Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles

Tender description

BBC World Service has provided international radio services in Arabic for several decades. These were enhanced in 2007 with a television service known as BBC Arabic TV, which is a free to air TV news and entertainment channel, produced at the BBC's Headquarters in London. Since launch BBC's Arabic TV service has developed a large audience that looks to the BBC to provide strong unbiased news and information coverage. To reach this audience the channel is distributed on a number of Direct to Home (DTH) satellites, IP TV, cable and online. It targets regions where Arabic is either the main or, the widely spoken and understood 2nd language, as well as countries with a significant Arabic speaking diaspora. The contract term will be included in the ITSIT and may be varied following discussion with bidders during the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation process. BBC World Service invites suppliers to tender for the supply of satellite uplink facilities and transponder space capacity at seven (7°) degrees West orbital location, suitable to deliver BBC Arabic TV to a direct to home service into the Middle East and North Africa.