Advanced Television

Filipino hotspot expands DTH offer

August 5, 2013

By Chris Forrester

The Philippines DTH operator Global Satellite (GSAT) is taking a fourth transponder from SES on NSS-11 which transmits from 108.2 degrees East.

GSAT is the satellite division of First United Broadcasting (FUBC) and has been on air since 2008 on satellite. The new capacity means GSAT will be transmitting 12 HD channels and 47 in standard definition. GSAT has more than 200,000 subscribers.

The plan is for NSS-11 to be retired at the position and replaced with SES-9, a giant satellite which will launch in 2015. SES-9 will be the very largest satellite serving the Asia-Pacific region, says SES.

Philip J. Chien, President/CEO of FUBC, said, “Our ability to offer highly reliable DTH satellite TV to our growing base of subscribers in the Philippines is largely due to the comprehensive footprints of NSS-11, and, from 2015, SES-9. We are confident that SES’ expertise will enable us to grow in our market and increase both the quality and quantity of channels in our pay-TV offerings.”

Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice President Commercial, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at SES, said, “We are delighted to confirm that GSAT, our long-term customer on NSS-11, will become a key anchor customer on SES-9. At SES, we are investing in new satellites to make sure that our customers enjoy business continuity, as well as delivering vital capacity to support their growth in some of the most dynamic media markets in the world.”

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTH/Satellite