From news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!funic!nic.funet.fi!compuserve.com!70247.3516 Wed May 5 17:30:38 EET DST 1993 Article: 19982 of rec.radio.shortwave Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Path: news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!funic!nic.funet.fi!compuserve.com!70247.3516 From: 70247.3516@compuserve.com (George Wood) Subject: SCDX 2178 Message-ID: <930504135030_70247.3516_EHB46-2@CompuServe.COM> Sender: root@nic.funet.fi (The FUnny NET guru) Organization: Finnish University & Research Network Date: Tue, 4 May 1993 16:50:31 +0300 Lines: 396 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2178--May 4, 1993 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2178 All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORDIC MEDIA NEWS: RADIO SWEDEN--The Swedish parliament voted on April 28th to cut Radio Sweden's budget by 2 million dollars a year, that's one third our operating budget. The legislation calls on the government to consider using licence fees to cover the difference, but there's no telling when, or even if, the government will respond. According to the head of Radio Sweden, Hans Wachholz, the decision means Radio Sweden will have to drop programs in Spanish and French. Our programs in Swedish will be replaced by relays from the Home Service. The cutbacks will begin to go into effect on July 1st. The latest on our medium wave transmitter in Soelvesborg, which was damaged by a fire some weeks back, is that the new transmitter is being tuned up. There are to be round-the-clock tests on Thursday and Friday, and we hope to have it back in regular service on 1179 kHz this weekend. NORDIC NEWS CHANNEL--At a meeting of the Nordic Council back in March, Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt proposed setting up a common Nordic television channel. The suggestion has now been refined into a more concrete plan for a common Nordic news channel. A working group has presented several alternatives for how the schedule would be put together. According to one, some of the programs would be broadcast on a delayed basis, which would allow time to translate subtitles for the programs in Icelandic and Finnish. Annual cost for the channel would be around 10 million dollars a year. The Nordic prime ministers will decide at a meeting in July whether to go ahead with the plan. (TT) COMMERCIALS--Sweden's first and only terrestrial private TV channel, TV4, has been told it must pay more than 100,000 dollars in fines if it continues to violate the terms of its contract with the State, and broadcasts commercials in the the middle of programs. The station's manager says they've broken the contract on purpose to test the law. They now have two weeks to appeal the decision. (TT) Meanwhile, the satellite-only channel TV3, which set up in London to avoid Swedish legislation, now says it will reduce the number of commercial breaks to bring it more in line. FILMMAX--TV3's sister channel, the oldies pay-film outlet FilmMax, has now appeared on satellite, on Intelsat 601 on 11.668 GHz. But tuning in will be difficult. Not only does FilmMax use D2-MAC, so far only Norwegians are being allowed to buy subscription cards. EUROPEAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: ASTRA 1C--European satellite TV viewers are looking forward to the event of the year, the launch of the Astra 1C satellite. It will provide 16 channels, in addition to the 32 already available at just one position in the sky, 19.2 degrees East. The latest information we have is that the launch has been delayed until May 12th, sometime between midnight 51 and 01:49 hrs UTC. (AFP) We've reported many times on what channels may be appearing on the satellite, when it switches on in late July or early August. Two Spanish channels are confirmed, as are Discovery, the Children's Channel, and FilmNet. Turner Broadcasting says its combined Cartoon Network/TNT channel will also be on Astra 1C. To that you can add Bravo, TV Asia, MTV's kids channel Nickelodeon, the Family Channel, and most certainly one or two German outlets. "Sky Guide" reports that Paramount and MCA in the United States want to launch European versions of their USA Network and Science Fiction Channel. James Robinson tells us that Astra 1C will also carry a new sports channel from Ireland, called Setanta Sport. We've already reported that Thames Television is planning on using its option for another Astra transponder. "What Satellite TV" says this will probably be a women-oriented channel, offering cookery, health and fitness, and gardening programs from the BBC and Thames libraries. And, when the Astra 1D satellite is launched next year, the BBC intends to start three more channels. According to "Sky Guide", these will be a news channel, a documentary channel, and a children's channel. Astra 1D, and its follow-up 1E, due for launch in 1995, will use digital compresssion techniques, squeezing 8 channels into each transponder. British Sky Broadcasting is planning on using the plethora of channels to provide pay-per-view movies. ("Paa TV") But that's in the future. Astra 1C is about to be launched, and with it another satellite, which is being looked forward to by people all over the world, and not just in Europe. This is the French amateur radio satellite ARSENE. ARSENE is to orbit over the equator. It's farthest distance from the Earth will be 36,000 kilometers, the same distance as geostationary satellites, but since it will get as close as 20,000 kilometers, it will appear to slowly drift from west to east. The high orbit will mean access time of nearly 12 hours a day for stations up to 40 degrees latitude. This will be the 24th amateur radio satellite at least, and personally, I wonder why radio amateurs seem reluctant to put a true geostationary satellite into orbit? That would eliminate the need for expensive and complicated antenna rotors and tracking programs. Users could train their antennas on one sure spot in the sky and enjoy 24 hour communications. Be that as it may, ARSENE will offer a number of interesting features. It will work as a packet radio repeater in the sky, with ordinary FM packet, rather than some of the more complicated systems used on other satellites. The downlink will be at 145.975 MHz. (Pat Gowen in "Practical Wireless" and "AMSAT-SM Newsletter") ARSENE and Astra 1C are to be launched on the Ariane flight 56 from French Guyana. Ariane's current policy is to transmit the launches on the Eutelsat II-F1 satellite, unfortunately coded in B-MAC. But Bertil Sundberg writes in "Paa TV" magazine that the launch may be carried live on Astra on the RTL 4 transponder. Because of the amateur radio satellite, there will be lots more coverage of the launch. According to a message on packet radio from Dr. Bernard Pidoux, there will be three 90 minute video transmissions, the first on the day of the launch, and then the two following evenings. The programs are scheduled for 20:00 to 21:30 hrs, and the frequency on Eutelsat II-F1 will be 11.658 GHz. There's also a good chance that the launch will be carried to North America on the NASA Select channel on Satcom 2R, transponder 13. We've seen another report that mission coverage could be on Galaxy 6 or Galaxy 7. And the AMSAT network will be carrying live coverage on amateur radio, on many frequencies. One to look for is 14295 kHz in upper side band. INTELSAT--There's a new uncoded channel on Intelsat 601. The Cable Network, has appeared on 11.498 GHz. Owned by United Artists, this is to carry lifestyle programs aimed at women during the day, and hobbyist programs for men during the evening. News feeds from Sarajevo have moved from Intelsat 601, and can now be found on Intelsat 603 at 34.5 degrees West, on 11.476 GHz. (Bertil Sundberg in "Elektronikvaerlden") Roger Bunney reports in "Shortwave News" that Intelsat is moving its 504 satellite to 31 degrees West to provide increased leasing capability across the Atlantic. RADIO--Virgin 1215 may be gone from Astra, but two long-delayed new stations have finally appeared. One is the country music station Q-CMR, which has shown up on the Sky News transponder, audio 7.38 MHz. The other is United Christian Broadcasters, which has begun tests on the Sky Sports transponder, audio 7.56 MHz. Radio Finland has begun broadcasts on Eutelsat II-F1 on the Deutsche Welle transponder, audio 8.10 MHz. (James Robinson) VOA--The Voice of America has cmopleted the installation of digital receivers in all US embassies and USIA locations for downlinking satellite audio and data services. ("Satnews") Because of the switch to digital links, VOA Europe will no longer be available on the Deutsche Welle transponder on Eutelsat II- F1. (James Robinson) EUTELSAT--Turkey's TRT is now broadcasting all day on Eutelsat II-F1. Unfortunately, the daily English and German news broadcasts have been discontinued. Another Turkish channel, Satel, is testing on Eutelsat II-F2. James Robinson has found them at 13:00-21:00 hrs on two transponders, a strong signal on 10.987 GHz, audio 6.65 MHz, and a weaker signal on 11.017 GHz, audio 6.6 MHz. (James Robinson and Martyn Williams) TV Polonia has started regular broadcasts on Eutelsat II-F3, on 11.080 GHz. Another Polish service, called Polsat, is on the same satellite, at 11.675 GHz. ("Elektronikvaeden") RUSSIA--Russia is to replace its aging Ghorizont satellites, with a new series called "Express". Each will have 10 C band and 2 Ku-band transponders, that compares to just one Ku-band transponder on the Ghorizonts. The first Express will be launched later this year. The first Ghorizonts to be replaced will be those at 40, 103, and 140 degrees East. (Roger Bunney in "Shortwave Magazine") PACIFIC SATELLITE BROADCASTING: RIMSAT--Repositioned Ghorizonts are to be placed at 130 and 134 degrees East to provide the new Rimsat satellite service to the Pacific, from Tonga's orbital slots. Five more satellites are to be launched for Rimsat over the next few years. (Roger Bunney in "Shortwave Magazine") AUSTRALIA--Bidding closed last week for Australia's new satellite pay-TV channels. Two commercial licences are to be granted, with successful bidders being allowed to broadcast up to four channels each. One bid is from a consortium made up of all of the country's major media empires: Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Kerry Packer's Nine Network, the Seven Network, and the TEN Network. The world's biggest media-entertainment company, Time-Warner, and the American cable TV operator Continental Cablevision are also bidding, although the two companies have refused to say whether they have launched joint or separate bids. A third licence, for two channels, will go to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (AP, Reuters) ASIAN SATELLITE NEWS: INDONESIA--Hughes Communciations has signed an agreement to build a third generation of satellites for Indonesia, Palapa-C. The first two satellites will be delivered in July 1995 and January 1996, with an option for a third, which expires in 1999. Each satellite will carry 30 C-band and 4 Ku-band transponders, providing coverage through-out southeast Asia and parts of China and Australia. ("Satnews") NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: GALAXY-A PAL feed of CNN International can be found in the clear on Galaxy 7, transponder 20. CBS has started an affiliate feed service on Galaxy 7, with a West Coast feed on transponder 2, an east Coast feed on transponder 19, and occasional video on other transponders. The All News Channel has moved from Satcom F2R to Galaxy 1, transponder 5. Mamny services appeared on Galaxy 3 around April 1st. Asia TV has appeared on transponder 7, the Empire Sports Network on transponder 2, the Video Catalog Channel on transponder 17, Satellite Market USA on transponder 9, and what appears to to be two feeds of the American Family Entertainment Network are on transponders 22 and 24. The Caribbean Satellite Network has moved from transponder 7 to 14. KGAY, the audio service for Gays and Lesbians, has moved their feeds from Galaxy 5 to Galaxy 6, transponder 17. They are reported to have financial difficulties. (Robert Smathers in "Satnews") SATCOM--Satcom F4R was turned off and returned to Canada in the early morning of April 1. (Robert Smathers in "Satnews") COMPUTER CHANNEL--A new TV channel aimed at computer users will be launched in the United States in May. Initially, it will be included with the Mind Extension University Network, on Galaxy 3, transponder 11. ("Satnews") TVFN--The Television Food Network, a 24 hour channel dedicated to food, is to be launched through-out the United States on November 22nd. ("Satnews") DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING: USA--USA Digital Radio has successfully completed initial over-the-air testings of its DAB service. The first public demonstration of the service was at the National Association of Broadcasters 1993 conference in Las Vegas. ("Satnews") EUROPE--European agreement has been reached on the introduction of DAB. The BBC will begin DAB tests across London later this year, from a transmitter at Crystal Palace in the 220 MHz band. If transmissions prove successful, then use of 220 MHz will remain as the DAB band in the UK. However, a band at 60 MHz will remain as a back-up. Use of the 60, 220, and 1500 MHz bands for DAB will occur across Europe once the service becomes established. France will also be testing later this year across Paris, possibly opting for a small (1.75 MHz wide) band at 60 Mhz and more at 1.5 GHz. Germany plans to start regular broadcasts in DAB from Septebmer 1995 at 220 MHz. ("Shortwave Magazine") SWEDEN--Swedish Radio has conducted initial DAB tests at 224 MHz, and more tests will follow this year. LOCAL AND SHORTWAVE: AUSTRIA--Between May 9th and 28th, Radio Austria International will broadcast on 9880 khz between 00:00 and 03:00 hrs in ordinary AM on odd-numbered days, and in SSB on even-numbered days. (Andreas Volk, Internet News, via Kauto Huopio) ESTONIA--There were major changes in Estonian Radio on May 1st. Frequencies broadcasting Estonian Radio's first channel were taken over by a new commercial channel called Radio 2. This will form part of the state radio, even though it will be financially independent. Programming includes 4 hours a day of VOA Europe. The first channel now uses the "Vikerraadio" frequencies. The third channel is being seriously cut. For the time being, rebroadcasts from Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, the BBC, and Radio Sweden will continue on this channel. (BBC Monitoring) GERMANY--Deutsche Welle intends to respond to worldwide changes in the media landscape by expanding its 16 hour a day television service to 24 hours, and limiting itself on radio to 13 languages. The head of DW's administrative board says that broadcasting in 40 languages is unfeasible for financial and technical reasons.The corporation is to decide on a comprehensive structural reform by June. (DPA via BBC Monitoring) LITHUANIA--Radio Vilnius is cutting back, with the 23:00 hrs broadcast to North America now in Lithuania, replacing English, on weekends. Monday to Friday the broadcast remains in English, on 11750 kHz. Other English broadcasts are at 19:00 and 21:30 hrs, and Lithuanian at 21:00 hrs, all on 612, 666, 1557, and 9710 kHz (presumeably all to Europe). (BBC Monitoring) PALAU--The Christian broadcaster KHBN, on the Pacific island of Palau, has added Persian to its schedule, and is now on the air, on 9830 kHz: 08:00- 15:30 and 20:00-01:00 hrs. Persian is 14:45-15:00 hrs. English is: 12:00- 14:00, 15:00-15:30, and 20:30-01:00 hrs. (High Adventure Ministries) TAJIKISTAN--Tajik Radio was to begin broadcasts in English on May 1st. The program was to be on the air at 21:45 hrs local time, which ought to be 15:45 hrs UTC. Tajik Radio's external service operates on 972, 1143, and 7245 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) USA--High Adenture Ministries has denied a report in the British pirate-radio fan magazine "Caroline Movement News" that it is broadcasting from a ship near Java. (High Adventure Ministries) UNOFFICIAL--The Irish pirate station calling itself Radio Caroline has been heard on 3940 kHz, in parallel with the regult 6295 kHz. This station is heard weekends. (Andy Linton, Ireland) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden Calling DXers is the world's oldest radio program for shortwave listeners. Radio Sweden has presented this round-up of radio news, features, and interviews on Tuesdays since 1948. Radio Sweden broadcasts in English: Europe and Africa: 18:30 and 22:00 hrs on 1179, 6065 and 9655 kHz, and 23:30 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz Middle East and East Africa: 18:30 hrs on 15270 kHz Asia and the Pacific: 13:30 hrs on 15240 and 21625 kHz 22:00 hrs on 11955 kHz 01:00 hrs on 9695 and 11820 kHz North America: 16:00 hrs on 17870 and 21500 kHz 02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz The 13:30, 18:30, and 22:00 hrs transmissions are also broadcast to Europe via satellite: Astra 1B (19.2 degrees East) transponder 26 (Sky Movies Gold/TV Asia/Adult Channel) at 11.597 GHz, audio subcarrier at 7.74 MHz, Tele-X (5 degrees East) (TV4 transponder) at 12.207 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.38 MHz. Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood by fax to +468-667-6283, from Internet, MCI Mail or CompuServe (to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516), through the FidoNet system to 2:201/697 or to SM0IIN at the packet radio BBS SM0ETV. Reports can also be sent to: Radio Sweden S-105 10 Stockholm Sweden Contributions should be NEWS about electronic media--from shortwave to satellites--and not loggings of information already available from sources such as the "World Radio TV Handbook". Clubs and DX publications may reprint material as long as MediaScan/Sweden Calling DXers and the original contributor are acknowledged, with the exception of items from BBC Monitoring, which are copyright. We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden Calling DXers, and our programs in general. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to this week's contributors Good Listening!