[Satellite News 12-07-10] Eutelsat signed a contract with French broadcaster France Télévisions to deliver more digital channels to the Reunion and Mayotte islands in the Indian Ocean region.
    To support the deal, Eutelsat has opened a second satellite signal from its W2A satellite to enable commercial operators in the region to integrate DTT digital public channels into their platforms. The launch of DTT Dec. 1 enables the population of Indian Ocean islands to access an offer of 10 free-to-air digital channels compared to the previous offer of a single over-the-air analog channel, Tempo.
    With the two Eutelsat satellite signals, France Télévisions can feed terrestrial transmitters and ensure DTH reception in grey areas for homes beyond range of terrestrial reception. This configuration ensures the availability of France Télévisions’ public channels to commercial platforms, Eutelsat CCO Andrew Wallace told Satellite News. “For the future, as is already the case with metropolitan France, we can see that the move to a fully digital environment is generating new opportunities for local and regional channels to expand their reach and is also supporting roll-out of channels in HD,” he said.
    The contract, also helps Eutelsat meet its universal service access obligations, Wallace said. “The two services launched on Eutelsat form part of the continuity program for French territories, which includes ensuring universal access to national DTT channels for all French homes overseas in advance of analog switch-off, which is scheduled for the end 2011.”
    Wallace hopes W2A can continue to play a key role in the region. “According to the most recent figures of the survey released for the region by Ipsos, 66 percent of TV homes subscribe to a pay-TV platform — up six points in 12 months,” he said. “Although terrestrial triple-play services are available in areas served by DSL networks, the vast majority of pay-TV homes are equipped for satellite reception. Three pay-TV platforms — Parabole Réunion, Canalsat Réunion and Orange TV — are available in French Indian Ocean islands and all of them broadcast from Eutelsat’s 16 degrees East position.”