'the W1' satellite TV launches in Bulgaria

TSBc launches ‘the W1’ from Neterra – a new shared DTH platform in Bulgaria

OSLO, Norway — Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) today announced the signing of a satellite transmission agreement with Neterra, a new direct-to-home (DTH), white-label, shared platform, called “the W1”, that offers pay-tv services in Bulgaria.

Neterra has contracted two transponders on TSBc’s THOR 6 satellite, located at 1ËšWest, one of the fastest-growing orbital positions for Central and Eastern Europe. The capacity will be utilised for video distribution in Bulgaria, where Neterra plans to offer other operators a premium pay-tv platform, delivering a high-quality and highly reliable service, using the latest available technology.

The arrival of Neterra gives another boost to the local and international channel line-up available at 1ËšWest, which distributes more than 700 TV and radio channels.

Lars Janols, Commercial Director of TSBc, commented: “1ËšWest is now a well-recognised broadcast position in CEE and reaches more than 17 million households across Europe. We are seeing a more buoyant take-up of pay-tv services within this region and we welcome and look forward to working with Neterra in developing its DTH proposition for the Bulgarian market.”

“Neterra has more than 18 years of expertise in providing and supporting broadcasting services in Bulgaria,” said Neven Dilkov, CEO of Neterra. “Our new Bulgarian DTH service will offer a bouquet of premium-quality channels, which will deliver a superior TV experience.”

Neterra expects the first operators that will utilise the new DTH platform to launch within the next few months, carrying more than 60 of the Bulgarian market’s most popular local and international channels. Neterra plans to expand this channel line-up rapidly to include local and international HD channels.