PRAGUE BUSINESS BREAKFAST – Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) has signed a satellite transmission agreement with Neterra to launch a new white-label, shared DTH platform named “the W1” in Bulgaria.
Neterra, which is a Bulgarian telco established 17 years ago in 1996, has contracted two transponders on TSBc’s Thor 6 satellites, located at 1 degree West, and plans to offer other operators a premium pay-TV platform.
It expects the first operators to launch within the next few months, carrying over 60 the Bulgarian market’s most popular local and international channels. In due course, the offer will be expanded to include local and international HD services.
Commenting on the new platform, Lars Janois, TSBc’s commercial director, said: “1 degree West is now a well-recognised broadcast position in CEE and reaches more than 17 million households across Europe. We are seeing a more buoyant take-up of pay-TV services within this region and we welcome and look forward to working with Neterra in developing its DTH proposition for the Bulgarian market.”
Neven Dilkov, CEO of Neterra, added: “Neterra has more than 17 years of expertise in providing and supporting broadcasting services in Bulgaria. Our new Bulgarian DTH service will offer a bouquet of premium-quality channels, which will deliver a superior TV experience.”
Bulgaria’s DTH market is currently served by three platforms: Vivacom TV, Bulsatcom and Satellite.BG, the latter of which replaced ITV Partner.
