Globecast is expanding its partnership with Eutelsat to create a new Hotbird platform to help assist the move from standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD).
The new platform offers expanded capacity and includes ground segment services that connect to Globecast’s fibre network and to its media management services.
German international public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), is due to launch its English language HD TV channel via the platform, making it the first customer for the new Globecast service.
Globecast has worked with DW for a number of years to distribute its channels in Asia and the Middle East. For the new platform it will offer end-to-end channel contribution from DW’s facilities in Berlin to Globecast in Paris with uplink provided from there.
“We’ve seen increasing demand for capacity across Europe from west to east as the migration to HD on Hotbird continues to grow,” said Samuel Lemercier, Globecast’s Strategic Projects Director.
“In order to meet this increasing demand, we have launched this new platform with Eutelsat, significantly increasing our DVBS2 capacity – suitable for HD and UHD for free-to-air DTH or distribution to affiliates – across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.”
Eutelsat’s Regional Vice-President for France and Overseas, Benelux, the United Kingdom, the Nordics and Israel, Aymeric Genty, said: “This new platform provides cost-effective HD – and UHD – distribution as channels look to increase viewer engagement and satisfy the ever-growing demand for HD.”
Deutsche Welle’s Head of Distribution Systems, Hubert Czaja, added: “We moved to HD across Asia several years ago and the time is now right to make the move in Europe to increase image quality for our viewers. We’re very pleased to extend our relationship with both Eutelsat and Globecast.”
Eutelsat’s Hotbird satellites are located at the 13° East orbital position and form one of the largest broadcasting systems in EMEA, delivering TV channels across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Globecast provides content acquisition, management and distribution services and has created a hybrid fibre and satellite network for video contribution and delivery.
