31/03/04

Solar outages time of the year, so be aware of that if you suddenly lose reception don't go playing with your dish thinking somethings wrong with it!

Oman Tv has started on B3 12524V Globecast mux, more to come tomorrow?

From my Emails & ICQ

Nothing to report

From the Dish

Optus B3 152E 12703 V "Dig Radio" has started on , Fta, APID 2321.
Optus B3 152E 12718 V "SBS Western" has started on , Fta, PIDs 102/103.
Optus B3 152E 12718 V "SBS Western and SBS World News Channel" have started on , Fta, SR 12600, PIDs 161/81 and 162/83.

Apstar 1A 134E 3840 H "CCTV Music" has started on , Fta, PIDs 518/710.

AsiaSat 4 122E 3864 V "TVSN (China)" has started on , enc., SR 4300, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1160/1120.

NSS 6 95E 11106 H "Realitatea TV" has started on , Fta, SR 3255, FEC 3/4,PIDs 1160/1120, Australian beam.
NSS 6 95E 11685 H "SpaceGate" has started on , SR 13331, FEC 7/8, Middle East beam.

Insat 3A 93.5E 4120 V "DD Gujarati and occasional DD Gujarati feeds" have left , moved to Insat 2E.

Insat 3E 55E 3725 H Occasional feeds on , PAL.
Insat 3E 55E 3886 H "DD Bihar and the occasional DD Bihar feeds" have left , moved to Insat 2E.
Insat 3E 55E 3905 V "DD North-East" has left (PAL), replaced by occasional feeds.

Satellite Launches:

Express AM 11 with Proton is delayed from 4 April to 26 April.

NEWS

Democrats push for better broadband nationwide

From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/31/1080544535682.html

The Australian Democrats want Telstra to remain remain in public hands so that high quality bandwidth can be developed for all Australians.

In a speech to the Senate on Tuesday during the debate on the full sale of Telstra, Senator Brian Greig, the party's IT spokesman, said the future direction of technology lay in broadcasting TV over ADSL, as was being done in Hong Kong.

However, he said, given the abysmally low speed of ADSL in Australia, it was impossible to do this. The Hong Kong service was provided by Pacific Century Cyberworks which provided ADSL with speeds of 6 megabits per second; broadband TV needed 4.5 and hence the remaining bandwidth made it possible for people to use the internet at the same time.

Australia was miles away from this kind of scenario, Senator Greig said, as the ADSL service could only offer a maximum of 1.5 megabits per second "and that happens only on a very good day."

He said the beauty of the Hong Kong system also lay in the fact that it was an "a la carte service."

"With this service you pay for each channel separately, buying as few or as many as you want for between $2 and $7.50 a month. This contrasts with the minimum $49.95 package available from Foxtel but which does not include new movies or sports.

"To get new movies and sports coverage, you have to subscribe to the full $94.95 package. An a la carte competitor would be Foxtel's nemesis and this leads us to the second reason why Telstra is not interested in broadband TV. That is, Telstra owns half of Foxtel," he said.

Senator Greig said: "If the future of Australia is handicapped to enable Telstra to deliver today's profit then that's okay by Telstra. It's okay by the minister and it's okay by the Government. It is not okay with the people of Australia.

"Each year Australia drops further down the International Digital Access rankings. Each year that we fail to act makes it that much harder to begin working on the solution. It's time for the Government to stop wasting its energy on this attempt to sweep a problem of its own making under the carpet and supposedly out of sight.

"It's time for the Government to accept its responsibilities and ensure the supply of high quality bandwidth to every Australian. It's time to break the digital divide and get broadband out into the bush. It's time to get service levels up to an acceptable level, and to stop them from going downhill. It's not the time to sell off the nation's vital infrastructure."

World Broadcasting Unions Move to Clear Up Satellite Interference

From

The World Broadcasting Unions International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG), which includes broadcasters, satellite operators, transmission service providers and industry groups have unanimously approved a set of Universal Access Procedures (UAP) for all satellite uplinks aimed at significantly reducing satellite interference.

The WBU-ISOG has submitted a new draft recommendation to the International Telecommunication Union Study Group 4B (ITU-R SG 4B) in Geneva, Switzerland, for satellite newsgathering (SNG), in time for the next Study Group 4B meeting in April.

Members of the WBU-ISOG are calling on broadcasters and satellite operators to collectively help eliminate satellite interference, with special concern for deliberate events of interference caused by rogue carriers. These rogue carriers intentionally transmit to satellite capacity that has been assigned to legitimate users, interrupting network broadcasters who use the satellites for newsgathering, program acquisition and distribution to their customers.

Dick Tauber, chairman of WBU-ISOG and vice president, Transmission Systems and New Technology for the CNN News Group at CNN in Atlanta, told TelecomWeb it is important that broadcasters, satellite operators and uplink service providers work together to reduce and eliminate interference caused by equipment malfunction and human errors “so we, as an industry, can focus on and thwart those who don’t play by the rules and purposely interfere with global satellite broadcasts,” he said. “We anticipate adoption and approval from the ITU. Our recommendations have the full support of key satellite industry groups.”

SK Telecom Satellite Completes Deployment

From http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200403/kt2004033020284411810.htm

South Korea's bold scheme of launching the world's first-ever satellite digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) took one step further in the right direction, as the DMB satellite deployment was successfully completed.

Korea's biggest mobile operator SK Telecom on Tuesday said the satellite, titled ''MBSat,'' got ready to deliver services by unfolding 12-meter diameter antenna and reflector.

The satellite, also nicknamed ''Hanbyol,'' or a big star in Korean, was made by U.S.-based Space Systems/Loral for SK Telecom and Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBCo) and took off earlier on March 13 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Space Systems/Loral will test the satellite, positioned in orbit at 35,785.6 kilometers above the equator, for the next three weeks and will hand it over to the co-owners.

SK Telecom holds a 34.66 percent stake for the satellite, which has a life span of 12 years, while MBCo holds the remaining 65.34 percent.

MBSat will bring in the era of pocket multimedia, when people can enjoy broadcasting features, such as high-quality audio, crystal-clear video and data, on the move through their handheld receivers in cell phone or personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Also, mobile reception at up to 150 kilometers per hour will be possible via a very small antenna equipped in such fast-moving transportations as even the bullet train, which will publicly debut April 1.

Korea and Japan have staged an uphill battle in landing the satellite DMB services for the first time in the world, with SK Telecom and MBCo both aiming to pilot run the attractive offerings from this May.

The two outfits look to launch commercial satellite DMB services two months later.

Broadcast sector seeks crackdown

From http://www.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=46347&intcatid=1

Television stations and key players in the creative industry have called for the use of illegal decoders to be made a criminal offence.

The move comes amid mounting complaints that the rampant unauthorised use of decoders at home is costing the pay-TV industry billions of dollars a year.

``A bill proposed by the government only aims to suppress the illegal import and sale of decoders. But, there's no law yet to make using such devices at home a criminal offence,'' legislator Ma Fung-kwok said yesterday.

Ma is a member of Legislative Council's Bills Committee on Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2003. The committee will hold its last meeting on Friday before submitting the bill to the council for consideration.

He said he may move a private bill if his proposed amendment to make use of illegal decoders at home a criminal offence failed to receive support from the committee.

Ma said there is no difference between shoplifting and people installing illegal decoders at home and enjoying pay-TV services without paying the service providers.

``Such activities have not only affected the service providers themselves, but also other creative industries such as film production, music recording and publishing,'' he said.

Among those who have joined calls for a crackdown are Television Broadcasts, Cable TV, the Composers & Authors Society of Hong Kong and IFPI (Hong Kong Group).

The government introduced a bill in May last year to amend the Broadcasting Ordinance, proposing that the import and sale of decoders be made a criminal offence. But, it has suggested that people found using pay-TV services with decoders without paying service providers should only face civil liabilities instead of criminal charges.

A recent study estimated that the Asia Pacific pay-TV industry - from platform operators to independent suppliers of programming - lost US$1.29 billion (HK$10.06 billion) in revenue last year as a result of unauthorised use of decoders.

It is estimated that more than 10 per cent of pay-TV service users in Hong Kong rely on illegal decoders. Cable TV, the top player, has more than 650,000 subscribers.

Released in October last year, the study was conducted by CLSA Asia Pacific Markets, the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia and its members.

``The government told us that the situation is expected to be under control after digitisation,'' Ma said. But he warned that users could still obtain illegal decoders to access pay-TV services even although service providers have digitised their channels.

``Such practices will become widespread if we do not enact laws quickly. Service operators cannot adopt a totally new system to avoid [the widespread use of illegal decoders] within a short time,'' he said.

The government has said enforcing any law would create difficulties such as securing authorisation for law enforcement personnel to enter private premises.

But Ma said it was unnecessary for police to enter private homes or offices to enforce such a law. He said officers could arrest people caught buying decoders on the street. ``Buying means ownership [of an illegal decoder],'' he said.

Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia chief executive Simon Davies said illegal decoder boxes have sucked revenues from cable companies.

He said governments in the region are only beginning to change their criminal codes to address such practices.

For instance, in Hong Kong, the government will introduce legislation by the end of the year that will make it illegal to distribute unauthorised signals for commercial profit. The penalty will be a maximum of five years in jail and a HK$1 million fine.

In Singapore, the punishment for manufacturing or selling decoder sets could be US$40,000 and/or a jail term of three years, a lawyer said.

``Don't buy it. There is a good chance that the equipment won't work properly and all your investment will be wasted,'' Davies warned. In Thailand, there are 600,000 unlicensed decoder boxes, compared with about 438,000 legitimate subscribers.

In Hong Kong, there are about 60,000 to 80,000 unauthorised decoders, versus 650,000 legitimate subscribers.

HONG KONG: Cable TV in final drive against fee dodgers

From http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=9634

Hong Kong Cable Television is making one final effort to get criminal penalties introduced for people who use unauthorised decoders to view pay-TV programming, ahead of a review of the Broadcasting Bill on Friday

Hong Kong Cable Television is making one final effort to get criminal penalties introduced for people who use unauthorised decoders to view pay-TV programming, ahead of a review of the Broadcasting Bill on Friday.

The bill will introduce civil fines for viewers who possess or use unauthorised decoders to avoid pay-TV fees.

But legislator Ma Fung-kwok is sponsoring an amendment that contains criminal sanctions.

Cable TV, the city's leading pay-TV provider, said there were more than 100,000 illegal decoders in use in Hong Kong, far higher than the 60,000 estimated by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia.

The operator plans to have its digital network fully in place as soon as possible, which will enable it to switch broadcast signals more frequently and thus thwart users of unauthorised set-top boxes. But advocates of criminal penalties say technology alone will not be enough to deter illegal viewing.

"The piracy problem will still exist even after the network is completely digitalised," Mr Ma said.

"People might [continue to] purchase unauthorised decoders made across the border as they won't be criminally penalised for viewing pay-TV programming with those devices."

Supporting his position are free-to-air operators Television Broadcasts and Asia Television; pay-TV providers Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, Cable TV, TV Plus and Yes Television; the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong; and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

At least 12 countries have adopted stiff penalties for people who illegally access encrypted pay-television services.

In Britain, possessing or installing an unauthorised decoder can result in two years in prison, a fine, or both.

In France, possession or acquisition of unauthorised decoders can lead to up to two years in prison and a heavy fine.

The Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau has opposed criminal penalties, saying they would be tough to enforce and would require police officers to obtain warrants to enter a viewer's home.

"Criminal liability should be introduced only if pirated viewing is still rampant after [Cable Television] has completed its digital project," it said.

Reality TV to debut on Pakistan's Cross Current platform

From http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k4/mar/mar283.htm

MUMBAI: Zone Vision has inked an exclusive five-year carriage agreement with Cross Current in Pakistan to broadcast the company's flagship Reality TV channel. Amongst the special line up for the debutante channel is a hit series- Matchmaker.

The channel will reach approximately 1.5 million cable and DTH subscribers throughout the region.

A 24-hour channel delivering a non-stop insight into people's lives without actors, special effects or rehearsed material, Reality TV tells the stories of real people in real situations and shows events as they actually happened, says an official press release.

According to the release, Cross Current went ahead to sign the deal following channel's impressive reach within a few months of the launch of Reality TV in India. The channel has crossed a viewership of 15 million households across the country in a short span of 13 months, claims the release.

Distributed in India by Zee Turner, the channel is available worldwide to over 120 million subscribers in 16 languages.

Announcing the launch, Zone Vision senior vice president, group sales and marketing Mark David said; "This is a significant deal for Zone Vision because very few foreign cable channels have secured penetration in Pakistan as the territory has remained one of the few relatively closed markets to broadcasters. Cross Current has both the professionalism and the backing to put Reality TV on the map in this region, providing us with a significant inroad to Pakistan's huge television audience."

Besides, the global producer and distributor of thematic channels, Zone Vision has concluded an exclusive program licensing agreement with Canada's Tricon films and television, an independent entertainment production and distribution company, to acquire the international cable and satellite rights to the hit reality dating series Matchmaker.

A part of channels prime-time agenda, Matchmaker is scheduled to premiere on 3 May 2004 in the UK, the series will rollout in January 2005 on Reality TV in the US, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Says Reality TV vice president, programming Steve Cole: "Matchmaker is an exciting acquisition for our expanding global network of channels. With this we have widened our range of programming content. We're confident that Reality TV viewers will enjoy Matchmaker's excellent production values and mischievous sense of humour."

First produced in 2001 and currently in production on season five, Matchmaker became one of the highest-rated programs on Canada's Life Network. Produced by Tricon, the series has established itself within the 18 - 34 demographic with an equal number of men and women viewers, says the release.

The series features a matchmaker in each episode, who arranges a date for a loveless friend. The entire experience is captured via closed circuit television. Hosted by Andrew Anthony, the series has the producers scour the city for that special someone.

On the matchmakers request, the producers also help the contestant with a complete make-over prior to their date. Be it makeup artists, wardrobe consultants, or psychics, everything is taken care of.

Looks like reality is taking roots in Indian subcontinent.

30/03/04

Live satellite chat tonight 9pm NZ onwards and 8.30pm Syd time onwards.

Pas 2 Ku Australian channels leaving? according to a document put out by GWN

see link GWN Page 1 GWN Page 2

It would seem if you have an authorised Power Vu unit for the Pas2 Service and live outside Rural W.A then you are about to lose the service. Unless you can get around the "security checking" procedure they put in place. I guess once C1 went up it was only a matter of time before the Pas2 service became obselete. Wint TV , ABC Northern and GWN are fta currently on Optus B3 12689H sr 30000 but that will surely not last long.

From my Emails & ICQ

From Abdul Allouch

How are you Craig, i was pleased to read yesterday on your website about the new arabic channels being transmitted FTA on Asiasat 3.

I have a question:

Will these arabic channels be FTA for a long period of time, or will it only be for a week?

cheers
Abs

(Craigs comment, Yes they will remain FTA globally to promote themselves and Arab Culture)

From Vk4bkp

Feed

B3 12462H. 6671 3/4. ID's as News Backhaul but picture is broken
and sound is from GWN.

(Craigs comment, Mpg 4:2:2?)

From Bill Richards

Screenshots from Asiasat 3

Syria TV, Oman TV, Qatar TV

Sudan TV, Abu Dhabi, Al-Manar

Libya TV

From the Dish

No Lyngsat received

NEWS

Orbital Recovery Gives Go-ahead for its ConeXpress Space Tug; Production to Start in September, First Launch Planned in 2007

From Press Release

Paris, France; London, England; Leiden, Holland, March 29, 2004 -- Orbital Recovery Ltd. has formally initiated the development of its ConeXpress ORS space tug in a program leading to the start of full-scale production this September, and the first launch in 2007.

The go-ahead was confirmed by last week's initiation of the Phase B1 leading to preliminary design review, which is backed by private and European Space Agency funding for the Dutch Space-led industrial team. ESA is participating through its ARTES 4 public-private partnership program, in which the multinational organization provides matching funds for the spacecraft's development.

"We are delighted to have passed this extremely important milestone, which had moved the company from its pre-operating phase into the mainstream," said Philip Braden, the Chief Executive Officer of Orbital Recovery Ltd. "Our industrial team -- which includes Arianespace, the German Space Agency, Kayser-Threde and others -- is now in place, and is fully involved in the development activity."

The marketing campaign for ConeXpress ORS also is moving into full swing, with discussions underway with several operators for early missions of the space tug. Allocation of flight opportunities has begun, and the initial launch slots are in the process of being assigned, Braden added.

When operational, ConeXpress ORS will serve as an orbital "tugboat" -- providing the propulsion, navigation and guidance required to maintain telecommunications satellites in their proper orbits for years beyond the normal fuel depletion.

ConeXpress' ORS primary mission will be to prolong the in-service lifetimes of expensive geostationary orbit telecommunications satellites, which currently are junked when their on-board fuel supply runs out. The space tug also can be used to rescue spacecraft that have become stranded during orbital positioning maneuvers.

Holland's Dutch Space was selected last November as the ConeXpress ORS prime contractor. This decision that followed an international survey of candidate space hardware manufacturers.

Dutch Space will build the space tug based on a design it conceived for the payload adapter used on every mission of Arianespace's Ariane 5 launcher. This enables flight-proven hardware to serve as the structure for ConeXpress ORS, and ensures regular launch opportunities on Ariane 5.

ConeXpress ORS is designed to easily mate with all telecommunications spacecraft now in space or on the drawing boards.

After launch, the space tug will rendezvous with the target telecommunications satellite, approaching it from below for docking. ConeXpress ORS will link up with the satellite using docking and robotic technology developed in cooperation with Germany's DLR Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics. Aon Space is providing insurance brokering and risk management services.

Orbital Recovery Ltd. is an international company with its main office in London, England. More information on Orbital Recovery Ltd. is available on its Web site: www.orbitalrecovery.com.

Press & media contact:
Jeffrey Lenorovitz
The InfoWEST Group
Media relations agency for Orbital Recovery Ltd.
U.S. tel: +1 703 560-6330
U.S. mobile: +1 703 615-3646
Int'l GSM: +33 (0)6 80 85 86 25
e-mail: jleno@infowestgroup.com

29/03/04

CFTO Canadian channel seen running on B3 Adhoc this afternoon. Just a temp feed

Some links for the Arab channels to start on B3 soon.

Oman TV Website http://www.oman-tv.gov.om/
Oman TV Video Stream rtsp://212.72.22.118/encoder/video.rm
Oman TV Guide http://www.oman-tv.gov.om/tveng/prog_sch.asp

Qatar TV Website http://qtv.iscool.net/
Qatar TV Video Stream

Sudan TV Website http://www.sudantv.tv/

Syria Satellite Website http://www.rtv.gov.sy/
Syria Satellite Video Stream mms://www.rtv.gov.sy/livebroadcast

Libya TV Website http://www.ljbc.net/
Libya TV Video Stream http://en.ljbc.net/live.ram

NSS6 Realitatea TV Website http://www.realitatea.tv
NSS6 Realitatea TV Program guide http://www.anuntul.ro/TV_REAL.html

From my Emails & ICQ

From Fishinggg

New Arabic mux on Asiasat 3

Hi all
The new Arabic package has just started on As3, on 3880H Sr 27500

Channels currently are there.

Syria, Oman TV, Qatar TV, Sudan, Libya, Al-Manar, Abu Dhabi

This package will be transmitted on B3 also.

FYI, the bouquet will be expanded to 10 channels shortly. It will remain
FTA both on AS3 and B3.

One thing I should say, a lot of people have being lobying the various
Arabic stations directly about beaming FTA ever since TARBS came and took
away most of the FTA stuff around over the last 2-3 years. One of the
arguments used was the lost opportunity to these national broadcasters in
promoting their countries to a large population (tourism and business communities).

It has taken a number of years, but finally some reward.

If people want to see more FTA around (especially ethnic channels), then
they just need to send a lot of emails/faxes/letters and be patient.

Happy fishingggg

From Ken Kirkby

Hi Craig,

For your info.

Asiasat 3 3880 H 27500 3/4 with the following channels FTA in order of reception

Video PID Audio PID PCR

Syria TV` 1111 1112 1111

Oman 1141 1142 1141

Quatar 1181 1182 1181

Sudan 1191 1192 1191

Libya 1121 1122 1121 Present Test Bars but audio

Al Manar 1161 1162 1161

Abu Dhabi TV 1131 1131 8191 No Picture

Ken Kirkby

From Satellite info

India vs Pakistan Cricket
Currently showing in Mpeg 4:2:2 on
Insat 2E 3931 V 8600 3/4 "Chennai Feed" Vpid 513 Apid 660

From VK4bkp

Screenshot of Realitatea TV off Nss6

Feeds reported on the Weekend

B3 12524 V Horse Racing
B3 12552 V Horse Racing Sr 6110 Fec 2/3

B1 12371 H 3/4 Sr 6670 Car Rally feed. from WA.

From the Dish

PAS 2 169E The Telstra mux has moved from 12637 V to 12673 V, new SR: 5000.

PAS 8 166E 12395 H "Thai TV Channel" has started on , Fta, SR 2350, FEC 3/4,PIDs 4194/4195.

Optus B1 160E 12456 V "Maori TV" has started regular transmissions on Fta, PIDs 512/650.The TVNZ promo has left.
Optus B1 160E 12483 V The TVNZ mux has left .(It wasn't there for months)

Optus C1 156E 12407 V Optus Business TV 3 has left .

Gorizont 33 145E 3723 R Radio Rossii has started on , Fta, APID 751. New PIDs for Telekanal Rossiya: 522/750.

JCSAT 3 128E 12733 H Occasional NTT feeds on , SR 21096, FEC 3/4.

Sinosat 1 110.5E 4067 V "China Radio International has replaced Mezhdunarodnoe Radio Kitaya" on, Fta APID 128.

AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3880 H Iza'at Al Jamahiryah Al Outhmah and Radio Oman have started on , Fta, APIDs 1123 and 1143.
AsiaSat 3 105.5E 3880 H Syria Satellite Channel, Jamahirya Satellite Channel, Abu Dhabi TV Europe,Oman TV Satellite, Al-Manar TV, Qatar TV and Sudan TV have started on SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs 1111/1121-1191/1192.

AsiaSat 2 100.5E 12303 H Occasional Guangdong TV feeds on , SR 6250, FEC 3/4.

NSS 6 95.E 12523 H The New Skies promo has left .
NSS 6 95.E 11034 V "Global Beam" has started on , SR 34000, FEC 2/3, Middle East.

Measat 1 91.5E 4174 H Occasional feeds on , SR 7030, FEC 3/4.

Yamal 102 90E 3538 L Serebryany Dozhd has started on Fta, APID 257, not 3532 L.
Yamal 201 90E 3989 L Klassika has started

Insat 2E 83E 3859 V DD Chandana and occasional DD Chandana feeds have started on ,Fta, SR 6250, FEC 3/4, PIDs 512/650 and 513/660.

Thaicom 3 78.5E 3551 H "Spectrum has replaced Channel 10 (Greece)" on , Fta PIDs 1793/1794.
Thaicom 3 78.5E 3671 H An RR Sat promo has started on ,Fta, PIDs 1057/1058.

Telstar 10 76.5E Apstar 2R is now called Telstar 10,
Telstar 10 76.5E 3652 H "TV Lanka" is now encrypted.

LMI 1 75E IBA Channel 3 has left 12670 H (PAL), moved to Amos 2.

SatcoDX Update #24/2004

Latest satellite updates for the period March 21 to March 24, 2004

All channels are MPEG-2 Free-to-Air unless otherwise noted:

0640 INTELSAT 906 (64.0E)

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

Skytrain on 11.488 (H, 5331, 257, 258, 257): It has started

Test card on 11.488 (H, 5331, 513, 514, 513): It has started

Data service on 11.563 (H, 9997): It has started

ITV on 3.644 (R, 13330, 257, 258, 257): New SR

Channel 5 on 3.644 (R, 13330, 513, 514, 513): New SR

Channel 10 on 3.644 (R, 13330, 769, 771, 769): It has started

Radio One on 3.644 (R, 13330, 259): New SR

East Africa FM on 3.644 (R, 13330, 515): New SR

0685 PANAMSAT 7, 10 (68.5E)

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

NoName on 3.913 (V, 6510, 49, 52, 49):

KBS WORLD on 3.913 (V, 6510, 768, 769, 768):

FETV on 3.924 (V, 3003, 4194, 4195, 4194):

Telly Track feeds (TellyTrack RSA) ( no name ) on 4.099 (V, 3255):

0830 INSAT 2E, 3B (83.0E)

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

DD Punjab on 3.840 (V, 6250, 512, 650, 128): It has Started

DD Punjab Feeds on 3.840 (V, 6250, 513, 660, 128): It has Started

DD Gujrati on 3.851 (V, 6250, 512, 650, 128): It has Started

DD Gujrati on 3.851 (V, 6250, 513, 660, 128): It has Started

0900 YAMAL 102, 201 (90.0E)

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

Shkolnik TV on 3.988 (L, 28000, 111, 112, 8190): It has replaced SGU TV

1005 ASIASAT 2 (100.5E)

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

TVSN on 3.764 (V, 4300, 1160, 1120, 1160): New SID

1055 ASIASAT 3S (105.5E)

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

Blue Kiss on 3.670 (V, 13333, 49, 51, 49): New Encryption Systems

Blue Kiss Express on 3.670 (V, 13333, 65, 67, 65): New Encryption Systems

1080 TELKOM 1 (108.0E)

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

Fashion TV on 3.460 (H, 28000, 101, 102, 101):

The Musik on 3.460 (H, 28000, 103, 104, 103):

CNN fn on 3.460 (H, 28000, 144, 145, 144):

Bloomberg on 3.460 (H, 28000, 208, 209, 208):

Nickelodeon on 3.460 (H, 28000, 336, 337, 336):

Start Sport on 3.460 (H, 28000, 400, 401, 400):

Star World on 3.460 (H, 28000, 464, 465, 464):

Discovery Travel Adventure on 3.460 (H, 28000, 528, 529, 528):

MTV Asia on 3.460 (H, 28000, 592, 593, 592):

Indosiar on 3.500 (H, 28000, 80, 81, 80): All channels in this mux are encrypted again

Metro TV on 3.500 (H, 28000, 100, 101, 100):

Hallmark on 3.500 (H, 28000, 528, 529, 528):

CNBC on 3.500 (H, 28000, 592, 593, 592):

RCTI on 3.500 (H, 28000, 633, 632, 633):

TPI on 3.500 (H, 28000, 649, 636, 649):

Ar-Rahman on 3.500 (H, 28000, 659, 568, 659):

SCTV on 3.500 (H, 28000, 661, 660, 661):

antv on 3.500 (H, 28000, 672, 671, 672):

BBC World on 3.500 (H, 28000, 720, 721, 720):

Sky 101.6 FM on 3.500 (H, 28000, 62, 61):

ARY Digital on 3.580 (H, 28000, 592, 593, 592): It has replaced Knowledge Channel

1105 SINOSAT 1 (110.5E)

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

Data Service1 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service2 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service3 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service4 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service5 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service6 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service7 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service8 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

Data Service9 on 12.370 (H, 10000):

1130 PALAPA C2 (113.0E)

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

Unique Satellite TV International on 11.472 (V, 15555, 2101, 2102, 2101): It has replaced MAC TV

1280 JCSAT 3 (128.0E)

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

Miracle Network Audio 5,6,7,8 on 3.996 (V, 22000, 1360, 1122, 1360): It has started

Miracle Network 8Ch Audio on 3.996 (V, 22000, 1360, 1320, 1360): It has started

1340 APSTAR 1A (134.0E)

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

ZheJiang TV on 4.050 (V, 7820, 32, 33, 32): New TID

ZheJiang People's Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 34, 34): New TID

Music FM 96.98 on 4.050 (V, 7820, 35, 35): New TID

ZheJiang Economics Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 36, 36): New TID

ZheJiang FM 99.6 Culture channel on 4.050 (V, 7820, 37, 37): New TID

ZheJiang Health Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 38, 38): New TID

ZheJiang Traffic Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 39, 39): New TID

ZheJiang People's Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 42, 42): New TID

ZheJiang People's Radio on 4.050 (V, 7820, 49, 49): New TID

1660 PANAMSAT 8 (166.0E)

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

Channel One on 12.326 (H, 28067, 513, 641, 8190): It has replaced

Disney Channel Australia on 12.326 (H, 28067, 525, 653, 8190): It has replaced

Thai TV Channel on 12.396 (H, 2350, 4194, 4195, 4194): It has started

Ten-Sports on 12.405 (H, 2207, 308, 256, 8190): It has replaced

TFC Asia-Pacific on 12.606 (H, 28062, 523, 651, 523): Correct Language

Cinema One on 12.606 (H, 28062, 524, 652, 524): Correct Language

Tapesh TV on 12.646 (H, 28054, 512, 640): It has replaced

Movie One on 12.646 (H, 28054, 514, 642): It has replaced

Movie Extra on 12.646 (H, 28054, 515, 643): It has replaced

CTI TV on 12.646 (H, 28054, 521, 649): It has started

Movie Great on 12.646 (H, 28054, 524, 652): It has started

Al Arabiyah on 12.726 (H, 28054, 514, 642): It has replaced Nile Variety

Mazzika on 12.726 (H, 28054, 517, 645): It has replaced Pallestine Satellite Channel

MBC Europe on 12.726 (H, 28054, 518, 646): It has replaced Test Card

Nojoom on 12.726 (H, 28054, 519, 647): It has replaced Al Manar TV

Test Card on 12.726 (H, 28054, 520, 648): It has replaced Power TV

Test Card on 12.726 (H, 28054, 521, 649): It has replaced TV Moda

Playlist Italia on 12.726 (H, 28054, 522, 650): It has replaced Eurosport News

Thai TV Global Network on 12.726 (H, 28054, 524, 652): It's encrypted now

NEWS

Maori TV channel up and running

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2858287a10,00.html

The cloud hanging over Maori Television could be looming over other state broadcasters after a signal from the National Party that their futures are up for debate.

Up to 2000 people flocked to Maori Television's premises in Auckland yesterday for an emotional launch of the new channel, the culmination of a three-decade battle by Maori to get their language on television.

But National, which has refused to give an assurance of the new channel's future under a National government, is signalling that its review of state-funded broadcasters will extend wider than Maori Television.

National Party deputy and Maori affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee said the party's policy would not differentiate between Maori Television and the other state-funded broadcasters such as Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand.

"It (the policy) will have an overview look at the state's role in broadcasting. The fact is, the state in New Zealand owns frequency, controls frequency and it also broadcasts . . . and funds a substantial amount of local content programming. So we will be looking at what we consider to be the appropriate role of the state in broadcasting."

A Privy Council ruling forced the Crown to publicly accept in 1991 that it had an obligation to use radio and television to preserve the Maori language, but progress has been painstakingly slow.

Previous attempts to establish a channel have been stalled by controversy, including the infamous $89 underpants affair which embroiled Maori Television's predecessor, Aotearoa Television, in controversy, and the later appointment of a Canadian conman to head the successor.

Mr Brownlee said he wished those running the service "every success" but he was not convinced a $45 million station was the way to protect the Maori language.

More books for children written in Maori would be more effective.

"Why is this Government happy for kids to sit at home watching Maori cartoons, funded out of the public purse, when we have a serious shortage of Maori language teachers in our schools and when Maori literature is virtually non-existent?"

"The impact of television on our every day society is undeniable" - Maori TV chairman Wayne Walden

But Prime Minister Helen Clark said that was "complete nonsense".

"Books are one thing. But you have to use the modern media available. That's probably why, for many, many years, Maori have seen the key to keeping the language lively and dynamic and alive is having it on mass media.

"If you exclude te reo Maori from the television spectrum then you really are consigning it to the rubbish bin."

Maori Television chairman Wayne Walden said the new channel was the culmination of 30 years' hard work.

"The impact of television on our every day society is undeniable."

National MP Georgina te Heuheu, who attended the launch, said it was a "window" into the Maori world for all New Zealanders.

"It's part of building our identity as New Zealanders. It's a window into a world that is the only facet of New Zealand that makes us unique in the world."

Mr Walden said recent public debate had shown that many New Zealanders had little knowledge about the country's history and about Maori society.

The new channel is free-to-air on ultra-high frequency, reaching nearly 82 per cent of all Maori.

It also has satellite coverage over the whole country but viewers will need to pay for a Sky TV receiver and a dish.

(Craigs comment, Note the last piece I have emailed them with a correction it is of course FTA on Optus B1 no Sky sub needed)

Turn Dish: Get Sex, Breach Security

From http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=55763

A Rs 3,000 DTH-friendly gadget beams porn TV. Has power to allow terrorists to escape security intercepts.

NEW DELHI, MARCH 28: Direct to home (DTH) users of Zee Group’s Dish TV have access to porn on tap. A diskette-like conditional access module (CAM) costing Rs 3,000 in the grey market is finding its way into 1,50,000-odd bedrooms spread from rural Punjab to Central police outposts in Himachal Pradesh. Some prefer to rent the CAM at Rs 50-100 a night.

There is no cable operator in the middle, hence cops don’t spoil the party.

Some keep the Zee dish aimed at 93.5 degrees (INSAT 3A) and wire the company’s set-top-box to another dish costing Rs 500.

Government’s infocom and security officials said they know what’s happening. They pleaded that there are more important priorities. An official in the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said informal queries have been made from Zee whether the CAM available in the market can be run on the common interface slot (CIS) of the DTH’s set-top-box. A Zee spokesperson confirmed that it is. He claimed that Dish TV cannot control “innovative practices” and what individual subscribers do with the hardware that his company places at their disposal.

“Don’t blame me. It is for (the) government to device appropriate tools,” Dish TV managing director Jawahar Goel claimed.

This isn’t just about sex. Security agencies don’t have the tech to intercept text messages that a DTH provider can aim at individual subscribers. Once Pakistan has DTH platforms, terrorists can use this loophole and receive instructions and alerts over SMS.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal confirmed that DTH falls within his ambit, but added that his mandate is carriage not content. “Interconnect agreements, tariffs, the arrangement between different players...these are the issues where we have a role. I’m sure relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code should be taking care of other issues that you are referring to,” Baijal said.

TELE SATELLITE NEWS - Number 13/2004 ­ 28 March 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

STAR PLUS CONTINUES TO GROW

Star Plus, with its rising advertising and
subscription revenue, is driving the growth of Star
group. “Star, bolstered by a 20 per cent increase in
revenues, substantially increased its second-quarter
operating income versus prior year. Revenue gains were
driven by advertising and subscription growth
primarily at Star Plus which, on an average, continues
to deliver all of the top 10 cable programmes in
India,” News Corporation, the parent of Star Group,
has said in its latest filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission of the US. Star’s growth in India
comes at a time when it suffered start-up losses in
countries such as China and other Asian countries.
Star’s operating income improved by $5 million owing
to higher subscription revenues from India as well as
stronger syndication revenues from Bangladesh Cricket
and lower costs associated with various cricket
events. According to estimates, Star India has booked
revenues of $200 million in 2002. This is about 70 per
cent of Star group’s Asian revenues. Star Plus is
estimated to reach about 40 million cable and
satellite homes of the total cable and satellite
universe of about 45 million. As per the last year’s
estimates, subscription revenues accounted for about
70 per cent of Star India’ revenues. The remaining
comes from advertising. The satellite broadcaster is
planning to enter direct to home (DTH) satellite
television distribution system in India in partnership
with the Tata group. Besides, the company also has
interest in the country’s cable operating companies
with about 26 per cent interest in Hathway.

AUSTRALIA

SEVEN AND SBS TEAM UP FOR THE OLYMPICS

The Seven Network has signed a landmark agreement with
public broadcaster, the Special Broadcasting Service,
to provide the pubcaster with complementary coverage
of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Athens. Under the
multimillion dollar rights agreement, there will be
uninterrupted coverage of the 2004 Olympics across the
two free-to-air channels, with primary coverage on
Seven and complementary coverage on SBS. The agreement
builds upon a broadcast model used for the Sydney 2000
Games, when Seven produced two Olympic Games coverage
channels -- a primary broadcast channel on Seven and a
complementary subscription TV channel. While the exact
details of those sports and the broadcast schedule
itself are yet to be finalized, SBS will provide
extensive coverage of all Olympic football matches,
including both the men’s and women’s finals. Meanwhile
Seven will retain exclusive rights to the
highest-profile sports ­ track and field, swimming,
rowing, cycling and gymnastics ­ as well as the
opening and closing ceremonies and many of the sports
and events featuring Australians. It is also likely
that SBS will offer fans of volleyball, handball and
the like the opportunity to watch those sports. Both
Seven and SBS will provide more than 15 hours of
coverage on each of the 16 days of competition, from
3.30pm AEST until 7am.

INTERACTIVE TV TO BOOST PAY-TV REVENUES

Pay-TV operators plan to double their advertising
revenues to $200 million within two years as Foxtel
this week unveiled plans for banks, phone and car
companies to lead the charge into interactive TV
advertising by March next year. Interactive ads will
be used as a key bargaining chip by Foxtel to lure
another $100 million from free-to-air networks; pay
TV's current advertising base is approaching $100
million, with Foxtel's sales arm, MCN, controlling
about 80 per cent. According to MCN's chief executive,
Anthony Fitzgerald, pay channels such as Fox 8, Fox
Sports and music channels such as Channel V would be
the first to run interactive ads.

HARDCORE TV CHANNELS EXPAND COVERAGE

Overseas satellite television broadcasters are
exploiting apparent loopholes in Australian censorship
laws to beam 24-hour pornography channels - including
hard-core broadcasts ­ for subscriptions of $5 a week.
The Herald has confirmed that European and Asian-based
broadcasters are buying time on an Australian
satellite service, New Skies Satellite, to telecast
X-rated pornography on channels with titles such as
Free-XTV, Blue Kiss, InXWorld, Sexz TV and Back Room.
Distributors are advertising the service, which they
say is "like pay TV", for a $450 installation cost
including a decoder box, and an annual $250
subscription. The promoters claim none of the
licensing authorities - the Australian Communications
Authority and the Australian Broadcasting Authority -
nor the Office of Film and Literature Classification
have the jurisdiction to monitor or ban the content.

BUSINESS TV CHANNEL LAUNCHED

Palamedia and Sky News announced the completion of an
agreement for Palamedia to produce the first 24-hour
television channel dedicated solely to Australian
business. Palamedia will be responsible for the
production and editorial content of the channel as
well as the sale of all advertising and sponsorships.
Sky News Active Business Channel will provide complete
coverage of all significant Australian business
stories and of the big stories from overseas. The
channel will bring viewers regular reports from the
ASX, live coverage of the opening and closing of the
US markets and highlights and closing information from
all the international markets.

BANGLADESH

BTV VIA SATELLITE FROM APRIL

Bangladesh Television (BTV) will launch
round-the-clock satellite transmission in the first
week of April to beam programmes around the world.
According to an agreement, BTV will have to pay a
yearly rent of Tk 1.75 crore to AsiaSat 3 for 24 hours
of satellite transmission. An earth up-link station
and other equipment were installed at a cost of Tk
3.75 crore. BTV is now running its terrestrial
transmission 14 and a half hours: 7:00am to 9:30am in
the morning run and 12 hours from noon to midnight
before it signs off. For 24-hour transmission, the
programme department will have to fill the slot of
another nine and a half hours. The growing demand for
BTV, especially among Bangla-speaking expatriates
around the world, prompted the state-owned television
to go satellite. Viewers need several dish antennas to
down link programmes of all Bangla channels as the
channels are not using the same satellite. The
channels are using different satellites to up link
programmes: Thaicom for ATN Bangla, ApStar for NTV and
PanamSat 4 for Channel i.

CHINA - HONG KONG

VIACOM SEEKS TO EXPAND IN CHINA

Viacom is looking to expand its presence in China with
a joint venture production agreement inked with the
Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and an expanded deal in
place with state broadcaster CCTV. The venture with
SMG follows recent changes to state law allowing
foreign investment in local production companies.
Viacom and SMG will work together to produce
Chinese-language kids' and youth programming for
distribution to SMG's channels, as well as to channels
outside of Shanghai. The deal builds upon a previous
relationship with SMG, in which MTV and Nickelodeon
programming was syndicated to SMG channels. SMG also
co-produced the MTV Style Awards Show in Shanghai.

INTERACTIVE CHANNEL GETS CABLE COVERAGE

Hong Kong Cable TV has inked a carriage deal with
Asian television veteran Robert Chua for his upcoming
24-hour broadband service, The Interactive Channel.
The Interactive Channel will be broadcast on cable
TV's basic service in late 2004. The channel will air
local programmes that combine the internet, telephony,
broadband and wireless applications like SMS and
telephone voting in games, quiz and talk shows.

ASTRO SEEKS SLICE OF CHINESE PAY-TV MARKET

ASTRO All Asia Networks is gearing to grab a slice of
the lucrative China pay-TV market and has initiated
talks with a Chinese partner to gain a foothold in
that country. Chief financial officer Rohana Rozhan
said Astro, through its wholly-owned unit, Celestial
Pictures Ltd, initially planned to distribute Chinese
movies to hotels and foreign compounds in China. "That
is just the start. Our ultimate aim is to provide the
entire pay-TV business to this huge market of over one
billion people," she told StarBiz in an interview.
Astro chief operating officer David John Butorac said
the company was deeply involved in discussions with
the Chinese government, and expected to launch the
Celestial movie channel in that country in the near
future. He added that Celestial was also looking at
Thailand as another potential market. Celestial has
rights to 760 Chinese movie titles - the largest
Chinese film library, also known as the Shaw Brothers
library, in Hong Kong.

TV HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL LAUNCHES IN APRIL

A Chinese-South Korean TV home shopping joint venture
is expected to hit Shanghai's airwaves on April 1, the
China Daily has reported. The venture is worth US$20
million, with Shanghai Media Group (SMG) taking a 51
per cent share and CJ (Cheil Jedang) Home Shopping of
South Korea taking 49 per cent. SMG will use its
Theatre Channel through Oriental TV to broadcast home
shopping programmes for five hours every day in the
initial phase.

PROFITS DOWN AT TVB

Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) said
that its profit has plunged 25 per cent to US$56.6
million for 2003, the Standard newspaper has reported.
TVB posted a profit of US$75.7 million in 2002.
Operating profit at TVB's Hong Kong business dived to
US$23.6 million from US$62.6 million. Terrestrial
broadcasting revenues, which include advertising
revenues from TVB's core domestic free-to-air TV
business, fell to US$222 million from US$228.5
million.

INDIA

SPACE TV TO SELL STAKE TO FOREIGN INVESTORS

Space TV, the direct-to-home (DTH) television joint
venture between the Indian conglomerate Tata group and
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, is likely to divest up to
29 per cent equity in the company to foreign
institutional investors, according to local reports.
The company's proposal with the government says the
equity will be diluted by the Tata group, whose
holding in the company will come down to 51 per cent
from the present 80 per cent. News Corp's holding in
the company will remain at 20 per cent. News Corp's
investment in Space TV will be through the company's
wholly owned Dubai-based subsidiary, Network Digital
Distribution Services. The development follows Star
Group officials approaching the Indian government for
an early clearance of its DTH project, Space TV,
offering 65 channels on its platform for a monthly
subscription of $4 from November this year. Investment
worth $350 million has been earmarked for the DTH
project by Star and Tata Group. Star is also planning
to launch two new entertainment channels in the
country. Set-top boxes will be priced under $65, while
the initial cost of the service for a household will
be around $105. The company is expecting about one
million subscribers in the first year operation.

GOVERNMENT RECEIVES APPLICATIONS FROM NEWS CHANNELS

The Indian government has received more than 10
applications from various news channels, as
required by guidelines reviewed last year. "By March
26, all channels with news and current affairs content
in them must adhere to the unlinking norms announced
last year," said a government official. The government
had given a one-year timeframe to news channels for
restructuring or working their equity as per the
guidelines. Last year, the Indian government announced
that all news and current affairs channels, up-
linking from India, cannot have more than 26 per cent
foreign direct investment. The new directive also
stipulated that an Indian entity should have a minimum
of 51 per cent stake in any news uplinking venture.
The channels which have filed their applications
include CNBC-TV 18, TV Today's Aaj Tak and Headlines
Today, New Delhi Television (NDTV), Asianet News,
Independent Television and Sri Adhikari Brothers
Television. The last two have filed applications for
launching their news channels. Five national news
channels, NDTV India, NDTV 24X7, Sahara Samay
Rashtriya, state-run DD News and Headlines Today were
launched last year. STAR News, which has a joint
venture partner in ABP, was re-launched as 24-hour
Hindi news channel.

JAPAN

BROADCASTERS ADOPT VIDEO CODING FOR MOBILE DIGITAL TV

Japan's six major television networks said they have
agreed on a terrestrial digital standard aimed at
beaming high-quality TV images to mobile phones,
starting March 2006. Publicly funded Japan
Broadcasting Corp. (NHK), along with private stations
TBS, NTV, TV Asahi, Fuji TV and TV Tokyo agreed on the
deal with MPEG LA, a group that negotiates on behalf
of the multiple patent holders involved. In December,
Japan became the 12th nation in the world to start
terrestrial digital broadcasting, with services
beginning in the three biggest metropolitan areas --
Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya -- covering 12 million
households. While the networks agreed to broadcast the
new service free of charge, no handset makers or
mobile phone service providers have said they would
jump on the bandwagon.

MALAYSIA

PROFITS UP AT ASTRO

Astro All Asia Networks announced a
better-than-forecast net profit of RM12.3 million for
the financial year ended Jan 31, 2004 due to strong
subscriber growth and improved performance in the
fourth quarter. Announcing its first full-year results
on March 23 as a listed company, Astro said the net
profit was 20.6% higher than the forecast RM10.2
million it made in its prospectus prior to its listing
last October. Turnover for the satellite pay-TV
operator was RM1.418 billion, which was slightly
higher than the forecast RM1.409 billion. For the
fourth quarter to Jan 31, 2004, Astro reported a net
profit of RM38.1 million on a turnover of RM396.4
million. The group’s MC-TV operations achieved its
highest growth with 298,733 net additions or 45% over
that achieved in the previous period. This brings the
total residential subscriber base to 1.28 million as
of January 31, 2004 while the total subscriptions
including schools and commercial subscribers were 1.39
million.

OMAN

OMAN TV TO CONTINUE ON ARABSAT

During a March 22 meeting between Hamad bin Mohammed
Al Rashdi, information minister, and Khalid Balkhiyor,
director-general of the Arab Organisation for
Satellite Telecommunications (Arabsat), the two sides
exchanged copies of an agreement signed between the
ministry and the organisation to extend transmission
of the Sultanate of Oman's Television and Radio to
four continents in the world. Al Rashdi noted that a
consultative services agreement would be signed during
the coming period to establish the new complex of Oman
TV's well-equipped studios to keep abreast with the
latest developments in the fields. Al Rashdi added
another agreement would be signed with international
satellites through Arabsat to extend transmission of
Oman's Television and Radio to Australia and New
Zealand to enable Arab and Omani students and
communities to receive and watch its programmes.
Khalid said the Sultanate was among the founders of
the organisation. He added initial tests of extending
transmission of Oman's Television and Radio started
two days ago and that official transmission would
begin on April 1.

PAKISTAN

THREE NEW TV CHANNELS TO LAUNCH

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh
Rashid Friday on March 26 informed the National
Assembly that three new TV channels in private sector
would go on air within a week. He said the government
has brought revolution in the information sector by
allowing 30 TV channels in the private sector to
launch their programmes in the country. Responding to
a question during the question-hour session in the
House, he said the 30 channels will start operation
within a month, provided frequency is allocated to
them. He said the government has planned to permit 100
channels in the country. Sheikh Rashid pointed out
that no proposal is under consideration to lift ban on
Indian channels, adding, in the presence of about 150
channels in near future, there is no need of relaying
foreign channels.

A F R I C A

SOUTH AFRICA

NETCARE TO LAUNCH TV CHANNEL FOR PATIENTS

Private hospital group Netcare Holdings has clinched a
deal with Nexus Digital for the provision of a
dedicated television channel. The HealthNet channel
began broadcasting to 38 Netcare hospitals last month,
but will be officially launched on March 24.
Programmes that cover pre-op jitters, details of
surgical procedures, and post-op treatment will be
spliced in between movies, documentaries and sitcoms,
said Nexus MD Tienie Kapp. Kapp said the channel had
received a good response from advertisers, and had
secured in excess of 50% of the first year's
advertising revenue target. Patients in Netcare
hospitals already have access to the South African
Broadcasting Corporation, E.tv, and a bouquet of
channels from DStv. The deal with Netcare involves
installing up to 8000 new television sets, and
upgrading the facilities patients use to call a nurse
from their bedside. Nexus was negotiating with
MultiChoice to broadcast HealthNet on an existing DStv
channel with vacant air time, and aimed to launch on
the satellite channel within 18 months, said Kapp.

28/03/04

No update

27/03/04

No update

26/03/04

Not much to end the week with

From my Emails & ICQ

From Ranime

B3 12550 V 3/4 6670
Looks like a Dentist feed from Syd to Melb.

From VK4bkp

Romanian TV on NSS6.

A single Romanian channel has started on 11106H sr3255 3/4. Signal is
strong - using homebrew 60cm f0.8 cardboard and foil centre focus
dish pointed out the window. :-)

From Bill Richards

1900 UTC
Thaicom3 3551 Horz S/R13333 FEC 3/4
Vpid1793 Apid1794 SID7 My Nokia loads it as " Spectrum Connect " a Greek version of TVSN.

No sign of any Ch 10 logos as reported.

Regards
Bill

From the Dish

SatcoDX Update #23/2004

Latest satellite updates for the period March 18 to March 20, 2004

All channels are MPEG-2 Free-to-Air unless otherwise noted:

0765 APSTAR 2R (76.5E)

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

Feeds on 12.261 (H, 3000, 1160, 1120, 1160): New SR

Feeds on 12.281 (H, 3000, 1160, 1120, 1160): It has started

TV Lanka on 3.652 (H, 6500, 1160, 1122, 1160): It's clear again

0785 THAICOM 2,3 (78.5E)

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

India Vision Music on 3.600 (H, 26667, 515, 680, 8190): It Has Started

India Vision News on 3.600 (H, 26667, 517, 700, 8190): It Has Started

0830 INSAT 2E, 3B (83.0E)

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

TATA AGMM TEST CARD on 3.525 (V, 24800, 257, 258, 257): Test Card Has Started

Tamil Thirai Test on 3.525 (V, 24800, 369, 379, 369): Language Added

0935 INSAT 3A (93.5E)

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

ETV Telagu on 11.550 (H, 27500, 702, 703, 702): ETV TEL Replaced Nickelodeon TV

HINDUSTAN TELEVISION on 3.912 (V, 5898, 274, 275, 273): Hindustan TV Completely Replaced Channel Guide

1055 ASIASAT 3S (105.5E)

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

Dragon TV on 3.886 (V, 4800, 1110, 1211, 1110): Correct Symbol Rate

Radio Shanghai on 3.886 (V, 4800, 1213, 1110): Correct Symbol Rate

Radio Shanghai on 3.886 (V, 4800, 1214, 1214): Correct Symbol Rate

Radio Shanghai on 3.886 (V, 4800, 1211, 1110): Correct Symbol Rate

1080 TELKOM 1 (108.0E)

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

Animal Planet on 3.460 (H, 28000, 60, 61, 60): All channels in this mux are encrypted again

Channel NewsAsia on 3.460 (H, 28000, 80, 81, 80):

1340 APSTAR 1A (134.0E)

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

CCTV-Music on 3.840 (H, 27500, 518, 710, 8190): It has started

1660 PANAMSAT 8 (166.0E)

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

Test card on 3.860 (H, 28000, 450, 451, 450): It has replaced CSN

DCP Download 2.31 on 4.020 (H, 26470):

CCP Download 2.40 on 4.020 (H, 26470):

Test on 4.060 (H, 26470):

NEWS

Sydney clubs push on with plans for new channel

From http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/26/1079939798152.html

A new joint media enterprise owned and controlled by the racing industry is firmly on the agenda following Sky Channel's decision to black out Sydney racing.

The TAB Ltd-owned Sky Channel pulled the plug on last Saturday's Rosehill meeting and did not transmit any other race meetings from around the country into the Sydney racetrack.

The Sydney Turf Club remains hopeful action from interstate and Newcastle will be screened at its Rosehill Guineas meeting on Saturday. "We are looking to get an agreement with Sky Channel allowing us to broadcast interstate racing into Rosehill," STC chief executive Michael Kenny said on Thursday. "That contract is with Sky Channel at the moment."

Kenny said the Rosehill Guineas meeting would be covered on the internet, as was last Saturday's Coolmore Classic day. The internet coverage proved difficult to access for many stay-at-home punters, with Kenny saying: "We have been able to make some arrangements with our internet provider to increase the number of people that can get on."

Kenny said people with access to a satellite dish might be able to pick up the Rosehill Guineas meeting, adding: "Every week we run it the number of people we can hit with our signal will get bigger."

Kenny and Tony King, his counterpart at the Australian Jockey Club, flew to Melbourne on Wednesday to meet representatives of Racing Victoria's media arm ThoroughVisioN.

"We have reiterated our shared vision of establishing an alternative racing media entity that would allow us to have control of our product," King said. "Sydney racing has been left with no choice by Sky ."

Kenny said: "What has come out of our discussions with TVN is a genuine commitment to serve the best, long-term interests of racing, not just agree to a quick-fix solution. We will continue to work towards the launch of an alternative racing channel."

The new channel is tipped to be up and running by September.

Russia satellite launch prepared at Baikonur

From http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=607027&PageNum=0

MOSCOW, March 25 (Itar-Tass) - Specialists began on Thursday the pre-launch preparation of a DM propulsion unit of a Proton-K rocket that will deliver in orbit the Russian satellite Express-AM.

A cosmodrome official told Itar-Tass that that the launch of Proton, the third this year, was scheduled for the last days of April.

Three Express communications satellites will be launched this year. Their service life in orbit is 12 years.

Heavy-lift Protons with DM propulsion units will shot the satellites in geostationary orbits.

The DM unit and the satellite make a cone of the Proton rocket.

The propulsion unit serves to move a satellite from a low support orbit to a high target orbit.

Specialists of Zheleznogorsk’s Reshetnev Institute of Applied Mechanics and of France’s company Alcatel designed the Express-AM satellites.

They are intended for relaying television and radio programmes and Internet information, and for providing digital telephone communications.

The first satellite of this series was launched in December 2003.

A total of five Express satellites will be launched.

GlobeCast/Embratel partner to cover Athens' Olympics

From Satellite today

GlobeCast has partnered with Brazilian telecommunications group, Embratel, to provide contribution broadcast services, internet and telephony for Brazilian terrestrial broadcaster, TV Globo for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The satcaster will also be working closely with four additional official Olympic Broadcasting rights holders, ATV and TVB in Hong Kong and Japanese channels, TV Asahi and Fuji TV, to provide specifically tailored packages including satellite transmissions and SNG services, for the duration of the games.

TV Globo will be providing Brazil with national terrestrial coverage of the 24th Olympic Games, and will be using GlobeCast and partner Embratel to manage its contribution delivery, via Intelsat satellites, from the Official International Broadcasting Centre.

Star Plus driving News Corp growth in Asia

From http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=2&story=37235

Star Plus, with its rising advertising and subscription revenue, is driving the growth of Star group.

“Star, bolstered by a 20 per cent increase in revenues, substantially increased its second-quarter operating income versus prior year. Revenue gains were driven by advertising and subscription growth primarily at Star Plus which, on an average, continues to deliver all of the top 10 cable programmes in India,” News Corporation, the parent of Star Group, has said in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the US.

News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch had said at the company’s annual general meeting last October that Star India had fuelled the growth and profitability of the group in Asia.

Star’s growth in India comes at a time when it suffered start-up losses in countries such as China and other Asian countries.

Star’s operating income improved by $5 million owing to higher subscription revenues from India as well as stronger syndication revenues from Bangladesh Cricket and lower costs associated with various cricket events.

According to estimates, Star India has booked revenues of $200 million in 2002.

This is about 70 per cent of Star group’s Asian revenues. Star Plus is estimated to reach about 40 million cable and satellite homes of the total cable and satellite universe of about 45 million.

As per the last year’s estimates, subscription revenues accounted for about 70 per cent of Star India’ revenues. The remaining comes from advertising.

The company is taking steps to increase India revenue from the present levels.

As a part of the plan, the company had cut subscription rate for services and asked cable operators for a higher declaration of subscribers.

Besides, the company is also drawing up plans to increase the reach of its other channels in India.

In addition, the broadcasting company is also looking at expanding its bouquet of channels in India as well as generate more India-centric programmes.

As a part of its expansion, the company plans to enter direct to home (DTH) satellite television distribution system in India in partnership with the Tata group.

Besides, the company also has interest in the country’s cable operating companies with about 26 per cent interest in Hathway.

Star, a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation, is Asia’s leading multi-platform content and service provider.

Star’s 40 distributed services in eight languages reach more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries.

Star channels in India include Star Plus, Star World, Channel [V], ESPN, Star Sports, Star Movies, Star Gold, Star News, National Geographic Channel and Star Vijay

Intelsat 701 180E 4028 R "Baccarat Game Channel" has left .

(Craigs comment, a sad indication of how often people look at the intelsats, This channel has not been seen in about 5 years or more!)