Live HD Performances From Metropolitan Opera New York Come to Cinemas in France via Eutelsat Satellites

Live HD Performances From Metropolitan Opera New York Come to Cinemas in France via Eutelsat Satellites

PARIS, April 22/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CielEcran, specialised in broadcasting cultural and sports events to large screens in France, is using capacity on two satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) for live, high-definition performance transmissions direct from New York's Metropolitan Opera to cinema complexes.

Following the success on April 5 of a live satellite broadcast of Puccini's La Boheme from the Metropolitan Opera to 17 cinemas across France, CielEcran is continuing on 26 April with a live HD transmission of "La Fille du Regiment" by Donizetti, with Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez.

This new manifestation is the latest in a series of exceptional events transmitted to cinemas by CielEcran. Using Eutelsat satellite capacity for very high bitrate connections, CielEcran can enable the public to experience world-class international events with exceptional video and audio quality.

The performance of 26 April, including interviews with artists, directors and stage managers, will be filmed by 15 HD cameras with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Capacity on Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 1 satellite will transmit the signal direct from New York to the UK where subtitles will be added for the French audience. The DVB-S/MPEG-2 signal will subsequently be uplinked to Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite whose high-power coverage across France enables direct reception by cinema complexes. Cinemas receiving the broadcast include two theatres in the Gaumont Marignan in Paris and 16 complexes in main cities and towns across France. CielEcran is collaborating on the opera transmission with the music radio station France Musique, part of the public service Radio France group.

"CielEcran is trailbreaking a new activity in France to deliver alternative HD content to large screens in cinemas and auditoriums," commented CielEcran Managing Director Marc Welinski. "These transmissions are only possible because of advances in digital technology, the availability of high-power satellites to transmit the HD signal and the increasing deployment in theatres of new HD projection systems."

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director commented "The enthusiastic response to the HD performance of La Boheme on April 6 confirms that there is a real market for alternative Out-of-Home HD transmissions on large screens. In this new digital media activity satellites have the key benefits of assembling quality, reliability and maximum flexibility."

Following the success of offering the experience of live world-class opera performances, CielEcran will be using Eutelsat satellite capacity to show six matches of the UEFA Euro 2008(TM) in June to 50 cinemas equipped for high-definition reception.

http://www.cielecran.com

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 31 December 2007, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting almost 3,000 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East 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 538 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

          For more information:      CielEcran     Michelle Lair / Marie Desnoulez     Tel : +33-1-56-40-23-82     michellelair@club-internet.fr      Press     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       Investors     Gilles Janvier     Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30     investors@eutelsat-communications.com  

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For more information: CielEcran, Michelle Lair / Marie Desnoulez, Tel : +33-1-56-40-23-82, michellelair@club-internet.fr. Press: 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. Investors, Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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Profile: International Entertainment