Spacecom and Eutelsat’s combined Ku-band footprint at 16-17 degrees east. Photo: Eutelsat

[Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Eutelsat and Spacecom, operator of the Amos satellites, have announced a partnership to cross-commercialize Ku-band capacity on the African service areas of the Eutelsat 16A and Amos 5 satellites at 16 and 17 degrees east, respectively. The amalgamated channel line up already contains more than 100 Free-to-Air (FTA) channels with a footprint that reaches more than 30 million TV homes. Together, these two satellites cover Francophone Africa and extend from Ghana to Nigeria, encompassing one of the fastest growing video neighborhoods in Africa.

The Eutelsat 16A and Amos 5 satellites both launched in 2011 and have identical African Ku-band footprints. Spacecom and Eutelsat broadcast FTA, pay-TV, free-to-view and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channels from the 16-17 degrees east position. Together, both companies will deliver viewers a larger channel line-up from one virtual orbital position.

“By creating a joint effort that aggregates content and improves the commercial reach of advertisers, we are optimizing the broadcast environment. The availability of diverse and quality broadcasts from Africa and abroad, extends the limits of African entertainment possibilities and develops social and educational values,” said Amir Carmeli, SVP of sales for West Africa and France at Spacecom.