Astra Platform Services (APS) in Munich has begun to uplink German music channels Unitel Classica HD and Deluxe Lounge HD to the Astra position at 23.5 degrees East for distribution in Central and East
The two HD music channels will be made available to viewers via the Bulgarian platform Satellite BG and Skylink in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The two channels have been available on satellite since November 2009 in Nagravision encryption, but now APS has added simulcrypt for Irdeto, Cryptowoks and Conax in order to facilitate wider distribution in CEE.
Both Unitel Classica HD and Deluxe Lounge HD have not only been available to German cable networks, buy also have a number of international distribition deals. Deluxe Lounge HD has carriage agreements in Serbia, Switzerland, Slovakia cable, France and the Baltic states and more. Outside of German-speaking territories, Classica is in Japan, Italy, Spain already with Malta to launch in a few weeks albeit only the latter is in HD.
