CHANNEL D TO USE ASTRA’S GLOBAL SATELLITES

Channel D has signed a long term agreement with SES-Astra that will see the commercial international television service transmit to North and South America. SES stresses that this is its first contract that the company has signed for capacity on anything other than its European Astra system.

Channel D, along with its accompanying Schlager and Volksmusik radio service Channel D radio and nonstop pop and rock music station MagicStar will use the satellite GE-4 and GE-6 operated by US-based GE Americom, which SES will acquire later this year subject to regulatory clearance. The footprint of GE-4 (101 degrees West) covers the whole of Latin America while GE-6 (72 degrees West) reaches North America. “Through the contract with SES, we will be able to reach all German-speaking households in North, Central and South America from September 1,” said Channel D’s managing director Jurgen Grobbin. He added that approximately seven million German-speaking viewers live in the regions that will be able to receive the new pay-TV service by using small 60 to 90cm satellite dishes.