RTP (Radio e Televisão de Portugal), the Portuguese national public service broadcaster announced that it is launching a direct to home (DTH) channel on Intelsat’s IA-8 satellite targeting Brazil.
In order for RTP to provide content directly to homes in Brazil, Intelsat, working with Brazilian broadcaster Tecsat, will use its teleport in Brazil to get RTP’s Portuguese programming from the IS-805 satellite.
Once received, the signal will be converted allowing viewers to watch RTP’s programs through a 30-inch antenna. Intelsat is the largest provider of fixed satellite services worldwide.
"This is the first time we will be accessing the Brazilian market with a DTH offering, so it made sense to use IA-8, a new and powerful satellite covering the region, to provide a cost-effective service to viewers of our content," said Mr. Paulo Jorge Velez Santos, Head of International Distribution at RTP. "Intelsat provided us with an ideal turnkey solution, combining convenience, coverage and power at a very competitive price."
Stephen Spengler, Intelsat’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific Sales, stated, "International broadcasters interested in accessing Latin America on a DTH basis should note that the high-power of IA-8 is ideal to cost-effectively reach a significant number of small dishes throughout the region. This application is a good example of how the breadth of Intelsat’s fleet can enable a customer based in one region to target another region entirely and expand its business abroad."
RTP – www.rtp.pt