The UK’s freesat, France’s FranSat and Italy’s TivuSat are coming together in an alliance designed to prepare for ‘next-generation’ developments, writes Chris Forrester. In the first collaboration of its kind, the FreeTV Alliance aims to promote the harmonisation of satellite TV services and technology across Europe.
This will help drive the continuing rollout of compelling free-to-view satellite TV, benefitting viewers, manufacturers, broadcasters, retailers and service providers. The news emerged at an IBC press launch yesterday.
Alberto Sigismondi, CEO at TivuSat and the Alliance’s first chairman, said: “We are hugely excited by the prospects. In putting together this Alliance we want to take the whole effort of free satellite TV to the next level.
The TV manufacturers are already building in digital satellite TV tuners to their sets. In Germany, for example, almost every set has a double front end and can handle cable or satellite reception. In Italy, it isn’t quite so many sets, but we are getting the message out.”
Pictured: (L/R): Jean-Luc Deroudilhe, directeur general FRANSAT, freesat managing director Emma Scott and TivuSat CEO Alberto Sigismondi.
