M77, a sister company of the Luxembourg-based satellite television provider M7 Group, is taking one more transponder at the 23.5 degrees East orbital position, The new capacity will be used for the DTH distribution of the M77 channel bouquets in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In these markets, M77 operates DTH platforms under the brand names Skylink and CS Link and reaches more than 2 million subscribers. M7 and M77 are using a total of 13 transponders on the Astra Satellite System (four on 19.2 degrees East and nine on 23.5 degrees East).
“We are delighted to support M7 and M77 in their successful expansion from their original home market in Benelux into Austria and Central and Eastern Europe,” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “This agreement shows that we can offer the perfect conditions for a pan-European player to develop its broadcasting business. We are looking forward to a fruitful and long cooperation with this important customer.”
Kees Färber, Board Member of M77, stated: “With this capacity we make another step in our successful growth in Central Europe and it will allow us to better service the local broadcasters and our customers. It also underlines the role of the ASTRA 23.5 degrees East position as the most popular DTH position for our markets.”
M7 and M77 provide DTH services to more than 3.5 million homes in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia using the brand names Canal Digitaal, TV Vlaanderen, TéléSAT, AustriaSat, Skylink and CS Link.
