Slovenia National TV Renews Broadcast Relationship With Eutelsat With new 10-Year Contract at the Hot Bird(TM) Neighbourhood

PARIS, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Radiotelevizija Slovenia has extended its longstanding relationship with Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) with the signature of a new 10-year contract for capacity at the flagship HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood. The new long-term agreement was signed today at Eutelsat by Marko Filli, Director General of Slovenia's national public broadcaster and Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO.

RTV Slovenia selected Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood in 1997 to launch digital television, and today transmits the three national channels, one regional channel (TV Capodistria) and five radio stations to a growing base of cable, IP and satellite homes in Slovenia and across the HOT BIRD(TM) reach of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Satellite homes have access to the entire programme line-up with the one-off purchase of a smartcard, costing EUR15.

Commenting on the contract, Marko Filli, Director General of RTV Slovenia, said: "Eutelsat has consistently demonstrated to RTV Slovenia its commitment to delivering impeccable service at the HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood, which for us represents an exceptional satellite distribution platform. We look forward to continuing to leverage the performance of Eutelsat's satellites in order to deepen our reach into satellite TV homes."

Michel de Rosen responded: "We are delighted to consolidate relationships with broadcasters of reference in Central Europe and to retain the confidence of RTV Slovenia for another ten years of satellite broadcasting. Our objective is to continue to deliver the quality of service, reach and visibility that RTV Slovenia expects so they can offer the best of Slovenian information and entertainment to viewers across the HOT BIRD(TM) footprint."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 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 December 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,700 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and 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 683 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.

    http://www.eutelsat.com

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications