[Satellite TODAY 02-08-10] Eutelsat signed a multi-year deal with Telespazio to renew leased capacity on Eutelsat’s Atlantic Bird 1 and W3A satellites, the operator announced Feb. 5.
The Italian satellite operator renewed leases on two satellites for professional video contribution services and for broadcasting services directed to RAI, Italy’s national public broadcaster. RAI said permanent availability of this capacity gives the broadcaster full flexibility to manage short news items broadcast in SD, as well as premium events in HD. It also guarantees RAI access to premium choice bandwidth with no notice.
    “Satellites are firmly anchored as a key platform for instant and quality coverage of news and sports events, providing both reach and bandwidth availability for efficient delivery of broadcast quality content,” Eutelsat’s Commercial Director Olivier Milliès-Lacroix said in a statement.
    Separately, Eutelsat denied allegations from Georgian broadcaster GPB that it had conducted improper commercial practice towards the broadcaster by awarding W7 capacity to one of its competitors in the Russian region after an alleged deal was finalized between the two companies.
    In a strongly worded statement issued Feb. 4, Eutelsat said negotiations were pursued in 2009 with several customers in advance of W7’s entry into service and that it selected to award capacity to a European telecommunications operator after receiving a firm commitment for a larger order.
    “Eutelsat does not respond to political or ideological pressure of any kind in the conduct of its activity and operates according to commercial and business rationale,” Eutelsat said in the statement.
Eutelsat said it informed GPB that the solution offered on W7 no longer was available, and that it could satisfy GPB’s requirements with the W2A satellite — a solution which GPB has refused.