1-2-3.TV: A First for Germany: Netting a Bargain by TV; Start Date - 1 October Via ASTRA At 19.2 Degrees East.

BETZDORF, Luxembourg & Munich, Germany -- SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG) and 1-2-3.TV GmbH announce the launch of a new concept in home shopping. On 1-2-3.TV, it is the customers who decide the price of each product by making an offer for each item by telephone. If that offer is one of the highest received for the items being presented, the purchase then takes place.

Managing Director Dr. Andreas Buechelhofer explains, "1-2-3.TV is the first of a new generation of home shopping services and as it is the customer themselves who determine what they pay for an item, they have the opportunity to buy items at very favourable prices indeed. We can afford to do this, as we exercise strict cost controls in all areas and are achieving even greater efficiencies in all our divisions - from purchasing to production to administration - than had ever been possible before."

Alexander Oudendijk, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at SES ASTRA, believes that this innovative TV format is a welcome new addition to ASTRA: "1-2-3.TV has filled yet another niche within the range of free-to-air television channels we offer, further enhancing the attractiveness of satellite television in the eyes of the public. We are hoping that this unique new service will achieve the same degree of success as that enjoyed by internet-based auction houses. "

The new channel is available throughout Europe via ASTRA 19.2(degree) East (transponder 47; downlink frequency 11170.75 MHz; horizontal polarisation) and in digital (frequency 12.46050 GHz; horizontal polarisation, symbol rate 27.5; FEC 3/4).

About 1-2-3.TV GmbH www.1-2-3.TV

This new channel is provided by 1-2-3.TV GmbH, whose registered offices are located in Unterfoehring near Munich. In addition to managing directors Dr. Andreas Buechelhofer and Henning Schnepper, the company's shareholders include the venture capital companies Wellington Partners, 3i, Target Partners and Cuneo AG.

Managing Director Henning Schnepper explains: "With its financing package of up to EUR 20 million, 1-2-3.TV GmbH is the first media company to be set up with major venture capital backing since the end of the New Market here in Germany. Working together with our partners, we have been successful both in developing the concept for our new channel and in agreeing the financial backing for the project." 1-2-3.TV GmbH is hoping to break even in its third financial year, by which time it expects to have achieved approximately half a million registered customers.

About SES ASTRA www.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(degree) East and 28.2(degree) East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5(degree) East and 5.2(degree) 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