TVB Television Broadcasts Of Hong Kong Selects Eutelsat Eurobird™ 9 Satellite For New Multi-Channel Chinese Platform For Europe

11 June 2008

Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB) of Hong Kong, has selected capacity on the EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) to launch its new multi-channel digital platform of Chinese-language channels for satellite homes across Europe.

For the first time in Europe, TVB's subsidiary 'The Chinese Channel' is offering a line-up of five of the Group's flagship infotainment channels including "TVBS-Europe" which specialises in Hong Kong drama series, local news and Chinese community events in Europe. It also comprises four speciality channels which were launched in first quarter 2008: "TVBN", a 24-hour Hong Kong and global news channel, "TVB Entertainment News" which focuses on entertainment news from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the USA, "TVB Classic" which shows nostalgic content, and "TVB Lifestyle" which specialises in fashion, travel and dining.

The channels are broadcast in Cantonese and uplinked to EUROBIRD™ 9 by Eutelsat's Skylogic affiliate from its teleport in Turin. Using the slogan "Give me Five!", The Chinese Channel is targeting the population of half a million Cantonese speakers within EUROBIRD™ 9's pan-European footprint.

Anthony Ho, Controller of the Overseas Satellite Operations Division of TVB said: "We are delighted to be associated with Eutelsat as our partner in this venture. To achieve our milestones, Eutelsat provided considerable technical assistance and advice to TVB, enabling the five channels to be on air in less than three months. Without this exceptional level of support we could not have kept to our very tight schedule. We look forward to further developing our collaboration with Eutelsat into the future, and also to bringing new television services with Mandarin Chinese content to Europe".

"Our EUROBIRD™ 9 neighbourhood gives TVB the reach, power and capacity they require for this important new phase in their expansion across Europe," said Olivier Milliès-Lacroix, Eutelsat's Commercial Director. "This new contract further consolidates the success of EUROBIRD™ 9, which in one year has attracted anchor clients including Hello HD from Hungary and Tele Columbus from Germany. In addition to offering a strong pan-European footprint, EUROBIRD™ 9's close proximity to our HOT BIRD™ neighbourhood offers broadcasters the potential to tap into satellite homes equipped for television reception from both neighbourhoods with off-the-shelf double-feed antennas."