February 19, 2003. RSCC has completed a digital package of National TV Channels being transmitted to the European part of Russia

28.02 : 2003

February 19, 2003. THE 1st NATIONAL TV CHANNEL has been incorporated into a digital TV package transmitted to the European part of Russia (The "M" Broadcasting Zone.) via the 6th transponder of a new "Express-A1R" satellite 40 E. The digital TV package is being generated at the RSCC Center of Compression and Multiplexing, and includes "Rossiya" and "Kul'tura" Federal TV Channels apart from THE 1st NATIONAL TV CHANNEL. Recently, a version of THE 1st NATIONAL TV CHANNEL has been also included into the digital package to be transmitted to the "G" broadcasting zone (the Ural region).

The improved power characteristics of "Express-A1R" transponders enable to distribute the digital package over central regions of Russia, CIS countries, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East.

The digital package has been generated in line with the joint decision "On Stepwise Activities to upgrade the "Ekran", "Moskva", "Orbita" and "Moskva-Global'naya" Satellite Distribution Networks by applying Digital Technologies". It guaranteed RSCC to execute the transfer from analogue to digital methods of TV transmissions to the European part of Russia.