PARIS and JOHANNESBURG, February
25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
MultiChoice Africa has signed new multi-year contracts with
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) to boost the offer of
its popular DStv pay-TV service. MultiChoice Africa is activating
one additional transponder on the EUTELSAT 36A satellite from
March, with a second to be activated from May. This takes to 22 the
total number of transponders leased by MultiChoice at Eutelsat's
36° East video neighbourhood.
The new capacity will reinforce the African content provided by
MultiChoice Africa through its leading Direct-to-Home platform.
Launched from Eutelsat's 36° East neighbourhood in 2000, DStv
delivers television to viewers in 50 countries across Sub-Saharan
Africa, offering a dynamic technology platform and a range of
bouquets built around compelling news, premium films, documentaries
and sports channels.
In support of this move, Nico
Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa said: "At
MultiChoice Africa, our mission is to
be constantly at the cutting edge of new
technology that enables DStv subscribers to enjoy the
very best home television experience. Our partnership
with Eutelsat has enabled MultiChoice Africa to expand DStv
services with
the launch of new
channels. We are proud that the DStv
channels remain of the best quality and consistently deliver new
and exciting programming that enhances
subscriber viewing pleasure, with examples
of constant product
developments including our DStv-on-Demand
services and High Definition channels."
Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet, Eutelsat's Chief Commercial
Officer added: "This new step
strengthens our longstanding collaboration with
MultiChoice, a hallmark in Africa for quality and creative
digital TV services that continue to innovate and match
consumer expectations. The additional
capacity booked by MultiChoice also further anchors 36°
East, occupied by the EUTELSAT 36A and B
satellites, as abeacon for
multi-channel viewing across sub-Saharan
Africa".
About MultiChoice Africa
MultiChoice Africa Limited ("MultiChoice Africa") is
Africa's pioneer pay TV services,
having launched the first digital satellite service in the
1980s. MultiChoice Africa provides multi-channel digital pay
television services containing channels from Africa, America, China, India,
Asia and Europe. The company has over twenty years'
experience as a Pay TV operator in Africa, offering cutting-edge digital
technology and a selection of DStv bouquets containing premium
television channels for subscribers in over 50 African countries
and the adjacent Indian Ocean islands.
About Eutelsat Communications
(http://www.eutelsat.com)
Eutelsat Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.
With capacity commercialised on 30 satellites delivering reach of
Europe, the Middle East,
Africa, Asia, significant parts of the Americas and
the Asia-Pacific, Eutelsat
Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
one of the world's leading satellite operators. As of 31 December 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting almost 4,500 television channels to over 200 million
cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa. The
Group's satellites also provide a wide range of services for TV
contribution, corporate networks and fixed and mobile broadband
markets. Headquartered in Paris,
Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ over 780 commercial, technical
and operational professionals from 30 countries.
SOURCE Eutelsat Communications