Astra adds two Bavarian local channels

**zorba16** Mer 25 Avr - 15:01

Astra adds two Bavarian local channels
April 25, 2012 08.13 Europe/London By Robert Briel

SES has announced that two new Bavarian TV free-to-air channels are launching on the Astra Satellite System at the end of April.

The two channels, Franken Fernsehen in Nuremberg and a.tv in Augsburg, were previously local part time programmes and now extend their offer to full time. The channels will use former analogue capacity on Astra as of April 30, when broadcasters in Germany will switch off the analogue satellite signals.

“The launch of two new channels on Astra is additional proof that digitalisation leads to further demand for the former analogue capacity,” said Wolfgang Elsaesser, managing director of Astra Germany. “It also shows that digitalisation is increasing the programme offer for viewers. Making unencrypted local content available throughout the whole country is a strength that only satellite can offer.”