SES Astra and the German television channel Tele 5 have signed an agreement to increase the satellite capacity for the channel to improve and optimise the picture quality in Standard Definition (SD) transmissions. The agreement on additional capacity is effective immediately. “This new agreement with Tele 5 shows that TV channels and viewers are benefiting [...]

Orbit Communications Company and Eutelsat Germany have concluded an agreement for the distribution of Orbit’s Arabic channels to cable operators in continental Europe. It will initially see three of seven entertainment channels – AlYawn, Al-Safwa and The Series Channel – launch on networks receiving the KabelKiosk digital TV and radio platform provided by Eutelsat Germany. [...]

Intelsat has announced that it signed a new multi-year, multi transponder contract with Strong Technologies of Dubai. Under this contract, Strong Technologies will use additional capacity on the Intelsat 10 satellite, located at 68.5 degrees East, to increase the My TV channel line-up for its DTH service operating in sub-Saharan Africa. My TV distributes a [...]

Intelsat has announced that it has signed a deal with Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) to distribute RTP’s international channels throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa. The Portuguese public service broadcaster signed a multi-year, multi-transponder contract for SD transmission services of its programming via three Intelsat satellites. RTP will use the Intelsat 907 satellite [...]

Last night’s failure of the Proton launch of the JCSAT II satellite from Baikonur could have a serious impact on the two Nordic satellite companies. SES has two satellites scheduled to launch on Proton this year including Sirius 4 for its Swedish subsidiary and Americom 14 in December. Meanwhile, Norwegian rival Telenor is scheduled to [...]

SES Astra has signed an agreement with National Broadband Services that will allow it to offer its satellite-based broadband service Astra2 Connect in Ireland. Astra2 Connect can deliver dual or triple play services without terrestrial support and should help increase the penetration of broadband services in rural parts of the country. According to recent official [...]

GlobeCast has signed additional channels for its WorldTV Direct-to-Home (DTH) service in Europe using prime Intelsat capacity on the Intelsat 905 satellite located at 335.5 degrees East. The WorldTV programming bouquets are targeted at the significant number of foreign nationals and residents of Asian origin residing in Europe. “We provide an outstanding value proposition to [...]

According to local reports, the Russian DTH platform NTV-Plus has begun broadcasting in the DVB-S2 standard on Eutelsat W4 at 36 degrees East. NTV-Plus claims to reach over 1.5 million viewers and has since earlier this year included three new HD services – HD Kino, HD Sport and HD Life – in its 100+ channel [...]