Eutelsat Participates in Live Satellite-Delivered 3D-HD Demonstrations

Eutelsat Participates in Live Satellite-Delivered 3D-HD Demonstrations

Full 3D via Satellite Broadcasting Chain Shown at Sat Expo in Rome

PARIS and ROME, March 19/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) is taking part
in a full satellite demonstration in Europe of the end-to-end 3D broadcasting
chain at the Sat Expo Europe 2009 international conference and exhibition in
Rome from 19-21 March. Using capacity on Eutelsat's EUROBIRD(TM) 3 satellite,
a live music performance will be filmed, transmitted and projected in stereo
3D-HD on a cinema screen and on prototype models of stereo 3D-HD television
sets.

Organised by Eutelsat, OpenSky and dBW, the demonstration will
reproduce in full the conditions of a live 3D event. The three-dimensional
shooting and production is managed by dBW, a specialist production company
based in Rome, while OpenSky, which specialises in transmitting digital
content via satellite will manage the encoding, decoding and projection. The
three companies have also agreed to combine their resources and expertise in
order to be able to provide end-to-end 3D services in Europe, from filming to
playout.

The full-scale demonstration in Rome of a 3D out-of-home
viewing experience is a prelude to a radically new way of experiencing cinema
and television content. In addition to enabling an audience to share the same
level of sensation as in a theatre for a live performance, stereo 3D-HD has
the potential to enrich the entertainment offer in cinemas and theatres and
transform them into innovative multimedia entertainment centres delivering
premium content.

The demonstration in Rome marks a new step in Eutelsat's
participation in the emerging market for 3D transmissions. Satellite capacity
at the Group's 9 degrees East position occupied by the EUROBIRD(TM) 9A
satellite has been transmitting a test 3D channel over the last three months
as a testbed to analyse the performance of screens, encoders and decoders,
and to gather experience on the use of 3D content in the home and public
locations.

Commenting on the demonstration in Rome, Giuliano Berretta,
Eutelsat CEO said: "This new step towards 3D broadcasting continues
Eutelsat's longstanding commitment to innovation that opens satellites to a
new generation of applications. Early and close collaboration between all
actors in the broadcasting chain will be a key success factor for this new
broadcasting revolution and we are very pleased to be taking part in the
first tests and end-to-end demonstrations in Europe."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26
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 31 December 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 3,200 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 591 commercial,
technical and operational experts from 27 countries.

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

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