BT Broadcast Services and SES ASTRA Team up to Provide Cost Effective Uplink Solution
Ideal entry point for broadcasters seeking access to 10.4 million European digital DTH homes through ASTRA's prime orbital location of 19.2° East and huge footprint
BT Broadcast Services (BTBS), the broadcast and media solutions arm of BT, and SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), today announce a long-term cooperation contract to promote ASTRA at 19.2° East to independent satellite broadcasters. BTBS will provide the ground segment of the package - including multiplexing and uplink from Paris or London - and SES ASTRA the space segment, through capacity on the ASTRA 1G spacecraft.
The ASTRA Satellite System at 19.2° East provides access to the largest digital satellite audience in Europe, with 10.4 million homes receiving direct-to-home transmissions, and a further 57.9 million through cable. Through this offer, independent free-to-air and ethnic channels new to the ASTRA Satellite System will be able to tap this steadily increasing audience at very attractive rates.
Broadcasters who sign up will benefit from a feature-rich service that includes:
- Variable bandwidth from 2Mb/s up to 33Mb/s;
- Video flexibility - service can accept SD video and audio as DVB ASI, uncompressed SDI or analogue in any formats.
- The latest generation, high quality MPEG 2 compression equipment that can support channels at 2.5Mb/s.
- 24-hour monitoring to ensure troubleshooting in case of difficulties - plus Internet-based monitoring for customers
- Presence in the ASTRA Mosaic - ASTRA's electronic programme guide (EPG)
In addition to the above, there are a number of premium services, including standards conversion between NTSC and PAL, time shifting to allow repurposing of content between time zones and seamless bit rate conversion as well as a conditional access solution that includes encryption, smart card distribution, authorisation and de-authorisation. Through its global digital network, BT can also help broadcasters get their feeds to the Paris or London uplink if required.
"This new offering will be particularly attractive to thematic channels and ethnic broadcasters who are looking for a medium to reach their huge ex-patriot communities living in the EC," said Mark Smith, CEO of BT Broadcast Services. "BTBS's market-leading technology, combined with ASTRA's powerful and extensive European footprint and established viewer base allows broadcasters to enter this market quickly and extremely cost-effectively - while at the same time knowing that reliability and stability of service is a given."
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, comments: "ASTRA at 19.2° East is the premium satellite platform for the digital DTH markets in Continental Europe. We are convinced that this new joint offering from BTBS and ASTRA provides a compelling package for broadcasters wishing to deliver their content in Western Europe."
For further information please contact:
| Yves Feltes Press Relations, SES ASTRA Tel +352 710 725 311 Yves.Feltes@ses-global.com www.ses-astra.com |
Adam Barber Band & Brown Communications Tel: +44 (0) 20 7419 8631 adam@bbpr.com BT Group Newsroom T: +44 (0) 20 7356 5369 |
About BT Broadcast Services |
http://www.worldsat.net |
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BT Broadcast Services (BTBS) is the broadcast and media solutions arm of BT and a world-leading supplier of global broadcast, content management and communications solutions. Its international customer base includes broadcasters, content owners and distributors, large corporations and government organisations throughout the world. BTBS provides bespoke satellite and fibre-based solutions, some of which utilise sophisticated digital content and data management technology, to transport and manage video, audio and data. Delivering live broadcasts from major international events, providing digital terrestrial TV (DTTV) networks and direct to home (DTH) satellite platforms, storing and securely distributing video content to broadband devices, enabling retail digital signage and designing and managing major corporate communications infrastructures are just some of the areas in which BTBS excels. An industry pioneer, BTBS aims to deliver the highest quality of service, flexibility and efficiency through advanced technology and industry expertise. BTBS is part of BT Global Services. BT Global Services is BT's business services and solutions division, serving customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.broadcast.bt.com |
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About BT Group |
http://www.worldsat.net |
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BT Group plc is the holding company for an integrated group of communications businesses and is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include network centric Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.. BT consists principally of three lines of business: BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to over 600 fixed and mobile operators and to service providers including the provision of ADSL broadband, Private Circuits and PSTN. BT Global Services, providing g international carrier services, and ICT services internationally to meet the needs of multi-site organisations with European operations. BT Global Services operates in 136 countries and also offers international carrier services. In the year ended 31 March 2004, BT Group's turnover was £18,519 million with profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of £2,013 million. For more information, visit www.btplc.com |
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About SES ASTRA |
http://www.ses-astra.com |
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The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 94 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5° East and 5.2° East. SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt stock exchanges: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 40 satellites across the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and ND Satcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX, a Luxembourg-based joint venture with Gilat and Alcatel Space, which has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-way satellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, small office/home office (SOHO) users and local communities all over Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com. |
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