France's Six New DTT Channels in High Definition Gear Up to Launch on Eutelsat's FRANSAT Platform on 12 December

France's Six New DTT Channels in High Definition Gear Up to Launch on Eutelsat's FRANSAT Platform on 12 December

PARIS, November 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --



Starting on 12 December, TV viewers across metropolitan France will be able to watch
six new DTT channels broadcast exclusively in HD: Cherie 25, HD1, L'Equipe 21, Numero 23,
RMC Decouverte and 6TER. The launch of these brand new channels marks another milestone in
the expansion of free-to-air digital broadcast services in France and the progressive
take-up of High Definition.



Only 25% of French homes in metropolitan France will be able to receive the new
channels at launch through terrestrial reception (terrestrial reach will be progressively
expanded until almost full coverage is achieved in mid-2015). All will however have
national coverage by satellite from day one, and will be available in Eutelsat's
subscription-free FRANSAT platform.



Homes already equipped with a FRANSAT HD box will automatically receive the new
channels using the channel numbering fixed by France's national broadcasting authority
(the CSA). Homes with a Standard Digital FRANSAT box can upgrade to an HD box to get the
full line-up of content. For the 75% of French homes equipped for terrestrial reception,
access to the expanded line-up will be possible with a satellite dish and a FRANSAT HD
box, available in over 8,000 retail outlets across metropolitan France.



Jean-Luc Deroudilhe, CEO of Eutelsat's FRANSAT affiliate said: "We are delighted to
provide nationwide coverage of these six new national channels from day one and to
increase the HD offer to 10 subscription-free channels. The signal quality and digital
choice available through FRANSAT continues to attract viewers, with almost two million TV
sets now connected to our platform."



The FRANSAT platform is broadcast via the EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite at 5 degrees
West.



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 across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia
and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators. As of
30 September 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 4,400 television channels to
over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and 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 high speed Internet services through teleports
in France and Italy that serve consumers, 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 750 commercial, technical and
operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30
countries. http://www.eutelsat.com and http://www.fransat.fr




Eutelsat Communications and FRANSAT

CONTACT: 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; Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, mecuer@eutelsat.fr; Investors and analysts: Lisa Finas, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com; Leonard Wapler, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com


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