ART Extends to 2020 its Capacity at Eutelsat's Hot Bird(TM) Neighbourhood for Broadcasting in Europe and North Africa

ART Extends to 2020 its Capacity at Eutelsat's Hot Bird(TM) Neighbourhood for Broadcasting in Europe and North Africa

PARIS, December 8/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Arab Radio and Television (ART) Network has renewed for a
further 12 years its capacity lease on the HOT BIRD(TM) 8 satellite operated
by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL). One of the leading
producers of premium Arabic family programming and entertainment worldwide,
ART has been an anchor client at Eutelsat's premium HOT BIRD(TM) video
neighbourhood since 1998. The new contract extends the relationship between
Eutelsat and ART to 2020 and ensures that ART can continue to expand cable
and pay-TV penetration in Europe and pay-TV penetration in Algeria, Morocco
and Tunisia.

Called Arabesque, and encrypted in Viaccess, the platform of
sports, news and entertainment TV and radio channels commercialised by ART is
available via HOT BIRD(TM) 8 to almost 500,000 Direct-to-Home subscribers
throughout Europe and the Maghreb countries of North Africa through a wide
network of specialised retail outlets. The channels are uplinked to HOT
BIRD(TM) 8 by Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), the platform company for the
Arab Media Corporation (AMC) group which owns ART.

ART produces over 6000 live and recorded shows every year
including family oriented dramas, series, plays, sports programs, music
videos, and documentaries. As part of the Arab Media Corporation the network
has the largest Arabic movie library in the Middle East and has been
associated with leading film production houses in the Arab world for well
over 30 years.

On renewing the contract Abed Alaziz Yamani, ART CEO, commented: "We
have been working with Eutelsat since 1998 and our partnership is going very
well in serving our mutual interests. We believe that extending the current
contract till 2020 is an expression of our satisfaction with the level of
service we receive from Eutelsat."

"No doubt that the renewal of the contract with Eutelsat will
give ART an opportunity to expand and increase its business in Europe and
North Africa." added Yamani.

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director added:
"As a reference for delivering premium content for Arabic-speaking
communities in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Eutelsat is very
pleased that ART is renewing its trust in us with this 12-year contract.
ART's broadcasts make a powerful contribution to the diversity of the
channels available from our HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood. Our commitment is to
providing ART with the infrastructure and the reach across Europe and the
Maghreb they need for continuing to build their audience."

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 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 3,180 television channels and 1,100 radio stations.
Almost 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at
13 degrees East 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 its
teleport in Italy that serves enterprises, local communities, government
agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 538 commercial,
technical and operational experts from 27 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

About ART:

- Founded in October 1993 by Saudi Arabian entrepreneur Saleh Kamel with
the aim of delivering quality TV content to Arab homes across the
globe, while preserving traditional values and culture.

- Rapidly grew to become the leader in family entertainment with an
unrivalled blend of sports, Arabic & international movies, series,
knowledge, children's programming, news, and music

- Currently the paid TV platform chosen by more than 2 million viewers as
their essential viewing and entertainment provider

- With exclusive rights to the biggest and most popular sport events, the
largest library of Arabic movies and dramas, unique breadth of
international entertainment channels, art is unmatched in providing
comprehensive, all-encompassing entertainment for the families residing
in the Middle East & North Africa

For further information
Maher Bardawil: mbardawil@art-jed.com
Dirk Hollstein: dirk@hollstein.tv

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: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

Maher Bardawil: mbardawil@art-jed.com; Dirk Hollstein: dirk@hollstein.tv; 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: +33-1-53-98-35-30 investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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