[Satellite Today – 7-02-08]  Arqiva has secured a five-year contract with France’s Multi7 to manage the broadcaster’s multiplex platform, delivering a digital terrestrial television (DTT) service, Arqiva announced July 1.
    Arqiva will manage encoding, multiplexing and signal switching for the DTT service, which was unveiled by French regulator CSA in March, from Arqiva’s Paris teleport. The DTT multiplex, the first authorized by the CSA, will include four commercial channels and three associated channels. The goal of the service is to promote the local news and the cultural, scientific, technological and diversity of the Ile de France region – France’s most populated area with 11.6 million inhabitants.
    Arqiva’s “team monitors our platform 24/7, ensuring program and data synchronization on a daily basis and implementing live configuration when needed,” Grégory Samak, president of Multi7, said in a statement. “Arqiva has not only provided a quality technical solution, but they have also demonstrated a high level of understanding of the commercial channels comprising the multiplex as well as the associated services which work on a very tight budget. The solution provided by Arqiva has met the TV channels’ expectation in terms of quality versus pricing."