Russia’s Platforma HD boosts capacity on Eurobird™ 9 satellite
Following on from the successful launch in 2008 of Platforma HD on the Eutelsat Eurobird™ 9 satellite, the Russian pay-TV operator is complementing and significantly expanding its offer with a new package called Platforma DV of 20 Standard Digital channels. Platforma DV launched on 1 February via a second transponder leased by National Satellite Company on the Eurobird™ 9 satellite which provides extensive reach to satellite homes across the European territory of Russia.
The 20 Standard Digital channels will include flagship Russian channels covering sport, music, cinema, news and lifestyle: Rossija, Sport, Vesti, Kultura, Bibigon, Pervyj, Pjatyj, NTV, TNT, STS, Ren TV, Muz TV, Zoo TV, Kinopokaz, Teleputesestvija, Tonus TV, Avto Plus, Kuchnja TV, Komedija TV and 365 Days. The new platform will be available to Direct-to-Home subscribers using 60-90cm antennas in western parts of Russia.
Platforma DV will cost subscribers R900 (€20) a year and offer a supplement to Platforma HD, which broadcasts five HD channels (Kinopokaz HD, Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, HD Life and MTVN HD) for an annual subscription of R3,600 (€80). Subscribers choosing to take both SD and HD packages will pay R4,200 (€93) a year.
Platforma HD and DV use DRE encryption for the system. Two types of decoder are available (the HUMAX HDCI-2000 and General Satellite’s HD-9000) enabling reception of channels in DVB-S2, Standard Definition and in High-Definition.