Satellite Space Segment

I am compiling a research on the viability of satellite TV of about 20 video and 20 audio channels beaming over   Southern Africa on behalf of my client. This would require a VSAT to do the Downward transmission. I would like to know how does one get space segment on the satellite and roughly how much it can cause.

Thanks for taking time to attend to my request.

I am doing a feasibility study on beahalf of my my client on a Pay Ssatellite TV business venture.

In bries this is the requirement.

(i) A satellite broadcast to DTH of initial 20 Video channels, 20 Audio channels and normal digital tv add-on features (EPG, receiver controlled via smartcard, etc)

(ii) Footprint to cover Southern African Countries (Pas-7 Ku Band) and Central and West Africa (W4 Ku Band) at a later stage.

(iii) Some programming content shall be relayed live from the various content provider satellites.

(iV) A receiver to use the same size and type of dish as currently used by Multichoice and Vivid receivers and with litle or no dish re-positioning (if possible).

This summary is just to give you the picture of the eventual operational setup and not necessarily the actual technical requirement and also various components of this model have already been researched.

Could you please help me with information to resolve the following.

1) In terms of this set-up, what is the space segment requirement for the DTH downlink transmission. How and from whom can one get this (ie space segment for DTH transmission) . Also roughly how muck can one expect to pay for this

2) For the up link of the broadcast signals what equipment is required and what is the cost (Satellite equipment inly and not in-studio equipment)

3) The countries to be covered are all those in the Pas 7/10 (KU Band and W4 ) and dont have a problem in covering a bit more in the whole of africa including African Indian Ocean islands.

Your help shall be highly appreciated.