(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 27, 2008 ) Betzdorf, Luxembourg – SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), announced today that the public channel ARTE will start broadcasting its German programme in High Definition (HD) on 1st July on the ASTRA
Satellite System. The HD programme will be broadcast from ASTRAÂ’s prime orbital position 19.2 degrees East and offer high quality content from ARTE in superior picture quality.
ARTE will use existing and earlier contracted digital capacity from ASTRA. The French language version of Arte HD will be available at a later date.
With this HD broadcast, the number of HD channels distributed on the ASTRA Satellite System increases to 35. ASTRA therefore reinforces its position as the largest HD platform in Europe.
"The launch of ARTE HD confirms once again that HD broadcasting is gaining momentum”, said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. “We are very satisfied that with ARTE HD, another high quality broadcast will be available in High Definition and further increase the attractiveness of the HD offer on ASTRA.”
For further information please contact:
Markus Payer
SES ASTRA
+ 352 710 725 500
markus.payer@ses-astra.com
Technical information for the reception of ARTE HD:
Transponder 1.011 receive parameters: 11361. 75MHz, Horizontal-Polarization, 8PSK, 2/3,
22Msymb/s (DVB-S2)
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 14 ASTRA and two SIRIUS satellites. The combined satellite system delivers services to more than 117 million DTH and cable households and transmits a total of 2,295 analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to
enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 35 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA and SIRIUS represent the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2° East, 28.2° East, 23.5° East, 5° East and 31.5°
East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES which provides global coverage and connectivity. The company owns 90 percent of SES SIRIUS in
Europe, as well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe.
Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com.
