SKY Italia Boosts Eutelsat HOT BIRD(TM) Capacity to Support Launch of SKY HD

SKY Italia Boosts Eutelsat HOT BIRD(TM) Capacity to Support Launch of SKY HD

PARIS, May 2/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SKY Italia, Italy's leading pay-TV platform which broadcasts exclusively
from Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood, has unveiled its planning
for the launch this month in Italy of its new SKY HD package dedicated to
HDTV content.

In order to support its expansion into HDTV, SKY Italia began leasing an
additional HOT BIRD(TM) transponder on 1 May, taking its total capacity used
across Eutelsat's HOT BIRD satellites to 18 transponders. The new service
will launch on 17 May with live coverage of the European Champions League Cup
Final. In June, SKY Italia will provide full coverage of the 2006 FIFA World
Cup(TM), enabling subscribers with HD-ready equipment to benefit from
panoramic views and razor-sharp detail of all 64 matches. Broadcasting in DVB
S2 with MPEG4 compression, SKY Italia will be able to accommodate up to five
HDTV channels in a single HOT BIRD(TM) transponder.

Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM), SKY Italia will launch its HD
bouquet, with channels dedicated to movies, sports and general entertainment.
Access to the SKY HD package will cost EUR7 per month, in addition to the
main subscription. Subscriptions will be available from 8 May.

Commenting on the upcoming HD launch, Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat CEO
said "We are delighted that our HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood, which ten
years ago accompanied the launch of Europe's first digital video channels in
DVB, is also the platform of choice for commercial HDTV broadcasting to
satellite homes. SKY Italia's move into HD further consolidates the important
role it plays in Italy's dynamic television market and opens the door to a
new broadcasting experience for Italian TV homes".

This new offer will take SKY Italia's channel line-up to over
160 TV and radio channels serving a subscriber base in Italy of more than 3.6
million homes.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234)
is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. The Group is a leading satellite
operator with capacity commercialised on 23 satellites providing coverage
over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa,
India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas. The Group is one of
the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. Its
satellites are used for broadcasting nearly 1,800 TV and 900 radio stations
to more than 120 million cable and satellite homes. The Group also provides
TV contribution services, corporate networks, mobile positioning and
communications, Internet backbone connectivity and broadband access for
terrestrial, maritime and inflight applications. Eutelsat Communications
is headquartered in Paris, and the Group's workforce comprises over 480
from 27 countries.

www.eutelsat.com

For further information

Press

Vanessa O'Connor
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
voconnor@eutelsat.fr

Frederique Gautier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
fgautier@eutelsat.fr

Investors

Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information: Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique Gautier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Investors: Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

-------
Profile: intent