Starmax HD, the new pre-pay satellite platform for the Spanish market, will launch with the technology of three familiar companies. Globecast, Ferguson and Conax will all provide services to the new entrant that is planning a broad variety of documentaries, movies, sports and children’s programs.
“Offering to Spanish consumers the chance to enjoy Starmax HD is critical for us,” said Maciej Sojka, Starmax HD managing director, and the former head of the Polish DTH platform n. “Even though more than half of the Spanish households are compatible with the HD technology, most of the Spanish consumers are not enjoying HD contents such as they could. Starmax HD will change the way we watch TV with a groundbreaking platform.”
Starmax HD, which is yet to announce its chosen satellite, will compete with Prisa TV’s Digital+, which has struggled to maintain its subscriber base in recent quarters, and had an installed base of 1,772,677 at the end of September 2010.
Set-top boxes will be supplied by Ferguson, the promised model including access to SD and HD channels, PVR functionality through a USB port, and internet connectivity that will allow the streaming of radio stations over the internet.
Globecast will be responsible for satellite services, while Conax will supply the pre-pay smart cards. Starmax says there will be no contract attached to the service that will be offered at an “affordable price”.
