- 10-year contract to multiplex and uplink additional services
- Interactive elements, new channels and further regional variants
- 4th multiplex goes live this month
NTL's Broadcast division has been awarded contracts to uplink signals to a fourth and fifth satellite transponder for ITV. Currently three transponders provide ITV's digital satellite services from an NTL uplink which opened in November 2001. The fourth multiplex is due to go live during November 2004 with the fifth due next March; they will enable further regional variants of ITV1 and additional interactive applications.
Simon Thrush, head of satellite and playout in NTL's Media Solutions group, said: "ITV is of course one of our biggest customers and we're delighted to support the development of their digital satellite offering. DTH transponder space is in short supply, so it's good to know that ITV has the necessary capacity for its current and planned services."
Mick Desmond CEO ITV Broadcast added: "It's important that our full range of services is available as widely as possible and we're delighted to partner with NTL to expand our satellite transmissions."
NTL provides full-time satellite services for over 150 satellite channels from teleports in London and Winchester. To maximise cost-effectiveness ntl operates shared digital multiplexes on key satellites, and the company recently acquired its own DTH transponder on Eurobird 1 to provide end-to-end solutions, including playout, for new channel entrants.
-Ends-
