Significant Increase In Number Of HD Channels On ASTRA

February 15, 2007

SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), has announced today that the number of High Definition (HD) channels broadcast via the ASTRA Satellite System has increased significantly. ASTRA today transmits 26 HD channels across Europe (24 at year-end 2006), including HD offers from BSkyB, Discovery, National Geographic and History Channel from the UK, CANAL+, M6 and TF1 from France and Premiere, ProSieben, Sat1 and Anixe from Germany. Meanwhile, the total number of HD channels in Europe has increased to 36 at year-end 2006, compared to six in 2005 (Source:Screen Digest). Until 2010, the number of HD channels is expected to quadruple to around 160 different channels. SES ASTRA expects to transmit around 100 HD channels by 2010. According to industry estimations, nearly 9 million households in Western Europe are expected to watch HDTV over satellite in 2010*, representing 60 per cent of all expected HDTV households. "The increase of HD offers on ASTRA shows that our satellite system is continuing to play a leading role in digitalisation and the extension of HD offers across Europe", says Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. "The increase also highlights the rising interest of broadcasters in HDTV and the advantages that the ASTRA Satellite System offers to broadcasters: high bandwidth, widest geographical reach and best transmission quality. We are certain that the further acceleration of the HD development will support a continuous and consistent transition from analogue to digital broadcasting." About SES ASTRA http://www.ses-astra.com SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, delivering services to some 107 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting more than 1,700 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 19 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. ASTRA's prime orbital positions are 19.2(degree) East, 28.2(degree) East and 23.5(degree) East. SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES wholly owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provides global connectivity as well as coverage. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One in Latin America, SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 44 satellites on 33 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: http://www.ses-global.com

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