JSAT and direct-to-home operator Sky Perfect will join forces in the Japanese pay-TV market, the companies announced March 2. The two companies have formed a holding company, Sky Perfect JSAT, that is intended to put satellite in a better position to compete against other digital TV alternatives in Japan.

The new company plans to roll out high-definition, Internet protocol and mobile TV offerings throughout the next four years. The two operators also said they would pursue “efficient procurement of satellites” as well as “expansion of service areas through collaboration with other operators.”

Sky Perfect has more than 4 million subscribers and the two operators are forecasting that their combined efforts should have a subscriber base of 8 million by the end of 2011.