Planeta Joins Home2US, Growing International TV Line-Up in U.S.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Bulgarian Entertainment Channel First to Import Programming Over SES AMERICOM's Expanding Hybrid Distribution Network, Parent SES GLOBAL's Swiss-Based Teleport and Transatlantic Fiber Link

Like a chart-topping music video, Home2US and SES AMERICOM have struck a chord with international television networks and programmers in search of the most reliable and effective path to vast audiences across the U.S. SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges:SESG), and Home2US today announced Bulgaria's music and entertainment channel, Planeta, is the latest to join their growing neighborhood of international television channels and the first to be imported to the U.S. over a new transatlantic terrestrial link.

Planeta TV programming is received at the SES GLOBAL teleport in Leuk, Switzerland and backhauled over new fiber to the SES AMERICOM teleport in Woodbine, Maryland, where the content is processed and prepared for delivery over SES AMERICOM's AMC-4 satellite to Bulgarians and ex-patriots living in U.S. Home2US is providing a series of enhanced broadcast services from the Woodbine facility, including servers designed to eliminate program scheduling issues due to extreme time differences between channel originators and the U.S., local play-out solutions, and local and remote ad insertion capabilities.

"What began as a strategic vision two short years ago has quickly grown into one of the finest ethnic and international programming neighborhoods in the country," said Bryan McGuirk, president of media solutions for SES AMERICOM. "By welcoming Planeta TV to the Home2US line-up, we're ushering in a new level of global service with our expanding hybrid distribution network that allows programmers to reach audiences throughout America from virtually anywhere in the world."

"By offering Planeta TV to an estimated 2.5 million people throughout the U.S., Home2US and SES AMERICOM have once again demonstrated our evolving partnership and our combined strengths in the provisioning of true, end-to-end global broadcast solutions," said Emrah Ozkan, president and chief executive officer for Home2US. "The growing Home2US line-up of international channels is delivered by the best in the business - SES AMERICOM and its innovative satellite- and terrestrial-based distribution system."

Planeta TV joins 30 other international television and radio channels that depend on the Home2US/SES AMERICOM platform to import their programming to diverse ethnic audiences throughout North America. In all, Home2US has enlisted three satellite transponders to meet the current demand among global networks and programmers for a reliable and cost-effective way to serve viewers across the U.S. and North America.

About AMC-4

Launched in 1999, the AMC-4 satellite is a Lockheed Martin A2100 hybrid C-band and Ku-band spacecraft located at 101 degrees west longitude. When paired with AMC-1 at 103 degrees west, AMC-4's C-band transponders offer a premier cable neighborhood that can be picked up on a single ground antenna. AMC-4's Ku-band transponders serve broadcasting, VSAT, business television, and broadband Internet markets with coverage over the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico.

About Home2US

Home2US Communications, Inc., based in Herndon, Virginia, is the operator of an open pay TV platform on the C- and Ku-band payload of SES AMERICOM's AMC-4 satellite. The company is enabling foreign broadcasters to distribute their prime television and radio channels to ethnic audiences in the United States. Home2US strives to offer a cost-effective alternative to broadcasters who wish to capitalize on the growing ethnic subscriber base in the U.S. Home2US aims to lower the barrier of entry and raise the service quality standards to broadcasters and the traditionally underserved customers seeking a better value from their service providers. Home2US has a strong record in delivering secure encryption and DRM platform solutions, which protect Pay TV channel revenue streams.

About SES AMERICOM

The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first satellite, the company today operates a fleet of 17 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of 40 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.