Optus Satellite increases VAST offering with new customer 3 Angels Broadcasting Network

Optus Satellite has announced that major Christian lifestyle channel, 3 Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) Australia, will now broadcast on Aurora Digital reaching the VAST community (Viewer Access Service Television) bringing a wider variety of digital content to viewers in remote areas throughout Australia.

VAST is a free-to-air direct-to-home satellite service initiated by the Australian Government and operated by Optus Satellite on the Optus Aurora Digital satellite platform. It provides digital television and radio to people living in rural and remote areas of Australia who are unable to receive normal terrestrial broadcasting services.

Paul Sheridan, Optus Vice President of Satellite, said, “We’re excited to be working with 3ABN in this new agreement, and to be bringing increased entertainment choices to VAST viewers that previously have not had the option”.

“Optus has been offering satellite services to the Australian market for over 30 years and we’re proud of our continued drive and innovation in offering new services and technologies to the market. We aim to continually build the range of services on Aurora Digital through broadcasters like 3ABN, to deliver new value for our customers.

3ABN Australia’s General Manager John Malkiewycz said, “It is a pleasure to be working with Optus in delivering a greater diversity of programming to VAST viewers across Australia. The team at Optus have been an excellent group to work with and extremely helpful in establishing our channel on the Optus Aurora platform.”

“The fact that we can easily be received via a small satellite dish, digital set-top box and Optus Aurora smartcard makes broadcasting via our satellite an attractive option for mainstream and more niche channels, such as 3ABN,” said Mr Sheridan.

The service is now being broadcast through VAST services on channel 603 across Australia, as part of a two year contract.