SLT providing phone services to LTTE Tv Channel

Sri Lanka Telecom is providing phone services to the LTTE Television Station according to reports that we are getting. The number is supposed to be 021-2285879 and is said to be being displayed as the contact number for the channel. People who have FTA receivers who curiously tuned into this channel have seen this. We are unable to obtain independant confirmation of this.

CBNsat was closed down by B.A.C Abeywardena-Chairman TV Lanka and Lakshman Hullugalle-Chairman SATnet and Media Secretary for Media Centre for National Security who applied pressure on the authorities to falsely accuse CBNsat of transmitting the LTTE Channel and close them down to gain an unfair business advantage.

But they are all hush hush when a government and private owned telephone operator is providing telephone links to banned terrorists.

Now isn't that a threat to National Security.

Mr. President we appeal to you to remove with immediate effect the Media Secretary of the MCNS since he is also the dealer of a Indian Cable tv company and there is a conflict of interest in his business and his state job since he can class any of his competitors as threats to National Security. It will be greatly appreciated if you could stop listening to the advice of B.A.C Abeywardena who is trying to take over CBNsat and LBN in order to improve his business and all what these two figures are doing, are damaging your public image.

The real threats to National Security are B.A.C Abeywardena, Lakshman Hullugalle and their political stooges. Please remove them from their respective posts.

Please click here for the statement made by CBNsat Subscribers Unite.

Derana joins JumpTv Internet Television

Derana Tv which is planning to launch a new line up of programmes from October 1st 2006 will be soon available on Internet Television giant JumpTv's lineup of channels.

Jump Tv which presently has 217 channels under it's license is the world's leading subscription based broadcaster of ethnic channels over the internet. They have subscribers from over 80 countries and they view JumpTv online channels via high speed internet connections on their home computers, internet enabled televisions, laptops and mobile phones.

The channel will be available at a cost of $9.95 per month when launched commercially.

This will indeed be a welcome relief for Sri Lankan expatriates who are looking for some home grown entertainment and who are stuck now with only Tv Lanka which is available via satellite.

UNP & JHU to apply for Tv station license

The UNP have decided to apply for a Tv station license. They say the decision was taken due to the fact that the Governement has decided to issue a license to the JVP and also that they are Sri Lanka's oldest political party. It is also rumoured that the JHU are also planning to apply for a Tv station license but we are unable to get confirmation about the JHU Tv station.

Wonder what type of entertainment these guys will give us? It will be fun to watch the political bashing though.

Neth Tv to launch next year

We have got information that Neth Tv the sister station of Neth FM will commence transmissions from next year.

Therefore at the moment we are getting reports that there are four tv channels on the way.

Max Tv - test transmissions have commenced
Siyatha Tv - test transmissions are to commence soon
JVP Channel - test transmission status not known
Neth Tv - test transmission status not known, probably next February

Also the channel that we said was appearing on UHF 42 as a very weak signal has suddenly disappeared and has not been active for over a week.

SLRC & SLT awarded new license

SLRC & SLT are the two operators who have been awarded the new license "License to provide non voice telephony services using cable distribution network and satellite communication networks" by the TRC out of the 26 that applied for the license. The upcoming launch of Rupavahini World Channel may explain why they obtained the license. But SLT, maybe they are also planning on launching their own satellite service or are targetting hiring their license to others. Anything is possible.

Please keep us updated on developments regarding the issuance of this new license as and when companies obtain this license.

"Rupavahini World" Channel to be launched

The state run SLRC is to launch their International Channel called "Rupavahini World" and are calling for applications from local and international companies to distribute the channel via DTH, IPTV & Mobile Tv.

Well this will officially spell the death of TV Lanka since all they do is repeat programmes from channels such as Rupavahini. Serves them right for trying to mess around with CBNsat.

We are also informed that CBNsat will approach Rupavahini to uplink all their channels until their licenses are approved by the relevant authorities.

We are still unable to gather whether Rupavahini World will be a Pay Tv channel or a FTA channel. Initially at least it would be a FTA channel enabling people to access the channel at a much cheaper rate. This channel will no doubt be popular among the sri lankan expatraites since they do not have much choice for local entertainment.

The launch date of this channel is not known still, but please keep us posted on any new developments regarding this channel.

Gold FM celebrates 8 years

Gold FM Sri Lanka's premier oldies radio station is celebrating 8 years of service in Sri Lanka today. Part of the ABC Radio Network that operates Sun FM, Hiru FM, Sha FM & Sooriyan FM this radio station has been entertaining the lovers of oldies music over the years.

We would like to wish Gold FM a very Happy 8th Birthday and all the best for the years to come.

Check UHF Channel 42

While doing a bit of tuning on our tv, we came across a transmission on UHF channel 42. The transmission is of a very poor quality and they show programmes such as public rally's and some cultural events. The transmissions usually last for an hour or so and then it goes back to the colour code signal.

Can any of you receive this channel? If any of you know any information about this channel available on UHF 42 please update us on this.

SATnet Pay Tv no longer available at Hayleys

We can confirm that SATnet connections are no longer available from Hayleys Showrooms (even though their website says otherwise). This may be due to the shady nature of its management and also their involvement together with Tv Lanka in the present crisis in the cable tv industry. Looks like after SATnet collaborated with Tv Lanka and instigated the authorities to shutdown CBNsat and LBN on false pretexts, their action have backfired on them and SATnet has lost its distribution partner Hayleys.

SATnet (former known as Star Lanka) is the local agent for Dish TV India and Star TV connections and sells them at exhorbitantly high prices and charge a high monthly rental too minus the quality channels offered specially by Dish Tv. They have been in operation for a considerable amount of time but have not achieved the sales figures of the local cable tv companies. In addition they claim in their advertisements that they are the first digital tv broadcaster in this country but this is totally misleading since they do not do any broadcasting from sri lanka and are only AGENTS for overseas broadcasters.

It is sad to note that the authorities are shutting down locally operated cable tv companies and favouring companies that act as dealers for foreign companies - wonder how our brothers in red view this, but they are hush, hush about this injustice. Even though SATnet has been barred by the courts to carry out sales they still carry out sales due to the affluent connections that they enjoy in high places.

We are receiving emails from bloggers in foreign countries regarding this cable tv shutdown which shows us that this news is now spreading internationally. This together with the present situation in sri lanka will cause a definite reduction in foreign investment.

We hope that the authorities will take necessary measures to stabilize the cable tv industry and issue immediate resolutions to these problems and bring back into operation both CBNsat and LBN (for more information on the status of these operators please refer the CBNsat and LBN forums). It is now three months and if these companies shutdown it will add to the ever increasing unemployment figures.

Rupavahini get your priorities organised

We are receiving complaints from our readers that Rupavahini has to get it's priorities organised when it comes to telecasting programmes.

We are informed that Children's programmes are being telecast at 9:30PM and Sinhala & Hindi movies are being telecast during the daytime on Saturdays & Sundays.

We also happen to notice that Discovery Channel is being telecast over Channel Eye at 2:00PM (wonder for whom to watch, 0h maybe Ammi & Archi) and Discovery Channel over Rupavahini is being telecast after 10:00PM too (probably for Thathi and owls).

There is no point in them showing programmes like this, it is best for them to show Childrens Programmes on Saturdays and Sundays instead of Junk movies and please show Discovery Channel at times that Students can watch. Oh, another thing - what is the point in showing Discovery in Tamil with Sinhala subtitles. Show the programme in English since most Tamils know their English and then subtitle it in Sinhala if required, you ain't going to create racial harmony by showing Discovery in Tamil.

Please telecast the dubbed programmes over Rupavahini since you can make use of the Nicam Dual Language feature to broadcast the original language too. Make use of the technology available to you, do not waste it.

We urge the Rupavahini Corporation to make the necessary changes and get their priorities in the right order to make themselves a more pleasurable viewing experience.

Siyatha TV on UHF Channel 46

According to reports that we are receiving, Siyatha TV is to begin test transmissions on UHF channel 46. Please refer website www.siyatha.com

We are not sure whether they have already begun test transmissions therefore we would like to request you to update us if any of you are receiving these transmissions.

In addition Siyatha FM is supposed to have started test transmission on FM 98.6

Anyone receiving the above transmissions are welcome to comment on the quality of reception in their area.

Max TV launches test transmission in Kandy

Now Kandy can view the test transmissions of Sri Lanka's soon to be launched tv station Max Tv which is operated by MGM Networks (Pvt) Ltd.,

The test tranmissions can be viewed on UHF channel 56 after 5:00PM.

According to initial reports we hear that the reception in kandy is poor. Reception in areas such as Kandana & Ja Ela for Max Tv on UHF 30 is much better during the past few days without turning any antenna's according to reports being received by us. Can anyone confirm this? Has reception in other areas improved too?

Does anyone have any idea on the type of programming that will be available on Max Tv as well as the actual launch date?

Please update us if you have any information on the above.

Max Radio launches service

Max has become the latest radio station to join the Sri Lankan Sinhala Radio Scene from september 10th. Broadcasting on FM 90.6 from Colombo and we think it is FM 103.2 from Kandy, this station is operated by MGM Networks (Pvt) Ltd who will be launching the Max TV station also very soon.

We would like to know from listeners to sinhalese music what you think of this new radio station as well as any issues on reception.

TRC looks at introducing DAB

The TRC has setup a comittee comprising of all radio stations in Sri Lanka to look into the introduction of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) in Sri Lanka. DAB which is actually Digital Radio is being introduced in several countries in Europe, etc.

If this is done soon enough then Sri Lanka will be the first country in South Asia to implement DAB and we hope that this will continue and then DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) or Digital TV will be introduced soon after.

We hope that the policy, regulatory framework as well as any security clearance will be obtained before hand otherwise it will become like the unfortunate incident surrounding Sri Lanka's first DVB Satellite Broadcaster CBNSat as well as Sri Lankas first DVB Cable Broadcaster LBN.

Digitalisation was the first priority of this blog and it is nice to note that the authorities are now taking necessary action to introduce Digital Radio into Sri Lanka after we were able to put pressure on the authorities to come up with a suitable plan to convert current analog systems to digital.

Max TV running test transmissions using Ten Sports

The soon to be launched Max Tv which is operated by MGM Networks is presently carrying out test transmissions by telecasting Ten Sports for the past few days now. This makes us wonder whether Max Tv will be telecasting Ten Sports even after their launch. Popular programmes such as wrestling, etc is available on Ten Sports and they have the rights for almost all the cricket played in the sub continent. However even if Max carries Ten Sports we are not sure that they will be allowed to show the live cricket content.

However the reception on Max Tv has to be improved by shifting the location of their transmitter since the general public is not going to turn the antenna towards the direction that Max is located in order for them to view a clear picture of Max while compromising the clarity of the other channels.

We would like those of you who called MGM on (011) 5551001 to post information on whether they will continue to show Ten Sports on Max even after the launch has taken place. We would also like you to confirm when the launch will take place?

We also request the management of MGM to take steps to immediately rectify the reception problem by preferably shifting the transmitter to colombo and putting it in the general direction of the other channels.

Art Tv misleading the public with recorded news

A word of caution to those watching Art Tv specially towards the evenings and in the nights. We are receiving reports as well as we have also seen that the CNN broadcasts over Art Tv are the recorded news reports that were telecast earlier during the day over CNN and not those that are being telecast at CNN at the moment. This happens occassionally during the evenings and at nights but the 7:45PM CNN news telecast on Art Tv is always a recorded one from CNN that was telecast over CNN earlier during the day.

They always deny the fact that they are recording the news broadcast, but everyone who has cable tv can do a comparision between the CNN on the cable tv and the CNN on Art Tv and see the difference. They not only record the news but sometimes the Larry King Live programmes, Business Reports, etc giving a false picture to the public.

We would urge our readers to give phone calls to Art Tv and ask them to stop misleading the public in this manner and to indicate whether the news item or whatever programme is recorded giving the date and time of the original broadcast over CNN.

The Art Tv phone numbers are (011) 2913551 for the Control Room and (011) 2913550 for Marketing.

MGM Networks reception is bad

We are receiving reports that MGM Networks which is test transmitting the Max Television station on UHF channel 30 is having bad reception in all parts of colombo and beyond.

Please call MGM on (011) 5551001 and give them your reports on the reception as it will help them to rectify the problems they currently have.

We would like the management of MGM Networks to indicate to us what type of programming will be available on their tv station for viewers.