BIS Pay-TV Platform to Launch From Eutelsat's Two Leading Video Neighbourhoods Serving France

BIS Pay-TV Platform to Launch From Eutelsat's Two Leading Video Neighbourhoods Serving France

PARIS, December 5/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced the
upcoming launch by AB Groupe of a new pay-TV platform called BIS, which will
be broadcast from its two key video neighbourhoods for satellite television
in France. From 10 December, the new platform will be available to satellite
homes from Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood at 13 degrees East and from
its ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite at 5 degrees West.

The basic package proposed by BIS and called Panorama, will offer up to
25 channels, including a majority of France's longstanding national channels
and Digital Terrestrial Television channels. As a complement to the basic
offer, additional options include access to five film channels. Subscriptions
to BIS will start at EUR4.90 a month and go up to EUR13.90 a month.

In order to optimise the availability of BIS to satellite homes across
France, AB Groupe will broadcast its new platform simultaneously from the two
most established Eutelsat video neighbourhoods serving the French market over
the last two decades:

- The HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood at 13 degrees East, which
broadcasts to 2.8 million satellite homes in France (Source: Eutelsat
2007). With nearly 500 free-to-air channels, the HOT BIRD(TM) satellites
also offer the possibility to receive the largest range of in-the-clear
content broadcast by satellite in Europe.

- ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3, which from 5 degrees West, is a longstanding
video neighbourhood in France, broadcasting national over-the-air
channels in analogue to two million homes located beyond range of
terrestrial reception (Source: Eutelsat 2007). With the availability of
BIS from ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3, these homes will have immediate and
cost-efficient access to a wide range of digital channels with no need to
repoint their outdoor antenna. Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 is also the
satellite selected to deliver France's DTT multiplexes to retransmitters
for over-the-air reception.

Subscribers to BIS will acquire a pack from regular high-street
retailers, comprising a decoder equipped with Viaccess encryption and a
smartcard. Homes already equipped with Viaccess decoders will be able to
receive BIS with the addition of the BIS smartcard. A number of manufacturers
are introducing decoders into the market with a "Via Eutelsat" label which
guarantees availability of features developed by Eutelsat that include
automatic channel numbering, automatic software updates and parental lock.

Commenting on the launch of BIS, Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat
Commercial Director said: "Over 42% of homes in France are already equipped
to receive digital channels, demonstrating substantial viewer appetite for
the quality and choice digital can supply. We welcome the launch of BIS,
which offers homes in France a compelling range of leading national and
thematic channels. The availability of BIS from our two flagship satellite
positions serving France is an important step towards building a fully
digital broadcasting environment for all homes."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code:
FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity
commercialised on 24 satellites that provide coverage over the entire
European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant
parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading
satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 September 2007, Eutelsat's
satellites were broadcasting over 2,730 television channels, of which more
than 1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood which
serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East
and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and
mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate
networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for
transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary,
Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in France and Italy
that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid
organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in
Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 529 commercial, technical and
operational experts from 27 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

Eutelsat Press Contact
Vanessa O'Connor
Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-38-88
voconnor@eutelsat.fr

Frederique Gautier
Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-38-88
fgautier@eutelsat.fr

Eutelsat Investor relations
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-35-35
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

AB Groupe Press Contact
Julia Bouilaghet
Tel: +33(0)1-49-17-23-53
julia.bouilhaget@groupe-ab.fr

Source: Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Press Contact: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique Gautier, Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Eutelsat Investor relations, Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33(0)1-53-98-35-35, investors@eutelsat-communications.com: AB Groupe Press Contact, Julia Bouilaghet, Tel: +33(0)1-49-17-23-53, julia.bouilhaget@groupe-ab.fr

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