Digiturk pay-tv boosts capacity on Eutelsat’s W3A satellite

Eutelsat Communications and Digiturk, have signed a new contract for capacity on the W3A satellite to support continued expansion of Turkey‘s leading pay-TV platform. The new contract, concluded for four years, is the third signed between Eutelsat and Digiturk since November 2006. It takes to 11 the total number of transponders leased for broadcasting services by Digiturk on Eutelsat’s satellites.

Launched in 2000 from Eutelsat’s 7 degrees East position, Digiturk’s platform benefits from the high-power regional footprint on Eutelsat’s W3A satellite in order to reach 1.6 mln subscriber homes across Turkey. In addition, Digiturk offers pay-TV services across Europe and also uses capacity on Atlantic Bird 1 for contribution links back to its studios in Istanbul.

The pay-TV platform serving Turkey today offers more than 150 television, radio and
interactive channels incorporating national and international programming. Channels recently joining the platform include Disney Channel Turkey, which has signed a contract with Digiturk for exclusive carriage of Disney Channel Turkey which began broadcasting on April 29.

Digiturk is also preparing for the introduction later in 2007 of new HDTV and Video on Demand services through its capacity on W3A.