PBLSAT SELECTS TWO EUTELSAT SATELLITES TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR PROFESSIONAL VIDEO TRANSMISSIONS ACROSS EUROPE

PBLSat, specialists in Occasional Use satellite services for the broadcasting community, today announced the confirmation of long-term contracts for capacity on two satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL). With these additional in-orbit resources PBLSat is increasing its commitment to the market for professional video transmissions in Europe for news, entertainment and sport events.

PBLSat has renewed its contract for a further three years on Eutelsat’s W2 satellite which provides coverage of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The company has also purchased 36 MHz of capacity for three years on Eutelsat’s ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 satellite whose pan-European footprint serves Europe and also extends as far as the Gulf States. PBLSat CEO Nic Thorley comments that ‘’ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 will complement our existing ad-hoc European satellite offering and will allow our clients to have full access to one of Europe’s premier satellites.’’

PBLSat aims to use its W2 and ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 capacity to service its expanding European SNG news and sport operations. In addition to offering uplinks to broadcasters and content producers via its fleet of 16 SNG vehicles and four flyaway units, PBLSat will provide services to W2 and ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 from dedicated antennas located in the UK at the Madley teleport and throughout Europe. The transponder configuration on the new capacity on ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 will allow PBLSat to offer 4 x 9MHz digital channels; this will enable 8, 15 and 24 Mbit/s video services and can incorporate the growing demand for HD transmissions.

Eutelsat Commercial Director Olivier Milliès-Lacroix said, ‘’We believe this agreement will continue to strengthen our relationship with PBLSat. We are very satisfied that the coverages and bandwidth options offered by W2 and ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 can meet PBLSat’s requirements and enable a swift reaction to expanding demands for Occasional Use capacity for Standard Digital and High Definition coverage of breaking news, sports and entertainment events.’’