Sat operators / Tele Columbus & Eutelsat Germany to launch new platform
06-01-2009
News
Over 300.000 Polish n subscribers
"n", the youngest Polish digital platform, already had over 300,000 subscribers in the end of the first quarter of 2008. That information has been published in the ITI Group's report for 2007. It proves that many new subscribers join "n" platform on a regular basis and their numer is constantly increasing. ››
Cyfra+ after the transponder changes
Polish digital platform Cyfra+, in accordance with SATKurier.pl announcements, has introduced many changes on its transponders in the night of 7th April 2008. Changes concerned Hot Bird 8 (13E) transponders. This is the list of all changes, with specific technical parameters, for viewers who are not using platform's terminals. ››
TVP Sport in HD?
TVP, Polish public bradcaster, announced that its first HD channel TVP Sport HD will debut this summer and will operate separetly from TVP Sport, current sports channel. TVP Sport HD probably will be broadcast only in DVB-T test's transmitters. ››
Euro 2008 in HD on NTV Plus
Russian digital platform NTV Plus (Eutelsat W4 - 36°E and Bonum 1 - 56°E) has gained broadcasting rights to present football championships Euro 2008 in HD. The event will be transmitted on HD Sport. Polsat Sport HD will broadcast the event in Poland. ››
Tele Columbus & Eutelsat Germany to launch new platform
- 2008-02-08 13:39:44 / Anita D?bek
- last update: 2008-02-08 13:49:02
- source: Eutelsat
Tele Columbus, Germany’s third largest cable operator with more than 3.7 million homes, and Eutelsat’s German subsidiary, Eutelsat Deutschland today announced they will establish a unique platform for bundling digital channels and services for German cable homes from Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite.
Located in proximity to Eutelsat’s flagship HOT BIRD™ position, EUROBIRD™ 9 is fast developing into an important video neighbourhood for Europe. For Tele Columbus, the cooperation gives the company more freedom in negotiations with content providers and further strengthens its position with end-users as a multimedia service provider.
By enabling a portfolio of basic private digital channels to be made available to Tele Columbus digital cable subscribers and other network operators, the cooperation marks a milestone in accelerating the long-awaited transition of Germany’s cable market from analogue to digital. The new platform will shortly begin testing and will officially launch in May. Starting with two transponders, Tele Columbus plans to ramp up to five transponders hosting more than 50 digital channels and services. The initial offer of 20 private German channels will be multiplexed, encrypted and uplinked to EUROBIRD™ 9 by Eutelsat. Digital cable homes served by Tele Columbus will benefit from an extended variety of commercial channels with digital quality. The platform is also an important step in extending the digital service provided by KabelKiosk to independent cable operators and also to other interested operators. KabelKiosk already delivers 60 German and international channels to more than 230 cable network operators in Germany.
“We have found with Eutelsat a reliable and strong partner for the realisation of our digital platform”, said Markus Schmid, COO and President of the Tele Columbus Group. “We will also continue on this path in the future and drive the migration process from analogue to digital cable through new initiatives and with the appropriate partners.” For Tele Columbus, the establishment of the new platform is a further important step in the company’s development from an infrastructure provider to a customer-centered telecommunications and multimedia provider. To further expand its end-customer business, the company will bundle its networks in regions with signal access using its own headends, and will offer individually designed programme bouquets and digital services.
„Our partner Tele Columbus is taking a pioneer role in the German cable market. This unique partnership is very important for Eutelsat in several ways. By bundling a basic package of encrypted private channels, we are establishing a compelling digital offer which will speed the transition of Germany’s cable market from analogue to digital, and give German homes more choice and improved quality. The selection by Tele Columbus of EUROBIRD™ 9, our newest video neighbourhood, is also a strong signal of its enormous potential for European cable markets“, said Martina Rutenbeck, Managing Director of Eutelsat Germany’s subsidiary Eutelsat visAvision GmbH.
