German pay-TV operator Sky Deutschland will continue to distribute its channels on Astra (19.2° East) for DTH households.
The broadcaster has signed a multi-year capacity extension deal with satellite operator SES covering seven transponders on orbital position 19.2° East.
“This long-term cooperation with Sky Deutschland highlights that satellite is the key distribution infrastructure for leading pay-TV operators. SES Video’s extensive reach and services mean we are well-positioned to enable Sky Deutschland subscribers to experience a full range of high-quality content in standard, high and ultra-high definition,” said Ferdinand Kayser, CEO at SES Video. “This latest long-term renewal capacity contract is the third agreement we have signed with major pay-TV customers in the last 18 months, and clearly confirms the position of SES Video as the partner of choice for video delivery worldwide.”
The orbital position of 19.2° East is home to over 450 German-language channels with a DTH reach of 17.5 million TV households across Germany. The number of channels at 19.2° East has increased by over 25% since the end of 2012, according to SES. The number of HD channels has more than doubled in the same period, with over 160 HD channels and six Ultra HD channels on 19.2° East.
Sky Deutschland has also extended its partnership with MX1, the technical services subsidiary of SES, to cover live transmission services in the areas of sports and events.