Arqiva wins Freesat contract

Arqiva has been awarded a contract by the BBC to help create the Freesat platform, due for launch next March.
The company has been working with the BBC for more than 18 months to develop initial plans, and began platform testing last month.
Alan Boyle, head of BBC distribution operations, said: “The Arqiva team knows our infrastructure and the people involved, so this made it a lot easier to develop the right end-to-end solution for the Freesat platform.”

Many channel owners are now in contact with Arqiva and Freesat in order to secure space on the new platform, which aims to offer up to 300 TV and radio channels, some with high-definition capability.

“This will be a major digital platform in the UK and we have worked very closely with the BBC to get it right,” said John Bozza, director of broadcast sales, Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions.
“When we reach the time for digital switchover in the UK it’s vital that every household is able to receive free digital TV. We are looking forward to working with Freesat and helping the channels on our existing satellite multiplexes to access the Freesat platform,” he added.

However, Arquiva’s Freesat transponders will be on the Eurobird1 satellite, which has a pan-European footprint compared to the BBC’s preferred satellite, Astra 2D.