Our North American satellite programming providers should learn some things from their European sibling. At this time they are way too greedy to even consider, however I am sure, that with time they will have to adjust their greed and focus on customer satisfaction and convenience as customers are getting tired of being forced to pay for hundreds of unwanted and unwatched channels. Read the press release bellow. You may find it interesting read.
Press Release Source: SES ASTRA
SES ASTRA Launches Digital Platform entavio in Germany
Wednesday August 29, 8:30 am ET
Free Reception of 500 Digital TV and Radio Programmes / Access to Pay-TV / Comprehensive Offer / Future-Proof Technology / Receiver and Smart Cards Available Beginning in September
BERLIN & BETZDORF, Luxembourg–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG - News; LuxX:SESG), will launch its new digital platform entavio at the international consumer show IFA in Berlin on 1st September. The service to digital satellite households in Germany comprises about 500 digital TV and radio channels, which continue to be distributed for free, and the technical access to pay-TV for a monthly flat rate of Euro 1.99. The first pay-TV operator to offer its packages via entavio is Premiere, including its new Premiere program Premiere Star. Further operators will follow. entavio compatible receivers by various manufacturers will be available for households beginning in September. The smart cards required for accessing pay-TV will be offered and distributed by the entavio company
As a neutral platform, entavio offers satellite households a large range of current and future digital free and pay-TV programs through a single receiver. Furthermore, TV viewers will benefit from
additional features and service functions such as the interactive mobile phone service Blucom. In pay-TV, entavio will start to market the whole satellite offer of Premiere on 1st September, with the access to the Premiere Flex offer already included in the monthly entavio flat rate of Euro 1.99.
entavio is a technical and service platform which does not itself acquire or bundle programs and is therefore open to all broadcasters. Manufacturers of satellite receivers are able to launch compatible devices with the entavio label besides the manufacturer’s brand. The entavio company, based in Unterfoehring near Munich, is a fully-owned subsidiary of SES ASTRA.
“entavio is the beginning of a new generation of digital satellite television”, says Wilfried Urner, CEO of entavio. “entavio provides a very large program choice, interactive applications, an easy access to pay-TV as well as an excellent customer service. With entavio, we have developed a concept that will be able to reflect all future technological innovations. Therefore entavio is one of the most attractive forms of digital TV access and certainly the best solution for receiving digital satellite television.”
“The launch of entavio further simplifies the reception of Premiere via satellite,” says Michael Boernicke, CEO of Premiere. “Premiere’s programs will be an important driving force for entavio. With entavio, Premiere can further increase its reach and benefit from its partners’ marketing initiatives. Furthermore, the launch allows us to outsource technical services and further focus on our competence as a content and program provider.”
The entavio launch press conference on 29 August at 2.30 p.m. CET will be broadcast on Internet on the entavio website www.entavio.de/presse as well as on the IFA website www.ifa-tv.de. The presentation of the press conference will be available on the entavio website. The ASTRA booth at the IFA is in Hall 26.
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 109 million DTH and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting 1,864 analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 26 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. ASTRA’s prime orbital positions are 19.2 degree East, 28.2 degree East, and 23.5 degree East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG - News; LuxX:SESG). SES owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global coverage and connectivity. The Company also holds strategic participations in SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 37 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
Contact:
SES ASTRA
Markus Payer, + 352 710 725 500
markus.payer@ses-astra.com
or
entavio
Silke Goedereis, +49 89 1896 1896
silke.goedereis@entavio.com
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Source: SES ASTRA
