SES Astra, a Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, is expanding into central and eastern Europe, and plans to enter into a new growth market, Bulgaria, in days, the company announced.

The Bulgarian Direct-to-Home (DTH) operator Satellite BG will use three transponders at SES Astra's 23.5 degrees East orbital position for broadcasting its channel portfolio to TV homes across Bulgaria.

Satellite BG will launch its channel bouquet on 1 February 2011. The offer will consist of more than 70 channels including High Definition (HD) channels and all major public and commercial channels in Bulgaria.

TV viewers wishing to receive Satellite BG will need a satellite dish pointed to 23.5 degrees East and a satellite receiver with a suitable smartcard and subscription.

Unconfirmed reports say that the regional satellite TV provider Total TV, part of private equity investment firm Mid Europa Partners, which took over ITV Partner in the middle of April, will be merged into the new service operated by Satellite BG AD.

Aside from Total TV, Bulgaria currently also has two other DTH platforms – Bulsatcom and Vivacom TV.