[SatBroadcasting(tm)] SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has signed an important capacity agreement for video delivery via its 31.5 degrees East orbital position.

Through the contract with Ukraine’s state owned Ukrkosmos, SES ASTRA will immediately get access to all cable head-ends and terrestrial networks, and achieve 100 percent cable-coverage in Ukraine via this orbital position. Ukrkosmos’ channel portfolio includes state-owned UTR, Kultura and KDRTRK, as well as Sport 1, Sport 2, Malyatko TV and Menu TV. As UTR and Kultura are subject to must-carry rules, cable operators are obliged to offer the two channels as part of their bouquet. This allows SES ASTRA to immediately gain significant reach in Ukraine.

31.5 degrees East is SES ASTRA’s orbital position for Eastern Europe and the Middle East and complements SES ASTRA’s successful 5 degrees East orbital position that already delivers a large variety of channels to Ukraine and allows for further growth in the region. TV-viewers can receive the Ukrkosmos bouquet throughout the country with satellite dishes of 60 centimeters using the following transmission parameters: Satellite name: ASTRA 1G, Orbital position 31.5 degrees East, transponder No. 5.231, reception frequency 12304.50 MHz, horizontal polarization.