Eight HD channels to complement existing DTH offer
THE HAGUE, Netherlands--(Business Wire)--
SES WORLD SKIES, a division of global satellite operator SES S.A.
(Paris:SESG)(LUxX:SESG) announced today at the CASBAA Convention in Hong Kong
that it has concluded a new multi-year agreement with MediaScape, Inc to provide
an additional transponder of capacity on the NSS-11 satellite at the orbital
location of 108.2 degrees East. This will increase MediaScape`s transponder
utilization on NSS-11 from two to three, and the company will use the additional
satellite capacity to distribute high definition television channels to
households in the Philippines.
MediaScape`s Cignal TV direct-to-home offer was launched on NSS-11 in 2008 and
now comprises 8 HD channels and 21 standard definition channels in its programme
line-up. Mediascape`s Cignal HD bundle consists of top-rating popular channels
addressing various interests of the market. In full HD are HBO HD, Star Sports,
National Geographic and History HD. The offer also comprises four channels
digitally enhanced to 1080i: ESPN, Star Sports, Playhouse Disney and Sony
Entertainment.
States Benjamin Fernandez, Managing Director of MediaScape: "The NSS-11
satellite provides powerful and comprehensive coverage of our target market in
the Philippines, allowing for reliable, high quality satellite TV distribution
to some 14 million TV households. The addition of eight high definition channels
to the line-up of Cignal HD offers viewers in the Philippines a new TV standard
that brightens up every television in households across the country. Cignal HD
will offer a wide variety of programs to cover sports, lifestyle, kids, history
and movies."
Elias Zaccack, Vice President of Sales, Asia-Pacific at SES WORLD SKIES,
concurs: "With the addition of HDTV channels, NSS-11 further establishes itself
as a leading video neighborhood over one of its key target markets, the
Philippines. The NSS-11 satellite also provides optimized access to Taiwan, Hong
Kong and Korea. Currently, the satellite carries over 160 channels in English,
Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog and Korean."
About NSS-11
From the orbital position of 108.2° East, NSS-11 provides Ku-band coverage of
two of the world`s fastest growing markets - China and India - along with Japan,
the Philippines, Central and South Asia, and parts of the Middle East. The
spacecraft enables a full range of media and data applications, from
direct-to-home television broadcasting to government communications and VSAT
networks. NSS-11 serves the largest community of enterprise VSATs which is
estimated to be 70,000 terminals across India. NSS-11 is home to over 160
Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, English, and Korean language TV channels, three
DTH platforms and a cable package serving Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
About MediaScape, Inc
MediaScape, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mediaquest Holdings, Inc., is
licensed to offer a direct-to-home (DTH) service in the Philippines and is also
currently providing, on a trial basis, a DVBH mobile TV service in partnership
with Smart Communications, Inc. Mediaquest, its parent company, is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, which holds various
interests in media companies in the Philippines.
About SES WORLD SKIES
SES WORLD SKIES is the new global division of SES, created through the
combination of the former SES NEW SKIES and SES AMERICOM. The company operates a
fleet of 25 satellites - part of the 40 spacecraft of the SES group - delivering
services as diverse as television distribution and broadcast, internet access,
data transmission and business and government communications to customers
worldwide. SES WORLD SKIES currently has five additional satellites under
construction. The company`s unique customer-focused approach allows it to offer
the best satellite solutions for a host of business and government requirements,
with a view toward helping customers meet their short-term challenges and
realize their longer-term goals. SES WORLD SKIES comprises a world-class team of
customer care and technical professionals located in Princeton (NJ), The Hague,
Washington D.C., Singapore, Beijing, London, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Sydney,
Accra and Johannesburg. Visit www.ses.com for more information.
About SES
SES (Paris:SESG)(LUxX:SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators
SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES, 90% of SES SIRIUS in Europe, and participations
in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite
communications solutions via a global fleet of 40 satellites in 26 orbital
locations. For further information: www.ses.com
SES WORLD SKIES
Yves Feltes, Media Relations
Tel: +352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
