M7
Group
Contracts
Two
Additional
Transponders
On
Astra
23.5
Degrees
East
For
Further
HDTV
Expansion
In
The
Netherlands
8
February
2010
SES
ASTRA,
has
signed
a
long-term
agreement
with
M7
Group
for
two
additional
transponders
on
ASTRA
23.5
degrees
East.
The
newly
contracted
capacity
will
be
used
for
the
further
extension
of
the
HDTV
lineup
of
CanalDigitaal,
M7
Group’s
direct-to-home
(DTH)
platform
for
the
Dutch
market
and
will
bring
the
number
of
total
transponders
contracted
by
M7
Group
at
this
orbital
position
to
four.
The
Luxembourg-based
M7
Group
provides
DTH-services
in
the
Netherlands,
Belgium
and
Luxembourg
using
the
brand
names
CanalDigitaal,
TV
Vlaanderen
and
TéléSAT.
Following
the
agreement,
CanalDigitaal
will
launch
a
broad
range
of
new
HD
channels
from
mid-February
onwards,
including
HD
channels
from
the
Dutch
public
broadcaster
NPO,
and
commercial
broadcasters
RTL
and
SBS.
As a
result,
the
CanalDigitaal
HD
channel
lineup
for
the
Dutch
market
will
more
than
double
over
the
next
three
months.
In
addition
to
the
four
transponders
now
contracted
by
M7
Group
at
23.5
degrees,
M7
Group
currently
also
operates
four
transponders
at
the
ASTRA
19.2
degrees
East
position.
By
using
an
ASTRA
DUO
LNB,
Dutch
DTH
homes
are
capable
of
receiving
programmes
from
both
orbital
positions
via
a
single
fixed
dish.
Alexander
Oudendijk,
Chief
Commercial
Officer
SES
ASTRA,
commented:
“We
are
very
pleased
with
this
new
agreement
as
it
further
strengthens
our
solid
and
long-standing
relationship
with
the
M7
Group.
The
agreement
confirms
the
rapid
success
and
key
importance
of
ASTRA
23.5
degrees
East
as a
fast-growing
HDTV
hotspot
for
the
Benelux.
It
also
demonstrates
that
in
markets
dominated
by
land-based
infrastructures,
satellite
DTH
plays
a
key
role
for
the
development
of
the
HDTV
market.
With
the
launch
of
additional
HD
channels
at
23.5
degrees
East,
ASTRA
becomes
the
largest
HD
platform
in
the
Netherlands
with
a
lineup
of
over
20
HDTV
channels,
including
all
major
public
and
commercial
channels.”
Andrei
Noppe,
Executive
Vice
President
of
M7
Group,
said:
“In
2010,
more
than
80
percent
of
Dutch
TV
homes
will
be
equipped
with
a TV
set
suitable
for
HDTV.
That
fact,
combined
with
the
World
Championship
Soccer
tournament
coming
soon,
should
result
in a
further
take-up
of
HD
over
the
coming
months.
This
agreement
with
SES
ASTRA
allows
us
to
meet
this
demand
with
an
attractive
and
wide
range
of
HD
services.
Coupled
with
the
fast
growing
free-to-air
offer
on
ASTRA,
we
believe
that
satellite
DTH
is
the
most
attractive
infrastructure
to
capture
the
HDTV
needs
in
the
Dutch
market.”
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