PR Newswire/Les Echos/

PR/31/10

EUTELSAT SATELLITES BEAM 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP(TM) IN 3D TO CINEMAS ACROSS 
EUROPE: A STAR ATTRACTION OF THE WORLD CUP

Paris, 6 July 2010

The experience of live 3D in cinemas is one of the key technology highlights of
the 2010 FIFA World Cup((TM)). By offering sports fans a new layer of 
excitement for viewing sports on a big screen in a collective environment, 
3D projections in cinemas are a fast emerging product Europewide in the vibrant
market for digital services. As the FIFA World Cup(TM) moves into its final 
phase, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) is getting high positive 
return on consumer appetite for satellite-delivered world-class events in 
cinemas and public venues.

Working with key players in 3D development, including Sony, Eutelsat has
optimised the FIFA World Cup(TM) as a commercial platform for 3D viewing in
out-of-home venues. Seventeen of the 60 matches played so far in South Africa
have been transmitted in 3D across Europe through Eutelsat satellites and shown
on 50-foot cinema screens in 19 countries, including France, Germany, Italy,
Spain, Russia, Poland, Nordic countries and the Baltics. The four semi-final 
and final matches will also be broadcast in 3D, with cinemas in additional
countries, such as the Netherlands, taking the signal, underscoring the
scalability of a satellite-based network.

Eutelsat calculates that over 250 hours of 3D transmissions will have been
transported by its satellites by the time the FIFA World Cup(TM) ends on 
July 11. Signals are broadcast in Europe through its ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 and W7
satellites, using 40 Mbps of throughput to ensure both the quality and the
robustness of each transmission. Eutelsat is running five feeds: four 
configured for cinemas, with English, Italian, French, Russian commentary, and
one TV signal operated by the French broadcaster TF1, which is available in 
France in the FRANSAT digital platform.

The FIFA World Cup(TM) production in 3D is managed by the event's appointed
host broadcaster, HBS, using Sony technology. The content is delivered by
GlobeCast viaW2A to Eutelsat's teleport near Paris, where it is retransmitted 
to ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 3 for Western and Central Europe. A second teleport in 
Moscow ensures distribution via W7 in Russia.

Over 200 of an expanding network of more than 400 digital cinemas are enabled 
to receive the live 3D signals using equipment provided, installed and managed 
in real time by Eutelsat in collaboration with OpenSky. The equipment comprises
a 1.5 metre receive antenna and a professional IDC receiver with Sensio 
decoding and BISS decryption.

Carsten Schuffert, CEO of BEWEGTE BILDER Medien AG, Eutelsat's network
management partner for digital cinemas in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
commented: "We have been closely monitoring consumer response to viewing World
Cup matches direct from South Africa in cinemas, and are simply amazed by the
enthusiasm. The 3D experience on a cinema screen is the closest that technology
has brought us so far to actually being in a stadium. It combines the pleasure
of sharing live sport with the thrill of enjoying every graphic detail of a
world-class sport event."

Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat Commercial Director added: "Eutelsat has been working
intensively with partners on 3D since 2008 to support the creation of this new
consumer experience for both television and out-of-home viewing. 3D is an
exacting and bandwidth-hungry application, requiring up to 40 Mbps of capacity
for out-of-home venues, and the highest levels of collaboration between all
players in the transmission chain. After many months of demonstrations, testing
and analysis, we have an exceptional platform with the FIFA World Cup(TM) to go
to the next stage and offer consumers the opportunity of full immersion in a
sporting event taking place thousands of miles from Europe. 3D is without doubt
the technology achievement of this year's World Cup."

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 
31 March 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,500 
television channels. More than 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 access
to high speed internet 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 nearly 650 commercial, technical and operational 
employees from 28 countries.

www.eutelsat.com

For further information
Press                          
Vanessa O'Connor         Tel. : + 33 1 53 98 37 91  voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frédérique Gautier       Tel. : + 33 1 53 98 37 91  fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Investors & Analysts
Lisa Sanders Finas       Tel. : + 33 1 53 98 30 92
                         investors@eutelsat-communications.com
                      
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