Free OpenView HD TV broadcaster signs 15 year satellite deal

SES, the Luxembourg based satellite owner and operator, has announced a 15-year contract with Platco Digital to broadcast its new free-to-air service in South Africa, with future plans to expand across Southern Africa.

Platco Digital said on Tuesday (23 July) that it had entered into partnerships with a range of companies including satellite providers, leading set-top-box (STB) distributors, major retailers and broadcasters.

Platco aims to launch OpenView HD in October 2013 – a free-to-view, direct to home (DTH) satellite TV offering with approximately 15 channels.

The contract, announced on Wednesday (24 July), for two transponders, with an option for additional capacity in 2014, will allow the Direct-to-Home (DTH) transmission of a new TV channel platform by Platco Digital to audiences in South Africa’s urban and remote areas.

SES will provide the satellite capacity on the SES-5 satellite at 5 degrees East, one of the company’s flagship orbital slots, which supports customers developing the Digital DTH TV markets in Africa.

Platco Digital and e.tv are owned by Sabido Investments, a South African media group with holdings in a variety of broadcasting, content, production and distribution businesses.

“This agreement is an important step for the growth of the major South African free-to-air broadcaster and the development of Direct-to-Home TV reception in Africa’s dynamic emerging markets,” said Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer of SES.

Sabido Investment’s CEO Marcel Golding said: “Platco Digital will offer local and international television businesses the opportunity to broadcast free-to-air channels on the DTH platform, in addition to the Digital Terrestrial Television and Mobile TV platforms.”

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