Eutelsat Participates in First Tests of HDTV Over France's Digital Terrestrial Television Network in Paris, Marseille and Lyon

Eutelsat Participates in First Tests of HDTV Over France's Digital Terrestrial Television Network in Paris, Marseille and Lyon

PARIS, June 1/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From June 1 to July 17 Eutelsat is partnering with TDF to transmit a
sequence of programmes in HDTV MPEG4 to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
transmitters in France's three largest cities. The satellite channel provided
by Eutelsat will deliver HDTV programmes supplied by leading French channels
including France Télévisions, TF1, M6 and Canal Plus to DTT transmitters in
Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

The objective of the six-week period of tests coordinated by the Conseil
Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA), France's broadcasting authority, is to
validate the full HD broadcasting chain to DTT homes from encoding, transport
and broadcasting, through to reception. The capacity provided by Eutelsat is
on ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 which is also the satellite already used to deliver
all five DTT multiplexes to over-the-air transmitters in France since the
full commercial launch of DTT in March 2005.

Programmes on the test HD DTT channel began on June 1 with live coverage
by national public broadcaster France Télévisions of tennis matches from the
centre court at Roland Garros shot by six HD cameras set up in the centre
court. The satellite signal is delivered to DTT transmitters operated by TDF
located on the Eiffel Tower in Paris and also in Marseille and Lyon. TF1, M6
and Canal Plus will also participate until July 17 with HD content produced
on the occasion of key events including World Cup football and Bastille Day
commemorations on July 14.

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

Frédérique 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; Frédérique 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

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