ASTRA MOSAIC NOW AVAILABLE IN DVB-MHP THANKS TO CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES
Société Européenne des Satellites and CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES are pleased to announce the launch of the DVB-MHP version of the ASTRA-Mosaic. The ASTRA-MHP-Mosaic, one of the first DVB-MHP applications, demonstrates a willingness by both companies to establish a strong basis for the rapid roll-out of interactive TV open standards across Europe.
The ASTRA Mosaic is an easy-to-use on-screen guide featuring the increasing choice of freely available digital TV channels on ASTRA at 19.2° East. As well as giving an overview of over 75 digital pan-European channels available via ASTRA, viewers equipped with a DVB-MHP receiver will be able to directly access their selected channel from the ASTRA Mosaic.
Visitors to the ASTRA stand at CeBIT, (Hall 17, Stand G13) will be able to try the ASTRA Mosaic for themselves. This interactive application developed by CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES and integrated in cooperation with SES/ASTRA, can be received on any DVB-MHP-enabled receiver, such as set-top-boxes and integrated TV sets. This includes receivers equipped with CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES' MEDIAHIGHWAY DVB-MHP middleware such as the set-top box running the application at CeBIT.
DVB-MHP is a common software platform standard enabling interactive applications such as Electronic Programme Guides, interactive games, t-commerce and Internet access to be run on digital set-top boxes. As an open standard, we believe DVB-MHP will accelerate the growth of an open market across Europe and beyond for interactive TV content.
Commenting on the introduction of this new service, Yves Elsen, Commercial and Marketing Director of SES stated: "We are convinced the ASTRA-Mosaic in its DVB-MHP version will prove to be a catalyst for developing an open market in Europe for the reception of free-to-air audio-visual and interactive TV services in Europe. We believe viewers will find the ASTRA Mosaic, one of the first MHP applications to be broadcast via ASTRA, an excellent way to quickly access the continually growing choice of high quality pan-European services available in digital on ASTRA."
Thierry Maupetit, VP Sales of CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES said: " We are very pleased to have worked with SES/ASTRA in developing this DVB-MHP-compliant mosaic. It has been a fascinating experience to develop one of the first DVB-MHP-compliant applications in the market and it is a great opportunity to show it on a DVB-MHP-compliant version on our MEDIAHIGHWAY platform at such an important international exhibition." Added Maupetit: "We look forward to developing such an interoperable solution for all TV operators who want to deploy a DVB-MHP network."
For further information please contact:
Yves Feltes
Press Relations Manager
SES
Tel. (352) 710 72 53 11
Yves_Feltes@ses-astra.com
And/Or: www.ses-astra.comMarie-Vincente Pasdeloup
CANAL + TECHNOLOGIES
Tel: +33 (0)1 71 71 56 32
E-Mail: mvpasdel@canal-plus.fr
About Canal+ Technologies:
A subsidiary of CANAL+, the TV & Film division of Vivendi Universal, CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES is an international provider of digital and interactive TV software solutions. Over 20 digital operators and broadcasters have deployed the interactive TV middleware MEDIAHIGHWAY and conditional access system MEDIAGUARD, including CANALSATELLITE in France, ONdigital in the UK, AT&T Broadband in the U.S., Astro Measat and ZeeTV in Asia Its software runs on more than 8.6 million digital set-top boxes in digital cable, satellite and terrestrial environments. Sun Microsystems, Sony, Thomson multimedia and Sogecable also own shares of CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES.
For more information, visit www.canalplus-technologies.com.
About SES Group:
The SES Group operates a satellite services network spanning four continents, providing seamless broadband communications for its customers. Based in Luxembourg, Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SES; Frankfurt Exchange: SDSL) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System, and the company holds strategic interests in premier satellite operations in Europe and across the world: NSAB (50%), AsiaSat (34.10%) and Star One (19.99%).
NSAB operates the Sirius satellites providing audiovisual and multimedia services to more than 2 million homes in the Northern and Eastern European countries as well as VSAT and telecommunications services. AsiaSat is the leading satellite system in the Asian/Pacific region reaching over 80 million households with more than 300 million viewers. Star One operates Brasilsat, the largest satellite fleet over Latin America. Audiovisual broadcasts via Brasilsat are received by more than 7 million households in Brasil.
Through its strategic investments in AsiaSat, NSAB and Star One, SES is interconnecting the European ASTRA and Sirius satellites with the Asian/Pacific AsiaSats and the Latin American Brasilsats in order to provide seamless global connectivity via satellite.
SES' core business builds on ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home satellite system. Via eleven active satellites at the orbital positions of 19.2° East and 28.2° East, ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital format over 1000 television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of more than 80 million homes in Europe. Three additional ASTRA satellites are currently under construction and due for launch before mid 2002. Of these, ASTRA 3A will be permanently positioned at SES' 3rd orbital position at 23.5° East.
SES is a pioneer of satellite broadband services through SES Multimedia, a wholly owned subsidiary. SES Multimedia operates the ASTRA-NET platform, enabling service and content providers to transmit data directly, via satellite, to personal computers in businesses and homes across Europe. In addition, SES is extending its direct involvement in multimedia with partnerships, joint ventures and direct investment.
SES is the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequencies for interactive broadband services in Europe. In Q4 2000, SES commenced commercial Beta trials of the Broadband Interactive System (BBI), a DVB-RCS based broadband satellite return channel system, serving the growing market in Western and Central Europe for 2-way asymmetric, high-speed broadband collection and delivery of multimedia.
Additional information about SES Group and its partners can be found at www.ses-astra.com, www.nsab.se, www.asiasat.com, and www.embratel.net.br