Eutelsat has announced a significant expansion of its Professional Video Services, focusing on its flagship Hotbird neighbourhood located at 13 degrees East. This prime orbital slot provides comprehensive coverage across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, serving major broadcasters such as the BBC, Tivusat, and TVN.
While traditionally known for broadcast TV, Eutelsat initially offered capacity for occasional use. However, the rise of direct-to-home (DTH) satellite services prompted a shift, leading Eutelsat to dedicate resources to news and sports feeds. Now, Eutelsat is actively promoting the advanced capabilities of its modern Hotbird satellites. These satellites offer extensive widebeam coverage, ensuring exceptional reliability, resilience, and security for contributing to and distributing premium sports content.
This expansion comes at a pivotal moment, as demand for DTH capacity shifts alongside the increasing popularity of DTH satellite technology. Laurence Delpy, President of the Video Business Unit, commented: “Satellite is a key part of the distribution strategy for major high-profile events which attract massive audiences. The Hotbird satellites have more than proved themselves in the world of Professional Video, delivering hundreds of hours of coverage from some of the world’s most popular Tier 1 premium sporting events. Professional video delivery is an important market for Eutelsat and by opening our flagship Hotbird neighbourhood for the transmission of live events, we are ensuring our clients have the best services and capacity for their long-term needs. Satellite plays a vital role in the media supply chain for professional video, especially major Live sporting events where prime quality is an absolute must.”
The high-power Hotbird satellites constitute one of the largest broadcasting systems in the EMEA region, reaching over 160 million TV homes. This extensive reach is complemented by over 90% cable and IPTV penetration, along with a wide network of distributors equipped to receive Hotbird signals across the region.