Eutelsat's Satellites Break the Barrier of 4,000 TV Channels!

Eutelsat's Satellites Break the Barrier of 4,000 TV Channels!

PARIS, January 30, 2012/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced that the number of
channels broadcasting through its satellites hit the milestone of 4,000 at the end of
2011. This new landmark reflects almost 30 years of uninterrupted channel growth since the
first TV signals broadcast in Europe from Eutelsat's pioneering communications satellites.
The threshold was crossed with the launch at Eutelsat's 7degree(s) West video
neighbourhood of Rotana Cinema, devoted to classic and contemporary films in Arabic and
part of the Rotana entertainment group.

The figures show the continuing attraction of Eutelsat's video neighbourhoods that
have absorbed 2000 additional channels over the last five years. The fastest impetus is at
positions serving TV markets in the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Central Europe where
Eutelsat continues to expand resources, most recently with the launches in 2011 of
ATLANTIC BIRD 7 (7degree(s) West) to serve viewers in North Africa and the Middle East,
and W3C (16degree(s) East) for viewers in Central Europe and French-speaking Indian Ocean
islands. Channel expansion in Russia and Africa saw a significant boost with the arrival
of Eutelsat's high-capacity W7 satellite which more than doubled resources at 36degree(s)
East.

A 100% digital universe, HDTV on the uptake

With switch-off at the end of 2011of the last satellite channels broadcasting in
analogue, Eutelsat is the first leading satellite company to be operating in a fully
digital universe. The transition to digital has driven rapid expansion and diversification
of thematic television and is now driving the emergence of HD. HDTV, which broke through
by satellite into western Europe in 2005, has progressed to all TV markets served by
Eutelsat's satellites and today accounts for 7% of all channels.

Solid mix of pay and free-to-air TV

Pay-TV and Free-to-Air broadcasting continue to expand in parallel. Sixty per cent of
channels on Eutelsat are pay-TV, available through over 40 platforms serving markets in
Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. Forty percent are free-to-air (FTA), with the
highest concentration of FTA at Eutelsat's flagship HOT BIRD neighbourhood and at
7degree(s) West.

Key Eutelsat milestones in broadcasting

1983 - Eutelsat transmits first satellite TV channel in Europe

1995 - Launch of first commercial digital (DVB) channels

2001 - 1,000 channel milestone reached

2005 - Launch of first HDTV channels

2006 - 2,000 channel milestone reached

2008 - 3,000 channel milestone reached

2011 - Switch-off of analogue satellite broadcasting

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 September 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.co [http://www.eutelsat.com ]

Source: Eutelsat Communications

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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