Dutch DTH operator Canal Digitaal and its Belgian sister company TV Vlaanderen are to expand their offer at 23.5 degrees East. Although the full line-up of channels will be announced on October 29 during a Canal Digitaal dealer day, it is known it will include five thematic channels from the Dutch public broadcasters. The offers will consist of Humor TV (comedy), ConsumentenTV (consumer affairs), /Geschiedenis (history channel), HollandDoc (documentaries) and a special ‘best of/carousel channel with highlights from the other 13 thematic channels.
Negotiations are still under way with other suppliers of thematic channels for the Dutch market, and these include National Geographic (for its Wild and HD channels) and Discovery (for its digital multiplex and HD channel). Canal Digitaal will also announce plans for its HD bouquet to be launched at a later date.
SES-Astra has announced it has moved the Astra 1E to the 23.5 degrees East position in order to replace the ageing Astra 1D. The satellite will team up with the current Astra 3A satellite. In a related news story, Kabel Deutschland has said it will cease its channel distribution to cable head ends via this orbital position in January 2009 at the latest. A nationwide glass fibre distribution will replace satellite.
