SCDX - Sweden Calling DXers #2293

NORDIC MEDIA NEWS

RADIO SWEDEN–Here is an update to our current English shortwave frequency schedule. To North America, at 11:30 hrs UTC, we’re now using 15235 kHz instead of 15240, with 17870 kHz in parallel. (Note that 15240 kHz continues in Swedish at this time to Asia.)

To Asia at 01:30 hrs, we’ve added a new frequency of 9435 kHz, along with the existing 11985.

DIGITAL AM–Repeating our recent report that the International Telecommunications Union has brought together broadcasters, network operators, receiver and transmitter manufacturers, and others in a constortium (Digital Radio Mondiale or DRM) to produce a system for digital AM (that is long, medium and shortwave) broadcasting….This would give digital radio worldwide coverage, without the current fading and interference found on today’s analog shortwave. The new system would also allow broadcasters to use their current transmitters, as Simon Spanswick writes in the May issue of “BBC On Air”: “…a majority of the expensive transmitters which have been installed around the world can be modified to provide digital signals alongside analogue ones at a relatively low cost”. (ITU and “BBC On Air”) Sweden’s Teracom, which operates our transmitters, has begun experiments with various digital compression systems, and we’ll be reporting on them in a future program.

DIGITAL TV–Sweden’s governing Social Democrats and their Center Party allies have been publicly rebuked over the allocation of digital television channels in Sweden. Johan Jakobsson represents the opposition Liberal Party in the Digital TV committee, which reportedly will turn its recommendation over to the government for consideration on Thursday.

He says the report calls for giving three of the seven national allocations to public service broadcaster Swedish Television, for its two existing channels and a planned 24 hour news channel (SVT24). The other allocations would go to commercial terrestrial broadcaster TV4, the satellite and cable channel TV3, the French-owned pay service Canal Plus, and a new channel called Knowledge TV (Kunskaps-TV).

In an opinion piece in the national daily “Dagens Nyheter” Jakobsson says the decision represents too much government interference, and the Liberals refuse to accept it. He also complains about a government proposal to require cable companies to carry more free channels, which he says with Swedish Television’s current plans could ultimately mean up to 9 public service outlets. I called Johan Jakobsson and asked him to explain his objections, which he explains in today’s program. He says he would prefer market forces to decide for the government. But when pointed out that his party was involved in the auctioning off of private radio channels here to the highest bidder, a system that resulted in dozens of stations playing non-stop CD rock and pop and little else, he said invidivual channels should be format-allocated, one for public service, one for general entertainment, one for pay films, one for educational programming, etc, with bids within each category except the first and last.

The government will reportedly approve draft legislation close to the committee’s report on Thursday. (“Dagens Nyheter”) With support from the Center Party, the ruling Social Democrats have a majority in parliament, so there’s nothing the Liberals can do to block the proposal from going through.

SIRIUS–Cartoon Network Nordic has started on Sirius 2 on 12.437 GHz in clear MPEG-2. (“SATCO DX”) Cartoon Network Nordic is not in parallel with the ordinary Cartoon Network on Astra transponder 37 (where the Swedish sound track has been removed from 7.56 MHz).

NORWAY–Norway’s NRK International on Intelsat 707, 11.174 GHz, is now coded in MPEG-2/Conax. Viewers outside the Nordic region can get subscriptions from NSB in Belgium. (Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)

EUROPE

WRN/DAB–Turning to the digital radio front, Sweden like Britain, has had Digital Audio Broadcasting for a couple of years now. Unfortunately there are few, if any, receivers in the stores here yet, so only a handful of people can actually tune into the programs. But that hasn’t stopped our partners the World Radio Network from pursuing ambitious DAB plans. On his recent visit here, WRN’s Jeff Cohen outlined some of them, and you can hear his comments in today’s program.

ASTRA–The promo channel Astra Vision is now uncoded on Astra transponder 51, following the departure of CMT. (Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)

Tamil Oli Radio has begun on transponder 16 (Sky Movies Screen 1), audio subcarrier 7.56 GHz. (Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)

EUTELSAT–Eros TV has started on Eutelsat II-F1, 11.658 GHz, in D2- MAC/Eurocrypt S2, 01:00-05:00 CET, in parallel with Eutelsat II-F3. (“SATCO DX”) From May 16, Eros is expanding its broadcast hours, with unscrambled general entertainment at 17:00-22:00 hrs CET, follwed by three hours of “adult entertainment” until the usual encrypted hardcore service starts at 01:00 hrs CET. (“What Satellite TV”)

The BT package on Hot Bird 3 on 12.188 GHz has moved to 12.092 GHz, in clear MPEG-2 (SR 27500, FEC 2/3). (“SATCO DX”) CMT may be gone, but Country Music Radio has expanded, with digital transmissions in the BT multiplex. (Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)