First came the successful launch in 2008 of Platforma HD on the EUROBIRD(TM) 9 satellite of Eutelsat Communications [Euronext Paris: ETL]; and now the Russian pay-TV operator National Satellite Company is expanding their offerings with a new package called Platforma DV of 20 Standard Digital channels. Platforma DV launches on February 1 via a second transponder leased by National Satellite Company on Eutelsat's EUROBIRD(TM) 9 satellite which provides extensive reach to satellite homes across the European territory of Russia. The Eutelsat fleet (EUTELSAT©)

The 20 Standard Digital channels will include flagship Russian channels covering sport, music, cinema, news and lifestyle: Rossija, Sport, Vesti, Kultura, Bibigon, Pervyj, Pjatyj, NTV, TNT, STS, Ren TV, Muz TV, Zoo TV, Kinopokaz, Teleputesestvija, Tonus TV, Avto Plus, Kuchnja TV, Komedija TV and 365 Days. The new platform will be available to Direct-to-Home subscribers using 60-90cm antennas in western parts of Russia. Platforma DV will cost subscribers R900 (EUR20) a year and offer a supplement to Platforma HD, which broadcasts five HD channels (Kinopokaz HD, Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, HD Life and MTVN HD) for an annual subscription of R3,600 (EUR80). Subscribers choosing to take both SD and HD packages will pay R4,200 (EUR93) a year.

Platforma HD and DV use DRE encryption for the system. Two types of decoder are available (the HUMAX HDCI-2000 and General Satellite's HD-9000) enabling reception of channels in DVB-S2, Standard Definition and in High-Definition. Commenting on the launch of Platforma DV, Konstantin Yashin, Chairman of Platforma HD declared: "With the launch of our new package, subscribers already attracted by High-Definition television can add a valuable set of traditional Standard Digital channels offering excellent quality."

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat's Commercial Director added: "The launch of Platform DV as a complement to Platforma HD shows the strong appetite of Russian satellite homes for a wide variety of content and further anchors EUROBIRD(TM) 9 as a neighborhood of choice in this region. We are very pleased to accompany the expansion of new video platforms in Russia's dynamic new media landscape."