Twenty one months after its initial planned launch date, the Greek Nova digital satellite bouquet has finally obtained a licence and is now officially on air. However, Greece seems set to follow the now well-trodden path towards two different digital satellite bouquets with incompatible technologies.

Multichoice International Holdings (MIH)-backed operator Multichoice Hellas and partners Mega Channel-Lumiere’s planned service had been bedevilled by legislative delays and the Greek government’s determination that there should be only one digital platform (which would include state participation and the involvement of local media companies). Originally Nova, Intersat and Alpha psifiaki had applied for licences following the passing of a new media law in November 1998. Nova finally got its licence in December 1999.

It now seems that there will be two platforms in Greece using incompatible access technologies. MIH wants to use its own Irdeto/Mindport technology. Greece Telecom (OTE) plans to launch its own platform (along with state broadcaster ERT and the other players) using NDS’ VideoGuard system from the Hot Bird position at 13 degrees East. The receivers for the latter will be made in Greece. This second platform is not expected before autumn 2000, but tests are already running.

For the moment Nova has a clear run and expects to sign up 8,500 subscribers in its first month.

Multichoice Hellas is also running a terrestrial mini bouquet (two channels) with 350,000 subscribers. Terrestrial subscribers can continue to access the Filmnet channel from their terrestrial decoders and the other channels from satellite.

Nova’s channel line-up includes Filmnet (with Greek subtitles), Filmsat (basically a multiplexed version of the former, with four new films per month), KTV and Supersport (the children’s channel timesharing with Supersport starting at 1700) as well as general entertainment channels already transmitted terrestrially in Greece.