Empresas y finanzas

SES ASTRA Signs New Long-Term Contract With CANAL+



    SES ASTRA (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), an SES company (Euronext Paris
    and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has announced today that it has
    signed a new long-term contract with the French Pay-TV operator CANAL+
    Group for the satellite transmission of its programme bouquet for the
    French market from ASTRA`s prime orbital position 19.2(degree) East.
    Based on this new contract, SES ASTRA will transmit the full
    programming line up of CANAL+ Group from a single orbital position.
    CANAL+ Group has recently merged its pay-TV operations in France with
    that of TPS.

    In the agreement, CANAL+ Group takes several ASTRA transponders in
    addition to those currently contracted from SES ASTRA. The agreement
    therefore provides the satellite capacity which is necessary to
    consolidate the complete newly merged CANALSAT bouquet on a single
    orbital position. It will allow CANAL+ Group to broadcast and develop
    its complete High Definition (HD) satellite bouquet and will also
    provide further room for growth for Standard Definition (SD) services.
    Furthermore, the agreement provides and foresees a framework for the
    long-term growth requirements of CANAL+ Group.

    "With this contract, we significantly enhance our position in the
    French market and further strengthen our relationship with CANAL+ as
    one of our most important European customers", says Ferdinand Kayser,
    President and CEO of SES ASTRA. "SES ASTRA and CANAL+ have developed a
    strong partnership over the past ten years, and we look forward to
    continuing to provide satellite services of the highest quality and
    reliability to the merged bouquet. Broadcasting the new offer from one
    orbital position is undoubtedly the best solution for CANAL+ and its
    subscribers and viewers. SES ASTRA once again demonstrates its
    strengths and shows that it is the satellite provider of choice for
    important blue chip customers."

    About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

    The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH)
    satellite system in Europe, delivering services to some 107 million
    Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet
    currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1700
    analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as
    multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions
    for DTH services are 19.2(degree) East and 28.2(degree) East.
    Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite
    Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital
    position of 23.5(degree) East.

    SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES wholly
    owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe,
    SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provides
    global connectivity as well as coverage. The Company also holds
    strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One in Latin
    America, SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico.
    Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth
    to the US government and its contractors. SES provides outstanding
    satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 44 satellites on 33
    orbital positions around the globe.

    Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses-global.com