South Africa’s Platco Digital to launch FTA DTH platform

Satellite operator SES has signed a contract with South African independent broadcaster e.tv to broadcast a new free-to-air service in South Africa, with plans to extend elsewhere in the region.

e.tv has taken two transponders with the option to take additional capacity next year. e.tv sister company Platco Digital will create a DTH channel platform to deliver a service to South Africa’s urban and remote areas from the SES-5 satellite at 5° East, which is SES’s key slot for the African DTH market.

Marcel Golding, CEO of e.tv and Platco Digital’s owner Sabido Investment, said, “Platco Digital will offer local and international television businesses the opportunity to broadcast free-to-air channels on the DTH platform, in addition to the digital terrestrial television and mobile TV platforms. Sabido is excited about this new multi-platform initiative, which will provide South African and African viewers more entertaining, informative and educational programming for free.”