Eutelsat opens new neighbourhood with Eurobird 9 (ex-Hot Bird 2)

Eutelsat Communications announced that its HotBird 2 satellite has been redeployed to 9 degrees East. Rebranded Eurobird 9, the satellite’s entry into service marks the opening of a new video neighbourhood, which is adjacent to Eutelsat’s premium HotBird position. Reception of channels from both locations is possible with off-the-shelf dual-feed domestic dishes.
The repositioning of Eurobird 9 follows the successful launches in 2006 of Eutelsat’s
HotBird 7A and 8 satellites. Together with HotBird 6, these large satellites today broadcast more than 1,000 channels, of which over 50% are free-to-air from the Group’s 13 degrees East position. Their entry into service has enabled Eutelsat to pursue the development of its in-orbit resource by redeploying high-performance HotBird satellites to other locations with strong growth potential.
Optimised for DTH (Direct-to-Home) broadcasting, Eurobird 9 delivers 20 fully operational Ku-band transponders supplying coverage across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In order to support the market for multi-satellite reception, which is afforded by the proximity of its orbital positions, Eutelsat is developing new low-cost consumer solutions to enable existing HotBird installations to be easily upgraded to receive channels from 9 degrees East via a second LNB fitted beside the LNB directed to the HotBird neighbourhood.
Eutelsat has already concluded a first contract for capacity on Eurobird 9 with the
Portuguese cable operator TVTEL, which has announced it will shortly launch a new pay-TV platform for the Portuguese market. Using two transponders on the satellite to address almost 2 mln television homes in Portugal only receiving analogue over-the-air channels, TVTEL’s platform will begin with 20 digital channels. Encrypted with Conax, they will include Portugal‘s four national channels and a package of 16 thematic channels broadcasting content ranging from movies, documentaries, music, serials, news and sports.
TVTEL will also market dual-feed antennas in Portugal so that homes can have access to the broad range of international channels available free-to-air from the HotBird neighbourhood.