Multichoice Africa Cements Longstanding Relationship With Eutelsat Through A 20 Transponder Lease on the W7 Satellite
(Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced the signature of an historic contract
with MultiChoice Africa, the pioneer in multi-channel pay-TV across
sub-Saharan Africa. MultiChoice has signed for a total 20 Ku-band
transponders for 15 years on Eutelsat’s new W7 satellite that is now fully
operating at the 36 degrees East position. Ranking as one of the largest
contracts concluded by Eutelsat, this new agreement extends to 2025 a
relationship between the two companies that began in 2000 with the
positioning of Eutelsat’s W4 satellite at 36 degrees East to support
MultiChoice’s DStv platform which now reaches into more than 800,000 homes in
sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Southern African subscribers.
Since the beginning of January, MultiChoice has been carrying out the
transfer of television channels onto the new satellite from the 14
transponders used until now on W4 and SESAT 1 at 36 degrees East. This
majority of transponders were successfully migrated by 18 January, with the
last transponder scheduled to move to W7 on
six transponders leased on W7 will be progressively activated by MultiChoice
Africa to support new services, including High Definition channels.
With the move to W7, MultiChoice Africa has consolidated all of its
Ku-band pay-TV activity outside
In addition to benefiting from better signal levels and improved coverage for
all the regions already served from Eutelsat’s 36 degrees East neighbourhood,
MultiChoice Africa has extended its Ku-band service to additional countries,
notably
domestic antennas.
In a further step to consolidate the relationship, Eutelsat will actively
support the MultiChoice Resource Centre (MRC) programme which uses the
digital satellite platform to enhance the learning and teaching experience in
over 710 schools across
objectives and will deliver additional educational content focused on
building knowledge and understanding of satellite applications and
engineering.
Collins Khumalo, President of MultiChoice Africa said: “The launch of the
W7 satellite will enable us to significantly improve our DStv services on the
continent while remaining at the cutting edge of African pay television
entertainment. This new satellite will deliver a better DStv signal, a
greater selection of channels and allow us to introduce exciting new High
Definition services.”
ten years of strong collaboration at our 36 degrees East neighbourhood, the
Eutelsat / MultiChoice Africa partnership can now move into a higher gear
with W7. In terms of capacity, coverage and power, the long-term requirements
of this leading player in
Eutelsat’s core priorities when we initiated this new satellite programme. We
are delighted to welcome MultiChoice Africa on board W7 and that this is
their satellite of choice to deliver a compelling range of digital services
to African homes in 38 countries.”
About MultiChoice Africa
MultiChoice Africa Limited is a multi-channel pay television platform
providing services to 47 countries and reaching into more than 1 Million
homes across the African continent and adjacent Indian Ocean islands. Through
a range of DStv bouquets, the company provides quality television
entertainment to
requirements.
Operations include subscriber management services and the management of a
digital satellite television platform (DStv), which consists of wide
selection of video and audio channels 24 hours a day.
MultiChoice Africa operates from two satellites over
includes the KU Band Eutelsat W7 satellite which stretches from
the West to
Through continuous innovation in technology and assembling an excellent
range of DStv bouquets, built around compelling news, as well as premium
movie and sports channels, MultiChoice Africa has succeeded in adding
significant value to television consumers in
MultiChoice Africa Limited is a registered company based in
is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Naspers Group.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well
as the
Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators in
terms of revenues. At
broadcasting 3,300 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than
1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13
degrees East which serves over 123 million cable and satellite homes in
wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution
markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service
Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat’s
broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through
teleports in
government agencies and aid organisations in
Americas. Headquartered in
commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
For further information
MultiChoice Africa
Press
Caroline Creasy
Tel: +27-11-289-3081
Carolinecreasy@multichoice.co.za
For further information
Eutelsat Communications
Press
Vanessa O'Connor
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frederique Gautier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Investors
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com
SOURCE Eutelsat Communications