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SAT-MidEast 98.04.10




WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 31.15 East - 30.3 North,
sponsored by TELE-SATELLITE INTERNATIONAL, Europes Satellite Magazine
_____________________________________________________________________
WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:
- Events and News interesting to the Middle Eastern SAT-viewer
- Satellite and Transponder Observations in C- and Ku-Band,
- Everything commented from the Middle Eastern perspective
_____________________________________________________________________
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION:
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East. 

	SAT-MidEast: http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
____________________________________________________________________     
HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :

	hcroom@intouch.com 

Upon your request are forwarded messages kept anonymous
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A SENSELESS WORD OF ANCIENT WISDOM:
	(Hmm BrBR Hrum BRum, the Easter bunny passed away during Eid !)

HALLMARK JOINS SHOWTIME
-----------------------
Showtime, the fastest growing satellite television channel in the Middle
East, is continuing its network development. The latest channel to join
the growing Showtime bouquet's: Hallmark Entertainment.

Launching on May 1st, the premium 24 hour family oriented channel that
delivers outstanding made for television movies and mini-series. This
latest addition further strengthens the Showtime network. Just last
month (March), the premium Hindi channel SONY Entertainment Television,
joined the Showtime package.

Last year Showtime added the leading non-fiction programmer, Discovery
Channel, and Style, the first channel designed exclusively for women in
the Middle East, to its network.  All channels have been added at no
extra cost to current subscribers of the full nine channel bouquet.

Cliff Nelson, Showtime senior vice president, marketing and network
development, said:  Halmark is recognised worldwide as the leader in big
event mini-series and made-for-TV movie production.  Its programming
ideally complements the mix of quality entertainment and comedies that
line-up on our Paramount channel to ensure that we continue to deliver
the best in family entertainment to our subscribers in the Middle East.

In line with the Showtime philosophy of making the best in Western
television entertainment accessible to nationals throughout the Middle
East, Hallmark broadcasts will be subtitled in Arabic from August 1998.
(SME, source: Showtime, Dubai)

IRIDIUM ALMOST COMPLETE
-----------------------
A Proton rocket successfully carried seven Iridium satellites into orbit
Monday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, marking Iridium LLC's
thirteenth successful launch in eleven months. Two more launches are
needed to fully deploy the Iridium constellation. Both launches, a Delta
II and a Long March 2C/SD rocket, are set for late April.

The seven satellites are part of Iridium LLC's 66-satellite wireless
personal telecommunications network designed to offer full global
coverage and a variety of communications services, including voice,
data, fax and paging to handheld subscriber equipment. These seven
satellites join the 56 that are already in orbit.

"The success of this Proton launch means that in slightly more than a
week's time, 14 Iridium satellites have been sent into orbit on three
rocket launches -- one from Russia, one from China and one from the
United States," said Iridium LLC Vice Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer Edward F. Staiano. "This truly international effort is paving
the way for Iridium to become the first global wireless telephone
company when we begin commercial activation on September 23."

"We have 90 percent of the Iridium constellation in place and are just
weeks away from complete deployment," said Motorola Chief Executive
Officer Christopher Galvin. "We congratulate Krunichev Space Center for
the important role they have played in lifting 21 Iridium satellites
into orbit on three Proton launches during this intense launch
campaign."

The Proton rocket lifted off the launch pad at 8:13:03 a.m. on Tuesday
Baikonur time (04:13 CAT). Satellite separation occurred approximately
88 minutes after liftoff. The seven satellites will be maneuvered into
their respective positions to become part of the operational
constellation.

Iridium LLC is developing a global wireless communications network that
will combine the worldwide reach of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites with
land-based wireless systems to enable subscribers to communicate using
handheld telephones and pagers virtually anywhere in the world. Iridium
World Communications, Ltd. (Nasdaq: IRIDF) is the public investment
vehicle of Iridium LLC.
(SME, source: Iridium LLC)

AFRICA TELECOM FAIR
-------------------
Intelsat as the official satellite service provider to the ITU for
Africa Telecom, will be in booth 8040 on the exhibition in Johannesburg,
South Africa, from May 4 - 9, 1998.

The wide range of offerings which Intelsat provides for Africa, include:

	Internet/Intranet service
	VSAT service for business networks and rural telephony
	Wireless local loop and demand assigned multiple access
	(WLL/DAMA) service for thin-route traffic applications

Intelsat speakers at the Africa Telecom will include:

	Tuesday, 5 May, 10:00 am
	Irving Goldstein, Director General & CEO
	"The African Renaissance: An Agenda for Action"

	Wednesday, 6 May, 2:30 pm
	J. Falvien Bachabi, Group Director for Africa
	"Alternate Infrastructures"

	Friday, 8 May, 2:15 pm
	Ramu Potarazu, Vice President & Chief Information Officer
	Telecom Development Symposium
	"Business Opportunities in New and Traditional Services"

Intelsat representatives will be speaking twice daily at the Internet
Café on initiatives for Internet via satellite and multicasting.
(SME, source: Intelsat)

SHOWTIME AHEAD WITH GALAXIS
---------------------------
Galaxis GmbH, the German-based manufacturer of digital satellite
reception hardware, has signed a multi-million dollar deal with
Showtime, the fastest growing satellite TV network in the Middle East. 
The three year agreement includes delivery in the first 12 months of
20,000 MPEG-2, DVB compliant digital IRDs, common interface technology,
Irdeto conditional access modules and digital LNBs.

The deal represents a significant commitment by Showtime to the Middle
East market.  Peter Einstein, Showtime president and chief executive,
said:  We have chosen Galaxis because it is the world leader in common
interface technology.  These new IRDs will support current and future
technology and should instill great consumer confidence in making a
hardware purchase decision.

The receiver-decoders will also be used to develop the Showtime leasing
scheme.  The hardware leasing scheme, combined with a choice of
programming options, makes the Showtime package a very attractive pay-TV
proposition, commented Peter Einstein.

Hardware leasing removes a significant barrier to entry without
compromising programming value, and I am confident that Showtime will be
the largest pay-TV provider in the Middle East by the end of 1998.

The Galaxis IRDs readily surf between different digital bouquets.  Steve
Edgell, Galaxis manager of digital products, said:  These boxes offer a
transparent interface between the Showtime bouquet on PAS-4 and the
1stNet platform on ArabSat 2A.  Common interface technology is also a
legal requirement for the introduction of digital boxes into the
Egyptian market.

Without doubt Showtime will continue to establish itself as the most
important provider of television entertainment to the Middle East and
Galaxis is extremely excited to be involved in this project.

Initial shipments of Galaxis IRDs will commence December 1997.  They
will be delivered with Irdeto conditional access modules and will be
OpenTV 3000 compatible.  It is expected that IRDs supporting multiplex
verification OpenTV 3500 software will be available from April 1998.

Extensive software testing and field trials have been conducted by
MultiChoice Middle East, and Galaxis is in the process of supporting
Showtime by setting up service centres in each territory in the region.

Galaxis is part of the Samsung Corporation and has supplied MPEG-2, DVB
compliant IRDs to broadcasters throughout Europe including Telepiu in
Italy, and Canal Plus Benelux where it has a 67 percent market share.
(SME, source: Showtime, Dubai)

CHANNEL BIZARRE: A FICTION ?
----------------------------
Another so-called "Adult Channel", a better name for hardcore porno
channel, has been given a license, this time from granted in the
Netherlands.

Channel Bizzare plans to start broadcasting via the Eutelsat II-f3
satellite at 16 East, end May/early June. The in D2Mac encrypted channel
will charge around 160 GBP, with a 30 percent discount for people paying
up-front in the first month of distribution.

Airtime will be from 00:00-04:00 CAT, and the target audience is the
whole of Europe, by using one of the widebeam transponder on the
satellite.

An UK based magazine has placed some question marks around the
appearance of this channel, calling it at least a little dubious. Time
will tell if, and when the channel finally shows up. A transmission
frequency is unknown until today. 
(SME, source: DutchMedia, David de Jong)

LAUNCH INFORMATION, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
------------------
The launch of Eutelsat's replacement satellite for the 10 degrees East
position will be launched on August 22, from pad 36B at Cape Canaveral
Air Station, Florida. The Eutelsat W1 communications satellite will be
boosted into orbit using the Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS on AC-130. A
final launch window has still to be announced.
(SME)

ATLAS 3 LAUNCHERS
-----------------
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced Wednesday that its newest family
of launch vehicles will be called Atlas 3. This includes the Atlas 2AR
now in development and on its way to initial launch capability in
December, and the Atlas 2ARC, which is now being offered for launch
opportunities beginning in mid-2000. Atlas 2AR will now be designated
Atlas 3A and Atlas 2ARC will be called Atlas 3B.

"As we begin offering launch services on the third generation of
commercial Atlas vehicles, it is appropriate to give this new family of
rockets a designation that sets it apart from its worthy predecessors
and points to the added capability that will provide mission success for
our many domestic and international customers," said Dr. Raymond S.
Colladay, president of Lockheed Martin Astronautics.

The defining characteristic of Atlas 3 vehicles is the use of the
Russian-designed RD-180 engine to power the Atlas booster. Atlas 3B
extends the performance capability of the vehicle to 9,920 pounds (4,500
kg) to geostationary transfer orbit, an increase of 1,720 pounds (771
kg) over the Atlas 2AS, the most powerful version of the Atlas II family
presently flying.

Atlas 3A, previously Atlas 2AR, is proceeding through development on its
way to initial launch capability (ILC) late this year. The first Atlas
3A began final assembly in mid-March at Astronautics' facilities near
Denver, Colo. It makes use of the RD-180 engine to power the booster
phase, and a single RL-1OA engine to power the Centaur upper stage.

Atlas 3B, previously Atlas 2ARC, incorporates two RL-10A engines to
power a stretched version of the Centaur. The significant increase in
performance of Atlas 3B is achieved with technically minimal
modifications to the basic Atlas 3A.

"Atlas 3B is another step Lockheed Martin is taking to be responsive to
the market by answering the need for increased performance," said
Charles H. Lloyd, International Launch Services, president. "We see
these incremental steps in Atlas evolution as offering our customers the
greatest assurance for mission success because they grow out of the
proven Atlas design legacy."

International Launch Services (ILS) markets Atlas to the worldwide
satellite launch market. ILS is offering Atlas 3A for launch
opportunities beginning in 1999 and Atlas 3B for launch opportunities
beginning in mid- 2000.

The Russian-designed RD-180 engine, which powers the Atlas 3 vehicles
and also the company's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle for the U.S.
Air Force, is currently undergoing extensive testing at NPO Energomash
facilities in Khimky, Russia, where nine engines have been successfully
test fired for a total of more than 9,000 seconds. This is the
equivalent of more than 48 Atlas 3A flights when compared to the 186
seconds the engine would operate during a typical Atlas mission.

Astronautics has established an international teaming relationship with
the RD AMROSS joint venture, that was formed by NPO Energomash and Pratt
& Whitney, an operating unit of United Technologies Corporation, to
co-produce the RD-180 engines under exclusive contract for Lockheed
Martin.

In May, a prototype Atlas 3 booster stage, including an RD-180 engine,
will be fired on a test stand at the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
This will be the first Russian-built rocket engine to be test fired at a
U.S. government facility.

Atlas now has a backlog of 23 launch commitments through the year 2001
and has launched a total of 47 satellites since the rocket was first
offered as a commercial launcher in the 1980s.

Atlas is marketed by International Launch Services (ILS), a joint
venture company established in 1995 to jointly market the Russian Proton
and the Lockheed Martin Astronautics-built Atlas to the worldwide
satellite launch market. ILS is owned by Lockheed Martin Corporation's
Commercial Launch Services and the company's LKEI joint venture with
Khrunichev and RSC Energia in Russia. Proton is built by Khrunichev
State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow. The backlog for
Atlas and Proton totals more than $3.5 billion.

Astronautics is one of the operating units of Lockheed Martin's Space &
Strategic Missiles Sector headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Astronautics
designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of advanced
technology systems for space and defense. Chief products include
planetary spacecraft and other space systems, space launch systems and
ground systems.
(SME, source: Lockheed Martin)

ARIANE FLIGHT 502 ROUND-UP
-------------------------
PARIS - The results of Ariane 502 flight data analysis - a detailed
evaluation covering all information gathered during the flight - were
presented to the Launcher Qualification Board on 1 April.

The analysis confirmed that the launcher performed well overall and did
not reveal any anomalies that had not previously been identified.

The most significant anomaly, namely excessive roll torque during
cryogenic main stage flight, has now been explained.

It will be remembered that the possible causes of the 900 Nm (Newton
metre) roll torque registered in flight were narrowed down to:

	* Roughness of the internal surface of the Vulcain engine divergent
causing the boundary layer of the main jet to spiral.
	* Snapping of one of the rods attaching the Vulcain engine turbine
exhaust lines to the aft end of the divergent.

Three test firings of the Vulcain engine were performed on a teststand
equipped with a roll torque measurement device. Throughout engine
running time on all three tests, roll values very similar to those
encountered in flight 502 were recorded. The first of the above
explanations is therefore confirmed. The excess roll torque phenomenon
will now be countered by repositioning the turbine exhausts.

As a precautionary measure and to obtain in-flight confirmation of the
cause of the roll problem, the additional attitude control unit that has
already been developed will still be used on flight 503.

The studies and tests conducted since flight 502 have also shown that
the premature main stage shutdown that occurred during that flight was
caused by the excessive roll torque. Action to overcome the torque
problem will therefore also prevent a recurrence of the premature
shutdown.

Ariane-5 is an ESA programme for which ESA has delegated management
responsibility to CNES.

Flight 503, scheduled presently for September 11 and conducted under ESA
responsibility, will be the last of the Ariane-5 qualification flights.
The launcher used will be the first production-series unit ordered by
Arianespace from European industry.

Launch operations are managed by Arianespace at the ELA-3 launch site at
the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's space port.
(SME, source: ESA 14/98)

ASIASAT 1, 105.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/asia1.shtml
---------
A STAR TV package has started on 3.780 GHz, V, MPEG-2/Digistar, SR
28100, FEC 3/4, with following channel line-up:
Star Sports, Star Movies, Star News, Star Plus, ESPN Asia, and ESPN
India. For actual PIDs, see the SATCO-DX chart.
(SATCO-DX)

ASIASAT 2, 100.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/asia2.shtml
---------
The STAR TV package on 3.700 GHz, V, MPEG-2/Digistar was slightly
adjusted: Channel V has started on 0204{516}/0298{664}, and the Racing
Channel has left.
(SATCO-DX)

Both frequencies 3.765 GHz, H, and 4.185 GHz, V, are used for various
occasional feeds, and are not owned by Japan Telecom.
(SATCO-DX)

THAICOM 3, 78.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/thai78.shtml
---------
The Discovery Channel has started on 3.920 GHz, H, MPEG-2/clear, PIDs
0030{48}/002F{47}.
(SATCO-DX)

APSTAR 2R, 76.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/apstar2r.shtml
---------
TVB 8 moved Thursday from transponder 14B, 4.188 GHz, V, as announmed,
to transponder 2A, 3.680 GHz, H, with audio on 6.60 and 7.20 MHz.

The Indian adult channel promotional video for Plus 21 on transponder
4A, 3.760 GHz, H, PAL/clear promo ceased one more time. The announced
digital signal could not be detected yet.
(SME)

PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.shtml
----------
SAT-7 has moved, as did Sima-yeh Moghavemat earlier, from 4.034 GHz, H,
to 3.932 GHz, H, PAL/clear.
(SATCO-DX)

Occasional NHK feeds on 4.034 GHz, H, PAL/clear. The planned MPEG-2
newscasts of NHK World TV on this frequency will be in English on PIDs
04C6{1222} and 052A{1322}, Japanese on 04C4{1220} and 0528{1320}.
(SME)
	
INTELSAT 703, 57 East, http://www.satcodx.com/i703.shtml
------------
The MPEG-2 service of Sky News on 4.187 GHz, R is now encrypted.
(SATCO-DX)

The Disney Channel in Arabic has started on Orbit Network channel 10,
11.600 GHz, V.
(SATCO-DX)

The STAR TV package on 3.825 L, MPEG-2/encrypted, SR 25996, FEC 7/8, has
following line-up:

	0488{1160}/0460{1120}:	Star Sports
	04EC{1260}/04C4{1220}:	Star Plus
	0550{1360}/0528{1320}:	Star Movies
	05B4{1460}/058C{1420}:	CNBC
	0618{1560}/05F0{1520}:	NBC
	067C{1660}/0654{1620}:	Star Viva/Cine
	06E0{1760}/06B8{1720}:	Star UK-TV/Granada
(SATCO-DX)

ASTRA 1G, 19.2 East, http://www.satcodx.com/astra1g.shtml
--------
The Blue Movie channel on 11.719 GHz, H, has changed its VPID to
0BFF{3071}.
(SATCO-DX)

EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.shtml
--------------
Duna TV (lately also on Hot Bird 4 transponder 115, 10.815 GHz, H) will
leave 11.596 GHz, H, on 30 April. A yet un-named Arabic channel will
take over this transponder.
(SME)

Dutch adult channel Channel Bizarre likes to start in the end of
May/early June on this satellite, in D2-MAC/encrypted. (See article
above)
(SME, source: DutchMedia)

Occasional feeds could be observed on 11.140 GHz, H, MPEG-2, SR 5632,
FEC 3/4.
(SATCO-DX)

HOT BIRD 4, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb4.shtml
----------
TPS has started on 10.834 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, super
beam. This transmission is a copy of Hot Bird 3 transponder 72, 12.149
GHz, V, where transmissions will cease in the coming week.
(SME, SATCO-DX)

The Eutelsat Skyplex test package on transponder 110, 10.719 GHz, V,
MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, transmits at various times new and
older promotional material of the Eutelsat Organization & the EBU.
Between video's the view over Paris, come rain - come shine. PIDs vary,
the most common used are: 0300{768}/0301{769} and 1000{4096}/1001{4097},
sometimes are both used at the same time, on different channels. 

SME Comment 1: The latest Eutelsat promos look really good: away from
the, at times, naive sounding older ones. A new -fast paced- market
oriented approach.
("A small step for the marketing department, a giant leep for the sales
results", I assume !) Bravissimo Mr. Beretta and staff !

So why not make it a little bit more regular now ? Skyplex testing needs
at least one single channel running, so why not an Eutelsat one (or at
least a colourfull "via Hot Bird 13 East" inert at night, and not always
"La Cinquieme", their artwork is very nice, but...)

SME Comment 2: After sunset I have regularly observed that with
comparable signal strenght and comparable Mediamaster Signal Quality
readings,  the transmitted material tends to break up more and more, in
some nights under the treshold level of the IRD, where no output is
presented anymore.

Does this mean that I observe an effect of weather on the used small
up-link dishes, or are these specific atmospherical conditions at night,
or is simple a reduced signal uplinked to Hot Bird 4 ? Anybody any
answer for me ?
(SME)

* Finally EuroSport seems not only to think about a possible early move
of the existing channel to a Hot Bird, but presently focusses more on
the addition of a SECOND channel. It could not yet be confirmed if this
will be an MPEG-2 bouquet with several language options or an selective
PPV offering. We will surely hear more about it soon...
(SME)

HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
SCT - Satisfaction Channel TV is on Eutelsat transponder now in two
versions on 6 (six) different frequencies receivable.
All transmissions are coded using the Ping-Pong method; MPEG-2
broadcasts are re-broadcasted from the analogue version on Eutelsat
II-f1, 11.146 GHz, H.

HB 3	12.111 GHz, V, MPEG-2, 00DC{220}/00DD{221}, 01:00-02:30 CAT, W
HB 3	12.265 GHz, V, PAL, 6.40 MHz, 00:00-01:30 CAT, W
E2f1	11.146 GHz, H, PAL, 6.20 MHz, 01:00-02:30 CAT, S
E2f1	11.638 GHz, H, PAL, 6.20 MHz, 01:00-02:30 CAT, S
E2f1	11.678 GHz, H, MPEG-2, 00A1{161}/0040{84}, 01:45-02:30 CAT, S #
E2f2	11.163 GHz, H, PAL, 6.50 MHz, 01:00-02:30 CAT, S

[#] The reason of the odd start time is that Zik is using transponder
34U, from  18:00-01:45 CAT. Occasionally when Zik observes the SCT
transmission, it is interrupted by putting out a test card, so SCT is
probably here by a technical mistake.
(SME, SATCO-DX)

* In the Telespazio package on 12.111 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500,
FEC 2/3, widebeam, have this week four new channels started with
following data:

00E6{230}/00E7{231}	TV Polonia (Poland) timewise in Stereo PALPlus
00FA{250}/00FB{251}	TVG - TV de Galicia (Spain)
0104{260}/0105{261}	VIVA (Germany)
010E{270}/010F{271}	JSC - Al Jazeera Satellite Channel (Qatar)

ALL channels have received now their respective channel naming in the
channel list.

SME Comment: This is a very special package, which I most certainly
like, while it brings Germany's number-one music channel VIVA to the
Middle East, but it makes me wonder: what's all behind it?

The Italian owned transponder is presenting in clear: 2 Spanish national
channels, 1 Spanish regional channel, 2 German music channels, and one
Polish and Arabic channel each ? Are this supposed to be SHOW-cases or
TEST-cases, or even both ?
Two things all channels have in common: they are transmitted analogue in
clear and none of them transmits in MPEG-2 on one of the other Eutelsat
transponder.

I suspect the channels -possibly- have displayed interest in digital
broadcast on a Hot Bird satellite in the near future, and therefore
given the chance to gain some experience and obtain viewer reactions.
Let's wait, see and meanwhile: Enjoy the Show !
(SME)
 
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
Only five days after moving to Hot Bird 4 has TPS left Hot Bird 2
transponder 69, 12.092 GHz, H, and transponder 61, 11.938 GHz, H.
A new user for both transponder has not be publicly announced.
(SATCO-DX)

Radio channel BlueSat 2000 on 11.804 GHz, V, has changed APID to
02A5{677}.
(SATCO-DX)

The test programming of Stream on 11.843 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 27500,
FEC 3/4, superbeam, was interrupted for the weekend, but Monday again
taken up with DSN - Digital Shopping Network on PIDs 0065{101}/0066{102}
(actually seen on all ten transmitted test channels).
(SATCO-DX)

ERT Int. has left the Multichoice Hellas package on 11.823 GHz, H, again
Monday. Clear reception can be still achieved from 12.169 GHz, V.
(SATCO-DX)

EUTELSAT II-f1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f1.shtml
--------------
German's Music Channel Onyx has started last Monday additionally on
transponder 34L, 11.638 GHz, H, PAL/clear, with audio on 6.65 MHz.
(SATCO-DX)

Onyx will leave transponder 22C, after around six weeks, with includes
then of-course the night use of SCT.
(SME, source: Eutelsat)

SCT - Satisfaction Channel TV has started on 11.146 GHz, H,
PAL/Ping-Pong, 6.20 MHz, 01:00-02:30 CAT, super beam. The channel uses
the transponder in  time-sharing with Onyx, which results in the
appearance of SCT on several other frequencies s.a.: 11.638 H,
PAL/Ping-Pong, 6.20 MHz, 01:00-02:30 CAT.

There is no TeleText transmitted at night, while both channels are using
an individual up-link station, ergo: a hard cut is made at the
switch-over.
(SME, source: Eutelsat)

Fashion TV has commented that it has no intentions to encrypt its
signal, neither on transponder 21L, 11.055 GHz, H, or in the French
MPEG-2 bouquet on transponder 77, 12.245 GHz, H, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, wide
beam.
Fashion TV did announce in an on-screen rolling text to go public on the
NASDAQ (New York) stock exchange before the end of this year.

Transponder 39, 11.658 GHz, V, shows the latest addition of adult
channels "Eros TV" from 01:00 CAT in D2Mac/Eurocrypt, widebeam. This
channel could earlier be observed from Eutelsat II-f3, transponder 37,
11.576 GHz, V.

EUTELSAT II-f4-M, 7 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f4.shtml
----------------
Various occasional feeds on former Cyprus SAT transponder 22L, 11.141
GHz, H, PAL/clear.
(SATCO-DX)

SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius.shtml
---------
The SIS MPEG-2/clear, SR 4410, FEC 3/4, all channels with PIDs:
0870{2160}/0848{2120} had become temporary encrypted on Thursday.

The TeleSports feed on the same transponder was not influenced by this
action.

Bet on Jazz was interrupted last Wednesday on 12.379 GHz, H, only a
colorbar test card was displayed during daytime.

INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.shtml
------------
The Israeli bouquet on transponder 111XU, 11.015 GHz, V, MPEG-2/clear,
SR 10848, FEC 3/4, Middle East Spotbeam, is at times partly encrypted: 

	0101{257}/0102{258}:	EHA 1:	encrypted
	0201{513}/0202{514}:	EHA 2:	clear
	0301{769}/0302{770}:	EHA 3:	clear
(SME)
Some radio channels behind transmissions of Deutsche Welle TV on 3.915
GHz, R, SR 8022, FEC 3/4, have adjusted APIDs:
	
	0286{646}:	 Radio Nederland
	0288{648}:	 SRI
	0289{649}:	 RFI Musique
(SATCO-DX)

INTELSAT 704, 18 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i705.shtml
------------
Anybody interested in a Formula 1 racing feed in PAL/clear ? Take a look
in the late afternoon on Saturday and Sunday on transponder 38B, 4.166
GHz, R with English audio on 6.60 GHz. Not perfect, but better than
nothing.
(SME)

SAT-MIDEAST INTERN, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
The SAT-MidEast web pages have been re-worked one-more-time, some links
have changed, some information has been relocated, more fitting the
content. Two useful additions have been made, take a look at:

* A list of data for receivable MPEG-2 channels in the Levant:

	http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/listings/digital.html
	
* A revamped, more complete list of the Hot Bird transponder data:

	http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/listings/hotbird.html

(Hot Bird is a registered trademark of the Eutelsat Organization, Paris)

The SAT-MidEast weekly news bulletins are also available on the
SAT-MidEast website at sat-net.com. However fully HTML formatted; much
more pleasing to the human eye. Just take a look and communicate your
opinion!

...and all readers: Happy Eid, Happy Easter: Kollo sana wenta taib !

DR.DISH INTERN, http://www.drdish.com/
--------------
Dr.Dish@TV is again making the microwaves an unsafe place to travel:
to watch the show, just turn your dish to DFS-II, 28.5 East and tune in
to 11.550 GHz, V, with audio on 6.65 GHz, from 20:00-23:00 CAT.

This is the forcasted programme:
	International Satellite News
	Transponder-News provided by SATCO-DX and Norbert Schlammer
	Media News by Petra Huether of TELE-satellite International
	Dutch-Media News by David de Jong
	Space-News by John Locker
	DirecPC-Internet via Satellite
	Satellite Report from the Far East
	Feeds: Telling politicans the truth?
		Testing the TRUSTER on satellite
	Transcoders: a SECAM to PAL version
	Dr.Dish Live answering your questions
	and a surprise guest.

SME, source: Christian Mass (Dr.Dish)
Senior-Editor of TELE-satellite International

Best regards,

Henk C. Room / Sat-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
____________________________________________________________________
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East. 

	SAT-MidEast: http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
____________________________________________________________________     
- SAT-MidEast offers a mailinglist with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, weekly free-of-charge to your mailbox.

HOW TO [UN]SUBSCRIBE:
- Send an e-mail to: majordomo@tags1.dn.net
- put on a single line: [un]subscribe sat-mideast your@address
____________________________________________________________________
SAT-MidEast is enabled by:
	
- TELE-Satellite International: http://www.TELE-satellite.com/

- Various Mailing Lists: http://www.sat-net.com/
- Channel & Satellite Info: http://www.satcodx.com/
- Technical Questions & Answers: http://www.drdish.com/

Best regards,

Henk C. Room / Sat-MidEast / Cairo - Egypt
____________________________________________________________________
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East. 

	SAT-MidEast: http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
____________________________________________________________________     
- SAT-MidEast offers a mailinglist with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, weekly free-of-charge to your mailbox.

HOW TO [UN]SUBSCRIBE:
- Send an e-mail to: majordomo@tags1.dn.net
- put on a single line: [un]subscribe sat-mideast your@address
____________________________________________________________________
SAT-MidEast is enabled by:
	
- TELE-Satellite International: http://www.TELE-satellite.com/

- Various Mailing Lists: http://www.sat-net.com/
- Channel & Satellite Info: http://www.satcodx.com/
- Technical Questions & Answers: http://www.drdish.com/


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