Artistic rendition of the EUROBIRD 9A satellite
San Marino RTV has initiated a three-year contract with Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) enabling SMtv, its new satellite channel, to commence pan-Italian and pan-European broadcasting on June 13th. San Marino’s national broadcaster will optimise the reach of SMtv by broadcasting via Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ video neighborhood and the EUROBIRD™ 9A satellite. The 24-hour general entertainment channel will be available free-to-air (FTA) to satellite TV homes and will also be carried in the Sky Italia and TivuSat DTH platforms. The channel will be uplinked from the Cagliari (Sardinia) teleport owned and operated by Eutelsat’s affiliate, Skylogic. Launched in 1993, San Marino RTV has progressively built up its broadcasting capability, reaching viewers through the DTT network in San Marino and Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Its new satellite venture will feature a strong editorial focus on San Marino and bordering Italian regions, but also events across the world, particularly political and economic issues in the Balkans and the Mediterranean Basin.