GlobeCast has announced that it has concluded a five-year contract with Eutelsat Communications for a third transponder on its Eurobird 9A satellite, which will carry a full HD DVB-S2 platform.
The first clients on the platform already include Eurosport and Fashion One. Eutelsat’s Eurobird 9A satellite was chosen for its potential to reach over five million DTH and cable homes. The satellite’s proximity to Eutelsat’s Hot Bird video neighbourhood at its 13 degrees East orbital location adds the opportunity for broadcasters to reach homes and headends equipped with dual-feed reception from both positions.
“Channels currently in SD looking to launch an HD DVB-S2 offer, or existing HD channels looking for new options, will certainly benefit from this new choice,” according to GlobeCast, whose service to broadcasters can include content management, playout, and origination and encoding, among other features. Uplink to Eurobird 9A is possible from Paris.