Eutelsat Communications has announced that NTV-Plus, Russia’s leading direct-to-home pay-TV platform, is boosting its capacity on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite from six to eight transponders. The new agreement for high-power capacity on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite has been concluded between NTV Plus and the RSCC (Russian Satellite Communications Company), Russia’s national satellite communications operator and a longstanding partner with Eutelsat in the Russian market.

The new capacity will be used by NTV-Plus to expand its pay-TV platform which was launched in 1997 and today serves 450,000 subscriber homes, mainly located in Russia, through Eutelsat’s W4 satellite. Since the beginning of March three new television channels (NTV-Plus Tennis, NTV-Plus Sport Classic, Nash Football) have already joined the existing offer of 60 digital channels. Up to 20 further channels are planned for launch in the coming months.

“Since its launch on Eutelsat, NTV-Plus has built up its position as a key player in eastern Europe’s vibrant broadcasting landscape,” said NTV-Plus Director General Dmitry Samokhin.

“Through this new capacity we are now equipped to extend and diversify the range of channels we offer subscribers. The superior coverage provided by Eutelsat’s W4 satellite will also support our expansion in CIS countries which are experiencing rapid development of digital services and present great potential for growth for our digital platform.”

For Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat CEO, “The development of our key video neighbourhood for eastern Europe at 36 degrees East sits at the heart of our strategic objectives for Eutelsat’s continued growth. NTV-Plus was the first broadcaster to deliver pay-TV to Russia from 36 degrees East and the first client to join our W4 satellite when it was launched in 2000. Today, the success and the expansion of NTV-Plus consolidate our position in a region in which we have built a longstanding presence and which we firmly believe will continue to expand as the demand for broadcast and broadband services rapidly take hold.“