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
