SES extends TéléSat HD capacity

Belgian DTH operator TéléSat is adding HD versions of the La Une and RTL TVi channels to its platform.

The platform’s owner, Luxembourg-based broadcaster M7 Group, has signed a new capacity and uplink agreement with SES to distribute the channels via Astra’s 19.2° East orbital position. The channels will target French-speaking Belgium. This month, TéléSat also added RTBF’s La Trois HD channel.

Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer of SES, said: “We are delighted about this new capacity agreement with M7 Group. The addition of the HD services of RTBF and RTL is also very good news for satellite viewers in French speaking Belgium, greatly enhancing their viewing experience.”

Separately, SES has announced that its SES-3 satellite is being relocated from its former location over North America to Asia. The SES-3 satellite, which launched last year, is being relocated to 108.2° East to provide coverage of the Middle East and South Asia regions, where SES said it was experiencing growing customer demand. The drift began in mid-December 2011 and the satellite is expected to arrive at its new orbital location on February 6.