StarTimes employs Eutelsat for DTT in Africa

StarTimes, an operator of digital TV networks in Africa, and Eutelsat Communications have concluded new multi-year agreements to accelerate roll-out of DTT across Africa.

StarTimes uses satellites to deliver its multi-channel TV platform to over seven million homes in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries and is gearing up to expand into DRC Congo and Zambia in August. The platform transmits over 200 channels, including international channels, regional and country-focused channels as well as StarTimes’ own branded content.

Content is offered both on a Free-to-View and pay-TV basis, with exclusive programming including frontline events such as the Bundesliga and the 2016 Copa America.

StarTimes has renewed capacity contracts on two Eutelsat satellites as well as agreements for uplinking services provided by a partner teleport operated by STN, in Slovenia. In anticipation of continued expansion of Africa’s TV market, StarTimes has also secured extra capacity and plans to scale up further by the end of the year. This expanded portfolio equips StarTimes to host more services, uplink channels from Europe and Africa and provide the highest levels of service continuity.

“StarTimes and Eutelsat are long-term strategic partners,” said StarTimes group chairman and president Pang Xinxing.

“We rely on Eutelsat’s advanced satellite communication technology to make our signals available throughout the African continent. Going forward, we will continue to work with Eutelsat to provide the best digital TV service to our African customers.”

Rodolphe Belmer, Eutelsat CEO added: “Eutelsat is fully engaged in the transformation of Africa’s broadcasting landscape and is proud to work with the players who are bringing the benefits of digital TV to viewers across the continent. In leveraging diversified satellite resources we can help StarTimes achieve its ambition to reach 30 million homes in 30 African countries by 2018.”

Eutelsat reaches 3.1 million German DTH homes

New data measuring trends in Germany from 2014 to 2016 show growth of the DTH base of Eutelsat’s Hot Bird position increasing by 30% to 3.1 million homes.

Between spring 2014 and 2016 the number of homes in Europe’s biggest TV market equipped for DTH reception from the Hot Bird position increased from 2.4 million to 3.1 million. With nine out of ten of these homes already equipped with an HD screen the stage is set for an acceleration of HD growth.

In addition to its growing DTH base, Hot Bird has a 95% penetration of German cable homes and 100% penetration of IP homes. In total, 21.5 million of Germany’s 40.1 million TV homes receive channels from the Hot Bird position. The main drivers of its rising popularity are channel diversity, including English, Russian, Polish, Arabic, Turkish and Farsi TV channels, and an exceptional free-to-air offer of almost 400 channels.

The Eutelsat 9B satellite at 9 degrees East, Eutelsat’s second significant position for Germany, also showed growth to 4.7 million DTH, cable and IP homes, reflecting an almost 20% jump in 24 months. Eutelsat 9B is the satellite of choice for M7 Deutschland and multiple cable and IP network operators in Germany.

The Observatory also revealed rising interest in and awareness of Ultra HD by German TV viewers. Over 80% of TV homes (75% in 2014) declared they were familiar with Ultra HD.

“Our new analysis highlights the strong demand for satellite TV in Germany, with 2.5 million TV homes declaring an interest in switching to DTH reception over the next 12 months to benefit from channel diversity and image quality,” said Commenting on the results, Michel Azibert, Eutelsat Chief Commercial and Development Officer.

“More specifically for Eutelsat and our community of channels, the survey shows a clear growth trend at two of our longstanding video neighbourhoods, with more growth to come as HD accelerates and Ultra HD takes hold. This outcome encourages us to pursue our efforts to grow in Germany and to leverage new technologies and applications that connect our clients to their audience.”

New Eutelsat China CEO

Philippe Lin has been appointed the CEO of Eutelsat’s China office.

Lin has joined Eutelsat from Airbus China, where he was VP and chief representative for 15 years.

Prior to that, he held executive positions at Total, both in Beijing and Paris, and began his career in China working for amongst others, China’s Council for Promotion and International Trade.

Lin is a French national, a graduate of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, France’s Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) and Canada’s Ecole Nationale d’Administration Publique.

Eutelsat selected for EG SAT DTH in Equatorial Guinea

UBM EG selects Eutelsat for new EG SAT digital TV platform for Equatorial Guinea

• UBM EG selects Eutelsat for new EG SAT digital TV platform for Equatorial Guinea
• Strong draw of EUTELSAT 16A satellite across West Africa reaches new heights: now broadcasting over 150 channels

MALABO, PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) announces a multiyear contract with United Business Machines EG (UBM), a leading distributor of IT products, services and solutions in Equatorial Guinea. The contract covers lease of capacity connected to the African beam of the EUTELSAT 16A satellite to broadcast the new EG SAT pay-TV platform.

Due for launch at the end of the month, EG SAT will broadcast over 60 channels across Equatorial Guinea, with a strong accent on Spanish content. The platform will also include French, English and Portuguese content to support the ongoing effort to integrate this Spanish-speaking West African nation into predominantly French-speaking and Portuguese-speaking regions. With three package options to choose from, EG SAT will be available from the equivalent of €15.25 per month to homes equipped with a 70cm dish and an access card linked to a set-up box called the “Emerging Equatorial Guinean”.

Accelerating digital switchover

EG SAT will also broadcast Equatorial Guinea’s three national channels. The channels, produced by Radio Nacional de Guinea Equatorial, will be available to homes equipped for Direct-to-Home reception on a free-to-air basis and will also be delivered to terrestrial retransmitters and headends as part of the drive to accelerate analogue switch-off in Equatorial Guinea.

EUTELSAT 16A, a leading digital broadcasting hub for Africa

UBM selected Eutelsat’s vibrant broadcasting hub at 16° East, occupied by the EUTELSAT 16A satellite, for its premium footprint of Equatorial Guinea, its fast-growing audience and the strength of its line-up that now numbers over 150 channels. Broadcasters and platforms already favouring this neighbourhood include Crystal TV in Ghana, Free Africa in Cameroon, Ma TELE, My TV Smart, and Shashatee in the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and TV Sat Afrika in Benin.

Enrique Ngua Obiang Shaw, Deputy Managing Director, announced: “To move into digital broadcasting, we wanted to rely on industry-leading competence in the West African audiovisual landscape. For us, the EUTELSAT 16A satellite emerged as by far the most advantageous option in terms of its reach and exceptional range of channels.”

In welcoming UBM onto EUTELSAT 16A, Michel Azibert, Chief Commercial and Development Officer of Eutelsat, said: “EG SAT is poised to propel Equatorial Guinea into a new digital era by delivering the benefits of signal quality and choice and by ensuring that the country’s landmass is fully covered through satellite delivery. We are proud to have won their confidence and to see satellite increasingly woven into the infrastructure progressively taking Africa closer to a fully digital broadcasting environment.”

M7 finalises KabelKiosk acquisition from Eutelsat

Luxembourg-based media company M7 Group has closed the purchase of German direct-to-cable platform KabelKiosk from satellite operator Eutelsatannounced in May 2014 as all regulatory approvals have now been granted.

The former operating company Eutelsat Communications has been renamed M7 Deutschland and will continue to be based in Cologne. The management of the company which employs around 30 people will remain in the hands of the previous managing directors Martina Rutenbeck and Alessandro Lanfranconi.

M7 Group wants to further expand the cable business and the new IPTV and OTT platform meinFernsehen launched in May 2014.

KabelKiosk currently collaborates with around 30 cable operators and IP platform operators in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg which receive their channel packages and services from the company.

M7 Group to acquire KabelKiosk from Eutelsat

Satellite operator Eutelsat has sold its German direct-to-cable platform KabelKiosk to Luxembourg-based media company M7 Group.

The deal of which financial details have not been disclosed is performed through M7A Group, an affiliate of M7 Group, trading under the name of M7 Deutschland, taking over Eutelsat visAvision, Eutelsat’s Cologne-based German subsidiary which operates the KabelKiosk platform of digital channels and interactive services for cable and IPTV networks in German-speaking Europe.

The transaction includes a long-term agreement for the lease of multiple transponders at Eutelsat’s 9 degrees East orbital position. Eutelsat will also continue to provide uplink services for the KabelKiosk platform from its teleports in Italy and France. Eutelsat and M7 Deutschland have moreover agreed that they will establish a strategic partnership for connected TV, combining broadcast and on-demand video services.

“Having built a strong video distribution platform in Germany, it is now time for a new shareholder to drive KabelKiosk forward as it embarks on a new chapter of expansion,” said Michel de Rosen, chairman and CEO of Eutelsat. “Following the recent launch by M7 of its newHungarian pay-TV venture from our 9° East video neighbourhood, the transaction announced today strengthens our relationship with the M7 group of companies.”

“I take this opportunity, on behalf of all at Eutelsat, to express our appreciation to the KabelKiosk team, led by Martina Rutenbeck and Alessandro Lanfranconi, for the energy and dedication they have applied to building a vibrant business that is well positioned to move ahead with its next phase of growth,” added de Rosen.

Kees Färber, managing director of M7 Deutschland, said: “The acquisition of KabelKiosk is an excellent opportunity for us to enter the German market for TV platform operators. We are confident that KabelKiosk will further grow its existing cable business as well as achieve additional growth through the exciting new opportunities provided by the new IPTV and OTT delivery platforms.”

Martina Rutenbeck, managing director of KabelKiosk, said: “By leveraging M7′s significant expertise in platform operations, we are well positioned to continue to expand our cable activity and, at the same time, to accelerate our diversification into IPTV/OTT service provision.”

KabelKiosk generated approximately €25 million of revenues in Eutelsat’s 2012/13 financial year. The terms of the sale agreement remain confidential. Subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, the transaction is expected to close in July 2014.

M7 Group operates several TV platforms for consumers and business customers. The company’s portfolio comprises CanalDigitaal and Online.nl in the Netherlands, TV Vlaanderen in Flanders, TéléSAT in French-speaking Belgium, AustriaSat and HD Austria in Austria, AustriaSat Magyarország in Hungary and CS Link and Skylink for the Czech and Slovak market. M7 Group’s DTH platforms reach a total of more than 3 million viewers.

Since 2011, M7 Group has also been providing internet and telephony services to its customers in The Netherlands and Belgium. In addition, through its subsidiary Stream Group, M7 delivers enhanced interactive video, OTT and multiscreen services in Europe and Asia through its Solocoo platform.