[September 22, 2005] SES ASTRA to Broadcast Digital Bouquet of Polish Public Broadcaster TVP Tweet BETZDORF, Luxembourg --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 22, 2005 -- SES GLOBAL (EURONEXT:SESG)(LuxX:SESG): Telewizja Polska to Broadcast Five Digital Tv Channels via ASTRA 19.2 Degrees East Additional Digital Bouquet of Thematic Channels to Follow in 2006 SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has gained the Polish public TV broadcaster TVP (Telewizja Polska SA) as a new customer on its ASTRA Satellite System. According to a new long-term contract, TVP will broadcast its five existing TV channels in digital via ASTRA 19.2 degrees East starting October 1st, 2005. Furthermore, TVP is preparing to launch on ASTRA a new digital bouquet of thematic channels in 2006. TVP is one of the biggest public TV broadcasters in Central and Eastern Europe and commands a total market share of 52% of the TV audience in Poland. The TVP offer on ASTRA will comprise TVP1, TVP2, TVP3 Regionalna, TVP Kultura and TV Polonia. TVP will use the ASTRA transponder No. 59 (10861.75 MHz, horizontal-polarization, 22 Msymb/s, FEC: 5/6) at the orbital position of 19.2 degrees East. Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, said: "With this breakthrough agreement, SES ASTRA will engage in a significant activity in the all important Polish TV market. We are very proud that TVP selected ASTRA for the satellite distribution of its digital programs and the roll-out of its digital bouquet. Partnering with TVP is a milestone in the development of our position in the Central and Eastern European markets." Piotr Gawel, Vice President Marketing and Sales of TVP, said: "The progress of digital TV will allow us to overcome the capacity restrictions of terrestrial TV and significantly enhance our offer to viewers. It will allow us to enter exciting new fields like thematic channels and interactive services. With SES ASTRA as our new satellite service provider, we are delighted to provide the highest quality transmission to our customers and viewers." The collaboration between SES ASTRA and TVP has been announced today at a joint press conference in Warsaw. 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 103 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400 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 degrees East and 28.2 degrees East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital position of 23.5 degrees East. SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]