AsiaSat 6 rendering. Photo: SSL

[Via Satellite 01-20-2016] The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China (SAPPRFT) has recently given permission for AsiaSat to serve Chinese broadcasters for video distribution to cable headends in China via its AsiaSat 6 satellite. Shanghai Interactive Television (SiTV), a subsidiary of Shanghai Oriental Pearl Media, has signed a contract with CITICSat, who holds the exclusive right to market AsiaSat 6 capacity in China to broadcast 10 High Definition (HD) pay-TV channels.

“AsiaSat satellites have been serving this market with high-quality satellite services since 1990. This new permit marks a major breakthrough for AsiaSat with our re-entry into the video services market in China,” said William Wade, president and CEO of AsiaSat.

Last year AsiaSat cited licensing delays as a reason for underutilization of the new satellite. AsiaSat 6 launched in September 2014 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite is based on SSL’s 1300 platform, and provides coverage from its orbital slot at 120 degrees east.