DIGITAL RECEIVERS
NOKIA MEDIAMASTER-Reactions to our review of the Nokia Mediamaster
digital satellite receiver continue. Michael Hoover writes
“Enjoyed reading of Dave Small’s experiences with the Nokia receiver. Have
the following comments”:
Crashes: Don’t try and store more than 300 TV and 50 radio channels. If you
do the chance of a crash or a “chunk” of 50 or so channels disappearing is
very likely. It sometimes “locks up” going into search menu, the menu
appears, there’s no red signal strength bar and it won’t respond to the
remote control commands. In this case, leave it alone for a minute or so —
don’t touch any remote button and it comes back to normal, normally the
front panel goes blank as well just to add to the confusion. Any remote
button touched during this “snooze” (as opposed to crash) is remembered once
it “wakes up”, hence don’t touch the remote.
The lack of red signal display gives indication of this condition.
Very rarely it will switch itself off in the middle of a programme and
reboot itself with the “selftest” message on the front panel at switch on.
Keep the Nokia cool, it runs quite warm and make sure it’s not on top of a
hot video and has plenty of free airspace above it.
The dreaded clock: When in channel search mode the clock loses a lot of
time. Best ignored totally.
The overflow software as mentioned in the DVB 98 website is no doubt great —
however from the indications I’ve seen it’s not really compatible for
CAM/Access module and viewing card operation. Best for use with the Nokia
9200 or 9500 possibly? (Michael Hoover)
NORDIC MEDIA NEWS
SWEDISH ELECTIONS-Today’s edition of MediaScan focused on different
aspects of how public broadcasters Swedish Television and the Swedish
Broadcasting Corporation (radio) are covering this Sunday’s general
elections here.
We talked to Willi Silberstein, head of domestic news for the Swedish
Broadcasting Corporation about how they’ve covered the campaign, and what
they’ll be doing on election night.
We also talked to Pernilla Åström, Project Manager for the Swedish
Television Web site, about how they are using the Internet in connection
with the election.
Here at Radio Sweden, we’ll be sharing transmitters with our Swedish
service, which will have extra broadcasts for Swedes abroad, mostly on 6065
kHz, along with new broadcasts to Asia on 11640 kHz at 20:30 hrs, and to
North America on 13780 kHz at 21:00 hrs. Our satellite channels will be used
exclusively to relay the election coverage on the domestic P1 network at
18:00-23:30 hrs.
We also have a special Election 98 Web page, where you will be able to find
the results on election night. Right now you can find the results of the
latest polls, as well as RealAudio of our two election specials, covering
the political situation and the issues.
Otherwise the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation will generally be using the
Internet for internal purposes on election night, and not for returns.
SIRIUS-Travel has left 11.862 GHz in D2-MAC, and is now only on 12.015 GHz.
Star TV has ceased on 12.437 GHz. (SATCO DX and Richard Karlsson in
“Aftonbladet”)
Tha analog (D2-MAC) launch of Hallmark on Sirius on 11.900 GHz has been
delayed. It was supposed to start on September 7. (“Transponder News” and
Richard Karlsson”)
THOR-Kanal 5 on 11.341 GHz and TV Norge on 11.421 have switched from PAL to
clear D2-MAC. Beginning October 19 they will be joining Kinnevik’s Viasat
package (and encoding in Eurocrypt). (SATCO DX and Richard Karlsson in
“Aftonbladet”)
Sky News and National Geographic has ceased on 11.773 GHz, and is now on
Thor 3 on 11.727 GHz. TV 1000 Cinema/History Channel has left 11.888 GHz on
TV-Sat 2 and is now only on Thor 3. Denmark’s 3+ has left 11.977 GHz on
TV-Sat and is now only on Thor 3 on 11.747 GHz. Sky Entertainment (Video
Zone, Granada Breeze, and Grenada Men and Motors) has left Intelsat 707
11.667 (D2-MAC) and is now only on Thor 3 on 12.054 GHz (D2-MAC). (SATCO DX
and Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)
BBC World, Nickelodeon, Sci-Fi Channel, and Norway’s TV2 have started on
Thor 3 on 12.456 GHz in clear MPEG-2. They will be encoding in Conax soon.
(SATCO DX and Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)
NRK 2 is broadcasting in MPEG-2 on 11.246 GHz on Thor 2. (Richard Karlsson
in “Aftonbladet”)
NORDIC CHILDREN’S CHANNEL-The public TV broadcasters of Sweden, Norway,
Denmark and Finland have shelved plans for a digital joint Nordic children’s
TV channel. Following a study in co-operation with the European Broadcasting
Union, the price tag for the effort has been set at USD 50 million a year,
which seems to be more than the broadcasters want to pay to compete with
Disney. (“Dagens Nyheter”)
NORWAY-According to reports, Norway’s NRK is planning to pull the plug on
the once-a-week half hour in English from Radio Norway International. The
service’s broadcasts in Norwegian would also be largely replaced with relays
from the domestic service. (“Radiotidningen”)
FINLAND-During the upcoming Winter season (which presumeably begins on
October 25), YLE Radio Finland will be broadcasting in English at 20:00,
03:30, 05:30 (domestic only), 07:30-10:00, and 13:30 hrs. German will be at
20:30, 06:30-06:45, and 10:00 hrs. French will be at 06:45-07:00 and
10:30-10:45 hrs. Russian will be at 06:15-06:30, 09:30, 14:30, 17:00, and
21:00 hrs. (Thirty minutes unless otherwise indicated.) (Juhani Niinistoe,
YLE Radio Finland)
EUROPE
MURDOCH KICKS OFF FOOTIE MADNESS-Following Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of
the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and other American sports interests
(in the footsteps of Ted Turner and Disney), Britain’s most successful
soccer club Manchester United has accepted a GBP 625 takeover offer from
Murdoch’s British Sky Broadcasting. (Reuters) Man United is a team people
either love or hate, and fans have loudly protested the Murdoch take-over.
BSkyB already holds the rights to broadcast the English and Scotish Premier
Leagues, and is seeking to talk the leagues into approving pay-per-view. Man
United is in the midst of starting MUTV, which is to be part of Murdoch’s
Sky Digital.
This has led to a a series of media take-over moves on what are perceived
as undervalued British soccer properties. Rival Carlton Communications,
about to launch the ONdigital DTT service, has announced plans to buy
defending champions Arsenal.
There’s speculation Scottish Media could benefit from a pact with either
Scotland’s Celtics or Rangers. Japan’s Sony Corp has denied a newspaper
report it has offered GBP 200 million to buy Newcastle United, and the
Ashton Villa club has denied a report it has been in talks with an
undisclosed communications company. (Reuters)
ASTRA-Astra 2A is now in orbit at 27.5 degrees East, and is conducting
analog test transmissions. When the tests are over, it will move into its
permanent position at 28.2 degrees East. Very strong test signals have been
seen on 12.129, 12.148, 12.226, 12.304, and 12.382 GHz. According to a
reliable source, Astra 2A will take over all services from Astra 1D on
September 26, some days before the launch of Sky Digital. In a statement,
SES says Astra 1D will be brought back to 19.2 degrees East. (“Transponder
News”)
Back at 19 degrees East, UK Horizons has moved from 10.818 (transponder
56) to 10.832 GHz (transponder 57), in Videocrypt-encoded PAL. UK Style has
started on transponder 56 in soft-encrypted Videocrypt PAL. Bloomberg TV
Germany is sharing transponder 56 with UK Style 06:00-19:00 hrs CET.
AS we reported last time, Animal Planet has started on 10.744 GHz
(transponder 51) at 13:00-01:00 hrs CET in Videocrypt-encoded PAL. Bloomberg
TV UK has moved from 11.362 GHz (transponder 11) to transponder 51 and is
sharing with Animal Planet at 07:00-13:00 hrs CET. (SATCO DX and
“Transponder News”)
Sky Movies Screen 1 is turning into Sky Moviemax. Sky Movies Screen 2 is
turning into Sky Premier, Sky Movies Gold is turning into Sky Cinema.
(“Transponder News”)
RTP Internacional has started on 12.363 GHz in clear MPEG-2. (SATCO DX)
EUTELSAT-The National Geographic Channel and CNBC have already left
10.987 GHz on Eutelsat II-F1 (not waiting until October 1, as previously
reported). (SATCO DX) Radio Sweden and WRN2 remain on audio subcarriers as
we negotiate for our new homes at 13 degrees East. (Stay tuned for the
announcement!)
RAISat per Venezia replaced Fashion TV Hommes on Hot Bird 2 in clear PAL
on 11.766 GHz, until September 12. (SATCO DX) Eros TV is on Eutelsat II-F1
on 11.658 GHz in Eurocrypt D2-MAC. (“Transponder News”) Fashion TV seems to
be sharing this service in some way, with the Eros TV logo remaining on the
screen, along with advertising for telephone services involving friendly
ladies.
Peru’s Cadena Sur has started on Hot Bird 2 on 12.092 GHz in clear
MPEG-2. (SATCO DX) Sur Argentina is also reported on this transponder.
(“Transponder News”) Or is this the same station reported under two names?
British Telecom has switched from Hot Bird 3 to Hot Bird 4 on 10.722 GHz
for its digital package with Apna TV, Travel TV, Quantum 24, and CMR.
(Richard Karlsson in “Aftonbladet”)
Polish public broadcaster TVP, the country’s largest commercial TV
network Polsat, Canal Plus Polska, and telecommunciations operator TPSA have
agreed to develop a digital platform to Poland via Eutelsat. (Eutelsat)
COMPUTER PROGRAMS-Has anyone noticed the recent disappearance of TV (and
radio) programs in Europe for people interested in computers and the
Internet? The first to vanish was “The Site” on MSNBC, pre-empted from
schedules when Princess Diana died a year ago, and then cancelled. It’s been
replaced with ZDTV, but hardly any cable networks are carrying that channel
in North America, let along Europe.
Recently the Sci-Fi Channel seems to have quietly dropped its programs
from C-Net: “C-Net Central”, “The Web”, and the “New Edge”. CNN
International used to have a weekly computer program as well, hosted from
San Francisco, but that seems to be gone from its schedule. Finally, with
the recent subsuming of NBC Europe into National Geographic, the Saturday
morning ghetto of programs from PCTV, such as “Computer Chronicles” and
“Internet Cafe” is likewise gone.
On the radio side, the BBC’s Radio 5 Live first reduced the length of its
outstanding “The Big Byte” from 45 minutes to less than half a hour, then
started moving it around the Sunday schedule. A few weeks ago the program
disappeared completely, replaced at a different time by a general science
program presented by the same host, Quentin Cooper. But that program has
either been taken off the air, or is in a permanent pre-emption for soccer
commentary.
On the plus side, Sky’s Computer Channel has turned into Dot TV, but
remains on the air. Does that make up for the overall loss of these other
programs? Will we ever see ZDTV in Europe? (And why is “Babylon 5” only
carried on the Sci-Fi Channel UK and not the Nordic version?)
AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST
NILESAT-The Iraq Satellite Channel has left 11.823 GHz on Nilesat 101 (7
degrees West). (SATCO DX)
ASIA/PACIFIC
COMMONWEALTH GAMES-The BBC is using PAS-4 (68.5 degrees East) for a feed
from the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, on 4.175 GHz in clear PAL. Another
feed from the Commonwealth Games is on Intelsat 704 (66 degrees East) on
3.820 GHz. (Rudi Puhar in “Transponder News”)
TAIWAN/CHINA-A Taiwanese company has sought to ease concerns that its new
ST-1 satellite will suffer interference from a nearby Chinese satellite.
ST-1, owned jointly by Chunghwa Telecom and Singapore Telecom, is being
placed at 88 degrees East. Beijing’s ChinaStar-1 is at 87.5 degrees East.
Chunghwa says its partner in Singapore negotiated with China as part of the
ITU registration process, and there will be no interference. There have been
reports China demanded that Taiwan’s defence ministry be barred from using
the satellite as the price of an agreement. (Reuters)
NORTH KOREA-The United States State Department now admits that North
Korea tried to launch a very small satellite, when it fired a missile over
Japan on August 31. Originally the US accused the North Koreans of testing a
guided missile. The Koreans have maintained the satellite is in orbit
broadcasting patriotic songs, but State Department spokesman James Rubin
says “We have also concluded the satellite failed to achieve orbit”. (AP,
Reuters)
NORTH AMERICA
MORE MURDOCH-A few years ago, after winning the bid to launch an American
DBS service (to be called American Sky Broadcasting), Rupert Murdoch’s News
Corp and partner TCI sold their interests (such as satellite slots) to
Primestar, the DBS preemptive strike/alternative owned by the giants of the
American cable industry, Time-Warner and others. Now News Corp and TCI have
reached a tentative deal to acquire control of Primestar from the cable
companies. The “Wall Street Journal” reports that News Corp and TCI’s United
Video Satellite Group have offered more than USD 600 million for the cable
companies’ 60 percent stake in Primestar. (AP)
GLOBAL
MURDOCH TAKES OVER THE MULTIVERSE-News Corp said on September 14 that it
is close to reaching 75 percent of the world’s population as it set itself
the aim of becoming a fully global company. Rupert Murdoch, writing in the
company’s annual report, says News Corp “can and will” become wholly
international, establishing itself outside the English-speaking world.
“With our launch of satellite platforms in Latin America and Japan, we
are close to attaining global reach approaching 75 percent of the world’s
population,” Murdoch writes. In the coming year, he says, News Corp will
greatly expand its DTH TV service with its partners in Japan, and hopefully
India. (Reuters)
(Time to take a new look at the recent James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never
Dies”? The villain is sometimes said to be based on Mr Murdoch.)