Astra 1A/1B programme lineup from 1991

[@Matt571]

I remember all these channels and this lineup really takes me back! I always remember the German-language channels and those that were scrmbled, like Teleclub and Premiere. I can also remember seeing TV3 and TV1000 on the list and that these (being D2 Mac) were so badly scrambled that the screen was just snow and no sound. When my family first had Sky in early 1991, The Children's Channel, Lifestyle and JSTV were all on the same frequency. Lifestyle would close at around 7.00

[@zetametallic]

My friend was the only person to have satellite TV back in '91 and I'd sit in her living room watching this scroll up after 7 just chilling. Can't imagine 15 year old today doing that😂

[@ParamDxer]

Great ATV lineup back in the day. Cheers.

[@PunkMusicIs4Real]

I feel like I'm doing a hearing test

[@Outogo1]

u used to watch Sky One and TCC every day between 91 and 95. it helped me alot to learn english

[@mesicek7]

Same though for me it was TCC and then CN later switched to german channels

[@mesicek7]

Does anyone know how long Sky lasted on Astra 19.2° position? I remember dad bought an Amstrad sat receiver with a dish since it had Sky advertised in the early 90s. The channels worked well for around 2-3years before they were gone.

[@xXBeefyDjXx]

28.2E was mainly digital, Analogue services for the UK remained on 19.2E until 2001, when the Sky Analogue service was finally closed after a huge push to Sky Digital, later Freesat and Freesat from Sky to compete around 2008. The full list of channels on the 19.2E platform today on Wikipedia actually lists what was on the very first Astra 1x range of satellites on this position and many more, if you're interested in having a read to see what you can remember! :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_19.2%C2%B0E

[@moewe1604]

Good old times

[@qa2063]

Amazing. Thank you so much.

[@kreuner11]

I always try to find Polsat, first satellite TV channel for Poland, but this is from 1991, and it was launched in 1992

[@King-oy4or]

I can t remember the reason why TV3 Denmark was broadcasting on two Transponders at the same time.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

If you had an Astra Satellite receiver equipped with genuine Panda 🐼 1 noise reduction you got clear crisp hiss free hi-fi quality stereo / mono / multilingual sound plus superb sounding radio stations too.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

@David Mander I am right. The Astra satellites 1A to 1D used 8 analogue FM audio sub-carriers 7.02 to 8.28 MHz on each TV channel companded by the Wegener Communications Inc PANDA 1 noise reduction system. This improves the audio quality of the FM sub-carriers by the reducing hiss and noise of broadcast videotape programmes and studio / outside broadcast sound for a better sounding audio reproduction in the viewers home, whether that be through a suitable stereo equipped television set connected via SCART lead to the satellite receiver or suitable AV leads or through a suitable hi-fi stereo system connected by stereo phono leads to the stereo audio outputs of the satellite receiver. The way it worked was by compressing the sound heavily at the broadcaster before transmission to the satellite and at the consumer's home the receiver expands that compressed audio restoring the dynamic range without the hiss and background noise. The better brands of satellite receiver such as Nokia NEC Pace Maspro etc, used official Wegener Communications Inc PANDA 1 noise reduction circuitry, for which they paid royalties on for the use of the technology in their equipment. Other manufacturers like Amstrad Echostar Bestlink Cambridge Technisat etc used cheaper soundalike noise reduction circuitry in their receivers to avoid paying royalty fees to Wegener Communications Inc for the use of that technology. The biggest difference between the top brands that used official Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 noise reduction circuitry and the cheaper brands that didn't was the sound quality. The better branded Astra satellite receivers with genuine Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 noise reduction circuitry built-in (often identified by a PANDA 🐼 logo on the receiver fascia) gave the best sound quality from Astra's Eutelsat's and Intelsat's Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 analogue soundtracks without the hiss inherent on them. The cheaper brands without genuine Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 noise reduction circuitry built-in often sounded hissy and noisy on the Wegener PANDA 🐼 1 analogue soundtracks to some degree.

[@RussWWFC]

I remember watching the German and Dutch Channels - favourites were Tutti Frutti and Der preiss ist heist (The Price is Right)

[@robertcomer2767]

And then UK GOLD got that dodgy transponder on 1B and the programmes were barely watchable. 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@King-oy4or]

That s right. I always wondered why astra did not offer uk Gold a better Transponder that would work better for UK viewers. In Central Europe all channels had strong signals. Bit Transponders of Tele5 or N3 used to be better for up north

[@bt542000]

can't forget sky radio, and 1 other radio channel that piggy backed channel 14 pro7 can't remember the name of it