UK/Ireland: GlobeCast launches new Eurobird transponder

Text of press release by Paris-based GlobeCast satellite services company on 28 June

Paris, 28 June: GlobeCast today announced the addition of a new transponder to its capacity on the Eurobird satellite over the United Kingdom and Ireland. Joining the company’s three other digital DTH [direct to home] platforms on Eurobird, this new capacity, available this July, will provide broadcasters with much needed access to the over 7.6 million subscribers to the Sky Digital bouquet, and will also reach a potential 3.7 million cable subscriber homes.

The addition of this transponder to GlobeCast’s offer is the company’s response to a spike in demand by broadcasters needing to target the British satellite television market. The capacity was purchased from leading DTH services company Astra, and will fill an existing need in addition to allowing the launch of new services in the region - notably in the domain of HDTV [high definition television].

GlobeCast offers a large range of services associated with its Eurobird platforms originating from its London technical operations centre. These services include multiplexing, uplink, satellite capacity, BSkyB EPG access (Electronic Programme Guide) as well as the possibility of interactive broadcasts and GlobeCast’s proprietary content management solutions.

GlobeCast’s platforms on Eurobird are accessible to radio and television broadcasters on five continents via the company’s proprietary ATM [asynchronous transfer mode] fibre network, which interconnects 15 tele-ports and Technical Operations Centres worldwide, allowing for reception across Europe and the rest of the world by both Direct-to-Home and cable subscribers.

Newcomers to GlobeCast’s platform on Eurobird will join nearly thirty major television broadcasters on the platform - including EuroNews, Abu Dhabi TV, Extreme Sports, Hollywood TV and Chinese broadcaster CCTV 9.

(Source: GlobeCast press release, Paris, in English 28 Jun 05 via BBC Monitoring)