(2 June 2009 10:45 pm)

MUMBAI: EchoStar has partnered with AsiaSat to provide direct-to-home (DTH) television services to Taiwan and other regions in Asia.

As per their joint venture agreement, EchoStar will provide operational expertise and digital satellite TV equipment, whereas AsiaSat will provide satellite capacity for the DTH satellite TV platform.

However, the service is expected to be available to consumers only in the second half of 2009. Announcements on programming packages, equipment availability and targeted territories will be made in the coming months.

EchoStar International Corporation president Steve Schaver says, "The opportunity to partner with AsiaSat for delivery of video services creates an exciting opportunity for EchoStar as we enter the DTH market in Asia."

"Our alliance with EchoStar for the launch of a DTH satellite TV service creates an innovative and high quality product for an increasing number of technology-aware consumers in Asia demanding a greater choice for pay television service," said AsiaSat CEO Peter Jackson.

Asiasat is the owner and operator of the Asiasat 4 satellite with a broadcast satellite service (BSS) payload that enables viewers to receive the DTH offerings using satellite antennas as small as 30 cm in diameter.