Why does Digital+ broadcast on 19.2e & 30w?

[norm360]

From a business perspective paying to for space on 2 satellites as opposed to 1 doesn't make much sense.

What's the thinking behind this?

 

[smoggy07]

From a business perspective paying to for space on 2 satellites as opposed to 1 doesn't make much sense.

What's the thinking behind this?

More coverage maybe

or it could be 2 different packages showing the same content e.g. one for Portugal and one for Spain

could even be feeding cable headends or DVB-T MUXs

 

[woborny]

Spain used to have two competing satellite TV systems - Via Digital and Canal Digital - the former on 30 west, the latter on 19 east.
When they merged they left them on both satellites.

But why they are no only on one but on both no idea - perhaps they just dont want to send engineers arounf to move dishes from one to the other - or they are locked into long term contracts.

Also 30 west carries TDT para satellite - ie the terrestiral channels that can be received without having to sub to D+.

 

[buckshee]

Just a thought - maybe it gives them more flexability to log onto a satellite. i.e So many apartments facing the wrong way for say 19E but OK for 30W and vise versa.
Phil

 

[Channel Hopper]

Spain used to have two competing satellite TV systems - Via Digital and Canal Digital - the former on 30 west, the latter on 19 east.
When they merged they left them on both satellites.

But why they are no only on one but on both no idea - perhaps they just dont want to send engineers arounf to move dishes from one to the other - or they are locked into long term contracts.

Some of these contracts on satellites are up for the long term, 10 years or so. Unless the broadcaster is able to sell off the capacity ( they may not even have a severence/sub-lease policy) it makes sense to continue using them for the reasons above

 

[Greg2k]

CANAL+ does not offer HD programming via the Hispasat 30W beam, and although there has been no confirmation from the company, the word on the street is that Hispasat is costing them a fortune to keep supporting. The only reason they still do is that there is a significant enough number of subscribers who can only access CANAL+ via this satellite. Ideally they would start to phase it out and figure out how to cost-effectively move everybody currently on Hispasat to Astra 19.2E. By having the HD channels on Astra they are making a very clear statement that Astra is their priority and that Hispasat is something they'd like to get rid of.

 

[iandoh]

I just can't imagine that Hipsasat would be expensive to buy carriage on. It must be desperate for clients as there's so little there and so few dishes pointed there. Compared to Astra it would be pittence

CANAL+ does not offer HD programming via the Hispasat 30W beam, and although there has been no confirmation from the company, the word on the street is that Hispasat is costing them a fortune to keep supporting. The only reason they still do is that there is a significant enough number of subscribers who can only access CANAL+ via this satellite. Ideally they would start to phase it out and figure out how to cost-effectively move everybody currently on Hispasat to Astra 19.2E. By having the HD channels on Astra they are making a very clear statement that Astra is their priority and that Hispasat is something they'd like to get rid of.

 

[Greg2k]

I just can't imagine that Hipsasat would be expensive to buy carriage on. It must be desperate for clients as there's so little there and so few dishes pointed there. Compared to Astra it would be pittence

Correct, I meant to say that supporting BOTH Hispasat and Astra is costly. I agree with you that Hispasat would probably be a cheaper option in terms of carriage, but the majority of CANAL+ subscribers were already on Astra before the decision to take HD off of Hispasat, so my guess is they did some math and came to the conclusion that phasing-out Hispasat was the wiser choice, since this would require less dish repositioning.

From a customer perspective, most prefer to be on Astra. I know I'd leave CANAL+ the minute they decided to get off Astra, because the FTA programming on this bird is fairly decent compared to what's on Hispasat.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I just can't imagine that Hipsasat would be expensive to buy carriage on. It must be desperate for clients as there's so little there and so few dishes pointed there. Compared to Astra it would be pittence

From a satellite operators point of view is isn't. The 30W slot is seen as groundbreaking in that it can reliably broadcast to the best part of four continents.

_http://www.hispasat.com/Detail.aspx?SectionsId=98&lang=en

The potential number of similar speaking recipients was deemed large enough to launch craft within two years of each other plus co- transmit Ka band services from the same slot. Unfortunately from a European point of view, having transatlantic capability isn't as useful as pitching the reception into the same rough area of space, nor competing on price alone.

 

[Tururu]

Some data but, because I see errors.

Surely one of the conditions for fusion, was matener emissions Hispasat.
When starting broadcast in HD, was simultaneous, therefore Astra and Hispasat, he spent a few years working well, then I notice to subscribers HD channels only for Astra, being necessary to move the antenna, only now broadcasting SD channels until end the contract with Hispasat or other condition in fusion platform.
The new high subscribers are aimed at Astra, is a matter of time leave this satellite.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Algunos datos mas, pues veo errores.

Seguramente una de las condiciones para la fusion, fue matener las emisiones por Hispasat.
Al comenzar las emisiones en HD, fue simultanea, tanto por Astra como por Hispasat, pasaron unos años funcionando asi, entonces se aviso a los abonados que los canales HD solo por Astra, siendo necesario mover la antena, solo emiten actualmente canales SD, hasta que termine el contrato con Hispasat u otra condicion en la fusion de plataformas.
Las nuevas altas de abonados se orientan al Astra, es cuestion de tiempo abandonen este satelite.

 

[william-1]

It was pointed out to me some time ago when I raised the same question that the Pyrenees Mountain range between Spain & France restricts access to Satellites @ 19.2 east on one side & @ 30 west on the other side,
Effectively in some parts of Spain you cannot get a signal form both of these satellites.

If you look at the map below you will see that there are several mountain ranges in Spain that make reception impossible for both satellite positions.

 

[Tururu]

If it is true that good to have two satellites in this configuration for the problem of adjusting the antenna in the valleys, but when the current contract with Hispasat, Astra remain single.
Pay 2 times the same is not economically profitable for a company.

PS: Time to time.
+++++++++++++++++++
Si, es cierto que viene bien tener 2 satelites con esta configuracion para el problema de ajuste de la antena en los valles, pero cuando termine el contrato actual con Hispasat, solo quedara Astra.
Pagar 2 veces por lo mismo no es rentable economicamente para una empresa.

PD: Tiempo al tiempo.

 

[Br492]

It was because some years ago it was 2 companies that merged into one.the one c+transmitting from astra the other via digital from hispasat,so maybe for them to get the ok from eu they had to stay at both positions.if it was for the Pyrenees ,think of Greece: much more mountainous county and then we would have to have coverage from say 5-6 different positions,something that is not happening

 

[william-1]

It was because some years ago it was 2 companies that merged into one.the one c+transmitting from astra the other via digital from hispasat,so maybe for them to get the ok from eu they had to stay at both positions.if it was for the Pyrenees ,think of Greece: much more mountainous county and then we would have to have coverage from say 5-6 different positions,something that is not happening

Ah that explains why Greek tv is available over 5 satellites,
39 east,13 east,9 east,3.1 east, 11 west.
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/bulsatcom.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/nova.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/ote.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/Eutelsat-3D.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/Express-AM44.html

 

[Br492]

No.there is different reasons for that.first,once upon a time hellasat was owned by greek telecom OTE and then they wanted to use it for domestic package.they changed the mind and they went at 9 east.after that the freed transponders for use by Romanians and Bulgarians.nova is using 13e years and years for their package.3e is for terrestrial dvb-t transmission for public tv former ERT,now DT,and in near future NERIT , digital provider digea and two scrambled channels from netmed. it is not for direct reception.the other positions is for sporadic use and not for direct receptIon.even though Greece is very mountainous country every single one satellite could have covered everything in over 99%

That's all for Greece,back to Spain.if someone is interested in greek sat and terrestrial situation I would be glad to answer.in another thread