Swiss TV platform Kabelio has extended its satellite capacity agreement with Eutelsat, securing continued distribution on the Hotbird orbital position at 13° East until the end of 2031.
The new deal, confirmed on 20 January, extends the existing agreement by a further five years. The current contract had been due to expire at the end of 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed.
According to the companies, the early renewal is intended to provide long-term planning and investment certainty for Kabelio, its customers, and broadcast partners, while reinforcing the role of satellite transmission in Switzerland’s increasingly competitive and fragmented TV market. The agreement also underlines the strategic importance of satellite reception as an independent alternative to cable- and IP-based television services, they added.
Kabelio has operated its satellite-based bouquet since 2020, targeting Swiss households that are outside cable networks or prefer a non-IP solution. The DTH platform includes more than 60 HD channels in four languages and is positioned as a multilingual service for viewers seeking programme diversity and high picture quality without relying on a traditional cable or broadband connection.
“While the TV market is becoming more fragmented and competitive, satellite remains a cornerstone for nationwide, reliable and high-quality content distribution,” said Damir Krilcic, CEO of Kabelio. “By extending our Hotbird capacity until 2031, we are reaffirming our commitment to continuity, reliability and long-term partnerships. Kabelio will continue to serve as a dependable provider of multilingual TV services tailored to the Swiss market.”
Jakub Brzeczkowski, Regional Vice President of Sales Europe in Eutelsat’s Video Business Unit, added: “We are delighted that Kabelio is continuing to rely on our Hotbird satellites to strengthen their content distribution strategy. This new agreement underscores the vital role satellite plays in ensuring inclusive access to information and entertainment, enabling audiences to continue receiving their favourite channels, no matter how remote their location.”
