10.01.2011 16:27 · Increased hours for English & Russian programming
| By: Victor Hulbert
Hope Channel viewers in the UK and Ireland will get more programming in English from 1 February 2011. The channel which originally served viewers from North Africa and the Middle East across to Russia and Scandinavia in a variety of languages is changing format allowing for 13 hours of English each day in two 7-hour blocks. Our church members have been pleading for more programming in English for a number of years and with the opening of the Arabic, German and Romanian channels this has now become a possibility alongside programmes that will benefit the Russian-speaking diaspora. Programmes in English will be available from 7:00 am – 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 1:00 am each day. At other times the programmes will be for the Russian/Ukrainian communities. We believe that this is a positive step forward along with plans for some presence on a Sky Christian channel in the near future.
2011 also sees a further change to the satellite signal which means all viewers need to retune their set-top boxes this week in order to continue viewing. The current frequency will stop airing on Wednesday 19 January. The new frequency is: 11642MHz. All other parameters stay the same. An auto scan on your set-top box should find the new frequency for you. A list of service providers who may be able to help you retune is available in the technical section.
Hope Channel President, Brad Thorpe is apologetic regarding the change recognising that it is a major inconvenience having to retune yet again. He states, "Our satellite space provider for Hope Channel Europe is changing transponders on the satellite and we are being forced to change too. This means we have to have EVERY dish that is receiving Hope Channel Europe change the parameters so that they can continue to receive Hope Channel Europe." While it is inconvenient it is something that has been forced on Hope Channel – and is not an infrequent occurrence for other channels as well. We hope that you can retune this week and so continue to receive the expanded service of nurture and evangelism in your home.
You can, of course, continue to watch hope channel as a live stream on this website.