SES to offer new digital services

[Analoguesat]

SES press release.


Satellite operator builds digital infrastructure for Free-TV, Pay-TV and interactive services / Open for all broadcasters / Basis for broad digital offer
SES ASTRA, a SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), enhances its digital services and offers an infrastructure for Free-TV, Pay-TV and additional interactive services. The new offer will be open to all broadcasters and ease the development of digital services on an open technological basis. The offer will consist of playout services, encryption of programme signals, smart card distribution for access and customer relations management. With this offer, TV households will be able to use a future-proof solution for digital TV. For playout and technical services, SES ASTRA will rely on its existing subsidiary ASTRA Platform Services (APS) in Unterföhring near Munich whilst logistics, distribution of smart cards and customer services will be handled by a new SES ASTRA affiliate.

“By building up a new service package, we consistently follow our strategy to improve our portfolio as a technical service provider for TV channels and focus their activities on digitization”, said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. “The infrastructure that we offer is completely open for everybody, neutral and non-discriminatory. What we are doing will help all interested Free- and Pay-TV channels to enter the digital age, enabling the distribution of new programmes and programme packages and therefore fostering competition. This is how we will provide an important stimulus for the development of digital TV in Germany and further evidence of the role of the satellite as a technical pioneer.”

TV-households will be able to take advantage of the digital offer if they have a satellite dish, a satellite receiver together with an appropriate smart card and if they undertake a simple one-time registration. A receiver is suitable if it either already handles a suitable smart card or can be upgraded to handle such a smart card through an open interface (Common Interface). In order to use the service, users will be charged a low monthly digital flat rate to cover the technical cost of operating the digital infrastructure.

[BGonaSTICK]

Oh, I'm sorry. This is probably the best thing since sliced bread, but the fact that it was written by a corporate PR a*se-h*le means that it reads like sh!te.

Does it contain 90% :quote: suit-babble and 10% information? What does it all mean? Madness.

OK, here's my version:

"SES have developed a technical platform and customer support package enabling the provision of both free and pay TV to domestic customers.

It will include both the provision of encryption technology and smart card management and distribution. SES will offer the service to all broadcasters, and hopes it will encourage digital take-up and make them loads of money. Users must therefore pay."

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