Alterna’TV changes name to Thema Americas

Alterna’TV, the channel distribution business for set up by Eutelsat Americas to distribute Latin American channels overseas, has changed its name to Thema America.

Patrick Rivet

The name change comes nine months after the outfit was acquired by French pay TV outfit Canal+ via its Thema channel distribution subsidiary. Thema has been headed by Patrick Rivet, Thema TV’s former SVP of distribution, since August. The outfit was previously headed by Thema founder François Thiellet for a short period. Canal+ acquired full control of Thema in June.

Thema America distributes Latin American channels to over six million subscribers, mostly in North Amercia. The platform is distributed by Eutelsat’s satellites at the 113° West and 11° West orbital slots. Canal+ has long had an ambition to grow its distribution business in North America, where Thema set up a local office in 2013.