❝ We provide an unbeatable TV neighbourhood for both contribution and distribution in C- and
TV channels , where we provide tailor-made solutions according to each customer ’ s needs .❞
FSS PLUS HTS KEEP SATELLITES PULSATING
APT Satellite continues to expand footprint across Asia
For many of the world ’ s most-established satellite companies , Asia-Pacific remains a key market for their business . One company , however , sees the region as its core market , and where it continues to provide critical TV distribution services for broadcasters serving Asian audiences .
Huang Bao Zhong , executive VP of marketing and sales , APT Satellite , told the APB Satellite Special : “ Over the past decade , the Asia-Pacific market has demonstrated that it is the fastest-growing TV market [ in the world ]. With all the international big brands operating in Asia , we cannot afford to lose the opportunity to service broadcasters in the region .”
These include the likes of HBO , Disney , Sony Pictures , the BBC and RTL CBS , as APT Satellite enjoys “ significant share ” in countries such as Bangladesh , Nepal , Singapore , Cambodia , Taiwan and Hong Kong , among others .
Huang continued : “ We are well positioned to service our customers in Asia-Pacific ; particularly , our APSTAR-5 and APSTAR-7 are two of the most important satellite networks in Asia .”
Located at 138 ° East , APSTAR-5 ’ s C-band beam covers Asia , Oceania , the Pacific Islands and Hawaii , while its Ku-band beam covers China , Mongolia , South Korea and India . APSTAR-7 is located at 76.5 ° East ; its C-band beam covers Asia , Australia , Europe and Africa , while its Ku-band beam covers China , Africa and the Middle East .
The APSTAR-9 satellite , which was successfully launched last October , further expands APT Satellite ’ s transponder capacities and service capability in Asia . The DFH-4 series platform high-power geostationary communication satellite , with 32 C-band and
14 Ku-band transponders , will subsequently replace the APSTAR-9A satellite at 142 ° East .
“ We provide an unbeatable TV neighbourhood for both contribution and distribution in C- and Ku-bands ,” declared Huang . “ We now service more than 600 TV channels , where we provide tailor-made solutions according to each customer ’ s needs .”
APSTAR offers several Multi Channel Per Carrier ( MCPC ) broadcast platforms on its satellite fleet , offering services such as redundant IP gateways , hot redundant earth station facilities , turnkey playout services and solutions , and cloud content management and storage services , designed to allow regional and international broadcasters to distribute their
❝ We provide an unbeatable TV neighbourhood for both contribution and distribution in C- and
Ku-bands . We now service more than 600
TV channels , where we provide tailor-made solutions according to each customer ’ s needs .❞
— Huang Bao Zhong , Executive VP of Marketing and Sales ,
APT Satellite
content to cable headend or provide direct-to-home ( DTH ) services .
One satisfied customer is RTL CBS Entertainment , which has been using APT Satellite ’ s multi-channel TV platform on APSTAR-7 since August 2013 , to distribute two channels — RTL Extreme and RTL Entertainment — in Asia-Pacific .
Jonas Engwall , CEO of RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network , explained : “ When we saw the channels that APT Satellite were already covering , we knew that their footprint is one that will serve our current needs , as well as allow us to expand in the future . More importantly , it was APT Satellite ’ s willingness to find solutions to all our challenges , their responsiveness to our
Successfully launched last October , the
APSTAR-9 satellite expands APT Satellite ’ s footprint across Asia . needs , that made us choose them .”
Having recently launched a new feed in the Philippines via APT Satellite , Engwall was unanimous in saying : “ Should we decide to launch any new channels in Asia in the future , we will definitely choose ATP Satellite again .”
What then , does the near future hold for Asia ’ s satellite industry ? DTH may well give way to OTT , particularly in developed countries , although DTH will remain hugely relevant in developing countries which are still transitioning to digital TV , accessed Huang . “ DTH will be around for at least another decade . The demand for C-band contribution will also remain high in Asia , and competition will become tougher and tougher as more and more private TV channels emerge .”
As for 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ), the outlook may be more ambiguous , even though APT Satellite is ready to support customers looking to launch 4K / UHD channels . “ Technically , there is no problem and 4K / UHD equipment is already available ,” Huang said . “ However , content may still be lacking and commercially , it will take some years before Asia is fully ready to embrace 4K / UHD .”
The key message , Huang believes , is that regardless of resolution , satellite remains the most effective platform to deliver content to mass audiences in Asia , and APT Satellite wants to continue to act as a bridge between content producers and their intended audiences . “ Our motto is this — ‘ We care . We share . We Grow Together .’ We want to continue to build a reputable brand around the success of our customers . We have a strong belief that in order to be a successful brand , we need to be about what our customers are about — we want to grow with our customers .”
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