Globecast Selects Eutelsat's Eurobird 9a Satellite To Launch HD Distribution Platform

11 April 2011

To respond to increasing HD demand from its clients, GlobeCast has concluded a five-year contract with Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) for a third transponder on the EUROBIRD™ 9A satellite, which will carry a full HD DVB-S2 platform.

The first clients on the platform already include Eurosport and Fashion One. Eutelsat's EUROBIRD™ 9A satellite was chosen for its potential to reach over five million Direct-to-Home and cable homes. The satellite's proximity to Eutelsat's HOT BIRD™ video neighborhood at 13° East adds the opportunity for broadcasters to reach homes equipped for dual-feed reception from both positions.

As a neighbourhood of choice for flagship broadcasters, Eutelsat's EUROBIRD™ 9A satellite offers clients of GlobeCast's new platform prime access to cable networks and ISPs. Channels currently in SD looking to launch an HD DVB-S2 offer, or existing HD channels looking for new options, will also benefit from this new choice. GlobeCast's service to broadcasters can include content management, playout and origination and encoding, among other features. Uplink to EUROBIRD™ 9A is possible from Paris: a central point that enjoys connectivity to over 30 PoPs via GlobeCast's five-continent fiber network.

Broadcasting over 250 channels, including 35 already in HD, EUROBIRD™ 9A and its proximity to the 1,100 channels at Eutelsat's HOT BIRD™ neighborhood offer clients of this new platform an ideal environment that brings together the best international and regional channels in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.