'ProSiebenSat1 Produktion' And SES ASTRA With First HDTV/SDTV Simulcast in Commercial Free-TV.

BETZDORF, Luxembourg & MUNICH, Germany -- "Pride - The Law of the Savannah", October 14th on ProSieben / HD and SD Simultaneous Broadcast Via ASTRA 19.2 Degrees East

ProSiebenSat1 Produktion and SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges:SESG) are proud to announce a premiere in European commercial free-to-air television. On October 14th, ProSiebenSat1 Produktion will, for the very first time, simultaneously broadcast a high-resolution HDTV (High Definition Television) signal in parallel with the traditional digital standard-resolution via ASTRA 19.2 Degrees East.

The ProSieben/BBC co-production "Pride - The Law of the Savannah" (a wildlife program about the adventures of a young lion) will be available to viewers equipped with appropriate receivers both via conventional standard-definition (SD) reception and, exclusively via ASTRA, in the new, crystal-clear HDTV standard.

With the significantly enhanced picture quality provided by HDTV, "Pride" can be viewed with much greater, true-to-life detail. The visual experience will be completed by Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, providing viewers for the first time ever with true cinema quality in the living room. Technically speaking, the broadcast will be simulcast in parallel to the regular SD signal, the film being played out in HDCAM SR (1080i/50 Hz) and delivered to an MPEG-2 HD encoder with a data rate of some 1.4 gigabits/s. The HD broadcast of Pride will be available via ASTRA Transponder No. 103 (12460 Mhz, H-polarisation, SR 27.500, FEC 3/4.). An HD promo trailor of Pride will be available as of October 12th. The transponder capacity required for this HDTV premiere in commercial Free-TV is provided courtesy of SES ASTRA.

Dr. Martin Emele, Management Board Member and Head of Technologies, views the first HDTV broadcast of ProSiebenSat.1 Produktion as a milestone: "Gaining practical experience with HDTV is core to the mission of ProSiebenSat1 Produktion of applying future-prone technologies for practical, present-day purposes. There are still some question marks relating to HD production and broadcasting, but with "Pride" we show what is already possible today."

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, welcomes the HD initiative: "ProSiebenSat1 Produktion has produced an HD trailer for 'Pride' which is broadcast as part of the ASTRA HDTV promotion channel and which has proved to be an eye-catcher notably at the recent IBC trade fair in Amsterdam. We are very pleased to be able to assist one of Germany's leading private broadcasting companies in testing HDTV and, based on current market trends, remain convinced that the successive transfer from standard resolution to HDTV will have the same impact on the television sector as the introduction of colour TV."

See also: www.hdtvforum.org

The ASTRA HDTV promotion channel is receivable via ASTRA transponder Nbr. 102, vertical polarisation, 12,4441 MHz, 27.5 Msymbols/s, FEC 3/4 using MPEG-2 MP@HL, 1080i, bitrate 19 Mb/s.

On "Pride - Das Gesetz der Savanne" (Pride - The Law of the Savannah)

"Pride - Das Gesetz der Savanne" is an epic and dramatic story, full of breath-taking wildlife scenes, amusing dialogue and stunning special effects. Director and Producer John Downer used a remote-controlled robot camera for unprecedented close-up shots of lions in wildlife.

On ProSiebenSat1 Produktionwww.P7S1Produktion.de

ProSiebenSat1 Produktion, a one-hundred-per-cent subsidiary of ProSiebenSat1 Media AG, is one of the biggest production companies and full-service providers for audio-video media in Germany.

The range of services provided extends from studio productions, post-productions and multimedia productions to the distribution of television programs. ProSiebenSat1 Produktion is also responsible for the planning and utilization of IT infrastructure, as well as for all technical production and broadcasting equipment of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group. As a full-service provider in the fields of communication strategies, concepts and production, ProSiebenSat1 Produktion develops innovative concepts in the fields of "on-air" design and promotion, advertising and audio design.

More than 900 employees in Berlin and Munich ensure, with precisely coordinated package offers, that customer requirements are catered for professionally and efficiently.

About SES ASTRAwww.ses-astra.com

The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 94 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2 Degrees East and 28.2 Degrees East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5 Degrees East and 5.2 Degrees East.

SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt stock exchanges: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 40 satellites across the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and ND Satcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX, a Luxembourg-based joint venture with Gilat and Alcatel Space, which has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-way satellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, small office/home office (SOHO) users and local communities all over Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com