French Digital Terrestrial Free-TV TNTSAT Already Reaches 350,000 Households
SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock
Exchange: SESG), and French pay-TV group CANAL+ have announced today
that the digital terrestrial free-TV offer TNTSAT has significantly
gained reach. Following its successful launch in 2007, and a marketing
campaign led by ASTRA France, already 350,000 receivers have been sold
to French households. TNTSAT is a service for French TV viewers
offering the whole range of terrestrial digital free-TV channels over
the ASTRA satellites, and allowing a 100%-coverage of the French
territory.
A law passed on 5 March 2007 in France sets out the conditions to
ensure that 100% of the French population receives free digital
terrestrial television (Television Numerique Terrestre, TNT). The law
recognizes the role of satellite in achieving this objective. In
regions where households cannot receive signals from terrestrial
antennas, SES ASTRA and CANAL+ offer their satellite solution TNTSAT.
The test phase of TNTSAT started in June 2007. Since autumn 2007
TNTSAT receivers have been available in large quantities. TNTSAT
offers access to 18 free-TV channels, to the France O program and 24
regional programs of France 3, all without a subscription. To receive
TNTSAT households need a 60cm satellite dish, pointed to ASTRA´s prime
orbital position at 19.2 degrees East, and a TNTSAT receiver with a
smart card.
"The overwhelming success of TNTSAT is further proof that our
satellite system is a very strong infrastructure driving the expansion
of digital TV and helping to overcome the digital divide," says
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. "Together with our
long-standing customer CANAL+, we have created a strong offer that
brings real added value to television households. TNTSAT underpins our
success in the French market through our enlarged partnership with
CANAL+, and will continue to be a significant driver to grow our reach
to French TV households."
For further information on TNTSAT see www.tntsat.tv.
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in
Europe, delivering services to more than 109 million DTH and cable
households. The satellite fleet currently comprises 12 ASTRA and three
SIRIUS satellites. The combined satellite system transmits a total of
2,295 analogue and digital television as well as radio channels. SES
ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and
telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their
agencies. With 30 High Definition (HD) channels available via its
satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important HDTV broadcasting
platform in Europe. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS
are 19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, 23.5 degrees East and 5
degrees East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock
Exchange: SESG). SES owns three market-leading satellite operators,
SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES,
which provide global coverage and connectivity. The Company also holds
strategic participations in SES SIRIUS in Europe, Ciel in Canada and
Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications
solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around
the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
About CANAL+ www.canalplus.fr
Canal+ group is France´s leading pay-tv operator with a 20-year
experience in channel production and distribution, as well as a
pioneer in developing new TV services. Canal+ Group totals more than
10.5 million subscriptions over all distribution platforms.