SES, the Luxembourg based\u00a0satellite owner and operator, has\u00a0announced a 15-year contract with Platco Digital to broadcast its new free-to-air service in South Africa, with future plans to expand across Southern Africa.<\/p>\n
Platco Digital said on Tuesday (23 July) that it had entered into partnerships with a range of companies including satellite providers, leading set-top-box (STB) distributors, major retailers and broadcasters.<\/p>\n
Platco aims to launch OpenView HD in October 2013 \u2013 a free-to-view, direct to home (DTH) satellite TV offering with approximately 15 channels.<\/p>\n
The contract, announced on Wednesday (24 July), for two transponders, with an option for additional capacity in 2014, will allow the Direct-to-Home (DTH) transmission of a new TV channel platform by Platco Digital to audiences in South Africa\u2019s urban and remote areas.<\/p>\n
SES will provide the satellite capacity on the SES-5 satellite at 5 degrees East, one of the company\u2019s flagship orbital slots, which supports customers developing the Digital DTH TV markets in Africa.<\/p>\n
Platco Digital and e.tv are owned by Sabido Investments, a South African media group with holdings in a variety of broadcasting, content, production and distribution businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis agreement is an important step for the growth of the major South African free-to-air broadcaster and the development of Direct-to-Home TV reception in Africa\u2019s dynamic emerging markets,\u201d said Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer of SES.<\/p>\n
Sabido Investment\u2019s CEO Marcel Golding said: \u201cPlatco Digital will offer local and international television businesses the opportunity to broadcast free-to-air channels on the DTH platform, in addition to the Digital Terrestrial Television and Mobile TV platforms.”<\/p>\n
New satellite TV operator steams ahead<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Ellies talks up \u201cfree-to-view\u201d TV<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n