Eutelsat signs long-term deal with MultiChoice

Eutelsat Communications has agreed a multi-transponder deal with MultiChoice Africa, designed to secure the “continuing expansion” of MultiChoice’s DStv pay TV platform over the next 15 years.

MultiChoice Africa will use the entire payload of 15 Ku-band transponders for Africa on Eutelsat’s new Eutelsat 36C satellite that will be launched next year.

It has also booked two transponders on the Eutelsat 36A broadcast satellite that currently reaches the 38 countries in sub-Saharan Africa served by DStv.

In total, after the launch of Eutelsat 36C, MultiChoice will lease a total of 36 Eutelsat transponders – up from 25 today.

At the same time, Eutelsat has upped its head of investor relations, Leonard Wapler, to chief financial officer of Eutelsat Americas and signed procurement and launch contracts for its forthcoming Eutelsat 172B Asia-Pacific satellite.

Eutelsat will work with Airbus Defence and Space and Arianespace on the satellite, which is due to launch in the first half 2017 and will expand capacity at Eutelsat’s 172° East orbital position – a “prime gateway” for services in the Asia Pacific region.

Announcing its full year results for 2013-14, Eutelsat today said that its results were in line with objectives and that its Satmex integration is “on track.”

For the year, revenues were up 5% to €1.35 billion and EBITDA was up 3.8% to €1.03 billion.