The satellite operator Eutelsat signed multi-year contracts with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) and the Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters (AEB).
The contracts represent an increase in contracted resources for video capacity on Eutelsat 8 West Be satellite.
Commenting on the signing of the contract, Eutelsat said both EBC and AEB will enjoy nationawde coverage for their free-to-air DTH platforms. A total of 30 channels are included in the contracts.
Eutelsat’s 7/8° West orbital position, introduced to the local market in 2012, will now broadcast the lion’s share of Ethiopia’s TV channels.
EBC, Ethiopia’s largest free-to-air broadcaster that is also state-owned, broadcasts programs featuring news, sport, music and entertainment. AEB, on the other hand, established in September 2018, is a group of licensed broadcasters that are privately owned. AEB includes as members: Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS), Fana TV, Walta, Kana TV, ARTS, Nahoo TV, AfriHealth, OBS, LTV, Ahadu, DWTV, Asham TV and Balageru.
Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s chief commercial and development director, said, “We are proud to be working with leading broadcasters Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation and the Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters in enriching the FTA experience for viewers across Ethiopia.” He also added that the agreements highlight the strength of Eutelsat’s 7/8° West orbital position.
Messay Hurissa, EBC’s Chief Technical Officer (CTO), for his part, remarked that they “are delighted to be working with an industry leader such as Eutelsat” as part of their expansion into “the untapped broadcasting public sphere within our territory and beyond.” He expressed his belief that this newly consolidated partnership will allow EBC’s customers to benefit from a much better performance with high quality broadcasting and customer support. Anman Fissehazion, CEO of AEB, noting that satellite technology has a significant role to play in reaching households across Ethiopia, he further pointed said, “One of AEB’s goals is to increase and strengthen the number of TV households in our country. This goal can be reached if all broadcasters operate from a common orbital position to reach their audiences, such as 7/8° West.” Amman added that the signing of the contract is a major step in this regard, and that he is “sure” that it will lead broadcasters in the group he leads to more success and better service to their viewers.
Eutelsat, short for the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, is a France-based European satellite operator covering the entire European continent, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. It is the third largest satellite operator in the world in terms of revenues, after SES and Intelsat.
Source: Digital TV Europe
