MSat

MSat (originally Antenna 3, abbreviated A3) was a Hungarian commercial satellite television channel that operated from 1994 to 1999. It launched on 16 September 1994 under the name Antenna 3 and was renamed MSat on 8 October 1996, at which point it began satellite distribution that also brought it into the programming line-ups of rural cable networks. It holds the distinction of being the first Hungarian television channel to broadcast 24 hours a day. The channel's programming was aimed primarily at the 18–35 age group and focused on entertainment, youth and music content. Its schedule included films, series, in-house produced shows and magazine programmes, as well as the interactive music request show MusicBox. In August 1998 the Hungarian feed of the children's channel Nickelodeon began broadcasting within MSat's airtime, initially for four hours a day and later for twelve hours a day from 25 April. During its early Antenna 3 period the channel operated partly as a music television service, with different presenters appearing each morning; some of these presenters later became established musicians or moved to presenting roles at other channels. Among the personalities who first became known to audiences through the channel were Csiszár Jenő, singer Sárközi Anita, the scandal-prone Márton Csaba, and Császár Előd, who later also became a tabloid figure. Lesser-known acts such as members of the rap/pop group G-Play also appeared. These programmes were interactive, informal phone-in shows interspersed at intervals with music videos. MSat was also notable for being the first channel in Hungary to display age-rating labels on screen; these were subsequently adopted by several other broadcasters and used until the 2002 amendment of the Hungarian media law. The channel's satellite transmission ceased on 24 September 1999 at 15:00. Its owner failed to pay the broadcasting fee to Antenna Hungária, so on cable networks the channel's place was taken by a test card. On the Budapest AM-Mikro system — the predecessor of Antenna Digital — transmission was terminated on 5 October 1999, bringing the channel to a definitive end. After MSat closed, Nickelodeon became a standalone channel from 6 October 1999, and MusicBox followed as a standalone channel from 12 November 1999; the latter ceased on 23 August 2000.

MSat began broadcasting on 16 September 1994 under the name Antenna 3 (A3). In its early period the channel operated partly as a music television service, with a different presenter appearing each morning; some of these presenters went on to become established musicians or continued as presenters at other channels. Personalities who first became known to audiences through the channel included Csiszár Jenő, singer Sárközi Anita, the scandal-prone Márton Csaba, and Császár Előd, who later also became a tabloid figure. Members of the rap/pop group G-Play also appeared. These programmes were interactive, informal phone-in shows interrupted at intervals by music videos. On 8 October 1996 the channel changed its name to MSat. After the rename, satellite transmission began, which also brought the channel into the programming line-ups of rural cable networks. It was the first Hungarian television channel to broadcast 24 hours a day. The channel was also the first to display age-rating labels on screen; these were subsequently adopted by several other broadcasters and used until the 2002 amendment of the Hungarian media law. MSat's programming was aimed primarily at the 18–35 age group and focused on entertainment, youth and music content. The schedule included films, series, in-house produced shows and magazine programmes, as well as the interactive music request show MusicBox. In August 1998 the Hungarian Nickelodeon children's channel began broadcasting within MSat's airtime, initially for four hours a day and later for twelve hours a day from 25 April. Satellite transmission ceased on 24 September 1999 at 15:00. The owner of MSat did not pay the broadcasting fee to Antenna Hungária, so on cable networks only a test card was visible in the channel's place. On the Budapest AM-Mikro system — the predecessor of Antenna Digital — transmission was terminated on 5 October 1999, bringing the channel to a definitive end. After MSat closed, Nickelodeon became a standalone channel from 6 October 1999, and MusicBox followed as a standalone channel from 12 November 1999; the latter ceased on 23 August 2000.

• Launches as Antenna 3 (A3).

• Renamed MSat; satellite transmission begins, reaching rural cable networks.

• Hungarian Nickelodeon begins broadcasting within MSat's airtime, initially 4 hours a day.

• Nickelodeon block extends to 12 hours a day.

• Satellite transmission ceases at 15:00 after the owner fails to pay Antenna Hungária.

• Transmission ends on the Budapest AM-Mikro system, definitively closing the channel.

• Nickelodeon becomes a standalone channel.

• MusicBox becomes a standalone channel.

• MusicBox ceases broadcasting.

A youth-oriented commercial satellite channel for the 18–35 audience, mixing entertainment, music and interactive programming; the first Hungarian 24-hour broadcaster.

• MusicBox

  Interactive music request show.

• Nickelodeon Hungarian block

  Children's programming block aired within MSat from August 1998.

1. 1Msat – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Msat – Hungarian Wikipediahu.wikipedia.org