Mexico: Eutelsat expands TV Azteca deal
October 9, 2023
By Chris Forrester
Eutelsat has sold capacity on its 117 West A satellite to distribute video over Mexico for TV Azteca.
TV Azteca, a subsidiary of Mexico’s telco, financial services, insurance and retirement fund Grupo Salinas, has renewed its satellite capacity commitment through a multi-year agreement with Eutelsat.
In a statement, the pair said the contract further strengthening a decade-long partnership between TV Azteca and Eutelsat, commenting: “This new agreement on Eutelsat 117 West A satellite assures TV Azteca’s continuity of video distribution services in Mexico”.
Operating a video multiplex to deliver its HD channels to digital TV towers and cable head-ends across Mexico, TV Azteca is using 117 West A’s C-band coverage of the region to distribute its satellite television service. The new resources on 117 West A will potentially allow TV Azteca to provide a broader range of video services, extending their current reach by accessing new and untapped markets in the region.
Eutelsat Group’s 117° West location is claimed to be the premium TV neighbourhood for Latin America, offering pan-regional distribution of major networks and content providers. With an extremely strong cable head-end penetration, top pay-TV operators in Latin America receive their content from 117° West. Around 400 TV channels, 80 in HD, are currently distributed to over 110 million TV homes across the continent. 117° West is also a growing free-to-air TV neighbourhood with 100 TV channels broadcasting in the clear, including channels from key regional public and private broadcasters.
José Ignacio González-Núñez, Eutelsat Group Senior Regional VP, Media Sales Americas, added: “We are delighted to announce a continuity in our commercial relationship with one of our most important partners in Mexico, which values the strong local and regional presence we have. At Eutelsat Group, we are committed to reinforcing such a relationship, not only in Mexico but beyond, over other latitudes as well”.