[Satellite TODAY 12-21-09] Eutelsat signed a capacity contract with Elettronica Industriale, the network operator of the Mediaset Group in Italy, Eutelsat announced Dec. 18.
    Elettronica Industriale will lease capacity on the Atlantic Bird 3 satellite in order to secure channel distribution to digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmitters across Italy.
Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird 3 satellite was first selected by Elettronica Industriale in March 2006 as the primary distribution platform to ensure nationwide delivery of channels to DTT towers. The two transponders leased by Elettronica Industriale host four multiplexes, which include free-to-air and pay-TV content, and which are uplinked from its teleport in Milan.
    “The ubiquitous coverage provided by satellites makes them the most cost-effective and cost-efficient solution for delivering digital TV multiplexes to the national DTT networks being progressively deployed across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin,” Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said in a statement.