The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has recently awarded Orange Romania the authorization to re-broadcast TV channels by satellite.

The telecom operator has submitted a request to CNA to re-broadcast a total of 99 TV channels, of which 25 are High Definition (HD). The program schedule includes, among others, Romanian TV channels operated by PRO TV SA, by the Romanian Television Company TVR, Intact Group’s TV channels, Discovery channels, BBC international channels and other sports, music and entertainment TV channels. According to the documents submitted by Orange, the company plans to re-broadcast the local TV stations from Issy Les Moulineaux in France.

According to the local media, there was an Orange representative present at CNA’s meeting on Tuesday (May 21) to support the request. After the procedures for issuing the requested authorization are completed, Orange Romania will be able to launch its satellite TV services, competing with companies like RCS&RDS, Romtelecom and UPC România.

The telecom company recently signed a contract with SES, a supplier of satellite communication services, in order to launch on the DTH television services, according to the local publication Ziarul Financiar.

Orange, owned by France Telecom, had almost flat revenues in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the same period last year, despite an increase in customers. Revenues reached EUR 219 million in the first three months of 2013, down 1.4 percent on a comparable base, while the company saw a slight rise in customers, to just over 10.2 million.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com