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: Chérie 25, HD1, L'Équipe 21, Numéro 23, RMC Découverte 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

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications and FRANSAT