Eutelsat Announces the Launch in June on ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 of France's Free Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) Channels for Homes Beyond Terrestrial Reception

Eutelsat Announces the Launch in June on ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 of France's Free Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) Channels for Homes Beyond Terrestrial Reception

The Launch of FRANSAT(TM) Will Enable the 1.5 Million French Homes Receiving Analogue TV via ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 to Switch to Digital With no Change to Their Dish

PARIS, April 8/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL), Europe's
leading satellite operator announces the upcoming launch of France's free
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channels via its ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3
satellite. The new offer, called FRANSAT(TM), will be available from June.

Eutelsat's 5degrees West neighbourhood, which is occupied by
ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3, has operated as a complement to France's terrestrial
broadcasting network for more than 20 years by delivering channels direct by
satellite to homes located beyond terrestrial reception. The transition to
digital of this key French neighbourhood in the analogue world is a logical
step. It reflects the 'Digital France 2012 Plan' and the new broadcasting law
of 5 March 2009, which aim to offer a solution to homes in areas with poor
terrestrial reception to access DTT channels without incurring the extra cost
of adjusting their existing dish installation. France's free analogue
channels will remain available via ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3.

The majority of France's 18 free-to-air DTT channels are
already transmitting from Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite. Assembled
by Eutelsat in the FRANSAT(TM) platform, the 18 channels will be available
from June with no subscription fee to all homes equipped with a dish pointed
towards ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 and a FRANSAT(TM) kit comprising a digital
decoder and access card.

In addition to the 18 Standard Definition DTT channels,
FRANSAT(TM) will enable reception of the four free DTT channels broadcast in
HDTV: TF1 HD, France 2 HD, Arte HD and M6 HD.

On sale for 99 euros (recommended retail price), the
non-proprietary FRANSAT(TM) decoders will be produced by multiple suppliers.
In addition to decrypting channels, the decoders will facilitate automatic
channel numbering and provide a parental lock. The platform will be
encrypted, available without subscription, and reserved for homes in
metropolitan France.

Commenting on the announcement, Giuliano Berretta, Chairman
and CEO of Eutelsat Communications, said: "By offering all French free DTT
channels to homes beyond range of terrestrial reception Eutelsat is
demonstrating its ambition to accompany the transition to digital for all
French homes, and to pursue the universal service mission of the 5degrees
West neighbourhood. With FRANSAT(TM) satellite technology is once again
showing how it complements terrestrial networks and plays a key role at the
heart of the digital economy. By accelerating the digitisation process of our
longstanding installed base of antennas pointed towards 5degrees West, we are
consolidating this neighbourhood's role as a major video pole for the French
market and providing a valuable new opportunity for our client operators to
develop digital services."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
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 contacts
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

Investor relations
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information, Press contacts, 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; Investor relations, Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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