SES Elevate and OpenView HD train 100 Super Installers in SA
Johannesburg, South Africa 21 August 2014 — SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), in partnership with free-to-air broadcaster OpenView HD (OVHD), today announced the start of the Elevate Super Installer training programme in South Africa.
The Elevate training programme was created in 2011 to complement satellite and digital television roll-out on the African continent with quality installations by well-trained installers. This SES initiative has already held training programmes in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, benefitting local business growth across the digital broadcasting environment in Africa.
The SES Elevate Super Installer training programme will result in 100 OpenView HD certified installers who can in turn provide training. These Super Installers will not only ensure quality OpenView HD installations across South Africa, but also help grow the broadcasters accredited installer base.
OpenView HD is a free to air satellite TV platform managed by Platco Digital, a sister company of the South African independent broadcaster e.tv. The platform boasts over 18 Channels that offer local and international content. SES signed a 15 year partnership with Platco Digital, providing OpenView HD audiences in South Africa’s urban and remote areas access to clear transmitted television. SES provides the satellite capacity on the SES 5 satellite at 5 degrees East, one of the company’s flagship orbital slots, which supports customers in developing the Digital Direct-to-Home TV markets in Africa.
Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, SVP for Commercial Africa of SES, says, “The SES Elevate Installer Training programme benefits the broadcast business across the continent by ensuring that audiences receive quality television, individual installers receive the latest training and skills, and our customers receive on the ground support to deliver their programming to the market.”
Platco Digital Managing Director, Maxwell Nonge says, “We hope this training programme will enable us to expand the OpenView HD installers’ network, and improve the level of customer service. Satellite technology is always changing; programmes such as SES Elevate expose installers to the latest technology and give them the edge they need to succeed in a competitive market.
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About SES
SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of over 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.
SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.
SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.
Platco Digital
Platco Digital is an independent distribution company offering digital carriage solutions on various platforms including Direct-to-Home (DTH) and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Its main objective is to help free TV broadcasters cost-effectively reach audiences. Platco Digital launched OpenView HD (OVHD), a Free-to-View (FTV) Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite offering on 15th October 2013. OVHD carries licensed free TV channels in South Africa and, ultimately, will expand into the rest of Africa.
Platco is a sister company of the South African independent broadcaster e.tv (Pty) Limited. Both are owned by Sabido Investments (Pty) Limited, a South African media group with holdings in a variety of broadcasting, content, production, facilities and distribution businesses. Platco Digital has its offices in Hyde Park, Johannesburg and uplink facilities in Cape Town. Further information under: http://africa.ses.com/17960372/2_Training_Partners#sthash.AwNZ6Dy1.dpuf
OpenView HD
OpenView HD is a free digital satellite platform, powered by e.tv, which brings you a wonderful new world of entertainment – 18 new TV channels in digital quality. The decoder is available from all leading retailers from as little as R 849.00 (excluding dish/installation).
