From VMSSERV@arecibo.aero.org Mon Mar 29 14:11:16 1993 Received: from arecibo.aero.org by cs.tut.fi with SMTP id AA17887 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for ); Mon, 29 Mar 1993 14:11:11 +0300 Message-Id: <199303291111.AA17887@cs.tut.fi> Date: 29 Mar 93 02:38:00 PST From: "VMSSERV Mail Server" Subject: SCDX2151.TXT To: "rko" Status: OR ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2151--Mar. 3, 1992 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2151 All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPEAN/SATELLITE RADIO: SWEDEN--A study commissioned by the Ministry of Culture says around 175 FM transmitters would be available for commercial radio by the end of the year. These include unused frequencies set aside for the public service Swedish National Radio. The band between 104 and 108 MHz is to be opened for broadcasting in Sweden from April 1st. The study wants to allocate 2 MHz for commercial FM, the rest for digital audio broadcasting, along with TV channel 12, at 224 MHz. This would provide space for 20 to 30 digital channels. Swedish Radio says there would be room for all of its present channels --3 national networks as well as local stations--plus one new national public service channel, and a number of commercial channels. DAB/WARC--Digital audio broadcasting was a major topic at the World Administrative Radio Conference which is just ending in Spain. We'll have a complete report next week. BRITAIN--In Britain, the government has ruled that the duplication of broadcasting on both FM and medium wave must end. This means most BBC services that have been simulcasting will become FM-only, so the freed medium wave channels can be used for the new commercial Independent National Radio network and coming community stations. The first station to be affected is BBC Radio 3, which has lost 1197 and 1215 kHz. BBC Radio Nottingham is scheduled to lose its frequency of 1521 kHz on March 23rd, and several more BBC local radio stations are to disappear from medium wave between now and April. (Tony Harding in Finnish DX Association "Euronews", and Richard, G3VGW) A new national classical music station, Radio 101.6 FM, began test broadcasts from 6 sites on February 24th. The service is also using the Sky Sport transponder on Astra 1B at 11.508 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.56 MHz. (Michael Ruttley) That's next door to another new British-based station, Solar Radio, which uses 7.38 MHz. CORRECTION--We reported last time that the American media program "Let's Talk Radio" would be carried over Solar Radio. It turns out that what is being relayed is one of the many programs that are part of "Let's Talk Radio". This is called "Signals" and features the clandestine expert Havana Moon. And the short wave relays we mentioned over American station WWCR is also "Signals" alone and not the rest of "Let's Talk Radio". (Christine Paustian, who's part of the Havana Moon operation, and Mike Beezley). Sorry about that! SATELLITE TELEVISION: BBC WORLD SERVICE TELEVISION--It took several years, and the Gulf War, before the BBC World Service got its satellite television operation on the air, first to Europe and recently to Asia. The Asian version is 24 hours a day, and it seems the European service will be carrying the Asian programming during the night beginning March 10th. But World Service Television has been so successful, the Beeb says it's launching a 24 hour news channel over the Astra satellite. According to BBC Director General, Sir Michael Checkland, the new service over Astra would be paid for by subscriptions, and would go on the air sometime during this decade. It would seem to be aimed at Britain, and it's uncertain viewers in the rest of Europe would have access. (SatNews, "The Guardian", "The Times", "The Daily Telegraph", and "The Financial Times") JSTV--One of the the more interesting channels on Astra 1B has been Japan Satellite Television on 11.567 GHz. This has included news subtitled in English, and has been a free unscrambled channel. Now JSTV has announced they will begin scrambling their signals using the videocrypt system from April 1st. Viewers outside the British isles will be able to buy a decoder from JSTV for 150 pounds. Subscriptions will cost 100 pounds as an entry fee and 30 pounds a month. JSTV says the high cost is because of the very limited number of potential viewers in Europe. (JSTV) DEUTSCHE WELLE--Deutsche Welle is starting a TV service, using the former American RIAS service in Berlin. This will be using Eutelsat 2-F1 at 13 degrees East. (BBC Monitoring and Radio Netherlands "Media Network") KABELKANAL--There's a new German channel on Eutelsat 2-F1 at 13 degrees East. Called "Der Kabelkanal", it's on 11.905 GHz, and is intended for cable operators only, and will be scrambled soon. (Wolfgang Schulz via Kauto Kuopio) INDIA--Meanwhile, with pirate cable operators destroying the government's broadcast monopoly, India says it will pass legislation to regularize the cable industry. The pirate cable entrepreneurs have been providing Indians with access to BBC World Service Television and CNN. (Reuters) USA--In the United States, the Senate has passed the Cable Consumer Protection Act, which would regulate the cable industry. Among other things, cable operators would have to compensate over the air broadcasters for relays of their signals. The legislation also covers satellite regulation, and has been supported by consumers and home satellite monitors. It requires broadcasters using satellites to make their programming available to home satellite viewers and for subscription costs to be consistent with those charged cable users. The Senate bill is to be introduced now into the House of Represenatives this week. ("Dishcetera" and "Washington Post") NEW SATELLITES--There are some new new satellites in orbit. On February 26th an Ariane rocket put into orbit Japan's Superbird B-1 and Arabsat-1C. This is the last of a series of 3 Arab League satellites, although a tender for a second generation of more powerful satellites has been opened, with the first launch in 1995. (Reuters) The Egyptian Space Channel is to be moved from the Arabsat-1A to the new 1-C satellite. (BBC Monitoring) But the launch of the new Galaxy 5 satellite over North America, scheduled for February 27th, seems to have been delayed. Once operational, the satellite will be placed at 125 degrees West, which is in fact the same location as Telstar 303, used by the Fox network and the TVN pay per view system. FUTURE TECHNOLOGY: VIDEO VIA SATELLITE--A company called EMC Squared Entertainment is planning on launching a satellite service that would deliver rental films to homes in bursts of compressed data. A 100 minute film, for example, would be squeezed into 5 minutes of transmission. Customers would telephone a toll-free telephone number, and key in an 8 digit code for the film of their choice. In Europe, all the orders would be batched by computer, and the film would be delivered within a few minutes over a Eutelsat or Astra satellite. The plan is for the system to be launched in Europe by the end of next year and in the United States and Japan in 1994. Films would be encoded in such a way that they self-destruct after two screenings. ("The European") SHORTWAVE: GEORGIA--The Radio Georgia external service from Tbilisi has been heard in English again signing on at 06:00 hrs on 11803 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) ITALY--PLAY-DX reports that the Voice of Europe is testing on around 13640 kHz, at 14:00-23:00 hrs. Before 14:00 this frequency is used by Swiss Radio International. Dario Monferini says another Italian station called Radio Music will use 7115, 11575, 15105, or 15355 kHz. (Finnish DX Association "Euronews") RUSSIA--A new Russian station called Radio Galaxy, was broadcasting to Europe in English on 9880 kHz between 20:00 and 23:00 hrs. But it's now disappeared again. However, a new independent music station from Russia called Radio SNC has been heard on 11735 kHz at times between 15:00 and 20:00 hrs. (BBC Monitoring) UKRAINE--Gunther Bardolf in Austria tells us that Radio Kiev is now broadcasting in German at 00:00-00:30 hrs on 4825 kHz, and not up to 01:00 hrs as announced. (Guenther Bardolf, Austria) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--UAE Radio and Television in Dubai is now broadcasting in English 16:00-16:40 hrs on 11795, 13675, and 15320 kHz. 15400 kHz is announced but not heard, while 21605 kHz is heard but not announced. (Guenther Bardolf) CANADA--One of the saddest news items we carried last year was the halving of the budget of Radio Canada International, which meant among other things, that RCI's own English and French programming was replaced by relays from the CBC domestic services. Now, the Canadian International DX Club tells us that they've taken over the adminstration of Radio Canada International's verification, or QSL, cards. Members of the club's Montreal chapter have volunteered to take over this time-consuming chore. One advantage for listeners is that the new cards will contain full data, including transmitter sites. ODXA--Another Canadian club, the Ontario DX Association will be hosting its annual convention in Toronto on April 25th. For more information, you can write to the ODXA at 513-2313 Lake Shore Blvd West, Toronto, Canada M8V 1A8. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 to Europe in English at 19:30-20:30 hrs on medium wave 1179 kHz, as well as shortwave 6065, 9655, and 15270 kHz. The rest of the Radio Sweden English schedule is (half hour programs): To Europe: 21:30 hrs 1179 and 6065 kHz 23:30 hrs 1179 kHz To Asia/Pacific: 13:30 hrs 17740 and 21570 kHz 01:00 hrs 9765 kHz To North America: 15:30 hrs 17870 and 21500 kHz 01:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz 02:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz To Latin America: 23:30 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz 15:30 hrs on 17875 and 21500 kHz 02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz 03:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz 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 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, especially Kauto Huopio Good Listening!