France Televisions Inks Contract With Eutelsat for Capacity On ATLANTIC
BIRD(TM) 3 to Broadcast all France 3 Regional Channels
PARIS, October 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications
(Euronext Paris: ETL) and France Televisions today announced the signature of
a long-term contract for broadcasting the regional channels produced by
France 3 on the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 satellite located at 5degrees West.
From 28 October, all homes in France equipped with a dish to receive
ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 and a subscription-free FRANSAT decoder will have access
to digital reception of all 24 of France 3's regional channels. This new
initiative, which enables viewers to access the regional window of their
choice, forms part of the progressive digitisation of France's broadcasting
network. It will benefit viewers beyond range of terrestrial reception after
analogue switch-off, as well as homes already equipped for Direct-to-Home
analogue TV reception from ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 and who will simply need to
change their decoder to switch to digital.
A new mission for FRANSAT
The 24 regional channels produced by France 3 will join the 18 national
channels in Standard Digital and the four channels in HD that are already
available on a subscription-free basis via FRANSAT. Launched by Eutelsat in
June, FRANSAT complements coverage of France's DTT channels and aims in
particular to serve homes already equipped with a dish pointing to ATLANTIC
BIRD(TM) 3 at 5degrees West. This orbital position occupied by Eutelsat has
been used for more than 20 years to deliver France's national channels in
analogue to terrestrial transmitters and to complement the terrestrial
network for homes in "shadow" areas. Homes spread across France in valleys,
border areas and isolated communes have also progressively selected ATLANTIC
BIRD(TM) 3 to improve the quality of their analogue TV reception or to
complete reception of the country's six national analogue channels.
A new step enabling 100% of France 3 channels to reach 100% of homes
Availability in digital quality of all 24 regional channels produced by
France 3 adds new impetus for French homes to switch to digital. For all
homes equipped for DTH reception from ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3, the switch
involves a simple change of decoder with no change required to outdoor
equipment. For France 3 this additional broadcasting platform represents a
new step, which further broadens its reach by enabling viewers to connect
with a region even when if they are beyond range of terrestrial reception,
and by expanding the overall range of regional programmes available to
viewers across France.
For more information from France 3
Press
Eve Demumieux
Tel. : +33-1-56-22-75-00
eve.demumieux@francetv.fr
Communications Director France 3
Dany Bonnaure
Tel. : +33-1-56-22-87-85
dany.bonnaure@francetv.fr
Communications Coordinator,
France 3 regions
http://www.france3.fr
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
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 30 June 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting
almost 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000
channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees
East which serves over 123 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 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 610 commercial,
technical and operational employees from 28 countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
For further information Eutelsat
Press
Vanessa O'Connor
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frederique Gautier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Investors
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com
SOURCE Eutelsat Communications
For more information from France 3: Press, Eve Demumieux, Tel. :
+33-1-56-22-75-00, eve.demumieux@francetv.fr, Communications Director France
3; Dany Bonnaure , Tel. : +33-1-56-22-87-85, dany.bonnaure@francetv.fr;
Communications Coordinator, France 3 regions; For further information Eutelsat
: Press, Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr;
Frederique Gautier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Investors,
Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com
