Al Jazeera Balkans chooses Eutelsat’s W3C satellite
November 10th, 2011 - 15:46 UTC
by Andy Sennitt.
Eutelsat Communications has announced that its W3C satellite has been selected by Al Jazeera Balkans to broadcast its new network to viewers across Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Al Jazeera Balkans has signed a multi-year contract with Eutelsat for capacity on W3C for its new channel which will go live tomorrow at 6 pm local time. Al Jazeera Balkans is the 23rd to launch in the Al Jazeera network.
Broadcasting free-to-air, Al Jazeera Balkans will use Eutelsat’s W3C satellite at 16° East to reach homes in Central Europe connected to cable networks or equipped for Direct-to-Home reception. The channel’s focus will be on news, with one-hour and shorter news programmes as well as documentaries and political and economic shows. Its state-of-the-art studios in Sarajevo also host the satellite uplink to W3C. Reporting will be complemented by studios in Zagreb Belgrade and Skopje and correspondents in Podgorica, Priština, Mostar and Banja Luka, as well as Washington, London, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Istanbul and Jerusalem. The channel will also receive support from more than 70 Al Jazeera network bureaux around the globe.
Launched in October and in full commercial service since November 9, Eutelsat’s W3C satellite is delivering new resources for dynamic broadcasting markets in Central Europe via a high-power beam optimised for TV reception. Eutelsat’s 16° East location is already the leading neighbourhood for Central Europe, broadcasting into 11 million homes. W3C will further consolidate Eutelsat’s support for individual channels and pay-TV platforms.
How to receive Al Jazeera Balkans:
W3C Orbital position: 16° East
Downlink frequency: 12.677 MHz
Polarisation: horizontal
FEC: ¾
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