Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and Macau's Cosmos Satellite Television (Macau Satellite TV- MSTV) have signed a long-term satellite transponder leasing agreement for the use of C-band capacity on AsiaSat 2.

Macau Satellite TV ( MSTV) will broadcast its five channels : Travel Channel, East Asia Channel, Cartoon Channel, Macau Asia TV Channel and the Chinese TV Guide Channel in digital free to air MCPC format to viewers across AsiaSat 2's huge C-band footprint. A larger audience will be able to receive the programmes provided by MSTV. Furthermore, it is anticipated that MSTV will further expand the number of its channels in the future.

In addition to the above five channels, MSTV is also broadcasting the Five Star Channel and the Five Star Finance Channel on AsiaSat 3S's C-Band transponder, AsiaSat's other powerful satellite. After the commencement of this agreement, AsiaSat will carry all seven television programmes provided by MSTV.

Says MSTV chairman Ng Fok, "After having the two channels of Five Star TV onboard AsiaSat 3S, we are very satisfied with the quality of service provided by AsiaSat and its extensive coverage , and we therefore wish to use AsiaSat 2 to broadcast the rest of our channels. AsiaSat's powerful regional coverage across Asia and Australasia enables our programmes to reach a wider geographic audience. This will give us greater flexibility in our future expansion of services and more people can learn about Macau via satellite."

AsiaSat 2 is a Lockheed Martin Series 7000 model and carries twenty 36 MHz and four 72 MHz C-band, as well as nine 54 MHz Ku-band linearised transponders. Its C-band footprint covers 53 countries embracing Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the C.I.S. AsiaSat 2 also has a high-power Ku beam serving China, Korea, Japan and the surrounding areas.