Title screen of The Azizyans, an Armenia TV sitcom.

Shant TV, an Armenian commercial broadcaster, announced that on July 15 it will launch its new international multi-channel platform from the Hotbird video neighborhood operated by Eutelsat Communications. Shant TV has signed a multi-year contract with Eutelsat to support its new all-High Definition (HD) venture.

Broadcasting through Hotbird for almost 10 years, Shant TV is scaling up to a multi-channel pay-TV offer for Armenian-speaking viewers in Hotbird’s footprint that covers Europe, the Middle East and the European part of the Russian Federation. Available exclusively in HD for a minimum subscription of 5 euros ($5.70) a month, the platform will feature the Shant Premium, Armenia Premium and Shant Music channels. It will be available Direct-to-Home (DTH) for households equipped with a dish and box as well as through cable and IP networks, according to Shant TV.

“We know already from the results of our survey that 50 percent of the audience of Shant Premium outside Armenia watches our channel from Eutelsat’s Hotbird position. This was decisive in our choice of Hotbird for distributing our new offer,” said Arthur Yezekyan, president and founder of Shant TV.