Astra 1 19.2E news archive 2001
(25th December) The launch of Astra 1K has got delayed somewhere. It was supposed to launch this month. Its been rescheduled to early 2002. Viva Zwei is being replaced by a new service at the beginning of January due to poor viewing figures. Astra 1A is now round at 5E.
(22nd November) Astra has bought out an American satellite TV company. A new Astra Global promo has replaced Astra Vision.
(3rd November) JSTV has gone from 10773 H and the transponder is off. The old BTV transponder (10847 V) is off air too, they continue on 11023 H.
(4th October) The 3 Sky transponders were switched off sometime early on the 1st October. (Probably midnight - can anyone confirm the shut down time?)
(29th September) Well the last 3 Sky channels have disappeared over the analogue horizon and are now digital only. The last 3 transponders (11318V Sky One) / (11478V Sky Premier) / (11509V Sky Sports 2) are now showing service closed information cards. 11478V is still scrambled in videocrypt, the other 2 are clear. 11318V still has the Sky One audio on it!
(27th September) The last 3 Sky pay channels are expected to close at midnight tonight. Several of the transponders that were carrying Astra Vision have been shut down again....
(15th September) New in English is Fox News on 11436 V. This is carrying live coverage of the terrible American terrorist atrocities, and it is uncertain at the moment how long the transmission will last. The original B-TV transponder is running a scrolling banner saying it will be switched off at the end of October.
(1st September) B-TV has switched transponders - its now on the previously inactive 11023 H. The original 10847 V is still active at the moment. Disappointingly, all of the Astra Vision programmes are still running, and havent lead to new channels appearing. However, tm 3 seems to have disappeared, and has been replaced by German channel Neun Live.
(28th August) 8 transponders are now carrying Astra Vision promo videos instead of the blue test cards. (10979 V, 11082 H, 11097V, 11156 V, 11171 H, 11553 H, 11597 V, 11671 H) This is in addition to the 2 other transponders which have been carrying Astra Vision when part time channels are off air.
(21st August) Astra 2C is finally on air. TV Puls is the first analogue channel to appear.
(13th August) several transponders are showing Astra cards, TVX has gone, and 10832 H has been lost to digital. The God squad channel has moved transponders. Astra 2C has arrived at 19.2E
(25th July) there are now 4 (!) blue Astra test cards showing. 11538 V has reappeared, and 11597 V has fired up for the first time in a while.
(24th July) 11538 V is off again.
(22nd July) 2 channels reactivated with test cards. 11538 V &11671 H are showing colour bars.
(21st July) Astra 2C is on the move again, its away from 32E, and is heading towards 19.2E.
(3rd July) Well the info cards on the closed channels didnt last long - they have all gone tonight.
(1st July) The expected channel changes happened around midnight UK time last night. The closed channels are listed on the graveyard page. The table has been updated to reflect all the changes.
(27th June) Hmm - the Lyngsat web site has changed its mind about where Astra 2C is at the moment. Apparently its currently geostationary at 32.5E ...!
(22nd June) 11538 V has been switched off again.. Astra 2C has reached 19.2 E but isnt geostationary yet. Astra 1A will probably be decommisioned later this year. Astra 2C will be moved round to 28.2E when Astra 1K is launched in December.
Ive been doing some investigations between the Lyngsat web site information and the Astra home page. It looks like 1A only has 6 operational transponders now, and that 1B also has several defunct transponders.
(16th June). Astra 2C successfully launched in the early hours of this morning. Despite expectations of it going to slot with the other series 2 birds at 28.2E, it will be initially be deployed at 19.2E! Details on the Astra web site. Astra expect it to be in position and testing in about 5 weeks. Lets hope some analogue channels appear during testing!
(9th June). It looks like a new channel will be starting up soon. A test card has appeared on the previously inactive 11553 H.
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