Primitive History of TV in Moldova


Last update: November 21 2004, 1047 UTC

1958: On April 30 1-st TV transmissions in Moldavia.
1967: Central TV (relays from Moscow) in color.
1974: The Republican programme obtained color as well.
(from small encyclopedia "Soviet Moldavia")

1986, end of January, an extract from local newspaper "Programmes of Radio and TV":
                    1-st union      2-nd Union      Republican
                     programme       programme       programme

     Ungheny            29               7              32
     Beltsy              2               8              41
     Chimishlia          2               -              33
     Edintsy            31               -               7
     Kaghul             31               1               8
     Kamenka             5               8               -
     Suvorovo            -               -               9
     Rezina             27               -              12
     Leovo              39               -               4
     Soroki              -               -               9
     Bendery             8               1               -
     Chadyr-Lunga       12               -               -
     Kishinev           11            30 and 8           3
     Glodyany            7               -              31
     Nisporeny           5               -               8
     Kotovsk             7               -               -
     Teleneshty          3               -               -

From March, 2-nd 1988 Strasheny transmitters on R3, R11 and ch.30 have been used instead of those in Kishinev. Before this change VHF band in Kishinev was overfilled with different harmonics.
1988: "TVR Bucuresti" can be received in Kishinev from Romanian territory on R-channels 9, 5, 6, 8, 12, 4. Good signals on R-channels 9 and 5. On weekdays their programmes go at 1800-2030 UTC, on Saturdays at 1100-1300 and 1700-2030, on Sundays at 0930-1300 and 1700-2030.
1990: On October, 14-th "TVR-1" took place of the "2-nd Union programme"" on channel R8 in Kishinev and on ch.25 in Rezina.

An extract from "Programmes of Radio and TV": "TV channels (on the territory of Moldavian SSR)"
  Transmitter      Republican      1-st Union    2-nd Union  Romanian TV
  location         programme       programme     programme

  Strasheny         3(80km)        11(80km)      30(65-70km)     -
  Ungheny          32              29             7(12km)        -
  Beltsy           41(45-50km)      2(45-50km)    8(30-35km)     -
  Chimishlia       33(35km)         2(30km)       -              -
  Edintsy           7(12km)        31(35-40km)   27(8km)         -
  Kaghul            8(70km)        31(50km)       1(25-30km)     -
  Kamenka          11(12-15km)      5(4km)        8(12km)        -
  Suvorovo          9(12-15km)      -             -              -
  Rezina           12(15-18km)     27(30-35km)    -           25(65-70km)
  Leovo             4(12km)        39(8km)        -              -
  Soroky            9(12km)        12(12km)       -              -
  Bendery           -               8(12km)       1(12km)        -
  Korneshty         -              10(12km)       -              -
  Chadyr-Lunga      -              12(12km)       -              -
  Dnestrovsk        -               6(4km)       10(12km)        -
  Komrat            -               -            10(4km)         -
  Kishinev          -               -             -            8(12-15km)

  Notes: In brackets radius of transmitter action is specified.
           Low power transmitters are omitted.

As I know (don't remember from where) the powers for Strasheny transmitters are 50 kW for R3 and R11, and 100 kW for ch.30. Kishinev R8 - 100 W.
From January 1, 1992 "1-st Union programme" has been called "Ostankino-1". In the right lower corner of screen there appeared ID sign: printed 1 in square. "2-nd Union programme" has been changed by "PTP" (Television of Russia). At 0500 am on January 1 "PTP" relays on the territory of Moldavia has been stopped, as well as radio programmes of Russia on MW and FM.
On February 1, 1992 "TVR-1" moved to "Ostankino-1" channels, except R2-channel in Chimishlia, while "Ostankino-1" moved to the channels of former "2-nd Union programme.."

An extract from "Programmes of Radio and TV": "... from February 1-st of current year according to the decision of Moldova Republic Parliament made as a result of today's political and economical situation, television transmitting facilities of the republic were redistributed like following:
   Transmitter         National          Romanian         1 programme
   location           television        television          (Moscow)

   Strasheny          3(80-100km)      11(80-100km)       30(65-70km)
   Ungheny           32(50-60km)        7(12km)           29(50-60km)
   Beltsy             2(50-60km)       41(50-60km)         8(30-35km)
   Chimishlia        33(50-60km)        2(30km)!           -
   Edintsy            7(12km)          27(8km)            31(35-40km)
   Kaghul             8(70km)           1(25-30km)        31(50km)
   Kamenka           10(12-15km)        5(4km)             8(12km)
   Shtefan-Voda       9(12-15km)        -                  -
   Rezina            12(15-18km)       25(40-50km)        27(30-35km)
   Leovo              4(12km)           -                 39(8km)
   Soroky             9(12km)          12(12km)            -
   Bendery            -                 1(12km)            8(12km)
   Korneshty          -                 -                 10(12km)
   Chadyr-Lunga       -                 -                 12(12km)
   Dnestrovsk         -                 6(4km)            10(12km)
   Komrat             -                 -                 10(4km)
According to this table, "Ostankino" programme (Moscow) is transmitted on channels, which used to carry the "2-nd Union programme", that is (with just few exclusions) in UHF band..."
Remarks: 1992: from about April 6 to April 21 "PTP" (Television of Russia) was relayed on channel R8 in Kishinev.
On February 25, 1993, 1700 UTC "PTP" was noted on R5-channel. B/W picture, strong signal, nothing in common with distant propagation.
1993, March 12, 2100 UTC: "TV PMR" (TransDniester Television or Dniester Republic Television) was noted on R5 channel. Same transmitter that relayed "PTP".
1993, March 30: there were no "TV PMR" for a week at least, and today in the evening - it's seen again.
From the end of March, 1993: "TV5-Europe" has been relayed on R8 in Kishinev.
From April 12 or 13, 1993 R5 channel has been carrying vertical color lines table.
1993, April 30: TransDniester transmitter on R5 started relaying "PTP".
From June 18, 1993 "TV PMR" has been relayed on R5-channel 2-3 hours a day in the evening, instead of "PTP".
In the beginning of October 1993 "TV5-Europe" (R8) was switched off.
1993. December 9: The most of daytime TransDniester R5-channel relays " PTP", in the morning and evening hours - "TV PMR".
1994, May 21: "TV PMR"'s daily programmes go at 1730-2100 UTC.
1994, June 28: "TV PMR" changed it's lower right ID sign
from TV PMR to TV PMR

TV PMR News
TV PMR sign

In the beginning of November, 1994 there were activated new transmitters in Kaushany. "Programmes of Radio and TV" of that time reported following "TV Channels on the territory of Moldova Republic"
     Transmitter        Moldova        Romania-1     Ostankino
     location

     Strasheny          3(80km)        11(80km)      30(50-60km)
     Ungheny           32               7(10km)      29(50-60km)
     Beltsy             2(45-50km)     41(45-50km)    8(20km)
     Chimishlia        33(35km)         -             2(20-25km)
     Edintsy            7(10km)        27(10-15km)   31(50-60km)
     Kaghul             8(70km)         1(20-25km)   31(50km)
     Kamenka           10(12-15km)      5(12km)       8(12km)
     Kaushany          40(35-40km)      -            28(50-60km)
     Shtefan-Voda       9(12-15km)      -             -
     Rezina            12(15-18km)     25(35-40km)   27(50-60km)
     Leovo              4(12km)         -            39(10-12km)
     Soroky             9(12km)         4(10km)      28(12km)
     Tighina            -               1             8(12km)
     Hancheshty         -               7(10km)      10(12km)
     Chadyr-Lunga       -               -            12(12km)
     Dnestrovsk         6               -            10(12km)
     Komrat             -               -            10(8km)
Note: Tighina is another name for Bendery, Hancheshty is former Kotovsk.

1994 November 1: During the daylight hours R5-channel carried "Ostankino -1" instead of "PTP&".
1994 November 5: "TV PMR" reported that "PTP" moved to 100W R24-channel in Tiraspol, R5-channel would carry "Ostankino-1" and "TV PMR". "TV PMR" in Tiraspol is on ch.31.
1994, December 13: "TV5-Europe" is back on channel 8 in Kishinev at 1500-2300 UTC on weekdays and round-o'clock on Saturday and Sunday.
1995, February 10: What could be regularly received in Kishinev those days:
      programme  channel  location            time UTC        SIO

     Ostankino-1  30H    Strasheny            1600-2300       555
                  27H    Rezina               1600-2300       555
                  39H    Kotovsk (Ukraine)    1300-2300       454
                  R2V    Chimishlia           1600-2300       454
                  R4H    Kamenskoe (Ukraine)  0330-2300       343
                  R5H    Mayak (47.2N 29.3E)  1200-1530       544
     PTP,UT1,UT3  35H    Kotovsk (Ukraine)                    455
     TV PMR      R5H    Mayak  0700-1200 and 1530-2400       544
     TV5-Europe   R8H    Kishinev             0600-2400       555
     TVR-1        25H    Rezina                               555
                  R11H   Strasheny                            555
                  R1H    Kaghul                               343
                  R5V    Vaslui (Romania)                     444
                  R9     Iasi (Romania)
                  R8V    Constanta  (Romania)
                  R6     ? (Romania)
     TVM          R3H    Strasheny                            555
                  41H    Beltsy                               242
                  33H    Chimishlia                           242
                  R8H    Kaghul                               3X3
     UT1          R6H    Kotovsk (Ukraine)                    444
      
1995: From March 1 "Ostankino-1" is relayed in Moldavia at 0330-0800 and 1600-2200 UTC, on Saturdays and Sundays at 0330-2200 UTC.
1995, April 1: "Ostankino-1" became "OPT" (Russian Public Television). At 0200 UTC it started programmes with new ID sign in upper right corner of screen:1 in circle
1995, May 29: "BTB" started test operations on ch.23 in Kishinev, relaying various satellite programmes.
July 9, 1995: "TVM" has RM ID sign in upper-left corner of screen.
TVM-1
TVM-2

1995, August 1: "OPT" and "UT2" exchanged channels all over Ukraine.
1995, August 13: "CTV (Catalan)" started to test ch.43 in Kishinev relaying "MCM".
1995, September 30: "BTB" began daily relays of "TB6" from Moscow.

Those days "Programmes of Radio and TV" published following "TV Channels on the territory of Moldova"
     Transmitter      TVM (Moldova)   TVR (Romania)  OPT (Russia)
     location

     Strasheny          3(80km)        11(80km)      30(50-60km)
     Ungheny           32(50-60km)      7(10-15km)   29(50-60km)
     Beltsy             2(50-60km)     41(50-60km)    8(25-30km)
     Chimishlia        33(50-60km)      -             2(25-30km)
     Edintsy            7(50-60km)     27(10-15km)   31(50-60km)
     Kaghul             8(50-60km)      1(30-40km)   31(50-60km)
     Kamenka           10(10-15km)      -             8(10-15km)
     Kaushany          40(50-55km)      -            28(50-60km)
     Shtefan-Voda       9(10-15km)      -             -
     Rezina            12(15-18km)     25(35-40km)   27(50-60km)
     Leovo              4(10-15km)      -            39(10-15km)
     Soroky             9(10-15km)      4(5-10km)    28(10-15km)
     Bendery            8(10-15km)      1(10-15km)    -
     Hancheshty         -               7(5-10km)     -
     Chadyr-Lunga       -               -            12(10-15km)
     Dnestrovsk         6(10-15km)      -            10(10-15km)
     Komrat             -               -            10(10-15km)

     Remarks:
     1. Transmitters located in Kishinev ("TV5-Europe" - R8,
        "TB6 (Moscow)" - ch.23, "CTV (Catalan)" - ch.43 aren't
        shown in the table.
     2. Low power transmitter are also omitted.
1995, October 1: "OPT" changed its ID sign in the upper right corner of screen to shash-1.
1996: "Antenna" supplement to "Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper reported that TV PMR transmitter on R5-channel is located in Mayak village of Grigoriopol region.
1998, January 1: "OPT" changed its upper right ID sigh to oval-1.
1998, December 1: There have started 24 hour relay of romanian "PRO TV " from Kishinev RTV tower on channel 37 (Vertical, 5.5 MHz, PAL, 1 kW). "TB6-NIT" (Moscow-Kishinev) has also appeared on ch. 49 (Vertical, 6.5 MHz, SECAM, 1kW) in parallel to ch.23 (Horizontal, 6.5 MHz, SECAM, 100W. ("Antenna", December 11).
Late March, 1999: ch.23 was switched off.
April 16, 1999: "TVM" has been carrying previous ID in upper-left corner of screen at least since the beginning of 1999.
From June 7, 1999 relays of "OPT", "TVM" and "TVR-1" in Moldavia has been shortened to 3 hrs (1700-2000).
In early August 1999 a new TV channel appeared on ch.26."TV26" shows 3 films a day at 1700-2100.
May 21, 2001: "Costeshty TV" (R35 UHF) started again daily operations between 14 and 18 UTC.
May 23, 2004: For 2 years or so "TVM" has been with a new ID in the lower right corner of the screen new ID.

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