New DTH, mobile OTT platforms for Slovakia

Antik Telecom will launch a new DTH platform in Slovakia in the first quarter of 2015. It will offer more HD channels than any other service in the country.

Antik Telecom will also launch a mobile TV service over the internet, known as Antik TV Go, in the first week of December.

According to the company, the DTH service will be distributed by Eutelsat 16 at 16 degrees East, only a few degrees from the popular 19.2 degrees East slot.

This will allow viewers to watch hundreds of FTA channels from Astra and Eutelsat in addition to the new service.

The Basic package will cost €0.99 a month, while the family package, offering around 80 channels, eight on a TV archive basis, will cost €8.80 a month.

They will, in addition, be offered several other packages, including a Family Premium one for €7.80 a month.

All told, the hybrid DTH platform will offer viewers 100 satellite and 50 internet channels, with a third of the channels being in HD.

Viewers will be able to receive the service by buying a pre-paid card for €29 and AntikSAT satellite and IP HD box for €69. A CA module will cost €39 and complete reception equipment, including a dish, €119.

All packages will give access to a TV archive containing programmes broadcast in the previous 10 days.

Furthermore, they will be able to watch the service on mobile devices for no additional fee.

Those who register to receive the service before the end of this year will be able to view the Family package free of charge for three months.

Significantly, customers will not be required to sign a contract.

Antik says the service will also include dozens of internet channels and other features already familiar to subscribers who have the AntikSAT box.

Meanwhile, Antik TV Go will offer internet users with smartphones and tablets up to 47 channels, with viewers being given the option to pay for the OTT service with three (€7.50), six (€14.40) or 12 (€27.60) month subscriptions. Eight of the channels will be available as an archive.

Reception of the OTT service will be through a new proprietary box known as the SmartTVBox Nano. Including integrated Wi-Fi, it will cost users €89.

Prior to a press conference taking place today (November 26) in Bratislava, it was reported in the local media that Antik would not cooperate with any existing players in the Slovak DTH market, namely the M7 Group (Skylink), Slovak Telekom (New Digi TV and Newc Magio sat) and UPC DTH (freeSAT).