27/04/04

Live chat in the chatroom tonight 9pm NZ onwards 8.30pm Syd onwards..

Express AM11 launched to 96.5E, I forgot about this bird being launched seems to be a new one going up each month nowdays. Anyway you can download an AVI video of the launch at the link below. Warning its 4 megs in size

http://www.tsenki.com/video/p2704.avi
Footprint here http://www.rscc.ru/en/satellite/zones/zone16.html

The BBC is looking at doing a "FREESAT" platform similar to the succesfull Freeview terestrial service. I have forwarded the items to the Minister of Broadcasting and several other people. I am also waiting on a postal reply on a previous email to the Minister of Broadcasting about the same subject.

From my Emails & ICQ

Soundtrack channel on Pas 8 gone??

From Jsat

GWN anyone else with a nokia or strong having trouble with the GWN picture tiling and pixelating....this seems to have started since the picture was upgraded and AUSTEXT was added to the stream...only GWN is affected...

regards jeff..
MANJIMUP WA

(Craigs comment, they must of been doing something as I left my Nokia overnight on SBS , C1 12407V no card in the slot and had a frozen pic when i switched on the tv so it must of gone FTA for some reason overnight)

From the Dish

No lyngsat

NEWS

Russia launches Proton rocket with telecommunications satellite

From http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040427035946.3smgchws.html

A Russian Proton-K rocket early Tuesday placed a telecommunications satellite it was carrying into orbit, after blasting off from the Baikonur space base in Kazakhstan, the Russian news agencies quoted a spokesman for Russia's space forces as saying.

The Express-AM11 satellite was placed into orbit at 07:10 am Moscow time (0310 GMT), the spokesman added. The Proton-K rocket had taken off from Baikonur earlier Tuesday at 00:37 am Moscow time (2037 GMT Monday).

The Express-AM11 telecommunications satellite, which was built by Russian company Reshetnev and French company Alacatel Space, has a planned life expectancy of 12 years.

Express-AM11 will carry links for digital television, telephone and broadband Internet access, and will cover Russia and the former Soviet Union, as well as territories ranging from East Africa to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Russian commsat Express-AM11 reaches pre-set orbit

From http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=748256&PageNum=0

MOSCOW, April 27 (Itar-Tass) - The domestically-produced new-generation telecommunications satellite Express-AM11 was put into the intended geostationary orbit at 07:10 Moscow time on Tuesday by means of the Proton-K carrier rocket that had blasted off from Baikonur cosmodrome earlier in the day, an officer in the press service of Russia's Space Defence Forces has told Itar-Tass.

The deployment of the commsat into orbit went off in nominal conditions. The Main Center for the Testing and Control of Spacecraft has assumed control of the Express-AM11. Subsequently, the satellite will be turned over to the customer -- the Space Communications state-run enterprise.

NZ Herald Editorial: TVNZ's third channel plan questionable

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3562763

Never mind the quality, feel the width. Such could be the dubious lot of viewers if Television New Zealand's proposed third channel gets off the ground. The state broadcaster, having failed to fulfil its charter obligations through TV One and TV2, now plans another free-to-air channel based on the formulas of leading Australian and American public-service and special-interest networks. At worst this could be merely a dumping ground for the type of programme expected under the charter. Even at best, the hitherto-secret proposal has fish-hooks that warrant the closest scrutiny.

Most pertinently, one of TVNZ's main motives seems to be simply to block rival broadcasters. In particular, it appears concerned that Sky will win the right to broadcast Parliament if it does not act quickly. Thus, the highlights of the parliamentary day - question time, major debates and so on - would be a staple of the new channel. Shutting out the opposition is, however, hardly a valid reason for such an enterprise, especially if it is a burden, potential or real, on the taxpayer. And if the upshot is increased state domination of the country's television framework.

Already, TVNZ boasts two channels, a number considered quite sufficient for state broadcasters in most comparable countries, including those in which Governments have dictated similar charter requirements. Other broadcasters have grappled with TVNZ's essential problem, that of meeting an expectation to show programmes that reflect identity and culture, history and heritage while continuing to remain commercially focused. TVNZ has chosen to sidestep the issue, using reality TV-type shows as its charter touchstone. The popularity of such programmes might well limit the charter's damage to TVNZ's bottom line but they can hardly be said to be a genuine reflection of the charter's intent.

At the same time, such shows have alienated large numbers of viewers who look to television for education and stimulation as well as entertainment. Little that is shown in prime-time could be said to be truly cultural or educational - or to be driven by anything other than ratings. The people who crave such programmes would be the natural audience for the proposed third channel. Right now they are being attracted to the likes of Sky's History and Discovery channels. Better still, the new channel would provide TVNZ with another advertising outlet - it has more advertisements than available advertising time. That being the case, the degree of cross-subsidisation of the third channel might be relatively modest.

It is, thus, easy to see why TVNZ would relish a third channel. In one shot, the financial and logistical shackles imposed by the charter would be largely neutralised. No longer would there be a hue and cry for TVNZ to show more charter-style programmes while, at the same time, remaining a commercial beast. But at what cost? It is unfortunate that TVNZ has not made a more genuine attempt to meet the demands of the charter on TV One and TV2. Mainstream channels were clearly the intended vehicle for such programmes. Whatever the contradictory agenda, far better accommodations have been reached in countries such as Canada.

So pallid has been TVNZ's response that it is difficult to be confident a third channel would offer public-service television of a high standard. It could well, as some critics have suggested, become nothing more than a poorly resourced depository for programmes that meet the Government's expectation.

These are matters that must be closely considered by the Minister of Broadcasting when he receives TVNZ's business case. Is a third channel really necessary, or is it simply an easy out for the state broadcaster? And a way of reinforcing its broadcasting dominance in the process.

BBC aims to back free satellite television

From http://news.ft.com

The BBC plans to follow the success of its Freeview digital television venture by backing a free-to-air digital satellite service as part of efforts by the industry and the government to convert all households to digital TV within seven years.

In a progress report to the government published on Monday, the corporation recommended further state intervention if ministers were to achieve "digital switchover" by 2010, which ministers have held up as a realistic option rather than a strict deadline.

The BBC said the development of a satellite service would be "the final part of the jigsaw" by capturing consumers unable to receive Freeview's digital terrestrial signal and unwilling to pay for British Sky Broadcasting's subscription satellite service.

Andy Duncan, the BBC's director of marketing, communications and audiences, said: "We are very clear that for the government to reach its target and for the BBC to maintain universality, a free-to-air satellite proposition is required." Mr Duncan said the BBC would develop such a service with others following the success of Freeview, the consortium that includes BSkyB and Crown Castle.

A satellite service would help the government meet its aim of covering the whole country digitally before switching off the analogue signal.

BBC seeks partners for free satellite plan to rival Sky

From http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=515640

The BBC called yesterday for the formation of an alliance of broadcasters to produce a mass-market free satellite system that would rival BSkyB's platform.

The corporation said it wanted to create a "FreeSat" option that would require no subscription to provide a digital free-to-air option for homes that use satellite technology.

The news came as some in the City voiced doubts about Sky's long-term growth prospects. Although many analysts remain bullish about Sky, which now has 7.2 million subscribers, others have suggested that most consumers willing to take pay-television have probably signed up by now.

In a report submitted yesterday to the Government, the BBC said it wanted a satellite system to replicate the runaway success of Freeview, which provides a non-pay digital system to households that take their television signal from a rooftop aerial ­ a digital terrestrial option.

The Government has said it will switch off analogue television by 2010, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is believed to have asked the Treasury for £300m to fund the changeover to digital.

Although Sky has partnered the BBC in the Freeview venture, a full-blown free satellite system would challenge Rupert Murdoch's Sky in its heartland. Sky, which declined to comment yesterday, has spent about £2bn building its highly successful digital satellite pay-television offering.

FreeSat would serve households that cannot receive a good digital terrestrial signal ­ currently about 25 per cent of the country. It may also prove to be a much more attractive proposition for digital viewers than Freeview, as the technical capabilities of satellite are more advanced. Satellite can provide many more channels than the 30 or so available on Freeview and it has superior interactivity available.

FreeSat offers about 100 channels already, such as CNN and The Golf Channel, that are "in the clear" or broadcast unencrypted. The BBC joined these unencrypted channels last summer in a move that provoked a war of words between the corporation and Sky.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the director of strategy and distribution at the BBC, said there was "no reason" for other free-to-air broadcasters, such as ITV, to pay Sky for its encryption services. The corporation called for ITV, Channel 4 and five to join it in pushing a new digital satellite platform where all stations were unencrypted. This would involve the sort of high-profile marketing campaign seen with Freeview, plus co-ordination with manufacturers of the decoder boxes and satellite dishes that would be needed by households to receive the signal.

Ms Fairbairn said: "This [FreeSat] is potentially a tremendously attractive proposition for the viewer."

ITV, Channel 4 and five are not currently "in the clear" and all pay Sky for "conditional access" services to appear on its platform. The ITV contract with Sky, which makes the network's channels available in satellite households, is worth £17m a year to Sky.

Ms Fairbairn said the BBC saw FreeSat as "complementary" to pay-television. She hoped that the cost of a dish, box and installation could be brought below £100. "This is for a different segment [of viewers] who are interested in more channels but are not interested in a subscription," she said.

Kingsley Wilson, an analyst at Investec Securities, said the move would be "more an irritant to Sky than something with a serious financial impact at this point". However, he added that if Sky changed its strategy to target lower-paying consumers, "FreeSat may be more of a threat down the road".

(Craigs comment, both articles forwarded to the Minister of Broadcasting and TVNZ)

Astro to raise pay-TV rates next month

From http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/27/business/7855349&sec=business

ASTRO All Asia Networks Plc will raise pay-television rates next month, a move that may add RM83mil to its annual sales given its subscriber base of 1.39 million people at the end of January.

The pay-TV operator said in the May edition of its viewers' guide that it would raise monthly subscription rates by RM5 after May 24 “to improve the variety of programmes and channels.'' Astro expects to “deliver over a hundred channels by next year, courtesy of a new Measat 3 satellite.'' It did not elaborate.

“The subscription increase will help them to purchase better-quality content and offer additional channels,'' said Foo Su Cheng, who helps manage the equivalent of RM1.5bil, including Astro shares, at OSK-UOB Unit Trust Management Bhd.

Astro, controlled by tycoon Ananda Krishnan, is trying to attract more viewers in Malaysia and neighbouring Brunei to the channels it shows through its set-top boxes. It offers channels such as ESPN, through which it screens English Premier League soccer, Time Warner Inc's HBO, or Home Box Office, and News Corp's Star Movies. The company is also the cable distributor for Bloomberg Television in Malaysia.

Chief operating officer David Butorac could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Astro reported net income of RM12.3mil for the year ended Jan 31, as an expanding economy helped it sign up 45% more subscribers from a year ago. Sales were at RM1.42bil.

Ananda Krishnan also controls Measat Global Bhd, which operates two Boeing Co-made satellites that lease transmission capacity to Astro and mobile phone company Maxis Communications Bhd. – Bloomberg

MTV joins Sony-Discovery platform and goes pay

From http://www.advanced-television.com/pages/pagesb/newsdaily.html

MTV Networks India has entered into a distribution agreement with The One Alliance, a Sony Entertainment Television India (SET India) and Discovery Networks India (DNI) joint venture, for distribution of MTV and Nickelodeon in the country.

MTV has also decided to turn pay for the first time in India. Both developments will be effective from May onwards.

MTV and Nickelodeon channels complement the mix of programming choices offered by The One Alliance says the company. At present, the bouquet comprises of eight world-class channels: SET, MAX, AXN, HBO, Discovery, Animal Planet, NDTV India and NDTV 24x7 and has established itself as a leader in providing complete family entertainment, according to an official statement. The bouquet of channels reaches over 40 million cable and satellite households across the nation.

Shantonu Aditya, president of The One Alliance, said that MTV will charge seven cents per subscriber per month. Nickelodeon, too, will continue to be a pay channel. The two channels - MTV and Nickeldeon - will be available on same price per subscription per month.

TELE-satellite News - Number 17/2004 ­ 25 April 2004 -

A weekly roundup of global TV news sponsored by
TELE-satellite International
Editor: Branislav Pekic

Edited Apsattv.com Edition

A S I A & P A C I F I C

AUSTRALIA

LABOUR TO ALLOW FOURTH TV NETWORK

Labor leader Mark Latham plans a radical shake-up of
Australian television with the introduction of a
fourth commercial network if he becomes prime
minister. Labor believes a fourth commercial
broadcaster would diversify media ownership and break
the stranglehold on the $3.1 billion advertising
market by the existing three networks. The plan will
anger the commercial networks - whose owners include
Australia's richest, most powerful men - Kerry Packer
of Nine and Kerry Stokes of Seven. The three networks
argue that Australia's population is too small to
support a fourth commercial broadcaster. They say a
fourth network would not translate into increased
advertising revenue, but merely force the division of
existing revenue among four and lead to massive
cost-cutting, with Australian-made productions to be
the first to go. But senior Labour figures believe the
three networks have to face up to more competition. Mr
Tanner, who has made no secret of his desire for a
fourth network, believes the advertising market has
grown sufficiently to support another network. In the
past two years, television advertising revenues have
grown 17.3 per cent to $3.1 billion a year. In the
five years to 2000, television advertising grew by
about 25 per cent.

NINE RENEWS WARNER BROS OUTPUT DEAL

Australian broadcaster Nine Network has renewed its
deal with Warner Bros International Television to air
the studio's wide array of products. Nine has secured
broadcast rights to the studio's current and upcoming
television series, feature films and animation as well
as titles from the extensive WB vault.

CHINA ­ HONG KONG

TVB IN TALKS OVER CHINESE MEDIA JOINT VENTURE

Free-to-air broadcaster Television Broadcasts Ltd. is
in talks to take a 49% stake in a Chinese media joint
venture, giving it access to the lucrative Guangdong
market, the South China Morning Post reports. The
company also plans to spend at least HK$300 million on
its preparations to launch digital broadcasting in
2007, the Standard reports. TVB has applied for a
venture with the Southern Broadcasting Media Group, a
unit of the Guandong Administration of Radio, Film &
Television. The two partners would share advertising
revenue and produce and distribute media content
together. Operators falling within TVB's broadcast
footprint in Guangdong carry its channels and block
out its commercials for resale to local advertisers.
Speaking about digital TV, TVB Assistant General
Manager Cheong Shin-keong said whatever technical
standard Hong Kong adopts for the broadcasts must be
compatible with neighboring China, which also plans to
adopt digital television in time for the 2008 Summer
Olympics in Beijing. Both TVB and its local rival,
Asian Television, favour adopting the European
standard for digital TV broadcasting, Cheong said. The
Hong Kong government plans to offer five new digital
frequencies, each with enough bandwidth to carry four
analogue channels, the paper said. ATV and TVB are in
line to receive one of the five digital frequencies
each.

INDIA

TRAI SEEKS OPINIONS ON CAS

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on
April 20 issued a consultation paper seeking the views
of stakeholders by May 7 on various aspects relating
to conditional access system, advertising and pricing
of pay-TV channels and a regulatory regime for cable
TV This will be followed by open house sessions in
Chennai on May 7, Delhi on May 11, and Mumbai on May
15. The 99-page consultation paper on broadcasting and
distribution of TV channels is a sequel to the
consultation note of January 15 on issues relating to
broadcasting and cable services. TRAI sources said the
initial consultation note had generated tremendous
response including substantial advice, opinions and
recommendations and several consultations were held
with various stakeholders. The consultation paper
raises a number of issues on various topics related to
broadcasting. In the case of CAS, questions being
asked are whether CAS should be introduced to view pay
channels as by mandated by law or voluntarily
introduced by service providers so that they are able
to get subscription revenues, which may otherwise be
lost in the distribution chain, whether operators
should provide subsidies on set top boxes (STBs) and
who will bear the cost of this subsidy, and whether it
should be compulsory for service providers to provide
STBs on rent. On price issues on cable services, TRAI
has sought opinion on whether the pay channels be
subject to price regulation and what should be the
methodology for determining prices. Another question
is whether bundling of pay channels into a bouquet and
discounts should be allowed and should the ceiling
rate on individual pay channels in relation to a
bouquet price be specified.

NEW ZEALAND

PARLIAMENTARY CHANNEL ON THE CARDS

Sky TV, in partnership with Sony and production
operation First Pictures, has put a detailed proposal
for a dedicated channel to the secretive Parliamentary
Services Commission (Official Information Act users
need not apply). That came in response to Parliament's
Standing Orders committee report, which recommended
investigations last year into an in-house feed be
"expedited" with a view to starting in 2004-05. TVNZ
has in the past expressed interest too, but there are
signs that the Sky proposal is likely to get
politicians' approval. This would bring all the
"action", when the House is in session, free-to- air
to anyone with a satellite dish. The pay TV channel's
lobbyist, Tony O'Brien, has written to all MPs
outlining the proposal, which would cost Parliament
about $3 million in set-up costs, including a digital
archive, and annual operating fees of more than
$500,000.

SKY TV REPORTS SUBSCRIBER FIGURES

Pay-TV operator Sky Network Television has 563,559
total subscribers as of April 20, up from the 548,041
at the end of December, chief executive John Fellet
told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview. The growth
of 15,518 subscribers in the first three and a half
months of 2004 is a huge improvement over the growth
of 5,150 during the Sky TV's fiscal first half year to
the end of December. Over the past 12 months, Sky TV
has added UKTV, Disney and History channels to its
network. The company is still on track to meet its net
profit forecast for the financial year to June 30,
2004 of NZ$28 million to NZ$35 million, Fellet said.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortization is still expected at NZ$175 million to
NZ$180 million, he said. The company made a NZ$12.4
million net profit in the six months to December 31.
Fellet said Sky TV is on track this fiscal year to
report its lowest ever churn figure - a measure of how
many subscribers disconnect their service. Sky will
increase the cost of subscribing to its digital
satellite television service by an average 3.6% from
June.

PAKISTAN

GOVERNMENT TO RELAX MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES

The Pakistan government plans to ask parliament to
allow print media owners to operate electronic media
as well, the Dawn newspaper has reported. The
government would table the necessary amendments to the
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority
Ordinance at the next session of parliament, the
newspaper said. The amendments would reflect a cabinet
decision that newspapers, magazines and advertising
agencies be allowed to own and operate satellite TV
channels.

SOUTH KOREA

KT WILL NOT JOIN DMB CONSORTIUM

The country's largest fixed-line carrier, KT Corp.,
decided not to invest in the SK Telecom-led consortium
on satellite-based mobile broadcasting. KT has been in
talks to join the satellite broadcast operators TU
Media, a company 30 per cent owned by SK Telecom, as a
shareholder. KT had been demanding 25 per cent of the
company's shares and a standing member's presence on
the board of directors. SK Telecom balked at the
demands, offering only a 15 per cent share and a spot
for a non-permanent director, a response that
eventually became the deal breaker. According to
company officials, KT will focus on starting its own
satellite broadcasting services by 2006, when it plans
to launch its own satellite. TU Media, also having
Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corp. and Samsung
Electronics as shareholders, is scheduled to begin the
satellite mobile broadcasting services in July.
Satellite mobile broadcasting, also called satellite
digital multimedia broadcasting, is an advanced
receiver technology designed to provide audio and
video signals to portable hand-held devices such as
cellular phones and laptop computers via satellite. SK
Telecom is the country's largest mobile operator,
serving more than 53 per cent of the country's 35
million cellular phone users.

A F R I C A

KENYA

STATE TV TO USE SATELLITE TO BOOST COVERAGE

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, KBC, is finalizing
plans to implement state of the art satellite
technology of digital platform to deliver radio and TV
programmes in East African region. Information and
Tourism Minister Raphael Tuju told parliament that KBC
would transmit to viewers and listeners through
appropriate located transmitters.

SOUTH AFRICA

JOHNCOM INCREASES M-NET/SUPERSPORT STAKE

Johnnic Communications (Johncom) had exercised an
option and bought 33.7 million shares of pay-TV
channel M-Net/Supersport for R287 million in cash, the
media group said on April 21. Johncom purchased the
stock from Naspers, which had bought out minority
shareholders in M-Net/Supersport and delisted the
shares. Before that, Johncom had owned 26.03 per cent
of M-Net/ Supersport and, following the deal to buy
shares at R8.50 a share, now owned about 39 per cent,
a statement said. Naspers received approval from the
competition tribunal last month to buy up the
remaining shares it did not own in the linked pay-TV
firms. Publisher Caxton had asked the tribunal to
block the buyout, but the authority said the deal
would not result in a change of control of M-Net/
Supersport.

26/04/04

A few rumours around about TVNZ starting a 3rd channel see news section.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Chris

Tattslotto on B1

B1, 12397 H,sr 7200, Vpid, 256, Apid 308 (yes, back to front from normal 308, 256)

From Anon

B3 Adhoc Wasps vs Munster rugby seen. Sunday Night

From the Dish

PAS 8 166E 3860 H "Videoland Sports" is encrypted again.

Optus B3 152E 12525 V "Abu Dhabi TV Europe" has started on , Fta, PIDs 2460/2420.

Agila 2 146E 4088 H New SR for the Solar Entertainment mux on : 14630.

NSS 6 95.5E 12530 V "Tamil Ozhi, DAN Cinema, DAN Music and Tamil Allai" have started on ,enc., PIDs 21000, FEC 3/4, PIDs 257/258-513/514.
NSS 6 95.5E 12729 H "Aloemaiim" has started on , Fta, PIDs 513/651.

Insat 3A 93.5E 3894 V "Lashkara" has started on , Fta, SR 3255, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120.
Insat 3A 93.5E 4091 V "Occasional feeds" on , SR 6250, FEC 3/4.

ST 1 88E 3582 H All channels in the TBL TV mux are now encrypted.

PAS 10 68.5E 4173 V "India TV" has started on, Fta, SR 3000, FEC 2/3, PIDs 1160/1120.
PAS 10 68.5E 12722 V "SABC 1-3 and E TV" are FTA.

(F Mughal)

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

NSS 703 (57.0E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0570

==============================

TVNZ feeds (TVNZ-BBC1IG1 8m/b1 PAL) on 4.161 (R,5632,512,650,8190)

NZ feeds (TVNZ-BBC2IT3 8m/b1 PAL) on 4.195 (V,5632,512,650,8190)

TVNZ feeds (TVNZ-BBC1IG1 8m/b1 PAL) on 4.161 (R,5632,512,650,8190): Encryption Added and new PIDS

TVNZ feeds (*TELEMEDIA ) on 4.179 (R,5632,308,256,8190): Encryption Added and new PIDS

TVNZ feeds (TVNZ-BBC5IG4 8m/b1 PAL) on 4.187 (R,5632,512,650,8190): Encryption Added and new PIDS

NZ feeds (TVNZ-BBC2IT3 8m/b1 PAL) on 4.195 (R,5632,512,650,8190): Encryption Added and new PIDS

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

INTELSAT 906 (64.0E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0640

==============================

East Africa FM on 3.644 (R,13330,514): It has started

Kossuth Radio AM on 3.963 (R,9100,1322): It has started

Emarat FM on 3.963 (R,9100,2522): It has started

Radio Ciao 89.8 FM on 11.478 (H,2200,33): It's back

Diktyo FM on 11.478 (H,2200,49): It has started

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

PANAMSAT 7, 10 (68.5E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0685

==============================

SIN-DELHI FEEDS on 3.502 (V,4000,308,256,8190): It has Started

Hope Channel on 3.514 (V,4444,1160,1120,1160): It Has Started

SABC Africa on 3.743 (V,20600,3000,4000,3000): It is Encrypted Again

IPE W4 on 3.743 (V,20600,7401)

Ch O on 3.743 (V,20600,3006,4006,3006): It is Encrypted Again

SS04 on 3.743 (V,20600,3011,4011,3011): It is Encrypted Again

C+H on 3.743 (V,20600,3001,4001,3001): It is Encrypted Again

RTPi on 3.743 (V,20600,3005,4005,3005): It is Encrypted Again

SS02 on 3.743 (V,20600,3007,4007,3007): It is Encrypted Again

AFRICA Magic_PAS 10 on 3.743 (V,20600,1968,1967,1968): It is Encrypted Again

CNN on 3.743 (V,20600,3002,4002,3002): It is Encrypted Again

DATA on 3.743 (V,20600,5010)

TV5 on 3.743 (V,20600,3003,4003,3003): It is Encrypted Again

DATA on 3.743 (V,20600,5013): It is Encrypted Again

ZEE on 3.743 (V,20600,3004,4004,3004): It is Encrypted Again

no name on 3.743 (V,20600,3012,3012)

PACE CDL on 3.743 (V,20600,1028)

PanaSat CDL on 3.743 (V,20600,1030)

INDIA TV on 4.173 (V,3000,1160,1120,8190): Has Started Testing

SABC 1 on 12.722 (V,26656,256,257,256): It's clear now

SABC 2 on 12.722 (V,26656,260,261,260): It's clear now

SABC 3 on 12.722 (V,26656,264,265,264): It's clear now

ETV on 12.722 (V,26656,272,273,272): It's clear now

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

EUTELSAT W5 (70.5E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0705

==============================

NTD TV on 11.325 (V,27500,4194,4195,4194): It has started

NTD TV on 11.325 (V,18000,4194,4195,4194): New SR

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

TELSTAR 10/APSTAR IIR (76.5E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0765

==============================

TTV on 12.553 (H,22425,2624,2625,2624): It's encrypted now

PTS on 12.553 (H,22425,2688,2689,2688): It's encrypted now

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

EXPRESS 6A (80.0E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0800

==============================

STS (+7h) on 11.660 (V,5100,2160,2120,2160): It's back

Kultura Telekanal on 11.469 (V,5924,257,258,257): New PIDs

Radio Rossii on 11.469 (V,5924,258,257): New PIDs

Russkaya Volna on 11.469 (V,5924,259,257): New PIDs

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

INSAT 2E, 3B (83.0E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0830

==============================

FEEDS on 11.627 (V,2000,4194,4195,4194): It Has Started

FEEDS on 11.642 (V,1900,512,513,512): It Has Started

Tharasu TV on 3.525 (V,24800,385,386,385): Test Transmission has Started

JAYA TV on 3.593 (V,8679,4194,4195,4194): NEW PIDS

DD Patna on 3.820 (V,6250,512,650,128): Has Started 24Hrs Service

Patna Feed on 3.820 (V,6250,513,660,129): Has Started 24Hrs Service

DD Ahmedabad on 3.851 (V,6250,512,650,128)

News Feed on 3.851 (V,6250,513,660,129)

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

ST 1 (88.0E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0880

==============================

TTV on 12.642 (H,24000,33,36,33): It's clear now

CTV on 12.642 (H,24000,102,103,102): It's clear now

Formosa TV on 12.642 (H,24000,1163,1131,1163): It's clear now

CTS on 12.642 (H,24000,1164,1141,1164): It's clear now

PTS on 12.642 (H,24000,4194,4195,4194): It's clear now

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

INSAT 3A (93.5E)

http://www.satcodx3.com/0935

==============================

CINE WORLD on 3.912 (V,2949,264,265,261): New SR/ PIDS

SCOPUS-NET TEST BAR on 3.732 (V,6250,257,258,257): It Has Started

SCOPUS-NET TEST BAR on 3.732 (V,6250,513,514,513): It Has Started

LAKSHARA TV on 3.895 (V,3253,1160,1120,1160): IT Has Restarted With New Parameters

DD AGARTALA on 4.110 (V,6250,308,257,8190): It Has Started Testing

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

ASIASAT 2 (100.5E)

http://www.satcodx4.com/1005

==============================

APTN Feeds on 3.706 (H,4170,200,280,2304): It has started

Reuters World News Service on 3.905 (H,4000,3551,3552,3551): It's clear now

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

ASIASAT 3S (105.5E)

http://www.satcodx4.com/1055

==============================

Blue Kiss Promo on 3.670 (V,13333,2081,2082,2081): It has replaced Malibu Promos

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

PALAPA C2 (113.0E)

http://www.satcodx4.com/1130

==============================

Azio TV on 11.472 (H,15555,2501,2502,2501): It has replaced ETTV Movie

Fashion TV India on 11.472 (H,15555,2601,2602,2601): It has replaced Yoyo TV

MAC TV on 11.132 (V,26667,66,67,66)

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

KOREASAT 3 (116.0E)

http://www.satcodx4.com/1160

==============================

Radio Service on 12.530 (H,27490,2902,2902): It has started

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

AGILA 2 (146.0E)

http://www.satcodx5.com/1460

==============================

no name on 3.660 (H,15000)

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

OPTUS B1 (160.0E)

http://www.satcodx5.com/1600

==============================

Calvary Chapel Radio NZ on 12.761 (V,22500): It has started

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

PANAMSAT 8 (166.0E)

http://www.satcodx5.com/1660

==============================

Videoland Sports on 3.860 (H,28000,410,411,410): It's clear now

31_KFC on 3.860 (H,28000,901,901): It has started

32_Test on 3.860 (H,28000,921): It has started

MAC TV on 3.860 (H,28000,168,1112,168)

Videoland Sports on 3.860 (H,28000,410,411,410): It's encrypted now

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

Weekly SatcoDX News 16 April 2004 - 23 April 2004

PANAMSAT 2 (169.0E)

http://www.satcodx5.com/1690

==============================

A copy of BBC (Encoder 3) on 3.743 (V,21800,1360,1320,1360)

Occasional feeds ( no name ) on 3.865 (V,19530)

Occasional feeds ( no name ) on 3.865 (V,19530)

Occasional feeds ( no name ) on 3.865 (V,19530)

Occasional feeds ( no name ) on 3.865 (V,19530)

(C) SatcoDX Inc. (C) TELE-satellite International magazine

For Private and Personal Use Only - Commercial Use Not Allowed

NEWS

New channel rumoured for TVNZ

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3562478

TVNZ is developing secret plans for a third channel based on the formulas of leading Australian and American public service and special interest networks.

For viewers it will mean another free-to-air nationwide channel which may affect what TV One and TV2 offer.

Confronted last night, the company was cagey.

Chief executive Ian Fraser said: "I can't tell you anything, except good luck in your mission."

But in Wellington, TVNZ spokesman Richard Griffin let slip a few more details.

He said the broadcaster was investigating a channel which would give top billing to Parliamentary cover and screen other programmes that "probably wouldn't otherwise get to air".

He denied it would be a "charter channel" - a dumping ground for programmes expected under TVNZ's agreement with the Government to provide public service television.

The plans, due to be finalised by the end of next month, were flushed out when TVNZ pulled the plug on two years of negotiations with a consortium of television veterans for an Auckland regional channel.

TVNZ withdrew from the talks with Mai TV, a partnership including top-rating radio station Mai FM, saying it now had plans of its own for the spare frequency.

The Weekend Herald has learned that in an email from TVNZ chief financial officer Rodney Parker, the partnership was told: "In particular, we are working through a concept for a national UHF channel."

He said the plans bore no resemblance to Mai TV's concept.

"We are really bloody annoyed with them," said Mai Media managing director Graham Pryor.

"No one likes being stuffed around for that length of time, especially with the amount of work that's gone into it."

Mr Fraser last night dismissed Mai TV's concerns: "I don't give a bugger ... Who cares?"

Industry insiders are in the dark about TVNZ's plans, but programme makers contacted by the Weekend Herald were cynical about its motives.

"I imagine it would be an attempt to mop up even more funding," said one. Another said he could only imagine TVNZ was looking at a "charter channel".

But Mr Griffin said the motivation for the planning was Parliament's desire to broadcast its sittings, although the channel would broadcast more than politicians.

TVNZ had looked at Australian ethnic broadcaster SBS and American cable public affairs channel C-Span for inspiration, although the channel would not be modelled directly on either.

He denied it would have any effect on the other two channels.

An advertising expert, Mitchell & Partners chief executive Kevin Blight, said there was room for another channel from an advertising perspective.

"It's very hard to get ads on and the prices are going up," he said.

The Mai TV partnership included Mr Pryor and television veterans David Beatson, Robert Boyd-Bell and Murray Roberts.

During negotiations, TVNZ asked for and was given the consortium's proposal, costings and five-year plan.

Mr Beatson said they felt they had wasted 2 1/2 years, "a lot of energy, a lot of money, and got precisely nowhere with an organisation that could suddenly whisk plans out of thin air for the development of a UHF network.

"This is at a time when it's just asked the Government for additional funds to say 'hey, we can't meet our charter responsibilities on our two existing networks with the money we've got'.

"I think a decision of that calibre makes a mockery of that claim."

Mr Fraser said Mai TV was understandably chagrined that TVNZ was not giving access to the frequency, but it had good reasons.

"If you're working on a concept, as we are, why would you not make sure that you were holding the frequency appropriate to the concept and that's really all we're doing."

A spokesman for Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said the TVNZ board had talked to the Government about its plans for the frequency, but he was waiting for a business case to be developed.

TVNZ under attack for sitting on frequencies

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3562570

TVNZ's refusal to allow access to its frequencies could land it before the Commerce Commission, says a group planning an Auckland-only television channel.

Television veterans Robert Boyd-Bell and David Beatson are behind a proposal to set up an Auckland-only channel. The Mai TV, in partnership with radio station Mai FM, would target the younger market with a mix of gameshows and interactive TV, with in-depth Auckland traffic and weather reports.

But TVNZ's decision not to allow access to its UHF network has stymied their plans.

The decision came after more than two years of negotiations between the consortium and TVNZ and as TVNZ's plans to set up a third channel of its own on the UHF frequency were revealed.

Mr Beatson said his consortium wanted a meeting with the state broadcaster's board on Thursday because it believed TVNZ management had not put its case fairly.

"Bluntly, I don't think TVNZ management knows what it's doing," he said. "We don't really see why they need both UHF frequencies in Auckland, other than that they are sitting on the lot and saying, 'The hell with you all, go away'."

TVNZ had told the group it wanted to keep its Channel 49, once used for the now-defunct Max TV, for digital testing. The old Horizon Pacific UHF network would be used for TVNZ's new channel.

But the consortium does not believe the company needs both.

Mr Boyd-Bell said it was not appropriate for the broadcaster to sit on Channel 49.

"We have been trying to get this issue taken from management to the board, and if we're not satisfied there, I guess we start to talk about the Commerce Commission and anti-competitive practices. We don't believe this is appropriate behaviour for a Crown-owned company."

TV3 spokesman Roger Beaumont yesterday said his company's concern was that TVNZ would use Government funding for the new channel on a frequency that was not accessible without a UHF aerial.

He said it was rumoured TVNZ would use the channel as a dumping ground for charter-type programming.

"That would be a fairly devious way around the charter, which is clearly intended for TVNZ's mainstream channels," he said.

The Government imposed the charter on TVNZ last year to ensure the broadcaster carried more local content and had a stronger public service focus.

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said yesterday that he had been aware of the company's plans and been briefed by the TVNZ board.

A spokesman for the minister said as a Crown-owned company, TVNZ "was responsible for its own actions".

Industry sources believe the company's new channel could be used for wider parliamentary coverage.

HK Tom Group To Pay US$10M To Stop AsiaSat Analogue Svc

From http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040426/15/3jrm1.html

TOM Group Ltd. (8001.HK) said it will have to pay US$10 million to stop using the analogue service of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. (SAT).

(In a headline timed at 0354 GMT, the amount of the payment was misstated.)

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)-- TOM Group Ltd. (8001.HK), the media flagship of tycoon Li Ka-shing, said Monday it will have to pay US$10 million to stop using the analogue service of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. (SAT).

Tom Group's broadcasting arm CETV switched to digital broadcasting from analogue during the first quarter, and had to compensate AsiaSat for the change.

Chief Executive Sing Wang said Tom Group will book first-quarter provisions amounting to between HK$200 million and HK$300 million, including the compensation to AsiaSat.

He was speaking after the media group's annual general meeting.

Sony to beam kids' channel

From http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2004/apr/24sony.htm

Sony Entertainment Television India is gearing up to launch the children's channel from its parent's portfolio -- Animax, making 2004 a busy year of kids' channel launches.

First, the Cartoon Network launched 'Pogo' on January 1. It was soon followed by UTV which launched 'Hungama'. The Disney Channel is also believed to be readying itself to launch 'Little Big Mouse' this year. Till last year, this segment was addressed primarily by two channels -- Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

The third channel was Splash. Kunal Dasgupta, chief executive officer of SET India, told Business Standard: "While we have added Nickelodeon to the Sony-Discovery bouquet, we are also planning to bring Animax to India. We would announce it shortly.

"Kids' channel offers a huge untapped business potential. Advertisers have recognised that children play a key role in household purchase decision-making," said a senior industry official.

The industry players are betting big on their plans to start kids' channel. Industry operators point out that while the United Kingdom has 20 channels to cater to 11 million kids, the United States airs 306 shows per week for 61 million children across 17 networks.

In contrast, India till recently did not have any localised channel for its 315 million kids, who represent one-third of the country's population under the age of 15 years. The 44 million cable and satellite homes in India offer an addressable audience of over 47 million.

25/04/04

No update Sunday

24/04/04

No update Saturday

23/04/04

Not much to end the week with.

Anzac Weekend, the usual feeds of dawn ceremonys etc should be seen. TRT on B3 normally has live coverage.

As mentioned yesterday there will be a new weekly column each Thursday on Apsattv.com. Jon will be reporting on the Satellite scene in Asia. Finally ASIA added to "Asia Pacific Sat TV Guide"

Backgrounder:

Jon is a New Zealander living in Thailand and runs a satellite TVRO company called JSAT.tv (www.jsat.tv), having worked with Satellite TV Systems in Motueka some 24 years ago he is back in the industry serving the foreign market in Thailand and now provides us with a weekly article on happenings and trends in Asia.

Jon's Asia Weekly

Issue #1

"We had a play in Asia this week"

Well what a week of discovery we have had here in Thailand. You have all heard the old adage “information or knowledge is power”, well the sharing of information about our hobby of Satellite TVRO is a rare thing in this part of the world. Most companies dealing with the sales, installation and support of satellite TV equipment, keep every little snippet of information very close to their chest, and do not share it with the likes of you and me. So it is very hard to get a simple answer to a simple question at times.

This makes asking the simple question like “what satellites do we watch in Asia” seem like pulling teeth.

So we decided it was time for this to change all of this and having a few spare minutes over the Thai New year last week, we decided to sit down and do some satellite DX’ing (looking for satellites we do not normally receive) and much to our surprise we found a large number of them on both the C and KU Bands (1009 channels)

Here in Thailand we have can see satellites from Panamsat 2 in the east over to Arabsat in the west. However the most commonly used satellites range from only Panamsat 8 to Panamsat 7/10 as this is all the local suppliers tend to put in their set top boxes, so it has become a myth as follows, “this is all you can see, else why would they not put the other satellites in my decoder?”

So armed with a 10 foot movable c band mesh dish, 7.5 foot KU dish and a blind search receiver we decided to see what we could find on the C band over 30 plus C band satellites.

To nobodies surprise it took more than 10 minutes. But the outcome was quite surprising even to me. There has been an ‘urban myth’ here about the ability to see several analog transponders to our west on the Arabsat series of birds, and at 4.8 degrees above our horizon, I seriously doubted we would even get a sparkle off them. Urban myths are founded in fact somewhere right? On the 10 footer there was a glimmer of a signal, but on a 12 footer there is even a picture.

So we added the Intelsat series birds on doorstep to our watch list, along with NSS709 and a few other Russian birds. All in all a good search with over 1009 channels being found. It seems from looking at the blind searches we did, that Satcodx is the web site to get all the updates from people, as they are allot closer to reality then others you might look at.

KU Band

We found so much on the KU band it will fill most of next weeks article.

For those of you in Asia that can watch any of the Thaicom 2/3 KU band transponders, there is a neat Thai channel that just popped up on the UBC 12369mhz MUX which is FTA called “PRD1” Or Channel 11 News 1 – a Thai news channel. Well worth a watch if you get ten minutes. So are the two TGN channels which is also FTA.

C Band

The best thing we found on our little DX hunt was the C band news feeds, and we managed to watch the Russian ISS mission launch this week to the International Space Station, along with a NASA TV feeds of it latest space probe launch, and the most enlightening for me has been the continued US house committee on “911” feeds. Indovision was FTA again this week, albeit back to its normal state as I type this, so nice to see CNBC again. Did any of you note that most of the FTA channel’s could be found on other satellites FTA.

Receivers

eMetaBox has a new upgrade of the firmware to 4.04 and works well
Neotionbox released a new firmware upgrade this week

Dishes

The hottest news in the region is the “dual plates”. What is a dual plate? A LNB adaptor that allows you to mount both a KU and C band LNB on a prime focus mesh (and solid) dish. Khun Juruphong the tech guru and owner of Dynasat has developed a system that gives truly the best of both C & KU band worlds in one dish with they have branded the “Extra” series. More on this over the next few weeks, as we have put a system in here, and it works so well on both bands (and the S band).

Gossip

So if you are in Thailand and need your local sports or news fix via satellite drop in and say hi to Steve the owner of the Aussie Bar (Soi Easy) in Phuket and uncle Bob at “the Office bar” in Bangkok (Soi 33), both of whom are also big users of satellite TV. One day my home will resemble their system setups with multi TV’s, 20 foot projection systems, multi receivers, surround sound, etc. one day.

Sports

The hottest tickets this week are the F1, soccer, Super 12’s, AFL, NRL and more football (or soccer to you and me) ..

Stuff

If you have items you want included or questions answered please email Jon at joncl@yahoo.com

From my Emails & ICQ

Friday night B1 12367V Sr 6618 Fec 3/4 "Aus vs NZ"

From the Dish

No Lyngsat received

NEWS

U.S.-Russian Satellite Plans

From http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/04/23/050.html

The Moscow Times Troubled U.S. space industry giant Loral Space & Communications and Korolev-based space rocket corporation Energia will announce a joint satellite venture, an official from the Russian company said Thursday.

The two companies will sign a memorandum by the end of next week that foresees Loral marketing smaller satellite platforms, including Energia's Yamal, Alexander Derechin, head of Energia's marketing department, said in an interview.

Derechin said the memorandum could be followed by a framework agreement on joint production.

Telecommunications companies are increasingly leaning toward procuring smaller and cheaper space platforms. Derechin said Energia's Universal Space Platform could be chosen for a joint project.

Loral already contributed transponders to two Yamal-100 geostationary orbit telecommunications satellites built by Energia in 1999.

Loral and Energia have also teamed up to make a bid for a German military satellite communications project, Derechin said.

The other partners in that bid for the $1.2 billion project are U.S. defense industry giant Raytheon Co. and Germany's Deutsche Telekom, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

The paper cited industry officials as saying that an Energia-Loral partnership could offer satellite projects for less than half of the $250 million price tag they can carry.

Loral spokesmen did not return calls Thursday evening.

Splash to spruce up content

From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/23/stories/2004042301950400.htm

CHENNAI-BASED kids TV channel Splash is all set to spruce up its content and packaging. The channel, which is to be merged under the Mayajaal Entertainment banner soon, plans to launch 12 new shows in the coming six months. Also on the cards are two all-India events as part of its promotion activities.

Around 60 per cent of the new content will be entertainment-based while edutainment and infotainment will make up the rest.

Some of the new shows include Amazing world of visual effects, What's the time wolf and the Learn Japanese and Learn Karate modules, which are part of the channel's `Learn' series. Splash will invest about Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 for a half-hour slot.

According to distribution figures, the channel is currently available in 15 million homes in the country. It hopes to double this number in the next six months. Ms Nirmala Narendranath, Head of Programming, Splash, a Pentamedia group company, says, "We plan to first consolidate our position in the South and then focus more on other cities such as Delhi and Mumbai."

Apart from the in-house and locally produced shows, Splash plans to source content from Europe and the US. The channel is considering proposals from around 12 producers and production houses, which had offered content at a TV industry meet in Cannes on April 8. "We will buy about eight shows and 25 movies at a budget of $400-$450 per half-hour slots after we finalise the list," says Ms Narendranath.

The channel, which has the first right of refusal for Pentamedia films will be vigorously negotiating to obtain the TV telecast rights for th