Telesat, the Ottawa-based satellite services operator, has a new multi-year agreement to enable HBO Asia to distribute high definition television (HDTV) programming to millions of its subscribers.
“Telesat is a leading distributor of HDTV programming across North America and we are delighted to have HBO Asia select Telstar 18 to reach its growing base of subscribers,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. “HDTV in Asia is in the early stages of mass market acceptance. Telesat’s partnering with HBO Asia will enable us to capitalize on the region’s HDTV potential and develop Telstar 18 as a premiere Asia video satellite.”
HBO Asia offers five commercial-free subscription movie channels as well as a subscription video-on-demand service, in selected markets.
HBO Asia is a joint venture of HBO (a Time Warner company) and Paramount.
“HBO Asia has a long term working relationship with Telesat and we are happy to partner with them in the roll out of our HBO HD service across Asia,” said Vincent Teo, Senior Vice President, Technology & Operations, HBO Asia. “HBO HD is the first regional movie channel to broadcast in high definition in Asia, and is currently available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines, with more countries to follow soon.”
Headquartered in Ottawa, ON, with offices and facilities around the world, Telesat is the fourth-largest fixed satellite services operator. Telesat has a global state-of-the-art fleet of 12 satellites, with one under construction and another planned to start construction early 2010, and manages the operations of 13 additional satellites for third parties. Telesat is privately held. Its principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc.