Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se
From: "George Wood" 
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  ::           MediaScan             
  ::      SWEDEN CALLING DXERS       
  ::       from Radio Sweden          
  ::    Number 2278--September 2, 1997    
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Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio
Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2278
Updated Web edition at: http://www.sr.se/rs/english/media/
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
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NOTE:  Sorry this is so late, but the mass of changes on September 1
took some time to write up. Check out these headlines!
HEADLINES:
The media and the death of Princess Diana
Ariane successfully launches Hot Bird 3 and Meteosat 7
Massive changes at 1 degree West and Astra on September 1
Kirch merges DF1 with Premiere
WRN3 launches
Group of Six meeting in Stockholm
Japan's 3 digital satellite operators agree on common set-top box US
bill would outlaw scanning and utlility monitoring
The biggest news this time has to be the way the media itself may have
contributed to the death of Britain's Princess Diana. While her driver
was drunk, many blame the paparazzi freelance celebrity photographers
who pursued her, some of whom took pictures of her dying body in the
crushed car before the ambulance came. Several of them are being
charged with crimes in connection with the accident.   
In today's program we talk to Edgar Antonsson, editor-in-chief of one
of Sweden's most popular gossip magazines, "Se och H”r", about the
paparazzi. 
The massive media coverage has been virtually unprecidented. A few
examples: BBC World Service radio pre-empted all its regular
programming from sometime early Sunday morning (before 4:00 hrs UTC)
until 21:00 hrs UTC for special rolling coverage. BBC domestic Radios
2-5 simulcast coverage for several hours (while the pop channel Radio
1 had its own version), then Radios 4 and 5 continued together for
several more hours. Peter Jennings and the ABC World News Tonight have
been on from London, as has NBC's "Today Show", which replaced "The
Site" on NBC Europe at 17:00 hrs CET Monday, the first time in a long
time we've had "Today" on the same day in Europe. Expect more massive
coverage of Princess Diana's funeral on Saturday.
There were major changes in European satellite broadcasting on
September 1. More are coming on September 15.
NORDIC MEDIA NEWS
CANAL PLUS--On September 1 Scandinavia's FilmNet officially changed
its on-the-air name to Canal Plus, to reflect its new French
ownership. FilmNet 1 Nordic on 12.092 GHz is now Canal Plus Sverige
("Sweden") in D2-MAC. Canal Plus Danmark ("Denmark") is on 11.261 GHz,
while Canal Plus Norge ("Norway") is on 11.293 GHz. (FilmNet 1 had
been using the latter two frequencies for several days prior to the
switch to national Canal Plus programming.)
FilmNet 2 Nordic on 12.015 GHz is now the pan-Nordic Canal Plus Gul
("Yellow"). All are in Eurocrypt M/S2-encoded D2-MAC. (The yellow and
Swedish channels are on Thor 1, the Danish and Norwegian channels on
Thor 2.) 
A new home page at:
http://www.canalplus.se
is now mirroring www.filmnet.se
(Richard Karlsson and "SATCO")
There's a major advertising campaign in Sweden for the new name and
two channels. Marketing for the network's new digital package is
supposed to launch in two weeks. There is no mention of the coming
digital services on the Web pages or in the latest issue of FilmNet's
"TV Magazine", or any advertising yet in Swedish newspapers. But all
the Canal Plus channels are on Thor 2 in (initially clear) MPEG-2 on
11.278 GHz. ("SATCO")
As part of Canal Plus' take-over of FilmNet, the SuperSport channel
disappeared. Canal Plus promises more sports on its new channels, but
just as when the French-dominated EuroSport took over WS Smith's
Sports Channel a few years ago, the first casualty of the French
take-over has been the removal of American sports...no more baseball
and no more American football, both of which had been featured on
SuperSports.
BBC--BBC Prime has ceased broadcasts on 11.133 GHz, and now is on
11.679 only, where it replaced MTV Europe. ("SATCO") 11.133 GHz is to
be used for digital transmissions. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet")
VISAT--September 15 is also when Canal Plus' rival Viasat (owned by
Kinnevik, owner of TV3, TV1000, and much more) is launching its
expanded offerings at 1 degree West and 5 degrees East. The History
Channel will be sharing the TV1000 Cinema transponder on 11.888 GHz,
while European Business News will share time with the Sci Fi Channel
on 11.912 (both on TV-Sat 2), and Playboy will be taking over on
12.015 GHz on Sirius 1 at the other Nordic position at 5 degrees East
when TV6 signs off every night. (Richard Karlsson)
3+ and TV6 have started on Intelsat 707 in clear (but weak) MPEG-2 on
10.974 GHz. ("SATCO")
CNN International has moved to a new transponder on Intelsat 707 at
11.485 GHz (replacing NRK 2, which has moved to 11.325), and CNN's old
spot on 11.785 is empty while neighboring 11.773 GHz is now running
promos advertising the coming of Sky News and National Geographic
Channel (which used to be called Sky News and Documentaries) on that
frequency, also on September 15th. (There are also promos there for
Sky Entertainment.) Besides Sky News (02:00-18:00 hrs CET), the new
channel will also relay the Computer Channel (18:00-20:00 hrs) and the
National Geographic Channel (20:00-02:00).
A Sky News and National Geographic Channel promo has replaced Sky
Entertainment and Fox Kids, which had been testing on Thor 2 in Conax-
encoded MPEG-2 on 11.229 GHz. ("SATCO")
Sky Entertainment will officially begin on September 15, and according
to the promos on the coming Sky News and National Geographic Channel,
the new D2-MAC home will be on 11.667 GHz, with the following
schedule:
02:00-10:00 hrs  CMT Europe
10:00-19:00      Granada Goodlife
19:00-24:00      Granada Plus
00:00-02:00      Granada Men and Motors
11.667 GHz is currently the home of DR2, and several Satco
contributors are wondering where DR2 will be moving from September 15?
The two Scandinavian Sky channels have a home page at:
http://www.sky.co.uk/scandinavia
(Richard Karlsson)
TV8--The launch of the Swedish business channel TV8 has been changed
again. The station starts on October 15 as a digital only channel on
Tele-X. When Sirius 2 is launched and activated (which appears to be
December at this point) the digital transmissions will be moved there.
There will then be parallel broadcasts in analog PAL until the Summer
of 1998. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet")
DENMARK--A new Danish channel called DK 4 has begun digital
transmissions on Tele-X. (Richard Karlsson)
NORWAY/FINLAND--Having moved to 11.421 GHz on Thor, TV Norge will be
ending its transmissions on Intelsat 707 11.016 GHz at the end of
September. (James Robinson)
NRK1 has left Intelsat 707 and is only available in D-MAC on Thor 2 on
11.357 GHz. The former NRK transponder on Intelsat 707 is now relaying
a digital package, which includes TV Finland. This is currently in
clear MPEG-2, but it will probably be encoded soon in Conax (and not
Viaccess as previously reported). The annual subscription fee for TV
Finland will be FIM 600. (Richard Karlsson)
YLE Radio Finland is carried on this transponder as a sound channel,
as well as the TV soundtrack before TV Finland signs on. The Radio
Finland English service can be heard at 10:00 hrs CET.
NRK Alltid Nyheter (the 24 hour radio news channel which includes both
BBC World Service and the World Radio Network overnight) has left the
MTV Europe transponder on 11.434 GHz on Thor 2, and now can be heard
only on the new CNN International transponder on 11.485 GHz. ("SATCO")
SWEDEN--The Swedish Consumers Association has called for a boycott of
Kinnevik's satellite television station TV3, which broadcasts to
Scandinavia from London, for targeting commercials to children under
the age of 12.
According to an EU ruling, stations which broadcast from abroad, like
TV3, are exempt from the Swedish law banning commercials aimed at
children. The Consumers Association says TV3 ought to take its moral
responsibility and stop the advertisements. ("Dagens Nyheter" and AFP)
EUROPE
TURNER--Turner Entertainment says it no longer has plans to launch the
Warner Channel, which was scrapped at the last minute last Spring
during a feud between Rupert Murdoch and Time-Warner. ("What Satellite
TV")
ASTRA--The National Geographic Channel replaced Sky Two on Astra
transponder 7 yesterday, beginning after Fox Kids signs off at 19:00
hrs British time. 
Sky Sports 2 is now transmitting 20 hours a day on transponder 47.
Astra transponder 24 now carries Christian Channel Europe 05:00-12:00
hrs CET. ("SATCO") Something called Kidz TV is carried before 09:00
hrs, followed then by CMTV (which is definately not Country Music
Television). Otherwise this is the new home of Sky Soap, the History
Channel, and the Sci-Fi Channel, which are now 7 days a week. All have
moved from transponder 47.
Granada Talk left transponder 59 yesterday. Sky promos are running
instead, while Sky Scottish continues. The new Sky Sports Club, not
called Granada Sports Club, will be part of Sky Sports 3 at
16:00-19:00 hrs, and will not be using transponder 59.
We have a report that during the IBC show in Amsterdam between
September 11 and 15, transponder 57 or 59 will be used for MPEG-2
tests.
Sky Movies Gold now has an extended schedule on transponder 44, which
it shares with Sky Travel and Mexico's Galavision. Galavision will be
leaving 44 at the end of the year, but will continue on Hispasat.
Galavision also continues on PAS-1 at 45 degrees West on 11.515 GHz. 
NBC Europe has started in clear MPEG-2 on 12.285 GHz (on the CSD
transponder, internal number 75). ("SATCO", James Robinson, Richard
Karlsson, and "What Satellite TV")
Eurosport has stopped broadcasting analog sound in Hungarian on
transponder 7. English is now on 6.50 and 7.02 MHz. Hungarian and
Dutch are carried in digital Musicam on the sound carrier at 7.74 MHz.
(James Robinson)
EUTELSAT--Paralleling similar changes at the Nordic Canal Plus, there
are new names for some Telepiu channels: Telepiu 1 has become Telepiu
blanco ("white"), while Telepiu 2 is now Telepiu nero ("black").
Telepiu 3 has been replaced by Telepiu promos. ("SATCO")
Eurotica Rendez Vous on Hot Bird 2 on 11.785 GHz has switched from
PAL/Videocrypt to D2-MAC Eurocrypt. ("SATCO DX")
TDF--TDF2 is still moving from 18.8 West to 36 degrees East. On
September 1 it was reported at around 6 degrees East. ("SATCO")
UNIVERSAL--Universal Studios is preparing to launch its first
international cable and satellite television service. "13th Street --
The Action and Suspense Channel" will debut in France on November 13,
1997. Launches in Germany and Spain will follow in 1998. The 13th
Street schedule will run 20 hours a day and will be built around local
product acquisitions as well as Universal's extensive library of
classic action and suspense programming. It is unlikely that the
channel will be free to air anywhere. ("Tele-satellit News")
LANDSCAPE--The Landscape Channel, which broadcasts views of lovely
scenery accompanied by classical music, starts broadcasting in Spain
on September 15th, in the Via Digital package. At the end of July 1997
Landscape was connected to 1.19 million homes in Britain and France.
("Tele-satellit News")
SKY--The European Commission said on August 27 that it is probing
plans by British Sky Broadcasting, British Telecom, Midland Bank, and
Matsushita Electric Europe to supply services such as home banking and
home shopping via TV sets, to see if they restrict fair competition or
abuse a dominant position. The four partners announced in May they had
created a joint venture called British Interactive Broadcasting to
offer digital interactive TV services in Britain. In order to receive
these services, which also include travel services and a collection of
Internet sites, television viewers would have to buy a BIB compatible
set-top box and connect it to a telephone line. The boxes will also
allow reception of digital satellite television signals, including
BSkyB's future digital platform. (Reuters)
BSkyB's new Sky Box Office pay-per-view service has started on Astra
transponder 60, former home of Sky Movies Gold. There will be two
events during September. Between the 16th and 19th the Volcano Concert
for Monserrat will be carried twice a day at 19:00 and 22:00 hrs UTC.
Between September 20 and 23 wrestling will be offered at the same
times. (James Robinson) SBO may also expand to other Astra
transponders.
FRANCE--Fox Kids France will launch on November 15 on the French Canal
Satellite Numerique digital platform. (Curt Swinehart) Fox Kids
launched in the the Netherlands in July. It is currently testing on
the unmarketed Canal Plus digital service to Scandinavia.
BRITAIN--The BBC plans to launch pay television channels in Europe
this year as part of its joing venture with TCI's subsidiary Flextech.
According to BBC Deputy Director General Bob Phillis, analog
subscription channels will be launched this Fall. Agreements have been
reached with cable companies to carry the channels. The BBC is also in
talks with BSkyB, but has yet to strike a deal. 
The first three channels will be arts-based Arena, natural history
programming on Horizon, and a Style channel, featuring cooking,
gardening, and leisure shows. As many as eight subscription channels
drawing on BBC archive material could be available next year when
digital television is launched in the UK. (Reuters)
WORLD RADIO NETWORK--The past weekend has seen some major media news,
especially centering about the International Broadcasting Fair, the
IFA, in Berlin. The World Radio Network used the fair to launch its
new WRN3 24 hour satellite service to Europe in German.
WRN3 is carried on Astra, analog on Sky Movies transponder 16, audio
7.38 MHz, and via Astra Digital Radio on ZDF's transponder 33. Radio
Schweden will carried daily on WRN3 at 06:30, 21:00, and 24:00 hrs
CET.
The complete schedule can be found at:
http://www.wrn.org/sched_wrn3eu.html
GERMANY--The IFA Show in Berlin also saw some major announcements in
German broadcasting. Ending months of speculation, Germany's one-time
media rivals, Bertelsmann and Leo Kirch, announced on August 28 they
would integrate all of their pay television activities into their
jointly-held Premiere channel. Kirch's DF1 channel, launched just over
a year ago to compete against Premiere in the emerging digital pay TV
market, will be dissolved as a company and Premiere will take over its
programming, officials said. 
The widely-anticipated decision still requires approval from the
--- NetMgr 1.00.g4+
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