[Satellite Today 07-16-08]  SES Astra signed a capacity deal intended to boost a number of independent cable operators in Germany, the company said July 16.
    The long-term agreement with KabelDienstLeistungsgesellschaft (KDL), a company representing independent German cable operators, provide two transponders at SES Astra’s new orbital position at 31.5° East to transmit digital free-to-air TV to their networks. KDL is the first customer using transponder capacity at this position.
    The independent cable operators provide TV signals from their own headends to several million German households. The cooperation with SES Astra enables KDL to offer the cable operators an optimized access package to digital TV channels, called the transponder optimized program package. The service, scheduled for launch Oct. 8, allows a simple and efficient feed of 22 digital free-to-air TV channels into the networks. The
    In addition to the contracted capacity, Astra Platform Services will provide technical services to KDL via its play-out center in Unterföhring, near Munich.
    "SES Astra has established itself as the prime supplier of signals to cable headends in Germany,” Alexander Oudendijk, chief commercial officer of SES Astra, said in a statement. “With this cooperation, we have found a strong partner to drive the necessary digitalization of the cable networks. We are also very pleased to have closed the first capacity contract for our new orbital position at 31.5 degrees East. This new position will allow us to significantly enlarge and diversify our offer to customers across Europe."