SES ASTRA Increases UK DTH Position With Major Channel 4 Deal
(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 16, 2004 ) SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), has further strengthened its position as the UK's leading direct-to-home (DTH) satellite company with a major two-transponder contract with Channel 4.
It is ES ASTRA's first direct deal with the British terrestrial channel, and the transmission capacity will be used across a variety of Channel 4’s digital channels as well as its extensive range of associated interactive TV applications.
David Scott, Deputy Chief Executive of Channel 4, said: “These transponders will provide Channel 4 with considerable flexibility when considering the expansion and future development of our broadcast services. We have worked with SES ASTRA in the past and look forward to a continued successful relationship.”
Alexander Oudendijk, SES ASTRA Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said: "Channel 4 programmes are watched by more than 75% of the UK population during an average week and we are delighted to add such a prominent terrestrial broadcaster to our client list. The UK is an extremely important market for SES ASTRA and this deal not only strengthens our position in the UK but also underpins our status as Europe's leading DTH satellite company."
For further information please contact:
Yves Feltes
Press Relations, SES ASTRA
Tel. 352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses-astra.com
www.ses-astra.com
Matt Baker
Channel 4
Tel: 44 (0)20 7306 8666
mbaker@channel4.co.uk.
About Channel 4
Channel 4 was created by Act of Parliament in 1982 and broadcasts across the entire UK with the exception of some parts of Wales, which are covered by the Welsh language S4C. It is available on all digital platforms - terrestrial, satellite and cable - and via conventional analogue transmission.
In addition to Channel 4, the Channel Four Group runs a number of pay channels including the E4 entertainment channel, E4 1 and three film channels. It produces and co-produces feature films through its Film Four division and in addition operates a wide range of online and broadband services that cover entertainment, information, education, alth, careers and many other areas. Additional info: www.channel4.com
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 94 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 (Direct-To-Home)
services are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5° East and 5.2° East.
SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt stock exchanges: 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. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 40 satellites across
the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and ND Satcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX, a Luxembourg-based joint venture with Gilat and Alcatel Space, which has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-way satellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, small office/home office (SOHO) users and
local communities all over Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at:
www.ses-global.com
It is ES ASTRA's first direct deal with the British terrestrial channel, and the transmission capacity will be used across a variety of Channel 4’s digital channels as well as its extensive range of associated interactive TV applications.
David Scott, Deputy Chief Executive of Channel 4, said: “These transponders will provide Channel 4 with considerable flexibility when considering the expansion and future development of our broadcast services. We have worked with SES ASTRA in the past and look forward to a continued successful relationship.”
Alexander Oudendijk, SES ASTRA Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said: "Channel 4 programmes are watched by more than 75% of the UK population during an average week and we are delighted to add such a prominent terrestrial broadcaster to our client list. The UK is an extremely important market for SES ASTRA and this deal not only strengthens our position in the UK but also underpins our status as Europe's leading DTH satellite company."
For further information please contact:
Yves Feltes
Press Relations, SES ASTRA
Tel. 352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses-astra.com
www.ses-astra.com
Matt Baker
Channel 4
Tel: 44 (0)20 7306 8666
mbaker@channel4.co.uk.
About Channel 4
Channel 4 was created by Act of Parliament in 1982 and broadcasts across the entire UK with the exception of some parts of Wales, which are covered by the Welsh language S4C. It is available on all digital platforms - terrestrial, satellite and cable - and via conventional analogue transmission.
In addition to Channel 4, the Channel Four Group runs a number of pay channels including the E4 entertainment channel, E4 1 and three film channels. It produces and co-produces feature films through its Film Four division and in addition operates a wide range of online and broadband services that cover entertainment, information, education, alth, careers and many other areas. Additional info: www.channel4.com
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 94 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 (Direct-To-Home)
services are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5° East and 5.2° East.
SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt stock exchanges: 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. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 40 satellites across
the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and ND Satcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX, a Luxembourg-based joint venture with Gilat and Alcatel Space, which has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-way satellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, small office/home office (SOHO) users and
local communities all over Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at:
www.ses-global.com
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