RealNetworks Teams With SES/ASTRA To Trial Streaming Media Services Over Broadband Satellite

RealNetworksÆ, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the recognized leader in media delivery for the Internet, and Socit Europenne des Satellites (SES), operator of Europe's leading ASTRA Satellite System, today announced an agreement to conduct extensive broadband streaming media trials. In the trials, RealNetworks will provide broadband streaming media content to end-users over SES/ASTRA's Direct to Home Satellite System. Utilizing SES' ASTRA-NET DVB/IP multimedia platform and RealNetworks' leading RealSystemÆ G2 technology, the two companies will provide a high quality broadband content viewing experience on end-users PC's and servers.Through the joint broadband content trials, SES/ASTRA and RealNetworks will implement a customized IP multicasting solution that will make the streaming media experience, including video and audio, richer and faster for consumers. The agreement will further enhance the rich content already available to ASTRA broadband satellite homes across Europe. SES/ASTRA will install RealNetworks RealSystem G2 software in their satellite uplink facility and RealNetworks will provide broadband content in the areas of entertainment, music, sports and news through its broadband Real.com Network. Content will be streamed over IP to end-user receiver cards across Europe via SES' ASTRA-NET platform.""The ubiquity of SES/ASTRA's satellite direct to home services creates a fabulous opportunity to bring broadband content direct to European consumers,"" said Martin Dunsmuir, General Manager, Broadband Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. ""RealSystem G2 is the ideal platform for direct-to-home service and SES/ASTRA will receive the very best broadband content through the Real.com Network.""""RealNetworks' leading RealSystem G2 software and content, in combination with the ASTRA broadband infrastructure, will offer an unmatched experience in rich multimedia reception on connected PC's,"" said Dean Olmstead, Director Of Business Development of SES/ASTRA. ""Building on our success in the video and audio broadcasting world, this trial will ensure we provide the highest quality Internet services to our customers.""About RealNetworksRealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in streaming media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at www.real.com. All RealNetworks systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at www.realnetworks.com.RealNetworks continues to maintain a strong leadership share of the streaming media market. As of December 1999, there are more than 92 million unique users of RealPlayer and more than 85 percent of all streaming media Web pages on the Internet use industry leading RealAudioÆ, RealVideoÆ, RealFlashô, RealTextÆ or RealPixô, and more than 350,000 hours of live RealAudio and RealVideo programming are available each week (Source: Hotbot).About SESSocit Europenne des Satellites S.A. (SES) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System. Via nine active satellites ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital more than 800 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of 77 million homes in Europe. Four additional satellites are under construction and due for launch before end 2001. SES is also a major shareholder in ASIASAT (34.13% since January 15th, 1999). SES securities are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (symbol: SES) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol: SDSL).

Additional information about ASTRA and ASTRA-NET can be found at: www.ses-astra.com or www.astra-net.com.