[SatNews] MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. and AORA today announced an agreement with AORA that will greatly increase the channels of Direct-To-Home (“DTH”) service. Under the multi-transponder agreement, which involves PT Patra Telekomunikasi Indonesia as the local partner, MEASAT will provide MEASAT-3a Ku-band capacity for the AORA TV DTH service in Indonesia.

AORA commenced its nationwide broadcast activity on August 2008 with a 10 channel introductory service exclusively featuring the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Currently, AORA offers a variety of 25 channels across news, documentary, entertainment, movies, sports and kids programs. It plans to increase this channel offering to 50 channels in the near future.

“We are delighted to have AORA as a core customer on MEASAT’s DTH platform,” said Paul Brown-Kenyon, Chief Operating Officer, MEASAT. The agreement with AORA increases to five (5) the number of DTH platforms supported on the MEASAT-3 / MEASAT-3a 91.5°E DTH neighborhood. “With the addition of AORA, we are strengthening our DTH business position in the region,” added Paul.