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SAT Observations 97.07.04




WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 30.3 North - 31.15 East,
sponsored by TELE-SATELLIT INTERNATIONAL, SATCO-DX and TBS Internet.
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WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:
- Satellite and Transponder Observations in C- and Ku-Band,
- Commented from the Middle Eastern perspective.
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Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :

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THE HEADLINES IN THIS 97.07.04 REPORT (Oldies but Goodies):

- Launch Updates
- ORBIT IRD sell-out
- New: Music Asia
- New: ART 6 "As you Like"
- Hot Bird 3 info
- Israel Channel 2
- Bits and Pieces

Please be aware that this message has been send out on 97.07.17 after a
summer break. The content reflects observations in the week from 27/06
to 03/07.

LAUNCH REPORT, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
-------------
The launch date for Asiasat 3 with Proton has changed from December to
early November or maybe even late October.
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX,
source: W.Pang, Corporate Affairs Manager, Asiasat)

The launch window opening for the Atlas AC-133 start of Superbird C on
26 July is 00:54-01:34 UTC.
(Gregor Bregar, The TVRO Source via SATCO-DX)

Echostar 3 will launch with Atlas AC-135 on 25 September, with a launch
window from 22:00-23:51 UTC. Joe Gira: "At this time, it is scheduled
for September 1997."
(Gregor Bregar, source: Joe Gira from Echostar via SATCO-DX)

SME Comment: Earlier SAT-MidEast reports mention a different schedule
for the Echostar and Eutelsat satellites. The confusion/error before was
caused by a cut & paste error by a contributor...  :-((.

Here is the CORRECTED Atlas launch schedule:

AC-133/Superbird C      25JUL97
AC-146/GE 3             27AUG97
AC-135/Echostar 3       25SEP97
AC-149/Galaxy 8i        24NOV97
AC-130/Eutelsat W1      26JAN98
AC-151/Sky 2            30MAR98

ORION 2 will be launched at 12 West in 1999 with an Atlas rocket and
will provide a total of 30 active 54 MHz wide transponder; e.g. 22
transponder using a Pan-European broad beam with an estimated EIRP of
max. 50.7 dBW and a further 8 transponder an a Pan-American broad beam
with an estimated EIRP of max. 49.6 dBW.
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX, source: Orion handbill)

ORBIT OFFERS SPECIAL SUMMER PROMOTION 
-------------------------------------
This summer, Orbit will be offering its subscribers a special
opportunity to purchase a second receiver at half price. From July 1
through August 31, existing subscribers will be able to order half price
receivers through their local dealer.
The promotion, the first of its kind, attests to Orbit's commitment to
its existing viewer base, offering them the possibility to watch the
Orbit service on more than one television set in their homes. 
"With the broadest selection of services available through a single
receiver in the Arab world, many of our customers have already returned
to purchase a second unit--simply to keep every family member happy",
commented Salman Chaudhry, Managing Director of Star Distributions,
Orbit's exclusive dealer in the UAE. "The promotion will surely prove a
great success."
"The more services we launch, the more there is to watch. In the past
six months alone, we have added the STAR Select bouquet, The Disney
Channel, and Orbit Express Shop. By this time next month, our viewers
will be enjoying a whole new package of DMX music services," commented
Mohammed Basrawi, Orbit's Vice President of Programming. "And there's
more to come!"

DMX music services will be launching exclusively on the Orbit network on
June 29.

SME Comment: Be aware that the Middle Eastern and African DMX services
are not concerned in the recent liquidation and ceasure of the European
DMX services.

ASIASAT 2, 100.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/asia2.html
---------
WTN Asia on 3.786 GHz, H has changed PID's to VPID: 0134 and APID: 0100.

Following PID's can be used to receive Shaanxi TV on 3.813 GHz, V, VPID:
00A0, APID: 0050.
(D.Shimoni via SATCO-DX)

THAICOM 3, 78.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/thai78.html
---------
Tests with colour bars on an extended C-band transponder 3.425 GHz, V,
which should be connected to the satellite's Asian regional coverage
beam.
(Mark Long, A.Visudharomn via SATCO-DX)

Thaicom operator Shinawatra Satellite Public Co. Ltd. reportedly will be
leasing several extended C-band tps to companies in India, with
announcements expected to appear in September.
(Mark Long via SATCO-DX)

On July 2nd various reports of colour bars test cards on 3.960 GHz, V,
and tests on 3.720 GHz, V, and 3.930 GHz, V.
(Y.KKB via SATCO-DX)

PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.html
----------
The Indian music channel "Music Asia" started on 4.185 GHz, V, in PAL,
Free-to-Air, using an audio subcarrier on 6.60 MHz.
(Y.KKB, Rick via SATCO-DX)

The new ART 6 channel "Al a Keefag" (As you Like) is featured as part of
the 1stNet DStv package on 11.524 GHz, H, in MPEG-2, VPID: 0206, APID:
02C6. The channel is also receivable via Arabsat 2A, at 26 East.

Lebanese "Future Channel" and "Carlton Select" have both started as part
of the Multichoice Africa DStv package, with it's entry base on 4.113
GHz, V, MPEG-2, and got encrypted soon thereafter.
Future Channel uses VPID: 0203, APID: 0283.
(D.Shimoni via SATCO-DX)

INTELSAT 703, 57 East, http://www.satcodx.com/i703.html
------------
NEPC TV at 4.064 GHz, Lc, has apparently left this transponder.
(Y.KKB, Anonymous via SATCO-DX)

RTNC (Radio Television Nationale du Congo) has started broadcasts on
3.800 GHz, Rc, in SECAM, using an audio subcarrier on 6.50 MHz for, the
mostly French languaged, sound. These are transmissions from the
re-named African state, formerly known as Zaire.
(B.Prince, Martin, Richard Eckendorff via SATCO-DX)

ARABSAT 2B, 30.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2b.html
----------
Radio Mauretanie is on 3.876 GHz, Rc, on subcarrier 7.02 MHz, but the
frequency of 7.20 MHz is empty.
(B.Prince via SATCO-DX)

ARABSAT 2A, 26 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.html
----------
There is a radio station on Abu Dhabi TV, C-band transponder 14, 3.989
GHz, Lc, using audio subcarrier 7.74 MHz. It is most probably Imarat FM
(Emirates FM), as featured on the KU-Band transponder 6, at 12.620 GHz,
V.
(B.Prince via SATCO-DX)

ART 6 has started July 1st on Ku-band transponder 3, 12.563 GHz, H, as
part of the 1stNet DStv Network, in MPEG-2 Free-To-Air.
(A.Yousif via SATCO-DX)

The ART transmissions on C-Band transponder 4, 3.782 GHz, Lc, features
the TV audio on 7.02 MHz as well.
(S.Hammad via SATCO-DX)

EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.html
--------------
SNAI has just started two versions of their service on 12.572 GHz, H:
SNAI Diretta TV 1:  VPID: 04EC, APID: 04C4
SNAI Diretta TV 2:  VPID: 05B4, APID: 058C
(Richard Eckendorff via SATCO-DX)

HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.html
----------
Tamil Oli started transmissions on 23 June on transponder 5, 11.304 GHz,
H, in MPEG-2, and will be in the clear until beginning of July, when it
is expected to encrypt using the Viaccess coding system. It shares
presently transponder time with "Radio Asia".
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX, source: Eutelsat press release)

Channels X 07 and X 08 have started as part of the expected Telepiu
package on transponder 4, 11.283 GHz, V, in MPEG-2.
(J.Puig via SATCO-DX)

The TV channel "RAI International" on transponder 12U, 11.464 GHz, H,
has APID: 028A, as well as the radio channel "RAI International".
(Y.Pechurkin via SATCO-DX)

HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.html
----------
Transponder 58, 11.881 GHz, V, as well as transponder 63, 12.053 Ghz, V,
showed empty carriers on July 3rd.
(Roland Mücke)

HOT BIRD 3, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
----------
Swiss Television DRS will start in few months for the
satellite-audience.
>From October,  DRS 1+2, TSR 1+2 and TSI would like to broadcast on
EUTELSAT Hot Bird 3, transponder 85, 12.398 Ghz, H, in MPEG2/Viacess.
DRS 1 will start in November via ASTRA 1 G also.
That's the main message of a press conference given by SRG. 
The price for the smartcard: 50 Schweizer Franken (because of copright,
only available for people in Switzerland). 
Perhaps, Swiss TV will broadcast in future "clear windows" and handle
few smartcards for people outside Switzerland. 

TV Slovenija will start broadcasting all its three TV channels SLO1,
SLO2 and TV Koper Capodistria (minority channel) and all three radio
networks in October, digital on Hot Bird 3.
As capacity of transponder is larger as needed for this, TV Slovenija
has reached an agreement with Croatian TV, HRT, to share the transponder
and of course costs for it. HRT will also transmit all its three TV and
radio networks there. There is no political backstage for this
agreement, purely comercial matter.
Transmissions will be partly encrypted due to copyright reasons, the CAM
system isn't decided yet.
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX, source: Boris Bergant from Slovenian TV)

EUTELSAT II-f1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f1.html
--------------
New Discovery daughter channel "Animal Planet" was testing on 27/06 on
superbeam transponder 21L, 11.055 GHz, H, in PAL, Free-To-Air.
(Karl Nilsson via SATCO-DX)

SME Comment: The channel, which actually started official transmission
on July 1st, intends to change to Hot Bird 3, soon after the in orbit
testphase of the satellite. From then on, it will be visible in the Near
East (the quality will depend on the used beam, a superbeam transmission
has to be expected).

EUTELSAT II-f2, 10 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f2.html
--------------
VTV started transmitting on Intelsat 707 at 1 West, on 11.540 GHz, V on
July 1st and ceased the same day at 10 East.

The used frequency of 10.972 GHz, V, was vacated until 17:00 CAT, where
Med TV stated in PAL, but with severe disturbances! Technical problems
or jamming...?
(J-G.Hemmer, D.Sedghi via SATCO-DX)

INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.html
------------
VTV started transmitting on Intelsat 707 on 11.540 GHz, V on July 1st.

Here is the announcement about VTV on Intelsat 707:
"Starting on 1.7.1997, VTV is going to broadcast on Intelsat 707: 11.540
GHz, V. Other parameters remain the same: Mono audio on 6.60 MHz, Stereo
on 7.02-7.20 MHz"
(C.Lyngemark, source: VTV rolling text)
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX, source: VTV TeleText, page 142)

AMOS 1, 4 West, http://www.satcodx.com/amos1.html
------
The Amos test card moved from once more from 11.176 GHz, V to 11.052
GHz, V, and will most probably keep on moving until all transponder are
occupied with commercial broadcaster.
(Mohamed El-Nadi via SATCO-DX)

Some additional info on the Israeli TV scene: The in earlier reports
mentioned channel "Keshet" is only one of the broadcaster permitted to
transmit on the commercial Channel 2, there are others.

Israel Channel 2 has 5 companies sharing transponder time, 3 major
companies have the big share:

Keshet - broadcasting Sunday and Wednesday
Reshet - broadcasting Monday and Friday
Tela'd - broadcasting Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

SME Comment: Above schedule is current, however it changes every two
year, in order to give every major broadcaster the chance to get airtime
on a Friday evening and on Saturday - during "Sabbath".

There is also the news company which is sponsered by the above mentioned
tree companies and the "Education TV 2 " which boadcasts few hours a day
and called in Hebrew "Hinuchit 2"
(Avry Ninio)

EXPRESS 2,14 West, http://www.satcodx.com/e2.html
---------
IRIB 1 has been testing on 3.975 GHz, Rc, in SECAM, with an audio
subcarrier on 6.20 MHz, good reception quality in Cairo.
(SME)

BETTER HOME PAGES (Unusual but still here:)
-----------------
BBC World at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldwide/television/world.html
BBC Prime at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldwide/television/prime.html
(Gregor Bregar via SATCO-DX)

SAT-MidEast Intern, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
Another SAT-MidEast report follows today, to become up-to-date with the
latest news and observations. The last vacation update is due tomorrow.

Best regards,

Henk C. Room / Sat-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
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