[Satellite Today 10-08-09] Eutelsat Communications is distributing more than 100 HD channels following the addition of Sky Sport 1HD, the flagship channel of the latest HD package from the Sky Italia pay-TV platform, Eutelsat announced Oct. 7.

            Eutelsat began broadcasting HD channels in 2005, and now 42 percent of the 243 HD satellite channel streams in Europe and the Middle East are broadcast through a Eutelsat satellite, the company said. Eutelsat’s premium video neighborhoods, led by the Hot Bird position, today account for 40 percent of HD channels broadcast by Eutelsat satellites.

            "The quest for constantly enhancing viewer choice and generating premium content is shared by the entire broadcasting community, making high definition a natural step, with 3-D already following close behind,” Eutelsat Commercial Director Olivier Millies-Lacroix said in a statement. “We believe that the consumer expectation for a first-class HD experience and the suitability of our satellites for distributing HD content both direct-to-home and to cable, IP and [digital terrestrial TV] networks are guarantees of a long-term market for Eutelsat and the satellite industry."

Noorsat Signs Eutelsat Capacity Deal   Satellite Today   October 2, 2009
[Satellite TODAY 10-02-09] Eutelsat signed a multi-year capacity deal with Middle East satellite service provider Noorsat, Eutelsat announced Oct. 1. ��� The contract is for the lease of three additional transponders on Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird…

Eutelsat Awarded Broadband Connectivity Deal by Moroccan Government   Satellite Today   September 18, 2009
[Satellite TODAY 09-18-09] Eutelsat and VSAT partner Nortis Cimecom have been awarded a contract by the Moroccan Ministry for Education and the Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to deliver a satellite-based broadband service…

ILS to Launch W7 Satellite for Eutelsat   Satellite Today   September 8, 2009
[Satellite Today 09-08-09] Eutelsat signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) to the launch the W7 satellite on an ILS Proton rocket in mid-November, the companies announced Sept. 8. The W7 satellite, built by Thales Alenia…