The additional transponder is the fourth that ORS contracts on SES. Serving 53 percent of all households, satellite is the leading broadcasting infrastructure in Austria. Following the expansion of an existing agreement, two new channels will be launched in Austria. ORF SPORT PLUS is to be launched by ORF on 26 October. The private broadcaster ATV will also utilize additional capacity on the ORS transponder and launch ATV2 on 1 December.

“We are very pleased to announce the expansion of the partnership with ORS and the Austrian broadcasters. The orbital position 19.2 degrees East is one of our premium positions and this agreement further emphasizes its status as a leading orbital slot for continental Europe,” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “Two new Austrian channels within the next three months prove the advantages that go hand in hand with the switch-over from analogue to digital TV.”

“In order to meet the increasing demand for bandwidth resulting from HDTV and new TV channels, ORS will further increase the capacity contracted on SES satellites. With the activation of this new transponder, we can further strengthen the offer to the Austrian audience”, said ORS Managing Director Michael Wagenhofer.