Badr 5 Ku-band downlink footprint over North Africa. Photo: ArabSat.

Arabsat has announced that Berbere TV, a North African commercial broadcaster, has made an arrangement to broadcast from Arabsat’s Badr 5 satellite.  The Badr 5 Maghreb Bouquet will broadcast Berbere TV, Berbere Jeunesse and Berbere Music in addition to satellite radio channels Berbere Radio and Antinea Radio to the Maghreb, or North African, communities. With this new phase of expansion, Berbere TV hopes to achieve its vision of reaching all homes in Maghreb countries with its TV and radio programming.

Berbere TV already has an existing presence on all Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) and cable networks in France, in Canada on the Bell Fibe IP-based TV service, and globally via its digital platform. Mohammed Saadi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of Berbere Television Group, said he hopes specifically to increase the company’s visibility in North Africa.

Arabsat’s Badr 5 occupies an orbital slot at 26 degrees east and carries 56 Ku- and Ka-band transponders. It primarily provides in-orbit backup capacity for both Badr 4 and Badr 6.