Telewizja Polsat Renews Capacity Lease at Eutelsat's Hot Bird Position

PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Telewizja Polsat, owner of Poland’s premier commercial TV channel, today announced the long-term renewal of a capacity contract on the HOT BIRD™ 6 satellite located at Eutelsat’s prime video neighbourhood at 13degrees East.

The renewal of one full transponder further extends a contract at 13degrees East first concluded with Eutelsat in 1992, and secures capacity for Telewizja Polsat Group to broadcast its stable of channels to 9.5 million homes in Poland equipped for Direct-to-Home and cable reception.

Eighteen years on from its launch at Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ position, Polsat has grown into the flagship channel at the head of a platform of 13 channels which now also include HD content and broadcast to homes in one of Europe’s most dynamic media markets. The Group’s powerhouse of thematic channels is among the most popular in Poland: Polsat 2, Polsat HD, Polsat News, Polsat Sport, Polsat Sport Extra, Polsat Sport HD Polsat Futbol, Polsat 2 International, Polsat Film, Polsat Play, Polsat Cafe, TV Biznes and Polsat JimJam.

The development of thematic channels is in line with Polsat’s strategy to cover all audience segments. The varied line-up reflects Telewizja Polsat Group’s commitment to providing Polish TV viewers with a diverse and expanding range of quality content, including fiction and own-produced entertainment, a selection of the best international series and programmes, some of cinema’s biggest box office successes, as well as partnerships to broadcast UEFA European and national league competitions, Formula 1 races, the world volleyball championships and many combat sports.

Miroslaw Blaszczyk, Telewizja Polsat’s President of the Management Board, says: “We are very pleased and proud to have agreed this agreement with such a powerful company as Eutelsat, a world-leading satellite operator. For Telewizja Polsat, as one of the strongest TV companies in Poland, the deal secures long-term, safe and reliable broadcasting of all channels to millions of our viewers. I believe that with Eutelsat we will continue to strengthen our position in the Polish media market.”

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat Communications CEO, added: “Since its launch at our HOT BIRD™ position 18 years ago, Polsat has transformed the broadcasting landscape in Poland and grown into one of the most successful commercial channels in Europe, both on the strength of its viewing audience and the quality of its programmes. We are delighted and proud to accompany Telewizja Polsat in the development of its rich thematic programme offering. The renewal of this long-term agreement consolidates the close partnership between Eutelsat and the Telewizja Polsat Group and further strengthens our key HOT BIRD™ video position in Poland, and more widely in Europe.”