[10-26-07 – Satellite Today] Sogecable, which owns the Digital+ Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform in Spain, has secured new capacity with SES Astra as it looks to boost its High Definition (HD) offerings to customers. The deal between SES Astra and Sogecable, announced Oct. 26, sees Sogecable take an additional transponder with SES Astra. The transponder located at the orbital slot 19.2Ëš East will allow Sogecable to transmit new digital TV channels as well as to broadcast in HD quality. With the new agreement, Sogecable has secured a total of 11 transponders with SES Astra on a long-term basis.

Digital+ has around two million DTH subscribers in Spain. However, it has seen very little subscriber growth over the last couple of years, compared to most other DTH operators in Europe. Spain is also one of the main markets where telcos are beginning to erode satellite’s dominance in terms of pay-TV. Telefonica has close to half a million IPTV subscribers, and is growing fast, putting more pressure on Digital+.

Also, IPTV competition is intense in Spain. Telefonica already has close to half a million IPTV subscribers as it looks to gain a strong foothold in the pay-TV market in Spain.