CanalDigitaal And TV
Vlaanderen Launch HDTV Bouquet On Astra For Dutch And Belgian
Markets
(30 April 2008) SES Astra, an SES
company, today announced the launch of a new High Definition (HD) bouquet on
Astra targeting the Dutch and Belgian markets.
As of this month,
Dutch satellite TV provider, CanalDigitaal, and Belgian sister company, TV
Vlaanderen, broadcast their new HDTV package via the Astra satellites at the
23.5 degrees East orbital position. The capacity for the new offer, namely two
transponders, was already contracted to the broadcasters in September 2007.
With the addition of the CanalDigitaal/TV Vlaanderen High Definition offering,
there are now 34 HD channels transmitted via the Astra and Sirius
satellites.
The initial offering includes the documentary channels,
Discovery HD and National Geographic HD, as well as the Dutch-based classical
music and opera channel Brava HDTV. The launch of additional HD channels is
planned for the near future. Furthermore, CanalDigitaal concluded an agreement
with Dutch public broadcaster, NOS, for the HD transmission of the European
Soccer Championship 2008 and the Olympic Games via Astra 23.5 degrees
East.
According to the latest issue of the Astra Satellite Monitor, over
300,000 satellite homes in the Netherlands and Belgium are already receiving
programmes via 23.5 degrees East by using the Astra DUO LNB 60 or other Astra
multi-feed reception solutions. Over 240,000 of these homes are located in the
Netherlands, representing half of the total Dutch Astra DTH
market.
States Bill Wijdeveld, Managing Director of Astra Benelux: "The
growth of the Astra 23.5 degrees East household reach has been tremendous,
especially taking into account that this new DTH position was introduced in the
Benelux market only one year ago. The start of the HDTV bouquet is another
important milestone in the development of Astra 23.5 degrees East as an
additional DTH position for the Netherlands and Belgium."
Apart from the
CanalDigitaal/TV Vlaanderen HD channels, the Dutch regional channels and
thematic bouquets from CanalDigitaal and TV Vlaanderen are available on Astra
23.5 degrees East. Via the same orbital position, Dutch and Belgian consumers
can now also enjoy the benefits of high speed internet and VoIP (voice over
internet protocol) services via Astra2Connect. The new two-way broadband
service is purely satellite-based and will be marketed in Belgium and the
Netherlands as of June 1, 2008 by the provider Satelliet Electronics and in
co-operation with Siemens and Budget Phone Company.
About SES
Astra
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. 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.
(source: SES Astra)
