Thaicom 8 IRIB Satellite Update: New Frequencies and Big Shifts
The Thaicom 8 satellite at 78.5° East has undergone a major reshuffle of Iranian national and regional TV channels operated by IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting). This realignment includes the activation of new frequencies (11520 H and 11480 H) and the deactivation of older frequencies (11010 H and 11050 H).
These changes are significant for viewers across Asia and the Middle East, particularly those who receive Iranian broadcasts via satellite. Below is a complete breakdown of the newly added channels, the ones removed, and the satellite’s technical significance.
🛰️ About Thaicom 8 @ 78.5°E
Thaicom 8 is a Thai communications satellite launched in 2016 and operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited. It covers South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Middle East and Africa. It is commonly used for DTH (Direct-To-Home) television broadcasting.
📡 New Frequency Additions: 11520 H & 11480 H
Technical Info (New):
| Frequency | Polarization | Symbol Rate | Channels Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11520 | Horizontal | Not listed | IRIB UHD 4K, Isfahan, Mahabad, Guilan, Qazvin, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Sahand, Khorasan Razavi, Mazandaran |
| 11480 | Horizontal | Not listed | Over 30 National + Radio Nama Channels |
Highlights of Channels Added:
IRIB UHD 4K
A stunning return of Iran’s Ultra HD channel broadcasting sports, documentaries, and national events in 4K resolution. Now shifted to 11520 H for better quality and broader coverage.
IRIB Isfahan, Mahabad, Guilan (Baran TV), Qazvin, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Sahand (Tabriz), Khorasan Razavi, Mazandaran (Tabarestan TV)
These regional channels offer province-specific news, cultural shows, and education programs, connecting local audiences with tailored content.
IRIB TV 1, TV 2, TV 3
The flagship national TV stations for Iran. TV1 is the general entertainment and national affairs channel, TV2 covers culture and youth programming, and TV3 is famous for sports and youth.
IRIB Quran & IRIB Omid
IRIB Quran offers Quranic recitations, religious discussions, and spiritual programming. IRIB Omid is a youth-focused channel with educational and creative content.
IRIB Nasim, Tamasha, Namayesh, Mostanad (Doc TV)
These are Iran’s entertainment bouquet—Nasim for comedy, Tamasha for serials, Namayesh for drama, and Mostanad for documentaries.
IRINN & Press TV
IRINN is Iran’s official news network. Press TV broadcasts international news in English.
Alkawthar TV, iFilm Persian, Pooya TV, Nahal TV
Alkawthar offers Islamic content, iFilm airs Iranian dramas and movies, Pooya and Nahal focus on kids’ programming.
Radio Nama Channels (over 20)
These are visual versions of Iran’s national radio services, including Goftogoo (Dialogue), Farhang (Culture), Quran, Salamat (Health), Eghtesad (Economy), Varzesh (Sports) and more.
🔄 Channels Removed from 11010 H & 11050 H
Technical Info (Old):
| Frequency | Polarization | Status | Channels Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11010 | Horizontal | Deactivated | National + Radio Nama Channels |
| 11050 | Horizontal | Deactivated | UHD 4K, Isfahan, Mahabad, Guilan, Qazvin, etc. |
Why the Shift?
The shift likely improves transponder efficiency, provides better compression using newer codecs, and helps deliver UHD and SD content on separate multiplexes. This update allows IRIB to better segment its content offerings and improve signal stability.
🧾 Complete List of Channel Changes
✅ Channels Now Broadcasting on Thaicom 8:
- IRIB UHD 4K
- IRIB Isfahan
- IRIB Mahabad
- IRIB Guilan (Baran TV)
- IRIB Qazvin
- IRIB Azarbayjan-e Gharbi
- IRIB Sahand (Tabriz)
- IRIB Khorasan Razavi
- IRIB Mazandaran (Tabarestan TV)
- IRIB TV 1, 2, 3
- IRIB Quran
- IRIB Omid
- IRIB Ofogh
- IRIB Nasim
- IRIB Varzesh
- IRIB Tamasha
- IRIB Namayesh
- IRIB Mostanad (Doc TV)
- IRINN
- Press TV
- Alkawthar TV
- iFilm Persian
- Pooya TV
- Nahal TV
- Sahar Afghanistan
- 20+ Radio Nama Channels
❌ Channels Removed from Old Frequencies:
- All listed channels on 11010 H and 11050 H
- Includes IRIB TV 1, 2, 3, UHD 4K, Quran, Namayesh, Press TV, Radio Nama series, etc.
📡 What Viewers Should Do
To continue receiving these channels, viewers must rescan their satellite receivers with the new frequencies:
📺 Recommended Frequencies to Rescan:
| Frequency | Polarization | Suggested Content |
|---|---|---|
| 11520 | Horizontal | Regional Channels + 4K |
| 11480 | Horizontal | National + Radio Nama |
Ensure your satellite dish is aligned properly to Thaicom 8 @ 78.5° East and your receiver supports DVB-S/MPEG-4 or DVB-S2 where needed for 4K content.
✍️ Final Words
This massive IRIB reshuffle reflects the broadcaster’s effort to modernize transmission, optimize regional coverage, and support new viewing technologies like 4K. Thaicom 8 remains a crucial satellite for Persian-speaking communities outside Iran, offering a wide variety of religious, cultural, news, and entertainment content.
