From VMSSERV@arecibo.aero.org Mon Mar 29 14:10:11 1993 Received: from arecibo.aero.org by cs.tut.fi with SMTP id AA17754 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for ); Mon, 29 Mar 1993 14:10:06 +0300 Message-Id: <199303291110.AA17754@cs.tut.fi> Date: 29 Mar 93 02:39:00 PST From: "VMSSERV Mail Server" Subject: SCDX2160.TXT To: "rko" Status: OR ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2160--Aug. 18, 1992 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2160 All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SWEDEN: TV-SHOP--The Swedish Cable Board has ordered a cable channel called TV-Shop to stop broadcasts. The channel, which is carried mainly in large cities, consists solely of advertising for items which viewers can order by telephone. The cable board says this violates the law governing cable, which limits the amount of commercials and restricts them to blocks between programs. TV-Shop has no programs other than advertising. The ban affects only TV-Shop as a separate channel. The same organization also broadcasts on satellite outlets TV3 and TV5 Nordic. Satellite transmissions are not regulated by the cable law. The Managing Director of TV-Shop says he will appeal the decision. (TT) TV4--Sweden's new commercial terrestrial broadcaster, TV4, is starting local broadcasts to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, and Sundsvall, beginning later this year. The local programs will consist mainly of sports, entertainment, and news. (TT) SCIENCE FICTION: STAR TREK--Satellite TV monitors in Britain and Scandinavia may be interested to know that they'll be able to tune in to both the original 1960's American science fiction TV series "Star Trek and its "Next Generation" successor from Swedish broadcasters soon. The original series will be carried by TV5 Nordic on Tuesdays, beginning on September 15th, at 20:00 Swedish time, 19:00 hrs British time. Apparently they plan to broadcast all 79 original episodes. Nordic is on the Swedish Tele-X satellite at 5 degrees East, on 12.475 GHz. It seems to put fairly good signals into the UK. Meanwhile, TV4 on the same satellite will be broadcasting the new "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series, on Saturdays, beginning this Saturday, August 22nd, at 18:00 hrs Swedish time, 17:00 hrs British time. TV4 uses the transponder at 12.207 GHz, which is also one of Radio Sweden's satellite homes. SCI-FI CHANNEL--The long-discussed American Science Fiction Channel is apparently about to begin operation. Test transmissions have been reported on Galaxy 5, transponder 4. (Jim Gallucci on CompuServe) SPACE AND NEW SATELLITES: KITSAT--We also have some new satellites in orbit. On August 11th an Ariane rocket put South Korea's Kitsat-A into orbit. Kitsat is also called Uribyol, which means "Our Star" in Korean. The satellite will photograph the Earth and measure cosmic rays. It also carries an amateur radio electronic mail system, and will conduct experiments in voice broadcasting. The satellite was built for the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology by three Korean students under the guidance of engineers at Britain's University of Surrey, which has put together several amateur radio satellites. It's described as a near clone of UoSat-Oscar 14 and UoSat-Oscar 22. Kitsat is to be placed in near circular orbit 1300 kilometers from the Earth, with an inclination of 66 degrees, which will make it available to users much farther to the north and to the south than most amateur radio satellites. It will orbit the Earth every 110 minutes. The downlink for its packet radio bulletin board will be at 435.175 MHz. The system will operate at 9600 baud, making Kitsat the second amateur radio satellite to use that speed. It's expected to take some of the load from UoSat-Oscar 22. (Reuters, IPS, "Space News" via Kauto Huopio, and "Practical Wireless") OPTUS--On August 14th, China finally succeeded in launching Australia's Optus B-1, formerly known as Aussat B-1. This satellite carries 15 Ku-band transponders, and is to be placed at 160 degrees East, replacing Aussat A-1, which is due to run out of fuel in early 1993. The first launch attempt failed on March 22nd. The second B series satellite is due to be launched by a Chinese rocket in December. Australia is expected to use the satellites to carry a 6 channel subscription TV service, due to begin operation in early 1994. (Reuters, AP) SHUTTLE/OLYMPUS--American space shuttle missions are broadcast live to North America on NASA's Select TV transponder on the Satcom 2R satellite. But Europeans recently had an opportunity to view live video from the shuttle Atlantis on the Olympus satellite at 19 degrees West, using the transponder at 12.530 GHz. (Stefan, DL5HAS) MIR/DEUTSCHE WELLE--Deutsche Welle TV is to broadcast a report on the Mir mission from last March, in which a German cosmonaut took part. The program will be on August 26th at 15:00 hrs, repeated the following day at 17:00 hrs. Deutsche Welle uses Eutelsat II-F1 at 11.163 GHz. (Stefan, DL5HAS) EUROPEAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: FILMNET--FilmNet has announced that it will drop the use of PAL from Astra. On August 24th the FilmNet PAL signal on transponder 11 will switch to D2- MAC. On September 1st the current D2-MAC signals on transponder 23 will come to an end. For cable companies wanting to receive PAL, FilmNet transmissions in that mode will continue on Eutelsat II-F1. ("Satnews and "In Orbit") UK GOLD--The planned joint venture between the BBC and Thames TV, UK Gold, faces a problem. The actor's union Equity has rejected a royalties offer. UK Gold is to show classic British programs from the past, and will have to pay royalties to the participating actors. ("Satnews" and "In Orbit") Equity's resistance was responsible for the end of the original Super Channel, which was intended to be a "Best-of-British-TV" outlet. A proposed satellite network from Britain's ITV is being viewed as a spoiler to UK Gold. ("Satnews") RED HOT DUTCH--Europe also has a new pornographic movie channel. Unlike the softporno Adult Channel on Astra, which is British, Red Hot Dutch is based in the Netherlands, where there are less restrictions. It uses the same transponder on Eutelsat II-F1 as TRT, 11.181 GHz, starting at midnight British time. According to one report, a viewer has successfully used an old FilmNet PAL decoder to receive the signal. ("Paa TV") CAROLINE--Radio Caroline has received a satellite radio broadcasting licence. Caroline is curently producing programs on three different channels. The new service is to be 24 hours. ("In Orbit") NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: INTELSAT--Italy's RAI has announced plans to begin broadcasts to North America using Intelsat-K at 21.5 degrees West. Transmissions will be in D2- MAC, which is totally unknown in the Western Hemisphere. ("Monitoring Times") Tests from what seems to be Intelsat-K have been seen in Europe at around 11.660 GHz. (Paul, G0DFP) AFRICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: CNN--CNN has abandoned use of the Russian Ghorizont satellite at 40 degrees east, which it used for C-band transmissions to Africa. Instead, CNN is continuing to use Intelsat 601 at 27.5 degrees west. However, Russia TV channel from Moscow, the French language TV5 service, and Portugal's RTP INternational continue to be relayed. (BBC Monitoring) ASIAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING: TURKEY--After the de facto introduction of private TV channels in Turkey, via satellite, the radio scene has started to change. There are already two FM stations testing in Istanbul, Kent FM on 101 MHz, and Genc Radyo on 89.6 MHz. Both seem to be operating from outside the country, so presumeably there's a satellite relay somewhere. Another group is planning a station called Power FM. (Haluk Mesci, Turkey) There is a Turkish radio station called Metro FM listed on Eutelsat II-F4 on the InterStar transponder at 11.095 GHz, audio subcarrier 5.80 and 7.4 MHz. (SBC) A new Turkish TV satellite broadcaster called Kanal 6 has appeared on Intelsat 601, at 11.670 GHz. A comercial radio station is reported using the audio subcarriers at 7.02 and 7.20 MHz. Another Turkish TV station, is testing on Eutelsat II-F3 at 11.617 GHz. The test picture reads "HBB stereo HAS TV". This transponder belongs to British Telecom. ("Paa TV") INDIA--India's newly launched Insat 2-A is working well at 74 degrees East, and three regional Indian television channels have moved to it from Arabsat. Tamil Nadu programs are on 4115 MHz, Karnataka on 4135, and Maharashtra on 4175 MHz. RADIO: BRITAIN--Britain's new Independent Radio Network stations have been testing. Classic FM is to be launched on September 6th. Independent Music Radio tests have begun on 1215 kHz medium wave. ("AM/FM") BURMA/NORWAY/UNOFFICIAL--The Democratic Voice of Burma, which broadcasts from Norway daily at 14:30-15:00 hrs, has switched frequency slightly, from 17840 kHz to 17845. (BBC Monitoring) CANADA--Due to the failure of a transmitter in Sackville, Radio Canada International has stopped broadcasting on a number of frequencies. The transmitter will be out of service for an undetermined period. (Hans-Joergen Poettmann, Germany) CHINA--Radio Beijing is changing its name. Beginning October 1st it will known as China Radio International, to differentiate it from a local radio station in Beijing. (BBC Monitoring) CZECHOSLOVAKIA--The Radio Czechoslovakia domestic service in Czech and Slovak is now using shortwave 5930 kHz from 03:57 to 16:00 hrs, when external service broadcasts begin, and 16:00-20:15 hrs on 5920 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) MOZAMBIQUE/UNOFFICIAL--The South African backed Renamo guerillas in Mozambique Voice of Renamo has opened up a second service on 10100 kHz, which it calls an external service, at 05:00-05:15 hrs and around 16:00 hrs. The regular service, called the domestic service, broadcasts at around these same times on 7380 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) THAILAND/CAMBODIA--The United Nations has begun using a VOA transmitter in Thailand to broadcast to Cambodia. Radio UNTAC is operated by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, which is trying to help reunite the country after the civil war. It operates on 1575 kHz at 00:30-01:00 and 12:00-12:30 hrs. (BBC Monitoring) USA--VOA Europe has expanded its network of local rebroadcasters. The station is now heard on FM in Prague, on 98.1 MHz, and in Tirana on 107.4 MHz. (VOA Europe) The Voice of America is to expand broadcasts to the Middle East by building a transmitter relay station in Kuwait. The station will include 11 medium and shortwave transmitters. In exchange for providing the site and services, Kuwait will be allowed to use the station for its own broadcasts. (Reuters) A presidential commission has recommended that the United States phase out Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. The Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy says focusing half the government's transmitters on Eastern Europe was logical once, but no longer makes any sense. The commision's report calls the two stations a waste of money in the post-Cold War world. Besides phasing out Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, the commission advocates: Shutting down the TV Marti service to Cuba Terminating construction of a shortwave station in Israel Building a less costly version of the medium and shortwave station in Kuwait Enhancing the Voice of America rather than establishing an expensive new Radio Free China. The commission is a bipartisan citizens panel created by Congress and appointed by the president. (Reuters and BBC Monitoring) PUBLICATIONS: BRITAIN--"AM/FM" is a monthly summary of stories called by the AM/FM Newsline, which is a British radio industry telephone news service that costs British callers between 36 and 48 pence a minute. It can be reached by calling 0336-40 45 50. The "AM/FM Online Edition" is availble on Usenet and London's CIX conferencing system. (Kauto Huopio via Internet News) LONDON CALLING--The BBC World Service's monthly program guide "London Calling" is about to come to an end, replaced by a new guide called "BBC Worldwide". This should be 100 pages in length and will include BBC World Service Television listings. The new magazine will appear in November. TROPICAL BANDS SURVEY--For people who like to monitor the tropical bands below 6 MHz, the Danish Shortwave Clubs International has published the 20th edition of its "Tropical Bands Survey". This 24 page booklet lists all active broadcasting stations between 2 and 5.9 MHz. This is the best tropical bands summary we know of, and it's available by seamail for 8 IRCs or 35 Danish kroner, by airmail for 9 IRCs or 43 Danish kroner, from: DSWCI, Tavleager 31, DK-2670 Greve, Denmark. And that's it for this week's MediaScan. We'll be back next time with a report on this weekend's European DX Council conference in Finland. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 20:30-21:30 hrs on medium wave 1179 kHz, as well as shortwave 6065 and 9655 kHz, and via satellite on Astra 1B (19.2 degrees East) channel 26 at 11.597 GHz, audio subcarrier at 7.74 MHz, and on the Tele-X direct broadcast satellite (5 degrees East) at 12.207 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.38 MHz. That program is also broadcast to the Pacific and the Far East on 17730 kHz. We're also relay our half hour program at 12:30 hrs on satellite, otherwise it's being carried to South Asia, the Pacific and the Far East on 15170 and 17740 kHz. The rest of the Radio Sweden English schedule is (half hour programs): To Europe: 22:30 hrs 1179 and 6065 kHz To the Middle East and East Africa: 15:00 hrs on 15270 kHz To Asia/Pacific: 12:30 hrs 15240 and 21625 kHz 01:00 hrs 9685 and 11730 kHz To North America: 15:00 hrs 17870 and 21500 kHz 02:00 hrs 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 Good Listening!