Bulgarian DTH provider Satellite BG is to shut down on 1 June 2013, just over two years after its launch.
The satellite broadcaster announced on its website that management had decided that it would cease broadcasting pointing to the wider economic…
Bulgarian DTH provider Satellite BG is to shut down on 1 June 2013, just over two years after its launch.
The satellite broadcaster announced on its website that management had decided that it would cease broadcasting pointing to the wider economic crisis as the predominant reason for its demise.
The company added that it had agreed a deal with rival broadcaster Vivacom TV in which the latter would offer Satellite BG’s subscribers its services.
Launched on 1 February 2011, Satellite BG has been using three transponders at SES Astra’s 23.5E orbital slot to broadcast more than 70 channels, including HD channels, to TV homes across Bulgaria.
With three established DTH rivals in Bulgaria, Bulsatcom, TotalTV and Vivacom TV, Satellite BG has struggled to secure the requisite number of subscribers to turn a profit.
Indeed, the competitive environment is set to increase further with the launch of another DTH platform, ‘W1’, by Bulgarian telecommunications firm Neterra and Norwegian satellite broadcaster Telenor Satellite Broadcasting.
Neterra has contracted two transponders on TSBc’s THOR-6 satellite, located at 1W. The capacity will be utilised for video distribution in Bulgaria, where Neterra plans to offer other operators a premium pay-tv platform.
Neterra expects the first operators that will utilise the new DTH platform to launch within the next few months, carrying more than 60 channels. Neterra plans to expand this channel line-up rapidly to include local and international HD channels.