SES-Astra is to launch the new Entavio pay TV service during the consumer electronics show IFA in Berlin on September 1. About 80 Entavio enabled satellite receivers will be on show in Berlin and in the shops over the next few months. The company expects no problems with the German monopoly commission (Bundeskartelamt) as Entavio will only offer new pay-TV chnanels. Premiere Star is the first customer signed to the new service.
In a related development Premiere Star announced that the Hypo Vereinsbank will take a 10% share in the company. According to CEO Wolfram Winter the new pay-TV platform expects to win 400,000 DTH subscribers within the next two years and reach a turnover of €200 million.