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N24 significantly steps up collaboration with ASTRA Platform Services
SES ASTRA expands its interactive TV service BLUCOM to the arab world
11.09.2007
MBC group to use Blucom for MBC1, Al Arabiya, and MBC FM
Betzdorf ( Luxembourg ), 11 September 2007 – SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), announced today that it has signed a new contract for its interactive TV service Blucom for the Arab World. MBC, the leading free-toair multi-channel media group in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, will use Blucom for voting, greeting, downloading, and other enhanced TV-applications for its flagship channel MBC1, its news channel Al Arabiya, and its Saudi Arabian radio channel MBC FM. The roll-out of the service will start end of October 2007 and is technically implemented by APS ASTRA Platform Services and its affiliated company 5Cast, both based in Munich, Germany.
Blucom is an interactive TV-service that combines broadcast technologies with the mobile phone environment and thus enhances revenue models, branding and strengthens customer retention for TV broadcasters. Blucom synchronizes classic TV-content with additional information in real-time by displaying additional content and value added services on the mobile phones of the viewers. The backchannel and communication from the audience to the broadcaster function via SMS.
MBC Group which is based in Dubai currently operates six digital TV channels as well as two digital radio channels, O3 Productions and Middle East News and has evolved into a global media group that enriches people’s lives in the Arab world through information, interaction and entertainment. MBC reaches about 60 million households and has a market share of around 40 per cent.
“The new Blucom contract shows the large potential that this innovative and interactive product has for many international markets”, said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. “Blucom offers TV viewers attractive added value and interactive possibilities and allows TV channels to broaden their offer and diversify into new content and revenue models.
“SES ASTRA had recently stepped up its marketing of Blucom in Germany with new TVnetworks and distribution partners. The company enlarges its content offer with two German TV-networks, MTV Networks Germany and tv.gusto. The Blucom services of MTV Networks (MTV and VIVA) will cover interactive applications as well as additional program information. Among these are TV-guides, program teasers, news, and downloads. As a novelty, viewers that use Blucom can now also actively participate in the program of MTV and VIVA by using GPRS/ UMTS.
For further information please contact:
Markus Payer
SES ASTRA
+ 352 710 725 500
markus.payer@ses-astra.com
Concerning international BLUCOM activities:
APS ASTRA Platform Services GmbH
+49 89 1896 3626
stephane.goebel@aps.de
For the MENA region:
Mr. Roger Abi Nader
+971 50 553 1293
More information about SES: www.ses.com
About SES ASTRA: www.ses-astra.com
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