And along with this change there is a new e-mail adress as well: please use euromedia@wowmail.com or euromedia@pemail.net instead of euromedia@geocities.com. Thanks.
Closed Circuit
As of 1 october The Adult Channel will be fully integrated into the Sky universe. Viewers will only be able to decrypt the channel with an original BSkyB viewing card. Adult Channel stops its own cards. So the Mediawatcher doesn't know of any british pay tv station (apart from granny bbc) outside sky. As they keep on saying: sky is the limit.
Everything changes
Rendez Vous Eurotica (yepp it is this way round now) will change their transmission system shortly. No change for RDV-subscribers (oh yes: they can watch their pay-tv again after the videocrypt phase) but eurotica-card holders will have to buy a d2-mac decoder to continue. And RDV and Eurotica assist with a special offer: customers can a special offer for decoders and new subscribers can get an eurotica/RDV subscription (1 year) plus D2-Mac decoder for 279 US $. As they say: contact your local dealers.
British QVC ends encryption
It has been a couriosity for some time. A home shopping channel limiting its possible amount of viewers (and buyers) by encrytpting its transmissions. To receive QVC viewers needed a videocrypt 1 decoder, no card but the decoder. QVC has ended the "soft encryption" and transmitts - as its german partner station does - in pal clear. (Astra tp 38)
Due north ...
BSkyB expands to the northern part of europe and transforms into NSkyB. Now the scandinavian viewers are able to pay for their personalized version of the wellknown BSkyB patchwork programming. As of september 15th, NSkyB has started its patchworks on two transponders: Sky News and The National Geographics Channel share time on their own (tp). They use a frequencie about the former CNN Nordic tp on 11.773. The second tp is even more patchworked. Sky uses spare time on the DR2 tp (11.667). Whilst DR2 now has ceased its promotion cards and only uses this tp from 18.00 - 2.00, The Sky Patchwork, sorry, Sky Entertainment Channel can be seen between 2.00 and 18.00 as follows: Granada Men&Motors (2.00 - 3.00), Country Music Television, CMT (3.00 - 10.00), Granada Good Life (11.00 - 18.00). All in D2-Mac eurocrypt.
Canibal Plus Nordic
No more Filmnet for scandinavian viewers as well. That's the sad result of september 1st, 1997. As of that day all Filmnet channel have finally be renamed to Canibal + channels. They have been restructured as well to fit into the uniformed setup all the french multis channel have to fit in. Filmnet 1 and 2 have been reformed to Canibal + Sweden resp. Canibal + gold Scandinavia. Apart from a totally changed general appearance (which has been send down rather then kept up) - loud, agressiv, obtrusive - they now have to show materials from other canibal + stations in france, spain and germany (Premiere, Canal satelliet ... ) and non-movie-related stuff, so they don't feel like movie channels any more but like mixed general stores like the german Premiere.
Sorry, wrong info
Galavision should be still on astra - but only the early bird catches a view. It should be on air (via tp 44) from 6 - 11. No hit tv after all it seems.
Bye, bye Galavision
And another one bites the digital dust. Sorry fans and friends of spanish service - astra has again prooved their aim "more channels - more choice". Since august 1st there is no more Galavision on tp 44. It has been taken over - guess who - it is astra, so it has to be BSkyB, right! - encrypted Sky channel bits (for UK and Ireland only). Following a testcard Sky Movies Gold (tp60) already is and Sky Travel (tp47) will be broadcasting on that transponder.
They will be back
Eurotica / Rendez Vous didn't broadcast on july 30th due to an uplink problem. The problems have been solved and they will be back as usual on both satellites tonight.
Do the program shuffle with Sky (updated)
BSkyB is moving their channel around again. As of september 1st there will be some changes in sky's line up. On july 26 tp 24 changed appearances and showed a new trailer announcing the start of SciFi, History and Sky Soap on this tp on september 1st. (Now available on tp 47.) Sky Sports 2 is said to take over their tp 47 timshares. Following the trailer on tp 24 the scifi channel broadcasted in the clear until about 1.00 when it switched to hard videocrypt. Not announced but transmitting on tp 24 anyway was the Christian Channel - in the clear as it is on tp 47.
As of september 1st Sky Two is said to cease for good and so does Granada Talk TV. Sky two will be replaced by National Geographics (probabely). Granada Talk TV by Sky Box Office (pay per view events). Infos provided by SATCO DX and Sky. Sky Soap and the History Channel have also started on tp 24, so the line up is already complete by now.
New services on Thor 2A
Today we can report several changes on 1 west. First Tv Danmark started on tp 1 (11.216/V) in D2-MAC. One day later swedish Kanal 5 and norwegian TVN Norge were switched on tp 9 resp. 14 in pal clear (sbs channels). Whilst TV Norge, MTV Europe and NRK TO still transmitt on their old tps on 707 (and Kanal 5 on TeleX) NRK 1 ceased transmissions on the Intelsat, it's tp is empty - at least analogue. Thor 2A line up looks like that now:
Frequency
Service
11.216/V
Tv Danmark (D2-MAC)
11.325/H
NRK TO (D2-MAC/Eurocrypt)
11.341/V
Kanal 5 (pal clear)
11.357/H
NRK 1 (D-MAC/Eurocrypt)
11.421/H
TVN Norge (pal clear)
11.434/V
MTV Europe Nordic (D2-MAC/Eurocrypt)
This should remain unchanged until mid august. New services should not appear before september 1st. (For more info turn to SATCO DX.)
Nothing happened today (july 13th)
Still testcards and no new services on Thor or Intelsat 707. So it seems viewers have to wait til monday to see wether "their" programm will be launched on that position.
General Erotics Inc. (updated)
Two european erotic channels have joined forces and started transmissions on 13 east. Rendez Vous has stopped its tests on the former Polonia-1-tp. On that channel you can watch the combined new programs of Eurotica&Rendez Vous. Transmissions start 1.00 CET in pal videocrypt. RDV-cards (Mac) cannot be used to decrypt these broadcasts. But RDV announces the return of Mac-transmissions in few days.
For a few viewers more
Believe it or not - astra tp 11 is now in use to transmitt a regular tv service. And more: it is an analogue service. Okay, it is not a brand new channel and it doesn't deal with movies or soaps. Its field is news , business and lifestyle. You might have guessed it by now, Bloomberg tv has started in pal clear on astra tp 11 (former Filmnet 1). Until now it could only be watched by sky cardholders and digital. Maybe this way they get a few vierwers more ...
Three's companie ...(updated)
If the folks of SATCO-DX have got it right (and they usually do) TV Norge and TV Denmark will be accompanied by the third sister channel on Thor 2A. Swedish Kanal Fem is said to launch on tp 9 (11.341/V). But it is also announced to launch on the new swedisch-american satellite Sirius 2 due to be operative in august 1997. There is now a color test card (telenor uk 9) on this tp and still testcards on the other two the question reamains: when are they going to be launched?
New place for Rendez Vous
Following some days of transmitting a german telekom Usingen testcard rdv broadcasted via 13 east for the first time on tuesday (1.00 - 2.00 CET). Used tp is the ex-Polonia1-tp which had been empty for the last couple of month.
New arrivals
And again one tp is and two transponders on the new Thor2A will be filled with tv services. Telenor today announced TV Norge is due to start soon on tp 14 (11.421) and surprise, surprise, its sisterchannel TV Denmark will launch on tp 1 (11.216/V). Earlier MTV nordic (MTV europe that is) started on tp 15 (11.434/V). TV Norge and MTV are still transmitting via Intelsat 707 but might cease there as early as july 14th. Maybe tv pluss will get its old transponder back - or might sci fi leave TV-Sat?
The story continues ...
Two more transponders on Thor2A are now transmitting analogue television services. NRK 1 has started on tp 10 (11.357/H) and NRK TO on tp 8 (11.325/H). That brings the total amount of used transponders on that satellite to 4 (one testcard, two NRKs and TV S DK). All in D(2)-MAC/Eurocrypt.
Early autumn
When Canibal+ took over Filmnet they announced the two filmnet channels for scandinavia would melt to one and SuperSport would cease to exist "this autumn". It seems the french media-destructing bosses are taking the cool summer wether in scandinavia for the autumn and have stopped transmissions of SuperSport already. The SuperSport transponder on Intelsat 707 has been taken over by VTV (Czech Republic) which transmitts in pal clear for the time beeing. All programs are dubbed - so no good deal for scandinavian viewers on their Hot Bird.
It just had to be like that
The very day we write nothing happened on Thor2A Telenor has to show their animated testcard on tp 1 (11.210/V). Network information reads D2mac-test. But thats all. Yawn.
Yepp, they are on
Animal Planet has started regular programming on 19.00 CET today (july 1st). It is said to switch over to the next Hot Bird once that is active. On astra, dutch zomer tv has started on tp 58 (granada) in pal clear.
Travels with Rendez Vous
Provided sourced are right, french "adult channel" Rendez Vous (RDV) will move again. This time it should start on july 1st on 13 East. The tp - don't laugh - is Polonia 1. Wait and see if polish cable companies are going to stop a hardcore channel coming with Polonia 1 once more. Did anyone expect anything else - honmestly? No Rendez Vous on 13 E tonight. So wait for the next time the launch of RDV on 13 East will be announced ... (it will happen, be assured)
The return of Zomer TV
As of today, july 1st dutch Zomer Tv is due to come back. Although rnw had officially (and in writing in their schedule) denied it, the information service for dutch and flemish holidaymakers all over europe will be continued. It should start on the Granada tp via Astra 1d about 21.00 CET (analogue in the clear). Risk an eye on it, if you happen to understand dutch.
Animal attack
There is indeed live after arte. The former Kabel 1 tp on 13 East has come to live again - no I don't mean the everchanging testcards (with and without Usingen). There are tests in analogue for a new nature and animal channel called "Animal Planet". Tune to 11.055/H to watch is (as long as it can be seen).
Toons with degrees
Scandinavian kids no longer have to understand english or to read subtitels on the scandinavian version of The Cartoon Network. Fred Flintstone & Co. seem to have studied and now increasingly talk the nordic languages. Good for scandinavian kids, bad news for viewers in europe who could turn to that version for Barney and Bugs in their native english language withut any destructive dubbing.
Nothing happened today ...
Sorry, folks no new services on Thor 2A yet. There have been some tests - analogue tests - but neither testcards nor programs have been switched on. Sources say that at least NRK 1 will step over from Intelsat 707 - but so far the tp in questions is as empty as all the others.
First service started on Thor 2A
Today (june 20th) the first transponder of Norways new Hot Bird has been allocated to a tv service. Following the TeleNor 1 West test card denish TV S (Sport) started on transponder 12 (11.385/H). But: encrypted using eurocrypt. Viewers with a DR2- or Filmnet-Card will be able to watch the channel with no additional costs until october 1st 1997. MAC teletext is available. As of october 1st the channel will be encrypted in its own special codes.
The Box - Pop for GB
Maybe someone remembers the early years on astra - when paneuropean services could bee seen all over europe (oh boy, those were the days ...). In these dark times of satellite frontieres and greed the Lifestyle-Transponder hosted a very special night shift, called Satellite Jukebox. (sniff ...). As of june 1st viewers in great britain are able to watch something quite similar, called "The Box". Yes, ist is astra, so it is encrypted in videocrypt1. But: every household in great britain can watch most of it without beeing a british greed customer - it is encoded in open videocrypt1 (decoder mode). Where and when? Between 2.00 to 6.00 o'clock at night following Granada TV (men & motors) on transponder 3 (11.244/H) By the way: you can listen to the music without a decoder - all over europe :-))). That brings the total amount of open videcrypt channels on astra (for great britain) to three: QVC, Channel 5 and The Box.
Sci-Fi - The Return
According to swedisch Spacedoctor the ViacomHorror called SciFi-Channel will return to scandinavian satellite viewers. (As you may remember, transmissions had to be stoped due to a transponder failure on TV Sat 2.) TV1000 Cinema will transmitt in half transponder mode as of june 10th und SciFi will "room in" (Cinema moves from 11.900 to 11.888, SciFi takes 11.913).
TV bizarre
Weired things are going on with norways commercial station TV Norge (pal, Intelsat 707). I don't know if they try to sail around some "cap media law" but it is pretty weired. If they broadcast an american series, lets call it "Diagnosis Murder" or "Jake and the Fatman", and you just have got to see the problem (murder, crime, whatever) but now solution in sight - you are confronted with the credits and an off voice announcing "the following episiode after the break". Followed by commercials. Followed by the intro and ... the conclusion of the very episode so roughly interrupted before the break. I must say ... I am speachless ...
Let's lease again
Watching german television gets more and more anoying. Latest coup came from RTL. They seem to have "learned" from their cousins in the US and stop every film before it begins. That is they air the first few minutes (with series before the intro) and then bereak away for the first commercials followed by the intro and credits for the film or series. I think it's better to go to your local video store and rent films again. (They have more films as well).
On the Road again ...
Once again the Adult Channel seems to be on the move. When it moved from tp 63 to 11 it was known to be an interim solution. Now it seems the new tp is on astra 1d again. So viewers with an elderly system will need a frequency shifter again. You can find The Adult Channel now on tp 54 left by The Chinese Channel (during the day used by ZEE-TV). Maybe they will will cease on tp 11 as early as june 1st. Tp 11 is said to be taken over by german pay-tv premiere (bertelsmann/kirch/canibal+).
It's done
New norwigian satellite Thor 2A has finally been launched. It will provide more channels on 1 East (0.8 East) for viewers in scandinavia. Frequencies are 11.200 - 11.450 GHz. Most of it will go to no-see-digital services, but some analogues may appear as well. Lets wait some 4 to six weeks.
Funny things happened on transponder 11
Funny things happen to Astra channel 11 (former filmnet 1). Following some broadcasts in videocrypt2 you could (or could't to be honest) see the encypted MAC-signal of CNNI. But: it was not pure D2-MAC or D-MAC ... and: there was the pal teletext of CNNI available as well. Now there seems to be a D2-Mac-Signal of one of the other scanidnavian channels - Filmnet 1 Pal teletext included ...
ann on 13 east
More arabic news are expected to launch on 13 east. The short appearance of fashin tv (thank god it was that short) was followed by ABB and a trailer for an arabic version of cnn: ann. If it ever will broadcast regular programming on that transponder an in pal clear? Wait and see.
TV 2 Norge buys TV Norge stock
Maybe there goes another scandinavian pal clear service: norwegian broadcaster TV2 Norge (D-2MAc encoded = pay-TV) has bought 33% of TV Norge's stock from scandinavian publishers. TV Norge is (as Kanal 5 sweden) partly owned by abc/sbs. Results of the deal will show in september.
Soft Rendezvous
French erotic Channel Rendez Vous once again has stopped its regular schedule and broadcasts "soft erotic programs" in Pal clear (reruns of some three of the eldest italian and french movies, no gay night). Once again the displayed reason is to improve picture and sound quality and to stop pirat cards. Subscribers are offered one additional month free when the scheduled programs will start again in D2-MAc eurocrypt. "Same satellite, same transponder, same decoder."
Fashion intermezzo
Seem some weired stuff on the AB-Sat-transponder on may 14th or 15 th? Don't woory, you won't see it again - unless you got yourself a digital subscription. The analogue transmissions were only "mark the launch". So don't worry be happy.
Eutelsatellites
The last dutch analogue service has ceased on Eutelsat II-F3: Euro7. But since it is owned by an american evangelist moneymaker its no big loss.Euronews now speaks arabic.
TV Palma is in analog on Transponder 39 of Eutelsat II-F2.
PARR is now on Transponder 22 of Eutelsat II-F3.Ukraine Satellite Channel now broadcasts via Transponder 37 of Eutelsat II-F3.
Thor prosponed
The launch of Thor IIA has been delayed. It should be done on may 17th / 18th.
And gone ...
Gone. German ARD/ZDF-Kinderkanal and Arte, have left Eutelsat's sitting duck on 13 east. The two Radios (Jam-FM und Radio Melodie) are still on air (behind a testcard).
Polen via Israel ...
Polish viewers should look a little bit further and turn their dishes to the israelian sattelite Amos on 4 degrees west. They might happen tto find a polish service named ATV in Pal clear. (Frequency: 11.388/H).
Digital going down ...
Our dutch partner service jsi informed us about a testcard on digital-kanaal 33 where informations for dutch subscribers of the MultiChoice (i.e Filmnet, i.e. now Canibal+) digital-packages are displayed. The text includes lines like "extreme measures" to keep the package "economically vital". In detail it seems the meaning of that is "less watched services will be ceased" and the existing dutch services (like RTL, SBS, Veronica) will "extend their schedules to broadcast sports and musical events as well". All that because of "a new shareholder" but nothing more specifically about the future of the packages can be said by now.
We expect less services for more money - and the up to now free of charge services - will continue as pay-TVs. (But they never have been really "free services" - we don't consider services beeing switched on only after you filled in forms with your name and adress and other indecent questions (about serious illnesses of your granny) as "free services.
So we conclude: the big mouthed announcements about the "broad spectrum of different services - especially dedicated services for minorities - made possible by the cheap techniques of the digital television" turns out to be exactly as many expected: as about so true and realistic as the statements of the tobacco industrie about smoking not beeing dangerous or addictive in any way . The introduction of digital televiosn results for the common viewer (and listener) in less available services by mutating free services into pay-tvs (and radios) a.o. reasons to pay the extensive bills for the new full digital studio techniques), a remarkable deterioration in picture quality (cubes, frozen pictures by ongoing sounds, extrem difficulties to point the dishes) and last but not least the absolute control of the viewers by the networks. So we stay with our view of these things: digital - no thanks!
(But the only way to get viewers to watch those digital garbage, will be practiced in "democratic america": the analogue frequencies - today used by the networks and lokal stations - will be taken from the stations (and the viewers) and the public is forced to buy highly-expensive-low-quality-digital equipment to be able to keep on watching tv at all. And no: it is not similar to the introduction of coloured tv - in those days the viewer had the possibility to choose ... but in those days long long ago there might have been a thing called democracy in existance which has been exterminated by its main and ruthless rival the common lobbyist.)
Serial murderer hits again
Well known serial killer VIACOM has announced the next crime: The home of Star Trek Spin of "Deep Space 9" will explode and vanish - so will the series. Viacom had only achieved the rights to Star Trek by buying the studios - so Viacom is just money, no creativity, no quality - and step by step they were destroying the quality level of Star Trek. Voyager is no more Star Trek than Babylon 5 - it is Viacom. Yakh.
Channel 5 on air
It is done. Channel 5 is broadcasting on astra tp 63 in soft videocrypt (decoder mode). Regular programs start on 13.00, late sport ends about 6.00 in the morning when regular programming starts again - so it is an around the clock service. Teletext is available, programs start on page 500.
Channel 5 trailer on air
As assumed channel 5 has started on astra tp63 with the opening of London cable & satellite. The trailer is in pal clear, programs are believed to be encrypted in soft videocrypt 1. Launch of regular program on satellite should happen during the fair.
Flemish media law changed
Flemish parliament is changing the media world of that part of Belgium. VTM will loose its monopoly (due to pressure from the european parliament), so VT4 (SBS) could leave its exil in the UK an settle as a belgium station. Other services will follow.
By now, Event TV (former known as car tv) has applied for a licence in the german community (granted) and will apply in Vlaanderen as well when the media laws have been changed. Event TV will broadcast from fairs and - who had thought about that - other events. Regular service should be launched on september 1st.
Flemish public broadcaster known as BRTN (former BRT) will be reconstructed into a n.v. under public law by the name of VRT - Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep.
CMT encrypted
Yes, there is still Country Music on Intelsat 601. But: no, there is no more Television. Plain text: CMT on that satellite has not ceased but encrypted. It is a funny kind of encryption. (Maybe I like to watch it anyway.) Sources say it will remain like that for some time.
Channel 5 or what?
Provided is is not yet another astra publicity stunt and Channel 5 is due to start on astra (to reduce squarewatching ...) the start of London cable and satellite would be a perfect occasion to do so. Astra tp 63 - former Filmnet CEC - has stopped broadcasting the encrypted filmnet trailer and now shows a betzdorf uplink testcard. Maybe one should watch this tp (and tp 11) during the fair (april 21st - 23rd). But chances are, it was yet another publicity ...
Thor 2A to be launched (again) soon
Maybe there will be new channels for our scandinavian readers soon. Thor 2A (Norway) should be launched about mai 9th and provide new services for the scanidnavian audience. Among those the Sci Fi channel and some Murdoch channels (2 of them analogue). Followed by the launch of swedish Sirius 2, providing digital services for scandinavia and GE services (NBC) for europe.
Clear-TV-Tip - updated
As more and more services vanish into the dust and smokescreens of digital and/or feed their greed by getting pay-tv, we like to point out some interesting shows, available in pal clear on european birds (as long as anything is transmitted clear in europe...). Contributions are welcome. All times CET.
Day
Station
Starts at
Program
Info
Mo-Fr
TVN Norge
16:30
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
US-Comedy-Serie, starred Wil Smith
Kanal 5
19.30
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
US-Comedy-Serie, starred Wil Smith, , rerun started april
Tuesday
TVN Norge
20:00
Keeping Up Appearances
GB-Comedy series
Wednesdays
Kanal 5
21.30
Spin City
Comedy starring Michael J. Fox
Thursdays
Kanal 5
20.00
Pretender
(a must)
Friday
Kanal 5
20.00
Diagnosis Murder
Hospital-Crime starring Dick van Dyke & Son
TV Norge
20.30
Father Dowling Mysteries
Crime with preest & Co.
Sat
NBC
21.00
Profiler
US-Thriller - the only NBC-series/movies shown by NBC Europe :-((
Sat&Sun
TV Norge
16.45
Perfect Strangers
Balki and Larry ... need to say more?
TV Norge
23.35
Jake & The Fatman
alas Jake & McCabe
weekend
Galavision
all day
TeleHit/HitTv
Spanish Pop & Rock ...
all week
22.00
NBC
Tonight Show
Jay Leno, Iron Jay and guests
all week
all day
CNNI
Global news and features around the clock
RVI moved to
As you might have noticed Filmnet CEC has left astra tp 63. But there was more. Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal also left this tp. If you like to listen to the voice of flemish Belgium please retune to tp 58 (Granada/10.847 GHz), audio 7,74 MHz. The old frequency now hosts a message about the move including the new frequency in several languages.
Update 4.4.
Oops. Radio Sweden or ist source has been wrong this time. German fee-grapper channel Phoenix won't start on Galavison's tp 44 but on tp 61 (former Pro7 Swiss). A testcard informs (warns?) about the launch on april 7th. Beware Europe! (Luckyly most receivers offer a "Skip Channel"-function. Astra transponder 61 would be the candidate to use it, won't it?) By the way: germans are happy to finance this ARD/ZDF-channel without any complaints. Tp 44 might carry Murdochs pay-per-view after all ...
No new free analogue services on eutelsat cold duck (13 east) ... don't expect some for some time.
Keeping up appearances
European news and information service euronews has upgraded its appearences. If you haven't turned to that channel it might be a good idea to do so. We like the new style of the service. Do you?
Update 2.4.
Astra-Transponders 11 and 63 now transmitt the same services: a pal testcard (encrypted), Adult Channel at night.
Bad news for spanish lovers. Radio sweden informed about german fee-grapper channel Phoenix to take over Galavision's astra tp on april 7th. No more Galavision and Hit Tv for Europe. Yakh!
Go ... go .. gone
Cable companies, european politicians and mediamultis again managed to reduce the amount on free to air analogue tv services.
Here the list of changes and disappearances as of 1.4.1997:
MCM Euromusique (why "Euro", anyway?) has left its analogue tp on eutelsats 13 east. Followed by ... nothing at all (yet).
Polonia 1 has left its former tp, but transmitts via its new one on the same satellite position. Followed on the former tp by .... nothing at all (yet).
TV Polonia shows a new (more decent) Logo.
Videocrypt1 encrypted Filmnet - Central European Channel has seased transmissions on astra tp 63. Followed by a testcard informing viewers in the eastern european countries about the close of that service (and contacting multi(???)choice(???) for the turn to digital. Subscriptions for Filmnet 1 (and other services) in Videocrypt1 in the netherlands and elsewhere hereby become history.
PRO7 Swiss has stopped analogue transmissions on astra 1d. Followed by: testcard "Betzdorf Uplink". This brings the amount to 4 unused transponders on 1D. A british source sees BSkyB Pay-per-Views on tps 24, 44 and 56. And from the same source: BBC Prime will stop transmissions via Intelsat 601 and 707 analogue - means: no subscriptions on the european mainland will be possible.
Filmnet 1 still broadcasted (including teletext) on April 1st via tp 11, but without Logo and informing viewers about the move to Thor 1A.
Galavision too, was still on air via its astra tp 44 on april 1st. Lets hope it stays a little bit longer.
Never ending journey
And once again italian-polish service Polonia 1 is on the run - oops sorry - on the move. This time it turns to transponder 63 on Hot Bird 2. Starting now but officially (and only) via that transponder as of april 1st. If you like to receive the service, please retune to: 11.976,82 GHz, audio on 6.60 MHz.
Another fairwell ...
Hope seems to be lost. To vanish into digital dust seems to be more important for european broadcasters than to keep their viewers. Okay, digital is cheaper (once you garbaged your old equipment) and you are able to transmitt the worst picture ever to a small part of your former audience. But you are digital. And so is MCM. At least it has repeatedly left its transponder on 13 East. During he night from march 25/26 for the last time yet. As it seems MCM has left that transponder on march 31st for good. Sorry, lads. (At least that will make the frech government very happy, since the move restricts the french language service to only french viewers.)
Bye Bye, Filmnets
Both of the left (no, not as in Rupert Murdoch on CNN) Filmnet channels on astra have announced to leave that satellite system very very very very soon. Filmnet Central European Channel will leave ist transponder 63 on march 31st, Filmnet 1 Nordic will disappear on 1 april 1st. Since this is the astra pan-murdoch-german-regional-pubcaster-satellite-cable-feed-system, we don't need to bother thinking about who or what will be transmitted on that transponders once the filmnets have gone ... indoubetebly, my dear Watson ...
Weak sports
A new danish sports channel has launched via inclined Tele-X. In the nordic countries it should be able to be received via 12.629 GHz. For the more southern parts of europe the channel should be out of reach. (Update 6/97: It is now also available on Thor2A)
SciFi has boldly gone ..."
At least it is no longer transmitting via its TV-Sat transponder for the nordic countries. SATCODX blames it to a transponder fault.
Filmnet Nordic - One for all ...
As of september 1997 Filmnet will concentrate all its powers to just one allround channel. The new channel will include all programming today splitted into Filmnet 1, Filmnet 2 and SuperSport which will cease to exist this autumn. There will be regional versions oft that one an only Filmnet for the different scandinavian countries. Following the sale of Filmnet BeNeLux to Canibal+ the dutch facilities of Filmnet have been radicaly erased. And I don't think they do follow the NASA maxime: For the benefit of all ...
Major changes with tm3
Starting march 1997 due to the "loss" of Bauer Publishing Company as a shareholder (which can be interpreted as a win for the service) german women channel tm3 undergoes major schedule changes. You can find the recent changes here.
Radio To too
Danish is Radio To is now available via Intelsat 707 - that is if you own a D2-MAC-decoder/receiver. But most of scandinavian satellite-vierwes already use D2-MAC-receivers. So, try BBC Prime and press the radio or audio button and choose Radio 2. Lets hope more broadcasters are going to use their transponders for radio transmissions without forcing potential listeners to buy additional SDR- or ADR or what-the-heck-Decoders.
Polsat 2 testing
Eutelsat goes Poland - at least the position 13 ° East is offering several polish services to satellite viewers in europe. Recent addition is Polsat 2, performing terst broadcasts on the former frequencie of german womens television TM3 (11.341/H). Until now it is broadcasted in pal clear.
A view days earlier we noticed the start of a servce dedicated to the arabian world by the name of ONT on that position (11.649/V).
The rain in Spain ...
As mentioned before, Galavision including Hit TV (pal clear) will leave their viewers in europe by switching to the digital smokescreen. Sorry about that. (New service on that transponder is said to be ... yeah, a british murdoch-service in videocrypt and only available ... we know that crap).
No it seems, Canal + spain is on the edge to leave astra as well. (Documania, Cinemania, Cine Classic ... all in non-murdoch-syster). German pubcaster Hessen 3 announced to start in 1998 on one of these very transponders. Following the departure of Canal + Spain, german pay-tv Premiere would be the only left non-murdoch-encrypted service on astra (all luxcrypt and eurocrypt have left or announced to stop their analogue transmissions (honestly: so did Premiere). Astra gets more boring by the day ...
Filmnet leaves
The work is done. SES, the european union and murdoch have eventually managed to get another one of the left not-murdoch-videocrypt-encrypted channels leaving astra. D2-MAC/Eurocrypt-service Filmnet I has oficiallyannounced to press the off button. The program will - as of 1 april - be followed by the british Channel 5 - which is said to have quite good connections to Mr. Murdochs sky corp. So don't bother - the program will fullfill astra-requirements and be broadcasting in videocrypt - only available in england and irleand. Hurrah for the pan-european media! (If someone should happen to experience such a thing, please leave me a note.)
New prog in the club
SBS, owned by abc/Disney and owner of VT4 (Belgium), SBS6 (The Netherlands), TV Norge (Norway) and Kanal 5 (Sweden) will start a new danish service. The service which will be streamlined with the schedules of Tv Norge and Kanal 5 should come on air within the next month. The danish SBS station will be broadcasting via 1° West.
RTL stops german version of The price is right
After nearly eight years german leading commercial tv station RTL is to drop its "Der Preis ist heiß". Showmaster Harry Wijnvoord will present his own night show starting mrach 1st called "Start gegen Stars".
New schedule for arte
French-german highcultural channel arte is to schange its schedule as of february 1st. arte will be on air between 19.00 and 3.00 hours.
Adult Ladies night
Adult channel targets women viewers by introducing "Lady's Night". The first hours each thursday are now dedicated to the feminine gender. But as experienced Adult Channel viewers told the Mediawatcher most of that are reruns of programs already shown in the gay spot on monday nights.
Kinderkanal expands
Germanies public broadcasters (at least that's what they ought to be) now transmitt their latest project to block frequencies not only via astra but via eutelsat's 13 degrees east position as well - using the german arte tranbsponder. Happily payed by the german public - which also is allowed to pay for the "it-should-have-been-a-parliaments-channel" service called phoenix.
The return of the QVC-Text
Back from beeing away - german version of us based shopping channel QVC has activated its teletext again. Okay only five cards with the QVC phonenumber. Let's wait for more.
Pay-per-view TV starts with 3+
Pay per view tv in scandinavia will start via 3+ on january 24th. ViaSat presents a boxing event to start its pay-per-view operations. ViaSat now broadcasts a testcard with pay-per-view-encryption following the regular 3+ schedule.
Wir wiederholen
Missed some seconds on german commercial station PRO7? Turn to transponder 61 an ejoy. Due to some additional spots for switzerland, the program on that transponder is some seconds behind the "original" PRO7 on transponder 14 - but since each and every program on PRO7 is taped ...
MDR - ORB
As of january 1997 eastern german public broadcaster mdr has its own teletext. Cooperation with ORB (Brandenburg) has ended on new years eve 1996.
Forget Düsseldorf
New german music station to join 13 degrees east. Licenced on december 16th 1996, new service MIC-TV will start its transmissions via Hot Bird 3 (?) on april 1st 1997. MIC TV will broadcast european Popmusic, Country Music, Golden Oldies, Gameshows, talks and specials. The Stuttgart based station is the first national service ever licenced in Baden Württemberg.
Its done
The analogue program package on 13 degrees east for polish viewers is complete. Canal Plus Polska now uses the ex-EDTV-Dubai transponder on Hotbird 1. EDTV is available via its new transponder on Hotbird 2. Canal + Polska is encrypted in Syster/Nagravision all four other stations are broadcasting in pal clear.
Network Information
No more 3+/Z-TV DK and Sportskanalen via tele x. Sportkanalen and Z-TV DK have stopped and TV3+ broadcasts on weekends too. Sports are included in the dayly shedules of 3+. Network Information havb changed to 3+ from d.k.
Line Up
As of december 23rd the following programs can be received from Hot Bird 2 in analogue and in the clear:
Frequenz
Programm
12.010/H
atr europe
11.745/H
EDTV Dubai
11.720/V
RTP Portugal
11.771/H
Polonia 1
TNT scrambles
As of december 14th TNT/Cartoon Network on Intelsat 707 will be scrambled in Eurocrypt and become part of the CTV-package as CNNI nordic already is.
Dutch sport 7 stopped transmissions
Dutch pay-sports-tv-to-be-digital-channel Sport7 has according to a news bulletin from radio nederland wereldomroep stooped transmissions. Shareholders (a.o. the KNVB - the dutch football association - and EndeMol) stopped the channel because of heavy losses.
Turner goes North
The mystery of the Telenor Testrcard is solved: as of tuesday december 3rd the Turner mix Cartoon Network/TNT Classic Movies is transmitted via that very transponder on 1 deg. W. As usual for this position it transmitts in D2-MAC but so far no card is required (other than CNNI ) but that might change. D2-MAC teletext is available. So nordic viewers have got one reason less to watch astra and one more reason to point their dishes to Intelsat 707. And who knows - as TNT, Cartoon and CNNI are members of the grown Time-Warner family maybe there will be more Time-Warner Channels when Thor2 or Sirius 2 start transmissions next year ...
German Nickelodeon takes over
As of november 30th the testtransmissions of Nickelodeon nordic have seased on astras former TV3 Denmark transponder. German version of viacoms Nickelodeon (joint venture with german publisher ravensburger) took over as it is to loose its transponder share (with arte) to german pubcasters childrens channel due to start on january 1st 1997.
The final count down
The final count down has started for new polski television service, CLTs RTL7. No more Testcard with Radio Letzebuerg - now there's a promo announcing the start of RTL7 combined with POP-/Rock-Clips to attract viewers. RTL7 will start on december 7th on Eutelsat Hot Bird 1 (13 E). Programs will include news, american and british comedies as Benny Hill, series like Miami Vice.
Al least let's test the transponders...
No new services on Astra - who would have thought such rediculous thoughts? - But to keep up the suspence SES-Managers might think its a good idea to test some transponders. This time they testet transponder 61 again. Tests on tp 27 to - for the german Nickelodeon to start here on december 1st or january 1st when they loose their transponder time on tp 49 (arte).
Testcard is back
The Norsat/Nittedal testcard on Feedtransponder 10.996/H is back. Now it is transmitted in D2-MAC with "unknown" sound and Netwerkinformnation without any Information.
Update 23.11.
At last eutelsat has sucessfully launched their newst sittting duck for positioning at 13 deg. east. Hot Bird 2 was launched on november 21st about 21:46 CET. Most peopel will not get much from that new bird as it will be used for digital transmissions for specific countries.
RTL Letzebuerg on 13 E
Thanks CLT. Following a short blackout on the RTL7-to-be-transponder the sound source has been changed to the radio program dedicated to luxembourg - the letzebuergisch RTL. Sad to hear the management of CLT which burried the good ole 208 Radio Luxemburg in english and destroyd the good old german service to the very ground was very efficient with the luxemburgish service as well. Its no more happy luxemburg - more some sort of grumpy luxembourg. But a bit better then the german service yet. Hopefully some sunny day there will be a new management in Luxembourg to recreate the spirit of the good ole Radio Luxembourgs - in dutch, english german, and all the other well known services. But then: is anyone in luembourg related more to radio then to making money, balancing the budgets and cutting costs? I don't think so.
RTL 7 count down
As of november18th Polonia1 and Radio 8 Netwerk have left Eutelsat2F1 in favour of RTL7 the new CLT polish service due to start on that very transponder on december 7th. And they had to add the worst radio service rtl offers to the testcard announcing the start: the german rtl radio ... so take our advice polish viewers turn to that frequencie as early as december 7th. Otherwise your health may suffer.
Do the Norsat shuffle ...
Its done! On november 13th filmnet one has anchored on its new position alongside Filmnet 2 on Thor. Their frequencies: FN1: 12.092/lc, FN2: 12.015/lc. The third Filmnet service Supersport stays on its position on Intelsat 707: 11.543/V.
So where ist BBC Prime for scandinavia, said to start on that very transponder, Filmnet 1 now occupies? BBC Prime started on november 13th but on Filmnet 1's transponder on Intelsat 707. So if you're looking for BBC Prime, turn to the Filmnet1 tp on your receiver or tune into 11.135/V.All services mentioned request a D2-MAC Decoder and viewing card (SuperSport due to).
No Warner yet
Due to Mr. Murdochs Temper Sky-pakkage slaves in The UK and Ireland cannot watch the Warner Brothers Channel on tp 57 yet - because there is none. Why? Mr. Murdoch owns the Fox TV Network in the US and was convinced to get his new rightwing news channel into Warners cable networks - but Warner decides to take MSNBC in and - as a court ruled - cannot be forced to relay Mr. Murdochs Fox News - as long as there is a second news channel to CNN not to be owned by Time-Warner/TBS. So Mr. Murdoch decided not to show Mrs Turner (Jane Fonda) on the Tribune of a Sport event and not to start the Warner Channel on Astra. Thanks Mr. Murdoch, thanks Time-Warner - we are thanksful for every new channel to be received in europe - if its not in videocrypt and for UK and Ireland only. So we like no channel better than one more Murdoch ...
New on Astra tp 24 ... who else?
On november 1st CMT and JSTV stopped transmissions via tp 24 and are now available via theier new tp 51 (CMT) resp. 53 (NHK/JSTV). CMT cannont be seen but heard 24 hours a day, NHK/JSTV is mostly in the clear yet. The nightshift on tp 53 remains CNE.
Tp 24 has been occupied - its astra, so wh else could ... - by BSkyB and transmitted in ... its astra so what? ... videocrypt for UK and Ireland only. So far you can't see an somewhat out of date BSkyB-trailer.
Sci Fi Channel Nordic on TV-SAT2 at last
Viacoms Sci Fi Channel is now available via the TV-SAT2 satellite. The signal in the more southern parts of europe is still weak but not as weak as the Tele X-signals where previous transmittions could be found. So f.e. Sci-Fi is available in D2-MAC in Norther Parts of Belgium in the dark hours of the day - at least it is available. Maybe some day it will be strong enough to get through to larger parts of europe - may be when it switches to the new to launch Sirius 2.
Rendez-Vous - they are alive!
As reported earlier the brits are going to ban another erotic channel - this time the only channel who among other features dedicates a day of its program to gay themes (not just sex). Yepp: Rendez Vous, having had trouble with the uplink in sweden now faces big trouble in the uk. But fans don't panic! As Eric from RDV's customer service informed, the main things to keep in mind are:
The channel is not banned yet, so you can still buy cards from dealers or directly from our offices in Paris. Email for further information.
If you are already a subscriber, you can renew your subscription WITHTHE SAME CARD and this directly by phone. Thus, you will buy directly in France and not under the Bristish law (if it ever prevents you from buying Rendez-Vous).
Thats all about the free european television act of television without frontiers ... at least for the analogue part ...
MTV stays a little bit longer
MTV is not - as announced earlier - to leave its transponder on scaninavias Thor satellite on october 11 th (as anyone can see now ...) but one month later. So change schedules: MTV is due to leave Thor and to be received via Intelsat 707 only from november 11th. BBC Prime is said to start on that transponder on november 13th but might stay on Intelsat 601 as long as the end of 1997. On the other beam: Travel is due to leave Intelsat 601 on january 1 st 1997, Discovery/TCC already have left their tp and the dutch childrens/women combi Kindernet/VTV may stop analogue transmissions in december 1996. So it seems unrealistic to expect BBC Prime to stay as long as the end of 1997 - only the future will show.
Big Brother is digital
During the good ole times of television and radio it was merly a oneway media. The stations never knew who was listening or watching their programs. Thats to change radical with the dawn of the digital ages. Dutch viewers are forced to ask MultiChoice for a form, to fill the form and return it to the pay-tv-enterprise. No big deal, hm? It would'nt if those people were to subscribe a pay-tv-service. But they don't. The only thing they are going to do is watching the programs of the "free-package". But if they do not return those forms or not in time, they can't watch anything with their newly bought digital receivers.
So digital tv not only supports the building of new media frontiers (as started by Astra/Murdoch/Videocrypt courtesy of european union) in europe but makes the viewer an object transparent to the mediaenterprises. He or she has to tell them everything they want to know - if he or she wants to continue watching tv. Maybe one day there will be no magazines and newspapers without presenting your passport first or papers only beeing available with a "magazin-card". Brave new media world.
New location for Radio Sweden international
Beeing forced to switch transponders on astra, radio sweden lost contact to its listeners on the canary islands and eastern europe. Don't worry, be happy, you will be able to listen to their DX program again. Starting january 1st Radio Sweden will broadcast via Eutelsat 2F1 using a subcarrier on NBC Super Channel (NBC Europe). So tune in to 10.987 GHz/subcarrier 7.56 MHz and enjoy it. (Info supplied from Radio Sweden)
european media news in dutch
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