How do satellite channels in poor/third world countries survive?

[RichardCoulter]

I was wondering how satellite channels in poor/third world countries survive. I am assuming they are all FTA


If their countries are so poor, how do they meet the cost of sending a satellite into space (although, perhaps, they rent space from a foreign satellite whose footprint covers their country.)


But how do consumers afford satellite TV, when they struggle to feed themselves

 

[Analoguesat]

Well for starters its far far more cost effective to cover a big country like Sudan with a satellite signal rather than try to cover all the country with a terrestrial transmitter network, and many of the channels are governmental run and funded so cost really isnt important. After all the government needs to get their message across to the population ;)

 

[rolfw]

Mostly they cram more channels into a transponder, thus paying less pro rata for the space. Also many of them don't have extended terrestrial networks, spending all of their money on satellite transmission.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Mostly they cram more channels into a transponder, ...

The correct term being 'bandwith efficiency' which is carried out by the better known satellite players in this neck of the woods.