Azam Media
scales up capacity with Eutelsat to
expand African Pay Tv Offer
Azam Media, owned by Tanzanian
conglomerate Bakhresa Group, is ramping
up satellite capacity through a new
transponder leased on the powerful
EUTELSAT 7B satellite. Complementing
capacity used on the copositioned
EUTELSAT 7A satellite, it will host new
services for the rapidly growing AzamTV
pay-TV platform. The contract was
announced today at Cabsat Dubai.
Launched just 18 months ago, AzamTV already counts 200,000 subscribers in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The new capacity will enable AzamTV to extend its services to Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, South Sudan and Zimbabwe with additional content. Further expansion is planned using the company’s state-of-the-art studio complex and headend facility in Dar es Salaam that was inaugurated on 6 March by Jakaya Kikwete, the President of Tanzania.
Rhys Torrington, CEO of Azam
Media, commented on the new contract:
“Eutelsat’s satellite capacity and
unrivalled DTH experience enabled us to
launch an exceptional entertainment
offer at a great price. This new
contract equips us with the resources to
fast track our development and further
enhance the services we offer
subscribers across our target markets.
It also paves the way for an
acceleration of HD content that raises
the bar for further quality.”
Michel Azibert,
Chief Commercial and Development Officer
of Eutelsat, added: “AzamTV
is one of the most exciting digital
broadcasting ventures launched in Africa
over the last 18 months. Compelling and
attractively priced content, a strong
retail network and high-power reach over
Africa are the assets Azam has assembled
to play its part in the digital
broadcasting wave. We are delighted to
be their chosen satellite partner and to
see our 7° East position, occupied by
two copositioned satellites, firmly
rooted in Africa’s TV landscape.”
