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SAT-MidEast 98.07.17
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
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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/
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HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :
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Back issues are available at the TELE-Satellite server:
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THE LAST FREE WORLD CUP ?
-------------------------
Enjoyed the World Cup in France? It may have been the last time you
watched the tournament on TV unless you're prepared to pay, warns the
EBU - European Broadcasting Union.
EBU Secretary General Jean-Bernard Munch commented upon the recent
Soccer World Cup, which - with an accumulated world-wide audience of 37
billion viewers - turned out to be the largest event in TV history ever.
"The World Cup is a unique, perfect example of an event for the man on
the street and should be available as a whole, all matches should be
accessible on free-to-air channels," Munch said in a statement. "In
2002, many matches will only be seen by those who can afford pay TV
channels. This will spoil the excitement of the World Cup."
The world-wide TV rights (except for the U.S.) for the World Cup 2002
and 2006 were sold to Germany's Kirch group. It is yet uncertain what
viewers will get to watch of those events on free-to-air channels.
In the European Union, for instance, countries may set up a list of
important sports events that have to be shown on free-to-air TV. In
Germany, Kirch Group has recently said that all matches with German
participation will be available free-to-air.
It's rather unclear whether all this actually means the events have to
be shown live. Given the nature of today's TV business, matches will be
repeated on free-to-air TV anyway in order to fully exploit the
broadcasting rights. Which is a bit ridiculous, really: would you want
to watch a repeat of your team's match when there's already celebrations
going on out there in the streets?
(SME, source: SAT-ND, Peter C. Klanowski)
PALESTINIAN TV
--------------
An international Palestinian television station will be established next
year and beamed from an Egyptian satellite, a Palestinian official said
Friday.
"The station will be set up on January 1, 1999," said Hisham Mikki,
general coordinator of Palestinian public communications.
The television will be opened as part of celebrations of the fourth
anniversary of the founding of the Voice of Palestine television
channel, Mikki added.
The station's headquarters will be located in the Gaza Strip and it will
broadcast via an Egyptian satellite launched into space last month, he
said. [Nilesat 101, 7 West]
The first public Palestinian television network was established in 1995
with branches in Gaza and the West Bank city of Ramallah in 1995.
(SME, source: Anonymous)
EUTELSAT NEWS
-------------
Eutelsat's shareholders' meeting in St Petersburg from July 6 to 10,
nominated Giuliano Berretta as the Organization's new Director General
as from January 1999. Mr Berretta will succeed Jean Grenier who has been
Director General since January 1990 and who is retiring at the end of
the year.
Of Italian nationality, Mr Berretta joined Eutelsat in September 1990
when he was chosen by Mr Grenier as the Organization's first Commercial
Director and developed commercial activities that included the
successful marketing of the Hot Bird series of satellites and the launch
of DVB-based digital television and multimedia services in Europe, North
Africa and the Middle East. As Director General he will be the chief
executive and legal representative of Eutelsat and will guide it through
its period of restructuring into a private, French-based company and an
umbrella intergovernmental organization.
Mr Berretta has a spent his entire career in international
telecommunications, television and the space industry. He joined
Eutelsat from the European Space Agency where he worked for 20 years.
Prior to ESA he worked at Telettra (Alcatel Italia) and Selenia (Alenia)
in Italy in the field of radio and television broadcasting.
A new satellite:
The Board of Signatories also decided to authorize the Director General
to buy a new satellite as an on-ground spare in order to ensure service
continuity at all current Eutelsat orbital positions in event of a
satellite or launch failure.
Eutelsat 29 East slot:
Eutelsat said in a statement it has received, via the French
Administration, notification by the Chairman of the Radio Regulations
Board that it considers the Europesat I satellite network was not
brought into use at 29 degrees East within the required time period
SME Comment: Which would automatically mean the organisation loses the
right to use that slot.
Eutelsat contests the Board's opinion and continues to consider that the
bringing into use of the network was carried out within the required
time limit. Eutelsat claims it holds the older rights to that orbital
slot, partly because of parking some newly launched satellites there
temporarily. It was obviously not too convincing to transmit some test
cards over a period of a few days each, saying they originated from
Europesat I -- a satellite that had been planned over a light-year ago
but undoubtedly has neither been built nor launched yet.
Eutelsat intends to appeal against the Radio Regulations Board's
decision which, in the organisation's opinion, do not seem to be the
result of a fully objective analysis and do not comply with the
International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) regulations.
Eutelsat also complained that the Board has granted no authority to the
Luxembourg Administration to use the BSS band at the 28.2 degrees East
orbital position, which SES was doing with Astra 1D "in violation of the
ITU Radio Regulations." SES plans to use the position for Astra 2A and
2B in order to provide digital TV services mainly to the UK and Eire. As
Astra 2A is late, 1D was shifted to that slot in order to enable
experimental broadcasts prior to the official launch this autumn.
(SME, source: Eutelsat PR)
SEA LAUNCH PREPARATIONS
-----------------------
A one-of-a-kind rocket-assembly and mission-control ship that weds space
and sea steamed into the Sea Launch Home Port on Monday, July 13th,
carrying the rocket to be used for the first-ever launch of a commercial
satellite from the ocean.
The Sea Launch Commander arrived after a month-long journey from
St.Petersburg, Russia, where it was fitted with more than 600 tons of
electronic and mechanical support equipment and took on the first two
Sea Launch rockets - modified versions of the proven Ukrainian-built
Zenit.
The vessel, known as the Assembly and Command Ship (ACS), serves as a
floating mission-control center and rocket-assembly plant - the first
ever in the world.
The Sea Launch Commander was designed specifically for Sea Launch by the
Anglo-Norwegian corporation Kvaerner, a partner in the international Sea
Launch venture.
At first glance, it looks like a cruise ship, painted white with bright
blue and gold stripes across its sides. It has accommodations and
entertainment -- including a swimming pool and a cinema - for up to 240
people, including crew, launch technicians and customers.
A closer look below deck reveals a roll-on, roll-off cargo-vessel design
arranged for assembly and transportation of launch vehicles, as well as
integration of their satellite payloads. The above-deck control room is
filled with sophisticated communications and rocket-control equipment.
The Sea Launch Commander is 667 feet long. The ship was built at the
Kvaerner Govan Shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, and christened there in
September 1997.
A second, unique Sea Launch vessel, the Odyssey, is en route from Russia
and due in Long Beach in late August. The Odyssey, a self-propelled,
semi-submersible launch platform (LP), was converted from a North Sea
oil-drilling rig by Kvaerner at its shipyard in Stavanger, Norway.
Boeing is monitoring the journey of the vessels from Russia to Long
Beach on its Web site.
The Home Port, on former Navy property at the Port of Long Beach,
features a payload-processing facility that includes two
state-of-the-art spacecraft preparation areas and an encapsulation
facility.
Located conveniently close to satellite manufacturers in California, it
also includes a warehouse that can house up to three Zenit launch
vehicles, a 1,000-foot wharf for berthing of the two vessels, and
offices for Sea Launch customers.
The first launch is scheduled for late 1998 near Christmas Island, about
1,400 miles southeast of Hawaii and near the equator. From that
location, the launch vehicle follows the shortest possible route to
orbit, thereby increasing equivalent capability. The site also has
routinely calm waters.
Before departing for the launch site, the satellite will be mated with
the launch vehicle aboard the Sea Launch Commander and transferred to
the Odyssey. Once the two vessels are at the launch site, the Odyssey
crew will leave that vessel and board the command ship.
After the Odyssey is stabilized by partial submersion, the space vehicle
will be erected, fueled and launched via remote control from the Sea
Launch Commander, about three miles away.
The first launch will boost a next-generation Hughes Model HS702
communications satellite - dubbed Galaxy 11 - into geostationary
transfer orbit. To date, Sea Launch has contracts for 17 other launches.
The four active partners in Sea Launch are:
Boeing Commercial Space Co. of Seattle. Responsible for construction of
the home port, customer marketing and support, payload accommodations,
spacecraft integration, and mission operations.
RSC-Energia of Moscow. Responsible for Block DM upper-stage rocket,
launch-vehicle integration, automated launch processing equipment and
launch support.
Kvaerner, based in London. Responsible for construction of the two
unique vessels and for all maritime operations.
KB Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Responsible for the
Zenit rocket, providing the first two stages of the launch.
Additional information on Sea Launch is available at URL:
http://www.boeing.com/
(SME, source: Sea Launch PR)
LAUNCH INFORMATION, http://www.satcodx.com/launches.shtml
------------------
* Sinosat 1 with a Chinese Long March launcher is scheduled for 18 July.
(SATCO DX)
ASIASAT 2, 100.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/asia2.shtml
---------
* TVSN has left 3,660 V, PAL, and was replaced by an Optus Vision test
card.
(SATCO DX)
* A new digital package has started on 3,700 V, MPEG-2/encrypted, SR
27500, FEC 3/4, showing following line-up: ESPN Taiwan, ESPN
Philippines, ESPN Asia, Star Sports Asia and Star Sports South.
For details please refer to the SATCO DX chart.
(SATCO DX)
* Star Mosaic and National Geographic Channel have replaced CNBC Asia
and NBC Asia on 3,740 V, MPEG-2/encrypted.
(SATCO DX)
APSTAR 2R, 76.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/apstar2r.shtml
---------
* Last week reported Chinese Music Channel "New Wave" on 4,010 H,
MPEG-2/clear, SR 6111, FEC 3/4, PIDs 33/34, has to be considered as an
occasional feed. It could not be observed later again.
(SME)
PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.shtml
----------
* Two new channels appeared in the Multichoice Africa package,
MPEG-2/IRDETO
3,743 V, PIDs 519/647: SuperSport 2 (encrypted)
4,113 V, PIDs 519/647: RTP Internacional (clear)
(SATCO DX)
TURKSAT 1C, 42 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1c.shtml
----------
* HBB left 11,100 V, PAL, on 10 July at 24:00, as well as Kanal 6 has
left 11,072 H, PAL, Turkish beam.
(SME, SATCO DX)
TURKSAT 1B, 31 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1b.shtml
----------
* On 7 July, HBB started on 11,129 V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 4200, FEC 5/6,
PIDs 33/34.
(SATCO DX)
ASTRA 1G, 19.2 East, http://www.satcodx.com/astra1g.shtml
--------
* The "TV Vandaag" test card in the Dutch package on 12,574 H has
ceased.
(SATCO DX)
EUTELSAT II-f3, 16 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f3.shtml
--------------
* British Telecom had an occasional feed on 11,596 H, SR 5632, FEC 3/4,
PIDs 134/100, live reporting on the Love Parade 1998 in Berlin.
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
* Still unconfirmed is the report that the ART sports channel in the
Arabesque bouquet on 12,015 H, PIDs 167/108 has ceased. It alledgedly
has closed down due to sporting rights issues !
(SME, source: Anonymous)
HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
* CNN International (SID 354) & Cartoon Network (SID 360) have replaced
Future Channel in the Multichoice Hellas package on 12,169 H, PIDs
515/680, encrypted.
(SATCO DX)
* Canal + Poland temporary started testing on 12,466 V, MPEG-2/clear, SR
27500, FEC 3/4, and following line-up: (SID/VPID/APID)
1820/160/ 80: PolSat
1821/161/ 81: Canal + Polska
1801/512/640: Canal + Polska
1802/513/641: Canal + Polska (yellow)
1803/514/642: Cine Cinemas
1804/515/643: Cine Classics
1806/517/648: Planete
1807/518/649: Seasons
(SATCO DX)
* On transponder 86, 12,418 V, another digital carier could be observed,
however not yet be fully identified. There seems to be a relation to
Italian broadcaster D+.
(SME)
* The Shalom Channel on 12,380 V, MPEG-2/clear has gone fishin', and
will be back with a full launch of the channel with extended
broadcasting hours as of September 1st.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 4, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb4.shtml
----------
* New SIDs and PIDs in the Arabsat Package on 12,654 H, MPEG/clear,
(SID/VPID/APID):
1/1160/1120: Sharjah TV
2/1260/1220: Bahrain TV
3/1360/1320: Saudi Channel 1
4/1460/1420: Kuwait Space Channel
5/1560/1520: Jamahirya Satellite Channel
(SATCO DX)
SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius.shtml
--------
The Merlin Communications tests on 12,111 H, MPEG-2, have been completed
and ceased.
(SATCO DX)
THOR 3, 0.8 West, http://www.satcodx.com/thor3.shtml
------
Stronger than expected test carriers could be observed on 11,727 V,
11,747 H, 11,823 H, 12,054 H, 12,149 V, 12,169 H, 12,226 V, 12,245 H ,
12,322 H, 12,380 V, 12,399 H, 12,476 H, in Cairo, Egypt with an 240
solid dish.
SME Comment: It came as a real big surprise that the Thor 3 beam has
such an signal strenght in the Levante. I could achieve during testing a
more powerfull reception than from Hot Bird 1 ! Perfect carrier signals,
without any need for treshold. It has to be shown however what first
real TV signals will bring. It could be interesting for all owners of a
D2-MAC decoder, then TV1000 Cinema has booked space on 11,823 H.
The satellite will be operational from 31 July.
(SME, SATCO DX)
INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.shtml
------------
MCM Europe tested on 10,967 V, PAL/clear for some hours on Saturday and
Sunday, Middle East beam.
The MCM Europe signal was also switched through on transponder 111XU,
11.015 V, MPEG-2/clear, SR 15000, FEC 3/4, NID 4369, TID 1, IDs
(complete package)
257/ 258/8191/10 SUPER-SAL (Encrypted)
513/ 514/8191/20 EHA-2 Israel Channel 2
769/ 770/8191/30 EHA-3 MCM Europe/No Audio !
8191/8191/8191/40 (null) Black screen/No Audio
MCM has finalized testing and ceased on all channels in between.
(SME)
NILESAT 101, 7 West, http://www.satcodx.com/nile101.shtml
-----------
The Showtime package on transponder 17 adjusted some PIDs (marked *):
tp 17, 12.034 H, MPEG-2, NID 2048, TID 4, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, SHOWTIME
3004/3005/3041/421 STY Style Channel (encr)
3014/3015/3041/422 * DISC Discovery (encr)
3024/3025/3041/423 * SET Sony Entertainment TV (encr)
3034/3035/3041/424 HALL Hallmark Network Promo (enc)
3042/3043/3041/425 ONTV Showtime Preview Channel (clear)
(SATCO DX)
* Thursday evening the IRAQ Satellite Channel started testing, with the
result that "BITV" - Baghdad International TV started on 11,862 V,
PAL/clear, 6,50 MHz, just prior to midnight.
(SATCO DX)
SME Comment: The channel was inaugurated to officially commemorate
President Saddam Hussein's revolution from 17-30 July. A major speech
announced to be broadcast on all radio/TV channels in Iraq, at 11:00 CET
on Friday 17 July was however not transmitted live. Thanks to Cl for the
background information !
(SME)
GORIZONT 26, 11 West, http://www.satcodx.com/g26.shtml
-----------
* Digital tests could be observed on 3,825 R, SR 26663, FEC 3/4, with
following PIDs line-up:
512/650: NTV 0
513/660: TNT 0
514/652: NTV 1
515/653: TNT 1
Be aware that the satellite is in a heavy inclined orbit, and can be
observed only for a few hours a day in the Levante.
(SME)
INTELSAT 605, 27.5 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i605.shtml
------------
* WTN feeds on 4,080 L, MPEG-2/clear, SR 5632, FEC 3/4, PIDs 512/641,
global beam.
(SATCO DX)
INTELSAT 803, 21.5 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i803.shtml
------------
* Tele Sahel has left 3,914 R, SECAM, and was transferred to Intelsat
801.
This transponder will be used from September first for TV5 Afrique, with
an announced frequency of 3,924 R (source: TV5 TeleText)
(SATCO DX)
INTELSAT 801, 31.5 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i801.shtml
------------
* Tele Sahel has started on 3,918 R, SECAM/clear, 6,60 MHz, East Hemi
beam.
The audio/video quality has strongly improved in Cairo, spark free with
an 240 cm solid dish, without any treshold.
(SATCO DX)
* On 11,018 V, was last Saterday and Sunday the occasional feed for ITV
of Formula 1 racing, this time the British Grand Prix.
SAT-MIDEAST INTERN, http://www.sat-net.com/sat-mideast/
------------------
As many of you may have observed, much is going on presently on the
various TELE-satellite domains. The TSI homepage can be reached under
its original web address (calls will be automatically forwarded), or at
it's new temporary URL:
http://www.TSI-magazine.com
I have been informed that the SAT-NET.com (Home of SAT-MidEast) will
finally cease October 31st. A new sponsored server has yet to be
allocated.
The various mailing lists, sponsored by TELE-satellite International,
will cease also to that date, some of the active list-owners have
already thrown the towel, as of immediate.
The reason of all this is a re-structuring towards more effectiveness
(in the end: a gain for owner and users) of the offered services. The
daily work-hours involved, make it a little more than a private hobby,
and financially returns have been almost zero to nothing.
I hope that I can give you relative soon a new location of the
SAT-MidEast web-site and the changes in the - still free of charge -
mail services.
There are many plans still in consideration, of which a few could be
activated: eventually everybody will benefit in the end.
Best regards,
Henk C. Room / Cairo - Egypt
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- for easy subscription go to:
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