German news channel N24 joins HD+

First news channel in High Definition

Luxembourg/Munich, - SES ASTRA, a company in the SES Group (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), announced today that N24 will be the first German news channel broadcasting in high definition. Starting 1 July, N24 will be available exclusively on HD+ and via satellite following an agreement between N24, SES ASTRA and HD+. N24 is the eleventh broadcaster joining HD+. Beginning of June, Nickelodeon HD and Comedy Central HD joined HD+.

HD+ is a technical platform from SES ASTRA for encrypted broadcasting and reception of commercial free TV programmes in HD quality via satellite. Including N24 HD, HD+ offers eleven free TV channels: RTL HD, Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD, VOX HD, kabel eins HD, RTL II HD, SPORT1 HD, Nickelodeon HD, Comedy Central HD and sixx HD.

In addition, the following unencrypted channels are available via Direct-to-Home satellite reception in Germany: Das Erste HD, ZDF HD, arte HD, ServusTV HD and Anixe HD. This means that HD+ households can currently receive a total of 16 free TV channels in high definition, of which 11 are encrypted. HD+ is therefore the leading high definition TV platform in Germany.

For HD+, no fixed contract or subscription obligations apply. Following a one year trial period free of charge, customers pay a fixed technical service fee of EUR 50 per year. This translates into a payment of EUR 4.16 per month.

Wilfried Urner, Chief Executive Officer of HD Plus, said: “HD+ offers an attractive solution for broadcasters to deliver their programmes in high definition and adds significant value for the TV viewers who want to make use of their large flat screens and watch high quality TV content. The launch of Germany’s first news channel in HD quality is another proof for the success of HD+ and will further increase the variety of available HD channels in Germany. With the addition of N24, 16 of the most popular channels in Germany are now broadcasting their programmes in HD quality via satellite. This is only possible due to the success of HD+.”

About SES ASTRA

SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 17 satellites which deliver services to more than 135 million households and transmit more than 2,500 television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With more than 200 High Definition (HD) channels, ASTRA is the most important HDTV platform for Europe’s leading broadcasters. The orbital positions for SES ASTRA are 19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, 23.5 degrees East, 5 degrees East and 31.5 degrees East. For further information: www.ses-astra.com.

About SES

SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES, and participations in Ciel in Canada, QuetzSat in Mexico as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 44 satellites. For further information: www.ses.com