Marketing half of the channels of the second Egyptian satellite before actual operation
Egypt, Business, 9/14/2000

Half of the channels of the Egyptian satellite Nilesat 102 have been marketed before its actual operation. The satellite was launched successfully, to be fixed in its orbit seven degrees west, at 2:00 am on the 18th of August.

This second satellite is operated through two stations where the first main station lies in the Sixth of October City and it works alternately with the ground control station in Al-Hammam in the northern coast.

There is another ground control station in Beirut constructed by the Egyptian Satellite Company.

This is the first ground station owned by the company outside Egypt as it was licensed by the Lebanese government to start its experimental transmission for two months then it will have its actual transmission for six Lebanese TV channels which are: The National Broadcast of Lebanon (N.B.L.), The New Television, Al Mur Television (M.T.V.), Lebanon Television, Arab Economic Channel (under construction) and Morco Channel. There is a fourth ground station which was constructed in London to receive the transmission of Arab and foreign satellite channels from their bases in European capitals such as Showtime and Middleast Broadcasting Corporarion (M.B.C.).

These channels will be received by the Egyptian satellite instantly and directly without the interference of the ground station of the Sixth of October City which receives and resends this transmission.

That is why a new antenna was manufactured in the second satellite to facilitate the clear receiving of these channels.

The London ground station was financed by the owners of the companies and channels who want their broadcast to be transmitted to the Middle East.

Thus, the Egyptian Satellite Company did not pay a penny in this project.

Mr Safwat El-Sherif, Minister of Information, asserted that half of the channels of the satellite, which includes twelve channels, has been marketed.

Moreover, the Egyptian Satellite company is considering some contracts and how serious their owners are to ensure the credibility of the reservation especially that contracting is made in advance.

Meanwhile, Showtime Company has reserved an additional satellite channel to use it to broadcast a bunch of new international TV channels which are being licensed in the Middle East now as these channels are expected to begin broadcasting in January 2001.

In the meantime, Arab Radio and TV (A.R.T.) and Orbit Net companies have reserved another two satellite channels to broadcast some of the channels of Orbit Bunch.

Besides, a satellite channel has been reserved to transmit the Internet services as a contract has been already signed with three Internet dealers; '' Mena-net'', ''MIST'' , and The Egyptian-Kuwaiti Internet Company which has a partnership with the Egyptian Satellite Company.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak to give go-ahead to Nilesat 102 operation   (9/12/2000)
  Establishing a governmental Egyptian company for technological development   (3/27/2000)
  $38 million to rent channels of Nilesat 102 annually   (3/24/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search