Italy's Elettronica Industriale (Mediaset Group) Extends Leases with Eutelsat on the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 Satellite for Dtt Distribution

Italy's Elettronica Industriale (Mediaset Group) Extends Leases with Eutelsat on the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 Satellite for Dtt Distribution

PARIS and MILAN, December 18/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elettronica Industriale, the network operator of the Mediaset
Group has renewed its leases for capacity with Eutelsat Communications
(Euronext Paris: ETL) on the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite in order to secure
channel distribution to Digital Terrestrial Television DTT) transmitters
across Italy.

Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite was first selected by
Elettronica Industriale in March 2006 as the primary distribution platform to
ensure nationwide delivery of channels to DTT towers. The two transponders
leased by Elettronica Industriale host four multiplexes, which include
free-to-air and pay-TV content, and which are uplinked from its teleport in
Milan.

The extension of the contract with Elettronica Industriale
further anchors Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite as a core element of
the network infrastructure being deployed across Europe and the Mediterranean
Basin for digital switchover. In addition to Italy, the satellite has been
used since 2005 for primary DTT distribution in France, and in 2007 was
selected by Telediffusion d'Algerie for nationwide delivery of Algeria's
first DTT channels.

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO commented on the contract: "The
ubiquitous coverage provided by satellites makes them the most cost-effective
and cost-efficient solution for delivering digital TV multiplexes to the
national DTT networks being progressively deployed across Europe and the
Mediterranean Basin. We are delighted to extend our longstanding partnership
with Elettronica Industriale and that the performance and coverage of
ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 meets their long-term requirements to deliver DTT
channels to headends nationwide."

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 30 September 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting 3,300 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than
1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13
degrees East which serves over 123 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 615
commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 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

Vanessa O'Conno, 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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