Eutelsat passes 4,000 TV channel mark

Leading satellite operator Eutelsat Communications has announced that the number of channels broadcast through its craft has passed 4,000 at the end of 2011, broadbandtvnews.com reports.

This new landmark has been achieved with the launch of Arabic movie channel Rotana Cinema at Eutelsat’s 7° West video neighbourhood. Over the last five years, Eutelsat’s video neighbourhoods have attracted 2000 additional channels.

The Eutelsat is serving TV markets in the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Central Europe with 60 percent of clients pay-TV channels, available through over 40 platforms serving markets in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.

Eutelsat transition to digital is also driving the emergence of HD with HDTV progressing to all TV markets served by Eutelsat’s satellites and currently accounts for 7 percent of all channels.