Photo: Bakhresa Group

[Via Satellite 11-05-13] Eutelsat began a long-term contract with Azam Media for capacity on its Eutelsat 7A satellite. Azam Media will use 108 MHz of capacity as the platform to broadcast its new TV venture, AzamTV, into sub-Saharan Africa from its base in Tanzania.

Azam Media is in the final stages of preparation to launch AzamTV. The platform will support more than 55 African and international channels for a monthly subscription. It will include three domestic channels, will broadcast live and recorded Tanzania premier league matches, and carry the top free-to-air channels in each of the countries it covers. From its target home market in Tanzania, the platform will be commercialized rapidly across East Africa before being extended across sub-Saharan Africa.

AzamTV will be compressed in MPEG4 and uplinked to the Eutelsat 7A satellite from its Cagliari teleport in Sardinia. In addition to capacity and uplink services, Eutelsat has developed a training program for installers called “Satëlite” for the installation of their DTH equipment.