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Doha – Qatar’s Es’hailSat has entered into a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement with Morocco’s national broadcaster SNRT (National Company of Radio and Television) to expand broadcasting services across the MENA region.
The agreement, finalized on Wednesday, encompasses Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, satellite transponder for Digital Terrestrial Television, and video contribution services, utilizing Es’hail-1 satellite’s strategic position at 25.5° East orbital location.
“Es’hailSat is delighted to welcome SNRT Morocco, and bring on board one of the region’s leading public broadcasters to our satellite hotspot,” said Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, President & CEO at Es’hailSat.
“We believe that the diverse range of programming and depth of the channel bouquet offered by us at Es’hailSat aligns perfectly with SNRT’s vision to provide quality Moroccan content catering to audiences across the region.”
The deal comes at a pivotal time for SNRT, which is currently undertaking Morocco’s largest public media consolidation.
As stated in SNRT CEO Faiçal Laraïchi’s recent announcement, the broadcaster is set to complete its acquisition of major media outlets within two months, including full ownership of Soread 2M and Medi1 TV, along with an 83.6% stake in both Medi1 Radio and Regie3.
Es’hailSat, established as Qatar’s satellite operator, operates two satellites in its fleet.
Es’hail-1, launched in 2014, shares its orbital position with European satellite operator Eutelsat and provides services for major broadcasters in the region.
The company’s second satellite, Es’hail-2, launched via SpaceX Falcon 9 in November 2018, operates at 26° East longitude.
The partnership aims to enhance SNRT’s signal coverage significantly across the Middle East and North Africa.
This aligns with Laraïchi’s recent statement about optimizing satellite usage: “This will enable us to offer a unified Moroccan package rather than having channels scattered across different satellites.”
SNRT, which currently employs 2,300 people and operates approximately 200 broadcasting stations, will integrate this satellite agreement into its broader restructuring strategy.
“This is part of a political vision to consolidate public media outlets and rationalize management of financial, human, technical, and production resources, as well as program acquisition, satellite investment, and geographical news coverage,” Laraïchi explained during a recent parliamentary committee meeting.
The agreement positions SNRT’s channel package within Es’hailSat’s established video neighborhood, joining the content that currently broadcasts via both Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 satellites.
Read also: Television Remains King in Morocco: New Audience Figures Reveal Viewing Trends
