SES ASTRA Signs Up ITV For Additional Transponder Capacity.

BETZDORF, Luxembourg -- SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange:SESG), has signed another long-term contract with ITV for a further 16 Mbits of transmission capacity.

The new capacity will come on stream in October of this year and will be used for new services such as interactive programming.

SES ASTRA's President and CEO, Ferdinand Kayser, said: "ITV is the UK's largest commercial television network and we have enjoyed a long-running and very successful relationship with the company.

"ITV already has five ASTRA transponders and the fact that the company has chosen once again to buy new capacity from us is, we believe, in no small measure due to our commitment to excellence in everything we do."

Mick Desmond, Chief Executive, ITV Broadcasting, said: "In order to continue ITV's successful digital strategy we need to ensure that we have the transmission capacity to meet our future strategic objectives. We believe that digital TV will play an important role in maintaining our pre-eminent position as the UK's largest commercial broadcaster; the additional capacity will enable ITV to build on our successful family of digital channels and offer digital audiences the best programming and services available. ITV4 will be launching in the autumn of this year, this follows the debut of ITV3 last autumn, which ranks as the most successful launch of a digital channel.

SES ASTRA was the natural choice when we decided to increase our capacity, not just because of its proven technical expertise and experience, but also because of its unrivalled security and back-up facilities."

www.itv.com

ITV is the UK's biggest commercial television network watched on average by 45m people in a typical week. ITV1 is a public service broadcaster available free-to-air, providing programming across all genres including drama, entertainment, current affairs, news, film and sport.

ITV2 is ITV's younger entertainment channel available in over 14 million homes (over 55% of all UK homes) on Freeview, Sky Digital and Cable. ITV2 offers brand extensions of ITV1's best-loved programmes, exciting original commissions, top US programming, blockbuster movies and premium sport.

ITV3 offers quality drama to around 14 million homes (over 55% of all UK homes) via all digital platforms throughout the UK. The channel broadcasts a unique collection of classic and contemporary dramas, movies, narrative repeats of ITV1 programmes such as The Bill, unique commissions and top US series.

www.ses-astra.com

The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, delivering services to some 103 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 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 position of 23.5 degrees East.

SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: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. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com.