Eutelsat Satellites Beam 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in 3D to Cinemas Across Europe: A Star Attraction of the World Cup

Eutelsat Satellites Beam 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in 3D to Cinemas Across Europe: A Star Attraction of the World Cup

PARIS, July 6, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The experience of live 3D in cinemas is one of the key
technology highlights of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). By offering sports fans
a new layer of excitement for viewing sports on a big screen in a collective
environment, 3D projections in cinemas are a fast emerging product
Europe-wide in the vibrant market for digital services. As the FIFA World
Cup(TM) moves into its final phase, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris:
ETL) is getting high positive return on consumer appetite for
satellite-delivered world-class events in cinemas and public venues.

Working with key players in 3D development, including Sony,
Eutelsat has optimised the FIFA World Cup(TM) as a commercial platform for 3D
viewing in out-of-home venues. Seventeen of the 60 matches played so far in
South Africa have been transmitted in 3D across Europe through Eutelsat
satellites and shown on 50-foot cinema screens in 19 countries, including
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Nordic countries and the
Baltics. The four semi-final and final matches will also be broadcast in 3D,
with cinemas in additional countries, such as the Netherlands, taking the
signal, underscoring the scalability of a satellite-based network.

Eutelsat calculates that over 250 hours of 3D transmissions
will have been transported by its satellites by the time the FIFA World
Cup(TM) ends on July 11. Signals are broadcast in Europe through its ATLANTIC
BIRD(TM) 3 and W7 satellites, using 40 Mbps of throughput to ensure both the
quality and the robustness of each transmission. Eutelsat is running five
feeds: four configured for cinemas, with English, Italian, French, Russian
commentary, and one TV signal operated by the French broadcaster TF1, which
is available in France in the FRANSAT digital platform.

The FIFA World Cup(TM) production in 3D is managed by the
event's appointed host broadcaster, HBS, using Sony technology. The content
is delivered by GlobeCast via W2A to Eutelsat's teleport near Paris, where it
is retransmitted to ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 for Western and Central Europe. A
second teleport in Moscow ensures distribution via W7 in Russia.

Over 200 of an expanding network of more than 400 digital
cinemas are enabled to receive the live 3D signals using equipment provided,
installed and managed in real time by Eutelsat in collaboration with OpenSky.
The equipment comprises a 1.5 metre receive antenna and a professional IDC
receiver with Sensio decoding and BISS decryption.

Carsten Schuffert, CEO of BEWEGTE BILDER Medien AG, Eutelsat's
network management partner for digital cinemas in Germany, Austria and
Switzerland, commented: "We have been closely monitoring consumer response to
viewing World Cup matches direct from South Africa in cinemas, and are simply
amazed by the enthusiasm. The 3D experience on a cinema screen is the closest
that technology has brought us so far to actually being in a stadium. It
combines the pleasure of sharing live sport with the thrill of enjoying every
graphic detail of a world-class sport event."

Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat Commercial Director, added: "Eutelsat
has been working intensively with partners on 3D since 2008 to support the
creation of this new consumer experience for both television and out-of-home
viewing. 3D is an exacting and bandwidth-hungry application, requiring up to
40 Mbps of capacity for out-of-home venues, and the highest levels of
collaboration between all players in the transmission chain. After many
months of demonstrations, testing and analysis, we have an exceptional
platform with the FIFA World Cup(TM) to go to the next stage and offer
consumers the opportunity of full immersion in a sporting event taking place
thousands of miles from Europe. 3D is without doubt the technology
achievement of this year's World Cup."

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 31 March 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting
more than 3,500 television channels. 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 access to high speed internet 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 nearly 650 commercial, technical
and operational employees from 28 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information: Press, Vanessa O'Connor Tel. +33-1-53-98-37-91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique Gautier Tel. : +33-1-53-98-37-91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Investors & Analysts, Lisa Sanders Finas Tel. : +33-1-53-98-30-92, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

-------
Profile: intent