SES and RTL Increase Capacity for HD in Austria and Germany

SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) announced today that the media group RTL Germany has signed a deal with SES to increase its broadcasting capacity at the 19.2 degrees East orbital position by one additional transponder. As of May 1st, the media group RTL Germany will use a former analogue transponder on the ASTRA Satellite System to expand its High Definition (HD) channel offer and broadcast the Austrian versions of RTL HD, RTL II HD and VOX HD via HD Austria, the HD-programme platform of M7 Group`s AustriaSat.

SUPER RTL HD will also be carried on this transponder and join the HD+ platform in Germany, becoming the fourth channel from media group RTL Germany to join HD+. In March, SES had already concluded an agreement with RTL to provide additional capacity for the transmission of the new free-to-air entertainment channel RTL NITRO.

Wolfgang Elsäßer, Managing Director of ASTRA Germany, said: "We are very happy to expand our successful cooperation with RTL. With the launch of the new HD channels, the HD line-up for viewers with satellite reception in Germany and Austria becomes even more attractive. From May, we will offer more than 50 HD channels in both countries. We remain the most attractive HD infrastructure for broadcasters and viewers in the German-speaking TV market."

Andre Prahl, responsible for programme distribution at the media group RTL Germany and member of the managing board of the broadcasting centre CBC, said: "We are pleased that we will now be able to offer RTL HD, VOX HD and RTL II HD also in Austria and thus further extend the distribution of our channels in High Definition."

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SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.