Airfield Media Group Selects Eutelsat's HOT BIRD™ Neighbourhood To Broadcast Belgian French-Language Channels In Its TéléSAT Platform

PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces the signature of a long-term contract with AIRFIELD MEDIA GROUP for satellite capacity at the HOT BIRD™ video neighbourhood and associated ground services. The new capacity will be used to broadcast the five Belgian French-language channels in the new TéléSAT, pay-TV platform, comprising RTBF La Une and La Deux, RTL-TVi, Club RTL and PLUG TV.

In addition to capacity at the HOT BIRD™ neighbourhood, the contract covers provision of contribution links, multiplexing and uplinking of the five TéléSAT channels from Eutelsat’s Rambouillet teleport in France. The service is scheduled to launch in December. Direct-to-home satellite reception will be available throughout Belgium with MPEG 4 decoders (MPEG 2 compatible) using Nagravision’s Mediaguard 3 encryption system.

On signing the contract Kurt Pauwels, CEO of TéléSAT said: “We are delighted to collaborate with a satellite operator of Eutelsat’s stature for the TéléSAT platform. The dynamic and competence of Eutelsat in Europe and beyond are well tested and guarantee us impeccable quality of service and room to grow. Beyond television and radio Eutelsat is constantly developing new technologies and services which will ultimately enable us to propose our subscribers Internet access solutions and multiple interactive services. The French-language market in Belgium is well on course to play its role in a fully digital environment.”

Olivier Milliès-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director, added: “We are particularly pleased with the confidence placed in us by TéléSAT with this contract. The arrival of the new Belgian platform’s channels on our satellite fleet confirms the strong pull of the HOT BIRD™ satellites for the French-language TV market. It consolidates their leading position globally with more than 1 100 television channels broadcasting to a viewing audience of over 120 million satellite and cable homes. By choosing our premium HOT BIRD™ neighbourhood TéléSAT can also give subscribers access to a wide variety of French and international channels of interest to all Belgian homes.”