Eutelsat Communications Inks Key Contracts With Telespazio for Broadcasting RAI Channels at the Hot Bird(TM) Video Neighbourhood

Eutelsat Communications Inks Key Contracts With Telespazio for Broadcasting RAI Channels at the Hot Bird(TM) Video Neighbourhood

ROME and PARIS, January 19/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Telespazio, a Finmeccanica/Thales company, announce the signature of an agreement to 2020 for capacity at the 13degrees East HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood. The agreement concerns the lease of two transponders for broadcasting a wide range of television and radio channels produced by RAI, Italy's national public broadcaster.

Currently broadcasting via HOT BIRD(TM) 8, the RAI channels will transfer to Eutelsat's new HOT BIRD(TM) 9 satellite when it begins commercial service at 13degrees East next month following its successful launch on 20 December 2008.

The two transponders will assume broadcasting of RAI's flagship national channels, RAI Uno, Rai Due and Rai Tre in addition to seven thematic channels (Rai News 24, Rai Sport piu', Rai Gulp, Rai Med, Sat 2000, Senato TV, Camera dei Deputati) and four educational channels (Rai Edu 1 and 2, Rai Nettuno Sat Uno, Rai Nettuno Sat Due). The capacity will also serve to transmit RAI's eleven radio stations. All channels can be received by more than seven million Italian homes equipped for Direct-to-Home reception of Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) satellites. The capacity is also used to deliver a number of RAI's channels to cable headends across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East within the footprint of the HOT BIRD(TM) satellites.

"Eutelsat has closely accompanied the emergence of satellite television in Italy from its very beginnings, and is today the leading supplier of satellite capacity in Italy, which represents our largest market," commented Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO. "RAI in particular is one of our most longstanding broadcast customers, having initiated transmissions with us over 20 years ago. We are delighted by the renewal of these long-term allotment agreements, which testify to our close relationship with Telespazio, a key customer at the HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood and a privileged partner of major Italian broadcasting groups."

Giuseppe Veredice, CEO of Telespazio added: "Telespazio is ready to pursue a long partnership with RAI and Eutelsat. The company has been in partnership with RAI since the Italian broadcasting entity began offering services via satellite and with Eutelsat since its inception. Under the agreement, in addition to providing RAI with the necessary satellite capacity to broadcast its TV and radio channels, Telespazio will provide high quality, reliable transmission services, using its own equipment installed at RAI premises and via the Fucino Space Centre."

About Telespazio

Telespazio, a joint venture between Finmeccanica (67%) and Thales (33%), is a world leader in satellite services: from management of satellites to Earth observation services, from satellite navigation to broadband multimedia telecommunications. Telespazio plays a leading role in the reference markets harnessing technological experience acquired over the years and through its participation in major European space programs such as: GALILEO, EGNOS, GMES and COSMO-SkyMed. The company in 2007 generated sales of EUR 395 million, and employed around 1,700 staff.

http://www.telespazio.it

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 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 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,180 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. Almost 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 its teleport in Italy that serves 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 further information      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                   For further information from Telespazio:      Paolo Mazzetti     Head of Press Relations Telespazio     Phone: +39-06-4079-6252     e-mail: paolo.mazzetti@telespazio.com  

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information: 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; For further information from Telespazio: Paolo Mazzetti, Head of Press Relations Telespazio, Phone: +39-06-4079-6252, e-mail: paolo.mazzetti@telespazio.com

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Profile: International Entertainment