Austria’s ORS takes Astra capacity for two channel launches

ORS, the technical service provider for Austrian public broadcaster ORF, has contracted an additional transponder on SES’s 19.2° East orbital position.

The additional transponder is the fourth that ORS has contracted on SES and will help with the launch of two new channels in Austria. ORF Sport Plus will launch on October 26. Private broadcaster ATV will also use additional capacity on the ORS transponder and launch ATV2 on December 1.

“We are very pleased to announce the expansion of the partnership with ORS and the Austrian broadcasters. The orbital position 19.2° East is one of our premium positions and this agreement further emphasises its status as a leading orbital slot for continental Europe,” said Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer of SES. “Two new Austrian channels within the next three months prove the advantages that go hand in hand with the switch-over from analogue to digital TV.”