Partnering up are satellite operator ABS and PT Sarana Media Vision (SMV), with ABS using SMV’s DTH license to launch a consumer FreeView satellite service called FreeViewSat across Indonesia in January of 2017.
The service will be called SMV FreeViewSat and will initially broadcast more than 60 television channels via the ABS-2, ABS-2A and ABS-6 satellites in both Ku- and C-band. For the first time in Indonesia, a free-to-view platform will be available throughout the entire country, allowing advertisers the opportunity to reach the full potential of the Indonesian audience. The FreeViewSat model will promote maximum distribution and the cost of the STB and the dish will be less than US$35. Customers will only need to make this one-time purchase to enjoy all of the TV channels on the platform (with no monthly recurring subscription fees).
FreeViewSat will carry at least 30 local Free-to-Air channels and more than 30 high quality international channels. The number of channels will continue to grow to over 100 channels in the first 6 to 12 months as new and interesting content is added. The service will be available via 75 cm Ku-band dishes from 75 degrees East on ABS-2 and ABS-2A, and via 1.6 m C-band antennas from 156 degrees East on ABS-6 simultaneously—this means consumers will have the choice of acquiring small dishes, or the larger dishes that offer better rain protection. As Indonesia already has more than 10 million C-band antennas installed, a rapid adoption rate is expected. ABS has selected the ABV conditional access and middleware system, along with Ali chips for its Set-Top Boxes (STBs).
Confirmed channels for launch include:
TV9 Nusantara, TVRI Nasional, DAAI TV, TV One, ANTV, Metro TV, Trans 7, Trans TV, SCTV, Indosair, Kompas TV, Net TV, Bali TV.
H2, Bloomberg TV, France 24, Fix and Foxi Channel, Action Hollywood Movies, Pulse TV, Al Jazeera English, CCTV-News, CCTV-4, CCTV-9, Russia Today, MediaCorp Channel, Landscape HD, TRACE Urban and TRACE Sports Stars, B4U Music, B4U Movies, NDTV 247 and NDTV Good Times, and many more.
Tom Choi, CEO of ABS, commented that SMV’s FreeViewSat will provide great quality international and unique domestic programming to the entire country. The goal is to deliver affordable high quality entertainment and educational content to all. For the first time, everybody will be able to receive high quality programming at no charge with just a one-time purchase of a set-top box and a dish.