NEWSLETTERS

TVB Television Broadcasts selects EUROBIRD™ 9 for new multi-channel Chinese platform for Europe

Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), one of the world's largest producers and distributors of Chinese programmes, has selected capacity on Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite to launch its new multi-channel platform of Chinese-language channels. The platform is targeting the population of half a million Cantonese speakers within EUROBIRD™ 9's pan-European footprint.

For the first time in Europe, TVB's subsidiary 'The Chinese Channel' is offering a line-up of five of the Group's flagship infotainment channels including "TVBS-Europe" which specialises in Hong Kong drama series, local news and Chinese community events in Europe. It also comprises four speciality channels which were launched in first quarter 2008: "TVBN", a 24-hour Hong Kong and global news channel, "TVB Entertainment News" which focuses on entertainment news from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the USA, "TVB Classic" which shows nostalgic content, and "TVB Lifestyle" which specialises in fashion, travel and dining. The channels are broadcast in Cantonese and uplinked to EUROBIRD™ 9 by Eutelsat's Skylogic affiliate from its teleport in Turin.

For more information: www.chinese-channel.co.uk

HiTV boosts its pay-TV offer

HiTV, the Nigerian pay-TV platform commercialised by Entertainment Highway Ltd, has increased its capacity on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite at 36 degrees East. The new capacity will enable the DTH operator to broadcast another six to eight channels, taking their offer to over 20 channels. Zee Cinema UK and Fox News are among the new channels to be added to the mix of local and international programming.

Launched less than one year ago, HiTV already has over 100,000 subscribers throughout Nigeria, making it one of the fastest growing DTH operators in Africa this year. The company has maintained a strategy of combining mass market affordable pricing with a varied portfolio of general entertainment, news, movies and sports channels. Among the international channels on offer are Trace TV, Sky News, BBC World, Eurosport News and E! Entertainment. European football has proved a popular offer, with live games broadcast from the English Barclays Premier League and matches from Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A. HiTV has also recently acquired broadcast rights to the English Carling Cup and the UEFA Champions League, for the 2009-2011 seasons. Locally-produced content includes children’s edutainment channel, Hi Kids; music and lifestyle channel Nigezie, focusing mainly on Nigerian artistes; and Nigerian movie channel Hi Nolly.

For more information: www.hitv.com.ng

Polsat News On Air from 7 June

Polsat News took to the air for Polish satellite TV homes on June 7 via HOT BIRD™ 7A. Available in the Cyfrowy Polsat platform which serves almost 2.2 million subscribers, the new channel is broadcasting live from 7am to midnight on a trial basis, with new programmes to be added in September. The commercial-free line up includes an hourly 15-minute news bulletin, and a shorter version on the half-hour.

In addition to boosting its channel offer with all-news channels and further thematic content, Cyfrowy Polsat has increased its HD offer with the launch on May 25 of Eurosport HD which joins Polsat Sport HD and HBO HD. The Cyfrowy Polsat platform broadcasts in Poland via four transponders from Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ video neighbourhood.

For more information: www.polsat.pl

Senegalese Postal Service connects remote offices via VSAT

The Senegalese Postal Service has connected 165 post office establishments throughout the country via a VSAT network, using Eutelsat’s W6 satellite at 21.5° East. The Virtual Private Network supports an independent telecommunications network for voice, video, images and data. Linking the head office with regional delegations, finance centres and post office outlets, Senegal’s Postal Service aims to improve the speed and efficiency of customer services and reduce internal communication costs. Each site is equipped with Internet/VPN access, PCs, fax and IP telephones. The network, which is one of the most extensive in Senegal, enables telephony, audioconferencing and videoconferencing, distance learning, IP multicasting, and Internet services.

Eutelsat’s W6 satellite was chosen for its coverage and availability of the connection across urban, rural or isolated areas. The centralised network uses Ku-band satellite capacity, reducing the size of antennas required at the sites, and is managed via a TDMA hub in Dakar. The VSAT installations are quick to deploy and have identical infrastructure costs for each site, however remote the location.

Sardinia turns to satellite to monitor and control water supplies

The Sardinian agency Ente Acqua della Sardegna (ENAS), which is responsible for managing waterworks and water regulatory affairs across the region has selected Skylogic's D-STAR two-way broadband service for monitoring and remote control of Sardinia's water system. In order to set in place a fully secure remote and automatic communications infrastructure across Sardinia, ENAS has worked with IcarusNet to extend an initial network of 14 D-STAR terminals with 16 new terminals located at hydro-electric dams, viaducts and reservoirs.

Data transmitted from the sites includes water levels, pump performances, energy production, while control commands can also be sent, thereby eliminating any need for human intervention on site. Maurizio Bonetti project manager for ENAS commented on the expansion of the network "We are extremely satisfied with the scalability of the D-STAR solution and the easy interface with our existing terrestrial network. We are now looking at further extending remote monitoring and control of installations across Sardinia by satellite."

For more information: www.icarusnet.it

Solaris Mobile establishes European HQ in Dublin

Solaris Mobile, the joint-venture company formed by Eutelsat and SES Astra to provide services in the S-band, has officially established its corporate headquarters in Dublin. The S-band payload, to be embarked on Eutelsat’s W2A satellite and due for launch in early 2009, will provide TV, video and radio plus two-way communication to a variety of handheld mobile devices such as phones, laptops and portable media players.

At an official ceremony in Dublin, Mary Coughlan, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, welcomed the opening of Solaris Mobile: “This project is the first investment in Ireland by international satellite operators and as such is a unique investment for the country, particularly as it is being made by two of the highest profile brand-name companies in the global satellite communications industry.” Headed by Steve Maine, the Dublin office of Solaris Mobile will handle corporate responsibilities for Europe including regulatory support, sales and marketing, brand awareness, finance, and compliance and legal issues. It will also identify new business opportunities, and negotiate and manage partnerships with broadcasters, content developers, network operators and handset manufacturers.

For more information: www.solarismobile.com