SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), has signed an
agreement for an additional transponder on its new prime orbital
position - 23.5 degrees East - for the Czech Pay-TV platform CS Link.
The new capacity is to be used by CS Link to broadcast an enhanced
programme package. CS Link is the largest pay-TV platform in the Czech
Republic with 400,000 customers, and transmits in total 25 TV and 11
radio programmes. With the new agreement, CS Link will use three
transponders on the ASTRA Satellite system.
SES ASTRA is successfully developing its 23.5 degrees East orbital
position into a new location for Direct-to-Home (DTH). Two ASTRA
satellites, ASTRA 3A and ASTRA 1E, occupy this position and currently
serve Central Europe, the Benelux countries and German cable networks
as well as offering the high-speed broadband service ASTRA2Connect.
Benelux, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have generated strong demand on
23.5 degrees East in 2007, increasing the reach of these satellites to
700,000 DTH households and another 1.7 million households receiving
their signal through cable head-ends in these regions.1
"Our 23.5 degrees East orbital position has
already become a top slot for Benelux and Central European broadcasters
and we intend to develop this new hot spot in other markets as well," says Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. "By
using a simple technical device, the Duo LNB, satellite households can
significantly increase their choice of international free-to-air
channels, and receive signals from two ASTRA positions, 19.2 degrees
East and 23.5 degrees East. The agreement with CS Link represents a
further strengthening of ASTRA´s position in
the Central and Eastern European markets."
"We chose the ASTRA satellite system because
of its attractive neighborhood of renowned broadcasters, and its
excellent market reach in the Czech Republic and other European
countries," said Leos Pohl, Chairman of the
Czech Digital Group, which operates CS Link. "With
this new capacity we are able to further enhance the attractiveness of
the CS Link platform. We recognise SES ASTRA´s
long-standing experience in providing technical excellence, which will
guarantee us a high quality service with broad audience reach."
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in
Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 13 ASTRA and two SIRIUS
satellites. The combined satellite system delivers services to more than
117 million DTH and cable households and transmits a total of 2,295
analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also
provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication
services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 34 High
Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA and
SIRIUS represent the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in
Europe. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2° East, 28.2° East, 23.5° East, 5° East and 31.5° East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES owns three
market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in
North America, and SES NEW SKIES which provides global coverage and
connectivity. The company owns 90 percent of SES SIRIUS in Europe, as
well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in
Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via
a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe.
Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
Find more information about CS Link at www.cslink.cz
1 Source: SES ASTRA Satellite Monitor, Year End
2007
