EUTELSAT COMMUNICA : EUTELSAT COMMUNICATIONS INKS KEY CONTRACTS WITH TELESPAZIO FOR BROADCASTING RAI CHANNELS AT THE HOT BIRD? VIDEO NEIGHBOURHOOD

PR Newswire/Les Echos/

PR/04/09

EUTELSAT COMMUNICATIONS INKS KEY CONTRACTS WITH TELESPAZIO FOR BROADCASTING RAI
CHANNELS AT THE HOT BIRD(TM)VIDEO NEIGHBOURHOOD

Rome,Paris, 19 January 2009

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris:ETL) and Telespazio, a
Finmeccanica/Thales company, announce the signature of an agreement to 2020 for
capacity at the 13° East HOT BIRD(TM)video neighbourhood. The agreement 
concerns the lease of two transponders for broadcasting a wide range of 
television and radio channels produced by RAI, Italy's national public 
broadcaster.

Currently broadcasting via HOT BIRD(TM) 8, the RAI channels will transfer to
Eutelsat's new HOT BIRD(TM)9 satellite when it begins commercial service at 
13° East next month following its successful launch on 20 December 2008.

The two transponders will assume broadcasting of RAI's flagship national
channels, RAI Uno, Rai Due and Rai Tre in addition to seven thematic channels
(Rai News 24, Rai Sport piu', Rai Gulp, Rai Med, Sat 2000, Senato TV, Camera dei
Deputati) and four educational channels (Rai Edu 1 and 2, Rai Nettuno Sat Uno,
Rai Nettuno Sat Due). The capacity will also serve to transmit RAI's eleven
radio stations. All channels can be received by more than seven million Italian
homes equipped for Direct-to-Home reception of Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM)
satellites. The capacity is also used to deliver a number of RAI's channels to 
cable headends across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East within the 
footprint of the HOT BIRD(TM)satellites.

"Eutelsat has closely accompanied the emergence of satellite television in 
Italy from its very beginnings, and is today the leading supplier of satellite
capacity in Italy, which represents our largest market," commented Giuliano
Berretta, Eutelsat Chairman and CEO. "RAI in particular is one of our most
longstanding broadcast customers, having initiated transmissions with us over 
20 years ago. We are delighted by the renewal of these long-term allotment
agreements, which testify to our close relationship with Telespazio, a key
customer at the HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood and a privileged partner of major
Italian broadcasting groups."


Giuseppe Veredice, CEO of Telespazio added:"Telespazio is ready to pursue a long
partnership with RAI and Eutelsat. The company has been in partnership with RAI
since the Italian broadcasting entity began offering services via satellite and
with Eutelsat since its inception. Under the agreement, in addition to providing
RAI with the necessary satellite capacity to broadcast its TV and radio
channels, Telespazio will provide high quality, reliable transmission services,
using its own equipment installed at RAI premises and via the Fucino Space
Centre".

About Telespazio
Telespazio, a joint venture between Finmeccanica (67%) and Thales (33%), is a
world leader in satellite services: from management of satellites to Earth
observation services, from satellite navigation to broadband multimedia
telecommunications. Telespazio plays a leading role in the reference markets
harnessing technological experience acquired over the years and through its
participation in major European space programs such as:GALILEO, EGNOS, GMES and
COSMO-SkyMed. The company in 2007 generated sales of EUR 395 million, and
employed around 1,700 staff.
www.telespazio.it 

For further information from Telespazio: 
Paolo Mazzetti
Head of Press Relations Telespazio 
Phone:[phone]
e-mail:[e-mail]

About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the
holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 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
September 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,180
television channels and 1,100 radio stations. Almost 1,100 channels broadcast
via its HOT BIRD(TM)video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 
120 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 its teleport in Italy that serves enterprises, local
communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia
and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ
538 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.
www.eutelsat.com 

For further informationPress
Vanessa O'Connor   Tel:+ 33 1 53 98 38 88     [e-mail]
Frédérique Gautier Tel:+ 33 1 53 98 38 88     [e-mail]
Investors
Gilles Janvier Tel: [phone]     
[e-mail]
                      
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