Thread: Satellite News May 2010

13E: Sat MKTV changed transponder

On the satellite Hot Bird 8 (13E), the Macedonian state broadcaster Makedonska Radio Televizija (MRT) changed the frequency of transmission to your channel MKTV Sat. Issuance of the old site - tp. 14 (11.470 GHz, pol. V) was shifted to tp. 75 (12.207 GHz, pol. H). Message MKTV Sat is intended for the Macedonian diaspora abroad, his homeland.

Technical parameters:

Hot Bird 8 (13E)
tp. 75 (12.207 GHz, pol. H, SR: 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S/QPSK)

ID: MKTV Sat
V PID: 259
A PID: 515
PID PCR: 259
SID: 3
PMT PID: 1283
Encoding: none

Along with the TV channel on the same volume appeared Makedonsko radio station (PID A: 597).

SES Astra launches its 3D demo channel on 23.5 E

Luxembourg satellite operator SES Astra began broadcasting its channel in the three-dimensional image (3DTV). Program under the name Astra 3D demo is broadcast on the Astra 1E from the orbital position 23.5?E, which broadcast the Czech and Slovak programs from a platform CS Link Skylink.

Officially, the programming service Astra 3D demo starts tomorrow - On 4 May 2010 at the time of opening Anga Cable, international trade fair for cable and satellite operators, which will be held on 4 until 5 June 2010 in Cologne, Germany.

Astra 3D demo channel is being broadcast freely (free-to-air) from the Astra satellite system at 23.5 ? E and is primarily intended for retailers and assembly companies that promote the electronics and content sources of income in the three-dimensional image.

Channel Astra 3D demo includes a brief spots of sport, music and entertainment. Astra also includes a 3D logo, a supplier of 3D content on the satellite market as well as promotion of Samsung Electronics as a key partner for 3D broadcasting.

Technical parameters:
Satellite: Astra 1E (23.5?E)
Frequency: 11.778 GHz
Polarization: Vertical
SR: 27500
FEC: 3/4
Standard: DVB-S
Compression format: mpeg-4,
Service ID: 5310
Video PID: 256
Audio PID: 309
encryption (CA system): none

The program is broadcast in full (the full) HD 1920x1080 with variable bitrate. Program capacity is allocated according to performance broadcast scenes (usually from 2.5 Mbit/s to 15 Mbit/s).

Signal from the satellite Astra 1E reliably covers all of Western Europe (from Spain, Portugal, Great Britain to Italy and the Czech Republic. To receive sufficient parabola from an average of 60 cm. Eastwards signal quickly decreases and the eastern Slovak will need to choose a larger dish size (120-150 cm - estimate). Revenue to improve the conditions of the new Astra 3B, which should be delivered around mid-May this year. Start has already been postponed several times.

Many broadcasters are already prepared, tested, or already broadcasting 3D content. One of the advanced players in the market is the British BSkyB, which operates Europe's largest pay-TV Sky UK, at the beginning of last month over the first content for 3DTV - football transfers, which can be monitored in pubs and clubs. French pay-TV Canal +, another important player in the European market for pay TV, has already announced that late start its first 3D channel.

To receive Astra 3D demo channel is needed satellite receiver with HD compression format MPEG-4/H2.64 and 3D TV, which recently began selling well in the Czech market. Least expensive model is still around 45 000 CZK and 3D glasses.

Although ambiguous Astra announced that its 3D channel will be the first in Europe, it's not exactly true. For several months, operates a similar service to its biggest competitor - the French satellite operator Eutelsat. The one on the satellite Eurobird 9A (9?E) several months ago launched the 3D demo channel known 3D Satellite TV HD. It contains various sequences in order to show the benefits of three-dimensional image. Eutelsat month ago concluded a contract with Russian company General Satellite Corpotation Mariinsky Theatre and the dissemination of selected sequences of classical Russian ballet dancers.

NonStop Expands African Presence
By Mansha Daswani
Published: May 3, 2010

STOCKHOLM: NonStop Television is set to take its Star!, Showtime and Silver channels to Ghana, Kenya and Uganda via carriage on the Smart TV DTT platform operated by Next Generation Broadcasting.


The channels launched in Ghana at the weekend and make their debut in Kenya and Uganda on June 1. This continues NonStop's African expansion, following the launch of Star!, Showtime and Silver in South Africa and West Africa. "Launching in Ghana and East Africa gives us a presence in a large part of Africa—we see this as an amazing opportunity to expand our brands internationally," said Ignas Scheynius, the CEO at NonStop Television.

"We have conducted extensive research in our markets and viewers in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda have been unanimous that a quality action movie channel for men and a glamor and gossip channel from the world of fashion and Hollywood for women is a must when they select which pay-TV service to acquire," noted Andreas Lanz, director of programming for Next Generation Broadcasting. "Showtime, Star! and Silver fulfill these needs and are a perfect combination of channels which will cater to the tastes and choice of our target market."

Al Jazeera Children's Clinches Publishing Deal
By Mansha Daswani
Published: May 3, 2010

DOHA: Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) is working with Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) to develop books based on programs and characters from its networks, kicking off with a series inspired by the Baraem character Fafa.


The books will be distributed by BQFP in Qatar, across the Arab region and in international markets. The deal is part of JCC's efforts to expand the Baraem preschool brand, and other deals with Arab and international publishers are in the works.

"We strive to diversify our communication tools with children to achieve the highest and most effective reach," said Mahmoud Bouneb, JCC's executive general manager. "There is a major readership deficit in the Arab world nowadays. Therefore, we have taken this initiative in order to provide appealing and vivid content for children in their formative years and play a key role in the rise of an avid readers’ generation. We are also hoping to assist parents involved in their children’s reading activities.”

Amira Abed, education program developer at BQFP, added: “Award-winning author Sally Grindley will write this series of books basing her characters on Fafa and her friends and bringing in new adventurous plots that children just love. Illustrator Sirine Matta has created delightful versions of the characters for the printed page. I think fans of Fafa will be delighted with this new series."

The books will be released in Arabic and English later this year.

W Network Debut for New Breakthrough Title
By Mansha Daswani
Published: May 3, 2010

TORONTO: This week, W Network in Canada will premiere Wedding for One, the first of six TV movies from Breakthrough Films & Television under the Shadow Island Mysteries banner.


Produced by Breakthrough Films & Television and Buffalo Gal Pictures, the film launches on W Network May 5 at 10 p.m., with a rebroadcast May 6 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. It stars Jennifer Finnigan (The Bold and the Beautiful, Crossing Jordan)—who will also appear in the franchise's second TV movie—as Claire La Foret, a beautiful young woman who works as the property manager of the Shadow Island Resort in the Canadian wilderness. In Wedding for One, Claire, an aspiring mystery writer, hosts her best friend’s wedding—during which the groom goes missing.

“We are particularly excited about working with our Canadian broadcast partner Corus Entertainment, whose W Network is the perfect platform for the world premiere broadcast,” said Marina Cordoni, executive producer for movies at Breakthrough. “Our efforts continue as we complete post-production on the second movie, The Last Christmas.”

“This franchise TV-movie series combines great storytelling, compelling characters and scenic locales, creating a thrilling adventure that will entertain audiences in North America and beyond,” added Peter Williamson, executive producer and founding partner at Breakthrough Films & Television.

International broadcasters obstructed in countries with little or no press freedom
May 3rd, 2010 - 12:05 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.

The following joint declaration by the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Radio France International, Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the Voice of America has been issued to mark World Press Freedom Day 2010:

In countries where press freedom is restricted or even nonexistent, international broadcasters have a particularly difficult job in trying to reach audiences. As May 3 has been officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day, the five most influential international broadcasters, including Radio Netherlands Worldwide, have taken stock of the hampering of their activities. In the past 12 months all these international broadcasters experienced technical challenges like jamming and blocking of radio and television signals. In addition, they also had to face physical abuse to correspondents as the price they have to pay for reporting the truth.

“Every reported case of deliberate interference, blocking of websites and harassment or physical abuse of journalists only makes the international broadcasters more determined than ever to overcome the obstacles and reach their target audiences,” says Director General Jan Hoek of Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Hoek noted the particular challenges international broadcasters face in reaching audiences in a number of countries. China, for example, continues to block some transmissions and websites from overseas, as it has done for many years. At the same time, it spends more and more money on expanding its own international broadcast operations. Reaching Iranian audiences has been an increasing challenge as well. Iran has jammed satellite uplinks as well as shortwave signals, and blocked access to some websites. Other examples are Zimbabwe, Korea, Cuba, Uzbekistan and, most recently, Ethiopia, where the Prime Minister of Ethiopia actually boasted of jamming foreign broadcasts at a press conference.

In addition, a number of journalists from international broadcasters have been threatened, harassed or detained over the past year in Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Guinea, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

“One thing that binds these countries,” says Hoek, “is extreme sensitivity – and even downright hostility – to news from the outside. And the reason for that attitude is simple: they can’t control the news, so they try to silence it.”

NDS to highlight advanced hybrid solutions at Anga Cable trade show
MUMBAI: NDS has unveiled its line-up of advanced solutions and applications for Anga Cable, which kicks off in Germany next week.

Present on the show will be technologies that enable platform operators to secure and broaden their business with new, revenue-boosting hybrid services.
NDS will also showcase a range of solutions deployed by local European service providers including: Kabel BW, Tele Columbus and Sky Deutschland.

NDS demonstrations at ANGA Cable will include:

-Next generation User Interfaces for an improved user experience
Pay-TV operators around the world are deploying what NDS claims is the industry?s most advanced Electronic Programme Guides (EPGs) and UIs with the assistance of NDS? design and consulting services. NDS will be demonstrating Oona, an intuitive conceptual UI that incorporates contextualised widgets, social interaction and search and recommendations which addresses the complexities of the connected environment.

3DTV : NDS is addressing the issues surrounding 3DTV, such as the display of the EPG and subtitling on stereoscopic 3D content and the requirements such features place on the chipset. To demonstrate, a proposed solution that addresses the real challenges of having a 3DTV in the home will be on display.

-NDS DynamicAdvanced Advertising suite: This enables TV operators to manage, deliver and execute advanced, addressable advertising applications to improve their existing advertising sales and develop new advertising revenue streams.
Infinite TV: Through InfiniteTV, connected TV viewers have access to complementary over the top (OTT) Internet video services and applications such as catch up-TV and on-demand content through a single, intuitive user experience with a rich electronic programme guide (EPG).

Using both broadcast channels and the Internet, InfiniteTV adds rich metadata to broadcast programmes and integrates advanced search and recommendations engines to provide a seamless ?over the top? television experience.

-NDS Video On Demand (VoD) with Progressive Download : NDS? VOD service, based on Progressive Download (PDL) technology, enables the delivery of both SD and HD content over IP whilst managing the problems associated with low bandwidth connections to deliver uninterrupted viewing - ensuring a quality of service matching that of traditional VOD. Using the internet to download content to the DVR hard drive; once enough content is cached, the viewer can start playback and any remaining content is downloaded in background mode.

-Unified Gateway: NDS is working in partnership with Jungo, an NDS group company, to address the potential of a truly connected home environment. At ANGA, NDS and Jungo will be showcasing a proof of concept demonstration of an end-to-end system that takes a unified approach to distributing video, data and voice services in and around the home from a single point.

NDS GM Yves Padrines says, ?As the pay-TV market embraces a hybrid future and competition intensifies in markets such as Germany, choosing the right technology partner becomes more critical than ever. NDS is ideally placed to partner pay-TV operators of all sizes as they seek to increase their subscriber base, improve customer loyalty and grow revenues through the deployment of differentiated hybrid services.

[COLOR="rgb(139, 0, 0)"]ANGA Cable ready to meet visitors[/COLOR]
ANGA Cable 2010 – Cologne. The stand builders are putting the finishing touches to Europe’s largest Trade Fair for Cable, Broadband and Satellite, which will open its door tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4 at 9.00 am. Sky Deutschland CEO Brian Sullivan is joining the opening discussion of the ANGA Cable show tomorrow. “I am pleased that he has chosen this occasion to speak for the first time to the industry,” said Dr. Peter Chariss?, Managing Director, ANGA. Traditionally, the opening session – also know as ‘the elephants’ round’ – sets the tone for the event.

Fortunately, the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano and the following disruption of European air traffic, did not have an impact on the event, “If it would have lasted a bit longer, things would have been different,” said Dr. Chariss?, who again can claim a fully booked exhibition hall with 370 exhibitors from 30 countries.

“We are pleased with the renewed confidence of our exhibitors. Our concept with a close connection between exhibition and congress with a clear focus on business clients of the TV and broadband sector has again proven its success. This year again, ANGA Cable Show will be the most important trade event in Europe, where network operators, producers and content providers are equally doing business. Our event has a clear focus on the growing industry sector “broadband” (cable, fibre and satellite), which pays off even in an overall difficult economic environment. The bookings show that in 2010 ANGA Cable will again stake out its position as leading industry market place in Europe.”

The highlight of the second day will be the International Broadband Summit. Under the headline “Cable, Fibre and LTE – Who will win the Broadband Battle?“, top managers of the European broadband industry will discuss the increasing competition between the different broadband technologies. Alcatel-Lucent, Cable Labs from the US, Cisco Systems, Kabel Baden-W?rttemberg, Liberty Global, Motorola and YouSee Denmark will be present. Broadband TV News’ Julian Clover will chair the session; Manuel Kohnstamm, president of the European cable association Cable Europe, will present the keynote.