MX1, the technical services subsidiary of Astra satellite operator SES, and Astra have extended their contracts with Discovery Networks Germany for capacity, content management and playout.
The contract covers the broadcasting of the Discovery’s free-to-air channels DMAX, TLC, Eurosport 1 and DMAX Austria in SD as well as DMAX, TLC and Eurosport 1 in HD on the Astra satellites at 19.2° East.
The agreement also allows Discovery Networks Germany to use media service platform MX1 360 for content management and playout. The platform is fully integrated with the broadcaster’s systems and facilitates the management of pre-broadcast features such as planning commercial breaks from a single interface, according to MX1.
“We are very happy that Discovery Networks Germany relies on us as their preferred partner for services and distribution, and has chosen to extend their contracts for SD and HD on a longer-term basis,” said Christoph Mühleib, vice president sales and marketing at SES and responsible for MX1 and Astra in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Discovery can count on the parallel broadcasting of their channels in SD and HD at least until 2021, and thus, optimise its technical reach in the German market.”