13 east - don't make me laugh) or the arrival of the transponder hopper Rendez Vous. Turn to audio, tune in to 7.38 or 7.56 MHz and you will be listening to Radio Nederland Wereldomroep - in english as well. (Sorry, sound of silence now ...)
Rendez Vous on the Run again
If you tried - in vain - to get "your" Rendez Vous on Eutelsat, you seem to have missed the trailer, announcing the switch to their new tp on Hot Bird 1. As of 1 march, Rendez Vous is on 11.280/V (BVN tp), 2310 -500 hours.
Hot Bird 4 launched
More digital crap on 13 E ... but maybe a bit of analogue too? More info about the launch from the Eutelsat Organization here.
I had a media-dream
... of a Pentagon news conference ... the peaker of the pentagon ...:
"... has been nuked and conventional bombarded, further air strikes and third world war possible ... any questions?"
"Rolf Flitzer, VNN. Did the president have sex with Monika Lewinkaya???"
No need to North ...
At least no need to look for additional analogue services. Just testing, I think. To keep up appearances. Still a testcard on the former TVS DK transponder.
One gone, two to go ...
The text card on the former TVS DK tp has been replaced by a color test card. Maybe a new service will start here? Same for two tps on the new Sirius 2 satellite: there have been tests on tp 10 (11.900/V), Nordic Beam, and tp 27 (12.226/H), Euope Beam on tuesday and wednesday.
Cinefil free top air
Nearby the scandinavian Hot Bird Position the French have positioned one of their own satellites: Telecom 2C at 3 E. It is more or less a "feeds-satellite", but for some days now one can watch the D2-MAC-Service Cinefil 4:3 without encryption with old french movies and dubbed or subtitled US-Oldies. Frequency: 12.630.
analogue&free to air Tip: Fashion Carnival
As of 22 february Fashion TV will brodcast live from Carnival in Rio. For 3 days 24 hours. If you like to join Fashion TV (via satellite) tune in (as long as it is analog) via 13 East, 11.055/H..
The thruth has to stay out there
Democracy is a nice thing with many rights - at least on paper and as long as you don't test them or they don't collide with business interests. This "basical truth" now hit american talk show host Oprah Winfrey. When her show dealt with the mad cow desease (created by feeding sick animals to healthy ones) instead of real issues like "help my bra doesn't fit" or "my brother is in love with my dog" and shocked by the information delivered by one of her talkshow guests said she never would eat a burger again, the texas cattlefarmers lobby sued her for their business beeing damaged - by her remarks not by their methods getting all the odd things in our food that is. So americans are granted free speech - provided they don't touch any business interests. Any doubt about that? Just check the topics of american talk shows and don't you dare to say anything substantial (or in the customers interest), you could be sued for it...
Hang on ... (updated)
GE/NBC seem to have grown familiar to their unused transponder on sirius 2. Since the end of tesug satellite festival 1998 the transponder shows a color testcard. If they just cannot decide to turn the tp off again or in preparation for the start of a GE/NBC service - who knows? And thats all folks, the tp has been switched off again. No GE services for europe in sight.
Fusion losses
Remember that NBC-statement from 9 december 1997?
"In Europe, NBC and Dow Jones will merge European Business News (EBN) and CNBC Europe to form the newly-branded "CNBC: a service of NBC and Dow Jones." The new service will be available in nearly 15 million homes on a full-time basis and 50 million on a part-time basis throughout Europe beginning in early 1998.
NBC and Dow Jones will be equal partners in the European service. It will be based in London with production facilities at the current EBN site on Fleet Place and commercial operations and transmission handled out of the CNBC facility in Hammersmith. (NBC Europe, a separate, general programming television service owned by NBC, will continue to be headquartered in the Hammersmith location.)
Allan Horlick, president of CNBC and NBC Europe, will be named president of the new NBC/Dow Jones European service. NBC will name the chief financial officer and general counsel. Rob Beynon, the current Managing Editor of EBN, will become Director of Programming at the new service. NBC will provide marketing, distribution and administrative services to the new venture.
"
Did you believe any of that? So now you can wake up to realty. The former EBN transponder on 13 E now carries the regular cnbc programming - with now hint however on what ever happened to EBN. So the viewer lost an unusal service and once again is forced to stick to one more of the same. Interested viewers now just can turn to Bloomberg or - even if parts of that channel are in swedish - to TV.8 (but that will vanish to in march).
So once again it is business as usual - without caring a bit for the viewers. And the EU? Watching as always and beeing happy with less choice and the media market beeing controled by less "players" every day.
rik leaves eutelsat
Cyprus Sat (Rik Sat) will leave their old tp on 2F4 as of 31 march. After that viewers have to turn to their new tp on sirius II (5 West, 11.264). Rik radios on 7,20 (RIK1) and 7,80 (RIK2).
Channel 5 under construction
If you tried in vain to connect to the channel 5 (UK) website, don't panic. Channel 5 still exists, their website is beeing "off line" because of reconstruction works. They will be back!
VTV gone
VTV is gone to - at least for most of the sat viewers. They switched to squarevision digital ...
no-view is back
For some days there was indeed a preview-channel for the UK TV channels on astra. But by now the encrypted no-view channel is back. Sorry folks, no sale.
Another one bites the dust
Dansih pay-sports channel TV-S DK is gone. They had to pull the plug because they did not attract sufficient amount of subscribers for the program. It is said they lost the battle because they could not get the rights for more danish sport events - so canibal+ can expand further.
BR alpha on air
Yet another service has been launched by the german public broadcasters. This time Bayerischer Rundfunk has started their "Learning Channel" called BR alpha - der Bildungskanal des Bayerischen Fernsehens". So lets wait for the next "special interest services" coming from the german pubcasters, maybe a cooking channel from wdr, a hunting channel by swf/sdr, a housekeeping channel by ndr, a fishing channel by orb, a ...
hr3 on astra
German regional public broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk have started their hr3 service on astra tp 40. Radio Bremen and Saarländischer Rundfunk are still without a satellite outlet of their regional services. All the other german regional pubcasters are on astra (SFB Berlin will join ORB, SDR will take over one of the two SWF tps).
Rendez Vous changes again
Rendez Vous is testing on the former Canal 24 horas tp (operated by french telecom). The switch from the currently used 12.xxx tp to this one would make sense since more DTH homes are able to receive this frequency.
Shopping Norge
Teleshopping junkies, there is a news service for you: turn to the NRK 2 tp and watch what norwegians are offered to buy. During the night and most of the day (the time, NRK does not use the tp) Canal M presents norwegian goods.
Sci-Fi ahead, Kanal 5 ceases
As of monday 8.12. SciFi Channel (Nordic) can be received via its new (and stronger) tp on Sirius 2. The new frequency at 5 West is12.322/V (tp 32). Kanal 5 is now again broadcasting 24 hours on 12.476/V (Sirius 2) and will cease on Tele-X (12.207) very soon to enable the start of business tv TV8. Much of the remaining capacities of Sirius 2 will be used for stills&squares-tv (digital).
The future is digital ...
If your satellite system is only equipped to receive analogue signals, you can get a glimps of the future - on 13 East and on astra. On 13 east the feed for the new Canal 24 Horaus tp is digital - and you could more than guess that the recent days: rocking, stopping, jerking, twitching pictures, stills with ongoing sound, stripes, looks like punched cards, ... Same with astras channe 5-tp - have a look when there is heavy rain or snow or winds over the british islands.
So you might know what the future looks like on tv ... and I don't think it is very orange ...
Sirius 2 goes onbeam
Following SATCO-DX, the new scandinavian satellite Sirius 2 on 5 West will be fully operational as of 12.12.
German pubcasters Südwestfunk and Süddeutscher Rundfunk merge ...
... and their regional TV-Service will be splitted into two seperate services. Which means: S3 (originating from SDR) will broadcast via astra tp 61 as of 1998, S3 (coming from SWF) stays on tp 48. When will germanies largest regional public broadcaster WDR start to transmitt their lokal services called "Fenster" (for Cologne, Düsseldorf, Westfalia, Bergisches Land ... ) on seperate astra-transponders? It just takes12 Mio DEM p.a. and germans are forced by law to pay for anything the pubcasters can imagine anyway ...
And the winner of astra transponder 57 is ...
The testcard on astra 1d tp 57 has vanished as of thursday. Instead you can (or cannot since it is encrypted in videocrypt - a trailer for BSkyB (what else?)
Spanien - Frankreich - ?
24 Horas has switched to their new tp (11.785), and has ceased on the forer used. The former tp now shows a Telecom (France) testcard.
Südwest 3 x 2
Phoenix has ceased on 30.11. on astra tp 61 (now on tp 36 only). Sucessor on tp 61 is S3 (german pubcaster SWF/SDR), same service as on tp 48.
Satisfaction delayed ... further delayed ... (updated)
Following a testcard on Polonia 1's tp, the start of Satisfaction tv is delayed "due to technical reasons". According to that card, Satisfaction tv will start on "Wensday" 26 november. Transmission times: 1.00 am - 2.30 am.
The testcard has changed. Now it announced the start is delayed due to technical reasons and the service will start on 1 december. ..
Satisfaction is broadcasting.
Wereldomroep goes Hot Bird
Radio Nederland Wereldomroep tv is to leave astra tp 58. Due to BSkyB pay per view plans which include tp 58 (for Sky Box Office 4) the analogue wereldomroep tv has to move. As of monday 24 november the service will broadcast on 11.283/V via Hot Bird, 13 East. And not only the tp changes but the transmission times as well: analogue programs will start at 19.00 - one hour more tv for analogue viewers (on astra wereldomroep tv analogue started at 20.00). Radio Nederland radio services are said to move too.
Tele-x transponder games
Kanal Fem ceased - due to a transponder crash? - on that satellite (12.466/H) and reappeared on 12.207/V. On Friday it was back on 12.466/H - from Sirius 2. Kanal 5 is - including the Intelsat 707 on 1 west - now on three tps.
Full service on 12.466/H will be resumed between 5 and 15 december. For the time beeing this frequency is only on air from 16:00 - 24:00.
And there is a new testcard on Tele-X. Teracom, Svensk Rundradio testcard can bee seen on 12.630/V
Sirius 2 eventually launched
The new swedish satellite has finally been successfully launched. It will extend the swedisch hot bird position on 5 west (tele-x, Sirius 1). Programs are aimed for scandinavia and central europe (GE-transponders for NBC europe programs).
German channels on the move
As of 1 december phoenix will leave tp 61 and only be available on tp 36. The same day ORB (regional service Brandenburg) will start regular programming on tp 30.
UK TV No-View
Yes, the "preview channel" for the UK TV digital package is on air. But no, if you don't already use a videocrypt decoder you can't even preview at all. But don't get too sad - it is rebroadcasting of BBC programs anyway.
Promo is back
The testcard on astra tp 32 has been replaced by ... the astra promo.
Still on ... air
RDV TV could still be found on the Eutelsat Telekom tp (13 east). It was said to loose this tp to a new 24 hours service due to take over on november 1st. Maybe tomorrow?? So far no new services on 13 east.
New testcards!
Eventually they have arrived. Hope is near for all those astra testcard junkies who had to live on permanent turky for some time now. Tune into tp 30 or 40 and enjoy the sound of testing.
Whilst the spanish canibal plus services have left their tps, some of the new owners are announced to take over as of january 1st 1998. And the new owners - if it is not BSKYB - had to be the german pubcasters for two of their regional services (broadcasting the same programs most of the time (yes sometimes you can watch the same shows on all the different tps - just the station logo changes whilst zapping up and down) and Phoenix. Tp 36 has been taken by Phoenix already (they will leave their 1d tp soon). Tp 30 (ORB) and 40 (Hessen 3) show testcards, announcing these services to start on january 1st 1998. But at least ORB might start earlier, maybe on 1 december. Tp 32 (former Dokumania) shows a card with no name. (Maybe one tp for poor BSKYB after all???)
Just barking
Sorry, Lads, no new proggies on astra tp 56. This tp will only be used to promote the digital package UK TV. There have even been videocrypt tests on that frequency. So use the skip utility if you don't want to be botherd by just another promo-trailer-schedule-barker-channel on 1D.
Germany calling
More of the same is to enter the astra tps on november 1st. The spanish canibal plus channels will leave astra for good (as is galavision said to) and the tp will be taken over by german pubcasters. SATCO-DX announced the changes as follows: tp 30 - ORB (regional tv Brandenburg), tp 40 - HR (regional tv Hessen), tp 36 - Phoenix (moves from tp 61/1d). See, astra is all new pan european tv without frontieres ...
... the dust after all?
At least analogue on tp 56 screen shop has vanished. It has been replaced by a testcard, announcing three new channelitos to join UK Gold as of november 1st: UK Horizons, UK Style and UK Arena - coming from UK TV.
UK Living has been relaunched on october 27th - with an all new style an stripped of the "UK" it calls itself now just "Living" and aims to "enter a new class of multichannels".
And another one bites ...
no, not the dust but the viewers of astra 1D - yet another tv shopping channel has started on tp 56. It is called Screenshop and kind of american style. Advertainmentshows present their products and viewers can order via the Screenshop network centers in the UK, Eireland, Germany, The Netherlands or Denmark. The programs are in english.
Gone with the ...
Eventually TV Norge has left their tp on oktober 17th. No new service yet. Maybe the tp will be used for yet another digital package.
Next time for shure!
Lets remember. TV Norge will definitivly leave their old tp on september 30th. Ooops. What about that: TV Norge will definitivly leave their former tp on october 14th. As of october 15th it will only transmitt on its new tp. No chance. It is still there. What about TV norge is finally leaving the old tp definitivly on october 20th (october 30th, november 1st, november 20th ...) ?
Radio Revolution rolls on
Or rocks it? Anyway, as of october 20th satellite-listeners all over europe (and fm-listeners in parts of Kent) will be able to tune into the regular programs of a new radiostation. A radiostation like the ones said to have existed in a time not too far from today, when radio stations played real music, had real people (owning their personal characters) and covering a broad spectre of music. And when people listened to the radio - or radios like euronet, henri radio, radio benelux and many more. But then the radio programmer came forcing everything into so called format and playing the same few "hits" over and over again. They didn't ask the listeners but they proclaimed that was what the public wants - and the public alway gets what the public wants, as you might know. ;-)
The result was no more independent maybe weired or otherwise "special" stations but streamlined multinational owned computerized "radiobranches" (including public trusts) with no personality, no taste, no show hosts and no choice. And no talk about more than 1 lousy minute.
Thats my feeling about todays radio but as it happens parts of the trailer for a new station as well. It will start on astra, analogue and in the clear on october 20th, 7 am british time.
It will be on air every day from 6:00 - 22.00. Followed by "Nightracks" from 22:00 - 6:00.
Interested? They are already testing on their future frequency. Tune into tp 35 (Challenge TV a.k.a. The Family Channel) / TCC on astra. Video 10.994/H, Audio 8 7,38 MHz. Here is theERK-Schedule.
Northern exposure
Yet another location can be added to the Animal Planet resources: viewers in the northern parts of europe can receive the channel in D2-MAC from Thor 1. Frequency nearby the former CNN tp: 11.790.
As deers go by
Animal Planet is on the move. As of october 10th transmissions start on the former MCM Euro tp (11.303/H) on 13 east. So no Hot Bird 3 frequency - means most viewers can carry on watching the channel without upgrading their systems. Thanks a lot Eutelsat. Fashion tv will extend its transmissions when Animal Planet leaves the old tp.
News in spahanish
Good news for spanish speaking viewers in europe. They will get news in spanish even ECO (Part of Galavision on Astra) has ceased. Spanish pubcaster tve has started transmission of its 24 hours news service "Canal 24 horas" (Channel 24 hours) on 13 east. And even more: the channel broadcasts in pal and in the clear - and uses a frequency in reach for most satellite equipment (11.658/H).
The rain in spain ...
... lets everything grow - as it seems tv services as well. Although tve inter is already transmitting via 13 east on 11.223/V, a new transponder now shows a tve test card. The new frequency is 11.658/V.
New arrangements
It seems Eutelsat is reshuffling services on 13 east. Some digital programs have been shifted from their tps on the earlier birds to new locations on HB2. So there is room for analogue (I hope) services in the frequency range, receivable by most of the existing satellite equipments. Since I don't go for digital, I don't really care, if I can receive those HB3-frequencies and like the idea.
Follow this channel!
Living in scandinavia and receiving TV Norge via its old tp (11.016/H)? Make shure you have tuned in to their new frequency (11.416/H) as well. TV Norge will leave 11.016/H on october 15th.
Hot Bird 3 - 1 up ? to go?
The new Hot Bird on 13 East has shown ist first service - at least temporarily. MTV 2 for eastern europe can sometimes be received on 12.130/H. So if you have the LNB you can try to get it on your screen. No further programs yet. But since HB3 is mainly dedicated to squares-tv from the digital dust, there might not be any more. New programs are announced to start on october 2nd or 3rd. Wait and (maybe) see ...
RDV - everything changes - again ...
Maybe not everything but since the channel has got itself a new owner there are some changes to report. First: as of november the programs will no longer start at midnight GMT but CET, thats 11pm or 23.00 GMT. And since all the movie rights have to be renegotiated, there might be some schedule changes. And it seems it more difficult to get agreements about queer films than straight ones, it is not yet clear if there will be the usual gay sundays on rdv. You'll find the latest schedules for rdv here. (Sorry it is only the november programming but you can get the october schedule at http://members.aol.com/rdvtv.)
Fashion Nights
Fashion TV ist back again - analogue on 13 East. It is now using the Animal Planet transponder after midnight (11.055).
At least on a tv screen near you. Dutch Zomer tv - presented and organized by the busy people of Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (world service) tv has finally got the okay to carry on. In the early months of 1997 it was announced that zomer tv wouldn't even start this summer. As you might know it did and was set to end on september 30th. Now wereldomroep was proud to announce the prolongation of zomer tv. As of october 1st zomer tv only will change ist name to wereld omroep tv but will continue to deliver information and entertainment to dutch and flemish people outside the Netherlands and Belgium. Programs will be originate from the dutch public broadcasters, the wereldomroep and the flemish pubcaster BRTN. (Join the news desk from Belgium at about 0.30 GMT and watch a public broadcaster transmitting a human news cast - and compare it with the clinical announcements of ard and zdf from germany.)
Carry on, zomer
At least on a tv screen near you. Dutch Zomer tv - presented and organized by the busy people of Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (world service) tv has finally got the okay to carry on. In the early months of 1997 it was announced that zomer tv wouldn't even start this summer. As you might know it did and was set to end on september 30th. Now wereldomroep was proud to announce the prolongation of zomer tv. As of october 1st zomer tv only will change ist name to wereld omroep tv but will continue to deliver information and entertainment to dutch and flemish people outside the Netherlands and Belgium. Programs will be originate from the dutch public broadcasters, the wereldomroep and the flemish pubcaster BRTN. (Join the news desk from Belgium at about 0.30 GMT and watch a public broadcaster transmitting a human news cast - and compare it with the clinical announcements of ard and zdf from germany.)
Going, going, gone ...
A sad loss for friends of queer radio - freedom fm radio, the first pan european gay and lesbian radio station via satellite has ceased its transmissions via the astra system. It had been broadcasting during the relativ dark hours on tp 50 (the rest of the day home of cmr, country music radio). They announced to be back in december, it will be astra, but it will use another transponder. We try to keep you informed. CMR has filled the former freedom fm space with nonstop programming for the time beeing.
this week more sat-news&views (archive)
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