Eutelsat Communications’ mobile programme guide Sat.tv is expanding to include free-to-air channels broadcasting from its 7/8° West neighbourhood. Sat.tv was launched in April 2016, targeting the 65 million homes equipped for DTH reception from Eutelsats HOTBIRD neighbourhood. The app has already registered almost one million downloads and is now available to the more than 52 million […]
Eutelsat Communications’ mobile programme guide Sat.tv is expanding to include free-to-air channels broadcasting from its 7/8° West neighbourhood. Sat.tv was launched in April 2016, targeting the 65 million homes equipped for DTH reception from Eutelsats HOTBIRD neighbourhood. The app has already registered almost one million downloads and is now available to the more than 52 million DTH-equipped homes in the Middle East and North Africa that receive free-to-air channels from 7/8° West.
Enhancing the free-to-air viewing experience
Sat.tv now gives viewers in the Middle East and North Africa the opportunity to browse through the detailed programme schedules of around 400 free-to-air channels*, with options to search by time, channel or type of content. Viewers benefit from a user-friendly programme guide interface available in five languages (Arabic, English, French, Italian, Russian) and can access programme details in up to 40 languages.
Sat.tv has already seen strong take-up in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran, with users particularly drawn by the option to select preferred content in one click and to receive personalised recommendations.
Increasing broadcaster engagement with their audience
Easy navigation and extensive information for viewers are derived from the ergonomic app eco-system that enables broadcasters to enter programme schedules that are displayed real-time through the app. They are able to directly edit their data from a dedicated back-end.
* total number of channels cumulating HOTBIRD and 7/8° West line-up
Nicolas Moulin-Fournier, SVP New Video Services, commented on the app extension: “Sat.tv has been welcomed by broadcasters for its capacity to create value and by viewers for living up to its promise: Free to choose. We are confident that the vast audience at the fast-evolving 7/8° West neighbourhood will adopt Sat.tvs intuitive app features as quickly as HOTBIRD viewers and broadcasters.
