SES Astra, an SES Global company and Arena, owner of live-TV rights for the German first soccer league (Bundesliga) announced March 16 that they have signed a satellite capacity agreement. The long-term contract secures Arena the capacity of a full digital transponder on an Astra satellite at the orbital position 19.2 degrees East. With its seven satellites at this position, SES Astra can reach more than 16 million German households receiving their television programs directly via satellite, of which more than 6 million use the digital reception mode. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“With Arena, we have gained an important and prominent new customer,” Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES Astra, said in a statement. “We are pleased that Astra households will be able to benefit from the Bundesliga package that Arena will offer. We are looking forward to a long-standing and successful relationship with our new customer.”