Fox News Channel
closing off Astra 1C.
On the 17th September 2001, a few days after the dreadful New York terrorist atrocities of September 11th, Fox News suddenly appeared free to air on 11436 V on Astra 1C. (The old Sky MovieMax frequency). The channel was running coverage of "America at War" - (hunting down the terrorists).
The channel also appeared in fta digital on at least 2 channels on Astra 1, 1 on Hotbird, and also on Sky Digital - although it was never added to the electronic programme guide, and had to be added through the "other channels" facility.
During the American commercial breaks, the Astra analogue coverage cut to a black screen with the Fox News Channel logo on it - no point showing American adverts in Europe if the products arent available I suppose...
During the last week of January 2002, the caption was altered on Astra analogue to the effect that the channel would be closing off Astra at the end of January. (The signal had been removed from Sky Digital a few weeks previously, which caused a lot of comment on the satellite news groups, as Fox News had proved to quite a popular channel).
Chris Vowles has kindly provided a screen shot of the caption radiating during advert breaks during the last week of January 2002.
1st February 2002 update: Fox News Channel cut at midnight last night.
30th January 2003 update: Fox News was added to the EPG on Sky Digital during the Spring last year.
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