Eutelsat Hot Bird 10 satellite before launch. Photo: Arianespace

[Via Satellite 11-13-13] Rai and Eutelsat Communications have signed an agreement enabling Italy’s public service broadcaster to deliver its new portfolio of HD channels across the country. Rai will broadcast its three flagship channels in HD – Rai 1, Rai 2, and Rai 3 – via the TivùSat satellite platform, which transmits through Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites.

Italian satellite TV homes will automatically receive Rai’s new HD channels on a free-to-air basis through HD compatible set-top boxes receiving TivùSat. Launched in 2009, TivùSat is a free-to-view digital satellite platform that offers Italian and international channels, reaching 1.7 million television homes.

“The launch of this initial test phase of Rai’s new HD content at our Hot Bird neighborhood ensures immediate 100 percent coverage of Italian territory and underscores the increasing penetration of HD content across our broadcasting satellites,” said Renato Farina, CEO of Eutelsat Italia.