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| News
2009 |
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19/01/2009
Eutelsat Communications inks key contracts with Telespazio for broadcasting RAI channels at the HOT BIRD™ video neighbourhood
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Eutelsat Communications and Telespazio announce
the signature of an agreement for capacity
at the 13° East HOT BIRD™ video
neighbourhood until 2020. The agreement
concerns the lease of two transponders for
broadcasting a wide range of television
and radio channels produced by RAI, Italy’s
national public broadcaster.
Currently broadcasting via HOT BIRD™ 8, the RAI channels will transfer to Eutelsat’s new HOT BIRD™ 9 satellite when it begins commercial service at 13° East next month following its successful launch on 20 December 2008.
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The two transponders will broadcast RAI’s flagship national channels, RAI Uno, Rai Due and Rai Tre in addition to seven thematic channels (Rai News 24, Rai Sport più, Rai Gulp, Rai Med, Sat 2000, Senato TV, Camera dei Deputati) and four educational channels (Rai Edu 1 and 2, Rai Nettuno Sat Uno, Rai Nettuno Sat Due). The capacity will also serve to transmit RAI’s eleven radio stations. All channels can be received by more than seven million Italian homes equipped for Direct-to-Home reception of Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ satellites. The capacity is also used to deliver a number of RAI’s channels to cable headends across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East within the footprint of the HOT BIRD™ satellites.
“Eutelsat has closely accompanied the emergence of satellite television in Italy from its very beginnings, and is today the leading supplier of satellite capacity in Italy, which represents our largest market,” commented Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO. “RAI in particular is one of our most longstanding broadcast customers, having initiated transmissions with us over 20 years ago. We are delighted by the renewal of these long-term allotment agreements, which testify to our close relationship with Telespazio, one of our longstanding customers at the HOT BIRD™ neighbourhood and a privileged partner of major Italian broadcasting groups.”
According to CEO Giuseppe Veredice: “Telespazio is ready to pursue a long partnership with RAI and Eutelsat. The company has been in partnership with RAI since the Italian broadcasting entity began offering services via satellite, and with Eutelsat since its inception. Under the agreement, in addition to providing RAI with the necessary satellite capacity to broadcast on its TV and radio channels, Telespazio will provide high quality, reliable transmission services, using its own equipment installed at RAI premises and via the Fucino Space Centre”.
Comunicato stampa
Press release
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