On Digital takes Astra capacity

South African pay-TV operator On Digital Media has signed a deal with SES Astra for three transponders on its Astra 4A satellite. Astra will also provide additional broadcasting services via its affiliate Astra Platform Services.

ODM, which is 20% owned by Astra, will use the capacity to deliver TopTV, a new pay-TV bouquet for South Africa, which launches next month.

Astra 4A carries six transponders for the African market covering southern Africa from Nigeria to Cape Town. The contract with ODM brings the total capacity contracted on this satellite to five transponders, with broadcaster ETV and broadcast services provider GlobeCast having previously signed one transponder each.