Elettronica Industriale, the network operator of Italy’s Mediaset Group, and Eutelsat Communications have announced the signing of a 12-year contract for capacity at the Hot Bird video neighbourhood.
The new contract for one transponder further consolidates a 20-year relationship between the two companies, increasing Mediaset’s Hot Bird resources to five transponders. It will support Italy’s nationwide transition into a fully digital broadcasting environment, particularly addressing Mediaset’s requirement to deliver channels to its network of digital terrestrial television transmitters.
Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat’s CCO, said in a statement: “This new contract with Elettronica Industriale for Mediaset underscores just how much satellites are integrated by broadcasting groups as a key platform for effective content delivery. We are delighted to further extend our longstanding partnership with Elettronica Industriale, and that the performance and coverage of our Hot Bird satellites continues to meet Italy’s national agenda to operate in a digital television landscape.”
Antonio Preti, head of TV transmission services at Elettronica Industriale, added: “With resources secured at the Hot Bird position and on Atlantic Bird 3 to deliver digital terrestrial television multiplexes to our rebroadcast towers and for live coverage of news, sports and entertainment events, Eutelsat’s satellites are a core component of our network infrastructure, supporting our activities today and into the future.”
Mediaset owns the three main Italian commercial networks, Canale 5, Rete 4 and Italia 1.
