SES ASTRA, an SES (News - Alert) company offering direct-to-home, or DTH, satellite system in Europe, reportedly  announced that German TV entertainment platform Sky Deutschland has signed a contract with it for three additional transponders on 19.2 Degrees East, which is ASTRA’s prime orbital position.

 

Officials with SES ASTRA said that Sky Deutschland would utilize the additional capacity to offer more HD channels. Of the three transponders ordered, the first one will be used in mid-2010 and the remaining two be used in mid-2011 and mid-2012, officials said.

 

Sky Deutschland will use a total of 10 ASTRA transponders, including the newly contracted transponders.With the help of these transponders Sky Deutschland broadcasts seven high-definition channels in the German-speaking market.

 

Hans-Jürgen Croissant, senior vice president communications of Sky Deutschland, commenting on leasing three additional transponders, said that the new contract highlights company’s intention to expand its HD service, not only with live sport and latest movie releases, but also with an expanding range of HD channels. The company will start additional four channels in mid-2010.

 

Currently, SES ASTRA’s satellite fleet consists of 13 ASTRA and two SIRIUS satellites to form a combined satellite system, which delivers services to more than 122 million DTH and cable households. The system also transmits more than 2,500 analog and digital television and radio channels. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2° East, 28.2° East, 23.5° East, 5° East and 31.5° East.

 

Furthermore, SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies.

 

 “The agreement proves that the roll-out of HD in Germany is gaining further momentum and that SES ASTRA continues to play an important role as a partner for broadcasters,” Alexander Oudendijk, chief commercial officer of SES ASTRA, said in a press release. “With nearly 90 HD channels on our satellite fleet across Europe, ASTRA today represents the most important distribution platform for HD content from leading broadcasters. Our innovative activities in HD, and the recent transponder contracts with Sky Deutschland, will help to further drive digitalization and show that our strategy to convert analogue into digital capacity through HD is bearing fruit.”