Hot Bird


Hot Bird is a group of satellites operated by Eutelsat, located at 13°E over the Equator and with a transmitting footprint over Asia, Europe, North Africa, Americas and the Middle East.
Only digital radio and television channels are transmitted by the Hot Bird constellation, both free-to-air and encrypted. In addition there are a few interactive and IP services. The satellites currently operate at 13° East and are numbered 13B, 13C and 13D. The satellites have been broadcasting digital-only since TV5Monde switched off its analogue signal in 2010.

List of satellites

NameLaunch LocationCurrent LocationLaunch dateStatus
Hot Bird 1KourouJunk orbit28 March 1995
Hot Bird 2 Cape Canaveral48°E21 November 1996
Hot Bird 3 KourouJunk orbit2 September 1997
Hot Bird 4 KourouJunk orbit27 February 1998
Hot Bird 5 Cape Canaveral25.5°E9 October 1998
Hot Bird 6Cape Canaveral70.3°E21 August 2002
Hot Bird 7Kourou11 December 2002
Hot Bird 7A Kourou13°E12 March 2006
Hot Bird 8Baikonur13°E4 August 2006
Hot Bird 9Kourou13°E20 December 2008
Hot Bird 10Kourou33°E12 February 2009

Satellite details

Hot Bird 1

Hot Bird 1 was launched by Ariane 44LP on 28 March 1995. The 13° east slot predates the launch, with Eutelsat 1F1 having been located there as early as 1983, and Eutelsat 2F1 having also served time at the location. It has reached end-of-life.

Hot Bird 3

Hot Bird 3 was launched by Ariane 44LP on 2 September 1997 and intended to be moved to 10°E to become Eurobird 10. During the drift from 13°E to 10°E, the satellite suffered loss of power from one solar array. It was nevertheless successfully moved to 10°E, but could only operate at a reduced capacity. Since then, it is operating at 4°E under the name Eurobird 4. At last it was moved to 75°E and renamed to ABS_1B. It has reached end-of-life.

Hot Bird 4

Hot Bird 4 was launched by Ariane 42P on 27 February 1998 and redeployed to 7°W in July 2006, becoming Atlantic Bird 4 / Nilesat 103.

Hot Bird 5

Hot Bird 5 was launched by Atlas-2A on 9 October 1998 and re-located to 25.5°E and renamed Eurobird 2. Six transponders are leased to Arabsat under the name Badr 2, after having been called Arabsat 2D.

Hot Bird 6 (Hot Bird 70D)

Hot Bird 6 was launched by Atlas V 401 on 21 July 2002. Starting on 12 June 2009, the day of Iranian elections, deliberate interference affecting this satellite was traced to Iran. Hot Bird 6 is the primary carrier for BBC Persian Television. As of 2013, it was replaced by Hot Bird 10.

Hot Bird 7/7A

Hot Bird 7 was lost in December 2002 during the Ariane 5 ECA launch. Its replacement, Hot Bird 7A was successfully launched on 11 March 2006.

Hot Bird 8 (Hot Bird 13B)

Hot Bird 8 was launched by Proton on 5 August 2006. With a launch mass of 4.9 tonnes, Hot Bird 8 is the largest and the most powerful broadcast satellite serving Europe.

Hot Bird 9 (Hot Bird 13C)

Hot Bird 9 was launched by Ariane 5 ECA in December 2008. Its entry into service enabled the Hot Bird 7A satellite to be redeployed to 9° East and rebranded Eurobird 9A, increasing capacity to 38 transponders at this orbital position.

Hot Bird 10 (Eutelsat 33E)

Hot Bird 10 was launched by Ariane 5 ECA in February 2009 with NSS-9, Spirale A and Spirale B. The Eutelat 33E satellite is located at 33° East, Eutelsat's premium video neighbourhood for cable and satellite broadcasting in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Packages broadcast on Hot Bird

Up to 1000 television and radio channels are available Free-To-Air.

List of providers