Melody Zen Boosts Eutelsat's EUROBIRD(TM) 9 Satellite With New HDTV Content

Melody Zen Boosts Eutelsat's EUROBIRD(TM) 9 Satellite With New HDTV Content

PARIS, January 23/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Melody Zen, a new concept in well-being television has chosen the EUROBIRD(TM) 9 satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) to deliver its signal across Europe in Full HD as well as standard definition in 16/9 format. The channel is uplinked to EUROBIRD(TM) 9 by Eutelsat from its teleport in Rambouillet, near Paris.

Broadcasting 24 hours a day, Melody Zen's programming, with water as a key element, is a combination of landscapes, zen music, sound of nature and relaxation methods. The video signal is accompanied by three audio channels: MelodyZen 100% pure natural sounds, MelodyZen Music and MelodyZen Well-being.

Melody Zen's launch on EUROBIRD(TM) 9 boosts the rapid take-up of channels broadcasting from Eutelsat's newest video neighbourhood. From its location at 9 degrees East the close proximity of EUROBIRD(TM) 9 to Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) satellites at 13 degrees East also opens opportunities for reception from both neighbourhoods with off-the-shelf dual-feed domestic dishes.

EUROBIRD(TM) 9's expanding offer of channels includes trail-blazing music channels C-Music, and B4U Music India, and innovative thematic channels such as Luxe TV which broadcasts both in Standard Definition and High-Definition. SVT Europa, the international channel of Sweden's public broadcaster also recently joined EUROBIRD(TM) 9 to benefit from its superior coverage for reaching subscribers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Portuguese pay-TV platform TV TEL is an anchor client, using two transponders for broadcasting Portuguese entertainment and international thematic channels to satellite homes in mainland Portugal, Madeira and as far as the Azores.

Commenting on the channel's choice of EUROBIRD(TM) 9, Melody Zen's Bruno Lecluse, the channel's CEO said: "By choosing Eutelsat and its newest video platform EUROBIRD(TM) 9, we have the satisfaction of benefiting from a powerful primary network for reaching cable operators and ADSL networks across Europe, and we can simultaneously progressively increase our satellite audience equipped for direct-to-home reception from 9 degrees East."

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director said: "We are delighted with the buoyant take-up of channels on EUROBIRD(TM) 9 in just eight months and in the increasing consumer interest in double-feed reception with the HOT BIRD(TM) satellites to further expand programming choice. Melody Zen's innovative concept demonstrates the on-going creativity of thematic programming and how new video products can exploit the huge benefits of broadcasting in High-Definition."

          How to receive Melody Zen     Downlink frequency: 11 957.6400 MHz     Polarisation: vertical     Rx Signal protocol: DVB-S     Modulation scheme: QPSK     FEC rate: 3/4     Symbol rate: 27.5 Msps  

http://www.melodyzen.tv

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 24 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. At 30 September 2007, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting over 2,730 television channels, of which more than 1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood 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 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 529 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

          Melody Zen Press contact     Emilie Lebarbier     Tel: +33-1-44-17-00-34     elebarbier@1r2com.fr      Eutelsat Press Contact     Vanessa O'Connor     Tel.: +33-1-53-98-38-88     voconnor@eutelsat.fr                             Frederique Gautier      Tel.: +33-1-53-98-38-88     fgautier@eutelsat.fr      Eutelsat Investor relations     Gilles Janvier     Tel.: +33-1-53-98-35-35     investors@eutelsat-communications.com  

Source: Eutelsat Communications

Melody Zen Press contact: Emilie Lebarbier, Tel: +33-1-44-17-00-34, elebarbier@1r2com.fr. Eutelsat Press Contact: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel.: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr, Frederique Gautier, Tel.: +33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr. Eutelsat Investor relations Gilles Janvier, Tel.: +33-1-53-98-35-35, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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Profile: International Entertainment