Issues with satellite knocked out channels to 117M Russians

Problems with a Russian telecom satellite left 117 million residents of central Russia without reception for four government-run channels, officials said. Contact with the satellite was lost Thursday when its antennas were incorrectly positioned, RIA Novosti reported. The cause of the satellite's malfunction was not reported, but the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media said it was working to restore communication with it. Two channels that were affected -- Rossia-1 and Channel One -- were restored within about an hour for 90 percent of viewers in the affected area, the ministry said Friday in a statement on its website. However, the Culture Channel and Fifth Channel were still disrupted as of Saturday. The ministry said broadcasting would be fully restored within 10 days for 98 percent of the affected area. The remaining 2 percent may have to wait as long as three months for the channels to be restored.