ARD / ZDF renew carriage contracts for satellite distribution.
Press release from SES-Astra, 28th August 2003
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will continue their partnership with SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), under new, long-term contracts.
The new contracts enable ASTRA satellite households in Germany to continue to receive the variety of public TV and radio programmes direct-to-home and allow for a nation-wide, ubiquitous switch-over from analogue to digital satellite transmissions. The agreements therefore reflect the German Federal Government’s media policy target of discontinuing analogue TV distribution by 2010, if market conditions allow. The new long-term contracts cover analogue and digital satellite distribution via ASTRA’s prime orbital position of 19.2° East for virtually all of Germany’s public TV and radio programmes.
Prof. Jobst Plog, Chairman of ARD, stated: “In transmitting our programmes, SES ASTRA has proven a reliable and fair partner over many years. The long-term continuation of this cooperation will give our viewers and listeners a clear and secure perspective for the switch-over from analogue to digital satellite reception.”
Markus Schächter, Intendant of ZDF, drew particular attention to the consensus governing the agreements: “The new contracts cover both the analogue distribution in line with market realities, and the long-term digital distribution via ASTRA. Therefore, they enable a smooth, consumer-friendly transition to the exciting new world of digital TV, without however adversely affecting existing analogue receivers, for example with second and third TV sets in households.”
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, underlined the importance of the new contracts with ARD and ZDF: “We are extremely grateful for the trust placed in us. Satellite transmissions will continue to spearhead the roll-out of digital television. Therefore, we are particularly pleased that the broad spectrum of public programmes provided by ARD and ZDF will remain an integral part of ASTRA’s programme line-up on Europe’s most popular orbital position. ASTRA direct-to-home reception is the driving force behind the Federal Government’s target of completely digitalizing the audiovisual market. We consider it an honour to be able to shape the future together with our long-standing customers ARD and ZDF. For the further successful conclusion of the switch-over scenario, we trust we shall have, as in the past, strong market partners from industry, trade, and the skilled-crafts.”
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