Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se
From: "George Wood" 
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  ::           MediaScan             
  ::      SWEDEN CALLING DXERS       
  ::       from Radio Sweden          
  ::    Number 2281--October 21, 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 SCDX2281
Updated Web edition at: http://www.sr.se/rs/english/media/
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
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NORDIC MEDIA NEWS
RADIO SWEDEN-- Digital technology is far from perfected, and this has
manifested itself  during the last week or so here at Radio Sweden.
Because of as-yet-unexplained problems with the network connected to
our Radioman digital production system (not, I must hasten to add,
with Radioman itself), listeners may have noted short pauses (about
the time it takes to run down a corridor and kick a computer) in our
programs. Our technical gurus are working hard, looking for the cause.
(Just when we thought the thing was finally working......)
Meanwhile, starting this Sunday, October 26 (when Europe returns to
standard time), we have a new schedule (all times UTC unless otherwise
indicated):
Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: 
We can be heard on satellite in Europe at 13:30, 17:15 and 18:30 hrs
UTC, on Eutelsat II-F1 on the NBC Europe transponder on 10.987 GHz,
audio 7.56 MHz.
We can also be heard at 20:30 hrs UTC via the World Radio Network on
Astra transponder 22 (which is VH-1) audio 7.38 MHz.
We're also broadcasting to Africa and the Middle East in digital
MPEG-2 via WRN on Intelsat 707 on 3.9115 GHz , daily at 15:00 hrs UTC
and Saturdays only at 00:30 UTC. The latter is also be heard in South
Africa on SAfm 104-107.
The WRN relays can also be heard in South Africa on the MultiChoice
digital direct-to-home service on PanAmSat 4, 68.5 degrees West, Audio
Channel 51.
Our shortwave schedule to Europe, Africa and the Middle East will be
shifting to maintain the same local time:
18:30 hrs    1179, 6065, and 9645 kHz (Sundays 9645 kHz only)  
20:30        1179 and 6065 kHz  
21:30        1179, 6065, and 9655 kHz (weekends only) 
22:30        1179, 6065, and 7325 kHz
Asia and the Pacific:
By satellite via WRN on AsiaSat-2 on 4.000 GHz, at 15:00 hrs UTC daily
(that's 02:00 hrs AET) and Saturdays only at 00:30 UTC (which is 11:30
hrs AET).
Shortwave:
13:30 hrs    9705 and 13740 kHz
14:30 hrs   11880 kHz
01:30 hrs    7265 kHz
North America:
Our satellite schedule to North America remains via WRN on Galaxy 5
transponder 6 (WTBS), audio 6.8 MHz at 9:30 PM EST, that's 6:30 PM
PST. And Across Canada on CBC Overnight Monday to Friday at 2:05 AM
local time, weekends at 3:05
Shortwave:
12:30 hrs on 11650 (or 13740) and 15240 kHz
14:30 hrs on 11650 and 15240 kHz
02:30 hrs on 7280 kHz
03:30 hrs on 7115 kHz
On the other hand, we'll no longer be broadcasting in English to Latin
America. 
All of these changes go into effect this Sunday, October 26th. If you
missed any of that you can order a copy of the new schedule by e-mail,
by sending a message to english@rs.sr.se
And you can also find the new schedule on our pages on the World Wide
Web, which start at:
http://www.sr.se/rs/
And naturally, all of our programs are available over the Net in
RealAudio:
http://www.sr.se/rs/realaudi.htm
THOR--When Norway's new Thor 2 satellite began operation recently,
viewers were surprised the polarisation on the various transponders
was the opposite of what had been publicised before launch. Now
"Aviation Week & Space Technology" reports that a wiring error in the
antenna waveguides lead to reversed polarization, an assembly mistake
that was not caught in testing. (Via Curt Swinehart and Henry Spencer
in sci.space.news)
Animal Planet has started on Thor 1 on 11.797 GHz in clear D2-MAC.
("SATCO DX")
Sky News & National Geographic and Sky Entertainment on Thor 1 and
Intelsat 707 are now coded in Eurocrypt M/S2. (Richard Karlsson,
"Aftonbladet")
DIGITAL SATELLITE TV--Digital satellite television has now launched to
Scandinavia, at least in theory. The Swedish press says that France's
Canal Plus and Norway's Telenor unveiled their new Canal Digital
service at the recent Sound and Image Show in Oslo. The new service,
which uses Telenor's collection of satellites at 1 degree West,
includes 35 TV channels and 24 pay-per-view channels. ("Dagens
Nyheter", "Svenska Dagbladet") But we've yet to see any marketing for
the new service in Sweden.
Canal Digital has tested 24 versions of Kiosk on Thor 2 11.372 (1-12),
and 11.403 (13-24) GHz in clear MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX")
The Sci-Fi Channel, already available to Scandinavia in D2-MAC at 1
degree West, joined Canal Digital's digital package from the same
orbital position on October 15. (Curt Swinehart)
Twenty Music Choice Europe radio channels have started on Thor 2 on
11.309 GHz, in MPEG-2/Conax. ("SATCO DX")
On October 14, Finnish consumer electronics manufacturer Nokia
announced it was launching a new range of digital satellite receivers
for the Nordic markets. (Reuters)
TV8--There's a new digital signal from the satellite position at 5
degrees East. TV8, a new digital business channel broadcasting to
Sweden, started October 15. Besides business news, TV8 fills out its
time with documentaries and some sports. Unfortunately, since there
are no digital satellite receivers for sale here yet, no one can watch
the channel directly. Sweden's largest cable operator, Telia, has put
TV8 out on its information channel for the time being. TV8 is
currently on the aging Tele-X satellite, on 12.676 GHz in clear
MPEG-2. But it will be moved to the new Sirius 2, which is now
scheduled for launch on November 7. ("Dagens Nyheter", "Svenska
Dagbladet", and "SATCO DX")
When Sirius 2 begins operation, TV8 will also transmit in PAL on
Tele-X 12.207 GHz until May 31, 1998. (Richard Karlsson,
"Aftonbladet")
Wouldn't analog now, and digital later made a bit more sense?
DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL VS CABLE--Sweden's largest cable operator Telia
has come in for criticism from Gunnel Faerm, who's been commissioned
by the government to plan the introduction of terrestrial digital
television here. The public service Swedish Television Company will be
adding a number of new digital channels next year, but Gunnel Faerm is
upset that the decoder boxes Telia is about to market for its digital
cable network won't work with terrestrial digital signals. Telia says
it will be marketing the new digital decoders by the end of the year.
("Dagens Nyheter", "Svenska Dagbladet")
EUROPE
BIB--I've just been in Britain, where satellite broadcaster British
Sky Broadcasting is preparing to launch a 200 channel digital service
next year. Sky has also gotten together with several partners,
including British Telecom, Midland Bank, and Panasonic, to organize
British Interactive Broadcasting, which will be offering special
non-TV digital offerings. I met the head of BIB, Peter van Gelder, who
told me about these new services, and you can hear the interview in
today's program.
The service will include home shopping and banking, and access to a
part of the Internet, which Peter van Gelder refers to as the
Worldwide Web "Walled Garden". Users will have to use a particular BIB
decoder box. While the service will initially start in Britain during
the Summer ("possibly Indian Summer") of 1998, Peter van Gelder sees
no obstacle to offering access to other parts of Europe (such as
Scandinavia), and says there would also be advantages for European
companies to offer services to Britain via BIB.
BIB will allow very fast access to parts of the Internet, but not to
the entire Worldwide Web. Otherwise users might be able to watch video
from stations outside BSkyB's domain. These will certainly be an
option in the future with such fast Web access. See the cover article
in the October, 1997 issue of "Wired" magazine, about RealAudio and
RealVideo, for the future of TV via the Web. Available from October
27, 1997 from:
http://wwww.wired.com/wired/5.10/index.html
BILL GATES AS WHITE KNIGHT?--Bill Gates' Microsoft is to test launch
new television technology with the ITV and leading British cable
operators, and possibly the BBC, early next year, in a growing threat
to Rupert Murdoch's potential dominance of British digital TV. The
pilot scheme forms part of Gates' ambition to extent his Windows
software to digital TV. Microsoft has been in talks with Carlton and
Granada, partners in British Digital Broadcasting, which plans to
launch 20 terrestrial digital TV servies later this year. The pilot
scheme, scheduled to start early next year, will see Microsoft try out
a new box that gives TV viewers separate access to interactive
services on the Internet. Through WebTV, which it bought in June,
Microsoft also plans to offer "enhanced TV", a combination of pictures
and information on screen.
Instead of Microsoft, BSkyB (actually BIB) is using Open TV, a joint
venture between Gates' US rival Sun Microsystems and Thomson of
France, to provide the software for interactive services, Industry
sources say development of the software has delayed production of
BIB's box. ("The Observer")
AND FROM THE OTHER FLANK--The "Financial Times" reports that four
British cable TV companies are planning to create PPV movie channels
under a proposed agreement with Time Warner's Warner Brothers studio.
This would allow them to compete with BSkyB's coming PPV channels.
("New York Times" via Curt Swinehart) There is a well-known rivalry
between BSkyB's Rupert Murdoch, and Time Warner's Ted Turner.
BSKYB--Sky Box Office (the analog PPV service) has been allocated the
following times on various Astra transponders:
Tp 26     22:00-06:00 hrs
Tp 58     20:00-06:00 (after January 1, 1998)
Tp 59     20:00-18:00
Tp 60     18:00-06:00 (weekdays)
          11:00-06:00 (Sundays
(James Robinson)
Sky News is on transponder 57 in MPEG-2, clear until November 1.
(James Robinson)
Sky is changing all their logos on November 1. Sky Movies is becoming
Sky Movies Screen 1 and the Movie Channel is becoming Sky Movies
Screen 2. There is also a possibility that Sky will launch a PPV movie
channel on transponder 57 in November. A "new service" is starting
there on November 1. (James Robinson)
Sky's new digital service will carry multiple versions of Sky 1 and
the Granada Sky Broadcasting channels, time-shifted, to give viewers
more flexibility. Sky insiders have also confirmed the digital package
will include 60 to 100 PPV channels, offering multi-schedule films,
concerts, and sports events, around the clock. The basic digital
multi- channel package will include around 60 channels, and viewers
will also have access to unencrypted services, including TNT, Cartoon
Network, and Eurosport. ("What Satellite TV")
The National Geographic Channel will expand to a daily 12 hour service
when Sky launches its digital service next year. The Hallmark
Entertainment Network will hold its UK launch until the start of Sky's
digital service. ("What Satellite TV")
S4C--Welsh broadcaster S4C has acquired capacity on Astra 2A, which
will be the home of the BSkyB digital service. S4C says it plans to
launch its digital service early next Autumn, independent of Sky's
digital package. ("What Satellite TV")
BBC--Happy Birthday to Aunti Beeb, who turned 75 on October 18th!
The BBC has announced it will launch its new 24 hour news channel, BBC
News 24, from November 9. The service will initially be available in
the UK via cable, and on the BBC 1 terrestrial nework during otherwise
unused overnight hours. Five cable operators have already agreed to
take BBC News 24 on their existing analog networks. 
The service will be available "on all digital platforms as they become
available" which could mean the network gets carriage on the upcoming
BSkyB digital satellite service, in addition to the planned
terrestrial digital TV service. Sky however, may fear the competition
to its own Sky News service, which cable operators have to pay for,
while the BBC alternative will be free. BBC News 24 will be carried on
Orion 1 on 11.535 GHz (the same transponder as Channel 5 Regions 1 and
2) in encrypted MPEG-2. (Reuters, James Robinson, and "Tele-satellit
News")
ASTRA--ScreenShop has replaced AstraVision (which runs Astra promos)
on transponder 56 (former home of DF-1) in clear PAL. This is a new
shopping "Infomercial" channel, now 24 hours a day. ("SATCO DX" and
James Robinson)
UK Horizons may appear on Astra transponder 56 on November 1. It is
one of three new channels (the other are UK Style and UK Arena)
intended for cable-only distribution (from Orion 1). (James Robinson)
The German documentary channel Phoenix will replace the Spanish
Minimax/Documania on transponder 36. ORB will replace Cineclassics on
transponder 40. Bildungskanal will replace Cinemania on transponder
30. Hessen 3 is replacing Sportmania on transponder 32. This all
happens on January 1, 1998, and all will be in clear PAL. (James
Robinson)
The German Premiere package (which is absorbing DF-1) has left 12.110
GHz in MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX")
Three more Spanish TV channels have started in clear MPEG-2 on 11.895
GHz: Mosaico, Andalucia TV, and TVC Internactional. ("SATCO DX")
Transponder 85 will be used by Canal Plus Belgium when it launches
later this year or next year. (James Robinson)
EUTELSAT--MCM has moved its digital package from 11.304 GHz on Hot
Bird 1 to Hot Bird 3 (see below). Fashion TV has taken over Eutelsat
II-F1 11.055 GHz full time, and Discovery's Animal Planet is now only
on 11.304 GHz in clear PAL. Discovery is to transmit in MPEG-2 on this
transponder as well, following the lead of the BBC on its BBC
World/BBC Prime transponder. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet" and
"SATCO DX")
Only 2 of the transponders on the new Hot Bird 3 will be used for
analog transmissions. Hungary's MTV2 is on 12.130 GHz, and the Greek
ERT is moving to 12.284 GHz from Eutelsat II-F2. 
Here are the digital transponders:
12.149 GHz  TPS (France)
12.168      Canal Plus Hellas (Greece)
12.188      British Telecom
12.207      CME
12.226      German digital package
12.245      MCM
12.264      German digital package
12.303      Digital package for Slovenia and Croatia
12.322      Digital platform for Poland
12.341      Tele Plus (Italy -- formerly Telepiu)
12.360      Digital Platform for Poland
12.379      Digital Platform for France
12.398      SRG (Switzerland)
12.417      Tele Plus
12.437      British Telecom
12.465      Tele Plus
(Richard Karlsson in "Aftonbladet" and "What Satellite TV")
With MTV2's appearance on satellite, the terrestrial MTV2 transmitters
are carrying 2 new commercial stations, the new TV2 and RTL Klub.
--- NetMgr 1.00.g4+
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