ABS Announces Partnership with PT Sarana Media Vision to launch new Indonesian DTH FreeviewSat Platform

8 Nov 2016

ABS has announced that it will partner with PT Sarana Media Vision (SMV), using SMV’s DTH license to launch a consumer FreeView satellite service – FreeViewSat - across Indonesia in January 2017.  The service will be called SMV FreeViewSat and will initially broadcast over 60 television channels via the ABS-2, ABS-2A and ABS-6 satellites in both Ku and C-band. 

For the first time in Indonesia, a free-to-view platform will be available throughout the entire country, allowing advertisers the opportunity to reach the full potential of the Indonesian audience. 

The FreeViewSat model will promote maximum distribution and the cost of the STB & dish will be less than US$35.  Customer will only need to make this one-time purchase to enjoy all the TV channels on the platform (with no monthly recurring subscription fees).   

Tom Choi, CEO of ABS commented that "SMV’s FreeViewSat will be very attractive for Indonesia by providing great quality international and unique domestic programming to the entire country.  The goal is to deliver high quality entertainment and educational content affordably to all.  For the first time, everybody, not only the affluent or those in the urban areas, will be able to receive high quality programming for free, with just a one-time purchase of a set-top box and dish.  FreeViewSat will also give advertisers the first real opportunity to reach the whole population of Indonesia, even in rural areas. ABS is delighted to be partnering and supporting this worthwhile venture.’’  

At launch in January, FreeViewSat will carry at least 30 local Free-to-Air channels and more than 30 high quality international channels.   The number of channels will continue to grow to over 100 channels in the first 6 to 12 months as new and interesting content is added.   

FreeViewSat will be available via 75cm Ku band dishes from 75E on ABS-2 and ABS-2A, and via 1.6m C-band antennas from 159E on ABS-6 simultaneously, so that consumers have the choice of small dishes, or larger ones with better rain protection. Since Indonesia already has over 10 million C-band antennas installed, the adoption rate is expected to be rapid.   

ABS has selected the ABV conditional access and middleware system, along with Ali chips for its Set-Top Boxes