MBC Group Picks Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird? 7 Satellite to Support HDTV Roll-Out Across the Middle East and North Africa

MBC Group Picks Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird(TM) 7 Satellite to Support HDTV Roll-Out Across the Middle East and North Africa

PARIS, October 31, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and MBC Group announce the
signature of a multiyear contract for capacity on Eutelsat's new ATLANTIC
BIRD(TM) 7 satellite at 7 degrees West. The lease of a full transponder will
enable MBC to expand its platform of channels addressing viewers in the
Middle East and North Africa, particularly new HD content which the Group is
preparing to launch in January 2012. The announcement was made at Digital TV
Middle East, the broadcast and broadband conference taking place in Dubai
from November 1 to 2.

The new contract cements a 20-year relationship between Eutelsat and MBC
Group which began in 1991 with the launch of MBC1, the first pan-Arab
free-to-air satellite station. Over the past 18 years, MBC has developed a
network comprising ten TV channels, two radio stations and a production
house to forge a leading media and broadcasting group in the Middle East,
among other media platforms such as VOD (shahid.net), SMS and MMS services.
The move into HDTV reflects the Group's commitment to delivering the latest
technology and superior television content.

Launched on September 24, ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 brings first-class
resources to 7 degrees West, an established video neighbourhood delivering
Arab and international channels into almost 30 million satellite homes. The
satellite's significant Ku-band resources enable broadcasters to launch new
Standard Digital and HD content. Its broad footprint expands reach of
satellite TV homes located from the North African Atlantic coastline across
to the Gulf States.

Commenting on the new contract, MBC Group's COO Sam Barnett said: "We
are enthusiastic about this additional capacity on the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7
satellite that will allow us to further expand in the future and meet the
expectations of our loyal viewers across the MENA region."

Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat Chief Commercial Officer, added: "With MBC
Group's selection of ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 as their chosen platform to move
into HDTV we are even more excited about the potential of our new satellite
to partner broadcasters in the Middle East and North Africa. This is a great
start for ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 and we look forward to furthering our
longstanding presence and strong partnerships across the region and playing
our part in the ongoing roll-out of HDTV."

Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 satellite has replaced ATLANTIC BIRD(TM)
4A at 7 degrees West. The transfer of 400 TV channels onto the new satellite
took place on October 23. Click on the link below for ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7's
frequencies for TV reception:

http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/7w-ab7.html

About MBC Group

MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting
company in the Arab World. It was launched in London in 1991 and later moved
to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. Over the past 20 years, MBC Group has
grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people's lives
through information, interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the
United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 10 television channels: MBC1
(general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3
(children's entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC
Action (action series and movies), MBC Persia (24-hour movie channel dubbed
in Farsi) , Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Wanasah
(24-hour Arabic music channel) and MBC Drama (24 hour Arabic drama on Paid
TV) and two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM
(contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized
documentary production unit. It has also several online platforms:
http://www.mbc.net, http://www.alarabiya.net, and
http://www.shahid.net.

Website: http://www.mbc.net

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234)
is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 29
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. As of 30 June 2011, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 3,800 television channels. More than 1,100 channels
are broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East
alone 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 access to high speed internet
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 just over 700 commercial, technical and operational professionals
from 30 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

MBC Group: Ruba Al Ayed, Group PR Manager, Tel: +971-4-391-999 ext 9825, Mobile: +971-56-6038358, Email: ruba.alayed@mbc.net; For further information Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel. : + 33-1-53-98-37-91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frédérique Gautier, Tel. : + 33 1 53 98 37 91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Analysts and Investors: Lisa Finas, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com; Léonard Wapler, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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